The Ellesmere ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

THE Ellesmere MS OF
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

EDITED BY

FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL.

LONDON:
N. TRÜBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL.
1868-1879.

GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.

§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE.

ELLESMERE MS.

Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury.

WHan that Aprille with hise shoures soote [folio 5a] The droghte of March / hath perced to the roote And bathed euery veyne / in swich licour Of which vertu / engendred is the flour Line 4 Whan Zephirus eek / with his swete breeth Inspired hath / in euery holt and heeth The tendre croppes / and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram / his half[e] cours yronne [¶ .i. sol in Arieto] And smale foweles / maken melodye That slepen al the nyght / with open eye So priketh hem nature in hir corages Thanne longen folk / to goon on pilgrimage Line 12 And Palmeres / for to seken straunge strondes To ferne halwes / kowthe in sondry londes And specially / from euery shires ende Of Engelond / to Caunturbury they wende Line 16 The hooly blisful martir for to seke That hem hath holpen / whan þat they were seeke

Bifil that / in that seson on a day In Southwerk / at the Tabard as I lay Line 20 Redy / to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury / with ful deuout corage At nyght / were come / in to that hostelrye Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye Line 24 Of sondry folk / by aventure y-falle In felaweshipe / and pilgrimes were they alle That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde

The chambres and the stables weren wyde Line 28 And wel we weren esed atte beste And shortly / whan the sonne was to reste So hadde I spoken / with hem everychon That I was / of hir felaweshipe anon Line 32 And made forward / erly for to ryse To take oure wey / ther as I yow deuyse

But nathelees / whil I haue tyme and space Er that I ferther / in this tale pace Line 36 Me thynketh it acordaunt to reson To telle yow / al the condicion Of ech of hem / so as it semed me And whiche they were / and of what degree Line 40 And eek in what array / that they were Inne And at a knyght / than wol I first bigynne

Aknyght ther was / and that a worthy man [¶ Knyght] That fro the tyme / that he first bigan Line 44 To riden out / he loued chiualrie Trouthe and honour / fredom and curteisie fful worthy was he / in his lordes werre And therto / hadde he riden / no man ferre Line 48 As wel in cristendom / as in Hethenesse [folio 5b] And euere / honoured for his worthynesse ¶ At Alisaundre he was / whan it was wonne fful ofte tyme / he hadde the bord bigonne Line 52 Abouen alle nacions in Pruce In Lettow / hadde he reysed and in Ruce No cristen man so ofte of his degree In Gernade / at the seege eek hadde he be Line 56 Of Algezir /. and riden in Belmarye At Lyeys was he / and at Satalye Whan they were wonne / and in the grete See At many a noble Armee / hadde he be Line 60 At mortal batailles / hadde he been fiftene And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene In lystes thries / and ay slayn his foo

This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Line 64 Somtyme / with the lord of Palatye Agayn / another hethen in Turkye And eueremoore / he hadde a souereyn prys And though þat he were worthy he was wys Line 68 And of his port / as meeke as is a mayde He neuere yet / no vileynye ne sayde In al his lyf / vn to no maner wight He was a verray parfit gentil knyght Line 72 ¶ But for to tellen yow / of his array His hors weren goode / but he was nat gay Of ffustian / he wered a gypon Al bismotered with his habergeon Line 76 ffor he was late / ycome from his viage And wente / for to doon his pilgrymage

With hym ther was his sone a yong Squier [¶ Squier] A louyere / and a lusty Bacheler Line 80 With lokkes crulle / as they were leyd in presse Of twenty yeer of Age / he was I gesse Of his stature / he was of euene lengthe And wonderly delyuere / and of greet strengthe Line 84 And he hadde been somtyme in chyuachie In fflaundres / in Artoys and Pycardie And born hym weel / as of so litel space In hope / to stonden in his lady grace Line 88 Embrouded was he / as it were a meede Al ful of fresshe floures / whyte and reede Syngynge he was / or floytynge al the day He was as fressh / as in the Monthe of May Line 92 Short was his gowne / with sleues longe and wyde Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde He koude songes make / and wel endite Iuste and eek daunce / and weel purtreye and write Line 96 So hoote he louede / that by nyghtertale [folio 6a] He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale Curteis he was / lowely / and seruysable

And carf / biforn his fader at the table Line 100

A Yeman hadde he / and seruantz namo [¶ Yeman] At that tyme / for hym liste ride soo And he was clad / in cote and hood of grene A sheef of pecok arwes / bright and kene Line 104 Vnder his belt he bar ful thriftily Wel koude he / dresse his takel yemanly Hise arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe And in his hand / he baar a myghty bowe Line 108 A not heed hadde he / with a broun visage Of woodecraft / wel koude he al the vsage Vp on his arm / he baar a gay bracer And by his syde / a swerd / and a bokeler/ Line 112 And on that oother syde / a gay daggere Harneised wel / and sharpe as point of spere A Cristophere on his brest of siluer sheene An horn he bar / the bawdryk was of grene Line 116 A fforster was he / soothly as I gesse

Ther was also / a Nonne a PRIORESSE [¶ Prioresse] That of hir smylyng / was ful symple and coy Hire gretteste ooth / was but by seint Loy Line 120 And she was cleped / madame Eglentyne fful weel she soong the seruice dyuyne, Entuned in hir nose / ful semeely And frenssh / she spak / ful faire and fetisly Line 124 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe ffor frenssh of Parys / was to hire vnknowe At mete / wel ytaught was she with alle She leet no morsel / from hir lippes falle Line 128 Ne wette hir fyngres / in hir sauce depe Wel koude she carie a morsel / and wel kepe That no drope / ne fille vp on hire brist In curteisie was set ful muchel hir list/ Line 132 Hire ouer lippe / wyped she so clene That in hir coppe / ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece / whan she dronken hadde hir draughte

fful semely / after hir mete she raughte Line 136 And sikerly / she was of greet desport And ful plesaunt / and amyable of port And peyned hire to countrefete cheere Of Court and to been estatlich of manere Line 140 And to ben holden digne of reuerence But for to speken of hire conscience She was so charitable and so pitous She wolde wepe / if that she saugh a Mous Line 144 Kaught in a trappe / if it were deed or bledde [folio 6b] Of smale houndes / hadde she þat she fedde With rosted flessh / or Milk / and wastel breed But soore wepte she / if any of hem were deed Line 148 Or if men smoot it / with a yerde smerte And al was conscience and tendre herte fful semyly / hir wympul pynched was Hire nose tretys / hir eyen greye as glas Line 152 Hir mouth ful smal / and ther to softe and reed But sikerly / she hadde a fair forheed It was almoost . a spanne brood I trowe ffor hardily / she was nat vndergrowe Line 156 fful fetys was hir cloke / as I was war Of smal coral / aboute hire Arm she bar A peire of bedes / gauded al with grene And ther on / heng a brooch of gold ful sheene Line 160 On which / ther was first write a crowned .A. And after / Amor vincit omnia. Another Nonne / with hire hadde she [¶ Nonne & .iij. preestes.] That was hire Chapeleyne and preestes thre Line 164

A Monk ther was / a fair for the maistrie [¶ Monk/] An outridere / that louede venerie A manly man / to been an Abbot able fful many a deyntee hors / hadde he in stable Line 168 And whan he rood / men myghte his brydel heere Gynglen / in a whistlynge wynd als cleere And cek as loude / as dooth þe Chapel belle

Ther as this lord / was kepere of the Celle Line 172 The reule of seint Maure / or of seint Beneit / By cause that it was old / and som del streit / This ilke Monk / leet olde thynges pace And heeld / after the newe world the space Line 176 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen That seith / that hunters beth nat hooly men Ne that a Monk / whan he is recchelees Is likned / til a fissh / þat is waterlees Line 180 This is to seyn / a Monk out of his Cloystre But thilke text / heeld he nat worth an Oystre And I seyde / his opinion was good What sholde he studie / and make hym seluen wood Line 184 Vpon a book / in Cloystre alwey to poure Or swynken with his handes, and laboure As Austyn bit / how shal the world be serued Lat Austyn / haue his owene swynk / to him reserued Line 188 Therfore / he was a prikasour aright Grehoundes he hadde / as swift as fowel in flight Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare Was al his lust . for no cost wolde he spare Line 192 I seigh his sleues / ypurfiled at the hond [folio 7a] With grys / and that the fyneste of a lond And for to festne his hood vnder his chyn He hadde of gold / ywroght / a ful curious pyn Line 196 A loue knotte / in the gretter ende ther was His heed was balled / þat shoon as any glas And eek his face / as it hadde been enoynt/ He was a lord ful fat / and in good poynt Line 200 Hise eyen stepe / and rollynge in his heed That stemed / as a forneys of a leed His bootes souple / his hors in greet estaat Now certeinly / he was a fair prelaat Line 204 He was nat pale / as a forpyned goost A fat swan loued he best of any roost His palfrey / was as broun as is a berye

Affrere ther was / a wantowne and a merye, [¶ ffrere] A lymytour / a ful solempne man Line 209 In alle the ordres foure / is noon þat kan So muchel of daliaunce / and fair langage He hadde maad / ful many a mariage Line 212 Of yonge wommen / at his owene cost Vn to his ordre / he was a noble post And wel biloued / and famulier was he With frankeleyns / ouer al in his contree Line 216 And [eek] with worthy wommen of the toun ffor he hadde power of confessioun As seyde hym self / moore than a Curat ffor of his ordre / he was licenciat Line 220 fful swetely / herde he confession And plesaunt was his absolucion He was an esy man / to yeue penaunce Ther as he wiste / to haue a good pitaunce Line 224 ffor vnto a poure ordre / for to yiue Is signe / þat a man is wel yshryue ffor if he yaf / he dorste make avaunt He wiste / that a man was repentaunt Line 228 ffor many a man / so harde is of his herte He may nat wepe / al thogh hym soore smerte Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres Men moote yeue siluer / to the poure freres Line 232 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyues And pynnes / for to yeuen yonge wyues And certeinly / he hadde a murye note Wel koude he synge / and pleyen on a rote Line 236 Of yeddynges / he baar outrely the pris His nekke / whit was / as the flour delys Ther to / he strong was as a Champion He knew the Tauernes wel in al the toun Line 240 And euerich Hostiler / and Tappestere [folio 7b] Bet than a lazar / or a beggestere ffor vn to swich a worthy man as he

Acorded nat / as by his facultee Line 244 To haue with sike lazars Aqueyntance It is nat honeste / it may nat avance ffor to deelen / with no swich poraille But al with riche / and selleres of vitaille Line 248 And ouer al / ther as profit sholde arise Curteis he was / and lowely of seruyse Ther nas no man / nowher so vertuous He was / the beste beggere in his hous Line 252 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] sfor thogh a wydwe / hadde noght a sho So plesaunt / was his In principio Yet wolde he haue / a ferthyng er he wente His purchas / was wel bettre than his rente Line 256 And rage he koude / as it were right a whelpe In loue dayes / ther koude he muchel helpe ffor there he was nat lyk a Cloystrer With a thredbare cope / as is a poure scoler Line 260 But he was lyk / a maister / or a pope Of double worstede / was his semycope That rounded as a belle / out of the presse Somwhat he lipsed / for his wantownesse Line 264 To make his englissh / sweete vp on his tonge And in his harpyng. whan þat he hadde songe Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght As doon the sterres / in the frosty nyght Line 268 This worthy lymytour / was cleped Huberd

A Marchant was ther with a forked berd [¶ Marchant] In Motlee and hye on horse he sat Vp on his heed a fflaundryssh Beuere hat / Line 272 His bootes clasped / faire and fetisly Hise resons he spak / ful solempnely Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng He wolde the see were kept for any thing Line 276 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle

Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle This worthy man / ful wel his wit bisette Ther wiste no wight þat he was in dette Line 280 So estatly / was he of his gouernaunce With his bargaynes / and with his cheuyssaunce ffor sothe / he was a worthy man with alle But sooth to seyn / I noot how men hym calle Line 284

A Clerk ther was / of Oxenford also [¶ Clerk of Oxenford,] That vn to logyk / hadde longe ygo And leene was his hors as is a rake And he nas nat right fat, I vndertake Line 288 But looked holwe / and ther to sobrely [folio 8a] fful thredbare / was his ouereste courtepy ffor he hadde geten hym yet no benefice Ne was so worldly / for to haue office Line 292 ffor hym was leuere / haue at his beddes heed Twenty bookes / clad in blak or reed Of Aristotle / and his Philosophie Than robes riche / or fithele / or gay sautrie Line 296 But al be / that he was a Philosophre Yet hadde he / but litel gold in cofre But al þat he myghte / of his freendes hente On bookes / and his lernynge he it spente Line 300 And bisily / gan for the soules preye Of hem / þat yaf hym wher with to scoleye Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede Noght o word / spak he moore than was neede Line 304 And that was seyd / in forme and reuerence And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence Sownynge in moral vertu / was his speche And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche Line 308

A Sergeant of the Lawe / war and wys [¶ Sergeant of lawe] That often hadde been at the Parvys Ther was also / ful riche of excellence Discreet he was / and of greet reuerence Line 312 He semed swich / hise wordes weren so wise

Iustice he was / ful often in Assise, By patente / and by pleyn commissioun ffor his science / and for his heigh renoun Line 316 Of fees and robes / hadde he many oon So greet a purchasour / was nowher noon Al was fee symple to hym in effect His purchasyng / myghte nat been infect Line 320 Nowher / so bisy a man as he ther nas And yet he semed / bisier than he was In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme / of kyng william were yfalle Line 324 Ther-to / he koude endite and make a thyng Ther koude no wight / pynchen at his writyng And euery statut / koude he pleyn by rote He rood but hoomly / in a medlee cote Line 328 Girt with a ceint of silk / with barres smale Of his array telle I no lenger tale.

A ffrankeleyn / was in his compaignye [¶ ffrankeleyn] Whit was his heed / as is a dayesye Line 332 Of his complexion / he was sangwyn Wel loued he by the morwe a sope in wyn To lyuen in delit was euere his wone For he was / Epicurus owene sone Line 336 That heeld opinion that pleyn delit [folio 8b] Was verray felicitee parfit An housholdere / and that a greet was he Seint Iulian was he in his contree Line 340 His breed / his Ale / was alweys after oon A bettre envyned man / was neuere noon With oute bake mete / was neuere his hous Of fissh and flessh / and that so plenteuous Line 344 It snewed in his hous / of mete and drynke Of alle deyntees / that men koude thynke After the sondry sesons / of the yeer So chaunged he / his mete and his soper Line 348 fful many a fat partrich / hadde he in Muwe

And many a Breem / and many a luce in Stuwe Wo was his Cook / but if his sauce were Poynaunt / and sharpe / and redy al his geere Line 352 His table dormant in his halle alway Stood redy couered / al the longe day At sessions ther was he lord and sire fful ofte tyme / he was knyght of the shire Line 356 An Anlaas / and a gipser al of silk Heeng at his girdel / whit as morne Milk / A shirreue hadde he been and Countour Was nowher / such a worthy Vauasour Line 360

AN haberdasshere and a Carpenter [¶ Haberdasshere] [¶ Carpenter] A Webbe / a Dyere / and a Tapycer [¶ Webbe] [¶ Dyere] And they were clothed alle in o lyueree [¶ Tapicer] Of a solempne / and a greet fraternitee Line 364 fful fressh and newe / hir geere apiked was Hir knyues / were chaped noght with bras But al with siluer / wroght ful clene and weel Hire girdles and hir pouches euerydeel Line 368 Wel semed ech of hem / a fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle / on a deys Euerich / for the wisdom þat he kan Was shaply / for to been an Alderman Line 372 ffor catel hadde they ynogh and rente And eek hir wyues wolde it wel assente And elles certeyn / were they to blame It is ful fair / to been ycleped ma Dame Line 376 And goon to vigilies / al bifore And haue a Mantel roialliche ybore

A Cook they hadde with hem for the nones [¶ Cook.] To boille the chiknes with the Marybones Line 380 And poudre Marchant tart and galyngale Wel koude he knowe / a draughte of London ale He koude rooste and sethe / and boille and frye Maken Mortreux / and wel bake a pye Line 384 But greet harm was it / as it thoughte me [folio 9a]

That on his shyne / a mormal hadde he ffor blankmanger / that made he with the beste

A Shipman was ther / wonynge fer by weste [¶ Shipman] ffor aught I woot / he was of Dertemouthe Line 389 He rood vp on a Rouncy / as he kouthe In a gowne of faldyng to the knee A daggere / hangynge on a laas hadde he Line 392 Aboute his nekke / vnder his Arm adoun The hoote somer / hadde maad his hewe al broun And certeinly / he was a good felawe fful many a draughte of wyn / had he [y-]drawe Line 396 ffro Burdeuxward / whil that the Chapman sleepe Of nyce conscience / took he no keepe If þat he faught and hadde the hyer hond By water / he sente hem hoom to euery lond Line 400 But of his craft / to rekene wel his tydes His stremes / and his daungers hym bisides His herberwe / and his moone / his lodemenage Ther nas noon swich / from Hulle to Cartage Line 404 Hardy he was and wys / to vndertake With many a tempest / hadde his berd been shake He knew alle the hauenes / as they were ffron Gootlond to the Cape of ffynystere Line 408 And euery cryke / in Britaigne and in Spayne His Barge / ycleped was the Maudelayne

With vs ther was a Doctour of Phisik [¶ Doctour of Phisik/] In al this world / ne was ther noon hym lik Line 412 To speke of phisik / and of Surgerye ffor he was grounded in Astronomye He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel In houres / by his magyk natureel Line 416 Wel koude he fortunen the Ascendent Of hise ymages / for his pacient He knew the cause / of euerich maladye Were it of hoot or cold / or moyste / or drye Line 420 And where they engendred / and of what humour

He was a verray parfit praktisour The cause yknowe / and of his harm the roote Anon he yaf / the sike man his boote Line 424 fful redy hadde he / hise Apothecaries To sende him drogges and his letuaries ffor ech of hem / made oother for to wynne Hir frendshipe / nas nat newe to bigynne Line 428 Wel knew he / the olde Esculapius And Deyscorides / and eek Risus Olde ypocras / Haly / and Galyen Serapion Razis / and Auycen Line 432 Auerrois / Damascien / and Constantyn [folio 9b] Bernard / and Gatesden / and Gilbertyn Of his diete / mesurable was he ffor it was / of no superfluitee Line 436 But of greet norissyng / and digestible His studie / was but litel on the Bible In sangwyn and in pers / he clad was al Lyned with Taffata / and with Sendal Line 440 And yet he was / but esy of dispence He kepte / that he wan in pestilence ffor gold in Phisik / is a cordial Therfore he louede gold in special Line 444

A good wif was ther of biside Bathe [¶ The goode Wif of] [¶ Bathe] But she was som del deef and þat was scathe Of clooth makyng she hadde swich an haunt She passed hem of ypres and of Gaunt Line 448 In al the parisshe / wif ne was ther noon That to the offrynge / bifore hire sholde goon And if ther dide / certeyn so wrooth was she That she was / out of alle charitee Line 452 Hir couerchiefs / ful fyne weren of ground I dorste swere / they weyeden ten pound That on a sonday / weren vpon hir heed Hir hosen weren / of fyn scarlet reed Line 456 fful streite yteyd / and shoes ful moyste and newe

Boold was hir face / and fair and reed of hewe She was a worthy womman al hir lyue Housbondes at chirche dore / she hadde fyue Line 460 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe But ther of / nedeth nat to speke as nowthe And thries / hadde she been at Ierusalem She hadde passed / many a straunge strem Line 464 At Rome she hadde been and at Boloigne In Galice at Seint Iame / and at Coloigne She koude muchel / of wandrynge by the weye Gat tothed was she / soothly for to seye Line 468 Vp on an Amblere / esily she sat Ywympled wel / and on hir heed an hat As brood / as is a bokeler / or a targe A foot mantel / aboute hir hipes large Line 472 And on hire feet a paire of spores sharpe In felaweshipe / wel koude she laughe and carpe Of remedies of loue / she knew per chaunce For she koude of that Art the olde daunce Line 476

A good man was ther of Religioun And was / a poure Person of a toun [¶ Person of a toun.] But riche he was / of hooly thoght and werk/ He was also / a lerned man a clerk Line 480 That cristes gospel / trewely wolde preche [folio 10a] Hise parisshens / deuoutly wolde he teche Benygne he was / and wonder diligent And in Aduersitee ful pacient Line 484 And swich / he was [y-]preued ofte sithes fful looth were hym / to cursen for hise tithes But rather wolde he yeuen out of doute Vn to his poure parisshens aboute Line 488 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce He koude / in litel thyng haue suffisaunce Wyd was his parisshe / and houses fer a sonder But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder Line 492 In siknesse nor in meschief / to visite

The ferreste in his parisshe muche and lite Vp on his feet and in his hand a staf This noble ensample to his sheepe he yaf Line 496 That firste he wroghte / and afterward that he taughte Out of the gospel / he tho wordes caughte And this figure / he added eek ther to That if gold ruste / what shal Iren doo Line 500 For if a preest be foul / on whom we truste No wonder is / a lewed man to ruste And shame it is / if [that] a prest take keepe A shiten shepherde / and a clene sheepe Line 504 Wel oghte a preest / ensample for to yeue By his clennesse / how þat his sheepe sholde lyue He sette nat his benefice to hyre And leet his sheepe / encombred in the Myre Line 508 And ran to London / vn to seint Poules To seken hym a chauntrie for soules Or with a bretherhed / to been withholde But dwelleth at hoom and kepeth wel his folde Line 512 So that the wolf / ne made it nat myscarie He was a shepherde / and noght a Mercenarie And though he hooly were / and vertuous He was nat to synful man despitous Line 516 Ne of his speche / daungerous ne digne But in his techyng discreet and benygne To drawen folk to heuene by fairnesse By good ensample / this was his bisynesse Line 520 But it were any persone obstinat What so he were / of heigh or lough estat Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys A bettre preest I trowe / þat nowher noon ys Line 524 He waiteth / after no pompe and reuerence Ne maked him a spiced conscience But cristes loore / and hise Apostles twelue He taughte / but first he folwed it hym selue Line 528

With hym ther was a Plowman was his brother [folio 10b] [¶ Plowman.]

That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother A trewe swynkere / and a good was he Lyuynge in pees / and parfit charitee Line 532 God loued he best / with al his hoole herte At alle tymes / thogh he gamed or smerte And thanne his neighebore / right as hym selue He wolde thresshe / and ther to dyke and delue Line 536 For cristes sake / for euery poure wight Withouten hire / if it lay in his myght Hise tithes / payde he ful faire and wel Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel Line 540 In a Tabard he rood / vpon a Mere

Ther was also / a Reue and a Millere [¶ Millere.] A Somnour / and a Pardoner also A Maunciple / and my self ther were namo Line 544 ¶ The Millere was a stout carl for the nones Ful byg he was / of brawn / and eek of bones That proued wel / for ouer al ther he cam At wrastlynge / he wolde haue alwey the Ram Line 548 He was short sholdred / brood / a thikke knarre Ther nas no dore / þat he ne wolde heue of harre Or breke it / at a rennyng with his heed His berd / as any sowe / or fox was reed Line 552 And ther to brood / as though it were a spade Vp on the cope / right of his nose he hade A werte / and ther on stood a toft of herys Reed / as the brustles / of a sowes erys Line 556 Hise nosethirles / blake were and wyde A swerd and a bokeler / bar he by his syde His mouth as greet was / as a greet forneys He was a Ianglere and a goliardeys Line 560 And that was moost / of synne and harlotries Wel koude he stelen corn / and tollen thries And yet he hadde / a thombe of gold pardee A whit cote / and a blew hood wered he Line 564 A baggepipe / wel koude he blowe and sowne

And ther with al / he broghte vs out of towne

A gentil Maunciple / was ther of a temple [¶ Maunciple.] Of which Achatours / myghte take exemple Line 568 ffor to be wise / in byynge of vitaille ffor wheither that he payde / or took by taille Algate / he wayted so / in his Achaat That he was ay biforn / and in good staat Line 572 Now is nat that of god a ful fair grace That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace The wisdom / of an heepe of lerned men Of maistres hadde he / mo than thries ten Line 576 That weren of lawe / expert and curious [folio 11a] Of whiche / þer weren a duszeyne in that hous Worthy to been stywardes / of rente and lond Of any lord / that is in Engelond Line 580 To maken hym lyue / by his propre good In honour dettelees / but if he were wood Or lyue as scarsly / as hym list desire And able / for to helpen al a shire Line 584 In any caas / þat myghte falle or happe And yet this manciple / sette hir aller cappe

The Reue was / a sclendre colerik man [¶ Reue.] His berd was shaue / as ny as euer he kan Line 588 His heer was by his erys / ful round yshorn His tope was doked / lyk a preest biforn fful longe were his legges / and ful lene ylyk a staf / ther was no calf ysene Line 592 Wel koude he kepe a gerner / and a bynne Ther was noon Auditour / koude of him wynne Wel wiste he / by the droghte / and by the reyn The yeldynge / of his seed / and of his greyn Line 596 His lordes sheepe / his neet his dayerye His swyn / his hors / his stoor / and his pultrye Was hoolly / in this Reues gouernyng / And by his couenant yaf the rekenyng Line 600 Syn that his lord / was twenty yeer of age

Ther koude no man / brynge hym in Arrerage Ther nas baillif ne hierde / nor oother hyne That he [ne] knew his sleighte and his couyne Line 604 They were adrad of hym / as of the deeth His wonyng was ful faire vp on an heeth With grene trees / shadwed was his place He koude bettre than his lord purchace Line 608 fful riche he was astored pryuely His lord / wel koude he plesen subtilly To yeue and lene hym / of his owene good And haue a thank / yet a gowne and hood Line 612 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster He was a wel good wrighte a Carpenter This Reue sat vp on a ful good stot That was al pomely grey / and highte Scot Line 616 A long surcote of pers / vp on he hade And by his syde / he baar a rusty blade Of Northfolk was this Reue / of which I telle Biside a toun / men clepen Baldeswelle Line 620 Tukked he was / as is a frere aboute And euere he rood / the hyndreste of oure route

A Somonour was ther with vs in that place [¶ Somonour.] That hadde / a fyr reed Cherubynnes face Line 624 ffor sawcefleem he was with eyen narwe [folio 11b] As hoot he was / and lecherous as a sparwe With scaled browes blake and piled berd Of his visage / children were aferd Line 628 Ther nas quyk siluer / lytarge ne brymstoon Boras / Ceruce / ne oille of Tartre noon Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte That hym myghte helpen / of the whelkes white Line 632 Nor of the knobbes / sittynge on his chekes Wel loued he garleek / oynons / and eek lekes And for to drynken strong wyn / reed as blood Thanne wolde he speke / and crie as he were wood Line 636 And whan þat he / wel dronken hadde the wyn

Than wolde he speke no word but latyn A fewe termes hadde he / two or thre That he had lerned / out of som decree Line 640 No wonder is / he herde it al the day And eek ye knowen wel / how þat a Iay Kan clepen watte / as wel as kan the pope But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope Line 644 Thanne hadde he spent al his Philosophie Ay questio quid iuris / wolde he crie He was / a gentil harlot and a kynde A bettre felawe / sholde men noght fynde Line 648 He wolde suffre / for a quart of wyn A good felawe / to haue his concubyn A twelf monthe / and excuse hym atte fulle And priuely / a fynch eek koude he pulle Line 652 And if he foond owher / a good felawe He wolde techen him / to have noon Awe In swich caas / of the Ercedekenes curs But if a mannes soule / were in his purs Line 656 ffor in his purs / he sholde ypunysshed be Purs / is the Ercedekenes helle seyde he But wel I woot / he lyed right in dede Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man [to] drede Line 660 ffor curs wol slee / right as assoillyng sauith And also / war him of a Significauit/ In daunger hadde he / at his owene gise The yonge girles / of the diocise Line 664 And knew hir conseil / and was al hir reed A gerland / hadde he set vp on his heed As greet / as it were for an Ale stake A bokeleer / hadde he maad him of a Cake Line 668

With hym ther was / a gentil Pardoner [¶ Pardoner.] Of Rounciuale / his freend and his compeer That streight was comen / fro the court of Rome. fful loude he soong com hider loue to me Line 672 This Somonour / bar to hym a stif burdoun [folio 12a]

Was neuere trompe / of half so greet a soun This Pardoner hadde heer / as yelow as wex But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex Line 676 By ounces / henge hise lokkes þat he hadde And ther with / he hise shuldres ouerspradde But thynne it lay / by colpons oon and oon But hood for Iolitee / wered he noon Line 680 For it was trussed / vp in his walet Hym thoughte / he rood / al of the newe Iet Discheuelee saue his cappe / he rood al bare Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare Line 684 A vernycle hadde he sowed / vp on his cappe His walet [lay] biforn hym / in his lappe Bret ful of pardon / comen from Rome al hoot/ A voys he hadde / as smal as hath a goot/ Line 688 No berd hadde he / ne neuere sholde haue As smothe it was / as it were late shaue I trowe / he were a geldyng or a mare But of his craft fro Berwyk in to Ware Line 692 Ne was ther / swich another Pardoner ffor in his male / he hadde a pilwe beer Which þat he seyde / was oure lady veyl He seyde he hadde / a gobet of the seyl Line 696 That seint Peter hadde / whan þat he wente Vp on the see / til Ihesu crist hym hente He hadde a croys of laton / ful of stones And in a glas / he hadde pigges bones Line 700 But with thise relikes / whan þat he fond A poure person / dwellynge vp on lond Vp on a day / he gat hym moore moneye Than þat the person gat / in Monthes tweye Line 704 And thus / with feyned flaterye and Iapes He made the person and the peple his Apes But trewely / to tellen atte laste He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste Line 708 Wel koude he rede / a lesson or a storie

But alderbest / he song an Offertorie ffor wel he wiste / whan þat song was songe He moste preche / and wel affile his tonge Line 712 To wynne siluer / as he ful wel koude Therefore he song / the murierly and loude

NOw haue I toold you shortly in a clause The staat tharray / the nombre and eek the cause Line 716 Why þat assembled was this compaignye In Southwerk / at [[MS. as]] this gentil hostelrye That highte the Tabard / faste by the belle But now is tyme / to yow for to telle Line 720 How that we baren vs that ilke nyght [folio 12b] Whan we were / in that hostelrie alyght And after wol I telle / of our viage And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage Line 724 But first I pray yow / of youre curteisye That ye narette it nat my vileynye Thogh þat I pleynly speke in this mateere To telle yow / hir wordes and hir cheere Line 728 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely ffor this ye knowen / al so wel as I Who so shal telle a tale / after a man He moote reherce / as ny as euere he kan Euerich a word / if it be in his charge Al speke he / neuer so rudeliche or large Or ellis / he moot telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne thyng . or fynde wordes newe Line 736 He may nat spare / al thogh he were his brother He moot as wel / seye o word as another Crist spak hym self / ful brode in hooly writ And wel ye woot no vileynye is it Line 740 Eek Plato seith / who so kan hym rede The wordes / moote be cosyn to the dede Also I prey yow / to foryeue it me Al haue I nat set folk in hir degree Line 744 Heere in this tale / as þat they sholde stonde

My wit is short ye may wel vnderstonde ¶ Greet chiere made oure hoost vs euerichon And to the soper / sette he vs anon Line 748 And serued vs / with vitaille at the beste Strong was the wyn / and wel to drynke vs leste A semely man / oure hoost was with alle ffor to been / a Marchal in an halle Line 752 A large man he was / with eyen stepe A fairer Burgeys / was ther noon in Chepe Boold of his speche / and wys and well ytaught And of manhod / hym lakked[e] right naught Line 756 Eek therto / he was right a myrie man And after soper / pleyen he bigan And spak of myrthe / amonges othere thynges Whan that we / hadde maad our rekenynges Line 760 And seyde thus / now lordynges trewely Ye been to me / right welcome hertely ffor by my trouthe / if that I shal nat lye I saugh nat this yeer / so myrie a compaignye Line 764 Atones in this herberwe as is now ffayn wolde I doon yow myrthe / wiste I how And of a myrthe / I am right now bythoght To doon yow ese / and it shal coste noght Line 768 ¶ Ye goon to Caunterbury / god yow speede [folio 13a] The blisful martir / quite yow youre meede And wel I woot / as ye goon by the weye Ye shapen yow / to talen and to pleye Line 772 ffor trewely / confort ne myrthe is noon To ride by the weye doumb as the stoon And therfore / wol I maken yow disport As I seyde erst and doon yow som confort Line 776 And if yow liketh alle / by oon assent ffor to stonden / at my Iuggement And for to werken / as I shal yow seye To morwe / whan ye riden by the weye Line 780 Now by my fader soule that is deed

But if ye be myrie / I wol yeue yow myn heed ¶ Hoold vp youre hond withouten moore speche Oure conseil / was nat longe for to seche Line 784 Vs thoughte / it was noght worth / to make it wys And graunted hym / wit outen moore auys And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste ¶ Lordynges quod he / now herkneth for the beste Line 788 But taak it nought / I prey yow in desdeyn This is the poynt to speken short and pleyn That ech of yow / to shorte with oure weye In this viage / shal telle tales tweye Line 792 To Caunterburyward / I mene it so And homward / he shal tellen othere two Of auentures / that whilom han bifalle And which of yow / that bereth hym best of alle Line 796 That is to seyn / that telleth in this caas Tales of best sentence / and moost solaas Shal haue a soper / at oure aller cost Heere in this place / sittynge by this post Line 800 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury And for to make yow / the moore mury I wol my self / goodly with yow ryde Right at myn owene cost and be youre gyde Line 804 And who so wole / my Iuggement withseye Shal paye / al that we spenden by the weye And if ye vouche sauf / that it be so Tel me anon / with outen wordes mo Line 808 And I wol erly / shape me therfore ¶ This thyng was graunted and oure othes swore With ful glad herte / and preyden hym also That he would vouche sauf / for to do so Line 812 And that he / wolde been oure gouernour And of our tales / Iuge and Reportour And sette a soper / at a certeyn pris And we / wol reuled been at his deuys Line 816 ¶ In heigh and lough / and thus by oon assent [folio 13b]

We been acorded / to his Iuggement And ther vp on / the wyn was fet anon We dronken / and to reste wente echon Line 820 With outen / any lenger taryynge Amorwe / whan þat day / gan for to sprynge Vp roos oure hoost and was oure aller cok And gadrede vs togidre / alle in a flok Line 824 And forth we riden / a litel moore than paas Vn to the wateryng of Seint Thomas And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste And seyde lordynges / herkneth if yow leste Line 828 ¶ Ye woot youre foreward / and [I] it yow recorde If euen song / and morwe song accorde Lat se now / who shal telle the firste tale As euere mote I drynke / wyn or ale Line 832 Who so be / rebel to my Iuggement Shal paye / for al þat by the wey is spent Now draweth cut er þat we ferrer twynne He / which þat hath the shorteste shal bigynne Line 836 Sire knyght quod he / my mayster and my lord Now draweth cut / for that is myn accord Cometh neer quod he / my lady Prioresse And ye sire clerk / lat be your shamefastnesse Line 840 Ne studieth noght / ley hond to euery man Anon to drawen / euery wight bigan And shortly / for to tellen as it was Were it by auenture / or sort or cas Line 844 The sothe is this / the cut fil to the knyght Of which / ful blithe and glad was every wyght And telle he moste his tale / as was reson By foreward / and by composicion Line 848 As ye han herd / what nedeth wordes mo An whan this goode man / saugh þat it was so As he / that wys was and obedient To kepe his foreward / by his free assent Line 852 He seyde / syn I shal bigynne the game

What welcome be the cut / a goddes name Now lat us ryde / and herkneth what I seye And with that word / we ryden forth oure weye Line 856 And he bigan / with right a myrie cheere His tale anon / and seyde in this manere

[folio 14a]

¶ Heere bigynneth the knyghtes tale

Iamque domos patrias Sithice post aspera gentis presia laurigero &c.

WHilom / as olde stories / tellen vs [[Painting of the Knight in the margin.]] Ther was a duc þat highte Theseus Of Atthenes / he was lord and gouernour Line 861 And in his tyme swich a Conquerour, That gretter / was ther noon vnder the Sonne fful many a riche contree hadde he wonne Line 864 That with his wysdom / and his chiualrie He conquered / al the regne of ffemenye That whilom / was ycleped Scithia And wedded[e] the queene ypolita Line 868 And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree With muchel glorie / and greet solempnytee And eek hir faire suster Emelye And thus / with victorie and with melodye Line 872 Lete I this noble duc / to Atthenes ryde An al his hoost in Armes hym bisyde ¶ And certes / if it nere / to long to heere I wolde yow haue toold / fully the manere Line 876 How wonnen was the regne of ffemenye By Theseus / and by his chiualrye And of the grete bataille for the nones Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones Line 880 And how asseged was ypolita The faire hardy queene of Scithia And of the feste / þat was at hir weddynge And of the tempest / at hir hoom comynge Line 884 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere I haue god woot / a large feeld to ere And wayke been / the Oxen in my Plough The remenant of the tale / is long ynough Line 888 I wol nat letten eek noon of this route

Lat euery felawe / telle his tale aboute And lat se now / who shal the soper wynne And ther I lefte / I wol ayeyn bigynne Line 892

This duc / of whom I make mencioun [¶ Narratio] Whan he was come / almoost vn to the toun In al his wele / and in his mooste pride He was war / as he caste his eye aside Line 896 Where that ther kneled in the weye A compaignye of ladyes / tweye and tweye Ech after oother / clad in clothes blake [folio 14b] But swich a cry / and swich a wo they make Line 900 That in this world / nys creature lyuynge That herde / swich another waymentynge And of this cry / they nolde neuere stenten Til they / the reynes of his brydel henten Line 904 ¶ What folk been ye / that at myn hom comynge Perturben so my feste / with criynge Quod Theseus / haue ye so greet enuye Of myn honour / þat thus compleyne and crye Line 908 Or who hath yow / mysboden or offended And telleth me / if it may been amended And why / þat ye been / clothed thus in blak ¶ The eldeste lady of hem alle spak Line 912 Whan she hadde swowned / with a deedly cheere That it was routhe / for to seen and heere And seyde lord / to whom ffortune hath yeuen Victorie / and as a Conqueror to lyuen Line 916 Nat greueth vs / youre glorie and youre honour But we / biseken mercy and socour Haue mercy on oure wo / and oure distresse Som drope of pitee / thurgh thy gentillesse Line 920 Vp on vs wrecched wommen / lat thou falle ffor certes lord / ther is noon of vs alle That she ne hath been / a duchesse / or a queene Now be we caytyues / as it is wel seene Line 924 Thanked be ffortune / and hire false wheel

That noon estat assureth to be weel And certes lord / to abyden youre presence Heere in the temple / of the goddesse clemence Line 928 We han ben waitynge / al this fourtenyght Now help vs lord / sith it is in thy myght ¶ I wrecche / which þat wepe and crie thus Was whilom wyf / to kyng Cappaneus Line 932 That starf at Thebes / cursed be that day And alle we that been in this array And maken / al this lamentacioun We losten / alle oure housbondes at that toun Line 936 Whil that the seege / ther aboute lay And yet now the olde Creon weylaway That lord is now / of Thebes the Citee ffulfild of Ire / and of Iniquitee Line 940 He for despit and for his tirannye To do the dede bodyes vileynye Of alle oure lordes / whiche that been slawe He hath alle the bodyes / on an heepe ydrawe Line 944 And wol nat suffren hem / by noon assent Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent But maketh houndes / ete hem in despit [folio 15a] And with that word / with outen moore respit Line 948 They fillen gruf / and criden pitously Haue on vs wrecched wommen som mercy And lat oure sorwe / synken in thyn herte ¶ This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte Line 952 With herte pitous / whan he herde hem speke Hym thoughte / þat his herte wolde breke Whan he saugh hem / so pitous and so maat That whilom weren / of so greet estaat Line 956 And in his Armes / he hem alle vp hente And hem conforteth / in ful good entente And swoor his ooth / as he was trewe knyght He wolde doon / so ferforthly his myght Line 960 Vp on the tiraunt Creon / hem to wreke

That all the peple of Grece / sholde speke How Creon / was of Theseus yserued As he þat hadde / his deeth ful wel deserued Line 964 And right anoon / with outen moore abood His Baner he desplayeth and forth rood To Thebesward / and al his hoost biside No neer Atthenes / wolde he go ne ride Line 968 Ne take his ese / fully half a day But onward on his wey / that nyght he lay And sente anon / ypolita the queene And Emelye / hir yonge suster sheene Line 972 Vn to the toun of Atthenes to dwelle And forth he rit ther is namoore to telle

The rede statue of Mars / with spere and targe So shyneth / in his white baner large Line 976 That alle the feeldes / glyteren vp and doun And by his Baner / born is his penoun Of gold ful riche / in which ther was ybete The Mynotaur / which þat he slough in Crete Line 980 ¶ Thus rit this duc thus rit this Conquerour And in his hoost of Chiualrie the flour Til þat he cam to Thebes and alighte ffaire in a feeld / ther as he thoughte fighte Line 984 But shortly / for to speken of this thyng With Creon / which þat was of Thebes kyng He faught / and slough hym manly as a knyght In pleyn bataille / and putte the folk to flyght Line 988 And by assaut he wan the Citee after And rente adoun / bothe wall and sparre and rafter And to the ladyes / he restored agayn The bones / of hir housbondes that weren slayn Line 992 To doon obsequies / as was tho the gyse But it were al to longe / for to deuyse The grete clamour / and the waymentynge [folio 15b] That the ladyes made / at the brennynge Line 996 Of the bodies / and the grete honour

That Theseus / the noble Conquerour Dooth to the ladyes / whan they from hym wente But shortly for to telle / is myn entente Line 1000 ¶ Whan þat this worthy duc this Theseus Hath Creon slayn / and wonne Thebes thus Stille in that feeld / he took al nyght his reste And dide with al the contree / as hym leste Line 1004 ¶ To ransake in the taas / of the bodyes dede Hem for to strepe / of harneys and of wede The pilours / diden bisynesse and cure After the bataille and disconfiture Line 1008 And so bifel / þat in the taas they founde Thurgh girt with many a greuous blody wounde Two yonge knyghtes / liggynge by and by Bothe in oon Armes / wroght ful richely Line 1012 Of whiche two / Arcita highte that oon And that oother knyght / highte Palamon Nat fully quyke / ne fully dede they were But by here Cote Armures / and by hir gere Line 1016 The heraudes / knewe hem best in special As they þat weren / of the blood roial Of Thebes / and of sustren two yborn Out of the taas / the pilours han hem torn Line 1020 And han hem caried / softe vn to the tente Of Theseus / and ful soone he hem sente To Atthenes / to dwellen in prison Perpetuelly / he nolde no raunson Line 1024 And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon He took his hoost and hoom he rood anon With laurer crowned / as a Conquerour And ther he lyueth / in ioye and in honour Line 1028 Terme of [his] lyue / what nedeth wordes mo And in a tour / in angwissh and in wo This Palamon / and his felawe Arcite ffor eueremoore / ther may no gold hem quite Line 1032 ¶ This passeth / yeer by yeer / and day by day

Till it fil ones / in a morwe of May That Emelye / þat fairer was to sene Than is the lylie / vpon his stalke grene Line 1036 And fressher than the May / with floures newe ffor with the Rose colour stroof hire hewe I noot which was the fyner of hem two Er it were day / as was hir wone to do Line 1040 She was arisen / and al redy dight ffor May wole haue / no slogardrie a nyght The seson / priketh / euery gentil herte [folio 16a] And maketh hym / out of his slepe to sterte Line 1044 And seith arys / and do thyn obseruance This maked Emelye / haue remembrance To doon honour to May / and for to ryse Yclothed was she / fressh for to deuyse Line 1048 Hir yelow heer / was broyded in a tresse Bihynde hir bak / a yerde long I gesse And in the gardyn / at the sonne vp riste She walketh vp and doun / and as hire liste Line 1052 She gadereth floures party / white and rede To make a subtil gerland for hire hede And as an Aungel / heuenysshly she soong The grete tour / þat was so thikke and stroong Line 1056 Which of the Castel / was the chief dongeon Ther as the knyghtes / weren in prison Of whiche I tolde yow / and tellen shal Was euene ioynant to the gardyn wal Line 1060 Ther as this Emelye / hadde hir pleyynge Bright was the sonne / and cleer that morwenynge And this Palamon / this woful prisoner As was his wone / bi leue of his gayler Line 1064 Was risen / and romed / in a chambre an heigh In which / he al the noble Citee seigh And eek the gardyn / ful of braunches grene Ther as this fresshe Emelye the sheene Line 1068 Was in hire walk and romed vp and doun

This sorweful prisoner / this Palamoun Goth in the chambre / romynge to and fro And to hym self / compleynynge of his wo Line 1072 That he was born / ful ofte he seyde allas And so bifel / by auenture or cas That thurgh a wyndow / thikke of many a barre Of Iren / greet and square as any sparre Line 1076 He cast his eye / vpon Emelya And ther with al he bleynte and cride .A. As though he stongen were vn to the herte And with that cry / Arcite anon vp sterte Line 1080 And seyde cosyn myn / what eyleth thee That art so pale / and deedly on to see Why cridestow / who hath thee doon offence ffor goddes love / taak al in pacience Line 1084 Oure prison / for it may noon oother be Fortune / hath yeuen vs this Aduersitee Som wikke aspect / or disposicion Of Saturne / by sum constellacion Line 1088 Hath yeuen vs this / al though we hadde it sworn So stood the heuene / whan þat we were born We moste endure / this is the short and playn [folio 16b] ¶ This Palamon answerde / and seyde agayn Line 1092 Cosyn for sothe / of this opinion Thow hast a veyn ymaginacion This prison caused me nat for to crye But I was hurt right now thurgh out myn eye Line 1096 In to myn herte / that wol my bane be The fairnesse / of that lady þat I see Yond in the gardyn / romen to and fro Is cause / of al my criyng and my wo Line 1100 I noot wher she be / womman or goddesse But Venus is it / soothly as I gesse And ther with al / on knees doun he fil And seyde Venus / if it be thy wil Line 1104 Yow in this gardyn / thus to transfigure

Bifore me / sorweful wrecche creature Out of this prison / helpe þat we may scapen And if so be / my destynee be shapen Line 1108 By eterne word / to dyen in prison Of oure lynage / haue som compassion That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye And with that word / Arcite gan espye Line 1112 Wher as this lady / romed to and fro And with that sighte / hir beautee hurte hym so That if that Palamon / [was] wounded sore Arcite is hurt as moche as he / or moore Line 1116 And with a sigh / he seyde pitously The fresshe beautee / sleeth me sodeynly Of hire / that rometh / in the yonder place And but I haue / hir mercy and hir grace Line 1120 That I may seen hire / atte leeste weye I nam but deed / ther is namoore to seye ¶ This Palamon / whan he tho wordes herde Dispitously / he looked and answerde Line 1124 Wheither seistow this / in ernest or in pley? ¶ Nay quod Arcite / in ernest by my fey God helpe me so / me list ful yuele pleye ¶ This Palamon / gan knytte his browes tweye Line 1128 It nere quod he to thee / no greet honour ffor to be fals / ne for to be traitour To me / þat am thy cosyn and thy brother Ysworn ful depe / and ech of vs til oother Line 1132 That neuere for to dyen in the peyne Til þat deeth / departe shal vs tweyne Neither of vs / in loue to hyndre oother Ne in noon oother cas / my leeue brother Line 1136 But þat thou sholdest trewely forthren me In euery cas / as I shal forthren thee This was thyn ooth / and myn also certeyn [folio 17a] I woot right wel / thou darst it nat withseyn Line 1140 Thus artow of my conseil out of doute

And now / thow woldest falsly been aboute To loue my lady / whom I loue and serue And euere shal / til þat myn herte sterue Line 1144 Nay certes false Arcite / thow shalt nat so I loued hire first / and tolde thee my wo As to my conseil / and to my brother sworn To forthre me / as I haue toold biforn Line 1148 ffor which / thou art ybounden as a knyght To helpen me / if it lay in thy myght Or elles artow fals / I dar wel seyn ¶ This Arcite / ful proudly spak ageyn Line 1152 Thow shalt quod he / be rather fals than I And thou art fals / I telle thee outrely ffor paramour I loued hire first er thow What wiltow seyn / thou wistest nat yet now Line 1156 Wheither she be / a womman or goddesse Thyn is / affeccion of hoolynesse And myn is loue / as to a creature ffor which / I tolde thee myn auenture Line 1160 As to my cosyn / and my brother sworn I pose / that thow louedest hire biforn Wostow nat wel / the olde clerkes sawe That / who shal yeue a louere any lawe [¶ Quis legem det amantibus.] Loue is a gretter lawe / by my pan Than may be yeue / of any erthely man And therfore / positif lawe and swich decree Is broken al day for loue in ech degree Line 1168 A man moot nedes loue / maugree his heed He may nat flee it thogh he sholde be deed Al be she mayde / or wydwe / or elles wyf And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf Line 1172 To stonden in hir grace / namoore shal I ffor wel thou woost thy seluen verraily That thou and I / be dampned to prison Perpetuelly / vs gayneth no raunson Line 1176 We stryuen / as dide / the houndes for the boon

They foughte al day / and yet hir part was noon Ther cam a kyte / whil they weren so wrothe And baar awey the boon / bitwixe hem bothe Line 1180 And therfore / at the kynges court my brother Ech man for hym self / ther is noon oother Loue if thee list for I loue and ay shal And soothly / leeue brother this is al Line 1184 Heere in this prison / moote we endure And euerich of vs / take his auenture

GReet was the strif / and long / bitwix hem tweye [folio 17b] If that I hadde / leyser for to seye Line 1188 But to theffect / it happed on a day To telle it yow / as shortly as I may A worthy duc that highte Perotheus That felawe was / to duc Theseus Line 1192 Syn thilke day / that they were children lite Was come to Atthenes / his felawe to visite And for to pleye / as he was won[t] to do ffor in this world / he loued no man so Line 1196 And he loued hym / als tendrely agayn So wel they louede / as olde bookes sayn That whan þat oon was deed / soothly to telle His felawe wente / and soughte hym doun in helle Line 1200 But of that storie / list me nat to write Duc Perotheus / loued wel Arcite And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere And finally / at requeste and preyere Line 1204 Of Perotheus / with outen any raunson Duc Theseus / hym leet out of prison ffrely to goon / wher þat hym liste ouer al In swich a gyse / as I you tellen shal Line 1208 ¶ This was the forward / pleynly for tendite Bitwixen Theseus / and hym Arcite That if so were / þat Arcite were yfounde Euere in his lif / by day / or nyght or stounde Line 1212 In any contree / of this Theseus

And he were caught it was acorded thus That with a swerd / he sholde lese his heed Ther nas / noon oother remedie ne reed Line 1216 But taketh his leue / and homward he him spedde Lat hym be war / his nekke lith to wedde ¶ How greet a sorwe / suffreth now Arcite The deeth he feeleth / thurgh his herte smyte Line 1220 He wepeth / wayleth / crieth pitously To sleen hym self / he waiteth priuely He seyde allas / that day þat he was born Now is my prison / worse than biforn Line 1224 Now is me shape / eternally to dwelle Nat in my purgatorie / but in helle Allas / þat euere knew I Perotheus ffor elles / hadde I. dwelled with Theseus Line 1228 Yfetered in his prison eueremo Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo Oonly / the sighte of hire / whom þat I serue Though þat I neuere / hir grace may deserue Line 1232 Wolde han suffised / right ynough for me O deere cosyn / Palamon quod he Thyn is the victorie / of this auenture [folio 18a] fful blisfully in prison maistow dure Line 1236 In prison? certes nay / but in Paradys Wel hath ffortune / y-turned thee the dys That hast the sighte of hire / and I thabsence ffor possible is / syn thou hast hire presence Line 1240 And art a knyght a worthy and an able That som cas / syn ffortune is chaungeable Thow maist to thy desir / som tyme atteyne But I / þat am exiled and bareyne Line 1244 Of alle grace / and in so greet dispeir That ther nys erthe / water / fir / ne eir Ne creature / þat of hem maked is That may me heele / or doon confort in this Line 1248 Wel oughte I sterue / in wanhope and distresse

ffarwel / my lif / my lust and my gladnesse ¶ Allas / why pleynen folk so in commune Of puruieaunce of god / or of ffortune Line 1252 That yeueth hem ful ofte / in many a gyse Wel bettre / than they kan hem self deuyse Som man desireth / for to han richesse That cause is of his moerdre / or greet siknesse Line 1256 And som man wolde / out of his prison fayn That in his hous / is of his meynee slayn Infinite harmes / been in this mateere We witen nat what [thing] we preyen heere Line 1260 We faren / as he that dronke is as a Mous A dronke man woot wel / þat he hath an hous But he noot which the righte wey is thider And to a dronke man / the wey is slider Line 1264 And certes / in this world so faren we We seken faste / after felicitee But we goon wrong ful often trewely Thus may we seyn alle / and namely I Line 1268 That wende / and hadde a greet opinion That if I myghte / escapen from prison Thanne hadde I been in ioye / and perfit heele That now / I am exiled fro my wele Line 1272 Syn þat I may nat seen you Emelye I nam but deed / ther nys no remedye ¶ Vp on that oother syde / Palamon Whan þat he wiste / Arcite was agon Line 1276 Swich sorwe he maketh / þat the grete tour Resouned / of his youlyng and clamour The pure fettres / on his shynes grete Weren / of his bittre salte teeres wete Line 1280 Allas quod he / Arcita cosyn myn Of al oure strif / god woot the fruyt is thyn Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large [folio 18b] And of my wo / thow yeuest litel charge Line 1284 Thou mayst / syn thou hast wysdom and manhede

Assemblen / alle the folk / of oure kynrede And make a werre / so sharpe on this Citee That by som auenture / or som tretee Line 1288 Thow mayst haue hire to lady and to wyf ffor whom / þat I moste nedes lese my lyf ffor / as by wey of possibilitee Sith thou art at thy large / of prison free Line 1292 And art a lord / greet is thyn auauntage Moore than is myn / þat sterue here in a cage ffor I moot wepe / and wayle whil I lyue With al the wo / þat prison may me yeue Line 1296 And eek with peyne / þat loue me yeueth also That doubleth / al my torment / and my wo Ther with / the fyr of Ialousie vp sterte With Inne his brest and hente him by the herte Line 1300 So woodly / that he lyk was to biholde The Boxtree / or the Asshen dede and colde ¶ Thanne seyde he / o crueel gooddes þat gouerne This world / with byndyng of youre word eterne Line 1304 And writen in the table of Atthamaunt Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt What is mankynde / moore vn to you holde Than is the sheepe / þat rouketh in the folde Line 1308 ffor slayn is man / right as another beest And dwelleth eek / in prison and arreest And hath siknesse / and greet aduersitee And ofte tymes / gilt[e]lees pardee Line 1312 ¶ What gouernance / is in this prescience That gilt[e]lees / tormenteth Innocence And yet encresseth this / al my penaunce That man is bounden / to his observaunce Line 1316 ffor goddes sake / to letten of his wille Ther as a beest / may al his lust fulfille And whan a beest is deed / he hath no peyne But after his deeth / man moot wepe and pleyne Line 1320 Though in this world / he haue care and wo

With outen doute / it may stonden so The answere of this / lete I to dyuynys But well I woot þat in this world greet pyne ys Line 1324 Allas / I se a serpent or a theef / That many a trewe man / hath doon mescheef Goon at his large / and where hym list may turne But I moot been in prison / thurgh Saturne Line 1328 And eek thurgh Juno / Ialous and eek wood That hath destroyed / wel ny al the blood Of Thebes / with hise waste walles wyde [folio 19a] And venus / sleeth me on that oother syde Line 1332 ffor Ialousie / and fere of hym Arcite ¶ Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite And lete hym / in his prison stille dwelle And of Arcita / forth I wol yow telle Line 1336 ¶ The sonne passeth / and the nyghtes longe Encressen double wise / the peynes stronge Bothe / of the louere / and the prisoner I noot which hath the wofuller mester Line 1340 ffor shortly for to seyn / this Palamon Perpetuelly / is dampned to prison In cheynes and in fettres / to been deed And Arcite / is exiled vpon his heed Line 1344 ffor euere mo / as out of that contree Ne neuere mo / he shal his lady see

NOw loueres / axe I now this question Who hath the worse / Arcite / or Palamon? Line 1348 That oon may seen his lady / day by day But in prison / he moot dwelle alway That oother / wher hym list may ride or go But seen his lady / shal he neuere mo Line 1352 Now demeth as yow list ye that kan ffor I wol telle forth / as I bigan.

¶ Explicit prima Pars.

¶ Sequitur pars secunda.

Whan that Arcite / to Thebes comen was fful ofte a day / he swelte and seyde allas Line 1356 ffor seen his lady / shal he neuere mo And shortly / to concluden al his wo So muche sorwe / hadde neuere creature That is / or shal / whil þat the world may dure Line 1360 His slepe / his mete / his drynke / is hym biraft That lene he wexeth / and drye as is a shaft Hise eyen holwe / and grisly to biholde His hewe falow / and pale as Asshen colde Line 1364 And solitarie he was / and euere allone And waillynge al the nyght makynge his mone And if he herde / song or Instrument Thanne wolde he wepe / he myghte nat be stent Line 1368 So feble eek were hise spiritz and so lowe And chaunged so / that no man koude knowe His speche nor his voys / though men it herde And in his geere / for al the world he ferde Line 1372 Nat oonly / lik the loueris maladye [folio 19b] Of Hereos / but rather lyk Manye [¶ Mania] Engendred / of humour malencolik Biforn his owene Celle fantastik Line 1376 And shortly / turned was al vp so doun Bothe habit / and eek disposicioun Of hym this woful louere daun Arcite ¶ What sholde I / al day of his wo endite Line 1380 Whan he endured hadde / a yeer or two This crueel torment and this peyne and woo At Thebes in his contree / as I seyde Vp on a nyght / in sleepe as he hym leyde Line 1384 Hym thoughte / how that the wynged god Mercurie Biforn hym stood / and bad hym to be murie His slepy yerde / in hond he bar vprighte An hat he werede / vp hise heris brighte Line 1388

Line 1388 Arrayed was this god / as I took keepe As he was / whan þat Argus took his sleepe And seyde hym thus / to Atthenes shaltou wende Ther is thee shapen / of thy wo an ende Line 1392 And with that word / Arcite wook and sterte Now trewely / hou soore þat me smerte Quod he / to Atthenes / right now wol I fare Ne for the drede of deeth / shal I nat spare Line 1396 To se my lady / that I loue and serue In hire presence / I recche nat to sterue ¶ And with that word / he caughte a greet Mirour And saugh / þat chaunged was al his colour Line 1400 And saugh his visage / al in another kynde And right anon / it ran hym in his mynde That sith his face / was so disfigured Of maladye / the which he hadde endured Line 1404 He myghte wel / if þat he bar hym lowe Lyue in Atthenes / eueremoore vnknowe And seen his lady / wel ny day by day And right anon / he chaunged his array Line 1408 And cladde hym / as a poure laborer And al allone / saue oonly a Squier That knew his priuetee / and al his cas Which was disgised / pourely as he was Line 1412 To Atthenes / is he goon the nexte way And to the court he wente vp on a day And at the gate / he profreth his seruyse To drugge and drawe / what so men wol deuyse Line 1416 And shortly / of this matere for to seyn He fil in office / with a Chamberleyn The which þat dwellynge was with Emelye ffor he was wys / and koude soone espye Line 1420 Of euery seruant which that serueth here [folio 20a] Wel koude he / hewen wode / and water bere ffor he was yong / and myghty for the nones And ther to / he was long / and big of bones Line 1424

Line 1424 To doon / that any wight / kan hym deuyse A yeer or two / he was in this seruyse Page of the chambre / of Emelye the brighte And Philostrate / he seyde þat he highte Line 1428 But half / so wel / biloued a man as he Ne was ther neuere in Court of his degree He was so gentil of his condicioun That thurghout al the Court was his renoun Line 1432 They seyden / that it were a charitee That Theseus / wolde enhauncen his degree And putten hym / in worshipful seruyse Ther as he myghte / his vertu excercise Line 1436 And thus / with Inne a while / his name is spronge Bothe of hise dedes / and his goode tonge That Theseus / hath taken hym so neer That of his chambre / he made hym a Squier Line 1440 And gaf him gold / to mayntene his degree And eek men broghte hym / out of his contree ffrom yeer to yeer / ful pryuely his rente But honestly / and slyly he it spente Line 1444 That no man wondred / how þat he it hadde And thre yeer in this wise / his lif he ladde And bar hym so / in pees / and eek in werre Ther was no man / þat Theseus hath derre Line 1448 And in this blisse / lete I now Arcite And speke I wole / of Palamon a lite

IN derknesse and horrible / and strong prison Thise seuen yeer / hath seten Palamon Line 1452 fforpyned / what for wo / and for distresse Who feeleth / double soor heuynesse But Palamon / that loue destreyneth so That wood out of his wit he goth for wo Line 1456 And eek ther to / he is a prisoner Perpetuelly / noght oonly / for a yer ¶ Who koude ryme in englyssh proprely His martirdom / for sothe it am nat I. Line 1460

Line 1460 Therfore I passe / as lightly as I may ¶ It fel / that in the seuenthe yer in May The thridde nyght as olde bookes seyn That al this storie / tellen moore pleyn Line 1464 Were it by auenture or / destynee As whan a thyng is shapen / it shal be That soone after the mydnyght Palamon By helpyng of a freend / brak his prison Line 1468 ¶ And fleeth the Citee / faste as he may go [folio 20b] ffor he hade yeue / his gayler drynke so Of a Clarree maad / of a certeyn wyn Of Nercotikes / and Opie of Thebes fyn [¶ Opium Thebaicum.] That al that nyght thogh þat men wolde him shake The gayler sleepe / he myghte nat awake ¶ And thus he fleeth / as faste as euere he may The nyght was short and faste by the day Line 1476 That nedes cost he moot hym seluen hyde And til a groue / faste ther bisyde With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamon ffor shortly / this was his opinion · Line 1480 That in that groue / he wolde hym hyde al day And in the nyght / thanne wolde he take his way To Thebes ward / his freendes for to preye On Theseus / to helpe him to werreye Line 1484 And shortly / outher he wolde lese his lif Or wynnen Emelye / vn to his wyf This is theffect and his entente pleyn ¶ Now wol I turne / to Arcite ageyn Line 1488 That litel wiste / how ny þat was his care Til þat ffortune / had broght him in the snare

The bisy larke / messager of day Salueth in hir song / the morwe gray Line 1492 And firy Phebus / riseth vp so brighte That al the Orient laugheth of the lighte And with hise stremes / dryeth in the greues The siluer dropes / hangynge on the leues Line 1496

Line 1496 And Arcita / that is in the court Roial With Theseus / his Squier principal Is risen / and looketh on the myrie day And for to doon / his obseruaunce to May Line 1500 Remembrynge / on the poynt of his desir He on a Courser / startlynge as the fir Is riden in to the feeldes / hym to pleye Out of the Court were it a myle or tweye Line 1504 And to the groue / of which þat I yow tolde By auenture / his wey / he gan to holde To maken hym / a gerland / of the greues Were it of wodebynde / or hawethorn leues Line 1508 And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene May / with alle thy floures and thy grene Wel come be thou / faire fresshe May In hope / þat I som grene gete may Line 1512 And from his courser / with a lusty herte In to a groue / ful hastily he sterte And in a path / he rometh vp and doun Ther as by auenture / this Palamon Line 1516 Was in a bussh / that no man myghte hym se [folio 21a] ffor soore aferd of his deeth / thanne was he No thyng ne knew he / that it was Arcite God woot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite Line 1520 But sooth is seyd / go sithen many yeres That feeld hath eyen / and the wode hath eres It is ful fair / a man to bere hym euene ffor al day / meeteth men at vnset steuene Line 1524 fful litel woot Arcite of his felawe That was so ny / to herknen al his sawe ffor in the bussh / he sitteth now ful stille ¶ Whan þat Arcite / hadde romed al his fille Line 1528 And songen al the roundel lustily In to a studie / he fil al sodeynly As doon thise loueres / in hir queynte geres Now in the crope / now doun in the breres Line 1532

Line 1532 Now vp / now doun / as boket in a welle Right as the friday / soothly for to telle Now it shyneth / now it reyneth faste Right so / kan geery Venus ouer caste Line 1536 The hertes of hir folk / right as hir day Is gereful / right so chaungeth she array Selde is the friday / al the wowke ylike ¶ Whan þat Arcite had songe / he gan to sike Line 1540 And sette hym doun / with outen any moore Allas quod he / that day þat I was bore How longe Iuno / thurgh thy crueltee Woltow werreyen Thebes the Citee Line 1544 Allas / ybroght is to confusion The blood roial / of Cadme and Amphion [¶ Cadmus] Of Cadmus / which þat was the firste man That Thebes bulte / or first the toun bigan Line 1548 And of the Citee / first was crouned kyng Of his lynage am I / and his of spryng / By verray ligne / as of the stok roial And now I am / so caytyf / and so thral Line 1552 That he / that is my mortal enemy I serue hym / as his squier pourely And yet / dooth Iuno me / wel moore shame ffor I dar noght biknowe myn owene name Line 1556 But ther as I / was wont to highte Arcite Now highte I Philostrate / noght worth a myte Allas thou felle Mars / allas Iuno Thus hath youre Ire / oure kynrede al fordo Line 1560 Saue oonly me / and wrecched Palamon That Theseus / martireth in prison And ouer al this / to sleen me outrely Loue hath / his firy dart so brennyngly Line 1564 Ystiked / thurgh my trewe careful herte [folio 21b] That shapen was my deeth / erst than my sherte Ye sleen me / with youre eyen Emelye Ye been the cause / wherfore þat I dye Line 1568

Line 1568 Of al the remenant of myn oother care Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare So þat I koude / doon aught to youre plesaunce And with that word / he fil doun in a traunce Line 1572 A longe tyme / and after he vp sterte ¶ This Palamon / þat thoughte þat thurgh his herte He felte a coold swerd / sodeynliche glyde ffor Ire he quook / no lenger wolde he byde Line 1576 And whan þat he / had herd Arcites tale As he were wood / with face / deed and pale He stirte hym vp / out of the buskes thikke And seide Arcite / false traytour wikke Line 1580 Now artow hent that louest my lady so ffor whom þat I haue / al this peyne and wo And art my blood / and to my conseil sworn As I ful ofte / haue seyd thee heer biforn Line 1584 And hast byiaped heere / duc Theseus And falsly / chaunged hast / thy name thus I wol be deed / or elles thou shalt dye Thou shalt nat / loue my lady Emelye Line 1588 But I wol loue hire oonly / and namo ffor I am Palamon / thy mortal foo And though þat I no wepene haue in this place But out of prison / am astert by grace Line 1592 I drede noght / þat outher thow shalt dye Or thow ne shalt nat louen Emelye Chees which thou wolt or thou shalt nat asterte ¶ This Arcite / with ful despitous herte Line 1596 Whan he hym knew / and hadde his tale herd As fiers as leon / pulled out his swerd And seyde thus / by god þat sit aboue Nere it / þat thou art sik and wood for loue Line 1600 And eek þat thow no wepne hast in this place Thou sholdest neuere / out of this groue pace That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond ffor I defye / the seurete and the bond Line 1604

Line 1604 Which that thou seist þat I haue maad to thee What verray fool / thynk wel / þat loue is fre And I wol loue hire / mawgree al thy myght But for as muche / thou art a worthy knyght Line 1608 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille Haue heer my trouthe / tomorwe I wol nat faile With oute wityng of any oother wight That heere / I wol be founden as a knyght Line 1612 And bryngen harneys / right ynough for thee [folio 22a] And chese the beste / and leue the worste for me And mete and drynke / this nyght wol I brynge Ynough for thee / and clothes for thy beddynge Line 1616 And if so be / that thou my lady wynne And sle me in this wode / ther I am Inne Thow mayst wel haue thy lady / as for me ¶ This Palamon answerde / I graunte it thee Line 1620 And thus they been departed / til amorwe Whan ech of hem / had leyd his feith to borwe

O Cupide / out of alle charitee O regne / þat wolt no felawe haue with thee Line 1624 fful sooth is seyd / þat loue ne lordshipe Wol noght hir thankes / haue no felaweshipe Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamon Arcite is riden anon / vn to the toun Line 1628 And on the morwe / er it were dayes light fful priuely / two harneys hath he dight Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille in the feeld / bitwix hem tweyne Line 1632 And on his hors / allone as he was born He carieth / al the harneys / hym biforn And in the groue / at tyme and place yset This Arcite / and this Palamon ben met Line 1636 To chaungen / gan the colour in hir face Right as the hunters / in the regne of Trace That stondeth at the gappe with a spere Whan hunted is / the leon and the bere Line 1640

Line 1640 And hereth hym / come russhyng in the greues And breketh / bothe bowes / and the leues And thynketh / heere cometh my mortal enemy With oute faile / he moot be deed / or I Line 1644 ffor outher / I moot sleen hym at the gappe Or he moot sleen me / if þat me myshappe So ferden they / in chaungyng of hir hewe As fer / as euerich of hem oother knewe Line 1648 ¶ Ther nas no good day ne no saluyng But streight with outen word / or rehersyng Euerich of hem / heelpe for to armen oother As freenly / as he were his owene brother Line 1652 And after that with sharpe speres stronge They foynen ech at oother wonder longe Thou myghtest wene / that this Palamon In his fightyng were [as] a wood leon Line 1656 And as a crueel Tigre was Arcite As wilde bores / gonne they to smyte That frothen whit as foom / for Ire wood Vp to the Anclee / foghte they in hir blood Line 1660 ¶ And in this wise / I lete hem fightyng dwelle [folio 22b] And forth I wole / of Theseus yow telle

The destinee / Ministre general That executeth / in the world ouer al Line 1664 The purueiaunce / that god hath seyn biforn So strong it is / þat though the world had sworn The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay Yet somtyme / it shal fallen on a day Line 1668 That falleth nat eft with Inne a thousand yeere ffor certeinly / oure appetites heere Be it of werre / or pees / or hate / or loue Al is this reuled / by the sighte aboue Line 1672 ¶ This mene I now / by myghty Theseus That for to hunten / is so desirus And namely / at the grete hert in May That in his bed / ther daweth hym no day Line 1676

Line 1676 That he nys clad / and redy for to ryde With hunte and horn / and houndes hym bisyde ffor in his huntyng . hath he swich delit That it is / al his ioye and appetit Line 1680 To been hym self / the grete hertes bane ffor after Mars / he serueth now dyane ¶ Cleer was the day / as I haue toold er this And Theseus / with alle ioye and blis Line 1684 With his ypolita / the faire queene And Emelye / clothed al in grene On huntyng be they riden roially And to the groue / that stood ful faste by Line 1688 In which ther was an hert as men hym tolde Duc Theseus / the streighte wey hath holde And to the launde / he rideth hym ful right/ ffor thider was the hert wont haue his flight Line 1692 And ouer a brook / and so forth in his weye This duc . wol han a cours at hym or tweye With houndes / swiche as hym list comaunde ¶ And whan this duc was come vn to the launde Line 1696 Vnder the sonne he looketh / and anon He was war / of Arcite and Palamon That foughten breme / as it were bores two The brighte swerdes / wenten to and fro Line 1700 So hidously / that with the leeste strook It semed / as it wolde fille an ook But what they were / no thyng he ne woot This duc his courser / with his spores smoot Line 1704 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two And pulled out a swerd / and cride hoo Namoore / vp on peyne of lesynge of youre heed By myghty Mars / he shal anon be deed Line 1708 That smyteth any strook . that I may seen [folio 23a] But telleth me / what mystiers men ye been That been so hardy / for to fighten heere With outen Iuge / or oother Officere Line 1712

Line 1712 As it were / in a lystes roially ¶ This Palamon / answerde hastily And seyde / sire / what nedeth wordes mo We haue / the deeth / disserued bothe two Line 1716 Two woful wrecches been we / two caytyues That been encombred / of oure owene lyues And as thou art a rightful lord and Iuge Ne yeue vs / neither mercy ne refuge Line 1720 But sle me first for seinte charitee But sle my felawe eek as wel as me Or sle hym first . for though thow knowest it lite This is thy mortal foo / this is Arcite Line 1724 That fro thy lond / is banysshed on his heed ffor which / he hath deserued to be deed ffor this is he / þat cam vn to thy gate And seyde / þat he highte Philostrate Line 1728 Thus hath he iaped thee / ful many a yer And thou hast maked hym thy chief Squier And this is he / that loueth Emelye ffor sith the day is come / þat I shal dye Line 1732 I make pleynly / my confession That I am / thilke woful Palamon That hath / thy prison broken wikkedly I am thy mortal foo / and it am I Line 1736 That loueth so hoote / Emelye the brighte That I wol dye / present in hir sighte Therfore I axe deeth / and my Iuwise But sle my felawe / in the same wise Line 1740 ffor bothe / han we deserued to be slayn ¶ This worthy duc answerde anon agayn And seyde / this is a short conclusion Youre owene mouth / by youre confession Line 1744 Hath dampned yow / and I wol it recorde It nedeth noght / to pyne yow with the corde Ye shal be deed / by myghty Mars the rede ¶ The queene anon / for verray wommanhede Line 1748

Line 1748 Gan for to wepe / and so dide Emelye And alle the ladyes / in the compaignye Greet pitee was it as it thoughte hem alle That euere / swich a chaunce sholde falle Line 1752 ffor gentil men they were / of greet estaat And no thyng but for loue was this debaat And saugh hir blody woundes / wyde and soore And alle crieden / bothe lasse and moore Line 1756 Haue mercy Lord / vp on vs wommen alle [folio 23b] And on hir bare knees / adoun they falle And wolde haue kist his feet ther as he stood Til at the laste / aslaked was his mood Line 1760 ffor pitee / renneth soone in gentil herte And though / he first for Ire quook and sterte He hath considered / shortly in a clause The trespas of hem bothe / and eek the cause Line 1764 And al though þat his Ire / hir gilt accused Yet in his reson / he hem bothe excused And thus / he thoghte wel þat euery man Wol helpe hym self in loue / if that he kan Line 1768 And eek deliuere hym self / out of prison And eek his herte hadde compassion Of wommen / for they wepen euere in oon And / in his gentil herte / he thoughte anon Line 1772 And softe vn to hym self / he seyde fy s Vp on a lord / that wol haue no mercy [¶ Notate domini.] But been a leon / bothe in word and dede To hem / þat been in repentance and drede Line 1776 As wel / as to a proud despitous man That wol maynteyne / that he first bigan That lord / hath litel of discrecion That in swich cas / kan no diuision Line 1780 But weyeth / pride and humblesse after oon And shortly / whan his Ire / is thus agoon He gan to looken vp / with eyen lighte And spak thise same wordes / al on highte Line 1784

Line 1784 ¶ The god of loue / A benedicite How myghty / and how greet a lord is he Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles He may be cleped a god / for hise myracles Line 1788 ffor he kan maken / at his owene gyse Of euerich herte / as þat hym list diuyse Lo heere this Arcite / and this Palamon That quitly weren / out of my prison Line 1792 And myghte / han lyued in Thebes roially And witen / I am hir mortal enemy And þat hir deth / lith in my myght also And yet hath loue / maugree hir eyen two Line 1796 [Y-]Broght hem hyder / bothe for to dye Now looketh / is nat that an heigh folye ¶ Who may [nat] been a fole / but if he loue Bihoold / for goddes sake þat sit aboue Line 1800 Se how they blede / be they noght wel arrayed Thus hath hir lord / the god of loue ypayed Hir wages / and hir fees / for hir seruyse And yet they wenen / for to been ful wyse Line 1804 That seruen loue / for aught that may bifalle [folio 24a] But this is yet the beste game of alle That she / for whom they han this Iolitee Kan hem ther fore / as muche thank / as me Line 1808 She woot namoore / of al this hoote fare By god / than woot a Cokkow of an hare But all moot ben assayed / hoot and coold A man moot ben a fool / or yong or oold Line 1812 I woot it by my self / ful yore agon ffor in my tyme / a seruant was I oon And therfore / syn I knowe of loues peyne And woot hou soore / it kan a man distreyne Line 1816 As he / þat hath / ben caught ofte in his laas I yow foryeue / al hoolly this trespaas At requeste of the queene / þat kneleth heere And eek of Emelye / my suster deere Line 1820

Line 1820 And ye shul bothe / anon vn to me swere That neuere mo / ye shal my contree dere Ne make werre vp on me nyght ne day But been my freendes / in al that ye may Line 1824 I yow foryeue / this trespas euery deel And they him sworen / his axyng faire and weel And hym of lordshipe / and of mercy preyde And he hem graunteth grace / and thus he seyde Line 1828

TO speke / of roial lynage and richesse Though þat she were a queene or a princesse Ech of you bothe / is worthy doutelees To wedden whan tyme is doutelees Line 1832 I speke / as for my suster Emelye ffor whom ye haue / this strif and Ialousye Ye woot your self she may nat wedden two Atones / though ye fighten eueremo Line 1836 That oon of you / al be hym looth or lief/ He moot[e] pipen / in an yuy leef This is to seyn / she may nat now han bothe Al be ye neuer so Ialouse / ne so wrothe Line 1840 And for thy / I yow putte in this degree That ech of yow / shal haue his destynee As hym is shape / and herkneth in what wyse Lo heere your ende / of that I shal deuyse Line 1844

My wyl is this / for plat conclusion With outen / any repplicacion If that you liketh / take it for the beste That euerich of you / shal goon where hym leste Line 1848 ffrely / with outen raunson / or daunger And this day fifty wykes / fer ne ner Euerich of you / shal brynge an hundred knyghtes Armed for lystes / vp at alle rightes Line 1852 ¶ Al redy / to darreyne hire by bataille [folio 24b] And this bihote I yow / with outen faille Vp on my trouthe / and as I am a knyght That wheither of yow bothe þat hath myght Line 1856

Line 1856 This is to seyn / that wheither he or thow May with his hundred / as I spak of now Sleen his contrarie / or out of lystes dryue Thanne shal I yeue / Emelya to wyue Line 1860 To whom þat ffortune / yeueth so fair a grace Tho lystes / shal I maken in this place And god so wisly / on my soule rewe As I shal euene Iuge been and trewe Line 1864 Ye shul noon oother ende / with me maken That oon of yow / ne shal be deed or taken And if yow thynketh / this is weel ysayd Seyeth youre auys / and holdeth you apayd Line 1868 This is youre ende / and youre conclusion ¶ Who looketh lightly now / but Palamon Who spryngeth vp for ioye / but Arcite Who kouthe telle / or who kouthe endite Line 1872 The ioye / þat is maked in the place Whan Theseus / hath doon so fair a grace But doun on knees / wente every maner wight And thonken hym / with al hir herte and myght Line 1876 And namely the Thebans often sithe And thus with good hope / and with herte blithe They taken hir leue / and homward gonne they ride To Thebes / with hise olde walles wyde Line 1880

¶ Explicit secunda pars

¶ Sequitur pars tercia

I trowe / men wolde deme it necligence If I foryete / to tellen the dispence Of Theseus / that gooth so bisily To maken vp / the lystes roially Line 1884 That swich a noble Theatre / as it was I dar wel seyn / in this world ther nas The circuit / a myle was aboute Walled of stoon / and dyched al with oute Line 1888 Round was the shape / in manere of compaas

fful of degrees / the heighte of sixty pas That whan a man / was set / on o degree He lette nat his felawe for to see Line 1892 ¶ Estward / ther stood a gate of Marbul whit/ Westward right swich another in the opposit ¶ And shortly to concluden / swich a place [folio 25a] Was noon in erthe / as in so litel space Line 1896 ffor in the lond / ther was no crafty man That geometrie or Ars Metrik kan Ne portreitour / ne keruere of ymages That Theseus / ne yaf [hem] mete and wages Line 1900 The Theatre / for to maken and deuyse And for to doon / his ryte and sacrifise He Estward / hath vp on the gate aboue In worshipe of Venus goddesse of loue Line 1904 Doon make an Auter / and an Oratorie And on the westward / in memorie Of Mars / he maked hath right swich another That coste largely / of gold a fother Line 1908 And Northward / in a Touret / on the wal Of Alabastre whit and reed coral An Oratorie / riche for to see In worshipe of Dyane of Chastitee Line 1912 Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse ¶ But yet hadde I foryeten to deuyse The noble keruyng and the portreitures The shape / the contenaunce and the figures Line 1916 That weren / in thise Oratories thre ¶ ffirst in the temple of Venus / maystow se Wroght on the wal / ful pitous to biholde The broken slepes / and the sikes colde Line 1920 The sacred teeris / and the waymentynge The firy strokes / and the desirynge That loues seruauntz / in this lyf enduren The othes / that her couenantz assuren Line 1924 Plesaunce and hope / desir foolhardynesse

Beautee and youthe / bauderie richesse Charmes and force / lesynges flaterye Despense / bisynesse and Ialousye Line 1928 That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland And a Cokkow / sittynge on hir hand ffestes / Instrumentz / caroles daunces Lust and array / and alle the circumstaunces Line 1932 Of loue / whiche þat I rekned haue / and rekne shal By ordre / weren peynted on the wal And mo / than I kan make of mencion ffor soothly / al the mount of Citheron Line 1936 Ther Venus / hath hir principal dwellynge Was shewed on the wal / in portreyynge With al the gardyn / and the lustynesse Nat was foryeten / the Porter ydelnesse Line 1940 Ne Narcisus the faire / of yore agon And yet the folye / of kyng Salamon ¶ And eek the grete strengthe of Ercules [folio 25b] Thenchauntementz of Medea and Circes Line 1944 Ne of Turnus / with the hardy fiers corage The riche Cresus / kaytyf / in seruage Thus may ye seen / þat wysdom ne richesse Beautee ne sleighte / strengthe hardynesse Line 1948 Ne may with Venus / holde champartie ffor as hir list the world than may she gye Lo alle thise folk so caught were in hir las Til they for wo / ful ofte seyde allas Line 1952 Suffiseth heere / ensamples oon or two And though / I koude rekene a thousand mo

The statue of Venus / glorious for to se Was naked / fletynge in the large see Line 1956 And fro the nauele doun / al couered was With wawes grene / and brighte as any glas A Citole / in hir right hand / hadde she And on hir heed / ful semely for to se Line 1960 A Rose gerland fressh / and wel smellynge

Aboue hir heed / hir dowues flikerynge Biforn hire / stood hir sone Cupido Vp on his shuldres / wynges hadde he two Line 1964 And blynd he was / as it was often seene A bowe he bar / and Arwes brighte and kene ¶ Why sholde I noght / as wel eek telle yow al The portreiture / that was vp on the wal Line 1968 With Inne the temple / of myghty Mars the rede Al peynted was the wal / in lengthe and brede Lyk to the estres / of the grisly place That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace Line 1972 In thilke colde / frosty Region Ther as Mars / hath his souereyn mansion ¶ ffirst on the wal / was peynted a forest In which ther dwelleth / neither man ne best Line 1976 With knotty knarry / bareyne trees olde Of stubbes sharpe / and hidouse to biholde In which ther ran / a rumbel and a swough As though a storm / sholde bresten euery bough Line 1980 And dounward from an hille / vnder a bente Ther stood the temple of Mars Armypotente Wroght al of burned steel / of which the entree Was long and streit and gastly for to see [.i. impetus] Line 1984 And ther out came a rage / and suche a veze That it made / al the gate for to rese The Northren lyght in at the dores shoon ffor wyndowe / on the wal ne was ther noon Line 1988 Thurgh which men myghten / any light discerne The dore was al / of Adamant eterne Yclenched / ouerthwart and endelong [folio 26a] With Iren tough / and for to make it strong Line 1992 Euery pyler the temple to sustene Was tonne greet of Iren bright and shene ¶ Ther saugh I first the dirke ymaginyng Of felonye / and the compassyng Line 1996 The crueel Ire / reed as any gleede

The pykepurs / and the pale drede The smylere / with the knyfe vnder the cloke The shepne / brennynge / with the blake smoke Line 2000 The treson / of the mordrynge in the bedde The open werre / with woundes al bibledde Contek with blody knyf and sharpe manace Al ful of chirkyng. was that sory place Line 2004 ¶ The sleere of hym self / yet saugh I ther His herte blood / hath bathed al his heer The nayl ydryuen / in the shode a nyght The colde deeth / with mouth gapyng vp right Line 2008 Amyddes of the temple / sat meschaunce With disconfort and sory contenaunce ¶ Yet saugh I woodnesse / laughynge in his rage Armed compleint out hees / and fiers outrage Line 2012 The careyne in the busk with throte ycorue A thousand slayn / and nat oon of qualm ystorue The tiraunt with the pray by force yraft The toun destroyed / ther was no thy[ng laft [[in a later hand]] ] ¶ Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres The hunte strangled / with the wilde beres The sowe / freten the child right in the Cradel The Cook yscalded / for al his longe ladel Line 2020 ¶ Noght was foryeten / by the Infortune of Marte The Cartere / ouer ryden with his Carte Vnder the wheel / ful lowe / he lay adoun ¶ Ther were also / of Martes diuisioun Line 2024 The laborer / and the Bocher and the Smyth That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his Styth ¶ And al aboue / depeynted in a tour Saugh I Conquest sittynge in greet honour Line 2028 With the sharpe swerd / ouer his heed Hangynge / by a soutil twynes threed ¶ Depeynted was / the slaughtre of Iulius Of grete Nero / and of Antonius Line 2032 Al be þat thilke tyme / they were vnborn

Yet was hir deth / depeynted ther biforn By manasynge of Mars / right by figure So was it shewed in that portreiture Line 2036 As is depeynted / in the Certres aboue Who shal be slayn / or elles deed for loue Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde [folio 26b] I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde Line 2040

The Statue of Mars / vp vn a Carte stood Armed / and looked grym as he were wood And ouer his heed / ther shynen two figures Of sterres / that been cleped in scriptures Line 2044 That oon Puella / that oother Rubeus This god of Armes / was arrayed thus A wolf ther stood / biforn hym at his feet With eyen rede / and of a man he eet Line 2048 With soutil pencel / was depeynted this storie In redoutynge / of Mars and of his glorie

NOw / to the temple / of Dyane the chaste As shortly as I kan I wol me haste Line 2052 To telle yow / al the descripsioun Depeynted been the walles vp and doun Of huntyng / and of shamefast chastitee ¶ Ther saugh I / how woful Calistopee Line 2056 Whan þat Diane / agreued was with here Was turned / from a womman to a Bere And after was she maad the loode sterre [¶ Vrsa maior] Thus was it peynted / I kan sey yow no ferre Line 2060 Hir sone is eek a sterre as men may see ¶ Ther saugh I Dane / yturned til a tree I mene nat the goddesse Diane But Penneus doughter / which þat highte Dane Line 2064 ¶ Ther saugh I Attheon / an hert ymaked ffor vengeance / þat he saugh Diane al naked I saugh / how þat hise houndes / haue hym caught And freeten hym / for þat they knewe hym naught Line 2068 ¶ Yet peynted / [was] a litel forther moor

How Atthalante / hunted the wilde boor And Meleagree / and many another mo ffor which Dyane / wroghte hym care and wo Line 2072 ¶ Ther saugh I / many another wonder storie The whiche / me list nat drawen to memorie ¶ This goddesse on an hert ful wel hye seet With smale houndes / al aboute hir feet Line 2076 And vndernethe hir feet she hadde a moone Wexynge it was / and sholde wanye soone In gaude grene / hir statue clothed was With bowe in honde / and Arwes in a cas Line 2080 Hir eyen caste she / ful lowe adoun Ther Pluto / hath his derke regioun ¶ A womman trauaillynge / was hire biforn But for hir child / so longe was vnborn Line 2084 fful pitously / Lucyna / gan she calle And seyde helpe / for thou mayst best of alle Wel koude he peynten lifly / that it wroghte [folio 27a] With many a floryn / he the hewes boghte Line 2088

NOw been the lystes maad / and Theseus That at his grete cost / arrayed thus The temples / and the Theatre euery deel Whan it was doon / hym lyked wonder weel Line 2092 But stynte I wole / of Theseus a lite And speke of Palamon / and of Arcite ¶ The day approcheth / of hir retournynge That euerich / sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge Line 2096 The bataille to darreyne / as I yow tolde And til Atthenes / hir couenantz for to holde Hath euerich of hem / broght an hundred knyghtes Wel armed for the werre / at alle rightes Line 2100 And sikerly / ther trowed many a man That neuere sithen / that the world bigan As for to speke / of knyghthod of hir hond As fer / as god hath maked see or lond Line 2104 Nas of so fewe / so noble a compaignye

ffor euery wight that louede chiualrye And wolde his thankes / han a passant name Hath preyd / þat he myghte been of that game Line 2108 And wel was hym / that ther to chosen was ffor if ther fille tomorwe swich a caas Ye knowen wel / þat euery lusty knyght That loueth paramours / and hath his myght Line 2112 Were it in Engelond / or elles where They wolde hir thankes / wilnen to be there To fighte for a lady / benedicitee It were a lusty sighte / for to see Line 2116 ¶ And right so / ferden they with Palamon With hym / ther wenten knyghtes many on Som wol ben armed in an haubergeon And in bristplate / and in a light gypon Line 2120 And somme woln haue / a paire plates large And somme woln haue / a Pruce sheeld / or a targe Somme woln ben armed / on hir legges weel And haue an Ax / and somme a Mace of steel Line 2124 Ther is no newe gyse / that it nas old Armed were they / as I haue yow told Everych / after his opinion Ther maistow seen / comynge with Palamon Line 2128 Lygurge hym self the grete kyng of Trace Blak was his berd / and manly was his face The cercles / of hise eyen in his heed They gloweden / bitwyxen yelow and reed Line 2132 And lik a grifphon / looked he aboute With kempe heeris / on hise browes stoute Hise lymes grete / hise brawnes harde and stronge [folio 27b] Hise shuldres brode / hise armes rounde and longe Line 2136 And as the gyse was in his contree fful hye / vpon a Chaar of gold / stood [he [[in a later hand]] ] With foure white boles in the trays In stede of Cote Armure / ouer his harnays Line 2140 With nayles yelewe / and brighte as any gold

He hadde a Beres skyn / colblak / for old His longe heer / was kembd / bihynde his bak As any Rauenes fethere / it shoon for blak Line 2144 A wrethe of gold arm greet / of huge wighte Vpon his heed / set ful of stones brighte Of fyne Rubyes / and of dyamauntz Aboute his Chaar / ther wenten white Alauntz Line 2148 Twenty and mo / as grete as any steer To hunten at the leon or [[MS. or / or]] / the deer And folwed hym / with mosel faste ybounde Colered of gold / and tourettes fyled rounde Line 2152 An hundred lordes / hadde he in his route Armed ful wel / with hertes stierne and stoute

With Arcite / in stories as men fynde The grete Emetreus / the kyng of Inde Line 2156 Vp on a steede bay / trapped in steel Couered in clooth of gold / dyapred weel Cam ridynge / lyk the god of Armes Mars His Cote Armure / was of clooth of Tars Line 2160 Couched with perles / white and rounde and grete His sadel / was of brend gold newe ybete A Mantel [was] / vp on his shulder hangynge Brat ful of Rubyes rede / as fyr sparklynge Line 2164 His crispe heer / lyk rynges was yronne And that was yelow / and glytered as the sonne His nose was heigh / hise eyen bright citryn Hise lippes rounde / his colour was sangwyn Line 2168 A fewe frakenes / in his face yspreynd Bitwixen yelow / and somdel blak ymeynd And as a leon / he his lookyng caste Of fyue and twenty yeer / his age I caste Line 2172 His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge His voys / was as a trompe thondrynge Vp on his heed / he wered of laurer grene A gerland / fressh / and lusty for to sene Line 2176 Vp on his hand / he bar for his deduyt

An Egle tame / as any lilye whyt An hundred lordes / hadde he with hym there Al armed saue hir heddes / in al hir gere Line 2180 fful richely / in alle maner thynges ffor trusteth wel / þat dukes / Erles kynges Were gadered / in this noble compaignye [folio 28a] ffor loue / and for encrees of chiualrye Line 2184 Aboute this kyng ther ran on euery part fful many a tame leon / and leopard And in this wise / thise lordes alle and some Been on the Sonday to the Citee come Line 2188 Aboute pryme / and in the toun alight ¶ This Theseus / this duc this worthy knyght Whan he had broght hem / in to his Citee And Inned hem / euerich in his degree Line 2192 He festeth hem / and dooth so greet labour To esen hem / and doon hem al honour That yet men weneth / þat no maner wit Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it Line 2196 ¶ The Mynstralcye / the seruice / at the feeste The grete yiftes / to the meeste and leeste The riche array / of Theseus paleys Ne who sat first ne last vp on the deys Line 2200 What ladyes fairest been / or best daunsynge Or which of hem / kan dauncen best and synge Ne who moost felyngly speketh of loue What haukes / sitten on the perche aboue Line 2204 What houndes / liggen in the floor adoun Of al this / make I now no mencioun But al theffect that thynketh me the beste Now cometh the point and herkneth if yow leste Line 2208

The sonday nyght er day bigan to sprynge Whan Palamon / the larke herde synge Al though it nere nat day / by houres two Yet song the larke / and Palamon also Line 2212 With hooly herte / and with an heigh corage

He roos / to wenden on his pilgrymage Vn to the blisful Citherea benigne I mene Venus / honurable and digne Line 2216 And in hir houre / he walketh forth a paas Vn to the lystes / ther hire temple was And doun he kneleth / with ful humble cheer And herte soor / and seyde in this manere Line 2220

Faireste of faire / o lady myn Venus [¶ The preyere of Palamon.] Doughter to Ioue / and spouse of Vulcanus [¶ to Venus goddesse of loue.] Thow gladere / of the Mount of Citheron ffor thilke loue / thow haddest to Adoon Line 2224 Haue pitee / of my bittre teeris smerte And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte Allas / I ne haue / no langage to telle Theffectes / ne the tormentz of myn helle Line 2228 Myn herte / may myne harmes nat biwreye I am so confus / that I kan noght seye But mercy lady bright that knowest weele [folio 28b] My thought and seest what harmes þat I feele Line 2232 Considere al this / and rewe vp on my soore As wisly / as I shal for eueremoore Emforth my myght thy trewe seruant be And holden werre / alwey with chastitee Line 2236 That make I myn auow / so ye me helpe I kepe noght of Armes for to yelpe Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to haue victorie Ne renoun in this cas / ne veyne glorie Line 2240 Of pris of Armes / blowen vp and doun But I wolde haue / fully possessioun Of Emelye / and dye in thy seruyse ffynd thow the manere / hou and in what wyse Line 2244 I recche nat / but it may bettre be To haue victorie of hem / or they of me So that I haue / my lady in myne Armes ffor though so be / that Mars is god of Armes Line 2248 Youre vertu is so greet in heuene aboue

That if yow list I shal wel haue my loue ¶ Thy temple wol I worshipe eueremo And on thyn Auter / where I ride or go Line 2252 I wol doon sacrifice / and fires beete And if ye wol nat so / my lady sweete Thanne preye I thee / tomorwe / with a spere That Arcita / me thurgh the herte bere Line 2256 Thanne rekke I noght / whan I haue lost my lyf Though that Arcita / wynne hire to his wyf This is theffect and ende of my preyere Yif me my loue / thow blisful lady deere Line 2260 ¶ Whan the orison / was doon of Palamon His sacrifice he dide / and that anon fful pitously / with alle circumstance Al telle I noght as now / his obseruance Line 2264 But atte laste / the statue of Venus shook / And made a signe / wher by þat he took That his preyere / accepted was that day ffor thogh the signe / shewed a delay Line 2268 Yet wiste he wel / þat graunted was his boone And with glad herte / he wente hym hoom ful soone

The thridde houre in-equal that Palamon Bigan / to Venus temple for to gon Line 2272 Vp roos the sonne / and vp roos Emelye And to the temple of Dyane gan hye Hir maydens / þat she thider with hire ladde fful redily / with hem the fyr they ladde Line 2276 Thencens / the clothes / and the remenant al That to the sacrifice / longen shal The hornes fulle of Meeth / as was the gyse [folio 29a] Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise Line 2280 ¶ Smokynge the temple / ful of clothes faire This Emelye / with herte debonaire Hir body wessh / with water of a welle But hou she dide hir ryte / I dar nat telle Line 2284 But it be / any thing in general

And yet it were a game / to heeren al To hym þat meneth wel / it were no charge But it is good / a man been at his large Line 2288 ¶ Hir brighte heer was kempd vntressed al A coroune / of a grene ook / cerial Vp on hir heed was set ful fair and meete Two fyres / on the auter / gan she beete Line 2292 And dide hir thynges / as men may biholde In Stace of Thebes / and thise bookes olde Whan kyndled was the fyr / with pitous cheere Vn to Dyane / she spak as ye may heere Line 2296

Ochaste goddesse / of the wodes grene [¶ The preyere of Emelye / to] To whom bothe heuene and erthe and see is sene Queene of the regne of Pluto derk / and lowe [dyane goddesse of Maydens.] Goddesse of maydens / that myn herte hast knowe Line 2300 fful many a yeer / and woost what I desire As keepe me / fro thy vengeance and thyn Ire That Attheon / aboughte cruelly Chaste goddesse / wel wostow þat I Line 2304 Desire / to ben a mayden al my lyf Ne neuere wol I be no loue ne wyf I am thow woost yet of thy compaignye A mayde / and loue huntynge and venerye Line 2308 And for to walken / in the wodes wilde And noght to ben a wyf / and be with childe Noght wol I knowe / the compaignye of man Now helpe me lady / sith ye may and kan Line 2312 ffor tho thre formes / þat thou hast in thee And Palamon / that hath swich loue to me And eek Arcite / that loueth me so soore This grace I preye thee with oute moore Line 2316 And sende loue and pees / bitwixe hem two And fro me / turne awey hir hertes so That al hire hoote loue / and hir desir And al hir bisy torment and hir fir Line 2320 Be queynt or turned / in another place

And if so be / thou wolt do me no grace And if my destynee / be shapen so That I shal nedes haue oon of hem two Line 2324 As sende me hym / þat moost desireth me Bihoold goddesse / of clene chastitee The bittre teeris / that on my chekes falle [folio 29b] Syn thou art mayde / and kepere of vs alle Line 2328 My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserue And whil I lyue / a mayde I wol thee serue ¶ The fires brenne / vp on the Auter cleere Whil Emelye / was thus in hir preyere Line 2332 But sodeynly / she saugh a sighte queynte ffor right anon / oon of the fyres queynte And quyked agayn / and after that anon That oother fyr was queynt and al agon Line 2336 And as it queynte / it made a whistlynge As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge And at the brondes ende / out ran anon As it were / blody dropes many oon Line 2340 ffor which / so soore agast was Emelye That she was wel ny mad and gan to crye ffor she ne wiste / what it signyfied But oonly for the feere / thus hath she cried Line 2344 And weepe / that it was pitee for to heere And ther with al / Dyane gan appeere With bowe in honde / right as an hunteresse And seyde doghter / stynt thyn heuynesse Line 2348

Among the goddes hye / it is affermed [¶ The answere of Dyane] And by eterne word / writen and confermed [¶ to Emelye.] Thou shalt ben wedded vn to oon of tho That han for thee / so muchel care and wo Line 2352 But vn to which of hem / I may nat telle ffarwel / for I ne may no lenger dwelle The fires / whiche that on myn Auter brenne Shulle thee declare / er that thou go henne Line 2356 Thyn auenture of loue / as in this cas

And with that word / the Arwes in the Caas Of the goddesse / clateren faste and rynge And forth she wente / and made a vanysshynge Line 2360 ffor which / this Emelye / astoned was And seyde / what amounteth this Allas I putte me / in thy proteccion Dyane / and in thy disposicion Line 2364 And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye This is theffect ther is namoore to seye

The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this Arcite / vn to the temple walked is Line 2368 Of fierse Mars / to doon his sacrifise With alle the rytes / of his payen wyse With pitous herte / and heigh deuocion Right thus to Mars / he seyde his orison Line 2372

Ostronge god / that in the regnes colde [¶ The orison of Arcite] Of Trace / honoured art and lord yholde [¶ to Mars god of Armes] ¶ And hast in euery regne / and euery lond [folio 30a] Of armes / al the brydel in thyn hond Line 2376 And hem fortunest as thee lyst deuyse Accepte of me / my pitous sacrifise If so be that my youthe may deserue And þat my myght be worthy for to serue Line 2380 Thy godhede / þat I may been oon of thyne Thanne preye I thee / to rewe vp on my pyne ffor thilke peyne / and thilke hoote fir In which / thou whilom brendest for desir Line 2384 Whan þat thow vsedest the beautee Of faire yonge / fresshe Venus free And haddest hire / in armes at thy wille Al though thee ones / on a tyme mysfille Line 2388 Whan Vulcanus / hadde caught thee in his las And foond thee liggynge / by his wyf allas ffor thilke sorwe / that was in thyn herte Haue routhe as wel / vp on my peynes smerte Line 2392 I am yong and vnkonnynge as thow woost

And as I trowe / with loue offended moost That euere was / any lyues creature ffor she / þat dooth me / al this wo endure Line 2396 Ne reccheth neuere / wher I synke or fleete And wel I woot er she me mercy heete I moot with strengthe / wynne hire in the place And wel I woot withouten helpe or grace Line 2400 Of thee / ne may my strengthe noght auaille Thanne helpe me lord / tomorwe in my bataille For thilke fyr / that whilom brente thee As wel / as thilke fyr / now brenneth me Line 2404 And do / that I tomorwe haue victorie Myn be the trauaille / and thyn be the glorie Thy souereyn temple / wol I moost honouren Of any place / and alwey moost labouren Line 2408 In thy plesance / and in thy craftes stronge And in thy temple / I wol my baner honge And alle the Armes of my compaignye And euere mo / vn to that day I dye Line 2412 Eterne fir / I wol biforn thee fynde And eek to this auow / I wol me bynde My beerd / myn heer / that hongeth long adoun That neuere yet / ne felte offensioun Line 2416 Of rasour / nor of shere / I wol thee yeue And ben thy trewe seruant whil I lyue Now lord haue routhe vp on my sorwes soore Yif me the victorie / I aske thee namoore Line 2420

The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge The rynges / on the temple dore that honge And eek the dores / clatereden ful faste [folio 30b] Of which Arcita / som what hym agaste Line 2424 The fyres brenden / vp on the Auter brighte That it gan / al the temple for to lighte And sweete smel / the ground anon vp yaf And Arcita / anon his hand vp haf Line 2428 And moore encens / in to the fyr he caste

With othere rytes mo / and atte last The Statue of Mars / bigan his hauberk rynge And with that soun / he herde a murmurynge Line 2432 fful lowe and dym / and seyde thus / Victorie ffor which / he yaf to Mars / honour and glorie And thus with ioye / and hope wel to fare Arcite anon / vn to his In is fare Line 2436 As fayn as fowel / is of the brighte sonne ¶ And right anon / swich strif / ther is bigonne For thilke grauntyng in the heuene aboue Bitwixe Venus / the goddesse of love Line 2440 And Mars / the stierne god Armypotente That Iuppiter / was bisy it to stente Til that the pale / Saturnus the colde That knew so manye / of auentures olde Line 2444 ffoond / in his olde experience and art That he ful soone / hath plesed euery part As sooth is seyd / elde hath greet auantage In elde / is bothe wysdom and vsage Line 2448 Men may the olde at renne / and noght at rede Saturne anon / to stynten strif and drede Al be it that it is / agayn his kynde Of al this strif / he gan remedie fynde Line 2452 ¶ My deere doghter Venus / quod Saturne My cours / that hath so wyde for to turne Hath moore power / than woot any man Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan Line 2456 Myn is the prison / in the derke cote Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte The murmure and the cherles rebellyng The groynynge / and the pryuee empoysonyng Line 2460 I do vengeance / and pleyn correccion Whil[es] I dwelle / in signe of the leon Myn is the ruyne / of the hye halles The fallynge / of the toures / and of the walles Line 2464 Vp on the Mynour / or the Carpenter

I slow Sampson / shakynge the piler And myne be / the maladyes colde The derke tresons / and the castes olde Line 2468 My lookyng is the fader of pestilence Now weepe namoore / I shal doon diligence That Palamon / that is thyn owene knyght [folio 31a] Shal haue his lady / as thou hast him hight Line 2472 Though Mars shal helpe his knyght yet nathelees Bitwixe yow / ther moot be som tyme pees Al be ye noght of o compleccion That causeth al day swich diusion Line 2476 I am thyn Aiel / redy at thy wille Weepe now namoore / I wol thy lust fulfille ¶ Now wol I stynten / of the goddes above Of Mars / and of Venus goddesse of love Line 2480 And telle yow / as pleynly as I kan The grete effect for which that I bygan

¶ Explicit tercia pars

¶ Sequitur pars quarta

GReet was the feeste / in Atthenes that day And eek / the lusty seson of that May Line 2484 Made euery wight / to been in such plesaunce That al that Monday / Iusten they and daunce And spenten it in Venus heigh seruyse But by the cause / that they sholde ryse Line 2488 Eerly / for to seen the grete fight Vn to hir reste / wenten they at nyght And on the morwe / whan þat day gan sprynge Of hors and harneys / noyse and claterynge Line 2492 Ther was in the hostelryes al aboute And to the paleys / rood ther many a route Of lordes / vp on steedes and palfreys Ther maystow seen diuisynge of harneys Line 2496 So vnkouth and so riche / and wroght so weel Of goldsmythrye / of browdynge / and of steel

The sheeldes brighte / testeres / and trappures Gold hewen helmes / hauberkes / Cote Armures Line 2500 Lordes in paramentz / on hir courseres Knyghtes of retenue / and eek Squieres Nailynge the speres / and helmes bokelynge Giggynge of sheeldes / with layneres lacynge Line 2504 There as nede is / they weren no thyng ydel The fomy steedes / on the golden brydel Gnawynge / and faste the Armurers also With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro Line 2508 Yemen on foyte / and communes many oon With shorte staues / thikke as they may goon Pypes / trompes / Nakerers / Clariounes That in the bataille / blowen blody sounes Line 2512 The paleys / ful of peples vp and doun [folio 31b] Heere thre / ther ten / holdynge hir question Dyuynynge / of thise Thebane knyghtes two Somme seyden thus / somme seyde it shal be so Line 2516 Somme helden with hym / with the blake berd Somme with the balled / somme with the thikke herd Somme seyde / he looked grymme / and he wolde fighte He hath a sparth / of twenty pound of wighte Line 2520 Thus was the halle / ful of diuynynge Longe after / that the sonne gan to sprynge

The grete Theseus / that of his sleepe awaked With Mynstralcie / and noyse þat was maked Line 2524 Heeld yet the chambre / of his Paleys riche Til that the Thebane knyghtes / bothe yliche Honured / were / in to the paleys fet Duc Theseus / was at a wyndow set Line 2528 Arrayed / right as he were a god in Trone The peple / preesseth thiderward ful soone Hym for to seen / and doon heigh reuerence And eek to herkne / his heste and his sentence Line 2532 ¶ An heraud on a Scaffold made an Oo Til al the noyse of peple was ydo

And whan he saugh / the noyse of peple al stille Tho shewed he / the myghty dukes wille Line 2536 ¶ The lord / hath of his heih discrecion Considered / that it were destruccion To gentil blood / to fighten in the gyse Of mortal bataille / now in this emprise Line 2540 Wherfore / to shapen / þat they shal nat dye He wolde / his firste purpos modifye ¶ No man ther fore vp peyne of los of lyf No maner shot polax ne short[e] knyf Line 2544 In to the lystes sende / ne thider brynge Ne short swerd for to stoke / with poynt bitynge No man ne drawe / ne bere by his syde Ne no man shal / vn to his felawe ryde Line 2548 But o cours / with a sharpe ygrounde spere ffoyne if hym list on foote / hym self to were And he / that is at meschief shal be take And noght slayn / but be broght vn to the stake Line 2552 That shal ben ordeyned / on either syde But thider he shal by force / and there abyde ¶ And if so be / the [[chi-ef-]] chieftayn be take On outher syde / or elles sleen his make Line 2556 No lenger/ shal the turneiynge laste God spede you / gooth forth / and ley on faste With long swerd / and with Maces / fighteth youre fille Gooth now youre wey / this is the lordes will Line 2560

The voys of peple / touched the heuene [folio 32a] So loude cride they / with murie steuene God saue swich a lord / that is so good He wilneth no destruccion of blood Line 2564 Vp goon the trompes / and the melodye And to the lystes / rit the compaignye By ordinance / thurgh out the Citee large Hanged with clooth of gold and nat with sarge Line 2568 ¶ fful lik a lord / this noble duc gan ryde Thise two Thebans / vp on either side

And after rood / the queene and Emelye And after that another compaignye Line 2572 Of oon and oother / after hir degre And thus they passen / thurgh out the Citee And to the lystes / come they by tyme It nas not of the day / yet fully pryme Line 2576 Whan set was Theseus / ful riche and hye Ypolita the queene and Emelye And othere ladys / in degrees aboute Vn to the seettes preesseth al the route Line 2580 And westward / thurgh the gates vnder Marte [.i. sub Marte] Arcite / and eek the hondred of his parte With baner reed / is entred right anon ¶ And in that selue moment Palamon Line 2584 Is vnder Venus / Estward in the place With Baner whyt / and hardy chiere and face In al the world / to seken vp and doun So euene / with outen variacioun Line 2588 Ther nere / swiche compaignyes tweye ffor ther was noon so wys þat koude seye That any hadde / of oother auauntage Of worthynesse / ne of estaat ne age Line 2592 So euene were [they] chosen / for to gesse And in two renges / faire they hem dresse ¶ Whan þat hir names / rad were euerichon That in hir nombre / gyle were ther noon Line 2596 Tho were the gates shet and cried was loude Do now youre deuoir / yonge knyghtes proude ¶ The heraudes / lefte hir prikyng vp and doun Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun Line 2600 Ther is namoore to seyn / but west and Est In goon the speres / ful sadly in arrest In gooth the sharpe spore / in to the syde Ther seen men / who kan Iuste and who kan ryde Line 2604 Ther shyueren shaftes / vp on sheeldes thikke He feeleth / thurgh the herte spoon the prikke

Vp spryngen speres / twenty foot on highte Out gooth the swerdes / as the siluer brighte Line 2608 The helmes they tohewen / and toshrede [folio 32b] Out brest the blood / with stierne stremes rede With myghty maces / the bones they tobreste He thurgh the thikkeste / of the throng gan threste Line 2612 Ther semblen steedes stronge / and doun gooth al He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal He foyneth on his feet with his tronchon And he hym hurtleth / with his hors adoun Line 2616 He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake Maugree his heed / and broght vn to the stake As forward was right ther he moste abyde Another lad is / on that oother syde Line 2620 ¶ And som tyme / dooth hem Theseus to reste Hem to fresshen / and drynken if hem leste fful ofte a day / han thise Thebanes two Togydre ymet and wroght his felawe wo Line 2624 Vnhorsed hath / ech oother of hem tweye Ther nas no Tygre in the vale of Galgopheye Whan þat hir whelpe is stole / whan it is lite So crueel on the hunte / as is Arcite Line 2628 ffor Ielous herte / vpon this Palamon Ne in Belmarye / ther nys so fel leon That hunted is / or for his hunger wood Ne of his praye / desireth so the blood Line 2632 As Palamon / to sleen his foo Arcite The Ielous strokes / on hir helmes byte Out renneth blood / on bothe hir sydes rede ¶ Som tyme an ende / ther is of euery dede Line 2636 ffor er the sonne / vn to the reste wente The stronge kyng Emetreus / gan hente This Palamon / as he faught with Arcite And made his swerd / depe in his flessh to byte Line 2640 And by the force of twenty / is he take Vnyolden / and ydrawe vnto the stake

And in the rescus / of this Palamon The stronge kyng lygurge / is born adoun Line 2644 And kyng Emetreus / for al his strengthe Is born out of his sadel / a swerdes lengthe So hitte him Palamon er he were take But al for noght / he was broght to the stake Line 2648 His hardy herte / myghte hym helpe naught He moste abyde / whan that he was caught By force / and eek by composicion ¶ Who sorweth now / but woful Palamon Line 2652 That moot namoore / goon agayn to fighte And whan þat Theseus / hadde seyn this sighte Vn to the folk / þat foghten thus echon He cryde / hoo namoore / for it is doon Line 2656 ¶ I wol be trewe Iuge / and no partie [folio 33a] Arcite of Thebes / shal haue Emelie That by his fortune / hath hire faire ywonne Anon / ther is a noyse of peple bigonne Line 2660 ffor Ioye of this / so loude and heighe with alle It semed / that the lystes sholde falle

What kan now faire venus doon aboue What seith she now / what dooth this queene of loue But wepeth so / for wantynge of hir wille Til that hir teeres / in the lystes fille She seyde / I am ashamed doutelees ¶ Saturnus seyde / doghter hoold thy pees Line 2668 Mars hath his wille / his knyght hath al his boone And by myn heed / thow shalt been esed soone

The trompes / with the loude Mynstralcie The heraudes / that ful loude yolle and crie Line 2672 Been in hire wele / for Ioye of Daun Arcite But herkneth me / and stynteth now a lite Which a myracle / ther bifel anon ¶ This fierse Arcite / hath of his helm ydon Line 2676 And on a Courser / for to shewe his face He priketh endelong the large place

Lokynge vpward vp on Emelye And she agayn / hym caste a freendlich eye Line 2680 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And was al his [in] chiere / as in his herte ¶ Out of the ground / a furie Infernal sterte Line 2684 ffrom Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne ffor which his hors / for fere gan to turne And leepe aside / and foundred as he leepe And er that Arcite / may taken keepe Line 2688 He pighte hym / on the pomel of his heed [¶ Nota periculum.] That in the place he lay / as he were deed His brest tobrosten / with his sadel bowe As blak he lay / as any cole or crowe Line 2692 So was the blood / yronnen in his face Anon he was / yborn out of the place With herte soor / to Theseus paleys Tho was he koruen / out of his harneys Line 2696 And in a bed ybrought / ful faire and blyve ffor he was yet in memorie / and alyue And alwey / criynge after Emelye ¶ Duc Theseus / with al his compaignye Line 2700 Is comen hoom / to Atthenes his Citee With alle blisse / and greet solempnitee Al be it that this Auenture was falle He nolde noght disconforten hem alle Line 2704 Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye He shal been heeled / of his maladye ¶ And of another/ thyng / they weren as fayn [folio 33b] That of hem alle / was ther noon yslayn Line 2708 Al were they soore yhurt and namely oon That with a spere / was thirled his brest boon To othere woundes / and to broken armes Somme hadden salues / and somme hadden charmes Line 2712 ffermacies of herbes / and eek saue They dronken / for they wolde hir lymes haue

ffor which this noble duc as he wel kan Conforteth / and honoureth euery man Line 2716 And made reuel / al the longe nyght Vn to the straunge lordes / as was right Ne ther was holden / no disconfitynge But as a Iustes / or a tourneiynge Line 2720 ffor soothly / ther was no disconfiture ffor fallyng / nys nat but an Auenture Ne to be lad by force / vn to the stake Vnyolden / and with twenty knyghtes take Line 2724 O persone allone with outen mo And haryed forth / by Arm[e] / foot and too And eke his steede / dryuen forth with staues With footmen / bothe yemen and eek knaues Line 2728 It nas aretted hym no vileynye Ther may no man / clepen it cowardye ¶ ffor which anon / duc Theseus leet crye To stynten / alle rancour and enuye Line 2732 The gree / as wel of o syde as of oother And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother And yaf hem yiftes / after hir degree And fully / heeld a feeste / dayes three Line 2736 And conuoyed / the kynges worthily Out of his toun / a Iournee largely And hoom wente euery man the righte way Ther was namoore / but fare wel / haue good day Line 2740 Of this bataille / I wol namoore endite But speke of Palamon and of Arcyte

Swelleth the brest of arcite / and the soore Encreesseth at his herte / moore and moore Line 2744 The clothered blood / for any lechecraft Corrupteth / and is in his bouk ylaft That neither veyne blood / ne ventusynge Ne drynke of herbes / may ben his helpynge Line 2748 The vertu expulsif / or Animal ffro thilke vertu / cleped natural

Ne may the venym / voyden ne expelle The pipes of his longes / gonne to swelle Line 2752 And euery lacerte / in his brest adoun Is shent with venym and corrupcion Hym gayneth neither for to gete his lif [folio 34a] Vomyt vpward / ne dounward laxatif Line 2756 Al is tobrosten / thilke Regioun Nature hath now / no dominacioun And certeinly / ther Nature wol nat wirche ffare wel Phisik go ber the man to chirche Line 2760 This al and som / that Arcita moot dye ffor which / he sendeth / after Emelye And Palamon / that was his cosyn deere Thanne seyde he thus / as ye shal after heere Line 2764 ¶ Naught may / the woful spirit in myn herte Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte To yow my lady / that I loue moost But I biquethe / the seruyce of my goost Line 2768 To yow / abouen euery creature Syn þat my lyf / [it] may no lenger dure Allas the wo / allas the peynes stronge That I for yow haue suffred / and so longe Line 2772 Allas the deeth / allas myn Emelye Allas / departynge of our compaignye Allas myn hertes queene / allas my wyf Myn hertes lady / endere of my lyf/ Line 2776 What is this world / what asketh men to haue Now with his loue / now in his colde graue Allone / with outen any compaignye ffare wel / my swete foo / myn Emelye Line 2780 And softe taak me / in youre Armes tweye ffor loue of god / and herkneth what I seye

I haue heer / with my cosyn Palamon Had strif and rancour/ many a day agon Line 2784 ffor loue of yow / and for my Ialousye And Iuppiter / so wys my soule gye

To speken / of a seruant proprely With alle circumstances trewely Line 2788 That is to seyn / trouthe / honour knyghthede Wysdom / humblesse / estaat and heigh kynrede ffredom / and al that longeth to that Art So Iuppiter / haue of my soule part Line 2792 As in this world / right now ne knowe I non So worthy to ben loued as Palamon That serueth yow / and wol doon al his lyf And if that euere / ye shul ben a wyf Line 2796 fforyet nat Palamon / the gentil man And with that word / his speche faille gan And from his herte / vp to his brest was come The coold of deeth / that hadde hym ouercome Line 2800 And yet moore ouer / for in hise Armes two The vital strengthe is lost / and al ago Oonly / the intellect with outen moore [folio 34b] That dwelled in his herte / syk and soore Line 2804 Gan faillen / when the herte felte deeth Dusked hise eyen two / and failled breeth But on his lady yet caste he his eye His laste word / was mercy Emelye Line 2808 His spirit chaunged hous / and wente ther As I cam neuere / I kan nat tellen wher Therfore I stynte / I nam no diuinistre Of soules / fynde I nat in this Registre Line 2812 Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle Of hem / though þat they writen wher they dwelle Arcite is coold / ther Mars his soule gye Now wol I speken forth of Emelye Line 2816

Shrighte Emelye / and howleth Palamon And Theseus / his suster took anon Swownynge / and baar hire fro the corps away What helpeth it to tarien forth the day Line 2820 To tellen how she weepe / bothe eue and morwe ffor in swich cas / wommen haue swich sorwe

Whan þat hir housbond / is from hem ago That for the moore part they sorwen so Line 2824 Or ellis / fallen in swich maladye That at the laste / certeinly they dye ¶ Infinite / been the sorwes and the teeres Of olde folk / and eek of tendre yeeres Line 2828 In al the toun / for deeth of this Theban ffor hym ther wepeth / bothe child and man So greet a wepyng was ther noon certayn Whan Ector was ybroght / al fressh yslayn Line 2832 To Troye / allas the pitee þat was ther Cracchynge of chekes / rentynge eek of heer Why woldestow be deed / thise wommen crye And haddest gold ynough / and Emelye Line 2836 ¶ No man / myghte gladen Theseus Sauynge / his olde fader Egeus That knew / this worldes transmutacion As he hadde / seyn it / vp and doun Line 2840 Ioye after wo / and wo after gladnesse And shewed / hem ensamples and liknesse

Right as ther / dyed neuere man quod he [¶ Argumentum] That he ne lyuede in erthe / in som degree Line 2844 Right so / ther lyuede neuer man he seyde In al this world / þat som tyme he ne deyde This world / nys but a thurghfare ful of wo And we been pilgrymes / passynge to and fro Line 2848 Deeth is an ende / of euery worldes soore And ouer al this / yet seyde he muchel moore To this effect ful wisely / to enhorte [folio 35a] The peple / that they sholde hem reconforte Line 2852

Duc Theseus / with al his bisy cure Cast now / wher that the sepulture Of goode Arcite / may best ymaked be And eek moost honurable in his degree Line 2856 And at the laste / he took conclusion That ther as first Arcite and Palamon

Hadden for loue / the bataille hem bitwene That in that selue groue / swoote and grene Line 2860 Ther as he hadde / hise amorouse desires His compleynte / and for loue hise hoote fires He wolde make a fyr / in which the office ffuneral / he myghte al accomplice Line 2864 And leet comande anon / to hakke and hewe The okes olde / and leye hem on a rewe In colpons / wel arrayed for to brenne Hise Officers / with swifte feet they renne Line 2868 And ryden anon / at his comandement And after / this / Theseus hath ysent After a beere / and it al ouer spradde With clooth of gold / the richeste / þat he hadde Line 2872 And of the same suyte / he cladde Arcite Vp on his hondes / hadde he gloues white Eek on his heed / a coroune of laurer grene And in his hond / a swerd ful bright and kene Line 2876 He leyde hym bare the visage / on the beere Ther-with he weepe / that pitee was to heere And for the peple / sholde seen hym alle Whan it was day / he broghte hym to the halle Line 2880 That roreth / of the criyng and the soun ¶ Tho cam this woful Theban Palamon With flotery berd / and rugged asshy heeres In clothes blake / ydropped al with teeres Line 2884 And passynge othere / of wepynge Emelye The rewefulleste / of al the compaignye [And] In as muche / as the seruyce sholde be The moore noble / and riche in his degree Line 2888 Duc Theseus / leet forth thre steedes brynge That trapped were in steel al gliterynge And couered with the armes of daun Arcite Vp on thise steedes / grete and white Line 2892 Ther sitten folk of whiche oon baar his sheeld Another his spere / in his hondes heeld

The thridde baar with hym / his bowe Turkeys Of brend gold / was the caas / and eek the harneys Line 2896 And riden forth a paas / with sorweful cheere Toward the groue / as ye shul after heere The nobleste of the grekes / that ther were [folio 35b] Vp on hir shuldres / caryeden the beere Line 2900 With slak paas / and eyen rede and wete Thurgh out the Citee / by the maister strete That sprad was al with blak / and wonder hye Right of the same / is the strete ywrye Line 2904 Vp on the right hond / wente olde Egeus And on that oother syde / duc Theseus With vessel in hir hand / of gold ful fyn Al ful of hony / Milk and blood and wyn Line 2908 Eek Palamon / with ful greet compaignye And after that / cam woful Emelye With fyr in honde / as was that tyme the gyse To do the office / of funeral seruyse Line 2912

Heigh labour/ and ful greet apparaillynge Was at the seruice / and the fyr makynge That with his grene tope / the heuen [raughte] And twenty fadme of brede / the armes straughte Line 2916 This is to seyn / the bowes weren so brode Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode But how the fyr / was maked vp on highte And eek the names / that the trees highte Line 2920 As ook / firre / birch / Aspe / Alder / holm / popeler Wylugh / Elm / plane / Assh / box / chasteyn / lynde / laurer Mapul / thorn / bech / hasel / Ew / whippeltre How they weren fild / shal nat be toold for me Line 2924 Ne hou the goddes ronnen vp and doun Disherited / of hire habitacioun In whiche they woneden / in reste and pees Nymphus / ffawnes / and Amadrides Line 2928 Ne hou the beestes / and the briddes alle ffledden for fere / whan the wode was falle

Ne how the ground / agast was of the light That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright Line 2932 Ne how the fyr / was couched first with stree And thanne with drye stokkes / clouen a thre And thanne with grene wode and spicerye And thanne with clooth of gold / and with perrye Line 2936 And gerlandes / hangynge / with ful many a flour The Mirre / thencens / with al so greet odour Ne how Arcite / lay among al this Ne what richesse / aboute his body is Line 2940 Ne how that Emelye / as was the gyse Putte in the fyr / of funeral seruyse Ne how she swowned / whan men made fyr Ne what she spak ne what was hir desire Line 2944 Ne what Ieweles / men in the fyre caste Whan þat the fyr was greet and brente faste ¶ Ne how somme caste hir sheeld / and somme hir spere [folio 36a] And of hire vestimentz / whiche þat they were Line 2948 And coppes full of wyn / and Milk and blood In to the fyr / that brente / as it were wood Ne how the grekes / with an huge route Tries riden / al the place aboute Line 2952 Vp on the left hand / with a loud shoutynge And thries / with hir speres claterynge And thries / how the ladyes gonne crye And how / þat lad was homward Emelye Line 2956 Ne how Arcite / is brent to asshen colde Ne / how that lych wake / was yholde Al thilke nyght / ne how the grekes pleye The wake pleyes / ne kepe I nat to seye Line 2960 Who wrastleth best naked / with oille enoynt Ne who that baar hym best in no disioynt ¶ I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon Hoom til Atthenes / whan the pley is doon Line 2964 But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende And maken / of my longe tale an ende

By processe / and by lengthe of certeyn yeres Al styntyd is / the moornynge and the teres Line 2968 Of grekes / by oon general assent Thanne semed me / ther was a parlement At Atthenes / vpon certein poyntz and caas Among the whiche poyntz / yspoken was Line 2972 To haue with certein contrees alliance And have fully of Thebans obeissance ffor which / this noble Theseus anon Leet senden / after gentil Palamon Line 2976 Vnwist of hym / what was the cause and why But in hise blake clothes / sorwefully He cam / at his comandement in hye Tho sente / Theseus for Emelye Line 2980 Whan they were set and hust was al the place And Thesens / abiden hadde a space Er any word / cam fram his wise brest Hise eyen sette he / ther as was his lest Line 2984 And with a sad visage / he siked stille And after that right thus he seyde his wille

The firste moeuere of the cause aboue Whan he first made / the faire cheyne of loue Line 2988 Greet was theffect and heigh was his entente Wel wiste he why / and what ther of he mente ffor with that faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr / the eyr / the water and the lond Line 2992 In certeyn boundes / that they may nat flee That same prince / and that same moeuere quod he Hath stablissed / in this wrecched world adoun [folio 36b] Certeyne dayes / and duracioun Line 2996 To al / that is engendrid in this place Ouer the which[e] day / they may nat pace Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge Ther nedeth noght noon Auctoritee allegge Line 3000 ffor it is preeued / by experience But that me list declaren my sentence

Thanne may men / by this ordre wel discerne That thilke moeuere / stable is and eterne Line 3004 Wel may men knowe / but it be a fool That euery part dirryueth from his hool ffor nature / hath taken his bigynnyng Of no partie / or of cantel of a thyng Line 3008 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable Descendynge so / til it be corrumpable And therfore / of his wise purueiaunce He hath / so wel biset his ordinaunce Line 3012 That speces of thynges / and progressions Shullen enduren / by successions And nat eterne / with outen any lye This maystow vnderstonde / and seen it eye Line 3016

Loo the ook / þat hath so long a norisshynge [¶ Exemplum] ffrom tyme / þat it first bigynneth sprynge And hath so long a lif / as we may see Yet at the laste / wasted is the tree Line 3020 ¶ Considereth eek how that the harde stoon [¶ Exemplum] Vnder oure feet on which we trede and goon Yit wasteth it as it lyth by the weye The brode Ryuer / somtyme wexeth dreye Line 3024 The grete toures / se we wane and wende Thanne may ye se / þat al this thyng hath ende ¶ Of man and womman / seen we wel also That nedeth / in oon of thise termes two Line 3028 This is to seyn / in youthe / or elles age He moot be deed / the kyng as shal a page Som in his bed / som in the depe see Som in the large feeld / as men may se Line 3032 Ther helpeth noght al goth that ilke weye Thanne may I seyn [[se-yn]] / al this thyng moot deye ¶ What maketh this / but Iuppiter the kyng That is prince / and cause of alle thyng Line 3036 Conuertynge al / vn to his propre welle ffrom which it is dirryued / sooth to telle

And here agayns / no creature on lyue Of no degree / auailleth for to stryue Line 3040 ¶ Thanne is it wysdom / as it thynketh me To maken vertu of necessitee ¶ And take it weel / that we may nat eschue [folio 37a] And namely / that to vs alle is due Line 3044 And who so gruccheth ought he dooth folye And rebel is / to hym that al may gye And certeinly / a man hath moost honour To dyen / in his excellence and flour Line 3048 Whan he is siker / of his goode name Thanne hath he doon / his freend ne hym no shame And gladder / oghte his freend been of his deeth Whan with honour / vp yolden is his breeth Line 3052 Than whan his name / apalled is for age ffor al forgeten / is his vassellage Thanne is it best as for a worthy fame To dyen / whan þat he is best of name Line 3056 ¶ The contrarie of al this / is wilsulnesse Why grucchen we / why haue we heuynesse That goode Arcite / of Chiualrie flour Departed is / with duetee and honour Line 3060 Out of this foule prison of this lyf Why grucchen heere / his cosyn and his wyf Of his wel fare / that loued hem so weel Kan he hem thank? nay god woot neuer a deel Line 3064 That bothe his soule / and eek hem self offende And yet they mowe / hir lustes nat amende

What may I concluden / of this longe serye But after wo / I rede vs to be merye Line 3068 And thanken Iuppiter / of al his grace And er that we / departen from this place I rede [that] we make / of sorwes two O parfit ioye / lastynge eueremo Line 3072 And looketh now / wher moost sorwe is her Inne Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne

Suster quod he / this is my fulle assent With all thavys / heere of my parlement Line 3076 That gentil Palamon / thyn owene knyght That serueth yow / with wille / herte / and myght And euere hath doon / syn þat ye first hym knewe That ye shul of your grace / vp on hym rewe Line 3080 And taken hym / for housbonde and for lord Leue [[or Lene]] me youre hond / for this is oure accord Lat se now / of youre wommanly pitee He is a kynges brother sone pardee Line 3084 And though he were / a poure bacheler Syn he hath serued yow / so many a yeer And had for yow / so greet Aduersitee It moste been considered / leeueth me Line 3088 ffor gentil mercy / oghte to passen right ¶ Thanne seyde he thus / to Palamon ful right I trowe / ther nedeth litel sermonyng [folio 37b] To make yow / assente to this thyng Line 3092 Com neer / and taak youre lady by the hond Bitwixen hem / was maad anon the bond That highte matrimoigne / or mariage By al the conseil / and the Baronage Line 3096 ¶ And thus / with alle blisse and melodye Hath Palamon / ywedded Emelye And god / þat al this wyde world hath wroght Sende hym his loue / that it deere aboght Line 3100 ffor now is Palamon / in alle wele Lyuynge in blisse / in richesse and in heele And Emelye / hym loueth so tendrely And he hire / serueth so gentilly Line 3104 That neuere / was ther no word hem bitwene Of Ialousie / or any oother tene Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye And God saue / al this faire compaignye Amen Line 3108

¶ Heere is ended the knyghtes tale.

¶ Heere folwen the wordes / bitwene the hoost and the Millere.

Whan that the knyght had thus his tale ytoold In al the route / ne was ther yong ne oold That he ne seyde / it was a noble storie And worthy / for to drawen to memorie Line 3112 And namely the gentils euerichon Oure hoost lough / and swoor so moot I gon This gooth aright / vnbokeled is the Male Lat se now / who shal telle another tale Line 3116 ffor trewely / the game is wel bigonne Now telleth on sire Monk / if that ye konne Sumwhat to quite with the knyghtes tale The Millere / that for-dronken was al pale Line 3120 So that vnnethe / vp on his hors he sat He nolde aualen / neither hood ne hat Ne abyde no man / for his curteisie But in Pilates voys / he gan to crie Line 3124 And swoor by Armes / and by blood / and bones I kan a noble tale for the nones With which / I wol now quite / the knyghtes tale Oure hoost saugh / that he was dronke of ale Line 3128 And seyde / abyd Robyn my leeue brother Som bettre man / shal telle vs first another Abyde / and lat vs werken thriftily [folio 38a] ¶ By goddes soule quod he / that wol nat I Line 3132 ffor I wol speke / or elles go my wey Oure hoost answerde / tel on a deuele wey Thou art a fool / thy wit is ouercome ¶ Now herkneth quod the Millere alle and some Line 3136 But first I make a protestacioun That I am dronke / I knowe it by my soun And therfore / if that I mysspeke or seye Wyte it the Ale of Southwerk I [you] preye Line 3140

Line 3140 ffor I wol telle / a legende and a lyf Bothe of a Carpenter / and of his wyf How that a clerk / hath set the wrightes cappe ¶ The Reue answerde / and seyde stynt thy clappe Line 3144 Lat be / thy lewed dronken harlotrye It is a synne / and eek a greet folye To apeyren any man / or hym defame And eek to bryngen wyues in swich fame Line 3148 Thou mayst ynogh / of othere thynges seyn ¶ This dronke Millere / spak ful soone ageyn And seyde / leue brother Osewold Who hath no wyf / he is no Cokewold Line 3152 But I sey nat therfore / that thou art oon Ther been ful goode wyues many oon And euere / a thousand goode / ayeyns oon badde That knowestow wel thy self / but if thou madde Line 3156 Why artow angry / with my tale now I haue a wyf pardee / as wel as thow Yet nolde I / for the oxen in my plogh Take vp on me / moore than ynogh Line 3160 As demen of my self / that I were oon I wol bileue wel / that I am noon An housbonde / shal nat been Inquisityf Of goddes pryuetee / nor of his wyf Line 3164 So he may fynde goddes foyson there Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere ¶ What sholde I moore seyn / but this Millere He nolde his wordes / for no man forbere Line 3168 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere Mathynketh / that I shal reherce it heere And ther-fore euery gentil wight I preye ffor goddes loue / demeth nat that I seye Line 3172 Of yuel entente / but that I moot reherce Hir tales alle / be they bettre or werse Or elles / falsen som of my mateere And therfore / who so list it nat yheere Line 3176

Line 3176 Turne ouer the leef / and chese another tale ffor he shal fynde ynowe / grete and smale Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse [folio 38b] And eek moralitee / and hoolynesse Line 3180 Blameth nat me / if that ye chese amys The Millere / is a cherl / ye knowe wel this So was the Reue / and othere manye mo And harlotrie // they tolden bothe two Line 3184 Auyseth yow / putteth me out of blame And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game [[Slight break in the MS.]]

¶ Heere bigynneth the Millere his tale.

WHilom / ther was dwellynge at Oxenford A riche gnof / that gestes heeld to bord Line 3188 And of his craft he was a Carpenter With hym / ther was dwellynge a poure scoler Hadde lerned Art but al his fantasye [[painting of the Miller]] Was turned / for to lerne Astrologye Line 3192 And koude / a certeyn of conclusions To demen / by Interrogacions If þat men asked hym / in certein houres Whan þat men sholde haue droghte or elles shoures Line 3196 Or if men asked hym / what sholde bifalle Of euery thyng / I may nat rekene hem alle ¶ This clerk was cleped / hende Nicholas Of deerne loue he koude and of solas Line 3200 And ther-to / he was sleigh / and ful priuee And lyk a mayden / meke for to see A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye Allone / with-outen any compaignye Line 3204 fful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote And he hym self / as sweete as is the roote Of lycorys / or any Cetewale His Almageste / and bookes grete and smale Line 3208 His Astrelabie / longynge for his Art/ His Augrym stones / layen faire a part/ On shelues / couched at his beddes heed His presse ycovered / with a faldyng reed Line 3212 And all aboue / ther lay a gay Sautrie On which / he made a nyghtes melodie So swetely / that al the chambre rong And Angelus ad virginem / he song Line 3216 And after that he song the kynges noote fful often / blessed was his myrie throte

And thus / this sweete clerk his tyme spente After his freendes fyndyng and his rente Line 3220 ¶ This Carpenter / hadde wedded newe a wyf Which that he louede / moore than his lyf / Of xviij. yeer / she was of Age [folio 39a] Ialous he was / and heeld hire narwe in cage Line 3224 ffor she was yong and wylde / and he was old And demed hym self been lik / a Cokewold He knew nat Catoun / for his wit was rude That bad / man sholde wedde his simylitude Line 3228 Men sholde wedden after hire estaat ffor youthe and elde / is often at debaat But sith that he / was fallen in the snare He moste endure / as oother folk his care Line 3232 ¶ ffair was this yonge wyf / and ther with al As any wezele / hir body / gent and smal A ceynt she werede / ybarred al of silk A barmclooth [eek] / as whit as morne Milk Line 3236 Vp on hir lendes / ful of many a goore Whit was hir smok / and broyden al bifoore And eek bihynde / on hir coler aboute Of colblak silk / with-Inne and eek with-oute Line 3240 The tapes / of hir white voluper Were of the same suyte of hir coler Hir filet brood of silk and set ful hye And sikerly / she hadde a likerous eye Line 3244 fful smale ypulled / were hire browes two And tho were bent / and blake as any sloo She was / ful moore blisful on to see Than is / the newe / pereionette tree Line 3248 And softer / than the wolle is of a wether And by hir girdel / heeng a purs of lether Tasseled with grene / and perled with latoun In al this world / to seken vp and doun Line 3252 There nas no man so wys / þat koude thenche So gay a popelote / or swich a wenche

fful brighter / was the shynyng of hir hewe Than in the tour / the noble yforged newe Line 3256 ¶ But of hir song / it was / as loude and yerne As any swalwe / sittynge on a berne Ther to / she koude skippe / and make game As any kyde / or calf / folwynge his dame Line 3260 Hir mouth was sweete / as bragot or the Meeth Or hoord of Apples / leyd in hey or heeth Wynsynge she was / as is a ioly colt Long as a Mast and vprighte as a bolt Line 3264 A brooch sche baar / vp on hir loue coler As brood / as is the boos of a bokeler Hir shoes were laced / on hir legges hye She was a prymerole / a piggesnye Line 3268 ffor any lord / to leggen in his bedde Or yet for any good yeman to wedde

NOw sire / and eft sire / so bifel the cas [folio 39b] That on a day / this hende Nicholas Line 3272 ffil with this yonge wyf / to rage and pleye Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye As clerkes / ben ful subtile / and ful queynte And priuely / he caughte hire by the queynte Line 3276 And seyde ywis / but if ich haue my wille ffor deerne loue of thee / lemman I spille And heeld hire harde / by the haunche bones And seyde / lemman loue me al atones Line 3280 Or I wol dyen / also god me saue And she sproong / as a colt doth in the traue And with hir heed / sche wryed faste awey And seyde / I wol nat kisse thee / by my fey Line 3284 Why lat be quod ich / lat be Nicholas Or I wol crie / out / harrow / and allas Do wey youre handes / for your curteisye ¶ This Nicholas / gan mercy for to crye Line 3288 And spak so faire / and profred hire so faste That she hir loue / hym graunted atte laste

And swoor hir ooth / by seint Thomas of Kent That she wol been / at his comandement Line 3292 Whan þat she may / hir leyser wel espie Myn housbonde / is so ful of Ialousie That but ye wayte wel / and been priuee I woot right wel / I nam but deed quod she Line 3296 Ye moste been ful deerne / as in this cas ¶ Nay ther of / care thee noght quod Nicholas A clerk hadde litherly / biset his whyle But if he koude / a Carpenter bigyle Line 3300 And thus they been / accorded and ysworn To wayte a tyme / as I haue told biforn ¶ Whan Nicholas / had doon thus euerideel And thakked hire / aboute the lendes weel Line 3304 He kist hire sweete / and taketh his sawtrie And pleyeth faste / and maketh melodie

Thanne fil it thus / þat to the paryssh chirche Cristes / owene werkes / for to wirche Line 3308 This goode wyf / went on an haliday Hir forheed shoon / as bright as any day So was it wasshen / whan she leet hir werk ¶ Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk Line 3312 The which / that was ycleped Absolon Crul was his heer / and as the gold it shoon And strouted as a ffanne / large and brode fful streight and euene / lay his ioly shode Line 3316 His rode was reed / hise eyen greye as goos With Powles wyndow / coruen on his shoos In hoses rede / he wente fetisly [folio 40a] Yclad he was / ful smal and proprely Line 3320 Al in a kirtel / of a lyght waget fful faire and thikke / been the poyntes set And ther vp on / he hadde a gay surplys As whit as is / the blosme vp on the rys Line 3324 A myrie child he was / so god me saue Wel koude he laten blood / and clippe and shaue

And maken a chartre of lond / or Acquitaunce In twenty manere / koude he trippe and daunce Line 3328 After the scole / of Oxenford[e] tho And with his legges / casten to and fro And pleyen songes / on a small Rubible Ther to / he song som tyme / a loud quynyble Line 3332 And as wel / koude he pleye / on his giterne In al the toun / nas Brewhous ne Tauerne That he ne visited / with his solas Ther any gaylard Tappestere was Line 3336 But sooth to seyn / he was somdel squaymous Of fartyng / and of speche daungerous ¶ This Absolon / þat iolif was and gay Gooth with a Sencer / on the haliday Line 3340 Sensynge the wyues / of the parisshe faste And many a louely look / on hem he caste And namely / on this Carpenteris wyf To loke on hire / hym thoughte a myrie lyf Line 3344 She was so propre / and sweete and likerous I dar wel seyn / if she hadde been a Mous And he a Cat / he wold hire hente anon ¶ This parissh clerk / this ioly Absolon Line 3348 Hath in his herte / swich a loue longynge That of no wyf / took he noon offrynge ffor curteisie / he seyde he wolde noon The Moone / whan it was nyght / ful brighte shoon Line 3352 And Absolon / his gyterne hath ytake ffor paramours / be thoghte for to wake And forth he gooth / iolif and amorous Til he cam / to the Carpenteres hous Line 3356 A litel / after Cokkes hadde ycrowe And dressed hym vp / by a shotwyndowe That was / vp on the Carpenteris wal He syngeth in his voys / gentil and smal Line 3360 Now deere lady / if thy wille be I pray yow / that ye wole thynke on me

fful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge This Carpenter awook / and herde synge Line 3364 And spak vn to his wyf / and seyde anon What Alison / herestow nat Absolon That chaunteth thus / vnder oure boures wal [folio 40b] And she answerde hir housbonde / ther with al Line 3368 Yis God woot Iohn / I heere it euery del ¶ This passeth forth / what wol ye bet than weel ffro day to day / to day / this ioly Absolon So woweth hire / that hym is wo bigon Line 3372 He waketh / al the nyght / and al the day He kembeth hise lokkes brode / and made hym gay He woweth hire / by meenes / and brocage And swoor / he wolde been hir owene page Line 3376 He syngeth brokkynge / as a nyghtyngale He sente hire pyment Meeth and spiced Ale And wafres / pipyng / hoot / out of the gleede And for she was of toune / he profreth meede Line 3380 ffor som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse And somme for strokes / and somme for gentillesse [¶ vnde Ouidius/ Ictibus Agrestis.] ¶ Somtyme / to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye He pleyeth Herodes vp on a Scaffold hye Line 3384 But what auailleth hym / as in this cas She loueth so / this hende Nicholas That Absolon / may blowe the bukkes horn He ne hadde / for his labour but a scorn Line 3388 And thus / she maketh Absolon hire Ape And al his ernest turneth til a Iape fful sooth is this prouerbe / it is no lye Men seyn right thus / alwey the nye slye Line 3392 Maketh / the ferre leeue to be looth ffor though that Absolon / be wood or wrooth By cause / that he fer was from hire sighte This nye Nicholas / stood in his lighte Line 3396

NOw bere thee wel / thou hende Nicholas ffor Absolon / may waille and synge allas

And so bifel it on a Saterday This Carpenter / was goon til Osenay Line 3400 And hende Nicholas and Alisoun Acorded been / to this conclusioun That Nicholas / shal shapen hym a wyle This sely Ialous housbonde to bigyle Line 3404 And if so be / the game wente aright She sholde slepen / in his arm al nyght ffor this was / his desir / and hire also And right anon / with-outen wordes mo Line 3408 This Nicholas / no lenger wolde tarie But dooth ful softe / vn to his chambre carie Bothe mete and drynke / for a day or tweye And to hire housbonde / bad hire for to seye Line 3412 If that he axed / after Nicholas She sholde seye / she nyste where he was Of al that day / she saugh hym nat with eye [folio 41a] She trowed / that he was in maladye Line 3416 ffor / for no cry / hir mayde koude hym calle He nolde answere / for thyng that myghte falle ¶ This passeth forth / al thilke Saterday That Nicholas / stille in his chambre lay Line 3420 And eet and sleepe / or dide what hym leste Til Sonday / that the sonne gooth to reste ¶ This sely Carpenter / hath greet merueyle Of Nicholas / or what thyng myghte hym eyle Line 3424 And seyde / I am adrad by Seint Thomas It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas God shilde / that he deyde sodeynly This world / is now ful tikel sikerly Line 3428 I saugh to day / a cors yborn to chirche That now / on monday last / I saugh hym wirche ¶ Go vp quod he / vn to his knaue anoon Clepe at his dore / or knokke with a stoon Line 3432 Looke how it is / and tel me boldely ¶ This knaue / gooth him vp ful sturdily

And at the chambre dore / whil that he stood He cride and knokked / as that he were wood Line 3436 What how / what do ye maister Nicholay How may ye slepen / al the longe day ¶ But al for noght he herde nat a word An hole he foond / ful lowe vp on a bord Line 3440 Ther as the Cat was wont In for to crepe And at that hole / he looked In ful depe And at the laste / he hadde of hym a sighte This Nicholas / sat capyng euere vp-righte Line 3444 As he had kiked / on the newe moone Adoun he gooth / and tolde his maister soone In what array / he saugh that ilke man ¶ This Carpenter / to blessen hym bigan Line 3448 And seyde / help vs seinte ffrydeswyde A man woot litel / what hym shal bityde This man is falle / with his Astromye In som woodnesse / or in som Agonye Line 3452 I thoghte ay wel / how that it sholde be Men sholde nat knowe / of goddes pryuetee Ye / blessed be alwey a lewed man That noght but oonly his bileue kan Line 3456 So ferde another clerk with Astromye He walked in the feeldes / for to prye Vp on the sterres / what ther sholde bifalle Til he was / in a Marleput yfalle Line 3460 He saugh nat that / but yet by seint [Thomas [[later hand]] ] Me reweth soore / of hende Nicholas He shal be rated / of his studiyng [folio 41b] If that I may / by Ihesus heuene kyng Line 3464 ¶ Get me a staf / that I may vnderspore Whil þat thou Robyn / heuest of the dore He shal / out of his studiyng as I gesse And to the chambre dore / he gan hym dresse Line 3468 His knaue / was a strong carl / for the noones And by the haspe / he haaf it of atones

In to the floor / the dore fil anon This Nicholas / sat ay as stille as stoon Line 3472 And euere caped vpward in to the Eir This Carpenter / wende he were in despeir And hente hym / by the sholdres myghtily And shook hym harde / and cride spitously Line 3476 What Nicholay / what how / what looke adoun Awake / and thenk on Cristes passioun I crouche thee / from Elues / and fro wightes Ther-with the nyghtspel / seyde he anonrightes Line 3480 On foure halues / of the hous aboute And on the thresshfold / of the dore with-oute Ihesu Crist and seint Benedight Blesse this hous / from euery wikked wight Line 3484 ffor nyghtes uerye / the white pater noster Where wentestow / seint Petres soster ¶ And atte laste / this hende Nicholas Gan for to sike soore / and seyde allas Line 3488 Shal al this world / be lost eftsoones now? ¶ This Carpenter / answerde / what seystow? What thynk on god / as we doon / men þat swynke ¶ This Nicholas answerde / fecche me drynke Line 3492 And after / wol I speke in pryuetee Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee I wol telle it noon oother man certeyn ¶ This Carpenter / goth doun / and comth ageyn Line 3496 And broghte / of myghty Ale a large quart And whan þat ech of hem / had dronke his part This Nicholas / his dore faste shette And doun the Carpenter / by hym he sette Line 3500 ¶ He seyde Iohn myn hoost lief and deere Thou shalt vp on thy trouthe swere me heere That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye ffor it is / cristes conseil that I seye Line 3504 And if thou telle man / thou art forlore ffor this vengaunce / thou shalt han therfore

That if thou wreye me / thou shalt be wood Nay Crist forbede it for his hooly blood Line 3508 Quod tho this sely man / I nam no labbe Ne though I seye / I am nat lief to gabbe Sey what thou wolt / I shal it neuere telle [folio 42a] To child ne wyf / by hym that harwed helle Line 3512

NOw Iohn quod Nicholas / I wol nat lye I have yfounde / in myn Astrologye As I haue looked / in the moone bright That now a monday next at quarter nyght Line 3516 Shal falle a reyn / and that so wilde and wood That half so greet was neuere Noees flood This world he seyde / in lasse than an hour Shal al be dreynt / so hidous is the shour Line 3520 Thus schal mankynde drenche / and lese hir lyf ¶ This Carpenter answerde / allas my wyf And shal she drenche / allas myn Alisoun ffor sorwe of this / he fil almoost adoun Line 3524 And seyde / is ther no remedie in this cas ¶ Why yis for gode / quod hende Nicholas If thou wolt werken / aftir loore and reed Thou mayst nat werken / after thyn owene heed Line 3528 ffor thus seith Salomon / that was ful trewe Werk al by conseil / and thou shalt nat rewe And if thou werken wolt by good conseil I vndertake / with-outen Mast and seyl Line 3532 Yet shal I sauen / hire / and thee / and me Hastow nat herd / hou saued was Noe? Whan þat oure lord / hadde warned hym biforn That al the world / with water sholde be lorn Line 3536 ¶ Yis quod this Carpenter / ful yoore ago ¶ Hastou nat herd / quod Nicholas also The sorwe of Noe / with his felaweshipe Er þat he myghte / brynge his wyf to shipe Line 3540 Hym hadde be leuere / I dar wel vndertake At thilke tyme / than alle hise wetheres blake

That she hadde had a shipe / hir self allone And ther-fore / woostou what is best to doone Line 3544 This asketh haste / and of an hastif thyng Men may nat preche / or maken tariyng ¶ Anon go gete vs faste in to this In A knedyng trogh / or ellis a kymelyn Line 3548 ffor ech of vs / but loke þat they be large In whiche / we mowe swymme as in a barge And han ther-Inne / vitaille suffisant But for a day / fy on the remenant Line 3552 The water shal aslake / and goon away Aboute pryme / vp on the nexte day But Robyn / may nat wite of this / thy knaue Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat saue Line 3556 Axe nat why /. for though thou aske me I wol nat tellen goddes pryuetee Suffiseth thee / but if thy wittes madde [folio 42b] To han as greet a grace / as Noe hadde Line 3560 Thy wyf shal I wel sauen / out of doute Go now thy wey / and speed thee heer aboute ¶ But whan thou hast for hire and thee and me Ygeten vs / thise knedyng tubbes thre Line 3564 Thanne shaltow hange hem / in the roof ful hye That no man / of oure purueiaunce spye And whan thou thus hast doon / as I haue seyd And hast oure vitaille / faire in hem yleyd Line 3568 And eek an Ax / to smyte the corde atwo Whan þat the water comth / that we may go And broke an hole / an heigh vp on the gable Vnto the gardynward / ouer the stable Line 3572 That we may frely / passen forth oure way Whan þat the grete shour / is goon away Thanne shal I swymme / as myrie I vndertake As dooth the white doke / after hire drake Line 3576 Thanne wol I clepe / how Alison / how Iohn Be myrie / for the flood wol passe anon

And thou wolt seyn / hayl maister Nicholay Good morwe / I se thee wel / for it is day Line 3580 And thanne / shul we be / lordes al oure lyf/ Of al the world / as Noe and his wyf/ ¶ But of o thyng I warne thee ful right Be wel auysed / on that ilke nyght Line 3584 That we ben entred / in to shippes bord That noon of vs / ne speke nat a word Ne clepe / ne crie / but been in his preyere ffor it is / goddes owene heeste deere Line 3588 ¶ Thy wyf and thou / moote hange fer atwynne ffor that bitwixe yow / shal be no synne Na moore in lookyng / than ther shal in deede This ordinance is seyd / so god thee speede Line 3592 Tomorwe at nyght whan folk ben alle aslepe In to our knedyng tubbes / wol we crepe And sitten there / abidyng goddes grace Go now thy wey / I haue no lenger space Line 3596 To make of this / no lenger sermonyng Men seyn thus / sende the wise / and sey no thyng Thou art so wys it needeth thee nat to preche Go saue oure lyf / and that I the biseche Line 3600 ¶ This sely Carpenter / goth forth his wey fful ofte / he seith allas and weylawey And to his wyf / he tolde his pryueetee And she was war / and knew it bet than he Line 3604 What al this queynte cast was for to seye But nathelees / she ferde as she wolde deye And seyde allas / go forth thy wey anon [folio 43a] Help vs to scape / or we been lost echon Line 3608 I am thy trewe / verray wedded wyf Go deere spouse / and help to saue oure lyf

LO / which a greet thyng / is Affeccion [¶ Auctor] Men may dyen / of ymaginacion Line 3612 So depe / may impression be take This sely Carpenter / bigynneth quake

Hym thynketh verraily / that he may see Noees flood / come walwynge as the see Line 3616 To drenchen Alisoun / his hony deere He wepeth / weyleth / maketh sory cheere He siketh / with ful many a sory swogh He gooth / and geteth hym a knedyng trogh Line 3620 And after that / a tubbe and a kymelyn And pryuely / he sente hem to his In And heng hem / in the roof in pryuetee His owene hand made laddres thre Line 3624 To clymben / by the ronges and the stalkes In to the tubbes / hangynge in the balkes And hem vitailleth / bothe trogh and tubbe With breed and chese / and good Ale in a Iubbe Line 3628 Suffisynge right ynogh / as for a day But er that he / hadde maad al this array He sente his knaue / and eek his wenche also Vp on his nede / to london for to go Line 3632 And on the Monday / whan it drow to nyght He shette his dore / with-oute candel lyght And dresseth alle thyng as it shal be And shortly / vp they clomben alle thre Line 3636 They sitten stille / wel a furlong way ¶ Now Pater noster / clom seyde Nicholay And clom quod Iohn / and clom seyde Alisoun This Carpenter / seyde his deuocioun Line 3640 And stille he sit / and biddeth his preyere Awaitynge on the reyn / if he it heere ¶ The dede sleepe / for wery bisynesse ffil on this Carpenter / right as I gesse Line 3644 Aboute corfew tyme / or litel moore ffor trauaille of his goost he groneth soore And eft he routeth / for his heed myslay Doun of the laddre / stalketh Nicholay Line 3648 And Alisoun / ful softe adoun she spedde With-outen wordes mo / they goon to bedde

Ther as the Carpenter / is wont to lye Ther was the reuel / and the melodye Line 3652 And thus [lith] Alison / and Nicholas In bisynesse / of myrthe and of solas Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge [folio 43b] And freres in the Chauncel gonne synge Line 3656

This parissh clerk / this Amorous Absolon That is for loue alwey so wo bigon Vp on the Monday / was at Oseneye With a compaignye / hym to disporte and pleye Line 3660 And axed vp on cas a Cloistrer fful priuely / after Iohn the Carpenter And he drough hym a part out of the chirche And seyde I noot I saugh hym heere nat wirche Line 3664 Syn Saterday / I trow that he be went ffor tymber / ther our Abbot hath hym sent ffor he is wont for tymber for to go And dwellen at the grange / a day or two Line 3668 Or elles / he is at his hous certeyn Where that he be / I kan nat soothly seyn ¶ This Absolon / ful ioly was and light And thoghte / now is tyme wake al nyght Line 3672 ffor sikirly I saugh him nat stirynge Aboute his dore / syn day bigan to sprynge ¶ So moot I thryue / I shal at cokkes crowe fful pryuely / knokke at his wyndowe Line 3676 That stant ful lowe / vp on his boures wal To Alison / now wol I tellen al My loue longynge / for yet I shal nat mysse That at the leste wey / I shal hire kisse Line 3680 Som maner confort shal I haue parfay My mouth hath icched al this longe day That is a signe of kissyng atte leste Al nyght me mette eek / I was at a feeste Line 3684 Therfore I wol goon slepe / an houre or tweye And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye

Whan that the firste cok hath crowe anon Vp rist this ioly louere Absolon Line 3688 And hym arraieth / gay at poynt deuys But first he cheweth greyn of lycorys To smellen sweete / er he hadde kembd his heer Vnder his tonge / a trewe loue he beer Line 3692 ffor ther-by / wende he to ben gracious He rometh / to the Carpenteres hous And stille he stant vnder the shot wyndowe Vn to his brist it raughte / it was so lowe Line 3696 And softe he knokketh / with a semy soun What do ye hony comb / sweete Alisoun My faire bryd / my sweete cynamome Awaketh lemman myn / and speketh to me Line 3700 Wel litel thynken ye / vp on my wo That for youre loue / I swete ther I go No wonder is / thogh that I swelte and swete [folio 44a] I moorne / as dooth a lamb after the tete Line 3704 Ywis lemman / I haue swich loue longynge That lik a turtel trewe / is my moornynge I may nat ete / na moore than a mayde ¶ Go fro the wyndow / Iakke fool she sayde Line 3708 As help me god / it wol nat be com pa me I loue another / and elles I were to blame Wel bet than thee / by Ihesu Absolon Go forth thy wey / or I wol caste a ston Line 3712 And lat me slepe / a twenty deuel wey ¶ Allas quod Absolon / and weylawey That trewe loue / was euere so yuel biset Thanne kys me / syn it may be no bet Line 3716 ffor Ihesus loue / and for the loue of me ¶ Wiltow thanne / go thy wey quod she? ¶ Ye certes lemman / quod this Absolon ¶ Thanne make thee redy quod she I come anon Line 3720 And vn to Nicholas / she seyde stille Now hust and thou shalt laughen al thy fille ¶ This Absolon / doun sette hym on his knees

And seyde / I am lord at alle degrees Line 3724 ffor after this / I hope ther cometh moore Lemman thy grace / and sweete bryd thyn oore ¶ The wyndow / she vndoth / and that in haste Haue do quod she / com of and speed the faste Line 3728 Lest that oure Neighebores / thee espie ¶ This Absolon / gan wype his mouth ful drie Dirk was the nyght as pich / or as the cole And at the wyndow / out she pitte hir hole Line 3732 And Absolon / hym fil no bet ne wers But with his mouth / he kiste hir naked ers fful sauourly / er he was war of this ¶ Abak he stirte / and thoughte it was amys Line 3736 ffor wel he wiste / a womman hath no berd He felte a thyng al rough / and long yherd And seyde / fy allas what haue I do ¶ Tehee quod she / and clapte the wyndow to Line 3740 And Absolon / gooth forth a sory pas ¶ A berd a berd / quod hende Nicholas By goddes corpus / this goth faire and weel ¶ This sely Absolon / herde euery deel Line 3744 And on his lippe / he gan for Anger byte And to hym self / he seyde l shal thee quyte ¶ Who rubbeth now / who froteth now his lippes With dust with sond / with straw / with clooth / with chippes But Absolon / that seith ful ofte allas Line 3749 My soule / bitake I vn to Sathanas But me were leuere / than al this toun quod he [folio 44b] Of this despit awroken for to be Line 3752 Allas quod he / allas I ne hadde ybleynt His hoote loue / was coold and al yqueynt ffor fro that tyme / that he hadde kiste hir ers Of paramours / he sette nat a kers Line 3756 ffor he was / heeled of his maladie fful ofte / paramours he gan deffie And weepe / as dooth a child that is ybete A softe paas / he wente ouer the strete Line 3760

Line 3760 Vn til a smyth / men cleped daun Gerueys That in his forge / smythed plough harneys He sharpeth shaar / and kultour bisily This Absolon / knokketh al esily Line 3764 And seyde / vndo Gerueys / and that anon ¶ What who artow? I am heere Absolon What Absolon / for Cristes swete tree Why rise ye so rathe / ey benedicitee Line 3768 What eyleth yow / som gay gerl god it woot Hath broght yow thus / vp on the viritoot By seinte note / ye woot wel what I mene ¶ This Absolon / ne roghte nat a bene Line 3772 Of al his pley / no word agayn he yaf He hadde / moore tow / on his distaf Than Gerueys knew / and seyde freend so deere That hoote kultour / in the chymenee heere Line 3776 As lene it me / I haue ther-with to doone And I wol / brynge it thee / agayn ful soone ¶ Gerueys answerde / certes were it gold Or in a poke / nobles alle vntold Line 3780 Thou sholdest have / as I am trewe smyth Ey cristes foo / what wol ye do ther-with? ¶ Ther of quod Absolon / be as be may I shal wel telle it thee / to morwe day Line 3784 And caughte the kultour / by the colde stele fful softe / out at the dore he gan to stele And wente / vn to the Carpenteris wal He cogheth first / and knokketh ther with al Line 3788 Vp on the wyndowe / right as he dide er ¶ This Alison answerde / Who is ther? That knokketh so / I warante it a theef ¶ Why nay quod he / god woot my sweete leef Line 3792 I am thyn Absolon / my deerelyng Of gold quod he / I haue thee broght a ryng My mooder yaf it me / so god me saue fful fyn it is / and ther-to wel ygraue Line 3796

Line 3796 This wol I yeue thee / if thou me kisse ¶ This Nicholas / was risen for to pisse And thoughte / he wolde amenden al the Iape [folio 45a] He sholde kisse his [ers] er that he scape Line 3800 And vp the wyndowe / dide he hastily And out his ers / he putteth pryuely Ouer the buttok / to the haunche bon And ther with / spak this clerk this Absolon Line 3804 Spek sweete bryd / I noot nat where thou art ¶ This Nicholas / anon leet fle a fart/ As greet as it had been a thonder dent That with the strook he was almoost yblent Line 3808 And he was redy / with his Iren hoot And Nicholas / amydde ers he smoot ¶ Of gooth the skyn / an hande brede aboute The hoote kultour / brende so his toute Line 3812 And for the smert he wende for to dye As he were wood / for wo he gan to crye Help / water / water / help for goddes herte ¶ This Carpenter / out of his slomber sterte Line 3816 And herde oon crien water / as he were wood And thoughte / Allas / now comth Nowelis flood He sit hym vp / with-outen wordes mo And with his Ax / he smoot the corde atwo Line 3820 And doun gooth al / he foond neither to selle Ne breed ne Ale / til he cam to the Celle Vp on the floor / and ther aswowne he lay ¶ Vp stirte hire / Alison and Nicholay Line 3824 And criden / out and harrow in the strete The neighebores / bothe smale and grete In ronnen / for to gauren on this man That yet aswowne he lay / bothe pale and wan Line 3828 ffor with the fal / he brosten hadde his Arm But stonde he moste / vn to his owene harm ffor whan he spak / he was anon bore doun With hende Nicholas / and Alisoun Line 3832

Line 3832 They tolden euery man / that he was wood He was agast so / of Nowelis flood Thurgh fantasie / that of his vanytee He hadde yboght hym / knedyng tubbes thre Line 3836 And hadde hem hanged / in the roue aboue And þat he preyde hem / for goddes loue To sitten in the roof / par compaignye ¶ The folk gan laughen / at his fantasye Line 3840 In to the roof / they kiken and they cape And turned al his harm / vn to a Iape ffor / what so / þat this Carpenter answerde It was for noght no man his reson herde Line 3844 With othes grete / he was so sworn adoun That he was holde wood in al the toun ffor euery clerk / anonright / heeld with oother [folio 45b] They seyde / the man was wood / my leeue broother Line 3848 And euery wight / gan laughen of this stryf/ Thus / swyued was / this Carpenteris wyf/ ffor al his kepyng and his Ialousye And Absolon / hath kist hir nether eye Line 3852 And Nicholas / is scalded in the towte This tale is doon / and god saue al the rowte

¶ Heere endeth the Millere his tale [[Slight break in the MS.]]

¶ The prologe / of the Reues tale

WHAN folk hadde laughen / at this nyce cas Of Absolon / and hende Nicholas Line 3856 Diuerse folk / diuersely they seyde But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde Ne at this tale / I saugh no man hym greue But it were oonly / Osewold the Reue Line 3860 By-cause / he was / of Carpenteris craft A litel Ire / in his herte ylaft He gan to grucche / and blamed it a lite ¶ So theek / quod he / ful wel koude I yow quite Line 3864 With bleryng of a proud Milleres eye If that me liste / speke of ribaudye But ik am oold / me list no pley for Age Gras tyme is doon / my fodder is now forage Line 3868 This white tope / writeth myne olde yeris Myn herte is mowled also as myne heris But if I fare / as dooth an Openers ¶ That ilke fruyt / is euer leng the wers Line 3872 Til it be roten / in Mullok or in stree We olde men / I drede so fare we Til we be roten / kan we nat be rype We hoppen ay / whil that the world wol pype Line 3876 ffor in oure wyl / ther stiketh euere a nayl To haue an hoor heed / and a grene tayl As hath a leek / for thogh oure myght be goon Oure wyl / desireth folie euere in oon Line 3880 ffor whan we may nat doon / than wol we speke Yet in oure Asshen olde / is fyr yreke ¶ ffoure gleedes han we / whiche I shal deuyse Avauntyng liyng Anger / Coueitise Line 3884 Thise foure sparkles / longen vn to eelde Oure olde lemes / mowe wel been vnweelde

But wyl ne shal nat faillen / that is sooth [folio 46a] And yet ik haue alwey a Coltes tooth Line 3888 As many a yeer / as it is passed henne Syn that my tappe of lif / bigan to renne ffor sikerly / whan I was bore / anon Deeth drough the tappe of lyf / and leet it gon Line 3892 And euer sithe / hath so the tappe yronne Til that almoost al empty is the tonne The streem of lyf / now droppeth on the chymbe The sely tonge / may wel rynge and chymbe Line 3896 Of wrecchednesse / that passed is ful yoore With olde folk saue dotage is namoore

Whan that oure hoost / hadde herd this sermonyng He gan to speke / as lordly as a kyng Line 3900 He seide / what amounteth al this wit What shul we speke alday of hooly writ The deuel / made a Reue for to preche And of a Soutere / Shipman or a leche Line 3904 Sey forth thy tale / and tarie nat the tyme Lo Depeford / and it is half wey pryme Lo Grenewych / ther many a shrewe is Inne It were al tyme / thy tale to bigynne Line 3908

NOw sires / quod this Osewold the Reue I pray yow alle / that ye nat yow greue Thogh I answere / and somdeel sette his howue ffor leueful is / with force force of showue [¶ vim vi repellere] ¶ This dronke Millere hath ytoold vs heer Line 3913 How that bigyled was a Carpenteer Perauenture in scorn / for I am oon And by youre leue / I shal him quite anoon Line 3916 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke I pray to god / his nekke mote breke He kan wel / in myn eye seen a stalke But in his owene / he kan nat seen a balke Line 3920

¶ Heere bigynneth the Reues tale

AT Trumpyngton / nat fer fro Cantebrigge Ther gooth a brook / and ouer that a brigge Vp on the which[e] brook / ther stant a Melle And this is verray sooth / þat I yow telle [[painting of the Reve]] A Millere / was ther dwellynge many a day Line 3925 As eny pecok he was proud and gay Pipen he koude and fisshe / and nettes beete And turne coppes / and wel wrastle and sheete Line 3928 And by his belt he baar a long panade And of a swerd / ful trenchant was the blade A ioly poppere / baar he in his pouche [folio 46b] Ther was no man / for peril / dorste hym touche Line 3932 A Sheffeld thwitel / baar he in his hose Round was his face / and camuse was his nose As piled as an Ape / was his skulle He was a Market betere atte fulle Line 3936 Ther dorste no wight / hand vp on hym legge That he ne swoor / he sholde anon abegge A theef he was / of corn and eek of Mele And that a sly / and vsaunt for to stele Line 3940 His name was hoote / deynous Symkyn A wyf he hadde / ycomen of noble kyn The person of the toun / hir fader was With hire he yaf / ful many a panne of bras Line 3944 ffor that Symkyn / sholde in his blood allye She was yfostred in a Nonnerye ffor Symkyn / wolde no wyf / as he sayde But if she were / wel ynorissed and a mayde Line 3948 To sauen his estaat of yomanrye And she was proud / and peert as is a pye A ful fair sighte / was it vp on hem two On haly dayes / biforn hire wolde he go Line 3952

Line 3952 With his typet / [y]bounde about his heed And she cam after / in a gyte of reed And Symkyn / hadde hosen of the same Ther dorste no wight / clepen hire but dame Line 3956 Was noon so hardy / that wente by the weye That with hire / dorste rage / or ones pleye But if / he wolde be slayn of Symkyn With panade / or with knyf / or boidekyn Line 3960 ffor Ialous folk / ben perilous eueremo Algate / they wolde hire wyues wenden so And eek / for she was somdel smoterlich She was as digne / as water in a dich Line 3964 As ful of hoker / and of bismare Hir thoughte / þat a lady sholde hire spare What for hire kynrede / and hir nortelrie That she hadde lerned in the Nonnerie Line 3968 ¶ A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two Of twenty yeer / with-outen any mo Sauynge a child / þat was of half yeer age In Cradel it lay / and was a propre page Line 3972 This wenche thikke / and wel ygrowen was With kamuse nose / and eyen greye as glas Buttokes brode / and brestes rounde and hye But right fair was hire heer / I wol nat lye Line 3976 ¶ This person of the toun / for she was feir In purpos was / to maken hire his heir Bothe of his catel / and his Mesuage [folio 47a] And straunge / he made it of hir mariage Line 3980 His purpos was / for to bistowe hire hye In to som worthy blood of Auncetrye ffor hooly chirches good / moot been despended On hooly chirches blood / that is descended Line 3984 Therfore / he wolde his hooly blood honoure Though / that he hooly chirche sholde devoure

Gret sokene / hath this Millere / out of doute With whete and Malt of al the land aboute Line 3988

Line 3988 And nameliche / ther was a greet Collegge Men clepen the Soler halle at Cantebregge Ther was hir whete / and eek hir malt ygrounde And on a day / it happed in a stounde Line 3992 Sik lay the Maunciple / on a maladye Men wenden wisly / that he sholde dye ffor which / this Millere / stal bothe mele and corn An hundred tyme / moore than biforn Line 3996 ffor ther biforn / he stal but curteisly But now / he was a theef outrageously ffor which / the wardeyn chidde and made fare But ther of / sette the Millere nat a tare Line 4000 He craketh boost / and swoor it was nat so ¶ Thanne were ther / yonge poure clerkes two That dwelten in this halle / of which I seye Testif they were / and lusty for to pleye Line 4004 And oonly / for hire myrthe and reuerye Vp on the wardeyn / bisily they crye To yeue hem leue / but a litel stounde To goon to Mille / and seen hir corn ygrounde Line 4008 And hardily / they dorste leye hir nekke The Millere shold nat stele hem / half a pekke Of corn by sleighte / ne by force hem reue And at the laste / the wardeyn yaf hem leue Line 4012 Iohn highte that oon / and Aleyn heet that oother Of o toun were they born / that highte Strother ffer in the North / I kan nat telle where ¶ This Aleyn / maketh redy al his gere Line 4016 And on an hors / the sak he caste anon fforth goth Aleyn the clerk / and also Iohn With good swerd / and bokeler by hir side Iohn knew the wey / hem neded no gyde Line 4020 And at the Mille / the sak adoun he layth Aleyn spak first / al hayl Symond yfayth Hou fares thy faire doghter / and thy wyf ¶ Aleyn welcome quod Symkyn / by my lyf Line 4024

Line 4024 And Iohn also / how now / what do ye heer ¶ Symond quod Iohn / by god nede has na peer Hym boes serue hym selne / that has na swayn [folio 47b] Or elles / he is a fool / as clerkes sayn Line 4028 Oure Manciple / I hope / he wil be deed Swa werkes ay / the wanges in his heed And forthy / is I come / and eek Alayn To grynde oure corn / and carie it ham agayn Line 4032 I pray yow / spede vs heythen that ye may ¶ It shal be doon / quod Symkyn by my fay What wol ye doon / whil that it is in hande ¶ By God / right by the hopur wil I stande Line 4036 Quod Iohn / and se / how that the corn gas In Yet saugh I neuere / by my fader kyn How that the hopur / wagges til and fra ¶ Aleyn answerde / Iohn wiltow swa Line 4040 Thanne wil I be bynethe / by my croun And se / how þat the Mele falles doun In to the trough / that sal be my disport ffor Iohn yfaith / I may been of youre sort Line 4044 I is / as ille a Millere / as are ye ¶ This Millere / smyled of hir nycetee And thoghte / al this nys doon / but for a wyle They wene / þat no man may hem bigile Line 4048 But by my thrift / yet shal I blere hir eye ffor al the sleighte / in hir Philosophye The moore queynte crekes / that they make The moore wol I stele / whan I take Line 4052 In stide of flour / yet wol I yeue hem bren The gretteste clerkes / been noght wisest men As whilom to the wolf / thus spak the Mare Of al hir Art [ne] counte I noght a tare Line 4056 ¶ Out at the dore / he gooth ful pryuely Whan þat he saugh / his tyme softely He looketh vp and doun / til he hath founde The clerkes hors / ther as it stood ybounde Line 4060

Line 4060 Bihynde the Mille / vnder a lefsel And to the hors / he goth hym faire and wel He strepeth of the brydel / right anon And whan the hors was laus / he gynneth gon Line 4064 Toward the fen / ther wilde Mares renne fforth with wehee / thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne ¶ This Millere gooth agayn / no word he seyde But dooth his note / and with the clerkes pleyde Line 4068 Til that hir corn / was faire and weel ygrounde And whan the Mele / is sakked and ybounde This Iohn goth out and fynt his hors away And gan to crie / harrow and weylaway Line 4072 Oure hors is lorn / Alayn for goddes banes Stepe on thy feet com out man al atanes Allas / our wardeyn / has his palfrey lorn [folio 48a] This Aleyn al forgat / bothe Mele and corn Line 4076 Al was out of his mynde / his housbondrie What whilk way is he geen / he gan to crie ¶ The wyf cam lepynge Inward with a ren She seyde allas / youre hors goth to the fen Line 4080 With wilde mares / as faste as he may go Vnthank come on his hand / that boond hym so And he þat bettre / sholde han knyt the reyne ¶ Allas quod Aleyn / for cristes peyne Line 4084 Lay doun thy swerd / and I wil myn alswa I is ful wight god waat as is a raa By god[des] herte / he sal nat scape vs bathe Why nadstow pit the Capul in the lathe Line 4088 Ilhayl / by god Aleyn / thou is a fonne ¶ This sely clerkes / han ful faste yronne To-ward the fen / bothe Aleyn and eek Iohn ¶ And whan the Millere / saugh þat they were gon Line 4092 He half a busshel / of hir flour hath take And bad his wyf / go knede it in [a] cake He seyde / I trowe the clerkes were aferd Yet kan a Millere / make a clerkes berd Line 4096

Line 4096 ffor al his Art now lat hem goon hir weye Lo wher they goon / ye lat the children pleye They gete hym nat so lightly / by my croun ¶ Thise sely clerkes / rennen vp and doun Line 4100 With keepe / keepe / stand / stand / Iossa warderere Ga whistle thou / and I shal kepe hym heere But shortly / til that it was verray nyght They koude nat / though they do al hir myght Line 4104 Hir capul cacche / he ran alwey so faste Til in a dych / they caughte hym atte laste

Wery and weet as beest is in the reyn Comth sely Iohn / and with him comth Aleyn Line 4108 Allas quod Iohn / the day that I was born Now are we dryue / til hethyng and til scorn Oure corn is stoln / me wil vs fooles calle Bathe the wardeyn / and oure felawes alle Line 4112 And namely / the Millere weylaway ¶ Thus pleyneth Iohn / as he gooth by the way Toward the Mille / and bayard in his hond The Millere / sittynge / by the fyr he fond Line 4116 ffor it was nyght and forther myghte they noght But for the loue of god / they hym bisoght Of herberwe and of ese / as for hir peny ¶ The Millere seyde agayn / if ther be eny Line 4120 Swich as it is / yet shal ye haue youre part/ Myn hous is streit but ye han lerned Art Ye konne by Argumentz / make a place [folio 48b] A myle brood / of twenty foot of space Line 4124 Lat se now / if this place may suffise Or make it rowm with speche / as in youre gise

Now Symond / seyde Iohn / by seint Cutberd Ay is thou myrie / and this is faire answerd Line 4128 I haue herd seyd / man sal taa / of twa thynges Slyk as he fyndes / or taa slyk as he brynges But specially / I pray thee hoost deere Get vs som mete and drynke / and make vs cheere Line 4132

Line 4132 And we wil payen / trewely atte fulle With empty hand / men may none haukes tulle Loo heere our siluer / redy for to spende ¶ This Millere / in to toun his doghter sende Line 4136 ffor Ale and breed / and rosted hem a goos And boond hire hors / it sholde nat goon loos And in his owene chambre / hem made a bed With sheetes and with chalons / faire yspred Line 4140 Noght from his owene bed / ten foot / or twelue His doghter hadde a bed / al by hir selue Right in the same chambre / by and by It myghte be no bet and cause why? Line 4144 Ther was no rommer herberwe in the place They soupen / and they speke hem to solace And drynke euere / strong ale atte beste Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste Line 4148 ¶ Wel hath this Millere vernysshed his heed fful pale he was for-dronken / and nat reed He yexeth / and he speketh / thurgh the nose As he were / on the quakke / or on the pose Line 4152 To bedde he goth / and with hym goth his wyf As any Iay / she light was and Iolyf So was hir ioly whistle wel y-wet The Cradel / at hir beddes feet is set Line 4156 To rokken / and to yeue the child to sowke And whan þat dronken / al was in the crowke To bedde / went the doghter right anon To bedde wente Aleyn / and also Iohn Line 4160 Ther nas na moore / hem neded no dwale This Millere / hath so wisely bibbed Ale That as an hors / he snorteth in his sleepe Ne of his tayl bihynde / he took no keepe Line 4164 His wyf bar him a burdon a ful strong Men myghte hir rowtyng heere two furlong The wenche rowteth eek / par compaignye ¶ Aleyn the clerk / that herd this melodye Line 4168

Line 4168 He poked Iohn / and seyde slepestow Herdtow euere slyk / a sang er now Lo whilk a cowplyng is ymel hem alle [folio 49a] A wilde fyr / vp on thair bodyes falle Line 4172 Wha herkned euere / slyk a ferly thyng Ye they sal haue / the flour of il endyng This lange nyght / ther tydes me na reste But yet nafors / al sal be for the beste Line 4176 ffor Iohn seyde he / als euere moot I thryue If þat I may / yon wenche wil I swyue Som esement has lawe yshapen vs ffor Iohn / ther is a lawe / that says thus Line 4180 That gif a man / in a point be ygreued That in another / he sal be releued Oure corn is stoln / shortly is ne nay And we han had / an il fit al this day Line 4184 And syn I sal haue neen amendement Agayn my los / I wil haue esement By God sale / it sal neen other bee ¶ This Iohn answerde / Alayn auyse thee Line 4188 The Millere / is a perilous man he seyde And gif that he / out of his sleepe abreyde He myghte doon vs / bathe a vileynye ¶ Aleyn answerde / I count hym nat a flye Line 4192 And vp he rist / and by the wenche he crepte This wenche lay vprighte / and faste slepte Til he so ny was / er she myghte espie That it had been / to late for to crie Line 4196 And shortly for to seyn / they were aton Now pley Aleyn / for I wol speke of Iohn

This Iohn lith stille / a furlong wey or two And to hym self / he maketh routhe and wo Line 4200 Allas quod he / this is a wikked Iape Now may I seyn / that I is but an Ape Yet has my felawe / som what for his harm He has / the Milleris doghter / in his Arm Line 4204

Line 4204 He auntred hym / and has his nedes sped And I lye / as a draf sek / in my bed And when this Iape is tald another day I sal been halde a daf a cokenay Line 4208 I wil arise / and auntre it by my fayth Vnhardy is vnseely / thus men sayth And vp he roos / and softely he wente Vn to the cradel / and in his hand it hente Line 4212 And baar it softe / vn to the beddes feet ¶ Soone after this / the wyf hir rowtyng leet And gan awake / and wente hire out to pisse And cam agayn / and gan hir cradel mysse Line 4216 And groped heer and ther / but she foond noon Allas quod she / I hadde almoost mysgoon I hadde almoost goon / to the clerkes bed [folio 49b] Ey benedicite / thanne hadde I foule y-sped Line 4220 And forth she gooth / til she the Cradel fond She gropeth / alwey forther with hir hond And foond the bed / and thoghte noght but good By cause / that the Cradel by it stood Line 4224 And nyste wher she was / for it was derk But faire and wel / she creepe In to the clerk And lith ful stille / and wolde han caught a sleepe With-Inne a while / this Iohn the clerk vp leepe Line 4228 And on this goode wyf / he leith on soore So myrie a fit hadde she nat ful yoore He priketh harde and soore / as he were mad This ioly lyf / han thise two clerkes lad Line 4232 Til that the thridde cok / bigan to synge ¶ Aleyn wax wery / in the dawenynge ffor he had swonken / al the longe nyght And seyde / fare weel Malyne sweete wight Line 4236 The day is come / I may no lenger byde But eueremo / wher so I go / or ryde I is thyn awen clerk swa haue I seel ¶ Now deere lemman quod she / go fareweel Line 4240

Line 4240 But er thow go / o thyng I wol thee telle Whan that thou wendest homward by the Melle Right at the entree / of the dore bihynde Thou shalt a Cake / of half a busshel fynde Line 4244 That was ymaked / of thyn owene mele Which that I heelpe / my fader for to stele And goode lemman / god thee saue and kepe And with that word / almoost she gan to wepe Line 4248

Aleyn vp rist / and thoughte / er þat it dawe I wol go crepen In / by my felawe And fond the Cradel / with his hand anon By God thoughte he / al wrang I haue mysgon Line 4252 Myn heed is toty / of my swynk to nyght That maketh me / that I go nat aright I woot wel by the Cradel / I have mysgo Heere lith the Millere / and his wyf also Line 4256 And forth he goth / a twenty deuel way Vn to the bed / ther as the Millere lay He wende have cropen / by his felawe Iohn And by the Millere In he creepe anon Line 4260 And caughte hym by the nekke / and softe he spak He seyde / thou Iohn / thou swynesheed awak ffor cristes saule / and heer a noble game ffor by that lord / that called is seint Iame Line 4264 As I haue thries / in this shorte nyght/ Swyued the Milleres doghter bolt vpright Whil thow hast as a Coward been agast [folio 50a] ¶ Ye false harlot quod the Millere hast? Line 4268 A false traitour / false clerk / quod he Thow shalt be deed / by goddes dignitee Who dorste be so boold / to disparage My doghter / that is come / of swich lynage Line 4272 And by the throte bolle / he caughte Alayn And he hente hym / despitously agayn And on the nose / he smoot hym with his fest Doun ran the blody streem / vp on his brest Line 4276

Line 4276 And in the floor / with nose and mouth to-broke They walwe / as doon two pigges in a poke And vp they goon / and doun agayn anon Til that the Millere / sporned at a stoon Line 4280 And doun he fil / bakward vp on his wyf/ That wiste no thyng / of this nyce stryf/ ffor she was falle aslepe a lite wight With Iohn the clerk / that waked hadde al nyght Line 4284 And with the fal / out of hir sleepe she breyde Help hooly croys of Bromholm / she seyde In manus tuas / lord to thee I calle Awak Symond / the feend is on vs falle Line 4288 Myn herte is broken / help I nam but deed Ther lyth oon / vp on my wombe / and on myn heed Helpe Symkyn / for the false clerkes fighte ¶ This Iohn stirte vp / as soone as euer he myghte Line 4292 And graspeth by the walles to and fro To fynde a staf / and she stirte vp also And knewe the Estres / bet than dide this Iohn And by the wal / a staf she foond anon Line 4296 And saugh / a litel shymeryng of a light ffor at an hole / In shoon the moone bright And by that light she saugh hem bothe two But sikerly / she nyste / who was who Line 4300 But as she saugh / a whit thyng in hir eye And whan she gan / the white thyng espye She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer And with the staf / she drough ay neer and neer Line 4304 And wende han hit this Aleyn at the fulle And smoot the Millere / on the pyled skulle And doun he gooth / and cride harrow I dye Thise clerkes beete hym weel / and lete hym lye Line 4308 And greythen hem / and tooke hir hors anon And eek hire mele / and on hir wey they gon And at the Mille / yet they tooke hir cake Of half a busshel flour / ful wel ybake Line 4312

Line 4312

Thus is the proude Millere wel ybete And hath ylost / the gryndynge of the whete And payed for the soper euerideel [folio 50b] Of Aleyn and of Iohn / þat bette hym weel Line 4316 His wyf is swyued / and his doghter als Lo swich it is / a Millere to be fals And therfore this prouerbe / is seyd ful sooth Hym thar nat wene wel / that yuele dooth Line 4320 A gylour / shal hym self bigyled be And god / þat sitteth heighe in Trinitee Saue al this compaignye / grete and smale Thus have I quyt the Millere in my tale Line 4324

¶ Heere is ended the Reues tale [[Slight break in the MS.]]

¶ The prologe of the Cokes Tale

The Cook of London / whil that the Reue spak ffor ioye him thoughte / he clawed him on the bak Ha . ha . quod he / for cristes passion This Millere / hadde a sharpe conclusion Line 4328 Vpon his argument / of herbergage Wel seyde Salomon / in his langage Ne brynge nat every man in-to thyn hous ffor herberwynge by nyghte is perilous Line 4332 Wel oghte a man / auysed for to be Whom that he broghte / in-to his pryuetee I pray to god / so yeue me sorwe and care If euere sitthe / I highte Hogge of Ware Line 4336 Herde I a Millere / bettre yset a werk He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk But god forbede / that we stynte heere [hic] And therfore / if ye vouche-sauf to heere [audire] Line 4340 A tale of me / that am a poure man I wol yow telle / as wel as euere I kan A litel iape / that fil in oure Citee ¶ Oure hoost answerde / and seide I graunte it thee Line 4344 Now telle on Roger / looke that it be good ffor many a pastee / hastow laten blood And many a Iakke of Douere hastow soold That hath been / twies hoot and twies coold Line 4348 Of many a pilgrym / hastow cristes curs ffor of thy percely / yet they fare the wors That they han eten / with thy stubbel goos ffor in thy shoppe / is many a flye loos Line 4352 Now telle on / gentil Roger by thy name But yet I pray thee / be nat wroth for game A man may seye ful sooth / in game and pley [folio 51a] ¶ Thou seist ful sooth / quod Roger by my fey Line 4356

Line 4356 But sooth pley quaad pley / as the flemyng seith And ther-fore / Herry Bailly / by thy feith Be thou na[t] wrooth / er we departen heer Though that my tale / be of an Hostileer Line 4360 But nathelees / I wol nat telle it yit But er we parte / ywis thou shalt be quit/ And ther with al / he lough and made cheere And seyde his tale / as ye shul after heere [[Slight break in the MS.]] Line 4364

¶ Heere bigynneth the Cookes tale

APrentys whilom dwelled / in oure Citee And of a craft of vitailliers was hee Gaillard he was / as Goldfynch in the shawe Broun as a berye / a propre short fel[a]we Line 4368 With lokkes blake / ykempd ful fetisly Dauncen he koude / so wel and iolily [[painting of the Cook]] That he was cleped Perkyn Reuelour He was / as ful of loue and paramour Line 4372 As is the hyve / ful of hony sweete Wel was the wenche / with hym myghte meete At euery bridale / wolde he synge and hoppe He loved bet the Tauerne than the shoppe Line 4376 ¶ ffor / whan ther / any ridyng was in Chepe Out of the shoppe / thider wolde he lepe Til that he hadde / al the sighte yseyn And daunced wel / he wolde nat come ayeyn Line 4380 And gadered hym / a meynee of his sort To hoppe and synge / and maken swich disport And ther / they setten steuene for to meete To pleyen / at the dys in swich a streete Line 4384 ffor in the toun / nas ther no prentys That fairer koude caste / a paire of dys Than Perkyn koude / and ther-to he was free Of his dispense / in place of pryuetee Line 4388 That fond his maister wel in his chaffare ffor often tyme / he foond his box ful bare ffor sikerly / a prentys Reuelour That haunteth dys / Riot or paramour Line 4392 His maister / shal it in his shoppe abye Al haue he / no part of the Mynstralcye ffor thefte and Riot. they been conuertible Al konne he pleye on gyterne / or Ribible Line 4396

Line 4396 Reuel and trouthe / as in a lowe degree [folio 51b] They been ful wrothe al day / as men may see ¶ This ioly prentys / with his maister bood Til he were ny / out of his prentishood Line 4400 Al were he snybbed / bothe erly and late And somtyme / lad with reuel to Newegate But atte laste / his maister hym bithoghte Vp on a day / whan he his papir soghte Line 4404 Of a prouerbe / that seith this same word Wel bet is roten Appul / out of hoord Than þat / it rotie al the remenaunt ¶ So fareth it by a riotous seruaunt Line 4408 It is wel lasse harm / to lete hym pace Than he shende / alle the seruantz in the place Therfore / his maister / yaf hym Acquitance And bad hym go / with sorwe and with meschance Line 4412 And thus this ioly prentys / hadde his leue Now lat hym riote al the nyght / or leue And for ther is no theef / with-oute a lowke That helpeth hym / to wasten and to sowke Line 4416 Of that he brybe kan / or borwe may Anon he sente his bed / and his array Vn to a compier / of his owene [sort [[later hand]] ] That louede dys / and Reuel and disport Line 4420 And hadde a wyf / that heeld for contenance A shoppe / and swyued for hir sustenance [[22 lines & 1 leaf of the MS blank.]]

GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)

§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ The wordes of the Hoost to the compaignye [folio 53a]

Ovre hoost saugh wel / that the brighte sonne The ark of his artificial day hath ronne The ferthe part and half an houre and moore And though / he were nat depe ystert in loore Line 4 He wiste / it was the eighte and twentithe day Of Aprill / that is messager to May And saugh wel / that the shadwe of euery tree Was as in lengthe / the same quantitee Line 8 That was the body erect that caused it And ther fore / by the shadwe / he took his wit That Phebus / which þat shoon / so clere and brighte Degrees / was fyue and fourty clombe on highte Line 12 And for that day / as in that latitude It was ten at the clokke / he gan conclude And sodeynly / he plighte his hors aboute ¶ Lordynges quod he / I warne yow al this route Line 16 The fourthe party of this day is gon Now for the loue of god / and of Seint Iohn Leseth no tyme / as ferforth as ye may Lordynges / the tyme wasteth nyght and day Line 20 And steleth from vs / what pryuely slepynge And what thurgh necligence / in oure wakynge As dooth the streem / that turneth neuere agayn Descendynge fro the montaigne in to playn Line 24 ¶ Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre Biwaillen tyme / moore than gold in cofre ffor losse of catel / may recouered be But losse of tyme / shendeth vs quod he Line 28

Line 28 It wol nat come agayn / with outen drede Namoore / than wole Malkynes maydenhede Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse Line 32 ¶ Sire man of lawe quod he / so haue ye blis Telle vs a tale anon / as forward is Ye been submytted / thurgh youre free assent To stonden in this cas / at my Iuggement Line 36 Acquiteth yow now / of youre biheeste Thanne haue ye do youre deuoir atte leeste ¶ Hoost quod he / depardieux ich assente To breke forward / is nat myn entente Line 40 Biheste is dette / and I wole holde fayn Al my biheste / I kan no bettre sayn ffor swich lawe / as a man yeueth another wight [folio 53b] He sholde hym seluen / vsen it by right Line 44 Thus wole oure text but nathelees certeyn I kan right now / no thrifty tale seyn That Chaucer / thogh he kan but lewedly On metres / and on rymyng craftily Line 48 Hath seyd hem / in swich englissh / as he kan Of olde tyme / as knoweth many a man And if he haue noght seyd hem leue brother In o book / he hath seyd hem in another Line 52 ffor he hath toold / of loueris vp and doun / Mo than Ouide / made of mencioun In hise epistles / that been ful olde What sholde I telle hem / syn they ben tolde Line 56 ¶ In youthe / he made / of Ceys and Alcione And sitthe / hath he spoken of euerichone Thise noble wyues / and thise loueris eke Who so that wole / his large volume seke Line 60 Cleped / the seintes legende of Cupide Ther may he seen / the large woundes wyde Of Lucresse / and of Babilan Tesbee The swerd of Dido / for the false Enee Line 64

Line 64 The tree of Phillis / for hire Demophon The pleinte of Diane / and of Hermyon Of Adriane / and of Isiphilee The bareyne yle / stondynge in the see Line 68 The dreynte Leandre / for his Erro The teeris of Eleyne / and the wo Of Brixseyde / and the Ladomya The crueltee / of the queene Medea Line 72 Thy litel children / hangynge by the hals ffor thy Iason / that was in loue so fals O Ypermystra / Penolopee / Alceste Youre wifhede / he comendeth with the beste Line 76 ¶ But certeinly no word ne writeth he Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee That loued / hir owene brother synfully Of swiche cursed stories / I sey fy Line 80 Or ellis / of Tyro Appollonius How that the cursed kyng / Antiochus Birafte his doghter / of hir maydenhede That is / so horrible a tale for to rede Line 84 Whan he hir threw / vp on the pauement And therfore he / of ful auysement Nolde neuere write / in none of his sermons Of swiche / vnkynde abhomynacions Line 88 Ne I wol noon reherce / if that I may ¶ But of my tale / how shall I doon this day Me were looth / be likned doutelees [folio 54a] To Muses / that men clepe Pierides Line 92 Methamorphosios / woot what I mene But nathelees / I recche noght a bene Though I come after hym / with hawebake I speke in prose / and lat him rymes make Line 96 And with that word / he with a sobre cheere Bigan his tale / as ye shal after heere Line 98

¶ The prologe of the mannes tale of lawe

Ohateful harm / condicion of pouerte Line 99 With thurst with coold / with hunger so confoundid To asken help / thee shameth in thyn herte If thou noon aske / so soore artow ywoundid Line 102 That verray nede / vnwrappeth al thy wounde hid Maugree thyn heed / thou most for Indigence Or stele / or begge / or borwe thy despence Line 105

Thow blamest crist and seist ful bitterly He mysdeparteth / richesse temporal Thy neighebore / thou wytest synfully And seist thou hast to lite / and he hath al Line 109 Parfay seistow / somtyme he rekene shal Whan that his tayl / shal brennen in the gleede ffor he noght helpeth / needfulle / in hir neede Line 112

¶ Herke / what is the sentence of the wise Bet is to dyen / than haue Indigence Thy selue neighebor / wol thee despise If thou be poure / farwel thy reuerence Line 116 Yet of the wise man / take this sentence Alle dayes of poure men been wikke Be war therfore / er thou come to that prikke Line 119

If thou be poure / thy brother hateth thee And alle thy freendes / fleen from thee allas O riche marchauntz / ful of wele been yee O noble / o prudent folk / as in this cas Line 123 Youre bagges / been nat fild with ambes as But with sys cynk / that renneth for youre chaunce At Cristemasse / myrie may ye daunce Line 126

Line 126

Ye seken lond and see / for yowre wynnynges [folio 54b] As wise folk ye knowen all thestaat Of regnes / ye been fadres of tidynges And tales / bothe of pees / and of debaat Line 130 I were right now / of tales desolaat Nere that a Marchant goon is many a yeere Me taughte a tale / which that ye shal heere Line 133

¶ Heere begynneth the man of lawe his tale

IN Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye [[Painting of the Man of Law, on the left.]] Of chapmen riche / and therto sadde and trewe That wyde where / senten hir spicerye Clothes of gold / and satyns riche of hewe Line 137 Hir chaffare / was so thrifty and so newe That euery wight / hath deyntee to chaffare With hem / and eek / to sellen hem hire ware Line 140

Now fil it that the maistres / of that sort Han shapen hem / to Rome for to wende Were it for chapmanhode / or for disport Noon oother message / wolde they thider sende Line 144 But comen hem self to Rome / this is the ende And in swich place / as thoughte hem auantage ffor hire entente / they take hir herbergage Line 147

¶ Soiourned han thise Marchantz / in that toun A certein tyme / as fil to hire plesance And so bifel / that thexcellent renoun Of the Emperours doghter / Dame Custance Line 151 Reported was / with euery circumstance Vn to thise Surryen Marchantz / in swich a wyse ffro day to day / as I shal yow deuyse Line 154

¶ This was the commune voys of every man Oure Emperour of Rome / god hym see A doghter hath / that syn the world bigan To rekene as wel / hir goodnesse as beautee Line 158 Nas neuere / swich another as is shee I prey to god / in honour hire susteene And wolde she were / of all Europe the queene [Europa est tercia pars mundi.]

In hire / is heigh beautee / with oute pride [folio 55a] Yowthe / with oute grenehede / or folye To alle hire werkes / vertu is hir gyde Humblesse / hath slayn in hire al tirannye Line 165 She is Mirour / of alle curteisye Hir herte / is verray chambre of hoolynesse Hir hand / Ministre of fredam for almesse Line 168

And al this voys was sooth / as god is trewe But now to purpos / lat vs turne agayn Thise Marchantz / han doon fraught / hir shippes newe And whan they han / this blisful mayden sayn Line 172 Hoom to Surrye / been they went ful fayn And doon hir nedes / as they han doon yoore And lyuen in wele / I kan sey yow namoore Line 175

¶ Now fil it that thise Marchantz / stode in grace Of hym / that was the Sowdan of Surrye ffor whan they cam / from any strange place He wolde / of his benigne curteisye Line 179 Make hem good chiere / and bisily espye Tidynges / of sondry regnes for to leere The wondres / that they myghte seen or heere Line 182

Amonges othere thynges specially Thise Marchantz / han hym toold / of dame Custance So greet noblesse / in ernest ceriously [.i. ceriose] That this Sowdan / hath caught so greet plesance Line 186 To han hir figure / in his remembrance That all his lust and al his bisy cure Was for to loue hire / while his lyf may dure Line 189

Parauenture / in thilke large book/ Which þat men clipe the heuene / ywriten was With sterres / whan that he his birthe took/ That he for loue / sholde han his deeth allas Line 193

Line 193 For in the sterres / clerer than is glas Is writen god woot who so koude it rede The deeth of euery man / withouten drede Line 196

In sterres many a wynter / ther biforn [¶ Ceptra Phorenei fratrum fratrum discordia Thebe ¶ fflammam Phetontis Deucalionis Aque ¶ In stellis Priami / species Audacia Turni ¶ Sensus Vlixeus Herculeus que vigor.] Was writen the deeth / of Ector / Achilles Of Pompei Iulius / er they were born The strif of Thebes / and of Ercules Line 200 Of Sampson / Turnus / and of Socrates The deeth / but mennes wittes ben so dulle That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle Line 203

¶ This Sowdan / for his priuee conseil sente [folio 55b] And shortly / of this matiere for to pace He hath to hem / declared his entente And seyde hem certein / but he myghte haue grace Line 207 To han Custance / with-Inne a litel space He nas but deed / and charged hem in hye To shapen for his lyf / som remedye Line 210

¶ Diuerse men / diuerse thynges seyden They argumenten / casten vp and doun Many a subtil resoun / forth they leyden They speken of / Magyk and Abusion Line 214 But finally / as in conclusion They kan nat seen / in that noon auantag Ne in noon oother wey saue mariage Line 217

Thanne sawe they ther-Inne swich difficultee By wey of reson / for to speke al playn By cause / that ther was swich diuersitee Bitwene hir bothe lawes / that they sayn Line 221 They trowe / þat no cristene prince wolde fayn Wedden his child / vnder oure lawes sweete That vs were taught by Mahoun oure prophete Line 224

Line 224

¶ And he answerde / rather than I lese Custance./ I wol be cristned doutelees I moot been hires / I may noon oother chese I prey yow / hoold youre argumentz in pees Line 228 Saueth my lyf / and beth noght recchelees To geten hire / that hath my lyf in cure For in this wo / I may nat longe endure Line 231

¶ What nedeth / gretter dilatacion I seye / by tretys / and Embassadrie And by / the popes mediacion And al the chirche / and al the chiualrie Line 235 That in destruccion of Maumettrie And in encrees / of cristes lawe deere They been acorded / so as ye shal heere Line 238

How that the sowdan / and his Baronage And alle hise liges / sholde ycristned be And he shal han / Custance / in mariage And certein gold / I noot what quantitee Line 242 And heer to founden / sufficient suretee This same accord / was sworn on eyther syde Now faire Custance / almyghty god thee gyde Line 245

¶ Now wolde som men / waiten as I gesse [folio 56a] That I sholde tellen / al the purueiance That themperour / of his grete noblesse Hath shapen / for his doghter dame Custance Line 249 Wel may men knowen / þat so greet ordinance May no man tellen / in a litel clause As was arrayed / for so heigh a cause Line 252

Bisshopes been shapen / with hire for to wende Lordes / ladies / knyghtes of renoun And oother folk ynogh / this is thende And notified is / thurgh out the toun Line 256

Line 256 That euery wight / with greet deuocioun Sholde preyen crist that he this mariage Receyue in gree / and spede this viage Line 259

¶ The day is comen / of hir departynge I seye / the woful day fatal is come That ther may be / no lenger tariynge But forthward they hem dressen / alle and some Line 263 Custance / þat was with sorwe al ouercome fful pale arist and dresseth hire to wende ffor wel she seeth / ther is noon oother ende Line 266

Allas / what wonder is it thogh she wepte That shal be sent / to strange nacion ffro freendes þat so tendrely hire kepte And to be bounden / vnder subieccion Line 270 Of oon / she knoweth nat his condicion Housbondes been alle goode / and han ben yoore That knowen wyues / I dar say yow na moore Line 273

¶ ffader she seyde / thy wrecched child Custance Thy yonge doghter / fostred vp so softe And ye my mooder / my souerayn plesance Ouer alle thyng out taken crist on lofte Line 277 Custance youre child / hire recomandeth ofte Vn to your grace / for I shal to Surrye Ne shal I neuere / seen yow moore with eye Line 280

Allas / vn to the Barbre nacion I moste goon / syn that it is youre wille But crist that starf / for our sauacion So yeue me grace / hise heestes to fulfille Line 284 I wrecche womman / no fors / though I spille Wommen are born / to thraldom and penance And to been / vnder mannes gouernance Line 287

Line 287

¶ I trowe at Troye / whan Pirrus brak / the wal [folio 56b] Or Ilion / brende Thebes the Citee Nat Rome / for the harm thurgh Hanybal That Romayns / hath venquysshed tymes thre Line 291 Nas herd / swich tendre wepyng for pitee As in the chambre was for hire departynge But forth she moot wher so she wepe or synge Line 294

¶ O firste moeuyng / crueel firmament [¶ Vnde Ptholomeus. libro i^o. capitulo. 8^o. ¶ Primi mo|tus celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab Oriente in Occidentem / vno modo super orbes &c. / Item al[i]ter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium contra mo|tum primum / videlicet / ab Occidente in Orientem super alios duos polos, &c.] With thy diurnal sweigh / that crowdest ay And hurlest al / from Est til Occident That naturelly / wolde holde another way Line 298 Thy crowdyng / set the heuene in swich array At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage That crueel Mars / hath slayn this mariage Line 301

Infortunat Ascendent tortuous Of which / the lord is helplees falle allas Out of his Angle / in to the derkeste hous O Mars / o Atazir / as in this cas Line 305 O fieble Moone / vnhappy been thy paas Thou knyttest thee / ther thou art nat receyued Ther thou were weel / fro thennes artow weyued Line 308

Imprudent Emperour / of Rome allas [¶ Omnes concordati sunt / quod elecciones sint debiles nisi in diuitibus / habent enim isti licet debilitentur eorum elec|ciones radicem .i. natiuitates eorum que conforta[n]t omnem plane|tam debilem in itinere &c.] Was ther / no philosophre / in al thy toun Is no tyme bet than oother / in swich cas Of viage / is ther noon eleccion Line 312 Namely / to folk / of heigh condicion Noght whan a roote / is of a burthe yknowe Allas / we been / to lewed or to slowe Line 315

¶ To ship is come / this woful faire mayde Solempnely / with euery circumstance Now Ihesu crist be with yow alle she sayde Ther nys namoore / but farewel / faire Custance Line 319

Line 319 She peyneth hire / to make good contenance And forth / I lete hire saille / in this manere And turne I wole / agayn to my matere Line 322

¶ The mooder / of the Sowdan / welle of vices Espied hath / hir sones pleyn entente How he wol lete / hise olde sacrifices And right anon / she for hir conseil sente Line 326 And they been come / to knowe what she mente And whan assembled was / this folk in feere She sette hire doun / and seyde as ye shal heere Line 329

¶ Lordes / she seyde / ye knowen euerichon [folio 57a] How that my sone / in point is for to lete The hooly lawes / of oure Alkaron Yeuen by goddes message Makomete Line 333 But oon auow / to grete god I heete The lyf shal rather / out of my body sterte Than Makometes lawe / out of myn herte Line 336

What sholde vs tyden / of this newe lawe But thraldom to our bodies and penance And afterward / in helle to be drawe ffor we reneyed / Mahoun oure creance Line 340 But lordes / wol ye maken assurance As I shal seyn / assentynge to my loore And I shal make vs sauf for eueremoore Line 343

¶ They sworen / and assenten euery man To lyue with hire and dye / and by hire stonde And euerich / in the beste wise he kan To strengthen hire / shal alle hise frendes fonde Line 347 And she hath / this emprise ytake on honde Which ye shal heren / that I shal deuyse And to hem alle / she spak right in this wyse Line 350

Line 350

¶ We shul first feyne vs / cristendom to take Coold water / shal nat greue vs but a lite And I shal / swiche a feeste and reuel make That as I trowe / I shal the Sowdan quite Line 354 ffor thogh his wyf / be cristned neuer so white She shal haue nede / to wasshe awey the rede Thogh she / a font ful water / with hire lede Line 357

O Sowdanesse / roote of Iniquitee [¶ Auctor] Virago / thou Semyrame the secounde O serpent / vnder femynynytee Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde Line 361 O feyned womman / al that may confounde Vertu and Innocence / thurgh thy malice Is bred in thee / as nest of euery vice Line 364

O Sathan enuious / syn thilke day That thou were chaced from oure heritage Wel knowestow / to wommen the olde way Thou madest Eua / brynge vs in seruage Line 368 Thou wolt fordoon / this cristen mariage Thyn Instrument so weylawey the while Makestow of wommen / whan thou wolt bigile Line 371

¶ This Sowdanesse / whom I thus blame and warye [folio 57b] Leet priuely / hire conseil goon hire way What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye She rydeth to the Sowdan / on a day Line 375 And seyde hym / that she wolde reneye hir lay And cristendom / of preestes handes fonge Repentynge hire / she hethen was so longe Line 378

Bisechynge hym / to doon hire that honour That she moste han / the cristen folk to feeste To plesen hem I wol do my labour The Sowdan seith / I wol doon at youre heeste Line 382

Line 382 And knelynge / thanketh hire of that requeste So glad he was / he nyste what to seye She kiste hir sone / and hoome she gooth hir weye Line 385

¶ Explicit prima pars

¶ Sequitur pars secunda.

Arryued been / this cristen folk to londe In Surrye / with a greet solempne route And hastifliche / this Sowdan sente his sonde ffirst to his mooder / and all the regne aboute Line 389 And seyde / his wyf was comen oute of doute And preyde hire / for to ryde agayn the queene The honour of his regne / to susteene Line 392

Greet was the prees / and riche was tharray Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere The mooder of the Sowdan / riche and gay Recyueth hire / with also glad a cheere Line 396 As any mooder / myghte hir doghter deere And to the nexte Citee / ther bisyde A softe paas / solempnely they ryde Line 399

¶ Noght trowe I / the triumphe of Iulius Of which / that Lucan maketh swich a boost Was roialler / or moore curius Than was thassemblee / of this blisful hoost Line 403 But this scorpioun / this wikked goost The Sowdanesse / for all hire flaterynge Caste vnder this / ful mortally to stynge Line 406

¶ The Sowdan comth hym self soone after this [folio 58a] So roially / that wonder is to telle And welcometh hire / with alle ioye and blis And thus / in murthe and ioye I lete hem dwelle Line 410

Line 410 The fruyt of this matiere / is that I telle Whan tyme cam / men thoughte it for the beste The reuel stynte / and men goon to hir reste Line 413

¶ The tyme cam / this olde Sowdanesse Ordeyned hath this feeste / of which I tolde And to the feeste / cristen folk hem dresse In general / ye bothe yonge and olde Line 417 Heere may men / feeste / and roialtee bihold And deyntees mo / than I kan yow deuyse But all to deere / they boghte it er they ryse Line 420

Osodeyn wo / that euere art successour [¶ Nota de inopinato dolore ¶ Semper mundane leticie tristicia repentina succedit / Mundana igitur felicitas multis ama|ritudinibus est respersa / extrema gaudii luctus occupat. Audi ergo salubre consilium / In die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum.] To worldly blisse / spreynd with bitternesse The ende of the ioye / of oure worldly labour Wo occupieth / the fyn of oure gladnesse Line 424 Herke this conseil / for thy sikernesse Vp on thy glade day / haue in thy mynde The vnwar wo / or harm þat comth bihynde Line 427

ffor soothly / for to tellen / at o word The sowdan / and the cristen everichone Been al tohewe / and stiked at the bord But it were oonly / dame Custance allone Line 431 This olde Sowdanesse / cursed krone Hath with hir freendes / doon this cursed dede ffor she hir self / wolde all the contree lede Line 434

Ne was Surryen noon / that was conuerted That of the conseil / of the Sowdan woot That he nas al tohewe / er he asterted And Custance / han they take anon foot hoot Line 438 And in a ship / all steerelees god woot They han hir set and biddeth hire lerne saille Out of Surrye / agaynward to Ytaille Line 441

Line 441

A certein tresor / that she with hire ladde And sooth to seyn / vitaille greet plentee They han hire yeuen / and clothes eek she hadde And forth she sailleth / in the salte see Line 445 O my Custance / ful of benignytee O Emperours yonge doghter deere He that is lord of ffortune be thy steere Line 448

She blesseth hire / and with ful pitous voys [folio 58b] Vn to the croys of Crist thus seyde she O cleere / o woful Auter / hooly croys Reed of the lambes blood / ful of pitee Line 452 That wesshe the world / fro the olde Iniquitee Me fro the feend / and fro his clawes kepe That day / that I shal drenchen in the depe Line 455

Victorious tree / proteccion of trewe That oonly / worthy were for to bere The kyng of heuene / with his woundes newe The white lamb / þat hurt was with the spere Line 459 fflemere of feendes / out of hym and here On which / thy lymes / feithfully extenden Me helpe / and yif me myght / my lyf tamenden Line 462

¶ Yeres and dayes / fleteth this creature Thurghout the See of Grece / vn to the Strayte Of Marrok. as it was hire Auenture On many a sory meel / now may she bayte Line 466 After hir deeth / ful often may she wayte Er that the wilde wawes / wol hire dryue Vn to the place / ther she shal arryue Line 469

Men myghten asken / why she was nat slayn Eek at the feeste / who myghte hir body saue And I answere / to that demande agayn Who saued danyel / in the horrible Caue Line 473

Line 473 Ther euery wight saue he / maister and knaue Was with the leon frete / er he asterte No wight but god / that he bar in his herte Line 476

God liste to shewe / his wonderful myracle In hire / for we sholde seen / his myghty werkis Crist which that is / to euery harm triacle By certeine meenes ofte / as knowen clerkis Line 480 Dooth thyng for certein ende / that ful derk is To mannes wit/. that for oure ignorance Ne konne noght knowe / his prudent purueiance Line 483

¶ Now sith she was nat / at the feeste yslawe Who kepte hire / fro the drenchyng / in the see? Who kepte Ionas / in the fisshes mawe Til he / was spouted vp at Nynyuee? Line 487 Wel may men knowe / it was no wight but he That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge With drye feet thurgh out the see passynge Line 490

¶ Who bad the foure spirites of tempest [folio 59a] That power han / tanoyen lond and see Bothe North and South / and also west and Est Anoyeth neither / see / ne land ne tree Line 494 Soothly / the Comandour of that was he That fro the tempest / ay this womman kepte As wel / when she wook as whan she slepte Line 497

¶ Where myghte this womman / mete and drynke haue? Thre yeer and moore / how lasteth hire vitaille? Who fedde / the Egypcien Marie in the Caue? Or in desert? no wight but crist / sanz faille Line 501 ffyue thousand folk / it was as greet meruaille With loues fyue / and fisshes two to feede God sente his foyson / at hir grete neede Line 504

Line 504

¶ She dryueth forth / in to oure Occian Thurgh out oure wilde see / til atte laste Vnder an hoold / that nempnen I ne kan ffer in Northhumberlond / the wawe hire caste Line 508 And in the sond / hir ship / stiked so faste That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde The wyl of crist. was þat she sholde abyde Line 511

¶ The Constable of the Castel / doun is fare To seen his wrak and al the ship he soghte And foond / this wery womman ful of care He foond also / the tresor þat she broghte Line 515 In hir langage / mercy she bisoghte The lyf / out of hire body for to twynne Hire to deliuere / of wo / that she was Inne Line 518

A maner latyn corrupt / was hir speche But algates / ther by was she vnderstonde The Constable / whan hym lyst no lenger seche This woful womman / broghte he to the londe Line 522 She kneleth doun / and thanketh goddes sonde But what she was / she wolde no man seye ffor foul ne fair / thogh þat she sholde deye Line 525

She seyde / she was / so mazed in the see That she forgat hir mynde / by hir trouthe The Constable / hath of hire so greet pitee And eke his wyf / that they wepen for routhe Line 529 She was so diligent with outen slouthe To serue and plese / euerich in that place That alle hir louen / that looken in hir face Line 532

¶ This Constable / and dame Hermengyld his wyf/ [folio 59b] Were payens / and that contree euery where But Hermengyld / loued hire right as hir lyf And Custance / hath so longe soiourned there Line 536

Line 536 In orisons / with many a bitter teere Til Ihesu / hath conuerted / thurgh his grace Dame Hermengyld / Constablesse of that place Line 539

In al that lond / no cristen dorste route Alle cristen folk / been fled fro that contree Thurgh Payens / that conquereden al aboute The plages of the North by land and see Line 543 To Walys / fledde the Cristyanytee Of olde Britons / dwellynge in this Ile Ther was hir refut for the meene while Line 546

But yet nere cristene Britons so exiled That ther nere somme / that in hir priuetee Honoured crist and hethen folk bigiled And ny the Castel / swiche ther dwelten three Line 550 That oon of hem was blynd / and myghte nat see But it were / with thilke eyen of his mynde With whiche men seen / whan þat they ben blynde Line 553

Bright was the sonne / as in that someres day ffor which the Constable / and his wyf also And Custance / han ytake the righte way Toward the see / a furlong wey or two Line 557 To pleyen / and to romen to romen [[so]] to and fro And in hir walk this blynde man they mette Croked and oold / with eyen faste yshette Line 560

In name of Crist cride this olde Briton Dame Hermengyld / yif me / my sighte agayn This lady / weex affrayed of the soun Lest that hir housbonde / shortly for to sayn Line 564 Wolde hire / for Ihesu cristes loue han slayn Til Custance made hire boold / and bad hire wirche The wyl of Crist as doghter of his chirche Line 567

Line 567

¶ The Constable / weex abasshed of that sight And seyde / what amounteth all this fare Custance answerde / sire / it is cristes myght That helpeth folk / out of the feendes snare Line 571 And so ferforth / she gan oure lay declare That she the Constable / er that it were eue Conuerteth / and on Crist maketh hym bileue Line 574

This Constable / was no thyng lord of this place [folio 60a] Of which I speke / ther he Custance fond But kepte it strongly many wyntres space Vnder Alla / kyng of al Northhumbrelond Line 578 That was ful wys / and worthy of his hond Agayn the Scottes / as men may wel heere But turne I wole / agayn to my mateere Line 581

¶ Sathan / that euere vs waiteth to bigile Saugh of Custance / al hire perfeccioun And caste anon / how he myghte quite hir while And made a yong knyght / þat dwelte in that toun Line 585 Loue hire so hoote of foul affeccioun That verraily / hym thoughte he sholde spille But he of hire myghte ones haue his wille Line 588

He woweth hire / but it auailleth noght/ She wolde do no synne / by no weye And for despit he compassed in his thoght To maken hire / on shameful deeth to deye Line 592 He wayteth / whan the Constable was aweye And pryuely / vp on a nyght he crepte In Hermengyldes chambre / whil she slepte Line 595

¶ Wery / for-waked / in hire orisons Slepeth Custance / and Hermengyld also This knyght thurgh Sathans temptacions All softely / is to the bed ygo Line 599

Line 599 And kitte the throte / of Hermengyld atwo And leyde the blody knyf / by dame Custance And wente his wey / ther god yeue hym meschance Line 602

¶ Soone after / cometh this Constable hoom agayn And eek Alla / þat kyng was of that lond And saugh his wyf / despitously yslayn ffor which ful ofte he weep / and wroong his hond Line 606 And in the bed / the blody knyf he fond By Dame Custance / allas what myghte she seye For verray wo / hir wit was al aweye Line 609

¶ To kyng Alla / was toold al this meschance And eek the tyme / and where / and in what wise That in a ship / was founden dame Custance As heer biforn / that ye han herd deuyse Line 613 The kynges herte / of pitee gan agryse Whan he saugh / so benigne a creature ffalle in disese / and in mysauenture Line 616

ffor as the lomb / toward his deeth is broght [folio 60b] So stant this Innocent bifore the kyng This false knyght þat hath this treson wroght Berth hire on hond / þat she hath doon thys thyng Line 620 But nathelees / ther was greet moornyng Among the peple / and seyn / they kan nat gesse That she had doon / so greet a wikkednesse Line 623

ffor they / han seyn hire euere so vertuous And louynge Hermengyld / right as hir lyf/ Of this baar witnesse / euerich in that hous Saue he / þat Hermengyld / slow with his knyf/ Line 627 This gentil kyng / hath caught a greet motyf Of this witnesse / and thoghte he wolde enquere Depper in this / a trouthe for to lere Line 630

Line 630

¶ Allas Custance / thou hast no champion Ne fighte kanstow noght so weylaway But he / that starf for our redempcion And boond Sathan / and yet lith ther he lay Line 634 So be / thy stronge champion this day ffor but if crist open myracle kithe Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe Line 637

She sit hire doun on knees / and thus she sayde Immortal god / that sauedest Susanne ffro fals blame / and thou merciful mayde Mary I meene / doghter to Seint Anne Line 641 Bifore whos child / Angeles synge Osanne If I be giltlees / of this felonye My socour be / or ellis shal I dye Line 644

Haue ye nat seyn / som tyme a pale face Among a prees / of hym þat hath be lad Toward his deeth / wher as hym gat no grace And swich a colour / in his face hath had Line 648 Men myghte knowe / his face that was bistad Amonges alle the faces / in that route So stant Custance / and looketh hire aboute Line 651

O Queenes / lyuynge in prosperitee Duchesses / and ladyes euerichone Haueth som routhe / on hire Aduersitee An Emperours doghter / stant allone Line 655 She hath no wight / to whom to make hir mone O blood roial / that stondest in this drede ffer been thy freendes / at thy grete nede Line 658

This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun [folio 61a] As gentil herte / is fulfild of pitee That from hise eyen / ran the water doun Now hastily / do fecche a book quod he Line 662

Line 662 And if this knyght wol sweren how þat she This womman slow / yet wol we vs auyse Whom þat we wole / that shal been our Iustise Line 665

A Briton book / written with Euaungiles Was fet and on this book he swoor anoon She gilty was / and in the meene whiles An hand hym smoot vpon the nekke boon Line 669 That doun he fil / atones as a stoon And bothe hise eyen / broste out of his face In sighte / of euery body in that place Line 672

¶ A voys was herd / in general Audience And seyde thou hast desclaundred giltlees The doghter of hooly chirche / in heigh presence Thus hastou doon / and yet holde I my pees Line 676 Of this meruaille / agast was al the prees As mazed folk they stoden euerichone ffor drede of wreche / saue Custance allone Line 679

¶ Greet was the drede / and eek the repentance Of hem / that hadden wronge suspecion Vpon / this sely Innocent Custance And for this miracle in conclusion Line 683 And by Custances mediacion The kyng and many another in that place Conuerted was / thanked be cristes grace Line 686

¶ This false knyght was slayn for his vntrouthe By Iuggement of Alla hastifly And yet Custance / hadde of his deeth greet routhe And after this Ihesus of his mercy Line 690 Made Alla wedden ful solempnely This hooly mayden / that is so bright and sheene And thus hath crist ymaad Custance a queene Line 693

Line 693

But who was woful / if I shal nat lye Of this weddyng but Donegild and na mo The kynges mooder / ful of tirannye Hir thoughte / hir cursed herte brast atwo Line 697 She wolde noght hir sone had do so Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take So strange a creature vn to his make Line 700

¶ Me list nat of the chaf / or of the stree [folio 61b] Maken so long a tale / as of the corn What sholde I tellen / of the roialtee At mariages / or which cours goth biforn Line 704 Who bloweth in the trumpe / or in an horn The fruyt of euery tale / is for to seye They ete / and drynke / and daunce / and synge and pleye

They goon to bedde / as it was skile and right ffor thogh þat wyues / be ful hooly thynges They moste take / in pacience at nyght Swiche manere necessaries / as been plesynges Line 711 To folk / þat han ywedded hem with rynges And leye a lite / hir hoolynesse aside As for the tyme / it may no bet bitide Line 714

On hire he gat a man [[altered from knaue.]] childe anon And to a bisshop / and his Constable eke He took his wyf to kepe / whan he is gon To Scotlondward / his foomen for to seke Line 718 Now faire Custance / that is so humble and meke So longe is goon with childe / til that stille She halt hire chambre / abidyng cristes wille Line 721

The tyme is come / a man [[altered from knaue.]] child she beer Mauricius at the fontstoon / they hym calle This Constable / dooth forth come a Messageer And wroot vn to his kyng that cleped was Alle Line 725

Line 725 How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle And othere tidynges / spedeful for to seye He taketh the lettre / and forth he gooth his weye Line 728

¶ This Messager / to doon his auantage Vn to the kynges mooder rideth swithe And salueth hire ful faire in his langage Madame quod he / ye may be glad and blithe Line 732 And thanketh god / an hundred thousand sithe My lady queene / hath child with outen doute To ioye and blisse / to al this regne aboute Line 735

Lo heere the lettres / seled of this thyng That I moot bere / with al the haste I may If ye wol aught vn to youre sone the kyng/ I am youre seruant bothe nyght and day Line 739 Donegild answerde / as now at this tyme nay But heere al nyght / I wol thou take thy reste To-morwe / wol I seye thee / what me leste Line 742

¶ This Messager / drank sadly ale and wyn [folio 62a] And stolen were hise lettres pryuely Out of his box / whil he sleep as a swyn And countrefeted was ful subtilly Line 746 Another lettre / wroght ful synfully Vn to the kyng direct of this mateere ffro his Constable / as ye shal after heere Line 749

The lettre spak the queene deliuered was Of so horrible a feendly creature That in the Castel / noon so hardy was That any while / dorste ther endure Line 753 The mooder was an Elf by auenture Ycomen / by charmes / or by sorcerie And euerich / hateth hir compaignye Line 756

Line 756

¶ Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore But of his owene hand / he wroot agayn Wel come the sonde of crist for eueremoore Line 760 To me / that am now lerned in his loore Lord / wel come be thy lust and thy plesance My lust I putte al in thyn ordinance Line 763

Kepeth this child / al be it foul or feir And eek my wyf / vn to myn hoom comynge Crist whan hym list may sende me an heir Moore agreable than this / to my likynge Line 767 This lettre he seleth pryuely wepynge Which to the Messager / was take soone And forth he gooth / ther is na moore to doone Line 770

O Messager / fulfild of dronkenesse [¶ Quid turpius ebrioso / cui fetor in ore tremor in cor|pore / qui promit stulta / prodit occulta / cuius mens alienatur / facies transformatur / nullum enim latet secretum vbi regnat ebrietas.] Strong is thy breeth / thy lymes faltren ay And thou biwreyest / alle secreenesse Thy mynde is lorn / thou ianglest as a Iay Line 774 Thy face is turned / in a newe array Ther dronkenesse / regneth in any route Ther is no conseil hyd / with outen doute Line 777

O Donegild / I ne haue noon englissh digne Vn to thy malice / and thy tirannye And therfore / to the feend I thee resigne Lat hym enditen / of thy traitorie Line 781 ffy mannysh fy / o nay by god I lye ffy feendlych spirit for I dar wel telle Thogh thou heere walke / thy spirit is in helle Line 784

¶ This Messager / comth fro the kyng agayn [folio 62b] And at the kynges moodres¹ court he lighte¹ [[^1_1 corrected.]] And she was / of this Messager ful fayn And plesed hym / in al that euer she myghte Line 788

Line 788 He drank / and wel his girdel vnderpighte He slepeth / and he snoreth in his gyse All nyght til the sonne gan aryse Line 791

Eft were hise lettres stolen euerychon And countrefeted lettres / in this wyse The king [[king later]] comandeth / his Constable anon Vp peyne of hangyng and on heigh Iuyse Line 795 That he ne sholde / suffren in no wyse Custance / in with his Reawme for tabyde Thre dayes / and o quarter of a tyde Line 798

But in the same ship / as he hire fond Hire and hir yonge sone / and al hir geere He sholde putte / and croude hire fro the lond And chargen hire / she neuer eft coome theere Line 802 O my Custance / wel may thy goost haue feere And slepynge in thy dreem / been in penance Whan Donegild / cast al this ordinance Line 805

¶ This Messager / on morwe / whan he wook Vn to the Castel / halt the nexte way And to the Constable / he the lettre took And whan þat he / this pitous lettre say Line 809 fful ofte he seyde / Allas and weylaway Lord crist quod he / how may this world endure So ful of synne / is many a creature Line 812

¶ O myghty god / if that it be thy wille Sith thou art rightful Iuge / how may it be That thou wolt suffren / Innocentz to spille And wikked folk / regnen in prosperitee Line 816 O goode Custance / Allas so wo is me That I moot be thy tormentour or deye On shames deeth / ther is noon oother weye Line 819

Line 819

¶ Wepen bothe yonge and olde / in al that place Whan þat the kyng this cursed lettre sente And Custance / with a deedly pale face The ferthe day / toward the ship she wente Line 823 But nathelees / she taketh in good entente The wyl of Crist and knelynge on the Stronde She seyde lord / ay wel come be thy sonde Line 826

He that me kepte / fro the false blame [folio 63a] While I was / on the lond amonges yow He kan me kepe / from harm / and eek fro shame In salte see / al thogh I se noght how Line 830 As strong as euere he was / he is yet now In hym triste I / and in his mooder deere That is to me / my seyl / and eek my steere Line 833

Hir litel child / lay wepyng in hir arm And knelynge / pitously / to hym she seyde Pees litel sone / I wol do thee noon harm With that hir couerchief / ouer hir heed she breyde Line 837 And ouer hise litel eyen / she it leyde And in hir Arm / she lulleth it ful faste And in to heuene / hire eyen vp she caste Line 840

¶ Mooder quod she / and mayde bright Marie Sooth is / that thurgh wommanes eggement Man kynde was lorn / and damned ay to dye ffor which thy child / was on a croys yrent Line 844 Thy blisful eyen / sawe al his torment Thanne is ther / no comparison bitwene Thy wo / and any wo / man may sustene Line 847

Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne eyen And yet now / lyueth my child parfay Now lady bright / to whom alle woful cryen Thow glorie of wommanhede / thow faire may Line 851

Line 851 Thow hauen of refut brighte sterre of day Rewe on my child / that of thy gentillesse Ruest on euery reweful in distresse Line 854

¶ O litel child / allas what is thy gilt That neuere wroghtest synne / as yet pardee Why wil thyn harde fader / han thee spilt O mercy deere Constable quod she Line 858 As lat my litel child / dwelle heer with thee And if thou darst nat sauen hym for blame Yet kys hym ones / in his fadres name Line 861

Ther with / she looked / bakward to the londe And seyde / fare wel housbonde routhelees And vp she rist / and walketh doun the stronde Toward the Ship / hir folweth al the prees Line 865 And euere she preyeth hire child / to holde his pees And taketh hir leue / and with an hooly entente She blissed hire / and in to ship she wente Line 868

Vitailled was the ship / it is no drede [folio 63b] Habundantly / for hire ful longe space And othere necessaries / that sholde nede She hadde ynogh / heryed be goddes grace Line 872 ffor wynd and weder / almyghty god purchace And brynge hire hoom / I kan no bettre seye But in the see / she dryueth forth hir weye Line 875

¶ Explicit secunda pars

¶ Sequitur pars tercia

Alla the kyng / comth hoom soone after this Vn to his Castel / of the which I tolde And asketh / where his wyf / and his child is The Constable / gan aboute his herte colde Line 879

Line 879 And pleynly / al the manere he hym tolde As ye han herd / I kan telle it no bettre And sheweth the kyng his seel and his lettre Line 882

And seyde / lord / as ye comanded me Vp peyne of deeth / so haue I doon certein This Messager / tormented was til he Moste biknowe / and tellen plat and pleyn Line 886 ffro nyght to nyght / in what place he had leyn And thus by wit / and sobtil enquerynge Ymagined was / by whom this harm gan sprynge Line 889

¶ The hand was knowe / that the lettre wroot And all the venym / of this cursed dede But in what wise / certeinly I noot Theffect is this / þat Alla out of drede Line 893 His mooder slow / that may men pleynly rede ffor þat she traitoure was to hire ligeance Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschance Line 896

The sorwe that this Alla / nyght and day Maketh for his wyf / and for his child also Ther is no tonge / that it telle may But now wol I / vn to Custance go Line 900 That fleteth in the see / in peyne and wo ffyue yeer and moore / as liked cristes sonde Er that hir ship / approched vn to the londe Line 903

¶ Vnder an hethen Castel / atte laste [folio 64a] Of which the name / in my text noght I fynde Custance / and eek hir child / the see vp caste Almyghty god / that saued al mankynde Line 907 Haue on Custance / and on hir child som mynde That fallen is / in hethen hand eft soone In point to spille / as I shal telle yow soone Line 910

Line 910

¶ Doun fro the Castel / comth ther many a wight To gauren on this ship / and on Custance But shortly / from the Castel / on a nyght The lordes styward / god yeue him meschance Line 914 A theef / that hadde reneyed oure creance Came in to the ship allone / and seyde he sholde Hir lemman be / wher so she wolde or nolde Line 917

¶ Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon Hir child cride / and she cride pitously But blisful Marie / heelp hire right anon ffor with hir struglyng wel and myghtily Line 921 The theef fil ouer bord / al sodeynly And in the see / he dreynte for vengeance And thus hath crist vnwemmed kept Custance Line 924

O foule lust of luxurie / lo thyn ende [Auctor.] Nat oonly / that thou feyntest mannes mynde [¶ O extrema libidinis turpitudo que non solum mentem effeminat / set eciam corpus eneruat / semper sequntur dolor & penitentia post &cetera.] But verraily / thou wolt his body shende Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blynde Line 928 Is compleynyng hou many oon may men fynde That noght for werk som tyme / but for thentente To doon this synne / been outher slayn or shente Line 931

How may this wayke womman / han this strengthe Hire to defende / agayn this renegat O Golias / vnmesurable of lengthe Hou myghte Dauid / make thee so maat Line 935 So yong and of Armure so desolaat Hou dorste he looke / vp on thy dredful face Wel may men seen / it nas but goddes grace Line 938

Who yaf Iudith / corage or hardynesse To sleen hym Oloferne / in his tente And to deliueren / out of wrecchednesse The peple of god / I seye for this entente Line 942

Line 942 That right as god / spirit of vigour sente To hem / and saued hem / out of meschance So sente he myght and vigour to Custance Line 945

¶ fforth gooth hir ship / thurgh out the narwe mouth [folio 64b] Of Iubaltare and Septe dryuynge alway Som tyme West and som tyme North and South And som tyme est ful many a wery day Line 949 Til cristes mooder / blessed be she ay Hath shapen / thurgh hir endelees goodnesse To make an ende / of al hir heuynesse Line 952

Now lat vs stynte / of Custance but a throwe And speke we / of the Romayn Emperour That out of Surrye / hath by lettres knowe The slaughtre of cristen folk / and dishonour Line 956 Doon to his doghter / by a fals traytour I mene / the cursed wikked Sowdanesse That at the feeste / leet sleen both moore and lesse Line 959

ffor which this Emperour / hath sent anon His senatour / with roial ordinance And othere lordes / god woot many oon On Surryens / to taken heigh vengeance Line 963 They brennen / sleen / and brynge hem to meschance Ful many a day / but shortly / this is thende Homward to Rome / they shapen hem to wende Line 966

¶ This senatour / repaireth with victorie To Rome ward saillynge ful Roially And mette the ship dryuynge / as seith the storie In which Custance / sit ful pitously Line 970 No thyng knew he / what she was / ne why? She was in swich array / ne she nyl seye/ Of hire estaat thogh she sholde deye Line 973

Line 973

He bryngeth hire to Rome / and to his wyf/ He yaf hire / and hir yonge sone also And with the senatour / she ladde hir lyf Thus kan oure lady / bryngen out of wo Line 977 Woful Custance / and many another mo And longe tyme / dwelled she in that place In hooly werkes euere / as was hir grace Line 980

The senatours wyf / hir Aunte was But for all that she knew hire neuer the moore I wol no lenger / tarien in this cas But to kyng Alla / which I spake of yoore Line 984 That wepeth for his wyf / and siketh soore I wol retourne / and lete I wol Custance Vnder / the Senatours gouernance Line 987

Kyng Alla / which that hadde his mooder slayn [folio 65a] Vp on a day fil in swich repentance That if I / shortly / tellen shal and playn To Rome he comth / to receyuen his penance Line 991 And putte hym / in the popes ordinance In heigh and logh / and Ihesu crist bisoghte fforyeue / hise wikked werkes þat he wroghte Line 994

¶ The fame anon / thurgh out the toun is born How Alla kyng / shal comen on pilgrymage By herbergeours / that wenten hym biforn ffor which / the Senatour / as was vsage Line 998 Rood hym agayns / and many of his lynage As wel to shewen / his heighe magnificence As to doon / any kyng a reuerence Line 1001

¶ Greet cheere / dooth this noble Senatour To kyng Alla / and he to hym also Euerich of hem / dooth oother greet honour And so bifel / that in with a day or two Line 1005

Line 1005 This Senatour / is to kyng Alla go To feste / and shortly / if I shal nat lye Custances sone / wente in his compaignye Line 1008

¶ Som men wolde seyn / at requeste of Custance This Senatour / hath lad this child to feeste I may nat tellen / euery circumstance Be as be may / ther was he at the leeste Line 1012 But sooth is this / that at his moodres heeste Biforn Alla / durynge the metes space The child stood / lookynge in the kynges face Line 1015

¶ This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder And to the senatour / he seyde anon Whos is that faire child / that stondeth yonder? I noot quod he / by god / and by seint Iohn Line 1019 A mooder he hath / but fader hath he noon That I of woot but shortly / in a stounde He tolde Alla / how that this child was founde Line 1022

But god woot quod this senatour also So vertuous a lyuere in my lyf Ne saugh I neuere as she / ne herde of mo Of worldly wommen / mayde ne of wyf Line 1026 I dar wel seyn / hir hadde leuere a knyf Thurgh out hir brest than ben a womman wikke There is no man / koude brynge hire to that prikke Line 1029

¶ Now was this child / as lyke vn to Custance [folio 65b] As possible is / a creature to be This Alla / hath the face in remembrance Of dame Custance / and ther on mused he Line 1033 If that the childes mooder / were aught she That is his wyf / and pryuely he sighte And spedde hym fro the table / that he myghte Line 1036

Line 1036

Parfay thoghte he / fantome is in myn heed I oghte deme / of skilful Iuggement That in the salte see / my wyf is deed And afterward / he made his Argument Line 1040 What woot I / if that Crist haue hyder ysent My wyf by see / as wel as he hire sente To my contree / fro thennes that she wente Line 1043

And after Noon / hoom with the Senatour Goth Alla / for to seen this wonder chaunce This Senatour / dooth Alla greet honour And hastifly / he sente after Custaunce Line 1047 But trusteth weel / hire liste nat to daunce Whan þat she wiste / wherfore was that sonde Vnnethe / vp on hir feet she myghte stonde Line 1050

¶ Whan Alla saugh his wyf faire he hire grette And weep / that it was routhe for to see ffor at the firste look he on hire sette He knew wel verraily / that it was she Line 1054 And she for sorwe / as doumb stant as a tree So was hir herte shet in hir distresse Whan she remembred / his vnkyndenesse Line 1057

Twyes she swowned / in his owene sighte He weep / and hym excuseth pitously Now god quod he / and hise halwes brighte So wisly on my soule / as haue mercy Line 1061 That of youre harm / as giltlees am I As is Maurice my sone / so lyk youre face Elles the feend / me fecche out of this place Line 1064

¶ Long was the sobbyng/ and the bitter peyne Er that / hir woful hertes myghte cesse Greet was the pitee / for to heere hem pleyne Thurgh whiche pleintes / gan hir wo encresse Line 1068

Line 1068 I pray yow alle / my labour to relesse I may nat telle hir wo / vn til to morwe I am so wery / for to speke of sorwe Line 1071

But finally / whan that the sothe is wist [folio 66a] That Alla giltlees / was of hir wo I trowe / an hundred tymes / been they kist And swich a blisse / is ther bitwix hem two Line 1075 That saue the ioye / that lasteth eueremo Ther is noon lyk / that any creature Hath seyn or / shal / whil þat the world may dure Line 1078

Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely In relief / of hir longe pitous pyne That he wolde preye / hir fader specially That of his magestee / he wolde enclyne Line 1082 To vouche sauf / som day with hym to dyne She preyde hym eek / he wolde by no weye Vn to hir fader / no word of hire seye Line 1085

¶ Som men wold seyn / how þat the child Maurice Dooth this Message / vn to this Emperour But as I gesse / Alla was nat so nyce To hym that was / of so souereyn honour Line 1089 As he that is / of cristen folk the flour Sente any child / but it is bet to deeme He wente hym self / and so it may wel seeme Line 1092

¶ This Emperour / hath graunted gentilly To come to dyner / as he hym bisoughte And wel rede I / he looked bisily Vp on this child / and on his doghter thoghte Line 1096 Alla goth to his In / and as him oghte Arrayed for this feste / in euery wise As ferforth / as his konnyng may suffise Line 1099

Line 1099

¶ The morwe cam / and Alla gan hym dresse And eek his wyf / this Emperour to meete And forth they ryde / in ioye and in gladnesse And whan she saugh / hir fader in the strete Line 1103 She lighte doun / and falleth hym to feete ffader quod she / youre yonge child Custance Is now ful clene / out of youre remembrance Line 1106

I am youre doghter / Custance quod she That whilom / ye han sent / vn to Surrye It am I fader / that in the salte see Was put allone / and dampned for to dye Line 1110 Now goode fader / mercy I yow crye Sende me namoore / vn to noon hethenesse But thonketh my lord heere / of his kyndenesse Line 1113

¶ Who kan / the pitous ioye / tellen al [folio 66b] Bitwixe hem thre / syn they been thus ymette But of my tale / make an ende I shal The day goth faste / I wol no lenger lette Line 1117 This glade folk / to dyner they hem sette In ioye and blisse / at mete I lete hem dwelle A thousand foold / wel moore than I kan telle Line 1120

¶ This child Maurice / was sithen Emperour Maad by the pope / and lyued cristenly To cristes chirche / he dide greet honour But I lete all his storie passen by Line 1124 Of Custance / is my tale specially In the olde Romane geestes / may men fynde Maurices lyf / I bere it noght in mynde Line 1127

¶ This kyng Alla / whan he his tyme say With his Custance / his hooly wyf so sweete To Engelond / been they come the righte way Wher as they lyue / in ioye and in quiete Line 1131

Line 1131 But litel while it lasteth / I yow heete [¶ A mane vsque ad vesperam mutabitur tempus / tenent tympanum & gaudent / ad sonum organi &cetera.] Ioye of this world / for tyme wol nat abyde ffro day to nyght / it changeth as the tyde Line 1134

Who lyued euere / in swich delit o day [¶ Quis vnquam vnicam diem totam duxit / in sua dileccione iocundam quem in aliqua parte diei reatus consciencie / vel impetus Ire vel motus concupiscencie non turbauerit / quem liuor Inuidie / vel Ardor Auaricie / vel tumor superbie non vex|auerit / quem aliqua iactura vel offensa / vel passio non com|mouerit &cetera.] That hym ne moeued / outher conscience Or Ire / or talent or som kynnes affray Enuye / or pride / or passion / or offence Line 1138 I ne seye but for this ende this sentence That litel while in ioye / or in plesance Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance Line 1141

ffor deeth / that taketh / of heigh and logh / his rente Whan passed was a yeer / euene as I gesse Out of this world / this kyng Alla he hente For whom / Custance / hath ful greet heuynesse Line 1145 Now lat vs praye to god / his soule blesse And dame Custance / finally to seye Toward the toun of Rome / goth hir weye Line 1148

¶ To Rome is come / this hooly creature And fyndeth hire freendes / hoole and sounde Now is she scaped / al hire auenture And whan þat she / hir fader hath yfounde Line 1152 Doun on hir knees / falleth she to grounde Wepynge for tendrenesse / in herte blithe She heryeth god / an hundred thousand sithe Line 1155

¶ In vertu / and hooly almus dede [folio 67a] They lyuen alle / and neuere a sonder wende Till deeth departed hem / this lyf they lede And fareth now weel / my tale is at an ende Line 1159 Now Ihesu Crist that of his myght may sende Ioye after wo / gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs alle / that been in this place Amen. Line 1162

¶ Heere endeth the tale / of the man of Lawe . [[The Wife of Bath's Prologue follows in the MS.]]

[6-text p 334]

GROUP D. FRAGMENT V.

§ 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ The Prologe / of the Wyues tale of Bathe. [on leaf 67]

Experience / though noon Auctoritee Were in this world / were right ynogh to me To speke of wo / that is in mariage ffor lordynges / sith I .xij. yeer was of Age Line 4 Ythonked be god / that is eterne on lyue Housbondes at chirche dore I haue had fyue ffor I so ofte / haue ywedded bee And alle / were worthy men in hir degree Line 8 But me was toold certeyn / nat longe agoon is That sith that Crist ne wente neuere but onis To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee [¶ In Cana Galilee] By the same / ensample / thoughte me Line 12 That I ne sholde / wedded be but ones [¶ Qui enim semel iuit ad nupcias / doeuit semel esse nubendum] Herkne eek / which a sharpe word for the nones Beside a welle / Ihesus god and man Spak / in repreeue of the Samaritan Line 16 Thou hast yhad / fyue housbondes quod he And that man / the which þat hath now thee Is noght thyn housbonde / thus seyde he certeyn What that he mente ther by / I kan nat seyn Line 20 But þat I axe / why that the fifthe man Was noon housbonde to the samaritan How manye / myghte she haue in mariage [¶ Non est vxorum numerus diffinitus;] Yet herde I neuere tellen in myn age Line 24

[6-text p 335] Line 24 Vpon this nombre diffinicioun [quia secundum Paulum / Qui habent vxores sic sint tanquam non habentes] Men may deuyne / and glosen vp and doun But wel I woot expres with-oute lye God bad vs / for to wexe and multiplye [¶ Crescite & multiplicamini] Line 28 That gentil text kan I [wel] vnderstonde Eek wel I woot he seyde myn housbonde Sholde lete fader and mooder / and take me But of no nombre / mencion made he Line 32 Of bigamye / or of Octogamye [folio 67b] Why sholde men / speke of it vileynye ¶ Lo heere [audi] / the wise kyng dann salomon I trowe / he hadde wyues / mo than oon Line 36 As wolde god / it were leueful vn-to me To be refresshed / half so ofte as he Which yifte of God / hadde he / for alle hise wyuys No man hath swich / þat in this world alyue is Line 40 God woot / this noble kyng as to my wit The firste nyght had many a myrie fit With ech of hem / so wel was hym on lyue Yblessed be god / that I haue wedded fyue Line 44 Welcome the sixte / whan that euere he shal ffor sothe / I wol nat kepe me chaast in al [¶ Si autem non continent/ nubant/] Whan myn housbonde / is fro the world ygon Som cristen man / shal wedde me anon Line 48 ffor thanne / thapostle seith / I am free [¶ Quod si dormie|rit vir eius liberata est/ cui vult nubat in Domino] To wedde a goddes half where ¹it liketh¹ [[^1_1 on an erasure]] me He seith / to be wedded / is no synne [¶ Si acceperis vxorem non peccasti / et si nupserit virgo non peccauit/ set hij qui domino se vouerunt Ita idem &c] Bet is / to be wedded / than to brynne Line 52 What rekketh me / thogh folk seye vileynye Of shrewed lameth / and of bigamye I woot wel / Abraham / was an hooly man [¶ Melius est nubere quam vri] And Iacob eek /as ferforth as I kan [¶ Lameth qui primus intrauit bigamiam / sanguinarius & homicida est &c.] Line 56 And ech of hem / hadde wyues mo than two And many another man Also Whanne saugh ye euere / in [any] manere Age [¶ Abraham trigamus] That hye god / defended mariage [¶ Iacob quatri|gamus] Line 60

[6-text p 336] Line 60 By expres word / I pray you telleth me Or where / comanded he virginitee I woot as wel as ye / it is no drede Whan thapostel / speketh of maydenhede Line 64 He seyde / that precept ther-of hadde he noon Men may conseille / a womman to been oon But conseillyng is nat comandement He putte it in oure owene Iuggement Line 68 ffor hadde god / comanded maydenhede Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede And certein / if ther were / no seed y-sowe Virginitee / wher-of thanne sholde it growe Line 72 Poul / ne dorste nat / comanden atte leeste [¶ Paulus ‖ de virginibus / preceptum non habeo / consilium autem do &cetera] A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste The dart is set vp / of virginitee Cacche who so may / who renneth best lat see [¶ Inuitat ad cursum tenet in manu virginitatis brauium qui potest capere / capiat & cetera] Line 76 ¶ But this word / is nat taken of euery wight But ther / as god lust gyue it of his myght I woot wel / the Apostel was a mayde But nathelees / thogh / that he wroot and sayde Line 80 He wolde / þat euery wight / were swich as he [folio 68a] [¶ Volo autem omnes homines esse sicut me ipsum] Al nys / but conseil to virginitee And for to been a wyf / he yaf me leue Of Indulgence / so it is no repreue Line 84 To wedde me / if my make dye With outen / excepcion of Bigamye Al were it good / no womman for to touche [¶ Bonum est homini / mulierem non tangere] He mente / as in his bed / or in his couche Line 88 ffor peril is / bothe fyr and tow tassemble Ye knowe / what this ensample may resemble This is al and som / that virginitee Moore profiteth / than weddyng / in freletee Line 92 ffreeltee clepe I / but if that he and she Wolde lede / al hir lyf in chastitee ¶ I graunte it wel / I haue noon envie Thogh maydenhede preferre Bigamye Line 96

[6-text p 337] Line 96 Hem liketh to be clene / body and goost Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boost ffor wel ye knowe / a lord in his houshold He nath nat euery vessel / al of gold Line 100 Somme been of tree / and doon hir lord seruyse God clepeth folk to hym / in sondry wyse And euerich hath of god a propre yifte [¶ Vnusquisque proprium habet donum ex deo; alius quidem sic/ alius autem sic/] Som this som that as hym liketh shifte Line 104 ¶ Virginitee / is greet perfeccion And continence eek with deuocion [¶ Qui cantant sequentur Agnum xliiij^or Millia] But crist/ that of perfeccion is welle Bad nat euery wight / sholde go selle Line 108 All that he hadde / and gyue it to the poore And in swich wise / folwe hym and his foore [.i. steppes] He spak to hem / that wolde lyue parfitly And lordynges by youre leue / that am nat I Line 112 I wol bistowe / the flour of myn age In the Actes and in fruyt of mariage ¶ Telle me also / to what conclusion Were membres ymaad / of generacion Line 116 And for what profit was a wight ywroght Trusteth right wel / they were nat maad for noght Glose who so wole / and seye bothe vp and doun That they were maad / for purgacioun Line 120 Of vryne bothe / and thynges smale And eek to knowe / a femele from a male And for noon oother cause / sey ye no? The experience / woot wel it is noght so Line 124 So that the clerkes / be nat with me wrothe I sey yis / that they beth maked for bothe This is to seye / for office and for ese Of engendrure / ther we nat god displese Line 128 Why sholde men elles / in hir bookes sette [folio 68b] That a man shal yelde / to his wyf hire dette Now wher with / sholde he make his paiement If he ne vsed / his sely Instrument Line 132

[6-text p 339] Line 132 ¶ Abyde quod she / my tale is nat bigonne [¶ Item viri diligite vxores verecundas] Nay / thou shalt drynken of another tonne Er that I go / shal sauoure wors than Ale And whan þat I / haue toold forth my tale Line 172 Of tribulacion / that is in mariage Of which / I am expert in al myn age This to seyn / my self haue been the whippe Than maystow chese / wheither thou wolt sippe Line 176 Of that tonne / that I shal abroche [folio 69a] Be war of it/ er thou to ny approche ffor I shal tell ensamples / mo than ten Who so / þat wol nat be war / by othere men Line 180 By hym / shul othere men corrected be The same wordes / writeth Protholomee Rede it in his Almageste / and take it there ¶ Dame / I wolde praye / if youre wyl it were Line 184 Seyde this Pardoner / as ye bigan Telle forth youre tale / spareth for no man And teche vs yonge men / of youre praktike ¶ Gladly sires / sith it may yow like Line 188 But yet I praye / to al this compaignye If that I speke / after my fantasye As taketh not agrief / that I seye ffor myn entente / is but for to pleye Line 192

NOw sire / now wol I telle forth my tale [¶ Bihoold how this goode wyf / serued hir .iij. firste housbondes whiche were goode olde men] As euere / moote I drynken wyn or Ale I shal seye sooth / of tho housbondes þat I hadde As thre of hem were goode / and two were badde Line 196 The thre men / were goode / and riche / and olde Vnnethe / myghte they / the statut holde In which / that they were / bounden vn-to me [¶ Ierephancias quoque Atheniencium / vsque hodie / cicute sorbicione castrari] Ye woot wel / what I meene of this pardee Line 200 As help me god / I laughe whan I thynke How pitously / anyght I made hem swynke And by my fey / I tolde of it no stoor They had me yeuen hir gold/ and hir tresoor Line 204

[6-text p 338] Line 204 Thanne were they maad / vp-on a creature To purge vryne / and for engendrure ¶ But I seye noght þat euery wight is holde That hath swich harneys / as I of tolde Line 136 To goon and vsen hem in engendrure They shul nat take / of chastitee no cure Crist was a mayde / and shapen as a man And many a seint sith the world bigan Line 140 Yet lyued they euere / in perfit chastitee I nyl nat enuye / no virginitee Lat hem be breed / of pured whete seed And lat vs wyues / hoten barly breed Line 144 And yet with barly breed / Mark telle kan Oure lord / refresshed many a man In swich estaat as god hath cleped vs [¶ Ea vocacione qua vooati estis & cetera] I wol perseuere / I nam nat precius Line 148 In wyfhode I wol vse myn Instrument/ As frely / as my makere hath it sent If I be daungerous / god yeue me sorwe Myn housbonde shal it haue / bothe eue and morwe Line 152 Whan þat hym list com forth and paye his dette An housbonde I wol haue / I nyl nat lette Which shal be / bothe my dettour / and my thral [¶ Qui vxorem habet & debitor dicitur. & esse i prepucio & seruu vxoris & qui malorum seruo|rum est alligatus] And haue / his tribulacion with al Line 156 Vp-on his flessh / whil that I am his wyf/ I haue the power / durynge al my lyf Vp-on his propre body / and noght he Right thus / the Apostel / tolde it vn-to me [¶ Et iterum seruus vxoris es / noli propter hoc habere tristiciam] Line 160 And bad oure housbondes / for to loue vs weel Al this sentence / me liketh euery deel [¶ Item si acceperis vxorem non peccasti tribula|cionem tamen carnis habebunt huiusmodi & cetera]

Vp stirte the Pardoner / and that anon Now dame quod he / by god and by seint Iohn Line 164 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas I was aboute / to wedde a wyf allas [¶ Item vir corporis sui non habet potestatem/ set vxor] What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere Yet hadde I leuere / wedde no wyf to yeere Line 168

[6-text p 340] Line 168 Me neded nat / do lenger diligence To wynne hir loue / or doon hem reuerence They loued me so wel / by god aboue That I ne tolde / no deyntee of hir loue Line 208 A wys womman / wol sette hire euere in oon To gete hire loue / ther as she hath noon But sith I hadde hem / hoolly in myn hond And sith / they hadde / me yeuen all hir lond Line 212 What sholde I taken heede / hem for to plese But it were / for my profit and myn ese I sette hem so a werk / by my fey That many a nyght they songen weilawey Line 216 The bacon / was nat fet for hem I trowe That som men han / in Essexe at Dunmowe I gouerned hem / so wel after my lawe That ech of hem / was ful blisful and fawe Line 220 To brynge me / gaye thynges / fro the ffayre They were ful glad / whan I spak to hem faire ffor god it woot / I chidde hem spitously ¶ Now herkneth / hou I baar me proprely Line 224 Ye wise wyues / that kan vnderstonde [folio 69b] ¶ Thus shul ye speke / and beren hem on honde ffor half so boldely / kan ther no man Swere and lye / as kan a womman Line 228 I sey nat this / by wyues þat been wyse But if it be / whan they hem mysauyse A wys wyf / if that she kan hir good Shal bere hym on hond / the Cow is wood Line 232 And take witnesse / of hir owene mayde Of hir assent but herkneth how I sayde ¶ Sire olde kaynard / is this thyn array Why is / my neighebores wyf so gay Line 236 She is honoured / ouer al ther she gooth I sitte at hoom / I haue no thrifty clooth What dostow / at my neighebores hous Is she so fair / artow so amorous Line 240

[6-text p 341] Line 240 What rowne ye with oure mayde benedicite Sire olde lecchour / lat thy Iapes be And if I haue / a gossib or a freend With-outen gilt thou chidest as a feend Line 244 If that I walke / or pleye vn-to his hous Thou comest hoom / as dronken as a Mous And prechest on thy bench / with yuel preef Thou seist to me / it is a greet meschief Line 248 To wedde a poure womman for costage And if she be riche / and of heigh parage Thanne seistow / it is a tormentrie To soffren hire pride / and hire malencolie Line 252 And if that she be fair / thou verray knaue Thou seyst that euery holour wol hire haue She may no while / in chastitee abyde That is assailled / vp-on ech a syde Line 256 ¶ Thou seyst that som folk / desiren vs / for richesse Somme for oure shape / somme for oure fairnesse And som / for she kan synge and daunce And som for gentillesse / and som for daliaunce Line 260 Som for hir handes / and hir Armes smale Thus goth al to the deuel / by thy tale Thou seyst men may nat kepe a Castel wal It may so longe / assailled been ouer al Line 264 ¶ And if that she be foul / thou seist that she Coueiteth euery man / that she may se ffor as a spaynel / she wol on hym lepe Til þat she fynde / som man hire to chepe Line 268 Ne noon so grey goos gooth in the lake As seistow / wol been with-oute make And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde A thyng þat no man wole his thankes helde Line 272 Thus seistow lorel / whan thow goost to bedde [folio 70a] And þat no wys man / nedeth for to wedde Ne no man / that entendeth vn-to heuene With wilde thonder dynt and firy leuene Line 276

[6-text p 342] Line 276 Moote / thy welked nekke be to-broke ¶ Thow seyst that droppyng houses / and eek smoke And chidyng wyues / maken men to flee Out of hir owene houses / a benedicitee Line 280 What eyleth / swich an old man for to chide ¶ Thow seyst þat we wyues / wol oure vices hide Til we be fast and thanne we wol hem shewe Wel may that be / a prouerbe of a shrewe Line 284 ¶ Thou seist þat Oxen / Asses / hors / and houndes They been assayd / at diuerse stoundes Bacyns / lauours / er that men hem bye Spoones and stooles / and al swich housbondrye Line 288 And so been / pottes clothes / and array But folk of wyues / maken noon assay Til they be wedded / olde dotard shrewe Thanne seistow / we wol oure vices shewe Line 292 ¶ Thou seist also / that it displeseth me But if that thou / wolt preyse my beautee And but thou poure alwey / vp-on my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place Line 296 And but thou make a feeste / on thilke day That I was born / and make me fressh and gay And but thou do / to my norice honour And to my chambrere / with-Inne my bour Line 300 And to my fadres folk / and hise allyes Thus seistow / olde barel ful of lyes ¶ And yet of oure Apprentice / Ianekyn [¶ Et procurator calamistratus & cetera] ffor his crispe heer / shynynge as gold so fyn Line 304 And for he squiereth me / bothe vp and doun Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun I wol hym noght / thogh thou were deed tomorwe ¶ But tel me / why hydestow with sorwe Line 308 The keyes of my cheste / awey fro me It is my good / as wel as thyn pardee What wenestow / to make an ydiot of oure dame Now by that lord / that called is seint Iame Line 312

[6-text p 343] Line 312 Thou shalt nat bothe / thogh thou were wood Be maister / of my body / and of my good That oon thou shalt forgo / maugree thyne eyen What nedeth thee / of me / to enquere or spyen Line 316 I trowe / thou woldest loke me in thy chiste Thou sholdest seye / wyf go wher thee liste Taak youre disport I wol leue no talys I knowe yow / for a trewe wyf dame Alys Line 320 We loue no man / that taketh kepe / or charge [folio 70b] Wher that we goon / we wol ben at our large ¶ Of alle men / blessed moot he be The wise Astrologien / Daun Protholome Line 324 That seith this prouerbe / in his Almageste Of alle men / his wysdom is the hyeste That rekketh neuere / who hath the world in honde [¶ Intra omnes alcior existit/ qui non curat in cuius manu sit mundus] By this prouerbe / thou shalt vnderstonde Line 328 Haue thou ynogh / what thar thee recche or care How myrily / that othere folkes fare ffor certeyn / olde dotard by youre leue Ye shul haue queynte / right ynogh at eue Line 332 He is to greet a nygard / that wolde werne A man / to lighte his candle at his lanterne He shal haue / neuer the lasse light pardee Haue thou ynogh / thee thar nat pleyne thee Line 336 ¶ Thou seyst also / þat if we make vs gay With clothyng and with precious array That it is peril of oure chastitee And yet with sorwe / thou most enforce thee Line 340 And seye thise wordes / in the Apostles name [¶ similiter & mulieres in habitu ornato cum verecundia & castitate ornent se / non in tortis crinibus aut auro aut margaritis siue veste preciosa & cetera /. Hec Paulus] In habit maad / with chastitee and shame Ye wommen / shul apparaille yow quod he And noght in tressed heer / and gay perree Line 344 As perles / ne with gold / ne clothes riche After thy text ne after thy Rubriche I wol nat wirche / as muchel as a gnat ¶ Thou seydest this / that I was lyk a Cat Line 348

[6-text p 344] Line 348 ffor who so wolde / senge a Cattes skyn Thanne wolde the Cat wel dwellen in his In And if the Cattes skyn / be slyk and gay She wol nat dwelle in house / half a day Line 352 But forth she wole / er any day be dawed To shewe hir skyn / and goon a Caterwawed This is to seye / if I be gay sire shrewe I wol renne out / my borel for to shewe Line 356 ¶ Sire olde fool / what eyleth thee to spyen Thogh thou preye Argus / with hise hundred eyen To be my wardecors / as he kan best/ In feith / he shal nat kepe me but lest Line 360 Yet koude I make his berd / so moot I thee ¶ Thou seydest eek / that ther been thynges thre [¶ eciam odiosa vxor si habeat virum bonum & cetera] The whiche thynges / troublen al this erthe And þat no wight / may endure the ferthe Line 364 O leeue sire shrewe / Ihesu / shorte thy lyf / Yet prechestow / and seyst and hateful wyf Yrekened is / for oon of thise meschances Been ther none othere resemblances Line 368 That ye may likne / youre parables to [folio 71a] But if/ a sely wyf / be oon of tho ¶ Thou liknest wommenes loue to helle [¶ Amor illius inferno & arenti terre & incendio comparata ‖ Vnde illud & cetera] To bareyne lond / ther water may nat dwelle Line 372 ¶ Thou liknest it also / to wilde fyr [¶ Infernus & amor mulieris & terra que non saciatur aqua & ignis non dicent satis & cetera] The moore it brenneth / the moore it hath desir To consumen euery thyng þat brent wole be Thou seyst . right as wormes shendeth a tree Line 376 Right so a wyf/ destroyeth hire housbond [¶ Sicut in ligno vermis ita perdet virum suum vxor] This knowe they / that been to wyues bonde [¶ Nemo melius scire potest / quid sit vxor vel mulier / nisi ille qui passus est/]

LOrdynges / right thus / as ye haue vnderstonde Baar I stifly / myne olde housbondes on honde Line 380 That thus they seyden / in hir dronkenesse And al was fals / but that I took witnesse On Ianekyn / and on my Nece also O lord / the peyne I dide hem / and the wo Line 384

[6-text p 345] Line 384 fful giltlees / by goddes sweete pyne ffor as an hors / I koude byte and whyne I koude pleyne / thogh I were in the gilt Or elles / often tyme / hadde I been spilt Line 388 Who so comth first to Mille / first grynt I pleyned first / so was oure werre y-stynt They were ful glad / to excusen hem blyue Of thyng / of which they neuere agilte hir lyue Line 392 ¶ Of wenches / wolde I beren hym on honde Whan that for syk vnnethes myghte he stonde Yet tikled it his herte / for that he Wende / þat I hadde of hym so greet chiertee Line 396 I swoor / þat al my walkynge out by nyghte Was / for tespye wenches þat he dighte Vnder that colour / hadde I many a myrthe ffor al swich thyng was yeuen vs in oure byrthe Line 400 Deceite / wepyng spynnyng god hath yeue To wommen kyndely / whil that they may lyue And thus / of o thyng I auaunte me Atte ende / I hadde the bettre in ech degree Line 404 By sleighte / or force / or by som maner thyng As by continueel murmure or grucchyng Namely / abedde / hadden they meschaunce Ther wolde I chide / and do hem no plesaunce Line 408 I wolde / no lenger in the bed abyde If that I felte his Arm ouer my syde Til he / had maad / his raunson vn-to me Thanne wolde I suffre hym / do his nycetee Line 412 And ther-fore / euery man / this tale I telle Wynne who so may / for al is for to selle With empty hand / men may none haukes lure ffor wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure Line 416 And make me / a feyned appetit/ [folio 71b] And yet in bacon / hadde I neuere delit That made me / that euere I wolde hem chide ffor thogh the pope / hadde seten hem biside Line 420

[6-text p 346] Line 420 I wolde nat spare hem / at hir owene bord ffor by my trouthe / I quitte hem word for word As helpe me / verray god omnipotent Though I right now / sholde make my testament Line 424 I ne owe hem nat a word / þat it nys quit I broghte it so aboute by my wit/ That they moste yeue it vp / as for the beste Or elles / hadde we neuere been in rest Line 428 ffor thogh he looked / as a wood leon Yet sholde he faille / of his conclusion ¶ Thanne wolde I seye / goode lief taak keepe How mekely / looketh Wilkyn oure sheepe Line 432 Com neer my spouse / lat me ba thy cheke Ye sholde been / al pacient and meke And han / a sweete spiced conscience Sith ye so preche / of Iobes pacience Line 436 Suffreth alwey / syn ye so wel kan preche And but ye do / certein we shal yow teche That it is fair / to haue a wyf in pees Oon of vs two / moste bowen doutelees Line 440 And sith a man / is moore resonable Than womman is / ye moste been suffrable What eyleth yow / to grucche thus and grone Is it for ye wolde haue my queynte allone Line 444 Wy taak it al / lo haue it euery deel Peter I shrewe yow / but ye loue it weel ffor if I wolde / selle my bele chose I koude walke / as fressh as is a rose Line 448 But I wol kepe / it for youre owene tooth Ye be to blame / by god / I sey yow sooth ¶ Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde Now wol I speken / of my fourthe housbonde Line 452

My fourthe housbonde / was a reuelour [¶ Of the con|dicione of the fourthe hous|bonde of this goode wyf/ And how she serued hym] This is to seyn / he hadde a paramour And I was yong and ful of ragerye Stibourne and strong and ioly as a pye Line 456

[6-text p 347] Line 456 Wel koude I daunce / to an harpe smale And synge ywis / as any nyghtyngale Whan I had dronke / a draughte of sweete wyn [¶ Valerius. libro. 6^o capitulo 3^o ‖ Metellius vxorem suam / eo quod vinum bibisset/ fuste percussam interemit/] Metellius / the foule cherl the swyn Line 460 That with a staf / birafte his wyf hire lyf ffor she drank wyn / thogh I hadde been his wyf / He sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke And after wyn / on Venus moste I thynke Line 464 ffor al so siker / as cold engendreth hayl [folio 72a] A likerous mouth / moste han a likerous tayl In wommen vinolent / is no defence This knowen lecchours by experience Line 468 ¶ But lord crist / whan that it remembreth me Vp-on my yowthe / and on my Iolitee It tikleth me / aboute myn herte roote Vn-to this day / it dooth myn herte boote Line 472 That I haue had my world / as in my tyme But Age allas / that al wole enuenyme Hath me biraft / my beautee / and my pith Lat go fare wel / the deuel go therwith Line 476 The flour is goon / ther is namoore to telle The bren as I best kan / now moste I selle But yet to be right myrie / wol I fonde Now wol I tellen / of my fourthe housbonde Line 480 ¶ I seye / I hadde in herte greet despit That he / of any oother had delit But he was quit by god / and by seint Ioce I made hym / of the same wode a croce Line 484 Nat of my body / in no foul manere But certein / I made folk swich cheere That in his owene grece / I made hym frye ffor Angre / and for verray Ialousye Line 488 By god / in erthe I was his purgatorie ffor which I hope / his soule be in glorie ffor god it woot he sat ful ofte and song / Whan þat his shoo / ful bitterly hym wrong Line 492

[6-text p 348] Line 492 Ther was no wight saue god and he þat wiste In many wise / how soore I hym twiste He deyde / whan I cam fro Ierusalem And lith ygraue / vnder the roode beem Line 496 Al is his tombe / noght so curyus As was the sepulcre / of hym Daryus Which that Appelles / wroghte subtilly [¶ Appelles / fecit mirabile opus in tumulo Darij / vnde in Alex|andro. libro. 6^o.] It nys but wast to burye hym preciously Line 500 Lat hym fare wel / god yeue his soule reste He is now / in his graue / and in his cheste

NOw / of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle [¶ Of the fifthe housbonde of this wyf / . and hou she bar hire ayens hym] God lete his soule / neuere come in helle Line 504 And yet was he to me / the mooste shrewe That feele I / on my ribbes al by rewe And euere shal / vn-to myn endyng day But in oure bed / he was / ful fressh and gay Line 508 And ther-with-al / so wel koude he me glose Whan that he wolde han my bele chose That thogh / he hadde me bet on euery bon He koude wynne / agayn my loue anon Line 512 I trowe I loued hym best for that he [folio 72b] Was of his loue / daungerous to me We wommen han / if that I shal nat lye In this matere / a queynte fantasye Line 516 Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly haue Ther after / wol we crie / al day and craue fforbede vs thyng and that desiren we Preesse on vs faste / and thanne wol we fle Line 520 With daunger / oute we al oure chaffare Greet prees at Market maketh deere ware And to greet cheepe / is holde at litel prys This knoweth / euery womman that is wys Line 524 ¶ My fifthe housbonde / god his soule blesse Which þat I took for loue / and no richesse He som tyme / was a clerk of Oxenford And hadde left scole / and wente at hom to bord Line 528

[6-text p 349] Line 528 With my gossib / dwellynge in oure toun God haue hir soule / hir name was Alisoun She knew myn herte / and eek my priuetee Bet than oure parisshe preest as moot I thee Line 532 To hire / biwreyed I / my conseil al ffor hadde myn housbonde / pissed on a wal Or doon a thyng þat sholde han cost his lyf / To hire / and to another worthy wyf / Line 536 And to my Nece / which þat I loued weel I wolde han toold / his conseil euery deel And so I dide / ful often god it woot That made his face / ful often reed and hoot Line 540 ffor verray shame / and blamed hym self for he? Had toold to me / so greet a pryuetee ¶ And so bifel / that ones in a lente So often tymes / I to my gossyb wente Line 544 ffor euere yet I loued to be gay And for to walke / in March / Auerill and May ffro hous to hous / to heere sondry talys That Iankyn Clerk and my gossyb dame Alys Line 548 And I my self / in-to the feeldes wente Myn housbonde / was at London al the lente I hadde / the bettre leyser for to pleye And for to se / and eek for to be seye Line 552 Of lusty folk what wiste I / wher my grace Was shapen for to be / or in what place Therfore / I made my visitacions To vigilies / and to processions Line 556 To prechyng eek and to thise pilgrimages To pleyes of myracles / and to mariages And wered vpon / my gaye scarlet gytes Thise wormes / ne thise Motthes / ne thise mytes Line 560 Vpon my peril / frete hem neuer a deel [folio 73a] And wostow why? for they were vsed weel

NOw wol I tellen forth / what happed me I seye / that in the feeldes walked we Line 564

[6-text p 350] Line 564 Till trewely / we hadde swich daliance This clerk and I / that of my purueiance I spak to hym / and seyde hym / how þat he? If I were wydwe / sholde wedde me Line 568 ffor certeinly / I sey for no bobance Yet was I neuere / with-outen purueiance Of mariage / nof othere thynges eek I holde a Mouses herte / nat worth a leek/ Line 572 That hath but oon hole / for to sterte to And if þat faille / thanne is al ydo ¶ I bar hym on honde / he hadde enchanted me My dame taughte me that soutiltee Line 576 And eek I seyde / I mette of hym al nyght He wolde han slayn me / as I lay vp right And al my bed / was ful of verray blood But yet I hope / that he shal do me good Line 580 ffor blood / bitokeneth gold / as me was taught And al was fals / I dremed of it right naught But I folwed ay / my dammes loore As wel of this / as of othere thynges moore Line 584 ¶ But now sire / lat me se / what I shal seyn A / ha / by god / I haue my tale ageyn ¶ Whan þat my fourthe housbonde / was on beere I weepe algate / and made sory cheere Line 588 As wyues mooten / for it is vsage And with my couerchief / couered my visage But for þat I / was purueyed of a make I wepte but smal / and that I vndertake Line 592 ¶ To chirche / was myn housbonde / born a morwe With neighebores / that for hym maden sorwe And Iankyn oure Clerk / was oon of tho As help me god / whan þat I saugh hym go Line 596 After the beere / me thoughte he hadde a paire? Of legges / and of feet / so clene and faire That al myn herte / I yaf vn-to his hoold He was I trowe / a twenty wynter oold Line 600

[6-text p 351] Line 600 And I was fourty / if I shal seye sooth But yet I hadde alwey / a coltes tooth Gat tothed I was / and that bicam me weel I hadde the prente / of seint Venus seel Line 604 As help me god / I was a lusty oon And faire and riche / and yong and wel bigon And trewely / as myne housbondes tolde me I hadde the beste Quonyam myghte be Line 608 ffor certes / I am al Venerien [folio 73b] In feelynge / and myn herte is Marcien Venus me yaf my lust my likerousnesse [¶ Mansor Amphorison'.19.] And Mars yaf me / my sturdy hardynesse [¶ Cumque in ascendente fuerint infortune turpem notam in facie pacietur ‖ In natiuitatibus mulierum cum fuerit ascendens aliqua de domibus Veneris / Marte existente in eis / vel e contrario erit mulier inpudica ‖ Idem erit/ si habuerit capricornum in ascendente ‖ He[c] Hermes in libro fiducie Am|phoris^o. 24^o.] Line 612 Myn Ascendent was Taur and Mars ther-Inne Allas / allas / þat euere loue was synne I folwed ay / myn Inclinacion By vertu / of my constellacion Line 616 That made me / I koude noght withdrawe My chambre of Venus / from a good felawe Yet haue I / Martes Mark vp-on my face And also / in another priuee place Line 620 ffor god so wys / be my sauacion I ne loued neuere / by no discrecion But euere / folwed myn appetit Al were he / short or long or blak / or whit Line 624 I took no kepe / so that he liked me How poore he was / ne eek/ of what degree ¶ What sholde I seye / but at the Monthes ende This ioly clerk/ Iankyn þat was so hende Line 628 Hath wedded me / with greet solempnytee And to hym yaf I / al the lond and fee That euere / was me yeuen ther-bifoore But afterward / repented me ful soore Line 632 He nolde suffre / nothyng of my list By god / he smoot me ones on the lyst ffor þat I rente / out of his book a leef / That of the strook / myn ere wax al deef / Line 636

[6-text p 352] Line 636 Stibourne I was / as is a Leonesse And of my tonge / a verray Iangleresse And walke I wolde / as I had doon biforn ffrom hous to hous / al-though he had it sworn Line 640 ffor which / he often tymes wolde preche And me / of olde Romayn geestes teche How he symplicius Gallus / lefte his wyf [¶ Valerius. libro 6^o. folio. 19^o.] And hire forsok / for terme of al his lyf Line 644 Noght but for open-heueded / he hir say Lokynge out at his dore / vpon a day ¶ Another Romayn / tolde he me by name That for his wyf / was at a someres game Line 648 With-outen his wityng he forsook hire eke And thanne wolde he / vp-on his Bible seke That ilke prouerbe / of Ecclesiaste Where he comandeth / and forbedeth faste Line 652 Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute Thanne wolde he seye right/ thus / with-outen doute ¶ Who so / that buyldeth his hous / al of salwes [¶ Nota.] And priketh his blynde hors / ouer the falwes Line 656 ¶ And suffreth his wyf / to go seken halwes [folio 74a] [¶ Ne des mulieri nequam veniam prodeundi ecclesiastici .25^o. [verse 25-6]] Is worthy / to been hanged / on the galwes But al for noght I sette noght an hawe Of his prouerbes / nof his olde awe Line 660 Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be I hate hym / that my vices telleth me And so doo mo / god woot of vs / than I This made hym / with me wood al outrely Line 664 I nolde noght / forbere hym in no cas ¶ Now wol I seye yow sooth / by seint Thomas Why þat I rente / out of his book a leef ffor which / he smoot me so / þat I was deef Line 668 ¶ He hadde a book / þat gladly nyght and day ffor his desport he wolde rede alway He cleped it Valerie / and Theofraste At which book/ he lough alwey ful faste Line 672

[6-text p 353] Line 672 ¶ And eek/ ther was som tyme / a clerk at Rome A Cardinal / that highte Seint Ierome That made a book agayn Iouinian In which book eek ther was Tertulan Line 676 Crisippus / Trotula / and Helowys That was Abbesse / nat fer fro Parys And eek the Parables of Salomon Ouides Art and bookes many on Line 680 And alle thise / were bounden / in o volume And euery nyght and day / was his custume Whan he hadde leyser / and vacacion ffrom oother / worldly / occupacion Line 684 To reden on this book / of wikked wyues He knew of hem / mo legendes and lyues Than been / of goode wyues in the Bible. ffor trusteth wel / it is an impossible Line 688 That any clerk wol speke good of wyues But if it be / of hooly seintes lyues Ne noon oother womman / neuer the mo Who peynted the leon / tel me who? [¶ Quis pinxit leonem] Line 692 By god / if wommen / hadde writen stories As clerkes han / with-Inne hire oratories They wolde han writen / of men moore wikkednesse Than all the mark/ of Adam may redresse Line 696 The children / of Mercurie and Venus Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius Mercurie / loueth wysdam and science And Venus / loueth ryot and dispence Line 700 And for hire diuerse disposicion Ech falleth / in otheres exaltacion [¶ Vterque cadit vbi alia exaltatur] And thus god woot Mercurie is desolat In Pisces / wher Venus is exaltat Line 704 And Venus falleth / ther Mercurie is reysed [.i. in Virgine] [folio 74b] [¶ In libro Mansor primo ‖ Vniuscujusque planetarum. 4. ‖ Exaltacio illo in loco fore dicitur in quo subito patitur ab alio contrarium & cetera / Velut Mercurius in virgine que est casus veneris ‖. Alter. scilicet. Mercurius significat scientiam & philosophiam ‖. Alter vero cantus & alacritates & quicquid est sapiferum corpori] Therfore no womman / of no clerk is preysed The clerk whan he is oold / and may noght do Of Venus werkes / worth his olde sho Line 708

[6-text p 354] Line 708 Thanne sit he doun / and writ in his dotage That wommen / kan nat kepe hir mariage

But now to purpos / why I tolde thee That I was beten / for a book pardee Line 712 Vp-on a nyght Iankyn þat was oure sire Redde on his book / as he sat by the fire Of Eua first that for hir wikkednesse Was al mankynde / broght to wrecchednesse Line 716 ffor which crist hym self/ was slayn That boghte vs / with his herte blood agayn Lo heere expres / of womman may ye fynde That womman / was the los / of al mankynde Line 720 ¶ Tho redde he me / how Sampson loste hise heres Slepynge / his lemman / kitte it with hir sheres Thurgh which treson / loste he bothe hise eyen ¶ Tho redde he me / if that I shal nat lyen Line 724 Of Hercules / and of his Dianyre That caused hym / to sette hymself afyre ¶ No thyng forgat he / the sorwe and wo That Socrates / hadde with hise wyues two Line 728 How Xantippa / caste pisse vp-on his heed This sely man / sat stille as he were deed He wiped his heed / namoore dorste he seyn But er þat thonder stynte / comth a reyn Line 732 ¶ Of Phasifpha / that was the queene of Crete [¶ Quid referam Phasifphen / Clitermistram & Eriphilem /. quarum prima delicijs fluens quippe vt Regis vxor Tauri dicitu, adpetisse concubitus. Alla occidisse virum suum ob amorem Adulterij .‖ Tercia perdidisse Amphiorax & saluti viri monile Aureum pertulisse &c ‖ Hec Metellius Marrio secundum Valerium] ffor shrewednesse / hym thoughte the tale swete ffy speke namoore / it is a grisly thyng Of hire / horrible lust and hir likyng Line 736 ¶ Of Clitermystra / for hire lecherye That falsly / made hire housbonde for to dye He redde it/ with ful good deuocion ¶ He tolde me eek for what occasion Line 740 Amphiorax / at Thebes loste his lyf Myn housbonde / hadde a legende of his wyf / ¶ Eriphilem / that for an Ouche of gold Hath priuely / vn-to the grekes told Line 744

[6-text p 355] Line 744 Wher that hir housbonde / hidde hym in a place ffor which / he hadde at Thebes sory grace ¶ Of Lyma tolde he me / and of Lucye They bothe / made hir housbondes for to dye Line 748 That oon for loue / that oother was for hate Lyma hir housbonde / vp-on an euen late Empoysoned hath / for þat she was his fo Lucia likerous / loued hire housbonde so Line 752 That for he sholde / alwey vp-on hire thynke [folio 75a] She yaf hym / swich a manere loue drynke That he was deed / er it were by the morwe And thus algates / housbondes han sorw Line 756 ¶ Thanne tolde he me / how þat oon Latumyus Compleyned / vn-to his felawe Arrius That in his gardyn / growed swich a tree On which he seyde / how that hise wyues thre Line 760 Hanged hem self for herte despitus ¶ O leeue brother / quod this Arrius Yif me a plante / of thilke blissed tree And in my gardyn / planted it shal bee Line 764 ¶ Of latter date of wyues / hath he red That somme / han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed And lete hir lecchour / dighte hire al the nyght Whan that the corps / lay in the floor vp right Line 768 ¶ And somme / han dryue nayles / in hir brayn Whil þat they slepte / and thus they han hem slayn ¶ Somme han hem yeue / poysoun in hire drynke He spak moore harm / than herte may bithynke Line 772 And ther-with-al / he knew of mo prouerbes Than in this world / ther growen gras or herbes Bet is quod he / thyn habitacioun Be with a leoun / or a foul dragoun Line 776 Than with a womman / vsynge for to chyde Bet is quod he / hye in the roof abyde Than with an angry wyf / doun in the hous They been so wikked and contrarious Line 780

[6-text p 356] Line 780 They haten / that hir housbondes / loueth ay He seyde / a womman cast hir shame away Whan she cast of hir smok and forther mo A fair womman / but she be chaast also Line 784 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose [¶ Circulus aureus in naribus Suis Mulior formosa & fatua .i. impudica] Who wolde leeue / or who wolde suppose The wo / that in myn herte was and pyne ¶ And whan I saugh / he wolde neuere fyne Line 788 To reden on this cursed book al nyght Al sodeynly / thre leues haue I plyght Out of his book right as he radde / and eke, I with my fest so took hym on the cheke Line 792 That in oure fyr / he fil bakward adoun And he vp stirte / as dooth a wood leoun And with his fest he smoot me on the heed That in the floor / I lay / as I were deed Line 796 And whan he saugh / how stille þat I lay He was agast and wolde han fled his way Til atte laste / out of my swogh I breyde O hastow slayn me / false theef I seyde Line 800 And for my land / thus hastow mordred me [folio 75b] Er I be deed / yet wol I kisse thee ¶ And neer he cam / and kneled faire adoun And seyde / deere suster Alisoun Line 804 As help me god / I shal thee neuere smyte That I haue doon / it is thy self to wyte fforyeue it me / and that I thee biseke And yet eft soones / I hitte hym on the cheke Line 808 And seyde theef/ thus muchel am I wreke Now wol I dye / I may no lenger speke But atte laste / with muchel care and wo We fille acorded / by vs seluen two Line 812 He yaf me / al the bridel in myn hond To han the gouernance / of hous and lond And of his tonge / and his hond also And made hym brenne his book anon right tho Line 816

[6-text p 357] Line 816 And whan that I / hadde geten vn-to me By maistrie / al the soueraynetee And that he seyde / myn owene trewe wyf/ Do as thee lust to terme of al thy lyf Line 820 Keepe thyn honour / and keepe eek myn estaat/ After that day / we hadden neuer debaat God helpe me so / I was to hym as kynde As any wyf from Denmark vn-to Ynde Line 824 And also trewe / and so was he to me I prey to god / that sit in magestee So blesse his soule / for his mercy deere Now wol I seye my tale / if ye wol heere Line 828

¶ Biholde the wordes bitwene the Somonour / and the ffrere.

The frere lough / whan he hadde herd al this Now dame quod he / so haue I ioye or blis This is / a long preamble of a tale And whan the Somonour / herde the frere gale Line 832 ¶ Lo quod the Somonour / goddes Armes two A frere / wol entremette him euere-mo Lo goode men / a flye and eek a frere Wol falle / in euery dyssh and mateere Line 836 What spekestow / of preambulacioun What amble / or trotte / or pees / or go sit doun Thou lettest oure disport in this manere ¶ Ye woltow so / sire Somonour quod the frere Line 840 Now by my feith / I shal er that I go Telle of a Somonour / swich a tale or two That alle the folk/ shal laughen in this place ¶ Now elles frere / I bishrewe thy face Line 844 Quod this Somonour and I bishrewe me [folio 76a] But if I telle tales / two or thre Of freres / er I come to Sidyngborne That I shal make / thyn herte for to morne Line 848

[6-text p 358] Line 848 ffor wel I woot thy pacience is gon ¶ Oure hoost cride pees / and that anon And seyde / lat the womman telle hire tale Ye fare as folk / that dronken were of Ale Line 852 Do dame / telle forth youre tale / and that is best ¶ Al redy sire quod she / right as yow lest If I haue licence / of this worthy frere ¶ Yis dame quod he / tel forth / and I wol heere Line 856

¶ Heere endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe /

[6-text p 359]

And bigynneth hir tale [on leaf 76]

IN tholde dayes / of Kyng Arthour Of which that Britons / speken greet honour All was this land / fulfild of ffairye The Elf queene / with hir ioly compaignye Line 860 Daunced ful ofte / in many a grene mede [[Painting of the Wife of Balh astride her horse]] This was the olde opinion as I rede I speke / of manye hundred yeres ago But now kan no man / se none Elues mo Line 864 ffor now the grete charitee / and prayeres Of lymytours / and othere hooly freres That serchen / euery lond / and euery streem As thikke / as motes / in the sonne beem Line 868 Blessynge halles / chambres / kichenes / boures Citees / Burghes / Castels / hye Toures Thropes / Bernes / Shipnes / dayeryes This maketh / that ther been no ffairyes Line 872 ffor ther as wont to walken was an Elf Ther walketh now / the lymytour hym self In vndermeles / and in morwenynges And seyth his matyns / and his hooly thynges Line 876 As he gooth / in his lymytacioun Wommen / may go saufly vp and doun In euery bussh / or vnder euery tree Ther is / noon oother Incubus / but he Line 880 And he / ne wol doon hem / but dishonour ¶ And so bifel / that this kyng Arthour Hadde in hous / a lusty Bacheler That on a day / cam ridynge fro Ryuer Line 884

[6-text p 360] Line 884 And happed that allone / as he was born He saugh a mayde / walkynge hym biforn Of which mayde / anon maugree hir heed [folio 76b] By verray force / birafte hire maydenhed Line 888 ffor which oppression / was swich clamour And swich pursute / vn-to the kyng Arthour That dampned was this knyght for to be deed By cours of lawe / and sholde han lost his heed Line 892 Parauenture / swich was the statut tho But that the queene / and othere ladyes mo So longe preyden / the kyng of grace Til he / his lyf / hym graunted in the place Line 896 And yaf hym to the queene / al at hir wille To chese / wheither / she wolde hym saue or spille ¶ The queene / thanketh the kyng with al hir myght And after this / thus spak she to the knyght Line 900 Whan þat she saugh hir tyme vp-on a day Thou standest yet quod she / in swich array That of thy lyf / yet hastow no suretee I grante thee lyf / if thou kanst tellen me Line 904 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren Be war / and keepe thy nekke boon from Iren And if thou / kanst nat tellen it anon Yet shal I yeue thee leue / for to gon Line 908 A twelf-month and a day / to seche and leere An answere suffisant in this mateere And suretee wol I han / er þat thou pace Thy body / for to yelden in this place Line 912

WO was this knyght and sorwefully he siketh But he may nat do / al as hym liketh And at the laste / he chees hym for to wende And come agayn / right at the yeres ende Line 916 With swich answere / as god wolde hym purueye And taketh his leue / and wendeth forth his weye ¶ He seketh / euery hous / and euery place Where as he hopeth / for to fynde grace Line 920

[6-text p 361] Line 920 To lerne / what thyng wommen louen moost But he ne koude / arryuen in no coost Wher as he myghte fynde / in this mateere Two creatures / accordynge in feere Line 924 ¶ Somme seyde / wommen / louen best richesse Somme seyde honour / somme seyde Iolynesse Somme riche array / somme seyden lust abedd And ofte tyme / to be wydwe and wedde Line 928 ¶ Somme seyde / þat oure hertes / been moost esed Whan that we been / yflatered and yplesed ¶ He gooth ful ny the sothe / I wol nat lye A man / shal wynne vs best with flaterye Line 932 And with attendance / and with bisynesse Been we ylymed / bothe moore and lesse ¶ And somme seyn / that we louen best [folio 77a] ffor to be free / and do right as vs lest Line 936 And that no man / repreue vs of oure vice But seye þat we be wise / and no thyng nyce ffor trewely / ther is noon of vs alle If any wight / wol clawe vs on the galle Line 940 That we nel kike / for he seith vs sooth Assay / and he shal fynde it þat so dooth ffor be we / neuer so vicious with-Inne We wol been holden wise / and clene of synne Line 944 ¶ And somme seyn / that greet delit han we ffor to been holden stable / and eke secree And in o purpos / stedefastly to dwelle And nat biwreye thyng that men vs telle Line 948 But that tale / is nat worth a rake stele Pardee we wommen / konne no thyng hele Witnesse on Myda / wol ye heere the tale ¶ Ouyde / amonges othere thynges smale Line 952 Seyde / Myda hadde vnder his longe heres Growynge vp-on his heed / two Asses eres The which vice he hydde / as he best myghte fful subtilly / from euery mannes sighte Line 956

[6-text p 362] Line 956 That saue his wyf / ther wiste of it namo He loued hire moost and triste hire also He preyde hire / that to no creature She sholde tellen / of his disfigure Line 960 ¶ She swoor him nay / for al this world to wynne She nolde do / that vileynye or synne To make hir housbonde / han so foul a name She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame Line 964 But nathelees / hir thoughte þat she dyde That she so longe / sholde a conseil hyde Hir thoughte / it swal so soore / aboute hir herte That nedely / som word hire moste asterte Line 968 And sith she dorste / telle it to no man Doun to a Mareys / faste by she ran Til she came there / her herte was a fyre And as a Bitore / bombleth in the Myre Line 972 She leyde hir mouth / vn-to the water doun Biwreye me nat thou water with thy soun Quod she / to thee I telle it and namo Myn housbonde / hath longe Asses erys two Line 976 Now is myn herte all hool / now is it oute I myghte no lenger / kepe it out of doute Heere may ye se / thogh we a tyme abyde Yet out it moot we kan no conseil hyde Line 980 The remenant of the tale / if ye wol heere Redeth Ouyde / and ther ye may it leere

THis knyght / of which / my tale is specially [folio 77b] Whan that he saugh / he myghte nat come therby This is to seye / what wommen loue moost Line 985 With-Inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost But hoom he gooth / he myghte nat soiourne The day was come / þat homward moste he tourne Line 988 And in his wey / it happed hym to ryde In al this care / vnder a fforest syde Wher as he saugh / vp-on a daunce go Of ladyes / foure and twenty / and yet mo Line 992

[6-text p 363] Line 992 Toward the which daunce / he drow ful yerne In hope / that som wysdom / sholde he lerne But certeinly / er he came fully there Vanysshed was this daunce / he nyste where Line 996 No creature saugh he / that bar lyf Saue on the grene / he saugh sittynge a wyf A fouler wight ther may no man deuyse Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse Line 1000 And seyde sire knyght / heer forth ne lith no wey Tel me / what that ye seken / by youre fey Parauenture / it may the bettre be Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng quod she Line 1004 ¶ My leeue mooder/ quod this knyght certeyn I nam but deed / but if that I kan seyn What thyng it is / that wommen moost desire Koude ye me wisse / I wolde wel quite youre hire Line 1008 ¶ Plight me thy trouthe / heere in myn hand quod she The nexte thyng that I requere thee Thou shalt it do / if it lye in thy myght And I wol telle it yow / er it be nyght Line 1012 ¶ Haue heer my trouthe / quod the knyght I grante ¶ Thanne quod she / I dar me wel auante Thy lyf is sauf / for I wol stonde therby Vp-on my lyf/ the queene wol seye as I Line 1016 Lat se / which is the proudeste of hem alle That wereth on / a couerchief/ or a calle That dar seye nay / of that I shal thee teche Lat vs go forth / with-outen lenger speche Line 1020 Tho rowned she / a pistel in his ere And bad hym to be glad / and haue no fere ¶ Whan they be comen to the court / this knyght Seyde / he had holde his day / as he hadde hight Line 1024 And redy was his answere / as he sayde fful many a noble wyf / and many a mayde And many a wydwe / for þat they been wise The queene hir-self sittynge as Iustise Line 1028

[6-text p 364] Line 1028 Assembled been / his answere for to heere And afterward / this knyght was bode appeere ¶ To euery wight / comanded was silence [folio 78a] And that the knyght / sholde telle in Audience Line 1032 What thyng that worldly wommen louen best This knyght ne stood nat stille / as doth a best But to his questioun / anon answerde With manly voys / that al the court it herde Line 1036 ¶ My lige lady / generally / quod he Wommen desiren haue souereynetee As wel / ouer hir housbond as hir loue And for to been / in maistrie hym aboue Line 1040 This is youre mooste desir / thogh ye me kille Dooth as yow list I am at youre wille ¶ In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde Ne wydwe / that contraried that he sayde Line 1044 But seyden / he was worthy han his lyf ¶ And with that word / vp stirte the olde wyf Which that the knyght / saugh sittynge in the grene Mercy quod she my souereyn lady queene Line 1048 Er that youre court departe / do me right I taughte this answere / vn-to the knyght ffor which / he plighte me his trouthe there The firste thyng I wolde hym requere Line 1052 He wolde it do / if it lay in his myght Bifore the court / thanne preye I thee sir knyght Quod she / that thou me take vn-to thy wyf/ ffor wel thou woost that I haue kept thy lyf Line 1056 If I sey fals / sey nay vp-on thy fey ¶ This knyght answerde / allas and weylawey I woot right wel / that swich was my biheste ffor goddes loue / as chees a newe requeste Line 1060 Taak al my good / and lat my body go ¶ Nay thanne quod she / I shrewe vs bothe two ffor thogh that I be foul / oold and poore I nolde for al the metal / ne for oore Line 1064

[6-text p 365] Line 1064 That vnder erthe is graue / or lith aboue But if thy wyf I were / and eek thy loue ¶ My loue quod he? nay my dampnacion Allas / that any of my nacion Line 1068 Sholde euere so foule / disparaged be But al for noght thende is this / that he Constreyned was / he nedes moste hire wedde And taketh his olde wyf / and gooth to bedde Line 1072 ¶ Now wolden som men / seye parauenture That for my necligence / I do no cure To tellen yow / the ioye / and al tharray That at the feeste was / that ilke day Line 1076 To which thyng shortly answere I shal I seye / ther nas no ioye / ne feeste at al Ther nas but heuynesse / and muche sorwe [folio 78b] ffor priuely / he wedded hire on a morwe Line 1080 And al day after / hidde hym as an Owle So wo was hym / his wyf looked so foule ¶ Greet was the wo / the knyght hadde in his thoght Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght/ Line 1084 He walweth / and he turneth to and fro His olde wyf / lay smylynge eueremo And seyde / o deere housbonde benedicitee ffareth euery knyght / thus with his wyf / as ye? Line 1088 Is this the lawe / of kyng Arthures hous? Is euery knyght of his so dangerous? I am youre owene loue / and youre wyf/ I am she / which þat saued hath youre lyf/ Line 1092 And certes / yet ne dide I yow neuere vnright/ Why fare ye thus with me / this firste nyght/? Ye faren lyk a man / had lost his wit What is my gilt? for goddes loue tel it Line 1096 And it shal been amended / if I may ¶ Amended quod this knyght? allas / nay / nay / It wol nat been amended neuere mo Thou art so loothly / and so oold also Line 1100

[6-text p 366] Line 1100 And ther-to comen / of so lough a kynde That litel wonder is / thogh I walwe and wynde So wolde god / myn herte wolde breste ¶ Is this quod she / the cause of youre vnreste? Line 1104 ¶ Ye certeinly quod he / no wonder is ¶ Now sire quod she / I koude amende al this If that me liste / er it were dayes thre So wel ye myghte / bere yow vn-to me Line 1108

Bvt for ye speken / of swich gentillesse [¶ De generositate] As is descended / out of old richesse That therfore / sholden ye be gentil men Swich arrogance / is nat worth an hen Line 1112 Looke / who that is / moost vertuous alway Pryuee and apert and moost entendeth ay To do / the gentil dedes that he kan Taak hym / for the grettest ¹gentil man¹ [[^1_1 later]] Line 1116 Crist wole / we clayme of hym oure gentillesse Nat of oure eldres / for hire old richesse ffor thogh they yeue vs / al hir heritage ffor which we clayme / to been of heigh parage Line 1120 Yet may they nat biquethe / for no thyng To noon of vs / hir vertuous lyuyng That made hem / gentil men ycalled be And bad vs / folwen hem in swich degree Line 1124 ¶ Wel kan / the wise Poete of fflorence That highte Dant speken in this sentence ¶ Lo / in swich maner rym / is Dantes tale [folio 79a] fful selde vp riseth / by his branches smale Line 1128 Prowesse of man / for god of his goodnesse Wole / that of hym / we clayme oure gentillesse ffor of oure eldres / may we no thyng clayme But temporel thyng þat man may hurte and mayme Line 1132 ¶ Eek euery wight woot this as wel as I If gentillesse / were planted natureelly Vn-to a certeyn lynage / doun the lyne Pryuee nor apert thanne wolde they neuere fyne Line 1136

[6-text p 367] Line 1136 To doon of gentillesse / the faire office They myghte do / no vileynye or vice ¶ Taak fyr / and ber it in the derkeste hous Bitwix this / and the mount of Kaukasous Line 1140 And lat men / shette the dores and go thenne Yet wole the fyr / as faire lye and brenne As twenty thousand men / myghte it biholde His office natureel / ay wol it holde Line 1144 Vp peril of my lyf / til that it dye ¶ Heere may ye se wel / how þat genterye [¶ exemplum] Is nat annexed to possession Sith folk / ne doon hir operacion Line 1148 Alwey as dooth the fyr / lo in his kynde ffor god it woot men may wel often fynde A lordes sone / do shame and vileynye And he þat wole / han pris of his gentrye Line 1152 ffor he was born / of a gentil hous And hadde hise eldres / nobel and vertuous And nel hym seluen / do no gentil dedis Ne folwen his gentil Auncestre þat deed is Line 1156 He nys nat gentil / be he duc or Erl ffor vileyns synful dedes / make a cherl ffor gentillesse / nys but renomee Of thyne auncestres / for hire heigh bountee Line 1160 Which is a strange thyng to thy persone Thy gentillesse / cometh fro god allone Thanne comth / oure verray gentillesse of grace It was no thyng / biquethe vs with oure place Line 1164 ¶ Thenketh hou noble / as seith Valerius Was thilke / Tullius Hostillius That out of pouerte / roos to heigh noblesse Reed senek / and redeth eek Boece Line 1168 Ther shul ye seen expres / þat no drede is That he is gentil / that dooth gentil dedis And therfore leeue housbonde / I thus conclude Al were it / that myne Auncestres weren rude Line 1172

[6-text p 368] Line 1172 Yet may the hye god / and so hope .I. Grante me grace / to lyuen vertuously Thanne am I gentil / whan that I bigynne [folio 79b] To lyuen vertuously / and weyue synne Line 1176

ANd ther as ye / of pouerte me repreeue [¶ De paupertate] The hye god / on whom þat we bileeue In wilful pouerte / chees to lyue his lyf And certes / euery man / mayden or wyf/ Line 1180 May vnderstonde / that Ihesus heuene kyng Ne wolde nat chesen vicious lyuyng [¶ Seneca in epistola] Glad pouerte / is an honeste thyng certeyn [¶ Honesta res est leta paupertas] This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn Line 1184 Who so þat halt hym payd of his pouerte I holde hym riche / al hadde he nat a sherte [¶ Pauper est qui eget/ eo quod non habet/ sed qu non habet nec appetit habere ille diues est/ de quo intelligitur id/ Apocalypsis .3^o. dicis quia diues sum] He þat coueiteth / is a pouere wight ffor he wolde han / that is nat in his myght Line 1188 But he þat noght hath / ne coueiteth haue Is riche / al-though ye holde hym but a knaue ¶ Verray pouerte / it syngeth proprely Iuuenal / seith of pouerte myrily Line 1192 The poure man / whan he goth by the weye [¶ Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator / et nocte ad lumen trepi|dabit Arundinis vmbram] Bifore the theues / he may synge and pleye Pouerte is hateful good / and as I gesse A ful greet bryngere / out of bisynesse [¶ 2^us Philosophus] Line 1196 A greet amendere eek of sapience [¶ Paupertas est odibile bonum / sanitatis mater / curarum remocio / sapientie repara|trix / possessio sine calumpnia] To hym / that taketh it in pacience Pouerte is this / al-though it seme alenge Possession / that no wight wol chalenge Line 1200 Pouerte ful ofte / whan a man is lowe Maketh his god / and eek hym self to knowe [¶ Vnde & Crates ille Thebanus ‖] Pouerte / a spectacle is / as thynketh me [¶ Proiecto in mari non perno auri pondere ‖ Abite inquit pessime male cupiditates / ego vos mergam / ne ipse mergar a vobis] Thurgh which he may / hise verray freendes see Line 1204 And therfore sire / syn þat I noght yow greue Of my pouerte / namoore ye me repreue

NOw sire / of elde / ye repreue me And certes sire / thogh noon Auctoritee [¶ De senectute] Line 1208

[6-text p 369] Line 1208 Were in no book / ye gentils of honour Seyn / þat men sholde / an oold wight doon fauour And clepe hym fader / for youre gentillesse And Auctours / shal I fynden as I gesse Line 1212

NOw ther ye seye / þat I am foul and old [¶ De turpitudine] Than drede you noght / to been a Cokewold ffor filthe and eelde / al so moot I thee Been grete wardeyns / vp-on chastitee Line 1216 But nathelees / syn I knowe youre delit I shal fulfille / youre worldly appetit ¶ Chese now quod she / oon of thise thynges tweye To han me foul and old / til that I deye Line 1220 And be to yow / a trewe humble wyf And neuere yow displese / in al my lyf Or elles / ye wol han me yong and fair [folio 80a] And take youre auenture / of the repair Line 1224 That shal be to youre hous / by cause of me Or in som oother place / may wel be Now chese your seluen / wheither þat yow liketh ¶ This knyght auyseth hym and sore siketh Line 1228 But atte laste / he seyde in this manere My lady and my loue / and wyf so deere I put me / in youre wise gouernance Cheseth youre self / which may be moost plesance Line 1232 And moost honour / to yow and me also I do no fors / the wheither/ of the two ffor as yow liketh / it suffiseth me ¶ Thanne haue I gete of yow / maistrie quod she Line 1236 Syn I may chese / and gouerne as me lest ¶ Ye certes wyf quod he / I holde it best ¶ Kys me quod she / we be no lenger wrothe ffor by my trouthe / I wol be to yow bothe Line 1240 This is to seyn / ye bothe fair and good I prey to god / þat I moote steruen wood But I to yow / be al so good and trewe As euere was wyf / syn þat the world was newe Line 1244

[6-text p 370] Line 1244 And but I be tomorn / as fair to seene As any lady / Emperice or queene That is bitwixe the Est and eke the West Dooth with my lyf / and deth / right as yow lest Line 1248 Cast vp the curtyn / looke how that it is ¶ And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this That she so fair was / and so yong ther-to ffor ioye / he hente hire / in hise armes two Line 1252 His herte bathed / in a bath of blisse A thousand tyme arewe / he gan hire kisse And she obeyed hym in euery thyng That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng Line 1256 ¶ And thus they lyue / vn-to hir lyues ende In parfit ioye / and Ihesu crist vs sende Housbondes meeke / yonge / fressh a bedde And grace / touerbyde hem þat we wedde Line 1260 And eek / I pray Ihesu shorte hir lyues That nat wol be gouerned by hir wyues And olde and angry nygardes of dispence God sende hem soone / verray pestilence Line 1264

¶ Heere endeth / the Wyues tale of Bathe .

[6-text p 371]

¶ The prologe of the freres tale . [folio 80b]

THis worthy lymytour / this noble frere He made alwey / a maner louryng chiere Vpon the Somonour / but for honestee No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he Line 1268 But atte laste / he seyde vn-to the wyf Dame quod he / god yeue yow right good lyf Ye han heer touched / al so moot I thee In scole matere / greet difficultee Line 1272 Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel I seye But dame / heere as we ryde by the weye Vs nedeth nat. to speken but of game And lete / auctoritees / on goddes name Line 1276 To prechyng and to scole of clergye And if it lyke / to this compaignye I wol yow / of a somonour telle a game Pardee / ye may wel knowe by the name Line 1280 That of a Somonour / may no good be sayd I praye / þat noon of you / be yuele apayd A Somonour / is a rennere vp and doun With mandementz / for fornicacioun Line 1284 And is y-bet at euery townes ende ¶ Oure hoost tho spak / a sire ye sholde be hende And curteys / as a man of youre estaat In compaignye / we wol haue no debaat Line 1288 Telleth youre tale / and lat the Somonour be ¶ Nay quod the Somonour / lat hym seye to me What so hym list whan it comth to my lot By god / I shal hym quiten euery grot Line 1292 I shal hym tellen / which a greet honour It is / to be a flaterynge lymytour And of many another manere cryme Which nedeth nat rehercen for this tyme Line 1296 And his office / I shal hym telle ywis ¶ Oure hoost answerde / pees namoore of this And after this / he seyde vn-to the frere Tel forth youre tale / leeue maister deere Line 1300

[6-text p 372]

¶ Heere bigynneth the ffreres tale .

WHilom ther was dwellynge / in my contree [[Painting of the Friar.]] An Erchedekene / a man of heigh degree That boldely / dide execucioun In punysshynge / of fornicacioun Line 1304 Of wicchecraft and eek of bawderye [folio 81a] Of diffamacioun / and Auowtrye Of chirche Reues / and of testamentz Of contractes / and eek of lakke of sacramentz Line 1308 Of vsure / and of Symonye also But certes / lecchours dide he grettest wo They sholde syngen / if þat they were hent And smale tytheres / weren foule yshent Line 1312 If any persone / wolde vp-on hem pleyne Ther myghte asterte hym / no pecunyal peyne ffor smale tithes / and smal offrynge He made the peple / pitously to synge Line 1316 ffor er the bisshope / caughte hym with his hook They were in the Erchedeknes book/ And thanne / hadde he / thurgh his Iurisdiccion Power / to doon on hem correccion Line 1320 He hadde a Somonour / redy to his hond A slyer boye / was noon in Engelond ffor subtilly / he hadde his espiaille That taughte hym / wher hym myghte auaille Line 1324 He koude spare of lecchours / oon or two To techen hym / to foure and twenty mo ffor thogh this somonour / wood was as an hare To telle his harlotrye / I wol nat spare Line 1328

[6-text p 373] Line 1328 ffor we been / out of his correccion They han of vs no Iurisdiccion Ne neuere shullen / terme of hir lyues ¶ Peter / so been / wommen of the styves Line 1332 Quod the Somonour / yput out of my cure ¶ Pees with myschance / and with mysauenture Thus seyde oure hoost and lat hym telle his tale Now telleth forth / thogh þat the somonour gale Line 1336 Ne spareth nat / myn owene maister deere ¶ This false theef this Somonour quod the frere Hadde alwey / bawdes redy to his hond As any hauk to lure in Engelond Line 1340 That tolde hym / al the secree þat they knewe ffor hire acqueyntance / was nat come of newe They weren / hise approwours priuely He took hym self / a greet profit therby Line 1344 His maister knew nat / alwey / what he wan With-outen mandement / a lewed man He koude somne / on peyne of Cristes curs And they were glade / for to fille his purs Line 1348 And make hym / grete feestes atte nale And right as Iudas / hadde purses smale And was a theef right swich a theef was he His maister/ hadde / but half his duetee Line 1352 He was / if I shal yeuen hym his laude [folio 81b] A theef / and eek / a Somnour / and a baude He hadde eek wenches / at his retenue That wheither / þat sir Robert or sir Huwe Line 1356 Or Iakke / or Rauf / or who so þat it were That lay by hem / they tolde it in his ere ¶ Thus was the wenche and he / of oon assent And he wolde fecche / a feyned mandement Line 1360 And somne hem to the Chapitre bothe two And pile the man / and lete the wenche go ¶ Thanne wolde he seye / freend I shal for thy sake Do striken hire / out of oure lettres blake Line 1364

[6-text p 374] Line 1364 Thee thar namoore / as in this cas trauaille I am thy freend / ther I thee may auaille Certeyn / he knew of bribryes mo Than possible is / to telle in yeres two Line 1368 ffor in this world / nys dogge for the bowe That kan an hurt deer / from an hool knowe Bet / than this Somnour / knew a sly lecchour Or an Auowtier / or a paramour Line 1372 And for that was / the fruyt of al his rente Therfore on it he sette al his entente ¶ And so bifel / that ones on a day This Somnour / euere waityng on his pray Line 1376 ffor to somne an old wydwe a Ribibe ffeynynge a cause / for he wolde brybe Happed / that he saugh bifore hym ryde A gay yeman / vnder a fforest syde Line 1380 A bowe he bar / and Arwes brighte and kene He hadde vp-on / a courtepy of grene An hat vp-on his heed / with frenges blake ¶ Sire quod this Somnour / hayl and wel atake Line 1384 Wel come quod he / and euery good felawe Wher rydestow / vnder this grene wode shawe? Seyde this yeman / wiltow fer to day? ¶ This Somnour hym answerde / and seyde nay Line 1388 Heere faste by quod he / is myn entente To ryden / for to reysen vp a rente That longeth / to my lordes duetee ¶ Artow thanne a bailly? Ye quod he / Line 1392 He dorste nat for verray filthe and shame Seye þat he was a somonour / for the name ¶ Depardieux quod this yeman / deere broother Thou art a bailly / and I am another Line 1396 I am vnknowen / as in this contree Of thyn aqueyntance / I wolde praye thee And eek of bretherhede / if þat yow leste I haue gold / and siluer in my cheste Line 1400

[6-text p 375] Line 1400 If that thee happe / to comen in oure shire [folio 82a] Al shal be thyn / right as thou wolt desire ¶ Grantmercy quod this Somonour / by my feith Euerych in ootheres hand / his trouthe leith Line 1404 ffor to be sworn bretheren / til they deye In daliance / they ryden forth hir weye ¶ This Somonour / that was as ful of Iangles As ful of venym been thise waryangles Line 1408 And euere enqueryng vp-on euery thyng Brother quod he / where is now youre dwellyng Another day / if þat I sholde yow seche This yeman hym answerde / in softe speche Line 1412 ¶ Brother quod he / fer in the North contree Where as I hope / som tyme I shal thee see Er we departe / I shal thee so wel wisse That of myn hous / ne shaltow neuere mysse Line 1416 ¶ Now brother quod this Somonour / I yow preye Teche me / whil þat we ryden by the weye Syn þat ye been / a baillif as am I Som subtiltee / and tel me feithfully Line 1420 In myn office / how I may moost wynne And spareth nat for conscience ne synne But as my brother / tel me / how do ye ¶ Now by my trouthe / brother deere seyde he Line 1424 As I shal tellen thee / a feithful tale My wages / been ful streite and ful smale My lord is hard to me / and daungerous And myn office / is ful laborous Line 1428 And therfore / by extorcions I lyue ffor sothe / I take all that men wol me yeue Algate / by sleyghte / or by violence ffro yeer to yeer / I wynne al my dispence Line 1432 I kan no bettre telle / feithfully ¶ Now certes quod this Somonour / so fare I I spare nat to taken / god it woot But if it be / to heuy or to hoot Line 1436

[6-text p 376] Line 1436 What I may gete / in conseil priuely No maner conscience / of that haue I Nere myn extorcioun / I myghte nat lyuer Nor of swiche Iapes / wol I nat be shryuen Line 1440 Stomak / ne conscience / ne knowe I noon I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres euerychoon Wel be we met by god / and by seint Iame But leeue brother / tel me thanne thy name Line 1444 Quod this somonour / in this meene while This yeman / gan a litel for to smyle ¶ Brother quod he / wiltow / þat I thee telle I am a feend / my dwellyng is in helle Line 1448 And heere I ryde / aboute my purchasyng [folio 82b] To wite / wher men wolde me yeuen any thyng My purchas / is theffect of al my rente Looke / how thou rydest for the same entente Line 1452 To wynne good / thou rekkest neuere how Right so fare I / for ryde I wolde right now Vn-to the worldes ende / for a preye ¶ A quod this Somonour / benedicite what sey ye? Line 1456 I wende / ye were a yeman trewely Ye han a mannes shape / as wel as I Han ye figure thanne determinat In helle / ther ye been in youre estat? Line 1460 ¶ Nay certeinly quod he / ther haue we noon But whan vs liketh / we kan take vs oon Or elles make yow seme / we been shape Som tyme / lyk a man or lyk an Ape Line 1464 Or lyk an Angel / kan I ryde or go It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so A lowsy Iogelour / kan deceyue thee And pardee / yet kan I moore craft than he Line 1468 ¶ Why quod the Somonour / ryde ye thanne or goon In sondry shape / and nat alwey in oon? ¶ ffor we quod he / wol vs swiche formes make As moost able is / oure preyes for to take Line 1472

[6-text p 377] Line 1472 ¶ What maketh yow / to han al this labour ¶ fful many a cause / leeue sire Somonour Seyde this feend / but alle thyng hath tyme The day is short and it is passed pryme Line 1476 And yet ne wan I no-thyng in this day I wol entende / to wynnen if I may And nat entende / hir wittes to declare ffor brother myn / thy wit is al to bare Line 1480 To vnderstonde / al-thogh I tolde hem thee But for thou axest why labouren we ffor som tyme / we been goddes Instrumentz And meenes / to doon hise comandementz Line 1484 Whan that hym list vp-on his creatures In diuers art and in diuerse figures With-outen hym / we haue no myght certayn If that hym list to stonden ther agayn Line 1488 And som tyme / at oure prayere / han we leue Oonly the body / and nat the soule greue Witnesse on Iob / whom that we diden wo And som tyme / han we myght of bothe two Line 1492 This is to seyn / of soule and body eke And somtyme / be we suffred for to seke Vp-on a man / and doon his soule vnreste And nat his soule / and al is for the beste Line 1496 Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun [folio 83a] It is / cause / of his sauacioun Al be it that it was nat oure entente He sholde be sauf but þat we wolde hym hente Line 1500 And som tyme / be we seruant vn-to man As to the Bisshope / Seint Dunstan And to the Apostles / seruant eek was .I. ¶ Yet tel me / quod the Somonour feithfully Line 1504 Make ye yow newe bodies / thus alway Of Elementz? the feend answerde nay / Som tyme we feyne / and som tyme we aryse With dede bodyes / in ful sondry wyse Line 1508

[6-text p 378] Line 1508 And speke as renably / and faire and wel As to the Phitonissa / dide Samuel And yet wol som men seye / it was nat he I do no fors / of youre dyuynytee Line 1512 But o thyng warne I thee / I wol nat Iape Thou wolt algates / wite how we been shape Thou shalt herafterwardes / my brother deere Come there / thee nedeth nat of me to leere Line 1516 ffor thou shalt by thyn owene experience Konne in a chayer / rede of this sentence Bet than Virgile / while he was on lyue Or Dant also / now lat vs ryde blyue Line 1520 ffor I wole / holde compaignye with thee Til it be so / that thou forsake me ¶ Nay quod this Somonour / that shal nat bityde I am a yeman / knowen is ful wyde Line 1524 My trouthe wol I holde / as in this cas ffor though thou were / the deuel Sathanas My trouthe wol I holde / to my brother As I am sworn / and ech of vs til oother Line 1528 ffor to be trewe brother / in this cas And bothe we goon / abouten oure purchas Taak thou thy part what þat men wol thee yeue And I shal myn / thus may we bothe lyue Line 1532 And if þat any of vs / haue moore than oother Lat hym be trewe / and parte it with his brother ¶ I graunte quod the deuel / by my fey And with that word / they ryden forth hir wey Line 1536 And right at the entryng of the townes ende To which this Somonour / shoope hym for to wende They saugh a Cart that charged was with hey Which þat a Cartere / droof forth in his wey Line 1540 Deepe was the wey / for which the Carte stood The Cartere smoot and cryde / as he were wood Hayt Brok / hayt Scot what spare ye for the stones The feend quod he / yow fecche body and bones Line 1544

[6-text p 379] Line 1544 As ferforthly / as euere were ye foled [folio 83b] So muche wo / as I haue with yow tholed The deuel haue al / bothe hors and Cart and hey ¶ This Somonour seyde / heere shal we haue a pley Line 1548 And neer the feend he drough / as noght ne were fful priuely / and rowned in his ere Herkne my brother / herkne by thy feith Herestow nat how þat the Cartere seith Line 1552 Hent it anon / for he hath yeue it thee Bothe hey and Cart and eek hise caples thre ¶ Nay quod the deuel / god woot neuer a deel It is nat his entente / trust thou me weel Line 1556 Axe hym thy self if thou nat trowest me Or elles stynt a while / and thou shalt see ¶ This Cartere / taketh his hors on the croupe And they bigonne drawen and to stoupe Line 1560 Heyt now quod he / ther Ihesu crist yow blesse And al his handwerk bothe moore and lesse That was wel twight myn owene lyard boy I pray to god saue thee / and seint loy Line 1564 Now is my Cart out of the slow pardee ¶ Lo brother quod the feend / what tolde I thee Heere may ye se / myn owene deere brother The carl spak oon / but he thoghte another Line 1568 Lat vs go forth / abouten oure viage Heere / wynne I no thyng vp-on cariage ¶ Whan that they coomen / som-what out of towne This Somonour / to his brother gan to rowne Line 1572 Brother quod he / heere woneth an old rebekke That hadde almoost as lief to lese hire nekke As for to yeue / a peny of hir good I wole han .xij. pens / though þat she be wood Line 1576 Or I wol sompne hire / vn-to oure office And yet god woot of hire knowe I no vice But for thou kanst nat as in this contree Wynne thy cost taak heer ensample of me Line 1580

[6-text p 380] Line 1580 ¶ This Somonour / clappeth at the wydwes gate Com out quod he / thou olde virytrate I trowe thou hast som frere / or preest with thee ¶ Who clappeth seyde this wyf benedicitee Line 1584 God saue you sire / what is youre sweete wille? ¶ I haue quod he / of somonce a bille Vp-on peyne of cursyng looke þat thou be Tomorn / bifore the Erchedeknes knee Line 1588 Tanswere to the court of certeyn thynges ¶ Now lord quod she / crist Ihesu kyng of kynges So wisly helpe me / as I ne may I haue been syk / and that ful many a day Line 1592 I may nat go so fer quod she ne ryde [folio 84a] But I be deed / so priketh it in my syde May I nat axe a libel / sire Somonour And answere there / by my procutour Line 1596 To swich thyng as men wole opposen me? ¶ Yis quod this Somonour / pay anon lat se Twelf pens to me / and I wol thee acquite I shal no profit han ther-by / but lite Line 1600 My maister hath the profit and nat I Com of / and lat me ryden hastily Yif me .xij. pens / I may no lenger tarye ¶ Twelf pens quod she /? now lady Seinte Marie Line 1604 So wisly help me god / out of care and synne This wyde world / thogh þat I sholde wynne Ne haue I nat .xij. pens with-Inne myn hoold Ye knowen wel / that I am poure and oold Line 1608 Kithe youre Almesse / on me poure wrecche ¶ Nay thanne quod he / the foule feend me fecche If I thexcuse / though thou shul be spilt ¶ Allas quod she / god woot I haue no gilt Line 1612 ¶ Pay me quod he / or by the sweete seinte Anne As I / wol bere awey thy newe panne ffor dette / which that thou owest me of old Whan þat thou madest thyn housbonde cokewold Line 1616

[6-text p 381] Line 1616 I payde at hoom / for thy correccioun ¶ Thou lixt quod she / by my sauacioun Ne was I neuere er now / wydwe ne wyf Somoned vn-to youre court in al my lyf Line 1620 Ne neuere I nas / but of my body trewe Vn-to the deuel / blak and rough of hewe Yeue I thy body / and my panne also ¶ And whan the deuel / herde hire cursen so Line 1624 Vp-on hir knees / he seyde in this manere Now Mabely / myn owene moder deere Is this youre wyl / in ernest þat ye seye? ¶ The deuel quod she / so fecche hym er he deye Line 1628 And panne and al / but he wol hym repente ¶ Nay olde Stot that is nat myn entente Quod this Somonour / for to repente me ffor any thyng that I haue had of thee Line 1632 I wolde I hadde thy smok and euery clooth ¶ Now brother quod the deuel / be nat wrooth Thy body and this panne / been myne by right Thou shalt with me to helle / yet to-nyght Line 1636 Where / thou shalt knowen / of oure priuetee Moore / than a maister of dyuynytee And with that word / this foule feend hym hente Body and soule / he with the deuel wente Line 1640 Where as that Somonours / han hir heritage [folio 84b] And god / þat made / after his ymage Mankynde / saue and gyde vs alle and some And leue thise Somonours / goode men bicome Line 1644

LOrdynges / I koude han toold yow quod this frere Hadde I had leyser / for this Somnour heere After the text of Crist/ Poul / and Iohn And of oure othere doctours many oon Line 1648 Swiche peynes / that youre herte myghte agryse Al be it so / no tonge may it deuyse Thogh þat I myghte / a thousand wynter telle The peynes / of thilke cursed hous of helle Line 1652

[6-text p 382] Line 1652 But for to kepe vs / fro that cursed place Waketh / and preyeth Ihesu for his grace So kepe vs / fro the temptour Sathanas Herketh this word / beth war/ as in this cas Line 1656 The leoun sit in his awayt alway To sle the Innocent/ if that he may Disposeth ay / youre hertes to withstonde The feend / þat yow wolde make / thral and bonde Line 1660 He may nat tempte yow / ouer youre myght ffor crist wol be / youre champion and knyght And prayeth / þat thise Somonours hem repente Of hir mysdedes / er þat the feend hem hente? Line 1664

¶ Heere endeth the ffreres tale .

[6-text p 383]

¶ The prologe / of the Somonours tale . [on leaf 84, back]

THis Somonour / in his Styropes hye stood Vp-on this frere / his herte was so wood That lyk an Aspen leef / he quook for Ire ¶ Lordynges quod he / but o thyng I desire Line 1668 I yow biseke / that of youre curteisye Syn ye han herd / this false frere lye As suffereth me / I may my tale telle This frere bosteth / that he knoweth helle Line 1672 And god it woot that it is litel wonder ffreres and feendes / been but lyte a-sonder ffor pardee / ye han ofte tyme herd telle How that a frere / vanysshed was to helle Line 1676 In spirit ones / by a visioun And as an Angel / ladde hym vp and doun To shewen hym / the peynes þat ther were In al the place / saugh he nat a frere Line 1680 Of oother/ folk / he saugh ynowe in wo [folio 85a] Vn-to this Angel / spak the frere tho ¶ Now sire quod he / han freres swich a grace That noon of hem / shal come to this place? Line 1684 ¶ Yis quod this Angel / many a Millioun And vn-to Sathanas / he ladde hym doun And now hath Sathanas / seith he a tayl Brodder/ than of a Carryk/ is the sayl Line 1688 Hold vp thy tayl / thou Sathanas quod he Shewe forth thyn ers / and lat the frere se Where is the nest of freres / in this place And er/ þat half a furlong wey of space Line 1692

[6-text p 384] Line 1692 Right so as bees / out swarmen from an hyue Out of the deueles ers / ther gonne dryue Twenty thousand freres / in a route And thurgh-out helle / swarmeden aboute Line 1696 And comen agayn / as faste as they may gon And in his ers / they crepten euerychon He clapte his tayl agayn / and lay ful stille This frere / whan he hadde looke al his fille Line 1700 Vpon the tormentz / of this sory place His spirit god restored of his grace Vn-to his body agayn / and he awook But natheles / for fere yet he quook Line 1704 So was the deueles ers / ay in his mynde That is his heritage / of verray kynde God saue yow alle / saue this cursed frere My prologe / wol I ende / in this manere Line 1708

[6-text p 385]

¶ Heere bigynneth the Somonour his tale . [on leaf 85]

LOrdynges / ther is in yorkshire / as I gesse A merssh contree / called Holdernesse [[Painting of the Summoner]] In which / ther wente a lymytour aboute To preche / and eek to begge / it is no doute Line 1712 And so bifel / that on a day / this frere Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere And specially / abouen euery thyng/ Excited he the peple / in his prechyng Line 1716 To trentals / and to yeue for goddes sake Wher-with / men myghte hooly houses make Ther as diuine seruyce is honoured Nat ther as it is wasted and deuoured Line 1720 Ne ther it nedeth nat/ for to be yeue As to possessioners / that mowen lyue Thanked be god / in wele and habundaunce [folio 85b] Trentals seyde he / deliueren fro penaunce Line 1724 Hir freendes soules / as wel olde as yonge Ye / whan þat they been hastily ysonge Nat for to holde a preest Ioly and gay He syngeth nat but o masse in a day Line 1728 Deliuereth out quod he / anon the soules fful hard it is / with flesshhook or with oules To been yclawed / or to brenne or bake Now spede yow hastily / for cristes sake Line 1732 And whan this frere / had seyd al his entente With / qui cum patre / forth his wey he wente ¶ Whan folk in chirche / had yeue him / what hem lest He went his wey / no lenger wolde he reste Line 1736

[6-text p 386] Line 1736 With scrippe and tipped staf/ ytukked hye In euery hous / he gan to poure and prye And beggeth mele / and chese / or elles corn His felawe hadde a staf / tipped with horn Line 1740 A peyre of tables / al of yuory And a poyntel / polysshed fetisly And wroote the names / alwey as he stood Of alle folk/ that yaf hym any good Line 1744 Asaunces / that he wolde for hem prey Yif hym a busshel whete / Malt or Reye A goddes kechyl / or a trype of chese Or elles what yow lyst we may nat cheese Line 1748 A goddes halfpeny / or a masse peny Or yif vs of youre brawn / if ye haue eny A dagon of youre blanket leeue dame Oure suster deere / lo heere I write youre name Line 1752 Bacon or beef/ or swich thyng as ye fynde ¶ A sturdy harlot/ wente ay hem bihynde That was hir hostes man / and bar a sak And what men yaf hem / leyde it on his bak Line 1756 And whan þat he / was out at dore anon He planed awey / the names euerichon That he biforn / had writen in his tables He serued hem / with nyfles and with fables Line 1760 ¶ Nay ther thou lixt thou Somonour quod the frere ¶ Pees quod oure Hoost for cristes mooder deere Tel forth thy tale / and spare it nat at al ¶ So thryue I quod this Somonour / so I shal Line 1764 ¶ So longe he wente hous by hous / til he Cam til an hous / ther he was wont to be Refresshed moore / than in an hundred placis Syk lay the goode man / whos the place is Line 1768 Bedrede vp-on a couche lowe he lay Deus hic/ quod he / o Thomas freend good day Seyde this frere / curteisly and softe [folio 86a] Thomas quod he / god yelde yow / ful ofte Line 1772

[6-text p 387] Line 1772 Haue I / vp-on this bench / faren ful weel Heere haue I eten / many a myrie meel And fro the bench / he droof awey the cat And leyde adoun / his potente and his hat Line 1776 And eek his scrippe / and sette hym softe adoun His felawe / was go walked in-to toun fforth with his knaue / in-to that hostelrye Where as he shoope hym / thilke nyght to lye Line 1780 ¶ O deere maister / quod this sike man How han ye fare / sith þat March bigan? I saugh yow noght/ this fourtnyght or moore God woot quod he / laboured I haue ful soore Line 1784 And specially / for thy sauacion Haue I seyd / many a precious orison And for oure othere freendes / god hem blesse I haue to day / been at youre chirche at messe / Line 1788 And seyd a sermon / after my symple wit Nat al after/ the text of hooly writ/ ffor it is hard to yow / as I suppose And therfore / wol I teche yow al the glose Line 1792 Glosynge / is a glorious thyng certeyn ffor lettre sleeth / so as thise clerkes seyn [¶ Litera oceidit & cetera] There haue I taught hem to be charitable And spende hir good / ther it is resonable Line 1796 And there I saugh oure dame / a where is she? ¶ Yond in the yerd / I trowe þat she be Seyde this man / and she wol come anon ¶ Ey maister / wel come be ye / by seint Iohn Line 1800 Seyde this wyf / how fare ye hertely? ¶ The frere ariseth vp ful curteisly And hire embraceth in his Armes narwe And kiste hire sweete / and chirteth as a sparwe Line 1804 With his lyppes /. dame quod he right weel? As he / that is youre seruant euery deel Thanked be god / þat yow yaf soule and lyf Yet saugh I nat this day / so fair a wyf Line 1808

[6-text p 388] Line 1808 In al the chirche / god so saue me ¶ Ye / god amende defautes / sire quod she Algates / wel come be ye / by my fey Graunt mercy dame / this haue I founde alwey Line 1812 But of youre grete goodnesse / by youre leue I wolde prey yow / þat ye nat yow greue I wole with Thomas speke a litel throwe Thise curatz / been ful necligent and slowe Line 1816 To grope tendrely a conscience In shrift in prechyng is my diligence And studie / in Petres wordes / and in Poules [folio 86b] I walke / and fisshe cristen mennes soules Line 1820 To yelden Ihesu crist / his propre rente To sprede his word / is set al myn entente ¶ Now by youre leue / o deere sire quod she Chideth him weel / for seinte Trinitee Line 1824 He is as angry / as a pissemyre Though þat he haue / al that he kan desire Though I him wrye a-nyght/ and make hym warm And on hym leye my leg outher myn Arm Line 1828 He groneth lyk oure boor / lith in oure sty Oother desport ryght noon of hym haue I I may nat plese hym / in no maner cas ¶ O Thomas / Ie vous dy / Thomas / Thomas Line 1832 This maketh the feend / this moste ben amended Ire is a thyng that hye god defended And ther-of/ wol I speke a word or two ¶ Now maister quod the wyf er þat I go Line 1836 What wol ye dyne /? I wol go ther-aboute ¶ Now dame quod he / Ie vous dy sanz doute Haue I nat of a capon / but the lyuere And of youre softe breed / nat but a shyuere Line 1840 And after that a rosted pigges heed But that I nolde / no beest for me were deed Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce I am a man / of litel sustenaunce Line 1844

[6-text p 389] Line 1844 My spirit hath his fostryng in the Bible The body is ay / so redy and penyble To wake / that my stomak is destroyed I prey yow dame / ye be nat anoyed Line 1848 Though I so freendly / yow my conseil shewe By god / I wolde nat telle it but a fewe ¶ Now sire quod she / but o word er I go My child is deed / with-Inne thise wykes two Line 1852 Soone after / þat ye wente out of this toun ¶ His deeth / saugh I by reuelacioun Seith this frere / at hoom in oure dortour I dar wel seyn / that er þat half an hour Line 1856 After his deeth / I saugh hym born to blisse In myn Avision / so god me wisse So dide our Sexteyn / and oure ffermerer That han been trewe freres / fifty yeer Line 1860 They may now / god be thanked of his loone Maken hir Iubilee / and walke allone And vp I roos / and al oure Couent eke With many a teare / triklyng on my cheke Line 1864 Withouten noyse / or claterynge of belles Te deum was oure song and no thyng elles Saue / that to crist I seyde an orison [folio 87a] Thankynge hym / of his reuelacion Line 1868 ffor sire and dame / trusteth me right weel Oure orisons / been wel moore effectueel And moore we seen / of cristes secree thynges Than burel folk/ al though they weren kynges Line 1872 We lyue in pouerte / and in abstinence And burell folk / in richesse and despence Of mete and drynke / and in hir foul delit We han this worldes lust al in despit/ Line 1876 Lazar and diues / lyueden diuersly And diuerse gerdon / hadden they ther-by Who so wol preye / he moot faste and be clene And fatte his soule / and make his body lene [Melius est animam saginare quam corpus]

[6-text p 390] We fare as seith thapostle / clooth and foode [¶ Victum & vesti|tum / hiis contenti sumus & cetera] Suffisen vs / though they be nat ful goode The clennesse and the fastynge of vs freres Maketh / þat crist accepteth oure preyeres Line 1884 ¶ Lo Moyses / fourty dayes / and fourty nyght [¶ de orationibus & Ieiunijs .] ffasted / er þat the heighe god of myght Spak with hym / in the mount of Synay With empty wombe / fastynge many a day Line 1888 Receyued he the lawe / that was writen With goddes fynger / and Elye wel ye witen In mount Oreb / er he hadde any speche With hye god / that is oure lyues leche Line 1892 He fasted longe / and was in contemplaunce ¶ Aaron / that hadde the temple in gouernaunce And eek/ that othere preestes euerichon In-to the temple / whan they sholde gon Line 1896 To preye for the peple / and do seruyse They nolden drynken / in no maner wyse No drynke / which þat myghte hem dronke make But there / in abstinence preye and wake Line 1900 Lest that they deyden / taak heede what I seye But they be sobre / that for the peple preye War that /· I seye namoore / for it suffiseth Oure lord Ihesu / as hooly writ deuyseth Line 1904 Yaf vs ensample / of fastynge and preyeres Therfore / we mendynantz / we sely freres Been wedded / to pouerte and continence To charite / humblesse / and abstinence Line 1908 To persecucion / for rightwisnesse To wepynge / Misericorde and clennesse And therfore may ye se / þat oure preyeres I speke of vs / we mendynantz we freres Line 1912 Been to the hye god / moore acceptable Than youres / with youre feestes at the table ffro Paradys first if I shal nat lye [folio 87b] Was man out chaced / for his glotonye Line 1916

[6-text p 391] Line 1916 And chaast was man / in Paradys certeyn ¶ But herkne Thomas / what I shal seyn I ne haue no text of it/ as I suppose But I shal fynde it/ in a maner glose Line 1920 That specially / oure sweete lord Ihesus Spak this by freres / whan he seyde thus ¶ Blessed be they / that pouere in spirit been And so forth / al the gospel / may ye seen Line 1924 Wher it be likker / oure professioun Or hirs / that swymmen in possessioun ffy on hire pompe / and hire glotonye And for hir lewednesse / I hem diffye Line 1928 ¶ Me thynketh / they been lyk Iovinyan ffat as a whale / and walkynge as a swan Al vinolent as Botel in the spence Hir preyere / is of ful greet reuerence Line 1932 Whan they for soules / seye the psalm of Dauit/ Lo / but they seye / cor meum eructauit/ Who folweth / cristes gospel / and his foore? But we þat humble been / and chaast and poore Line 1936 Werkeris of goddes word / not Auditours Therfore / right as an hauk vp at a sours Vp springeth in-to their / right so prayeres Of charitable / and chaste bisy freres Line 1940 Maken hir sours / to goddes eres two Thomas Thomas / so moote I ryde or go And by that lord / þat clepid is seint Yue Nere thou oure brother / sholdestou nat thryue Line 1944 In our Chapitre / praye we day and nyght To crist/ þat he thee sende / heele and myght Thy body / for to weelden hastily ¶ God woot quod he / no thyng ther-of feele I Line 1948 As help me crist as in a fewe yeres I han spent / vp-on diuerse manere freres fful many a pound / yet fare I neuer the bet Certeyn my good / I haue almoost biset Line 1952

[6-text p 392] Line 1952 ffarwel my gold / for it is al ago ¶ The frere answerde / o Thomas dostow so? What nedeth yow / diuerse freres seche What nedeth hym / þat hath a parfit leche Line 1956 To sechen / othere leches in the toun? Youre inconstance / is youre confusioun Holde ye thanne me / or elles oure Couent To praye for yow / been insufficient? Line 1960 Thomas that Iape / nys nat worth a myte Youre maladye / is for we han to lyte A yif that Couent/ half a quarter otes [folio 88a] A yif that Couent/ .xxiiij. grotes Line 1964 A yif that frere a peny / and lat hym go Nay nay Thomas / it may no thyng be so What is a ferthyng worth / parted in twelue Lo ech thyng that is oned / in it selue [Omnis virtus vnita / forcior est seipsa dispersa] Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered Thomas / of me / thou shalt nat been yflatered Thou woldest han oure labour al for noght The hye god / that al this world hath wroght Line 1972 Seith that the werkman / worthy is his hyre [¶ Dignus est operarius mercede & cetera] Thomas / noght of youre tresor I desire As for my self but that al oure Couent To preye for yow / is ay so diligent Line 1976 And for to buylden / cristes owene chirche Thomas / if ye wol lernen for to wirche Of buyldynge vp of chirches / may ye fynde If it be good / in Thomas lyf of Inde Line 1980 Ye lye heere / ful of Anger of Ire With which / the deuel set youre herte afyre And chiden heere / the sely Innocent Youre wyf/ that is so meke and pacient Line 1984 And therfore Thomas / trowe me if thee leste Ne stryue nat with thy wyf/ as for thy beste And ber this word awey / now by thy feith Touchynge this thyng lo what the wise seith Line 1988

[6-text p 393] Line 1988 ¶ With-Inne thyn hous ne be thou no leoun [¶ Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua / euertens domesticos tuos op|primens subiectos tibi.] To thy subgitz / do noon oppressioun Ne make thyne aqueyntances / nat for to flee And Thomas / yet eft-soones I charge thee Line 1992 Be war from hire / þat in thy bosom slepeth Be war/ fro the serpent/ that so slily crepeth Vnder the gras / and styngeth subtilly Be war my sone / and herkne paciently Line 1996 That twenty thousand men / han lost hir lyues ffor stryuyng with hir lemmans and hir wyues Now sith ye han / so hooly meke a wyf What nedeth yow Thomas / to maken stryf Line 2000 Ther nys ywys / no serpent so cruel What man tret on his tayl / ne half so fel As womman is / whan she hath caught an Ire Vengeance is thanne / al that they desire Line 2004 Ire is a synne / oon of the grete of seuene Abhomynable / vn-to the god of heuene And to hym self/ it is destruccion This euery lewed viker or person Line 2008 Kan seye / how Ire engendreth homycide Ire is in sooth / executour of pryde I koude of Ire seye / so muche sorwe [folio 88b] My tale / sholde laste / til tomorwe Line 2012 And therfore / preye I god / bothe day and nyght An Irous man / god sende hym litel myght It is greet harm / and eek greet pitee To sette an Irous man / in heigh degree Line 2016

WHilom / ther was an Irous potestat/ [¶ de quodam potes|tate Iracundo] As seith Senek that durynge his estaat Vp-on a day / out ryden knyghtes two And as ffortune / wolde that it were so Line 2020 That oon of hem cam hoom/ that oother noght Anon the knyght bifore the Iuge is broght That seyde thus / thou hast thy felawe slayn ffor which / I deme thee to the deeth certayn Line 2024

[6-text p 394] Line 2024 And to another knyght comanded he Go lede hym to the deeth / I charge thee And happed / as they wente by the weye Toward the place / ther he sholde deye Line 2028 The knyght cam / which men wenden had be deed Thanne thoughte they / it was the beste reed To lede hem bothe / to the Iuge agayn They seiden lord / the knyght ne hath nat slayn Line 2032 His felawe / heere he standeth hool alyue Ye shul be deed quod he / so moot I thryue That is to seyn / bothe oon / and two / and thre And to the firste knyght right thus spak he Line 2036 I dampned thee / thou most algate be deed And thou also / most nedes lese thyn heed ffor thou art cause / why thy felawe deyth And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith Line 2040 Thou hast nat doon / that I comanded thee And thus / he dide doon sleen hem alle thre

Irous Cambises / was eek dronkelewe And ay delited hym / to been a shrewe Line 2044 And so bifel / a lord of his meynee That loued vertuous moralitee Seyde on a day / bitwene hem two right thus ¶ A lord is lost if he be vicius Line 2048 And dronkenesse / is eek/ a foul record Of any man / and namely in a lord Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere Awaityng on a lord / and he noot where Line 2052 ffor goddes loue / drynk moore attemprely Wyn maketh man / to lesen wrecchedly His mynde / and hise lymes euerichon ¶ The reuers shaltou se / quod he anon Line 2056 And preeue it by thyn owene experience That wyn / ne dooth to folk no swich offence Ther is no wyn / bireueth me my myght [folio 89a] Of hand ne foot/ ne of myne eyen sight Line 2060

[6-text p 395] Line 2060 And for despit/ he drank ful muchel moore And hondred part/ than he hadde bifoore And right anon / this Irous cursed wrecche Leet/ this knyghtes sone / bifore hym fecche Line 2064 Comandynge hym / he sholde bifore hym stonde And sodeynly / he took his bowe in honde And vp the streng he pulled to his ere And with an arwe / he slow the child right there Line 2068 Now / wheither haue I / a siker hand or noon Quod he / is al my myght and mynde agon Hath wyn bireft me myne eyen sight ¶ What sholde I telle / thanswere of the knyght Line 2072 His sone was slayn / ther is namoore to seye Beth war therfore / with lordes how ye pleye Syngeth Placebo / and I shal if I kan But if it be / vn-to a poure man Line 2076 To a poure man / men sholde hise vices telle But nat to a lord / thogh he sholde go to helle

LO Irous Cirus / thilke Percien How he destroyed / the ryuer of Gysen Line 2080 ffor that an hors of his was dreynt ther-Inne Whan þat he wente / Babiloigne to wynne He made / that the Ryuer / was so smal That wommen / myghte wade it ouer al Line 2084 Lo what seyde he / that so wel teche kan Ne be no felawe to an Irous man Ne with no wood man / walke by the weye Lest thee repente / ther is namoore to seye Line 2088

NOw Thomas leeue brother / lef thyn Ire Thou shalt me fynde / as Iust/ as is a squyre Hoold nat the deueles knyf ay at thyn herte Thyn angre dooth thee / al to soore smerte Line 2092 But shewe to me / al thy confession ¶ Nay quod the sike man / by Seint Symon I haue be shryuen this day / at my curat I haue hym toold hoolly al myn estat Line 2096

[6-text p 396] Line 2096 Nedeth namoore / to speken of it seith he But if me list/ of myn humylitee ¶ Yif me thanne of thy gold / to make oure cloystre Quod he / for many a Muscle / and many an oystre Line 2100 Whan othere men / han ben ful wel at eyse Hath been oure foode / our cloystre for to reyse And yet god woot vnnethe the fundement Parfourned is / ne of our pauement Line 2104 Nys nat a tyl yet/ with-Inne oure wones By god / we owen fourty pound for stones ¶ Now help Thomas / for hym that harwed helle [folio 89b] ffor elles / moste we oure bookes selle Line 2108 And if ye lakke / oure predicacion Thanne goth the world / al to destruccion ffor who so wolde / vs fro this world bireue So god me saue / Thomas by youre leue Line 2112 He wolde bireue / out of this world the sonne ffor who kan teche / and werchen as we konne And that is nat of litel tyme quod he But syn Ennok was / or Elise Line 2116 Han freres been / that fynde I of record In charitee / ythanked be oure lord Now Thomas / helpe for seinte charitee And doun anon / he sette hym on his knee Line 2120

THis sike man / wax wel ny wood for Ire He wolde / þat the frere / had been on fire With his false dissymulacion Swich thyng as is in my possession Line 2124 Quod he / that may I yeuen / and noon oother Ye sey me thus / that I am youre brother ¶ Ye certes quod the frere / trusteth weel I took oure dame / oure lettre and oure seel Line 2128 ¶ Now wel quod he / and som what shal I yeue Vn-to youre hooly Couent whil I lyue And in thyn hand / thou shalt it haue anon On this condicion / and oother noon Line 2132

[6-text p 397] Line 2132 That thou departe it so / my leeue brother That euery frere / haue also muche as oother This shaltou swere / on thy profession With-outen fraude / or cauillacion Line 2136 ¶ I swere it quod this frere / by my feith And ther-with-al / his hand in his he leith Lo heer my feith / in me shal be no lak ¶ Now thanne put In thyn hand doun by my bak Line 2140 Seyde this man / and grope wel bihynde Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow fynde A thyng that I haue hyd in pryuetee ¶ A thoghte this frere / this shal go with me Line 2144 And doun his hand / he launcheth to the clifte In hope / for to fynde there a yifte And whan this sike man / felte this frere Aboute his tuwel / grope there and heere Line 2148 Amydde his hand / he leet the frere a fart Ther nys no capul / drawynge in a Cart That myghte haue lete a fart of swich a soun ¶ The frere vp stirte / as dooth a wood leoun Line 2152 A fals cherl quod he / for goddes bones This hastow for despit doon for the nones Thou shalt abye this fart if that I may [folio 90a] ¶ His meynee / whiche that herden this affray Line 2156 Cam lepynge In / and chaced out the frere And forth he gooth / with a ful Angry cheere And fette his felawe / ther as lay his stoor He looked / as it were a wilde boor Line 2160 He grynte with his teeth / so was he wrooth A sturdy paas / doun to the lordes court he gooth Wher as woned a man / of greet honour To whom / that he was alwey confessour Line 2164 This worthy man / was lord of that village This frere cam / as he were in a rage Where as this lord / sat etyng at his bord Vnnethes / myghte the frere / speke a word Line 2168

[6-text p 398] Line 2168 Til atte laste / he seyde / god yow see ¶ This lord bigan to looke / and seide benedicitee What frere Iohn / what maner world is this? I trowe / som maner thyng ther is amys Line 2172 Ye looken / as the wode / were ful of theuys Sit doun anon / and tel me what youre grief is And it shal been amended / if that I may ¶ I haue quod he / had a despit this Day Line 2176 God yelde yow / adoun in youre village That in this world / is noon so poure a page That he nolde haue abhomynacioun Of that I haue receyued in youre toun Line 2180 And yet greueth me / no thyng so soore As that this olde cherl / with lokkes hoore Blasphemed hath / oure hooly Couent eke ¶ Now maister quod this lord / I yow biseke Line 2184 ¶ No maister quod he / but seruitour Thogh I haue had in scole swich honour God liketh nat that Raby men vs calle Neither in Market ne in youre large halle Line 2188 ¶ No fors quod he / but tel me al youre grief ¶ Sire quod he / an odious meschief/ This day bityd is / to myn ordre and me And so per consequens / in ech degree Line 2192 Of hooly chirche / god amende it soone ¶ Sire quod the lord / ye woot what is to doone Distempre yow noght / ye be my Confessour Ye been the salt of the erthe / and the savour Line 2196 ffor goddes loue / youre pacience ye holde Tel me youre grief/ and he anon hym tolde As ye han herd biforn / ye woot wel what ¶ The lady of the hous / al stille sat/ Line 2200 Til she had herd / what the frere sayde Ey goddes mooder quod she / blisful mayde Is ther oght elles / telle me feithfully [folio 90b] ¶ Madame quod he / how thynke ye her-by? Line 2204

[6-text p 399] Line 2204 ¶ How that me thynketh quod she? so god me speede I seye / a cherle hath doon / a cherles dede What shold I seye / god lat hym neuere thee His sike heed / is ful of vanytee Line 2208 I holde hym / in a manere frenesye ¶ Madame quod he / by god I shal nat lye But I on hym / oother weyes be wreke I shal disclaundre hym / ouer al ther I speke Line 2212 This false blasphemour / that charged me To parte / that wol nat departed be To euery man yliche / with meschaunce ¶ The lord sat stille / as he were in a traunce Line 2216 And in his herte / he rolled vp and doun How hadde the cherl / this ymaginacioun? To shewe swich a probleme / to the frere Neuere erst er now / herd I of swich mateere Line 2220 I trowe / the deuel / putte it in his mynde In Ars Metrik shal ther no man fynde Biforn this day / of swich a question Certes / it was a shrewed conclusion Line 2224 That euery man / sholde haue yliche his part As of the soun / or savour/ of a fart O vile proude cherl / I shrewe his face Lo sires quod the lord / with harde grace Line 2228 Who herd euere of swich a thyng er now To euery man ylike / tel me how? It is an inpossible / it may nat be Ey nyce cherl / god lete thee neuere thee Line 2232 The rumblynge of a fart/ and euery soun Nis but of Eir reuerberacioun And euere it wasteth / litel and litel awey Ther is no man / kan demen by my fey Line 2236 If that it were departed equally What lo my cherl / lo yet how shrewedly Vn-to my confessour / to day he spak I holde hym certeyn / a demonyak Line 2240

[6-text p 400] Line 2240 Now ete youre mete / and lat the cherl go pleye Lat hym go honge hymself a deuel weye

¶ The wordes of the lordes Squier and his keruere / for departynge of the fart on twelue .

NOW stood the lordes Squier at the bord That karf his mete / and herde word by word Line 2244 Of alle thynges / whiche that I haue sayd My lord quod he / beth nat yuele apayd ¶ I koude telle for a gowne clooth [folio 91a] To yow sire frere / so ye be nat wrooth Line 2248 How that this fart euene delt shal be Among youre Couent if it lyked me ¶ Tel quod the lord / and thou shalt haue anon A gowne clooth / by god / and by Seint Iohn Line 2252 ¶ My lord quod he / whan þat the weder is fair With-outen wynd / or perturbynge of Air Lat brynge a Cartwheel in-to this halle But looke / that it haue his spokes alle Line 2256 Twelue spokes / hath a Cartwheel comunly And bryng me thanne .xij. freres woot ye why? For twelue is a Couent/ as I gesse The Confessour heere / for his worthynesse Line 2260 Shal parfourne vp / the nombre of his Couent Thanne shal they knele doun / by oon assent And to euery spokes ende / in this manere fful sadly / leye his nose shal a frere Line 2264 Youre noble Confessour / there god hym saue Shal holde his nose / vpright / vnder the Naue Thanne shal this cherl / with bely stif and toght As any Tabour / been hyder ybroght Line 2268 And sette hym on the wheel / right of this Cart Vpon the Naue / and make hym lete a fart And ye shul seen / vp peril of my lyf/ By preeue / which that is demonstratif Line 2272

[6-text p 401] Line 2272 That equally / the soun of it wol wende And eke the stynk vn-to the spokes ende Saue þat this worthy man youre Confessour By cause / he is a man of greet honour Line 2276 Shal haue the firste fruyt / as reson is As yet the noble vsage / of freres is The worthy men of hem / shul first be serued And certeinly / he hath it weel disserued Line 2280 He hath to day taught vs so muche good With prechyng in the pulpit ther he stood That I may vouche sauf / I sey for me He hadde the firste smel / of fartes three Line 2284 And so wolde / al the Couent hardily He bereth hym / so faire and hoolily ¶ The lord / the lady / and alle men saue the frere Seyde / þat Iankyn spak/ in this matere Line 2288 As wel as Euclude / or Protholomee Touchynge this cherl / they seyde subtiltee And heigh wit made hym speke / as he spak/ He nys no fool / ne no demonyak Line 2292 And Iankyn / hath ywonne a newe gowne My tale is doon / we been almoost at towne

¶ Heere endeth the Somonours tale .

[6-text p 403]

GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.

§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ Heere folweth the Prologe of the clerkes tale of Oxenford. [folio 91b]

Sire clerk / of Oxenford / oure Hoost sayde ye ryde as coy / and stille / as dooth a mayde were newe spoused / sittynge at the bord This day / ne herde I / of youre tonge a word Line 4 I trowe ye studie / aboute som Sophyme But Salomon seith / euery thyng hath tyme [¶ pausacio]

¶ ffor goddes sake / as beth of bettre cheere It is no tyme / for to studien heere Line 8 Telle vs som myrie tale / by youre fey ffor what man / that is entred in a pley He nedes moot vnto the pley assente But precheth nat as freres doon in lente Line 12 To make vs / for oure olde synnes wepe Ne that thy tale / make vs nat to slepe [¶ pausacio]

¶ Telle vs / som murie thyng/ of auentures Youre termes / youre colours / and youre figures Line 16 Keepe hem in stoor / til so be that ye endite Heigh style / as whan þat men to kynges write Speketh so pleyn / at this tyme we yow preye Line 19 That we may vnderstonde what ye seye [¶ pausacio]

¶ This worthy clerk benignely answerde Hoost quod he / I am vnder youre yerde Ye han of vs / as now the gouernance And therfore / wol I do yow obeisance Line 24

[6-text p 404] Line 24 As fer/ as reson axeth hardily I wol yow telle a tale / which that I? Lerned at Padwe / of a worthy clerk As preued / by his wordes and his werk Line 28 He is now deed / and nayled in his cheste I prey to god / so yeue his soule reste [¶ pausacio]

¶ ffraunceys Pe[t]rak the lauriat poete Highte this clerk whos Rethorik sweete Line 32 Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie As Lynyan dide / of Philosophie Or lawe / or oother Art particuler But deeth / þat wol nat dwellen heer Line 36 But as it were / a twynklyng of an eye Hem bothe hath slayn / and alle shul we dye [¶ pausacio]

¶ But forth to tellen / of this worthy man [folio 92a] That taughte me this tale / as I bigan [¶ Est ad ytalie latus occiduum Vesulus ex ap|penini Iugis mons altissimus qui vertice nebula superans liquido sese ingerit etheri Mons suapte / nobilis natura padi ortu nobilis|simus qui latere fonte lapsus exiguo Orientem contra solem fertur &cetera ] Line 40 I seye / that first with heigh stile he enditeth Er he / the body of his tale writeth A prohemye / in the which discryueth he Pemond / and of Saluces the contree Line 44 And speketh of Apennyn / the hilles hye That been the boundes / of westlumbardye [¶ pausacio]

¶ And of Mount Vesulus / in special Where as the poo / out of a welle smal Line 48 Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours That Estward / ay encresseth in his cours To Emeleward / to fferrare and Venyse The which a long thyng were to deuyse Line 52 And trewely / as to my Iuggement Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent Saue that he wole / conuoyen his mateere But this his tale / which that ye may heere [¶ pausacio]

[6-text p 405]

¶ Heere bigynneth the tale of the Clerk/ of Oxenford [on leaf 92]

[For the Latin side-notes to the Clerk's Tale see pp. 274-5 at the end of the Tale.]

THer is / at the West syde of Ytaille [¶ Inter cetera ad radicem Vesuli terra saluciarum vicis & Castellis. ] Doun at the roote / of Vesulus the colde A lusty playne / habundant of vitaille [¶ grata planicies] Where many a tour and toun / thou mayst biholde That founded were / in tyme / of fadres olde And many another / delitable sighte And Saluces this noble contree highte [[Painting of the clerk on Horseback.]] Line 63

A Markys / whilom lord was of that lond Line 64 As were / hise worthy eldres hym bifore And obeisant and redy to his hond Were alle hise liges / bothe lasse and moore Line 67 Thus in delit he lyueth / and hath doon yoore Biloued and drad / thurgh favour of ffortune Bothe of hise lordes / and of his commune Line 70

Therwith he was / to speke as of lynage Line 71 The gentilleste yborn of lumbardye A fair persone and strong and yong of age And ful [of] honour/ and of curteisye Line 74 Discreet ynogh / his contree for to gye Saue that in somme thynges / þat he was to blame And Walter/ was this yonge lordes name Line 77

I blame hym thus / that he considereth noght [folio 92b] In tyme comynge / what hym myghte bityde But in his lust present was al his thoght As for to hauke and hunte / on euery syde Line 81 Wel ny / alle othere cures / leet he slyde And eek he nolde / and that was worst of alle Wedde no wyf / for noght þat may bifalle Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

Oonly that point his peple bar so soore Line 85 That flokmeele on a day / they to hym wente [¶ Cateruatim] And oon of hem / that wisest was of loore Or elles / that the lord / best wolde assente Line 88 That he sholde telle hym / what his peple mente Or elles / koude he shewe wel swich mateere He to the Markys / seyde as ye shul heere Line 91

¶ O noble Markys / youre humanitee [¶ Tua inquid humanitas optime Marchio] Asseureth vs / to yeue vs hardinesse As ofte / as tyme is of necessitee That we to yow / mowe telle oure heuynesse Line 95 Accepteth lord / now for youre gentillesse That [id] we with pitous herte / vn-to yow pleyne And lat youre eres / nat my voys desdeyne Line 98

Al haue I noght to doone / in this mateere Line 99 Moore than another man / hath in this place Yet for as muche / as ye my lord so deere Han alwey / shewed me / fauour and grace Line 102 I dar the bettre / aske of yow a space Of Audience / to shewen oure requeste And ye my lord / to doon right as yow leste Line 105

ffor certes lord / so wel vs liketh yow Line 106 And al youre werk/ and euere han doon / þat we? Ne koude nat vs self deuysen how? We myghte lyuen / in moore felicitee Line 109 Saue o thyng lord / if youre wille be That for to been a wedded man yow leste Thanne were youre peple / in souereyn hertes reste Line 112

Boweth youre nekke / vnder that blisful yok / Line 113 Of soueraynetee / noght of seruyse Which þat men clepeth / spousaille or wedlok And thenketh lord / among youre thoghtes wyse Line 116

[6-text p 407] Line 116 How þat oure dayes passe / in sondry wyse ffor thogh we slepe / or wake / or rome / or ryde Ay fleeth the tyme / it nyl no man abyde Line 119

And thogh youre grene youthe / floure as yit [folio 93a] In crepeth age alwey / as stille as stoon And deeth manaceth / euery age and smyt In ech estaat for ther escapeth noon Line 123 And al so certein / as we knowe echoon That we shul deye / as vncerteyn / we alle? Been of that day / whan deeth shal on vs falle Line 126

Accepteth thanne of vs / the trewe entente Line 127 That neuere yet refuseden thyn heeste And we wol lord / if that ye wole assente Chese yow a wyf/ in short tyme atte leeste Line 130 Born of the gentilleste / and of the meeste Of al this land / so that it oghte seme Honour to god and yow / as we kan deeme Line 133

Deliuere vs / out of al this bisy drede Line 134 And taak a wyf for hye goddes sake ffor if it so bifelle / as god forbede That thurgh youre deeth / youre lyne sholde slake Line 137 And that a straunge Successour sholde take Youre heritage / o wo were vs alyue Wherfore / we pray you hastily to wyue Line 140

¶ Hir meeke preyere / and hir pitous cheere Line 141 Made the Markys herte / han pitee Ye wol quod he / myn owene peple deere To that I neuere erst thoughte / streyne me Line 144 I me reioysed / of my liberte That seelde tyme / is founde in mariage Ther I was free / I moot been in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

But nathelees / I se youre trewe entente Line 148 And truste vpon youre wit / and haue doon ay Wherfore / of my free wyl / I wole assente To wedde me / as soone as euere I may Line 151 But ther as ye / han profred me this day To chese me a wyf / I yow relesse That choys / and prey of that profre cesse Line 154

ffor god it woot that children ofte been Line 155 Vnlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore Bountee comth al of god / nat of the streen Of which / they been engendred and ybore Line 158 I truste in goddes bontee / and therfore? My mariage / and myn estaat and reste I hym bitake / he may doon as hym leste Line 161

Lat me allone / in chesynge of my wyf [folio 93b] That charge / vp on my bak/ I wole endure But I yow preye / and charge vp on youre lyf What wyf that I take / ye me assure Line 165 To worshipe hire / whil that hir lyf may dure In word and werk/ bothe heere and euerywheere As she / an Emperoures doghter weere Line 168

And forthermoore / this shal ye swere / that ye? Line 169 Agayn my choys / shul neither grucche ne stryue ffor sith / I shal / forgoon my libertee At youre requeste / as euere moot I thryue Line 172 Ther as myn herte is set ther wol I wyue And but ye wole assente in this manere I prey yow / speketh namoore of this matere Line 175

¶ With hertely wyl / they sworen and assenten Line 176 To al this thyng ther seyde no wight nay Bisekynge hym of grace / er that they wenten That he / wolde graunten hem a certein day Line 179

[6-text p 409] Line 179 Of his spousaille / as soone / as euere he may ffor yet alwey / the peple som what dredde Lest þat this Markys / no wyf wolde wedde Line 182

¶ He graunted hem a day / swich as hym leste Line 183 On which / he wolde be wedded sikerly And seyde / he dide al this at hir requeste And they / with humble entente / buxomly Line 186 Knelynge vp on hir knees ful reuerently Hym thonken alle / and thus they han an ende Of hire entente / and hoom agayn they wende Line 189

¶ And heer vp on / he to hise officeres Line 190 Comaundeth / for the feste to purveye And to hise priuee knyghtes and squieres Swich charge yaf / as hym liste on hem leye Line 193 And they / to his comandement obeye And ech of hem / dooth al his diligence To doon / vn-to the feeste reuerence Line 196

¶ Explicit/ prima pars .

¶ Incipit/ secunda pars . [folio 94a]

NOght fer / fro thilke paleys honurable [‖ ffuit haut procul a palacio &cetera. ] Ther as this Markys / shoope his mariage There stood a throope / of site delitable In which / that poure folk/ of that village Line 200 Hadden hir beestes / and hir herbergage And of hire labour / tooke hir sustenance After that the erthe / yaf hem habundance Line 203

Amonges thise poure folk/ ther dwelte a man Line 204 Which þat was holden / pourest of hem alle But hye god / som tyme senden kan His grace / in to a litel oxes stalle Line 207 Ianicula / men of that throope hym calle A doghter hadde he / fair ynogh to sighte And Grisildis / this yonge mayden highte Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

But for to speke / of vertuous bountee Line 211 Thanne was she / oon the faireste vnder sonne ffor poureliche / yfostred vp was she No likerous lust /was thurgh hire herte yronne Line 214 Wel ofter / of the welle / than of the tonne She drank/ and for she wolde vertu plese She knew wel labour/ but noon ydel ese Line 217

But thogh this mayde / tendre were of age Line 218 Yet in the brest of hire virginitee Ther was enclosed / rype and sad corage And in greet reuerence / and charitee Line 221 Hir olde poure fader/ fostred shee A fewe sheepe / spynnynge on feeld she kepte She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte Line 224

And whan she homward cam / she wolde brynge Line 225 Wortes / or othere herbes / tymes ofte The whiche she shredde / and seeth for hir lyuynge And made hir bed / ful harde and no thyng softe Line 228 And ay she kepte / hir fadres lyf on lofte With euerich obeisaunce and diligence That child may doon / to fadres reuerence Line 231

¶ Vp on Grisilde / this poure creature Line 232 fful ofte sithe / this Markys caste his eye As he / on huntyng rood parauenture And whan þat it fil / þat he myghte hire espye Line 235 He noght/ with wantowne lookyng of folye Hise eyen caste on hire / but in sad wyse Vp on hir chiere / he gan hym ofte auyse Line 238

Commendynge in his herte / hir wommanhede [folio 94b] And eek hir vertu / passynge any wight Of so yong age / as wel in chiere as dede ffor thogh the peple / hadde no greet insight Line 242

[6-text p 411] Line 242 In vertu / he considered ful right/ Hir bountee / and disposed that he wolde Wedde hire oonly / if euere he wedde sholde Line 245

¶ The day of weddyng cam / but no wight kan Line 246 Telle / what womman / that it sholde be ffor which merueille / wondred many a man And seyden / whan that they were in priuetee Line 249 Wol nat oure lord / yet leue his vanytee? Wol he nat wedde / allas allas the while? Why wole he thus / hym self and vs bigile? Line 252

¶ But nathelees / this Markys hath doon make Line 253 Of gemmes / set in gold and in Asure Brooches and rynges / for Grisildis sake And of hir clothyng took he the mesure Line 256 By a mayde / lyk to hire stature And eek of othere aornementes alle That vn-to swich a weddyng sholde falle Line 259

The time of vndren / of the same day Line 260 Approcheth / that this weddyng sholde be And al the paleys / put was in array Bothe halle and chambres / ech in his degree Line 263 Houses of office / stuffed with plentee Ther maystow seen / of deynteuous vitaille That may be founde / as fer as last ytaille Line 266

This roial Markys / richely arrayed Line 267 Lordes and ladyes / in his compaignye The whiche / that to the feeste weren yprayed And of his retenue / the bachelrye Line 270 With many a soun / of sondry melodye Vn-to the village / of the which I tolde In this array / the righte wey han holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

¶ Grisilde of this / god woot ful Innocent Line 274 That for hire / shapen was al this array To fecchen water at a welle is went And comth hoom / as soone as euer she may Line 277 ffor wel she hadde herd seyd / that thilke day The Markys sholde wedde / and if she myghte She wolde fayn / han seyn / som of that sighte Line 280

She thoghte / I wole / with othere maydens stonde [folio 95a] [¶ Vt expeditis curis alijs ad videndum domini sui sponsam cum puellis comitibus propararet/ ] That been my felawes / in oure dore and se The Markysesse / and therfore wol I fonde To doon at hoom / as soone as it may be Line 284 The labour / which that longeth vn-to me And thanne I may / at leyser hire biholde If she this wey / vn-to the Castel holde Line 287

And as she wolde / ouer hir thresshfold gon Line 288 The Markys cam / and gan hire for to calle And she set doun / hir water pot anon Biside the thresshfold/ in an Oxes stalle Line 291 And doun vp-on hir knes she gan to falle And with sad contenance / kneleth stille Til she had herd / what was the lordes will Line 294

¶ This thoghtful Markys / spak vn-to this mayde [¶ quum Walterus cogitabundus cedens eamque compellans nomine. ] Line 295 fful sobrely / and seyde in this manere Where is youre fader / o Grisildis he sayde And she with reuerence / in humble cheere Line 298 Answerde . lord / he is al redy heere And In she gooth / with outen lenger lette And to the Markys / she hir fader fette Line 301

He by the hand / thanne took this olde man Line 302 And seyde thus / whan he hym hadde asyde Ianicula / I neither may ne kan Lenger / the plesance of myn herte hyde Line 305

[6-text p 413] Line 305 If that thou vouche sauf what so bityde Thy doghter wol I take / er þat I wende As for my wyf vn-to hir lyues ende Line 308

Thou louest me / I woot it wel certeyn Line 309 And art my feithful / lige man ybore And all that/ liketh me / I dar wel seyn It liketh thee / and specially therfore Line 312 Tel me that poynt / that I haue seyd bifore If that thou wolt vn-to that purpos drawe To take me / as for thy sone in lawe Line 315

¶ This sodeyn cas / this man astonyed so Line 316 That reed he wax abayst and al quakyng He stood / vnnethes seyde he wordes mo But oonly thus / lord quod he / my willynge? Line 319 Is as ye wole / ne ayeyns / youre likynge? I wol no thyng ye be my lord so deere Right as yow lust gouerneth this mateere Line 322

¶ Yet wol I / quod this Markys softely [folio 95b] That in thy chambre / I. and thou / and she Haue a collacion / and wostow why? ffor I wol axe / if it hire wille be Line 326 To be my wyf / and reule hire after me And al this shal be doon / in thy presence I wol noght speke / out of thyn Audience Line 329

¶ And in the chambre / whil they were aboute Line 330 Hir tretys / which as ye shal after heere The peple cam / vn-to the hous with oute And wondred hem / in how honeste manere Line 333 And tentifly / she kepte hir fader deere But outrely / Grisildis wondre myghte ffor neuere erst ne saugh she swich a sighte Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

No wonder is / thogh she were astoned [¶ Et insolito tanti hospitis aduentu stupidam inuenit. ] Line 337 To seen so greet a gest come in that place She neuere was / to swiche gestes woned ffor which / she looked / with ful pale face Line 340 But shortly / forth this tale for to chace Thise arn the wordes / þat the Markys sayde To this benigne / verray feithful mayde Line 343

¶ Grisilde he seyde / ye shal wel vnderstonde [¶ Et patri tuo placet inquid & mihi vt vxor mea sis / et credo idipsum tibi placeat/ sed habeo ex te querere & cetera. ] Line 344 It liketh to youre fader and to me That I yow / wedde / and eek it may so stonde As I suppose / ye wol that it so be Line 347 But thise demandes / axe I first quod he That sith it shal be doon / in hastif wyse Wol ye assente / or elles yow auyse Line 350

I seye this / be ye redy with good herte Line 351 To al my lust and that I frely may As me best thynketh / do yow laughe or smerte And neuere ye to grucche it nyght ne day Line 354 And eek whan I sey ye / ne sey nat nay Neither by word / ne frownyng contenance [¶ sine vlla frontis aut verbi inpugnacione.] Swere this / and heere I swere yow alliance Line 357

¶ Wondrynge vp on this word / quakynge for drede [¶ Nil ego vnquam sciens nedum faciam set eciam cogitabo quod contra animum tuum sit/ nec tu aliquid facies / et si me mori iusseris quod moleste feram &cetera. ] Line 358 She seyde lord / vndigne and vnworthy? Am I / to thilke honour/ þat ye me beede But as ye wole youre self right so wol .I. Line 361 And heere I swere / that neuere willyngly In werk ne thoght I nyl yow disobeye ffor to be deed / though me were looth to deye Line 364

¶ This is ynogh / Grisilde myn quod he [folio 96a] Line 365 And forth he gooth / with a ful sobre cheere Out at the dore / and after that cam she And to the peple / he seyde in this manere Line 368

[6-text p 415] Line 368 This is my wyf quod he / þat standeth heere Honoureth hire / and loueth hire I preye Who so me loueth / ther is namoore to seye Line 371

And for that no thyng of hir olde geere [¶ dehinc/ ne quid reliquiarum fortune veteris nouam inferat in domum / nudari eam iusserit/ ] Line 372 She sholde brynge in to his hous / he bad? That wommen / sholde dispoillen hire right theere Of which thise ladyes / were nat right glad Line 375 To handle hir clothes / wher Inne she was clad But nathelees / this mayde bright of hewe ffro foot to heed / they clothed han al newe Line 378

Hir heris han they kembd / that lay vntressed Line 379 fful rudely / and with hir fyngres smale A corone on hire heed / they han ydressed And sette hire / ful of Nowches grete and smale Line 382 Of hire array / what sholde I make a tale Vnnethe the peple hire knew / for hire fairnesse Whan she translated was in swich richesse Line 385

¶ This Markys / hath hire spoused with a ryng Line 386 Broght for the same cause / and thanne hire sette Vp on an hors snow whit and wel amblyng And to his paleys / er he lenger lette Line 389 With ioyful peple þat hire ladde and mette Conuoyed hire / and thus the day they spende In reuel / til the sonne gan descende Line 392

And shortly / forth this tale for to chace Line 393 I seye / that to this newe Markysesse God hath swich fauour / sent hire of his grace That it ne semed nat by liklynesse Line 396 That she was / born and fed in rudenesse As in a cote / or in an Oxe Stalle But norissed / in an Emperoures halle Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

¶ To euery wight/ she woxen is so deere [¶ Atque apud omnes supra fidem cara & vene|rabilis facta est/ vix quod hijs ipsis qui illius originem nouerant persuaderi posset Ianicule natam esse tantus vite / tantus morum decor ea verborum grauitas atque dulcedo quibus omnium animos nexu sibi magni amoris astrinxerat / ] Line 400 And worshipful / þat folk ther she was bore And from hire birthe / knewe hire yeer by yeere Vnnethe trowed they / but dorste han swore Line 403 That she to Ianicle / of which I spak bifore She doghter were / for as by coniecture Hem thoughte / she was another creature Line 406

ffor though that euere vertuous was she [folio 96b] Line 407 She was encressed / in swich excellence Of thewes goode / yset in heigh bountee And so discreet and fair of eloquence Line 410 So benigne / and so digne of reuerence And koude so / the peples herte embrace That ech hire louede / that looked on hir face Line 413

¶ Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun Line 414 Publiced was / the beautee of hir name But eek biside / in many a regioun If oon seide wel / another seyde the same Line 417 So spradde / of hire heighe bountee the name That men and wommen / as wel yonge as olde Goon to Saluce / vpon hire to bihold Line 420

Thus Walter lowely? nay / but roially [¶ sic Walterus humili quidem / set/ insigni ac prospero matrimonio honestatis summa dei in pace & cetera. ] Line 421 Wedded / with fortunat honestetee In goddes pees / lyueth ful esily At hoom / and outward / grace ynogh had he Line 424 And for he saugh / that vnder heigh degree [¶ quodque eximiam virtutem tanta sub inopia latitantem tam perspicaciter deprendisset/ vulgo prudentissimus habebatur. ] Was vertu hid / the peple hym heelde A prudent man / and that is seyn ful seelde Line 427

¶ Nat oonly this Grisildis / thurgh hir wit [¶ Neque vero solers sponsa muliebria tantum ac domestica / sed vbi res posceret publica eciam subibat officia. ] Koude al the feet of wyfly humblenesse But eek whan that the cas required it The commune profit koude she redresse Line 431

[6-text p 417] Line 431 Ther nas discord / rancour / ne heuynesse In al that land / that she ne koude apese And wisely / brynge hem alle in reste and ese Line 434

Though that hire housbonde absent were/ anon? [¶ Viro absente / lites patrie / nobilium dis|cordias dirimens atque componens tam grauibus responsis tanta que maturitate, & Iudicij equitate vt omnes ad salutem publicam demissa celo feminam predicarent/ [MS, leaf 97, back.]] Line 435 If gentil men / or othere of hire contree Were wrothe / she wolde bryngen hem aton So wise / and rype wordes hadde she Line 438 And Iuggementz of so greet equitee That she from heuene / sent was as men wende Peple to saue / and euery wrong tamende Line 441

¶ Nat longe tyme / after/ that this Grisild Line 442 Was wedded / she a doghter hath ybore Al had hire leuere / haue born a man child Glad was this Markys / and the folk therfore Line 445 ffor though a mayde child / coome al bifore She may / vn-to a man child atteyne By liklihede / syn she nys nat bareyne Line 448

¶ Explicit secunda pars .

¶ Incipit tercia pars . [folio 97a]

THer fil / as it bifalleth tymes mo? [¶ Ceperit vt fit interdum walterum cum iam ablactata esset infantula mirabilis quedam quam laudabilis cupi|ditas satis expertam care fidem coniugis experiendi alcius & iterum atque iterum retemptandi. ] Line 449 Whan þat this child / had souked but a throwe This Markys / in his herte longeth so To tempte his wyf hir sadnesse for to knowe Line 452 That he ne myghte / out of his herte throwe This merueillous desir/ his wyf tassaye Nedelees god woot/ he thoghte / hire for taffraye Line 455

He hadde assayed hire / ynogh bifore Line 456 And foond hire euere good / what neded it Hire for to tempte / and alwey / moore and moore Though som men preise it for a subtil wit/ Line 459 But as for me / I seye that yuele it sit To assaye a wyf whan þat it is no nede And putten hire / in angwyssh and in drede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

ffor which / this Markys / wroghte in this manere Line 463 He cam allone / a nyght / ther as she lay With stierne face / and with ful trouble cheere And seyde thus / Grisilde quod he that day Line 466 That I yow took/ out of youre pouere array And putte yow / in estaat of heigh noblesse Ye haue / nat that forgeten as I gesse Line 469

I seye Grisilde / this present dignitee Line 470 In which that I haue put yow /. as I trowe? Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be That I yow took/ in poure estaat ful lowe Line 473 ffor any wele / ye moot youre seluen knowe Taak heede / of euery word / that y yow seye Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye Line 476

Ye woot youre self wel / how þat ye cam heere Line 477 In to this hous / it is nat longe ago And though to me / þat ye be lief and deere Vn-to my gentils / ye be no thyng so Line 480 They seyn / to hem / it is greet shame and wo ffor to be subgetz / and to been in seruage To thee / that born art/ of a smal village Line 483

And namely / sith thy doghter was ybore Line 484 Thise wordes / han they spoken doutelees But I desire / as I haue doon bifore To lyue my lyf with hem / in reste and pees Line 487 I may nat in this caas / be recchelees I moot doon with thy doghter/ for the beste Nat as I wolde / but as my peple leste Line 490

And yet god woot this is ful looth to me [folio 97b] But nathelees / with oute youre wityng I wol nat doon / but this wol I quod he That ye to me assente / as in this thyng Line 494

[6-text p 419] Line 494 Shewe now youre pacience / in youre werkyng That ye me highte / and swore in youre village That day / that maked was oure mariage Line 497

¶ Whan she had herd al this / she noght ameued Line 498 Neither in word / or chiere or countenance [¶ Nee verbo / nec vultu &cetera] ffor as it semed / she was nat agreued She seyde lord / al lyth in youre plesance Line 501 My child and I / with hertely obeisance Been youres al / and ye mowe saue and spille Youre owene thyng werketh after youre wille Line 504

Ther may no thyng / god so my soule saue Line 505 Liken to yow / that may displese me Ne I ne desire / no thyng for to haue Ne drede for to leese / saue oonly thee /. vel yee Line 508 This wyl is in myn herte / and ay shal be No lengthe of tyme / or deeth may this deface Ne chaunge my corage / to another place Line 511

¶ Glad was this Markys / of hire answeryng Line 512 But yet he feyned / as he were nat so Al drery was his cheere / and his lookyng Whan þat he sholde / out/ of the chambre go Line 515 Soone after this / a furlong wey or two He priuely / hath toold al his entente Vn-to a man / and to his wyf hym sente Line 518

A maner sergeant was this priuee man Line 519 The which þat feithful ofte / he founden hadde In thynges grete / and eek swich folk wel kan Doon execucion on thynges badde Line 522 The lord knew wel / that he hym loued and dradde And whan this sergeant wiste the lordes wille In to the chambre / he stalked hym ful stille Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

¶ Madame he seyde / ye moote foryeue it me Line 526 Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned Ye been so wys / that ful wel knowe ye That lordes heestes / mowe nat been yfeyned Line 529 They mowe wel been / biwailled and compleyned But men moote nede / vn-to hire lust obeye And so wol I / ther is namoore to seye Line 532

This child / I am comanded for to take [folio 98a] Line 533 And spak namoore / but out the child he hente Despitously / and gan a cheere make As though he wolde / han slayn it er he wente Line 536 Grisildis / moot al suffren and consente And as a lamb / she sitteth meke and stille And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille Line 539

¶ Suspecious / was the diffame of this man [¶ suspecta viri fama] Suspect his face / suspect his word also [¶ suspecta facie] [¶ suspecta hora] Suspect the tyme / in which he this bigan [¶ suspecta erat oratio] Allas hir doghter/ that she loued so Line 543 She wende / he wolde han slawen it right tho But nathelees / she neither weepe ne syked Consentynge hire / to that the Markys lyked Line 546

But atte laste / to speken she bigan Line 547 And mekely / she to the sergeant preyde So as he was / a worthy gentil man That she moste kisse hire child / er þat it deyde Line 550 And in hir barm / this litel child she leyde With ful sad face / and gan the child to kisse And lulled it and after gan it blisse Line 553

And thus she seyde / in hire benigne voys Line 554 ffare weel my child / I shal thee neuere see But sith / I thee / haue marked with the croys Of thilke fader/ blessed moote he be Line 557

[6-text p 421] Line 557 That for vs deyde / vp on a croys of tree Thy soule litel child / I hym bitake ffor this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake Line 560

¶ I trowe / that to a norice in this cas Line 561 It had been hard / this reuthe for to se Wel myghte a mooder / thanne han cryd allas But nathelees / so sad and stidefast was she Line 564 That she endured / al aduersitee And to the sergeant mekely she sayde Haue heer agayn / youre litel yonge mayde Line 567

Gooth now quod she / and dooth my lordes heeste Line 568 And o thyng/ wol I prey yow of youre grace That but my lord / forbad yow atte leeste Burieth this litel body / in som place Line 571 That beestes ne no briddes / it to-race But he no word / wol to that purpos seye But took the child / and wente vpon his weye Line 574

¶ This sergeant cam vn-to his lord ageyn [folio 98b] And of Grisildis wordes / and hire cheere He tolde hym point for point in short and pleyn And hym presenteth / with his doghter deere Line 578 Somwhat this lord / hath routhe in his manere But nathelees / his purpos heeld he stille As lordes doon / whan they wol han hir wille Line 581

And bad his sergeant that he pryuely Line 582 Sholde this child / softe wynde and wrappe With alle circumstances / tendrely And carie it in a cofre / or in a lappe Line 585 But vp-on peyne / his heed of for to swappe That no man sholde knowe / of his entente [vnde] Ne whenne / ne whider that he wente Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

But at Boloigne / to his suster deere Line 589 That thilke tyme / of Pavik was Countesse He sholde it take / and shewe hire this mateere Bisekynge hire / to doon hire bisynesse Line 592 This child to fostre / in alle gentillesse And whos child that it was / he bad hym hyde ffrom euery wight/ for oght þat may bityde Line 595

¶ The sergeant gooth / and hath fulfild this thyng Line 596 But to this Markys / now retourne we ffor now gooth he / ful faste ymaginyng If by his wyues cheere / he myghte se Line 599 Or by hire word aperceyue / that she? Were chaunged / but he neuere hire koude fynde But euere in oon / ylike sad and kynde Line 602

As glad / as humble / as bisy in seruyse [¶ par alacritas atque sedalitas solitum obs[e]|quium / idem amor nulla filie mencio. ] Line 603 And eek in loue / as she was wont to be Was she to hym / in euery maner wyse Ne of hir doghter/ noght a word spak she Line 606 Noon accident for noon aduersitee Was seyn in hire / ne neuere hir doghter name Ne nempned she / in ernest / nor in game Line 609

¶ Explicit tercia pars .

Sequitur pars quarta . [folio 99a]

IN this estaat/ ther passed been foure yeer [¶ transiuerant hoc in statu anni iiij^or. dum ecce grauida &cetera. ] Er she with childe was / but as god wolde A man child she bar / by this Walter fful gracious / and fair for to biholde Line 613 And whan that folk it to his fader tolde Nat oonly he / but al his contree merye Was for this child / and god they thanke and herye Line 616

Whan it was two yeer old / and fro the brest Line 617 Departed of his norice / on a day This Markys / caughte yet another lest

[6-text p 423] To tempte his wyf / yet ofter if he may Line 620 O nedelees / was she tempted in assay But wedded men / ne knowe no mesure Whan þat they fynde / a pacient creature Line 623

¶ Wyf quod this Markys / ye han herd er this [¶ Et olim audisti populum meum egre nostrum ferre connubium & cetera. ] My peple / sikly berth oure mariage And namely / sith my sone yborn is Now is it worse / than euere in al oure age Line 627 The murmure sleeth myn herte and my corage ffor to myne eres / comth the voys so smerte That it wel ny / destroyed hath myn herte Line 630

¶ Now sey they thus / whan Walter is agon Line 631 Thanne shal / the blood of Ianicle succede And been oure lord / for oother haue we noon Swiche wordes / seith my peple out of drede Line 634 Wel oughte I / of swich murmur taken heede ffor certeinly / I drede swich sentence Though they nat pleyn / speke in myn Audience Line 637

I wolde lyue in pees / if that I myghte Line 638 Wherfore / I am disposed outrely As I his suster/ serued by nyghte Right so thenke I / to serue hym pryuely Line 641 This warne I yow / þat ye nat sodeynly Out of youre self for no wo sholde outreye Beth pacient and ther of I yow preye Line 644

¶ I haue quod she seyd thus / and euere shal Line 645 I wol no thyng ne nyl no thyng certayn But as yow list naught greueth me at al Though þat my doughter/ and my sone be slayn Line 648 At youre comandement this is to sayn I haue noght had no part of children tweyne But first siknesse / and after wo and peyne Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

Ye been oure lord / dooth with youre owene thyng [folio 99b] Right as yow list axeth no reed at me ffor as I lefte at hoom / al my clothyng Whan I first cam to yow/? right so quod she Line 655 Lefte I my wyl / and al my libertee And took youre clothyng wherfore I yow preye Dooth youre plesance / I wol youre lust obeye Line 658

And certes / if I hadde prescience Line 659 Youre wyl to knowe / er ye youre lust me tolde I wolde it doon / with outen necligence But now I woot youre lust and what ye wolde Line 662 Al youre plesance / ferme and stable I holde ffor wiste I / that my deeth / wolde do yow ese [¶ ffac sen[ten]ciam tibi placere quod moriar volens moriar. ] Right gladly / wolde I dyen yow to plese Line 665

Deth may noght make no comparisoun Line 666 Vn-to youre loue / and whan this Markys say The constance of his wyf / he caste adoun Hise eyen two / and wondreth þat she may Line 669 In pacience / suffre al this array And forth he goth / with drery contenance But to his herte / it was ful greet plesance Line 672

¶ This vgly sergeant/ in the same wyse Line 673 That he hire doghter caughte / right so he Or worse / if men worse kan deuyse Hath hent hire sone / þat ful was of beautee Line 676 And euere in oon / so pacient was she That she no chiere maade / of heuynesse But kiste hir sone / and after gan it blesse Line 679

Saue this / she preyde hym / that if he myghte Line 680 Hir litel sone / he wolde in erthe graue His tendre lymes / delicaat to sighte ffro foweles and fro beestes for to saue Line 683

[6-text p 425] Line 683 But she noon answere / of hym myghte haue He wente his wey / as hym no thyng ne roghte But to Boloigne / he tendrely it broghte Line 686

This Markys / wondred euere lenger the moore Line 687 Vp on hir pacience / and if that he Ne hadde soothly / knowen ther bifoore That parfitly / hir children loued she Line 690 He wolde haue wend / þat of som subtiltee And of malice / or for crueel corage That she hadde suffred this with sad visage Line 693

But wel he knew / that next hym self certayn [folio 100a] She loued hir children best in euery wyse But new of wommen / wolde I axen fayn If thise assayes / myghte nat suffise Line 697 What koude a sturdy housbonde moore deuyse To preeue hire wyfhod / or hir stedefastnesse And he continuynge euere in sturdinesse Line 700

But ther been folk/ of swich condicion Line 701 That whan they haue / a certein purpos take They kan nat stynte of hire entencion But right as they were bounden to that stake Line 704 They wol nat of that firste purpos slake Right so this Markys / fulliche hath purposed To tempte his wyf/ as he was first disposed Line 707

He waiteth / if by word / or contenance Line 708 That she to hym / was changed of corage But neuere / koude he fynde variance She was ay oon / in herte and in visage Line 711 And ay the forther / þat she was in age The moore trewe / if þat it were possible She was to hym in loue / and moore penyble Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

ffor which it semed thus / þat of hem two Line 715 Ther nas but o wyl / for as walter leste The same lust was hire plesance also And god be thanked / al fil for the beste Line 718 She shewed wel / for no worldly vnreste A wyf as of hir self no thing ne sholde Wille in effect but as hir housbonde wolde Line 721

¶ The sclaundre of Walter / ofte and wyde spradde [¶ ceperit sensim de Waltero decolor fama cre|b[r]escere. ] Line 722 That of a crueel herte / he wikkedly ffor he a poure womman wedded hadde Hath mordred / bothe his children priuely Line 725 Swich murmure / was among hem comunly No wonder is / for to the peples ere Ther cam no word / but þat they mordred were Line 728

ffor which / where as his peple ther bifore Line 729 Hadde loued hym wel / the sclaundre of his diffame Made hem / that they hym hated therfore To been a mordrere is an hateful name Line 732 But nathelees / for ernest ne for game He of his crueel purpos nolde stente To tempte his wyf/ was set al his entente Line 735

¶ Whan that his doghter .xij. yeer was of age [folio 100b] He to the court of Rome in subtil wyse Enformed of his wyl / sente his message Comaundynge hem / swiche bulles to deuyse Line 739 As to his crueel purpos may suffyse How þat the pope / as for his peples reste Bad hym to wedde / another if hym leste Line 742

I seye / he bad they sholde countrefete Line 743 The popes bulles / makynge mencion That he hath leue / his firste wyf to lete As by the popes dispensacion Line 746

[6-text p 427] Line 746 To stynte rancour and dissencion Bitwixe his peple and hym / thus seyde the bulle The which / they han publiced atte fulle Line 749

¶ The rude peple / as it no wonder is Line 750 Wenden ful wel / that it hadde be right so But whan thise tidynges cam to Grisildis I deeme / that hire herte was ful wo Line 753 But she / ylike sad for eueremo Disposed was / this humble creature The aduersitee of ffortune al tendure Line 756

Abidynge euere / his lust and his plesance Line 757 To whom þat she was yeuen / herte and al As to hire verray worldly suffisance But shortly / if this storie I tellen shal Line 760 This Markys / writen hath in special A lettre / in which he sheweth his entente And secreely he to Boloigne it sente Line 763

To the Erl of Pavyk/ which þat hadde tho Line 764 Wedded his suster/ preyde he specially To bryngen hoom agayn hise children two In honurable estaat al openly Line 767 But o thyng he hym preyde outrely That he to no wight though men wolde enquere Sholde nat telle / whos children þat they were Line 770

But seye / the mayden / sholde ywedded be Line 771 Vn-to the Markys / of Saluce anon And as this Erl was preyd / so dide he ffor at day set he on his wey is goon Line 774 Toward Saluce / and lordes many oon In riche array this mayden for to gyde Hir yonge brother/ ridynge hire bisyde Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

¶ Arrayed was toward hir mariage [folio 101a] This fresshe mayde / ful of gemmes cleere Hir brother / which þat .vij. yeer was of age Arrayed eek / ful fressh in his manere Line 781 And thus in greet noblesse / and with glad cheere Toward Saluces / shapynge hir iourney ffro day to day / they ryden in hir wey Line 784

¶ Explicit quarta pars .

¶ Sequitur pars quinta .

Among al this / after his wikke vsage Line 785 This Markys yet his wyf to tempte moore To the outtreste preeue / of hir corage ffully / to han experience and loore Line 788 If that she were / as stidefast as bifoore He on a day / in open audience fful boistously haþ seyd hire this sentence Line 791

¶ Certes Grisilde / I hadde ynogh plesance Line 792 To han yow to my wyf /for youre goodnesse As for youre trouthe / and for youre obeisance Noght for youre lynage / ne for youre richesse Line 795 But now knowe I / in verray soothfastnesse That in greet lordshipe / if I wel auyse Ther is greet seruitute / in sondry wyse Line 798

I may nat doon / as euery Plowman may Line 799 My peple / me constreyneth for to take Another wyf/ and crien day by day And eek the pope / rancour for to slake Line 802 Consenteth it that dar I vndertake And treweliche / thus muche I wol yow seye My newe wyf is comynge by the weye Line 805

Be strong of herte / and voyde anon hir place Line 806 And thilke dowere / that ye broghten me Taak it agayn / I graunte it of my grace

[6-text p 429] Retourneth / to youre fadres hous quod he Line 809 No man / may alwey han prosperitee With euene herte / I rede yow tendure This strook of ffortune / or of auenture Line 812

¶ And she answerde agayn in pacience [folio 101b] Line 813 My lord quod she / I woot and wiste alway How þat / bitwixen youre magnificence And my pouerte / no wight kan ne may Line 816 Maken comparison / it is no nay I ne heeld me neuere digne in no manere To be youre wyf / no? ne youre Chambrere Line 819

And in this hous / ther ye me lady maade Line 820 The heighe god / take I for my witnesse And also wysly / he my soule glaade I neuere / heeld me lady / ne maistresse Line 823 But humble seruant to youre worthynesse And euere shal / whil þat my lyf may dure Abouen / euery worldly creature Line 826

That ye so longe / of youre benignitee Line 827 Han holden me / in honour and nobleye Where as I was / noght worthy bee That thonke I god / and yow /. to whom I preye Line 830 fforyelde it yow / ther is namoore to seye Vn-to my fader/ gladly wol I wende And with hym dwelle / vn-to my lyues ende Line 833

Ther I was fostred / of a child ful smal Line 834 Til I be deed / my lyf ther wol I lede A wydwe clene / in body / herte and al ffor sith I yaf/ to yow my maydenhede Line 837 And am youre trewe wyf/ it is no drede God shilde / swich a lordes wyf to take Another man / to housbonde / or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

And of youre newe wyf / god of his grace Line 841 So graunte yow wele and prosperitee ffor I wol gladly / yelden hire my place In which that I was blisful wont to bee Line 844 ffor sith it liketh yow / my lord quod shee That whilom weren / al myn hertes reste That I shal goon / I wol goon whan yow leste Line 847

But ther as ye me profre / swich dowaire Line 848 As I first broghte / it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecched clothes no thyng faire The whiche to me / were hard now for to fynde Line 851 O goode god / how gentil and how kynde Ye semed / by youre speche / and youre visage The day / that maked was oure mariage Line 854

But sooth is seyd / algate I fynde it trewe [folio 102a] Line 855 ffor in effect it preeued is on me Loue is noght oold / as whan þat it is newe But certes lord / for noon aduersitee Line 858 To dyen in the cas / it shal nat bee That euere / in word or werk / I shal repente That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente Line 861

My lord ye woot / that in my fadres place Line 862 Ye dide me streepe / out of my poure weede And richely / me cladden of youre grace To yow broghte I noght elles / out of drede Line 865 But feith and nakednesse / and maydenhede And heere agayn / my clothyng I restoore And eek / my weddyng ryng/ for eueremore Line 868

The remenant of youre Iueles redy be Line 869 In with youre chambre / dar I saufly sayn Naked / out of my fadres hous quod she I cam / and naked moot I turne agayn Line 872

[6-text p 431] Line 872 Al youre plesance / wol I folwen fayn But yet I hope / it be nat youre entente That I smoklees / out of youre paleys wente Line 875

Ye koude nat doon / so dishoneste a thyng/ Line 876 That thilke wombe / in which youre children leye Sholde biforn the peple / in my walkyng/ Be seyn al bare / wherfore I yow preye Line 879 Lat me / nat lyk a worm / go by the weye Remembre yow / myn owene lord so deere I was youre wyf / though I vnworthy weere Line 882

Wherfore / in gerdon of my maydenhede Line 883 Which þat I broghte / and noght agayn I bere As voucheth sauf / to yeue me / to my meede But swich a smok as I was wont to were [.i. couere] Line 886 That I ther-with may wrye the wombe of here That was youre wyf / and heer take I my leeue Of yow myn owene lord / lest I yow greue Line 889

¶ The smok quod he / that thou hast on thy bak Line 890 Lat it be stille / and bere it forth with thee But wel vnnethes / thilke word he spak But wente his wey / for routhe and for pitee Line 893 Biforn the folk/ hir seluen strepeth she And in hir smok/ with heed / and foot / al bare Toward hir fader hous / forth is she fare Line 896

¶ The folk hire folwe / wepynge in hir weye [folio 102b] And ffortune ay they cursen / as they goon But she fro wepyng kepte hire eyen dreye Ne in this tyme / word ne spak she noon Line 900 Hir fader / that this tidynge herde anoon Curseth the day / and tyme that nature Shoope hym / to been a lyues creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

ffor out of doute / this olde poure man Line 904 Was euere / in suspect of hir mariage ffor euere he demed / sith that it bigan That whan the lord / fulfild hadde his corage Line 907 Hym wolde thynke / it were a disparage To his estaat / so lowe for talighte And voyden hire / as soone as euer he myghte Line 910

Agayns his doghter / hastiliche goth he Line 911 ffor he by noyse of folk / knew hire comynge And with hire olde coote / as it myghte be He couered hire / ful sorwefully wepynge Line 914 But on hire body / myghte he it nat brynge ffor rude was the clooth / and she moore of age By dayes fele / than at hire mariage Line 917

¶ Thus with hire fader / for a certeyn space Line 918 Dwelleth this flour/ of wyfly pacience That neither/ by hire wordes / ne hire face Biforn the folk / ne eek in hire absence Line 921 Ne shewed she / that hire was doon offence Ne of hire heighe estaat. no remembrance Ne hadde she / as by hire contenance Line 924

No wonder is / for in hire grete estaat Line 925 Hire goost was euere / in pleyn humylitee No tendre mouth / noon herte delicaat No pompe / no semblant of roialtee Line 928 But ful of pacient benyngnytee Discreet and pridelees / ay honurable And to hire housbonde / euere meke and stable Line 931

¶ Men speke of Iob / and moost for his humblesse Line 932 As clerkes whan hem list konne wel endite Namely of men / but as in soothfastnesse Though clerkes / preise wommen but a lite Line 935

[6-text p 433] Line 935 Ther kan no man / in humblesse hym acquite As womman kan / ne been half so trewe As wommen been / but it be falle of newe Line 938

[PART VI.]

¶ ffro Boloigne / is this Erl of Pavyk come [folio 103a] Line 939 Of which the fame vp sprang to moore and lesse And in the peples eres / alle and some Was kouth eek / that a newe Markysesse Line 942 He with hym broghte / in swich pompe and richesse That neuere was ther seyn / with mannes eye So noble array / in al Westlumbardye Line 945

¶ The Markys / which that shoope and knew al this Line 946 Er that this Erl was come / sente his message ffor thilke / sely poure Grisildis And she with humble herte / and glad visage Line 949 Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage Cam at his heste / and on hire knees hire sette And reuerently / and wisely she hym grette Line 952

¶ Grisilde quod he / my wyl is outrely Line 953 This mayden / that shal wedded been to me Receiued be / to morwe as roially As it possible is / in myn hous to be Line 956 And eek / that euery wight in his degree Haue his estaat in sittyng and seruyse And heigh plesance / as I kan best deuyse Line 959

¶ I haue no wommen / suffisant certayn Line 960 The chambres / for tarraye in ordinance After my lust and therfore wolde I fayn That thyn were / al swich manere gouernance Line 963 Thou knowest eek of old al my plesance Thogh thyn array be badde and yuel biseye Do thou thy deuoir / at the leeste weye Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

¶ Nat oonly lord / that .I. am glad quod she Line 967 To doon youre lust but .I. desire also Yow for to serue / and plese in my degree With outen feyntyng and shal eueremo Line 970 Ne neuere / for no wele / ne no wo Ne shal the goost withInne myn herte stente To loue yow best with al my trewe entente Line 973

And with that word / she gan the hous to dighte Line 974 And tables for to sette / and beddes make And peyned hire / to doon al that she myghte Preyynge the chambreres / for goddes sake Line 977 To hasten hem / and faste swepe and shake And she / the mooste seruysable of alle Hath euery chambre arrayed / and his halle Line 980

¶ Abouten vndren / gan this Erl alighte [folio 103b] Line 981 That with him broghte / thise noble children tweye ffor which the peple / ran to seen the sighte Of hire array / so richely biseye Line 984 And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye That Walter was no fool / thogh þat hym leste To chaunge his wyf/ for it was for the beste Line 987

ffor she is fairer / as they deemen alle Line 988 Than is Grisilde / and moore tendre of age And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle And moore plesant. for hire heigh lynage Line 991 Hir brother eek/ so faire was of visage That hem to seen / the peple hath caught plesance Commendynge now / the Markys gouernance Line 994

O Stormy peple / vnsad / and euere vntrewe [¶ Auctor] Ay vndiscreet and chaungynge as a vane Delitynge euere / in rumbul that is newe ffor lyk the moone / ay wexe ye and wane Line 998

[6-text p 435] Line 998 Ay ful of clappyng deere ynogh a Iane Youre doom is fals / youre constance yuele preeueth A ful greet fool / is he / þat on yow leeueth Line 1001

Thus seyden sadde folk/ in that Citee Line 1002 Whan that the peple / gazed vp and doun ffor they were glad / right for the noueltee To han / a newe lady of hir toun Line 1005 Namoore of this / make I now mencioun But to Grisilde agayn / wol I me dresse And telle / hir constance / and hir bisynesse Line 1008

¶ fful bisy was Grisilde / in euery thyng Line 1009 That to the feeste / was apertinent Right noght was she abayst of hire clothyng Thogh it were rude / and somdeel eek to-rent Line 1012 But with glad cheere / to the yate is she went With oother folk to greete the Markysesse And after that dooth forth hire bisynesse Line 1015

With so glad chiere / hise gestes she receyueth Line 1016 And so konnyngly / euerich in his degree That no defaute / no man aperceyueth But ay they wondren / what she myghte bee Line 1019 That in so poure array was for to see And koude / swich honour and reuerence And worthily / they preisen hire prudence Line 1022

In al this meene while / she ne stente [folio 104a] Line 1023 This mayde / and eek hir brother to commende With al hir herte / in ful benyngne entente So wel / þat no man koude hir pris amende Line 1026 But atte laste / whan þat thise lordes wende To sitten doun to mete / he gan to calle Grisilde / as she was bisy in his halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

¶ Grisilde quod he / as it were in his pley Line 1030 How liketh thee my wyf/ and hire beautee? Right wel quod she my lord / for in good fey A fairer/ saugh I neuere noon than she Line 1033 I prey to god / yeue hire prosperitee And so hope I / that he wol to yow sende Plesance ynogh / vn-to youre lyues ende Line 1036

O thyng biseke I yow / and warne also [¶ Vnum bona fide precor ac moneo ne hanc/ illis aculeis agites quibus alteram agitasti / namque & iunior & delicacius nutrita est/ pati quantum ego vt reor non valeret/ ] Line 1037 That ye ne prikke / with no tormentynge This tendre mayden / as ye han doon mo ffor she is fostred / in hire norissynge Line 1040 Moore tendrely / and to my supposynge She koude nat/ aduersitee endure As koude / a poure fostred creature Line 1043

¶ And whan this Walter / saugh hire pacience Line 1044 Hir glad chiere / and no malice at al And he so ofte / had doon to hire [offence] And she ay sad / and constant as a wal [.i. ubique] Line 1047 Continuynge euere / hire Innocence oueral This sturdy Markys / gan his herte dresse To rewen / vp on hire wyfly stedfastnesse Line 1050

¶ This is ynogh / Grisilde myn quod he Line 1051 Be now namoore agast ne yuele apayed I haue thy feith / and thy benyngnytee As wel / as euere womman was assayed Line 1054 In greet estaat. and poureliche arrayed Now knowe I goode wyf / thy stedfastnesse And hire in armes took / and gan hire kesse Line 1057

¶ And she for wonder/ took of it no keepe Line 1058 She herde nat / what thyng he to hire seyde She ferde / as she had stert out of a sleepe Til she / out of hire mazednesse abreyde Line 1061

[6-text p 437] Line 1061 Grisilde quod he / by god that for vs deyde Thou art my wyf/ noon oother I haue Ne neuere hadde / as god my soule saue Line 1064

¶ This is thy doghter / which thou hast supposed [folio 104b] To be my wyf / that oother feithfully Shal be myn heir / as I haue ay supposed Thou bare hym / in thy body trewely Line 1068 At Boloigne / haue I kept hem priuely Taak hem agayn / for now maystow nat seye That thou hast lorn / noon of thy children tweye Line 1071

And folk / that ootherweys / han seyd of me Line 1072 I warne hem wel / þat I haue doon this deede ffor no malice / ne for no crueltee But for tassaye / in thee thy wommanheede Line 1075 And nat to sleen my children / god forbeede But for to kepe hem / pryuely and stille Til I thy purpos knewe / and al thy wille Line 1078

¶ Whan she this herde / aswowne doun she falleth Line 1079 ffor pitous Ioye / and after hire swownynge She bothe hire yonge children / vn-to hire calleth And in hire Armes / pitously wepynge Line 1082 Embraceth hem / and tendrely kissynge fful lyk a mooder/ with hire salte teeres She bathed / bothe hire visage and hire heeres Line 1085

¶ O which a pitous thyng it was to se Line 1086 Hir swownyng. and hire humble voys to heere Grauntmercy lord / that thanke I yow quod she That ye han saued me my children deere Line 1089 Now rekke I neuere / to been deed right heere Sith I stonde in youre loue / and in youre grace No fors of deeth / ne whan my spirit pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

¶ O tendre / o deere / o yonge children myne Line 1093 Youre woful mooder / wende stedfastly That crueel houndes / or som foul vermyne Hadde eten yow / but god of his mercy Line 1096 And youre benyngne fader / tendrely Hath doon yow kept and in that same stounde Al sodeynly / she swapte adoun to grounde Line 1099

And in hire swough / so sadly holdeth she Line 1100 Hire children two / whan she gan hem tembrace That with greet sleighte / and greet difficultee The children / from hire arm they gonne arace Line 1103 O many a teere / on many a pitous face Doun ran / of hem þat stooden hire bisyde Vnnethe abouten hire / myghte they abyde Line 1106

¶ Walter hire gladeth / and hire sorwe slaketh [folio 105a] She riseth vp abaysed / from hire trance And euery wight / hire ioye and feeste maketh Til she / hath caught agayn hire contenance Line 1110 Walter hire dooth / so feithfully plesance That it was deyntee / for to seen the cheere Bitwixe hem two / now they been met yfeere Line 1113

¶ Thise ladyes / whan that they hir tyme say Line 1114 Han taken hire / and in to chambre gon And strepen hire / out of hire rude array And in a clooth of gold / þat brighte shoon Line 1117 With a coroune / of many a riche stoon Vp on hire heed / they in to halle hire broghte And ther she was / honured as hire oghte Line 1120

Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende Line 1121 ffor euery man and womman dooth his myght This day / in murthe and reuel to dispende Til on the welkne / shoon the sterres lyght Line 1124

[6-text p 439] Line 1124 ffor moore solempne / in euery mannes syght This feste was / and gretter of costage Than was / the reuel / of hire mariage Line 1127

¶ fful many a yeer / in heigh prosperitee Line 1128 Lyuen thise two / in concord and in reste And richely / his doghter maryed he Vn-to a lord / oon of the worthieste Line 1131 Of al Ytaille / and thanne in pees and reste His wyues fader/ in his court he kepeth Til that the soule / out of his body crepeth Line 1134

His sone / succedeth in his heritage Line 1135 In reste and pees / after his fader day And fortunat was eek/ in mariage Al putte he nat his wyf/ in greet assay Line 1138 This world is nat so strong it is no nay As it hath been / of olde tymes yoore And herkneth / what this Auctour seith therfoore Line 1141

¶ This storie is seyd / nat for that wyues sholde [¶ Hanc historiam stilo nunc alto retexere visum fuit/ non tum ideo vt matronas nostri temporis ad imitan|dam huius vxoris pacienciam / que inimitabilis videtur / quam vt legentes ad imitandam saltem femine constanciam excitarent/. Vt que hec viro suo prestitit/ hoc prestare d[e]o nostro audeat/ qui|libet/ vt Iacobus ait apostolus / Intemptator sit/ malorum & ipse neminem temptat/ probat tamen & sepe nos multis ac grauibus flagellis exerceri sinit/ non vt animum nostrum sciat/ quem sciuit/ antequam crearemur &cetera. ] ffolwen Grisilde / as in humylitee ffor it were inportable / though they wolde But for that euery wight in his degree Line 1145 Sholde be constant in aduersitee As was Grisilde / therfore petrak writeth This storie / which with heigh stile he enditeth Line 1148

ffor sith a womman / was so pacient [folio 105b] Vn-to a mortal man / wel moore vs oghte Receyuen al in gree / that god vs sent ffor greet skile is / he preeue that he wroghte Line 1152 But he / ne tempteth no man / that he boghte As seith seint Iame / if ye his pistel rede He preeueth folk al day / it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And suffreth vs / as for oure excercise Line 1156 With sharpe scourges / of Aduersitee fful ofte / to be bete in sondry wise Nat for to know oure wyl / for certes he? Line 1159 Er we were born / knew oure freletee And for oure beste / is al his gouernance Lat vs thanne lyue / in vertuous suffrance Line 1162

¶ But o word lordynges / herkneth er I go Line 1163 It were ful hard / to fynde now a dayes In al a toun / Grisildis / thre or two ffor if þat they were put to swiche assayes Line 1166 The gold of hem / hath now so badde alayes With bras / þat thogh the coyne be fair at eye It wolde rather / breste atwo than plye Line 1169

ffor which heere / for the wyues loue of Bathe Line 1170 Whos lyf and al hire secte god mayntene In heigh maistrie / and elles were it scathe I wol with lusty herte / fressh and grene Line 1173 Seyn yow a song to glade yow I wene And lat vs stynte / of ernestful matere Herkneth my song that seith in this manere Line 1176

¶ Lenuoy de Chaucer.

Grisilde is deed / and eek hire pacience And bothe atones / buryed in Ytaille ffor which I crie / in open audience Line 1179 No wedded man / so hardy be tassaille His wyues pacience / in hope to fynde Grisildis / for in certein he shal faille Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues / ful / of heigh prudence Lat noon humylitee / youre tonge naill Ne lat no clerk/ haue cause or diligence Line 1185 To write of yow / a storie of swich meruaille As of Grisildis / pacient and kynde Lest Chichiuache / yow swelwe in hire entraille Line 1188

ffolweth Ekko / that holdeth no silence [folio 106a] But euere answereth / at the countretaille Beth nat bidaffed for youre Innocence Line 1191 But sharply / taak on yow the gouernaille Emprenteth wel this lesson in youre mynde ffor commune profit sith it may auaille Line 1194

Ye Archiwyues / stondeth at defense Syn ye be strong as is a greet Camaille Ne suffreth nat/ þat men yow doon offense Line 1197 And sklendre wyues / fieble as in bataille Beth egre / as is a Tygre yond in Ynde Ay clappeth as a Mille / I yow consaille Line 1200

Ne dreed hem nat doth hem no reuerence ffor though thyn housbonde / armed be in maille The arwes / of thy crabbed eloquence Line 1203 Shal perce his brest/ and eek his Auentaille In Ialousie / I rede eek thou hym bynde And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille Line 1206

If thou be fair/ ther folk been in presence Shewe thou thy visage / and thyn apparaille If thou be foul / be fre of thy dispence Line 1209 To gete thee freendes / ay do thy trauaille Be ay of chiere / as light as leef on lynde And lat hym care and wepe / and wryng and waille Line 1212

[6-text p 402] Line 1212

[6-text p 402] Line 1212

[6-text p 477]

APPENDIX TO GROUP E, § 2. [? Original, but rejected, End-Link to the Clerk's Tale, perhaps following l. 1162, with which the paraphrase of Petrarch's Latin ends, or l. 1169.]

¶ Bihoold the murye wordes of the Hoost.

THis worthy clerk whan ended was his tale Oure hoost seyde / and swoor by goddes bones Me were leuere / than a barel ale My wyf at hoom / had herd this legende ones Line 4 This is a gentil tale / for the nones As to my purpos / wiste ye my wille But thyng þat wol nat be / lat it be stille. Line 7

¶ Heere endeth the tale / of the Clerk of Oxenford

[6-text p 442]

¶ The prologe of the Marchantes tale. [folio 106b]

Wepyng and waylyng care and oother sorwe I knowe ynogh / on euen and a morwe Quod the Marchant and so doon othere mo That wedded been / I trowe that it be so Line 1216 ffor wel I woot it fareth so with me I have a wyf/ the worste that may be ffor thogh the feend / to hire ycoupled were She wolde hym ouermacche / I dar wel swere Line 1220 What sholde I yow reherce in special Hir hye malice / she is a shrewe at al Ther is a long and large difference Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience Line 1224 And of my wyf/ the passyng crueltee Were I vnbounden / al so moot I thee I wolde neuere eft comen in the snare We wedded men / lyue in sorwe and care Line 1228 Assaye who so wole / and he shal fynde I seye sooth / by seint Thomas of ynde As for the moore part I sey nat alle God shilde / that it sholde so bifalle Line 1232 ¶ A good sire hoost / I haue ywedded bee Thise Monthes two / and moore nat pardee And yet I trowe / he that al his lyue Wyflees hath been / though þat men wolde him ryue Line 1236 Vn-to the herte / ne koude in no manere Tellen so muchel / sorwe / as I now heere? Koude tellen / of my wyues cursednesse ¶ Now quod our hoost. Marchant so god yow blesse Line 1240 Syn ye so muchel / knowen of that Art fful hertely / I pray yow telle vs part ¶ Gladly quod he / but of myn owene soore ffor soory herte / I telle may namoore Line 1244

[6-text p 443]

¶ Heere bigynneth the Marchantes tale.

WHilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye A worthy knyght þat born was of Pavye In which he lyued / in greet prosperitee And sixty yeer / a wyflees man was hee And folwed ay his bodily delyt [[Painting of the Merchant]] On wommen / ther as was his appetyt As doon thise fooles / that been seculeer [folio 107a] And whan that he / was passed sixty yeer Line 1252 Were it for hoolynesse / or for dotage I kan nat seye / but swich a greet corage Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man That day and nyght/ he dooth al that he kan Line 1256 Tespien / where he myghte wedded be Preyinge oure lord / to granten him þat he? Mighte ones knowe / of thilke blisful lyf That is bitwixe / an housbonde / and his wyf / Line 1260 And for to lyue / vnder that hooly boond With which þat first god / man and womman bond Noon oother lyf seyde he / is worth a bene ffor wedlok/ is so esy / and so clene Line 1264 That in this world / it is a Paradys Thus seyde this olde knyght / þat was so wys ¶ And certeinly / as sooth / as god is kyng. To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng Line 1268 And namely / whan a man / is oold and hoor Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor Thanne sholde he take / a yong wyf and a feir On which / he myghte / engendren hym an heir Line 1272

[6-text p 444] Line 1272 And lede his lyf in ioye and in solas Where as thise bacheleris / synge allas Whan that they fynden / any aduersitee In loue / which nys / but childyssh vanytee Line 1276 And trewely / it sit wel to be so That bacheleris / haue often peyne and wo On brotel ground they buylde / and brotelnesse They fynde / whan they wene sikernesse Line 1280 They lyue / but as a bryd / or as a beest In libertee / and vnder noon arreest Ther as a wedded man / in his estaat Lyueth a lyf blisful and ordinaat Line 1284 Vnder this yok of mariage ybounde Wel may his herte / in ioye and blisse habounde ffor who kan be / so buxom as a wyf Who is so trewe / and eek so ententyf Line 1288 To kepe hym syk and hool / as is his make ffor wele or wo / she wole hym nat forsake She nys nat wery / hym to loue and serue Thogh þat he lye bedrede / til he sterue Line 1292 And yet somme clerkes seyn / it nys nat so Of whiche / he Theofraste is oon of tho What force / though Theofraste liste lye Ne take no wyf quod he / for housbondrye Line 1296 As for to spare / in houshold thy dispence A trewe seruant dooth moore diligence Thy good to kepe / than thyn owene wyf [folio 107b] ffor she wol clayme / half part al hir lyf Line 1300 And if thou be syk so god me saue Thy verray freendes / or a trewe knaue Wol kepe thee bet than she þat waiteth ay After thy good / and hath doon many a day Line 1304 And if thou take a wyf / vn-to thyn hoold fful lightly / maystow been a Cokewold This sentence / and an hundred thynges worse Writeth this man / ther god his bones corse Line 1308

[6-text p 445] Line 1308 But take no kepe / of al swich vanytee Deffie Theofraste / and herke me ¶ A wyf/ is goddes yifte verraily [¶ Vxor est diligenda quia donum dei est ‖ Ihesus filius sirac/ domus & diuicie dantur a parentibus / a domino autem proprie vxor bona vel prudens.] Alle otherere manere yiftes hardily Line 1312 As londes / rentes / pasture / or commune Or moebles / alle been yiftes of ffortune [// dona fortune] That passen / as a shadwe vpon a wal But dredelees / if pleynly speke I shal Line 1316 A wyf wol laste / and in thyn hous endure Wel lenger than thee list/ parauenture ¶ Mariage is / a ful greet sacrement He / which þat hath no wyf / I holde hym shent Line 1320 He lyueth helplees / and al desolat I speke of folk in seculer estaat And herke why / I sey nat this for noght That womman is / for mannes helpe ywroght Line 1324 The hye god / whan he hadde Adam maked And saugh him al allone / bely naked God of his grete goodnesse / seyde than [¶ ffaciamus ei adiutorium & extracta costa de corpore Ade fecit Euam & dixit / propter hec/ relinquet homo pa|trem & matrem & adherebit &cetera et erunt duo in carne vna.] Lat vs now make an helpe vn-to this man Line 1328 Lyk to hym self and thanne he made him Eue Heere may ye se / and heer-by may ye preue That wyf is mannes helpe / and his confort His Paradys terrestre / and his disport Line 1332 So buxom / and so vertuous is she They moste nedes / lyue in vnitee O flessh they been / and o flessh as I gesse Hath but oon herte / in wele and in distresse Line 1336 ¶ A wyf /? a Seinte marie benedicite How myghte a man / han any aduersitee That hath a wyf/ certes I kan nat seye The blisse / which þat is bitwixe hem tweye Line 1340 Ther may no tonge telle / or herte thynke If he be poure / she helpeth hym to swynke She kepeth his good / and wasteth neuer a deel Al that hire housbonde lust hire liketh weel Line 1344

[6-text p 446] Line 1344 She seith not ones nay / whan he seith ye Do this seith he / al redy sire seith she O blisful ordre of wedlok precious [folio 108a] Thou art so murye / and eek so vertuous Line 1348 And so commended / and appreued eek That euery man / þat halt hym worth a leek / Vp on his bare knees / oughte al his lyf / Thanken his god / þat hym hath sent a wyf / Line 1352 Or elles preye to god / hym for to sende A wyf / to laste / vn to his lyues ende ffor thanne his lyf / is set in sikernesse He may nat be deceyued as I gesse Line 1356 So þat he werke / after his wyues reede . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 1360 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ Lo how þat Iacob / as thise clerkes rede [Iacob ‖ per consilium matris sue Rebecce &cetera.] By good conseil / of his mooder Rebekke Boond the kydes skyn / aboute his nekke Line 1364 Thurgh which / his fadres benyson he wan ¶ Lo Iudith / as the storie eek telle kan [Iudith / de manibus Oloferni & cetera.] By wys conseil / she goddes peple kepte And slow hym Olofernus / whil he slepte Line 1368 ¶ Lo Abigayl / by good conseil / how she [Abigayl / per suum bonum consilium virum suum Nabal ab ira dauid liberauit.] Saued hir housbonde Nabal / whan þat he? Sholde han be slayn / and looke Ester also [Ester & cetera Iudeos per bonum consilium simul cum Mardocheo in regno Assueri.] By good conseil / delyuered out of wo Line 1372 The peple of god / and made hym Mardochee Of Assuere / enhaunced for to be ¶ Ther nys no thyng/ in gree superlatyf [¶ Seneca / sicut nichil est benigna coniuge/ ita nichil crudelius est infesta muliere.] As seith Senek aboue an humble wyf Line 1376 ¶ Suffre thy wyues tonge / as Caton bit [¶ Cato / vxoris linguam si frugi est/ ferre me|mento.] She shal comande / and thou shalt suffren it And yet she wole obeye of curteisye A wyf is kepere / of thyn housbondrye [¶ Bona mulier fidelis custos est/ & bona domus.]

[6-text p 447] Wel may the sike man / biwaille and wepe Ther as ther nys no wyf / the hous to kepe I warne thee / if wisely / thou wolt wirche [¶ Apostolus Paulus ad Ephesianos / diligite vxores vestras sicut christus dilexit ecclesiam & cetera.] Loue wel thy wyf as crist loued his chirche Line 1384 If thou louest thy self thou louest thy wyf/ [¶ Apostolus. Ita viri debent diligere vxores suas vt corpora sua / quia qui suam vxorem diligit/ seipsum diligit/ nemo vnquam carnem suam odio habuit/ set nutrit & fouet eam /. et postea / vnusquisque suam vxorem sicut ipsum diligat.] No man hateth his flessh / but in his lyf/? He fostreth it and therfore bidde I thee Cherisse thy wyf / or thou shalt neuere thee Line 1388 Housbonde and wyf what so men iape or pleye Of worldly folk / holden the siker weye They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde And namely / vp on the wyues syde Line 1392 ffor which this Ianuarie / of whom I tolde Considered hath / inwith hise dayes olde The lusty lyf / the vertuous quyete That is in mariage hony sweete Line 1396 And for hise freendes / on a day he sente To tellen hem theffect of his entente

With face sad / his tale he hath hem toold [folio 108b] He seyde freendes / I am hoor and oold Line 1400 And almoost god woot on my pittes brynke Vp on the soule / somwhat moste I thynke I haue my body / folily despended Blessed be god / that it shal been amended Line 1404 ffor I wol be / certeyn a wedded man And that anoon / in al the haste I kan Vn to som mayde / fair / and tendre of age I prey yow / shapeth for my mariage Line 1408 Al sodeynly / for I wol nat abyde And I wol fonde / tespien on my syde To whom / I may be wedded hastily But for as muche / as ye been mo than I Line 1412 Ye shullen rather / swich a thyng espyen Than I / and where me best were to allyen ¶ But o thyng warne I yow / my freendes deere I wol noon oold wyf han / in no manere Line 1416

[6-text p 448] Line 1416 She shal nat passe twenty yeer certayn Oold fissh and yong flessh / wolde I haue fayn Bet is quod he / a pyk than a pykerel And bet than olde boef is the tendre veel Line 1420 I wol no womman / thritty yeer of age It is but benestraw / and greet forage And eek/ thise olde wydwes / god it woot They konne / so muchel craft on Wades boot Line 1424 So muchel broken harm / whan þat hem leste That with hem / sholde I neuere lyue in reste ffor sondry scoles / maken sotile clerkis Womman of manye scoles / half a clerk is Line 1428 But certeynly / a yong thyng may men gye Right as men may / warm wex with handes plye Wherfore / I sey yow pleynly / in a clause I wol noon oold wyf han / for this cause Line 1432 ffor if so were / þat I hadde swich myschance That I in hire / ne koude han no plesance Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in Auoutrye And streight vn-to the deuel / whan I dye Line 1436 Ne children / sholde I none vp on hire geten Yet were me leuere / þat houndes had me eten Than þat myn heritage sholde falle In straunge hand / and this I telle yow alle Line 1440 I dote nat I woot the cause why? Men sholde wedde / and forthermoore woot I Ther speketh / many a man of mariage That woot namoore of it than woot my page Line 1444 ffor whiche causes / man sholde take a wyf / Siththe / he may nat lyuen chaast his lyf / Take hym a wyf with greet deuocion [folio 109a] By cause / of leueful procreacion Line 1448 Of children / to thonour of god aboue And nat oonly / for paramour or loue And for they sholde / leccherye eschue And yelde hir dettes / whan þat they ben due Line 1452

[6-text p 449] Line 1452 Or for that ech of hem / sholde helpen oother In meschief / as a suster shal the brother And lyue in chastitee / ful holily But sires by youre leue / that am nat I Line 1456 ffor god be thanked / I dar make auaunt I feele my lymes / stark/ and suffisaunt To do / al that a man bilongeth to I woot my seluen best what I may do Line 1460 Though I be hoor / I fare as dooth a tree That blosmeth / er þat fruyt ywoxen bee And blosmy tree / nys neither drye ne deed I feele me / nowhere hoor / but on myn heed Line 1464 Myn herte / and alle my lymes been as grene As laurer / thurgh the yeer / is for to sene And syn þat ye / han herd al myn entente I prey yow / to my wyl / ye wole assente Line 1468

Diuerse men / diuersely hym tolde Of mariage / manye ensamples olde Somme blamed it / somme preysed it certeyn But atte laste / shortly for to seyn Line 1472 As al day / falleth altercacion Bitwixen freendes in disputison Ther fil a stryf / bitwixe hise bretheren two Of whiche / that oon was cleped Placebo Line 1476 Iustinus soothly / called was that oother ¶ Placebo seyde / o Ianuarie brother [¶ Placebo] fful litel nede / hadde ye my lord so deere Conseil to axe / of any that is heere Line 1480 But þat ye been / so ful of sapience That yow ne liketh / for youre heighe prudence To weyuen / fro the word of Salomon This word seyde he / vn to vs euerychon Line 1484 Wirk alle thyng by conseil / thus seyde he And thanne / shaltow nat repente thee But though þat Salomon / spak swich a word Myn owene deere brother / and my lord Line 1488

[6-text p 450] Line 1488 So wysly / god my soule brynge at reste I holde / youre owene conseil is the beste ffor brother myn / of me taak this motyf I haue now been / a Court man al my lyf Line 1492 And god it woot though I vnworthy be I haue stonden / in ful greet degree Abouten lordes / of ful heigh estaat [folio 109b] Yet hadde I neuere / with noon of hem debaat Line 1496 I neuere hem contraried trewely I woot wel / that my lord kan moore than I What that he seith / I holde it ferme and stable I seye the same / or elles thyng semblable Line 1500 A ful greet fool / is any conseillour That serueth any lord / of heigh honour That dar presume / or elles thenken it That his conseil / sholde passe his lordes wit Line 1504 Nay / lordes been no fooles by my fay Ye han youre seluen / seyd heer to day So heigh sentence / so holily and weel That I consente / and conferme euerydeel Line 1508 Youre wordes alle / and youre opinioun By god / ther nys no man / in al this toun Nyn Ytaille / that koude bet han sayd Crist halt hym / of this conseil ful wel apayd Line 1512 And trewely / it is an heigh corage Of any man / that stapen is in age To take a yong wyf by my fader kyn Youre herte hangeth / on a ioly pyn Line 1516 Dooth now in this matiere / right as yow leste ffor finally / I holde it for the beste

Iustinus / þat ay stille sat and herde [¶ Iustinus] Right in this wise / he to Placebo answerde Line 1520 Now brother myn / be pacient I preye Syn ye han seyd / and herkneth what I seye ¶ Senek among hise othere wordes wyse Seith / þat a man oghte hym right wel auyse Line 1524

[6-text p 451] Line 1524 To whom / he yeueth his lond / or his catel And syn I oghte / auyse me right wel To whom I yeue my good / awey fro me Wel muchel moore / I oghte auysed be Line 1528 To whom I yeue my body / for alwey I warne yow wel / it is no childes pley To take a wyf with-outen auysement Men moste enquere / this is myn assent Line 1532 Wher she be wys / or sobre / or dronkelewe Or proud / or elles ootherweys a shrewe A chidestere / or wastour of thy good Or riche / or poore / or elles mannyssh wood Line 1536 Al be it so / that no man fynden shal Noon in this world / that trotteth hool in al Ne man ne beest/ which as men koude deuyse But nathelees / it oghte ynough suffise Line 1540 With any wyf/ if so were that she hadde Mo goode thewes / than hire vices badde And al this / axeth leyser / for tenquere [folio 110a] ffor god it woot I haue wept many a teere Line 1544 fful pryuely / syn I haue had a wyf Preyse who so wole / a wedded mannes lyf Certein I fynde in it but cost and care And obseruances / of alle blisses bare Line 1548 And yet god woot my neighebores aboute And namely / of wommen many a route Seyn þat I haue / the mooste stedefast wyf And eek/ the mekeste oon / that bereth lyf Line 1552 But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho Ye mowe for me / right as yow liketh do Auyseth yow / ye been a man of age How that ye entren / in to mariage Line 1556 And namely / with a yong wyf/ and a fair By hym þat made water / erthe / and air The yongeste man / þat is in al this route Is bisy ynough / to bryngen it aboute Line 1560

[6-text p 452] Line 1560 To han his wyf allone / trusteth me Ye shul nat plesen hire / fully yeres thre This is to seyn / to doon hire ful plesance A wyf axeth / ful many an obseruance Line 1564 I prey yow / þat ye be nat yuele apayd ¶ Wel quod this Ianuarie / and hastow ysayd Straw for thy Senek / and for thy prouerbes I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Line 1568 Of scole termes // wyser men than thow As thou hast herd / assenteden right now To my purpos / Placebo / what sey ye? ¶ I seye / it is a cursed man quod he Line 1572 That letteth matrimoigne sikerly And with that word / they rysen sodeynly And been assented / fully þat he sholde Be wedded / whanne hym list and where he wolde Line 1576

Heigh fantasye / and curious bisynesse ffro day to day / gan in the soule impresse Of Ianuarie / aboute his mariage Many fair shape / and many a fair visage Line 1580 Ther passeth thurgh his herte / nyght by nyght And who so tooke a Mirour/ polisshed bryght And sette it in a commune Market place Thanne sholde he se / ful many a figure pace Line 1584 By his Mirour / and in the same wyse Gan Ianuarie / inwith his thoght deuyse Of maydens / whiche þat dwellen hym bisyde He wiste nat / wher þat he myghte abyde Line 1588 ffor if þat oon / haue beaute / in hir face Another stant so / in the peples grace ffor hire sadnesse / and hire benyngnytee [folio 110b] That of the peple / grettest voys hath she Line 1592 And somme were riche / and hadden badde name But nathelees / bitwixe ernest and game He atte laste / apoynted hym on oon And leet alle othere / from his herte goon Line 1596

[6-text p 453] Line 1596 And chees hire / of his owene auctoritee ffor loue is blynd al day / and may nat see And whan that he was / in his bed ybroght He purtreyed / in his herte and in his thoght Line 1600 Hir fresshe beautee / and hir age tendre Hir myddel smal / hire armes longe and sklendre Hir wise gouernance / hir gentillesse Hir wommanly berynge / and hire sadnesse Line 1604 And whan that he / on hire was condescended Hym thoughte / his choys myghte nat ben amended ffor whan þat he hym self / concluded hadde Hym thoughte / ech oother mannes wit so badde Line 1608 That inpossible / it were to repplye Agayn his choys / this was his fantasye Hise freendes sente he to / at his instance And preyed hem / to doon hym that plesance Line 1612 That hastily / they wolden to hym come He wolde abregge hir labour alle and some Nedeth namoore / for hym to go ne ryde He was apoynted / ther he wolde abyde Line 1616 ¶ Placebo cam / and eek hise freendes soone And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone That noon of hem / none Argumentes make Agayn the purpos / which þat he hath take Line 1620 Which purpos / was plesant to god seyde he And verray ground / of his prosperitee ¶ He seyde / ther was a mayden in the toun Which þat of beautee / hadde greet renoun Line 1624 Al were it so / she were / of smal degree Suffiseth hym / hir yowthe / and hir beautee Which mayde he seyde / he wolde han to his wyf To lede in ese / and hoolynesse his lyf Line 1628 And thanked god / þat he myghte han hire al That no wight / his blisse parten shal And preyde hem / to laboure in this nede And shapen / þat he faille nat to spede Line 1632

[6-text p 454] Line 1632 ffor thanne he seyde / his spirit was at ese Thanne is quod he / no thyng may me displese Saue o thyng priketh in my conscience The which I wol reherce / in youre presence Line 1636 ¶ I haue quod he / herd seyd ful yoore ago Ther may no man / han parfite blisses two This is to seye / in erthe and eek in heuene [folio 111a] ffor though he kepe hym / fro the synnes seuene Line 1640 And eek/ from euery branche of thilke tree Yet is ther/ so parfit felicitee And so greet ese / and lust in mariage That euere I am agast/ now in myn age Line 1644 That I shal lede now / so myrie a lyf So delicat with-outen wo and stryf That I shal haue / myn heuene in erthe heere ffor sith þat verray heuene / is boght so deere Line 1648 With tribulacion / and greet penance How sholde I thanne / þat lyue in swich plesance As alle wedded men / doon with hire wyuys Come to the blisse / ther crist eterne on lyue ys Line 1652 This is my drede / and ye my bretheren tweye Assoilleth me / this question I preye

Iustinus / which þat hated his folye [¶ Iustinus] Answerde anon / right in his iaperye Line 1656 And for he wolde / his longe tale abregge He wolde / noon auctoritee allegge But seyde sire / so ther be noon obstacle Oother than this / god of his hygh myracle Line 1660 And of his hygh mercy / may so for yow wirche That er ye haue youre right of hooly chirche Ye may repente / of wedded mannes lyf In which ye seyn / ther is no wo ne stryf Line 1664 And elles god forbede / but he sente A wedded man / hym grace to repente Wel ofte / rather than a sengle man And therfore sire / the beste reed I kan Line 1668

[6-text p 455] Line 1668 Dispeire yow noght but haue in youre memorie Paraunter / she may be youre purgatorie She may be goddes meene / and goddes whippe Thanne shal youre soule / vp to heuene skippe Line 1672 Swifter/ than dooth an Arwe / out of the bowe I hope to god / her-after shul ye knowe That ther nys / no so greet felicitee In mariage / ne neuere mo shal bee Line 1676 That yow shal lette / of youre sauacion So that ye vse / as skile is and reson The lustes of youre wyf attemprely And þat ye plese hire nat to amorously Line 1680 And þat ye kepe yow eek/ from oother synne My tale is doon / for my wit is thynne Beth nat agast her-of / my brother deere But lat vs waden / out of this mateere Line 1684 The wyf of Bathe / if ye han vnderstonde Of mariage / which ye haue on honde Declared hath ful wel / in litel space [folio 111b] ffareth now wel / god haue yow in his grace Line 1688 And with this word / this Iustyn and his brother Han take hir leue / and ech of hem of oother ffor whan they saughe that it moste be They wroghten so / by sly and wys tretee Line 1692 That she this mayden / which þat Mayus highte As hastily / as euere that she myghte Shal wedded be / vn-to this Ianuarie I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie Line 1696 If I yow tolde / of euery scrit and bond By which / þat she was feffed in his lond Or for to herknen / of hir riche array But finally / ycomen is the day Line 1700 That to the chirche / bothe be they went ffor to receyue the hooly sacrement fforth comth the preest with stole aboute his nekke And bad hire be lyk to Sarra and Rebekke Line 1704

[6-text p 456] Line 1704 In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage And seyde hir orisons / as is vsage And croucheth hem / and bad god sholde hem blesse And made al siker ynogh / with hoolynesse Line 1708 ¶ Thus been they wedded / with solempnitee And at the feeste / sitteth he and she With othere worthy folk vp on the deys Al ful of ioye and blisse is the paleys Line 1712 And ful of Instrumentz / and of vitaille The moste deynteuous / of all Ytaille Biforn hem / stooden Instrumentz of swich soun That Orpheus / ne of Thebes Amphioun Line 1716 Ne maden neuere / swich a melodye ¶ At euery cours / thanne cam loud Mynstralcye That neuere tromped Ioab / for to heere Nor he Theodomas / yet half so cleere Line 1720 At Thebes / whan the Citee was in doute Bacus / the wyn hem skynketh al aboute And Venus / laugheth vp-on euery wight ffor Ianuarie / was bicome hir knyght Line 1724 And wolde bothe / assayen his corage In libertee / and eek in mariage And with hire fyrbrond / in hire hand aboute Daunceth / biforn the bryde and al the route Line 1728 And certeinly / I dar right wel seyn this Ymeneus / that god of weddyng is Saugh neuere his lyf so myrie a wedded man Hoold thou thy pees / thou poete Marcian Line 1732 That writest vs / that ilke weddyng murie Of hire Philologie / and hym Mercurie And of the songes / that the Muses songe [folio 112a] To smal is bothe thy penne / and eek thy tonge Line 1736 ffor to descryuen / of this mariage Whan tendre youthe / hath wedded stoupyng age Ther is swich myrthe / þat it may nat be writen Assayeth it youre self / thanne may ye witen Line 1740

[6-text p 457] Line 1740 If that I lye or noon / in this matiere ¶ Mayus that sit / with so benyngne a chiere Hire to biholde / it semed fairye Queene Ester / looked neuere with swich an eye Line 1744 On Assuer / so meke a look hath she I may yow nat deuyse / al hir beautee But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may That she was lyk/ the brighte morwe of May Line 1748 ffulfild / of alle beautee and plesance ¶ This Ianuarie / is rauysshed in a trance At euery tyme / he looked on hir face But in his herte / he gan hire to manace Line 1752 That he that nyght in Armes wolde hire streyne Harder / than euere Parys dide Eleyne But nathelees / yet hadde he greet pitee That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he Line 1756 And thoughte allas / o tendre creature Now wolde god / ye myghte wel endure Al my corage / it is so sharpe and keene I am agast ye shul it nat susteene Line 1760 But god forbede / þat I dide al my myght Now wolde god / þat it were woxen nyght And that the nyght wolde lasten eueremo I wolde / that al this peple were ago Line 1764 And finally / he dooth al his labour As he best myghte / sauynge his honour To haste hem fro the mete / in subtil wyse ¶ The tyme cam / that reson was to ryse Line 1768 And after that men daunce and drynken faste And spices / al aboute the hous they caste And ful of ioye and blisse is euery man All but a Squyer / highte Damyan Line 1772 Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day He was so rauysshed / on his lady May That for the verray peyne / he was ny wood Almoost he swelte / and swowned ther he stood Line 1776

[6-text p 458] Line 1776 So soore / hath Venus hurt hym with hire brond As þat she bar it daunsynge in hire hond And to his bed / he wente hym hastily Namoore of hym / at this tyme speke [I] Line 1780 But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne Til fresshe May / wol rewen on his peyne

Operilous fyr / that in the bedstraw bredeth [folio 112b] [¶ Auctor] O famulier foo / that his seruyce bedeth Line 1784 O seruant traytour / false hoomly hewe Lyk to the naddre / in bosom sly vntrewe God shilde vs alle / from youre aqueyntance O Ianuarie / dronken in plesance Line 1788 In mariage / se how thy Damyan Thyn owene squier / and thy born man Entendeth / for to do thee vileynye God graunte thee / thyn hoomly fo tespye Line 1792 ffor in this world / nys worse pestilence Than hoomly foo / al day in thy presence ¶ Parfourned hath the sonne / his Ark diurne No lenger / may the body of hym soiurne Line 1796 On thorisonte / as in that latitude Night with his Mantel þat is derk and rude Gan ouersprede the Hemysperie aboute ffor which / departed is / this lusty route Line 1800 ffro Ianuarie / with thank on euery syde Hoom to hir hous / Iustily they ryde Where as they doon hir thynges / as hem leste And whan they sye hir tyne / goon to reste Line 1804 Soone after that this hastif Ianuarie Wolde go to bedde / he wolde no lenger tarye He drynketh Ypocras / Clarree and Vernage Of spices hoote / tencreessen his corage Line 1808 And many a letuarie / hath he ful fyn Swiche as the Monk daun Constantyn Hath writen / in his book de coitu To eten hem alle / he nas no thyng eschu Line 1812

[6-text p 459] Line 1812 And to hise priuee freendes / thus seyde he ffor goddes loue / as soone as it may be Lat voyden al this hous / in curteys wyse And they han doon / right as he wol deuyse Line 1816 Men drynken / and the trauers drawe anon The bryde / was broght a bedde / as stille as stoon And whan the bed / was with the preest yblessed Out of the chambre / hath euery wight hym dressed Line 1820 And Ianuarie / hath faste in Armes take His fresshe May / his Paradys his make He lulleth hire / he kisseth hire ful ofte With thilke brustles / of his berd vnsofte Line 1824 Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh / sharpe as brere ffor he was shaue al newe / in his manere He rubbeth hire / aboute hir tendre face And seyde thus / allas I moot trespace Line 1828 To yow my spouse / and yow greetly offende Er tyme come / þat I wil doun descende But nathelees / considereth this quod he [folio 113a] Ther nys no werkman / what so euere he be Line 1832 That may bothe / werke wel and hastily This wol be doon at leyser parfitly It is no fors / how longe þat we pleye In trewe wedlok / wedded be we tweye Line 1836 And blessed be the yok/ þat we been Inne ffor in [oure] Actes / we mowe do no synne A man / may do no synne with his wyf Ne hurte hym seluen / with his owene knyf Line 1840 ffor we han leue / to pleye vs by the lawe Thus laboureth he / til þat the day gan dawe And thanne he taketh a sope / in fyne clarree And vpright in his bed / thanne sitteth he Line 1844 And after that he sang ful loude and cleere And kiste his wyf / and made wantowne cheere He was al coltissh / ful of ragerye And ful of Iargon / as a flekked pye Line 1848

[6-text p 460] Line 1848 The slakke skyn / aboute his nekke shaketh Whil þat he sang / so chaunteth he and craketh But god woot what þat May thoughte in hir herte Whan she hym saugh / vp sittynge in his sherte Line 1852 In his nyght cappe / and with his nekke lene She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene Thanne seide he thus / my reste wol I take Now day is come / I may no lenger wake Line 1856 And doun he leyde his heed / and sleepe til pryme And afterward / whan þat he saugh his tyme Vp ryseth Ianuarie / but fresshe May Heeld hire chambre / vn-to the fourthe day Line 1860 As vsage is / of wyues / for the beste ffor euery labour/ som tyme moot han reste Or elles / longe may he nat endure This is to seyn / no lyues creature Line 1864 Be it of fyssh / or bryd / or beest or man Now wol I speke / of woful Damyan That langwissheth for loue / as ye shul heere Therfore / I speke to hym in this manere Line 1868 ¶ I seye / o sely Damyan allas [¶ Auctor] Andswere to my demaunde / as in this cas How shaltow / to thy lady fresshe May Telle thy wo / she wole alwey seye nay Line 1872 Eek if thou speke / she wol thy wo biwreye God be thyn helpe / I kan no bettre seye ¶ This sike Damyan / in Venus fyr So brenneth / that he dyeth for desyr Line 1876 ffor which / he putte his lyf in auenture No lenger myghte he / in this wise endure But priuely / a penner gan he borwe [folio 113b] And in a lettre / wroot he al his sorwe Line 1880 In manere of a compleynt or a lay Vn-to his faire / fresshe lady May And in a purs of sylk/ heng on his sherte He hath it put and leyde it at his herte Line 1884

[6-text p 461] Line 1884

The moone / that at Noon was thilke day That Ianuarie / hath wedded fresshe May In two of Tawr / was in to Cancre glyden So longe hath Mayus / in hir chambre byden Line 1888 As custume is / vn-to thise nobles alle A bryde / shal nat eten in the halle Til dayes foure / or .iij. dayes atte leeste Ypassed been / thanne lat hire go to feeste Line 1892 The fourthe day compleet fro Noon to Noon Whan þat/ the heighe masse was ydoon In halle / sit this Ianuarie and May As fressh / as is the brighte someres day Line 1896 And so bifel / how that this goode man Remembred hym / vpon this Damyan And seyde / Seynte Marie / how may this be That Damyan / entendeth nat to me Line 1900 Is he ay syk / or how may this bityde Hise squieres / whiche that stooden ther bisyde Excused hym / by cause of his siknesse Which letted hym / to doon his bisynesse Line 1904 Noon oother cause / myghte make hym tarye ¶ That me forthynketh / quod this Ianuarie He is a gentil squier / by my trouthe If that he deyde / it were harm and routhe Line 1908 He is as wys / discreet/ and as secree As any man / I woot of his degree And ther-to manly / and eek seruysable And for to been a thrifty man right able Line 1912 But after mete / as soone as euere I may I wol my self visite hym and eek May To doon hym / al the confort that I kan And for that word / hym blessed euery man Line 1916 That of his bountee / and his gentillesse He wolde so conforten in siknesse His squier / for it was a gentil dede Dame quod this Ianuarie / taak good hede Line 1920

[6-text p 462] Line 1920 At after Noon / ye with youre wommen alle Whan ye han been in chambre / out of this halle That alle ye / go se this Damyan Dooth hym disport/ he is a gentil man Line 1924 And telleth hym / that I wol hym visite Haue I no thyng but rested me a lite And spede yow faste / for I wole abyde [folio 114a] Til that ye slepe / faste by my syde Line 1928 And with that word / he gan to hym to calle A Squier / that was Marchal of his halle And tolde hym certeyn thynges / what he wolde ¶ This fresshe May / hath streight hir wey yholde Line 1932 With alle hir wommen / vn-to Damyan Doun by his beddes syde / sit she than Confortynge hym / as goodly as she may This Damyan / whan that his tyme he say Line 1936 In secree wise / his purs and eek his bille In which þat he / ywriten hadde his wille Hath put in to hire hand / with-outen moore Saue þat he siketh / wonder depe and soore Line 1940 And softely to hire / right thus seyde he Mercy / and that ye nat discouere me ffor I am deed / if that this thyng/ be kyd This purs hath she / inwith hir bosom hyd Line 1944 And wente hire wey / ye gete namoore of me But vn-to Ianuarie / ycomen is she That on his beddes syde / sit ful softe He taketh hire / and kisseth hire ful ofte Line 1948 And leyde hym doun to slepe / and that anon She feyned hire / as that she moste gon Ther as ye woot þat euery wight moot neede And whan she of this bille / hath taken heede Line 1952 She rente it/ al to cloutes atte laste And in the pryuee / softely it caste

Who studieth now / but faire fresshe May Adoun / by olde Ianuarie she lay Line 1956

[6-text p 463] Line 1956 That sleepe / til þat the coughe / hath hym awaked Anon he preyde hire / strepen hire al naked He wolde of hire he seyde / han som plesance And seyde / hir clothes / dide hym encombrance Line 1960 And she obeyeth / be hire lief or looth But lest ye precious folk / be with me wrooth How that he wroghte / I dar nat to yow telle Or wheither / þat hire thoughte it Paradys or helle Line 1964 But heere I lete hem / werken in hir wyse Til euensong rong and þat they moste aryse Were it by destynee / or by auenture Were it by Influence / or by nature Line 1968 Or constellacion / that in swich estaat The heuene / stood that tyme fortunaat Was for to putte a bille / of Venus werkes ffor alle thyng hath tyme / as seyn thise clerkes Line 1972 To any womman / for to gete hire loue I kan nat seye / but grete god aboue That knoweth / that noon Act is causelees [folio 114b] He deme of al / for I wole holde my pees Line 1976 But sooth is this / how that this fresshe May Hath take / swich impression that day ffor pitee / of this sike Damyan That from hire herte / she ne dryue kan Line 1980 The remembrance / for to doon hym ese Certeyn thoghte she / whom þat this thyng displese I rekke noght / for heere I hym assure To loue hym best of any creature Line 1984 Though he namoore hadde than his sherte Lo pitee / renneth soone in gentil herte ¶ Heere may ye se / how excellent franchise In wommen is / whan they hem narwe auyse Line 1988 Som tyrant is / as ther be many oon That hath an herte / as hard / as any stoon Which wolde / han lat hym storuen in the place Wel rather / than han graunted hym hire grace Line 1992

[6-text p 464] Line 1992 And hem reioysen / in hire crueel pryde And rekke nat to been an homycide ¶ This gentil May / fulfilled of pitee Right of hire hand / a lettre made she Line 1996 In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace Ther lakketh noght/ oonly / but day and place Wher þat she myghte / vn-to his lust suffise ffor it shal be / right as he wole deuyse Line 2000 And whan she saught hir tyme vp on a day To visite this Damyan / gooth May And sotilly this lettre / doun she threste Vnder his pilwe / rede it if hym leste Line 2004 She taketh hym by the hand / and harde hym twiste So secrely / that no wight of it wiste And bad hym been al hool / and forth he wente To Ianuarie / whan þat he for hym sente Line 2008

Vp riseth Damyan / the nexte morwe Al passed was / his siknesse and his sorwe He kembeth hym / he preyneth hym and pyketh He dooth / al that his lady lust and lyketh Line 2012 And eek to Ianuarie / he gooth as lowe As euere dide / a dogge for the bowe He is so plesant/ vn-to euery man ffor craft is al / who so that do it kan Line 2016 That euery wight/ is fayn to speke hym good And fully / in his lady grace he stood Thus lete I Damyan / aboute his nede And in my tale / forth I wol procede Line 2020 ¶ Somme clerkes / holden that felicitee Stant in delit/ and therfore certeyn he? This noble Ianuarie / with al his myght [folio 115a] In honeste wyse / as longeth to a knyght Line 2024 Shoope hym to lyue / ful deliciously His housynge / his array / as honestly To his degree / was maked as a kynges Amonges othere / of hise honeste thynges Line 2028

[6-text p 465] Line 2028 He made a gardyn / walled al with stoon So fair a gardyn / woot I nowher noon ffor out of doute / I verraily suppose That he / þat wroot the romance of the Rose Line 2032 Ne koude of it/ the beautee wel deuyse Ne Priapus / ne myghte nat suffise Though he be god of gardyns / for to telle The beautee of the gardyn / and the welle Line 2036 That stood vnder a laurer / alwey grene fful ofte tyme / he Pluto and his queene Proserpina / and al hire fairye Disporten hem / and maken melodye Line 2040 Aboute that welle / and daunced as men tolde ¶ This noble knyght this Ianuarie the olde Swich deyntee hath / in it to walke and pleye That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye Line 2044 Saue he hym self/ for of the smale wyket He baar alwey / of siluer a Clyket With which / whan þat hym leste he it vnshette And whan he wolde / paye his wyf hir dette Line 2048 In Somer seson / thider wolde he go And May his wyf/ and no wight but they two And thynges / whiche þat were nat doon a bedde He in the gardyn / parfourned hem and spedde Line 2052 And in this wyse / many a murye day Lyued this Ianuarie / and fresshe May But worldly Ioye / may nat alwey dure To Ianuarie / ne to no creature Line 2056

Osodeyn hape / o thou fortune Instable [¶ Auctor.] Lyk to the Scorpion / so deceyuable That flaterest with thyn heed / whan thou wolt synge Thy tayl is deeth / thurgh thyn enuenymynge Line 2060 O brotil Ioye / o sweete venym queynte O Monstre / that so subtilly kanst peynte Thy yiftes / vnder hewe of stidefastnesse That thou deceyuest bothe moore and lesse Line 2064

[6-text p 466] Line 2064 Why hastow Ianuarie / thus deceyued That haddest hym / for thy ful freend receyued And now thou hast biraft hym bothe hise eyen ffor sorwe of which / desireth he to dyen Line 2068 ¶ Allas / this noble Ianuarie free Amydde his lust and his prosperitee Is woxen blynd / and that al sodeynly [folio 115b] He wepeth and he wayleth pitously Line 2072 And ther with al / the fyr of Ialousie Lest þat his wyf/ sholde falle in swich folye So brente his herte / that he wolde fayn That som man / bothe hym and hire had slayn Line 2076 ffor neither after his deeth / nor in his lyf Ne wolde he / þat she were loue ne wyf But euere lyue as wydwe in clothes blake Soul as the turtle / þat lost hath hire make Line 2080 But atte laste / after a Monthe or tweye His sorwe gan aswage / sooth to seye ffor whan he wiste / it may noon oother be He paciently / took his Aduersitee Line 2084 Saue out of doute / he may nat forgoon That he nas Ialous / eueremoore in oon Which Ialousye / it was so outrageous That neither in halle / nyn noon oother hous Line 2088 Nyn noon oother place / neuerthemo He nolde suffre hire / for to ryde or go But if þat he / had hond on hire alway ffor which ful ofte / wepeth fresshe May Line 2092 That loueth Damyan / so benyngnely That she moot outher dyen sodeynly Or elles / she moot han hym as hir leste She wayteth / whan hir herte wolde breste Line 2096 ¶ Vp on that oother syde Damyan Bicomen is / the sorwefulleste man That euere was / for neither nyght ne day Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May Line 2100

[6-text p 467] Line 2100 As to his purpos / of no swich mateere But if that Ianuarie / moste it heere That hadde an hand / vp on hire eueremo But nathelees / by writyng to and fro Line 2104 And priuee signes / wiste he what she mente And she knew eek / the fyn of his entente

O Ianuarie / what myghte it thee auaille [¶ Auctor] Thogh thou myghtest se / as fer as shippes saille ffor as good is / blynd deceyued be Line 2109 As to be deceyued / whan a man may se ¶ Lo Argus / which þat hadde / an hondred eyen ffor al þat euere / he koude poure or pryen Line 2112 Yet was he blent/ and god woot so been mo That wenen wisly / that it be nat so Passe ouer is an ese / I sey namoore ¶ This fresshe May / þat I spak of so yoore Line 2116 In warm wex / hath emprented the clyket That Ianuarie bar / of the smale wyket By which / in to his gardyn ofte he wente [folio 116a] And Damyan / that knew al hire entente Line 2120 The cliket countrefeted pryuely Ther nys namoore to seye / but hastily Som wonder / by this clyket shal bityde Which ye shul heeren / if ye wole abyde Line 2124 ¶ O noble Ouyde / ful sooth seystou god woot [¶ Auctor.] What sleighte is it/ thogh it be long and hoot That he nyl fynde it out / in som manere By Piramus / and Tesbee / may men leere Line 2128 Thogh they were kept ful longe streite oueral They been accorded / rownynge thurgh a wal Ther no wight / koude han founde out swich a sleighte ¶ But now to purpos / er þat dayes eighte Line 2132 Were passed / er the Monthe of Iuyl bifille That Ianuarie / hath caught so greet a wille Thurgh eggyng of his wyf hym for to pleye In his gardyn / and no wight but they tweye Line 2136

[6-text p 468] Line 2136 That in a morwe / vn-to this May seith he Rys vp my wyf/ my loue / my lady free The turtle voys is herd / my dowue sweete The wynter is goon / with his [[his interlined in a later hand]] reynes weete Com forth now / with thyne eyen columbyn Line 2141 How fairer been thy brestes / than is wyn The gardyn / is enclosed al aboute Com forth my white spouse / out of doute Line 2144 Thou hast me wounded / in myn herte / o wyf No spot of thee / ne knew I al my lyf Come forth / and lat vs taken som disport I chees thee / for my wyf and my confort Line 2148 ¶ Swiche olde lewed wordes vsed he On Damyan / a signe made she That he sholde go biforn / with his cliket This Damyan thanne / hath opened the wyket Line 2152 And In he stirte / and that in swich manere That no wight myghte it se / neither yheere And stille he sit/ vnder a bussh anon ¶ This Ianuarie / as blynd as is a stoon Line 2156 With Mayus in his hand / and no wight mo In to his fresshe gardyn is ago And clapte to / the wyket sodeynly ¶ Now wyf quod he / heere nys but thou and I Line 2160 That art the creature / that I best loue ffor by that lord / þat sit in heuene aboue Leuere ich hadde / to dyen on a knyf Than thee offende / trewe deere wyf Line 2164 ffor goddes sake / thenk how I thee chees Noght for no coueitise doutelees But oonly / for the loue / I had to thee [folio 116b] And though þat I be oold / and may nat see Line 2168 Beth to me trewe / and I shal telle yow why? Thre thynges / certes / shal ye wynne ther by ffirst loue of Crist/ and to youre self honour And al myn heritage / toun and tour Line 2172

[6-text p 469] Line 2172 I yeue it yow / maketh chartres as yow leste This shal be doon tomorwe er sonne reste So wisly / god my soule brynge in blisse I prey yow first/ in couenat ye me kisse Line 2176 And though þat I be Ialous wyte me noght Ye been so depe / enprented in my thoght That whan I considere youre beautee And ther with al / the vnlikly elde of me Line 2180 I may nat certes / though I sholde dye fforbere / to been out of youre compaignye ffor verray loue / this is with outen doute Now kys me wyf/ and lat vs rome aboute Line 2184 ¶ This fresshe May / whan she thise wordes herde Benyngnely / to Ianuarie answerde But first and forward / she bigan to wepe I haue quod she / a soule for to kepe Line 2188 As wel as ye / and also myn honour And of my wyfhod / thilke tendre flour Which þat I haue / assured in youre hond Whan þat the preest to yow my body bond Line 2192 Wherfore / I wole answere / in this manere By the leue of yow / my lord so deere I prey to god / þat neuere dawe the day That I ne sterue / as foule as womman may Line 2196 If euere I do / vn to my kyn that shame Or elles / I empeyre so my name That I be fals / and if I do that lakke Do strepe me / and put me in a sakke Line 2200 And in the nexte ryuer / do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche Why speke ye thus /? but men been euere vntrewe And wommen / haue repreue of yow ay newe Line 2204 Ye han noon oother contenance I leeue But speke to vs / of vntrust and repreeue ¶ And with that word / she saugh wher Damyan Sat in the bussh / and coughen she bigan Line 2208

[6-text p 470] Line 2208 And with hir fynger / signes made she That Damyan / sholde clymbe vp on a tree That charged was with fruyt and vp he wente ffor verraily / he knew al hire entente Line 2212 And euery signe / þat she koude make Wel bet than Ianuarie / hir owene make ffor in a lettre / she hadde toold hym al [folio 117a] Of this matere / how he werchen shal Line 2216 And thus I lete hym sitte / vp on the pyrie And Ianuarie and May romynge myrie

Bright was the day / and blew the firmament Phebus hath of gold / hise stremes doun ysent Line 2220 To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse He was that tyme / in Geminis as I gesse But litel / fro his declynacion Of Cancer / Iouis exaltacion Line 2224 And so bifel / that brighte morwe tyde That in that gardyn / in the ferther syde Pluto / that is kyng of ffairye And many a lady / in his compaignye Line 2228 ffolwynge his wyf / the queene Proserpyne Ech after oother / right as a lyne Whil þat she gadered / floures in the mede In Claudyan / ye may the stories rede Line 2232 And in his grisely Carte / he hire sette This kyng of ffairye / thanne adoun hym sette Vp on a bench of turues / fressh and grene And right anon / thus seyde he to his queene Line 2236 ¶ My wyf quod he / ther may no wight seye nay Thexperience / so preueth euery day The tresons / whiche þat wommen doon to man Ten hondred thousand / tellen I kan Line 2240 Notable / of youre vntrouthe and brotilnesse O Salomon / wys / and richest of richesse ffulfild of sapience / and of worldly glorie fful worthy been thy wordes to memorie Line 2244

[6-text p 471] Line 2244 To euery wight þat wit and reson kan Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man ¶ Amonges a thousand men / yet foond I oon But of wommen alle / foond I noon Line 2248 ¶ Thus seith the kyng þat knoweth youre wikkednesse And Ihesus filius Syrak as I gesse Ne speketh of yow / but seelde reuerence A wylde fyr / and corrupt pestilence Line 2252 So falle vp on youre bodyes yet to nyght Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght By cause allas / that he is blynd and old His owene man / shal make hym Cokewold Line 2256 Lo heere he sit the lechour in the tree Now wol I graunten / of my magestee Vn-to this olde blynde worthy knyght That he shal haue ayeyn hise eyen syght Line 2260 Whan þat his wyf/ wold doon hym vileynye Thanne shal he knowen / al hire harlotrye Bothe in repreue of hire / and othere mo [folio 117b] ¶ Ye shal quod Proserpyne / wol ye so? Line 2264 Now by my moodres sires soule I swere That I shal yeuen hire suffisant answere And alle wommen after / for hir sake That though they be / in any gilt ytake Line 2268 With face boold / they shulle hem self excuse And bere hem doun / that wolden hem accuse ffor lakke of answere / noon of hem shal dyen Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe hise eyen Line 2272 Yit shul we wommen / visage it hardily And wepe / and swere / and visage it subtilly So þat ye men / shul been / as lewed as gees What rekketh me / of youre Auctoritees Line 2276 ¶ I woot wel / that this Iew / this Salomon ffoond of vs wommen / fooles many oon But though þat he ne foond / no good womman Yet hath ther founde / many another man Line 2280

[6-text p 472] Line 2280 Wommen ful trewe / ful goode / and vertuous Witnesse on hem / þat dwelle in Cristes hous With martirdom / they preued hire constance The Romayn geestes / eek maken remembrance Line 2284 Of many a verray / trewe wyf also But sire ne be nat wrooth / al be it so Though þat he seyde / he foond no good womman I prey yow / take the sentence of the man Line 2288 He mente thus / that in souereyn bontee Nis noon / but god þat sit in Trinitee ¶ Ey for verray god / that nys but oon What make ye / so muche of Salomon Line 2292 What though he made a temple goddes hous What though he were / riche and glorious So made he eek / a temple of false goddis How myghte he do a thyng þat moore forbode is Line 2296 Pardee / as faire / as ye his name emplastre He was a lecchour / and an ydolastre And in his elde / he verray god forsook And if god ne hadde / as seith the book Line 2300 Yspared for his fadres sake / he sholde Haue lost his regne / rather than he wolde I sette right noght of al the vileynye That ye of wommen write / a Boterflye Line 2304 I am a womman / nedes moot I speke Or elles swelle / til myn herte breke ffor sithen he seyde / that we been Iangleress As euere hool / I moote brouke my tresses Line 2308 I shal nat spare / for no curteisye To speke hym harm / þat wolde vs vileynye

Dame quod this Pluto / be no lenger wrooth [folio 118a] I yeue it vp / but sith I swoor myn ooth Line 2312 That I wolde / graunten hym his sighte ageyn My word shal stonde / I warne yow certeyn I am a kyng it sit me noght to lye ¶ And I quod she / a Queene of ffairye Line 2316

[6-text p 473] Line 2316 Hir answere shal she haue I vndertake Lat vs namoore wordes heer-of make ffor sothe / I wol no lenger/ yow contrarie ¶ Now lat vs / turne agayn to Ianuarie Line 2320 That in the gardyn / with his faire May Syngeth ful murier / than the Papeiay Yow loue I best and shal and oother noon So longe / aboute the Aleyes is he goon Line 2324 Til he was come / agayns thilke pyrie Where as this Damyan / sitteth ful myrie Anheigh / among the fresshe leues grene ¶ This fresshe May / that is so bright and sheene Line 2328 Gan for to syke / and seyde / allas my syde Now sire quod she / for aught þat may bityde I moste han / of the peres that I see Or I moot dye / so soore longeth me Line 2332 To eten / of the smale peres grene Help for hir loue / þat is of heuene queene I telle yow wel / a womman in my plit May han to fruyt so greet an Appetit Line 2336 That she may dyen / but she of it haue ¶ Allas quod he / þat I ne had heer a knaue That koude clymbe / allas allas quod he That I am blynd / ye sire no fors quod she Line 2340 ¶ But wolde ye vouche sauf for goddes sake The pyrie / inwith youre armes for to take ffor wel I woot/ that ye mystruste me Thanne sholde I clymbe / wel ynogh quod she Line 2344 So I my foot myghte sette vpon youre bak/ ¶ Certes quod he / ther-on shal be no lak Mighte I yow helpen / with myn herte blood He stoupeth doun / and on his bak she stood Line 2348 And caughte hire by a twiste / and vp she gooth Ladyes / I prey yow / þat ye be nat wrooth I kan nat glose / I am a rude man And sodeynly / anon this Damyan Line 2352

[6-text p 474] Line 2352 Gan pullen vp the smok / and In he throng ¶ And whan þat Pluto / saugh this grete wrong To Ianuarie / he gaf agayn his sighte And made hym se / as wel as euere he myghte Line 2356 And whan þat he / hadde caught his sighte agayn Ne was ther neuere / man of thyng so fayn But on his wyf/ his thoght was eueremo [folio 118b] Vp to the tree / he caste hise eyen two Line 2360 And saugh þat Damyan / his wyf had dressed In swich manere / it may nat been expressed But if I wolde / speke vncurteisly And vp he yaf / a roryng and a cry Line 2364 As dooth the mooder / whan the child shal dye Out helpe / allas / harrow he gan to crye O stronge lady stoore / what dostow? ¶ And she answerde / sire what eyleth yow? Line 2368 Haue pacience / and reson in youre mynde I haue yow holpe / on bothe youre eyen blynde Vp peril of my soule / I shal nat lyen As me was taught / to heele with youre eyen Line 2372 Was no thyng bet to make yow to see Than strugle with a man / vp on a tree God woot I dide it / in ful good entente ¶ Strugle quod he? ye algate In it wente Line 2376 God yeue yow bothe / on shames deth to dyen He swyued thee / I saugh it. with myne eyen And elles / be I hanged by the hals ¶ Thanne is quod she / my medicyne fals Line 2380 ffor certeinly / if that ye myghte se Ye wolde nat seyn / thise wordes vn to me Ye han som glymsyng and no parfit sighte ¶ I se quod he / as wel as euere I myghte Line 2384 Thonked be god / with bothe myne eyen two And by my trouthe / me thoughte he dide thee so ¶ Ye maze / maze / goode sire quod she This thank haue I / for I haue maad yow see Line 2388

[6-text p 475] Line 2388 Allas quod she / that euere I was so kynde ¶ Now dame quod he / lat al passe out of mynde Com doun my lief and if I haue myssayd God helpe me so / as I am yuele apayd Line 2392 But by my fader soule / I wende han seyn How that this Damyan / hadde by thee leyn And þat thy smok hadde leyn vp on his brest ¶ Ye sire quod she / ye may wene as yow lest Line 2396 But sire / a man / þat waketh out of his sleepe He may nat sodeynly / wel taken keepe Vp on a thyng ne seen it parfitly Til þat he be / adawed verraily Line 2400 ¶ Right so a man / þat longe hath blynd ybe Ne may nat sodeynly / so wel yse ffirst whan his sighte / is newe come ageyn As he þat hath / a day or two yseyn Line 2404 Til that youre sighte / ysatled be a while Ther may / ful many a sighte yow bigile Beth war I prey yow / for by heuene kyng [folio 119a] fful many a man / weneth to seen a thyng Line 2408 And it is / al another / than it semeth He þat mysconceyueth / he mysdemeth And with that word / she leepe doun fro the tree ¶ This Ianuarie / who is glad but he Line 2412 He kisseth hire / and clippeth hire ful ofte And on hire wombe / he stroketh hire ful softe And to his palays / hoom he hath hire lad Now goode men / I pray yow be glad Line 2416 Thus endeth heere / my tale of Ianuarie God blesse vs / and his mooder Seinte Marie Line 2418

¶ Heere is ended / the Marchantes tale of Ianuarie.

[6-text p 476]

¶ The Prologe of the Squieres tale. [on leaf 119]

Ey goddes mercy / seyde oure Hoost tho Now swich a wyf/ I pray god kepe me fro Line 2420 Lo whiche sleightes / and subtiltees In wommen been / for ay as bisy as bees Been they / vs sely men for to deceyue And from a sooth / euere wol they weyue Line 2424 By this Marchauntes tale / it preueth weel But doutelees / as trewe as any steel I haue a wyf/ though þat she poure be But of hir tonge / a labbyng shrewe is she Line 2428 And yet she hath / an heepe of vices mo Ther-of no fors / lat alle swiche thynges go But wyte ye what in conseil be it seyd Me reweth soore / I am vn-to hire teyd Line 2432 ffor and I sholde / rekenen euery vice Which þat she hath / ywis I were to nyce And cause why / it sholde reported be And toold to hire / of somme of this meynee Line 2436 Of whom / it nedeth nat for to declare Syn wommen / konnen outen swich chaffare And eek my wit suffiseth nat ther to To tellen al / wherfore my tale is do [[No break in the MS.]] Line 2440

[6-text p 477] Line 2440

[6-text p 478]

GROUP F. FRAGMENT VII.

§ 1. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ Squier come neer / if it youre wille be [on leaf 119] And sey somwhat of loue / for certes ye? Konnen ther on / as muche as any man ¶ Nay sire quod he / but I wol seye as I kan Line 4 With hertly wyl / for I wol nat rebelle Agayn youre lust? a tale wol I telle Haue me excused / if I speke amys [folio 119b] My wyl is good / and lo my tale is this Line 8

[6-text p 479]

¶ Heere bigynneth / the Squieres tale . [on leaf 119, back]

AT Sarray / in the land of Tartarye Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye Thurgh which ther dyde / many a doughty man This noble kyng was cleped Cambynskan [[MS more like Cam|byuskan all through]] Which in his tyme / was of so greet renoun That ther was / no wher in no Regioun [[Painting of the Squire on Horseback.]] So excellent a lord / in alle thyng Hym lakked noght that longeth to a kyng Line 16 And of the secte / of which þat he was born He kepte his lay / to which þat he was sworn And ther to / he was hardy / wys and riche And pitous and Iust alwey yliche Line 20 Sooth of his word / benigne and honurable Of his corage / as any Centre stable [¶ Centrum circuli] Yong fressh / strong and in Armes desirous As any Bacheler / of al his hous Line 24 A fair persone he was / and fortunat And kepte alwey / so wel roial estat That ther was nowher / swich another man ¶ This noble kyng this Tartre Cambynskan Line 28 Hadde two sones / on Elpheta his wyf Of whiche / the eldeste highte Algarsyf That oother sone / was cleped Cambalo A doghter hadde / this worthy kyng also Line 32 That yongest was / and highte Canacee But for to telle yow / al hir beautee It lyth nat in my tonge / nyn my konnyng I dar nat vndertake / so heigh a thyng Line 36

[6-text p 480] Line 36 Myn englissh eek is insufficient I moste been / a Rethor excellent That koude hise colours / longynge for that Art If he / sholde hire discryuen euery part Line 40 I am noon swich / I moot speke as I kan ¶ And so bifel / that whan this Cambynskan Hath twenty wynter / born his diademe As he was wont fro yeer to yeer I deme Line 44 He leet the feeste / of his Natiuitee Doon cryen / thurgh Sarray his Citee The last Idus of March / after the yeer Phebus the sonne / ful ioly was and cleer Line 48 ffor he was / neigh his exaltacion In Martes face / and in his mansion In Aries / the colerik/ hoote signe [folio 120a] fful lusty was / the weder and benigne Line 52 ffor which the foweles / agayn the sonne sheene What for the seson / and the yonge grene fful loude / songen hire affeccions Hem semed / han geten hem proteccions Line 56 Agayn the swerd of wynter/ keene and coold ¶ This Cambynskan / of which I haue yow toold In roial vestiment sit on his deys With diademe / ful heighe in his paleys Line 60 And halt his feeste so solempne / and so ryche That in this world / was ther noon it lyche Of which / if I shal tellen al tharray Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day Line 64 And eek/ it nedeth nat for to deuyse At euery cours / the ordre of hire seruyse I wol nat tellen / of hir strange sewes Ne of hir swannes / nor of hire heronsewes Line 68 Eek/ in that lond / as tellen knyghtes olde Ther is som mete / þat is ful deynte holde That in this lond / men recche of it but smal Ther nys no man / that may reporten al Line 72

[6-text p 481] Line 72 ¶ I wol nat taryen yow / for it is pryme And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme Vn to my firste / I wole haue my recours ¶ And so bifel / that after the thridde cours Line 76 Whil þat this kyng sit thus in his nobleye Herknynge hise Mynstrals / hir thynges pleye Biforn hym at the bord / deliciously In at the halle dore / al sodeynly Line 80 Ther cam a knyght vp on a steede of bras And in his hand / a brood Mirour of glas Vpon his thombe / he hadde of gold a ryng / And by his syde / a naked swerd hangyng Line 84 And vp he rideth / to the heighe bord In al the halle / ne was ther spoken a word ffor merueille of this knyght hym to biholde fful bisily / ther wayten yonge and olde Line 88 ¶ This strange knyght that cam thus sodeynly Al armed / saue his heed / ful richely Saleweth kyng and queene / and lordes alle By ordre / as they seten in the halle Line 92 With so heigh reuerence / and obeisance As wel in speche / as in contenance That Gawayn / with his olde curteisye Though he were / comen ayeyn out of ffairye Line 96 Ne koude hym nat amende with a word And after this / biforn the heighe bord He with a manly voys / seith his message [folio 120b] After the forme / vsed in his langage Line 100 With outen vice / of silable / or of lettre And for his tale / sholde seme the bettre Accordant to hise wordes / was his cheere As techeth art of speche / hem þat it leere Line 104 Al be / that I kan nat sowne his stile Ne kan nat clymben / ouer so heigh a style Yet seye I this / as to commune entente Thus muche amounteth / al þat euere he mente Line 108

[6-text p 482] Line 108 If it so be / þat I haue it in mynde ¶ He seyde / the kyng of Arabe and of Inde My lige lord / on this solempne day Saleweth yow / as he best kan and may Line 112 And sendeth yow / in honour of youre feeste By me / that am al redy at youre heeste This steede of bras / that esily and weel [¶ Of the vertu/ of the steede of bras] Kan in the space / of o day natureel Line 116 This is to seyn / in foure and twenty houres Wher so yow lyst in droghte or elles shoures Beren youre body / in to euery place To which youre herte / wiIneth for to pace Line 120 With outen wem of yow / thurgh foul or fair Or if yow lyst to fleen / as hye in the Air As dooth an Egle / whan þat hym list to soore This same steede / shal bere yow euere moore Line 124 With outen harm / til ye be ther yow leste Though that ye slepen / on his bak or reste And turne ayeyn / with writhyng of a pyn He þat it wroghte / koude ful many a gyn Line 128 He wayted / many a constellacion Er he / had doon / this operacion And knew ful many a seel / and many a bond ¶ This mirrour eek / þat I haue in myn hond [¶ Of the vertu of the Mirour] Hath swich a myght/ þat men may in it see Whan ther shal fallen / any Aduersitee Vn to youre regne / or to youre self also And openly / who is youre freend or foo Line 136 ¶ And ouer al this / if any lady bright Hath set hire herte / in any maner wight If he be fals / she shal his treson see His newe loue / and al his subtiltee Line 140 So openly / þat ther shal no thyng hyde Wherfore / ageyn this lusty someres tyde This Mirour/ and this ryng þat ye may see He hath sent vn to my lady Canacee Line 144

[6-text p 483] [hic] Line 144 Youre excellente doghter/ that is heere [audir] ¶ The vertu of the ryng if ye wol heere [¶ Of the vertu of the ryng/] Is this / that if hire lust it for to were [folio 121a] Vp on hir thombe / or in hir purs it bere Line 148 Ther is no fowel / þat fleeth vnder the heuene That she / ne shal / wel vnderstonde his steuene And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn And answere hym / in his langage ageyn Line 152 And euery gras / that groweth vp on roote She shal eek knowe / and whom it wol do boote Al be hise woundes / neuer so depe and wyde ¶ This naked swerd / þat hangeth by my syde [¶ Of the vertu of the swerde] Swich vertu hath / þat what man so ye smyte Thurgh out his Armure / it wole hym kerue and byte Were it as thikke / as is a branched ook And what man / that is wounded with a strook Line 160 Shal neuer be hool / til þat yow list of grace To stroke hym with the plat in that place Ther he is hurt / this is as muche to seyn Ye moote / with the plat swerd ageyn Line 164 Strike hym in the wounde / and it wol close This is a verray sooth / with outen glose It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold ¶ And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold Line 168 He rideth out of halle / and doun he lighte His steede / which þat shoon / as sonne brighte Stant in the court stille as any stoon This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon Line 172 And is vnarmed / and vn to mete yset ¶ The presentes / been / ful roially yfet This is to seyn / the swerd and the Mirour And born anon / in to the heighe Tour Line 176 With certeine officers / ordeyned therfore And vn to Canacee / this ryng was bore Solempnely / ther she sit/ at the table But sikerly / with outen any fable Line 180

[6-text p 484] Line 180 The hors of bras / þat may nat be remewed It stant as it were / to the ground yglewed Ther may no man / out of the place it dryue ffor noon engyn / of wyndas ne polyue Line 184 And cause why?/ for they kan nat the craft And therfore / in the place / they han it laft Til þat the knyght hath taught hem the manere To voyden hym / as ye shal after heere Line 188

Greet was the prees / þat swarmeth to and fro To gauren on this hors / that stondeth so ffor it so heigh was / and so brood and long So wel proporcioned / for to been strong Line 192 Right as it were / a steede of Lumbardye Ther-with so horsly / and so quyk of eye As it a gentil Poilleys Courser were [folio 121b] ffor certes / fro his tayl / vn to his ere Line 196 Nature ne Art ne koude hym nat amende In no degree / as al the peple wende But eueremoore / hir mooste wonder was How þat it koude go / and was of bras Line 200 It was a ffairye / as al the peple semed Diuerse folk / diuersely they demed As many heddes / as manye wittes ther been They murmureden / as dooth a swarm of Been Line 204 And maden skiles / after hir fantasies Rehersynge / of thise olde poetries And seyde / that it was lyk the Pegasee [¶ .i. equs Pegaseus] The hors / þat hadde wynges for to flee Line 208 Or elles / it was the Grekes hors Synon That broghte Troie to destruccion As men / in thise olde geestes rede ¶ Myn herte quod oon / is eueremoore in drede Line 212 I trowe / som men of Armes been ther Inne That shapen hem / this Citee for to wynne It were right good / þat al swich thyng were knowe ¶ Another rowned / to his felawe lowe Line 216

[6-text p 485] Line 216 And seyde he lyeth / it is rather lyk An apparence / ymaad by som Magyk As Iogelours pleyen / at thise feestes grete Of sondry doutes / thus they Iangle and trete Line 220 As lewed peple / demeth comunly Of thynges / þat been maad / moore subtilly Than they kan / in hir lewednesse comprehende They demen gladly / to the badder ende Line 224 ¶ And somme of hem / wondred on the Mirour That born was vp / in to the hye tour Hou men myghte in it / swiche thynges se ¶ Another answerde / and seyde it myghte wel be Line 228 Naturelly / by composicions Of Anglis / and of slye reflexions And seyden / þat in Rome was swich oon They speken / of Alocen and Vitulon Line 232 And Aristotle / that writen in hir lyues Of queynte Mirours / and of prospectiues As knowen they / that han hir bookes herd ¶ And oother folk han wondred on the swerd Line 236 That wolde percen / thurgh out euery thyng And fille in speche / of Thelophus the kyng And of Achilles / with his queynte spere ffor he koude with it bothe heele and dere Line 240 Right in swich wise / as men may with the swerd Of which right now / ye han youre seluen herd They speken / of sondry hardyng of metal [folio 122a] And speke of medicynes / ther with al Line 244 And how and whanne / it sholde yharded be Which is vnknowe / algates vnto me ¶ Tho speeke they / of Canacees ryng And seyden alle / þat swich a wonder thyng Line 248 Of craft of rynges / herde they neuere noon Saue þat he Moyses / and kyng Salomon Hadde a name of konnyng in swich Art Thus seyn the peple / and drawen hem apart Line 252

[6-text p 486] Line 252 ¶ But nathelees / somme seiden þat it was Wonder/ to maken / of fern Asshen glas And yet nys glas / nat lyk Asshen of fern But for they han / knowen it so fern Line 256 Therfore / cesseth / hir Ianglyng and hir wonder ¶ As soore wondren somme / on cause of thonder On ebbe / on flood / on gossomer / and on myst And on alle thyng til þat the cause is wyst Line 260 Thus Iangle they / and demen and deuyse Til þat the kyng gan fro the bord aryse

Phebus / hath laft the Angle meridional And yet ascendynge / was the beest roial Line 264 The gentil leon / with his Aldrian [[aldiran later]] Whan þat this Tartre kyng Cambynskan Roos fro his bord / ther that he sat ful hye Toforn hym gooth / the loude Mynstralcye Line 268 Til he cam / to his chambre of parementz Ther as they sownen / diuerse Instrumentz That it is / lyk an heuene for to heere Now dauncen / lusty Venus children deere Line 272 ffor in the fyssh / hir lady sat ful hye And looketh on hem / with a freendly eye ¶ This noble kyng is set vp in his Trone This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone Line 276 And on the daunce / he gooth with canacce Heere is the reuel / and the Iolitee That is nat able / a dul man to deuyse He moste han knowen / loue and his seruyse Line 280 And been a feestlych man / as fressh as May That sholde yow / deuysen swich array ¶ Who koude telle yow / the forme of daunces So vnkouthe / and so fresshe contenaunces Line 284 Swich subtil lookyng and dissymulynges ffor drede / of Ialouse mennes aperceyuynges? No man but launcelet and he is deed Therfore I passe / of al this lustiheed Line 288

[6-text p 487] Line 288 I sey namoore / but in this Iolynesse I lete hem / til men to the soper dresse ¶ The Styward bit Spices for to hye [folio 122b] And eek the wyn / in al this melodye Line 292 The vsshers / and the squiers been ygoon The spices and the wyn is come anoon They ete and drynke / and whan this hadde an ende Vn to the temple / as reson was they wende Line 296 ¶ The seruice doon / they soupen al by day What nedeth me / rehercen hire array Ech man woot wel / þat a kynges feeste Hath plentee / to the mooste and to the leeste Line 300 And deyntees / mo / than been in my knowyng At after soper/ gooth this noble kyng To seen this hors of bras / with al the route Of lordes / and of ladyes hym aboute Line 304 ¶ Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras That syn the grete sege / of Troie was Ther as men wondreden / on an hors also Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho Line 308 But fynally / the kyng axeth this knyght The vertu of this Courser / and the myght And preyde hym / to telle his gouernaunce ¶ This hors anoon / bigan to trippe and daunce Line 312 Whan that this knyght leyde hand vp on his reyne And seyde sire / ther is namoore to seyne But whan yow list to ryden any where Ye mooten trille a pyn / stant in his ere Line 316 Which I shal yow telle / bitwix vs two Ye moote nempne hym / to what place also Or to what contree / þat yow list to ryde And whan ye come / ther as yow list abyde Line 320 Bidde hym descende / and trille another pyn ffor ther lith / theffect of al the gyn And he wol doun descende / and doon youre wille And in that place / he wol stonde stille Line 324

[6-text p 488] Line 324 Though al the world / the contrarie hadde yswore He shal nat thennes / been ydrawe nor ybore Or if yow list bidde hym thennes goon Trille this pyn / and he wol vanysshe anoon Line 328 Out of the sighte / of euery maner wight And come agayn / be it day or nyght Whan þat yow list to clepen hym ageyn In swich a gyse / as I shal to yow seyn Line 332 Bitwixe yow and me / and that ful soone Ride whan yow list ther is namoore to doone ¶ Enformed / whan the kyng was/ of that knyght And hath conceyued / in his wit aright Line 336 The manere / and the forme / of al this thyng Thus glad and blithe / this noble kyng Repeireth to his reuel / as biforn [folio 123a] ¶ The brydel / is / vn to the tour yborn Line 340 And kept among hise Iueles / leeue and deere The hors vanysshed I noot/ in what manere Out of hir sighte / ye gete namoore of me But thus I lete / in lust and Iolitee Line 344 This Cambynskan / hise lordes festeiynge Til wel ny / the day bigan to sprynge

¶ Explicit prima pars .

¶ Sequitur pars secunda .

The Norice of digestioun / the sleepe Gan on hem wynke / and bad hem taken keepe That muchel drynke / and labour wolde han reste And with a galpyng mouth / hem alle he keste And seyde / it was tyme to lye adoun ffor blood / was in his domynacioun Line 352 Cherisseth blood / natures freend quod he They thanken hym galpynge / by two / by thre And euery wight / gan drawe hym to his reste As sleepe hem bad / they tooke it for the beste Line 356

[6-text p 489] Line 356 ¶ Hire dremes / shul nat been ytoold for me fful were hire heddes / of fumositee That causeth dreem / of which ther nys no charge They slepen / til that it was pryme large Line 360 The mooste part but it were Canacee She was ful mesurable / as wommen be ffor of hir fader / hadde she take leue To goon to reste / soone after it was eue Line 364 Hir liste nat appalled for to be Ne on the morwe / vnfeestlich for to se And slepte hire firste sleepe / and thanne awook/ ffor swich a ioye / she in hir herte took Line 368 Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire Mirour That twenty tyme / she changed hir colour And in hire sleepe / right for impression Of hire Mirour/ she hadde Avision Line 372 Wherfore / er þat the sonne gan vp glyde She cleped / on hir Maistresse / hire bisyde And seyde / that hire liste for to ryse ¶ Thise olde wommen / þat been gladly wyse Line 376 As hire Maistresse / answerde hire anon And seyde madame / whider wil ye goon Thus erly / for the folk/ been alle on reste ¶ I wol quod she arise / for me leste Line 380 No lenger for to slepe / and walke aboute [folio 123b] ¶ Hire Maistresse / clepeth wommen / a greet route And vp they rysen / wel an ten / or twelue Vp riseth / fresshe Canacee / hir selue Line 384 As rody and bright / as dooth the yonge sonne That in the Ram / is foure degrees vp ronne Noon hyer was he / whan she redy was And forth she walketh / esily a pas Line 388 Arrayed / after the lusty seson soote Lightly for to pleye / and walke on foote Nat but with fyue or sixe / of hir meynee And in a trench / forth in the park gooth she Line 392

[6-text p 490] Line 392 ¶ The vapour / which þat fro the erthe glood Made the sonne / to seme rody and brood But nathelees / it was so fair a sighte That it made / alle hire hertes for to lighte Line 396 What for the seson / and the morwenynge And for the foweles / that she herde synge ffor right anon / she wiste what they mente Right by hir song and knew al hire entente Line 400 ¶ The knotte / why þat euery tale is toold If it be taried / til that lust be coold Of hem þat han / it after herkned yoore The sauour passeth / euer lenger the moore Line 404 ffor fulsomnesse / of his prolixitee And by the same reson / thynketh me I sholde / to the knotte / condescende And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende Line 408

Amydde a tree / fordryed / as whit as chalk As Canacee / was pleyyng in hir walk Ther sat a ffaucon / ouer hire heed ful hye That with a pitous voys / so gan to crye Line 412 That all the wode / resouned of hire cry Ybeten hath she hir self / so pitously With bothe hir wynges / til the rede blood Ran endelong the tree / ther she stood Line 416 And euere in oon / she cryde alwey and shrighte And with hir beek / hir seluen so she prighte That ther nys Tygre / ne noon so crueel beest That dwelleth / outher in wode or in fforest Line 420 That nolde han wept if þat she wepe koude ffor sorwe of hire / she shrighte alwey so loude ffor ther nas neuere man / yet on lyue If þat I koude / a ffaucon wel discryue Line 424 That herde of swich another of fairnesse As wel of plumage / as of gentillesse Of shape / and al that myghte yrekened be A ffaucon peregryn / thanne semed she Line 428

[6-text p 491] Line 428 Of fremde Land / and eueremoore as she stood [folio 124a] She swowneth now and now / for lakke of blood Til wel neigh / is she fallen fro the tree ¶ This faire kynges doghter Canacee Line 432 That on hir fynger/ baar the queynte ryng Thurgh which / she vnderstood wel euery thyng That any fowel / may in his leden seyn And koude answeren hym / in his ledene ageyn Line 436 Hath vnderstonde / what this ffaucon seyde And wel neigh / for the routhe / almoost she deyde And to the tree / she gooth ful hastily And on this ffaukon / looketh pitously Line 440 And heeld hir lappe abrood / for wel she wiste The ffaukon / moste fallen fro the twiste Whan þat it swowned next for lakke of blood A longe while / to wayten hire she stood Line 444 Til atte laste / she spak in this manere Vn to the hauk as ye shal after heere ¶ What is the cause / if it be for to telle That ye be / in this furial pyne of helle Line 448 Quod Canacee / vn to the hauk/ aboue Is this for sorwe of deeth / or los of loue ffor as I trowe / thise been causes two That causeth moost a gentil herte wo Line 452 Of oother harm / it nedeth nat to speke ffor ye youre self / vpon your self yow wreke Which proueth wel / that outher loue or drede Moot been encheson / of youre cruel dede Line 456 Syn þat I see / noon oother wight yow chace ffor loue of god / as dooth youre seluen grace Or what may been youre helpe / for West nor Est Ne saugh I neuere er now / no bryd ne beest Line 460 That ferde with hym self / so pitously Ye sle me with youre sorwe verraily I haue of yow / so greet passioun ffor goddes loue / com fro the tree adoun Line 464

[6-text p 492] Line 464 And as I am / a kynges doghter trewe If þat I verraily / the cause knewe Of youre disese / if it lay in my myght I wolde amenden it er þat it were nyght Line 468 As wisly helpe me / the grete god of kynde And herbes / shal I right ynowe yfynde To heele with / youre hurtes hastily ¶ Tho shrighte this ffaucon / moore yet pitously Line 472 Than euer she dide / and fil to grounde anon And lith aswowne deed / and lyk a stoon Til Canacee / hath in hire lappe hire take Vn to the tyme / she gan of swough awake Line 476 ¶ And after that she of hir swough gan breyde [folio 124b] Right in hir haukes ledene / thus she seyde That pitee / renneth soone in gentil herte ffeelynge his similitude / in peynes smerte Line 480 Is preued al day / as men may see As wel by werk as by Auctoritee ffor gentil herte / kitheth gentillesse I se wel / ye han of my distresse Line 484 Compassion / my faire Canacee Of verray wommanly benignytee That nature / in youre principles hath yset But for noon hope / for to fare the bet Line 488 But for obeye / vn to youre herte free And for to maken othere / be war by me As by the whelpe / chasted is the leon Right for that cause / and for that conclusion Line 492 Whil þat I haue / a leyser and a space Myn harm / I wol confessen er I pace ¶ And euere / whil þat oon hir sorwe tolde That oother weepe / as she to water wolde Line 496 Til that the ffaucon / bad hire to be stille And with a syk / right thus she seyde hir wille ¶ That I was bred / allas that harde day And fostred in a Roche / of Marbul gray Line 500

[6-text p 493] Line 500 So tendrely / that no thyng eyled me I nyste nat what was Aduersitee Til I koude flee ful hye / vnder the sky Tho dwelte / a Tercelet me faste by Line 504 That semed welle / of alle gentillesse Al were he ful of treson / and falsnesse It was so wrapped / vnder humble cheere And vnder hewe of trouthe / in swich manere Line 508 Vnder plesance / and vnder bisy peyne That I ne koude han wend / he koude feyne So depe in greyn / he dyed his colours Right as a serpent hit hym vnder floures Line 512 Til he may seen / his tyme / for to byte Right so this god of loue / this ypocryte Dooth so hise cerymonyes and obeisances And kepeth in semblant alle hise obseruances Line 516 That sowneth / in to gentillesse of loue As in a toumbe / is al the faire aboue And vnder is the corps / swich as ye woot Swich was the ypocrite / bothe coold and hoot Line 520 And in this wise / he serued his entente That saue the feend / noon wiste what he mente Til he so longe / hadde wopen and compleyned And many a yeer / his seruice to me feyned Line 524 Til that myn herte / to pitous and to nyce [folio 125a] Al Innocent of his corouned malice ffor-ferd of his deeth / as thoughte me Vpon hise othes / and his seuretee Line 528 Graunted hym loue / vp on this condicioun That eueremoore / myn honour and renoun Were saued / bothe priuee and apert This is to seyn / that after his desert Line 532 I yaf hym al myn herte / and my thoght God woot and he / þat ootherwise noght And took his herte / in chaunge for myn for ay But sooth is seyd / goon sithen many a day Line 536

[6-text p 494] Line 536 A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon And whan he saugh / the thyng so fer ygoon That I hadde graunted hym / fully my loue In swich a gyse / as I haue seyd aboue Line 540 And yeuen hym / my trewe herte as free As he swoor / he yaf his herte to me Anon this Tigre / ful of doublenesse ffil on hise knees / with so deuout humblesse Line 544 With so heigh reuerence / and as by his cheere So lyk a gentil louere / of manere So rauysshed / as it semed for the Ioye That neuere Troilus / ne Parys of Troye Line 548 Iason certes / ne noon oother man Syn Lameth was / þat alderfirst bigan To louen two / as writen folk biforn Ne neuere / syn the firste man was born Line 552 Ne koude man / by twenty thousand part Countrefete / the Sophymes of his Art Ne were worthy / vnbokelen his galoche Ther doublenesse / or feynyng sholde approche Line 556 Ne so koude thanke a wight / as he dide me His manere / was an heuene for to see Til any womman / were she neuer so wys So peynted he / and kembde at point deuys Line 560 As wel hise wordes / as his contenance And I loued hym / for his obeisance And for the trouthe / I demed in his herte That if so were / that any thyng hym smerte Line 564 Al were it neuer so lite / and I it wiste Me thoughte / I felte deeth myn herte twiste And shortly / so ferforth / this thyng is went That my wyl / was his willes Instrument Line 568 This is to seyn / my wyl obeyed his wyl In alle thyng as fer as reson fil Kepynge the boundes / of my worshipe euere Ne neuere hadde I thyng so lief ne leuere Line 572

[6-text p 495] Line 572 As hym god woot ne neuere shal namo [folio 125b] This lasteth lenger/ than a yeer or two That I supposed of hym / noght but good But finally / thus atte laste it stood Line 576 That ffortune wolde / þat he moste twynne Out of that place / which þat I was Inne Wher me was wo / that is no question I kan nat make of it discripsion Line 580 ffor o thyng dare I tellen boldely I knowe / what is the peyne of deeth ther by Swich harme I felte / for I ne myghte bileue So on a day / of me he took his leue Line 584 So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily That he had felt as muche harm as I Whan þat I herde hym speke / and saugh his hewe But nathelees / I thoughte / he was so trewe Line 588 And eek þat he / repaire sholde ageyn With Inne a litel while / sooth to seyn And reson wolde eek that he moste go ffor his honour / as ofte it happeth so Line 592 That I made vertu / of necessitee And took it wel / syn þat it moste be As I best myghte / I hidde fro hym my sorwe And took hym by the hond / seint Iohn to borwe Line 596 And seyde hym thus / lo I am youres al Beth swich / as I to yow / haue been and shal What he answerde / it nedeth noght reherce Who kan sey bet than he / who kan do werse Line 600 Whan he hath al seyd / thanne hath he doon Therfore bihoueth hire / a ful long spoon That shal ete with a feend / thus herde I seye So atte laste / he moste forth his weye Line 604 And forth he fleeth / til he cam ther hym leste Whan it cam / hym to purpos / for to reste I trowe / he hadde / thilke text in mynde That alle thyng repeirynge to his kynde Line 608

[6-text p 496] Line 608 Gladeth hym self thus seyn men as I gesse [¶ Reditu suo singula gaudent/] Men louen of propre kynde newefangelnesse As briddes doon / that men in cages fede ffor though thou nyght and day / take of hem hede Line 612 And strawe hir Cage / faire and softe as silk And yeue hem sugre / hony / breed and Milk Yet right anon / as that his dore is vppe He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe Line 616 And to the wode he wole and wormes ete So newefangel / been they of hire mete And louen nouelrie / of propre kynde No gentillesse of blood / may hem bynde Line 620 ¶ So ferde this Tercelet allas the day [folio 126a] Though he were gentil born / fressh and gay And goodlich for to seen / humble and free He saugh vp on a tyme a kyte flee Line 624 And sodeynly / he loued this kyte so That al his loue / is clene fro me ago And hath his trouthe / falsed in this wyse Thus hath the kyte / my loue in hire seruyse Line 628 And I am lorn / with outen remedie And with that word / this ffaucon gan to crie And swowned eft/ in Canacees barm ¶ Greet was the sorwe / for the haukes harm Line 632 That Canacee / and alle hir wommen made They nyste / hou they myghte the ffaucon glade But Canacee / hom bereth hire in hir lappe And softely / in plastres gan hire wrappe Line 636 Ther as she / with hire beek hadde hurt hir selue Now kan nat Canacee / but herbes delue Out of the ground / and make saues newe Of herbes preciouse / and fyne of hewe Line 640 To heelen with this [hauk] / fro day to nyght She dooth hire bisynesse / and hire fulle myght And by hire beddes heed / she made a Mewe And couered it with veluettes blewe Line 644

[6-text p 497] Line 644 In signe of trouthe / that is in wommen sene And al with oute the Mewe / is peynted grene In which ther were ypeynted / alle thise false fowles As beth thise tidyues / tercelettes and Owles Line 648 Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde And pyes on hem / for to crie and chyde ¶ Thus lete I Canacee / hir hauk kepyng I wol namoore as now / speke of hir ryng Line 652 Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn How that this ffaucon / gat hire loue ageyn Repentant as the storie telleth vs By mediacion of Cambalus Line 656 The kynges sone / of which I yow tolde But hennes forth / I wol my proces holde To speken of auentures / and of batailles That neuere yet was herd / so grete meruailles Line 660 ¶ ffirst wol I telle yow / of Cambynskan That in his tyme / many a Citee wan And after wol I speke of Algarsif How that he wan Theodera to his wif Line 664 ffor whom ful ofte / in greet peril he was Ne hadde he be holpen / by the steede of bras And after / wol I speke of Cambalo That faught in lystes / with the bretheren two Line 668 For Canacee / er that he myghte hire wynne [folio 126b] An ther I lefte / I wol ayeyn bigynne

¶ Explicit secunda pars .

¶ Incipit pars tercia .

Appollo whirleth vp / his Chaar so hye Til that the god / Mercurius hous the slye [[Rest of the page blank]] Line 672

[6-text p 498]

¶ Heere folwen the wordes of the ffrankelyn [folio 127a] to the Squier. and the wordes of the hoost to the ffrankelyn .

IN feith Squier / thow hast thee wel yquit And gentilly / I preise wel thy wit Quod the ffrankeleyn / considerynge thy yowthe So feelyngly thou spekest sire I allowethe Line 676 As to my doom / ther is noon that is heere Of eloquence / that shal be thy peere If that thou lyue / god yeue thee good chaunce And in vertu / sende thee continuaunce Line 680 ffor of thy speche / I haue greet deyntee I haue a sone / and by the Trinitee I hadde leuere / than twenty pound worth lond Though it right now / were fallen in myn hond Line 684 He were a man / of swich discrecion As that ye been / fy on possession But if a man / be vertuous with al I haue my sone snybbed / and yet shal Line 688 ffor he to vertu / listneth nat entende But for to pleye at dees / and to despende And lese al that he hath / is his vsage And he hath leuere / talken with a page Line 692 Than to comune / with any gentil wight There he myghte lerne gentillesse aright/ ¶ Straw for youre gentillesse / quod our hoost What ffrankeleyn / pardee sire wel thou woost Line 696 That ech of yow / moot tellen atte leste A tale or two / or breken his biheste ¶ That knowe I wel sire / quod the ffrankeleyn I prey yow / haueth me nat in desdeyn Line 700

[6-text p 499] Line 700 Though to this man I speke ¹a word¹ [[^1_1 in margin]] or two ¶ Telle on thy tale / with outen wordes mo ¶ Gladly sire hoost quod he / I wole obeye Vn to your wyl / now herkneth what I seye Line 704 I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse As fer / as that my wittes / wol suffyse I prey to god / that it may plesen yow Thanne woot I wel / that it is good ynow Line 708

¶ Explicit .

[6-text p 500]

[THE PROEM.] ¶ The Prologe / of the ffrankeleyns tale . [folio 127b]

THise olde gentil Britons / in hir dayes Of diuerse auentures / maden layes Rymeyed / in hir firste Briton tonge Whiche layes / with hir Instrumentz they songe Line 712 Or elles redden hem / for hir plesance And oon of hem / haue I in remembrance Which I shal seyn / with good wyl as I kan ¶ But sires / by cause I am a burel man Line 716 At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche Haue me excused / of my rude speche I lerned neuere Rethorik certeyn Thyng þat I speke / it moot be bare and pleyn Line 720 I sleepe neuere / on the Mount of Pernaso [¶ Vnde Persius ‖ fonte labra prolui caballino / nec in bicipite parnaso me memini sompniasse.] Ne lerned / Marcus Tullius Scithero Colours ne knowe I none with outen drede But swiche colours / as growen in the Mede Line 724 Or elles swiche / as men dye or peynte Colours of Rethoryk/ been to queynte My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere But if yow list my tale shul ye heere Line 728

¶ Heere bigynneth / the ffrankeleyns tale /

IN Armorik/ that called is Britayne [[Painting of the Franklin.]] Ther was a knyght / þat loued and dide his payne To serue a lady / in his beste wise And many a labour / many a greet emprise Line 732

[6-text p 501] Line 732 He for his lady wroghte / er she were wonne ffor she was / oon the faireste vnder sonne And eek therto / comen of so heigh kynrede That wel vnnethes / dorste this knyght for drede Line 736 Telle hire his wo / his peyne / and his distresse But atte laste / she for his worthynesse And namely / for his meke obeysance Hath swich a pitee caught of his penance Line 740 That pryuely / she fil of his accord To take hym / for hir housbonde and hir lord Of swich lordshipe / as men han ouer hir wyues And for to lede / the moore in blisse hir lyues Line 744 Of his free wyl / he swoor hire as a knyght That neuere in al his lyf he day ne nyght Ne sholde vp on hym / take no maistrie Agayn hir wyl / ne kithe hire Ialousie Line 748 But hire obeye / and folwe hir wyl in al [folio 128a] As any louere / to his lady shal Saue / that the name of soueraynetee That wolde he haue / for shame of his degree Line 752 ¶ She thanked hym / and with ful greet humblesse She seyde sire / sith of youre gentillesse Ye profre me / to haue so large a reyne Ne wolde neuere god / bitwixe vs tweyne Line 756 As in my gilt were outher werre or stryf/ Sire / I wol be / youre humble trewe wyf Haue heer my trouthe / til þat myn herte breste Thus been they / bothe in quiete and in reste Line 760 ¶ ffor o thyng sires / saufly dar I seye That freendes / euerych oother moot obeye If they wol longe / holden compaignye Loue / wol nat been constreyned by maistrye Line 764 Whan maistrie comth / the god of loue anon Beteth hise wynges / and farewel he is gon Loue is a thyng as any Spirit free Wommen of kynde / desiren libertee Line 768

[6-text p 502] Line 768 And nat/ to been constreyned as a thral And so doon men / if I sooth seyen shal Looke / who þat is moost pacient in loue He is / at his auantate al aboue Line 772 Pacience / is an heigh vertu certeyn ffor it venquysseth / as thise clerkes seyn Thynges / þat rigour / sholde neuere atteyne ffor euery word / men may nat/ chide or pleyne Line 776 Lerneth to suffre / or elles so moot I goon Ye shul it lerne / wher so ye wole or noon ffor in this world certein / ther no wight is That he ne dooth or seith / som tyme amys Line 780 Ire / siknesse / or constellacion Wyn / wo / or chaungynge of complexion Causeth ful ofte / to doon amys or speken On euery wrong a man may nat be wreken Line 784 After the tyme / moste be temperance To euery wight þat kan on gouernance And therfore / hath this wise worthy knyght To lyue in ese / suffrance hire bihight Line 788 And she to hym / ful wisly gan to swere That neuere / sholde ther be defaute in here ¶ Heere may men seen / an humble wys accord Thus hath she take / hir seruant and hir lord Line 792 Seruant in love / and lord in mariage Thanne was he / bothe in lordshipe and seruage Seruage? nay / but in lordshipe aboue Sith he hath / bothe his lady and his loue Line 796 His lady certes / and his wyf also [folio 128b] The which / þat lawe of loue acordeth to And whan he was / in this prosperitee Hoom with his wyf / he gooth to his contree Line 800 Nat fer fro Pedmark/ ther his dwellyng was Where as he lyueth / in blisse and in solas ¶ Who koude telle / but he hadde wedded be The ioye / the ese / and the prosperitee Line 804

[6-text p 503] Line 804 That is / bitwixe an housbonde / and his wyf A yeer and moore / lasted this blisful lyf Til þat the knyght of which I speke of thus That of kayrrud / was cleped Arueragus Line 808 Shoope hym to goon / and dwelle a yeer or tweyne In Engelond / that cleped was eek Briteyne To seke in Armes / worshipe and honour ffor al his lust he sette in swich labour Line 812 And dwelled there two yeer / the book seith thus ¶ Now wol I stynten / of this Arueragus And speken I wole / of Dorigene his wyf That loueth hire housbonde / as hire hertes lyf Line 816 ffor his Absence / wepeth she and siketh As doon thise noble wyues / whan hem liketh She moorneth / waketh / wayleth / fasteth / pleyneth Desir of his presence / hire so distreyneth Line 820 That al this wyde world / she sette at noght Hire freendes / whiche þat knewe hir heuy thoght Conforten hire / in al þat euer they may They prechen hire / they telle hire nyght and day Line 824 That causelees / she sleeth hir self allas And euery confort possible in this cas They doon to hire / with all hire bisynesse Al / for to make hire / leue hire heuynesse Line 828 ¶ By proces / as ye knowen euerichoon Men may so longe / grauen in a stoon Til som figure / ther Inne emprented be So longe han they conforted hire / til she Line 832 Receyued hath / by hope and by reson The emprentyng of hire consolacion Thurgh which / hir grete sorwe gan aswage She may nat alwey / duren in swich rage Line 836 ¶ And eek Arueragus / in al this care Hath sent hire lettres hoom / of his welfare And þat he wol come hastily agayn Or elles hadde this sorwe / hir herte slayn Line 840

[6-text p 504] Line 840 ¶ Hire freendes sawe / hir sorwe gan to slake And preyde hire on knees / for goddes sake To come / and romen hire in compaignye Awey to dryue / hire derke fantasye Line 844 And finally / she graunted that requeste [folio 129a] ffor wel she saugh / that it was for the beste ¶ Now stood hire Castel / faste by the See And often / with hire freendes walketh shee Line 848 Hire to disporte / vp on the bank an heigh Where / as she / many a shipe and barge seigh Seillynge hir cours / where as hem liste go But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo Line 852 ffor to hir self ful ofte allas seith she Is ther no shipe / of so manye as I se Wol bryngen hom my lord / thanne were myn herte Al warisshed / of hise bittre peynes smerte Line 856 ¶ Another tyme / ther wolde she sitte and thynke And caste hir eyen / dounward fro the brynke But whan she saugh / the grisly Rokkes blake ffor verray feere / so wolde hir herte quake Line 860 That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene Thanne wolde she / sitte adoun vpon the grene And pitously / in to the see biholde And seyn right thus / with sorweful sikes colde Line 864 ¶ Eterne god / that thurgh thy purueiaunce Ledest the world / by certein gouernaunce In ydel as men seyn / ye no thyng make But lord / thise grisly / feendly Rokkes blake Line 868 That semen rather / a foul confusion Of werk than any fair creacion Of swich a parfit wys god and a stable Why han ye wroght this werk vnresonable Line 872 ffor by this werk / South / North / ne West ne Eest Ther nys yfostred / man / ne bryd ne beest It dooth no good to my wit but anoyeth Se ye nat lord / how mankynde it destroyeth Line 876

[6-text p 505] Line 876 An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde Han Rokkes slayn / al be they nat in mynde Which mankynde / is so fair part of thy werk That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk Line 880 ¶ Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee Toward mankynde / but how thanne may it bee That ye swiche meenes make / it to destroyen Whiche meenes do no good / but euere anoyen Line 884 I woot wel / clerkes wol seyn as hem leste By Argumentz / that al is for the beste Though I kan / the causes nat yknowe But thilke god / that made wynd to blowe Line 888 As kepe my lord / this my conclusion To clerkes lete I / al this disputison But wolde god / that alle thise Rokkes blake Were sonken in to helle for his sake Line 892 Thise Rokkes / sleen myn herte for the feere [folio 129b] Thus wolde she seyn / with many a pitous teere ¶ Hire freendes sawe / that it was no disport To romen by the see / but disconfort Line 896 And shopen for to pleyen / somwher elles They leden hire / by Ryueres and by welles And eek/ in othere places delitables They dauncen / and they pleyen / at ches and tables Line 900 ¶ So on a day / right in the morwe tyde Vn to a gardyn / that was ther bisyde In which / that they hadde maad hir ordinance Of vitaille / and of oother purueiance Line 904 They goon and pleye hem / al the longe day And this was / in the sixte morwe of May Which May hadde peynted / with his softe shoures This gardyn / ful of leues and of floures Line 908 And craft of mannes hand so curiously Arrayed hadde / this gardyn trewely That neuere / was ther gardyn of swich prys But if it were / the verray Paradys Line 912

[6-text p 506] Line 912 The odour of floures / and the fresshe sighte Wolde han maked / any herte lighte That euere was born / but if to greet siknesse Or to greet sorwe / helde it in distresse Line 916 So ful it was / of beautee with plesance At after dyner / gonne they to daunce And synge also / saue Dorigen allone Which made alwey / hir compleint and hir moone Line 920 ffor she ne saugh hym / on the daunce go That was hir housbonde / and hir loue also But nathelees / she moste a tyme abyde And with good hope / lete hir sorwe slyde Line 924 ¶ Vp on this daunce / amonges othere men Daunced a squier / biforn Dorigen That fressher was / and Iolyer of array As to my doom / than is the Monthe of May Line 928 He syngeth / daunceth / passynge any man That is // or was / sith þat the world bigan Ther-with he was / if men sholde hym discryue Oon / of the beste farynge man on lyue Line 932 Yong/ strong right vertuous / and riche and wys And wel biloued / and holden in greet prys And shortly / if the sothe I tellen shal Vnwityng of this Dorigen at al Line 936 This lusty Squier / seruant to Venus Which that ycleped was Aurelius Hadde loued hire / best of any creature Two yeer and moore / as was his auenture Line 940 But neuere / dorste he tellen hire his greuance [folio 130a] With outen coppe / he drank al his penance He was despeyred / no thyng dorste he seye Saue in his songes / somwhat wolde he wreye Line 944 His wo / as in a general compleynyng He seyde he louede / and was biloued no thyng Of swich matere / made he manye layes Songes / compleintes / roundels / virelayes Line 948

[6-text p 507] Line 948 How that/ he dorste nat/ his sorwe telle But langwissheth / as a furye dooth in helle And dye he moste he seyde / as dide Ekko [¶ Methamorposios.] ffor Narcisus / that dorste nat telle hir wo Line 952 In oother manere / than ye heere me seye Ne dorste he nat. to hire his wo biwreye Saue that parauenture / som tyme at daunces Ther yong folk/ kepen hir obseruaunces Line 956 It may wel be / he looked on hir face In swich a wise / as man þat asketh grace But no thyng wiste she / of his entente Nathelees / it happed er they thennes wente Line 960 By cause / that he was hire Neighebour And was a man / of worshipe and honour And hadde yknowen hym / of tyme yoore They fille in speche / and forthe moore and moore Line 964 Vn to this purpos / drough Aurelius And whan he saugh his tyme / he seyde thus ¶ Madame quod he / by god þat this world made So that I wiste / it myghte youre herte glade Line 968 I wolde that day / that youre Arueragus Wente ouer the see / that I Aurelius Hadde went ther neuere I sholde haue come agayn ffor wel I woot my seruyce is in vayn Line 972 My gerdon is / but brestyng of myn herte Madame / reweth vpon my peynes smerte ffor with a word / ye may me sleen or saue Heere at youre feet/ god wolde þat I were graue Line 976 I ne haue as now / no leyser moore to seye Haue mercy sweete / or ye wol do me deye ¶ She gan to looke / vp on Aurelius Is this youre wyl quod she / and sey ye thus? Line 980 Neuere erst quod she / ne wiste I what ye mente But now Aurelie / I knowe youre entente By thilke god / that yaf me soule and lyf Ne shal I neuere / been vntrewe wyf Line 984

[6-text p 508] Line 984 In word ne werk/ as fer as I haue wit/ I wol been his / to whom þat I am knyt Taak this for fynal answere / as of me But after that in pley thus seyde she Line 988 ¶ Aurelie quod she / by heighe god aboue [folio 130b] Yet wolde I graunte yow / to been youre loue Syn I yow se / so pitously complayne Looke what day / that endelong Britayne Line 992 Ye remoeue alle the Rokkes / stoon by stoon That they ne lette / shipe ne boot to goon I seye / whan ye han maad / the coost so clene Of Rokkes / that ther nys no stoon ysene Line 996 Thanne wol I / loue yow best of any man Haue heer my trouthe / in al þat euere I kan ¶ Is ther noon oother grace / in yow quod he. ¶ No / by that lord quod she that maked me Line 1000 ffor wel I woot þat it shal neuer bityde Lat swiche folies / out of youre herte slyde What deyntee sholde a man / han in his lyf ffor to go loue / another mannes wyf Line 1004 That hath hir body / whan so þat hym liketh ¶ Aurelius / ful ofte soore siketh Wo was Aurelie / whan þat he this herde And with a sorweful herte / he thus answerde Line 1008 ¶ Madame quod he / this were an inpossible Thanne moot I dye / of sodeyn deth horrible And with that word / he turned hym anon Tho coome / hir othere freendes many oon Line 1012 And in the Aleyes / romeden vp and doun And no thyng wiste / of this conclusioun But sodeynly / bigonne reuel newe Til that the brighte sonne / loste his hewe Line 1016 ffor Thorisonte / hath reft the sonne his lyght This is as muche to seye / as it was nyght And hoom they goon / in ioye and in solas Saue oonly / wrecche Aurelius allas Line 1020

[6-text p 509] Line 1020 He to his hous is goon / with sorweful herte He seeth / he may nat fro his deeth asterte Hym semed / that he felte his herte colde Vp to the heuene / hise handes he gan holde Line 1024 And on hise knowes bare / he sette hym doun And in his rauyng seyde his orisoun ffor verray wo / out of his wit he breyde He nyste what he spak but thus he seyde Line 1028 With pitous herte / his pleynt hath he bigonne Vn to the goddes / and first vn to the sonne ¶ He seyde Appollo / god and gouernour [¶ The compleint/ of Aurelius/ to the goddes and to the sonne.] Of euery plaunte / herbe / tree and flour That yeuest after thy declinacion To ech of hem / his tyme and his seson As thyn herberwe / chaungeth lowe or heighe Lord Phebus / cast thy merciable eighe [folio 131a] Line 1036 On wrecche Aurelie / which am but lorn Lo lord / my lady hath my deeth y-sworn With oute gilt but thy benignytee Vpon my dedly herte / haue som pitee Line 1040 ffor wel I woot / lord Phebus / if yow lest Ye may me helpen / saue my lady best Now voucheth sauf / þat I may yow deuyse How þat I may been holpen / and in what wyse [.i. luna] Line 1044 ¶ Youre blisful suster / Lucina the sheene That of the see / is chief goddesse and queene Though Neptunus / haue deitee in the See Yet Emperisse / abouen hym is she Line 1048 Ye knowen wel lord / that right as hir desir Is to be quyked / and lightned of youre fir ffor which / she folweth yow / ful bisily Right/ so / the see desireth naturelly Line 1052 To folwen hire / as she that is goddesse Bothe in the see / and Ryueres moore and lesse Wherfore lord Phebus / this is my requeste Do this miracle / or do myn herte breste Line 1056

[6-text p 510] Line 1056 That now next at this opposicion Which in the signe / shal be of the leon As preieth hire / so greet a flood to brynge That fyue fadme at the leeste it ouersprynge Line 1060 The hyeste Rokke / in Armorik / Briteyne And lat this flood / endure yeres tweyne Thanne certes / to my lady may I seye Holdeth youre heste / the Rokkes been aweye Line 1064 ¶ Lord Phebus / dooth this miracle for me Preye hire / she go no faster cours than ye I seye / preyeth your suster / that she go No faster cours than ye / thise yeres two Line 1068 Thanne shal she been / euene atte fulle alway And spryng flood / laste bothe nyght and day And but she vouche sauf / in swich manere To graunte me / my souereyn lady deere Line 1072 Prey hire / to synken euery Rok adoun In to / hir owene dirke Regioun Vnder the ground / ther Pluto dwelleth Inne Or neuere mo / shal I my lady wynne Line 1076 Thy Temple in Delphos / wol I barefoot seke Lord Phebus / se the teeris on my cheke And of my peyne / haue som compassioun And with that word / in swowne he fil adoun Line 1080 And longe tyme / he lay forth in a traunce ¶ His brother/ which þat knew of his penaunce Vp caughte hym / and to bedde he hath hym broght Dispeyred / in this torment and this thoght Line 1084 Lete I / this woful creature lye [folio 131b] Chese he for me / wheither he wol lyue or dye

Arueragus / with heele and greet honour As he / þat was / of chiualrie the flour Line 1088 Is comen hoom / and othere worthy men O blisful / artow now / thou Dorigen That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne Armes The fresshe knyght the worthy man of Armes Line 1092

[6-text p 511] Line 1092 That loueth thee / as his owene hertes lyf No thyng list hym / to been ymaginatyf If any wight had spoke / whil he was oute To hire of loue / he hadde of it no doute Line 1096 He noght entendeth / to no swich mateere But daunceth / Iusteth / maketh hire good cheere And thus / in ioye and blisse / I lete hem dwelle And of the sike Aurelius / I wol yow telle Line 1100

IN langour/ and in torment furyus Two yeer and moore / lay wrecche Aurelyus Er any foot . he myghte on erthe gon Ne confort in this tyme / hadde he noon Line 1104 Saue of his brother / which þat was a clerk He knew of al this wo / and al this werk ffor to noon oother creature certeyn Of this matere / he dorste no word seyn Line 1108 Vnder his brest he baar it moore secree Than euere dide Pamphilus for Galathee [¶ Pamphilus ad Galatheam / vulneror & clausum porto sub pectore telum & cetera] His brest was hool / with oute for to sene But in his herte / ay was the Arwe kene Line 1112 And wel ye knowe / that of a Sursanure In Surgerye / is perilous the cure But men myghte touche the Arwe / or come therby His brother / weepe / and wayled pryuely Line 1116 Til atte laste / hym fil in remembrance That whiles he was / at Orliens in ffrance As yonge clerkes / that been lykerous To reden Artes / that been curious Line 1120 Seken / in euery halke / and euery herne Particuler sciences / for to lerne He hym remembred / that vpon a day At Orliens in studie / a book he say Line 1124 Of Magyk/ natureel / which his felawe That was that tyme / a Bacheler of lawe Al were he ther / to lerne another craft Hadde priuely / vpon his desk ylaft Line 1128

[6-text p 512] Line 1128 Which book spak muchel / of the operacions Touchynge / the eighte and twenty mansions That longen to the moone / and swich folye As in oure dayes / is nat worth a flye Line 1132 ffor hooly chirches feith / in oure bileue [folio 132a] Ne suffreth noon illusion vs to greue And whan this book / was in his remembraunce Anon for ioye / his herte gan to daunce Line 1136 And to hym self he seyde pryuely My brother/ shal be warisshed hastily ffor I am siker / þat ther be sciences By wh[i]c[h]e / men make diuerse apparences Line 1140 Swiche / as thise subtile tregetours pleye ffor ofte at feestes / haue I wel herd seye That tregetours / with Inne an halle large Haue maad come In / a water and a barge Line 1144 And in the halle / rowen vp and doun Somtyme / hath semed come a grym leoun And somtyme floures sprynge / as in a Mede Somtyme a Vyne / and grapes white and rede Line 1148 Somtyme a Castel / al of lym and stoon And whan hym lyked / voyded it anoon Thus semed it to euery mannes sighte ¶ Now thanne conclude I thus / þat if I myghte Line 1152 At Orliens / som oold felawe yfynde That hadde / this moones mansions in mynde Or oother Magyk natureel aboue He sholde wel make / my brother han his loue Line 1156 ffor with an apparence / a clerk may make To mannes sighte / þat alle the Rokkes blake Of Britaigne / weren yvoyded euerichon And shippes / by the brynke comen and gon Line 1160 And in swich forme / enduren a wowke or two Thanne were my brother // warisshed of his wo Thanne moste she nedes / holden hire biheste Or elles / he shal shame hire atte leeste Line 1164

[6-text p 513] Line 1164 ¶ What sholde I make / a lenger tale of this Vn to his brotheres bed / he comen is And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon To Orliens / that he vp stirte anon Line 1168 And on his wey / forthward thanne is he fare In hope / for to been lissed of his care ¶ Whan they were come / almoost to that Citee But if it were / a two furlong or thre Line 1172 A yong clerk romynge by hym self they mette Which þat in latyn / thriftily hem grette And after that he seyde a wonder thyng I knowe quod he / the cause of youre comyng Line 1176 And er they ferther / any foote wente He tolde hem / al that was in hire entente ¶ This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes The whiche þat he had knowe / in olde dawes Line 1180 And he answerde hym / that they dede were [folio 132b] ffor which / he weep ful ofte many a teere ¶ Doun of his hors / Aurelius lighte anon And with this Magicien / forth is he gon Line 1184 Hoom to his hous / and maden hem wel at ese Hem lakked no vitaille / þat myghte hem plese So wel arrayed hous / as ther was oon Aurelius in his lyf / saugh neuere noon Line 1188 ¶ He shewed hym / er he wente to Sopeer fforestes / Parkes / ful of wilde deer Ther saugh he hertes / with hir hornes hye The gretteste / that euere were seyn with eye Line 1192 He saugh of hem / an hondred slayn with houndes And somme with Arwes blede / of bittre woundes ¶ He saugh / whan voyded were thise wilde deer Thise ffauconers / vpon a fair Ryuer Line 1196 That with hir haukes / han the heron slayn ¶ Tho saugh he knyghtes / iustyng in a playn And after this / he dide hym swich plesaunce That he hym shewed / his lady on a daunce Line 1200

[6-text p 514] Line 1200 On which hym self / he daunced / as hym thoughte And whan this Maister / þat this Magyk wroughte Saugh it was tyme / he clapte hise handes two And farewel / al oure reuel was ago Line 1204 And yet remoeued they neuere / out of the hous Whil they saugh / al this sighte merueillous But in his studie / ther as hise bookes be They seten stille / and no wight but they thre Line 1208 ¶ To hym / this Maister called his Squier And seyde hym thus / is redy oure soper Almoost an houre it is I vndertake Sith I yow bad / oure soper for to make Line 1212 Whan that thise worthy men / wenten with me In to my studie / ther as my bookes be ¶ Sire quod this Squier / whan it liketh yow It is al redy / though ye wol right now Line 1216 Go we thanne soupe quod he / as for the beste This amorous folk / som tyme moote han hir reste ¶ At after soper / fille they in tretee What somme / sholde this Maistres gerdon be Line 1220 To remoeuen / alle the Rokkes of Britayne And eek from Gerounde / to the mouth of Sayne ¶ He made it straunge / and swoor / so god hym saue Lasse than a thousand pound / he wolde nat haue Line 1224 Ne gladly / for that somme he wolde nat goon ¶ Aurelius / with blisful herte anoon Answerde thus / fy on a thousand pound This wyde world / which that men seye is round Line 1228 ¶ I wolde it yeue / if I were lord of it [folio 133a] This bargayn is ful dryue / for we been knyt Ye shal be payed / trewely by my trouthe But looketh now / for no necligence or slouthe Line 1232 Ye tarie vs heere / no lenger than to morwe ¶ Nay quod this clerk haue heer my feith to borwe ¶ To bedde is goon Aurelius / whan hym leste And wel ny / al that nyght he hadde his reste Line 1236

[6-text p 515] Line 1236 What for his labour / and his hope of blisse His woful herte / of penaunce hadde a lisse ¶ Vpon the morwe / whan þat it was day To Britaigne / tooke they the righte way Line 1240 Aurelius / and this Magicien bisyde And been descended / ther they wolde abyde And this was / as thise bookes me remembre The colde / frosty seson of Decembre Line 1244

Phebus wax old / and hewed lyk laton That in his hoote declynacion Shoon as the burned gold / with stremes brighte But now in Capricorn / adoun he lighte Line 1248 Where as he shoon ful pale / I dar wel seyn The bittre frostes / with the sleet and reyn Destroyed hath the grene / in euery yerd Ianus sit by the fyr / with double berd [¶ Ianus biceps.] And drynketh / of his bugle horn the wyn Biforn hym / stant brawen / of the tusked swyn And Nowel / crieth euery lusty man ¶ Aurelius / in al that euere he kan Line 1256 Dooth to his Maister / chiere and reuerence And preyeth hym / to doon his diligence To bryngen hym / out of his peynes smerte Or with a swerd / þat he wolde slitte his herte Line 1260 ¶ This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man That nyght and day / he spedde hym þat he kan To wayten a tyme / of his conclusion This is to seye / to maken illusion Line 1264 By swich a apparence or Iogelrye I ne kan no termes / of Astrologye That she and euery wight sholde wene and seye That of Britaigne / the Rokkes were aweye Line 1268 Or ellis / they were sonken vnder grounde So atte laste / he hath his tyme yfounde To maken hise Iapes / and his wrecchednesse Of swich / a supersticious cursednesse Line 1272

[6-text p 516] Line 1272 Hise tables tolletanes / forth he brought fful wel corrected / ne ther lakked nought Neither his collect ne hise expans yeeris Ne hise rootes / ne hise othere geeris Line 1276 As been his centris / and hise Argumentz [folio 133b] And hise proporcioneles conuenientz ffor hise equacions / in euery thyng And by his .8. speere in his wirkyng Line 1280 He knew ful wel / how fer Alnath was shoue [¶ Alnath dicitur prima mansio lune.] ffro the heed / of thilke fixe Aries aboue That in the .9. speere considered is [¶ In nona spera.] fful subtilly / he hadde kalkuled al this Line 1284 ¶ Whan he hadde founde / his firste mansion He knew the remenant by proporcion And knew the arisyng of his moone weel And in whos face / and terme and euerydeel Line 1288 And knew ful weel / the moones mansion Acordaunt to his operacion And knew also / hise othere obseruances ffor swiche illusions / and swiche meschances Line 1292 As hethen folk / vseden in thilke dayes ffor which / no lenger maked he delayes But thurgh his magik / for a wyke or tweye It semed / that alle the Rokkes were aweye Line 1296 ¶ Aurelius / which þat yet despeired is Wher he shal han his loue / or fare amys Awaiteth nyght and day / on this myracle And whan he knew / þat ther was noon obstacle Line 1300 That voyded were / thise Rokkes euerychon Doun / to hise Maistres feet he fil anon And seyde / I woful wrecche Aurelius Thanke yow lord / and lady myn Venus Line 1304 That me han holpen / fro my cares colde And to the temple / his wey forth hath he holde Where as he knew / he sholde his lady see And whan he saugh his tyme / anon right hee Line 1308

[6-text p 517] Line 1308 With dredful herte / and with ful humble cheere Salewed hath / his souereyn lady deere

My righte lady / quod this woful man Whom I moost drede and loue as I best kan Line 1312 And lothest were / of al this world displese Nere it þat I for yow / haue swich disese That I moste dyen heere / at youre foot anon Noght wolde I telle / how me is wo bigon Line 1316 But certes / outher moste I dye or pleyne Ye sle me giltlees / for verray peyne But of my deeth / thogh þat ye haue no routhe Auyseth yow / er þat ye breke youre trouthe Line 1320 Repenteth yow / for thilke god aboue Er ye me sleen / by cause þat I yow loue ffor madame / wel ye woot what ye han hight Nat þat I chalange / any thyng of right Line 1324 Of yow my souereyn lady / but youre grace [folio 134a] But in a gardyn yond / at swich a place Ye woot right wel / what ye bihighten me And in myn hand / youre trouthe plighten ye Line 1328 To loue me best god woot ye seyde so Al be / þat I vnworthy be therto Madame I speke it / for the honour of yow Moore than to saue / myn hertes lyf right now Line 1332 I haue do so / as ye comanded me And if ye vouche sauf / ye may go see Dooth as yow list haue youre biheste in mynde ffor quyk or deed / right there ye shal me fynde Line 1336 In yow lith al / to do me lyue or deye But wel I woot the Rokkes been aweye ¶ He taketh his leue / and she astonied stood In al hir face / nas a drope of blood Line 1340 She wende neuere / han come in swich a trappe Allas quod she / þat euere this sholde happe ffor wende I neuere / by possibilitee That swich a Monstre / or merueille myghte be Line 1344

[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is / agayns the proces of nature And hoom she goth / a sorweful creature ffor verray feere / vnnethe may she go She wepeth / wailleth / al a day or two Line 1348 And swowneth / that it routhe was to see But why it was / to no wight tolde shee ffor out of towne / was goon Arueragus But to hir self/ she spak and seyde thus Line 1352 With face pale / and with ful sorweful cheere In hire compleynt as ye shal after heere [¶ The compleynt/ of Dorigene ayeyns ffortune] ¶ Allas quod she / on thee ffortune I pleyne That vnwar / wrapped hast me in thy cheyne Line 1356 ffor which tescape / woot I no scour Saue oonly / deeth or dishonour Oon of thise two / bihoueth me to chese But nathelees / yet haue I leuere to lese Line 1360 My lif/ than of my body haue a shame Or knowe my seluen fals / or lese my name And with my deth / I may be quyt ywis Hath ther nat/ many a noble wyf er this [¶ 30^a. Atheniensium tiranni cum Phidonem necassent/ in con|uiuio filias eius virgines ad se venire iusserunt & scortorum more nudari / ac super pauimenta patris sanguine cruentatas inpudicis gestibus ludere ‖ que paulisper dissimulato dolore cum timulentos conuiuas cernerent quasi ad requisita nature egredientes inuicem se complexē precipitauerunt in puteum vt virginitatem morte ser|uarent/ ] And many a mayde / yslayn hir self allas Rather / than with hir body doon trespas ¶ Yis certes / lo thise stories beren witnesse Whan .xxx. tirauntz / ful of cursednesse Line 1368 Hadde slayn Phidon / in Atthenes at feste They comanded / hise doghtres for tareste And bryngen hem / biforn hem in despit Al naked / to fulfille hir foul delit Line 1372 And in hir fadres blood / they made hem daunce [folio 134b] Vpon the pauement god yeue hem myschaunce ffor which / thise woful maydens ful of drede Rather / than they wolde lese hir maydenhede Line 1376 They priuely / been stirt/ in to a welle And dreynte hem seluen / as the bookes telle

They of Mecene / leete enquere and seke [¶ Cum .50^a. vir|gines lacedoniorum Messeni violare temptassent / .] Of Lacedomye / fifty maydens eke

[6-text p 519] On whiche / they wolden doon hir lecherye But was ther noon of al that compaignye That she nas slayn / and with a good entente Chees / rather for to dye than assente Line 1384 To been oppressed / of hir maydenhede Why sholde I thanne / to dye been in drede

Lo eek / the tiraunt Aristoclides [¶ Aristoclides Orcomeni tirannus adamauit vir|ginem stymphalidem que cum patre occiso ad templum diane & cetera.] That loued a mayden / heet Stymphalides Line 1388 Whan that hir fader / slayn was on a nyght Vn to Dianes temple / goth she right And hente the ymage / in hir handes two ffro which ymage / wolde she neuere go Line 1392 No wight / ne myghte hir handes of it arace Til she was slayn / right in the selue place ¶ Now sith þat maydens / hadden swich despit To been defouled / with mannes foul delit Line 1396 Wel oghte a wyf / rather hir seluen slee Than be defouled / as it thynketh me

What shal I seyn / of Hasdrubales wyf [¶ Nam hasdrubalis vxor capta & incensa vrbe cum se cerneret a Romanis capienda & cetera.] That at Cartage / birafte hir self hir lyf Line 1400 ffor whan she saugh / that Romayns wan the toun She took hir children alle / and skipte adoun In to the fyr / and chees rather to dye Than any Romayn / dide hire vileynye Line 1404

Hath nat Lucresse / yslayn hir self allas [¶ primo ponam lucreciam / que violate pudicie nolens superuivere maculam corporis cruore deleuit/] At Rome / whan she oppressed was Of Tarquyn / for hire thoughte it was a shame To lyuen / whan she had lost hir name Line 1408

The seuene maydens / of Melesie also [¶ Quis valet silencio preterire vij. Milesias vir|gines que Gallorum & cetera.] Han slayn hem self / for drede and wo Rather than folk of Gawle / hem sholde oppresse Mo than a thousand stories / as I gesse Line 1412 Koude I now telle / as touchynge this mateere

Whan habradate was slayn / his wyf so deere [¶ Senapho in Ciri maioris scribit/ infancia oc|ciso Habradate & cetera.] Hirseluen slow / and leet hir blood to glyde In habradates woundes depe and wyde Line 1416

[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seyde my body / at the leeste way Ther shal no wight / defoulen if I may ¶ What sholde I / mo ensamples heer of sayn Sith that so manye / han hem seluen slayn Line 1420 Wel rather / than they wolde defouled be [folio 135a] I wol conclude / that it is bet for me To sleen my self / than been defouled thus I wol be trewe / vn to Arueragus Line 1424 Or rather/ sleen my self in som manere As dide / Demociones doghter deere [¶ Democionis Ariopagitarum principis virgo filia & cetera.] By cause / þat she wolde nat defouled be OCedasus / it is ful greet pitee [¶ Quo ore laudande sunt Cedasij filie & cetera] To reden / how thy doghtren deyde allas That slowe hem self / for swich manere cas As greet a pitee was it/ or wel moore [¶ Nichanor victis Thebis vnius captiue virginis superatus est.] The Theban mayden / that for Nichanore Line 1432 Hir seluen slow / right for swich manere wo Another Theban mayden / dide right so [¶ Narrant scriptores Grecie & aliam Thebanam virginem & cetera.] ffor oon of Macidonye / hadde hire oppressed She with hire deeth / hir maydenhede redressed Line 1436 What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf [¶ Quid loquar Nicerati coniugem pie impaciens iniurie viri mortem & cetera.] That for swich cas / birafte hir self hir lyf / How trewe eek was / to Alcebiades [¶ Alcebiades ille socra|ticus victus & cetera] His loue / rather for to dyen chees Line 1440 Than for to suffre / his body vnburyed be Lo which a wyf / was Alceste quod she [Alcesten fabule ferunt pro marito Adameto sponte defunctam / et Penolopes pudicia Omeri carmen est [?].] What seith Omer / of goode Penalopee Al Grece / knoweth of hire chastitee Line 1444 Pardee / of Lacedomya / is writen thus [¶ Lacedomia quoque poetarum ore cantatur oc|ciso apud Troiam Protheselao & cetera.] That whan at Troie / was slayn Protheselaus No lenger/ wolde she lyue / after his day The same / of noble Porcia telle I may [¶ Porcia sine Bruto viuere non potuit] With oute Brutus / koude she nat lyue To whom she hadde / al hool hir herte yeue The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie [Arthemesia quoque vxor Mauseoli insignis pudicijs fuisse prohibetur & cetera.] Honured is / thurgh al the Barbarie Line 1452

[6-text p 521] Line 1452 O Teuta queene / thy wyfly chastitee [Teuta / Illicorum Regina & cetera.] To alle wyues / may a Mirour bee The same thyng / I seye of Bilyea [¶ Memorandum strato regulus. ¶ Vidi & omnes pene Barbares capitulo .xxvj^o. primi. ¶ Item Cornelia & cetera. ¶ Imitentur g^o nupte Theanam / Cleobiliam / Gorgim [[ or Gorgun]] / Thymodiam / Claudias atque Cornelias / in fine libri primi.] Of Rodogone / and eek Valeria Line 1456 ¶ Thus pleyne Dorigene / a day or tweye Purposynge euere / that she wolde deye ¶ But nathelees / vpon the thridde nyght Hoom cam Arueragus / this worthy knyght Line 1460 And asked hire / why that she weepe so soore And she gan wepen / euer lenger the moore ¶ Allas quod she / that euere I was born Thus haue I seyd quod she / thus haue I sworn Line 1464 And toold hym al / as ye han herd bifore [¶ Singulas has historias & plures hanc materiam concernentes recitat beatus Ieronimus contra Iouinianum in primo suo libro capitulo .39^o.] It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore ¶ This housbonde / with glad chiere in freendly wyse Answerde and seyde / as I shal yow deuyse Line 1468 Is ther oght elles Dorigen / but this? [folio 135b] ¶ Nay nay quod she / god helpe me so as wys This is to muche / and it were goddes wille ¶ Ye wyf quod he / lat slepen that is stille Line 1472 It may be wel / parauenture yet to day Ye shul youre trouthe / holden by my fay ffor god so wisly / haue mercy vp on me I hadde wel leuere / ystiked for to be Line 1476 ffor verray loue / which that I to yow haue But if ye sholde / youre trouthe kepe and saue Trouthe / is the hyeste thyng þat man may kepe But with that word / he brast anon to wepe Line 1480 And seyde / I yow forbede / vp peyne deeth That neuere / whil thee lasteth / lyf ne breeth To no wight telle thou of this auenture As I may best I wol my wo endure Line 1484 Ne make / no contenance of heuynesse That folk/ of yow / may demen harm or gesse ¶ And forth / he cleped / a squier and a mayde Gooth forth anon / with Dorigen he sayde Line 1488

[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bryngeth hire / to swich a place anon They take hir leue / and on hir wey they gon But they ne wiste / why she thider wente He nolde / no wight tellen his entente Line 1492 ¶ Parauenture / an heepe of yow ywis Wol holden hym / a lewed man in this That he wol putte / his wyf in Iupartie Herkneth the tale / er ye vp on hire crie Line 1496 She may haue bettre ffortune / than yow semeth And whan þat ye han herd the tale / demeth

This squier / which þat highte Aurelius On Dorigen / that was so amorus Line 1500 Of auenture / happed hire to meete Amydde the toun / right in the quykkest strete As she was bown / to goon the wey forth right Toward the gardyn / ther as she had hight Line 1504 And he was / to the gardynward also ffor wel he spyed / whan she wolde go Out of hir hous / to any maner place But thus they mette / of auenture or grace Line 1508 And he saleweth hire / with glad entente And asked of hire / whiderward she wente ¶ And she answerde / half as she were mad Vn to the gardyn / as myn housbonde bad Line 1512 My trouthe for to holde / allas / allas ¶ Aurelius / gan wondren on this cas And in his herte / hadde greet compassion Of hire / and of hire lamentacion Line 1516 ¶ And of Arueragus the worthy knyght [folio 136a] That bad hire holden / al þat she had hight So looth hym was / his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe And in his herte / he caughte of this greet routhe Line 1520 Considerynge / the beste on euery syde That fro his lust yet were hym leuere abyde Than doon / so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse Agayns franchise / and alle gentillesse Line 1524

[6-text p 523] Line 1524 ffor which / in fewe wordes seyde he thus ¶ Madame / seyeth to youre lord Arueragus That sith I se his grete gentillesse To yow / and eek I se wel youre distresse Line 1528 That him were leuere han shame / and þat were routhe Than ye to me / sholde breke thus youre trouthe I haue wel leuere / euere to suffre wo Than I departe / the loue bitwix yow two Line 1532 I yow relesse madame / in to youre hond Quyt euery [[or sirement]] surement and euery bond That ye han maad to me / as heer biforn Sith thilke tyme / which þat ye were born Line 1536 My trouthe I plighte / I shal yow neuer repreue Of no biheste / and heere I take my leue As of the treweste / and the beste wyf/ That euere yet I knew in al my lyf/ Line 1540 But euery wyf/ be war of hire biheeste On Dorigene / remembreth / atte leeste Thus kan a Squier/ doon a gentil dede As wel as kan a knyght with outen drede Line 1544 ¶ She thonketh hym / vp on hir knees al bare And hoom / vn to hir housbonde is she fare And tolde hym al / as ye han herd me sayd And be ye siker / he was so weel apayd Line 1548 That it were inpossible / me to wryte What sholde I lenger / of this cas endyte ¶ Arueragus / and Dorigene his wyf In souereyn blisse / leden forth hir lyf Line 1552 Neuere eft ne was ther Angre hem bitwene He cherisseth hire / as though she were a queene And she was to hym / trewe for eueremoore Of thise folk / ye gete of me namoore Line 1556

Aurelius / that his cost hath al forlorn Curseth the tyme / þat euere he was born Allas quod he / allas that I bihighte Of pured gold / a thousand pound of wighte Line 1560

[6-text p 524] Line 1560 Vn to this Philosophre / how shal I do I se namoore / but that I am fordo Myn heritage / moot I nedes selle And been a beggere / heere may I nat dwelle Line 1564 And shamen / al my kynrede in this place [folio 136b] But I of hym / may gete bettre grace But nathelees / I wole of hym assaye At certeyn dayes / yeer by yeer to paye Line 1568 And thanke hym / of his grete curteisye My trouthe wol I kepe / I wol nat lye ¶ With herte soor / he gooth vn to his cofre And broghte gold / vn to this Philosophre Line 1572 The value / of fyue hundred pound I gesse And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt And seyde maister / I dar wel make auaunt Line 1576 I failled neuere / of my trouthe as yit ffor sikerly / my dette shal be quyt Towardes yow / how euere that I fare To goon a begged / in my kirtle bare Line 1580 But wolde ye vouche sauf/ vp on seuretee Two yeer or thre / for to respiten me Thanne were I wel / for elles moot I selle Myn heritage / ther is namoore to telle Line 1584

This Philosophre / sobrely answerde And seyde thus / whan he thise wordes herde Haue I nat holden couenant vn to thee? ¶ Yes certes / wel and trewely quod he Line 1588 ¶ Hastow nat had /thy lady / as thee liketh? ¶ No no quod he / and sorwefully he siketh ¶ What was the cause / tel me if thou kan? ¶ Aurelius / his tale anon bigan Line 1592 And tolde hym al / as ye han herd bifoore It nedeth nat/ to yow reherce it moore ¶ He seide / Arueragus of gentillesse Hadde leuere dye / in sorwe / and in distresse Line 1596

[6-text p 525] Line 1596 Than þat his wyf / were of hir trouthe fals The sorwe of Dorigen / he tolde hym als How looth hire was / to been a wikked wyf And þat she leuere had lost that day hir lyf Line 1600 And þat hir trouthe / she swoor thurgh Innocence She neuere erst hadde herd speke of Apparence That made me han of hire so greet pitee And right as frely / as he sente hire me Line 1604 As frely / sente I hire to hym ageyn This al and som / ther is namoore to seyn ¶ This Philosophre answerde / leeue brother Euerich of yow / dide gentilly til oother Line 1608 Thou art a Squier / and he is a knyght But god forbede / for his blisful myght But if a clerk / koude doon a gentil dede As wel as any of yow / it is no drede Line 1612 ¶ Sire / I releesse thee / thy thousand pound [folio 137a] As thou right now / were cropen out of the ground Ne neuere er now / ne haddest knowen me ffor sire / I wol nat taken a peny of thee Line 1616 ffor al my craft ne noght for my trauaille Thou hast ypayed wel / for my vitaille It is ynogh / and farewel haue good day And took his hors / and forth he goth his way Line 1620

Lordynges / this question thanne wolde I aske now Which was the mooste fre as thynketh yow Now telleth me / er that ye ferther wende I kan namoore / my tale is at an ende Line 1624

¶ Heere is ended the ffrankeleyns tale

[6-text p 303]

GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.

§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ Heere folweth / the Phisiciens tale [on leaf 137]

Ther was / as telleth Titus Liuius A knyght that was called Virginius ffulfild / of honour / and of worthynesse And strong of freendes / and of greet richesse Line 4 ¶ This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf / [[Painting of the Physician]] No children hadde he mo in al his lyf ffair was this mayde / in excellent beautee Abouen euery wight that man may see Line 8 ffor Nature / hath with souereyn diligence Yformed hire / in so greet excellence As though she wolde seyn / lo I Nature Thus kan I forme / and peynte a creature Line 12 Whan that me list who kan me countrefete Pigmalion noght / though he ay forge and bete [¶ Quere in Metha|morphosios] Or graue / or peynte / for I dar wel seyn Apelles Zanzis / sholde werche in veyn [¶ Apelles fecit mira|bile opus in tumulo Darii / Vide in Alex|andro libro .I^o. de Zanze in libro Tulij.] Outher to graue / or peynte / or forge / or bete If they presumed / me to countrefete ffor he that is the formere principal Hath maked me / his vicaire general Line 20 To forme and peynten erthely creaturis Right as me list and ech thyng in my cure is Vnder the Moone / þat may wane and waxe And for my werk right no thyng wol I axe Line 24

[6-text p 304] Line 24 My lord and I / been ful of oon accord I made hire / to the worshipe of my lord So do I / alle myne othere creatures What colour that they han / or what figures Line 28 Thus semeth me / that Nature wolde seye [folio 137b] ¶ This mayde of Age .xij. yeer was and tweye In which þat Nature / hadde swich delit ffor right as she kan peynte a lilie whit Line 32 And reed a Rose / right with swich peynture She peynted hath this noble creature Er she were born / vp-on hir lymes fre Where as by right / swiche colours sholde be Line 36 And Phebus dyed hath / hire treses grete Lyk to the stremes / of his burned heete And if þat excellent was hire beautee A thousand foold / moore vertuous was she Line 40 In hire / ne lakked no condicion That is to preyse / as by discrecion As wel in goost as body / chast was she ffor which / she floured in virginitee Line 44 With alle humylitee / and Abstinence With alle attemperaunce and pacience With mesure eek / of beryng and array Discreet she was / in answeryng alway Line 48 Though she were wise Pallas dar I seyn Hir facound eek / ful wommanly a pleyn No countrefeted termes / hadde she To seme wys / but after hir degree Line 52 She spak / and alle hire wordes moore and lesse Sownynge in vertu / and in gentillesse Shamefast she was / [in] maydens shamefastnesse Constant in herte / and euere in bisynesse Line 56 To dryue hire / out of ydel slogardye Bacus hadde of hire mouth / right no maistrie ffor wyn and youthe / dooth Venus encresse As man in fyr / wol wasten oille or greesse Line 60

[6-text p 305] Line 60 And of hir owene vertu / vnconstreyned She hath ful ofte tyme syk hire feyned ffor that she wolde fleen the compaignye Where likly was / to treten of folye Line 64 As is at feestes / reuels / and at daunces That been / occasions of daliaunces Swich thyng / maken children for to be To soone rype and boold / as men may se Line 68 Which is ful perilous / and hath been yoore ffor al to soone / may they lerne loore Of booldnesse / whan she woxen is a wyf ¶ And ye maistresses / in youre olde lyf Line 72 That lordes doghtres / han in gouernance Ne taketh of my wordes no displesance Thenketh / that ye been set in gouernynges Of lordes doghtres / oonly for two thynges Line 76 Outher / for ye han kept youre honestee [folio 138a] Or elles / ye han falle in freletee And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce And han forsaken / fully swich meschaunce Line 80 ffor eueremo / therfore for Cristes sake To teche hem vertu / looke þat ye ne slake ¶ A theef of venyson / that hath forlaft His likerousnesse / and al his olde craft Line 84 Kan kepe a fforest best of any man Now kepeth wel / for if ye wolde ye kan Looke wel / þat ye / vn-to no vice assente Lest ye be dampned / for youre wikke entente Line 88 ffor who so dooth / a traitour is certeyn And taketh kepe / of that þat I shal seyn Of alle tresons / souereyn pestilence [Nota] Is / whan a wight bitrayseth Innocence Line 92 ¶ Ye fadres and ye moodres / eek also Though ye han children / be it oon or two Youre is the charge / of al hir surueiance Whil þat they been / vnder youre gouernance Line 96

[6-text p 306] Line 96 Beth war / if by ensample / of youre lyuynge Or by youre necligence / in chastisynge That they perisse / for I dar wel seye If þat they doon / ye shul it deere abeye Line 100 Vnder a shepherde / softe and necligent The wolf / hath many a sheepe and lamb to-rent . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 104

This mayde / of which I wol this tale expresse So kepte hir self hir neded no maistresse ffor in hir lyuyng maydens myghten rede As in a book/ euery good word or dede Line 108 That longeth to a mayden vertuous She was so prudent and so bounteuous ffor which / the fame / out sprong on euery syde Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde Line 112 That thurgh that land / they preised hire echone That loued vertu / saue Enuye allone That sory is / of oother mennes wele [¶ Augustinus] And glad is of his sorwe / and his vnheele Line 116 The doctour / maketh this descripcioun This mayde vp-on a day / wente in the toun Toward a temple / with hire mooder deere As is / of yonge maydens the manere Line 120 ¶ Now was ther thanne / a Iustice in that toun That gouernour was / of that Regioun And so bifel / this Iuge / hise eyen caste Vp-on this mayde / auysynge hym ful faste Line 124 As she cam forby / ther as this Iuge stood Anon / his herte chaunged and his mood So was he caught with beautee of this mayde [folio 138b] And to hym self / ful pryuely he sayde Line 128 This mayde / shal be myn / for any man ¶ Anon the feend / in-to his herte ran And taughte hym sodeynly / þat he by slyghte The mayden / to his purpos wynne myghte Line 132

[6-text p 307] Line 132 ffor certes by no force / ne by no meede Hym thoughte / he was nat able for to speede ffor she was strong of freendes / and eek she Confermed was / in swich souerayn bountee Line 136 That wel he wiste / he myghte hire neuere wynne As for to maken hire / with hir body synne ffor which / by greet deliberacioun He sente after a cherl / was in the toun Line 140 Which þat he knew / for subtil and for boold This Iuge / vn-to this cherl / his tale hath toold In secree wise / and made hym to ensure He sholde telle it to no creature Line 144 And if he dide / he sholde lese his heed Whan þat assented was / this cursed reed Glad was this Iuge / and maked him greet cheere And yaf hym yiftes / preciouse and deere Line 148 ¶ Whan shapen was / al hire conspiracie ffro point to point how þat his lecherie Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly As ye / shul heere it after openly Line 152 Hoom gooth the cherl / þat highte Claudius This false Iuge / that highte Apius So was his name / for this is no fable But knowen / for historial thyng notable Line 156 The sentence of it sooth is out of doute This false Iuge / gooth now faste aboute To hasten his delit al that he may And so bifel / soone after on a day Line 160 This false Iuge / as telleth vs the storie As he was wont sat in his Consistorie And yaf his doomes / vp-on sondry cas This false cherl / cam forth / a ful greet pas Line 164 And seyde lord / if þat it be youre wille As dooth me right/ vp-on this pitous bille In which I pleyne / vp-on Virginius And if þat he wol seyn / it is nat thus Line 168

[6-text p 308] Line 168 I wol it preeue / and fynde good witnesse That sooth is / that my bille wol expresse ¶ The Iuge answerde / of this in his absence I may nat yeue / diffyny[ty]ue sentence Line 172 Lat do hym calle / and I wol gladly heere [audire] Thou shalt haue al right and no wrong heere [hic] ¶ Virginius / cam to wite the Iuges wille [folio 139a] And right anon / was rad this cursed bille Line 176 The sentence of it / was as ye shul heere ¶ To yow my lord / sire Apius so deere Sheweth youre poure seruant Claudius How that a knyght / called Virginius Line 180 Agayns the lawe / agayn al equitee Holdeth expres / agayn the wyl of me My seruant. which þat is my thral by right Which fro myn hous / was stole vp-on a nyght Line 184 Whil þat she was ful yong this wol I preeue By witnesse lord / so þat it nat yow greeue She nys his doghter nat what so he seye Wherfore / to yow / my lord the Iuge I preye Line 188 yeld me my thral / if þat it be youre wille Lo / this was / al the sentence of his bille ¶ Virginius / gan vp-on the cherl biholde But hastily / er he his tale tolde Line 192 And wolde haue preeued it as sholde a knyght And eek by witnessyng of many a wight That it was fals / that seyde his Aduersarie This cursed Iuge / wolde no thyng tarie Line 196 Ne heere a word moore of Virginius But yaf his Iuggement and seyde thus ¶ I deeme anon / this cherl his seruant haue Thou shalt no lenger / in thyn hous hir saue Line 200 Go bryng hire forth / and put hire in oure warde The cherl shal haue his thral / this I awarde ¶ And whan this worthy knyght Virginius Thurgh sentence / of this Iustice Apius Line 204

[6-text p 309] Line 204 Moste by force / his deere doghter yeuen Vn-to the Iuge / in lecherie to lyuen He gooth hym hoom / and sette him in his halle And leet anon / his deere doghter calle Line 208 And with a face deed / as asshen colde Vpon hir humble face / he gan biholde With fadres pitee / stikynge thurgh his herte Al wolde he / from his purpos nat conuerte Line 212

Doghter quod he / Virginia / by thy name Ther been two weyes / outher deeth or shame That thou most / suffre / allas þat I was bore ffor neuere / thou deseruedest wherfore Line 216 To dyen / with a swerd / or with a knyf O deere doghter / endere of my lyf Which I haue fostred vp / with swich plesance That thou were neuere / out of my remembrance Line 220 O doghter / which þat art my laste wo And in my lyf my laste ioye also O gemme o Chastitee in pacience [folio 139b] Take thou thy deeth / for this is my sentence Line 224 ffor loue and nat for hate / thou most be deed My pitous hand / moot smyten of thyn heed Allas / that euere Apius the say Thus hath he falsly / Iugged the to day Line 228 And tolde hire al the cas / as ye bifore Han herd / nat nedeth for to telle it moore ¶ O mercy deere fader / quod this mayde And with that word / she both hir Armes layde Line 232 About his nekke / as she was wont to do The teeris / bruste out of hir eyen two And seyde / goode fader shal I dye Is ther no grace / is ther no remedye Line 236 ¶ No certes / deere doghter myn quod he ¶ Thanne yif me leyser / fader myn quod she My deeth for to compleyne / a litel space ffor pardee Iepte yaf his doghter grace [¶ Iudicum capitulo .xj.^o] Line 240

[6-text p 310] Line 240 ffor to compleyne / er he hir slow allas [‖ ffuit illo tempore Iepte Galaandes] And god it woot no thyng was hir trespas But for she ran / hir fader for to see To welcome hym / with greet solempnitee Line 244 And with that word / she fil aswowne anon And after/ whan hir swownyng is agon She riseth vp / and to hir fader sayde Blissed be god / that I shal dye a mayde Line 248 Yif me my deeth / er that I haue a shame Dooth with youre child / youre wyl a goddes name ¶ And with that word / she preyed hym ful ofte That with his swerd / he wolde smyte softe Line 252 And with that word / aswowne doun she fil Hir fader / with ful sorweful herte and wil Hir heed of smoot and by the tope it hente And to the Iuge / he gan it to presente Line 256 As he sat yet in doom in Consistorie And whan the Iuge it saugh / as seith the storie He bad to take hym / and anhange hym faste But right anon / a thousand peple in thraste Line 260 To saue the knyght for routhe and for pitee ffor knowen was / the false Iniquitee The peple anon / hath suspect of this thyng By manere / of the cherles chalangyng Line 264 That it was / by the assent of Apius They wisten wel / that he was lecherus ffor which / vn-to this Apius they gon And caste hym in a prison right anon Line 268 Ther as he slow hym self and Claudius That seruant was / vn-to this Apius And demed / for to hange vpon a tree [folio 140a] But that Virginius / of his pitee Line 272 So preyde for hym / that he was exiled And elles certes / he had been bigyled The remenant were anhanged moore and lesse That were consentant of this cursednesse Line 276

[6-text p 311] Line 276

Heere men may seen / how synne hath his merite Beth war / for no man woot whom god wol smyte In no degree / ne in which manere wyse The worm of conscience / may agryse Line 280 Of wikked lyf though it so pryuee be That no man / woot ther-of but god and he ffor be he lewed man / or ellis lered He noot how soone / þat he shal been afered Line 284 Therfore I rede yow / this conseil take fforsaketh synne / er synne yow forsake

¶ Heere endeth / the Phisiciens tale.

[6-text p 312]

¶ The wordes of the Hoost to the Phisicien and the Pardoner.

Ovre Hoost gan to swere / as he were wood Harrow quod he / by nayles and by blood Line 288 This was a fals cherl and a fals Iustise As shameful deeth / as herte may deuyse Come to thise false Iuges / and hire Aduocatz Algate / this sely mayde / is slayn allas Line 292 Allas / to deere boughte she beautee Wherfore I seye / al day / as men may see That yiftes of ffortune and of Nature Been cause of deeth / to many a creature Line 296 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of bothe yiftes / that I speke of now Men han ful ofte / moore for harm than prow Line 300 ¶ But trewely / myn owene maister deere This is / a pitous tale for to heere But nathelees / passe ouer / is no fors I pray to god / so saue thy gentil cors Line 304 And eek/ thyne vrynals / and thy Iurdones Thyn ypocras / and eek thy Galiones And euery boyste / ful of thy letuarie God blesse hem / and oure lady Seint Marie Line 308 So moot I theen / thou art a propre man And lyk a prelat by Seint Ronyan Seyde I nat wel / I kan nat speke in terme But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme Line 312 That I almoost/ haue caught a Cardynacle [folio 140b] By corpus bones / but I haue triacle Or elles a draughte / of moyste and corny Ale Or but I heere anon / a myrie tale Line 316

[6-text p 313] Line 316 Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde Thou beel amy / thou Pardoner he sayde Telle vs som myrthe / or Iapes right anon ¶ It shal be doon quod he / by Seint Ronyon Line 320 But first quod he / heere at this Ale stake I wol bothe drynke / and eten of a Cake ¶ And right anon / the gentils gonne to crye Nay / lat hym telle vs of no ribaudye Line 324 Telle vs som moral thyng þat we may leere Som wit and thanne wol we gladly heere ¶ I graunte ywis quod he / but I moot thynke Vp-on som honeste thyng while þat I drynke Line 328

[6-text p 314]

¶ Heere folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners tale [on leaf 140, back]

¶ Radix malorum est Cupiditas Ad Thimotheum .6^o.

LOrdynges quod he / in chirches / whan I preche I peyne me / to han an hauteyn speche And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle ffor I kan / al by rote that I telle Line 332 My theme is alwey oon / and euere was Radix malorum est Cupiditas

First I pronounce / whennes þat I come And thanne my bulles / shewe I alle and some Line 336 Oure lige lordes seel / on my patente That shewe I first my body to warente That no man be so boold / ne preest ne clerk Me to destourbe / of Cristes hooly werk Line 340 And after that thanne telle I forth my tales ¹Bulles of popes¹ [[^1_1 nearly scratcht out of the MS]] and of Cardynales Of Patriarkes / and bishoppes I shewe And in latyn / I speke a wordes fewe Line 344 To saffron with my predicacion And for to stire hem / to deuocion Thanne shewe I forth / my longe cristal stones Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones Line 348 Relikes been they / as wenen they echoon Thanne haue [I] in laton a sholder boon Which that was / of an hooly Iewes sheepe Goode men I seye / taak of my wordes keepe Line 352 If that this boon / be wasshe in any welle [folio 141a] If Cow / or Calf or Sheepe / or Oxe swelle That any worm hath ete / or worm ystonge Taak water of that welle / and wassh his tonge Line 356

[6-text p 315] Line 356 And it is hool anon / and forthermoor Of pokkes / and of scabbe / and euery soor Shal euery sheepe be hool / þat of this welle Drynketh a draughte / taak kepe eek what I telle Line 360 ¶ If that the goode man / that the beestes oweth Wol euery wyke / er that the Cok hym croweth ffastynge drinke / of this welle a draughte As thilke hooly Iew / oure eldres taughte Line 364 Hise beestes and his stoor shal multiplie ¶ And sire / also / it heeleth Ialousie ffor though a man / be falle in Ialous rage Lat maken / with this water his potage Line 368 And neuere shal he moore / his wyf mystriste Though he the soothe / of hir defaute wiste Al had she / taken preestes / two or thre ¶ Heere is a Miteyn eek/ that ye may se Line 372 He þat his hand wol putte in this Mitayn He shal haue / multipliyng of his grayn Whan he hath sowen / be it whete or Otes So þat he offre / pens / or elles grotes Line 376 ¶ Goode men and wommen / o thyng warne I yow If any wight / be in this chirche now That hath doon synne horrible þat he? Dar nat for shame / of it yshryuen be Line 380 Or any womman / be she yong or old That hath ymaked / hir housbonde Cokewold Swich folk shal haue no power ne no grace To offren / to my relikes in this place Line 384 And who so fyndeth hym / out of swich fame They wol come vp / and offre on goddes name And I assoille hem / by the Auctoritee Which that by bulle / ygraunted was to me Line 388 ¶ By this gaude / haue I wonne / yeer by yeer An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet And whan the lewed peple / is doun yset Line 392

[6-text p 316] Line 392 I preche so / as ye han herd bifoore And telle / an hundred false Iapes moore Thanne peyne I me / to strecche forth the nekke And Est and West vp-on the peple I bekke Line 396 As dooth a dowue / sittynge / on a berne Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne That it is ioye / to se my bisynesse Of Auarice / and of swich cursednesse Line 400 Is al my prechyng for to make hem free [folio 141b] To yeuen hir pens / and namely vn-to me ffor myn entente / is nat but for to wynne And no thyng for correccion of synne Line 404 I rekke neuere / whan they been beryed Though þat hir soules / goon a blakeberyed ffor certes / many a predicacion Comth ofte tyme / of yuel entencion Line 408 Som for plesance of folk/ and flaterye To been auaunced / by ypocrisye And som for veyne glorie / and som for hate ffor whan / I dar noon oother weyes debate Line 412 Thanne wol I stynge hym / with my tonge smerte In prechyng / so that he shal nat asterte To been defamed falsly / if that he? Hath trespased / to my bretheren / or to me Line 416 ffor though I telle noght / his propre name Men shal wel knowe / that it is the same By signes / and by othere circumstances Thus quyte I folk that doon vs displesances Line 420 Thus spitte I out my venym / vnder hewe Of hoolynesse / to semen hooly and trewe ¶ But shortly myn entente I wol deuyse I preche of no thyng but for coueityse Line 424 Therfore / my theme is yet and euere was Radix malorum est Cupiditas Thus kan I preche / agayn that same vice Which þat I vse / and that is Auarice Line 428

[6-text p 317] Line 428 But though my self/ be gilty in that synne Yet kan I maken / oother folk to twynne ffrom Auarice / and soore to repente But that is nat/ my principal entente Line 432 I preche no thyng but for coueitise Of this mateere / it oghte ynogh suffise ¶ Thanne telle I hem / ensamples many oon Of olde stories / longe tyme agoon Line 436 ffor lewed peple / louen tales olde Swiche thynges / kan they wel reporte and holde What trowe ye / the whiles I may preche And wynne / gold and siluer / for I teche Line 440 That I wol lyue in pouerte wilfully Nay nay / I thoghte it neuere trewely ffor I wol preche / and begge in sondry landes I wol nat do no labour/ with myne handes Line 444 Ne make baskettes / and lyue therby By cause / I wol nat beggen ydelly I wol noon / of the Apostles countrefete I wol haue moneie / wolle chese and whete Line 448 Al were it yeuen / of the pouereste page [folio 142a] Or of the pouereste wydwe / in a village Al sholde hir children sterue / for famyne Nay / I wol drynke / licour of the vyne Line 452 And haue a ioly wenche / in euery toun But herkneth lordynges in conclusioun ¶ Youre likyng is / that I shal telle a tale Now / haue I dronke a draughte of corny ale Line 456 By god / I hope / I shal yow telle a thyng That shal by reson / been at youre likyng ffor though my self be a ful vicious man A moral tale / yet I yow telle kan Line 460 Which I am wont to preche / for to wynne Now hoold youre pees / my tale I wol bigynne

[6-text p 318]

¶ Heere bigynneth the Pardoners tale. [on leaf 142]

IN fflaundres whilom was a compaignye Of yonge folk/ that haunteden folye Line 464 As Riot hasard / stywes / and Tauernes Where / as / with harpes / lutes and Gyternes They daunce / and pleyen at dees / bothe day and nyght And eten also / and drynken ouer hir myght / Line 468 Thurgh which / they doon the deuel sacrifise [[Painting of the Pardoner on Horseback.]] With-Inne that deueles temple in cursed wise By superfluytee abhomynable Hir othes / been so grete and so dampnable Line 472 That it is grisly / for to heere hem swere Oure blissed lordes body / they to-tere Hem thoughte / þat Iewes / rente hym noght ynough And ech of hem / at otheres synne lough Line 476 And right anon / thanne comen Tombesteres ffetys and smale / and yonge ffrutesteres Syngeres with harpes / Baudes / wafereres Whiche been / the verray deueles Officeres Line 480 To kyndle and blowe / the fyr of lecherye That is annexed vn-to glotonye The hooly writ/ take I to my witnesse That luxurie / is in wyn and dronkenesse Line 484

Lo how þat dronken Looth vnkyndely [‖ Nolite inebriari vino / in quo est/ luxuria] Lay by hise doghtres two vnwityngly So dronke he was / he nyste what he wroghte ¶ Herodes / who so / wel the stories soghte Line 488 . . . . . [no spurious lines in this MS.] Line 489

[6-text p 319] Whan he of wyn / was repleet at his feeste Line 489 Right at his owene table / he yaf his heeste To sleen the Baptist Iohn / ful giltelees ¶ Senec seith a good word doutelees [¶ Seneca] Line 492 He seith / he kan no difference fynde [folio 142b] Bitwix a man / that is out of his mynde And a man / which that is dronkelewe But that woodnesse / fallen in a shrewe Line 496 Perseuereth lenger/ than dooth dronkenesse O glotonye / ful of cursednesse O cause first of oure confusion O original / of oure dampnacion Line 500 Til Crist/ hadde boght vs / with his blood agayn Lo / how deere / shortly for to sayn Aboght was / thilke cursed vileynye Corrupt was al this world for glotonye Line 504 ¶ Adam oure fader / and his wyf also ffro Paradys / to labour and to wo Were dryuen for that vice / it is no drede Line 507 ffor whil þat Adam fasted / as I rede [¶ Ieronimus contra Ioui|nianum ‖ Quamdiu ieiu|nauit Adam / in Paradiso fuit/ comedit & eiectus est/ statim duxit vxorem] He was in Paradys / and whan þat he? Eet of the fruyt/ deffended on the tree Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne O glotonye / on thee wel oghte vs pleyne Line 512 O wiste a man / how manye maladyes ffolwen of excesse / and of glotonyes He wolde been / the moore mesurable Of his diete / sittynge at his table Line 516 Allas / the shorte throte / the tendre mouth Maketh þat Est and West and North and South In Erthe / in Eir / in water/ man to swynke To gete a gloton / deyntee mete and drynke Line 520 Of this matiere / o Paul wel kanstow trete Mete vn-to wombe / and wombe eek vn-to mete [¶ Esca ventri & venter escis. deus autem & hunc & illam destruet /] Shal god destroyen bothe / as Paulus seith Allas / a foul thyng is it/ by my feith Line 524

[6-text p 320] Line 524 To seye this word / and fouler is the dede Whan man so drynketh / of the white and rede That of his throte / he maketh his pryuee Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee Line 528 ¶ The Apostel wepyng seith ful pitously [¶ Ad Philipenses capitulo .3^o.] Ther walken manye / of whiche yow toold haue I I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys Ther been enemys of Cristes croys Line 532 Of whiche the ende is deeth / wombe is hir god O wombe / o. bely / o. stynkyng Cod ffulfilled of donge / and of corrupcioun At either ende of thee / foul is the soun Line 536 How greet labour/ and cost is thee to fynde Thise Cookes / how they stampe / and streyne and grynde And turnen substaunce in-to Accident To fulfillen / al thy likerous talent Line 540 Out of the harde bones knokke they [folio 143a] The mary / for they caste noght a-wey That may go thurgh the golet softe and swoote Of spicerie / of leef / and bark and roote Line 544 Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit To make hym yet a newer appetit But certes / he that haunteth swiche delices [¶ Qui autem in de|licijs est viuens mortuus est] Is deed / whil þat he lyueth in tho vices Line 548 ¶ A lecherous thyng is wyn and dronkenesse [¶ luxuriosa res vinum / et con|tumeliosa ebrietas] Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse O dronke man / disfigured is thy face Sour is thy breeth / foul artow to embrace Line 552 And thurgh thy dronke nose / semeth the soun As though thou seydest ay Sampsoun Sampsoun And yet god woot Sampsoun drank neuere no wyn Thou fallest/ as it were a styked swyn Line 556 Thy tonge is lost/ and al thyn honeste cure ffor dronkenesse / is verray sepulture Of mannes wit and his discrecion In whom þat drynke hath dominacion Line 560

[6-text p 321] Line 560 He kan no conseil kepe / it is no drede Now kepe yow / fro the white and fro the rede And namely / fro the white wyn of lepe That is to selle / in ffysshstrete / or in Chepe Line 564 This wyn of Spaigne / crepeth subtilly In othere wynes / growynge faste by Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre Line 568 And weneth / that he be at hoom in Chepe He is in Spaigne / right at the toune of lepe Nat at the Rochele / ne at Burdeux toun And thanne wol he seye / Sampsoun Sampsoun Line 572 ¶ But herkneth lordes / o word I yow preye That alle the souereyn Actes dar I seye Of victories / in the olde testament Thurgh verray god / þat is omnipotent Line 576 Were doon in Abstinence / and in preyere Looketh the Bible / and ther ye may it leere ¶ Looke Attilla the grete Conquerour Deyde in his sleepe / with shame and dishonour Line 580 Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse A Capitayn / sholde lyue in sobrenesse And ouer al this / auyseth yow right wel What was comaunded / vn to Lamwel [¶ Noli vinum dare] Line 584 Nat Samuel / but Lamwel seye I Redeth the Bible / and fynde it expresly Of wyn yeuyng to hem þat han Iustise Namoore of this / for it may wel suffise Line 588

ANd now I haue spoken of Glotonye [folio 143b] Now wol I yow / deffenden hasardrye [¶ Of Hasardrye] Hasard / is verray mooder of lesynges [¶ Policratici [Ioannis Saris|buriensis] libro .1^o. / Menda|ciorum & periuriarum mater est Alea.] And of deceite / and cursed forswerynges Blasphemyng of crist manslaughtre and wast also Of catel and of tyme / and forthermo It is repreeue / and contrarie of honour ffor to ben holde / a commune hasardour Line 596

[6-text p 322] Line 596 And euer the hyer/ he is of estaat The moore / is he holden desolaat If that a Prynce / vseth hasardrye In alle gouernance and policye Line 600 He is / as by commune opinion Yholde the lasse / in reputacion ¶ Stilbon / that was a wys embassadour Was sent to Corynthe / in ful greet honour Line 604 ffro Lacidomye / to maken hire Alliaunce And whan he cam / hym happed[e] par chaunce That alle the gretteste / that were of that lond Pleyynge atte hasard / he hem fond Line 608 ffor which / as soone / as it myghte be He stal hym hoom agayn / to his contree And seyde / ther wol I nat lese my name Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame Line 612 Yow for to allie / vn-to none hasardours Sendeth / othere wise Embassadours ffor by my trouthe / me were leuere dye Than I yow sholde / to hasardours allye Line 616 ffor ye that been / so glorious in honours Shul nat allyen yow / with hasardours As by my wyl / ne as by my tretee This wise Philosophre / thus seyde hee Line 620 ¶ Looke eek that the kyng Demetrius The kyng of Parthes as the book seith vs Sente him / a paire of dees of gold in scorn ffor he hadde vsed / hasard ther-biforn Line 624 ffor which / he heeld his glorie / or his renoun At no value / or reputacioun Lordes may fynden / oother maner pley Honeste ynough / to dryue the day awey Line 628

Now wol I speke / of othes false and grete [¶ Of sweryng & forsweryng] A word or two / as olde bookes trete Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable And fals sweryng is yet moore repreuable Line 632

[6-text p 323] Line 632 The heighe god / forbad sweryng at al [¶ Nolite omnino Iurare] Witnesse on Mathew / but in special Of sweryng seith the hooly Ieremye [¶ Ieremie .4^o. ‖. Iurabis in veri|tate in Iudicio & Iusticia] Thou shalt seye sooth thyne othes and nat lye Line 636 And swere in doom / and eek in rightwisnesse [folio 144a] But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse Bihoold and se / that in the firste table Of heighe goddes heestes honurable Line 640 Hou / that the seconde heeste / of hym / is this Take nat my name / in ydel or amys Lo rather he forbedeth swich sweryng Than homycide / or any cursed thyng Line 644 I seye / that as by ordre / thus it stondeth This knowen / that hise heestes vnderstondeth How þat / the seconde heeste of god is that And forther ouer / I wol thee telle al plat Line 648 That vengeance / shal nat parten from his hous That of hise othes / is to outrageous By goddes precious herte / and by his nayles And by the blood of Crist that is in Hayles Line 652 Seuene is my chaunce / and thyn is cynk and treye By goddes Armes / if thou falsly pleye This daggere / shal thurgh-out thyn herte go This fruyt cometh / of the bicched bones two Line 656 fforsweryng Ire / falsnesse / Homycide Now for the loue of Crist þat for vs dyde Lete youre othes / bothe grete and smale But sires / now wol I telle forth my tale Line 660

THise Riotours thre / of whiche I telle Longe erst er prime rong of any belle Were set hem / in a Tauerne to drynke And as they sat they herde a belle clynke Line 664 Biforn a cors / was caried / to his graue That oon of hem / gan callen to his knaue Go bet quod he / and axe redily What cors is this / þat passeth heer forby Line 668

[6-text p 324] Line 668 And looke / þat thou reporte his name weel ¶ Sire quod this boy / it nedeth neueradeel It was me toold / er ye cam heer two houres He was pardee / an old felawe of youres Line 672 And sodeynly / he was yslayn to-nyght ffor-dronke / as he sat on his bench vpright Ther cam a priuee theef/ men clepeth deeth That in this contree / al the peple sleeth Line 676 And with his spere / he smoot his herte atwo And wente his wey / with-outen wordes mo He hath / a thousand slayn this pestilence And maister / er ye come in his presence Line 680 Me thynketh / that it were necessarie ffor to be war / of swich an Aduersarie Beth redy / for to meete hym eueremoore Thus taughte me my dame / I sey namoore Line 684 By seinte Marie seyde this Tauerner [folio 144b] The child seith sooth / for he hath slayn this yeer Henne ouer a Mile / with-Inne a greet village Bothe man and womman / child and hyne / and page I trowe / his habitacion be there Line 689 To been auysed / greet wysdom it were Er that he dide a man / a dishonour ¶ Ye goddes Armes / quod this Riotour Line 692 Is it swich peril / with hym for to meete? I shal hym seke / by wey and eek by strete I make auow / to goddes digne bones Herkneth felawes / we thre been al ones Line 696 Lat ech of vs / holde vp his hand til oother And ech of vs / bicomen otheres brother And we wol sleen / this false traytour deeth He shal be slayn / which þat so manye sleeth Line 700 By goddes dignitee / er it be nyght/ ¶ Togidres han thise thre / hir trouthes plight To lyue and dyen / ech of hem for oother As though he were / his owene yborn brother Line 704

[6-text p 325] Line 704 And vp they stirte / and dronken in this rage And forth they goon / towardes that village Of which the Tauerner/ hadde spoke biforn And many a grisly ooth / thanne han they sworn Line 708 And Cristes blessed body / they to-rente Deeth shal be deed / if that they may hym hente ¶ Whan they han goon / nat fully half a Mile Right as they wolde / han troden ouer a stile Line 712 An oold man and a poure / with hem mette This olde man / ful mekely hem grette And seyde thus / now lordes / god yow see ¶ The proudeste / of thise Riotours three Line 716 Answerde agayn / what carl with sory grace Why artow / al forwrapped saue thy face? Why lyuestow so longe / in so greet age? ¶ This olde man / gan looke in his visage Line 720 And seyde thus / for I ne kan nat fynde A man / though þat I walked in to ynde Neither in Citee / nor in no Village That wolde chaunge / his youthe for myn Age Line 724 And therfore / moot I han myn Age stille As longe tyme / as it is goddes wille ¶ Ne deeth allas / ne wol nat han my lyf Thus walke I / lyk a restelees kaityf Line 728 And on the ground / which is my moodres gate I knokke with my staf / bothe erly and late And seye / leeue mooder/ leet me In Lo how I vanysshe / flessh and blood and skyn Line 732 Allas / whan shul / my bones been at reste [folio 145a] Mooder / with yow / wolde I chaunge my cheste That in my chambre / longe tyme hath be Ye for an heyre clowt to wrappe me Line 736 But yet to me / she wol nat do that grace ffor which / ful pale / and welked is my face ¶ But sires to yow / it is no curteisye To speken / to an old man vileynye Line 740

[6-text p 326] Line 740 But he trespasse / in word / or elles in dede In hooly writ ye may your self wel rede Agayns an oold man / hoor vpon his heed [¶ coram canuto capite consurge] Ye sholde arise / wherfore I yeue yow reed Line 744 Ne dooth vn-to an oold man / noon harm now Namoore than þat ye wolde / men did to yow In age / if that ye so longe abyde And god be with yow / where ye go or ryde Line 748 I moote go thider / as I haue to go ¶ Nay olde cherl / by god thou shalt nat so Seyde this oother hasardour anon Thou partest nat so lightly / by Seint Iohn Line 752 Thou spak right/ now / of thilke traytour deeth That in this contree / alle oure freendes sleeth Haue heer my trouthe / as thou art his espye Telle where he is / or thou shalt it abye Line 756 By god / and by the hooly sacrement ffor soothly / thou art oon of his assent To sleen vs yonge folk / thou false theef ¶ Now sires quod he / if þat ye be so leef Line 760 To fynde deeth / turne vp this croked wey ffor in that groue / I lafte hym by my fey Vnder a tree / and there he wole abyde Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde Line 764 Se ye that ook right there ye shal hym fynde God saue yow þat boghte agayn mankynde And yow amende / thus seyde this olde man And euerich / of thise Riotours ran Line 768 Til he cam to that tree / and ther they founde Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde Wel ny an .viij. busshels / as hem thoughte No lenger thanne / after deeth they soughte Line 772 But ech of hem / so glad was of that sighte ffor þat the floryns / been so faire and brighte That doun they sette hem / by this precious hoord The worste of hem / he spak the firste word Line 776

[6-text p 327] Line 776 ¶ Bretheren quod he / taak kepe what I seye My wit is greet though þat I bourde and pleye This tresor / hath ffortune vn-to vs yeuen In myrthe and Ioliftee / oure lyf to lyuen Line 780 And lightly as it comth / so wol we spende [folio 145b] Ey goddes precious dignitee / who wende To-day / that we sholde han so fair a grace But myghte this gold / be caried fro this place Line 784 Hoom to myn hous / or elles vn-to youres ffor wel ye woot þat al this gold is oures Thanne were we / in heigh felicitee But trewely / by daye it may nat bee Line 788 Men wolde seyn / þat we were theues stronge And for oure owene tresor/ doon vs honge This tresor / moste ycaried be by nyghte As wisely / and as slyly / as it myghte Line 792 Wherfore I rede / þat Cut among vs alle Be drawe / and lat se / wher the Cut wol falle And he þat hath the Cut with herte blithe Shal renne to towne / and that ful swithe Line 796 And brynge vs breed and wyn / ful priuely And two of vs / shul kepen subtilly This tresor wel / and if he wol nat tarie Whan it is nyght we wol this tresor carie Line 800 By oon assent / where as vs thynketh best That oon of hem / the Cut broghte in his fest And bad hym drawe / and looke where it wol falle And it fil / on the yongeste of hem alle Line 804 And forth toward the toun / he wente anon And al so soone / as that he was gon That oon spak thus / vn-to that oother Thow knowest wel / thou art my sworn brother Line 808 Thy profit wol I telle thee anon Thou woost wel / that oure felawe is agon And heere is gold / and that ful greet plentee That shal departed been / among vs thre Line 812

[6-text p 328] Line 812 But nathelees / if I kan shape it so That it departed were / among vs two Hadde I nat doon / a freendes torn to thee? ¶ That oother answerde / I noot hou that may be Line 816 He woot how that the gold is with vs tweye Wha[t sha]l we doon / what shal we to hym seye? ¶ Shal it be conseil / seyde the firste shrewe? And I shal tellen / in a wordes fewe Line 820 What we shal doon / and bryngen it wel aboute ¶ I graunte quod that oother / out of doute That by my trouthe / I shal thee nat biwreye ¶ Now quod the firste / thou woost wel we be tweye Line 824 And two of vs / shul strenger be than oon Looke whan þat he is set that right anoon Arys / as though thou woldest with hym pleye And I shal / ryue hym / thurgh the sydes tweye Line 828 Whil that thou strogelest with hym / as in game [folio 146a] And with thy daggere / looke thou do the same And thanne / shal al this gold / departed be My deere freend / bitwixen me and thee Line 832 Thanne may we / bothe oure lustes all fulfille And pleye at dees / right at oure owene wille And thus / acorded been thise shrewes tweye To sleen the thridde / as ye han herd me seye Line 836 ¶ This yongeste / which þat wente vn-to the toun fful ofte in herte / he rolleth vp and doun The beautee of thise floryns / newe and brighte O lord quod he / if so were þat I myghte Line 840 Haue al this tresor / to my self allone Ther is no man / þat lyueth vnder the trone Of god / that sholde lyue so murye as I And atte laste / the feend oure enemy Line 844 Putte in his thought þat he sholde poyson beye With which / he myghte / sleen hise felawes tweye ffor why / the feend foond hym in swich lyuynge That he hadde leue / hem to sorwe brynge Line 848

[6-text p 329] Line 848 ffor this was outrely / his fulle entente To sleen hem bothe / and neuere to repente And forth he gooth / no lenger wolde he tarie Into the toun / vn-to Apothecarie Line 852 And preyde hym / þat he hym wolde selle Som poyson / þat he myghte hise rattes quelle And eek ther was / a polcat in his hawe That as he seyde / hise capons hadde yslawe Line 856 And fayn he wolde / wreke hym / if he myghte On vermyn / þat destroyed hym by nyghte ¶ The Pothecarie answerde / and thou shalt haue A thyng that al so god my soule saue Line 860 In al this world / ther is no creature That eten or dronken hath / of this confiture Noght/ but the montance of a corn of whete That he ne shal / his lif anon forlete Line 864 Ye sterue he shal / and that in lasse while Than thou wolt goon a paas / nat but A Mile This poyson / is so strong and violent ¶ This cursed man / hath in his hond yhent Line 868 This poyson in a box / and sith he ran In-to the nexte strete / vn-to a man And borwed hym / large botels thre And in the two / his poyson poured he Line 872 The thridde he kepte clene / for his owene drynke ffor al the nyght/ he shoope hym for to swynke In cariynge of the gold / out of that place And whan this Riotour/ with sory grace Line 876 Hadde filled with wyn / hise grete botels thre [folio 146b] To hise felawes / agayn repaireth he ¶ What nedeth it to sermone of it moore ffor right so / as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore Line 880 Right so they han hym slayn / and that anon And whan þat this was doon / thus spak that oon Now lat vs sitte and drynke / and make vs merie And afterward / we wol his body berie Line 884

[6-text p 330] Line 884 And with that word / it happed hym par cas To take the botel / ther the poyson was And drank and yaf his felawe drynke also ffor which anon / they storuen bothe two Line 888 ¶ But certes I suppose / that Auycen Wroot neuere in no Canon / ne in no fen Mo wonder signes / of empoisonyng Than hadde thise wrecches two / er hir endyng Line 892 Thus ended been / thise homycides two And eek the false empoysonere also ¶ O cursed synne / of alle cursednesse [¶ Auctor] O traytours homycide .o. wikkednesse Line 896 O glotonye / luxurie / and hasardrye Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye And othes grete / of vsage / and of pride Allas mankynde / how may it bitide Line 900 That to thy creatour / which þat the wroghte And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte Thou art so fals / and so vnkynde allas ¶ Now goode men / god foryeue yow youre trespas Line 904 And ware yow / fro the synne of Auarice Myn hooly pardon / may yow alle warice So þat ye offre / nobles / or sterlynges Or elles siluer broches / spoones / rynges Line 908 Boweth youre heed / vnder this hooly bulle Com vp ye wyues / offreth of youre wolle Youre names / I entre heer/ in my rolle anon In-to the blisse of heueue / shul ye gon Line 912 I yow assoille / by myn heigh power Yow þat wol offre / as clene and eek as cleer As ye were born / and lo sires thus I preche And Ihesu crist that is oure soules leche Line 916 So graunte yow / his pardon to receyue ffor that is best I wol yow nat deceyue

But sires / o. word / forgat I in my tale I haue Relikes / and pardon in my male Line 920

[6-text p 331] Line 920 As faire / as any man in Engelond Whiche were me yeuen / by the popes [[half scratcht out of the MS]] hond If any of yow / wole of deuocion Offren / and han myn Absolucion Line 924 Com forth anon / and kneleth heere adoun [folio 147a] And mekely / receyueth my pardoun Or elles / taketh pardon / as ye wende Al newe and fressh / at euery Miles ende Line 928 So þat ye offren / alwey newe and newe Nobles or pens / whiche þat be goode and trewe It is an honour / to euerich that is heer That ye mowe haue / a suffisant Pardoneer Line 932 Tassoille yow / in contree as ye ryde ffor auentures / whiche þat may bityde Parauenture / ther may fallen / oon or two Doun of his hors / and breke his nekke atwo Line 936 Looke which a seuretee / is it to yow alle That I am / in youre felaweshipe yfalle That may assoille yow / bothe moore and lasse Whan þat the soule / shal fro the body passe Line 940 I rede / þat oure hoost heere shal bigynne ffor he is / moost envoluped in synne Com forth sire hoost and offre first anon And thou shalt kisse / my Relikes euerychon Line 944 Ye for a grote / vnbokele anon thy purs

Nay nay quod he / thanne haue I cristes curs Lat be quod he / it shal nat be so theech Thou woldest make me / kisse thyn olde breech Line 948 And swere / it were a relyk of a seint Though it were / with thy fundement depeint But by the croys / which þat seint Eleyne fond [[fond in a later hand]] I wolde / I hadde / thy coillons in myn hond Line 952 In stide of Relikes / or of seintuarie Lat kutte hem of / I wol with thee hem carie They shul be shryned / in an hogges toord ¶ This Pardoner/ answerde nat a word Line 956

[6-text p 332] Line 956 So wrooth he was / no word ne wolde he seye ¶ Now quod oure hoost I wol no lenger pleye With thee / ne with noon oother angry man But right anon / the worthy knyght bigan Line 960 Whan þat he saugh / þat al the peple lough Namoore of this / for it is right ynough Sire Pardoner / be glad and myrie of cheere And ye sir hoost þat been to me so deere Line 964 I prey yow / þat ye kisse the Pardoner And Pardoner / I prey thee / drawe thee neer And as we diden / lat vs laughe and pleye Anon they kiste / and ryden forth hir weye Line 968

¶ Heere is ended the Pardoners tale.

[6-text p 168]

GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.)

§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.

¶ Heere bigynneth the Shipmannes tale. . [Elles.] [folio 147b]

A Marchant whilom dwelled at Seint Denys, That riche was / for which men helde hym wys A wyf he hadde / of excellent beautee [[Painting of the Shipman, on the left.]] And compaignable / and reuelous was she Which is a thyng that causeth more dispence Than worth is / al the chiere and reuerence Line 1196 That men hem doon / at festes and at daunces Swiche salutacions / and contenaunces Passen / as dooth a shadwe vp on the wal But wo is hym / that payen moot for al Line 1200 The sely housbonde / algate he moste paye He moot vs clothe / and he moot vs arraye Al for his owene worship richely In which array / we daunce iolily Line 1204 And if þat he noght may / par auenture Or ellis / list no swich dispence endure But thynketh / it is wasted / and ylost Thanne moot another / payen for oure cost Line 1208 Or lene vs gold / and that is perilous ¶ This noble Marchant heeld a worthy hous ffor which / he hadde alday so greet repair ffor his largesse / and for his wyf was fair Line 1212 That wonder is / but herkneth to my tale Amonges alle hise gestes / grete and smale Ther was a Monk a fair man and a boold I trowe of thritty wynter he was oold Line 1216 That euere in oon / was comynge to that place This yonge Monk / þat was so fair of face

[6-text p 169] Aqueynted was so / with the goode man Sith that / hir firste knoweliche bigan Line 1220 That in his hous / as famulier was he As it possible / any freend to be ¶ And for as muchel / as this goode man And eek this Monk of which þat I bigan Line 1224 Were bothe two / yborn in o village The Monk / hym claymeth / as for cosynage And he agayn / he seith nat ones nay But was as glad ther-of / as fowel of day Line 1228 ffor to his herte / it was a greet plesance Thus been they knyt with eterne alliance And ech of hem / gan oother for tassure Of bretherhede / whil þat hir lyf may dure Line 1232 ¶ ffree was Daun Iohn and namely of dispence [folio 148a] As in that hous / and ful of diligence To doon plesance / and also greet costage He noght forgat to yeue the leeste page Line 1236 In al the hous / but after hir degree He yaf the lord / and sitthe al his meynee Whan that he cam / som manere honest thyng ffor which / they were as glad of his comyng Line 1240 As fowel is fayn / whan þat the sonne vp riseth Na moore of this as now / for it suffiseth

But so bifel / this Marchant on a day Shoop hym / to make redy his array Line 1244 Toward / the toun of Brugges for to fare To byen there / a porcion of ware ffor which / he hath to Parys sent anon A Messager / and preyed hath daun Iohn Line 1248 That he sholde come / to Seint Denys to pleye With hym and with his wyf / a day or tweye Er he to Brugges wente / in alle wise ¶ This noble Monk of which I yow deuyse Line 1252 Hath of his Abbot as hym list licence By cause / he was a man / of heigh prudence

[6-text p 170] And eek an Officer / out for to ryde To seen hir graunges / and hire bernes wyde Line 1256 And vn-to Seint Denys / he comth anon Who was so welcome / as my lord Daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn / ful of curteisye With hym broghte he a Iubbe of Maluesye Line 1260 And eek another / ful of fyn vernage And volatyl / as ay was his vsage And thus / I lete hem drynke and pleye This Marchant and this Monk a day or tweye Line 1264 ¶ The thridde day / this Marchant vp ariseth And on hise nedes / sadly hym auyseth And vp / in to his Countour hous gooth he To rekene with hym self / wel may be Line 1268 Of thilke yeer / how þat it with hym stood And how þat he / despended hadde his good And if þat he / encressed were or noon Hise bookes / and his bagges many oon Line 1272 He leith biforn hym / on his countyng bord fful riche / was his tresor and his hord ffor which ful faste / his Countour dore he shette And eek he nolde / þat no man sholde hym lette Line 1276 Of hise accountes / for the meene tyme And thus he sit til it was passed pryme ¶ Daun Iohn was rysen / in the morwe also And in the gardyn / walketh to and fro Line 1280 And hath hise thynges seyd / ful curteisly [folio 148b] ¶ This goode wyf cam walkynge pryuely In to the gardyn / there he walketh softe And hym saleweth / as she hath doon ofte Line 1284 A mayde child / cam in hire compaignye Which as hir list she may gouerne and gye ffor yet vnder the yerde was the mayde O deere cosyn myn / daun Iohn she sayde Line 1288 What eyleth yow / so rathe for to ryse ¶ Nece quod he / it oghte ynough suffise

[6-text p 171] ffyue houres for to slepe / vp on a nyght But it were / for an old appalled wight Line 1292 As been thise wedded men / þat lye and dare As in a fourme / sit a wery hare Were al forstraught / with houndes grete and smale But deere Nece / why be ye so pale Line 1296 I trowe certes / that oure goode man Hath yow laboured / sith the nyght bigan That yow were nede / to resten hastily And with that word / he lough ful murily Line 1300 And of his owene thought he wax al reed ¶ This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed And seyde thus / ye god woot al quod she Nay nay cosyn myn / it stant nat so with me Line 1304 ffor by that god / that yaf me soule and lyf/ In al the Reawme of ffrance / is ther no wyf That lasse lust hath / to that sory pley ffor I may synge / allas and weylawey Line 1308 That I was born / but to no wight quod she Dar I nat telle / how that it stant with me Wherfore I thynke / out of this land to wende Or elles / of my self to make an ende Line 1312 So ful am I / of drede / and eek of care ¶ This Monk bigan vp on this wyf to stare And / seyde / Allas my Nece god forbede That ye / for any sorwe / or any drede Line 1316 ffordo youre self / but tel me of youre grief Parauenture / I yow may / in youre meschief Conseille or helpe / and therfore telleth me All youre anoy / for it shal been secree Line 1320 ffor on my porthors / I make an ooth That neuere in my lyf / for lief ne looth Ne shal I / of no conseil yow biwreye ¶ The same agayn / to yow quod she I seye Line 1324 By god / and by this Porthors I yow swere Though men me wolde / al in to pieces tere

[6-text p 172] Ne shal I neuere / for to goon to helle Biwreye a word / of thyng þat ye me telle Line 1328 Nat for no cosynage / ne alliance [folio 149a] But verraily / for loue and affiance Thus been they sworn / and heer vpon they kiste And ech of hem / tolde oother what hem liste Line 1332 ¶ Cosyn quod she / if þat I hadde a space As I haue noon / and namely in this place Thanne wolde I telle / a legende of my lyf What I haue suffred / sith I was a wyf Line 1336 With myn housbonde / al be he of youre kyn ¶ Nay quod this Monk by god / and by seint Martyn He is / na moore cosyn vn-to me Than is this lief þat hangeth on the tree Line 1340 I clepe hym so / by Seint Denys of ffrance To haue / the moore cause of Aqueyntance Of yow / which I haue loued specially Abouen alle wommen sikerly Line 1344 This swere I yow / on my profession Telleth youre grief / lest þat he come adoun And hasteth yow / and gooth youre wey anon ¶ My deere loue quod she / o my daun Iohn Line 1348 fful lief were me / this conseil for to hyde But out it moot I may namoore abyde Myn housbonde / is to me the worste man That euere was / sith þat the world bigan Line 1352 But sith I am a wyf it sit nat me To tellen no wight / of oure priuetee Neither a bedde / ne in noon oother place God shilde / I sholde it tellen for his grace Line 1356 A wyf / ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde But al honour / as I kan vnderstonde Saue vn to yow / thus muche I tellen shal As helpe me god / he is noght worth at al Line 1360 In no degree / the value of a flye But yet me greueth moost his nygardye

[6-text p 173] And wel ye woot þat wommen naturelly Desiren thynges sixe / as wel as I Line 1364 They wolde / that hir housbondes sholde be Hardy and wise / and riche and ther-to free And buxom vn to his wyf and fressh abedde But by that ilke lord / that for vs bledde Line 1368 ffor his honour / my self for to arraye A sonday next I moste nedes paye An hundred frankes / or ellis I am lorn Yet were me leuere / that I were vnborn Line 1372 Than me were doon / a sclaundre or vileynye And if myn housbonde / eek it myghte espye I nere but lost and therfore I yow preye Lene me this somme / or ellis moot I deye Line 1376 Daun Iohn I seye / lene me thise hundred frankes [folio 149b] Pardee / I wol nat faille yow my thankes If that yow list to doon that I yow praye ffor at a certeyn day / I wol yow paye Line 1380 And doon to yow / what plesance and seruice That I may doon / right as yow list deuise And but I do / god take on me vengeance As foul / as euere hadde Genylon of ffrance Line 1384 ¶ This gentil Monk / answerde in this manere Now trewely / myn owene lady deere I haue quod he / on yow so greet a routhe That I yow swere / and plighte yow my trouthe Line 1388 That whan youre housbonde / is to fflaundres fare I wol delyuere yow / out of this care ffor I wol brynge yow / an hundred frankes And with that word / he caughte hire by the flankes Line 1392 And hire embraceth harde / and kiste hire ofte Gooth now youre wey quod he / al stille and softe And lat us dyne / as soone as þat ye may ffor by my chilyndre / it is pryme of day Line 1396 Gooth now / and beeth as trewe as I shal be ¶ Now elles / god forbede sire quod she

[6-text p 174] And forth she gooth / as Iolif as a pye And bad the cookes / þat they sholde hem hye Line 1400 So þat men myghte dyne / and that anon Vp to hir housbonde / is this wyf ygon And knokketh / at his Countour boldely ¶ Who ther? quod he / Peter it am I. [¶ qi la?] Quod she / what sire / how longe wol ye faste? How longe tyme / wol ye rekene and caste? Youre sommes / and youre bookes / and youre thynges? The deuel haue part on alle swiche rekenynges Line 1408 Ye haue ynough pardee / of goddes sonde Com doun to day / and lat youre bagges stonde Ne be ye nat ashamed that Daun Iohn Shal fasting al this day alenge goon Line 1412 Lat vs heere a messe / and go we dyne ¶ Wyf quod this man / litel kanstow deuyne The curious bisynesse / that we haue ffor of vs Chapmen / al so god me saue Line 1416 And by that lord / þat clepid is Seint Yve Scarsly amonges .xij. ten shul thryue Continuelly / lastynge vn to oure age We may wel / make chiere / and good visage Line 1420 And dryue forth the world / as it may be And kepen / oure estaat in pryuetee Til we be deed / or elles that we pleye A pilgrymage / or goon out of the weye Line 1424 And therfore / haue I greet necessitee [folio 150a] Vp on this queynte world tauyse me ffor eueremoore / we moote stonde in drede Of hap and ffortune / in oure chapmanhede Line 1428 ¶ To fflaundres / wol I go / to morwe at day And come agayn / as soone as euere I may ffor which my deere wyf I thee biseke As be to euery wight buxom and meke Line 1432 And for to kepe oure good / be curious And honestly / gouerne wel oure hous

[6-text p 175] Thou hast ynough / in euery maner wise That / to a thrifty houshold may suffise Line 1436 Thee lakketh noon array / ne no vitaille Of siluer in thy purs / shaltow nat faille And with that word / his Countour dore he shette And doun he gooth / no lenger wolde he lette Line 1440 But hastily / a messe was ther seyd And spedily / the tables were yleyd And to the dyner / faste they hem spedde And richely / this Monk / the chapman fedde Line 1444 ¶ At after dyner / daun Iohn sobrely This Chapman took a-part and priuely He seyde hym thus / cosyn it standeth so That wel I se / to Brugges / wol ye go Line 1448 God and seint Austyn / spede yow and gyde I prey yow cosyn / wisely that ye ryde Gouerneth yow also / of youre diete Atemprely / and namely in this hete Line 1452 Bitwix vs two / nedeth no strange fare ffare wel cosyn / god shilde yow fro care And if þat any thyng by day or nyght If it lye in my power / and my myght Line 1456 That ye me wol comande in any wyse It shal be doon / right as ye wol deuyse ¶ O thyng er þat ye goon / if it may be I wolde prey yow / for to lene me Line 1460 An hundred frankes / for a wyke or tweye ffor certein beestes / þat I moste beye To stoore with a place þat is oures God helpe me so / I wolde it were youres Line 1464 I shal nat faille / surely at my day Nat for a thousand frankes a Mile way But lat this thyng be secree / I yow preye ffor yet to nyght / thise beestes moot I beye Line 1468 And fare now wel / myn owene cosyn deere Graunt mercy / of youre cost / and of youre cheere

[6-text p 176] ¶ This noble marchant / gentilly anon Answerde / and seyde o cosyn myn Daun Iohn Line 1472 Now sikerly / this is a smal requeste [folio 150b] My gold is youres / whan þat it yow leste And nat oonly my gold / but my chaffare Take what yow list god shilde þat ye spare Line 1476 ¶ But o thyng is / ye knowe it wel ynogh Of Chapmen / that hir moneie is hir plogh We may creaunce / whil we haue a name But goldlees for to be / it is no game Line 1480 Paye it agayn / whan it lith in youre ese After my myght / ful fayn wolde I yow plese ¶ Thise hundred frankes / he fette hym forth anon And priuely / he took hem to daun Iohn Line 1484 No wight in al this world / wiste of this loone Sauynge this Marchant / and daun Iohn alloone They drynke / and speke / and rome a while and pleye Til þat daun Iohn / rideth to his Abbeye Line 1488

The morwe cam / and forth this Marchant rideth To fflaundres ward / his prentys wel hym gydeth Til he cam / in to Brugges murily Now gooth this Marchant faste and bisily Line 1492 Aboute his nede / and byeth and creaunceth He neither / pleyeth at dees ne daunceth But as a Marchant shortly for to telle He let his lyf / and there I lete hym dwelle Line 1496

The sonday next this Marchant was agon To seint Denys / ycomen is Daun Iohn With crowne and berde all fressh and newe y-shaue In al the hous / ther nas so litel a knaue Line 1500 Ne no wight elles / þat he nas ful fayn That my lord Daun Iohn / was come agayn And shortly / right to the point for to gon This faire wyf accorded with daun Iohn Line 1504 That for thise hundred frankes / he sholde al nyght Haue hire in hise armes / bolt upright

[6-text p 177] And this acord / parfourned was in dede In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede Line 1508 Til it was day / þat Daun Iohn wente his way And bad the meynee / fare wel haue good day ffor noon of hem / ne no wight in the toun Hath of daun Iohn / right no suspecioun Line 1512 And forth he rydeth / hoom to his Abbeye Or where hym list. namoore of hym I seye

This Marchant whan þat ended was the faire To Seint Denys / he gan for to repaire Line 1516 And with his wyf he maketh feeste and cheere And telleth hire / that Chaffare is so deere That nedes / moste he make a cheuyssance ffor he was bounden / in a reconyssance Line 1520 To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon [folio 151a] ffor which / this Marchant is to Parys gon To borwe / of certeine freendes þat he hadde A certeyn frankes / and somme with him he ladde Line 1524 And whan þat he was come / in to the toun ffor greet chiertee / and greet affectioun Vn to daun Iohn / he gooth hym first to pleye Nat for to axe / or borwe of hym moneye Line 1528 But for to wite / and seen of his welfare And for to tellen hym / of his chaffare As freendes doon / whan they been met yfeere Daun Iohn / hym maketh feeste and murye cheere Line 1532 And he hym tolde agayn / ful specially How he hadde wel yboght and graciously Thanked be god / al hool his marchandise Saue þat he moste / in alle maner wise Line 1536 Maken a cheuyssance / as for his beste And thanne / he sholde been / in ioye and reste ¶ Daun Iohn answerde / certes I am fayn That ye in heele / ar comen hom agayn Line 1540 And if þat I were riche / as haue I blisse Of twenty thousand sheeld / shold ye nat mysse

[6-text p 178] ffor ye / so kyndely / this oother day Lente me gold / and as I kan and may Line 1544 I thanke yow / by god and by seint Iame But nathelees / I took vn to oure dame Youre wyf / at hom / the same gold ageyn Vpon youre bench / she woot it wel certeyn Line 1548 By certeyn tokenes / that I kan yow telle Now by youre leue / I may no lenger dwelle Oure Abbot wole out of this toun anon And in his compaignye / moot I goon Line 1552 Grete wel oure dame / myn owene Nece sweete And fare wel deere cosyn / til we meete

This Marchant which þat was ful war and wys Creanced hath / and payd eek in Parys Line 1556 To certeyn lumbardes / redy in hir hond [.i. obligacionem] The somme of gold / and hadde of hem his bond And hoom he gooth / murie / as a Papeiay ffor wel he knew / he stood in swich array Line 1560 That nedes moste he wynne in that viage A thousand frankes / abouen al his costage ¶ His wyf ful redy / mette hym atte gate As she was wont of oold vsage algate Line 1564 And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette ffor he was riche / and cleerly out of dette Whan it was day / this Marchant gan embrace His wyf / al newe / and kiste hire on hir face Line 1568 And vp he gooth / and maketh it ful tough [folio 151b] ¶ Namoore quod she / by god ye haue ynough And wantownely agayn / with hym she pleyde ¶ Til atte laste / this Marchant seyde Line 1572 By god quod he / I am a litel wrooth With yow my wyf / al-though it were me looth And woot ye why / by god as þat I gesse That ye han maad / a manere straungenesse Line 1576 Bitwixen me / and my cosyn daun Iohn Ye sholde han warned me / er I had gon

[6-text p 179] That he yow hadde / an hundred frankes payed By redy tokene / and heeld hym yuele apayed Line 1580 ffor þat I to hym spak of cheuyssance Me semed so / as by his contenance But nathelees / by god oure heuene kyng I thoughte nat to axen hym no thyng Line 1584 I prey thee wyf / as do namoore so Telle me alwey / er that I fro thee go If any dettour / hath in myn absence Ypayed thee / lest thurgh thy necligence Line 1588 I myghte hym axe / a thing that he hath payed ¶ This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed But boldely she seyde / and that anon Marie / I deffie / the false Monk / daun Iohn Line 1592 I kepe nat of hise tokenes / neuer a deel He took me certeyn gold / that woot I wee What yuel thedam / on his Monkes snowte ffor god it woot I wende withouten doute Line 1596 That he hadde yeue it me / bycause of yow To doon ther-with / myn honour and my prow ffor cosynage / and eek for beele cheere That he hath had / ful ofte tymes heere Line 1600 But sith I se / I stonde in this disioynt I wol answere yow / shortly to the poynt ¶ Ye han mo slakkere dettours / than am I ffor I wol paye yow / wel and redily Line 1604 ffor day to day / and if so be I faille I am youre wyf score it vp-on my taille And I shal paye / as soone as euer I may ffor by my trouthe / I haue on myn array Line 1608 And nat on wast bistowed euery deel And for I haue / bistowed it so weel ffor youre honour / for goddes sake I seye As be nat wrooth / but lat vs laughe and pleye Line 1612 Ye shal / my ioly body / haue to wedde By god I wol nat paye yow but a bedde

[6-text p 180] fforgyue it me / myn owene spouse deere Turne hiderward / and maketh bettre cheere Line 1616 ¶ This Marchant saugh / ther was no remedie [folio 152a] And for to chide / it nere but greet folie Sith that the thyng may nat amended be Now wyf he seyde / and I foryeue it thee Line 1620 But by thy lyf ne be namoore so large Keepe bet oure good / that yeue I thee in charge Thus endeth my tale / and god vs sende Taillynge ynough / vn-to oure lyues ende Amen . Line 1624

¶ Heere endeth / the Shipmannes tale .

[6-text p 181]

¶ Bihoold the murie wordes of the Hoost to the Shipman and to the lady Prioresse. [on leaf 152]

Wel seyd by corpus dominus quod our Hoost Now longe / moote thou saille by the cost Sire gentil maister / gentil Maryneer God yeue this Monk / a thousand last quade yeer Line 1628 A ha felawes / beth ware of swiche a Iape The Monk putte / in the mannes hood an Ape And in his wyues eek by Seint Austyn Draweth no Monkes / moore vn to youre In Line 1632 ¶ But now passe ouer / and lat vs seke aboute Who shal now / telle first of al this route Another tale / and with that word he sayde As curteisly / as it had ben a mayde Line 1636 My lady Prioresse / by youre leue So that I wiste / I sholde yow nat greue I wolde demen / that ye tellen sholde A tale next if so were that ye wolde Line 1640 Now wol ye vouche sauf my lady deere ¶ Gladly quod she / and seyde as ye shal heere

¶ Explicit. .

[6-text p 182]

¶ The prologe of the Prioresses tale. . [on leaf 152]

Domine dominus noster.

O lord oure lord / thy name how merueillous Is in this large world / ysprad quod she ffor noght oonly / thy laude precious Parfourned is / by men of dignitee Line 1646 But by the mouth of children / thy bountee Parfourned is / for on the brest soukynge Somtyme / shewen they thyn heriynge Line 1649

Wherfore in laude / as I best kan or may [folio 152b] Of thee / and of the lylye flour Which that the bar / and is a mayde alway To telle a storie / I wol do my labour Line 1653 Nat that I may / encreessen hir honour sfor she hir self / is honour and the roote Of bountee next hir sone / and soules boote Line 1656

O mooder mayde / o mayde mooder fre O bussh vnbrent brennynge in Moyses sighte That rauysedest doun fro the deitee Thurgh thyn humblesse / the goost þat in thalighte Line 1660 Of whos vertu / whan he thyn herte lighte Conceyued was / the fadres sapience Helpe me / to telle it in thy reuerence Line 1663

Lady / thy bountee / thy magnificence Thy vertu / and thy grete humylitee Ther may no tonge expresse / in no science ffor somtyme lady / er men praye to thee Line 1667 Thou goost biforn / of thy benyngnytee And getest vs / thurgh lyght of thy preyere To gyden vs / vn to thy sone so deere Line 1670

[6-text p 183] Line 1670

My konnyng is so wayk o blisful queene ffor to declare / thy grete worthynesse That I ne may / the weighte nat susteene But as a child / of twelf / monthe oold or lesse Line 1674 That kan vnnethe / any word expresse Right so fare I / and therfore I yow preye Gydeth my song þat I shal of yow seye Line 1677

¶ Explicit .

¶ Heere bigynneth the Prioresses tale.

Ther was in Asye / in a greet Citee [[Painting of the Prioress on the left]] Amonges cristene folk / a Iewerye Sustened / by a lord / of that contree ffor foule vsure / and lucre of vileynye [¶ turpe lucrum. .] Hateful / to Crist and to his compaignye And thurgh the strete / men myghte ride or wende ffor it was free / and open at eyther ende Line 1684

A litel scole / of cristen folk ther stood [folio 153a] Doun at the ferther ende / in which ther were Children an heepe / ycomen of cristen blood That lerned in that scole / yeer by yere Line 1688 Swich manere doctrine / as men vsed there This is to seyn / to syngen / and to rede As smale children doon / in hire childhede Line 1691

Among thise children / was a wydwes sone A litel clergeon / seuen yeer of age That day by day / to scole was his wone And eek also / where as he saugh thymage Line 1695 Of Cristes mooder he hadde in vsage As hym was taught to knele adoun and seye His Aue Marie / as he goth by the weye Line 1698

[6-text p 184] Line 1698

Thus hath this wydwe / hir litel sone ytaught Oure blisful lady cristes mooder deere To worshipe ay / and he forgate it naught ffor sely child / wol alday soone leere Line 1702 But ay / whan I remembre on this mateere Seint Nicholas / stant euere in my presence ffor he so yong to Crist dide reuerence Line 1705

This litel child his litel book lernynge As he sat in the scole / at his prymer He / Alma redemptoris / herde synge As children / lerned hire Anthiphoner Line 1709 And as he dorste / he drough hym ner and ner And herkned ay / the wordes and the noote Til he the firste vers / koude al by rote Line 1712

Noght wiste he / what this latyn was to seye ffor he so yong and tendre was of age But on a day / his felawe gan he preye Texpounden hym this song in his langage Line 1716 Or telle hym / why this song was in vsage This preyde he hym / to construe and declare fful often tyme / vpon hise knowes bare Line 1719

His felawe / which that elder was than he Answerde hym thus / this song I haue herd seye Was maked / of oure blisful lady free Hire to salue / and eek hire for to preye Line 1723 To been oure help / and socour whan we deye I kan na moore / expounde in this mateere I lerne song I kan but smal grammeere Line 1726

¶ And is this song maked in reuerence [folio 153b] Of cristes mooder seyde / this Innocent Now certes / I wol do my diligence To konne it al / er Cristemasse is went Line 1730

[6-text p 185] Line 1730 Though þat / I for my prymer shal be shent And shal be beten / thries in an houre I wol it konne / oure lady for to honoure Line 1733

His felawe / taughte hym homward priuely ffro day to day / til he koude it by rote And thanne / he song it wel and boldely ffro word to word to word acordynge with the note Line 1737 Twies a day / it passed thurgh his throte To scoleward and homward whan he wente On cristes mooder / set was his entente Line 1740

¶ As I haue seyd / thurgh out the Iuerie This litel child / as he cam to and fro fful murily / wolde he synge and crie O Alma redemptoris / euere mo Line 1744 The swetnesse / his herte perced so Of cristes mooder / that to hire to preye He kan nat stynte / of syngyng by the weye Line 1747

Ovre firste foo / the serpent Sathanas [¶ Auctor] That hath / in Iues herte his waspes nest Vp swal / and seide / o. hebrayk peple allas Is this to yow / a thyng þat is honest Line 1751 That swich a boy / shal walken as hym lest In youre despit and synge of swich sentence Which is / agayn oure lawes reuerence Line 1754

ffro thennes forth / the Iues han conspired This Innocent out of this world to chace An homycide / ther to / han they hyred That in an Aleye / hadde a priuee place Line 1758 And as the child / gan forby for to pace This cursed Iew hym hente / and heeld hym faste And kitte his throte / and in a pit hym caste Line 1761

[6-text p 186] Line 1761

I seye / that in a wardrobe / they hym threwe Where as thise Iewes / purgen hire entraille O cursed folk / of Herodes al newe What may youre yuel entente yow auaille Line 1765 Mordre wol out certeyn / it wol nat faille And namely / ther thonour of god shal sprede The blood out crieth / on youre cursed dede Line 1768

¶ O martir / sowded to virginitee [folio 154a] Now maystow syngen / folwynge euere in oon The white lamb celestial quod she Of which / the grete Euaungelist Seint Iohn Line 1772 In Pathmos wroot which seith / þat they þat goon Biforn this lamb / and synge a song al newe [i. carnaliter] That neuere fleshly / wommen they ne knewe Line 1775

¶ This poure wydwe / awaiteth al that nyght After hir litel child / but he cam noght ffor which as soone / as it was dayes lyght With face pale of drede / and bisy thoght Line 1779 She hath at scole / and elles where hym soght Til finally / she gan so fer espie That he / last seyn was in the Iuerie Line 1782

With moodres pitee / in hir brest enclosed She gooth / as she were half / out of hir mynde To euery place / where she hath supposed By liklihede / hir litel child to fynde Line 1786 And euere / on Cristes mooder/ meeke and kynde She cride / and atte laste / thus she wroghte Among the cursed Iues / she hym soghte Line 1789

She frayneth / and she preyeth pitously To euery Iew / þat dwelte in thilke place To telle hire / if hir child / wente oght forby They seyde nay / but Ihesu of his grace Line 1793

[6-text p 187] Line 1793 Yaf in hir thoght inwith a litel space That in that place / after hir sone she cryde Where he was casten / in a pit bisyde Line 1796

O grete god / that parfournest thy laude [¶ Auctor] By mouth of Innocentz / lo heere thy myght This gemme of chastite / this Emeraude And eek of martirdom / the Ruby bright Line 1800 Ther he with throte ykoruen lay vpright He Alma redemptoris / gan to synge So loude / þat al the place gan to rynge Line 1803

¶ The cristene folk / that thurgh the strete wente In coomen / for to wondre vp on this thyng And hastily / they for the Prouost sente He cam anon / with outen tariyng Line 1807 And herieth Crist that is of heuene kyng And eek his mooder / honour of mankynde And after that / the Iewes leet he bynde Line 1810

¶ This child / with pitous lamentacion [folio 154b] Vp taken was / syngynge his song alway And with honour/ of greet procession They carien hym / vn to the nexte Abbay Line 1814 His mooder swownynge / by his beere lay Vnnethe / myghte the peple þat was theere This newe Rachel / brynge fro his beere Line 1817

¶ With torment and with shameful deeth echon This Prouost dooth the Iewes for to sterue That of this mordre wiste / and that anon He nolde / no swich cursednesse obserue Line 1821 Yuele shal he haue / þat yuele wol deserue Therfore / with wilde hors / he dide hem drawe And after that he heng hem by the lawe Line 1824

[6-text p 188] Line 1824

¶ Vp on this beere / ay lith this Innocent Biforn the chief Auter / whil the masse laste And after that the Abbot with his Couent Han sped hem / for to burien hym ful faste Line 1828 And whan they / hooly water on hym caste Yet spak this child / whan spreynd was hooly water And song O Alma redemptoris mater. Line 1831

¶ This Abbot which þat was an hooly man As Monkes been / or elles oghte be This yonge child / to coniure he bigan And seyde o deere child I halsen thee Line 1835 In vertu / of the hooly Trinitee Tel me / what is thy cause / for to synge Sith þat thy throte is kut to my semynge Line 1838

¶ My throte is kut vn to my nekke boon Seyde this child and as by wey of kynde I sholde haue dyed / ye longe tyme agon But Ihesu crist / as ye in bookes fynde Line 1842 Wil þat his glorie / laste / and be in mynde And for the worship / of his mooder deere Yet may I synge / O Alma / loude and cleere Line 1845

¶ This welle of mercy Cristes mooder sweete I loued alwey / as after my konnynge And whan þat I my lyf / sholde forlete To me she cam / and bad me for to synge Line 1849 This Anthephen / verraily / in my deyynge As ye han herd / and whan þat I hadde songe Me thoughte / she leyde a greyn vp on my tonge Line 1852

Wherfore I synge / and synge I moot certeyn [folio 155a] In honour / of that blisful mayden free Til fro my tonge / of taken is the greyn And afterward / thus seyde she to me Line 1856

[6-text p 189] Line 1856 My litel child / now wol I fecche thee Whan þat the greyn / is fro thy tonge ytake Be nat agast I wol thee nat forsake Line 1859

¶ This hooly Monk this Abbot hym meene I His tonge out caughte / and took a-wey the greyn And he yaf vp the goost ful softely And whan this Abbot hadde this wonder seyn Line 1863 Hise salte teeris / trikled doun as reyn And gruf he fil / al plat vp on the grounde And stille he lay / as he had leyn ybounde Line 1866

The Couent eek / lay on the pauement Wepynge / and heryen cristes mooder deere And after that / they ryse and forth been went And tooken awey / this martir from his beere Line 1870 And in a temple / of Marbul stones cleere Enclosen they / his litel body sweete Ther he is now / god leue us alle for to meete Line 1873

¶ O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln slayn also With cursed Iewes / as it is notable ffor it is / but a litel while ago Preye eek / for vs / we synful folk vnstable Line 1877 That of his mercy / god so merciable On vs / his grete mercy multiplie ffor reuerence / of his mooder Marie Amen . Line 1880

¶ Heere is ended / the Prioresses Tale .

[6-text p 190]

¶ Bihoold the murye wordes of the Hoost to Chaucer . [on leaf 155]

WHan seyd was al this miracle / euery man As sobre was / that wonder was to se Til that oure hoost Iapen to bigan [.s. Chaucer] And thanne at erst he looked vp on me Line 1884 And seyde thus / what man artow quod he? Thou lookest as thou woldest fynde an hare ffor euere / vp on the ground / I se thee stare Line 1887

Approche neer / and looke vp murily [folio 155b] Now war yow sires / and lat this man haue place He in the waast is shape / as wel as .I. [.i. henry Bailly] This were a popet in an Arm tenbrace Line 1891 ffor any womman smal / and fair of face He semeth eluyssh / by his contenance ffor vn to no wight / dooth he daliance Line 1894

Sey now somwhat syn oother folk han sayd Telle vs a tale / of myrthe / and that anon Hoost quod I / ne beth nat yuele apayd ffor oother tale / certes kan I noon Line 1898 But of a rym / I lerned longe agoon [.i. hoost] Ye that is good quod he / now shul ye heere Som deyntee thyng me thynketh by his cheere Line 1901

¶ Explicit .

[6-text p 191]

¶ Heere bigynneth Chaucers tale of Thopas. [on leaf 155, bk]

[The First Fit.]

[Each third line is on the right of its couple, in the MS.]

Listeth lordes in good entent And I wol telle verrayment Of myrthe and of solas Line 1904 Al of a knyght / was fair and gent In bataille / and in tourneyment His name was sire Thopas Line 1907

¶ Yborn he was / in fer contree In flaundres / al biyonde the see At Poperyng in the place Line 1910 His fader was / a man ful free And lord he was / of that contree As it was goddes grace Line 1913

¶ Sire Thopas / wax a doghty swayn Whit was his face as Payndemayn Hise lippes rede as rose Line 1916 His rode is lyk / scarlet in grayn And I yow telle / in good certayn He hadde / a semely nose Line 1919

¶ His heer / his berd / was lyk saffroun That to his girdel raughte adoun Hise shoos of Cordewane Line 1922 Of Brugges / were his hosen broun His Robe / was of Syklatoun That coste many a Iane Line 1925

[6-text p 192] Line 1925

¶ He koude hunte / at wilde deer And ride an haukyng for Riuer With grey goshauk on honde Line 1928 Ther-to he was / a good Archeer Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer Ther any Ram shal stonde Line 1931

¶ fful many a mayde / bright in bour They moorne for hym paramour Whan hem were bet to slepe Line 1934 But he was chaast and no lechour And sweete as is the Brembul flour That bereth the rede hepe Line 1937

And so bifel vp on a day ffor sothe / as I yow telle may Sire Thopas / wolde out ride Line 1940 He worth / vpon his steede gray And in his hand a launcegay A long swerd / by his side Line 1943

¶ He priketh / thurgh a fair forest [folio 156a] Ther Inne / is many a wilde best Ye bothe bukke and hare Line 1946 And as he priketh North and Est I telle it yow / hym hadde almest Bitidde / a sory care Line 1949

¶ Ther spryngen herbes / grete and smale The lycorys and Cetewale And many a clowe gylofre Line 1952 And Notemuge / to putte in Ale Wheither it be moyste / or stale Or for to leye in cofre Line 1955

[6-text p 193] Line 1955

¶ The briddes synge / it is no nay The sparhauk and the papeiay That ioye it was to heere Line 1958 The thrustelcok / made eek hir lay The wodedowue / vp on a spray She sang ful loude and cleere Line 1961

¶ Sire Thopas fil in loue longynge Al whan he herde / the thrustel synge And pryked / as he were wood Line 1964 His faire steede in his prikynge So swatte / þat men myghte him wrynge His sydes / were al blood Line 1967

¶ Sire Thopas eek / so wery was ffor prikyng on the softe gras So fiers was his corage Line 1970 That doun he leyde him in that plas To make his steede som solas And yaf hym good forage Line 1973

¶ O seinte Marie benedicite What eyleth / this loue at me To bynde me so soore Line 1976 Me dremed / al this nyght pardee An elf queene / shal my lemman be And slepe vnder my goore Line 1979

¶ An Elf queene / wol I loue ywis ffor in this world / no womman is Worthy to be my make? Line 1982 In towne ¶ Alle othere wommen I forsake And to an Elf queene I me take By dale and eek by downe Line 1986

[6-text p 194] Line 1986

¶ In to his sadel / he clamb anon And priketh ouer stile and stoon An Elf queene for tespye Line 1989 Til he so longe / hadde riden and goon That he foond / in a pryue woon The contree of ffairye Line 1992 so wilde ffor in that contree was ther noon? . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Neither wyf ne childe Line 1996

¶ Til þat ther cam a greet geaunt His name was / sire Olifaunt A perilous man of dede Line 1999 He seyde child by Termagaunt / But if thou prike / out of myn haunt Anon I sle thy steede Line 2002 with mace ¶ Heere is / the queene of ffairye With harpe / and pipe and symphonye Dwellynge in this place Line 2006

¶ The child seyde / Al so moote I thee Tomorwe / wol I meete with thee Whan I haue myn Armoure Line 2009 ¶ And yet I hope / par ma fay That thou shalt with this launcegay Abyen it ful sowre Line 2012 Thy mawe Thyn hauberk / shal I percen / if I may [[all over an erasure]] Er it be fully pryme of day ffor heere thow shalt be slawe Line 2016

[6-text p 195] Line 2016

¶ Sire Thopas / drow abak ful faste This geant at hym stones caste Out of a fel staf slynge Line 2019 ¶ But faire escapeth sire Thopas And al it was thurgh goddes gras And thurgh his fair berynge Line 2022

Yet listeth / lordes / to my tale [folio 156b] Murier than the Nightyngale I wol yow rowne Line 2025 How sir Thopas / with sydes smale Prikyng ouer hill and dale Is comen agayn to towne Line 2028

¶ His murie men / comanded he To make hym / bothe game and glee ffor nedes / moste he fighte Line 2031 With a geaunt with heuedes three ffor paramour and Iolitee Of oon / that shoon ful brighte Line 2034

¶ Do come he seyde / my Mynstrales And geestours / for to tellen tales Anon in myn Armynge Line 2037 Of Romances / that been Roiales Of Popes / and of Cardinales And eek of loue likynge Line 2040

¶ They sette hym first sweete wyn And Mede eek in a Mazelyn And Roial spicerye Line 2043 And Gyngebreed / þat was ful fyn And lycorys and eek Comyn With sugre þat is so trye Line 2046

[6-text p 196] Line 2046

¶ He dide / next his white leere Of clooth of lake / fyn and cleere A breech / and eek a sherte Line 2049 And next his sherte an Aketon And ouer that an haubergeon ffor percynge of his herte Line 2052

¶ And ouer that / a fyn hawberk Was al ywroght of Iewes werk fful strong it was of plate Line 2055 And ouer that his cote Armour As whit as is / a lilye flour In which / he wol debate Line 2058

¶ His sheeld / was al / of gold so reed And ther Inne / was a bores heed A Charbocle bisyde Line 2061 And there he swoor / on ale and breed How þat the geaunt shal be deed Bityde what bityde Line 2064

¶ Hise Iambeux were of quyrboilly His swerdes shethe of Yuory His helm of laton bright Line 2067 His sadel was of Rewel boon His brydel / as the sonne shoon Or as the moone light Line 2070

¶ His spere it was / of fyn Ciprees That bodeth werre / and no thyng pees The heed / ful sharpe ygrounde Line 2073 ¶ His steede was / al dappull gray It gooth an Ambil in the way fful softely and rounde Line 2076

[6-text p 197] Line 2076

In londe ¶ Loo lordes myne / heere is a fit If ye wol any moore of it To telle it / wol I fonde Line 2080

[The Second Fit.]

NOw holde youre mouth par charitee Bothe knyght and lady free And herkneth to my spelle Line 2083 ¶ Of batailles / and of Chiualry And of ladyes / loue drury Anon I wol yow telle Line 2086

¶ Men speken of Romances of prys Of Hornchild / and of Ypotys Of Beves and of sir Gy Line 2089 Of sir lybeux and pleyn damour But sir Thopas / he bereth the flour Of Roial Chiualry Line 2092

¶ His goode Steede / al he bistrood And forth / vpon his wey he rood As sparcle / out of the bronde Line 2095 ¶ Vp on his Creest He bar a tour [folio 157a] And ther Inne / stiked a lilie flour God shilde his cors fro shonde Line 2098

¶ And for he was / a knyght Auntrous He nolde slepen / in noon hous But liggen in his hoode Line 2101 ¶ His brighte helm / was his wonger And by hym / baiteth his dextrer Of herbes fyne and goode Line 2104

[6-text p 198] Line 2104

¶ Hym self / drank water of the well As dide the knyght sire Percyuell So worly vnder wede ¶ Til on a day Line 2108

[6-text p 199]

¶ Heere the Hoost stynteth Chaucer / of his tale of Thopas.

Na moore of this / for goddes dignitee Quod oure hoost for thou makest me So wery / of thy verray lewednesse That also wisly / god my soule blesse Line 2112 Min eres aken / of thy drasty speche Now swich a Rym / the deuel I biteche This may wel / be Rym dogerel quod he ¶ Why so quod I / why wiltow lette me? Line 2116 Moore of my tale / than another man Syn that it is / the beste tale I kan ¶ By god quod he / for pleynly at a word Thy drasty rymyng / is nat worth a toord Line 2120 Thou doost noght elles / but despendest tyme Sire at o word / thou shalt no lenger ryme Lat se / wher thou kanst tellen aught in geeste Or telle in prose / somwhat at the leeste Line 2124 In which ther be som murthe / or som doctryne ¶ Gladly quod I / by goddes sweete pyne I wol yow telle / a litel thyng in prose That oghte liken yow / as I suppose Line 2128 Or elles certes / ye been to daungerous It is a moral tale vertuous Al be it take somtyme / in sondry wyse Of sondry folk as I shal yow deuyse Line 2132 ¶ As thus / ye woot þat euery Euaungelist/ That telleth vs / the peyne of Ihesu crist Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth But nathelees / hir sentence is al sooth Line 2136 And alle acorden / as in hire sentence Al be ther / in hir tellyng difference

[6-text p 200] ffor somme of hem seyn moore / and somme seyn lesse Whan they / his pitous passioun expresse Line 2140 I meene / of Mark Mathew / Luc and Iohn But doutelees / hir sentence is all oon ¶ Therfore lordynges alle / I yow biseche [folio 157b] If þat yow thynke / I varie as in my speche Line 2144 As thus / though that I telle som what moore Of prouerbes / than ye han herd bifoore Comprehended / in this litel tretys heere To enforce with / theffect of my mateere Line 2148 And though I / nat the same wordes seye As ye han herd / yet to yow alle I preye Blameth me nat for as in my sentence Shul ye / nowher / fynden difference Line 2152 ffro the sentence / of this tretys lyte After the which / this murye tale I write And therfore / herkneth / what þat I shal seye And lat me tellen / al my tale I preye Line 2156

¶ Explicit .

[6-text p 201]

¶ Heere bigynneth Chaucers tale of Melibee .

[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines. ‖ stands for a triangular pause-mark in the MS.]

[Ellesmere MS, on leaf 157, back.]

[2157] [[Painting of Chaucer on horseback.]]

A Yong man called Melibeus myghty and riche / bigat vp on his wyf that called was Prudence / a doghter which that called was Sophie /.

[2158] Vpon a day bifel þat he / for his desport/ is went in to the feeldes hym to pleye / [2159] his wyf / and eek his doghter / hath he left inwith his hous / of which the dores / weren fast yshette [2160] ¶ thre of hise olde foes / han it espyed and setten laddres / to the walles of his hous / and by wyndowes been entred / [2161] and betten his wyf / and wounded his doghter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places [2162] ¶ this is to seyn / in hir feet. in hire handes /. in hir erys /. in hir nose /. and in hire mouth and leften hire for deed / and wenten awey

[2163] ¶ Whan Melibeus / retourned was in to his hous / and saugh al this meschief? he lyk a mad man rentynge his clothes / gan to wepe and crie

[2164] ¶ Prudence his wyf / as ferforth as she dorste / bisoghte hym / of his wepyng for to stynte / [2165] but nat for-thy / he gan to crie and wepen euere lenger the moore

[2166] ¶ This noble wyf Prudence / remembred hire / vpon the sentence of Ouide / in his book / that cleped is the remedie of loue ‖ where as he seith / [2167] he is a fool / [¶ Ouidius / de remedio amoris.] that destourbeth the mooder to wepen in the deeth of hire child / til she haue wept hir fille / as for a certein tyme [2168] ¶ And thanne / shal man doon his diligence with amyable wordes / hire to reconforte / and preyen hire of

[6-text p 202] hir wepyng for to stynte [2169] ¶ ffor which reson this noble wyf Prudence / suffred hir housbonde for to wepe and crie / as for a certein space /. [2170] And whan she saugh hir tyme / she seyde hym in this wise ¶ Allas / my lord quod she / why make ye youre self for to be lyk a fool / [2171] for sothe / it aperteneth nat to a wys man / to maken swiche a sorwe / [2172] youre [folio 158a] doghter / with the grace of god shal warisshe and escape / [2173] And al were it so / that she right now were deed? ye ne oughte nat as for hir deeth youre self to destroye [2174] ¶ Senek [¶ Seneca] seith / the wise man / shal nat take to greet disconfort for the deeth of his children / [2175] but certes / he sholde suffren it in pacience / as wel / as he / abideth the deeth / of his owene. propre persone

[2176] ¶ This Melibeus / answerde anon and seyde [¶ Melibeus] ¶ What man quod he sholde of his wepyng stente / that hath so greet a cause for to wepe? [2177] Ihesu crist [¶ Qualiter Ihesus christus fleuit propter mortem lazari] oure lord hym self wepte for the deeth of Lazarus hys freend [2178] ¶ Prudence answerde ‖. Certes wel I woot ‖ Attempree wepyng is no thyng deffended to hym þat sorweful is amonges folk in sorwe / but it is rather graunted hym to wepe [2179] ¶ The Apostle Paul vn-to the [¶ Apostolus Pau|lus ad Romanos] Romayns writeth ‖ Man shal reioyse with hem that maken ioye and wepen / with swich folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But though attempree wepyng be ygraunted / outrageous wepyng certes is deffended / [2181] Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered / after the loore þat techeth us Senek [¶ Seneca] [2182] ¶ Whan that thy frend is deed quod he / lat nat thyne eyen to moyste been of teeris / ne to muche drye / Al though the teeris come to thyne eyen / lat hem nat falle / [2183] And whan thou hast for-goon thy freend / do dili|gence to gete another freend / and this is moore wysdom / than for to wepe for thy freend which that thou hast lorn / for ther-Inne is no boote / [2184] And therfore / if ye gouerne yow by sapience / put awey sorwe / out of youre herte [2185] ¶ Remembre yow / þat Ihesus Syrak seith [¶ Ihesus Syrak]

[6-text p 203] ¶ A man that is ioyous and glad in herte / it hym con|serueth florissynge in his age / But soothly / sorweful herte / maketh hise bones drye [2186] ¶ He seith eek/ thus / That sorwe in herte / sleeth ful many a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lomon [¶ Salomon] seith / That right as Motthes in the shepes flees / anoyeth to the clothes / and the smale wormes to the tree / right so anoyeth sorwe to the herte / [2188] wherfore / vs oghte as wel in the deeth of oure children / as in the losse of oþere goodes temporels haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembre yow vp on the pacient Iob / [¶ Memorandum de lob] whan he hadde lost his children and his temporeel sub|stance / and in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacion; yet seyde he thus [2190] ¶ Oure lord / [le m'a donné; nostre Seigneur] hath biraft it me / right as oure lord hath wold / right so it is doon / blessed be the name of oure lord [2191] ¶ To thise foreseide thynges / answerde Melibeus / vn to his wyf Prudence [¶ Melibeus] ¶ Alle thy wordes quod he been sothe / and therwith pro|fitable / but trewely / myn herte is troubled with this sorwe so greuously / that I noot what to doone [2192] ¶ Lat calle quod Prudence thy trewe freendes alle / and thy lynage / [¶ Prudence] whiche that been wise / telleth youre cas / and herkneth what they seye in conseillyng and yow gouerne after hire sentence [2193] ¶ Salomon seith / werk alle thy thynges [¶ Salomon] by conseil / and thou shalt neuer repente

[2194] ¶ Thanne by the conseil of his wyf Prudence / this Melibeus / leet callen a greet congregacion of folk/. [2195] as surgiens / Phisiciens olde folk and yonge / and somme of hise olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblaunt to his loue / and in to his grace / [2196] and ther-with-al / ther coomen somme of hise neighebores / that diden hym reuerence / moore for drede than for loue / as it happeth ofte / [2197] ¶ Ther coomen also / ful many subtille flatereres and wise Aduocatz lerned in the lawe /

[2198] And whan this folk / togidre assembled weren / this Melibeus in sorweful wise / shewed hem his cas /

[6-text p 204] [2199] and by the manere of his [folio 158b] speche / it semed wel / that in herte / he baar a crueel Ire / redy to doon venge|ance vp on hise foes / and sodeynly desired / that the werre sholde bigynne / [2200] but nathelees / yet axed he hire conseil vpon this matiere [2201] ¶ A Surgien by licence and assent of swiche as weren wise / vp roos / and to Melibeus / seyde / as ye may heere

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he / as to vs Surgiens aperteneth / that we do to euery wight the beste that we kan / where as we been withholde / and to oure pacientz that we do no damage / [2203] wherfore it happeth many tyme and ofte / that whan twey men / han euerich wounded oother / oon same surgien heeleth hem bothe / [2204] wherfore / vn to oure Art it is nat pertinent to norice werre ne parties to supporte ‖. [2205] But certes / as to the warisshynge of youre doghter / al be it so / that she perilously be wounded / we shullen do so ententif bisynesse fro day to nyght that with the grace of god / she shal be hool and sound / as soone as is possible [2206] ¶ Almoost / right in the same wise / the Phisiciens answerden / saue that they seyden / a fewe woordes moore / [2207] That right as maladies / been cured by hir contraries ‖ right so / shul men warisshe werre by vengeance [2208] ¶ Hise neighe|bores ful of enuye / hise feyned freendes that semeden reconsiled / and hise flatereres / [2209] maden semblant of wepyng and empeireden and agreggeden muchel of this matiere in preisynge greetly Melibee / of myght / of power / of richesse / and of freendes despisynge / the power of hise Aduersaries / [2210] and seiden outrely that he anon sholde wreken hym on hise foes and bigynne werre

[2211] ¶ Vp roos thanne an Aduocat that was wys / by leue and by conseil of othere that were wise / and seide ‖. [2212] Lordynges / the nede for which we been assembled in this place / is a ful heuy thyng and an heigh matiere / [2213] by cause of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon / and eek by reson of the grete damages that

[6-text p 205] in tyme comynge / been possible to fallen for this same cause / [2214] and eek by reson of the grete richesse and power of the parties bothe / [2215] for the whiche resons / it were a ful greet peril to erren in this matiere [2216] ¶ wherfore / Melibeus this is oure sentence / we conseille yow abouen alle thyng. that right anon / thou do thy diligence in kepynge of thy propre persone / in swich a wise þat thou wante noon espie / ne wacche / thy persone for to saue [2217] ¶ And after that we conseille þat in thyn hous / thou sette sufficeant garnison so that they may / as wel thy body as thyn hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes / for to moeue werre / or sodeynly for to doon vengeaunce / we may nat demen / in so litel tyme / that it were profit|able /. [2219] Wherfore we axen leyser and espace / to haue deliberacion in this cas to deme / [2220] ffor the commune prouerbe seith thus ¶ He that soone deemeth. soone shal [¶ Nota de Iudicibus & eorum Iudiciis] repente [2221] And eek men seyn / that thilke Iuge is wys that soone vnderstondeth a matiere and Iuggeth by leyser [2222] ¶ for al be it so that alle tariyng be anoyful / algates / it is nat to repreue in yeuynge of Iuggement ne in vengeance takyng whan it is sufficeant and resonable [2223] ¶ And that shewed oure lord Ihesu crist by en|sample / for whan that the womman / that was taken in Auowtrie was broght in his presence / to knowen / what sholde be doon with hire persone / al be it so that he wiste wel hym self / what that he wolde answere / yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly / but he wolde haue deliberacion / and in the ground [folio 159a] he wroot twies / [2224] and by thise causes / we axen deliberacion / and we shal thanne by the grace of god / conseille thee thyng / that shal be profitable /

[2225] ¶ Vp stirten thanne / the yonge folk atones / and the mooste partie of that compaignye scorned the olde wise men and bigonnen to make noyse / and seyden / that [2226] right so / as whil that Iren is hoot men sholden smyte / right so / men sholde wreken hir wronges / while

[6-text p 206] þat they been fresshe and newe / and with loud voys / they criden werre / werre

[2227] ¶ Vp roos tho / oon of thise olde wise / and with his hand made contenaunce / that men sholde holden hem stille and yeuen hym Audience [2228] ¶ Lordynges quod he / ther is ful many a man / that crieth werre werre / that woot ful litel what werre amounteth [2229] ¶ werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entryng and so large / that euery wight may entre whan hym liketh / and lightly fynde werre / [2230] but certes / what ende that shal ther-of bifalle / it is nat light to knowe ‖ [2231] ffor soothly / whan þat werre is ones bigonne / ther is ful many a child vnborn of his mooder / that shal sterue yong by cause of that ilke werre / or elles lyue in sorwe / and dye in wrecchednesse ‖. [2232] And ther fore / er þat any werre bigynne / men moste haue greet conseil and greet deliberacion [2233] ¶ And whan this olde man / wende / to enforcen his tale by resons / wel ny alle atones / bigonne they to rise for to breken his tale / and beden hym ful ofte / hise wordes for to abregge / [2234] ffor soothly / he that precheth to hem / that listen nat heeren hise wordes / his sermon hem anoieth [2235] ¶ ffor Ihesus Syrak seith / that Musik in wepynge is [¶ Ihesus Syrak/] anoyous thyng‖. this is to seyn ‖ As muche auailleth to speken bifore folk / to whiche his speche anoyeth / as it is to synge / biforn hym that wepeth ‖. [2236] And this wise man / saugh that hym wanted audience / and al shamefast he sette hym doun agayn [2237] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖ ther [¶ Salomon] as thou ne mayst haue noon Audience / enforce thee nat to speke [2238] ¶ I see wel quod this wise man / þat the commune prouerbe is sooth ‖ That good conseil wanteth / whan it is moost [nede]

[2239] ¶ Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil / many folk that priuely in his eere conseilled hym certeyn thyng. and conseilled hym the contrarie in general Audience

[2240] Whan Melibeus hadde herd / that the gretteste [¶ Melibeus]

[6-text p 207] partie of his conseil / weren accorded þat he sholde maken werre / anoon / he consented to hir conseillyng and fully affermed hire sentence / [2241] Thanne dame Prudence / [¶ Prudence] whan þat she saugh / how that hir housbonde shoope hym for to wreken hym on hise foes / and to bigynne werre / she in ful humble wise / whan she saugh hir tyme / seide to hym thise wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod she / I yow biseche as hertely as I dar and kan / ne haste yow nat to faste / and for alle gerdons / as yeueth me Audience [2243] ¶ ffor Piers Alfonce seith ¶ who so that dooth to [¶ Petrus] that oother good or harm / haste thee nat to quiten it. for in this wise thy freend wole abyde / and thyn enemy shal the lenger lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe seith ‖ he hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde ‖ And in wikked haste / is no profit

[2245] This Melibee answerde vn to his wyf Prudence [¶ Melibee] ¶ I purpose nat quod he to werke by thy conseil / for many causes and resons ¶ ffor certes / euery wight wolde holde me thanne a fool [2246] ¶ this is to seyn / If I. for thy conseillyng wolde chaungen thynges that been ordeyned and affermed by so manye wyse [2247] ¶ Sec|oundly I seye / that alle wommen been wikke / and noon good of hem alle ¶ ffor of a thousand men seith Salomon / [¶ Nota secundum Salomonem] I foond a good man [folio 159b] but certes of alle wommen / good womman foond I neuere [2248] ¶ And also certes / If I gouerned me by thy conseil / it sholde seme that I hadde yeue to thee ouer me the maistrie / and god forbede / that it so weere [2249] ¶ For Ihesus Syrak seith / that if the [¶ Ihesus Syrak/] wyf haue maistrie / she is contrarious to hir housbonde [2250] ¶ And Salomon seith ¶ Neuere in thy lyf / to thy [¶ Salomon] wyf / ne to thy child / ne to thy freend / ne yeue no power ouer thy self ‖. ffor bettre it were / that thy children aske of thy persone / thynges that hem nedeth / than thou be thy self in the handes of thy children / [2251] ¶ And if I wolde werke by thy conseillyng? Certes / my conseillyng moste som tyme be secree / til it were tyme þat it moste be

[6-text p 208] knowe and this / ne may noght be [2252. Car il est escript, la genglerie des femmes ne puct riens celler fors ce qu'elle ne scet. [2253] Apres, le philosophre dit, en mauvais conseil les femmes vainquent les hommes: et par ces raisons je ne dois point user de ton conseil. MS Reg. 19 C. vii, in Tyrwhitt, iv. 335. (See Prudence on Reasons 4 & 5, further on.)]

[2254] Whanne dame Prudence / ful debonairly and [¶ Prudence] with greet pacience / hadde herd / al that hir housbonde liked for to seye / thanne axed she of hym licence for to speke / and seyde in this wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod she / as to youre firste reson / certes it may lightly been answered ¶ ffor I seye / that it is no folie / to chaunge conseil ‖. whan the thyng is chaunged ¶ or elles / whan the thyng semeth / ootherweyes / than it was biforn [2256] ¶ And mooreouer I seye / that though ye han sworn and bihight to perfourne youre emprise ¶ And nathelees / ye weyue to perfourne / thilke same emprise by Iuste cause / men sholde nat seyn therfore / that ye were a lier ne forsworn [2257] ¶ ffor the book seith / þat the wise man maketh no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre [2258] ¶ And al be it so / that youre emprise be establissed and ordeyned / by greet multitude of folk / yet thar ye nat accomplice thilke ordinance / but yow like [2259] ¶ ffor the trouthe of thynges / and the profit been rather founden in fewe folk that been wise / and ful of reson / than by greet multitude of folk ther euery man crieth and clatereth / what that hym liketh ¶ Soothly / swich multitude is nat honeste [2260] ¶ As to the seconde reson /. where as ye seyn þat alle wommen been wikke? Saue youre grace / certes ye despisen alle wommen in this wyse / [car il est escript, qui tout desprist, a tous desplaist] [2261] & Senec seith / that who so wole haue sapi|ence [¶ Seneca] / shal no man despise but he shal gladly / techen the science that he kan with-outen presumpcion or pride / [2262] And swiche thynges // as he nought ne kan / he shal nat been ashamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk / than hym self /. [2263] And sire / that ther hath been many a good womman / may lightly be preued / [2264] ¶ ffor certes sire / oure lord Ihesu crist wolde neuere haue descended to be born of a womman / if alle wommen / hadden ben wikke / [2265] And after that for the grete bountee that is in wommen oure lord Ihesu crist whan he was risen fro deeth to lyue / appeered rather to a womman / than to hise Apostles [2266] ¶ And though that salomon seith / that he ne foond neuere womman good / it folweth nat therfore / that alle wommen ben wikke [2267] ffor though that he ne foond no good womman /. certes ful many another man / hath founden / many a womman ful good and trewe [2268] ¶ Or elles per auenture / the entente of salomon was this / that as in souereyn bounte he foond no womman / [2269] this is to seyn / that ther is no wight þat hath souereyn bountee / saue god allone / as he hym self recordeth in hys Euaun|gelie / [2270] ffor ther nys no creature so good / that hym ne wanteth somwhat of the perfeccion of god / that is his maker [2271] ¶ Youre [folio 160a] thridde reson is this ¶ ye seyn / if ye gouerne yow by my conseil / it sholde seme that ye hadde yeue me the maistrie / and the lordshipe ouer youre persone ‖. [2272] sire saue youre grace / it is nat so ‖ ffor if it were so that no man sholde be conseilled / but oonly of hem that hadden lordshipe and maistrie of his persone / men wolden nat be conseilled so ofte ‖ [2273] ffor soothly / thilke man that asketh conseil of a purpos / yet hath he free choys / wheither he wole werke by that conseil or noon [2274] ¶ And as to youre fourthe reson ¶ ther ye seyn þat the Ianglerie of wommen hath hyd thynges that they wiste noght. As who seith / that a womman kan nat hyde that she woot [2275] ¶ sire thise wordes been vnder|stonde of wommen þat been Iangleresses and wikked / [2276] of whiche wommen / men seyn that thre thynges / dryuen a man out of his hous ¶ that is to seyn Smoke / [¶ Of .iij. thynges þat dryuen a man out of his hous.] droppyng of Reyn /. and wikked wyues / [2277] and

[6-text p 210] swiche wommen seith Salomon / þat it were bettre dwelle [¶ Salomon] in desert than with a womman that is riotous [2278] ¶ And sire by youre leue / that am nat .I. / [2279] for ye haan ful ofte assayed my grete silence / and my gret pacience. ‖ And eek how wel / that I kan hyde and hele thynges / that men oghte secreely to hyde [2280] ¶ And soothly / as to youre fifthe reson / where as ye seyn / that in wikked con|seil / wommen venquisshe men ¶ god woot thilke reson stant heere in no stede [2281] ¶ ffor vnderstoond now / ye asken conseil to do wikkednesse / [2282] and if ye wole werken wikkednesse / and youre wif restreyneth thilke wikked purpos / and ouercometh yow by reson and by good conseil / [2283] certes youre wyf oghte rather to be preised / than yblamed [2284] ¶ Thus sholde ye vnder|stonde the Philosophre / that seith / In wikked conseil wommen venquisshen hir housbondes [2285] ¶ And ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resons ‖ I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples / that many a womman / hath ben ful good / and yet been / and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable [2286] ¶ Eek / som men han seyd that the conseillynge of wommen / is outher to deere / or elles to litel of pris [2287] ¶ But al be it so / þat ful many a womman is badde / and hir conseil vile and noght worth / yet han men founde / ful many a good womman / and ful discrete and wise in conseillynge [2288] ¶ Loo Iacob / by [¶ Nota de Rebekka] good conseil of his mooder Rebekka wan the benyson of Ysaak / his fader / and the lordshipe ouer alle hise bretheren [2289] ¶ Iudith by hire good conseil deliuered the Citee of [¶ de Iudith] Bethulie in which she dwelled / out of the handes of Olofernus / that hadde it biseged and wolde haue al destroyed it [2290] ¶ Abygail deliuered Nabal hir housbonde fro [¶ de Abygail] Dauid the kyng that wolde haue slayn hym / and apaysed the Ire of the kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseil|lyng [2291] ¶ Hester / enhaunced greetly by hir good con|seil [¶ de Hestere] the peple of god / in the regne of Assuerus the kyng [2292] ¶ and the same bountee in good conseillyng of

[6-text p 211] many a good womman may men telle [2293] ¶ And moore ouer / whan oure lord hadde creat Adam oure forme fader / he seyde in this wise / [2294] It is nat good / to been a man alloone / make we to hym an helpe semblable to hym self / [2295] ¶ Heere may ye se / that if that wommen were nat goode and hir conseils goode & profitable / [2296] oure lord god of heuene / wolde neuere han wroght hem / ne called hem / help of man but rather confusion of man [2297] ¶ And ther seyde oones a clerk in [folio 160b] two vers ‖ what is bettre / than gold? Iaspre ¶ What is bettre than Iaspre? wisedoom / [2298] ¶ And what is better than wisedoom? womman ‖. And what is bettre than a good womman? no thyng [2299] ¶ And sire by manye of othre resons / may ye seen that manye wommen been goode / and hir conseils goode and profitable ‖ [2300] And therfore sire / if ye wol triste to my conseil / I shal restoore yow / youre doghter / hool and sound / [2301] And eek/ .I. wol do to yow so muche / that ye shul haue honour in this cause /

[2302] Whan Melibee hadde herd the wordes of his [¶ Melibee] wyf Prudence / he seyde thus [2303] ¶ I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth ‖. he seith that wordes þat [¶ Salomon] been spoken discreetly by ordinaunce / been honycombes / for they yeuen swetnesse to the soule / and hoolsomnesse to the body [2304] ¶ And wyf / by cause of thy sweete wordes / and eek for I haue assayed and preued thy grete sapience / and thy grete trouthe / I wol gouerne me by thy conseil / in alle thyng /

[2305] Now sire quod dame Prudence / and syn ye [¶ Prudence] vouche sauf / to been gouerned by my conseil / I wol enforme yow / how ye shul gouerne youre self/ in chesynge of youre conseillours [2306] ¶ Ye shul first/ in alle youre werkes / mekely / biseken to the heighe god / þat he wol be youre conseillour /. [2307] And shapeth yow / to swich entente / that he yeue yow conseil and confort as taughte Thobie his sone [2308] ¶ At alle tymes / thou shalt blesse [¶ Thobias]

[6-text p 212] god and praye hym / to dresse thy weyes / and looke / þat alle thy conseils been in hym for eueremoore [2309] Seint [¶ Sanctus Iacobus] Iame eek seith ‖. If any of yow haue nede of sapience / axe it of god [2310] ¶ And afterward / thanne shul ye taken conseil of youre [self] and examyne wel youre thoghtes / of swich thyng as yow thynketh þat is best for youre profit / [2311] And thanne shul ye dryue fro youre herte. thre [¶ Of .iij. thynges þat been contra|riouse to good conseil] thynges that been contrariouse to good conseil / [2312] That is to seyn / Ire / coueitise / and hastifnesse

[2313] ¶ ffirst he þat axeth conseil of hym self / certes / he moste been with-outen Ire / for manye causes / [2314] the firste is this ¶ he þat hath greet Ire and wratthe in hym self / he weneþ alwey that he may do thyng that he may nat do [2315] ¶ And secoundely / he that is Irous and wrooth / he ne may nat wel deme / [2316] and he þat may nat wel deme / may nat wel conseille [2317] ¶ The thridde is this / that he þat is Irous and wrooth as seith Senec ne may nat speke / but he blame thynges / [2318] [¶ Seneca] and with hise viciouse wordes / he stireth oother folk / to Angre and to Ire [2319] ¶ And eek sire / ye moste dryue coueitise out of youre herte / [2320] ffor the Apostle seith [¶ Apostolus] ¶ That coueitise is roote of alle harmes ‖ [2321] And trust wel / that a coueitous man ne kan noght deme ne thynke / but oonly to fulfille the ende of his coueitise / [2322] and certes / that ne may neuere been accompliced / for euere / the moore habundaunce þat he hath of richesse / the moore he desireth [2323] ¶ And sire / ye moste also / dryue out of youre herte hastifnesse / for certes / [2324] ye ne may nat deeme for the beste a sodeyn thought / that falleth in youre herte / but ye moste auyse yow on it ful ofte / [2325] ffor as ye herde biforn / The commune prouerbe is this ¶ That he þat soone deemeth / soone repenteth.

[2326] ¶ Sire / ye ne be nat alwey in lyke disposicion [2327] for certes / som thyng þat somtyme semeth to yow / that it is good for to do / Another tyme it semeth to yow the contrarie /

[6-text p 213]

[2328] whan ye han taken conseil of youre self / and han deemed by good deliberacion swich thyng/ as you list best/ [2329] ¶ Thanne rede I yow / that ye kepe it/ [folio 161a] secree / [2330] biwrey nat youre conseil to no persone / but if so be that ye wenen sikerly / that thurgh youre biwreyyng youre condicion / shal be to yow the moore profitable [2331] ¶ ffor Ihesus Syrak seith / Neither to thy [¶ Ihesus Syrak/] foo ne to thy frend discouere nat thy secree ne thy folie / [2332] for they wol yeue yow Audience and lookynge / to supportacion in thy presence / and scorne thee in thyn Absence [2333] ¶ Another clerk seith / That scarsly shaltou fynden any persone / that may kepe conseil sikerly [2334] ¶ The book seith / whil þat thou kepest thy conseil in thyn herte / thou kepest it in thy prison / [2335] and whan thou biwreyest thy conseil to any wight / he holdeth thee in his snare [2336] ¶ And therfore yow is bettre to hyde youre conseil in youre herte / than praye hem / to whom ye han biwreyed youre conseil / that he wole kepen it cloos and stille [2337] ¶ ffor Seneca seith ¶ If so be / [¶ Seneca] þat thou ne mayst nat thyn owene conseil hyde? how darstou prayen any oother wight thy conseil sikerly to kepe [2338] ¶ But nathelees / If thou wene sikerly / þat the biwreiyng of thy conseil to a persone / wol make thy condicion to stonden in the bettre plyt/ . thanne shaltou tellen hym thy conseil in this wise [2339] ¶ ffirst thou [¶ How a man shall tellen his conseil] shalt make no semblant wheither thee were leuere pees or werre / or this / or that . ne shewe hym nat thy wille and thyn entente / [2340] ffor trust wel / þat comenli thise conseillours been flatereres / [2341] namely the conseillours of grete lordes / [2342] for they enforcen hem alwey / rather to speken plesante wordes / enclynynge to the lordes lust . than wordes þat been trewe or profitable [2343] ¶ And therfore / men seyn / þat the riche man hath seeld good con|seil but if he haue it of hym self [2344] ¶ And after that thou shalt considere thy freendes and thyne enemys ‖ [2345] And as touchynge thy freendes thou shalt con|sidere

[6-text p 214] / wiche of hem / þat been moost feithful and moost wise / and eldest and most approued in conseillyng . [2346] And of hem shalt thou aske thy conseil / as the caas requireth

[2347] ¶ I seye / þat first / ye shul clepe to youre con|seil youre freendes that been trewe [2348] ¶ ffor Salomon [¶ Salomon] seith ¶ That right as the herte of a man deliteth in sauour þat is soote / right so / the conseil of trewe freendes / yeueth swetenesse to the soule; [2349] He seith also ¶ ther may no thyng be likned to the trewe freend ‖ [2350] for certes gold ne siluer / beth nat so muche worth as the goode wyl of a trewe freend [2351] ¶ And eek he seith / that a trewe freend / is a strong deffense / who so þat hym fyndeth / certes / he fyndeth a greet tresour [2352] ¶ Thanne shul ye eek considere / if that youre trewe freendes / been discrete and wise / ¶ ffor the book seith / Axe alwey thy conseil / of hem þat been wise / [2353] And by this same reson / shul ye clepen to youre conseil of youre freendes that been of age / swiche as han seyn and been expert in manye thynges / and been approued in conseillynges [2354] ¶ ffor the book seith / that in the olde men is the Sapience / and in longe tyme the prudence [2355] ¶ And Tullius seith / that grete thynges / ne been nat ay accompliced by strengthe / ne by deliuernesse of body / but by good conseil / by Auctoritee of persones and by science / the whiche thre thynges / ne been nat fieble by age / but certes / they enforcen and en|creescen day by day / [2356] And thanne / shul ye kepe this / for a general reule ¶ ffirst shul ye clepen to youre conseil / a fewe of youre freendes that been especiale / [2357] for Salomon seith ¶ Manye freendes haue thou / [¶ Nota secundum Salomonem] but among a thousand chese thee oon / to be thy conseil|lour / [2358] ffor al be it so / that thou first ne [folio 161b] telle thy conseil / but to a fewe / thou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk if it be nede / [2359] but looke alwey / that thy conseillours / haue thilke thre condicions þat I haue seyd

[6-text p 215] bifore / that is to seyn / that they be trewe / wise / and of oold experience [2360] ¶ And werke nat alwey in euery nede / by oon counseillour allone ¶ ffor somtyme bihooueth it to been conseilled by manye ‖ [2361] ffor Salomon seith [¶ Salomon] ¶ Saluacion of thynges / is / where as ther been manye conseillours

[2362] Now / sith I haue toold yow / of which folk / ye sholde been counseilled / now wol I teche yow which conseil / ye oghte to eschewe [2363] ¶ ffirst ye shul eschue the conseillyng of fooles ‖ ffor Salomon seith / taak no con|seil [¶ Salomon] of a fool / for he ne kan noght conseille / but after his [¶ Of conseillours þat a man oghte to eschue] owene lust and his affeccion [2364] ¶ The book seith / that the propretee of a fool is this ¶ he troweth lightly harm of euery wight / and lightly troweth alle bountee in hym self [2365] ¶ Thou shalt eek eschue / the conseillyng of flatereres / swiche as enforcen hem / rather to preise youre persone by flaterye than for to telle yow / the sooth|fastnesse of thynges

[2366] ¶ Wherfore Tullius seith ¶ Amonges alle the [¶ Tullius] pestilences that been in freendshipe / the gretteste is flaterie / And therfore is it moore nede þat thou eschue and drede flatereres / than any oother peple [2367] ¶ The book seith / thou shalt rather drede and flee / fro the sweete wordes / of flaterynge preiseres / than fro the egre wordes of thy freend / that seith thee thy sothes ‖ [2368] Salomon seith / that the wordes of a flaterere / is a snare to chacche with Innocentz [2369] ¶ He seith also / that he þat speketh to his freend / wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce / setteth a net biforn his feet to cacche hym [2370] ¶ And therfore seith Tullius / Enclyne nat thyne eres to flatereres / ne taaketh no conseil of the wordes of flaterye ‖. [2371] And Caton seith ¶ Auyse thee wel / and [¶ Cato] eschue the wordes / of swetnesse and of plesaunce [2372] ¶ And eek thou shalt eschue / the conseillyng of thyne olde enemys / that been reconsiled [2373] ¶ The book seith /. that no wight retourneth saufly / in-to the

[6-text p 216] grace of his olde enemy [2374] ¶ And Isope seith / Ne trust nat to hem / to whiche thou hast had som tyme werre or enemytee / ne telle hem nat thy conseil [2375] ¶ And Seneca telleth the cause why ¶ It may nat be seith he / [¶ Seneca] that where greet fyr / hath longe tyme endured / that ther ne dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse [2376] And therfore seith Salomon ¶ In thyn olde foo trust neuere [¶ Salomon] [2377] ¶ ffor sikerly / though thyn enemy / be reconsiled and maketh thee chiere of humylitee / and lowteth to thee with his heed ne trust hym neuere [2378] ¶ ffor certes / he maketh thilke feyned humilitee / moore for his profit than for any loue of thy persone / by cause that he deem|eth / to haue victorie ouer thy persone / by swich feyned contenance / the which victorie / he myghte nat wynne / by strif or werre [2379] And Peter Alfonce seith /. Make no [¶ Petrus Alfonce] felawshipe / with thyne olde enemys ‖ ffor if thou do hem bountee / they wol peruerten it / in to wikkednesse [2380] And eek thou most eschue / the conseillyng of hem / that been thy seruantz and beren thee greet reuerence / for perauenture / they doon it moore / for drede than for loue [2381] ¶ And therfore / seith a Philosophre / in this [¶ Philosophus] wise ‖. Ther is no wight parfitly trewe / to hym þat he to soore dredeth [2382] ¶ And Tullius seith ‖ Ther nys no [¶ Tullius] myght so greet of any Emperour / that longe may endure / but if he haue / moore lo [folio 162a] ue of the peple / than for drede [2383] ¶ Thou shalt also eschue / the conseiling of folk that been dronkelewe ‖ for they kan no conseil hyde [2384] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖ Ther is no priuetee / ther as [¶ Salomon] regneth dronkenesse [2385] ¶ Ye shul also / han in suspect the conseillyng of swich folk. as conseille yow . a thyng priuely / and conseille yow / the contrarie openly [2386] ¶ ffor Cassidorie seith /. that it is a manere sleighte to [¶ Cassidorus] hyndre / whan he sheweth to doon a thyng openly / and werketh priuely the contrarie [2387] ¶ Thou shalt also / haue in suspect. the conseillyng of wikked folk ‖. ffor the book seith / The conseillyng of wikked folk. is alwey ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude ‖. [2388] And Dauid seith ¶ blisful is that man / [¶ Dauid] þat hath nat folwed / the conseilyng of sherewes [2389] ¶ Thou shalt also eschue / the conseillyng of yong folk . for hir conseil is nat rype

[2390] NOw sire / sith I have shewed yow / of which folk ye shul take youre conseil / and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil? [2391] now wol I teche yow / how ye shal examyne youre conseil / after the doctrine of Tullius [2392] ¶ In the examynynge thanne of youre conseillour [¶ how a man shal examine his conseillours after the doctrine of Tullius] ye shul considere manye thynges [2393] ¶ Alderfirst thou shalt considere / þat in thilke thyng that thou purposest / and vpon what thyng thou wolt haue conseil / þat verray trouthe / be seyd and conserued / this is to seyn / telle trewely thy tale [2394] ¶ ffor he that seith fals / may nat wel be conseilled / in that cas of which he lieth [2395] ¶ And after this / thou shalt considere the thynges þat acorden to that thou purposest / for to do / by thy conseil|lours if reson accorde therto /. [2396] And eek / if thy myght may atteine ther-to / And if the moore part and the bettre part of thy conseillours acorde ther-to / or noon [2397] ¶ Thanne shaltou considere / what thyng shal folwe / after hir conseillyng. as hate / pees / werre / grace / profit or damage / and manye othere thynges [2398] ¶ Thanne / of alle thise thynges / thou shalt chese the beste / and weyue alle othere thynges [2399] ¶ Thanne shaltow considere of what roote is engendred the matiere of thy conseil / and what fruyt it may conserue and engendre [2400] ¶ Thou shalt eek considere alle thise causes / fro whennes they been sprongen [2401] ¶ And whan ye han examyned youre conseil / as I have seyd / and which partie is the bettre and moore profitable / and hast approued it by manye wise folk and olde [2402] ¶ thanne shaltou considere / it thou mayst parfourne it and maken of it a good ende [2403] ¶ ffor certes reson wol nat that any man / sholde bigynne a thyng. but if he myghte / parfourne it as hym oghte [2404] ¶ Ne no wight sholde

[6-text p 218] take vp on hym so heuy a charge / that he myghte nat bere it [2405] ¶ ffor the prouerbe seith ‖. he that to muche [¶ prouerbe] embraceth / distreyneth litel [2406] And Caton seith [¶ Cato] ¶ Assay to do swich thyng. as thou hast power to doon / lest that the charge oppresse thee / so soore / that thee bihoueth / to weyue thyng that thou hast bigonne / [2407] And if so be / þat thou be in doute / wheither thou mayst parfourne a thing or noon / chese rather / to suffre than bigynne [2408] ¶ And Piers Alphonce seith ¶ If [¶ Petrus Alfonce] thou hast myght to doon a thyng of which thou most repente thee / it is bettre / nay than ye [2409] ¶ this is to seyn / that thee is bettre / holde thy tonge stille / than for to speke [2410] ¶ Thanne may ye vnderstonde / by strenger resons / that if thou hast po [folio 162b] wer / to parfourne a werk of which thou shalt repente / thanne is it bettre / that thou suffre than bigynne [2411] ¶ wel seyn they þat defenden euery wight to assaye any thyng of which he is in doute / wheither he may parfourne it or noon ‖ [2412] And after / whan ye han examyned youre conseil / as I haue seyd biforn / and knowen wel / that ye may par|fourne youre emprise / conferme it thanne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] NOw is it reson and tyme þat I shewe yow / whanne and wherfore / that ye may chaunge youre conseil|lours / with-outen youre repreue [2414] ¶ Soothly / a man [¶ How a man may chaungen hise conseillours with-outen repreue] may chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth / or whan a newe caas bitydeth [2415] ¶ ffor the lawe seith that vpon thynges þat newely bityden / bihoueth newe conseil [2416] ¶ And senec/ seith ‖. If thy conseil [¶ Seneca] is comen / to the eeris of thyn enemy chaunge thy conseil [2417] ¶ Thou mayst also chaunge thy conseil / If so be / that thou mayst fynde / that by errour / or by oother cause / harm or damage may bityde [2418] ¶ Also / if thy conseil be dishonest. or ellis cometh of dishoneste cause / chaunge thy conseil ‖. [2419] ffor the lawes seyn ¶ that alle bihestes that been dishoneste / been of no value

[6-text p 219] [2420] ¶ And eek/ If so be / þat it be inpossible / or may nat goodly be parfourned or kept

[2421] ¶ And take this / for a general reule / that euery conseil þat is affermed so strongly / that it may nat be chaunged for no condicion that may bityde ¶ I seye / þat thilke conseil is wikked.

[2422] This Melibeus / whanne he hadde herd the doctrine of [¶ Melibeus] his wyf dame Prudence / answerde in this wyse [2423] ¶ Dame quod he as yet in to this tyme / ye han wel and couenablely taught me as in general / how I shal gouerne me in the chesynge / and in the withholdynge of my conseillours ‖ [2424] but now wolde I fayn / that ye wolde condescende in especial / [2425] and telle me / how liketh yow / or what semeth yow by oure conseillours / that we han chosen in oure present nede

[2426] My lord quod she / I biseke yow in al hum|blesse [¶ Prudence] / that ye wol nat wilfully replie agayn my resons / ne distempre youre herte / thogh I speke thyng that yow displese ‖ [2427] ffor god woot that as in myn entente I speke it for youre beste / for youre honour / and for youre profite eke / [2428] And soothly I hope / that youre be|nyngnytee / wol taken it in pacience [2429] ¶ Trusteth me wel quod she / that youre conseil as in this caas ne sholde nat as to speke properly / be called a conseillyng but a mocion or a moeuyng of folye / [2430] in which conseil / ye han erred in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ ffirst / and forward / ye han erred in thassem|blynge of youre conseillours ‖ [2432] ffor ye sholde first haue cleped a fewe folk / to youre conseil / and after ye myghte han shewed it to mo folk / if it hadde been nede [2433] ¶ But certes / ye han sodeynly cleped to youre con|seil a greet multitude of peple ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to heere [2434] ¶ Also / ye han erred / for there as ye sholden oonly haue cleped to youre conseil youre trewe frendes olde and wise / [2435] ye han ycleped straunge folk / and yong folk. false flatereres / and enemys

[6-text p 220] reconsiled / and folk / þat doon yow reuerence withouten loue [2436] ¶ And eek also / ye haue erred / for ye han broght with yow to youre conseil / Ire / coueitise / and hastifnesse / [2437] the whiche thre thinges been con|trariouse to euery conseil / honeste and profitable / [2438] the whiche thre / ye han nat anientissed or destroyed hem / neither in youre self ne in youre conseillours as yow oghte [2439] ¶ Ye han erred also / for ye han shewed [folio 163a] to youre conseillours / youre talent and youre affeccion / to make werre anon / and for to do vengeance / [2440] they han espied by youre wordes to what thyng ye been enclyned ‖ [2441] And therfore / han they rather conseilled yow to youre talent than to youre profit [2442] ¶ Ye han erred also / for it semeth / þat it suffiseth / to han been con|seilled by thise conseillours oonly / and wiþ litel Auys / [2443] where-as in so greet and so heigh a nede / it hadde been necessarie mo conseillours / and moore deliberacion to parfourne youre emprise [2444] ¶ Ye han erred also / for ye han nat examyned youre conseil / in the forseyde manere ne in due manere as the caas requireth [2445] ¶ Ye han erred also / for ye han nat maked no diuision bitwixe youre conseillours ¶ this is to seyn / bitwixen youre trewe freendes / and youre feyned conseillours; [2446] ne ye han nat knowe the wil of youre trewe freendes / olde and wise [2447] but ye han cast alle hire wordes in an hochepot and enclyned youre herte to the moore partie / and to the gretter nombre / and there been ye condescended [2448] ¶ And sith ye woot wel þat men shal alwey / fynde a gretter nombre of fooles / than of wise men / [2449] and therfore / the conseils that been at congregacions and mul|titudes of folk. there as men take moore reward to the nombre / than to the sapience of persones / [2450] ye se wel / that in swiche conseillynges / fooles han the maistrie [2451] Melibeus answerde agayn / and seyde / I graunte wel that [¶ Melibeus] I haue erred ‖ [2452] but there as thou hast toold me heer|biforn / þat he nys nat to blame þat chaungeth hise con|seillours

[6-text p 221] in certein caas / and for certeine Iuste causes [2453] ¶ I am al redy to chaunge my conseillours / right as thow wolt deuyse / [2454] ¶ The prouerbe seith /. that [¶ Prouerbe] for to do synne is mannyssh / but certes / for to perseuere longe in synne / is werk of the deuel

[2455] ¶ To this sentence answereth anon dame Pru|dence [¶ Prudence] and seyde [2456] ¶ Examineth quod she youre con|seil / and lat vs see / the whiche of hem / han spoken most resonablely / and taught yow best conseil ‖. [2457] And for as muche as þat the examynacion is necessarie / lat vs bigynne at the surgiens and at the phisiciens / that first speeken in this matiere [2458] ¶ I sey yow / that the surgiens and phisiciens / han seyd yow in youre conseil discreetly / as hem oughte [2459] ¶ And in hir speche seyd ful wisely / that to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to euery wight honour and profit / and no wight for to anoye / [2460] and in hir craft / to doon greet diligence vn-to the cure of hem / whiche þat they han in hir gouern|aunce / [2461] And sire / right as they han answered wisely and discreetly / [2462] right so rede I that they been heighly and souereynly gerdoned for hir noble speche / [2463] and eek for they sholde do / the moore ententif bisynesse in the curacion of youre doghter deere ‖ [2464] ffor al be it so / þat they been youre freendes / therfore shal ye nat suffren / that they serue yow for noght / [2465] but ye oghte the rather gerdone hem and shewe hem youre largesse [2466] ¶ And as touchynge the proposicion which that the Phisiciens encreesceden in this caas / this is to seyn / [2467] that in maladies / that oon contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie /. [2468] I wolde fayn knowe / hou ye vnderstonde this text / and what is youre sentence [2469] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus / I. [¶ Melibeus] vnderstonde it in this wise [2470] ¶ that right as they han doon me a contrarie / right so / sholde I doon hem another ‖ [2471] ffor right as they han [folio 163b] venged hem on me / and doon me wrong; Right so / shal I venge me vpon hem /

[6-text p 222] and doon hem wrong . [2472] and thanne haue I cured oon contrarie by another

[2473] Lo. lo quod dame Prudence / how lightly is [¶ Prudence] euery man enclined to his owene desir / and to his owene plesaunce [2474] ¶ Certes quod she the wordes of the Phisiciens / ne sholde nat han been vnderstonden in thys wise ‖. [2475] ffor certes / wikkednesse / is nat contrarie to wikkednesse / ne vengeance to vengeaunce / ne wrong to wrong · but they been semblable [2476] ¶ And ther|fore / o vengeaunce / is nat warisshed by another venge|aunce / ne o wroong by another wroong. [2477] but euerich of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth oother [2478] ¶ But certes / the wordes of the Phisiciens / sholde been vnderstonden in this wise [2479] ¶ ffor good and wikked|nesse / been two contraries and pees and werre / venge|aunce and suffraunce / discord and accord and manye othere thynges ‖ [2480] But certes / wikkednesse / shal be warisshed by goodnesse / discord by accord / werre by pees / and so forth of othere thynges [2481] And heer-to accordeth Seint Paul the Apostle / in manye places [2482] ¶ He [¶ Paulus Apos|tolus] seith Ne yeldeth nat harm for harm / ne wikked speche / for wikked speche / [2483] But do wel / to hym þat dooth thee harm / and blesse hym þat seith to thee harm [2484] ¶ And in manye othere places he amonesteth pees and accord [2485] ¶ But now wol I speke to yow / of the con|seil / which þat was yeuen to yow / by the men of lawe / and the wise folk [2486] that seyden alle by oon accord / as ye han herd bifore [2487] ¶ That ouer alle thynges / ye sholde doon youre diligence to kepen youre persone / and to warnestoore youre hous [2488] ¶ And seyden also that in this caas / yow oghten for to werken ful auysely and with greet deliberacion [2489] ¶ And sire / as to the firste point. that toucheth to the kepyng of youre persone / [2490] ye shul vnderstonde / that he þat hath werre shal eueremoore / mekely and deuoutly / preyen biforn alle thynges / [2491] that Ihesus crist of his grete mercy wol

[6-text p 223] han hym in his proteccion / and been his souereyn helpyng at his nede ‖. [2492] ffor certes / In this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept sufficeantly with|outen the kepyng of oure lord Ihesu crist [2493] ¶ To this sentence accordeth the prophete dauid / that seith ‖ [2494] [¶ Dauid propheta] If god ne kepe the Citee / in ydel waketh he that it kepeth [2495] Now sire / thanne shul ye committe / the kepyng of youre persone to youre trewe freendes / that been approued and knowe / [2496] and of hem / shul ye axen helpe / youre persone for to kepe ¶ ffor Caton seith ¶ If thou hast [¶ Cato] nede of help / axe it of thy freendes ‖ [2497] ffor ther nys noon so good a Phisicien / as thy trewe freend [2498] ¶ And after this / thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk / and fro lyeres / and haue alwey in suspect hire compaignye [2499] ¶ ffor Piers Alfonce seith ‖ Ne [¶ Petrus Alfonce] taak / no compaignye by the weye of straunge men but if so be þat thou haue knowe hym of a lenger tyme [2500] ¶ And if so be / that he be falle in-to thy compaignye par|auenture withouten thyn assent ./ [2501] enquere thanne / as subtilly as thou mayst of his conuersacion / and of his lyf bifore / and feyne thy wey ‖. seye that thou goost thider as thou wolt nat go / [2502] and if he bereth a spere / hoold thee on the right syde / and if he bere a swerd / hoold thee on his lift syde. [2503] ¶ And after this / thanne / shul ye kepe yow wisely from all swich manere peple as I haue seyd bifore / And hem and hir conseil eschewe / [2504] ¶ And after this / thanne shul ye kepe yow in swich manere / [2505] that for any presumpcion of youre strengthe / that ye ne dispise nat ne acounte [folio 164a] nat the myght of youre Aduersarie / so litel / that ye lete / the kepyng of youre persone / for youre presumpcion / [2506] for euery wys man / dredeth his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salomon seith ¶ weleful is he / that of alle hath drede / [¶ Salomon] [2508] for certes / he that thurgh the hardynesse of his herte / and thurgh the hardynesse of hym self / hath to greet presumpcion / hym shal yuel bityde [2509] ¶ Thanne /

[6-text p 224] shul ye eueremoore countrewayte embusshementz and alle espiaille [2510] ¶ ffor senec seith ¶ That the wise man / [¶ Seneca] he dredeth harmes / . . . . . [no gap] [2511] ne he ne falleth in-to perils / that perils eschueth ‖ [2512] And al be it so / þat it seme that thou art in siker place / yet shaltow alwey do thy diligence in kepynge of thy persone [2513] ¶ this is to seyn Ne be nat necligent to kepe thy persone / nat oonly / for thy gretteste enemys / but for thy leeste enemy [2514] [Car seneque dit il appartient a homme bien enseigne qui[l] doubte son petit ennemy [MS Reg. 19 C vii folio 133a] ] [2515] ¶ Ouyde [¶ Ouidius] seith ‖ that the litel wesele / wol slee the grete bole / and the wilde hert [2516] ¶ And the book / seith ‖ A litel thorn / may prikke a greet kyng ful soore ‖. And an hound / wol holde the wilde boor [2517] ¶ But nathelees / I sey nat thou shalt be coward / that thou doute / ther / wher as is no drede [2518] ¶ The book seith / that somme folk. han greet lust to deceyue / but yet they dreden hem to be de|ceyued [2519] ¶ Yet shaltou drede / to been empoisoned And kepe yow / from the compaignye of Scorneres [2520] ¶ ffor the book seith; with scorneres make no compaignye / but flee hire wordes as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to the seconde point ¶ Where as youre wise conseillours conseilled yow to warnestoore youre hous / with gret diligence [2522] ¶ .I. wolde fayn knowe / how that ye vnderstonde / thilke wordes / and what is youre sentence

[2523] Melibeus answerde and seyde ¶ Certes I vnder|stande [¶ Melibeus] it in this wise ¶ That I shal warnestoore myn hous / with toures / swiche as han Castelles / and othere manere edifices / and Armure and Artelries / [2524] by whiche thynges / I may my persone and myn hous so kepen and deffenden that myne enemys / shul been in drede / myn hous for to Approche

[2525] TO this sentence / answerde anon Prudence ‖. [¶ Prudence] Warnestooryng quod she of heighe toures and of grete edifices / [appartient aucunes fois à orgueil. [2526] L'en fait les tours et les grans édifices (Le Ménagier, i. 209)] with grete

[6-text p 225] costages and with greet trauaille / and whan that they been accompliced / yet be they nat worth a stree / but if they be defended by trewe freendes that been / olde and wise [2527] [¶ Nota / of the strongeste garny|sone that may be.] ¶ And vnderstoond wel / that the gretteste and strongeste garnyson / that a riche man may haue / as wel to kepen his persone as hise goodes; is / [2528] that he be biloued / amonges hys subgetz and with hise neighebores [2529] ¶ ffor [¶ Tullius] thus seith Tullius ¶ That ther is a manere garnyson / that no man may venquysse ne disconfite / and that is / [2530] a lord to be biloued of hise Citezeins / and of his peple

[2531] NOw sire / as to the thridde point. where as youre olde / and wise conseillours seyden ¶ That yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in this nede / [2532] but that yow oghte purueyen and apparaillen yow in this caas with greet diligence and greet deliberacion [2533] ¶ trewely / I trowe that they seyden right wisely and right sooth [2534] ¶ ffor Tullius seith / In euery [¶ Tullius] nede / er thou bigynne it / Apparaille thee with greet diligence [2535] ¶ Thanne seye I / that in vengeance takyng In werre / in bataille / and in warnestooryng [2536] er thow bigynne / .I. rede / þat thou apparaille thee ther to / and do it with greet deliberacion; [2537] [folio 164b] ffor Tullius seith ¶ The longe apparaillyng biforn the bataille / [¶ Tullius] maketh short victorie ‖. [2538] And Cassidorus seith ¶ The [¶ Cassidorus] garnyson is stronger / whan it is longe tyme auysed

[2539] But now lat vs speken / of the conseil that was accorded by youre neighebores / swiche as doon yow reuerence withouten loue / [2540] youre olde enemys recon|siled / youre flatereres / [2541] that conseilled yow cer|teyne thynges priuely / and openly / conseilleden yow the contrarie [2542] ¶ The yonge folk also / that conseilleden yow to venge yow / and make werre anon [2543] ¶ And certes sire / as I haue seyd biforn / ye han greetly erred / to han cleped / swich manere folk to youre conseil / [2544] which conseillours been ynogh repreued by the resons aforeseyd / [2545] but nathelees / lat vs now descende to

[6-text p 226] the special ¶ Ye shuln first procede / after the doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes / the trouthe of this matiere / or of this conseil / nedeth nat diligently enquere / [2547] for it is wel wist whiche they been / that han doon to yow this trespas and vileynye / [2548] and how manye trespassours and in what manere / they han to yow doon / al this wrong and all this vileynye [2549] ¶ And after this thanne / shul ye examyne the seconde condicion / which that the same Tullius / addeth in this matiere [2550] ¶ ffor Tullius put a thyng. which that he clepeth consentynge/this is to seyn ‖. [2551] who been they and how manye / [Et quelx ilz sont] that consenten to thy conseil / in thy wilfulnesse / to doon hastif vengeance [2552] ¶ And lat vs considere also who been they and how manye been they / and whiche been they / that consenteden to youre Aduersaries [2553] ¶ And certes / as to the firste poynt It is wel knowen / whiche folk been they / that consenteden / to youre hastif wilful|nesse / [2554] for trewely / alle tho that conseilleden yow / to maken sodeyn werre / ne been nat youre freendes [2555] ¶ Lat vs now considere / whiche been they / that ye holde so greetly youre freendes as to youre persone ‖ [2556] ffor al be it so / that ye be myghty and riche / certes / ye ne been nat but allone / [2557] for certes / ye ne han no child but a doghter / [2558] ne ye ne han bretheren ne cosyns germayns / ne noon ooþer neigh kynrede / [2559] wherfore that youre enemys for drede sholde stinte / to plede with yow / or to destroye youre persone [2560] ¶ Ye knowen also that youre richesses / mooten been dispended / in diuerse parties / [2561] and whan þat euery wight hath his part. they ne wollen taken but litel reward to v[e]nge thy deeth ‖. [2562] But thyne enemys / been thre / and they han manie children / bretheren / cosyns / and oother ny kynrede / [2563] And though so were that thou haddest slayn of hem .ij^o. or .iij^e. yet dwellen ther ynowe to wreken hir deeth / and to sle thy persone ‖. [2564] And though so be that youre kynrede be moore siker and stedefast. than

[6-text p 227] the kyn of youre aduersarie ‖ [2565] yet nathelees youre kynrede / nys but a fer kynrede / they been / but litel syb to yow / [2566] and the kyn of youre enemys been ny syb to hem / And certes / as in that hir condicion / is bet than youres [2567] ¶ Thanne / lat vs considere also / if the conseillyng of hem þat conseilleden yow / to taken sodeyn vengeance / wheither it accorde to reson; [2568] And certes / ye knowe wel nay ‖ [2569] for as by right and reson / ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight / but the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccion of it [2570] whan it is graunted hym / to take thilke vengeance hastily or at|temprely as the lawe requireth [2571] ¶ And yet moore ouer / of thilke word / that Tullius clepeth consentynge /. [2572] thou shalt considere / if thy myght and [folio 165a] thy power/ may consenten and suffise / to thy wilfulnesse / and to thy conseillours; [2573] And certes / thou mayst wel seyn / that nay [2574] ¶ ffor sikerly / as for to speke proprely / we may do no thyng. but oonly swich thyng as we may doon rightfully; [2575] And certes rightfully ne mowe ye take no vengeance / as of youre propre Auctoritee [2576] ¶ thanne mowe ye seen / that youre power ne consenteth nat ne accordeth nat with youre wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ Lat vs now examyne the thridde point that Tullius clepeth Consequent [2578] ¶ Thou shalt vnderstonde that the vengeance that thou purposest for to take / is the conse|quent ‖. [2579] And ther-of / folweth another vengeance / peril / and werre / and othere damages with-oute nombre / of whiche / we be nat war / as at this tyme [2580] ¶ And as touchynge the fourthe point. that Tullius clepeth en|gendrynge; [2581] thou shalt considere / that this wrong which that is doon to thee / is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys / [2582] and of the vengeance takynge / vpon that wolde engendre another vengeance / and muchel sorwe and wastynge of richesses as I seyde

[2583] ¶ Now sire / as to the point that Tullius clepeth causes / which that is the laste point. [2584] thou

[6-text p 228] shalt vnderstonde / þat the wrong that thou hast receyued / hath certeine causes / [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen Oriens and Efficiens / and Causa longinqua / and Causa propinqua /. this is to seyn / the fer cause and the ny cause [2586] ¶ The fer cause / is almyghty god / that is cause of alle thynges [2587] ¶ The neer cause / is thy thre enemys [2588] ¶ The cause Accidental / was hate [2589] ¶ The cause material / been the fyue woundes of thy doghter [2590] ¶ The cause formal / is the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and cloumben in at thy wyndowes; [2591] The cause final / was for to sle thy doghter / It letted nat in as muche as in hem was [2592] ¶ But for to speken of the fer cause / as to what ende they shul come / or what shal finally bityde of hem in this caas / ne kan .I. nat deme ‖. but by coniectynge and by supposynge [2593] ¶ for we shul suppose / that they shul come to a wikked ende /. [2594] by cause / that the book [¶ In libro decre|talium] of decrees seith ‖. seelden or with greet peyne / been causes ybroght / to good ende / whanne they been baddely bigonne

[2595] ¶ Now sire / If men wolde axe me / why that god suffred men to do yow this vileynye; Certes / I kan nat wel answere / as for no soothfastnesse [2596] ¶ ffor thapostle seith / that the sciences and the Iuggementz of [¶ Apostolus] oure lord god almyghty been ful depe / [2597] ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly / [2598] ¶ Nathelees / by certeyne presumpcions and coniectynges / I holde and bileeue [2599] that god / which that is ful of Iustice and of rightwisnesse hath suffred this bityde by Iuste cause resonable ‖.

[2600] Thy name is Melibee / this is to seyn / a man that drynketh hony [2601] ¶ Thou hast ydronke so muchel hony of sweete temporeel richesses / and delices and hon|ours of this world / [2602] that thou art dronken / and hast forgeten / Ihesu crist thy creatour / [2603] thou ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour and reuerence as thee oughte / [2604] ne thou ne hast nat wel ytaken kepe / to

[6-text p 229] the wordes of Ouide ¶ That seith ‖ [2605] vnder the hony [¶ Ouidius] of the goodes of the body / is hyd the venym / that sleeth the soule [2606] ¶ And salomon seith ¶ If thou hast [¶ Salomon] founden hony / ete of it that suffiseth / [2607] for if thou ete of it out of mesure / thou shalt spewe / and be nedy and poure / [2608] And perauenture / Crist hath thee in despit/ and hath turned awey fro thee his face and hise eeris of Misericorde [2609] ¶ And also / he hath [folio 165b] suffred / that thou hast been punysshed in the manere that thow hast ytrespassed [2610] ¶ Thou hast doon synne / agayn oure lord crist. [2611] for certes. the .iij. enemys of man|kynde / that is to seyn / the flessh / the feend and the world /. [2612] thou hast suffred hem / entre in to thyn herte wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body / [2613] and hast nat defended thy self suffisantly agayns hire assautes / and hire temptacions / so / that they han wounded thy soule / in .v. places / [2614] this is to seyn / the deedly synnes that been entred in-to thyn herte / by thy .v. wittes ‖. [2615] And in the same manere / oure lord crist hath woold and suffred / that thy .iij. enemys been entred / in-to thyn hous by the wyndowes / [2616] and han ywounded thy doghter in the foreseyde manere

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Melibee / I se wel that ye en|force [¶ Melibee] yow muchel by wordes / to ouercome me / in swich manere that I shal nat / venge me of myne enemys [2618] shewynge me the perils and the yueles / that myghten falle of this vengeance ‖ [2619] But who so wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and yueles þat myghte sewe of vengeance takynge / [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengeance / and that were harm / [2621] for by the venge|ance takynge / been the wikked men disseuered fro the goode men [2622] ¶ And they that han wyl to do wikked|nesse / restreyne hir wikked purpos / whan they seen the punyssynge and chastisynge of the trespassours [2623] [Et a ce Respont dame prudence certes dist elle Ie t'ottroye que de vengence vient molt de maulx Et de biens;

[6-text p 230] [2624] Mais vengence n'appartient pas a vn chascun fors seulement aux iuges Et a ceulx qui ont la iuridicion sur les malfaitteurs. (MS Reg. 19 C. vii, leaf 136.)] [2625] ¶ And yet seye I moore /. that right as a singuler persone / synneth / in takynge vengeance of another man ./ [2626] right so / synneth the Iuge / if he do no vengeance of hem / that it han disserued ‖ [2627] ffor Senec seith [¶ Seneca] thus ¶ That maister he seith is good / that proueth shrewes [2628] ¶ And as Cassidore seith ¶ A man dredeth to do [¶ Cassidorus] outrages / whan he woot and knoweth / that it displeseth to the Iuges / and souereyns [2629] ¶ Another seith ¶ The Iuge þat dredeth to do right. maketh men shrewes ‖. [2630] And Seint Paule the Apostle / seith in his epistle / [¶ Paulus Apos|tolus ad Romanos] whan he writeth vn-to the Romayns; That the Iuges beren nat the spere / with-outen cause / [2631] but they beren it to punysse the shrewes and mysdoeres / and to defende the goode men [2632] ¶ If ye wol thanne take vengeance of youre enemys / ye shul retourne / or haue youre recours to the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccion vp-on hem / [2633] and he shal punysse hem / as the lawe axeth and requireth

[2634] A quod Melibee / this vengeance / liketh me [¶ Melibee] no thyng [2635] ¶ I bithenke me now and take heede / how ffortune / hath norissed me fro my childhede / and hath holpen me / to passe many a stroong paas [2636] ¶ Now wol I assayen hire trowynge with goddes helpe / that she shal helpe me / my shame for to venge

[2637] Certes quod Prudence ¶ If ye wol werke by my [¶ Prudence] conseil / ye shul nat assaye ffortune by no wey / [2638] ne ye shul nat lene or bowe / vnto hire after the word of Senec [2639] ¶ ffor thynges / that been folily doon / and [¶ Seneca] that been in hope of ffortune / shullen neuere come to good ende ‖. [2640] And as the same Senec seith ¶ The moore cleer and the moore shynyng that ffortune is / the moore brotil / and the sonner broken she is ‖ [2641] trusteth nat in hire / for she nys nat stidefast ne stable [2642] for whan thow trowest to be moost seur and siker of hire

[6-text p 231] helpe she wol faille thee / and deceyue thee [2643] ¶ And where as ye seyn that ffortune hath norissed yow fro youre childhede /. [2644] I seye / that [folio 166a] in so muchel / shul ye / the lasse truste in hire and in hir wit ‖. [2645] ffor senec [¶ Seneca] seith ‖ what man that is norissed by ffortune / she maketh hym a greet fool [2646] ¶ Now thanne / syn ye desire / and axe vengeance / and the vengeance / that is doon after the lawe and bifore the Iuge / ne liketh yow nat [2647] And the vengeance that is doon in hope of ffortune is peril|ous and vncertein [2648] Thanne haue ye noon oother remedie / but for to haue youre recours / vnto the souereyn Iuge that vengeth / alle vileynyes and wronges /. [2649] And he shal venge yow / after that hym self witnesseth / where as he seith ‖. [2650] leueth the vengeance to me / and I shal do it

[2651] Melibee answerde ‖. If I ne venge me nat. of [¶ Melibee] the vileynye that men han doon to me [2652] .I. sompne or warne hem / that han doon to me that vileynye and alle othere / to do me another vileynye [2653] ¶ ffor it is writen ¶ If thou take no vengeance of an oold vileynye / thou somp|nest thyne Aduersaries to do thee a newe vileynye [2654] ¶ And also / for my suffrance / men wolden do to me so muchel vileynye / that I myghte neither bere it ne sus|teene / [2655] and so sholde I been put and holden ouer lowe [2656] ¶ ffor men seyn / In muchel suffrynge / shul manye thynges falle vn-to thee / whiche / thou shalt nat mowe suffre

[2657] Certes quod Prudence .I. graunte yow that [¶ Prudence] ouer muchel suffrance nys nat good / [2658] but yet ne folweth it nat ther-of / that euery persone / to whom men doon vileynye take of it vengeance / [2659] for that aper|teneth and longeth al oonly to the Iuges / for they shul venge the vileynyes and iniuries ‖. [2660] And ther-fore / tho two Auctoritees / that ye han seyd aboue / been oonly vnderstonden in the Iuges / [2661] for whan they suffren ouer muchel the wronges and the vileynyes to be doon

[6-text p 232] withouten punysshynge / [2662] they sompne nat a man al oonly / for to do newe wronges / but they comanden it [2663] ¶ Also a wys man seith / that the Iuge that cor|recteth nat the synnere comandeth and biddeth hym do synne [2664] ¶ And the Iuges and souereyns myghten in hir land so muchel suffre of the shrewes and mysdoeres / [2665] that they sholden by swich suffrance by proces of tyme / wexen of swich power and myght / that they sholden putte out the Iuges and the souereyns / from hir places / [2666] and atte laste maken hem lesen hire lordshipes

[2667] ¶ But lat vs now putte / that ye haue leue to venge yow / [2668] I seye / ye been nat of myght and power / as now to venge yow / [2669] for if ye wole maken comparison / vn-to the myght of youre Aduersaries / ye shul fynde in manye thynges / that I haue shewed yow er this / that hire condicion / is bettre than youres [2670] ¶ And therfore seye I that it is good as now / that ye suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ fforthermoore / ye knowen wel / that after the comune sawe / it is a woodnesse / a man / to stryue with a strenger / or a moore myghty man / than he is hym self ‖. [2672] And for to stryue with a man of euene strengthe / that is to seyn / with as strong a man as he; it is peril /. [2673] And for to stryue with a weyker man / it is folie [2674] ¶ And therfore / sholde a man flee stryuynge / as muchel as he myghte [2675] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖ It is a [¶ Salomon] greet worshipe to a man / to kepen hym fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe / that a man of gretter myght and strengthe / than thou art. do thee grevaunce / [2677] studie / and bisye thee rather to stille / the [folio 166b] same greuaunce / than for to venge thee ‖ [2678] ffor Senec seith ‖ That he putteth hym in greet peril / that [¶ Seneca] stryueth with a gretter man / than he is hym self [2679] ¶ And Caton seith / If a man of hyer estaat or degree / or [¶ Cato] moore myghty than thou / do thee anoy or greuance / suffre hym / [2680] for he that oones hath greued thee /

[6-text p 233] another tyme / may releeue thee and helpe; [2681] ¶ Yet sette I caas / ye haue bothe myght and licence / for to venge yow / [2682] .I. seye that ther be ful manye thynges / that shul restreyne yow / of vengeance takynge / [2683] and make yow / for to enclyne to suffre / and for to han pacience / in the thynges / that han been doon to yow [2684] ¶ ffirst and foreward / if ye wole considere the defautes / that been in youre owene persone / [2685] for whiche defautes / god hath suffred yow haue this tribulacion / as I haue seyd yow heer biforn [2686] ¶ ffor the Poete seith That we oghte paciently taken the tribu|lacions [¶ Poeta] that comen to vs whan we thynken and consideren / that we han disserued to haue hem [2687] ¶ And Seint Gregorie seith ‖ That whan a man considereth wel the [¶ Gregorius] nombre of hise defautes / and of his synnes /. [2688] the peynes and the tribulacions that he suffreth / semen / the lesse vn-to hym [2689] And in as muche / as hym thynk|eth / hise synnes moore heuy and greuous / [2690] in so muche / semeth his peyne the lighter / an[d] the esier vn-to hym [2691] ¶ Also / ye owen to enclyne and bowe youre herte / to take the pacience of oure lord Ihesu crist ‖ As seith seint Peter in hise Epistles [2692] ¶ Ihesu crist he [¶ Petrus in epis|tolis] seith / hath suffred for vs and yeuen ensample to euery man / to folwe and sewe hym / [2693] for he dide neuere synne / ne neuere cam ther a vileynous word out of his mouþ / [2694] whan men cursed hym / he cursed hem noght. And whan men betten hym / he manaced hem noght. [2695] ¶ Also / the grete pacience / which the seintes that been in Paradys / han had in tribulacions that they han ysuffred with-outen hir desert or gilt. [2696] oghte muchel stiren yow to pacience [2697] ¶ fforther|moore / ye sholde enforce yow / to haue pacience / [2698] considerynge / that the tribulacions of this world / but litel while endure / and soone passed been and goone [2699] ¶ And the ioye that a man / seketh to haue by pacience in tribulacions / is perdurable / after that the

[6-text p 234] Apostle seith in his epistle [2700] ¶ The ioye of god / he [¶ Apostolus in epistola] seith is perdurable / that is to seyn euerelastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweþ and bileueth stedefastly / that he nys nat wel ynorissed ne wel ytaught that kan nat haue pacience / or wol nat receyue pacience; [2702] ffor Salomon seith [¶ Salomon] ¶ That the doctrine and the wit of a man / is knowen by pacience [2703] ¶ And in another place he seith ¶ that he that is pacient. gouerneth hym by greet prudence [2704] ¶ And the same Salomon seith The angry and wrathful man / maketh noyses / And the pacient man atempreth hem and stilleth [2705] ¶ He seith also / It is moore worth to be pacient than for to be right strong. [2706] And he that may haue the lordshipe of his owene herte / is moore to preyse / than he that by his force or strengthe taketh grete Citees [2707] ¶ And therfore / seith Seint Iame in his Epistle ¶ That pacience / is a greet vertu of [¶ Iacobus in epis|tola] perfeccion

[2708] ¶ Certes quod Melibee /. I graunte yow Dame [¶ Melibee] Prudence / that pacience / is a greet vertu of perfeccion / [2709] but euery man may nat haue the perfeccion þat ye seken / [2710] ne I nam nat of the nombre / of right par|fite men / [2711] for myn [folio 167a] herte / may neuere been in pees / vn-to the tyme it be venged / [2712] And al be it so that it was greet peril to myne enemys / to do me a vileynye / in takynge vengeance vp-on me /. [2713] yet tooken they noon heede of the peril / but fulfilleden / hir wikked wyl and hir corage [2714] ¶ And therfore / me thynketh men oghten nat repreue me / though I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me / [2715] And though .I. do a greet excesse / that is to seyn / that I venge oon outrage by another

[2716] A quod dame Prudence / ye seyn youre wyl / [¶ Prudence] and as yow liketh / [2717] but in no caas of the world / a man sholde nat doon outrage ne excesse / for to vengen hym [2718] ¶ ffor Cassidore seith ‖ That as yuele dooth [¶ Cassidorus] he that vengeth hym by outrage / as he that dooth the

[6-text p 235] outrage ‖. [2719] And therfore / ye shul venge yow / after the ordre of right / that is to seyn by the lawe / and noght by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ And also / If ye wol venge yow of the outrage of youre Aduersaries in oother manere than right comandeth / ye synnen; [2721] And therfore seith Senec ‖. That a man shal neuere vengen shrewednesse / by shrewednesse [2722] ¶ And if ye seye / that right axeth / a man to defenden violence by violence / and fightyng by fightyng? [2723] Certes / ye seye sooth whan the defense is doon anon with-outen Interualle or with-outen tariyng or delay [2724] for to deffenden hym / and nat for to vengen hym; [2725] ¶ And it bihoueth / that a man putte swich attemperance in his deffense; [2726] that men haue no cause ne matiere / to repreuen hym that deffendeth hym of excesse and outrage / for ellis were it agayn reson [2727] ¶ Pardee / ye knowen wel / that ye maken no deffense as now / for to deffende yow but for to venge yow / [2728] and so sheweth it that ye han no wyl to do youre dede attemprely ‖. [2729] And therfore / me thynketh that pacience is good ‖ ffor Salomon [¶ Salomon] seith ¶ That he that is nat pacient shal haue greet harm

[2730] Certes quod Melibee / I graunte yow / that [¶ Melibee] whan a man is inpacient and wrooth / of that þat toucheth hym noght and that aperteneth nat vn-to hym / though it harme hym / it is no wonder ‖ [2731] ffor the lawe seith ‖ That he is coupable that entremetteth or medleth / with swych thyng as aperteneth nat vn-to hym [2732] ¶ And Salomon seith ‖ That he that entremetteth hym of the [¶ Salomon] noyse or strif / of another man /.is lyk to hym / that taketh an hound by the eris ‖ [2733] ffor right as he that taketh a straunge hound by the eris / is outherwhile / biten with the hound [2734] Right in the same wise is it reson / that he haue harm / that by his inpacience / medleth hym / of the noyse of another man / where-as it aperteneth nat vn-to hym [2735] ¶ But ye knowen wel / that this dede / that

[6-text p 236] is to seyn / my grief and my disese / toucheth me right ny ‖. [2736] And therfore / though I be wrooth and in|pacient. it is no merueille / [2737] And sauynge youre grace / I kan nat seen / that it myghte greetly harme me / though I tooke vengeaunce / [2738] for I am richer / and moore myghty than myne enemys been / [2739] And wel knowen ye / that by moneye and by hauynge grete posses|sions / been alle the thynges of this world gouerned [2740] ¶ And Salomon seith ¶ That alle thynges / obeyen to [¶ Salomon'] moneye /.

[2741] Whan Prudence / hadde herd hir housbonde [¶ Prudence] auanten hym of his richesse and of his moneye / dispreis|ynge the power of hise Aduersaries / she spak / and seyde in this wise [2742] ¶ Certes / deere sire I graunte yow that ye been riche and myghty / [2743] and that the richesses been goode / to hem þat han hem wel ygeten hem / and wel konne vsen hem ‖. [2744] ffor [folio 167b] right as the body of a man / may nat lyuen with-oute the soule / namoore may it lyue / with-outen temporeel goodes / [2745] And for rich|esses / may a man gete hym grete freendes [2746] ¶ And therfore seith Pamphilles ¶ If a netherdes doghter seith [¶ Pamphilles] he / be riche / she may chesen of a thousand men / [lequel quelle veult pour mary (MS Reg. 19 C. vii, lf 140)] [2747] for of a thousand men / oon wol nat forsaken hire ne refusen hire [2748] ¶ And this Pamphilles seith also ¶ If thow be right happy /. that is to seyn / If thou be right riche / thou shalt fynde a greet nombre of felawes and freendes ‖. [2749] And if thy ffortune change / that thou wexe poure / fare|wel / freendshipe and felaweshipe / [2750] for thou shalt be al alloone with-outen any compaignye / but if it be / the compaignye of poure folk [2751] ¶ And yet seith / this Pamphilles moreouer ¶ That they that been thralle and bonde of lynage shullen been maad worthy and noble by the richesses [2752] ¶ And right so / as by richesses / ther comen manye goodes /. right so by pouerte come ther manye harmes and yueles /. [2753] for greet pouerte con|streyneth

[6-text p 237] a man / to do manye yueles /. [2754] And ther|fore / clepeth Cassidore / pouerte / the mooder of Ruyne / [¶ Cassidorus] [2755] that is to seyn / the mooder of ouerthrowynge or fallynge doun [2756] ¶ And therfore seith Piers Alfonce ‖. [¶ Petrus Alfonee] Oon of the gretteste Aduersitees of this world is / [2757] whan a free man / by kynde or by burthe is constreyned by pouerte to eten the Almesse of his enemy [2758] ¶ And the same seith Innocent in oon of hise bookes ‖. he seith / [¶ Innocencius] that sorweful and myshappy / is the condicion of a poure beggere / [2759] for if he axe nat his mete / he dyeth for hunger /. [2760] And if he axe / he dyeth for shame / And algates necessitee constreyneth hym to axe [2761] ¶ And therfore seith Salomon ‖ That bet it is to dye / than [¶ Salomon] for to haue swich pouerte; [2762] ¶ And as the same Salo|mon seith ¶ Bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth than for to lyuen / in swich wise [2763] ¶ By thise resons / that I haue seid vn-to yow / and by manye othere resons that I koude seye? / [2764] I graunte yow / that richesses been goode to hem / that geten hem wel / and to hem that wel vsen tho richesses [2765] ¶ And therfore wol I shewe yow / hou ye shul haue yow / and how ye shul bere yow in gaderynge of richesses / and in what manere / ye shul vsen hem

[2766] ¶ ffirst ye shul geten hem with-outen greet desir / by good leyser sekyngly / and nat ouer hastily / [2767] ffor a man that is to desirynge to gete richesses / abaundoneth hym first to thefte / and to alle other yueles [2768] ¶ And therfore seith Salomon ¶ He that hasteth [¶ Salomon] hym to bisily / to wexe riche shal be noon Innocent [2769] ¶ He seith also /. that the richesse that hastily cometh to a man / soone and lightly / gooth and passeth fro a man [2770] ¶ but that richesse / that cometh litel and litel wexeth alwey and multiplieth [2771] ¶ And sire / ye shul geten richesses / by youre wit and by youre trauaille vn-to youre profit. [2772] and that with-outen wrong or harm doynge / to any oother persone [2773] ¶ ffor the lawe

[6-text p 238] seith / that ther maketh no man himseluen riche / if he do harm to another wight ‖ [2774] This is to seyn / that nature deffendeth and forbedeth by right that no man make hym-self riche / vn-to the harm of another persone [2775] ¶ And Tullius seith ‖ þat no sorwe / ne no drede [¶ Tullius] of deeth / ne no thyng that may falle vn-to a man / [2776] is so muchel agayns nature / as a man to encressen his owene profit to the harm of another man ‖ [2777] And though the grete men [folio 168a] and the myghty men geten richesses moore lightly than thou /. [2778] yet shaltou nat been ydel ne slow to do thy profit. for thou shalt in alle wise flee ydel|nesse [2779] ¶ ffor Salomon seith /. that ydelnesse / techeth [¶ Salomon] a man to do manye yueles [2780] ¶ And the same Salomon seith ‖ That he that trauailleth and bisieth hym to tilien his land / shal eten breed [2781] but he that is ydel / and casteth hym to no bisynesse ne occupacion / shal falle in-to pouerte / and dye for hunger [2782] ¶ And he that is ydel and slow / kan neuere fynde couenable tyme for to doon his profit. [2783] ffor ther is a versifiour seith / that [¶ Vnde versifi|cator] the ydel man excuseth hym in wynter / by cause of the grete coold and in somer / by encheson of the heete ‖. [2784] ffor thise causes seiþ Caton ‖. waketh and enclyneth [¶ Cato] nat yow ouer muchel / for to slepe / for ouer muchel reste norisseth and causeth manye vices ‖. [2785] And therfore / seith Seint Ierome ‖. Dooth somme goodes / that the deuel / [¶ Sanctus Ieron|imus] which is oure enemy / ne fynde yow nat vnocupied ‖. [2786] ffor the deuel ne taketh nat lightly vn-to his werk|ynge swiche as he fyndeth occupied in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ Thanne thus / In getynge richesses / ye mosten flee ydelnesse ‖. [2788] And afterward ye shul vse the richesses / whiche ye haue geten by youre wit and by youre trauaille / [2789] in swich a manere / that men holde nat yow / to scars ne to sparynge ne to fool large / that is to seyn / ouer large a spendere / [2790] for right as men blamen an Auaricious man / by cause / of his scarsetee and chyngerie / [2791] In the same wise is he to blame

[6-text p 239] that spendeth ouer largely ‖. [2792] And therfore seith Caton ¶ Vse he seith / thy richesses that thou hast geten [¶ Cato] [2793] in swich a manere / that men haue / no matiere ne cause / to calle thee / neiþer wrecche ne chynche / [2794] for it is a greet shame to a man / to haue a pouere herte and a riche purs [2795] ¶ He seith also / the goodes that thou hast ygeten / vse hem by mesure / that is to seyn / spende hem mesurably / [2796] for they that folily / wasten and despenden / the goodes that they han? [2797] whan they han namoore propre of hir owene / they shapen hem to take the goodes of another man [2798] ¶ I seye thanne / that ye shul fleen Auarice / [2799] vsynge youre richesses / in swich manere / that men seye nat þat youre richesses been yburyed / [2800] but þat ye haue hem in youre myght and in youre weeldynge [2801] ¶ ffor a wys man / repreueth the Auaricious man / and seith thus / in two vers [2802] ¶ Wherto and why / burieth a man hise [¶ Vnde versifi|cator] goodes by his grete Auarice / and knoweth wel that nedes moste he dye / [2803] for deeth is the ende of euery man / as in this present lyf [2804] ¶ And for what cause / or encheson ioyneth he hym / or knytteth he hym / so faste vn-to hise goodes / [2805] that alle hise wittes mowen nat disseueren hym / or departen hym from hise goodes / [2806] and knoweth wel / or oghte knowe / that whan he is deed / he shal no thyng bere with hym / out of this world [2807] ¶ And ther-fore seith seint Augustyn ‖ That [¶ Augustinus] the Auaricious man is likned vn-to helle / [2808] that the moore it swelweth / the moore desir it hath to swelwe and deuoure / [2809] And as wel / as ye wolde eschewe / to be called an Auaricious man / or chynche / [2810] as wel sholde ye kepe yow and gouerne yow / in swich a wise / that men calle yow nat fool large [2811] ¶ Therfore seith Tullius ‖. The goodes he seith of thyn hous / ne sholde [¶ Tullius] nat been hyd / ne kept so cloos [folio 168b] but that they myghte been opened by pitee and debonairetee [2812] ¶ that is to seyn / to yeuen part to hem that han greet nede /. [2813]

[6-text p 240] ne thy goodes / shullen nat been so opene / to been euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ Afterward / in getynge of youre richesses / and in vsynge hem / ye shul alwey / haue thre thynges in youre herte /. [2815] that is to seyn / Oure lord god / Conscience / and good name [2816] ¶ ffirst / ye shul haue god in youre herte / [2817] and for no richesse / ye shullen do no thyng. which may in any manere displese god / that is youre creatour and makere [2818] ¶ ffor after the word of Salomon ¶ It is bettre to haue a litel good [¶ Salomon] with the loue of god / [2819] than to haue / muchel good and tresour / and lese the loue of his lord god [2820] ¶ And the prophete seith ‖ That bettre it is / to been a [¶ Propheta] good man and haue litel good and tresour / [2821] than to been holden a shrewe / and haue grete richesses [2822] ¶ And yet seye I ferthermoore / that ye sholde alwey doon youre bisynesse to gete yow richesses / [2823] so that ye gete hem with good conscience [2824] ¶ And thapostle [¶ Apostoius] seith ‖. that ther nys thyng in this world / of which / we sholden haue so greet ioye / as whan oure Conscience bereth vs good witnesse [2825] ¶ And the wise man seith ‖ The [¶ Sapiens] substance of a man is ful good / whan synne is nat in mannes conscience [2826] ¶ Afterward in getynge of youre richesses / and in vsynge of hem / [2827] yow moste haue greet bisynesse and greet diligence / that youre goode name / be alwey kept and conserued ‖. [2828] ffor salo|mon [¶ Salomon] seith /. that bettre it is / and moore it auailleth a man to haue a good name / than for to haue grete richesses? [2829] And therfore / he seith in another place ¶ Do greet diligence seith Salomon / in kepyng of thy freend / and of thy goode name / [2830] for it shal lenger abide with thee / than any tresour / be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he sholde nat be called a gentil man / that after god and good conscience / alle thynges left. ne dooth his diligence and bisynesse / to kepen his good name [2832] ¶ And Cassidore seith ¶ That it is signe of gentil [¶ Cassidorus] herte? whan a man loueth and desireth to han a good name

[6-text p 241] [2833] ¶ And therfore seith Seint Augustyn ¶ That ther [¶ Augustinus] been two thynges / that arn necessarie and nedefulle / [2834] and that is good Conscience and good loos / [2835] þat is to seyn / good Conscience / to thyn owene persone inward / and good loos for thy neighebore outward /. [2836] And he that trusteth hym so muchel in his goode conscience / [2837] that he displeseth / and setteth at noght his goode name or loos / and rekketh noght though he kepe nat his goode name / nys but a crueel cherl /

[2838] Sire / now haue I shewed yow / how ye shul do in getynge richesses / and how / ye shullen vsen hem / [2839] and I se wel / that for the trust that ye han in youre richesses / ye wole moeue werre and bataille [2840] ¶ I conseille yow / that ye bigynne no werre / in trust of youre richesses / for they ne suffisen noght werres to mayn|tene [2841] ¶ And therfore / seith a Philosophre ¶ That [¶ Philosophus] man / that desireth / and wole algates han werre / shal neuere haue suffisaunce / [2842] for the richer that he is / the gretter despenses moste he make / if he wole haue wor|shipe and victorie [2843] ¶ And Salomon seith ‖. That the [¶ Salomon] gretter richesses that a man hath / the mo despendours he hath [2844] ¶ And deere sire / al be it so / that for youre richesses / ye mowe haue muchel folk [2845] yet bihoueth it nat. ne it is nat good to bigynne werre / where as ye mowe in oother manere / haue pees vn-to youre worshipe and [folio 169a] profit [2846] ¶ ffor the victories of batailles that been in this world / lyen nat in greet nombre or multitude of the peple / ne in the vertu of man / [2847] but it lith in the wyl / and in the hand of oure lord god almyghty [2848] ¶ And therfore / Iudas Machabeus / which was goddes knyght. [2849] whan he sholde fighte agayn his aduersarie that hadde a greet nombre / and a gretter mul|titude of folk / and strenger than was this peple of Macha|bee /. [2850] yet he reconforted his litel compaignye / and seyde right in this wise [2851] ¶ Als lightly quod he / may oure lord god almyghty yeue victorie to a fewe folk

[6-text p 242] as to many folk. [2852] for the victorie of a bataile comth nat by the grete nombre of peple / [2853] but it come / from oure lord god of heuene [2854] ¶ And deere sire / for as muchel / as ther is no man certein / if he be worthy / that god yeue hym victorie [ne plus que il est certain se il est digne de l'amour de Dieu (Le Ménagier, i. 226)] or naught /. After that Salomon seith / [2855] therfore / euery man sholde greetly [¶ Salomon] drede werres to bigynne / [2856] ¶ And by cause / that in batailles / fallen manye perils / [2857] and happeth outher while / that as soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man /. [2858] And as it is writen / in the seconde book of [¶ In .ij.^do libro Regum] kynges The dedes of batailles been auenturouse / and no thyng certeyne / [2859] for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another ‖. [2860] And for ther is gret peril in werre / therfore / sholde a man flee and eschue werre / in as muchel as a man may goodly ‖. [2861] ffor Salomon [¶ Salomon] seith /. He that loueth peril shal falle in peril

[2862] After that Dame Prudence / hadde spoken in [¶ Melibee] this manere / Melibee answerde and seyde [2863] ¶ I see wel dame Prudence that by youre faire wordes / and by youre resons that ye han shewed me / that the werre liketh yow no thyng. [2864] but I haue nat yet herd youre con|seil / how I shal do in this nede

[2865] Certes quod she I conseille yow / that ye [¶ Prudence] accorde with youre aduersaries / and that ye haue pees with hem [2866] ¶ ffor Seint Iame seith / in hise epistles [¶ Sanctus Iacobus in epistolis] ¶ That by concord and pees / the smale richesses wexen grete / [2867] and by debaat and discord / the grete richesses fallen doun [2868] ¶ And ye knowen wel that oon of the gretteste and moost souereyn thyng. that is in this world / is vnytee and pees [2869] ¶ And therfore / seyde oure lord [¶ Dominus Apos|tolis suis] Ihesu crist to hise Apostles in this wise [.2870] ¶ wel happy and blessed been they / that louen and purchacen pees / for they been called children of god [2871] A quod Melibee /. now se I wel / that ye louen nat myn honour / [¶ Melibee] ne my worshipe [2872] ¶ Ye knowen wel that myne

[6-text p 243] Aduersaries / han bigonnen this debaat and bryge / by hire outrage / [2873] and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees / ne they asken nat to be reconsiled [2874] ¶ wol ye thanne / that I go and meke me and obeye me to hem and crie hem mercy?/. [2875] ffor sothe / that were nat my worshipe [2876] ffor right as men seyn / that ouer greet hoomlynesse / engendreth dispreisynge /· so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse

[2877] Thanne bigan dame Prudence / to maken sem|blant [¶ Prudence] of wratthe / and seyde [2878] ¶ Certes sire / sauf youre grace / I loue youre honour and youre profit as I do myn owene / and euere haue doon / [2879] ne ye ne noon oother / syen neuere the contrarie [2880] ¶ And yit if I hadde seyd / that ye sholde han purchaced the pees / and the reconsiliacion /. I ne hadde nat muchel mystaken me / ne seyd amys /. [2881] ffor the wise man seiþ ¶ The dis|sension [¶ Sapiens] / bigynneth by another man / and the reconsilyng by [folio 169b] gynneth by thy self [2882] ¶ And the prophete seith ‖. [¶ propheta] fflee shrewednesse and do goodnesse / [2883] seke pees and folwe it as muchel as in thee is [2884] ¶ Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to youre Aduersaries for pees than they shuln to yow ‖. [2885] for I knowe wel / that ye been so hard-herted / that ye wol do no thyng for me [2886] ¶ And Salomon seith ‖. he that hath ouer hard an [¶ Salomon] herte / atte laste / he shal myshappe and mystyde

[2887] Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence [¶ Melibee] maken semblant of wratthe / he seyde in this wise [2888] ¶ Dame I prey yow that ye be nat displesed / of thynges that I seye [2889] for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth / and that is no wonder / [2890] and they that been wrothe / witen nat wel / what they don ne what they seyn [2891] ¶ Therfore / the prophete seith ¶ That [¶ propheta] troubled eyen / han no cleer sighte [2892] ¶ but seyeth and conseileth me as yow liketh / for I am redy to do right as ye wol desire / [2893] and if ye repreue me of my folye / I am the moore holden / to loue yow and preyse

[6-text p 244] yow [2894] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖. That he þat repreueth [¶ Salomon] hym that dooth folye / [2895] he shal fynde gretter grace than he / that deceyueth hym by sweete wordes

[2896] Thanne seide dame Prudence ¶ I make no semblant of wratthe ne Anger / but for youre grete profit [2897] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖. He is moore worth that re|preueth [¶ Salomon] / or chideth a fool for his folye shewynge hym semblant of wratthe / [2898] than he that supporteth hym and p[r]eyseth hym in his mysdoynge and laugheth at his folye [2899] ¶ And this same Salomon / seith afterward .‖. That by the sorweful visage of a man / that is to seyn / by the sory and heuy contenance of a man / [2900] the fool correcteth and amendeth hym self

[2901] Thanne seyde Melibee ¶ I shal nat konne an|swere [¶ Melibee] to so manye faire resons / as ye putten to me and shewen / [2902] seyeth shortly youre wyl and youre con|seil / and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourne it

[2903] Thanne dame Prudence / discouered al hir wyl [¶ Prudence] to hym / and seyde [2904] ¶ I conseille yow quod she abouen alle thynges / that ye make pees / bitwene god and yow / [2905] and beth reconsiled vn-to hym and to his grace ‖ [2906] ffor as I haue seyd yow heer biforn /. god hath suffred yow to haue this tribulacion and disese for youre synnes / [2907] And if ye do as I sey yow / god wol sende youre Aduersaries vn-to yow [2908] and maken hem fallen at youre feet redy to do youre wyl and youre com|andementz [2909] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖. whan the con|dicion [¶ Salomon] of man is plesaunt and likynge to god /. [2910] he chaungeth the hertes of the mannes Aduersaries and con|streyneth hem / to biseken hym / of pees and of grace / [2911] and I prey yow / lat me speke with youre Aduersaries in priuee place / [2912] for they shul nat knowe / that it be of youre wyl / or youre assent. [2913] and thanne whan I knowe / hir wil and hire entente /. I may conseille yow the moore seurely

[2914] Dame quod Melibee / dooth youre wil and [¶ Melibee]

[6-text p 245] youre likynge /. [2915] for I putte me hoolly / in youre disposicion and ordinaunce

[2916] Thanne Dame Prudence / whan she saugh the [¶ Prudence] goode wyl of hir housbonde / delibered and took auys in hir self. [2917] thinkinge / how she myghte brynge this nede / vn-to a good conclusion / and to a good ende /. [2918] And whan she saugh hir tyme / she sente for thise Aduersaries / to come vn-to hire in to a pryuee place / [2919] and shewed wisely vn-to hem / the grete goodes that comen of pees / [2920] and the grete har [folio 170a] mes and perils / that been in werre / [2921] and seyde to hem / in a goodly manere /. hou that hem oughten / haue greet re|pentaunce / [2922] of the Iniurie and wrong that they hadden doon / to Melibee hir lord / and to hire / And to hire doghter

[2923] And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of Dame Prudence / [2924] they weren so supprised and rauysshed / and hadden so greet ioye of hire / that wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod they / ye han shewed vn-to vs / the blessynge of swetnesse / after the sawe of Dauid the prophete / [2926] for the reconsilynge / which we been nat worthy to haue in no manere / [2927] but we oghte requeren it with greet contricion and humylitee / [2928] ye of youre grete goodnesse haue presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now se we wel / that the science and the konnynge of Salomon is ful trewe [2930] ¶ ffor he seith ‖ That sweete wordes / multiplien and encreesen freendes / and maken shrewes / to be debonaire and meeke

[2931] ¶ Certes quod they ./ we putten oure dede and al oure matere and cause / al hoolly / in youre goode wyl / [2932] and been redy to obeye to the speche and comande|ment of my lord Melibee [2933] ¶ And therfore deere and benygne lady / we preien yow and biseke yow as mekely as we konne and mowen / [2934] that it lyke vn-to youre grete goodnesse / to fulfillen in dede / youre good|liche wordes / [2935] for we consideren and knowelichen /

[6-text p 246] that we han offended and greued my lord Melibee out of mesure /. [2936] so ferforth / that we be nat of power / to maken hise amendes / [2937] and therfore / we oblige and bynden vs and oure freendes / to doon al his wyl and hise comandementz ‖ [2938] ¶ but perauenture / he hath swich heuynesse / and swich wratthe to vs ward / by cause of oure offense / [2939] that he wole enioyne vs swich a peyne / as we mowe nat bere ne susteene /. [2940] and therfore noble lady / we biseke / to youre wommanly pitee / [2941] to taken swich auysement in this nede / that we / ne oure freendes / be nat desherited ne destroyed / thurgh oure folye

[2942] Certes quod Prudence / it is an hard thyng and [¶ Prudence] right perilous / [2943] that a man putte hym al outrely / in the arbitracion and Iuggement. and in the myght and power of hise enemys [2944] ¶ ffor Salomon seith ‖ Leeueth [¶ Salomon] me / and yeueth credence / to that I shal seyn ¶ I seye quod he ¶ ye peple / folk and gouernours of hooly chirche [2945] ¶ to thy sone / to thy wyf / to thy freend / ne to thy broother / [2946] ne yeue thou neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body / whil thou lyuest. [2947] ¶ Now sithen he deffendeth / that man shal nat yeuen to his broother / ne to his freend / the myght of his body? [2948] by strenger reson he deffendeth / and forbedeth a man / to yeuen hym self to his enemy [2949] ¶ And nathe|lees I conseille you / that ye / mystruste nat my lord / [2950] for I woot wel / and knowe verraily / that he is / debonaire and meeke / large / curteys / [2951] and no thyng desirous ne coueitous of good ne richesse [2952] ¶ for ther nys no thyng in this world that he desireth / saue oonly / worshipe and honour [2953] ¶ fforther-moore I knowe wel / and am right seur / that he shal no thyng doon in this nede / with-outen my conseil / [2954] And I shal so werken in this cause / that by grace of oure lord god / ye shul been reconsiled vn-to vs

[2955] Thanne seyden they / with o. [folio 170b] voys ‖ worshipful

[6-text p 247] lady we putten vs and oure goodes al fully in youre wil and disposicion / [2956] and been redy / to comen / what day þat it like vn-to youre noblesse to lymyte vs or assigne vs [2957] for to maken oure obligacion and boond as strong as it liketh vn-to youre goodnesse / [2958] that we mowe fulfille the wille of yow / and of my lord Melibee

[2959] Whan Dame Prudence / hadde herd the an|sweres [¶ Prudence] of thise men / she bad hem / goon agayn priuely / [2960] and she retourned to hir lord Melibee / and tolde hym / how she foond hise Aduersaries ful repentant [2961] knowelechynge ful lowely hir synnes and trespas / and how they were redy to suffren all peyne / [2962] requirynge and preiynge hym of mercy and pitee;

[2963] Thanne seyde Melibee ¶ he is wel worthy to [¶ Melibee] haue pardon and foryifnesse of his synne þat excuseth nat his synne / [2964] but knowelecheth it and repenteth hym / axinge Indulgence [2965] ¶ ffor Senec / seith ‖. ther [¶ Seneca] is the remission and foryifnesse . where as confession is [2966] ¶ ffor Confession is neighebore to Innocence [2967] [et dit autre part: cellui est presque innocent qui a honte de son péchié et le recongnoist. (Le Ménagier, i. 231)] And therfore I assente and corforme me to haue pees / [2968] but it is good þat we do it nat with-outen the assent and wyl of oure freendes

[2969] Thanne was Prudence right glad and ioyeful / [¶ Prudence] and seyde [2970] ¶ Certes sire quod she ye han wel and goodly answered [2971] ffor right as by the conseil / assent and helpe of youre freendes / ye han been stired / to venge yow and maken werre? [2972] right so with|outen hire conseil / shul ye nat accorden yow / ne haue pees with youre Aduersaries [2973] ¶ ffor the lawe seith ‖ ther nys no thyng so good by wey of kynde / as a thyng to been vnbounde by hym þat it was ybounde

[2974] ¶ And thanne Dame Prudence with-outen delay or tariynge / sente anon hire messages for hire kyn and for hire olde freendes / whiche þat were trewe and wyse / [2975]

[6-text p 248] and tolde hem by ordre / in the presence of Melibee al this mateere as it is abouen expressed and declared / [2976] and preyden þat they wolde yeuen hire auys and con|seil / what best were to doon in this nede [2977] ¶ And whan Melibees freendes hadde taken hire auys and deliber|acion of the forseide mateere / [2978] and hadden examyned it by greet bisynesse and greet diligence / [2979] they yaue ful conseil for to haue pees and reste / [2980] and þat Melibee / sholde receyue with good herte hise aduersaries / to foryifnesse and mercy

[2981] And whan dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibee / and the conseil of hise freendes [2982] accorde with hire wille and hire entencion / [2983] she was wonderly glad in hire herte / and seyde [2984] ¶ Ther is an old prouerbe quod she seith ‖. That the [¶ Prudence] goodnesse þat thou mayst do this day / do it [2985] and abide nat ne delaye it nat til to morwe [2986] ¶ And therfore / I conseille þat ye sende youre messages swiche as been discrete and wise / [2987] vn-to youre Aduersaries / tellynge hem on youre bihalue / [2988] þat if they wole trete of pees and of accord / [2989] that they shape hem / with-outen delay or tariyng to comen vn-to vs / [2990] which thyng parfourned was in dede [2991] ¶ And whanne thise trespassours and repentynge folk of hire folies / that is to seyn / the Aduersaries of Melibee / [2992] hadden herd / what thise Messagers seyden vn-to hem / [2993] they weren right glad and ioyeful / and answereden ful mekely and benignely / [2994] yeldynge graces and thankynges to hir lord Melibee and to al his compaignye / [2995] and shopen hem with-outen delay to go with the Messagers and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibee

[2996] ¶ And right anon / they tooken hire wey to the Court of Melibee / [2997] and tooken with hem / somme of hire trewe freendes / to maken feith for hem and for to been hire borwes / [2998] and whan they were comen / [folio 171a] to

[6-text p 249] the presence of Melibee / he seyde hem thise wordes [2999] It standeth thus quod Melibee / and sooth it is / [¶ Melibee] that ye [3000] causelees and with-outen skile and reson [3001] han doon grete Iniuries and wronges / to me and to my wyf Prudence; and to my doghter also / [3002] for ye han entred in to myn hous by violence [3003] and haue doon swich outrage þat alle men knowen wel þat ye haue disserued the deeth / [3004] and therfore / wol I knowe and wite of yow / [3005] wheither ye wol putte the punyssement and the chastisynge / and the vengeance of this outrage / in the wyl of me / and of my wyf Prudence / or ye wol nat

[3006] Thanne / the wiseste of hem thre answerde for hem alle and seyde [3007] ¶ Sire quod he / we knowen wel / þat we been vnworthy / to comen vn-to the Court of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been? [3008] ffor we han so greetly mystaken vs / and han offended and agilt in swich a wise / agayn youre heigh lordshipe / [3009] that trewely / we han disserued the deeth / [3010] but yet for the grete goodnesse and debonairetee þat al the world / witnesseth in youre persone / [3011] we submytten vs / to the excellence and benignitee of youre gracious lordshipe / [3012] and been redy to obeie to alle youre comandementz / [3013] bisekynge yow / that of youre merciable pitee / ye wol considere oure grete repentance and lough submyssion [3014] and graunten vs foryeuenesse of oure outrageous trespas and offense / [3015] for wel we knowe þat youre liberal grace and mercy / strecchen hem ferther in-to good|nesse / than doon oure outrageouse giltes and trespas in-to wikkednesse / [3016] al be it þat cursedly and damp|nablely / we han agilt agayn youre heigh lordshipe

[3017] Thanne Melibee / took hem vp fro the ground ful benignely [3018] and receyued hire obligacions and hir boondes by hire othes vp-on hire plegges and borwes / [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day / to retourne vn-to his Court . [3020] for to accepte and receyue the sentence and

[6-text p 250] Iuggement þat Melibee wolde comande to be doon on hem by the causes aforeseyd / [3021] whiche thynges ordeyned /. euery man retourned to his hous ‖

[3022] And whan þat dame Prudence saugh hir tyme / she freyned and axed hir lord Melibee / [3023] what vengeance / he thoughte / to taken of hise Aduersaries

[3024] To which Melibee answerde and seyde ¶ Certes [¶ Melibee] quod he / I thynke and purpose me fully / [3025] to des|herite hem / of al þat euere they han / and for to putte hem / in exil for euere

[3026] Certes quod dame Prudence / this were a crueel [¶ Prudence] sentence and muchel agayn reson / [3027] ffor ye been riche ynough and han no nede of oother mennes good / [3028] and ye myghte lightly in this wise gete yow a coueitous name / [3029] which is a vicious thyng and oghte been eschued of euery good man [3030] ffor after the sawe of the word of the Apostle /. Coueitise is roote of alle harmes / [¶ Apostolus] [3031] And therfore it were bettre for yow / to lese so muchel good of youre owene / than for to taken of hir good in this manere / [3032] for bettre it is to lesen with worshipe / than it is to wynne with vileynye and shame /. [3033] And eueri man oghte to doon his diligence and his bisynesse / to geten hym a good name /. [3034] And yet shal he nat oonly bisie hym in kepynge of his good name. [3035] but he shal also enforcen hym alwey / to do som thyng by which he may renouelle his good name / [3036] for it is writen / þat the olde good loos and good name of a man / is soone goon and passed / whan it is nat newed ne re|nouelled [3037] ¶ And as touchynge / þat ye seyn / ye wole exile youre Aduersaries / [3038] that thynketh me / muchel agayn reson / and out of [folio 171a] mesure / [3039] con|sidered the power þat they han yeue yow vp-on hem self ‖. [3040] And it is writen þat he is worthy / to lesen his priuilege / þat mysuseth / the myght and the power þat is yeuen hym [3041] ¶ And I sette cas / ye myghte enioyne hem þat peyne by right and by lawe / [3042] which I

[6-text p 251] trowe / ye mowe nat do /. [3043] I seye ye mighte nat putten it to execucion per-auenture / [3044] and thanne were it likly to retourne to the werre as it was biforn / [3045] And therfore / if ye wole þat men do yow obeis|ance / ye moste deemen moore curteisly / [3046] this is to seyn / ye moste yeuen moore esy sentences and Iuggementz [3047] ¶ ffor it is writen / þat he þat moost curteisly comandeth / to hym men moost obeyen / [3048] And ther|fore I prey yow þat in this necessitee / and in this nede / ye caste yow to ouercome youre herte [3049] ¶ ffor Senec [¶ Seneca] seith /. That he þat ouercometh his herte / ouercomeþ twies [3050] ¶ And Tullius seith ¶ Ther is no thyng so [¶ Tullius] comendable in a greet lord / [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke / and appeseth lightly / [3052] And I. prey yow þat ye wole forbere now to do vengeance [3053] in swich a manere / þat youre goode name may be kept and conserued / [3054] and þat men mowe haue cause and mateere / to preyse yow of pitee and of mercy / [3055] and þat ye haue no cause to repente yow of thyng þat ye doon [3056] ¶ ffor Senec seith ¶ He ouercometh in an yuel [¶ Seneca] manere þat repenteth hym of his victorie / [3057] Wher|fore I pray yow / lat mercy been in youre mynde and in youre herte / [3058] to theffect and entente þat god almyghty haue mercy on yow in his laste Iuggement; [3059] ¶ ffor seint Iame seith in his Epistle ¶ Iuggement with|outen [¶ Iacobus in epistola] mercy shal be doon to hym / þat hath no mercy of another wight

[3060] Whanne Melibee hadde herd the grete skiles [¶ Melibee] and resons of Dame Prudence / and hire wise informacions and techynges / [3061] his herte gan enclyne to the wil of his wif considerynge hir trewe entente / [3062] and con|formed hym anon and assented fully to werken after hir conseil / [3063] and thonked god / of whom procedeþ al vertu and alle goodnesse / þat hym sente a wyf / of so greet discrecion [3064] And whan the day cam þat hise Aduer|saries sholde appieren in his presence / [3065] he spak vn|to

[6-text p 252] hem ful goodly / and seyde in this wyse [3066] ¶ Al be it so / þat of youre pride / and presumpcion and folie / and of youre necligence and vnkonnynge / [3067] ye haue mysborn yow and trespassed vn-to me. [3068] yet for as muche / as I see and biholde youre grete humylitee / [3069] and þat ye been sory and repentant of youre giltes / [3070] it constreyneth me / to doon yow grace and mercy [3071] ¶ Therfore / I receyue yow / to my grace [3072] and foryeue yow outrely alle the offenses / Iniuries and wronges þat ye haue doon agayn me and myne / [3073] to this effect and to this ende / that god of his endelees mercy [3074] wole at the tyme of oure diynge foryeuen vs oure giltes that we han trespassed to hym in this wrecched world / [3075] ffor doutelees / if we be sory and repentant of the synnes and giltes whiche we han trespassed in the sighte of oure lord god / [3076] he is so free and so merci|able / [3077] that he wole foryeuen vs oure giltes [3078] and bryngen vs to his blisse / that neuere hath ende. Amen

¶ Heere is ended Chaucers tale of Melibee / and of Dame Prudence .

[6-text p 253]

¶ The murye wordes of the Hoost/ to the Monk/ . [on leaf 172]

Whan ended / was my tale / of Melibee Line 3079 And of Prudence / and hire benignytee Oure hoost seyde / as I am feithful man And by that precious corpus Madrian I hadde leuere / than a barel ale That good lief my wyf / hadde herd this tale Line 3084 She nys no thyng / of swich pacience As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence By goddes bones / whan I bete my knaues She bryngeth me forth / the grete clobbed staues Line 3088 And crieth / slee the dogges euerichoon And brek/ hem / bothe bak and euery boon ¶ And if that any neighebore of myne Wol nat in chirche / to my wyf enclyne Line 3092 Or be so hardy / to hire to trespace Whan she comth [home] / she rampeth in my face And crieth / false coward / wrek thy wyf/ By corpus bones / I wol haue thy knyf/ Line 3096 And thou shalt haue my distaf and go spynne ffro day to nyght / right thus she wol bigynne Allas she seith / that euere þat I was shape To wedden a Milksope / or a coward ape Line 3100 That wol been ouerlad with euery wight Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyues right ¶ This is my lif but if that I wol fighte And out at dore / anon I moot me dighte Line 3104 Or elles I am but lost but if that I Be lik a wilde leon fool-hardy I woot wel / she wol do me slee som day Som neighebore / and thanne go my way Line 3108 ffor I am perilous / with knyf in honde Al be it that I dar hire nat withstonde

[6-text p 254] ffor she is / byg in Armes by my feith That shal he fynde / þat hire mysdooth or seith Line 3112 But lat vs passe awey / fro this mateere ¶ My lord the Monk quod he / be myrie of cheere ffor ye shul telle a tale trewely Loo Rouchestre / stant heer faste by Line 3116 Ryde forth myn owene lord / brek nat oure game But by my trouthe / I knowe nat youre name Wher shal I calle yow / my lord daun Iohn Or daun Thomas / or elles daun Albon Line 3120 Of what hous be ye / by youre fader kyn I vowe to god / thou hast a ful fair skyn It is a gentil pasture / ther thow goost [folio 172b] Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost Line 3124 Vpon my feith / thou art som Officer Som worthy sexteyn / or som Celerer ffor by my fader soule / as to my doom Thou art a maister / whan thou art at hoom Line 3128 No poure cloystrer/ ne no Novys But a gouernour / wily and wys And therwith-al / of brawnes and of bones A wel farynge persone / for the nones Line 3132 I pray to god / yeue hym confusioun That first thee broghte / vn-to Religioun Thou woldest han been / a tredefowel aright Haddestow / as greet a leeue / as thou hast myght Line 3136 To parfourne al thy lust/ in engendrure Thou haddest bigeten / ful many a creature Allas / why werestow / so wyd a Cope God yeue me sorwe / but and I were a pope Line 3140 Nat oonly thou / but euery myghty man Though he were shorn / ful hye vpon his pan Sholde haue a wyf / for al the world is lorn Religioun / hath take vp al the corn Line 3144 Of tredyng. and we borel men been shrympes Of fieble trees / ther comen wrecched ympes

[6-text p 255] . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 3148 This maketh / that oure wyues wole assaye Religious folk for ye mowe bettre paye Of Venus paiementz / than mowe we God woot no lussheburgh payen ye Line 3152 But be nat wrooth / my lord for þat I pleye fful ofte in game / a sooth I haue herd seye ¶ This worthy Monk / took al in pacience And seyde I wol doon al my diligence Line 3156 As fer as sowneth / in-to honestee To telle yow a tale / or two / or three And if yow list to herkne hyderward I wol [yow] seyn the lyf / of seint Edward Line 3160 Or ellis / first Tragedies wol I telle Of whiche /I/ haue an hundred in my Celle ¶ Tragedie is to seyn / a certeyn storie As olde bookes / maken vs memorie Line 3164 Of hym / that stood / in greet prosperitee And is yfallen / out of heigh degree In to myserie / and endeth wrecchedly And they ben versified communely Line 3168 Of .vj. feet. which men clepen Exametron In prose eek / been endited many oon And eek in meetre / in many a sondry wyse Lo / this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise Line 3172 Now herkneth / if yow liketh for to heere [folio 173a] But first / I yow biseeke / in this mateere Though I by ordre / telle nat thise thynges Be it of Popes / Emperours / or kynges Line 3176 After hir ages / as men writen fynde But tellen hem / som bifore and som bihynde As it now comth / vn-to my remembraunce Haue me excused of min ignoraunce Line 3180

¶ Explicit

[6-text p 256]

¶ Heere bigynneth / the Monkes tale / de casibus virorum Illustrium. [on leaf 173]

Iwol biwaille / in manere of Tragedie [[Painting of the Monk and two dogs]] The harm of hem / that stoode in heigh degree And fillen so / that ther nas no remedie To brynge hem / out of hir aduersitee Line 3184 ffor certein / whan þat ffortune list to flee Ther may no man / the cours of hire withholde Lat no man truste / on blynd prosperitee Be war of thise ensamples / trewe and olde Line 3188

[Lucifer.]

AT lucifer / though / he an Angel were [¶ Lucifer] And nat a man / at hym wol I bigynne ffor though ffortune / may noon Angel dere ffrom heigh degree / yet fel he for his synne Line 3192 Doun in to helle / where he yet is Inne O Lucifer/ brightest . of Angels alle Now artow sathanas / þat mayst nat twynne Out of miserie / in which þat thou art falle Line 3196

[Adam.]

Loo Adam / in the feeld of Damyssene [¶ Adam] With goddes owene fynger/ wroght was he And nat bigeten / of mannes sperme vnclene And welte all Paradys / sauynge o tree Line 3200 Hadde neuere worldly man so heigh degree As Adam / til he for mysgouernance Was dryuen / out of hys hye prosperitee To labour and to helle / and to meschance Line 3204

[6-text p 257]

[Sampson.]

Loo Sampson / which that was Annunciat [¶ Sampson] By Angel / longe er his Natiuitee And was / to god almyghty consecrat And stood in noblesse / whil he myghte see Line 3208 Was neuere / swich another as was hee To speke of strengthe / and ther-with hardynesse But to hise wyues / toolde he his secree Line 3211 Thurgh which / he slow hym self / for wrecchednesse

Sampson / this noble almyghty Champion [folio 173b] With-outen wepene / saue his handes tweyne He slow / and al torente the leon Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye Line 3216 His false wyf / koude hym so plese and preye Til she his conseil knew / and she vntrewe Vn-to hise foos / his conseil gan biwreye And hym forsook. and took another newe Line 3220

Thre hundred foxes / took Sampson for Ire And alle hir tayles / he togydre bond And sette the foxes tayles / alle on fire ffor he / on euery tayl / had knyt a brond Line 3224 And they brende / alle the cornes in that lond And alle hire Olyueres / and vynes eke A thousand men / he slow eek with his hond And hadde no wepene / but an Asses cheke Line 3228

Whan they were slayn / so thursted hym / that he Was wel ny lorn / for which he gan to preye That god wolde / on his peyne han som pitee And sende hym drynke / or elles moste he deye Line 3232 And of this asses cheke / that was dreye Out of a wang tooth / sprang anon a welle Of which he drank anon / shortly to seye Thus heelpe hym god / as Iudicum can telle Line 3236

[6-text p 258] Line 3236

By verray force / at Gazan / on a nyght Maugree Philistiens of that Citee The gates of the toun / he hath vp plyght And on his bak. ycaryed hem hath hee Line 3240 Hye on an hill / þat men myghte hem see O noble almyghty Sampson / lief and deere Had thou nat toold / to wommen thy secree In all this world / ne hadde been thy peere Line 3244

This Sampson / neuere Ciser drank ne wyn Ne on his heed / cam rasour noon ne sheere By precept of the Messager diuyn ffor alle hise strengthes / in hise heeres weere Line 3248 And fully twenty wynter yeer by yeere He / hadde of Israel the gouernance But soone / shal he wepe many a teere ffor wommen / shal hym bryngen to meschance Line 3252

Vn-to his lemman Dalida he tolde That in hise heeris / al his strengthe lay And falsly to hise foomen / she hym solde ¶ And slepynge in hir barm / vp-on a day [folio 174a] Line 3256 She made to clippe / or shere / hise heres away And made hise foomen / al this craft espyen And whan þat they / hym foond in this array They bounde hym faste / and putten out hise eyen Line 3260

But er his heer/ were clipped or yshaue Ther was no boond / with which men myghte him bynde But now is he / in prison in a Caue Where as they made hym / at the Queerne grynde Line 3264 O noble Sampson / strongest of mankynde O whilom / Iuge in glorie and in richesse Now maystow wepen / with thyne eyen blynde Sith thou fro wele / art falle in wrecchednesse Line 3268

[6-text p 259] Line 3268

The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye Hise foomen / made a feeste vp-on a day And made hym as a fool / biforn hem pleye And this was / in a temple of greet array Line 3272 But atte laste / he made a foul affray ffor he / the pilers shook / and made hem falle And doun fil Temple and al / and ther it lay And slow hym self / and eek his foomen alle Line 3276

This is to seyn the Prynces euerichoon And eek / thre thousand bodyes were ther slayn With fallynge / of the grete Temple of stoon Of Sampson / now wol I na moore sayn Line 3280 Beth war / by this ensample oold and playn That no men / telle hir conseil til hir wyues Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn If þat it touche / hir lymes or hir lyues Line 3284

[Hercules.]

Off Hercules / the souereyn Conquerour [¶ Hercules] Syngen hise werkes / laude and heigh renoun ffor in his tyme / of strengthe he was the flour He slow / and rafte the skyn of the leoun Line 3288 He of Centauros / leyde the boost adoun He Arpies slow / the crueel bryddes felle He golden Apples / refte of the dragoun He drow out Cerberus / the hound of helle Line 3292

He slow the crueel tyrant Busirus And made his hors / to frete hym flessh and boon He slow / the firy serpent venymus Of Acheloys hornes two / he brak oon Line 3296 And he slow Cacus / in a Caue of stoon He slow-the geant Antheus the stronge He slow the grisly boor / and that anon [folio 174b] And bar the heuene / on his nekke longe Line 3300

[6-text p 260] Line 3300

Was neuere wight sith that this world bigan That slow so manye Monstres / as dide he Thurgh-out this wyde world / his name ran What for his strengthe / and for his heigh bountee Line 3304 And euery Reawme / wente he for to see He was so stroong þat no man myghte hym lette At bothe the worldes endes / seith Trophee [¶ Ille vates Chalde|orum Tropheus] In stide of boundes / he a pileer sette Line 3308

A lemman hadde / this noble Champion That highte Dianira / fressh as May And as thise clerkes / maken mention She hath hym sent. a sherte fressh and gay Line 3312 Allas this sherte / allas and weylaway Euenymed was / so subtilly with-alle That er þat he / had wered it half a day It made his flessh / al from hise bones falle Line 3316

But nathelees / somme clerkes hire excusen By oon þat highte Nessus that it maked Be as be may / I wol hire noght accusen But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked Line 3320 Til þat his flessh / was for the venym blaked And whan he saugh / noon oother remedye In hoote coles / he hath hym seluen raked ffor with no venym deigned hym to dye Line 3324

Thus starf / this worthy / myghty Hercules Lo / who may truste / on ffortune any throwe ffor hym þat folweth / al this world of prees Er he be war / is ofte yleyd ful lowe Line 3328 fful wys is he / that kan hym seluen knowe Beth war / for whan that ffortune list to glose Thanne wayteth she / her man to ouerthrowe By swich a wey / as he wolde leest suppose Line 3332

[6-text p 261]

[Nebuchadnezzar.]

The myghty trone / the precious tresor [¶ Nabugo|donosor] The glorious ceptre / and Roial magestee That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor With tonge / vnnethe may discryued bee Line 3336 He twyes / wan Ierusalem the Citee The vessel of the temple / he with hym ladde At Babiloigne / was his souereyn see In which his glorie / and his delit he hadde Line 3340

The faireste children / of the blood Roial [folio 175a] Of Israel / he leet do gelde anoon And maked ech of hem / to been his thral Amonges othere / Daniel was oon Line 3344 That was the wiseste child of euerychon ffor he / the dremes of the kyng expowned Where as in Chaldeye / clerk ne was ther noon That wiste / to what fyn / hise dremes sowned Line 3348

This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold Sixty cubites long and seuene in brede The which ymage / he bothe yonge and oold Comanded to loute / and haue in drede Line 3352 Or in a ffourneys / ful of flambes rede He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye But neuere wolde assente / to that dede Daniel / ne hise yonge felawes tweye Line 3356

This kyng of kynges / proud was and elaat He wende / þat god that sit in magestee Ne myghte / hym nat bireue of his estaat But sodeynly / he loste his dignytee Line 3360 And lyk a beest / hym semed for to bee And eet hey as an Oxe / and lay ther oute In reyn / with wilde beestes walked hee Til certein tyme / was ycome aboute Line 3364

[6-text p 262] Line 3364

And lik/ an Egles fetheres / wax his heres Hise nayles / lyk a briddes clawes weere Til god relessed hym / a certeyn yeres And yaf hym wit / and thanne with many a teere Line 3368 He thanked god / and euere his lyf in feere Was he / to doon amys / or moore trespace And til that tyme / he leyd was on his beere He knew / that god was / ful of myght and grace Line 3372

[Belshazzar.]

His sone / which that highte Balthasar [¶ Balthasar] That heeld the regne / after his fader day He by his fader / koude noght be war ffor proud he was / of herte and of array Line 3376 And eek / an ydolastre / he was ay His hye estaat assured hym in pryde But ffortune / caste hym doun / and ther he lay And sodeynly / his regne gan diuide Line 3380

A feeste he made / vn-to hise lordes alle Vp-on a tyme / and bad hem blithe bee And thanne / hise Officers gan he calle Gooth bryngeth forth / the vessels quod he [folio 175b] Whiche that my fader / in his prosperitee Line 3385 Out of the temple / of Ierusalem birafte And to oure hye goddes / thanke we Of honour / that oure eldres with us lafte Line 3388

Hys wyf hise lordes / and hise concubynes Ay dronken / whil hire Appetites laste Out of thise noble vessels / sondry wynes And on a wal / this kyng hise eyen caste Line 3392 And saugh an hand Armlees / þat wroot ful fast ffor feere of which / he quook and siked soore This hand / that Balthasar so soore agaste Wroot Mane techel phares / and na moore Line 3396

[6-text p 263] Line 3396

In al that land / Magicien was noon That koude expounde / what this lettre mente But Daniel / expowned it anon And seyde kyng god to thy fader sente Line 3400 Glorie and honour / regne / tresour / rente And he was proud / and no-thyng god ne dradde And therfore / god greet wreche vp-on hym sente And hym birafte / the regne þat he hadde Line 3404

He was out cast of mannes compaignye With asses / was his habitacioun And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye Til that he knew / by grace and by resoun Line 3408 That god of heuene / hath domynacioun Ouer euery regne / and euery creature And thanne / hadde god of hym compassioun And hym restored / his regne and his figure Line 3412

Eek / thou that art his sone / art proud also And knowest alle thise thynges verraily And art rebel to god / and art his foo Thou drank eek / of hise vessels boldely Line 3416 Thy wyf eek and thy wenches synfully Dronke of the same vessels / sondry wynys And heryest false goddes cursedly Therfore to thee / yshapen ful greet pyne ys Line 3420

This hand was sent from god / that on the wal Wroot Mane techel phares / truste me Thy regne is doon / thou weyest noght at al Dyuyded is thy regne / and it shal be Line 3424 To Medes and to Perses [yeue] quod he And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe And Darius / occupieth his degree [folio 176a] Thogh he therto / hadde neither right ne lawe Line 3428

[6-text p 264] Line 3428 Lordynges / ensample / heer-by may ye take How that in lordshipe / is no sikernesse ffor whan ffortune wole a man forsake She bereth awey / his regne and his richesse Line 3432 And eek hise freendes / bothe moore and lesse ffor what man / þat hath freendes / thurgh ffortune Mishape / wol maken hem enemys as I gesse This prouerbe / is ful sooth and ful commune Line 3436

[Zenobia.]

CEnobia / of Palymerie Queene [¶ Cenobia] As writen Persiens / of hir noblesse So worthy was in Armes / and so keene That no wight passed hire in hardynesse Line 3440 Ne in lynage / nor in oother gentillesse Of kynges blood of Perce / is she descended I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse But of hire shape / she myghte nat been amended Line 3444

ffrom hire childhede / I fynde that she fledde Office of wommen / and to wode she went And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde With arwes brode / that she to hem sente Line 3448 She was so swift / þat she anon hem hente And whan þat she was elder / she wolde kille Leons / leopardes / and Beres al to-rente And in hir Armes / weelde hem at hir wille Line 3452

She dorste / wilde beestes dennes seke And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght And slepen vnder the bussh / and she koude eke Wrastlen / by verray force / and verray myght/ Line 3456 With any yong man / were he neuer so wight Ther myghte no thyng in hir Armes stonde She kepte hir maydenhod / from euery wight To no man / deigned hire for to be bonde Line 3460

[6-text p 265] Line 3460

But atte laste / hir freendes han hire maried To Onedake / a Prynce of that contree Al were it so / that she hem longe taried And ye shul vnderstonde / how that he? Line 3464 Hadde swiche fantasies / as hadde she [simul] But nathelees / whan they were knyt infeere They lyued / in ioye / and in felicitee ffor ech of hem / hadde oother lief and deere Line 3468

Saue o thyng that she wolde neuere assente [folio 176b] By no wey / that he sholde by hire lye But ones / for it was hir pleyn entente To haue a child / the world to multiplye Line 3472 And also soone / as þat she myghte espye That she was nat with childe / with that dede Thanne wolde she suffre hym / doon his fantasye Eft soone / and nat but oones out of drede Line 3476

And if she were with childe / at thilke cast Na moore / sholde he pleyen thilke game Til fully / fourty dayes / weren past Thanne wolde she ones / suffre hym do the same Line 3480 Al were this Onedake / wilde or tame He gat na moore of hire / for thus she seyde It was to wyues / lecherie and shame In oother caas / if þat men with hem pleyde Line 3484

Two sones / by Onedake hadde she The whiche she kepte / in vertu and lettrure But now / vn-to oure tale / turne we I seye / so worshipful a creature Line 3488 And wys ther-with / and large with mesure So penyble in the werre / and curteis eke Ne moore labour / myghte in werre endure Was noon / though al this world men wolde seke Line 3492

[6-text p 266] Line 3492

Hir riche array / ne myghte nat be told As wel in vessel / as in hire clothyng She was al clad / in perree and in gold And eek / she lafte noght / for noon huntyng Line 3496 To haue of sondry tonges / ful knowyng Whan þat she leyser hadde / and for to entende To lerne bookes / was al hire likyng How she in vertu / myghte hir lyf dispende Line 3500

And shortly / of this proces for to trete So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she That they conquered / manye regnes grete In the Orient with many a faire Citee Line 3504 Apertenaunt vn-to the magestee Of Rome / and with strong hond held hem ful faste Ne neuere myghte / hir foo men doon hem flee Ay / whil that Onedakes dayes laste Line 3508

Hir batailles / who so list hem for to rede Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo And how al this proces / fil in dede Why she conquered / and what title therto [folio 177a] Line 3512 And after/ of hir meschief and hire wo How þat she was / biseged and ytake Lat hym / vn-to my maister Petrak go That writ ynough of this .I vndertake Line 3516

Whan Onedake was deed / she myghtily The regnes heeld / and with hire propre hond Agayn hir foos / she faught so cruelly That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond Line 3520 That he nas glad / if he that grace fond That she ne wolde / vp-on his lond werreye With hire / they made alliance by bond To been in pees / and lete hire ride and pleye Line 3524

[6-text p 267] Line 3524

The Emperour of Rome Claudius Ne hym bifore / the Romayn Galien Ne dorste neuere / been so corageus Ne noon Ermyn / ne noon Egipcien Line 3528 Ne Surrien / ne noon Arabyen With-Inne the feeldes / that dorste with hire fighte Lest that she wolde / hem with hir handes slen Or with hir meignee / putten hem to flighte Line 3532

In kynges habit / wente hir sones two As heires / of hir fadres regnes alle And hermanno / and Thymalao Hir names were / as Persiens hem calle Line 3536 But ay ffortune / hath in hire hony galle This myghty queene / may no while endure ffortune / out of hir regne made hire falle To wrecchednesse / and to mysauenture Line 3540

Aurelian / whan that the gouernaunce Of Rome / cam in-to hise handes tweye He shoope / vp-on this queene to doon vengeaunce And with hise legions / he took his weye Line 3544 Toward Cenobie / and shortly for to seye He made hire flee / and atte last hire hente And fettred hire / and eek hire children tweye And wan the land / and hoom to Rome he wente Line 3548

Amonges othere thynges / that he wan Hir Chaar/ þat was with gold wroght and perree This grete Romayn / this Aurelian Hath with hym lad / for that men sholde it see Line 3552 Biforn his triumphe / walketh shee With gilte cheynes / on hire nekke hangynge Coroned was she / after hir degree [folio 177b] And ful of perree / charged hire clothynge Line 3556

[6-text p 268] , [6-text p 271] Line 3556

Allas ffortune / she that whilom was Dredeful / to kynges and to Emperoures Now gaureth al the peple / on hire allas And she / that helmed was in starke shoures Line 3560 And wan by force / townes stronge and toures Shal on hir heed / now were a vitremyte And she that bar/ the ceptre ful of floures Shal bere a distaf / hire costes for to quyte [[The modern instances which should come here, are at the end of the Tale in this MS.]] Line 3564

[Nero.]

Al though / that Nero were vicius [¶ Nero] As any feend that lith in helle adoun Line 3654 Yet he / as telleth vs Swetonius This wyde world / hadde in subieccioun Line 3656 Bothe Est and West North / and Septemtrioun Of Rubies / saphires / and of peerles white Were alle hise clothes / brouded vp and doun ffor he in gemmes / greetly gan delite Line 3660

Moore delicaat moore pompous of array Moore proud / was neuere Emperour than he That ilke clooth / þat he hadde wered o day After that tyme / he nolde it neuere see Line 3664 Nettes of gold threed / hadde he greet plentee To fisshe in Tybre / whan hym liste pleye Hise lustes were al lawe / in his decree ffor ffortune / as his freend / hym wolde obeye Line 3668

He Rome brende / for his delicasie The Senatours / he slow vp-on a day To heere / how men wolde wepe and crie And slow his brother / and by his suster lay Line 3672 His mooder made he / in pitous array ffor he / hire wombe slitte / to biholde Where he conceyued was so weilaway That he so litel / of his mooder tolde Line 3676

[6-text p 271] , [6-text p 272] Line 3676

No teere out of hise eyen / for that sighte Ne cam / but seyde / a fair womman was she Greet wonder is / how þat he koude / or myghte Be domesman / of hire dede beautee Line 3680 The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he And drank / anon / noon oother wo he made Whan myght is ioyned vn-to crueltee Allas to depe / wol the venym wade Line 3684

In yowthe / a maister hadde this Emperour [folio 178a] To teche hym lettrure / and curteisye ffor of moralitee / he was the flour As in his tyme / but if bookes lye Line 3688 And whil this maister / hadde of hym maistrye He maked hym / so konnyng and so sowple That longe tyme it was / er tirannye Or any vice / dorste on hym vncowple Line 3692

This Seneca / of which that I deuyse By cause Nero / hadde of hym swich drede ffor he fro vices / wolde hym chastise Discreetly / as by word / and nat by dede Line 3696 Sire wolde he seyn / an Emperour moot nede Be vertuous / and hate tirannye ffor which / he in a bath / made hym to blede On bothe hise Armes / til he moste dye Line 3700

This Nero / hadde eek/ of acustumaunce In youthe / agayns his maister for to ryse Which afterward / hym thoughte greet greuaunce Therfore / he made hym dyen in this wise Line 3704 But nathelees / this Seneca the wise Chees in a Bath to dye / in this manere Rather than han / any oother tormentise And thus hath Nero / slayn his maister deere Line 3708

[6-text p 272] , [6-text p 273] Line 3708

Now fil it so / that ffortune liste no lenger The hye pryde of Nero to cherice ffor though þat he was strong yet was she strenger She thoughte thus / by god I am to nyce Line 3712 To sette a man / that is fulfild of vice In heigh degree / and Emperour hym calle By god / out of his sete / I wol hym trice Whan he leest weneth / sonnest shal he falle Line 3716

The peple roos vp-on hym on a nyght ffor his defaute / and whan he it espied Out of hise dores / anon he hath hym dight Allone / and ther he wende han ben allied Line 3720 He knokked faste / and ay the moore he cried The fastere shette they / the dores alle ffor drede of this / hym thoughte þat he dyed And wente his wey / no lenger dorste he calle Line 3724

The peple cride / and rombled vp and doun That with his erys / herde he / how they seyde Where is this false tiraunt this Neroun ffor fere / almoost out of his wit he breyde [folio 178b] And to hise goddes / pitously he preyd ffor socour / but it myghte nat bityde ffor drede of this / hym thoughte þat he deyde And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde Line 3732

And in this gardyn / foond he cherles tweye That seten by a fyr / greet and reed And to thise cherles two / he gan to preye To sleen hym / and to girden of his heed Line 3736 That to his body / whan þat he were deed Were no despit ydoon / for his defame Hym self he slow / he koude no bettre reed Of which / ffortune lough / and hadde a game Line 3740

[6-text p 273] , [6-text p 274] Line 3740

[Holofernes.]

Was neuere Capitayn / vnder a kyng/ [¶ De Oloferno] That regnes mo / putte in subieccioun Ne strenger was in feeld / of alle thyng As in his tyme / ne gretter of renoun Line 3744 Ne moore pompous / in heigh presumpcioun Than Oloferne / which ffortune ay kiste So likerously / and ladde hym vp and doun Til þat his heed was of / er þat he wiste Line 3748

Nat oonly / that this world / hadde hym in Awe ffor lesynge / of richesse / or libertee But made euery man / reneyen his lawe Nabugodonosor / was god seyde hee Line 3752 Noon oother god / [ne] sholde adoured bee Agayns his heeste / no wight dorste trespace saue in Bethulia / a strong Citee [¶ Et fecerunt filij Israel secundum quod constituerat eis sacerdos domi|ni Eliachim. [t. i. Joacim, Judith iv. 8.]] Where Eliachim / a preest was of that place

But taak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a nyght With-Inne his tente / large as is a berne And yet for al his pompe / and al his myght Line 3760 Iudith a womman / as he lay vpright Slepynge / his heed of smoot and from his tente fful pryuely / she stal from euery wight And with his heed / vn-to hir toun she wente Line 3764

[Antiochus.]

What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus [¶ De Rege An|thiocho illustri] To telle / his hye Roial magestee His hye pride / hise werkes venymus ffor swich another / was ther noon as he Line 3768 Rede which þat he was / in Machabee And rede / the proude wordes that he seyde And why he fil / fro heigh prosperitee [folio 179a] And in an hill / how wrecchedly he deyde Line 3772

[6-text p 274] , [6-text p 275] Line 3772

ffortune / hym hadde enhaunced so in pride That verraily / he wende he myghte attayne Vn-to the sterres / vp-on euery syde And in balance / weyen ech montayne Line 3776 And alle the floodes / of the see restrayne And goddes peple / hadde he moost in hate Hem wolde he sleen / in torment and in payne Wenynge / þat god ne myghte his pride abate Line 3780

And for that Nichanore / and Thymothee Of Iewes / weren venquysshed myghtily Vn-to the Iewes / swich an hate hadde he That he bad / greithen his Chaar ful hastily Line 3784 And swoor / and seyde ful despitously Vn-to Ierusalem / he wolde eft soone To wreken his Ire / on it ful cruelly But of his purpos / he was let ful soone Line 3788

God for his manace / hym so soore smoot With invisible wounde / ay incurable That in hise guttes / carf it so and boot That hise peynes / weren importable Line 3792 And certeinly / the wreche was resonable ffor many a mannes guttes / dide he peyne But from his purpos / cursed and dampnable ffor all his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne Line 3796

But bad anon / apparaillen his hoost And sodeynly / er he was of it war God daunted / al his pride and all his boost ffor he so soore / fil out of his Char [lacerauit/] Line 3800 That it hise lemes / and his skyn to-tar So that he neyther/ myghte go ne ryde But in a chayer / men / aboute hym bar Al forbrused / bothe bak and syde Line 3804

[6-text p 275] , [6-text p 276] Line 3804

The wreche of god / hym smoot so cruelly That thurgh his body / wikked wormes crepte And ther-with-al / he stank horriblely That noon of al his meynee / þat hym kepte Line 3808 Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte Ne myghte noght for stynk of hym endure In this meschief / he wayled and eek wepte And knew god / lord of euery creature Line 3812

To all his hoost and to hym self also [folio 179b] fful wlatsom was / the stynk of his careyne No man / ne myghte hym bere / to ne fro And in this stynk and this horrible peyne Line 3816 He starf ful wrecchedly / in a Monteyne Thus hath this Robbour / and this homycide That many a man / made to wepe and pleyne Swich gerdon / as bilongeth vn-to pryde Line 3820

[Alexander the Great.]

The storie of Alisaundre / is so commune [¶ De Alex|andro] That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd somwhat or al / of his ffortune This wyde world / as in conclusioun Line 3824 He wan by strengthe / or for his hye renoun They weren glad / for pees vn-to hym sende The pride / of man and beest / he leyde adoun Wher so he cam / vn-to the worldes ende Line 3828

Comparison / myghte neuere yet been maked Bitwixen hym / and another Conquerour ffor al this world / for drede of hym hath quaked He [was] of knyghthod and of fredom flour Line 3832 ffortune hym made / the heir of hire honour Saue wyn and wommen / no man mighte aswage His hye entente in Armes and labour So was he ful / of leonyn corage Line 3836

[6-text p 276] , [6-text p 277] Line 3836

What pris were it to hym / though I yow tolde Of Darius / and an hundred thousand mo Of kynges / princes / Erles / dukes / bolde Whiche he conquered / and broghte hem in-to wo Line 3840 I seye / as fer as man may ryde or go The world was his / what sholde I moore deuyse ffor though I write / or tolde yow eueremo Of his knyghthode / it myghte nat suffise Line 3844

Twelf yeer he regned / as seith Machabee Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was That first was kyng in Grece the contree O worthy gentil Alisandre allas Line 3848 That euere sholde fallen swich a cas Empoysoned / of thyn owene folk thou weere Thy sys / ffortune / hath turned in-to Aas And [yet] for thee / ne weepe she neuer a teere Line 3852

Who shal me yeuen teeris to compleyne The deeth of gentillesse / and of ffranchise That al the world / weelded in his demeyne And yet hym thoughte / it myghte nat suffise [folio 180a] Line 3856 So ful was his corage / of heigh emprise Allas / who shal me helpe to endite ffalse ffortune / and poyson to despise The whiche two / of al this wo I wyte Line 3860

[Julius Cæsar.]

By wisedom / manhede / and by labour [¶ De Iulio Cesare] ffrom humble bed / to roial magestee Vp roos he Iulius the Conquerour That wan al thoccident by land and See Line 3864 By strengthe of hand / or elles by tretee And vn-to Rome / made hem tributarie And sitthe of Rome / the Emperour was he Til that ffortune / weex his Aduersarie Line 3868

[6-text p 277] , [6-text p 278] Line 3868

O myghty Cesar / that in Thessalie Agayn Pompeus / fader thyn in lawe That of the Orient hadde all the Chiualrie As fer/ as þat the day bigynneth dawe Line 3872 Thou thurgh thy knyghthod / hast hem take and slawe Saue fewe folk / that with Pompeus fledde Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in Awe Thanke ffortune / that so wel thee spedde Line 3876

¶ But now a litel while / I wol biwaille [¶ Nota de Pompeyo] This Pompeus / this noble gouernour Of Rome / which that fleigh at this bataille I seye / oon of hise men / a fals traitour Line 3880 His heed of smoot to wynnen hym fauour Of Iulius / and hym the heed he broghte Allas Pompeye / of Thorient Conquerour That ffortune / vn-to swich a fyn thee broghte Line 3884

¶ To Rome agayn / repaireth Iulius With his triumphe / lauriat ful hye But on a tyme / Brutus Cassius That euere hadde / of his hye estaat envye Line 3888 fful priuely / hath maad conspiracye Agayns this Iulius / in subtil wise And caste the place / in which he sholde dye With Boydekyns / as I shal yow deuyse Line 3892

This Iulius / to the Capitolie wente Vpon a day / as he was wont to goon And in the Capitolie / anon hym hente This false Brutus / and hise othere foon Line 3896 And stiked hym / with boydekyns anoon With many a wounde / and thus they lete hym lye But neuere gronte he / at no strook but oon [folio 180b] Or elles at two / but if his storie lye Line 3900

[6-text p 278] , [6-text p 279] Line 3900

So manly / was this Iulius of herte And so wel louede / estaatly honestee That though hise deedly woundes soore smerte His Mantel / ouer hise hypes caste he Line 3904 ffor no man / sholde seen his priuetee And as he lay / of diyng in a traunce And wiste verraily / that deed was hee Of honestee / yet hadde he remembraunce Line 3908

Lucan / to thee / this storie I recomende And to Sweton / and to Valerius also That of this storie / writen word and ende How þat / to thise grete Conquerours two Line 3912 ffortune was first freend / and sitthe foo No man ne truste / vp-on hire fauour longe But haue hire / in awayt for euere moo Witnesse / on alle thise Conquerours stronge Line 3916

[Cresus.]

This riche Cresus / whilom kyng of Lyde [¶ Cresus] Of which Cresus / Cirus soore hym dradde Yet was he caught/ amyddes al his pryde And to be brent/ men to the fyr hym ladde Line 3920 But swich a reyn / doun fro the welkne shadde That slow the fyr / and made hym to escape But to be war / no grace yet he hadde Til ffortune / on the galwes / made hym gape Line 3924

Whanne he escaped was / he kan nat stente ffor to bigynne / a newe werre agayn He wende wel / for þat ffortune hym sente Swich hape / that he escaped thurgh the rayn Line 3928 That of hise foos / he myghte nat be slayn And eek a sweuene / vp-on a nyght he mette Of which / he was so proud / and eek so fayn That in vengeance / he al his herte sette Line 3932

[6-text p 279] , [6-text p 280] , [6-text p 268] Line 3932

Vp-on a tree / he was / as that hym thoughte Ther Iuppiter hym wesshe / bothe bak and syde And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte To dryen hym with / and therfore wax his pryde Line 3936 And to his doghter / that stood hym bisyde Which þat he knew / in heigh science habounde He bad hire telle hym / what it signyfyde And she his dreem / bigan right thus expounde Line 3940

The tree quod she / the galwes is to meene [folio 181a] And Iuppiter / bitokneth snow and reyn And Phebus / with his towaille so clene Tho been / the sonne bemes for to seyn Line 3944 Thou shalt anhanged be / fader certeyn Reyn shal thee wasshe / and sonne shal thee drye Thus warned hym / ful plat and ful pleyn His doghter / which that called was Phanye Line 3948

An-hanged was Cresus / the proude kyng His roial Trone / myghte hym nat auaille Tragedies / noon oother maner thyng / Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille Line 3952 But that ffortune / alwey wole assaille With vnwar strook / the Regnes þat been proude ffor whan men trusteth hire / thanne wol she faille And couere hire brighte face / with a clowde [[These 4 modern instances should follow Zenobia, p. 268.]] Line 3956

[Peter the Cruel, of Spain.]

Onoble / o. worthy Petro / glorie of Spayne [¶ De Petro Rege Is|pannie] Whom ffortune heeld / so hye in magestee Wel oghten men / thy pitous deeth complayne Out of thy land / thy brother made thee flee Line 3568 And after/ at a seege by subtiltee Thou were bitraysed / and lad vn-to his tente Where as he / with his owene hand slow thee Succedynge / in thy regne and in thy rente Line 3572

[6-text p 268] , [6-text p 269] Line 3572

The feeld of snow / with thegle of blak ther-Inne [[Bertrand du Guesclin.]] Caught with the lymerod / coloured as the gleede He brew this cursednesse / and al this synne The wikked nest was werker of this nede Line 3576 Noght Charles Olyuver / that took ay heede Of trouthe and honour / but of Armorike [[Oliver de Mauny of Britanny.]] Genylon Olyuer / corrupt for meede Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike Line 3580

[Peter of Cyprus.]

Oworthy Petro / kyng of Cipre also [¶ De Petro Rege de Cipro] That Alisandre wan / by heigh maistrie fful many an hethen / wroghtestow ful wo Of which / thyne owene liges hadde envie Line 3584 And for no thyng but for thy Chiualrie They in thy bed / han slayn thee by the morwe Thus kan ffortune / hir wheel gouerne and gye And out of Ioye / brynge men to sorwe Line 3588

[Bernabo Visconti, of Milan.]

Off Melan / grete Barnabo Viscounte [¶ De Barnabo de Lumbardia] God of delit. and scourge of Lumbardye Why sholde I nat thyn Infortune acounte Sith in estaat / thow cloumbe were so hye [folio 181b] Thy brother sone / that was thy double allye ffor he thy Nevew was / and sone in lawe With-Inne his prison / made thee to dye But why ne how / noot I þat thou were slawe Line 3596

[Ugolino, Count of Pisa.]

Off the Erl Hugelyn of Pyze / the langour [¶ De Huge|lino Comite de Pize] Ther may no tonge / telle for pitee But litel out of Pize / stant a tour In which tour/ in prison put was he Line 3600 And with hym / been hise litel children thre The eldeste / scarsly / fyf yeer was of Age Allas ffortune / it was greet crueltee Swiche briddes / for to putte / in swiche a Cage Line 3604

[6-text p 269] , [6-text p 270] Line 3604

Dampned was he / to dyen in that prison ffor Roger / which þat Bisshope was of Pize Hadde on hym maad / a fals suggestion Thurgh which / the peple / gan vpon hym rise Line 3608 And putten hym to prison / in swich wise As ye han herd / and mete / and drynke he hadde So smal / that vnnethe it may suffise And therwith-al / it was ful poure and badde Line 3612

And on a day / bifil / þat in that hour Whan þat his mete / wont was to be broght The Gayler shette the dores of the tour He herde it wel / but he spak right noght Line 3616 And in his herte / anon ther fil a thoght/ That they for hunger / wolde doon hym dyen Allas quod he / allas that I was wroght Ther-with / the teeris fillen from hise eyen Line 3620

His yonge sone / that thre yeer was of age Vn-to hym seyde / fader / fader // why do ye wepe Whanne wol the Gayler / bryngen oure potage Is ther no morsel breed / that ye do kepe Line 3624 I am so hungry / that I may nat slepe Now wolde god / that I myghte slepen euere Thanne sholde nat hunger / in my wombe crepe Ther is no thyng but breed / that me were leuere Line 3628

Thus day by day / this child bigan to crye Til in his fadres barm / adoun it lay And seyde / fare wel fader / I moot dye And kiste his fader/ and dyde the same day Line 3632 And whan the woful fader/ deed it say ffor wo / hise Armes two / he gan to byte And seyde / Allas ffortune and weylaway [folio 182a] Thy false wheel / my wo al may I wyte Line 3636

[6-text p 270] Line 3636

Hise children wende / that it for hunger was That he hise Armes gnow / and nat for wo And seyde fader/ do nat so Allas But rather ete the flessh vp-on vs two Line 3640 Oure flessh thou yaf /. take oure flessh vs fro And ete ynogh / right thus they to hym seyde And after that with-Inne a day or two They leyde hem / in his lappe adoun and deyde Line 3644

Hym-self despeired / eek for hunger starf Thus ended is / this myghty Erl of Pize ffrom heigh estaat ffortune awey hym carf Of this Tragedie / it oghte ynough suffise Line 3648 Who so wol here it in a lenger wise Redeth / the grete Poete of ytaille That highte Dant. for he kan al deuyse ffro point to point. nat o word wol he faille Line 3652

¶ Heere stynteth the Knyght the Monk of his tale. .

¶ Explicit Tragedia

[6-text p 281]

¶ The prologue of the Nonnes preestes tale . [on leaf 182]

Hoo quod the knyght / good sire namoore this That ye han seyd / is right ynough ywis And muchel moore / for litel heuynesse Is right ynough / to muche folk I gesse Line 3960 I seye for me / it is a greet disese Where as men han been / in greet welthe and ese To heeren / of hire sodeyn fal allas And the contrarie / is ioye and greet solas Line 3964 As whan a man / hath ben in poure estaat And clymbeth vp / and wexeth fortunat And there abideth / in prosperitee Swich thyng is gladsom / as it thynketh me Line 3968 And of swich thyng. were goodly for to telle Ye quod oure hoost by seint Poules belle ye seye right sooth this Monk / he clappeth lowde He spak. how ffortune / couered with a clowde Line 3972 ¶ I noot neuere what/ and also of a Tragedie [folio 182b] Right now ye herde / and pardee no remedie It is / for to biwaille / ne compleyne That þat is doon / and als it is a peyne Line 3976 As ye han seyd / to heere of heuynesse ¶ Sire monk. namoore of this / so god yow blesse Youre tale / anoyeth all this compaignye Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye Line 3980 ffor ther-Inne is ther/ no desport ne game ¶ Wherfore sire Monk daun Piers by youre name I pray yow hertely / telle vs somwhat elles ffor sikerly nere clynkyng of youre belles Line 3984

[6-text p 282] Line 3984 That on youre bridel hange / on euery syde By heuene kyng. that for vs alle dyde I sholde er this / han fallen doun for sleepe Al-thogh the slough / had neuer been so deepe Line 3988 Thanne hadde your tale / al be toold in veyn ffor certeinly / as that thise clerkes seyn Where as a man / may haue noon Audience Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence Line 3992 And wel I woot the substance is in me If any thyng shal wel reported be Sir / sey somwhat of huntyng I yow preye ¶ Nay quod this Monk/ I haue no lust to pleye Line 3996 Now lat another telle / as I haue toold Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold And seyde / vn-to the Nonnes preest anon Com neer thou preest. com hyder thou sir Iohn Line 4000 Telle vs swich thyng as may oure hertes glade Be blithe / though thou ryde vp-on a Iade What thogh thyn hors / be bothe foule and lene If he wol serue thee / rekke nat a bene Line 4004 Looke / that thyn herte / be murie eueremo ¶ Yis sir quod he / yis hoost so moot I go But I be myrie / ywis I wol be blamed And right anon / his tale he hath attamed Line 4008 And thus he seyde / vn-to vs euerichon This sweete preest. this goodly man sir Iohn [[8 lines blank in the MS.]]

¶ Explicit

[6-text p 283]

¶ Heere bigynneth / the Nonnes Preestes tale of [folio 183a] the Cok and Hen Chauntecleer and Pertelote

A poure wydwe / somdel stape in Age Was whilom dwellyng. in a narwe cotage Line 4012 Beside a greue / stondynge in a dale This wydwe / of which I telle yow my tale Syn thilke day / that she was last a wyf/ [[Painting of the Nun's Priest]] In pacience / ladde a ful symple lyf/ Line 4016 ffor litel / was hir catel and hir rente By housbondrie / of swich as god hire sente She foond hir self / and eek hire doghtren two Thre large sowes / hadde she and namo Line 4020 Three keen / and eek a sheep þat highte Malle fful sooty / was hir bour/ and eek hire halle In which she eet ful many a sklendre Meel Of poynaunt sauce / hir neded neuer a deel Line 4024 No deyntee morsel / passed thurgh hir throte Hir diete / was accordant to hir Cote Repleccion / ne made hire neuere sik / Attempree diete / was al hir phisik / Line 4028 And exercise / and hertes suffisaunce The goute / lette hire no-thyng for to daunce Napoplexie / shente nat hir heed No wyn ne drank / she / neither whit ne reed Line 4032 Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak Milk and broun breed / in which she foond no lak Seynd Bacon / and somtyme an Ey or tweye ffor she was / as it were / a maner deye Line 4036 ¶ A yeerd she hadde / enclosed al aboute With stikkes / and a drye dych with-oute In which / she hadde a Cok heet Chauntecleer In al the land / of crowyng nas his peer Line 4040

[6-text p 284] Line 4040 His voys was murier/ than the murie Orgon On Messedayes / that in the chirche gon Wel sikerer/ was his crowyng in his logge Than is a Clokke / or an abbey Orlogge Line 4044 By nature / he crew eche Ascencioun Of the equynoxial in thilke toun ffor whan degrees fiftene weren ascended Thanne crew he / that it myghte nat been amended Line 4048 His Coomb was redder / than the fyn coral And batailled / as it were a Castel wal His byle was blak and as the Ieet it shoon Lyk Asure / were hise legges and his toon Line 4052 Hise nayles / whiter than the lylye flour And lyk the burned gold / was his colour This gentil Cok. hadde in his gouernaunce [folio 183b] Seuene hennes / for to doon al his plesaunce Line 4056 Whiche were / hise sustres and his paramours And wonder lyk to hym / as of colours Of whiche / the faireste hewed / on hir throte Was cleped / faire damoysele Pertelote Line 4060 Curteys she was / discreet and debonaire And compaignable / and bar hyr self so faire Syn thilke day / þat she was seuen nyght oold That trewely / she hath the herte in hoold Line 4064 Of Chauntecleer / loken in euery lith He loued hire so / þat wel was hym therwith But swiche a ioye was it to here hem synge Whan þat / the brighte sonne / bigan to sprynge Line 4068 In sweete accord / My lief is faren in londe ffor thilke tyme / as I haue vnderstonde Beestes and briddes / koude speke and synge ¶ And so bifel / that in the dawenynge Line 4072 As Chauntecleer / among hise wyues alle Sat on his perche / that was in the halle And next hym / sat this faire Pertelote This Chauntecleer / gan gronen in his throte Line 4076

[6-text p 285] Line 4076 As man þat in his dreem / is drecched soore ¶ And whan that Pertelote / thus herde hym roore She was agast and seyde o herte deere What eyleth yow / to grone in this manere Line 4080 Ye been a verray sleper / fy for shame ¶ And he answerde / and seyde thus? / madame I pray yow / that ye take it nat agrief By god me thoughte / I was in swich meschief Line 4084 Right now / þat yet myn herte is soore afright Now god quod he / my sweuene recche aright And kepe my body / out of foul prisoun Me mette / how that I romed vp and doun Line 4088 With-Inne our yeerd / wheer as I saugh a beest Was lyk an hound / and wolde han maad areest Vpon my body / and han had me deed His colour/ was bitwixe yelow and reed Line 4092 And tipped was his tayl / and bothe hise eeris With blak / vnlyk the remenant of hise heeris His snowte smal / with glowynge eyen tweye Yet of his look. for feere almoost I deye Line 4096 This caused me / my gronyng doutelees ¶ Avoy quod she / fy on yow hertelees Allas quod she / for by that god aboue Now han ye lost myn herte and al my loue Line 4100 I kan nat loue a Coward / by my feith ffor certes / what so any womman seith We alle desiren / if it myghte bee [folio 184a] To han housbondes / hardy wise and free Line 4104 And secree / and no Nygard / ne no fool Ne hym / þat is agast of euery tool Ne noon auauntour / by that god aboue How dorste ye seyn for shame / vn-to youre loue Line 4108 That any thyng myghte make yow aferd Haue ye no mannes herte / and han a berd ¶ Allas and konne ye been agast of sweuenys No thyng god woot / but vanitee in sweuene is Line 4112

[6-text p 286] Line 4112 Sweuenes / engendren of repleccions And ofte of fume / and of compleccions Whan humours / been to habundant in a wight ¶ Certes this dreem / which ye han met to-nyght Line 4116 Cometh / of greet superfluytee Of youre rede Colera pardee Which causeth folk / to dreden in hir dremes Of Arwes / and of fyre with rede lemes Line 4120 Of grete beestes / that they wol hem byte Of contekes and of whelpes / grete and lyte Right as the humour/ of Malencolie Causeth ful many a man / in sleepe to crie Line 4124 ffor feere of blake beres / or boles blake Or elles / blake deueles wole hem take ¶ Of othere humours / koude I telle also That werken many a man / in sleepe ful wo Line 4128 But I wol passe / as lightly as I kan

LO Caton which þat was so wys a man Seyde he nat thus / ne do no fors of dremes ¶ Now sire quod she / whan ye flee fro the bemes Line 4132 ffor goddes loue / as taak som laxatyf Vp peril of my soule / and of my lyf I conseille yow the beste / I. wol nat lye That bothe of Colere / and of Malencolye Line 4136 Ye purge yow / and for ye shal nat tarie Though in this toun / is noon Apothecarie I shal my self. to herbes techen yow That shul been / for youre hele / and for youre prow Line 4140 And in oure yeerd / tho herbes shal I fynde The whiche han / of hire propretee by kynde To purge yow / bynethe and eek aboue fforyet nat this / for goddes owene loue Line 4144 Ye been ful coleryk of compleccion Ware the sonne / in his ascencion Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote. And if it do / I dar wel leye a grote Line 4148

[6-text p 287] Line 4148 That ye shul haue / a ffeuere terciane Or an Agu / that may be youre bane A day or two / ye shul haue digestyues [folio 184b] Of wormes / er ye take youre laxatyues Line 4152 Of lawriol / Centaure / and ffumetere Or elles of Ellebor / that groweth there Of katapuce / or of Gaitrys beryis Of herbe yue growyng in oure yeerd ther mery is Line 4156 Pekke hem vp right as they growe and ete hem yn Be myrie housbonde / for youre fader kyn Dredeth no dreem / I kan sey yow namoore

Madame quod he / graunt mercy of youre loore Line 4160 But nathelees / as touchyng Daun Catoun That hath of wysdom / swich a greet renoun Though that he bad / no dremes for to drede By god / men may / in olde bookes rede Line 4164 Of many a man / moore of Auctorite Than euere Caton was / so moot I thee That al the reuers seyn / of this sentence And han wel founden by experience Line 4168 That dremes / been significacions As wel of Ioye / as of tribulacions That folk enduren / in this lif present Ther nedeth / make of this noon Argument Line 4172 The verray preeue / sheweth it in dede ¶ Oon / of the gretteste Auctour / þat men rede [¶ Nota de Sompnio] Seith thus / þat whilom two felawes wente On pilgrimage / in a ful good entente Line 4176 And happed so / they coomen in a toun Wher as ther was / swich congregacioun Of peple / and eek so streit of herbergage That they ne founde / as muche as o cotage Line 4180 In which they bothe / myghte logged bee Wherfore / they mosten of necessitee As for that nyght departen compaignye And ech of hem / gooth to his hostelrye Line 4184

[6-text p 288] Line 4184 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle That oon of hem / was logged in a stalle ffer in a yeerd / with Oxen of the plough That oother man / was logged wel ynough Line 4188 As was his Auenture / or his ffortune That vs gouerneth alle / as in commune ¶ And so bifel / þat longe er it were day [.i. dremed] This man mette in his bed ther as he lay Line 4192 How þat his felawe / gan vp-on hym calle And seyde Allas / for in an Oxes stalle This nyght I shal be mordred / ther I lye Now helpe me deere brother / or I dye Line 4196 In alle haste / com to me he sayde ¶ This man out of his sleepe / for feere abrayde But whan that he was wakened / of his sleepe [folio 185a] He turned hym / and took of it no keepe Line 4200 Hym thoughte / his dreem nas but a vanitee Thus twies / in his slepyng dremed hee And atte thridde tyme / yet his felawe Cam as hym thoughte / and seide .I am now slawe Line 4204 Bihoold my bloody woundes depe and wyde Arys vp erly / in the morwe tyde And at the West gate / of the toun quod he A Carte / ful of donge / ther shaltow se Line 4208 In Which / my body is hid / ful priuely Do thilke Carte / arresten boldely My gold caused my mordre / sooth to sayn And tolde hym euery point how he was slayn Line 4212 With a ful pitous face / pale of hewe And truste wel / his dreem he foond ful trewe ffor on the morwe / as soone as it was day To his felawes In / he took the way Line 4216 And whan þat he cam / to this Oxes stalle After his felawe / he bigan to calle ¶ The hostiler / answerde hym anon And seyde sire / your felawe is agon Line 4220

[6-text p 289] Line 4220 As soone as day / he wente out of the toun ¶ This man / gan fallen in suspecioun Remembrynge / on hise dremes / þat he mette And forth he gooth / no lenger wolde he lette Line 4224 Vn-to the westgate of the toun / and fond A dong Carte / as it were to donge lond That was arrayed / in that same wise As ye han herd / the dede man deuyse Line 4228 And with an hardy herte / he gan to crye Vengeance and Iustice / of this felonye My felawe / mordred is / this same nyght And in this Carte / heere he lith gapyng vpright Line 4232 I crye out on the Ministres quod he That sholden kepe / and reulen this Citee Harrow allas / heere lith my felawe slayn What sholde I moore / vn-to this tale sayn Line 4236 The peple out sterte / and caste the Cart to grounde And in the myddel of the dong they founde The dede man / that mordred was al newe

O blisful god / that art so Iust and trewe [¶ Auctor] Lo / howe þat thou biwreyest mordre alway Line 4241 Mordre wol out / that se we day by day Mordre / is so wlatsom / and abhomynable To god / that is so Iust and resonable Line 4244 That he / ne wol nat/ suffre it heled be Though it abyde / a yeer / or two / or thre Mordre wol out this my conclusioun [folio 185b] And right anon / Ministres of that toun Line 4248 Han hent the Carter / and so soore hym pyned And eek the hostiler / so soore engyned That they biknewe / hire wikkednesse anon And were an-hanged / by the nekke bon Line 4252 ¶ Heere may men seen / þat dremes been to drede And certes / in the same book / I rede Right in the nexte Chapitre after this I gabbe nat. so haue I ioye or blis Line 4256

[6-text p 290] Line 4256

Two men / that wolde han passed ouer see [¶ Adhuc de sompnio] ffor certeyn cause / in to a fer contree If that the wynd / ne hadde been contrarie That made hem / in a Citee for to tarie Line 4260 That stood ful myrie / vpon an hauen syde But on a day / agayn the euen tyde The wynd gan chaunge / and blew right as hem leste Iolif and glad / they wente vn-to hir reste Line 4264 And casten hem / ful erly for to saille ¶ But herkneth / to that o man / fil a greet meruaille That oon of hem / in slepyng as he lay Hym mette a wonder dreem / agayn the day Line 4268 Him thoughte / a man stood by his beddes syde And hym comanded / þat he sholde abyde And seyde hym thus / if thou tomorwe wende Thow shalt be dreynt my tale is at an ende Line 4272 ¶ He wook / and tolde his felawe what he mette And preyde hym / his viage to lette As for that day / he preyde hym to byde ¶ His felawe / that lay / by his beddes syde Line 4276 Gan for to laughe / and scorned him ful faste No dreem quod he / may so myn herte agaste That I wol lette / for to do my thynges I sette nat a straw / by thy dremynges Line 4280 ffor sweuenes / been but vanytees and Iapes Men dreme al day / of Owles / or of Apes And of many a maze / ther-with-al Men dreme of thyng þat neuere was ne shal Line 4284 But sith I see / that thou wolt heere abyde And thus forslewthen / wilfully thy tyde God woot it reweth me / and haue good day And thus / he took his leue / and wente his way Line 4288 But er þat he hadde / half his cours yseyled Noot I nat why / ne what myschaunce it eyled But casuelly / the shippes botme rente And shipe and man / vnder the water wente Line 4292

[6-text p 291] Line 4292 In sighte of othere shippes / it bisyde That with hem seyled / at the same tyde And therfore / faire Pertelote so deere [folio 186a] By swiche ensamples olde / yet maistow leere Line 4296 That no man / sholde been to recchelees Of dremes / for I seye thee doutelees That many a dreem / ful soore is for to drede

LO / in the lyf of seint kenelm / I rede [¶ De sompnio sanc|ti kenelmi] That was kenulphus sone / the noble kyng Of Mertenrike / how kenelm mette a thyng A lite er he was mordred / on a day His mordre / in his Auysion he say Line 4304 His Norice / hym expowned euery deel His sweuene / and bad hym for to kepe hym weel ffor traison / but he nas but .vij. yeer oold And therfore / litel tale hath he toold Line 4308 Of any dreem / so hooly is his herte By god / I hadde leuere than my sherte That ye hadde rad his legende / as haue I. Dame Pertelote / I sey yow trewely Line 4312 Macrobeus / that writ the Avision In Affrike / of the worthy Cipion Affermeth dremes / and seith þat they been Warnynge of thynges / þat men after seen Line 4316 ¶ And forther-moore I pray yow looketh wel [¶ Adhuc de sompnijs] In the olde testament of Daniel If he / heeld dremes any vanitee ¶ Reed eek of Ioseph / and ther shul ye see Line 4320 Wher dremes be somtyme / I sey nat alle Warnynge / of thynges / þat shul after falle ¶ Looke of Egipte / the kyng daun Pharao His Baker / and his Butiller also Line 4324 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes Who so wol seken actes / of sondry Remes May rede of dremes / many a wonder thyng ¶ Lo Cresus / which þat was of Lyde kyng Line 4328

[6-text p 292] Line 4328 Mette he nat that he sat vp-on a tree Which signified / he sholde anhanged bee ¶ Lo heere Adromacha / Ectores wyf That day / that Ector / sholde lese his lyf Line 4332 She dremed / on the same nyght biforn How þat the lyf of Ector / sholde be lorne If thilke day / he wente in-to bataille She warned hym / but it myghte nat auaille Line 4336 He wente / for to fighte natheles But he was slayn anon of Achilles But thilke tale is al to longe for to telle And eek it is ny day / I may nat dwelle Line 4340 Shortly I seye / as for conclusion That I shal han / of this Avision Aduersitee /. and I seye forthermoor [folio 186b] That I ne telle / of laxatyues no stoor Line 4344 ffor they been venymes / I woot it weel I hem diffye / I loue hem neuer a deel ¶ Now let vs speke of myrthe / and stynte al this Madame Pertelote / so haue I blis Line 4348 Of o thyng god hath sent me large grace ffor whan I se / the beautee of youre face Ye been so scarlet reed / aboute youre eyen It maketh / al my drede for to dyen Line 4352 ffor al so siker / as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio ¶ Madame / the sentence / of this latyn is Womman is mannes Ioye / and al his blis Line 4356 ffor whan I feele a nyght your softe syde Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde ffor þat oure perche / is maad so narwe allas I am so ful of ioye / and of solas Line 4360 That I diffye / bothe sweuene and dreem And with that word / he fly doun fro the beem ffor it was day / and eke hise hennes alle And with a chuk / he gan hem for to calle Line 4364

[6-text p 293] Line 4364 ffor he hadde founde a corn / lay in the yerd Real he was / he was namoore aferd And fethered Pertelote / twenty tyme And trad as ofte / er it was pryme Line 4368 He looketh / as it were / a grym leoun And on hise toos / he rometh vp and doun Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde He chukketh / whan he hath a corn yfounde Line 4372 And to hym rennen thanne / hise wyues alle Thus roial / as a prince is in an halle Leue I this Chauntecleer / in his pasture And after / wol I telle / his auenture Line 4376

Whan þat the Monthe / in which the world bigan That highte March / whan god first maked man Was compleet and passed were also Syn March bigan / thritty dayes and two Line 4380 Bifel / that Chauntecleer / in al his pryde Hise seuene wyues / walkynge by his syde Caste vp hise eyen / to the brighte sonne That in the signe of Taurus / hadde yronne Line 4384 Twenty degrees and oon / and som-what moore And knew by kynde / and by noon oother loore That it was Pryme / and crew with blisful steuene The sonne he seyde / is clomben vp on heuene Line 4388 ffourty degrees and oon / and moore ywis Madame Pertelote / my worldes blis Herkneth thise blisful briddes / how they synge [folio 187a] And se / the fresshe floures / how they sprynge Line 4392 fful is myn herte / of reuel and solas But sodeynly / hym fil a sorweful cas ffor euere / the latter ende of ioye is wo God woot þat worldly ioye / is soone ago Line 4396 And if a Rethor / koude faire endite He in a Cronycle saufly myghte it write As for a souereyn notabilitee [¶ Petrus Comestor] Now euery wys man / lat him herkne me Line 4400

[6-text p 294] Line 4400 This storie / is al so trewe I vndertake As is the book / of launcelot de lake That wommen holde / in ful greet reuerence Now wol I / come / agayn to my sentence Line 4404

A Colfox / ful of sly Iniquitee That in the groue / hadde wonned yeres three By heigh ymaginacion / forn-cast The same nyght / thurgh-out the hegges brast Line 4408 In-to the yerd / ther Chauntecleer the faire Was wont and eek hise wyues to repaire And in a bed of wortes / stille he lay Til it was passed / vndren of the day Line 4412 Waitynge his tyme / on Chauntecleer to falle As gladly / doon thise homycides alle That in await liggen / to mordre men O false mordrour / lurkynge in thy den Line 4416 O newe Scariot newe Genylon ffalse dissynulour / o greek synon That broghtest Troye / al outrely to sorwe O Chauntecleer / acursed be that morwe Line 4420 That thou in-to that yerd / flaugh fro the bemes Thou were / ful wel ywarned by thy dremes That thilke day / was perilous to thee But what þat god forwoot moot nedes bee Line 4424 After the opinion / of certein clerkis Witnesse on hym / that any parfit clerk is That in scole / is greet altercacion In this mateere / and greet disputison Line 4428 And hath been / of an hundred thousand men But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren As kan the hooly doctour Augustyn Or Boece / or the Bisshope Bradwardyn Line 4432 Wheither / that goddes / worthy forwityng Streyneth me / nedefully to doon a thyng Nedely / clepe I / symple necessitee Or elles / if free choys be graunted me Line 4436

[6-text p 295] Line 4436 To do that same thyng. or do it noght Though god forwoot it er þat it was wroght Or if his wityng. streyneth neuer a deel [folio 187b] But by necessitee condicioneel Line 4440 I wil nat han to do / of swich mateere My tale is of a Cok. as ye may heere That took his conseil / of his wyf with sorwe To walken in the yerd / vpon that morwe Line 4444 That he hadde met that dreem / þat I of tolde Wommennes conseils / been ful ofte colde Wommannes conseil / broghte vs first to wo And made Adam / out of Paradys to go Line 4448 Ther as he was ful myrie / and wel at ese But for I noot to whom it myght displese If I / conseil of wommen wolde blame Passe ouer / for I seye it in my game Line 4452 Rede Auctours / where they trete / of swich mateere And what they seyn of wommen / ye may heere Thise been the Cokkes wordes / and nat myne I kan noon harm / of no womman diuyne Line 4456

Faire in the soond / to bathe hire myrily Lith Pertelote / and alle hire sustres by Agayn the sonne / and Chauntecleer so free Soong murier / than the Mermayde in the see Line 4460 ffor Phisiologus / seith sikerly How þat they syngen / wel and myrily ¶ And so bifel / that as he cast his eye Among the wortes / on a Boterflye Line 4464 He was war of this fox / þat lay ful lowe No-thyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe But cride anon cok / cok / and vp he sterte As man / that was affrayed in his herte Line 4468 ffor natureelly / a beest desireth flee ffro his contrarie /. if he may it see Though he neuer erst. hadde seyn it with his eye ¶ This Chauntecleer / whan he gan hym espye Line 4472

[6-text p 296] Line 4472 He wolde han fled / but that the fox anon Seyde gentil sire / allas wher wol ye gon Be ye affrayed of me / that am youre freend Now certes / I were worse than a feend Line 4476 If I to yow / wolde harm / or vileynye I am nat come / your conseil for tespye But trewely / the cause of my comynge Was oonly / for to herkne how that ye synge Line 4480 ffor trewely / ye haue as myrie a steuene As any Aungel / that is in heuene Ther-with ye han in Musyk moore feelynge Than hadde Boece / or any þat kan synge Line 4484 My lord youre fader / god his soule blesse And eek youre mooder/ of hire gentillesse Han in myn hous ybeen / to my greet ese [folio 188a] And certes sire / ful fayn wolde I yow plese Line 4488 ¶ But for men speke of syngyng I wol yow seye So moote I brouke wel / myne eyen tweye Saue yow / herde I neuere man yet synge As dide youre fader / in the morwenynge Line 4492 Certes / it was of herte / al that he song And for to make / his voys / the moore strong He wolde so peyne hym / that with bothe hise eyen He moste wynke / so loude he wolde cryen Line 4496 And stonden on his tiptoon / ther-with-al And strecche forth his nekke / long and smal And eek he was / of swich discrecion That ther nas / no man in no Region Line 4500 That hym / in song or wisedom myghte passe I haue wel rad / in daun Burnel the Asse Among hise vers / how that ther was a Cok ffor that a preestes sone / yaf hym a knok Line 4504 Vp-on his leg whil he was yong and nyce He made hym / for to lese his benefice But certeyn / ther nys no comparison Bitwixe / the wisedom / and discrecion Line 4508

[6-text p 297] Line 4508 Of youre fader / and of his subtiltee Now syngeth sire / for seinte charitee Lat se / konne ye youre fader countrefete ¶ This Chauntecleer / hise wynges gan to bete Line 4512 As man / þat koude his trayson nat espie So was he rauysshed with his flaterie

Allas ye lordes / many a fals flatour Is in youre Courtes / and many a losengeour Line 4516 That plesen yow / wel moore by my feith Than he / that soothfastnesse / vn-to yow seith Redeth Ecclesiaste / of fflaterye Beth war ye lordes / of hir trecherye Line 4520 ¶ This Chauntecleer / stood hye vp on his toos Strecchynge his nekke / and heeld hise eyen cloos And gan to crowe / loude for the nones And daun Russell the fox / stirte vp atones Line 4524 And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer And on his bak / toward the wode hym beer ffor yet ne was ther no man / þat hym sewed ¶ O destinee / that mayst nat been eschewed Line 4528 Allas / þat Chauntecleer / fleigh fro the bemes Allas / his wyf / ne roghte nat of dremes And on a friday / fil al this meschaunce ¶ O Venus / that art goddesse of plesaunce Line 4532 Syn that thy seruant. was this Chauntecleer [folio 188b] And in thy seruyce / dide al his poweer Moore for delit than world to multiplye Why woltestow suffre hym / on thy day to dye Line 4536 ¶ O Gaufred deere Maister souerayn That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn With shot. compleynedest his deeth so soere Why ne hadde I now / thy sentence / and thy loore Line 4540 The friday for to chide / as diden ye ffor on a friday / soothly slayn was he Thanne wolde I shewe yow / how þat I koude pleyne ffor Chauntecleres drede / and for his peyne Line 4544

[6-text p 298] Line 4544 ¶ Certes / swich cry / ne lamentacion Was neuere / of ladyes maad / whan Ylion Was wonne / and Pirrus with his streite swerd Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam / by the berd Line 4548 And slayn hym / as seith vs Eneydos As maden / alle the hennes in the clos Whan they had seyn / of Chauntecleer the sighte But sodeynly / dame Pertelote shrighte Line 4552 fful louder/ than dide Hasdrubales wyf Whan þat hir housbonde / hadde lost his lyf And þat the Romayns / hadde brend Cartage She was / so ful of torment and of rage Line 4556 That wilfully / in-to the fyr she sterte And brende hir seluen / with a stedefast herte ¶ O woful hennes / right so criden ye As whan that Nero / brende the Citee Line 4560 Of Rome / cryden senatours wyues ffor þat hir husbondes losten alle hir lyues With-outen gilt this Nero hath hem slayn Now turne I wole /. to my tale agayn Line 4564

This sely wydwe / and eek hir doghtres two Herden thise hennes crie / and maken wo And out at dores / stirten they anon And syen the fox / toward the groue gon Line 4568 And bar vp-on his bak / the Cok away And cryden out harrow / and weylaway Ha. ha / the fox / and after hym they ran And eek with staues / many another man Line 4572 Ran Colle oure dogge / and Talbot and Gerland And Malkyn / with a dystaf / in hir hand Ran Cow and Calf and the verray hogges So fered / for berkyng of the dogges Line 4576 And shoutyng of the men and wommen eek · They ronne so / hem thoughte hir herte breek They yolleden / as feendes doon in helle The dokes cryden / as men wolde hem quelle Line 4580

[6-text p 299] Line 4580 The gees for feere / flowen ouer the trees [folio 189a] Out of the hyve / cam the swarm of bees So hydous was the noyse / a benedicitee Certes / he Iakke Straw / and his meynee Line 4584 Ne made neuere / shoutes / half so shille Whan þat they wolden / any flemyng kille As thilke day / was maad vp-on the fox Of bras / they broghten bemes and of box Line 4588 Of horn / of boon / in whiche they blewe and powped And ther-with-al / they skriked / and they howped It semed / as that heuene sholde falle Now goode men / I pray yow herkneth alle Line 4592

Lo / how ffortune / turneth sodeynly The hope / and pryde / of hir enemy This Cok / that lay vpon the foxes bak In al his drede / vn-to the fox he spak Line 4596 And seyde sire / if that I were as ye Yet wolde I seyn / as wys god helpe me Turneth agayn / ye proude cherles alle A verray pestilence / vp-on yow falle Line 4600 Now am I come / vn-to the wodes syde Maugree youre heed / the Cox shal heere abyde I wol hym ete in feith / and that anon ¶ The fox answerde / in feith it shal be don Line 4604 And as he spak that word / al sodeynly This Cok / brak from his mouth delyuerly And heighe vp-on a tree / he fleigh anon And whan the fox saugh / þat he was gon Line 4608 ¶ Allas quod he / o Chauntecleer / allas I haue to yow quod he ydoon trespas In as muche / as I maked yow aferd Whan I yow hente / and broght in to this yerd Line 4612 But sire I dide it. of no wikke entente Com doun / and I shal telle yow what I mente I shal seye sooth to yow / god help me so ¶ Nay thanne quod he / I shrewe vs bothe two Line 4616

[6-text p 300] Line 4616 And first I shrewe my self / bothe blood and bones If thou bigyle me / any ofter than ones Thou shalt na moore / thurgh thy flaterye Do me to synge / and wynke with myn eye Line 4620 ffor he that wynketh / whan he sholde see Al wilfully / god lat him neuere thee ¶ Nay quod the fox / but god yeue hym meschaunce That is so / vndiscreet of gouernaunce Line 4624 That Iangleth / whan he sholde holde his pees ¶ Lo swich it is / for to be recchelees And necligent and truste on flaterye ¶ But ye / that holden / this tale a folye Line 4628 As of a fox / or of a Cok and Hen [folio 189b] Taketh the moralite / goode men ffor seint Paul seith / þat al that writen is To oure doctrine / it is ywrite ywis Line 4632 Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille Now goode god / if that it be thy wille As seith my lord / so make vs alle goode men [¶ scilicet domi|nus Archiepis|copus Cantuari|ensis] And brynge vs / to his heighe blisse Amen

¶ Heere is ended / the Nonnes preestes tale .

[6-text p 527]

GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.

§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE.

ELLESMERE MS. [THE PROEM.] ¶ The prologe of the Seconde Nonnes tale . [folio 189b]

(1)

THe Ministre and the Norice / vn-to vices Line 1 Which that men clepe in Englissh ydelnesse That Porter of the gate is / of delices To eschue / and by hire contrarie / hire oppresse Line 4 That is to seyn / by leueful bisynesse Wel oghten we / to doon al oure entente Lest that the feend / thurgh ydelnesse vs shente Line 7

(2)

ffor he / that with hise / thousand cordes slye Line 8 Continuelly / vs waiteth to biclappe Whan he may man / in ydelnesse espye He kan so lightly / cacche hym in his trappe Line 11 Til þat a man / be hent right by the lappe He nys nat war / the feend hath hym in honde Wel oghte vs werche / and ydelnesse withstonde Line 14

(3)

And though men dradden / neuere for to dye Line 15 Yet seen men wel / by reson doutelees That ydelnesse / is roten slogardye Of which ther neuere comth / no good nencrees Line 18 And seen / þat slouthe / it holdeth in a lees Oonly to slepe / and for to ete and drynke And to deuouren / al that othere swynke Line 21

[6-text p 528] Line 21

(4)

And for to putte vs / fro swich ydelnesse Line 22 That cause is / of so greet confusion I haue heer doon / my feithful bisynesse After the legende / in translacion Line 25 Right of thy glorious lif and passion Thou with thy gerland/ wroght with rose and lilie Thee meene I / mayde and mooder Cecilie Line 28

(5)

ANd thow / that flour of virgines art alle [folio 190a] [¶ Inuocacio ad Ma|riam.] Of whom that Bernard/ list so wel to write To thee / at my bigynnyng first I call Thou confort of vs wrecches / do me endite Line 32 Thy maydens deeth / that wan thurgh hire merite The eterneel lyf / and of the feend victorie As man may after / reden in hire storie Line 35

(6)

Thow mayde and mooder / doghter of thy sone Line 36 Thow welle of mercy / synful soules cure In whom / that god for bountee / chees to wone Thow humble and heigh / ouer euery creature Line 39 Thow nobledest so ferforth / oure nature That no desdeyn / the makere hadde of kynde His sone / in blood and flessh / to clothe and wynde Line 42

(7)

With-Inne the Cloistre blisful of thy sydis Line 43 Took mannes shape / the eterneel loue and pees That of the tryne compas / lord and gyde is Whom erthe and see / and heuene out of relees Line 46 Ay heryen / and thou virgine wemmelees Baar of thy body / and dweltest mayden pure The creatour / of euery creature Line 49

[6-text p 529] Line 49

(8)

Assembled is in thee / magnificence Line 50 With mercy / goodnesse / and with swich pitee That thou / that art the sonne of excellence Nat oonly / helpest hem that preyen thee Line 53 But often tyme / of thy benygnytee fful frely / er that men / thyn help biseche Thou goost biforn / and art hir lyues leche Line 56

(9)

Now help thow meeke / and blisful faire mayde Line 57 Me flemed wrecche / in this desert of galle Thynk on the womman Cananee / that sayde That whelpes eten / somme of the crommes alle Line 60 That from hir lordes table / been yfalle And though that I / vnworthy sone of Eue Be synful / yet accepte my bileue Line 63

(10)

And for that feith is deed / with-outen werkis Line 64 So for to werken / yif me wit and space That I be quit fro thennes / þat moost derk is O thou / that art so fair / and ful of grace Line 67 Be myn Aduocat in that heighe place Theras with-outen ende / is songe Osanne Thow Cristes mooder / doghter deere of Anne Line 70

(11)

And of thy light my soule in prison lighte [folio 190b] That troubled is / by the contagion Of my body / and also by the wighte Of erthely lust and fals affeccion Line 74 O hauene of refut o saluacion Of hem / þat been in sorwe / and in distresse Now helpe / for to my werk I wol me dresse Line 77

[6-text p 530] Line 77

(12)

Yet preye I yow / þat reden that I write Line 78 fforyeue me / that I do no diligence This ilke storie / subtilly to endite ffor boþe haue I / the wordes and sentence Line 81 Of hym / that at the seintes reuerence The storie wroot and folwen hire legende I pray yow / that ye wole my werk amende Line 84

(13) [THE TALE.]

First wolde I / the name of seinte Cecile [¶ Interpretacio no|minis Cecilie / quam ponit frater lacobus lanuensis in legenda] Expowne / as men may in hir storie see It is to seye in englissh / heuenes lilie ffor pure chaastnesse of virginitee Line 88 Or / for she whitnesse hadde of honestee And grene of Conscience / and of good fame The soote favour lilie / was hir name Line 91

(14)

Or Cecilie is to seye / the wey to blynde Line 92 ffor she ensample was / by good techynge Or elles Cecile / as I writen fynde Is ioyned / by a manere conioynynge Line 95 Of heuene and lia / and heere in figurynge The heuene is set for thoght of hoolynesse And lia / for hire lastynge bisynesse Line 98

(15)

Cecile / may eek be seyd / in this manere Line 99 Wantynge of blyndnesse / for hir grete light Of sapience / and for hire thewes cleere Or elles loo / this maydens name bright Line 102 Of heuene and leos comth / for which by right Men myghte hire wel / the heuene of peple calle Ensample / of goode / and wise werkes alle Line 105

[6-text p 531] Line 105

(16)

ffor leos / peple in englissh is to seye Line 106 And right as men may / in the heuene see The sonne and moone / and sterres euery weye Right so men goostly / in this mayden free Line 109 Syen of feith / the magnanymytee And eek the cleernesse hool / of sapience And sondry werkes / brighte / of excellence Line 112

(17)

And right/ so / as thise Philosophres write [folio 191a] That heuene is swift and round / and eek brennynge Right so / was faire Cecilie the white fful swift and bisy / euere in good werkynge Line 116 And round and hool / in good perseuerynge And brennynge euere / in charite ful brighte Now haue I yow declared what she highte Line 119

¶ Explicit/

¶ Here bigynneth the Seconde Nonnes tale / of the lyf of Seinte Cecile .

(18)

This mayden bright Cecilie / as hir lif seith [[Painting of the Second Nun]] Was comen of Romayns / and of noble kynde And from hir Cradel / vp fostred in the feith Of Crist and bar his gospel in hir mynde She neuere cessed / as I writen fynde Of hir preyere / and god to loue and drede Bisekynge hym / to kepe hir maydenhede Line 126

(19)

And whan this mayden / sholde vn-to a man Line 127 Ywedded be / that was ful yong of age Which that ycleped was Valerian And day was comen / of hir marriage Line 130 She ful devout and humble in hire corage Vnder hir robe of gold / that sat ful faire Hadde next hire flessh / yclad hire in an haire Line 133

[6-text p 532] Line 133

(20)

And whil the Orgues / maden melodie Line 134 To god allone / in herte thus sang she O lord / my soule / and eek my body gye Vnwemmed / lest that it confounded be Line 137 And for his loue / that dyde / vp-on a tree Euery seconde / and thridde day she faste Ay biddynge / in hire orisons ful faste Line 140

(21)

The nyght cam / and to bedde moste she gon Line 141 With hire housbonde / as ofte is the manere And pryuely / to hym she seyde anon O sweete / and wel biloued spouse deere Line 144 Ther is a conseil / and ye wolde it heere Which that right fayn / I wolde vn-to yow seye So that ye swere / ye shul me nat biwreye Line 147

(22)

¶ Valerian / gan faste vn-to hire swere [folio 191b] That for no cas / ne thyng/ that myghte be He sholde neuere mo / biwreyen here And thanne at erst to hym thus seyde she Line 151 I haue an Aungel / which that loueth me That with greet loue / wher so I wake or sleepe Is redy ay / my body for to kepe Line 154

(23)

And if he / may feelen out of drede Line 155 That ye me touche // or loue in vileynye He right anon / wol sle yow with the dede And in youre yowthe / thus ye sholden dye Line 158 And if that ye / in clene loue me gye He wol yow louen as me / for youre clennesse And shewen yow / his ioye and his brightnesse Line 161

[6-text p 533] Line 161

(24)

¶ Valerian / corrected / as god wolde Line 162 Answerde agayn / if I shal trusten thee Lat me that Aungel se / and hym biholde And if that it a verray Angel bee Line 165 Thanne wol I doon / as thou hast prayed me And if thou loue / another man / for sothe Right with this swerd/ thanne wol I sle yow bothe Line 168

(25)

Cecile answerde anon / right in this wise Line 169 If that yow list. the Angel shul ye see So þat ye trowe in Crist/ and yow baptize Gooth forth / to Via Apia / quod shee Line 172 That fro this toun / ne stant but Miles three And to the poure folkes / þat ther dwelle Sey hem right thus / as that I shal yow telle Line 175

(26)

Telle hem / that I Cecile / yow to hem sente Line 176 To shewen yow / the goode Vrban the olde ffor secree thynges / and for good entente And whan that ye / Seint Vrban han biholde Line 179 Telle hym the wordes / whiche þat I to yow tolde And whan þat he / hath purged yow fro synne Thanne shul ye se / that Angel er ye twynne Line 182

(27)

¶ Valerian / is to the place ygon Line 183 And right as hym was taught/ by his lernynge He foond this hooly / olde Vrban anon [.i. latitantem] Among the Seintes buryeles lotynge Line 186 And he anon / with-outen tariynge Dide his message / and whan þat he it tolde Vrban for ioye / his handes gan vp holde Line 189

[6-text p 534] Line 189

(28)

The teeris / from his eyen leet he falle [folio 192a] Almyghty lord / o Ihesu Crist quod he Sower of chast conseil / hierde of vs alle The fruyt of thilke seed of Chastitee Line 193 That thou hast sowe in Cecile / taak to thee Lo / lyk a bisy bee / with-outen gile Thee serueth ay / thyn owene thral Cecile Line 196

(29)

ffor thilke spouse / that she took right. now Line 197 fful lyk a fiers leoun / she sendeth heere As meke / as euere / was any lamb to yow And with that word / anon ther gan appere Line 200 An oold man / clad in white clothes cleere That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde And gan / bifore Valerian to stonde Line 203

(30)

Valerian as deed / fil doun for drede Line 204 Whan he hym saugh / and he vp hente hym tho And on his book / right thus he gan to rede O. lord. o. feith. o. god with-outen mo Line 207 O. Cristendom / and fader of alle also Abouen alle / ouer alle / euerywhere Thise wordes / al with gold ywriten were Line 210

(31)

Whan this was rad / thanne seyde this olde man Line 211 Leeuestow this thyng or no? / sey ye or nay? I leeue al this thyng / quod Valerian ffor oother thyng than this / I dar wel say Line 214 Vnder the heuene / no wight thynke may Tho vanysshed this olde man / he nyste where And Pope Vrban / hym cristned right there Line 217

[6-text p 535] Line 217

(32)

¶ Valerian gooth hoom / and fynt Cecilie Line 218 With-Inne his chambre / with an Angel stonde This Angel / hadde / of Roses and ¹of lilie¹ [[^1_1 later]] Corones two / the which he bar in honde Line 221 And first to Cecile / as I vnderstonde He yaf that oon / and after gan he take That oother / to Valerian hir make Line 224

(33)

With body clene / and with vnwemmed thoght Line 225 Kepeth ay wel / thise corones three ffro Paradys to yow / haue I hem broght Ne neuere mo / ne shal they roten bee Line 228 Ne lese hir soote sauour / trusteth me Ne neuere wight shal seen hem with his eye But he be chaast and hate vileynye Line 231

(34)

And thow Valerian / for thow so soone [folio 192b] Assentedest to good conseil also Sey what thee list and thou shalt han thy boone I haue a brother / quod Valerian tho Line 235 That in this world / I loue no man so I pray yow / that my brother may han grace To knowe the trouthe / as I do in this place Line 238

(35)

¶ The Angel seyde / god liketh thy requeste Line 239 And bothe / with the palm of martirdom Ye shullen come / vn-to his blisful feste And with that word / Tiburce his brother coom Line 242 And whan that he / the sauour vndernoom Which that the Roses / and the lilies caste With-Inne his herte / he gan to wondre faste Line 245

[6-text p 536] Line 245

(36)

And seyde / I wondre / this tyme of the yeer Line 246 Whennes / that soote sauour cometh so Of Rose and lilies / that I smelle heer ffor though I hadde hem / in myne handes two Line 249 The sauour / myghte in me no depper go The sweete smel / þat in myn herte I fynde Hath chaunged me / al in another kynde Line 252

(37)

¶ Valerian seyde / two corones / han we Line 253 Snow white and Rose reed / that shynen cleere Whiche þat thyne eyen / han no myght to see And as thou smellest hem / thurgh my preyere Line 256 So shaltow seen hem / leeue brother deere If it so be / thou wolt with-outen slouthe Bileue aright and knowen verray trouthe Line 259

(38)

¶ Tiburce answerde / seistow this to me Line 260 In soothnesse / or in dreem I herkne this In dremes quod valerian / han we be Vn-to this tyme / brother myn ywis Line 263 But now at erst in trouthe our dwellyng is How woostow this quod Tiburce / in what wyse? Quod Valerian / that shal I thee deuyse Line 266

(39)

¶ The Aungel of god / hath me trouthe ytaught Line 267 Which thou shalt seen / if that thou wolt reneye The ydoles and be clene / and elles naught And of the myracle / of thise corones tweye Line 270 Seint Ambrose / in his preface list to seye Solempnely / this noble doctour deere Commendeth hym / and seith in this manere Line 273

[6-text p 537] Line 273

(40)

¶ The palm of martirdom / for to receyue [folio 193a] Seinte Cecile / fulfild of goddes yifte The world / and eek hire chambre / gan she weyue Witnesse / Tyburces / and Cecilies shrifte Line 277 To whiche / god of his bountee wolde shifte Corones two / of floures wel smellynge And made his Angel / hem the corones brynge Line 280

(41)

The mayde hath broght men / to blisse aboue Line 281 The world hath wist / what it is worth certeyn Deuocion of Chastitee to loue Tho shewed hym Cecile / al open and pleyn Line 284 That alle ydoles / nys but a thyng in veyn ffor they been dombe / and therto they been deue And charged hym / hise ydoles for to leue Line 287

(42)

Who so / that troweth nat this / a beest he is Line 288 Quod tho Tiburce / if þat I shal nat lye And she gan kisse his brest. that herde this And was ful glad / he koude trouthe espye Line 291 This day / I take thee / for myn Allye Seyde this blisful / faire mayde deere And after that. she seyde as ye may heere Line 294

(43)

¶ Lo / right so / as the loue of Crist quod she Line 295 Made me thy brotheres wyf/. right in that wise Anon for myn Allyee / heer take I thee Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise Line 298 Go with thy brother now / and thee baptise And make thee clene / so þat thou mowe biholde The Angeles face / of which thy brother tolde Line 301

[6-text p 538] Line 301

(44)

¶ Tiburce answerde / and seyde brother dere Line 302 ffirst tel me / whider þat I shal / and to what man? To whom quod he? com forth / with right good cheere I wol thee lede / vn-to the Pope Vrban Line 305 Til Vrban? brother myn Valerian Quod tho Tiburce /. woltow me thider lede Me thynketh / that it were a wonder dede Line 308

(45)

Ne menestow nat Vrban / quod he tho Line 309 That is so ofte / dampned to be deed And woneth in halkes / alwey to and fro And dar nat ones / putte forth his heed Line 312 Men sholde hym brennen / in a fyr so reed If he were founde / or þat men myghte hym spye And we also / to bere hym compaignye Line 315

(46)

And whil we seken / thilke diuinitee [folio 193b] That is yhid / in heuene pryuely Algate / ybrend in this world shul we be To whom Cecile / answerde boldely Line 319 Men myghten dreden / wel and skilfully This lyf to lese / myn owene deere brother If this were lyuynge oonly and noon oother Line 322

(47)

But ther is bettre lif in oother place Line 323 That neuere shal be lost ne drede thee noght Which goddes sone / vs tolde thurgh his grace That fadres sone / hath alle thyng ywroght Line 326 And al that wroght is / with a skilful thoght The goost. that fro the fader gan procede Hath sowled hem / with-outen any drede Line 329

[6-text p 539] Line 329

(48)

By word and by myracle / goddes sone Line 330 Whan he was in this world declared heere That ther was oother lyf/ ther men may wone To whom answerde Tiburce / o suster deere Line 333 Ne seydestow right now / in this manere Ther nys but o god / lord in soothfastnesse And now of three / how maystow bere witnesse Line 336

(49)

¶ That shal I telle quod she / er I go Line 337 Right as a man / hath sapiences three Memorie / Engyn / and Intellect also So / in beynge / of diuinitee Line 340 Thre persones / may ther right wel bee Tho gan she hym / ful bisily to preche Of Cristes come / and of hise peynes teche Line 343

(50)

And many pointes / of his passion Line 344 How goddes sone / in this world was withholde To doon mankynde / pleyn remission That was ybounde in synne and cares colde Line 347 Al this thyng. she vn-to Tiburce tolde And after this / Tiburce in good entente With Valerian / to Pope Vrban he wente Line 350

(51)

[qui. scilicet Vrbanus] That thanked god / and with glad herte and light Line 351 He cristned hym / and made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge / goddes knyght And after this / Tiburce / gat swich grace Line 354 That euery day / he saugh in tyme and space The Aungel of god / and euery maner boone That he god axed // it was sped ful soone Line 357

[6-text p 540] Line 357

(52)

¶ It were ful hard / by ordre for to seyn [folio 194a] How manye wondres / Ihesus for hem wroghte But atte laste / to tellen short and pleyn The sergeantz / of the toun of Rome hem soghte Line 361 And hem / biforn Almache the Prefect broghte Which hem opposed / and knew al hire entente And to the ymage / of Iuppiter hem sente Line 364

(53)

And seyde / who so wol nat sacrifise Line 365 Swape of his heed / this my sentence heer Anon thise martirs þat I yow deuyse Oon Maximus / that was an Officer Line 368 Of the Prefectes / and his Corniculer Hem hente / and whan he forth the Seintes ladde Hym self he weepe / for pitee that he hadde Line 371

(54)

Whan Maximus / had herd the Seintes loore Line 372 He gat hym / of the tormentours leue And ladde hem to his hous / with-oute moore And with hir prechyng er that it were eue Line 375 They gonnen / fro the tormentours to reue And fro Maxime / and fro his folk echone The false feith / to trowe in god allone Line 378

(55)

¶ Cecile cam / whan it was woxen nyght Line 379 With preestes / that hem cristned alle yfeere And afterward / whan day was woxen light Cecile hem seyde / with a ful stedefast cheere Line 382 Now Cristes owene knyghtes / leeue and deere Cast alle awey / the werkes of derknesse And Armeth yow / in Armure of brightnesse Line 385

[6-text p 541] Line 385

(56)

Ye han for sothe / ydoon a greet bataille Line 386 Youre cours is doon / youre feith han ye conserued Gooth to the corone of lif that may nat faille The rightful Iuge / which þat ye han serued Line 389 Shal yeue it yow / as ye han it deserued And whan this thyng was seyd / as I deuyse Men ledde hem forth / to doon the sacrefise Line 392

(57)

But whan they weren / to the place broght Line 393 To tellen shortly / the conclusioun They nolde encense / ne sacrifise right noght But on hir knees / they setten hem adoun Line 396 With humble herte / and sad deuocioun And losten / bothe hir heuedes in the place Hir soules wenten / to the kyng of grace Line 399

(58)

This Maximus / that saugh this thyng bityde [folio 194b] With pitous teeris / tolde it anon right That he hir soules / saugh to heuene glyde With Aungels / ful of cleernesse and of light Line 403 And with this word / conuerted many a wight ffor which Almachius / dide hym so bete With whippe of leed / til he the lif gan lete Line 406

(59)

¶ Cecile hym toook/ and buryed hym anon Line 407 By Tiburce / and Valerian softely With-Inne hire buriyng place vnder the stoon And after this / Almachius hastily Line 410 Bad hise Ministres / fecchen openly Cecile / so that she myghte in his presence Doon sacrifice / and Iuppiter encense Line 413

[6-text p 542] Line 413

(60)

[.scilicet Ministres] But they conuerted / at hir wise loore Line 414 Wepten ful soore / and yauen ful credence Vn-to hire word/ and cryden moore and moore Crist goddes sone / with-outen difference Line 417 Is verray god / this is oure sentence That hath so good a seruant/ hym to serue This with o voys / we trowen / thogh we sterue Line 420

(61)

¶ Almachius / that herde of this doynge Line 421 Bad fecchen Cecile / that he myghte hire see And alderfirst. lo this was his axynge What maner womman / artow quod he? Line 424 I am a gentil womman born quod she I axe thee quod he / though it thee greeue Of thy Religion / and of thy bileeue Line 427

(62)

¶ Ye han bigonne / youre question folily Line 428 Quod she / that wolden two answeres conclude In o demande / ye axed lewedly Almache answerde / vn-to that similitude Line 431 Of whennes comth / thyn answeryng so rude? Of whennes quod she /? whan þat she was freyned Of Conscience / and of good feith vnfeyned Line 434

(63)

¶ Almachius seyde / ne takestow noon heede Line 435 Of my power / and she answerde hym Youre myght quod she / ful litel is to dreede ffor euery / mortal / mannes power nys Line 438 But lyke a bladdre / ful of wynd ywys ffor with a nedles poynt whan it is blowe May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe Line 441

[6-text p 543] Line 441

(64)

¶ fful wrongfully / bigonne thow quod he [folio 195a] And yet in wrong is thy perseuerance Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free Han thus comanded / and maad ordinance Line 445 That euery cristen wight shal han penance But if that he / his cristendom withseye And goon al quit. if he wole it reneye Line 448

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¶ Yowre princes erren / as youre nobleye dooth Line 449 Quod tho Cecile / and with a wood sentence Ye make vs gilty / and [it] is nat sooth ffor ye / that knowen wel oure Innocence Line 452 ffor as muche / as we doon a reuerence To crist and for we bere a cristen name Ye putte on vs / a cryme / and eek a blame Line 455

(66)

But we that knowen / thilke name so Line 456 ffor vertuous / we may it nat withseye Almache answerde / chees oon of thise two Do sacrifice / or cristendom reneye Line 459 That thou mowe now / escapen by that weye At which / the hooly blisful faire mayde Gan for to laughe / and to the Iuge sayde Line 462

(67)

¶ O Iuge / confus in thy nycetee Line 463 Woltow / that I reneye Innocence To make me / a wikked wight quod she Lo / he dissymuleth heere / in Audience Line 466 He stareth / and he woodeth in his Aduertence To whom Almachius / vnsely wrecche Ne woostow nat how far my myght may strecche Line 469

[6-text p 544] Line 469

(68)

Han noght oure myghty princes / to me yeuen Line 470 Ye bothe power / and Auctoritee To maken folk/ to dyen or to lyuen Why spekestow / so proudly thanne to me Line 473 I speke noght / but stedfastly quod she Nat proudly / for I speke as for my syde We naten deedly / thilke vice of pryde Line 476

(69)

[.i. audire] And if thou drede nat a sooth to heere Line 477 Thanne wol I shewe / al openly by right [hic] That thou hast maad / a ful gret lesyng heere Thou seyst thy Princes / han thee yeuen myght Line 480 Bothe for to sleen / and for to quyken a wight Thou that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireue Thou hast noon oother power ne no leue Line 483

(70)

But thou mayst seyn / thy princes han thee maked [folio 195b] Ministre of deeth / for if thou speke of mo Thou lyest for thy power is ful naked Do wey thy booldnesse / seyde Almachius tho Line 487 And sacrifie to oure goddes er thou go I recche nat what wrong þat thou me profre ffor I can suffre it / as a Philosophre. Line 490

(71)

¶ But thilke wronges / may I nat endure Line 491 That thou spekest of oure goddes heere quod he Cecile answerde / o nyce creature Thou seydest no word / syn thou spak to me Line 494 That I ne knew ther with / thy nycetee And that thou were / in euery maner wise A lewed Officer / and a veyn Iustise Line 497

[6-text p 545] Line 497

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[exterioribus oculis] Ther lakketh no thyng. to thyne outter eyen Line 498 That thou nart blynd / for thyng þat we seen alle That it is stoon / þat men may wel espyen That ilke stoon / a god thow wolt it calle Line 501 I rede thee / lat thyn hand vp on it falle And taste it wel / and stoon thou shalt it fynde Syn that thou seest nat with thyne eyen blynde Line 504

(73)

It is a shame / that the peple shal Line 505 So scorne thee / and laughe at thy folye ffor communly / men woot it wel oueral That myghty god / is in hise heuenes hye Line 508 And thise ymages / wel thou mayst espye To thee / ne to hem self ne mowen noght profite ffor in effect they been nat worth a myte Line 511

(74)

¶ Thise wordes / and swiche othere seyde she Line 512 And he weex wrooth / and bad men sholde hir lede Hom til hir house / and in hire hous quod he Brenne hire / right in a bath of flambes rede Line 515 And as he bad / right so was doon in dede ffor in a Bath / they gonne hire faste shetten And nyght and day / greet fyre they vnder betten Line 518

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¶ The longe nyght / and eek a day also Line 519 ffor al the fyr / and eek the bathes heete She sat al coold / and feeled no wo It made hire / nat a drope for to sweete Line 522 But in that Bath / hir lyf she moste lete ffor he Almachius / with a ful wikke entente To sleen hire in the Bath his sonde sente Line 525

[6-text p 546] Line 525

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Thre strokes in the nekke / he smoot hire tho [folio 196a] The tormentour / but for no maner chaunce He myghte noght smyte / al hir nekke atwo And for ther was / that tyme an ordinaunce Line 529 That no man / sholde doon men swich penaunce The ferthe strook/ to smyten softe or soore This tormentour / ne dorste do namoore Line 532

(77)

But half deed / with hir nekke ycoruen there Line 533 He lefte hir lye / and on his wey he went The cristen folk / which that aboute hire were With sheetes / han the blood / ful faire yhent Line 536 Thre dayes lyued she / in this torment And neuere cessed / hem the feith to teche That she hadde fostred / hem she gan to preche Line 539

(78)

And hem she yaf / hir moebles / and hir thyng Line 540 And to the Pope Vrban / bitook hem tho And seyde / I axed this at heuene kyng To han respit. thre dayes and namo Line 543 To recomende to yow / er that I go Thise soules lo / and þat I myghte do werche Heere of myn hous / perpetuelly a cherche Line 546

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¶ Seint Vrban / with hise deknes priuely Line 547 This body fette / and buryed it by nyghte Among hise othere seintes / honestly Hir hous / the chirche of seinte Cecilie highte Line 550 Seint Vrban halwed it / as he wel myghte In which / in to this day / in noble wyse Men doon to Crist. and to his seinte seruyse Line 553

¶ Heere is ended / the Seconde Nonnes tale .

[6-text p 547]

¶ The prologe / of the Chanons yemannes tale . [on leaf 196]

Whan toold was al the lyf /. of seinte Cecile Er we hadde riden / fully fyue Mile At Boghton vnder Blee / vs gan atake A man / that clothed was / in clothes blake Line 557 And vnder-nethe / he wered a surplys His hakeney / which þat was al pomely grys So swatte / that it wonder was to see It semed / as he had priked Miles three Line 561 The hakeney eek / þat his yeman rood vpon So swatte / that vnnethe myghte it gon . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 565 A Male tweyfoold / vp on his croper lay [folio 196b] It semed / that he caried lite array Al light for Somer / rood this worthy man And in myn herte / to wondren I bigan Line 569 What þat he was / til that I vnderstood How that his cloke / was sowed to his hood ffor which / whan I hadde longe auysed me I demed hym / som Chanon for to be Line 573 His hat heeng / at his bak / doun by a laas ffor he hadde riden / moore than trot or paas He hadde ay priked/ lik as he were wood A Clote leef / he hadde vnder his hood Line 577 ffor swoot and for to kepe his heed from heete But it was ioye / for to seen hym swete His forheed dropped / as a stillatorie Were ful of Plantayne / and of Paritorie Line 581

[6-text p 548] Line 581 And whan that he was come / he gan to crye Line 582 God saue quod he / this ioly compaignye ffaste haue I priked quod he / for youre sake By cause / that I wolde yow atake Line 585 To riden / in som myrie compaignye His yeman eek was ful of curteisye And seyde sires / now in the morwe tyde Out of youre hostelrie / I saugh you ryde Line 589 And warned heer / my lord and my souerayn Which / to ryden with yow / is ful fayn ffor his desport he loueth daliance ¶ ffreend / for thy warnyng god yeue thee chance Line 593 Thanne seyde oure hoost. for certein / it wolde seme Thy lord were wys / and so I may wel deme He is ful iocunde also / dar I leye Can he oght telle / a myrie tale or tweye Line 597 With which / he glade may this compaignye? ¶ Who sire / my lord? ye / ye with-outen lye He kan of murthe / and eek of Iolitee Nat but ynough / also sire trusteth me Line 601 And ye hym knewe / as wel as do I Ye wolde wondre / how wel and craftily He koude werke / and that in sondry wise He hath take on hym /. many a greet emprise Line 605 Which were ful hard / for any that is heere To brynge aboute / but they of hym it leere As hoomely / as he rit amonges yow If ye hym knewe / it wolde be for youre prow Line 609 Ye wolde nat forgoon his Aqueyntaunce ffor muchel good / I dar leye in balaunce Al that I haue / in my possessioun He is a man / of heigh discrecioun Line 613 I warne yow wel / he is a passyng man [folio 197a] ¶ Wel quod oure hoost. I pray thee tel me than Is he a clerk / or noon? telle what he is ¶ Nay / he is gretter than a clerk ywis Line 617

[6-text p 549] Line 617 Seyde this yeman / and in wordes fewe Line 618 Hoost of his craft som what I wol yow shewe ¶ I seye / my lord / kan swich subtilitee But al his craft /. ye may nat wite for me Line 621 And som what helpe I yet to his wirkyng That al this ground / on which we been ridyng Til that we come / to Caunterbury toun He koude al clene / turne it vp so doun Line 625 And paue it / al of siluer / and of gold ¶ And whan this yeman / hadde this tale ytold Vn-to oure hoost/ he seyde benedicitee This thyng is wonder merueillous to me Line 629 Syn that thy lord / is of so heigh prudence By cause of which / men sholde hym reuerence That of his worshipe / rekketh he so lite His ouerslope / nys nat worth a myte Line 633 As in effect to hym / so moot I go It is al baudy / and to-tore also Why is thy lord so sluttissh I the preye And is of power/ bettre clooth to beye Line 637 If that his dede / accorde with thy speche Telle me that . and that I thee biseche ¶ Why quod this yeman? wherto axe ye me? God help me so / for he shal neuere thee Line 641 But I wol nat auowe that I seye And therfore / keepe it secree I yow preye He is to wys / in feith / as I bileeue That that is ouerdoon / it wol nat preeue [¶ Omne quod est nimium &cetera] Aright?/ as clerkes seyn / it is a vice Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce ffor whan a man / hath ouer greet a wit fful oft hym happeth / to mysusen it Line 649 So dooth my lord / and that me greueth soore God it amende / I kan sey yow namoore ¶ Ther-of no fors / good yeman / quod oure hoost Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost Line 653

[6-text p 550] Line 653 Telle how he dooth / I pray thee hertely Line 654 Syn that he is / so crafty and so sly Where dwelle ye / if it to telle be? ¶ In the suburbes / of a toun quod he Line 657 Lurkynge in hernes / and in lanes blynde Where as thise robbours / and thise theues by kynde Holden / hir pryuee fereful residence As they / that dar nat shewen hir presence Line 661 So faren we / if I shal seye the sothe [folio 197b] ¶ Now quod oure hoost /. lat me telle to the Why artow / so discoloured of thy face? ¶ Peter quod he / god yeue it harde grace Line 665 I am so vsed / in the fyr to blowe That it hath chaunged my colour I trowe I am nat wont/ in no Mirour to prie But swynke soore / and lerne multiplie Line 669 We blondren euere / and pouren in the fir And for al that / we faille of oure desir ffor euere we lakke / of oure conclusion To muchel folk / we doon illusion Line 673 And borwe gold / be it a pound or two Or ten / or twelue / or manye sommes mo And make hem / wenen at the leeste weye That of a pound / we koude make tweye Line 677 Yet is it fals / but ay we han good hope It for to doon / and after it we grope But that science / is so fer vs biforn We mowen nat al though we hadden sworn Line 681 It ouer-take / it slit awey so faste It wole / vs maken beggers atte laste ¶ Whil this yeman / was thus in his talkyng This Chanon drough hym neer / and herde al thyng Line 685 Which this yeman spak / for suspecion Of mennes speche / euere hadde this Chanon ffor Caton seith / that he that gilty is [¶ Cato.] Demeth alle thyng. be spoke of hym ywis Line 689

[6-text p 551] Line 689 That was the cause / he gan so ny/ hym drawe Line 690 To his yeman / to herknen al his sawe And thus he seyde / vn-to his yeman tho Hoold thou thy pees / and spek no wordes mo Line 693 ffor if thou do / /thou shalt it deere abye Thou sclaundrest me / heere in this compaignye And eek discouerest that thou sholdest hyde ¶ Ye quod our hoost / telle on what so bityde Line 697 Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte ¶ In feith quod he / namoore I do but lyte ¶ And whan this Chanon / saugh it wolde nat be But his yeman / wolde telle his pryuetee Line 701 He fledde awey / for verray sorwe and shame ¶ A quod the yeman / heere shal arise game Al that I kan / anon now wol I telle Syn he is goon / the foule feend hym quelle Line 705 ffor neuere heer / wol I with hym meete ffor peny ne for pound / I yow biheete He that me broghte first vn-to that game Er that he dye / sorwe haue he and shame Line 709 ffor it is / ernest to me by my feith [folio 198a] That feele I wel / what that any man seith And yet for al my smert and al my grief ffor al my sorwe / labour / and meschief Line 713 I koude neuere leue it / in no wise Now wolde god / my wit myghte suffise To tellen / al that longeth / to that Art And naþelees / yow wol I tellen part Line 717 Syn that my lord is goon / I wol nat spare Swich thyng as that I knowe / I wol declare

¶ Heere endeþ þe prologe of the Chanons yemannes tale .

[6-text p 552]

¶ Heere bigynneth / the Chanons yeman his tale. [THE PREAMBLE.] [folio 198]

With this Chanon / I dwelt haue seuen yeer And of his science / am I neuer the neer Al that I hadde / I haue lost ther-by And god woot so hath many mo than I Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay Of clothyng and of oother good array Line 725 Now may I were / an hose vp-on myn heed And wher my colour / was bothe fressh and reed Now is it wan / and of leden hewe Who so it vseth / soore shal he rewe Line 729 And of my swynk / yet blered is myn eye Lo / which auantage / is to multiplie That slidynge science / hath me maad so bare That I haue no good / wher þat euere I fare Line 733 And yet I am endetted so ther-by Of gold / that I haue borwed trewely That whil I lyue / I shal it quite neuere Lat euery man / be war by me for euere Line 737 What maner man / that casteth hym ther to If he continue / I holde his thrift ydo ffor so helpe me god / ther-by shal he nat wynne But empte his purs / and make hise wittes thynne Line 741 And whan he / thurgh his madnesse and folye Hath lost his owene good / thurgh Iupartye Thanne he exciteth / oother folk / ther-to Line 744 To lesen hir good / as he hym self hath do [¶ Solacium miser|iorum &cetera.] ffor vn-to shrewes / ioye it is and ese To haue hir felawes / in peyne and disese

[6-text p 553] Thus was I / ones lerned of a Clerk Of that no charge / I wol speke of oure werk Line 749 ¶ Whan we been there / as we shul excercise Oure Eluysshe craft/ we semen wonder wise Oure termes / been so clergial / and so queynte [folio 198b] I blowe the fir / til that myn herte feynte Line 753

What sholde I tellen eche proporcion Of thynges / whiche þat we werche vpon As on fyue / or sixe Ounces / may wel be Of siluer / or som oother quantitee Line 757 And bisye me / to telle yow the names Of Orpyment brent bones / Iren Squames That in-to poudre / grounden been ful smal And in an erthen pot put is al Line 761 And salt yput In / and also papeer Biforn thise poudres / that I speke of heer And wel ycouered / with a lampe of glas And muchel oother thyng / which þat ther was Line 765 And of the pot and glasses enlutyng That of the Eyr/ myghte passe out no thyng And of the esy fir / and smart also Which that was maad / and of the care and wo Line 769 That we hadden / in oure matires sublymyng And in Almalgamyng and calceniyng Of quyk/ siluer / yclept Mercurie crude ffor alle our sleightes / we kan nat conclude Line 773 Oure Orpyment. and sublymed Mercurie Oure grounden litarge eek in the P[o]rfurie And ech of thise / of Ounces a certeyn Noght helpeth vs / oure labour is in veyn Line 777 Ne eek oure spirites Ascencioun Ne oure matires / þat lyen al fix adoun Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng vs auaille ffor lost is / al oure labour and trauaille Line 781 And al the cost/ a twenty deuel way Is lost also / which we vp-on it lay

[6-text p 554] ¶ Ther is also / ful many another thyng That is / vn-to oure craft apertenyng Line 785 Though I by ordre / hem nat reherce kan By cause / that I am a lewed man yet wol I telle hem / as they come to mynde Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde Line 789 As Boole / armonyak vertgrees / Boras And sondry vessels / maad of erthe and glas Oure vrynals / and our descensories Violes / crosletz / and sublymatories Line 793 Cucurbites / and Alambikes eek And othere swiche / deere ynough a leek Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle Watres rubifiyng and Boles galle Line 797 Arsenyk / sal Armonyak and Brymstoon And herbes / koude I telle eek many oon As Egremoyne / Valerian / and lunarie [folio 199a] And othere swiche / if that me liste tarie Line 801 Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day To brynge aboute / oure purpos / if we may Oure fourneys eek / of Calcinacion And of watres Albificacion Line 805 Vnslekked lym / Chalk / and gleyre of an ey Poudres diuerse / asshes / donge / pisse / and cley Cered pottes / sal Peter / vitriole And diuerse fires / maad of wode and cole Line 809 Sal tartre / Alkaly / and sal preparat/ And combust matires / and coagulat Cley / maad with hors / and mannes heer and oille Of Tartre / Alum glas / berme / wort and argoille Line 813 Resalgar / and oure matires enbibyng And eek of oure matires encorporyng And of oure siluer citrinacion And of oure cementyng and fermentacion Line 817 Oure yngottes / testes / and many mo

I wol yow telle / as was me taught also

[6-text p 555] The seuene spirites / and the bodies seuene By ordre / as ofte I herde my lord hem neuene Line 821 ¶ The firste spirit quyk siluer called is The seconde Orpyment the thridde ywis Sal Armonyak / and the ferthe Brymstoon The bodyes seuene eek/. lo hem heere anoon Line 825 ¶ Sol gold is / and Luna / siluer we threpe Mars Iren / Mercurie quyk siluer we clepe Saturnus leed / and Iuppiter is tyn And Venus Coper / by my fader kyn Line 829 ¶ This cursed craft/ who so wole excercise He shal no good han / þat hym may suffise ffor al the good / he spendeth ther aboute He lese shal / ther-of haue I no doute Line 833 Who that listeth / outen his folie Lat hym come forth / and lerne multiplie And euery man / that oght hath in his cofre Lat hym appiere / and wexe a Philosophre Line 837 Ascauns / that craft is so light to leere Nay nay god woot al be he Monk or frere Preest or Chanon / or any oother wyght Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght Line 841 In lernyng of this Eluysshe nyce loore Al is in veyn / and parde muchel moore To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee ffy spek nat ther-of / for it wol nat bee Line 845 And konne he letterure / or konne he noon As in effect. he shal fynde it al oon ffor bothe / two / by my sauacion [folio 199b] Concluden in multiplicacion Line 849 Ylike wel / whan they han al ydo This is to seyn / they faillen bothe two

Yet/ forgat I / to maken rehersaille Of watres corosif / and of lymaille Line 853 And of bodies mollificacion And also / of hire induracion

[6-text p 556] Oilles / Ablucions / and metal fusible To tellen al / wolde passen any Bible Line 857 That owher is / wherfore as for the beste Of alle thise names / now wol I me reste ffor as I trowe / I haue yow toold ynowe To reyse a feend / al looke he neuer so rowe Line 861 ¶ A nay lat be / the Philosophres stoon Elixer clept./ we sechen faste echoon ffor hadde we hym / thanne were it siker ynow But vn-to god of heuene / I make avow Line 865 ffor al oure craft whan we han al ydo With al oure sleighte / he wol nat come vs to He hath maad vs spenden muchel good ffor sorwe of which / almoost we wexen wood Line 869 But that good hope / crepeth in oure herte Supposynge / though we sore smerte To be releeued / by hym afterward Swich supposyng and hope / is sharpe and hard Line 873 I warne yow wel / it is to seken euere That futur temps / hath maad men disseuere In trust ther-of / from al þat euere they hadde Yet of that Art they kan nat wexen sadde Line 877 ffor vn-to hem / it is a bitter sweete So semeth it for nadde they but a sheete Which þat they myghte wrappe hem Inne at nyght And a brat to walken Inne by day lyght Line 881 They wolde hem selle / and spenden on the craft They kan nat stynte / til no thyng be laft And eueremoore / where þat euere they goon Men may hem knowe / by smel of Brymstoon Line 885 ffor al the world / they stynken as a goot Hir sauour / is so rammyssh and so hoot That though a man / a Mile from hem be The sauour wole infecte hym truste me Line 889 And thus by smel / and threedbare array If þat men liste / this folk they knowe may

[6-text p 557] And if a man / wole aske hem pryuely Why they been clothed / so vnthriftily Line 893 They right anon / wol rownen in his ere And seyn / þat if þat they espied were Men wolde hem slee / by cause of hir science [folio 200a] Lo / thus / this folk bitrayen Innocence Line 897

Passe ouer this / I go my tale vn-to Er þat the pot be on the fir ydo Of metals / with a certeyn quantitee My lord hem tempreth / and no man but he Line 901 Now he is goon / I dare seyn boldely ffor as men seyn / he kan doon craftily Algate I woot wel / he hath swich a name And yet ful oft / he renneth in a blame Line 905 And wite ye how / ful ofte it happeth so The pot tobreketh / and farewel al is go Thise Metals / been of so greet violence Oure walles / mowe nat make hem resistence Line 909 But if they weren wroght/ of lym and stoon They percen so / and thurgh the wal they goon And somme of hem / synke in to the ground Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound Line 913 And somme are scatered / al the floor aboute Somme lepte in-to the roof with-outen doute Though þat the feend / noght in oure sighte hym shewe I trowe he with vs be / that ilke shrewe Line 917 In helle / where þat he lord is and sire Nis ther moore wo / ne moore rancour ne Ire Whan that oure pot is broke / as I haue sayd Euery man chit and halt hym yuele apayd Line 921 ¶ Somme seyde / it was along on the fir makyng Somme seyde nay / it was on the blowyng Thanne was I fered / for that was myn office ¶ Straw quod the thridde / ye been lewed and nyce Line 925 It was nat tempred as it oghte be ¶ Nay quod the fourthe / stynt and herkne me

[6-text p 558] By cause our fir / ne was nat maad of Beech That is the cause / and oother noon so theech Line 929 I kan nat telle / wher-on it was along But wel I woot greet strif vs is among ¶ What quod my lord / ther is namoore to doone Of thise perils / I wol be war eft soone Line 933 I am right siker/ that the pot was crased Be as be may / be ye no thyng amased As vsage is / lat swepe the floor as swithe Plukke vp youre hertes / and beeth glad and blithe Line 937 ¶ The Mullok/ on an heepe / sweped was And on the floor / ycast a Canevas And al this Mullok/ in a syve ythrowe And sifted / and ypiked many a throwe Line 941 ¶ Pardee quod oon / somwhat of oure metal Yet is ther heere / though þat we han nat al Al though this thyng myshapped haue as now [folio 200b] Another tyme / it may be wel ynow Line 945 Vs moste putte / oure good in auenture A Marchant pardee / may nat ay endure Trusteth me wel / in his prosperitee Somtyme his good / is drenched in the see Line 949 And somtyme / comth it sauf / vn-to the londe ¶ Pees quod my lord / the nexte tyme I shal fonde To bryngen oure craft / al in another plite And but I do / lat me han the wite Line 953 Ther was defaute in som what wel I woot ¶ Another seyde / the fir was ouer hoot And be it hoot or coold / I dar seye this That we concluden / eueremoore amys Line 957 We faille of that / which þat we wolden haue And in oure madnesse / eueremoore we raue And whan we been / togidres euerichoon Euery man / semeth a Salomon Line 961 But euery thyng which þat seineth as the gold [¶ Non teneas Au|rum &cetera] Nis nat gold / as þat I haue herd told

[6-text p 559] Ne euery appul / that is fair to eye [¶ Nec pulcrum pomum &cetera] Nis nat good / what so men clappe or crye Line 965 ¶ Right so / fareth it/ amonges vs He þat semeth the wiseste by Ihesus Is moost fool / whan it comth to the preef And he þat semeth trewest is a theef/ Line 969 That shul ye knowe / er þat I fro yow wende By that/ I of my tale haue maad an ende

¶ Explicit prima pars /

[6-text p 560]

Et sequitur pars secunda . [THE TALE.]

Ther was / a Chanon of Religioun Amonges vs / wolde infecte al a toun Line 973 Thogh it as greet were / as was Nynyuee Rome / Alisaundre / Troye / and othere three His sleighte / and his infinit falsnesse Ther koude no man / writen as I gesse Line 977 Though þat he lyue myghte a thousand yeer In al this world / of falshede nas his peer ffor in hise termes / so he wolde hym wynde And speke hise wordes / in so sly a kynde Line 981 Whanne he commune shal with any wight That he wol make hym doten anon right But it a feend be / as hym seluen is fful many a man / hath he bigiled er this Line 985 And wole / if that he lyue may a while And yet men ride and goon ful many a Mile Hym for to seke / and haue his Aqueyntaunce [folio 201a] Noght knowynge / of his false gouernaunce Line 989 And if yow list. to yeue me Audience I wol it telle heere / in youre presence ¶ But worshipful Chanons Religious Ne demeth nat. that I desclaundre youre hous Line 993 Al-though that my tale / of a Chanoun bee Of euery ordre / som shrewe is pardee And god forbede / that al a compaignye Sholde rewe / o. singuleer mannes folye Line 997 To sclaundre yow / is no thyng myn entente But to correcten / that is mys I-mente

[6-text p 561] This tale / was nat oonly / toold for yow But eek / for othere mo / ye woot wel how Line 1001 That among. cristes Apostles twelue Ther nas no traytour/ but Iudas hym selue Thanne / why sholde al the remenant haue a blame That giltlees were / by yow I seye the same Line 1005 Saue oonly this / if ye wol herkne me If any Iudas / in youre Couent be Remoeueth hym bitymes / I yow rede If shame / or los / may causen any drede Line 1009 And beeth no thyng displesed I yow preye But in this cas / herketh what I shal seye

IN London / was a preest Annueleer That ther-Inne / had dwelled many a yeer Line 1013 Which was so plesaunt and so seruysable Vn-to the wyf / where as he was at table That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye ffor bord ne clothyng wente he neuer so gaye Line 1017 And spendyng siluer / hadde he right ynow Ther-of no fors / I wol procede as now And telle forth my tale / of the Chanon That broghte this preest/ to confusion Line 1021 ¶ This false Chanon / cam vp on a day Vn-to this preestes chambre / wher he lay Bisechynge hym / to lene hym a certeyn Of gold / and he wolde quite it hym ageyn Line 1025 Leene me a marc quod he / but dayes three And at my day / I wol it quiten thee And if so be / that thow me fynde fals Another day / do hange me by the hals Line 1029 ¶ This preest hym took a marc and that as swithe And this Chanoun / hym thanked ofte sithe And took/ his leue / and wente forth his weye And at the thridde day / broghte his moneye Line 1033 And to the preest / he took his gold agayn Wher-of this preest was wonder glad and fayn

[6-text p 562] ¶ Certes quod he / no thyng/ anoyeth me [folio 201b] To lene a man / a noble / or two / or thre Line 1037 Or what thyng / were in my possession Whan he / so trewe is of condicion That in no wise / he breke wole his day To swich a man / I kan neuer seye nay Line 1041 ¶ What quod this Chanoun / sholde I be vntrewe? Nay that were a thyng yfallen al of newe Trouthe is a thyng that I wol euere kepe In to that day / in which that I shal crepe Line 1045 In to my graue / or ellis god forbede Bileueth this / as siker as the Crede God thanke I / and in good tyme / be it sayd That ther was neuere man yet yuele apayd Line 1049 ffor gold ne siluer / that he to me lente Ne neuere falshede / in myn herte I mente And sire quod he / now of my pryuetee Syn ye so goodlich / han been vn-to me Line 1053 And kithed to me / so greet gentillesse Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse I wol yow shewe / if that yow list to leere I wol yow teche / pleynly the manere Line 1057 How I kan werken / in Philosophie Taketh good heede / ye shul wel seen at eye That I wol doon / a maistrie er I go Line 1060 ¶ Ye quod the preest. ye sire quod he / and wol ye so? Marie / ther-of / I pray yow hertely ¶ At youre comandement sire trewely Quod the Chanon / and ellis god forbeede ¶ Loo how this theef koude his seruice beede Line 1065 fful sooth it is / that swich profred seruyse Stynketh / as witnessen thise olde wyse And that ful soone / I wol it verifie In this Chanon / roote of alle trecherie Line 1069 That euere moore / delit hath and gladnesse Swiche feendly thoughtes / in his herte impresse

[6-text p 563] How Cristes peple / he may to meschief / brynge God kepe vs / from his false dissymulynge Line 1073 ¶ Noght wiste this preest with whom þat he delt N[e] of his harm comynge / he no thyng felte O sely preest / o sely Innocent With coueitise / anon thou shalt be blent Line 1077 O gracelees / ful blynd is thy conceite No thyng/ ne artow war/ of the deceite Which that this fox / yshapen hath for thee Hise wily wrenches / thou ne mayst nat flee Line 1081 Wherfore to go / to the conclusion That refereth / to thy confusion Vnhappy man / anon I wol me hye [folio 202a] To tellen thyn vnwit / and his folye Line 1085 And eek the falsnesse / of that oother wrecche As ferforth / as my konnyng may strecche

This Chanon was my lord / ye wolden weene Sire hoost in feith / and by the heuenes queene Line 1089 It was another Chanon / and nat hee That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme Of his falshede / it dulleth me to ryme Line 1093 Euere whan þat I speke / of his falshede ffor shame of hym / my chekes wexen rede Algates / they bigynnen for to glowe ffor reednesse haue I noon / right wel I knowe Line 1097 In my visage / for fumes diuerse Of metals / whiche ye han herd me reherce Consumed / and wasted han my reednesse Now taak heede / of this Chanons cursednesse Line 1101 ¶ Sire quod he to the preest lat youre man gon ffor quyk siluer / that we hadde it anon And lat hym / bryngen Ounces two or three And whan he comth / as faste shal ye see Line 1105 A wonder thyng which ye saugh neuere er this ¶ Sire quod the preest it shal be doon ywis

[6-text p 564] He bad his seruant. fecchen hym this thyng And he al redy / was at his biddyng Line 1109 And wente hym forth / and cam anon agayn With this quyk siluer / soothly for to sayn And toke thise Ounces thre / to the Chanoun And he hem leyde / faire and wel adoun Line 1113 And bad the seruant. coles for to brynge That he anon / myghte go to his werkynge ¶ The coles / right anon weren yfet And this Chanon / took out a Crosselet Line 1117 Of his bosom / and shewed it to the preest This Instrument quod he / which þat thou seest Taake in thyn hand / and put thy self ther Inne Of this quyk siluer an Ounce / and heer bigynne Line 1121 In the name of Crist. to wexe a philosofre Ther been ful fewe / to whiche I wolde profre To shewen hem / thus muche of my science ffor ye shul seen / heer by experience Line 1125 That this quyk siluer / wol I mortifye Right in youre sighte anon / I wol nat lye And make as good siluer / and as fyn As ther is any / in youre purse or myn Line 1129 Or elleswhere / and make it malliable And elles / holdeth me / fals and vnable Amonges folk/ for euere to appeere [folio 202b] I haue a poudre heer / þat coste me deere Line 1133 Shal make al good / for it is cause of al My konnyng / which þat I to yow shewen shal Voyde youre man / and lat hym be ther oute And shette the dore / whils we been aboute Line 1137 Oure pryuetee / that no man vs espie Whils that we werke / in this Philosophie ¶ Al as he bad / fulfilled was in dede This ilke seruant anonright out yede Line 1141 And his Maister / shette the dore anon And to hire labour/ spedily they gon

[6-text p 565] ¶ This preest at this cursed Chanons biddyng Vp on the fir/ anon sette this thyng Line 1145 And blew the fir / and bisyed hym ful faste And this Chanon / in-to the Crosselet cast A poudre noot I wher of / that it was Ymaad / ouþer of chalk or of glas Line 1149 Or som what elles / was nat worth a flye To blynde with the preest. and bad hym hye The coles / for to couchen al aboue The Crosselet. for in tokenyng I thee loue Line 1153 Quod this Chanon / thyne owene handes two Shul werche al thyng/. which shal heer be do ¶ Graunt mercy quod the preest and was ful glad And couched cole / as that Chanon bad Line 1157 And while he bisy was // this feendly wrecche This false Chanoun / the foule feend hym fecche Out of his bosom / he took/ a Bechen cole In which ful subtilly / was maad an hole Line 1161 And ther-Inne / put was of siluer lemaille An Ounce / and stopped was with-outen faille The hole with wex / to kepe the lemaille In And vnderstondeth / that this false gyn Line 1165 Was nat maad ther / but it was maad bifore And othere thynges / I shal tellen moore Herafterward / whiche þat he with hym broghte Er he cam there / hym to bigile he thoghte Line 1169 And so he dide / er þat they wente atwynne Til he had terned hym / he koude nat blynne It dulleth me / whan that I of hym speke On his falshede / fayn wolde I me wreke Line 1173 If I wiste how / but he is heere and there He is so variaunt / þat he abit nowhere ¶ But taketh heede / now sires for goddes loue He took this cole / of which I spak aboue Line 1177 And in his hand / he baar it pryuely And whils the preest couched bisily

[6-text p 566] The coles / as I tolde yow er this [folio 203a] This Chanon seyde / freend ye doon amys Line 1181 This is nat couched / as it oghte be But soone / I shal amenden it quod he Now lat me medle ther-with / but a while ffor of yow / haue I pitee by seint Gile Line 1185 Ye been right hoot. I se wel how ye swete Haue heer a clooth / and wipe awey the wete And whils þat the preest wiped his face This Chanon / took his cole with harde grace Line 1189 And leyde it aboue / vp on the myddeward Of the Crosselet. and blew wel afterward Til that the coles / gonne faste brenne ¶ Now yeue vs drynke / quod the Chanon thenne Line 1193 As swithe al shal be wel I vndertake Sitte we doun / and lat vs myrie make And whan þat / this Chanones [[MS ns]] Bechen cole Was brent. al the lemaille out of the hole Line 1197 In-to the Crosselet fil anon adoun And so it moste nedes by resoun Syn it so euene / abouen it couched was But ther-of / wiste the preest no thyng alas Line 1201 He demed alle the coles yliche good ffor of that sleighte / he no thyng vnderstood And whan this Alkamystre saugh his tyme Ris vp quod he sire preest. and sit by me Line 1205 And for I woot wel / Ingot haue I noon Gooth walketh forth and brynge vs a Chalk/ stoon ffor I wol make oon / of the same shape That is an Ingot. if I may han hape Line 1209 And bryngeth eek with yow / a bolle or a panne fful of water / and ye shul se wel thanne How þat oure bisynesse / shal thryue & preeue And yet for ye shul han no mysbileeue Line 1213 Ne wrong conceite of me / in youre Absence I ne wol nat been out of youre presence

[6-text p 567] But go with yow / and come with yow ageyn The chambre dore / shortly for to seyn Line 1217 They opened and shette / and wente hir weye And forth with hem / they carieden the keye And coome agayn / with-outen any delay What sholde I tarien / al the longe day Line 1221 He took the Chalk / and shoope it in the wise Of an Ingot as I shal yow deuyse ¶ I seye / he took/ out of his owene sleeue A teyne of siluer / yuele moot he cheeue Line 1225 Which þat was nat / but an Ounce of weighte And taak heede now / of his cursed sleighte ¶ He shoope his Ingot in lengthe and eek in breede [folio 203a] Of this teyne / with-outen any drede Line 1229 So slyly / that the preest it nat espide And in his sleue / agayn he gan it hide And fro the fir/ he took vp his mateere And in thyngot putte it with myrie cheere Line 1233 And in the water vessel / he it caste Whan þat hym luste / and bad the preest as faste What þat heer is / put In thin hand and grope Thow fynde shalt ther siluer as I hope Line 1237 [. . . . . [[Not in Reg. 17 D xv, leaf210, bk. In Brit. Mus. Addit. 5140, leaf 303, back; Reg. 18 C ii, lf 171; Harl. 7333, leaf 92, col. 1, &c.]] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ] He putte his hand In / and took vp a teyne Of siluer fyn / and glad in euery veyne Line 1241 Was this preest. whan he saugh it was so Goddes blessyng and his moodres also And alle halwes / have ye sire Chanon Seyde this preest. and .I. hir malison Line 1245 But and ye vouche-sauf to techen me This noble craft and this subtiltee I wol be youre / in al that euere I may ¶ Quod the preest yet wol I make assay Line 1249 The seconde tyme / þat ye may taken heede And been expert of this / and in youre neede

[6-text p 568] Another day / assaye in myn absence This disciplyne / and this crafty science Line 1253 Lat take another Ounce / quod he tho Of quyk siluer / with-outen wordes mo And do ther with / as ye han doon er this With that oother / which þat now siluer is Line 1257 ¶ This preest hym bisieth / in al þat he kan To doon / as this Chanon / this cursed man Comanded hym / and faste he blew the fir ffor to come / to theffect of his desir Line 1261 And this Chanon / right in the meene while Al redy was / the preest eft to bigile And for a contenance / in his hand he bar An holwe stikke / taak kepe and be war Line 1265 In the ende of which / an Ounce and namoore Of siluer lemaille / put was as bifore In his cole / and stopped with wex weel ffor to kepe In / his lemaille euery deel Line 1269 And whil this preest was in his bisynesse This Chanon / with his stikke gan hym dresse To hym anon / and his poudre caste In As he dide er / the deuel / out of his skyn Line 1273 Hym terve / I pray to god / for his falshede ffor he was euere fals / in thoght and dede And with this stikke / aboue the Crosselet That was ordeyned / with that false Iet/ Line 1277 He stired the coles / til relente gan [folio 204a] The wex agayn the fir / as euery man? But it a fool be / woot wel it moot nede And al that in the stikke was out yede Line 1281 And in the crosselet hastily it fel ¶ Now good sires / what wol ye bet than wel Whan þat this preest. thus was bigiled ageyn Supposynge noght but treuthe sooth to seyn Line 1285 He was so glad / that I ne kan nat expresse In no manere / his myrthe and his gladnesse

[6-text p 569] And to the Chanon / he profred eftsoone Body and good / ye quod the Chanon soone Line 1289 Though poure I be / crafty thou shalt me fynde I warne thee / yet is ther moore bihynde ¶ Is ther any coper/ her Inne seyde he? ¶ Ye quod the preest sire I trowe wel ther be Line 1293 ¶ Elles go bye vs som / and that as swithe Now good sire / go forth thy wey and hy the ¶ He wente his wey / and with the coper cam And this Chanon / it in hise handes nam Line 1297 And of that coper / weyed out but an Ounce ¶ Al to symple / is my tonge to pronounce As Ministre of my wit the doublenesse Of this Chanon / roote of alle cursednesse Line 1301 He semed freendly / to hem / þat knewe hym noght But he was feendly / bothe in herte and thoght It weerieth me / to telle of his falsnesse And nathelees / yet wol I it expresse Line 1305 To thentente / that men may be war therby And for noon oother cause trewely ¶ He putte the Ounce of Coper in the Crosselet And on the fir / as swithe he hath it set/ Line 1309 And caste In poudre / and made the preest/ to blowe And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe As he dide er / and al nas but a Iape Right as hym liste / the preest he made his Ape Line 1313 And afterward / in the Ingot he it caste And in the panne / putte it at the laste Of the water / In he putte his owene hand And in his sleue / as ye biforn hand Line 1317 Herde me telle / hadde a siluer teyne He slyly tooke it out/ this cursed heyne Vnwityng this preest of his false craft And in the pannes botme / he hath it laft Line 1321 And in the water / rombled to and fro And wonder pryuely / took vp also

[6-text p 570] The coper teyne / noght knowynge this preest And hidde it and hym hente by the breest Line 1325 And to hym spak and thus seyde in his game [folio 204b] Stoupeth adoun / by god ye be to blame Helpeth me now / as a dide yow whil eer Putte In youre hand / and looketh what is theer Line 1329 ¶ This preest took vp / this siluer teyne anon And thanne seyde the Chanon / lat vs gon With thise thre teynes / whiche þat we han wroght To som Goldsmyth / and wite if they been ouht Line 1333 ffor by my feith / I nolde for myn hood But if that they were siluer/ fyn and good And that as swithe / preeued it shal bee ¶ Vn-to the Goldsmyth / with thise teynes three Line 1337 They wente / and putte thise teynes in Assay To fir and hamer / myghte no man seye nay But þat they weren / as hem oghte be ¶ This sotted preest. who was gladder than he Line 1341 Was neuere brid / gladder agayn the day Ne nyghtyngale / in the seson of May Nas neuere man / that luste bet to synge Ne lady / lustier in carolynge Line 1345 Or for to speke of love and wommanhede Ne knyght in Armes / to doon an hardy dede To stonden in grace / of his lady deere Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere Line 1349 And to the Chanon / thus he spak and seyde ffor loue of god / that for vs alle deyde And as I may / deserue it vn-to yow What shal this receite coste / telleth now Line 1353 ¶ By oure lady quod this Chanon / it is deere I warne yow wel / for saue I and a frere In Engelond / ther kan no man it make ¶ No fors quod he / now sire for goddes sake Line 1357 What shal I paye / telleth me I preye? ¶ Ywis quod he / it is ful deere I seye

[6-text p 571] Sire at o word / if that thee list it haue Ye shul paye fourty pound / so god me saue Line 1361 And nere the freendshipe / þat ye dide er this To me /. ye sholde paye moore y-wis ¶ This preest the somme of fourty pound anon Of nobles fette / and took hem euerichon Line 1365 To this Chanon / for this ilke receit Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceit ¶ Sire preest he seyde / I kepe han no loos Of my craft / for I wolde it kept were cloos Line 1369 And as ye loue me / kepeth it secree ffor and men knewen / al my soutiltee By god / they wolden han so greet enuye To me / by cause / of my Philosophye Line 1373 I sholde be deed / ther were noon oother weye [folio 205a] ¶ God it forbeede quod the preest/ what sey ye Yet hadde I leuere / spenden al the good Which þat I haue / or elles wexe I wood Line 1377 Than that ye sholden falle in swiche mescheef/ ¶ ffor youre good wyl / sire haue ye right good preef Quod the Chanon / and farwel grant mercy He wente his wey / and neuer the preest hym sy Line 1381 After that day / and whan þat this preest shoolde Maken assay / at swich tyme as he wolde Of this receit / farwel / it wolde nat be Lo thus byiaped / and bigiled was he Line 1385 Thus maketh he / his introduccion To brynge folk/ to [hir] destruccion

COnsidereth sires / how þat in ech estaat Bitwixe men and gold / ther is debaat Line 1389 So ferforth / that vnnethe is ther noon This multiplying blent so many oon That in good feith / I trowe þat it bee The cause grettest of swich scarsetee Line 1393 Philosophres / speken so mystily In this craft þat men kan nat come therby

[6-text p 572] ffor any wit þat men han now a dayes They mowe wel chiteren / as þat doon Ioyes [[so]] Line 1397 And in hir termes / sette hir lust and peyne But to hir purpos / shul they neuere atteyne A man may lightly lerne / if he haue aught To multiplie / and brynge his good to naught Line 1401 ¶ Lo / swich a lucre / is in this lusty game A mannes myrthe / it wol turne vn-to grame And empten also / grete and heuye purses And maken folk / for to purchacen curses Line 1405 Of hem / þat han hir good / ther-to ylent ffy for shame / they þat han been brent Allas / kan they nat flee / the fires heete Ye that it vse / I rede ye it leete Line 1409 Lest ye lese al / for bet than neuere is late Neuere to thryue / were to long a date Though ye prolle ay / ye shul it neuere fynde Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde Line 1413 That blondreth forth / and peril casteth noon He is as boold / to renne agayn a stoon As for to goon / bisides in the weye So faren ye / that multiplie I seye Line 1417 If þat youre eyen / kan nat seen aright Looke þat youre mynde / lakke noght his sight ffor though ye looken neuer so brode and stare Ye shul no thyng wynne on that chaffare Line 1421 But wasten / al that ye / may rape and renne [folio 205b] Withdraweth the fir / lest it to faste brenne Medleth namoore / with that Art I mene ffor if ye doon / youre thrift is goon ful clene Line 1425 And right as swithe / I wol yow tellen heere What þat the Philosophres seyn in this mateere

LO thus seith Arnold of the newe toun As his Rosarie / maketh mencioun Line 1429 He seith right thus / with-outen any lye Ther may no man / Mercurie mortifie

[6-text p 573] But it be / with his brother knowlechyng How þat he / which þat first seyde this thyng Line 1433 Of Philosophres / fader first was hermes He seith / how þat the dragon doutelees Ne dyeth nat. but if that he be slayn With his brother/ and that is for to sayn Line 1437 By the dragon / Mercurie and noon oother He vnderstood / and Brymstoon by his brother That out of sol / and Luna were ydrawe And therfore seyde he / taak heede to my sawe Line 1441 Lat no man bisye hym / this Art for to seche But if þat he / thentencion and speche Of Philosophres / vnderstonde kan And if he do / he is a lewed man Line 1445 ffor this science / and this konnyng quod he Is of the secree / of the secretes pardee ¶ Also / ther was a disciple of Plato That on a tyme / seyde his maister to Line 1449 As his book senior / wol bere witnesse And this was his demande in soothfastnesse Telle me the name / of the priuee stoon ¶ And Plato answerde / vn-to hym anoon Line 1453 Take the stoon / that Titanos men name ¶ Which is that quod he? Magnasia is the same Seyde Plato / ye sire / and is it thus? This is / ignotum per ignocius Line 1457 What is Magnasia / good sire I yow preye? ¶ It is a water / that is maad I seye Of elementes foure quod Plato ¶ Telle me the roote / good sire quod he tho Line 1461 Of that water / if it be youre wille ¶ Nay nay quod Plato / certein that I nylle The Philosophres / sworn were euerychoon That they / sholden discouere it vn-to noon Line 1465 Ne in no book it write / in no manere ffor vn-to Crist / it is so lief and deere

[6-text p 574] That he wol nat that it discouered bee But where it liketh / to his deitee Line 1469 Man for tenspire / and eek / for to deffende [folio 206a] Whom þat hym liketh / lo this is the ende ¶ Thanne conclude I thus / sith þat god of heuene Ne wil nat that the Philosophres neuene Line 1473 How þat a man / shal come vn-to this stoon I rede vs for the beste / lete it goon ffor who so / maketh god his Aduersarie As for to werken / any thyng in contrarie Line 1477 Of his wil / certes neuer shal he thryue Thogh that he multiplie terme of lyue And there a poynt for ended is my tale Line 1480 God sende euery trewe man / boote of his bale Amen .

¶ Heere is ended the Chanons yemannes tale .

[6-text p 576]

GROUP H. FRAGMENT IX.

§ 1. THE MANCIPLE'S HEAD-LINK.

ELLESMERE MS.

¶ Heere folweth the Prologe / of the Maunciples tale . [on leaf 206]

Woot ye nat / where ther stant/ a litel toun Which þat ycleped is Bobbe up and doun Vnder the Blee / in Caunterbury weye Ther gan oure hoost for to Iape and pleye Line 4 And seyde sires / what Dun is in the Myre Is ther no man / for preyere ne for hyre That wole awake / oure felawe al bihynde A theef / myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde Line 8 See how he nappeth / see how for Cokkes bones As he wol falle / fro his hors atones Is that a Cook of London / with meschance Do hym come forth / he knoweth his penaunce Line 12 ffor he shal telle a tale / by my fey Al-though / it be nat worth a Botel hey Awake thou Cook quod he / god yeue thee sorwe What eyleth thee / to slepe by the morwe? Line 16 Hastow had fleen al nyght or artow dronke? Or hastow / with som quene / al nyght yswonke? So that thow mayst nat holden vp thyn heed ¶ This Cook / þat was ful pale and no thyng reed Line 20 Seyde to oure hoost. so god my soule blesse As ther is falle on me swich heuynesse Noot I nat why? þat me were leuere slepe Than / the beste galon wyn in Chepe Line 24

[6-text p 577] Line 24 ¶ Wel quod the Maunciple / if it may doon ese Line 25 To thee sire Cook / and to no wight displese Which þat heere rideth / in this compaignye And that oure hoost/ wole of his curteisye Line 28 I wol now / excuse thee / of thy tale ffor in good feith / thy visage is ful pale Thyne eyen daswen eek as that me thynketh [folio 206b] And wel I woot / thy breeth / ful soure stynketh Line 32 That sheweth wel / thou art nat wel disposed Of me certeyn / thou shalt nat been yglosed See how he ganeth / lo this dronken wight As though he wolde / swolwe vs anonright Line 36 Hoold cloos thy mouth man / by thy fader kyn The deuel of helle / sette his foot ther-In Thy cursed breeth / infecte wole vs alle ffy stynkyng swyn / fy / foule moote thou falle Line 40 A taketh heede sires / of this lusty man Now sweete sire / wol ye Iusten atte ffan Therto me thynketh / ye been wel yshape I trowe / that ye dronken han wyn Ape Line 44 And that is / whan men pleyen with a straw And with this speche / the Cook wax wrooth & wraw And on the Manciple / he gan nodde faste ffor lakke of speche / and doun the hors hym caste Line 48 Where as he lay / til þat men vp hym took This was / a fair chyuachee / of a Cook Allas / he nadde / holde hym by his ladel And er þat he / agayn were in his Sadel Line 52 Ther was greet showuyng bothe to and fro To lifte hym vp / and muchel care and wo So vnweeldy / was this sory palled goost And to the Manciple / thanne spak oure hoost/ Line 56 ¶ By cause / drynke / hath dominacion Vpon this man / by my sauacion I trowe / lewedly / he wolde telle his tale ffor were it wyn / or oold / or moysty Ale Line 60

[6-text p 578] Line 60 That he hath dronke / he speketh in his nose Line 61 And fneseth faste / and eek he hath the pose ¶ He hath also / to do moore than ynough To kepen hym and his Capul out of slough Line 64 And if he falle / from his capul eftsoone Thanne shal we alle / haue ynogh to doone In liftyng vp / his heuy dronken cors Telle on thy tale / of hym make I no fors Line 68 ¶ But yet Manciple / in feith thou art/ to nyce Thus openly / repreue hym of his vice Another day / he wole perauenture Reclayme thee / and brynge thee to lure Line 72 I meene / he speke wole / of smale thynges As for to pynchen / at thy rekenynges That were nat honeste / if it cam to preef / ¶ No quod the Manciple / that were a greet mescheef Line 76 So myghte he lightly / brynge me in the snare Yet hadde I leuere / payen for the Mare Which that he rit on / than he sholde with me stryue [folio 207a] I wol nat wratthen hym / al so moot I thryue That that/ I speke / I seyde it in my bourde Line 81 And wite ye what I haue heer in a gourde A draghte of wyn / ye of a ripe grape And right anon / ye shul seen a good Iape Line 84 This Cook shal drynke ther of / if þat I may Vp peyne of deeth / he wol nat seye me nay ¶ And certeynly / to tellen as it was Of this vessel / the Cook drank faste / allas? Line 88 What neded hym / he drank ynough biforn And whan he hadde / pouped in this horn To the Manciple / he took the gourde agayn And of that drynke / the Cook was wonder fayn Line 92 And thanked hym / in swich wise as he koude ¶ Thanne gan oure hoost to laughen wonder loude And seyde / I se wel / it is necessarie Where þat we goon / þat drynke we with vs carie Line 96

[6-text p 579] Line 96 ffor that wol turne / rancour and disese Line 97 Tacord and loue / and many a wrong apese ¶ O Bacus / yblessed be thy name That so kanst turnen / ernest in-to game Line 100 Worshipe and thank be to thy deitee Of that mateere / ye gete namoore of me Telle on thy tale / Manciple I thee preye ¶ Wel sire quod he / now herkneth what I seye Line 104

[6-text p 580]

¶ Heere bigynneth the Manciples tale / of the Crowe .

WHan Phebus / dwelled heere / in this world adoun [[Painting of the Manciple.]] As olde bookes / maken mencioun He was / the mooste lusty Bachiler In al this world / and eek the beste Archer He slow Phiton / the serpent as he lay Slepynge / agayn the sonne vpon a day And many another / noble worthy dede He with his bowe wroghte / as men may rede Line 112 ¶ Pleyen he koude / on euery Mynstralcie And syngen / that it was a melodie To heeren / of his cleere voys the soun Certes / the kyng of Thebes Amphioun Line 116 That with his syngyng walled that Citee Koude neuere syngen / half so wel as hee Therto he was / the semelieste man That is or was / sith þat the world bigan Line 120 What nedeth it/ hise fetures to discryue ffor in this world / was noon so fair on lyue He was ther-with / fulfild of gentillesse [folio 207b] Of honour / and of parfit worthynesse Line 124 ¶ This Phebus / that was / flour of Bachilrie As wel / in fredom / as in Chiualrie ffor his desport. in signe eek of Victorie Of Phiton / so as telleth vs the storie Line 128 Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe ¶ Now hadde this Phebus / in his hous a crowe Which in a Cage / he fostred many a day And taughte it speke / as men teche a Iay Line 132

[6-text p 581] Line 132 Whit was this Crowe / as a snow whit swan Line 133 And countrefete the speche of euery man He koude / whan he sholde telle a tale Ther-with in al this world / no nyghtyngale Line 136 Ne koude / by an hondred thousand deel Syngen / so wonder myrily and weel ¶ Now hadde this Phebus / in his hous a wyf / Which þat he louede / moore than his lyf/ Line 140 And nyght and day / dide euere his diligence Hir for to plese / and doon hire reuerence Saue oonly / the sothe that I shal sayn Ialous he was / and wolde haue kept hire fayn Line 144 ffor hym were looth / byiaped for to be And so is euery wight in swich degree But all in ydel / for it auailleth noght A good wyf / that is clene / of werk and thoght Line 148 Sholde nat been kept in noon awayt certayn And trewely / the labour is in vayn To kepe a shrewe / for it wol nat bee This holde I / for a verray nycetee Line 152 To spille labour / for to kepe wyues Thus writen olde clerkes / in hir lyues

Bvt now to purpos / as I first bigan This worthy Phebus / dooth all that he kan Line 156 To plesen hire / wenynge that swich plesance And for his manhede / and his gouernance That no man / sholde han put hym from hire grace But god it woot. ther may no man embrace Line 160 As to destreyne a thyng. which þat nature Hath natureelly / set in a creature ¶ Taak any bryd / and put it in a Cage [¶ Exemplum. de volucre] And do al thyn entente / and thy corage Line 164 To fostre it tendrely / with mete and drynke Of alle deyntees / þat thou kanst bithynke And keepe it al so clenly / as thou may Al though his Cage / of gold be neuer so gay Line 168

[6-text p 582] Line 168 Yet hath this brid / by twenty thousand foold Line 169 Leuere in a fforest / that is rude and coold Goon ete wormes / and swich wrecchednesse [folio 208a] ffor euere this brid / wol doon his bisynesse Line 172 To escape out of his Cage / if he may His libertee / this brid desireth ay ¶ Lat take a Cat and fostre hym wel with Milk [¶ Exemplum. de Murelego] And tendre flessh / and make his couche of silk Line 176 And lat hym seen / a Mous go by the wal Anon he weyueth / Milk / and flessh and al And euery deyntee / that is in that hous Swich appetit he hath / to ete a Mous Line 180 Lo / heere hath lust his dominacion And Appetit fleemeth discrecion ¶ A she wolf / hath also / a vileyns kynde [¶ Exemplum. de lupo] The lewedeste wolf / þat she may fynde Line 184 Or leest of reputacion / that wol she take In tyme / whan hir lust to han a make ¶ Alle thise ensamples / speke I by thise men That been vntrewe / and no thyng by wommen Line 188 ffor men han euere / a likerous appetit On lower thyng to parfourne hire delit Than on hire wyues / be they neuer so faire Ne neuer so trewe / ne so debonaire Line 192 fflessh is so newefangel with meschaunce That we ne konne / in no thyng han plesaunce That sowneth in-to vertu / any while ¶ This Phebus / which þat thoghte vpon no gile Line 196 Deceyued was / for al his Iolitee ffor vnder hym / another hadde shee A man / of litel reputacion Nat worth to Phebus / in comparison Line 200 The moore harm is / it happeth ofte so Of which ther cometh / muchel harm and wo ¶ And so bifel / whan Phebus was absent His wyf anon / hath for hir lemman sent Line 204

[6-text p 583] Line 204 Hir lemman? certes this is a knauyssh speche Line 205 fforyeueth it me / and that I yow biseche ¶ The wise Plato seith / as ye may rede The word / moot nede accorde with the dede Line 208 If men shal telle proprely a thyng The word / moot cosyn be to the werkyng I am a boystous man / right thus seye I Ther nys no difference trewely Line 212 Bitwixe a wyf/ þat is of heigh degree If of hire body / dishoneste she bee And a poure wenche /? oother than this If it so be / they werke bothe amys Line 216 But þat the gentile / in hire estaat aboue She shal be cleped / his lady as in loue And for that oother / is a poure womman [folio 208b] She shal be cleped / his wenche / or his lemman Line 220 And god it woot myn owene deere brother Men leyn þat oon / as lowe as lith þat oother ¶ Right so / bitwixe a titlelees tirant/ And an Outlawe / or a theef errant Line 224 The same I seye / ther is no difference To Alisaundre / was toold this sentence That for the tirant is of gretter myght By force of meynee / for to sleen doun right Line 228 And brennen hous and hoom / and make al playn Lo / therfore / is he cleped a Capitayn And for the Outlawe / hath but smal meynee And may nat doon / so greet an harm as he Line 232 Ne brynge a contree / to so greet mescheef/ Men clepen hym / an Outlawe / or a theef / But for I am a man / noght textueel I wol noght telle / of textes neuer a deel Line 236 I wol go / to my tale / as I bigan Whan Phebus wyf / had sent for hir lemman Anon they wroghten / al hire lust volage ¶ The white crowe / they heeng ay in the Cage Line 240

[6-text p 584] Line 240 Biheeld hire werk and seyde neuer a word Line 241 And whan þat hoom was come Phebus the lord This Crowe sang / Cokkow / Cokkow / Cokkow / ¶ What bryd quod Phebus / what song syngestow? Line 244 Ne were thow wont/ so myrily to synge That to myn herte / it was a reioysynge To heere thy voys / allas what song is this? ¶ By god quod he / I synge nat amys Line 248 Phebus quod he / for al thy worthynesse ffor al thy beautee / and thy gentilesse ffor al thy song/ and thy Mynstralcye ffor al thy waityng blered is thyn eye Line 252 With oon / of litel reputacion Noght worth to thee / in comparison The montance of a gnat/ so moote I thryue ffor on thy bed / thy wyf / I saugh hym swy & cetera [¶ Nota malum quid.] ¶ What wol ye moore / the Crowe anon hym tolde By sadde tokenes / and by wordes bolde How þat his wyf had doon hire lecherye Hym to greet/ shame / and to greet vileynye Line 260 And tolde hym ofte / he saugh it with hise eyen ¶ This Phebus / gan aweyward for to wryen And thoughte / his sorweful herte brast atwo His bowe he bente / and sette ther-Inne a flo Line 264 And in his Ire / his wyf / thanne hath he slayn This is theffect. ther is namoore to sayn ffor sorwe of which / he brak his Mynstralcie [folio 209a] Bothe harpe / and lute / and Gyterne / and sautrie Line 268 And eek he brak hise Arwes / and his bowe And after that/ thus spak he to the crowe ¶ Traitour quod he / with tonge of Scorpion Thou hast me broght/ to my confusion Line 272 Allas that I was wroght / why nere I deed O deere wyf o gemme of lustiheed That were to me / so sad / and eek so trewe Now listow deed / with face pale of hewe Line 276

[6-text p 585] Line 276 fful giltlees / that dorste I swere ywys Line 277 O rakel hand / to doon so foule amys O trouble wit o Ire recchelees That vnauysed / smyteth giltles Line 280 O wantrust . ful of fals suspecion Where was thy wit and thy discrecion O euery man / be war of rakelnesse Ne trowe no thyng with-outen strong witnesse Line 284 Smyt nat to soone / er þat ye witen why And beeth auysed / wel and sobrely Er ye doon / any execucion Vp on youre Ire / for suspecion Line 288 Allas / a thousand folk hath rakel Ire ffully fordoon / and broght hem in the Mire Allas / for sorwe .I wol my seluen slee ¶ And to the Crowe / o false theef seyde he Line 292 I wol thee quite anon / thy false tale Thou songe whilom / lyk a nyghtyngale Now shaltow false theef thy song forgon And eek thy white fetheres euerichon Line 296 Ne neuere in al thy lif/ ne shaltou speke Thus shal men / on a traytour been awreke Thou / and thyn of-spryng/ euere shul be blake Ne neuere / sweete voys shul ye make Line 300 But euere crie / agayn tempest and rayn In tokenynge / þat thurgh thee / my wyf is slayn And to the Crowe / he stirte / and that anon And pulled / hise white fetheres euerychon Line 304 And made hym blak and refte hym al his song And eek his speche / and out at dore hym slong Vn-to the deuel / which I hym bitake And for this caas / been alle Crowes blake Line 308

LOrdynges / by this ensample I yow preye Beth war / and taketh kepe what I seye Ne telleth neuere / no man in youre lyf How þat another man / hath dight his wyf / Line 312

[6-text p 586] Line 312 He wol yow haten / mortally certeyn Line 313 Daun Salomon / as wise clerkes seyn Techeth a man / to kepen his tonge weel [folio 209b] But as I seyde / I am noght textueel Line 316 But nathelees / thus taughte me my dame My sone / thenk/ on the Crowe on goddes name My sone / keepe wel thy tonge / and keepe thy freend A wikked tonge / is worse than a feend Line 320 My sone / from a feend / men may hem blesse My sone / god of his endelees goodnesse Walled a tonge / with teeth and lippes eke ffor man sholde hym auyse / what he speeke Line 324 My sone / ful ofte / for to muche speche Hath many a man been spilt as clerkes teche But for litel speche / auysely Is no men shent . to speke generally Line 328 My sone / thy tonge sholdestow restreyne At alle tymes / but whan thou doost thy peyne To speke of god / in honour and preyere The firste vertu sone / if thou wolt leere Line 332 Is to restreyne / and kepe wel thy tonge Thus lerne children / whan þat they been yonge My sone / of muchel spekyng/ yuele auysed Ther lasse spekyng/ hadde ynough suffised Line 336 Comth muchel harm / thus was me toold and taught In muchel speche / synne wanteth naught Wostow / wher-of a rakel tonge serueth Right as a swerd / forkutteth and forkerueth Line 340 An Arm atwo / my deere sone right so A tonge / kutteth freendshipe al atwo A Iangler / is to god abhomynable Reed Salomon / so wys and honurable Line 344 Reed Dauid in hise psalmes / reed Senekke My sone spek nat but with thyn heed thou bekke Dissimule as thou were deef / if that thou heere A Iangler /. speke of perilous mateere Line 348

[6-text p 587] Line 348 The flemyng seith / and lerne it if thee leste Line 349 That litel Ianglyng causeth muchel rest My sone / if thou no wikked word hast seyd Thee thar nat drede / for to be biwreyd Line 352 But he þat hath mysseyd / I dar wel sayn He may by no wey / clepe his word agayn Thyng that is seyd is seyd / and forth it gooth Though hym repente / or be hym leef / or looth Line 356 He is his thral / to whom þat he hath sayd A tale / of which he is now yuele apayd My sone be war / and be noon Auctour newe Of tidynges / wheither they been false or trewe Line 360 Wher so thou come / amonges hye or lowe Kepe wel thy tonge / and thenk vp-on the Crowe Line 362

¶ Heere is ended / the Manciples tale of the Crowe .

[6-text p 589]

GROUP I. FRAGMENT X.

§ 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK.

[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]

¶ Heere folweth the Prologe / of the Persons tale . ELLESMERE MS. [folio 210a]

BY that the Manciple / hadde his tale al ended The sonne / fro the south lyne was descended So lowe / that he ne nas nat to my sighte Degrees / nyne and twenty / as in highte Line 4 Ten of the Clokke / it was tho / as I gesse ffor elleuene foot or litel moore / or lesse My shadwe was / at thilke tyme as there Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted were Line 8 In sixe feet equal / of proporcion Ther with / the Moones exaltacion I meene Libra / alwey gan ascende As we / were entryng at a Thropes ende Line 12 ¶ ffor which our hoost as he was wont to gye As in this caas / oure Ioly compaignye Seyde in this wise / lordynges euerichoon Now lakketh vs no tales / mo than oon Line 16 ffulfilled is my sentence / and my decree I trowe / that we han herd of ech degree Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce I pray to god / so yeue hym right good chaunce Line 20 That telleth this tale / to vs lustily ¶ Sire preest quod he / artow a vicary Or arte a person / sey sooth by thy fey Be what thou be / ne breke thou nat oure pley Line 24

[6-text p 590] Line 24 ffor euery man saue thou / hath toold his tale Line 25 Vnbokele / and shewe vs what is in thy Male ffor trewely / me thynketh by thy cheere Thou sholdest knytte vp wel a greet mateere Line 28 Telle vs a fable anon / for Cokkes bones ¶ This Person answerde / al atones Thou getest fable noon / ytoold for me ffor Paul / that writeth vn-to Thymothee [¶ Paulus ad Thi|motheum.] Repreueth hem / that weyueth soothfastnesse And tellen fables / and swich wrecchednesse Why sholde I sowen / draf out of my fest Whan I may sowen whete / if þat me lest Line 36 ffor which I seye / if that yow list to heere Moralitee / and vertuous mateere And thanne / þat ye wol yeue me Audience I wol fayn / at Cristes reuerence Line 40 Do yow plesaunce / leefful as I kan But trusteth wel / I am a Southren man I kan nat geeste / Rum / Ram / Ruf / by lettre Ne god woot rym holde I but litel bettre Line 44 And therfore / if yow list I wol nat glose I wol yow telle / a myrie tale in prose To knytte vp al this feeste / and make an ende And Ihesu for his grace / wit me sende Line 48 To shewe yow the wey / in this viage [folio 210b] Of thilke parfit/ glorious pilgrymage That highte / Ierusalem celestial And if ye vouche sauf / anon I shal Line 52 Bigynne vp-on my tale / for which I preye Telle youre auys / I kan no bettre seye ¶ But nathelees / this meditacion I putte it ay / vnder correccion Line 56 Of Clerkes / for I am nat textueel I take but sentence / trusteth weel Therfore / I make a protestacion That I wol stonde to correccion Line 60

[6-text p 591] Line 60 ¶ Vp on this word / we han assented soone Line 61 ffor as vs semed / it was for to doone To enden / in som vertuous sentence And for to yeue hym space and audience Line 64 And bede oure hoost he sholde to hym seye That alle we / to telle his tale hym preye ¶ Oure hoost hadde the wordes for vs alle Sire preest quod he / now faire yow bifalle Line 68 Sey what yow list and we wol gladly heere And with that word / he seyde in this manere Telleth quod he / youre meditacioun But hasteth yow / the sonne wole adoun Line 72 Beth fructuous / and that in litel space And to do wel / god sende yow his grace Line 74

¶ Explicit/ prohemium .

[6-text p 593]

¶ Heere bigynneth / the Persouns tale .

[Ellesmere folio 210b]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake.]

¶ Ier. 6^o. State super vias & videte & interrogate de viis antiquis / que sit via bona / & ambulate in ea & in|uenietis refrigerium animabus vestris &c . .

[75]

Oure sweete lord god of heuene / that no man wole perisse / but wole that we comen alle to the knoweleche of hym / and the blissful lif / that is perdurable /. [76] amonesteth vs by the prophete Ieremie / and seith in this wyse / [77] ¶ Stondeth vpon the weyes / and seeth / and axeth of olde pathes / that is to seyn / of olde sentences / which is the goode wey / [78] and walketh in that wey / and ye shal fynde refresshynge for youre soules &c [79] ¶ Manye been the weyes espirituels that leden folk / to oure Lord Ihesu Crist. and to the regne of glorie / [80] Of whiche weyes / ther is a ful noble wey / and a couenable / which may nat fayle [folio 211a] to no man / ne to womman / that thurgh synne hath mysgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem celestial / [81] and this wey / is cleped Penitence / of which man sholde gladly herknen and [¶ Nota de penitence] enquere with al his herte / [82] to wyten what is Peni|tence / and whennes it is cleped Penitence / and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkynges of Penitence / [83] and how manye speces / ther been of Penitence / and whiche thynges apertenen and bihouen to Penitence / and whiche thynges / destourben Penitence /

[6-text p 594]

[84] ¶ Seint Ambrose seith / that Penitence / is the [¶ What Penitence is] pleynynge of man / for gilt þat he hath doon / and na|moore to do any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne / [85] ¶ And som doctour seith / Penitence is the wayment|ynge of man / that sorweth for his synne / and pyneth hym self for he hath mysdoon [86] ¶ Penitence / with certeyne circumstances / is verray repentance of a man that halt hym self in sorwe / and oother peyne for hise giltes / [87] And for he shal be verray penitent. he shal first biwaylen the synnes that he hath doon and stidefastly purposen in his herte / to haue shrift of mouthe / and to doon satisfaccion [88] and neuere to doon thyng. for which hym oghte moore biwayle / or to compleyne / and con|tinue in goode werkes / or elles his repentance may nat auaille /. [89] ffor as seith seint Ysidre ¶ he is a Iaper and a gabber / and no verray repentant. that eftsoone dooth thyng. for which hym oghte repente /. [90] Wepynge / [¶ Nota] and nat for to stynt to synne / may nat auaylle [91] ¶ But nathelees / men shal hope /. that euery tyme þat man falleth / be it neuer so ofte / þat he may arise thurgh Peni|tence / if he haue grace /. but certeinly it is greet doute ‖ [92] ffor as seith Seint Gregorie / vnnethe ariseth he out [¶ Nota secundum sanctum Gregorium] of synne / that is charged with the charge of yuel vsage / [93] And therfore / repentant folk / þat stynte for to synne / and forlete synne / er þat synne forlete hem / hooly chirche / holdeth hem siker of hire sauacion /. [94] And he that synneth / and verraily repenteth hym in his laste /. hooly chirche yet hopeth his sauacion / by the grete mercy / of oure lord Ihesu Crist for his repentance but [tene certum] taak the siker wey /

[95] ¶ And now / sith I haue declared yow / what thyng is penitence / now shul ye vnderstonde / that ther been .iij. accions of Penitence / [96] ¶ The firste accion of [¶ The firste accioun of penitence] Penitence is / that a man be baptized after that he hath synned ‖. [97] Seint Augustyn seith ‖ but he be penytent [¶ Nota secundum sanctum Augustinum] for his olde synful lyf. he may nat bigynne / the newe

[6-text p 595] clene lif /. [98] for certes / if he be baptized / withouten penitence of his olde gilt he receyueth the mark of baptesme / but nat the grace / ne the remission of his synnes / til he haue repentance verray / [99] ¶ Another [¶ The .ij^de. accioun of penitence] defaute is this that men doon deedly synne / after þat they han receyued baptesme [100] ¶ The thridde defaute [¶ The .iij^de. accioun of penitence] is / that men fallen in venial synnes after hir baptesme / fro day to day [101] ¶ Ther of seith Seint Augustyn [¶ Augustinus] ¶ That penitence / of goode and humble folk /. is the penitence of euery day / [species]

[102] The speces of Penitence / been .iij. ¶ That oon [¶ Of .iij. speces of penaunce] of hem / is solempne ¶ Another is commune ¶ and the thridde is priuee [103] ¶ Thilke penance that is so|lempne [¶ Of penaunce solempne] is in two maneres /. As to be put out of hooly chirche in lente for slaughtre of children / and swich maner thyng [104] ¶ Another thyng is / Whan a man hath synned openly / of which synne / the fame is openly spoken in the contree / and thanne hooly chirche by Iugge|ment destreyneth hym / for to do open penaunce / [105] ¶ Commune penaunce is / that preestes enioynen men in [¶ Of commune penaunce] certeyn caas / as for to goon perauenture [folio 211b] / naked in pilgrimages / or bare foot [106] ¶ Pryuee penaunce is [¶ Of priuee penaunce] thilke / that men doon alday for priuee synnes / of whiche they shryue hem priuely and receyue priuee penance

[107] Now shaltow vnderstande / what is bihouely [¶ What is bihouely to perfit penitence] and necessarie / to verray perfit penitence /. And this stant on .iij. thynges ‖. [108] Contricioun of herte ‖. Con|fession of Mouth ¶ and Satisfaccion /. [109] ffor which / seith Seint Iohn Crisostom ¶ Penitence destreyneth a man [¶ Iohannes Crisostomus] to accepte benygnely euery peyne that hym is enioyned / with Contricion of herte and shrift of mouth / with satis|faccion / and in werkynge of alle manere humylitee / [110] and this is fruytful penitence agayn .iij. thynges in whiche [¶ Of iii thynges in whiche we wratthe oure lord Ihesu crist /] we wratthe oure lord Ihesu Crist ‖. [111] This is to seyn / by delit in thynkynge ¶ by reccheleesnesse in spekynge ‖. and by wikked synful werkynge ‖ [112] And agayns thise

[6-text p 596] wikkede giltes is Penitence that may be likned vn-to a tree / [¶ How penaunce may be likned to a tree.]

[113] The roote of this tree / is Contricion / that hideth hym in the herte / of hym þat is verray repentant. right as the roote of a tree hydeth hym in the erthe [114] ¶ Of the roote of Contricion spryngeth a stalke that bereth braunches and leues of Confession / and fruyt of satisfaccion [115] ¶ ffor which Crist seith in his gospel /. dooth digne fruyt of [¶ dominus in Euaungelio.] Penitence /. for by this fruyt may men knowe this tree / and nat by the roote / that is hyd / in the herte of man / ne by the braunches / ne by the leues of Confession [116] And therfore / oure Lord Ihesu Crist / seith thus /. by the fruyt of hem / ye shul knowen hem [117] ¶ Of this [¶ Of a seed þat spryngeþ of Contricioun] roote eek spryngeth a seed a grace / the which seed / is mooder of sikernesse / and this seed / is egre and hoot [118] the grace of this seed / spryngeth of god thurgh re|membrance of the day of doome / and on the peynes of helle [119] ¶ Of this matere seith Salomon That in the [¶ Salomoun] drede of god / man forleteth his synne [120] ¶ The heete [¶ Of the heete of this seede] of this seed / is the loue of god / and the desiryng of the ioye perdurable [121] This heete / draweth the herte of a man to god / and dooth hym haten his synne / [122] for soothly / ther is no thyng that sauoureth so wel to a child / as the Milk of his Norice / ne no thyng moore abhom|ynable than thilke Milk whan it is medled with oother mete [123] Right so the synful man that loueth [¶ Nota exemplum.] his synne / hym semeth / that it is to him moost sweete of any thyng. [124] but fro that tyme / that he loueth sadly oure lord Ihesu crist. and desireth the lif perdurable / ther nys to him no thyng moore abhomynable / [125] for soothly / the lawe of god / is the loue of god / for which / Dauid the prophete seith ¶ I. haue loued thy lawe & hated [¶ dauid propheta] wikkednesse and hate / he that loued god / kepeth his lawe and his word [126] ¶ This tree saugh the prophete Daniel / in the Auysion of the kyng / Nabugodonosor / whan he con|seiled hym to do penitence [127] ¶ Penaunce / is the tree of lyf / to hem that it receyuen / and he þat holdeth hym

[6-text p 597] in verray penitence / is blessed / after the sentence of Salomon

[128] ¶ In this penitence or contricion / man shal vn|derstonde [¶ Of .iiij. thynges / longynge to contricioun] .iiij. thynges / that is to seyn / what is Contricion /. and whiche been the causes þat moeuen a man to con|tricion /. and how he sholde be contrit. / & what con|tricion / auailleth to the Soule [129] ¶ Thanne is it thus / [¶ What contricioun is.] þat contricion / is the verray sorwe / that a man receyueth in his herte for his synnes / with sad purpos / to shryue hym / and to do penaunce / and neueremoore to do synne / [130] and this sorwe / shal been in this manere as seith seint Bernard ¶ It shal been heuy and greuous / and [folio 212a] ful [¶ Sanctus Bernardus] sharpe and poynant in herte [131] ¶ ffirst / for man hath agilt his lord / & his Creatour / and moore sharpe and poynant. for he hath agilt hys fader celestial /. [132] and yet moore sharpe and poynant. for he hath wrathed and agilt hym that boghte hym /. which with his precious blood haþ deliuered vs / fro the bondes of synne / and fro the crueltee of the deuel and fro the peynes of helle

[133] ¶ The causes that oghte moeue a man to Con|tricion [¶ Of .vj. causes þat oghten moeue a man to contricioun] / been .vj. / ¶ ffirst a man shal remembre hym of hise synnes / [134] but looke he / that thilke remem|brance. [¶ The firste cause of contricioun] ne be to hym no delit by no wey / but greet shame and sorwe for his gilt ¶ ffor Iob seith / synful men / doon [¶ Iob] werkes / worthy of Confession [135] And therfore seith Ezechie /. I. wol remembre me / alle the yeres of my lyf [¶ Ezechias] in bitternesse of myn herte [136] And god seith in the [¶ dominus in Apocalipse] Apocalipse ¶ Remembreth yow / fro whennes þat ye been falle /. for biforn that tyme þat ye synned / ye were the children of god /. and lymes of the regne of god / [137] but for youre synne / ye been woxen thral and foul / and membres of the feend / hate of Aungels / sclaundre of hooly chirche / and foode of the false serpent. perpetueel matere of the fir of helle /. [138] And yet moore foul and abhom|ynable / for ye trespassen so ofte tyme / as dooth the hound / þat retourneth to eten his spewyng /. [139] and yet

[6-text p 598] be ye fouler / for youre longe continuyng in synne & youre synful vsage / for which / ye be roten in youre synne / as a beest in his dong [140] ¶ Swiche manere of [¶ dominus per Ezechielem pro|phetam] thoghtes / maken a man / to haue shame of his synne / and no delit. as god seith / by the prophete Ezechiel ‖. [141] ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes / and they shuln displese yow /. soothly synnes been the weyes / that leden folk to helle

¶ [142] The seconde cause that oghte make a man / [¶ The .ij.^de cause of contricioun] to haue desdeyn of synne is this /. That as seith seint Peter /. who so that dooth synne / is thral of synne /. And [¶ sanctus Petrus] synne / put a man in greet thraldom ‖. [143] And ther|fore seith the prophete Ezechiel /. I. wente sorweful / in [¶ Ezechiel propheta] desdayn of my self/. And certes / wel oghte a man / haue desdayn of synne / and withdrawe hym / from that thraldom and vileynye /. [144] and lo / what seith Seneca [¶ Seneca] in this matere ‖. He seith thus /. though I wiste / that god / neither god ne man / ne sholde neuere knowe it/. yet wolde I haue desdayn / for to do synne [145] ¶ And the same Seneca also seith / .I. am born to gretter thynges / [¶ Idem Seneca] than to be thral to my body / or than for to maken / of my body a thral / [146] ne a fouler thral / may no man ne womman maken of his body / than for to yeuen his body to synne /. [147] al were it the fouleste cherl / or the fouleste womman that lyueth / and leest of value / yet is he thanne moore foule / & moore in seruitute /. [148] euere / fro the hyer degree that man falleth /. the moore is he thral / and moore / to god and to the world abhomyn|able / [149] ¶ O goode god / wel oghte man haue desdayn of synne / sith that thurgh synne / ther he was free / now is he maked bonde [150] ¶ And therfore / seyth Seint [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] Augustyn /. If thou hast desdayn of thy seruant. if he agilte / or synne /. haue thou thanne desdayn / that thou thy self / sholdest do synne /. [151] take reward of thy value / that thou ne be / to foul to thy self [152] ¶ Allas wel oghten they thanne haue desdayn to been

[6-text p 599] seruauntz & thralles to synne / and soore been ashamed of hem self. [153] that god / of his endelees goodnesse / hath set hem in heigh estaat /. or yeuen hem wit / strengthe of body / heele / beautee / prosperitee / [154] and boghte hem fro [folio 212b] the deeth / with his herte blood / that they so vnkyndely / agayns his gentilesse / quiten hym so vileynsly / to slaughtre of hir owene soules / [155] ¶ O goode god / ye wommen / that been of so greet beautee / [¶ Notate vos mulieres & cauete] remembreth yow / of the prouerbe of Salomon ¶ he seith / [¶ Salomon] [156] likneth a fair womman / that is a fool of hire body / lyk to a ryng of gold / that were in the groyn of a soughe [157] ffor right as a soughe / wroteth in euerich ordure / so wroteth hire beautee in the stynkynge ordure of synne

[158] ¶ The thridde cause / that oghte moeue a man [¶ The .iij.^de cause of contricioun] to Contricion / is drede of the day of doome / and of the horrible peynes of helle [159] ¶ ffor as seint Ierome seith ‖. [¶ Sanctus Ieronimus] At euery tyme / þat me remembreth of the day of doome .I. quake /. [160] for whan I ete or drynke / or what so that I do / euere semeth me / þat the trompe sowneth in myn ere [161] Riseth vp ye that been dede / and cometh to the Iuggement [162] ¶ O goode god / muchel oghte a man / to drede swich a Iuggement/. ther as we shullen been alle / as seint Poul seith / biforn the seete of oure lord Ihesu [¶ Sanctus Paulus] Crist/. [163] wher as he shal make / a general con|gregacion / wher as no man may been absent/. [164] for certes / there auailleth noon Essoyne / ne excusacion [165] And nat oonly / that oure defautes shullen be Iugged /. but eek that alle oure werkes / shullen openly be knowe [166] ¶ And as seith Seint Bernard. ther ne [¶ Sanctus Bernardus] shal / no pledynge auaille ne sleighte /. we shullen yeuen rekenynge of euerich ydel word / [167] ther shul we han a Iuge / that may nat been deceyued ne corrupt. And why? for certes alle oure thoghtes / been discouered as to hym /. ne for preyere / ne for meede / he shal nat been corrupt [168] ¶ And therfore seith Salomon ¶ The wratthe of god / [¶ Salomon] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[6-text p 600] ne wol nat spare no wight /. for preyere ne for yifte /. and therfore at the day of doom / ther nys noon hope to escape [169] ¶ Wherfore as seith Seint Anselm. / fful greet [¶ Sanctus Anselmus] angwyssh / shul the synful folk haue at that tyme /. [170] ther shal / the stierne and wrothe Iuge sitte aboue /. and vnder hym / the horrible put of helle open to de|stroyen hym that noot biknowen hise synnes / whiche synnes / openly been shewed biforn god and biforn euery creature [171] ¶ And in the left syde / mo deueles / than herte may bithynke /. for to harye and drawe / the synful soules to the peyne of helle [172] ¶ And with Inne the hertes of folk shal be the bitynge Conscience / and with oute forth / shal be the world al brennynge /. [173] Whider shal thanne the wrecched synful man flee / to hiden hym ¶ certes he may nat hyden hym / he moste come forth and shewen hym [174] ¶ ffor certes / as seith seint Ierome /. the Erthe shal casten hym / out of hym / [¶ Sanctus Ieronimus] and the See also / and the Eyr also / that shal be ful / of thonder clappes and lightnynges / [175] ¶ Now soothly / who so wel remembreth hym of thise thynges / I gesse / þat his synne / shal nat turne hym in delit but to greet sorwe / for drede of the peyne of helle /. [176] And ther|fore seith Iob to god ¶ suffre lord / that .I. may a while [¶ Iob ad deum] biwaille / and wepe / er I go with oute returnyng. to the derke lond / couered with the derknesse of deeth / [177] to the lond of mysese and of derknesse / where as is the shadwe of deeth /. where as ther is / noon ordre / or ordinance / but grisly drede that euere shal laste [178] ¶ Loo / heere may ye seen / þat Iob preyde respit a while / to biwepe and waille his trespas / for soothly / a day of respit. is bettre than al the tresor of the world [179] ¶ And for as muche as a man / may acquiten hym self / biforn god by Penitence in [folio 213a] this world / and nat by tresor / therfore sholde he preye to god / to yeue hym respit a while / to biwepe / and biwaillen his trespas /. [180] for certes / al the sorwe / that a man myghte make / fro the bigynnyng

[6-text p 601] of the world / nys but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle / [181] ¶ The cause / why that Iob clepeth helle / [¶ Why Iob clepeth helle the lond of derknesse] the lond of derknesse /. [182] Vnder-stondeth / that he clepeth it londe of Erthe / for it is stable / and neuere shal faille dirk. for he that is in helle / hath defaute of light material [183] for certes / the derke light that shal come out of the fyr/ that euere shal brenne / shal turne hym al to peyne þat is in helle / for it sheweth him to the horrible deueles / that hym tormenten / [184] couered with the derknesse of deeth /. that is to seyn / that he þat is in helle / shal haue defaute of the sighte of god /. for certes / the sighte of god / is the lyf perdurable [185] ¶ The derk|nesse [¶ Of the derk|nesse of deeth] of deeth / been the synnes / that the wrecched man hath / doon / whiche that destourben hym / to see the face of god / right as dooþ a derk clowde / bitwixe vs and the sonne [186] ¶ Lond of Misese / by cause that ther been [¶ Of the lond of Misese] .iij. maneres of defautes / agayn .iij. thynges / that folk / of this world / han in this present lyf ‖. that is to seyn honours / delices / and richesses [187] ¶ Agayns honour / [¶ Of honours / delices / & richesses] haue they in helle / shame and confusion [188] ffor wel ye woot that men clepen honour / the reuerence / that man doþ to man /. but in helle / is noon honour ne reuerence /. for certes / namoore reuerence shal be doon there to a kyng than to a knaue [189] ¶ ffor which god seith / by the prophete Ieremye ‖ Thilke folk / þat me despisen / shul [¶ dominus per Ieremiam prophetam] been in despit / [190] ¶ Honour/ is eek cleped greet lord|shipe / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] and heigh|nesse / but in helle / shul they been al fortroden of deueles /. [191] And god seith /. the horrible deueles shulle goon and [¶ dominus dicit /] comen / vp on the heuedes of the dampned folk /. And this is for as muche / as the hyer that they were in this present lyf /. the moore shulle they been abated and defouled in helle / [192] ¶ Agayns the richesses of this world / shul [¶ Agayns the richesses of this world] they han mysese of pouerte / and this pouerte / shal been in foure thynges /. [193] In defaute of tresor / of which that

[6-text p 602] Dauid seith ¶ The riche folk / that embraceden and oneden [¶ Of defaute of tresor vnde dauid [?]] al hire herte to tresor of this world / shul slepe / in the slepynge of deeth /. and no thyng ne shal they fynden in hir handes / of al hir tresor [194] ¶ And moore ouer / the myseyse of helle / shal been / in defaute of mete and [¶ Of defaute of mete & drynke] drinke /. [195] for god seith thus by Moyses /. They shul [¶ dominus per Moysem] been wasted with hunger and the briddes of helle / shul deuouren hem with the bitter deeth / and the galle of the dragon / shal been hire drynke / and the venym of the dragon / hire morsels [196] ¶ And forther ouer / hire [¶ Of defaute of clothyng /] myseyse / shal been in defaute of clothyng. for they shulle be naked in body / as of clothyng. saue the fyr / in which they brenne / and othere filthes / [197] and naked shul they been of soule / as of alle manere vertues / which þat is the clothyng of the soule /. Where been thanne the gaye Robes / and the smale shetes / and the softe shertes [198] ¶ Loo / what seith god of hem by the prophete ysaye. [¶ dominus per Ysayam prophetam] That vnder hem / shul been strawed Motthes / and hire couertures / shulle been of wormes of helle [199] ¶ And forther ouer / hir myseyse shal been / in defaute of [¶ Of defaute of freendes] freendes / for he nys nat poure that hath goode freendes / but there is no frend [200] for neither god ne no creature / shal been freend to hem / and euerich of hem / shal haten oother with deedly hate / [201] The sones and [folio 213b] the doghtren / shullen rebellen / agayns fader and mooder / and kynrede agayns kynrede / and chiden and despisen / euerich of hem oother bothe day and nyght. as god seith / [¶ dominus per Michaiam pro|phetam] by the prophete Michias [202] ¶ And the louynge children / that whilom loueden so flesshly euerich oother / wolden euerich of hem / eten oother / if they myghte /. [203] for how sholden they loue togidre in the peyne of helle / whan they hated ech of hem oother in the prosperitee of this lyf [204] ¶ ffor truste wel / hir flesshly loue / was deedly hate / as seith the prophete Dauid ¶ who so that loueth wikked|nesse [¶ Dauid propheta ‖ Qui diligit iniquitatem / odit animam suam] / he hateth his soule /. [205] and who so hateth his owene soule / certes / he may loue noon oother wight

[6-text p 603] in no manere / [206] and therfore / [in helle] is no solas / ne no freendshipe / but euere / the moore flesshly kynredes / that been in helle /. the moore cursynges / the more chid|ynges / and the moore deedly hate / ther is among hem [207] ¶ And forther ouer / they shul haue defaute of alle [¶ How the dampned shul haue defaute of alle manere delices] manere delices / for certes delices / been after the appetites of the .v. wittes /. as sighte /. herynge. smellynge /. sauor|ynge./ and touchynge /. [208] but in helle / hir sighte shal be ful of derknesse and of smoke. and therfore / ful of teeres /. and hir herynge / ful of waymentynge / and of gryntynge of teeth / as seith Ihesu crist. [209] hir nose|thirles shullen be ful of stynkynge stynk/. And as seith Ysaye the prophete /. hir savoryng shal be ful of bitter [¶ Ysayas propheta] galle /. [210] and touchynge of al hir body / ycouered with fir that neuere shal quenche / and with wormes that neuere shul dyen / as god seith / by the Mouth of [¶ dominus per Ysayam] Ysaye /. [211] And for as muche as they shul nat wene / that they may dyen for peyne / and by hir deeþ flee fro peyne / that may they vnderstonden by the word of Iob /. [¶ Iob] that seith / ther as is the shadwe of deeth [212] ¶ Certes a shadwe / hath the liknesse of the thyng. of which it is shadwe /. but shadwe is nat the same thyng of which it is shadwe [213] ¶ Right so fareth the peyne of helle / it is [¶ Exemplum] lyk deeth for the horrible angwissh /. and why? for it peyneth hem euere / as though they sholde dye anon / but certes / they shal nat dye [214] ¶ ffor / as seith Seint [¶ sanctus Gregorius] Gregorie ¶ To wrecche caytyues / shal be deeth with-oute deeth / and ende with-outen ende / and defaute with-oute failynge / [215] for hir deeth / shal alwey lyuen / and hir ende / shal eueremo bigynne / and hir defaute shal nat faille [216] ¶ And therfore / seith Seint Iohn the [¶ Sanctus Iohannes Euaungelista] Euaungelist /. They shullen folwe deeth / and they shul nat fynde hym /. and they shul desiren to dye / and deeth shal flee fro hem [217] ¶ And eek Iob seith / that in helle [¶ Iob] is noon ordre of rule /. [218] and al be it so that god hath creat alle thynges in right ordre / and no thyng/ with|outen

[6-text p 604] ordre / but alle thynges / been ordeyned and nom|bred /. yet nathelees / they that been dampned / been no thyng in the ordre / ne holden noon ordre /. [219] for the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruyt [220] ¶ ffor as the prophete [¶ Dauid propheta] Dauid seith ¶ god shal destroie the fruyt of the erthe / as fro hem / ne water / ne shal yeve hem no moisture /. ne the Eyr no refresshyng. ne fyr no light [221] ¶ ffor as seith seint Basilie ¶ The brennynge of the fyr of this [¶ Sanctus Basilius] world / shal god yeuen in helle / to hem þat been dampned /. [222] but the light / and the cleernesse / shal be yeuen in heuene to hise children /. right as the goode man / yeueth flessh to hise children and bones to his houndes /. [223] And for they shullen haue noon hope to escape seith seint [¶ Sanctus Iob] Iob atte laste ¶ that ther shal horrour / and grisly drede / dwellen with-outen ende /. [224] Horrour / is alwey drede / of harm that is to come / and this drede shal euere dwelle in the hertes / of hem that been dampned / And therfore / han they lorn al hire hope / for .vij. causes [225] ¶ ffirst. [¶ How the dampned / han lorn al hir hope for .vij. causes] for god [folio 214a] that is hir Iuge / shal be / with-outen mercy to hem /. and they may nat plese hym / ne noon of hise halwes /. ne they / ne may yeue no thyng for hir raunson /. [226] ne they haue no voys / to speke to hym /. ne they may nat fle fro peyne /. ne they haue no goodnesse in hem / that they mowe shewe to deliuere hem fro peyne [227] ¶ And therfore seith Salomon ¶ The wikked man [¶ Salomon] dyeth / and whan he is deed. he shal haue noon hope / to escape fro peyne [228] ¶ Who so thanne / wolde wel vn|derstande the peynes / and bithynke hym weel / that he hath deserued thilke peynes for his synnes / certes / he sholde haue moore talent to siken and to wepe /. than for to syngen and to pleye / [229] ffor as that seith Salomon /. [¶ Idem Salomon] Who so that hadde the science to knowe the peynes that been establissed and ordeyned for synne / he wolde make sorwe / [230] Thilke science / as seith seint Augustyn / [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] maketh a man / to waymenten in his herte

[231] ¶ The fourthe point that oghte maken a man [¶ Of the .iiij.^e]

[6-text p 605] to haue contricion / is the sorweful remembrance of the [point þat oghte maken a man to haue contricioun] good / that he hath left to doon / heere in erthe /. And eek the good that he hath lorn [232] ¶ soothly / the goode werkes þat he hath left /. outher they been / the goode werkes that he hath wroght. er he fel / in to deedly synne /. or elles / the goode werkes that he wroghte / while he lay in synne [233] ¶ soothly / the goode werkes that he dide / biforn that he fil in synne / been al mortefied and astoned and dulled / by the ofte synnyng ‖ [234] The othere goode werkes that he wroghte / whil he lay in deedly synne / þei been outrely dede / as to the lyf perdurable in heuene [235] ¶ Thanne thilke goode werkes / that been mortefied by ofte synnyng. whiche goode werkes he dide / whil he was in charitee /. ne mowe neuere quyken agayn / with-outen verray penitence /. [236] and ther-of seith god / by the mouth of Ezechiel ¶ That if the rightful man / re|turne [¶ dominus per Ezechielem] agayn from his rightwisnesse / and werke wikked|nesse / shal he lyue? [237] nay /. for alle the goode werkes that he hath wroght ne shul neuere been in remembrance / for he shal dyen in his synne [238] ¶ And vp-on thilke Chapitre / seith seint Gregorie thus ‖. That we shulle vnder|stonde [¶ Sanctus Gregorius] this principally /. [239] that whan we doon deedly synne / it is for noght thanne to rehercen / or drawen in-to memorie the goode werkes / that we han wroght biforn [240] ¶ ffor certes / in the werkynge of the deedly synne / ther is no trust to no good werk that we han doon biforn /. that is for to seyn /. as for to haue therby the lyf per|durable / in heuene /. [241] but nathelees /. the goode werkes quyken agayn and comen agayn / and helpen and auaillen / to haue the lyf perdurable in heuene / whan we han contricion /. [242] but soothly / the goode werkes that men doon / whil they been in deedly synne / for as muche / as they were doon in deedly synne. they may neuere quyke agayn / [243] ffor certes / thyng þat neuere hadde lyf. may neuere quykene / and nathelees /. al be it that they ne auaille noght /. to han the lyf perdurable. / yet auaillen

[6-text p 606] they / to abregge of the peyne of helle /. or elles / to geten temporal richesse. / [244] or elles / that god wole / the rather enlumyne / and lightne the herte of the synful man / to haue repentance /. [245] and eek they auaillen / for to vsen a man to doon goode werkes / that the feend / haue the lasse power of his soule / [246] And thus the curteis lord Ihesu crist/. wole that no good werk be lost. for in somwhat it shal auaille /. [247] but for as muche / as the goode werkes that men doon / whil they been in good lyf /. been al mortefied / by synne folwynge. and eek / sith that alle the goode werkes / that men doon / whil they been in deedly synne / been outrely dede / for to haue the lyf perdurable /. [248] wel [folio 214b] may that man that no good werk ne dooth / synge thilke newe frenshe song Iay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour [249] ¶ ffor certes / synne bireueth a man / bothe goodnesse of nature / and eek the goodnesse of grace / [250] ¶ ffor soothly / the grace of the hooly goost fareth lyk fyr/ that may nat been ydel / for fyr/ fayleth / anoon as it forleteth his wirk|ynge / and right so. grace fayleth anoon as it forleteth his werkynge / [251] then leseth the synful man the goodnesse of glorie / that oonly is bihight to goode men that labouren and werken ‖. [252] wel may he be sory thanne / that oweth al his lif to god / as longe as he hath lyued / and eek as longe as he shal lyue / that no goodnesse ne hath / to paye with his dette / to god / to whom he oweth al his lyf ‖. [253] ffor trust wel / he shal yeuen acountes / as seith seint Bernard of alle the goodes / that han be yeuen hym [¶ Sanctus Bernardus] in this present lyf. and how / he hath hem despended / [254] noght so muche /. that ther shal nat perisse an heer of his heed /. ne a moment of an houre / ne shal nat perisse of his tyme / that he ne shal yeue of it a rekenyng/

[255] The fifthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to [¶ Of the .v^e. thyng þat oghte moeue a man to contricion.] contricion / is remembrance of the passion / that oure lord Ihesu crist suffred for oure synnes / [256] for as seith seint Bernard ¶ whil that .I. lyue / I shal haue remem|brance [¶ Sanctus Bernardus]

[6-text p 607] of the trauailles / that oure lord crist suffred in prechyng/. [257] his werynesse in trauaillyng. hise tempt|acions whan he fasted /. hise longe wakynges / whan he preyde /. hise teeres / whan that he weepe / for pitee. of good peple /. [258] the wo / and the shame / and the filthe / that men seyden to hym /. of the foule spittyng/ that men spitte in his face /. of. the buffettes / that men yauen hym /. of the foule mowes / and of / the re|preues / that men to hym seyden /. [259] of the nayles / with whiche he was nayled to the croys /. and of al the remenant of his passion that he suffred for my synnes / and no thyng for his gilt [260] ¶ And ye shul vnder|stonde [¶ how in mannes synne / is / euery manere of ordre / or ordinaunce turned vp so doun] / that in mannes synne / is euery manere of ordre or ordinance / turned vp so doun [261] ¶ ffor it is sooth / that god and reson. and sensualitee / and the body of man / been ordeyned / that euerich / of thise foure thynges / sholde haue lordshipe / ouer that oother /. [262] as thus /. god sholde haue lordshipe ouer reson /. and reson ouer sensualitee /. and sensualitee ouer the body of man /. [263] but soothly / whan man synneth / al this ordre or ordinance / is turned vp so doun [264] ¶ And therfore thanne / for as muche as the reson of man / ne wol nat be subget ne obeisant to god that is his lord by right. ther|fore / leseth it the lordshipe / that it sholde haue / ouer sensualitee / and eek ouer the body of man /. [265] And why? ffor sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns reson /. and by that wey / leseth reson the lordshipe ouer sensualitee / and ouer the body /. [266] for right as reson is rebel to god / right so / is bothe sensualitee / rebel to reson / and the body also [267] ¶ And certes this disordinance and this rebellion / oure lord Ihesu crist aboghte vp-on his precious body ful deere / and herkneþ in which wise / [268] ¶ ffor as muche thanne as reson / is rebel to god? ther|fore / is man worthy to haue sorwe / and to be deed /. [269] this suffred oure lord Ihesu crist for man / after that he hadde be bitraysed of his disciple / and distreyned and

[6-text p 608] bounde / so that his blood / brast out at euery nayl of hise handes / as seith seint Augustyn [270] ¶ And forther ouer / [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] for as muchel as reson of man / ne wol nat daunte [folio 215a] sensu|alitee whan it may / therfore is man worthy to haue shame and this suffred oure lord Ihesu crist for man / whan they spetten in his visage [271] ¶ And forther ouer/ for as muchel thanne / as the caytyf body of man / is rebel / bothe to reson and to sensualitee / therfore is it worthy the deeth [272] ¶ And this suffred our lord Ihesu crist for man vp-on the croys / where as ther was no part of his body free / with-outen greet peyne and bitter passion [273] ¶ And al this suffred Ihesu crist þat neuere forfeted / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] to muchel am I peyned for the thynges that I neuere deserued and to muche defouled / for shendshipe that man is worthy to haue [274] And ther|fore [¶ Sanctus Bernardus] / may the synful man wel seye / as seith seint Bernard Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne /. for which / ther moste be suffred so muchel bitternesse /. [275] ffor certes / after the diuerse disconcordances of oure wikkednesses / was the passion of Ihesu crist. ordeyned in diuerse thynges / [276] as thus ¶ Certes / synful mannes soule / is bitraysed of the deuel / by coueitise of temporeel prosperitee / and scorned by deceite whan he cheseth flesshly delices / and yet is it tormented by Inpacience of aduersitee and dispeir by seruage and subieccion of synne / and atte laste / it is slayn fynally [277] ¶ ffor this disordinaunce of synful man was Ihesu crist bitraysed / and after that was he bounde that cam for to vnbynden vs / of synne and peyne / [278] thanne was he by-scorned that oonly / sholde han been honoured in alle thynges and of alle thynges [279] ¶ Thanne was his visage / that oghte be desired to be seyn of al man kynde / in which visage Aungels desiren to looke / vileynsly bispet/. [280] thanne was he scourged / that no thyng hadde agilt And finally / thanne was he crucified and slayn [281] ¶ Thanne was acompliced the

[6-text p 609] word of ysaye / that seith / that he was wounded / for [¶ Ysayas] oure mysdedes / and defouled for oure felonies / [282] ¶ Now sith that Ihesu crist took vp-on hym self / the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses /. muchel oghte synful man wepen and biwayle / that for hise synnes goddes sone of heuene / sholde al this peyne endure [283] ¶ The sixte [¶ Of the .vj.^e thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun / thurghe hope of .iij. thynges] thyng þat oghte moeue a man to contricion / is the hope of .iij. thynges /. that is to seyn / foryifnesse of synne /. and the yifte of grace / wel for to do and the glorie of heuene / with which / god shal gerdone a man for hise goode dedes / [284] ¶ And for as muche as Ihesu crist yeueth vs thise yiftes of his largesse / and of his souereyn bountee /. therfore is he cleped / Ihesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum / [285] Ihesus / is to seyn saueour/ or sal|uacion on whom / men shul hope / to haue foryifnesse of synnes / which that [is] proprely / saluacion of synnes / [286] and therfore / seyde the Aungel to Ioseph Thou shalt [¶ How the Aungel spak to Iosephe] clepen his name Ihesus / that shal sauen his peple of hir synnes /. [287] And heer-of seith seint Peter /. Ther is [¶ Sanctus Petrus] noon oother name vnder heuene / that is yeue to any man by which / a man may be saued but oonly Ihesus… /. [288] Nazarenus / is as muche for to seye / as florisshynge / in which a man shal hope /. that he þat yeueth hym remission of synnes / shal yeue hym eek grace / wel for to do / for in the flour is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge /. And in foryifnesse of synnes hope of grace / wel for to do [289] ¶ I was atte dore of thyn herte seith Ihesus and cleped for to entre /. he that openeth to me / shal haue foryifnesse of synne /. [290] .I wol entre in-to hym by my grace / and soupe with hym [folio 215b] by the goode werkes that he shal doon / whiche werkes / been the foode of god / and he shal soupe with me / by the grete ioye that I shal yeuen hym [291] ¶ Thus shal man hope /. for hise werkes of penaunce / that god shal yeuen hym his regne / as he bihooteth hym in the gospel

[292] ¶ Now shal a man vnderstonde / in which [¶ How a man shal be contrit]

[6-text p 610] manere / shal been his contricion /. I seye / that it shal been vniuersal and total // this is to seyn A man shal be verray repentant for alle hise synnes that he hath doon in delit of his thoght. for delit is ful perilous. / [293] ffor ther been / two manere of consentynges /. that oon of hem / is [¶ Of two manere of consentynges] cleped consentynge of Affeccion / whan a man is moeued to do synne / and deliteth hym longe / for to thynke on that synne /. [294] and his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent. though he se wel apertly / that it is / agayns the reuerence of god /. al-though his reson ne consente noght to doon that synne in dede / [295] yet seyn somme doctours / that swich delit that dwelleth longe / it is ful perilous / al be it neuere so lite / [296] ¶ And also / a man sholde sorwe namely / for al that euere he hath desired agayn the lawe of god with perfit consentynge of his reson / for ther-of is no doute / that it is deedly synne in consentynge ‖. [297] ffor certes / ther is no deedly synne /that it nas first in mannes thought. and after that in his delit /. and so forth / in-to consentynge and in-to dede /. [298] Wherfore I seye / that many men ne repenten hem neuere of swiche thoghtes and delites / ne neuere shryuen hem of it. but oonly / of the dede of grete synnes outward /. [299] wherfore I seye / that swiche wikked delites / and wikked thoghtes / been subtile bigileres / of hem that shullen be dampned [300] ¶ Moore ouer man oghte to sorwe / for hise wikkede [¶ How a man oghte / to repenten hym / for hise wikkede wordes / as wel as for hise wikkede dedes] wordes / as wel / as for hise wikkede dedes /. for certes / the repentance of a synguler synne and nat repente of alle hise othere synnes /. or elles repenten hym / of alle hise othere synnes / and nat of a synguler synne / may nat auaille /. [301] for certes / god almyghty is al good / and ther-fore / he foryeueth al / or elles right noght. [302] And heer-of seith seint Augustyn /. [303] that [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] god is enemy to euerich synnere /. and how thanne / he that obserueth o synne /. shal he haue foryifnesse of the

[6-text p 611] remenaunt of hise othere synnes? nay [304] ¶ And forther ouer / contricion sholde be wonder sorweful / and ang|wissous [¶ how con|tricion / sholde be wonder sorweful] /. and therfore / yeueth hym god pleynly his mercy / and therfore / whan my soule was angwissous with Inne me /. I hadde remembrance of god that my preyere myghte come to hym [305] ¶ fforther ouer / contricion moste be continueel /. and that man haue stede|fast [¶ how contricioun moste be con|tinueel] purpos to shriuen hym / and for to amenden hym of his lyf /. [306] ffor soothly / whil contricion lasteth / man may euere haue hope of foryifnesse / and of this / comth hate of synne /. that destroyeth synne / boþe in him self/. and eek in oother folk. at his power ‖. [307] ffor which seith Dauid ye that louen god / hateth wikkednesse / for [¶ Dauid] trusteth wel / to loue god / is for to loue that he loueth / and hate that he hateth /

[308] ¶ The laste thyng that man shal vnderstonde in [¶ Wherof Contricioun auailleth] contricion / is this / wher-of / auayleth contricion ¶ I seye / that som tyme / contricion / deliuereth a man fro synne /. [309] of which that Dauid seith / ‖ .I. seye quod Dauid [¶ Dauid] [folio 216a] that is to seyn ¶ I purposed fermely to shryue me / and thow Lord / relesedest / my synne [310] ¶ And right so as contricion auailleth noght with-outen sad purpos of shrifte / if man haue oportunitee / right so / litel worth is shrifte / or satisfaccion / with-outen contricion [311] ¶ And moore-ouer contricion / destroyeth the prison of helle / [¶ How con|tricion destroyeth the prisoun of holle] and maketh wayk and fieble alle the strengthes of the deueles / and restoreth / the yiftes of the hooly goost and of alle goode vertues / [312] and it clenseth the soule of synne and deliuereth the soule / fro the peyne of helle / and fro the compaignye of the deuel / and fro the seruage of synne / and restoreth it to alle goodes espirituels / and to the compaignye and communyon of hooly chirche [313] ¶ And forther ouer /. it maketh hym that whilom was [¶ how con|tricioun / maketh him that whilom was sone of Ire / to be sone of grace] sone of Ire / to be sone of grace /. and alle thise thynges been preued by hooly writ. [314] and therfore / he that wolde sette his entente to thise thynges / he were ful

[6-text p 612] wys /. for soothly / he ne sholde nat thanne in al his lyf haue corage to synne / but yeuen his body and al his herte to the seruice of Ihesu crist /. and ther-of doon hym hommage /. [315] for sooþly / oure sweete lord Ihesu crist. hath spared vs so debonairly in our folies / that if he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule a sory song we myghten alle synge . . . . .

¶ Explicit prima pars penitentie ‖.

Et sequitur secunda pars eiusdem .

[316]

THe seconde partie of Penitence / is Confession / that is signe of contricion / [317] ¶ Now shul ye vnderstonde / what is confession /. and wheither it oghte nedes / be doon or noon /. and whiche thynges been couenable to verray Confession

[318] ¶ ffirst shaltow vnderstonde / that confession / is [¶ What con|fession is] verray shewynge of synnes to the preest. [319] this is to seyn verray /. for he moste confessen hym / of alle the condiciouns / that bilongen to his synne / as ferforth as he kan / [320] al moot be seyd / and no thyng excused ne hyd ne forwrapped / and noght auaunte thee of thy goode werkes [321] ¶ And forther ouer/ it is necessarie to vnder|stonde / whennes that synnes spryngen / and how they encreessen and whiche they been

[322] ¶ Of the spryngynge of synnes seith seint Paul [¶ Of spryngynge of synnes / secundum Paulum] in this wise /. that right as by a man / synne entred first in-to this world. and thurgh that synne deeth /. Right so thilke deeth entred in-to alle men that synneden / [323] and this man was Adam / by whom / synne entred in-to this world / whan he brak the comaundementz of god. / [324] And therfore / he that first was so myghty / that he sholde nat haue dyed / bicam swich oon that he moste nedes dye wheither he wolde or noon / and al his progenye in this world that in thilke man synneden [325] ¶ Looke / [¶ Of the tempta|cioun of Adam in Paradys] that in thestaat of Innocence / whan Adam and Eue

[6-text p 613] naked weren in Paradys / and no thyng ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse /. [326] how that the serpent that was moost wily of alle othere beestes / that god hadde maked seyde to the womman /. why comanded god to yow / ye sholde nat eten / of euery tree in Paradys? [327] The womman answerde /. Of the fruyt quod she / of the trees in Paradys / we feden vs / but sooþly [folio 216b] of the fruyt of the tree / that is in the myddel of Paradys / god forbad vs for to ete / and nat touchen it/. lest per auenture we sholde dyen [328] ¶ The serpent seyde to the womman /. nay /. nay /. ye shul nat dyen of deeth / for sothe god woot. that what day / that ye eten ther-of /. youre eyen shul opene / and [ye] shul been as goddes / knowynge good and harm. [329] ¶ The womman thanne saugh / that the tree was good to feedyng. & fair to the eyen / and delitable to the sighte / she took of the fruyt of the tree / and eet it / and yaf to hire housbonde / and he eet and anoon the eyen of hem bothe openeden /. [330] and whan that they knewe that they were naked / they sowed of fige leues a maner of breches / to hiden hire membres [331] ¶ There may ye seen / that deedly synne / hath first suggestion of the feend /. as sheweth heere by the naddre /. And afterward. the delit of the flessh / as sheweth heere by Eue /. And after that the consentynge of reson /. as sheweth heere by Adam / [332] ffor trust wel / though so were / that the feend tempted Eue / that is to seyn the flessh / and the flessh hadde delit in the beautee of the fruyt defended /. yet certes / til that reson / that is to seyn Adam / con|sented to the etynge of the fruyt. yet stood he in thestaat of Innocence [333] ¶ Of thilke Adam / tooke we thilke synne original /. for of hym flesshly descended be we alle and engendred / of vile and corrupt mateere / [334] and whan the soule / is put in oure body. right anon / is con|tract original synne /. and that þat was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence / is afterward / bothe peyne and synne /. [335] and therfore / be we alle born / sones of

[6-text p 614] wratthe and of dampnacion perdurable / if it nere baptesme that we receyuen / which bynyneth vs the culpe /. but for sothe / the peyne dwelleth with vs. as to temptacion. which peyne / highte concupiscence / [336] whan it is wrongfully disposed / or ordeyned in man /. it maketh hym coueite by coueitise of flessh / flesshly synne / by sighte of hise eyen / as to erthely thynges /. and coueitise of hynesse / by pride of herte

[337] ¶ Now as for to speken of the firste coueitise / [¶ Of coueitise of Concupiscence] that is Concupiscence after the lawe of oure membres / that weren lawefulliche ymaked and by rightful Iugge|ment of god [338] ¶ I seye for as muche / as man is nat obeisaunt to god that is his lord therfore / is the flessh to hym disobeisaunt thurgh Concupiscence which yet is cleped norrissynge of synne / and occasion of synne /. [339] therfore / al the while that a man hath in hym / the peyne of Concupiscence /. it is impossible / but he be tempted somtime and moeued in his flessh to synne ./ [340] and this thyng may nat faille as longe as he lyueth /. it may wel wexe fieble and faille by vertu of baptesme / and by the grace of god / thurgh penitence / [341] but fully / ne shal it neuere quenche /. that he ne shal som tyme be moeued in hym self. but if he were al refreyded by siknesse / or by malefice of sorcerie / or colde drynkes /. [342] ffor lo / what seith seint Paul ¶ the flessh coueiteth [¶ Sanctus Paulus] agayn the spirit/ and the spirit agayn the flessh /. they been so contrarie and so stryuen /. that a man may nat alwey doon as he wolde / [343] ¶ The same seint Paul [¶ Sanctus Paulus] after his grete penance / in water [folio 217a] and in lond /. in water by nyght / and by day in greet peril / & in greet peyne /. In lond / in famyne / in thurst in coold and cloothlees and ones stoned almoost to the deeth // [344] yet seyde he / allas I caytyf man /. who shal deliuere me fro the prison of my caytyf body [345] ¶ And seint Ierome / whan he [¶ sanctus Ieronimus] longe tyme hadde woned in desert /where as he hadde no compaignye / but of wilde beestes / where as he ne hadde

[6-text p 615] no mete but herbes / and water to his drynke / ne no bed / but the naked erthe / for which his flessh was blak as an Ethiopeen for heete / and ny destroyed for coold /. [346] yet seyde he / that the brennynge of lecherie boyled in al his body / [347] wherfore / I woot wel sykerly / that they been deceyued / that seyn / that they ne be nat tempted in hir body / [348] witnesse on Seint Iame the Apostel /. [¶ Sanctus Iacobus Apostolus] that seith / that euery wight is tempted in his owene con|cupiscence /. that is to seyn that euerich of vs / hath matere and occasion to be tempted of the norissynge of synne / that is in his body /. [349] And therfore seith Seint Iohn [¶ Sanctus Iohannes Euaungelista] the Euaungelist ‖. If that we seyn / that we beth with oute synne /. we deceyue vs selue / and trouthe is nat in vs

[350] ¶ Now shal ye vnderstonde / in what manere / [¶ how synne wexeth or / encreesseth in man] that synne wexeth / or encreesseth in man ¶ The firste thyng /. is thilke norissynge of synne of which I spak biforn /. thilke flesshly concupiscence /. [351] and after that/ comth the subieccion of the deuel / this is to seyn / the deueles bely / with which he bloweth in man / the fir of flesshly concupiscence /. [352] and after that a man bi|thynketh hym / wheither he wol doon or no thilke thing to which he is tempted /. [353] And thanne /. if that a man withstonde and weyue the firste entisynge of his flessh / and of the feend / thanne is it no synne / and if it so be / that he do nat so / thanne feeleth he anoon a flambe of delit. [354] and thanne is it good to be war / and kepen hym wel or elles / he wol falle anon in to consentynge of synne. / and thanne wol he do it. if he may haue tyme and place ‖. [355] And of this matere seith Moyses by [¶ Moyses per demonem] the deuel in this manere ¶ The feend seith / I wole chace and pursue the man / by wikked suggestion ./ and I wole hente hym by moeuynge / or stirynge of synne. / I wol departe my prise or my praye by de|liberacion / and my lust shal been accompliced in delit. I wol drawe my swerd in consentynge /. [356] ffor certes / right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces / right

[6-text p 616] so consentynge / departeth god fro man / and thanne wol I sleen hym / with myn hand in dede of synne / thus seith the feend /. [357] for certes / thanne is a man al deed in soule /. And thus is synne Accompliced by tempt|acion by delit. and by consentynge /. and thanne is the synne / cleped Actueel

[358] ¶ ffor sothe / synne is in two maneres /. outher / [¶ Of synne in two maneres venial and deedly] it is venial / or deedly synne ¶ Soothly / whan man loueth any creature moore than Ihesu crist oure creatour / thanne is it deedly synne ‖. And venial synne is it. if man loue Ihesu crist lasse than hym /. [359] ffor sothe / the dede of this venial synne / is ful perilous for it amenuseth the loue / that men sholde han to god moore and moore [360] And therfore / if a man charge hym self with manye swiche venial synnes /. certes / but if so be that he som tyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte /. they mowe ful lightly amenuse in hym al the loue that he hath to Ihesu crist. [361] and in this wise / skippeth venial in-to deedly synne [folio 217b] ffor certes the moore that a man / chargeth his soule with venial synne the moore is he enclyned / to fallen in-to deedly synne /. [362] and therfore / lat vs nat be necligent to deschargen vs of venial synnes ¶ ffor the prouerbe seith [¶ prouerbium] that manye smale / maken a greet [363] ¶ And herkne this ensample ‖. A greet wawe of the see comth som tyme [¶ exemplum] with so greet a violence / that it drencheth the shipe ¶ And the same harm dooth som tyme / the smale dropes of water/ that entren / thurgh a litel creuace in to the thurrok. and in the botme of the shipe / if men be so necligent that they / ne descharge hem nat by tyme /. [364] And therfore / al though ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge /. algates / the shipe is dreynt. [365] ¶ Right so fareth it somtyme of deedly synne / and of anoyouse veniale synnes / whan they multiplie in a man so greetly / that thilke worldly thynges that he loueþ thurgh whiche he synneth venyally /. is as greet in his herte as the loue of god / or moore / [366]

[6-text p 617] and therfore the loue of euery thyng. that is nat biset in god ne doon principally for goddes sake /. al though that a man loue it lasse than god / yet is it venial synne /. [367] and deedly synne / whan the loue of any thyng. wexeth in the herte of man / as muchel as the loue of god / or moore / [368] ¶ Deedly synne / as seith seint Augustyn / [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] is. whan a man / turneth his herte fro god / which that is verray souereyn bountee / that may nat chaunge / and yeueth his herte / to thyng that may chaunge and flitte /. [369] And certes / that is euery thyng saue god of heuene /. ffor sooth is / that if a man yeue his loue / the which þat he oweth al to god with al his herte /. vn-to a creature /. certes / as muche as he yeueth of his loue to thilke creature / so muche he bireueth fro god / [370] and ther fore dooth he synne /. for he that is dettour to god /. ne yeldeth nat to god al his dette / that is to seyn al the loue of his herte

[371] ¶ NOw sith man vnderstondeth generally / which is venial synne /. thanne is it couenable / to tellen specially of synnes / whiche that many a man per auenture / ne demeth hem nat synnes / and ne shryueth hem nat of the same thynges / and yet nathelees / they been synnes [372] ¶ Soothly / as thise clerkes writen / this is to seyn /. [¶ Of manye diuerse synnes] that at euery tyme that a man eteth or drynketh / moore than suffiseth to the sustenance of his body / in certein he dooth synne [373] ¶ And eek whan he speketh moore than nedeth / it is synne ¶ Eke / whan he herkneth nat be|nignely the compleint of the poure [374] ¶ Eke / whan he is in heele of body and wol nat faste whan hym oghte faste / with-outen cause resonable ¶ Eke whan he slepeth moore than nedeth /. or whan he comth by thilke encheson to late to chirche / or to othere werkes of charite [375] ¶ Eke / whan he vseth his wyf. with-outen souereyn desir of engendrure to the honour of god / or for the entente / to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body [376] ¶ Eke / whan he wol nat visite the sike and the prisoner if he may

[6-text p 618] ¶ Eke / if he loue / wyf or child /. or oother worldly thyng. moore than reson requireth ¶ Eke / if he flatere or blandise / moore than hym oghte / for any necessitee [377] ¶ Eke / if he amenuse or withdrawe the Almesse of the poure ¶ Eke / if he apparailleth his mete moore deliciously / than nede is / or ete to hastily by likerous|nesse [378] ¶ Eke / if he tale vanytees at chirche / or at goddes seruice / or that he be a talker of ydel wordes / of folye / or of vileynye /. for he shal yelden [folio 218a] acountes of it at the day of doome ‖. [379] Eke / whan he biheteth / or assureth to do thynges / that he may nat perfourne ¶ Eke / whan that he / by lightnesse or folie / mysseyeth / or scorneth his neighebore [380] ¶ Eke / whan he hath any wikked suspecion of thyng ther he ne woot of it no sooth|fastnesse ‖ [381] Thise thynges and mo with-oute nombre / been synnes / as seith seint Augustyn.

[382] ¶ NOw shal men vnderstonde / that al be it so / that noon erthely man / may eschue alle venial synnes /. yet may he restreyne hym / by the brennynge loue / that he hath to oure lord Ihesu crist. and by preyeres and confession and othere goode werkes /. so that it shal but litel greue ‖. [383] for as seith seint Augustyn ¶ If a man loue god [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] in swich manere / that al that euere he dooth / is in the loue of god / and for the loue of god verraily / for he brenneth in the loue of god / [384] Looke how muche that a drope of water/ that falleth in a fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth or greueth / so muche anoyeth a venial synne vn-to a man / that is perfit in the loue of Ihesu crist / [385] ¶ Men may also / refreyne venial synne / by receyuynge worthily / of the precious body of Ihesu crist ‖. [386] by receyuynge eek of hooly water/. by Almesdede /. by general confession of Confiteor at masse and at Complyn / and by blessynge of Bisshopes and of preestes and oothere goode werkes

Explicit secunda pars Penitentie .

[6-text p 619]

¶ Sequitur de septem peccatis mortalibus / et eorum dependencijs circumstancijs & speciebus

¶ De Superbia .

[387] NOw is it bihouely thyng. to telle / whiche been the deedly synnes / this is to seyn / Chieftaynes of synnes /. alle they renne in o lees / but in diuerse maneres ¶ Now been they cleped Chieftaynes / for as muche as they been chief. and spryngen of alle othere synnes / [388] ¶ Of the roote / of thise .vij. synnes / thanne is pride the general roote of alle harmes /. ffor of this roote / spryngen certein braunches /. As Ire. Enuye. Accidie / or Slewthe. Auarice / or Coueitise to commune vnderstondynge /. Glotonye. and Lecherye. [389] And euerich of thise chief synnes hath hise braunches and hise twigges as shal be declared / in hire Chapitres folwynge / [[no break in the MS.]]

[The Twigs of Pride.]

[390] And thogh so be that no man kan outrely telle / the nombre of twigges and of the harmes that cometh of pride /. yet wol I shewe a partie of hem / as ye shul vnderstonde [391] ¶ Ther is / Inobedience. Auauntynge. Ypocrisie. Despit. Arrogance. Inpudence. swellynge of herte. Insolence. Elacion. Inpacience. strif. Contumacie. Presumpcion. Irreuerence. Pertinacie. Veyne glorie / and many another twig that I kan nat declare [392] ¶ Ino|bedient [¶ Of Inobedience] is he / that disobeyeth for despit to the comande|mentz of god /. and to hise souereyns /. And to his goostly fader / [393] ¶ Auauntour is he / that bosteth of the harm / [¶ Of Auauntynge] or of the bountee / that he hath doon [394] ¶ Ypocrite is [¶ Of Ypocrisie] he / that hideth to shewe hym swich as he is /. and sheweth hym / swich as he noght is [395] [folio 218b] ¶ Despitous [¶ Of despit/] is he / that hath desdeyn of his neighebore / that is to seyn of euene cristene / or hath despit to doon that hym oghte to do [396] ¶ Arrogant is he / that thynketh / [¶ Of Arrogance] þat he hath thilke bountees in hym that he hath noght or

[6-text p 620] weneth that he sholde haue hem / by hise desertes /. or clles / he demeth that he be that he nys nat/ [397] ¶ In|pudent [¶ Of Inpudence] is he /. that for his pride / hath no shame of hise synnes / [398] ¶ Swellynge of herte is /. whan a man [¶ Of swellynge of herte] reioyseth hym / of harm that he hath doon / [399] ¶ Inso|lent [¶ Of Insolence] is he /. that despiseth in his Iuggement alle othere folk/ as to regard of his value /. and of his konnyng. and of his spekyng. and of his beryng [400] ¶ Elacion is / whan [¶ Of Elacioun] he ne may neither suffre to haue maister ne felawe / [401] ¶ Inpacient is he /. that wol nat been ytaught ne vnder|nome [¶ Of Inpacience] of his vice / and by strif werreieth trouthe wityngly / and deffendeth his folye / [402] ¶ Contumax is he /. that [¶ Of Contumacie] thurgh his indignacion is agayns euerich auctoritee or power/ of hem that been hise souereyns [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion [¶ Of pre|sumpcioun] is / whan a man vndertaketh an emprise that hym oghte nat do / or elles that he may nat do / and this is called surquidie ¶ Irreuerence is / whan men do nat [¶ Of Irreuerence] honour / there as hem oghte to doon / and waiten to be reuerenced [404] ¶ Pertinacie is. whan man deffendeth [¶ Of Pertinacie] hise folies. and trusteth to muchel in his owene wit. [405] ¶ Veyneglorie / is for to haue pompe and delit in his [¶ Of veyne glorie] temporeel hynesse / and glorifie hym in this worldly estaat [406] ¶ Ianglynge / is / whan men speken to [¶ Of Ianglynge] muche biforn folk. and clappen as a Mille / and taken no kepe what they seye /

[407] ¶ And yet is ther a priuee spece of pride / that [¶ Of othere priuee speces of pride] waiteth first to be salewed er he wole salewe / al be he lasse worth / than that oother is per auenture /. and eek he waiteth or desireth / to sitte / or elles to goon aboue hym in the wey / or kisse pax /. or been encensed / or goon to offryng biforn his neighebore / [408] and swiche semblable thynges / agayns his duetee per auenture / but that he hath his herte and his entente in swich a proud desir to be magnified and honoured biforn the peple

[409] ¶ Now been ther two maneres of pride /. that [¶ Of two maneres of pride] oon of hem / is with Inne the herte of man / and that

[6-text p 621] oother is with oute /. [410] of whiche soothly thise for|seyde thynges / and mo than I haue seyd / apertenen to pride that is in the herte of man / and that othere speces of pride / been with oute /. [411] but natheles that oon of thise speces of pride / is signe of that oother. / right as the gaye leefsel atte Tauerne / is signe of the wyn that is in the Celer /. [412] and this is in manye thynges / As in speche and contenance / and in outrageous array of clothyng. [413] for certes / if ther ne hadde be no synne in clothyng Crist wolde nat haue noted and spoken of the clothyng of thilke riche man in the gospel ‖. [414] And as seith Seint Gregorie ¶ That precious clothyng is cow|pable [¶ Sanctus Gregorius] / for the derthe of it. and for his softenesse / and for his strangenesse and degisynesse / and for the super|fluitee / and for the inordinat scantnesse of it [415] ¶ Allas / may men nat seen as in oure dayes / the synful costlewe array of clothynge /. and namely / in to muche superfluite / or elles / in to desordinat scantnesse

[416] AS to the firste synne / in superfluitee of [¶ Of superfluitee & outrageous array of clothinge] clothynge / which that maketh it so deere to harm of the peple /. [417] nat oonly / the cost of embrowdynge / the degise / endentynge / barrynge / owndynge / palynge / wyndynge / or bendynge / and semblable wast of clooth / in vanitee / [418] but ther is [folio 219a] also costlewe furrynge in hir gownes /. so muche powsonynge of chisel to maken holes /. so muche daggynge of sheres / [419] forth with the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseide gownes / trail|ynge / in the dong and in the Mire on horse and eek on foote / as wel / of men as of wommen /. that al thilke trailyng is verraily as in effect wasted / consumed / thred|bare / and roten with donge / rather / than it is yeuen to the poure / to greet damage of the forseyde poure folk /. [420] and that in sondry wise /. this is to seyn / that the moore that clooth is wasted / the moore it costeth to the peple for the scantnesse [421] ¶ And forther ouer / if so be / that they wolde yeuen swich powsoned and

[6-text p 622] dagged clothyng to the poure folk /. it is nat conuenient to were for hire estaat ne suffisant to beete hire necessitee / to kepe hem / fro the distemperance of the firmament [422] Up-on þat oother side / to speken of the horrible [¶ Of disordinat/ scantnesse of clothynge] disordinat scantnesse of clothyng. as been thise kutted sloppes / or haynselyns / that thurgh hire shortnesse / ne couere nat the shameful membres of man to wikked entente [423] ¶ Allas / somme of hem shewen the boce of hir shape and the horrible swollen membres / that semeth / lik the maladie of Hirnia in the wrappynge of hir hoses / [424] and eek the buttokes of hem faren / as it were the hyndre part of a she Ape in the fulle of the Moone [425] ¶ And moore ouer / the wrecched swollen membres that they shewe / thurgh the degisynge in departynge of hire hoses in whit and reed / semeth that half hir shame|ful priuee membres weren flayne [426] ¶ And if so be that they departen hire hoses in othere colours /. as is whit and blak. or whit and blew / or blak / and reed and so forth /. [427] thanne semeth it as by variance of colour that half the partie of hire priuee membres were corrupt by the fir of seint Antony / or by Cancre / or by oother swich meschaunce [428] ¶ Of the hyndre part of hir buttokes. it is ful horrible for to see /. ffor certes / in that partie of hir body / ther as they purgen hir stynkynge ordure / [429] that foule partie shewe they to the peple prowdly in despit of honestitee / the which honestitee that Ihesu crist and hise freendes obseruede / to shewen in hir lyue [430] NOw / of the outrageous array of wommen / [¶ Of outrageous array of Wommen] god woot that though the visages of somme of hem / seme ful chaast and debonaire / yet notifie they in hire array of Atyr likerousnesse and pride [431] ¶ I sey nat that honestitee in clothynge of man or womman / is vncouen|able / but certes the superfluitee / or disordinat scantitee of clothynge / is repreuable [432] ¶ Also / the synne of aornement or of apparaille / is in thynges that apertenen [¶ Of outrageous apparaille / of thynges that] to ridynge /. as / in to manye delicat horses that been hoold|en

[6-text p 623] for delit. that been so faire / fatte and costlewe /. [433] [apertenen to ridynge] and also / to many a vicious knaue / that is sustened by cause of hem / In to curious harneys /. as in sadeles / in Crouperes / peytrels and bridles couered with precious clothyng and riche / barres and plates of gold and of siluer /. [434] for which god seith / by Zakarie the [¶ dominus per zakariam prophetam] prophete / I wol confounde the rideres of swiche horses [435] ¶ This folk taken litel reward of the ridynge of goddes sone of heuene / and of his harneys whan he rood vp on the Asse / and ne hadde noon oother harneys / but the poure clothes of hise disciples / ne / we [folio 219b] ne rede nat. that euere he rood on oother beest. [436] I speke this / for the synne of superfluitee / and nat for resonable honestitee / whan reson it requireth [437] And forther/ certes pride is greetly notified in holdynge of greet meynee / [¶ Of pride / in holdynge of greet meynee] whan they be of litel profit or of right no profit. [438] and namely / whan that meynee / is felonous and dama|geous to the peple by hardynesse of heigh lordshipe / or by wey of Offices /. [439] ffor certes swiche lordes / sellen thanne hir lordshipe to the deuel of helle / whanne they sustenen / the wikkednesse of hir meynee [440] ¶ Or elles / whan this folk of lowe degree / as thilke that holden hostelries / sustenynge the thefte of hire hostilers / and that is / in many manere of deceites / [441] ¶ Thilke manere of folk / been the flyes that folwen the hony / or elles / the houndes / that folwen the careyne /. Swich forseyde folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes /. [442] for which / thus seith Dauid the prophete / ¶ Wikked [¶ Dauid pro|pheta] deeth moote come vp thilke lordshipes /. and god yeue / that they moote descenden in-to helle al doun / al doun /. for in hire houses / been iniquitees and shrewednesses / and nat god of heuene /. [443] and certes / but if they doon amende|ment. right/ as god yaf his benyson to Pharao / by the seruice of Iacob / and to Laban / by the seruice of Ioseph. / right so / god wol yeue his malison to swiche lordshipes / as sustenen the wikkednesse of hir seruauntz / but if they

[6-text p 624] come to amendement [444] ¶ Pride of the table / appeereth [¶ Of pride of the table] eek ful ofte ./ for certes riche men been cleped to festes / and poure folk been put awey and rebuked [445] Also in excesse of diuerse metes and drynkes /. and namely / [¶ Of excesse of diuerse metes and drynkes] swiche manere bake metes and dissh metes brennynge of wilde fir / and peynted and castelled with papir / and semblable wast/ so that it is abusion for to thynke [446] And eek in to greet preciousnesse of vessel / and curiositee [¶ Of to great preciousnesse of vessel /. and curiositee of Mynstralcye] of Mynstralcie / by whiche / a man is stired the moore to delices of luxurie / [447] if so be that he sette his herte / the lasse vp-on oure lord Ihesu crist /. certeyn it is a synne / and certeinly / the delices / myghte been so grete in this caas / that man myghte lightly / falle by hem in-to deedly synne [448] The especes that sourden of pride / [¶ Of the especes that sourden of pride] soothly / whan they sourden of malice ymagined / auised and forncast. or elles of vsage / been deedly synnes / it is no doute /. [449] And whan they sourden by freletee vn|auysed / and sodeynly withdrawen ayeyn / al been they greuouse synnes /. I gesse / that they ne been nat deedly [450] Now myghte men axe / wher-of that pride [¶ Wher-of / pride sourdeth and spryngeth] sourdeth / and spryngeth and I seye / somtyme it spryngeth / of the goodes of nature / and som tyme / of the goodes of ffortune /. and som tyme / of the goodes of grace [451] ¶ Certes / the goodes of nature / stonden / [¶ Of goodes of nature] outher in goodes of body / or in goodes of soule [452] ¶ Certes / goodes of body / been heele of body. as [¶ Of goodes of body] strengthe / deliuernesse / beautee / gentries / franchise / [453] ¶ Goodes of nature of the soule / been good wit [¶ Of goodes / of nature / of / the soule] sharpe vnderstondynge. subtil engyn. vertu natureel. good memorie [454] ¶ Goodes of ffortune / been richesse / [¶ Of goodes of ffortune] hyghe degrees of lordshipes. preisynges of the peple [455] ¶ Goodes of grace / been science. power/ to suffre [¶ Of goodes of grace] spiritueel trauaille. benignitee. vertuous contemplacion. withstondynge of temptacion / and semblable thynges /. [456] of whiche forseyde goodes. certes it is a ful greet folye / a man to priden hym / in any of hem alle [457]

[6-text p 625] NOw as for to speken of goodes of nature /. god woot that som tyme we han hem / in nature / as muche to oure [folio 220a] damage / as to oure profit [458] ¶ As for to speken of heele of body /. certes / it passeth ful lightly / and eek it is / ful ofte encheson of the siknesse of oure soule /. for God woot the flessh / is a ful greet enemy to the soule /. and therfore / the moore that the body is hool / the moore be we in peril to falle [459] ¶ Eke / for to pride / hym in [¶ Of pride / of strengthe of body] his strengthe of body / it is an heigh folye /. ffor certes / the flessh coueiteth agayn the spirit /. and ay / the moore strong that the flessh is / the sorier may the soule be /. [460] and ouer al this / strengthe of body and worldly hardynesse / causeth ful ofte many a man / to peril and meschaunce [461] ¶ Eek for to pride hym of his [¶ Of pride of gentrye] gentrie / is ful greet folie/ for ofte tyme / the gentrie of the body / binymeth the gentrie of the soule /. and eek we ben alle / of o fader / and of o mooder /. and alle we been of o nature / roten. and corrupt. bothe riche and poure ‖. [462] ffor sothe / o manere gentrie / is for to preise / that apparailleth mannes corage with vertues and moralitees / and maketh hym cristes child. [463] for truste wel / that ouer what man þat synne hath maistrie / he is / a verray cherl to synne

[464] ¶ NOw been ther generale signes of gentillesse /. [¶ Of generale signes / of / gentillesse] as eschewynge of vice and ribaudye / and seruage of synne /. in word / in werk /. and contenance /. [465] and vsynge vertu / curteisye. and clennesse /. and to be liberal /. that is to seyn / large by mesure /. for thilke that passeth mesure / is folie and synne [466] ¶ Another is / to remembre hym of bountee / that he of oother folk hath receyued [467] ¶ Another is / to be benigne to hise goode subgetis ‖. wherfore seith senek ¶ ther is no thing moore [¶ Seneca] couenable to a man of heigh estaat /. than debonairetee and pitee [468] And therfore / thise flyes / that men [¶ Nota] clepeth bees /. whan they maken hir kyng. they chesen oon that hath no prikke / wherwith he may stynge [469]

[6-text p 626] ¶ Another is / man to haue a noble herte / and a diligent to attayne to heighe vertuouse thynges [470] NOw certes / a man to pride hym in the goodes of grace / is eek / an [¶ Of pride in the yiftes of grace] outrageous folie / for thilke yifte of grace / that sholde haue turned hym to goodnesse and to medicine / turneth hym to venym and to confusion / as seith seint Gregorie [471] Certes also / who so prideth hym / in the goodes of [¶ Of pride in the goodes of ffortune] ffortune /. he is a ful greet fool /. for som tyme is a man a greet lord by the morwe /. that is a caytyf and a wrecche er it be nyght. [472] and somtyme / the richesse of a man / is cause of his deþ / somtyme / the delices of a man / is cause of the greuous maladye / thurgh which he dyeth [473] Certes / the commendacion of the peple / is som|tyme [¶ Of commen|dacioun of the peple.] / ful fals and ful brotel for to triste /. this day they preyse / tomorwe they blame / [474] god woot desir/ to haue commendacion of the peple / hath caused deeth / to many a bisy man [475] Now sith that so is / that ye han vnderstonde what is pride / and whiche been the speces of it. and whennes pride sourdeth / and spryngeth

¶ Remedium contra peccatum Superbie .

[476]

NOw shul ye vnderstonde which is the remedie agayns / the synne of pride /. and that is humylitee / or [¶ Of humilite or mekenesse] mekenesse /. [477] that is a vertu / thurgh which. a man / hath verray knoweleche of hym self. and holdeth of hym|self/ no pris ne deyntee /. as in regard of hise desertes / considerynge euere his freletee [478] NOw been ther .iij. maneres of humylitee /. as humylitee in herte /. and another [¶ Of .iij. maneres of humilitee] humylitee in his [folio 220b] mouth ¶ The thridde in hise werkes [479] ¶ The humilitee in herte / is in iiij. maneres ¶ that [¶ Of .iiij. maneres of humilitee in herte] oon is / whan a man / holdeth hym self as noght worth biforn god of heuene ‖. Another is /. whan he ne despiseth

[6-text p 627] noon oother man [480] ¶ The thridde is / whan he rekketh nat. though men holde hym noght worth ¶ The ferthe is / whan he nys nat sory of his humiliacion [481] ¶ Also the humilitee of mouth /. is in .iiij. thynges ¶ In [¶ Of .iiij. thynges / of / humilitee of mouthe] attempree speche ¶ And in humblesse of speche ¶ and whan he biknoweth with his owene mouth /. that he is swich / as hym thynketh that he is in his herte ¶ Another is /. whan he preiseth the bountee of another man /. and no thyng ther of amenuseth / [482] ¶ Humilitee eek in [¶ Of .iiij. maneres of/ humilitee in werkes] werkes is in .iiij. maneres ¶ The firste is / whan he putteth othere men biforn hym ¶ The seconde is / to chese the loweste place ouer al ¶ The thridde is / gladly to assente to conseil [483] ¶ The ferthe / is to stonde gladly / to the award of hise souereyns /. or of hym / that is in hyer degree /. certein this is a greet werk of humylitee.

¶ Sequitur de Inuidia .

[484]

After Pride wol I speken / of the foule synne of Enuye [¶ What Enuye is secundum Philosophum et secundum Augustinum] which is / as by the word of the Philosophre / sorwe / of oother mannes prosperitee /. and after the word of seint Augustyn /. it is sorwe of oother mannes wele / and ioye of othere mennes harm / [485] ¶ This synne is platly agayns the hooly /. Al be it so / that euery synne is agayns the hooly goost/. yet nathelees for as muche / as bountee / aperteneth proprely to the hooly. and Enuye comth proprely. of malice /. ther|fore it is proprely / agayn the bountee of the hooly goost [486] ¶ Now hath malice two speces /. that is to seyn [¶ Of .ij.^o speces of malice / and the firste / is hardnesse / of herte] hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse /. or elles / the flessh of man is so blynd / that he considereþ nat. that he is in synne /. or rekketh nat that he is in synne /. which is the hardnesse of the deuel / [487] ¶ That oother [¶ Of another spece of malice] speche of malice / is whan a man werreyeth trouthe / whan he woot that it is trouthe /. And eek / whan he werreyeth the grace / that god hath yeue to his

[6-text p 628] neighebore / and al this / is by Enuye [488] ¶ Certes / thanne is Enuye the worste synne that is /. ffor soothly / alle othere synnes been som tyme oonly / agayns o special vertu /. [489] but certes / Enuye is agayns alle vertues / and agayns alle goodnesses /. for it is sory / of alle the bountees of his neighebore / and in this manere / it is diuers from alle othere synnes [490] ¶ ffor wel vnnethe / is ther any synne / that it ne hath / som delit in itself. saue oonly Enuye / that euere hath in itself angwissh and sorwe [491] ¶ The speces of Enuye been thise / Ther is [¶ Of the firste spece of Enuye] first. sorwe of oother mannes goodnesse / and of his pros|peritee. / and prosperitee / is kyndely matere of Ioye/. thanne is Enuye a synne agayns kynde [492] ¶ The seconde spece of Enuye / is ioye of oother mannes harm /. [¶ Of the .ij.^de spece / of Enuye] and that is proprely lyk to the deuel /. that euere reioyseth hym of mannes harm [493] ¶ Of thise two speces / comth bakbityng. and this synne / of bakbityng or detraccion / hath certeine speces / as thus ¶ Som man preiseth his [¶ The firste spece / of bakbitynge] neighebore by a wikke entente /. [494] for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte [folio 221a] atte laste ende /. alwey / he maketh a but/ atte laste ende / that is digne of moore blame /. than worth is al the preisynge [495] ¶ The seconde spece is / that if a man be good / and dooth / or seith a thing to good entente /. the bakbiter wol turne all thilke goodnesse / vp so doun / to his shrewed entente [496] ¶ The thridde is / to amenuse the bountee of his neighe|bore [¶ The .iij.^de spece] [497] ¶ The fourthe spece of bakbityng is this /. [¶ The .iiij. spece] that if men speke goodnesse of a man /. thanne wol the bakbiter seyn /. pardee /. swich a man / is yet bet than he / in dispreisynge / of hym that men preise / [498] ¶ The fifte spece is this /. for to consente gladly and herkne [¶ The v.^o spece] gladly to the harm that men speke of/ oother folk ‖. this synne is ful greet and ay encreeseth / after the wikked entente of the bakbiter [499] After bakbityng cometh gruchchyng or Murmuracion /. and somtyme it spryngeth [¶ Of grucchyng / or Murmuracioun] of Inpacience agayns god /. and somtyme agayns man

[6-text p 629] [500] ¶ Agayns god it is / whan a man gruccheth agayn the peynes of helle /. or agayns pouerte /. or los of catel. agayn reyn / or tempest. or elles gruccheth / that shrewes han prosperitee /. or elles / for that goode men han Ad|uersitee / [501] and alle thise thynges sholde men suffre paciently /. for they comen by the rightful Iuggement and ordinance of god [502] ¶ Som tyme comth grucching of [¶ Of grucchyng/ þat comth of Auarice] Auarice / as Iudas grucched agayns the Magdaleyne /. whan she enoynte / the heued of oure lord Ihesu crist. with hir precious oynement [503] ¶ This maner murmure is swich. as whan man gruccheth / of goodnesse / þat hym self dooth /. or that oother folk doon of hir owene catel [504] ¶ Som tyme comth murmure of pride /. as whan Simon [¶ Of murmure þat comth of pride] the Pharisee / grucchched agayn the Magdaleyne / whan she approched to Ihesu crist. and weepe at his feet for hire synnes [505] ¶ And somtyme grucchyng sourdeth of [¶ Of murmure þat sourdeth of Enuye] Enuye / whan men discouereth a mannes harm that was pryuee / or bereth hym on hond / thyng that is fals [506] ¶ Murmure eek / is ofte amonges seruauntz / that grucchen / [¶ Of murmure amonges seruauntz] whan hir souereyns bidden hem doon leueful thynges /. [507] and for as muche / as they dar nat openly withseye the comaundementz of hir souereyns / yet wol they seyn harm / and grucche and murmure priuely for verray despit / [508] whiche wordes / men clepen the deueles Pater noster / though so be that the deuel ne hadde neuere Pater noster /. but that lewed folk yeuen it swich a name [509] ¶ Som tyme / grucchyng comth of Ire / or [¶ O grucchyng/ that/ cometh of Ire] priue hate / that norisseth rancour in herte /. as afterward I shal declare [510] Thanne cometh eek bitternesse of [¶ Of bitternesse of herte] herte / thurgh which bitternesse / euery good dede of his neighebor / semeth to hym / bitter and vnsauory [511] ¶ Thanne cometh discord / that vnbyndeth alle manere [¶ Of discord] of freendshipe ¶ Thanne comth / scornynge of . . . . . [¶ Of scornyng/] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] his neighe|bor / al do he neuer so weel [512] ¶ Thanne comth / [¶ Of Accusyng/] Accusynge /. as whan man seketh occasion / to anoyen his

[6-text p 630] neighebor / which that is lyk / to the craft of the deuel / that waiteth / bothe nyght and day to accusen vs alle [513] ¶ Thanne comth malignitee / thurgh which a man [¶ Of Malignitee] anoyeth his neighebor priuely / if he may. [514] and if he noght may / algate / his wikked wil / ne shal nat wante /. as for to brennen his hous pryuely /. or empoysone / or sleen hise beestes / and semblable thynges /.

[folio 221b] ¶ Remedium contra peccatum Inuidie

[515] NOW wol I speke of the remedie / agayns the foule synne of Enuye / ¶ ffirst is the louynge of god principal / and louyng / of his neighebor as hym self /. for soothly / that oon ne may nat been / with-oute that oother /. [516] And truste wel / that in the name of thy neighebore /. thou shalt vnderstonde the name of thy brother ffor certes / alle we haue o fader flesshly / and o mooder / that is to seyn / Adam and Eue /. and eek o fader espiritueel / and that is god of heuene [517] ¶ Thy neighebore / artow holden for to loue and wilne hym alle [¶ How a man / shal loue his neighebore] goodnesse /. and therfore seith god / loue thy neighebore as thy selue / that is to seyn / to saluacion / of lyf and of soule [518] ¶ And moore ouer / thou shalt loue hym in word / and in benigne amonestynge / and chastisynge / and conforten hym / in hise anoyes / and preye for hym with al thyn herte / [519] ¶ And in dede / thou shalt loue hym in swich wise /. that thou shalt doon to hym in charitee / as thou woldest that it were doon to thyn owene persone /. [520] And therfore / thou ne shalt doon hym no damage in wikked word / ne harm in his body / ne in his catel / ne in his soule / by entissyng of wikked ensample [521] ¶ Thou shalt nat desiren his wyf ne none of hise thynges Vnderstoond eek / that in the name of neighebor / is com|prehended [¶ How in the name of neighe|bor / is compre|hended a mannes enemy] his enemy [522] ¶ certes man shal louen his enemy / by the comandement of god /. and soothly / thy freend / shaltow loue in god [523] ¶ I seye / thyn enemy / shaltow loue for goddes sake / by his comande|ment

[6-text p 631] ¶ ffor if it were reson þat a man sholde haten his enemy /. for sothe / god nolde nat receyuen vs to his loue / that been hise enemys [524] ¶ Agayns .iij. manere of [¶ How a man shal do .iij. thynges / agayns .iij. manere of thynges that his enemy dooth to hym] thynges that his enemy dooth to hym /. he shal doon .iij. thynges as thus [525] ¶ Agayns hate and rancour of herte / he shal loue hym in herte ¶ Agayns chidyng and wikkede wordes / he shal preye for his enemy ¶ And agayn wikked dede of his enemy /. he shal doon hym. bountee [526] ¶ ffor crist seith / loueth youre enemys / and preyeth for hem that speke yow harm /. and eek for hem / that yow chacen and pursewen and dooth bountee / to hem that yow haten ¶ Loo / thus comaundeth vs oure lord Ihesu crist. to do / to oure enemys /. [527] ffor soothly nature dryueth vs / to louen oure freendes /. and parfey / oure enemys / han moore nede to loue than oure freendes /. and they that moore nede haue / certes / to hem shal men doon good|nesse / [528] and certes in thilke dede / haue we remem|brance / of the loue of Ihesu crist that deyde for hise enemys /. [529] and in as muche as thilke loue / is the moore greuous to perfourne / in so muche / is the moore gretter the merite / and ther-fore the louynge of oure enemy / hath confounded / the venym of the deuel /. [530] ffor right as the deuel / is disconfited by humylitee /. right so / is he wounded to the deeth / by loue of oure enemy [531] ¶ Certes. / thanne is loue the medicine / that casteth out the venym of Enuye / fro mannes herte [532] ¶ The speces of this paas / shullen be moore largely in hir Chapitres folwynge declared . . .

¶ Sequitur de Ira .

[533] After Enuye / wol I discryuen the synne of Ire /. ffor soothly / who so hath enuye vpon his neighebor / anon he wole comunly fynde hym a matere of wratthe / in word / or [folio 222a] in dede / agayns hym / to whom he hath enuye ‖. [534] And as wel comth Ire of pride /

[6-text p 632] as of enuye /. for soothly / he that is proude or enuyous / is lightly wrooth

[535] ¶ This synne of Ire / after the discryuyng of seint Augustyn / is wikked wil / to been auenged / by [¶ sanctus Augustinus] word / or by dede /. [536] Ire after the Philosophre /. is [¶ Philosophus] the feruent blood of man / yquyked in his herte / thurgh which he wole harm / to hym that he hateth [537] ¶ ffor certes the herte of man by eschawfynge and moeuynge of his blood / wexeth so trouble / that he is / out of alle Iuggement of reson [538] ¶ But ye shal vnderstonde / that Ire is in two maneres / that oon of hem is good / and [¶ Of Ire in two maneres] that oother is wikked / [539] ¶ The goode Ire / is by Ialousie of goodnesse / thurgh which / a man is wrooth [¶ Of good Ire] with wikkednesse / and agayns wikkednesse /. and ther|fore seith a wys man /. that Ire is bet than pley ‖ [540] [¶ Sapiens] This Ire / is with debonairetee /. and it is wrooth with|outen bitternesse / nat wrooth agayns the man / but wrooth / with the mysdede of / the man /. as seith the prophete Dauid Irascimini & nolite peccare [541] NOw [¶ Dauid propheta] vnderstondeth / that wikked Ire / is in two maneres / [¶ Of wikked Ire in ij^o. maneres / and the firste / is sodeyn Ire] that is to seyn / sodeyn Ire / or hastif Ire withouten auisement and consentynge of reson /. [542] the menyng and the sens of this / is / that the reson of man ne con|sente nat to thilke sodeyn Ire / and thanne it is venial [543] ¶ Another Ire is ful wikked / that comth of [¶ Of Ire þat comth of felonie of herte auised & cast biforn] felonie of herte auysed and cast biforn / with wikked wil / to do vengeance / and therto / his reson consenteth and soothly / this is deedly synne [544] ¶ This Ire / is so dis|plesant to god that it troubleth his hous / and chaceth the hooly goost out of mannes soule / and wasteth and de|stroyeth the liknesse of god / that is to seyn / the vertu that is in mannes soule / [545] and put in hym / the lik|nesse of the deuel and bynymeth the man fro god / that is / his rightful lord /. [546] this Ire / is a ful greet plesaunce to the deuel /. for it is the deueles fourneys / that is eschawfed / with the fir of helle ‖. [547] ffor certes /

[6-text p 633] right so / as fir is moore mighty / to destroyen erthely thynges / than any oother Element. right so Ire is myghty to destroyen alle spiritueel thynges [548] ¶ Looke /. how that fir of smale gleedes that been almoost dede vnder asshen wollen quike agayn / whan they been touched with brymstoon? / right so Ire wol eueremo quyken agayn / whan it is touched / by the pride that is couered in mannes herte / [549] ffor certes / fir ne may nat comen out of no thyng. but if it were first in the same thyng natureelly / as fir / is drawen out of flyntes with steel [550] And right so / as pride is ofte tyme matere of Ire /. right so is rancour/ norice and keper of Ire [551] Ther is [¶ Nota secun|dum Ysodorum] a maner tree as seith sein Ysidre / that whan men maken fire of thilke tree / and couere the coles of it with Asshen soothly / the fir of it wol lasten al a yeer or moore ‖. [552] And right so / fareth it of rancour/. whan it is [¶ exemplum] ones conceyued in the hertes of som men certein / it wol lasten perauenture / from oon Estre day vnto another Estre day / and moore /. [553] but certes / thilke man / is ful fer fro the mercy of god / in thilke while

[554] ¶ In this forseyde deueles fourneys / ther [¶ Of .iij. shrewes þat forgen alwey in the deueles fourneys] forgen .iij. shrewes ‖. Pride that ay bloweth and encreesseth the fir/ by chidynge and wikked wordes [555] ¶ Thanne stant Enuye / and holdeth the hoote Iren vpon the herte of man / with a peire of longe toonges / of long rancour [556] ¶ And thanne stant the synne of contumelie / or strif and cheeste / and batereth and forgeth / by vileyns repreuynges [557] ¶ Certes / this cursed synne anoyeth [folio 222b] bothe to the man hym self / and eek to his neighebore ¶ ffor soothly / almoost al the harm that any man dooth to his neighebore / comth of wratthe /. [558] for certes outrageous wratthe / dooth / al that euere / the deuel hym comaundeth /. for he ne spareth neither crist ne his sweete mooder/. [559] And in his out|rageous anger and Ire / allas / allas / ful many oon at that tyme / feeleth in his herte ful wikkedly /

[6-text p 634] bothe of crist and of alle hise halwes [560] ¶ Is nat this a cursed vice? yis certes / Allas / it bynymeth from man his wit and his reson / and al his debonaire lif/ espiritueel / that sholde kepen his soule [561] ¶ Certes / it bynymeth eek goddes due lordshipe / and that is mannes soule / and the loue of hise neighebores ‖. It stryueth eek alday agayn trouthe /. It reueth hym / the quiete of his herte / and subuerteth his soule /

[562] Of Ire / comen thise stynkynge engendrures [¶ Of the engen|drures that comen of pride] ¶ ffirst hate / that is oold wratthe. discord / thurgh which a man / forsaketh his olde freend ful longe / [563] ¶ And thanne cometh werre / and every manere of wrong that man dooth to his neighebore / in body / or in catel [564] Of this cursed synne of Ire / [¶ Of man|slaughtre in diuerse maneres] cometh eek manslaughtre ‖. And vnderstonde wel / that homycide / that is manslaughtre / is in diuerse wise ¶ Som manere of homycide is spiritueel / and som is bodily [565] ¶ Spiritueel manslaughtre is in .vj. thynges ¶ ffirst by [¶ Of .vj. thynges / þat bee / in spiritueel manslaughtre] hate / as seint Iohn seith /. he that hateth his brother / is homycide / [566] ¶ homycide is eek by bakbitynge / of [¶ Nota secun|dum Iohannem] whiche bakbiteres seith Salomon /. that they han two [¶ Salomon] swerdes / with whiche / the sleen hire neighebores /. ffor soothly / as wikke is / to bynyme his good name / as his lyf [567] ¶ Homycide is eek / in yeuynge of wikked [¶ Of homycide / in yeuynge of wikked conseil] conseil by fraude /. as for to yeuen conseil / to areysen wrongful custumes /and taillages /. [568] of whiche seith Salomon ¶ Leon rorynge and Bere hongry / been like to the [¶ Salomon] crueel lordshipes / in withholdynge or abreggynge / of the shepe / or the hyre or of the wages of seruauntz /. or elles in vsures / or in withdrawynge of the Almesse of poure folk. [569] ffor which the wise man seith ¶ ffedeth hym / that [¶ Sapiens] almoost dyeth for honger/. for soothly / but if thow feede hym / thou sleest hym / and alle thise been deedly synnes [570] BOdily manslaughtre is / whan thow sleest him with thy [¶ Of bodily man|slaughtre] tonge /. In oother manere /. as whan thou comandest to sleen a man / or elles / yeuest hym conseil / to sleen a

[6-text p 635] man [571] Manslaughtre in dede / is in .iiij. maneres. [¶ Of man|slaughtre in dede. in ./ iiij. maneres] ¶ That oon / is by lawe /. right as a Iustice dampneth hym that is coupable to the deeth. / but lat the Iustice [¶ Of man|slaughtre by lawe] be war/ that he do it rightfully /. and that he do it nat for delit to spille blood / but for kepynge of rightwise|nesse / [572] ¶ Another homycide / is that is doon for [¶ Of homycide doon for / necessitee] necessitee /. as whan o man sleeth another in his defendaunt and þat he ne may noon ootherwise escape / from his owene deeth /. [573] but certeinly / if he may escape with outen manslaughtre of his aduersarie / and sleeth hym /. he dooth synne / and he shal bere penance as for deedly synne [574] ¶ Eek/ if a man / by caas or auenture / shete [¶ Of homycide / by caas or auenture] an arwe / or caste a stoon / with which he sleeth a man / he is homycide [575] ¶ Eek/ if a womman by necligence / [¶ Of homycide / whan a womman / ouerlith hir childe] ouerlyeth hire child in hir slepyng. it is homycide and deedly synne / [576] Eek/ whan man destourbeth con|cepcion [¶ Of homycide / in destourbyng/ of the concepcion of/ a childe.] of a child and maketh a womman / outher bareyne by drynkynge venenouse herbes / thurgh which / she may nat conceyue /. or sleeth a child by drynkes wilfully or elles / putteth certeine material thynges / in hire secree places / to slee the child / [577] or elles / dooth vnkyndely synne / by which man or womman shedeth hire nature / in manere or in place / ther as a child may nat be con|cei [folio 223a] ued /. or elles / if a woman haue conceyued / and hurt hir child / and sleeth the child / yet it is homycide [578] ¶ What seye we eek/ of wommen that mordren [¶ Of wommen þat mordre hir children / for worldly shame] hir children for drede of worldly shame /. certes / an horrible homicide [579] ¶ Homycide is eek/ if a man ap|procheth [¶ Of homycide thurghe approch|ynge of man to womman by desir of lecherie /. or elles thurgh smytynge of a womman with childe] to a womman / by desir of lecherie / thurȝ which the child is perissed / or elles smyteth a womman wityngly / thurgh which she leseth hir child ‖. Alle thise been homy|cides / and horrible deedly synnes [580] Yet comen ther of Ire / manye mo synnes /. as wel / in word / as in thoght and [¶ Of many mo synnes that comen of Ire] in dede / as he that arretteth vpon god /. or blameth god / of thyng. of which he is hym self gilty. / or despiseth god / and alle hise halwes / as doon thise cursede hasardours

[6-text p 636] in diuerse contrees ‖. [581] This cursed / synne doon they / whan they feelen in hir hertes / ful wikkedly of god / and of hise halwes [582] ¶ also / whan they treten vnreuerently [¶ Of hem þat vnreuerently treten / the sacrement of the Auter] the sacrement/ of the Auter / thilke synne is so greet. that vnnethe may it been releessed but that the mercy of god / passeth alle hise werkes / it is so greet and he so benigne [583] Thanne comth of Ire attry Angre /. [¶ Of attry Angre] whan a man / is sharpely amonested in his shrifte to for|leten his synne /. [584] thanne wole he be angry and answeren hokerly and angrily / and deffenden / or excusen his synne / by vnstedefastnesse of his flessh /. or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with hise felawes /. or elles he seith the fend enticed hym / [585] or elles / he dide it for his youthe /. or elles / his conpleccion is so corageous / that he may nat forbere /. or elles it is his destinee / as he seith / vnto a certein age /. or elles he seith / it cometh hym of gentillesse of hise Auncestres and semblable thynges [586] ¶ Alle this manere of folk / so wrappen hem in hir synnes /. that they ne wol nat deliuere hem self /. ffor soothly / no wight / that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne / may nat been deliuered of his synne / til that he mekely biknoweth his synne? [587] After this / thanne cometh sweryng. that is expres / [¶ Of sweryng/] agayn the comandement of god. and this bifalleth ofte / of anger and of Ire ‖. [588] God seith; thow shalt nat take / the name of thy lord god in veyn / or in ydel / Also oure lord Ihesu crist seith by the word of seint Mathew /. [¶ Math. 6^o. nolite iurare omnino] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [589] Ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere. neither by heuene. for it is goddes trone. / ne by erthe /. for it is the bench of his feet. ne by Ierusalem /. for it is the Citee of a greet kyng. ne by thyn heed / for thou mayst nat make. an heer whit ne blak /. [590] but seyeth by youre word / ye / ye / and nay / nay And what that is moore / it is of yuel seith crist. [591] ffor cristes sake ne swereth nat so synfully / in dismembrynge of Crist. by soule.

[6-text p 637] herte. bones. and body ¶ ffor certes / it semeth that ye thynke / that the cursede Iewes / ne dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of crist. but ye dismembre hym moore / [592] ¶ And if so be / that the lawe com|pelle yow to swere /. thanne rule yow / after the lawe of god in youre sweryng. as seith Ieremye .4^o. c^o . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ Thou shalt kepe .iij. condicions Thou shalt swere in trouthe /. [¶ Iurabis in veritate in Iudicio & in Iusticia] in doom. / and in rightwisnesse ‖. [593] this is to seyn / thou shalt swere sooth /. for euery lesynge is agayns Crist. ffor crist is verray trouthe /. And thynk wel this / that euery greet swerere / nat compelled lawefully to swere /. the wounde shal nat departe from his hous / whil he vseth / swich vnleueful sweryng ‖. [594] Thou shalt sweren eek in doom / whan thou art constreyned by thy domes|man / to witnessen the trouthe [595] ¶ Eek [folio 223b] thow shalt [¶ How a man shal nat swere / for enuye / ne for fauour / ne for meede / but for rightwisnesse &c.] nat swere / for enuye ne for fauour / ne for meede / but for rightwisnesse / and for declaracion of it /. to the worshipe of god / and helpyng of thyne euene cristene /. [596] And therfore / euery man that taketh goddes name in ydel /. or falsly swereth with his mouth /. or elles taketh on hym the name of crist. to be called a cristene man / and lyueth agayns Cristes luyunge and his techynge / alle they / taken goddes name in ydel / [597] ¶ Looke eek / what seint Peter seith Actuum .4^o. Non est aliud nomen sub celo &c ¶ Ther [¶ sanctus Petrus Actuum .4^o.] nys noon oother name seith seint Peter / vnder heuene yeuen to men / in which they mowe be saued /. that is to seyn / but the name of Ihesu crist [598] ¶ Take kepe eek / how that the precious name of crist /. as seith seint Paul / [¶ Paulus ad Philipenses 2^o.] ad Philipenses .2^o. In nomine Ihesu &c ¶ that in the name of Ihesu / euery / knee of heuenely creatures /. or erthely. or of helle sholden bowe /. for it is / so heigh and so worshipful / that the cursede feend in helle / sholde tremblen / to heeren it ynempned [599] ¶ Thanne semeth it that men þat sweren so horriblely / by his

[6-text p 638] blessed name /. that they despise hym moore booldely / than dide the cursede Iewes / or elles the deuel / that trembleth whan he heereth his name /

[600] ¶ [N]Ow certes / sith that sweryng. but if it be lawefully doon is so heighly deffended /. muche worse is forsweryng falsly /. and yet nedelees

[601] ¶ What seye we eek/ of hem / that deliten hem [¶ Of hem þat deliten hem in sweryng/. for gentrie and of vsage] in sweryng and holden it a gentrie / or a manly dede to swere grete othes ‖. And what of hem / that of verray vsage ne cesse nat to swere grete othes / al be the cause nat worth a straw /. certes / it is horrible synne [602] ¶ Swerynge sodeynly with-oute auysement is eek a synne [603] But lat vs go now to thilke horrible sweryng [¶ Of the sweryng/ of adiuracion & coniuracion] of Adiuracion and coniuracion / as doon thise false En|chauntours / or Nigromanens / in bacyns ful of water /. or in a bright swerd. in a Cercle / or in a fir / or in a shulder boon of a sheepe /. [604] I kan nat seye / but that they doon cursedly / and damnablely agayns crist/. and al the feith of hooly chirche /

[605] ¶ What seye we of hem / that bileeuen in [¶ Of hem / þat bileeuen in dyuynayles] diuynailes /. as by flight or by noyse of briddes / or of beestes. or by sort/ by Geomancie. by dremes. by chirkynge of dores. or crakynge of houses. by gnawynge of rattes. and swich manere. wrecchednesse. / [606] certes / al this thyng is deffended by god / and by al hooly chirche /. ffor which they been acursed / til they come to amendement. that on swich filthe setten hire bileeue [607] ¶ Charmes [¶ Of charmes for woundes / or maladie] for woundes or maladie of men / or of beestes /. if they taken any effect. it be perauenture / that god suffreth it. for folk sholden yeue the moore feith / and reuerence to his name

[608] NOw wol I. speken of lesynges /. which gener|ally [¶ Of lesynges] / is fals signyficacion of word / in entente / to deceyuen his euene cristene [609] ¶ Some lesynge is / of which / ther comth noon auantage to no wight ‖. And som lesynge / turneth to the ese and profit. of o man / and to disese

[6-text p 639] and damage of another man [610] ¶ Another lesynge / for to sauen his lyf or his catel / [Another lesynge] comth of delit. for to lye. in which delit / they wol forge a long tale / and peynten it with alle circumstaunces where / al the ground of the tale is fals ‖. [611] som lesynge [folio 224a] comth / for he wole sustene his word ¶ And som lesynge / comth of reccheleesnesse with-outen auisement. and sem|blable thynges

[612] Lat vs now touche / the vice of flaterynge /. [¶ Of fflaterynge] which ne comth nat gladly but for drede /. or for coueitise [613] ¶ fflaterye is generally wrongful preisynge ¶ fflater|eres [¶ how flatereres been the deueles norices] / been the deueles norices / that norissen hise children / with Milk of losengerie ‖. [614] ffor sothe / Salomon seith. [¶ Salomon] that flaterie is wors than detraccion. for som tyme de|traccion maketh an hauteyn man / be the moore humble /. for he dredeth detraccion / but certes flaterye / that maketh a man / to enhauncen his herte and his contenance [615] ¶ fflatereres / been the deueles Enchauntours for [¶ how flatereres / been the deueles enchauntours] the make a man to wene of hym self. be lyk / that he nys nat lyk. [616] they been lyk to Iudas / that bitraysed [God / and thise flatereres bitraysen] a man / to sellen hym to hise enemy. that is to the deuel [617] ¶ fflatereres / been [¶ how flatereres/ been the deueles Chapelleyns] the deueles Chapelleyns / that syngen euere Placebo [618] ¶ I rekene fla[te]rie in the vices of Ire. / for ofte tyme / if o man / be wrooth with another /. thanne wole he flatere som wight. to sustene hym in his querele

[619] Speke we now / of swich cursynge / as comth [¶ Of cursynge þat comth of Irous herte] of Irous herte ¶ Malison generally / may be seyd euery maner power or harm ‖. swich cursynge / bireueth man fro the regne of god / as seith seint Paul /. [620] And ofte [¶ Sanctus Paulus] tyme / swich cursynge wrongfully / retorneth agayn / to hym þat curseth /. as a bryd that retorneth agayn / to his owene nest [621] ¶ And ouer alle thyng men oghten eschewe to cursen hire children / and yeuen to the deuel hire engendrure / as ferforth / as in hem is /. certes it is greet peril and greet synne

[6-text p 640]

[622] Lat vs thanne speken of chidynge and reproche / [¶ Of chidynge & reproche] whiche been / ful grete woundes in mannes herte / for they vnsowen / the semes of freendshipe in mannes herte [623] ¶ ffor certes / vnnethes may a man / pleynly been accorded with hym / that hath hym openly reuyled and repreued in disclaundre /. ¶ This is / a ful grisly synne / as crist seith in the gospel /. [624] And taak kepe now. that he þat repreueth his neighebor /. outher he repreueth hym by som harm of peyne / that he hath on his body /. as Mesel / croked harlot. or by som synne that he dooth [625] ¶ Now if he repreue hym by harm of peyne / thanne turneth the repreue to Ihesu crist. for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god / and by his suffrance / be it Meselrie or Maheym or maladie [626] ¶ And if he repreue hym vncharitably of synne /. as thou dronk|elewe harlot and so forth /. thanne aperteneth that/ to the reioysynge of the deuel /. that euere hath ioye / that men doon synne [627] ¶ And certes / chidynge may nat come / but out of a vileyns herte ¶ ffor after the habundance of the herte / speketh the mouth ful ofte [628] ¶ And ye shul vnderstonde that looke by any wey. whan any man shal chastise another / that he be war / from chidynge and repreuynge /. ffor trewely / but he be war he may ful lightly / quyken the fir of Angre and of wratthe / which þat he sholde quenche. and per auenture sleeth hym / which that he myghte chastise with benig|nitee [629] ¶ ffor as seith Salomon ¶ the amyable tonge is [¶ Salomon] the tree of lyf. that is to seyn / of lyf espiritueel /. and soothly. a deslauee tonge / sleeth the spirites of hym that repreueth / and eek of hym that is repreued [630] ¶ loo / what seith seint Augustyn ‖ ther is no thyng so lyk the [¶ sanctus Augustinus] deueles child /. as he / that ofte chideth ¶ Seint [folio 224b] Paul seith [¶ Sanctus Paulus] eek ‖. I seruant of god / bihoueth nat to chide [631] ¶ And how þat chidynge / be a vileyns thyng bitwixe alle manere folk/. yet is it certes / moost vncouenable / bitwixe a man and his wyf /. for there is neuere reste /

[6-text p 641] and therfore seith Salomon /. An hous that is vncouered [¶ Salomon] and droppynge /. and a chidynge wyf been lyke [632] ¶ A man that is in a droppynge hous in manye places /. though he eschewe the droppynge in o place / it droppeth on hym / in another place ¶ So fareth it by [¶ Nota exemplum] a chydynge wyf /. but she chide hym in o place / she wol chide hym in anoþer [633] ¶ And therfore / bettre is a morsel of breed with ioye / than an hous ful of delices with chidynge seith Salomon [634] ¶ Seint [¶ Salomon] Paul seith ¶ O ye wommen / be ye subgetes to youre [¶ Paulus ad Colonienses .3^o.] housbondes / and ye men / loueth youre wyues. Ad Colonienses .3^o.

[635] Afterward / speke we of scornynge. which is a [¶ Of scornynge] wikked synne /. and namely / whan he scorneth a man for hise goode werkes /. [636] ffor certes / swiche scorneres / faren / lyk the foule tode / that may nat endure / to smelle / the soote sauour of the vyne / whanne it florissheth [637] ¶ Thise scorneres / been partyng felawes with the deuel. / for they han ioye / whan the deuel wynneth. and sorwe whan he leseth. [638] they been Aduersaries of Ihesu crist. for they haten that he loueth. that is to seyn / saluacion of soule

[639] Speke we now of wikked conseil. for he þat [¶ Of yeuyng/ of wikked conseil] wikked conseil yeueth / is a traytour. / he deceyueth hym þat trusteth in hym Vt Achitofel ad Absolonem .‖. But nathelees / yet is his wikked conseil first agayn hym self /. [640] ffor as seith the wise man ./ euery fals luyunge / hath his propertee in hym self/. that he þat wole anoye another man. he anoyeth first hym self [641] ¶ And men shul vnderstonde / that man shal nat [¶ Of what folk / þat a man shal eschuen to taken his conseil] taken his conseil of fals folk/. ne of angry folk/ or greuous folk/ that louen specially / to muchel hir owene profit. ne to muche worldly folk namely / in conseilynge of soules

[642] NOw comth the synne of hem that sowen / and [¶ Of hem that sowen and maken discorde] maken discord amonges folk. which is a synne / that

[6-text p 642] Crist hateth outrely /. and no wonder is ¶ ffor he deyde / for to make concord. [643] And moore shame do they to Crist. than dide they / that hym crucifiede / for god loueth bettre / that freendshipe be amonges folk. than he dide his owene body. the which that he yaf for vnitee ‖. Therfore been they likned to the deuel / that euere been aboute to maken discord

[644] NOw comth the synne of double tonge. swiche [¶ Of the synne of double tonge] as speken faire byforn folk/. and wikkedly bihynde. or elles / they maken semblant. as though they speeke of good entencion. or elles in game and pley and yet they speke of wikked entente

[645] NOw comth biwreying of conseil. thurgh [¶ Of biwreying of conseil] which/a man is defamed/.certes/vnnethe/may he restoore the damage

[646] NOw comth Manace. that is an open folye /. for [¶ Of Manace] he / that ofte manaceth. he threteth / moore than he may perfourne / ful ofte tyme

[647] NOw cometh ydel wordes. that is with outen [¶ Of ydel wordes] profit of hym that speketh tho wordes. and eek of hym / that herkneth tho wordes ¶ Or elles ydel wordes / been tho that been nedelees / or with outen entente of natureel profit ./ [648] And al be it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial synne. yet sholde men douten hem. for we shul yeue rekenynge of hem bifore god

[649] NOw comth Ianglynge. that may nat been with [¶ Of Ianglynge] oute synne ¶ And as seith Salomon. it is a synne of apert [¶ Salomon] folye /. [650] And therfore / a Philosophre seyde /. whan [¶ Philosophus] men axed hym / how [folio 225a] that men sholde plese the peple: and he answerde / do manye goode werkes / and spek fewe Iangles

[651] After this / comth the synne of Iaperes / that [¶ Of the synne of Iaperis.] been the deueles Apes. for they maken folk to laughe at hire Iaperie / as folk doon / at the gawdes of An Ape /. Swiche Iaperes deffendeth seint Paul. [652] ¶ Looke / how that vertuouse wordes and hooly woordes conforten hem /

[6-text p 643] that trauaillen / in the seruice of crist. right so conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of Iaperis. hem that trauaillen / in the seruice of the deuel [653] ¶ Thise been the synnes / that comen of the tonge. that comen of Ire / and of othere synnes mo .

¶ Sequitur remedium contra peccatum Ire .

[654]

The remedie agayns Ire. is a vertu / that men clepen Mansuetude. that is debonairetee /. and eek another vertu / þat men callen pacience / or suffrance

[655] ¶ Debonairetee / withdraweth and refreyneth [¶ Of debonairetee] the stirynges and the moeuynges of mannes corage in his herte. in swich manere / that they ne skippe nat out by Angre ne by Ire / [656] ¶ Suffrance / suffreth swetely / alle [¶ Of Suffrance] the anoyaunces and þe wronges / that men doon / to man outward [657] ¶ Seint Ierome seith thus of debonairetee. [¶ Sanctus Ieronimus] that it dooth noon harm to no wight ne seith. ne for noon harm that men doon or seyn. he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his reson [658] ¶ This vertu som tyme comth of nature /. ffor as seith the Philosophre. A man is a quyk [¶ Philosophus] thyng by nature. debonaire and tretable to goodnesse. but whan debonairetee / is enformed of grace / thanne is it the moore worth

[659] ¶ Pacience / that is another remedie. Agayns Ire. [¶ Of Pacience] it is a vertu that suffreth swetely euery mannes goodnesse / and is nat wrooth for noon harm / that is doon to hym [660] ¶ The philosophre seith / that pacience is thilke [¶ Philosophus] vertu / that suffreth debonairely alle the outrages of Aduersitee / and euery wikked word [661] ¶ This vertu / maketh a man lyk to god / and maketh hym / goddes owene deere child / as seith Crist. this vertu disconfiteth thyn enemy ¶ And therfore seith the wise man. / If thow [¶ Nota secundum sapientem] wolt venquysse thyn enemy / lerne to suffre / [662] And thou shalt vnderstonde / that man suffreth iiij. manere [¶ Of .iiij. manere of greuances. that man suffreth in outwarde thynges.]

[6-text p 644] of greuances in outward thynges. agayns the whiche iiij. he moot haue / .iiij manere of paciences

[663] ¶ The firste greuance / is of wikkede wordes /. [¶ The firste greuance] thilke suffrede Ihesu crist. with-outen grucchyng ful paciently. whan the Iewes despised and repreued hym ful ofte [664] ¶ suffre thou therfore paciently. for the [¶ Remedium] wise man seith /. If thou stryue with a fool / though [¶ Nota de sapiente] the fool be wrooth / or though he laughe. algate / thou shalt haue no reste [665] ¶ That oother greuance [¶ The .ij.^de greuance] outward. is to haue damage of thy catel ¶ Ther agayns [¶ Remedium] suffred crist ful paciently. whan he was despoyled / of al that he hadde in this lyf. and that nas but hise clothes / [666] ¶ The thridde greuance is / a man to haue harm in [¶ The .iij.^de greuance] his body ¶ That suffred crist. ful paciently in al his [¶ Remedium] passion [667] ¶ The fourthe greuance /. is in outrageous [¶ The .iiij.^e greuance] labour / in werkes. Wherfore I seye that folk/ that maken hir seruantz to trauaillen. to greuously / or out of tyme. as on haly dayes / soothly / they do greet synne [668] Heer agayns suffred Crist ful paciently / and [¶ Remedium] taughte vs pacience /. whan he baar [folio 225b] vp-on his blissed shulder / the croys / vp-on which / he sholde suffren despitous deeth [669] ¶ Heere may men lerne to be pacient/. for certes noght oonly cristen men been pacient. for loue of Ihesu crist / and for gerdon / of the blisful lyf / that is perdura[b]le. but certes the olde payens that neuere were cristene / commendeden and vseden the vertu of pacience

[670] A Philosophre vp-on a tyme that wolde haue [¶ Nota de in|paciencia cuius|dam Philosophi contra suum discipulum] beten his disciple for his grete trespas for which he was greetly amoeued and broghte a yerde to scoure with the child. [671] and whan this child saugh the yerde. he seyde to his maister. what thenke ye do? / I. wol bete thee quod the maister for thy correccion [672] ¶ ffor sothe quod the child / ye oghten first correcte youre self /. that han lost al youre pacience / for the gilt of a child [673] ¶ ffor sothe quod the maister al wepynge thow

[6-text p 645] seyst sooth / haue thow the yerde my deere sone and correcte me / for myn inpacience [674] Of pacience comth [¶ how Obedience comth of pacience] Obedience / thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist. and to alle hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist [675] ¶ And vnderstond wel that obedience is perfit. whan that a man dooth gladly and hastily with good herte entierly al that he sholde do [676] ¶ Obedience generally / is to perfourne the doctrine of god and of his souereyns to whiche / hym oghte to ben obeisaunt in alle rightwisnesse . . . .

¶ Sequitur de Accidia .

[677]

After the synne of Enuye and of Ire. now wol I speken of the synne of Accidie. for Enuye / blyndeth the herte of man and Ire troubleth a man. and Accidie maketh hym heuy thoghtful and wrawful [678] Enuye and Ire maken bitternesse in herte. which bitternesse is mooder of Accidie and bynymeth hym the loue of alle goodnesse. thanne is Accidie / the Angwissh of troubled herte And seint Augustyn seith. / [¶ sanctus Augustinus] it is anoy of goodnesse and ioye of harm [679] ¶ Certes this is a dampnable synne. for it dooth wrong to Ihesu crist. in as muche as it bynymeth the seruice / that men oghte doon to crist with alle diligence / as seith Salomon. / [¶ Salomon] [680] but Accidie / dooth no swich diligence. He dooth alle thyng with anoy / and with wrawnesse / slaknesse / and excusacion / and with ydelnesse / and vnlust. ffor which the book seith ‖. Acursed be he that dooth the seruice of god necligently [681] ¶ Thanne is Accidie / [¶ Nota & caue] enemy / to euerich estaat of man. for certes / the estaat of man / is in .iij. maneres [682] ¶ Outher it is / thestaat of [¶ Of .iij. maneres of estates of man] Innocence. as was thestaat of Adam / biforn that he fil into [¶ Of thestaat/ of Innocence] synne. in which estaat he was holden to wirche / as in heriynge and adowrynge of god [683] ¶ Another estaat. [¶ Of thestaat/ of synful men] is estaat of synful men. in which estaat men been holden

[6-text p 646] to laboure in preiynge to god. for amendement of hire synnes. and that he wole graunte hem to arysen out of hir synnes / [684] ¶ Another estaat is thestaat of grace. in [¶ Of thestaat of grace] which estaat he is holden to werkes of penitence. and certes / to alle thise thynges is Accidie enemy and con|trarie. ffor he loueth no bisynesse at al [685] ¶ Now certes this foule swyn Accidie. is eek a ful greet enemy to the liflode of the body. for it ne hath no purueaunce agayn temporeel necessitee. for it forsleweth and for|sluggeth. and destroyeth alle goodes temporeles / by [folio 226a] reccheleesnesse

[686] The fourthe thyng is. that Accidie is lyk to hem [¶ How Accidie is lyk to hem that been in the peyne of helle] that been in the peyne of helle. by cause of hir slouthe and of hire heuynesse for they that been dampned / been so bounde. that they ne may neither wel do / ne wel thynke [687] ¶ Of Accidie comth first that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon any goodnesse. and maketh / that god hath abhomynacion of swich Accidie

[688] NOw comth slouthe. that wol nat suffre noon [¶ Of the synne of slouthe] hardnesse ne no penaunce. ffor soothly / Slouthe is so tendre. and so delicaat as seith Salomon / that he wol nat [¶ Salomon] suffre / noon hardnesse ne penaunce. and therfore / he shendeth / al that he dooth [689] ¶ Agayns this roten [¶ Remedie agayn slouthe] herted synne of Accidie and slouthe / sholde men exercise hem self to doon goode werkes. and manly and vertuously cacchen corage wel to doon. thynk|ynge that oure lord Ihesu crist. quiteth euery good dede / be it neuer so lite. / [690] vsage of labour / is a greet thyng. for it maketh as seith seint Bernard the [¶ Nota secun|dum Bernardum] laborer/ to haue stronge armes / and harde synwes. and slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre [691] Thanne comth [¶ Of drede / to bigynnen anye goode werkes] drede to bigynne to werke anye goode werkes. for certes / he that is enclyned to synne. hym thynketh / it is so greet an emprise / for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnesse. [692] and casteth in his herte / that the

[6-text p 647] circumstances of goodnesse been so greuouse and so chargeant for to suffre. that he dar nat vndertake / to do werkes of goodnesse / as seith seint Gregorie [¶ Gregorius]

[693] NOw comth wanhope. that is despeir of the [¶ Of the synne of wanhope] mercy of god. þat comth somtyme / of to muche out|rageous sorwe. and somtyme / of to muche drede. ymagin|ynge that he hath doon so muche synne / that it wol nat auaillen hym. though he wolde repenten hym and forsake synne /. [694] thurgh which despeir/ or drede / he abaundoneth al his herte to euery maner synne as seith seint Augustin. [695] Which dampnable synne / if that [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] it continue vn-to his ende / it is cleped synnyng in the hooly goost [696] ¶ This horrible synne is so perilous. that he þat is despeired ther nys no felonye / ne no synne that he douteth for to do. as sheweth wel by Iudas [697] ¶ Certes abouen alle synnes / thanne is this synne moost displesant to Crist and moost Aduersarie [698] ¶ Soothly. he that despeireth hym / is lyke the coward champion recreant . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] and nedelees despeired ‖. [699] Certes / the mercy of god / is euere redy to euery penitent. and is abouen alle hise werkes [700] ¶ Allas / kan a man nat bithynke hym / on the gospel of seint Luc .15. where as Crist seith /. that as wel shal [¶ Luca in Euaungelio] ther be Ioye in heuene vpon a synful man that dooth penitence. than vp on 90 and .19. rightful men / that . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] neden no penitence [701] ¶ Looke forther in the same gospel. the ioye / and the [¶ In eodem Euaungelio] feeste of the goode man that hadde lost his sone. whan his sone with repentance. was retourned to his fader [702] ¶ kan they nat remembren hem eek/. that as seith seint Luc .23. how that the theef that was hanged [¶ Nota secundum Lucam de latrone / sus|penso cum christo] bisyde Ihesu crist. seyde. Lord remembre of me. whan thow comest in to thy regne [703] ¶ ffor sothe. [seyde] Crist. I seye to thee. to day shaltow been with me in Paradys [704] ¶ Certes ther is noon so horrible synne of [¶ Nota]

[6-text p 648] man / that it ne may in his lyf be destroyed by penitence. thurgh vertu of the passion / and of the deeth of Crist ‖. [705] Allas / what nedeth man thanne to been despeired. sith þat his. mercy / so redy is and large. / Axe and haue [706] Thanne cometh Sompnolence / that is sloggy [¶ Of Sompno|lence] slombrynge. which maketh a man be [folio 226b] heuy and dul / in body and in soule. And this synne comth of Slouthe [707] And certes / the tyme that by wey of reson men sholde nat slepe. that is by [the morwe] but if ther were cause resonable. / [708] ffor soothly / the morwe tyde is moost couenable a man to seye hise preyeres / and for to thynken on god / and for to honoure god. and to yeuen Almesse to the poure. that first cometh in the name of Crist. [709] Lo what seith Salomon ¶ Who so wolde [¶ Salomon] by the morwe awaken and seke me / he shal fynde [710] Thanne cometh Necligence / or reccheleesnesse / [¶ Of Necligence / or reccheleesnesse] that rekketh of no thyng/. And how that Ignorance be mooder of alle harm. / certes Necligence is the norice [711] ¶ Necligence ne dooth no fors / whan he shal doon a thyng. Wheither he do it weel or baddely . . . . .

[712] Of the remedie of thise two synnes. as seith [¶ Of the remedie ayens Necligence and recchelees|nesse. secundum Sapientem] the wise man /. that he that dredeth god / he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon /. [713] and he that loueth god / he wol doon diligence to plese god by hise werkes / and abaundone hym self with al his myght wel for to doon [714] Thanne comth ydelnesse. that is the yate of alle [¶ Of ydelnesse] harmes / ¶ An ydel man / is lyk to a place that hath no walles. the deueles may entre on euery syde and sheten at hym at discouert by temptacion on euery syde [715] ¶ This ydelnesse is the thurrok of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes / and of alle Iangles / trufles / and of alle ordure [716] ¶ Certes / the heuene is yeuen to hem that wol labouren and nat to ydel folk ¶ Eek Dauid seith / [¶ Dauid] that they ne been nat in the labour of men ne they shul nat been whipped with men / that is to seyn in purgatorie /

[6-text p 649] [717] certes thanne semeth it. they shul be tormented with the deuel in helle but if they doon penitence

[718] Thanne comth the synne that men clepen [¶ Of the synne þat men clepen Tarditas] Tarditas. as whan a man is to laterede / or tariynge er he wole turne to god /. and certes / that is a greet folie. He is lyk/ to hym that falleth in the dych. and wol nat arise ./ [719] And this vice / comth of a fals hope. that he thynketh / that he shal lyue longe. but that hope / faileþ ful ofte /

[720] Thanne comth lachesse. that is he / that whan he [¶ Of the synne of lachesse] biginneth any good werk/. anon he shal forleten it and stynten / as doon they / that han any wight to gouerne / and ne taken of hym namoore kepe anon as they fynden any contrarie or any anoy [721] ¶ Thise been the newe sheepherdes / that leten hir sheepe wityngly go renne to the wolf / that is in the breres / or do no fors of hir owene gouernance [722] of this / comth pouerte and destruccion. bothe of spiritueel / and temporeel thynges Thanne comth a manere cooldnesse / that freseth al the herte of a man / [¶ Of cooldnesse of a mannes herte] [723] Thanne comth vndeuocion thurgh which a man is [¶ Of vndeuocioun] blent as seith Seint Bernard. and hath swich langour in [¶ Sanctus Bernardus] soule. that he may neither rede ne singe in hooly chirche / ne heere / ne thynke of no deuocion / ne trauaille with hise handes in no good werk. that it nys hym vnsauory and al apalled [724] ¶ thanne wexeth he slough and slombry and soone wol be wrooth / and soone is enclyned to hate and to enuye [725] Thanne comth the synne of [¶ Of worldly sorwe] worldly sorwe. / which as is cleped tristicia. that sleeth man / as seint Paul seith / [726] ffor certes swich sorwe / [¶ Sanctus Paulus] werketh to the deeth of the soule and of the body also / for ther-of comth þat a man is anoyed of his owene lif. [727] wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif of man. er þat his tyme be come by wey of kynde .

[6-text p 650]

[folio 227a] ¶ Remedium contra peccatum Accidie .

[728]

Agayns this horrible synne of Accidie. and the branches of the same. ther is a vertu / that is called fortitudo. or strengthe / that is an affeccion / thurgh which / a man despiseth anoyouse thinges [729] ¶ This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous. that it dar withstonde myghtily and wisely kepen hym self fro perils that been wikked. and wrastle agayn the assautes of the deuel. [730] for it enhaunceth and enforceth the soule right as Accidie abateth it and maketh it fieble. / ffor this fortitudo may endure by long suffrance / the trauailles that been couenable

[731] ¶ This vertu / hath manye speces. and the firste / is cleped Magnificence. that is to seyn greet corage. [¶ Of Magnanim|itee] for certes ther bihoueth greet corage agains Accidie / lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the synne of sorwe / or destroye it by wanhope [732] ¶ This vertu maketh folk / to vndertake harde thynges and greuouse thynges / by hir owene wil / wesely and resonably ‖. [733] And for as muchel / as the deuel fighteth agayns a man. moore by queyntise and by sleighte. than by strengthe. therfore men shal withstonden hym by wit and by reson and by dis|crecion [734] Thanne arn ther the vertues of ffeith and [¶ Of the vertues of feith and hope] hope in god and in hise seintes to acheue and acomplice the goode werkes / in the whiche / he purposeth fermely to continue [735] Thanne comth seuretee / or sikernesse. and that is. whan a man / ne douteth no trauaille in tyme comynge / of the goode werkes / that a man hath bigonne [736] Thanne comth Magnificence / that is to seyn / whan [¶ Of Magnificence] a man dooth and perfourneth grete werkes of goodnesse and that is the ende / why that men sholde do goode werkes. for in the acomplissynge of grete goode werkes / lith the grete gerdon [737] Thanne is ther Constance. that is stablenesse of corage. and this sholde [¶ Of Constaunce] been in herte / by stedefast feith. and in mouth / and in

[6-text p 651] berynge / and in chiere and in dede [738] Eke ther been mo speciale remedies agains Accidie in diuerse werkes / [¶ Of mo speciale remedies agayns Accidie] and in consideracion of the peynes of helle and of the ioyes of heuene / and in trust of the grace of the holy goost that wole yeue hym myght to perfourne his goode entente .

¶ Sequitur de Auaricia .

[739]

After Accidie / wol I speke of Auarice and of Coueitise / of which synne seith seint Paule [¶ Sanctus Paulus] that the roote of alle harmes is Coueitise. Ad Thimotheum .6^o. [740] ffor soothly whan the herte of a man. is confounded in it self and troubled and that the soule / hath lost the confort of god. thanne seketh he an ydel solas of worldly thynges /

[741] Auarice / after the descripcion of seint Augustyn. [¶ What Auarice is secundum Augustinum] is likerousnesse in herte to haue erthely thynges. [742] ¶ Som oother folk seyn / that Auarice / is. for to purchacen manye erthely thynges. and no thyng yeue to hem that han nede / [743] ¶ And vnderstoond / that Auarice / ne stant nat oonly in lond ne catel but som|tyme / in science and in glorie. and in euery manere of outrageous thyng is Auarice and Coueitise / [744] ¶ And the difference bitwixe Auarice and Coueitise is this [¶ Of the differ|ence / bitwixe Auarice and Coueitise] ¶ Coueitise / is for to coueite swiche thynges as thou hast nat ‖. And Auarice / is for to withholde and kepe swiche thynges as thou hast with-oute rightful nede [745] ¶ soothly [folio 227b] this Auarice is a synne / that is ful dampnable. for al hooly writ curseth it / and speketh agayns that vice. for it dooth wrong to Ihesu crist. [746] for it bireueth hym the loue that men to hym owen / and turneth it bakward agayns alle reson. [747] and maketh that the Auaricious man / hath moore hope in his catel / than in Ihesu crist and dooth moore obseruance in kepynge of his tresor / than he dooth to seruice of Ihesu crist. [748] And therfore seith

[6-text p 652] seint Paul ad Ephesios 5^o. that an Auaricious man / is [Panlus ad Ephesios .5^o.] the thraldom of ydolatrie

[749] ¶ What difference / is bitwixe an ydolastre / and [¶ Of the differ|ence bitwix an ydolastre and an auaricious man] an Auaricious man? but that an ydolastre per auenture / ne hath but o Mawmet or two / and the Auaricious man hath manye. ffor certes / euery floryn in his cofre is his Mawmet/. [750] And certes the synne of Mawmettrie is the firste thyng that God deffended in the ten comaund|mentz as bereth witnesse Exodi capitulo .20^o [751] ¶ Thou [¶ Exodi capitulo. 20^o] shalt haue no false goddes bifore me / ne thou shalt make to thee no graue thyng. thus is an Auaricious man that loueth his tresor biforn god an ydolastre / [752] thurgh this cursed synne of Auarice Of Coueitise comen thise [¶ Of Coueitise] harde lordshipes / thurgh whiche men been distreyned by taylages / custumes and cariages / moore than hire duetee or reson is / And eek they taken of hire bonde men Amercimentz. whic[h]e myghten moore resonably ben cleped extorcions than Amercimentz [753] ¶ Of whiche Amercimentz and raunsonynge of bondemen / somme lordes stywardes / seyn that it is rightful. for as muche as a cherl / hath no temporeel thyng that it ne is his lordes / as they seyn / [754] but certes thise lordshipes doon wrong that bireuen hire bonde folk. thynges that they neuere yaue hem /. Augustinus de civitate. libro. 9^o. [755] [¶ Augustinus de civitate. libro. 9^o.] ¶ Sooth is / þat the condicion of thraldom and the firste cause of thraldom is for synne genesis 9^o. [¶ genesis .9^o.]

[756] ¶ Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserueth thraldom / but nat nature /. [757] wherfore thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifien hem in hir lordshipes / sith that by natureel condicion they been nat lordes of thralles. but that thraldom comth first by the desert of synne [758] ¶ And forther ouer / ther as the lawe seith / that temporeel goodes of boonde folk. been the goodes of hir lordshipes. ye that is for to vnderstonde. the goodes of the Emperour / to deffenden hem in hir right. but nat for to robben hem ne reuen hem [759] ¶ And therfore

[6-text p 653] seith Seneca ¶ thy prudence sholde lyue benignely with [¶ Seneca] thy thralles /. [760] thilke þat thou clepest thy thralles been goddes peple. for humble folk/. been cristes freendes / they been contubernyal with the lord /

[761] ¶ Thynk eek / that of swich seed as cherles spryngeth. of swich seed spryngen lordes. As wel may the cherl be saued as the lord. [762] the same deeth þat takeþ the cherl. swich deeth taketh the lord. wherfore I rede / do right so with thy cherl. as thou woldest that [¶ Nota] thy lord dide with thee if thou were in his plit/. [763] euery synful man / is a cherl to synne I rede thee certes that thou lord werke in swiche wise with thy cherles. that they rather loue thee than drede / [764] I woot wel ther is degree aboue degree. as reson is and skile it is that men do hir deuoir/ ther as it is due / but certes extorcions and [folio 228a] despit of youre vnderlynges / is dampnable /

[765] ¶ And forther ouer vnderstoond wel / that thise Conquerours / or tirauntz / maken ful ofte thralles of hem that been born / of as roial blood as been they that hem conqueren / [766] ¶ This name of thraldom / was [¶ Genesis ‖ Male|dictus Canaan seruus seruorum erit / fratribus suis] neuere erst kowth. til that Noe seyde / that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren for his synne [767] What seye we thanne / of hem that pilen and doon [¶ Of hem þat pilen & doon extorcions in hooly chirche] extorcions in hooly chirche? / ¶ Certes / the swerd that men yeuen first to a knyght whan he is newe dubbed / signifieth / that he sholde deffenden hooly chirche / and nat robben it ne pilen it /. and who so dooth is traitour to Crist [768] ¶ And as seith seint Augustyn / they been [¶ sanctus Augustinus] the deueles wolues that stranglen the sheepe of Ihesu crist. and doon worse than wolues. [769] ffor soothly / whan the wolf hath ful his wombe / he stynteth to strangle sheepe. / but soothly / the pilours and destroy|ours of goddes hooly chirche / ne do nat so / for they ne stynte neuere to pile [770] NOw as I haue seyd / sith so is / that synne / was first cause of thraldom. thanne is it

[6-text p 654] thus. / that thilke tyme that al this world was in synne. thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccion [771] ¶ but certes / sith the time of grace cam / god ordeyned that som folk sholde be moore heigh in estaat and in degree. and som folk moore lough. and that euerich / sholde be serued in his estaat. . . . . [no gap in MS.] [772] and therfore / in somme contrees ther they byen thralles. whan they han turned hem to the feith. they maken hire thralles free out of thraldom. And therfore certes / the lord oweth to his man. that the man oweth to his lord ‖. [773] the Pope calleth hym-self seruant of the seruantz of god. / but for as muche as the estaat of hooly chirche. ne myghte nat han be / ne the commune profit myghte nat han be kept. ne pees and reste in erthe / but if god hadde ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower/ [774] therfore / was souereyntee ordeyned / to kepe and mayntene and def|fenden hire vnderlynges or hire subgetz in reson / as fer|forth as it lith in hire power/. and nat to destroyen hem ne confounde [775] ¶ Wherfore I seye / that thilke lordes that been lyk wolues that deuouren the possessions or the catel of poure folk wrongfully with-outen mercy or mesure / [776] they shul receyuen by the same mesure [¶ Eadem mensura &c] that they han mesured to poure folk/ the mercy of Ihesu crist but if it be amended [777] ¶ NOw comth deceite / [¶ Of deceite / bitwixe Mar|chaunt and Marchant/] bitwixe Marchant and Marchant ¶ And thow shalt vnder|stonde that marchandise / is in manye maneres. that oon is bodily and that oother is goostly. that oon is honeste and leueful. and that oother is deshoneste and vnleueful [778] Of thilke bodily marchandise that is leueful and [¶ Of bodily marchandise that is leueful & honeste] honeste. is this /. that there as god hath ordeyned that a regne or a contree / is suffisant to hym self/. thanne is it honeste and leueful. that of habundaunce of this contree. that men helpe another contree that is moore nedy /. [779] And therfore / ther moote been Marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree to that oother / hire march|andises

[6-text p 655] [780] ¶ That oother marchandise that men haunten with fraude and trecherie and deceite. with lesynges and false othes / is cursed and dampnable [781] Espiritueel marchandise / is proprely Symonye /. [¶ Of espiritueel marchandise / that is Symonye] that is ententif desir/ to byen thyng espiritueel. that is // thyng that aperteneth to the Seintuarie of god / and to cure of the soule [782] ¶ this desir/ if so be that a man do his diligence to parfournen it. al be it that his desir ne take noon [folio 228b] effect. yet is it to hym a deedly synne / and if he be ordred / he is irreguleer [783] Certes Symonye / is cleped of Simon Magus / that wolde han [¶ Of whom Symonye bereth his name] boght for temporeel catel. the yifte that god hadde yeuen by the hooly goost. to seint Peter and to the Apostles ‖. [784] And therfore vnderstoond that bothe he that selleth and he that beyeth thynges espirituels / been [¶ Of diuerse maneres of symonye] cleped Symonyals. be it by catel. be it by procurynge / or by flesshly preyere of hise freendes / flesshly freendes / or espiritueel freendes [785] ¶ flesshly in two maneres /. As by kynrede / or othere freendes. soothly if they praye for hym that is nat worthy and able / it is Symonye. if he take the benefice. / and if he be worthy and able / ther nys noon [786] ¶ That oother manere is / whan a man or [¶ Of another manere of Symonye] womman preyen for folk to auauncen hem oonly / for wikked flesshly affeccion that they have vn-to the persone and that is foul Symonye [787] ¶ but certes in seruice / for which men yeuen thynges espirituels vn-to hir seruantz. it moot been vnderstonde / þat the seruice / moot been honeste / and elles nat. and eek / that it be with-outen bargaynynge. and that the persone be able. [788] for as seith Seint Damasie ¶ Alle the synnes of the [¶ sanctus damasius] world / at regard of this synne / arn as thyng of noght. for it is the gretteste synne that may be. after the synne of Lucifer and Antecrist. [789] for by this synne / god forleseth / the chirche and the soule that he boghte with his precious blood / by hem þat yeuen chirches to hem that been nat digne. [790] for they putten in theues that

[6-text p 656] stelen the soules of Ihesu crist and destroyen his patri|moyne ‖. [791] by swiche vndigne preestes and Curates / han lewed men the lasse reuerence of the sacramentz of hooly chirche. and swiche yeueres of chirches putten out the children of Crist /. and putten in to the chirche the deueles owene sone. [792] they sellen the soules / that lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that strangleth hem /. And therfore / shul they neuere han part of the pasture of lambes / that is the blisse of heuene [793] NOw comth / hasardrie with hise apur|tenances. [¶ Of hasardrye with hise apur|tenaunces] as tables and Rafles. of which / comth deceite. false othes. chidynges. and alle rauynes. blasphemynge and reneiynge of god. and hate of hise neighebores. wast of goodes. mysspendynge of tyme. and somtyme man|slaughtre .‖. [794] Certes / hasardours ne mowe nat been with-outen greet synne . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [795] [¶ How of Auarice. comen. lesynges. fals witnesse. and false othes.] Of Auarice / comen eek lesynges. thefte. fals witnesse. and false othes ‖. And yeshul vnderstonde that thise been grete synnes. and expres agayn the comaundementz of god as I haue seyd [796] ¶ ffals witnesse. is in word and eek in dede [¶ Of fals witnesse] ¶ In word / as for to bireue thy neighebores goode name by thy fals witnessyng. or bireuen hym his catel or his heritage. by thy fals witnessyng. whan thou for Ire / or for meede. or for enuye. berest fals witnesse / or accusest hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse. or elles ex|cusest thy self falsly. [797] ware yow questemongeres and Notaries ¶ Certes. for fals witnessyng was Susanna in ful gret sorwe and peyne. and many another mo / [798] ¶ The synne of thefte is eek expres agayns goddes heeste. and in [¶ Of the synne of thefte] two maneres / corporeel. or espiritueel. [799] [Corporeel] [¶ Of thefte corporeel] as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl be it by force or by sleighte. be it by Met or by mesure. [800] By stelyng eek of false enditementz vpon hym. and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel. in entente neuere to payen it agayn [folio 229a] and semblable thynges / [801] ¶ Es|piritueel thefte / is Sacrilege. that / is to seyn / hurt|ynge [¶ Of thefte espiritueel]

[6-text p 657] of hooly thynges. or of thynges sacred to crist in two maneres. by reson of the hooly place. as chirches or chirche hawes. [802] for which euery vileyns synne that men doon in swiche places / may be cleped sacrilege. or euery violence in the semblable places / ¶ Also / they that withdrawen falsly / the rightes that longen to hooly chirche [803] ¶ And pleynly and generally .sacrilege. is / to reuen hooly thyng/ fro hooly place /. or vnhooly thyng out/ of hooly place. / or hooly thing out of vn|hooly place

¶ Releuacio contra peccatum Auaricie .

[804]

NOw shul ye vnderstonde. that the releeuynge of Auarice. is Misericorde and pitee largely taken /. And men myghten axe. why that Misericorde and pitee. [¶ Of Misericorde & pitee] is releeuynge of Auarice [805] ¶ Certes / the Auaricious man / sheweth no pitee ne Misericorde to the nedeful man / for he deliteth hym in the kepynge of his tresor. and nat in the rescowynge ne releeuynge of his euene cristene. and therfore speke I first of Misericorde / [806] ¶ Thanne is Misericorde / as seith the Philosophre. [¶ What Miseri|corde is secundum Philosophum] a vertu / by which the corage of man is stired by the mysese of hym that is mysesed /. [807] vp-on which Misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge of charitable werkes of Misericorde [808] And certes thise thynges / [¶ Of thynges / that sholde moeue a man to Misericorde] moeuen a man to Misericorde of Ihesu crist. that he yaf hym self for oure gilt. and suffred deeth for Misericorde / and forgaf vs oure originale synnes. [809] and therby relessed vs fro the peynes of helle. and amenused the peynes of Purgatorie by penitence and yeueth grace wel to do / and atte laste the blisse of heuene / [810] The speces of Misericorde been. as for to lene and for to yeue /. and to foryeuen and relesse. and for to han [¶ Of the speces of Misericorde] pitee in herte and compassion of the meschief of his

[6-text p 658] euene cristene. And eek to chastise there as nede is / [811] ¶ Another manere of remedie agayns Auarice / is [¶ Of another remedie agayn Auarice] resonable largesse / but soothly heere bihoueth the con|sideracion of the grace of Ihesu crist and of hise temporeel goodes / and eek of the goodes perdurables that crist yaf to vs. [812] and to han remembrance / of the deeth that he shal receyue. he noot whanne. where. ne how /. and eek that he shal forgon al that he hath. saue oonly / that he hath despended in goode werkes.

[813] ¶ But for as muche as som folk been vnmesur|able. men oughten eschue fool largesse that men [¶ Of fool largesse] clepen wast / [814] ¶ Certes / he that is fool large ne yeueth nat his catel / but he leseth his catel ‖. Soothly / what thyng that he yeueth for veyne glorie. as to Mynstrals and to folk /. for to beren his renoun in the world. he hath synne ther-of and noon Almesse. [815] certes he leseth foule his good. that ne seketh with the yifte of his good / no thyng but synne. [816] He is lyk/ to an hors that seketh. rather to drynken drouy or trouble water / than for to drynken water of the clere welle. / [817] And for as muchel as they yeuen. ther as they sholde nat yeuen. to hem aperteneth thilke malison / that crist shal yeuen at the day of doome / to hem / that shullen been dampned . . .

[folio 229b] Sequitur de gulâ

[818]

After Auarice comth Glotonye / which is expres eek agayn the comandement of god ¶ Glotonye / is [¶ What Glotonye is] vnmesurable Appetit to ete or to drynke / or elles to doon ynogh to the vnmesurable Appetit and desordeynee coueitise to eten or to drynke. [819] ¶ This synne cor|rumped al this world. as is wel shewed / in the synne of Adam and of Eue ¶ Looke eek / what seith seint Paul of [¶ Sanctus Paulus] Glotonye [820] ¶ Manye seith seint Paul goon / of whiche

[6-text p 659] I haue ofte seyd to yow. and now I seye it wepynge / that been the enemys of the croys of Crist. of whiche the ende is deeth. and of whiche / hire wombe is hire god and hire glorie / in confusion of hem / that so devouren erthely thynges [821] ¶ He that is vsant / to this synne of Glotonye / he ne may no synne withstonde. he moot been in seruage of alle vices. for it is the deueles hoord / ther he hideth hym and resteth [822] ¶ This [¶ Of the speces of Glotonye] synne hath manye speces ¶ The firste / is dronkenesse. [¶ The firste spece of Glotonye] that is the horrible sepulture of mannes reson. and ther|fore / whan a man is dronken / he hath lost his reson. and this is deedly synne [823] ¶ But soothly. whan that a man is nat wont to strong drynke. and perauenture / ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the drynke. or hath feblesse in his heed. or hath trauailed. thurgh which he drynketh the moore. al be he sodeynly caught with drynke / it is no deedly synne / but venyal [824] ¶ The seconde spece of [¶ The .ij.^de spece of Glotonye] Glotonye is. that the spirit of a man / wexeth al trouble. for dronkenesse bireueth hym the discrecion of his wit [825] ¶ The thridde spece of Glotonye. is whan a man [¶ The .iij.^de spece of Glotonye] deuoureth his mete. and hath no rightful manere of etynge [826] ¶ The fourthe is. whan thurgh the grete habund|aunce [¶ The .iiij.^e spece of Glotonye] of his mete. the humours in his body / been des|tempred [827] ¶ The fifthe. is foryetelnesse by to muchel [¶ The .v.^e spece of Glotonye] drynkynge. for which somtyme a man foryeteth er the morwe. what he dide at euen. or on the nyght biforn

[828] ¶ In oother manere been distinct the speces of / [¶ Of othere manere speces of Glotonye. whiche been likned to the .v. fyngres of the deueles hand. secundum sanctum Gregorium] Glotonye after seint Gregorie ¶ The firste is. for to ete bi|forn tyme to ete ¶ The seconde is / whan a man get hym. to delicaat mete / or drynke [829] ¶ The thridde is. whan men taken to muche ouer mesure ¶ The fourthe is curiositee with greet entente. to maken and apparaillen his mete ¶ The fifthe is. for to eten to gredily [830] Thise been / the fyue fyngres of the deueles hand. by whiche. he draweth folk to synne . . . .

[6-text p 660]

¶ Remedium contra peccatum Gule .

[831]

Agayns Glotonye is the remedie Abstinence. as seith Galien. but that holde I nat meritorie. if he do it oonly for the heele of his body ‖. seint Augustyn wole / that Abstinence be doon for vertu and [¶ Augustinus] with pacience [832] ¶ Abstinence he seith is litel worth /. but if a man haue good wil ther-to. and but it be enforced by pacience and by charitee. and that men doon it for godes sake. and in hope to haue the blisse of heuene

[833] ¶ The felawes of Abstinence / been. Attemper|aunce [¶ Of the felawes of Abstinence] that holdeth the meene in alle thynges ¶ Eek [¶ Attemperaunce] shame. that eschueth alle deshonestee ¶ Suffisance / that [¶ Shame] [¶ Suffisaunce] seketh no riche metes ne drynkes. ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparai [folio 230a] lynge of mete [834] ¶ Mesure also. that restreyneth by reson / the deslauee appetit of etynge ¶ Sobrenesse also. that restreyneth the outrage of drynke ‖ [¶ Sobrenesse] [835] sparynge also. that restreyneth the delicaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softely. wherfore / som folk stonden of hir owene wyl / to eten / at the lasse leyser

¶ Sequitur de Luxuria .

[836]

After Glotonye / thanne comth lecherie. for thise two synnes / been so ny cosyns. that ofte tyme / they wol nat departe. [837] god woot this synne is ful displesant thyng to god. ffor he seyde hym self/ do no lecherie. and therfore / he putte grete peynes agayns this synne / in the olde lawe [838] ¶ If wom|man [¶ Of diuerse Iuyses / to diuerse wommen of estaat/ for the synne of lecherye] thral / were taken in this synne. she sholde be beten with staues to the deeth. And if she were a gentil womman / she sholde be slayn with stones. And if she were a bisshoppes doghter/ she sholde been brent by goddes comandement [839] ¶ fforther ouer/ by the [¶ How for the synne of lecherie al the world was dreynt/ And .v. Citees brent & sonken] synne of lecherie / god dreynte al the world / at the

[6-text p 661] diluge. And after that he brente .v. Citees with thonder leyt and sank hem in to helle

[840] Now lat vs speke thanne / of thilke stynkynge [¶ Of the synne of Auowtrie] synne of lecherie that men clepe Auowtrie. of wedded folk /. that is to seyn. if that oon of hem be wedded. or elles bothe [841] ¶ Seint Iohn seith that Auowtiers [¶ Nota secun|dum Iohannem] shullen been in helle / in a stank brennynge of fyr and of Brymston . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] for the stynk of hire ordure /. [842] Certes / the brekynge of this sacrement is an horrible thyng/. it was maked of god hym self in paradys and confermed by Ihesu crist as witnesseth seint Mathew in the gospel. A man shal lete [¶ Mathei. 19^o.] fader and mooder/ and taken hym to his wif/ And they shullen be two in o flessh [843] ¶ This sacrement bitok|neth the knyttynge togidre / of Crist and of hooly chirche. [844] And nat oonly that god forbad Auowtrie in dede. but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coueite thy neighebores wyf [845] ¶ In this heeste seith seint Augustyn. is forboden alle manere coueitise to doon [¶ Sanctus Augustinus] lecherie ¶ Lo what seith seint Mathew in the gospel. that [¶ Mathei .v.^to] who so seeth a womman to coueitise of his lust /. he hath doon lecherie / with hire in his herte. [846] Heere may ye seen / that nat oonly. the dede of this synne is forboden. but eek the desir / to doon that synne / [847] This cursed synne anoyeth greuousliche hem that it haunten ¶ And first to hire soule. for he obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth that is perdurable ‖. [848] vn-to the body. anoyeth it greuously also for it dreyeth hym. and wasteth. and shent hym. and of his blood he maketh sacrifice to the feend of helle. it wasteth his catel and his substance. [849] And certes if it be a foul thyng / a man to waste [¶ Nota] his catel on wommen. yet is it a fouler thyng/. whan that for swich ordure. wommen dispenden vp-on men hir catel and substance [850] ¶ This synne as seith the prophete [¶ propheta] bireueth man and womman hir goode fame. and al hire honour. and it is ful plesant to the deuel. for ther-by

[6-text p 662] wynneth he. the mooste partie of this world ‖. [851] And right as a Marchant/ deliteth hym moost in [folio 230b] chaffare / that he hath moost auantage of // right so deliteth the fend in this ordure.

[852] this is that oother hand of the deuel / with .v. [¶ Of .v. fyngres of the deueles hande] fyngres to cacche the peple to his vileynye [853] ¶ The firste fynger / is the fool lookynge of the fool womman. [¶ The firste fyngre] and of the fool man. that sleeth / right as the Basilicok sleeth folk by the venym of his sighte. for the coueitise of eyen / folweth the coueitise of the herte [854] ¶ The seconde fynger / is the vileyns touchynge in wikkede [¶ The .ij.^de fynger] manere. And ther-fore seith Salomon. / That who so [¶ Salomon] toucheth and handleth a womman. he fareth lyk hym that handleth the Scorpion þat styngeth and sodeynly sleeth / thurgh his enuenymynge. as who so toucheth warm pych. it shent hise fyngres [855] ¶ The thridde. is [¶ The .iij.^de fynger] foule wordes. that fareth lyk fyr. that right anon / brenneth the herte [856] ¶ The fourthe fynger / is the [¶ The .iiij.^e fynger] kissynge. and trewely / he were a greet fool that wolde kisse the mouth of a brennynge Ouene / or of a fourneys. [857] And moore fooles been they that kissen in vileynye. for that mouth / is the mouth of helle. and namely thise olde dotardes holours. yet wol they kisse / though [¶ How thise olde lecchours / been likned to houndes] they may nat do and smatre hem [858] Certes / they been lyk to houndes. for an hound / whan he comth by the Roser / or by othere beautees. though he may nat pisse. yet wole he heue vp his leg / and make a con|tenance to pisse [859] And for that many man weneth. [¶ Nota] that he may nat synne. for no likerousnesse that he dooth with his wyf/./ Certes that opinion is fals. god woot. a man may sleen hym self/ with his owene knyf / and make hym seluen dronken of his owene tonne ‖. [860] Certes be it wyf be it child / or any worldly thyng/ that he loueth biforn god. it is his mawmet and he is an ydolastre [861] ¶ Man sholde louen his wyf/ by discrecion [¶ How a man sholde louen his wyf] paciently and atemprely. and thanne is she. as though it

[6-text p 663] were his suster [862] ¶ The fifthe fynger of the deueles [¶ The v^e fynger of the deueles hande] hand is the stynkynge dede of leccherie [863] ¶ Certes the .v. fyngres of Glotonie the feend put in the wombe of a man. and with hise .v. fyngres of lecherie. he gripeth hym by the reynes / for to throwen hym in to the fourneys of helle. [864] ther as they shul han the fyr and the wormes that euere shul lasten. and wepynge and wailynge / sharpe hunger and thurst. and grymnesse of deueles / that shullen al to-trede hem with-outen respit and with|outen ende [865] ¶ Of leccherie / as I seyde / sourden [¶ Of diuerse speces of leccherie] diuerse speces ¶ As ffornicacion / that is bitwixe man and womman / that been nat maried. and this is deedly synne and agayns nature. [866] Al that is enemy and destruccion to nature. is agayns nature [867] Parfay / the reson of a man / telleth eek hym wel / that it is deedly synne. for as muche. as god forbad leccherie. And seint Paul yeueþ hem the regne that nys dewe to no wight. but to hem that doon deedly synne [868] ANother synne [¶ Of the synne. to bireue. a mayden / of hir maydenhede] of leccherie. is to bireue a mayden of hir maydenhede. for he that so dooth. / certes / he casteth a mayden / out of the hyeste degree that is in this present lif. [869] and bireueþ hire thilke precious fruyt that the book clepeth the hundred fruyt I ne kan seye it noon oother weyes in englissh. but in latyn / it highte Centesimus fructus [870] ¶ Certes / he that so dooth. is cause of manye damages and vileynyes / mo than any man kan rekene. right as he som tyme is cause of alle damages that beestes don in the feeld. that breketh the hegge or the closure. thurgh which he [folio 231a] destroyeth. that may nat been restoored. [871] ¶ ffor certes / namoore may maydenhede be re|stoored. than an Arm that is smyten fro the body may retourne agayn to wexe. / [872] She may haue mercy this woot I wel. if she do penitence. but neuere shal it be / that she nas corrupt [873] ¶ And al be it so that I haue spoken somwhat of Auowtrie. it is good to shewen mo perils that longen to Auowtrie. for to eschue that foule

[6-text p 664] synne [874] Auowtrie in latyn is for to seyn. Approchynge [¶ What Auowtrie is / . And of diuerse perils þat longen to Auowtrie] of oother mannes bed. thurgh which / tho that whilom weren o flessh abawndone hir bodyes to othere persones [875] ¶ Of this synne / as seith the wise man folwen manye harmes ¶ ffirst brekynge of feith. and certes. in feith is the keye of Cristendom. [876] and whan that feith is broken and lorn. soothly Cristendom stant veyn and with-outen fruyt [877] ¶ This synne is eek a [¶ How in Auowtrie is com|prehended thefte] thefte. for thefte generally is for to reue a wight his thyng agayns his wille [878] ¶ Certes / this is the fouleste thefte that may be. whan a womman / steleth hir body from hir housbonde and yeueth it to hire holour to defoulen hire ./ and steleth hir soule fro Crist / and yeueth it to the deuel. [879] this is a fouler thefte. than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice ‖. for thise Auowtiers breken the temple of god spiritually and stelen the vessel of grace. that is the body and the soule. for which Crist shal destroyen hem. as seith Seint Paul [880] ¶ Soothly [¶ Sanctus Paulus] of this thefte douted gretly Ioseph. whan that his lordes [¶ Nota de Iosepho] wyf preyed hym of vileynye. whan he seyde. lo my lady. how my lord hath take to me vnder my warde al that he hath in this world. ne no thyng of hise thynges is out of my power/ but oonly / ye that been his wyf. [881] And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse and synne so horrible agayns god / and agayns my lord? god it forbeede. Allas al to litel. is swich trouthe now y-founde [882] ¶ The thridde harm. is the filthe / thurgh which they breken the comandement of god. and defoulen the Actour of matrimoyne þat is Crist/. [883] ffor certes / in so muche as the sacrement of mariage is so noble and so digne. so muche is it gretter synne for to breken it. for god made mariage in Paradys in the estaat of Innocence to multiplye man kynde to the seruice of god. [884] and therfore. is the brekynge moore greuous. of which brekynge comen false heires ofte tyme that wrongfully ocupien folkes heritages. And therfore / wol Crist putte

[6-text p 665] hem out of the regne of heuene that is heritage to goode folk [885] ¶ Of this brekynge comth eek ofte tyme. that folk vnwar / wedden or synnen with hire owene kynrede. and namely / thilke harlottes that haunten bordels of thise fool wommen. that mowe be likned to a commune gonge where as men purgen hire ordure [886] ¶ What seye we eek of Putours þat lyuen by the horrible synne of putrie. [¶ Of putours that lyuen / by the puterye of wommen] and constreyne wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hire bodily puterie. ye somtyme of his owene wyf/ or his child. as doon this bawdes / certes / thise been cursede synnes [887] ¶ Vnderstoond eek / that Auowtrie is set gladly in the ten comandementz bitwixe thefte and man|slaughtre. for it is / the gretteste thefte that may be. for it is thefte of body and of soule. [888] and it is lyk to homycide. for it kerueth atwo and breketh atwo / hem / that first were maked o flessh. and therfore / by the olde lawe of god they sholde be slayn. [889] but nathelees by the lawe of Ihesu crist that is lawe of pitee. whan he seyde to the [folio 231b] womman that was founden in Auowtrie. and sholde han been slayn with stones. after the wyl of the Iewes as was hir lawe. Go quod Ihesu crist and haue na|moore wyl to synne. or wille namoore to do synne ‖ [890] Soothly / the vengeance of Auowtrie is awarded to the peynes of helle but if so be / that it be destourbed by penitence [891] Yet been ther mo speces of this cursed synne. as whan that oon of hem is religious. or elles bothe. [¶ Of Religious and ordred folk/ that vsen leccherye] or of folk / that been entred in-to ordre. as subdekne or preest or hospitaliers. and euere the hyer that he is in ordre. the gretter is the synne [892] ¶ The thynges that gretly agreggen hire synne. is the brekynge of hire Auow of chastitee. whan they receyued the ordre ‖. [893] And forther ouer sooth is that hooly ordre. is chief of al the tresorie of god. and his especial signe and mark of chastitee. to shewe that they been ioyned to chastitee which that is moost precious lyf that is /. [894] And thise ordred folk been specially titled to god / and of the

[6-text p 666] special meignee of god. for which / whan they doon deedly synne. they been / the special traytours of god and of his peple. for they lyuen of the peple ‖. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [895] Preestes been Aungeles. as by the dignitee of hir mysterye /. but for sothe / seint Paul [¶ Sanctus Paulus] seith /. that Sathanas transformeth hym in an Aungel of light. / [896] Soothly / the preest that haunteth deedly synne. he may be likned to the Aungel of derknesse transformed in the Aungel of light /. he semeth Aungel of light. but for sothe / he is Aungel of derknesse [897] ¶ swiche preestes been the sones of [[first Belie]] Helie. as sheweth in the book of Kynges. that they weren the [¶ In libro Regum] sones of Belial. that is the deuel ‖. [898] Belial is to seyn / with-outen Iuge. and so faren they / hem thynketh they been free and han no Iuge. namoore than hath a free bole that taketh / which Cow that hym liketh in the town. [899] so faren they by wommen. / ffor right as a free bole. is ynough for al a toun. right so is a wikked preest corrupcion ynough for al a parisshe. or for al a contree ‖. [900] Thise preestes as seith the book / ne konne nat the mysterie of preesthode to the peple. ne god ne knowe they nat. they ne holde hem nat apayd as seith the book of soden flessh that was to hem offred / but they tooke by force / the flessh that is rawe [901] ¶ Certes / so thise shrewes / ne holden hem nat apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh. with which the peple / fedden hem in greet reuerence. but they wole haue raw flessh of folkes wyues and hir doghtres. / [902] And certes / thise [¶ Notate & cauete] wommen that consenten to hire harlotrie / doon greet wrong to Crist and to hooly chirche / and alle halwes. and to alle soules. for they bireuen alle thise. hym that sholde worshipe Crist and hooly chirche And preye for cristene soules ‖. [903] And therfore han swiche preestes and hire lemmanes eek that consenten to hir leccherie the malison of al the court cristiene. til they come to amendement

[6-text p 667] [904] The thridde spece of Auowtrie / is som tyme bitwixe [¶ Of Auowtrie / bitwixe a man and his wyf/] a man and his wyf and that is whan they take no reward in hire assemblynge. but oonly to hire flesshly delit /. as seith seint Ierome. [905] And ne rekken of no thyng but [¶ Ieronimus] that they been assembled. by cause that they been maried al is good ynough as thynketh to hem. [906] but in swich folk hath the deuel power / as seyde the Aungel Raphael [¶ Angelus Raphael ad Thobiam] to Thobie. for in hire assemblynge / they putten Ihesu crist out of hire herte. and yeuen hem self to alle ordure [907] The fourthe spece is. the assemblee of hem that been [¶ Of the assem|blee of hem/ that/ been of o kynrede] [folio 232a] of hire kynrede. or of hem / that been of oon affynytee. or elles with hem with whiche hir fadres / or hir kynrede / han deled in the synne of lecherie / this synne / maketh hem lyk to houndes that taken no kepe to kynrede [¶ Of kynrede in two maneres / outher goostly / or flesshely] [908] ¶ And certes parentele is in two maneres / outher goostly or flesshly /. goostly / as for to deelen with hise godsibbes. [909] for right so as he that engendreth a child / is his flesshly fader / right so is his godfader / his fader espiritueel. for which / a womman may in no lasse synne assemblen with hire godsib / than with hire owene flesshly brother [910] The fifthe spece. is thilke abhomynable [¶ The .v^e. speche of leccherie] synne. of which / that no man vnnethe oghte speke ne write. nathelees / it is openly reherced in holy writ ‖ [911] This cursednesse doon men and wommen in diuerse entente and in diuerse manere. but though that hooly writ speke of horrible synne. certes / hooly writ may nat been defouled. namoore / than the sonne that shyneth on the Mixne [912] Another synne aperteneth to leccherie that [¶ Of the synne of Polucioun] comþ in slepynge. and this synne cometh ofte / to hem that been maydenes / and eek/ to hem that been corrupt. and this synne men clepen Polucion that comth in .iij. maneres ‖. [913] Somtyme / of langwissynge of body / for the humours been to ranke / and habundaunt in the body of man ¶ Somtyme of infermetee. for the fieblesse of the vertu retentif. as phisik maketh mencion ¶ som tyme for surfeet of mete and drynke [914] ¶ And somtyme / of

[6-text p 668] vileyns thoghtes. that been enclosed in mannes mynde / whan he gooth to slepe. which may nat been with-oute synne. for which men moste kepen hem wisely. or elles / may men synnen ful greously

¶ Remedium contra peccatum luxurie .

[915]

NOw comth the remedie agayns leccherie. and that is generally Chastitee and Continence. that re|streyneth alle / the desordeynee moeuynges / that comen of flesshly talentes. [916] And euere / the gretter merite shal he han. that moost restreyneth the wikkede eschaw|fynges of the ordure of this synne. and this is in two [¶ Of chastitee in two maneres] maneres. that is to seyn / chastitee in mariage and chastitee of widwehode [917] NOw shaltow vnderstonde that matrimoyne / is leefful assemblynge of man And of [¶ What matri|moyne is] womman / that receyuen by vertu of the sacrement the boond. thurgh which they may nat be departed in al hir lyf that is to seyn. whil that they lyuen bothe [918] This as seith the book/ is a ful greet sacrement. god maked it. as I haue seyd in Paradys. and wolde hym self. be born in mariage. [919] and for to halwen mariage. he was at a weddynge. where as he turned water in to wyn. which was / the firste miracle that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples [920] ¶ Trewe effect of [¶ Of trewe effect/ of mariage] mariage / clenseth fornicacion and replenysseth hooly chirche of good lynage. for that is the ende of mariage. and it chaungeth deedly synne in to venial synne / bitwixe hem that been ywedded. and maketh the hertes al oon / of hem that been ywedded. as wel as the bodies. [921] verray mariage. that was establissed by god. er that synne bigan. whan natureel lawe / was in his right poynt in Paradys and it was ordeyned. that o man / [¶ How o man sholde haue but o womman. And o womman but o man in mariage secun|dum Augusti|num] sholde haue but o womman. and o. womman but o man. as seith Seint Augustyn by manye resons

[922] ¶ ffirst for mariage is figured / bitwixe Crist and

[6-text p 669] holy chirche. And that oother is [folio 232b] for a man / is heued of a womman. algate / by ordinaunce it sholde be so. [923] ffor if a womman / hadde no men than oon. thanne sholde she haue / moo heuedes than oon. and that were an horrible thyng biforn god. and eek / a womman / ne myghte nat plese to many folk / at oones. / And also / ther ne sholde neuere be pees ne reste amonges hem. for euerich / wolde / axen his owene thyng [924] ¶ And forther ouer / no man ne sholde knowe / his owene en|gendrure. ne who sholde haue his heritage. and the womman sholde been the lasse biloued / fro the tyme that she were / conioynt to many men

[925] NOw comth / how that a man sholde bere hym [¶ How a man sholde bere him with his wyf/] with his wif / and namely in two thynges. that is to seyn / in suffrance and reuerence as shewed Crist. whan he made first womman. [926] ffor he ne made hire nat of the heued of Adam. for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe [927] for ther as the womman hath the maistrie / she maketh to muche desray / ther neden none ensamples of this. the experience of day by day oghte suffise [928] ¶ Also certes / god ne made nat womman of the foot of Adam / for she ne sholde nat been holden to lowe. for she kan nat paciently suffre. but god made womman of the ryb of Adam. for womman sholde be felawe vn-to man [929] Man sholde bere hym to his wyf In feith / in trouthe / and in loue / as seith seint [¶ Sanctus Paulus] Paul. that a man sholde louen his wyf / as Crist loued hooly chirche /. that loued it so wel / that he deyde for it. so sholde a man for his wy[f] if it were nede

[930] ¶ Now / how that a womman / sholde be subget [¶ How a womman / sholde be subget to hir housbonde / secundum Petrum & decretum] to hire housbonde that telleth seint Peter. ffirst in Obedi|ence [931] ¶ And eek / as seith the decree. A womman that is wyf / as longe as she is a wyf / she hath noon Auctoritee to swere ne bere witnesse / with-oute leue of hir housbonde. that is hire lord / algate / he sholde be so by reson [932] ¶ She sholde eek/ seruen hym in alle

[6-text p 670] honestee. and been attempree of hire array /. I woot wel/ that they sholde setten hire entente to plesen hir hous|bondes but nat by hire queyntise of array [933] ¶ Seint [¶ Nota secun|dum sanctum Ieronimum] Ierome seith / that wyues / that been apparailled in silk/ and in precious purpre. ne mowe nat clothen hem in Ihesu Crist. / What seith seint Iohn eek / in thys matere?‖ [934] Seint Gregorie eek seith. that no wight seketh [¶ Sanctus Gregorius] precious array. but oonly for veyne glorie / to been honoured the moore / biforn the peple ‖. [935] It is a greet folye /. a womman to haue a fair array outward / and in hir self / foul inward [936] ¶ A wyf / sholde eek be [¶ How a wyf sholde be mesur|able in lookynge & in berynge &cetera] mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge / and discreet in alle hire wordes / and hire dedes. [937] and abouen alle worldly thyng she sholde louen hire housbonde with al hire herte. and to hym / be trewe of hir body [938] ¶ so sholde an housbonde eek be to his wyf /. ffor sith that/ al the body / is the housbondes. so sholde hire herte been. or elles / ther is bitwixe hem two. as in that no parfit mariage [939] Thanne shal men vnder|stonde. [¶ How a man & his wyf/ mowen assemblen flesshely for .iij. thynges] that for thre thynges / a man and his wyf flesshly mowen assemble ‖ ¶ The firste. is in entente of engen drure of children. to the seruice of god. ffor certes / that is the cause final of matrimoyne [940] ¶ Another cause is. to yelden euerich of hem to oother / the dette of hire bodies. ffor neither of hem / hath power ouer his owene body / ¶ The thridde is. for to eschewe leccherye and vileynye ¶ The ferthe / is for sothe deedly synne [941] As to the [folio 233a] firste / it is meritorie /. the seconde also / for as seith the decree. that she hath [merite of chastitee] þat yeldeth to [¶ In decreto] hire housbonde the dette of hir body. ye though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust of hire herte [942] ¶ The thridde manere is venyal synne. and trewely scarsly may ther any [of] thise be with-oute venial synne / for the corrupcion and for the delit / [943] ¶ The fourthe manere is for to vnderstonde. if they assemble oonly for amorous loue / and for noon of the foreseyde causes. but

[6-text p 671] for to accomplice thilke brennynge delit / they rekke neuere how ofte. soothly it is deedly synne. and yet with sorwe somme folk wol peynen hem moore to doon / than to hire appetit suffiseth

[944] The seconde manere of chastitee / is for to been [¶ Of chastitee in wydwehede] a clene wydewe and eschue the embracynges of man and desiren the embracynge of Ihesu crist. [945] thise been tho þat han been wyues and han forgoon hire hous|bondes. and eek wommen þat han doon leccherie and been releeued by Penitence [946] ¶ And certes. if þat a wyf koude kepen hire al chaast by licence of hir housbonde so þat she yeue neuere noon occasion þat he agilte. it were to hire a greet merite [947] ¶ Thise manere wommen þat obseruen chastitee . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] in clothynge and in contenance / & been abstinent in etynge. and drynkynge. in spekynge / and in dede. they been the vessel / or the boyste of the blissed Magdelene / þat fulfilleth hooly chirche of good odour [948] The thridde [¶ Of chastitee in virginitee] manere of chastitee is virginitee. and it bihoueth þat she be hooly in herte and clene of body / thanne is she spouse to Ihesu crist and she is the lyf of Angeles. [949] she is the preisynge of this world. and she is as thise martirs in egalitee. she hath in hire. that tonge may nat telle ne herte thynke ‖. [950] Virginitee baar oure lord Ihesu crist and virgine was hym selue

[951] Another remedie agayns leccherie. is specially / [¶ Of another remedie agayns leccherye] to withdrawen swiche thynges / as yeue occasion to thilke vileynye. as ese. etynge and drynkynge / for certes / whan the pot boyleth strongly /. the beste remedie is to with|drawe the fyr [952] ¶ Slepynge. longe in greet quiete. is eek a greet norice to leccherie

[953] ¶ Another remedie agayns leccherie. is / þat a [¶ Another remedie agayns leccherie] man or a womman eschue the compaignye of hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted. for al be it so þat the dede is withstonden. yet is ther greet temptacion ‖.

[6-text p 672] [954] Soothly. a whit wal. al-though it ne brenne noght fully by stikynge of a candele. yet is the wal blak of the leyt. [955] ¶ fful ofte tyme I rede. þat no man truste in [¶ Nota] his owene perfeccion but he be stronger than Sampson. & hoolier than Danyel. & wiser than Salomon

[956] ¶ Now after þat I haue declared yow as I kan the seuene deedly synnes and somme of hire braunches and hire remedies; soothly if .I. koude .I. wolde telle yow the ten comandementz. [957] but so heigh a doctrine I lete to diuines. nathelees I hope to god. they been touched in this tretice euerich of hem alle

¶ Sequitur secunda pars Penitencie .

[958]

NOw for as muche. as the second partie of Penitence. stant in Confession of mouth / as I bigan in the firste Chapitre / I seye. seint Augustyn seith [What synne is. secundum Augustinum] [959] ¶ Synne is euery word and euery dede. and al þat men coueiten agayn the lawe of Ihesu crist. and this is for to synne. in herte. in mouth. and in dede by thy fiue wittes. that been. sighte. herynge. smellynge. tastynge / [¶ Memorandum mors intrauit/ per fenestras] or sauourynge. and feelynge; [960] Now is it good to vnderstonde that. þat agreggeth muchel [folio 233b] euery synne [¶ Of thynges þat agreggeth synne. and the firste is this] [961] ¶ Thow shalt considere / what thow art þat doost the synne / wheither thou be male or femele. yong/ or oold. gentil or thral. free / or seruant. hool / or syk. wedded or sengle. ordred / or vnordred. wys or / fool. clerk / or seculeer. [962] if she be of thy kynrede / bodily or goostly or noon / if any of thy kynrede haue synned with hire or noon /. and manye mo thinges

[963] ¶ Another circumstaunce is this. wheither it be [¶ The .ij.^de circumstaunce] doon in fornicacion or in Auowtrie or noon / Incest or noon /. mayden or noon. in manere of homicide / or noon. horrible grete synnes / or smale. and how longe thou hast continued in synne [964] ¶ The thridde circumstance / is [¶ The .iij.^de circumstaunce] the place / ther thou hast do synne. wheither in oother

[6-text p 673] mennes hous / or in thyn owene. in feeld or in chirche / or in chirchehawe. in chirche dedicaat / or noon. [965] for if the chirche be halwed. and man or womman spille his kynde in with that place by wey of synne or by wikked temptacion / the chirche is entredited . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [966] and the preest þat dide swich a vileynye. to terme of al his lif/ he sholde namoore synge masse. and if he dide. he sholde doon deedly synne / at euery time þat he so songe masse / [967] ¶ The fourthe circumstance is. by whiche mediat|ours [¶ The .iiij.^e circumstaunce] / or by whiche messagers / as for enticement or for consentement to bere compaignye with felaweshipe. for many a wrecche for to bere compaignye shal go to the deuel of helle. [968] wher-fore / they þat eggen or con|senten to the synne / been parteners of the synne / and of the temptacion of the synnere.

[969] ¶ The fifthe circumstance. is / how manye tymes [¶ The .v.^e circumstaunce] þat he hath synned / if it be in his mynde / and how ofte þat he hath falle. [970] for he þat ofte falleth in synne. he despiseth the mercy of god and encreesseth hys synne and is vnkynde to crist. and he wexeth the moore fieble to withstonde synne and synneth the moore lightly / [971] and the latter ariseth / and is the moore eschew for to shryuen hym / namely / to hym þat is his Con|fessour / [972] ffor which that folk / whan they falle agayn in hir olde folies. outher they forleten hir olde confessours al outrely. or elles they departen hir shrift in diuerse places. but soothly / swich departed shrift deserueth no mercy of god of hise synnes [973] ¶ The sixte circum|stance [¶ The .vj.^e circumstaunce] / is why þat a man synneth as by temptacion and if hym self procure thilke temptacion / or by the ex|citynge of oother folk. or if he synne with a womman by force / or by hire owene assent. [974] or if the womman maugree hir hed hath been afforced or noon / this shal she telle. ffor coueitise / or for pouerte. and if it was hire procurynge or noon / and swiche manere

[6-text p 674] harneys [975] ¶ The seuenthe circumstance / is / in what [The .vij.^e circumstaunce] manere he hath doon his synne / or how þat she hath suffred þat folk han doon to hire. [976] And the same shal the man telle pleynly with alle circumstances. and wheither he hath synned with comune bordel wommen or noon. [977] or doon his synne in hooly tymes or noon. in fast|ynge tymes or noon. or biforn his shrifte. or after his latter shrifte. [978] and hath per auenture / broken ther-fore his penance enioyned. by whos helpe and whos conseil. by sorcerie or craft. al moste be toold [979] ¶ Alle thise thynges. after þat they been grete or smale engreggen the conscience of man. And eek the preest þat is thy Iuge may the bettre been auysed of his Iuggement in yeuynge of thy penance and that is after thy contricion ‖ [980] ffor vnderstond wel þat after tyme þat a man hath defouled his baptesme by synne. if he wole come to [folio 234a] saluacioun. ther is noon other wey / but by penitence / and shrifte and satisfaccioun [981] and namely by the two if ther be a confessour / to which he may shriuen hym / and the thridde if he haue lyf to parfournen it

[982] Thanne shal man looke and considere / þat if he wole maken a trewe and a profitable confessioun ther moste be .iiij. condicions [983] ¶ ffirst it moot been in [¶ How shrift moot been sorweful] sorweful bitternesse of herte. as seyde the kyng Ezechiel to [¶ Nota de con|fessione Regis Ezechielis] god /. I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lif in bitternesse of myn herte /. [984] this condicion of bitter|nesse [¶ How con|fessioun moste be shamefast/] hath fyue signes ¶ The firste is / þat confession moste be shamefast. nat for to couere ne hyden his synne / for he hath agilt his god and defouled his soule /. [985] And ther-of seith seint Augustyn ¶ the herte [¶ Sanctus Augustinus.] trauailleth for shame of his synne / and for he hath greet shamefastnesse / he is digne to haue greet mercy of god [986] ¶ Swich was the confession of the Puplican þat [Nota de con|fessione Publi|cani] wolde nat heuen vp hise eyen to heuene / for he hadde offended god of heuene / for which shamefastnesse/ he hadde anon the mercy of god [987] ¶ And ther-of seith

[6-text p 675] seint Augustyn /. that swich shamefast folk / been next foryeuenesse and remission [988] Another signe / is [¶ Of humylitee in confessioun Vnde sanctus Petrus.] humylitee in confessioun. of which seith seint Peter / Humbleth yow vnder the myght of god. the hond of god is myghty in confession. for ther-by / god foryeueth thee thy synnes. for he allone hath the power / [989] & this humylitee shal been in herte and in signe outward. for right as he hath humylitee to god in his herte? right so sholde he humble his body outward to the preest/ þat sit in goddes place. [990] ffor which in no manere sith þat crist is souereyn and the preest meene and mediatour bi|twixe crist and the synnere. and the synnere is the laste. by wey of reson [991] thanne sholde nat the synnere sitte as heighe as his confessour/ but knele biforn hym / or at his feet but if maladie destourbe it /. ffor he shal nat taken kepe. who sit there / but in whos place þat he sitteth ‖. [992] A man þat hath trespased to a lord and comth for to axe mercy and maken his accord. and set him doun anon by the lord / men wolde holden hym outrageous and nat worthy so soone for to haue remission ne mercy [993] ¶ The thridde signe is. how þat thy shrift sholde be ful of teeris if [¶ How a mannes shrift/ sholde be ful of teeris] man may / and if man may nat wepe with hise bodily eyen / lat hym wepe in herte /. [994] Swich was the confession [¶ Nota de con|fessione sancti Petri /] of seint Peter/ for after þat he hadde forsake Ihesu crist/ he wente out and weepe ful bitterly [995] ¶ The fourthe [¶ How a man sholde nat lette for shame to shewen his con|fessioun] signe is / þat he ne lette nat for shame to shewen his confession [996] ¶ swich was the confession of the Magdelene / þat ne spared for no shame of hem þat weren [¶ Nota de con|fessione Marie Magdalene] atte feeste for to go to oure lord Ihesu crist/ and biknowe to hym hire synnes [997] ¶ The fifthe signe is / that a man [¶ How a man sholde been obeisaunt to receyue penaunce for hise synnes] or a womman be obeisant to receyuen. the penaunce þat hym is enioyned for hise synnes. for certes Ihesu crist for the giltes of a man / was obedient to the deeth

[998] ¶ The seconde con[dicion] of verray confession / [¶ How confes|sioun sholde been hastily doon for diuerse causes.] is / þat it be hastily doon. for certes / if a man hadde a deedly wounde euere the lenger þat he taried to warisshe

[6-text p 676] hym self / the moore wolde it corrupte and haste hym to his deeth and eek the wounde / wolde be the wors for to heele. [999] ¶ And right / so fareth synne / þat longe tyme is in a man vnshewed [1000] ¶ Certes a man oghte hastily shewen hise synnes for manye causes. as for drede of deeth þat cometh ofte sodenly. and no certeyn what tyme it shal be / ne in what place. and eek the drecchynge of o synne draweþ In another / [1001] and eek the lenger þat he tarieth / the ferther he is fro crist [folio 234b] And if he abide to his laste day / scarsly may he shryuen hym / or re|membre hym of hise synnes / or repenten hym / for the greuous maladie of his deeth [1002] and for as muche as he ne hath nat in his lyf herkned Ihesu crist whanne he hath spoken. he shal crie to Ihesu crist at his laste day / and scarsly wol he herkne hym [1003] ¶ And vnderstond / that this condicion moste han foure thynges ¶ Thi shrift/ moste be purueyed bifore and auysed. [¶ How a mannes shrift moste be purueyed & auysed biforn.] for wikked haste dooth no profit/ and þat a man konne shryue hym of hise synnes / be it of pride or of Enuye and so forth of the speces and circumstances. [1004] and þat he haue comprehended in hys mynde the nombre and the greetnesse of hise synnes. and how longe þat he hath leyn in synne. [1005] and eek/ þat he be contrit of hise synnes. and in stidefast purpos by the grace of god neuere eft to falle in synne. and eek/ þat he drede and countrewaite hym self / þat he fle the occasions of synne to whiche he is enclyned [1006] ¶ Also / thou shalt shryue thee of alle [¶ How a man shal shryue him of alle hise synnes to o man] thy synnes to o man / and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel to another /. that is to vnderstonde in entente / to departe thy confession / as for shame or drede. for it nys but stranglynge of thy soule /. [1007] ffor certes Ihesu crist is entierly al good in hym nys noon inperfeccion. and therfore / outher he foryeueth al parfitly / or neuer a deel [1008] ¶ I seye nat þat if thow be assigned to the Penitancer for certein synne. þat thow art bounde to shewen hym al the remenant of thy synnes. of whiche

[6-text p 677] thow hast be shryuen to thy curaat. but if it like to thee of thyn humylitee /. this is no departynge of shrifte. [1009] ne I seye nat ther as I speke of diuision of confes|sion / þat if thou haue licence for to shryue thee to a discreet and an honeste preest / where thee liketh and by licence of thy curaat. that thow ne mayst wel shryue thee to him of alle thy synnes. [1010] but lat no blotte be bihynde / lat no synne been vntoold / as fer as thow hast remem|braunce. [1011] and whan thou shalt be shryuen to thy curaat. telle hym eek alle the synnes þat thow hast doon / syn thou were last yshryuen / this is no wikked entente of diuision of shrifte

[1012] ¶ Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine con|dicions [¶ How a man sholde shryue him by his free wyl vncon|streyned] / ¶ ffirst/ þat thow shryue thee by thy free wil noght constreyned. ne for shame of folk/. ne for maladie. ne swiche thynges. for it is reson þat he þat trespasseth by his free wyl. that by his free wyl / he confesse his trespas. [1013] and þat noon oother man telle his synne but he hym self. ne he shal nat nayte ne denye his synne. ne wratthe hym agayn the preest for his amonestynge to leue synne [1014] ¶ The seconde condicion. is þat thy [¶ How a mannes shrift/ shal be laweful] shrift be laweful. that is to seyn / that thow þat shryuest thee / and eek the preest þat hereth thy confession been verraily in the feith of hooly chirche. [1015] and þat a man / ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Ihesu crist as Caym or Iudas [1016] ¶ And eek a man moot accusen [¶ How a man moot accusen him self / & noon oother/ of his owene trespas] hym self / of his owene trespas and nat another / but he shal blame and wyten hym self/ & his owene malice of his synne / and noon oother. [1017] but nathelees / if that another man be occasion or enticere of his synne. or the estaat of a persone be swich / thurgh which his synne is agregged. or elles þat he may nat pleynly shryuen hym / but he telle the persone / with which he hath synned. thanne may he telle. [1018] so þat his entente / ne be nat/ to bakbite the persone / but oonly to declaren his con|fession

[6-text p 678]

[1019] ¶ Thou ne shalt nat eek/ make no lesynges in [¶ How a man shal make no lesynges in his confessioun] thy confession / for humylitee per auenture / to seyn þat thou hast doon synnes of whiche that thow were neuere gilty [1020] ¶ ffor Seint Augustyn seith ¶ If [¶ Nota secundum Augustinum] thou [folio 235a] by cause of thyn humylitee / makest lesynges on thy self /. though thow ne were nat in synne biforn / yet artow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges / [1021] ¶ Thou most eek shewe thy synne / by thyn owene propre [¶ How a man moot shewe his synne / by his owene propre mouthe] mouth / but thow be woxe dowmb / and nat by no lettre. for thow that hast doon the synne thou shalt haue the shame therfore [1022] ¶ Thow shalt nat eek [¶ How a man / shal nat peynten his confessioun] peynte thy confession by faire subtile wordes to couere the moore thy synne. for thanne bigilestow thy self/ and nat the preest/. thow most tellen it pleynly / be it neuere so foul ne so horrible [1023] ¶ Thow shalt eek [¶ How a man shal shruyen hym to a discreet preest/] shryue thee to a preest þat is discreet to conseille. and eek thou shalt nat shryue thee for veyne glorie / ne for ypocrisye / ne for no cause / but oonly for the doute of Ihesu crist and the heele of thy soule. [1024] ¶ Thow shalt nat eek renne to the preest sodeynly to tellen hym [¶ How a man shal nat renne sodeynly to shrifte.] lightly thy synne / as who so telleth a Iape or a tale / but auysely and with greet deuocion ‖. [1025] And generally shryue thee ofte ‖. If thou ofte falle / ofte thou arise by confession. [1026] and though thou shryue thee ofter [¶ Nota /] than ones of synne / of which thou hast be shryuen. it is the moore merite? And as seith seint Augustyn / thow [¶ Sanctus Augustinus.] shalt haue the moore lightly relesyng/ and grace of god / bothe of synne and of peyne /. [1027] And certes oones a yeere atte leeste wey / it is laweful for to been housled. for certes oones a yeere / alle thynges renouellen

[1028] ¶ Now haue I toolde you of verray confession. that is the seconde partie of Penitence .

¶ Explicit/ secunda pars Penitencie?

[6-text p 679]

et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem .

[1029]

The thridde partie of Penitence. is Satisfaccion. and [¶ Of .iij. manere of Almesses.] that stant moost generally in Almesse. and in bodily peyne [1030] ¶ Now been ther thre manere of Almesses ¶ Contricion of Herte; where a man offreth hymself to god ¶ Another is / to han pitee of defaute of hise neighebores ¶ And the thridde is / in yeuynge of good conseil goostly and bodily / where men han nede. and namely in sustenance of mannes foode [1031] ¶ And tak [kepe] / þat a man hath nede of thise [¶ Of the werkes of charitee] thinges generally /. he hath nede of foode. he hath nede / of clothyng / and herberwe. he hath nede of charitable conseil and visitynge in prisone and in maladie / and sepulture of his dede body. [1032] And if thow mayst nat visite the nedeful with thy persone / visite hym by thy message and [[MS. repeats thy message and]] by thy yiftes. / [1033] Thise been generally almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that han temporeel richesses / or discrecion in conseilynge ¶ Of thise werkes / shaltow heren at the day of doome?

[1034] Thise Almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene propre thynges and hastily and priuely if thow mayst. [1035] but nathelees / if thow mayst nat doon it priuely. thow shalt nat forbere to doon Almesse though men seen it/ so that it be nat doon for thank of the world. but oonly for thank of Ihesu crist [1036] ¶ ffor as witnesseth Seint Mathew capitulo .v^o. A Citee may nat been hyd / [¶ Mathei .50.] that is set on a montayne. ne men lighte nat a lanterne and put it vnder a busshel /. but men sette it on a candle|stikke to yeue light to the men in the hous./ [1037] right so shal youre light lighten bifore men. that they may seen youre goode werkes and glorifie youre fader that is in heuene?

[1038] ¶ Now as to speken of bodily peyne. it stant in [¶ Of bodily penaunce] preyeres / in [folio 235b] wakynges / in fastynges / in vertuouse

[6-text p 680] techinges of orisons / [1039] ¶ And ye shul vnderstonde / that orisons or preyeres / is for to seyn a pitous wyl of herte that redresseth it in god and expresseth it by word outward to remoeuen harmes and to han thynges espiritueel and durable / and somtyme temporele thynges. / of whiche orisons certes / in the orison of the Pater noster / [¶ Of the orisoun of the pater noster /] hath Ihesu crist enclosed moost thynges [1040] ¶ Certes it is priuyleged of thre thynges in his dignytee. for which it is moore digne than any oother preyere. for that Ihesu crist hym self maked it/ [1041] and it is short/ for it sholde be koud the moore lightly. and for to withholden it the moore esily in herte. and helpen hym self/ the ofter with the orison. [1042] and for a man sholde be the lasse wery to seyen it. and for a man may nat excusen hym to lerne it. it is so short and so esy. and for it comprehendeth in it self alle goode preyeres. / [1043] the exposicion of this hooly preyere / that is so excellent and digne I bitake to thise maistres of Theologie. saue thus muchel wol I seyn. that whan thow prayest/ that god sholde foryeue thee thy giltes / as thou foryeuest hem that agilten to thee. be ful wel war / that thow be nat out of charitee? [1044] ¶ This hooly orisoun amenuseth eek venyal synne / and therfore it aperteneth specially to penitence

[1045] This preyere / moste be trewely seyd and in verray feith. and that men preye to god ordinatly & dis|creetly & deuoutly. and alwey a man shal putten his wyl / to be subget to the wille of god [1046] ¶ This orison moste eek been seyd with greet humblesse and ful pure honestly. and nat to the anoyance of any man or womman /. It moste eek been continued with the werkes of charitee. [1047] It auayleth eek agayn the vices of the soule. for as seith seint Ierome. By fastynge / been saued the vices of the [¶ Nota secundum Ieronimum.] flessh / and by preyere the vertues of the soule

[1048] ¶ After this. thou shalt vnderstonde / that bodily peyne stant in wakynge. for Ihesu crist seith. waketh and preyeth that ye ne entre in wikked

[6-text p 681] temptacion [1049] ¶ Ye shul vnderstanden also. that fast|ynge [¶ How fastynge stant in thre thynges.] stant in thre thynges. In forberynge of bodily mete and drynke. and in forberynge of worldly Iolitee. and in for|berynge of deedly synne. this is to seyn / that a man shal kepen hym fro deedly synne with al his myght/

[1050] And thou shalt vnderstanden eek that god [¶ Of .iiij. thynges þat apertenen to fastynge.] ordeyned fastynge. and to fastynge appertenen .iiij. thinges. [1051] Largenesse to poure folk/./ gladnesse of herte espiritueel. nat to been angry / ne anoyed / ne grucche for he fasteth. / and also / resonable houre for to ete by mesure. that is for to seyn. a man shal nat ete in vntyme / ne sitte the lenger at his table to ete for he fasteth

[1052] ¶ Thanne shaltow vnderstonde / that bodily [¶ How bodily peyne stant / in disciplyne / or techynge.] peyne / stant in disciplyne or techynge / by word and by writynge / or in ensample. / Also in werynge of heyres or of stamyn / or of haubergeons on hire naked flessh for cristes sake / and swiche manere penances. [1053] but war thee wel that swiche manere penances on thy flessh / ne make thee nat or angry or anoyed of thy self/. for bettre / is to caste awey thyn heyre. than for to caste awey / the siker|nesse of Ihesu crist [1054] ¶ And therfore seith seint Paul /. [¶ Sanctus Paulus] Clothe yow as they that been chosen of god in herte. of Misericorde. debonairetee / suffrance / and swich manere of clothynge. of whiche Ihesu crist is moore apayed / than of heyres or haubergeons / or hauberkes?

[1055] [folio 236a] ¶ Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of [¶ Of othere diuerse maneres of disciplyne] thy brest/ in scourgynge with yerdes. in knelynges. in tribulacions?. [1056] in suffrynge paciently wronges that been doon to thee. and eek/ in pacient suffrance of maladies / or lesynge of worldly catel / or of wyf/ or of child / or othere freendes

[1057] ¶ Thanne shaltow vnderstonde / whiche thynges [¶ Of the thynges that destourben penaunce] destourben penance. and this is in .iiij. maneres / that is. drede. shame. hope. and wanhope / that is desperacion [1058] ¶ And for to speke first/ of drede. for which he [¶ ffirst of drede /]

[6-text p 682] demeth that he may suffre no penaunce ‖ [1059] ther [and of the remedie ther of/] agayns is remedie for to thynke. that bodily penance / is but short and litel at regard of the peynes of helle. that is so crueel and so long / that it lasteth with-outen ende

[1060] ¶ Now again the shame / that a man hath to [¶ Of shame / and of the remedie ther of/] shryuen hym. and namely thise ypocrites / that wolden been holden so parfite / that they han no nede to shryuen hem [1061] ¶ Agayns that shame. sholde a man thynke that by wey of reson / that he þat hath nat been shamed to doon foule thinges / certes hym oghte nat been ashamed to do faire thynges / and that is confessions [1062] ¶ A man sholde eek thynke / that god seeth and woot alle hise thoghtes and alle hise werkes / to hym may no thyng been hyd ne couered [1063] ¶ Men sholden eek / remembren hem of the shame that is to come at the day of doome to hem that been nat penitent/ And shryuen in this present lyf. / [1064] ffor alle the creatures in erthe and in helle shullen seen apertly / al that they hyden in this world

[1065] ¶ Now for to speken of hope / of hem that [¶ Of hope & of Surquiderie] been necligent/ and slowe to shryuen hem? that stant in two maneres. [1066] that oon is þat he hopeth for to lyue longe and for to purchacen muche richesse for his delit/. and thanne he wol shryuen hym. and as he seith / hym semeth thanne tymely ynough to come to shrifte ‖ [1067] Another is Surquidrie / that he hath in cristes mercy / [1068] ¶ Agayns the firste vice. he shal thynke / [¶ Remedie agayn necligent hope] that oure lif is in no sikernesse. and eek that alle the richesses in this world / ben in auenture and passen as a shadwe on the wal. [1069] and as seith seint Gregorie. / [¶ Sanctus Gregorius] that it aperteneth to the grete rightwisnesse of god. that neuere shal the peyne stynte. of hem þat neuere wolde withdrawen hem fro synne hir thankes / but ay continue in synne. ffor thilke perpetueel wil to do synne / shul they han perpetueel peyne

[1070] ¶ Wanhope is in two maneres. the firste wan|hope [¶ Of wanhope in two maneres] is in the mercy of crist ‖. that oother is / þat they

[6-text p 683] thynken / þat they ne myghte nat longe perseuere in good|nesse [1071] ¶ The firste wanhope comth / of that he [¶ Of the firste wanhope] demeth that he hath synned so greetly and so ofte / and so longe leyn in synne / that he shal nat be saued [1072] ¶ Certes agayns that cursed wanhope sholde he [¶ Remedium] thynke that the passion of Ihesu crist/ is moore strong for to vnbynde / than synne is strong / for to bynde [1073] ¶ Agayns the seconde wanhope / he shal thynke / [¶ Remedie / agayn the .ij^de. wanhope] that as ofte as he falleth. he may arise agayn by penitence / And though he neuer so longe haue leyn in synne / the mercy of crist is alwey redy to receiuen hym to mercy [1074] ¶ Agayns the wanhope / þat he demeth / that he [¶ Remedie agayn the thridde wanhope] sholde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse. he shal thynke / þat the feblesse of the deuel may no thyng doon / but if men wol suffren hym [1075] and eek/ he shal han strengthe of the helpe of god / and of al hooly chirche / and of the proteccion of Aungels / if hym list

[1076] ¶ Thanne shal men vnder [folio 236b] stonde / what is the [¶ What the fruyt of penance is.] fruyt of penance And after the word of Ihesu crist it is the endelees blisse of heuene. [1077] ther ioye hath no contrarioustee of wo ne greuance. ther alle harmes been passed of this present lyf / ther as is the sikernesse / fro the peyne of helle. ther as is the blisful compaignye that reioysen hem eueremo euerich of otheres ioye. [1078] ther as the body of man / that whilom was foul and derk/. is moore cleer than the sonne. ther/ as the body that whilom was syk/ freele / & fieble / and mortal / is inmortal and so strong/ and so hool / that ther may no thyng apeyren it. [1079] ther as ne is / neither hunger / thurst ne coold but euery soule replenyssed with the sighte of the parfit knowynge of god [1080] ¶ This blisful regne may men purchace by pouerte espiritueel. and the glorie by lowe|nesse. the plentee of Ioye by hunger and thurst and the reste by trauaille /. and the lyf/ by mortificacion of synne?

[6-text p 684]

¶ Here taketh the makere of this book/ his leue .

[1081]

NOw preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretys or rede that if ther be any thyng/ in it that liketh hem / that ther-of they thanken oure lord Ihesu crist. of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse. [1082] And if ther be any thyng that displese hem. I preye hem also that they arrette it to the defaute of myn vnkonnynge and nat to my wyl. that wolde ful fayn haue seyd bettre / if I hadde had konnynge. [1083] ffor oure boke seith / al that is writen / is writen for oure doctrine. and that is myn entente [1084] ¶ Wherfore / I biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god / that ye preye for me / that crist haue mercy on me and foryeue me my giltes. ‖ [1085] and namely of my translacions and endit|ynges of worldly vanitees / the whiche I reuoke in my re|traccions [1086] ¶ As is the book of Troilus ¶ The book also of ffame ‖ The book of the .xxv. Ladies ¶ The book of the Duchesse ¶ The book of seint Valentynes day of the parlement of briddes ‖. The tales of Caunter|bury / thilke that sownen in to synne [1087] ¶ The book of the Leon And many another book/ if they were in my remembrance / and many a song and many a leccherous lay. that crist for his grete mercy foryeue me the synne [1088] ¶ But of the translacion of Boece de consolacione / and othere bookes of Legendes of seintes / and Omelies / and moralitee / and deuocion / [1089] that thanke I oure lord Ihesu crist and his blisful mooder / and alle the seintes of heuene / [1090] bisekynge hem / þat they from hennes forth vn-to my lyues ende / sende me grace to biwayle my giltes / and to studie to the saluacion of my soule / and graunte me grace of verray penitence / con|fession

[6-text p 685] and satisfaccion to doon in this present lyf / [1091] thurgh the benigne grace / of hym þat is kyng of kynges / and preest/ ouer alle preestes / that boghte vs with the precious blood of his herte / [1092] so þat I may been oon of hem at the day of doome that shulle be saued? Qui cum patre &cetera

¶ Heere is ended the book/ of the tales of Caunter|bury / compiled by Geffrey Chaucer / of whos soule Ihesu crist/ haue mercy Amen . [[4 fly-leaves follow, more or less scribbled-on with later verses, &c. On the back of the 3rd is a list of the Tales, and on the front of the 4th is a late 15th-century copy of Chaucer's 'Truth'—"Fle fro the prees and dwelle with sothfastnesse," without the Envoy. Other lines follow this.]]

APPENDIX TO GROUP A.

[THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.]

[Spurious Link.]

But here of I wil passe as now [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 56b] [foot] And of ȝong Gamelyne I wil telle ȝow Line 2

[Tale.]

THe tale of ȝong Gamelyn [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 57a] ithen and listenyth and herkenyth a right Line 1 And ȝe shul here of a doughti knyght Sire Iohn of Bondys was his name He coude of norture and of mochel game Line 4 Thre sones the knyght had and with his body hem wan The eldest was a moche schrew and sone he bi-gan His bretheren loued wel here fader and of him were a-gast The eldest disserued his fader curs and h had hit at last Line 8 The gode knyght his fader lyued so ȝore That deth was comyn him to and handlid him ful sore The good knyght cared sore sike þer he lay How his children shuld lyuen after his day Line 12 He had ben wide where but non husbonde he was Al the londe that he hadde hit was purchas ffayn he wold it were dressed among hem alle That eche of hem hadd his part as it myght falle Line 16 Tho sente he in to contre after wyse knyghtes To helpen delen his londes and dressen hem to rightes He sent hem word by lettres þai shuld hye blyue Ȝif thei wold speke with him while he was on lyue Line 20

Line 20 Tho þe knyghtes herden syke þat he lay Had þei no rest nother nyght no day Til þei come to him þer he lay stille On his deeþ bed to a-bide goddes wille Line 24 Then seide þe good knyght sike þer he lay Lordes I ȝow warne for soth with-oute nay I may no lenger lyuen here in this stonde ffor thorugh goddes wille deth drawes me to grounde Line 28 Ther nas none of hem alle þat herd hem a right That thei hadden reuthe of þat ilke knyght And seiden sire for goddes loue ne dismay ȝow nought God may done bote of bale þat is now I-wroght Line 32 Than spake þe gode knyght sike þer he lay Bot of bale god may send I wot it is no nay But I byseke ȝow knyghtes for the loue of me Goth and dresseth my londes among my sones thre Line 36 And for the loue of god de-lith not hem amys And forȝeteþ not Gamelyn my ȝong sone þat is Takiþ hide to that one as wel as to that other Seeld ȝe seen any heier helpen his brother Line 40 Tho leten þei the knyght lyen þat was not in hele [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 57b] And wenten in to conseil his londis for to dele ffor to delem hem alle to oon that was her þoght And for Gamelyn was ȝongest he shuld haue noght Line 44 Alle the lond þat ther was þei dalten it in two And leten Gamelyn þe ȝong with-outen lond go And eche of hem seide to oþer ful lowde His breþrin might ȝeue him lond when he good cowde Line 48 When thei hadde deled the lond at her wille Thei comen to þe knyght þer he lay stille And told him a-noon how thei had wroght And the knyght ther he lay likid it right noght Line 52 Than saide the knyght by seynt martyn ffor al þat ȝe haue don ȝet is þe lond myn ffor goddes loue Neighboures stondith alle stil And I wil delen my lond right after my wil Line 56

Line 56 Iohn my eldest sone shal haue plowes fyue That was my fadres heritage while he was on lyue And my myddlest sone fyue plowes of lond That I halpe for to gete wit my right hond Line 60 And alle myn oþer purchas of londes and ledes Þat I be-quethe Gamelyn and alle my gode stedes And I be-seke ȝow good men þat law con of lond ffor Gamelyns loue þat my quest stond Line 64 Thus dalt þe knyght his lond by his day Right on his deeth bed sike þer he lay And sone afterward he lei stoon stille And died whan tyme come as it was cristes wille Line 68 A-none as he was dede and vnder gras grave Sone þe elder brother giled the ȝong knave He toke in to his honde his lond and his lede And Gamelyn him selue to clothen and to fede Line 72 He clothed him and fedde hym yuel and eke wrothe And lete his londes for-fare and his houses bothe His parkes and his wodes and dide no thing welle And sithen he it a-bowght on his owne felle Line 76 So long was Gamelyn in his brothres halle ffor þe strengest of good wille þei douteden him alle Ther was none ther-in noþer ȝong ne old That wold wrath Gamelyn were he neuer so bold Line 80 Gamelyn stood on a day in his brotheris ȝerd And bi-gan with his hand to hondel his berd He þought on his landes þat lay vnsawe [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 58a] And his faire okes þat doune were I-drawe Line 84 His parkes were broken and his dere reved Of alle his good stedes noon was him by-leued His howses were vnhiled and ful yuel dight Thoo þouȝt Gamelyn it went not a-right Line 88 Afterward came his brother walking there And seide to gamelyn is oure mete ȝare Tho wrathed him Gamelyn and swore by goddes booke Thow shalt go bake thi self I wil not be thi cooke Line 92

Line 92 Now broþer Gamelyn how answerist þow now Thou spakest neuer suche a word as þow dost now By my feith seide Gamelyn now me thinkith nede Of alle þe harmes þat I haue I toke neuer ȝet hede Line 96 My parkes ben broken and my dere by-reved Of myn armes and my stedes noght is me byleued Al þat my fader me bi-quaþ al goth to shame And þer-fore haue þou goddes curs brother by thyn name Line 100 Than spake his brother þat rape was of rees Stand stille gadling and hold þi pees Þou shalt be fayn to haue þi mete and þi wede What spekest þou gadling of lond or of lede Line 104 Þan seide Gamelyn þe child þat ȝyng Cristes curs mote he haue þat clepith me gadling I am no worse gadlyng ne no worse wight But borne of a lady and geten of a knyght Line 108 Ne dorst he note to Gamelin neuer a fote go But clepid to him his men and seide to hem tho Goth and betith this boy and reueth him his witte And lete him lerne an other to answere me bette Line 112 Then saide þe child ȝong Gamelyn Cristes curs mote þou haue brother art þou myn And ȝif I shal algate be beten a-noon Cristes curs mote þou haue but þou be that oon Line 116 And anon his brother in þat grete hete Made his men to fette staffes Gamelyn to bete When euery of hem hadd a staff I-nomen Gamelyn was war þoo he seigh hem comen Line 120 Tho Gamelyn sighe hem comen he loked ouer all And was warre of a pestel stood vnder þe walle Gamelyn was light and þider con he lepe And droff alle his brothers men right sone on hepe [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 58b] And lokid as a wild lyon. and laide on gode wone Tho his brother sei þat he by-gan to gone He fley vp in to a loft and shete þe dore faste This Gamelyn with his pestel mad hem al a-gast Line 128

Line 128 Some for gamelyns loue and some for eye Alle thei drowhen hem to halues þoo he gan to pleye What now seide Gamelyn euel mote ȝe thee Wil ȝe bi-gynne contik and so sone flee Line 132 Gamelyn soght his broþer whider he was flow And sauhe where he lokid oute at a wyndowe Brother said Gamelyn come a litel nere And I wil teche the a play at the bokelere Line 136 His brother hym answerid and seid by seint Richere While þat pestel is in thi hond I wil come no nere Brother I wil make thi pees I swere by cristes ore Cast a-way þe pestel and wrathe the nomore Line 140 I moste nede saide Gamelyn wrath me at ones ffor þou wold make þi men to breke my bones Ne hadde I hadde mayn and might in myn armes To haue hem fro me thei wold haue do me harmes Line 144 Gamelyn saide his brother be þou not wrothe ffor to seen the haue harme me were right lothe I ne did it noght broþer but for a fondyng ffor to loken or þou art strong and art so ȝyng Line 148 Come a-doune then to me and graunt me my bone Of a thing I wil the axe and we shul saught sone Down þan come his broþer that fykel was and felle And was swith sore a-ferd of þe pestell Line 152 He saide brother Gamelyn axe me þi bone And loke þou me blame but I it graunt sone Than saide Gamelyn brother I was And we shul be at one þou most graunt me this Line 156 Alle þat my fadir me by-quaþ while þat he was on lyue Thou most do me it haue ȝif we shul not stryve Þat shat þou haue Gamelyn I swere by cristes ore All þat þi fader þe bi-quath þough þou woldest haue more Thi lond that lith leie wel it shal be sowe And thyn houses reised vp þat ben leide ful lowe Thus saide the knyght to Gamelyn with mouth And þought on falsenes as he wel couthe Line 164

Line 164 The knyght þought on treson and Gamelyn on none [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 59a] And went and kissed his brother and when þei were at one Alas ȝong Gamelyn no thing he ne wiste With suche false treson his brother him kyste Line 168 Lynthenyth and lysteneth and holdith ȝoure tong And ȝe shul here talkyng of Gamelyn the ȝong Ther was ther be siden cried a wrastelynge And ther fore ther was sett a Ram and a Rynge Line 172 And Gamelyn was in wille to wende þerto ffor to preuen his might what he coude do Brother seide Gamelyn be seint Richere Thou most lene me to nyght a litel cursere Line 176 That is fressh to þe spores on for to ride I most on an Erand a litel here be side Be god saide his brother of stedes in my stalle Go and chese the þe best spare non of hem alle Line 180 Of stedes and of cursers that stoden hem be side And telle me good brother whider þou wilt ride Here be side brother is cried a wrastlynge And þer fore shal be sette a ram and a rynge Line 184 Moche worship it were brother to vs alle Might I þe ram and þe rynge bryngen home to þis halle A stede þer was sadeled smertly and skete Gamelyn dide a paire of spores faste on his fete Line 188 He sette his fote in þe stirop the stede he by-strod And toward þe wrastlynge the yong child rood Tho Gamelyn þe yonge was riden oute at gate The fals knyght his brother loked yit after þate Line 192 And bi-sought ihesu crist that is heuen kynge He mighte breke his nekke in that wrastlinge As sone as Gamelyn come ther the place was He light doun of his stede and stode on the gras Line 196 And ther he herde a frankelen weylaway synge And bi-gan bitterly his handes for to wrynge Gode man seide Gamelyn whi makest þou þis fare Is ther no man that may ȝow helpen out of care Line 200

Line 200 Allas seide þis frankeleyn that euer was I bore ffor twei stalworth sones I wene that I haue lore A Champion is in þe place þat hath wroght me sorowe ffor he hath slayn my two sones but ȝif god hem borwe I wol ȝeue ten pound by ihesu crist and more Line 205 With þe nones þat I fond a man to handle hym sore [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 59b] Gode man seide Gamelyn wilt þou wel done Hold myn hors while my man drawith of my shone Line 208 And helpe my man to kepe my clothes and my stede And I wil in to þe place gone to loke ȝif I may spede By god seide þe frankeleyn it shal be done I wil my self be thi man to draw of thi shone Line 212 And wende þou in to place ihesu criste the spede And drede not of thi clothes ne of þi gode stede Barfoot and vngirt Gamely In came Alle þat were in þe place hede of him þei name Line 216 How he durste auntre him to done his myght Þat was so doughti a champion in wrastling and in fight Vp sterte þe Champion rapely a-none Toward ȝong Gamelyn he by-gan to gone Line 220 And seide who is þi fader and who is þi sire ffor sothe þou art a grete fool þat þou come here Gamelyn answerid þe Champion tho Thou knew wel my fader while he couthe go Line 224 Whiles he was on lyue by seint Martyn Sire Iehan of Boundis was his name and I gamelyn ffelaw seide þe Champion so mote I thyue I knew wel þi fader whiles he was on lyue Line 228 And thi self gemelyn I wil þat þou it here While þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrew þou were Than seide Gamelyn and swore by cristes ore Now I am older wax þou shalt fynde me a more Line 232 By god seide þe Champion wel come mote þou be Come þou ones in my hond þou shalt neuer the It was wel with-Inne the nyght and the mone shone When Gamelyn and the Champion to-gedre gon gone Line 236

Line 236 The Champion cast tornes to gamelyn þat was prest And gamelyn stode and bade him done his best Than seide Gamelyn to þe Champion Thou art fast aboute to bryng me a-doun Line 240 Now I haue proued mony tornes of thyne Thou most he seide proue on or two of myne Gamelyn to þe Champion ȝede smertely a-none Of alle the tornes þat he couthe he shewid him but one And kest him on the lift side þat þe ribbes he brake Line 245 And þerto his one arme þat ȝaf a grete crak Than seide gamelyn smertly a-none [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 60a] Shal it be hold for a cast or elles for none Line 248 By god seide þe Champion wheþer it be He þat cometh ones in thi honde shal he neuer the Þan seide þe frankeleyn þat hadd his sones there Blessed be þou Gamelyn þat euer þou bore were Line 252 The frankeleyn seide to þe Champion on hym stood hym no eye This is ȝong Gamelyn þat taght þe this pleie A-ȝen vnswared þ^e Champion þat liked no þing wel He is altther maister and his pleie is right felle Line 256 Sithen I wrastelet first it is gone ȝore But I was neuer in my lif handeled so sore Gamelyn stode in þe place anon with-out serke And seid ȝif þer ben mo lete hem come to werke Line 260 The Champion þat payned hym to wirke sore Hit semyth bi his continance þat he wil no more Gamelyn in þe place stood stille as stoon ffor to a-byde wrastlinge but þer come none Line 264 Ther was noon with gamelyn þat wold wrastle more ffor he handlid þe Champion so wonderly sore Two gentil men ȝemed þe place Come to Gamelyn god ȝyue him gode grace Line 268 And seide to him do on thi hosen and þi shone ffor sothe at þis tyme þis faire is done And þan seide Gamelyn so mote I wel fare I haue not ȝet haluendel sold my ware Line 272

Line 272 Tho seide the Champion so brok I my swere He is a fool þat ther-of bieth þou sellest it so dere Thoo seide the ffrankeleyn þat was in moche care ffelaw he seid whi lakkest þou þis ware Line 276 By seynt Iame in Galys þat mony man hath soght Ȝit is it to good chepe that þou hast bought Tho þat wardeyns were of þat wrastlinge Come and brought Gamelyn þe Ramme and þe rynge Line 280 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And went with moche ioye home in þe mornynge Line 284 His brother seie wher he came with þe grete route And bade shit þe gate and hold hym with-oute The porter of his lord was sore a-gaste And sterte anon to þe gate and lokkid it faste Line 288 Now litheþ and listenythe boþe ȝong and old And ȝe shul here gamyn of Gamelyn þe bold Gamelyn come ther-to for to haue comyn In [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 60b] Than was it shet fast with a pyn Line 292 Than seide Gamelyn Porter vndo þe ȝate ffor gode mannys sore stonde þer ate Than answerid þe porter and sware by goddes berd Thou ne shalt Gamelyn come in to þis ȝerde Line 296 Thou lixt seid Gamelyn so broke I my chyne He smote the wiket with his foote and brake away the pyne The porter sey tho it might ne better be He sette foote on erthe and by-gan to flee Line 300 By my fai seide gamelyn þat trauaile is lore ffor I am on foote as light as þou haddest it swore Gamelyn ouer toke þe porter and his tene wrake And girt him in the nekke þat þe boon to-brake Line 304 And toke him by þat on arme and threw him in a welle Vij^C. fadame it was depe as I haue herd telle Whan Gamelyn þe ȝong þus had plaied his plaie Alle þat in þe ȝerde were drowen hem a-waye Line 308

Line 308 Þei dreden him ful sore for werke þat he wroghte And for þe faire companye þat he þider broghte Gamelyn ȝede to þe ȝate and lete it vp wide He lete In alle þat gon wold or ride Line 312 And seide ȝe be welcome with-out any greue ffor we wil be maisters here and axe no man leue Ȝesterday I left seide ȝong Gamelyn In my brother seler fyue tonn wyne Line 316 I wil not þis companye parten on twyne And ȝe wil don after me while sope is þer-Ine And ȝif my brother grucche or make foule chere Other for spence of mete and drynk þat we spend here I am oure Catour and bere oure Alther purse Line 321 He shal haue for his grucching seint marie curse My broþer is a nygon I swere by cristes ore And we wil spende largely þat he hath spared ȝore Line 324 And who þat make grucching þat we here dwelle He shal to þe porter in to þe draw welle Vij. dayes and vij nyght Gamelyn held his fest With moche solace was there and none chest Line 328 In a litel torret his brother ley steke And sey hem wast his gode and dorst not speke Erly in a mornyng on the viij. day The gestes come to Gamelyn and wold gon her way Line 332 Lordes seide Gamelyn wil ȝe so hye [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 61a] All þe wyn is not ȝet dronke so browke I myn eie Gamelyn in his hert was ful woo When his gestes toke her leue fro him forto go Line 336 He wold þe had dwelled lenger and þei saide nay But by-taught gamelyn god and goode day Thus made Gamelyn his fest and broght it wel to end And after his gestes toke leue to wende Line 340 Litheþ and listenyth and holdith ȝoure tong And ȝe shul here Gamen of Gamelyn þe ȝong Herkenyth lordinges and listeneþ a right When alle gestes were gon how Gamelyn was dight Line 344

Line 344 Alle the while þat Gamelyn held his mangerie His brother þought on him be wreke with his trecherie Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and goone Gamelyn stode anone allone frend hadde he none Line 348 Tho after felle sone with-In a litul stonde Gamelyn was taken and ful hard I.-bonde fforth come the false knyght out of þe solere To gamelyn his brother he ȝede ful nere Line 352 And saide to gamelyn who made the so bolde ffor to stroien my store of my housholde Brother seide Gamelyn wrath the right noght ffor it is mony day gone sith it was boght Line 356 ffor brother þou hast hade by seint Richere Of xv. plowes of lond þis sixtene ȝere And of alle þe bestes þou hast forþ bredde Þat my fader me by-quaþ on his deþ bedde Line 360 Of alle þis sixtene ȝere I ȝeue the þe prowe ffor the mete and the drinke þat we haue spended now Than saide þe false knyght euyl mote he the Herken brother Gamelyn what I wil ȝeue the Line 364 ffor of my body brother heire geten haue I none I wil make þe myn eyer I swere by seint Iohan Parfay seide gamelyn and it so be And þou þinkest as þu seist god ȝeld it the Line 368 No thing wist Gamelyn of his brother gile Ther fore he him by-giled in a litul while Gamelyn seid he oo þing I the telle Tho þou threw my porter in the draw welle Line 372 I swore in þat wrath and in þat grete moote That þou shuldest be bonde both hond and foote [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 61b] . . . . . . . . . . Line 376 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ffor to holden myn a-vow as I the by-hoote Brother seide Gamelyn as mote I the Þou shalt not be for-swore for þe loue of me Line 380

Line 380 Tho maden thei Gamelyn to sitte myght not stonde Til þei hadd him bond boþe foote and honde The fals knyght his brother of Gamelyn was a-gast And sent after feteres to feteren him fast Line 384 His brother made lesinges on him þere he stode And told hem þat comen In þat Gamelyn was wood Gamelyn stood to a post bonden in þe halle Tho þat comen In loked on him alle Line 388 Euere stode gamelyn euen vp right But mete ne drinke had he none noþer day ne nyght Than saide gamelyn brother by myn hals Now I haue aspied þou art a parti fals Line 392 Hadde I wiste þe treson þat þou hast I-fond I wolde haue ȝeue strokes or I had be bond Gamelyn stode bond stille as any stone Two daies and two nyghtes mete hadde he none Line 396 Than saide gamelyn þat stod I.-bond strong Adam spenser me þinkeþ I fast to long Adam spencer now I beseche the ffor the moche loue my fader loued the Line 400 Ȝif þou may come to the keys lose me out of bond And I wil parte with the of my fre lond Þen saide adam þat was þe spencer I haue serued thi brother þis xvj. ȝere Line 404 Ȝif I lete the gon out of his beure He wold say after-ward I were a traitour Adam seide Gamelyn so browke I myn hals Thou shal fynd my brother atte þe last fals Line 408 Ther-fore brother Adam lose me out of bondes And I. wil parte with þe of my fre landes Vp suche forward seid Adam I-wis I wil do þerto alle þat in me is Line 412 Adam seide Gamelyn as mote I the I wil holde þe couenaunt and þou wil me A-none as Adame lord to bed was gone Adam toke þe keys and lete gamelyn out a-none Line 416

Line 416 He vnlokked gamelyn both hondes and feete In hope of auauncement þat he him by-hete [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 62a] Than saide Gamelyn þanked be goddes sonde Now I am lose bothe fote and honde Line 420 Hadde I now eten and dronken aright Ther is none in this hous shuld bynde me þis nyght Adam toke Gamelyn as stille as any stone And lad him into spence raply a-none Line 424 And sette him to soper right in a priue stede He bade him do gladly and Adam so dede Anon as Gamelyn hadde eten wel and fyne And þerto I-dronken wel of þe red wyne Line 428 Adam seid Gamelyn what is now þi rede Or I go to my brother and gird of his hede Gamelyn seide Adam it shal not be so I con teche þe a rede þat is worth þe two Line 432 I wote wel for sothe þat is no nay We shul haue a mangerie right on sonday Abbotes and prioures mony here shal be And oþer men of holy chirche as I telle [þe] Line 436 Þou shalt stond vp by the post as þou were hond fast And I schal leue hem vn-loke þat away þou may hem cast Whan þat þei haue eten and wasshen her hondes Þow shalt beseke hem alle to bring þe out of bondes Line 440 And ȝif þei wil borow the þat were gode game Þan were þu out of prison and I oute of blame And yf eche of hem say to vs nay [And if eche] I shal do an other I swere bi þis day Line 444 Thow shalt haue a gode staf and I wil haue anoþer And cristes curs haue þat oon þat faileþ þat oþer Ȝe for god seide Gamelyn I sei it for me If I faile on my syde yuel mote I the Line 448 Ȝif we shul algate assoile hem of her synne Warne me brother Adam whan we schul by-gynn Gamelyn said Adam by seint charite I wil warne the by-forne whan it shal be Line 452

Line 452 Whan I wynke on the loke for to gone And cast away þi ffetres and come to me anone Adam saide Gamelyn blessid be thi bones Þat is a good conseil ȝeuen for þe nones Line 456 Ȝif þei werne me to bring out of bondes I wil sette good strokes right on her lendes Tho þe sonday was comen and folke to þe feste [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 62b] ffaire þei were wel-comed both lest and meste Line 460 And euere as þei at halle dore come Inne Thei cast here eyȝe on ȝong Gamelyne The fals knyght his broþer ful of trechery Alle þe gestes þat þere were at þe mangery Line 464 Of Gamelyn his brother he told hem with mouthe Alle þe harme and þe shame þat he telle couthe Tho þei were I-serued of messes two or thre Than seide Gamelyn how serue ȝe me Line 468 It is noght wel serued by god þat all made Þat I sitte fasting and oþer men make glade The fals knyght his brother þer as he stode Tolde alle gestes þat Gamelyn was woode Line 472 And Gamelyn stode stille and answarid noght But Adams wordes he held in his thoght Tho Gamelyn gan speke deolfulli with alle To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe halle Line 476 Lordes he seide for cristes passion Helpe to bring Gamelyn out of prison Than saide an Abbot sorow on his cheke He shal haue cristes curs and seint maries eke Line 480 Þat þe out of pryson beggeþ or borwe But euer worth him wel þat doth the moche sorwe After þat Abbot þan spake anoþer I wold þyn heed were of þoghe þou were my broþer Line 484 Alle þat þe borwe foul mote hem falle Thus þei saide alle þat were in the halle Than saide a Priour euel mote he preue It is grete sorw and care boy þou art on lyue Line 488

Line 488 Ow seid Gamelyn so browke I my bone Now I haue spied þat frendes haue I none Cursed mote he worth both flesshe and blood Þat euer doþ priour or Abbot any good Line 492 Adam þe spencer toke vp þe clothe And loked on Gamelyn and say þat he was wrothe Adam on the pantrie litul he þoght But two gode staues to halle dore he broght Line 496 Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anone And cast away the fetres and bi-gan to gone Tho he cam to Adam he toke þe on staf And by-gan to worche and good strokes ȝaf [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 63a] Line 500 Gamelyn come in to þe halle and the spencer bothe And lokid hem a-boute as þei hadde ben wrothe Gamelyn spreynyþ holi water with an Oken spire That some that stod vp right fel in þe fire Line 504 Þer was no lewed man þat in þe halle stoode That wold do Gamelyn any thing but goode But stoden by siden and lete hem bothe wirche ffor þei hadde ne reweth of men of holy chirche Line 508 Abbot or priour Monk or chanoun That Gamelyn ouertoke anone þei ȝeden doun Ther was none of alle þat with his staf mette Þat he made hem ouer throw and quite hem his dette Line 512 Gamelyn said Adam for seint charite Pay gode lyueray for þe loue of me And I wil kepe þe dore so euer here I masse Er þai ben assoiled þer shal none passe Line 516 Doute the noght seide Gamelyn while we ben in fere Kepe wel þe dore and I wil wirche here Bi-stere þe gode Adam and let þer non fle And we shul telle largeli how mony þat þer be Line 520 Gamelyn saide Adam do hem but goode Thei ben men of holi chirche draw of hem no blood Saue wel þe crowne and do hem no harmes But breke bothe her legges and sithen her armes Line 524

Line 524 Thus Gamelyn and Adam wroght right fast And plaide with the monkes and made hem agast Thider þei come riding Ioly with swaynes And home a-ȝeyn þei were lad in cartes and waynes Line 528 Tho þei hadden alle I-doo þen seide a gray frere Alas sire Abbot what did we now here Tho þat we comen hider it was a cold reede Vs hadde ben better at home with water and with brede Line 532 While Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere Euer stode his brother and made foul chere Gamelyn vp with his staff þat he wel knew And girt him in þe nek þat he ouer threw Line 536 A litil a-boue þe gyrdel þe rigge bon to-brast And sette him in þe fetres þer he sat arst Sitte þer brother seide Gamelyn ffor to colen þi body as I did myn. Line 540 As sucche as þei hadden wroken hem on her foon [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 63b] Thei askid water and wasshen a-none What some for here loue and somme for her awe Alle þe seruauntes seruet hem of the beste lawe Line 544 The sherreue was þenne but fyue myle And alle was told him in a litil while How gamelyn and Adam haden don a sory res Bounden and wounden men a-ȝens the kynges pees Line 548 Tho by-gan sone strif for to wake And the sherrif aboute Gamelyn forto take Now litheþ and listeneþ so god ȝeue ȝow good fyne And ȝe shul here gode game of ȝong Gamelyn Line 552 ffoure and twenti ȝong men þat helden hem ful bold Come to þe shirreue and seide þat þei wolde Gamelyn and Adam fette by here fay The shirreue ȝeue hem leue soth for to say Line 556 Thei hyeden fast wold þei not lynne Til þei come to þe gate þer Gamelyn was Inne Thei knokkeden on þe gate þe porter was nyghe And loked out at an hole as man that was slighe Line 560

Line 560 The porter hadde be-hold hem a litil while He loued wel Gamelyn and was drad of gile And let þe wyket stond ful stille And asked hem with oute what was here wille Line 564 ffor alle þe grete companye þan spake but one Vndo þe gate porter and lete vs in gone Than saide þe porter so brouke I my chyn Ȝe shul saye ȝoure erant er ȝe come Ine Line 568 Say to Gamelyn and Adam ȝif þeire wil be We wil speke with hem two wordes or thre ffelaw saide þe porter stande þer stille And I wend to Gamelyn to wyte his wille Line 572 In went þe porter to gamelyn a-none And saide sire I warne ȝow here be comen ȝoure foon The shirreues men ben atte þe gate ffor to take ȝow both shul ȝe not scape Line 576 Porter seid Gamelyn so mote I wel the I wil allowe þe þi wordes when I my tyme see Go a-geyn to þe gate and dwelle with hem a while And þou shalt se right sone porter a gile Line 580 Adam seide Gamelyn loke þe to gone We haue foo men atte gate and frendes neuer one [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 64a] Hit ben þe Shirreues men þat hider ben comen Thei be swore to-geder þat we shal be nome Line 584 Gamelyn said Adam hye the right blyue And if I faile the þis day euel mote I thryue And we shul so wel-come þe Shirreues men That some of hem shal make her beddes in þe fen Line 588 At a posterne gate Gamelyn out went And a good Cartstaf in his hond hent Adam hente sone an other grete staf ffor to helpen Gamelyn and good strokes ȝaf Line 592 Adam fel tweyne and Gamelyn fel thre The other sette feete on erth and by-gan to flee What saide Adam so euer here I masse I haue right good wyn drynke or ȝe passe Line 596

Line 596 Nay by god seide þei þi drinke is not goode It wold make mannes brayn to lien in his hoode Gamelyn stood stille and lokid him a-boute And saide þe shirreue cometh with a grete route Line 600 Adam seide Gamelyn what ben now þi redes Here cometh þe sherreue and wil haue oure hedes Adam seide to Gamelyn myn rede is now þis A-bide we no lenger lest we fare amys Line 604 I rede þat we to wood gone or þat we be fonde Better is þer louse þan in towne be bounde Adam toke bi the hond ȝong gamelyn And euery of hem drank a draght of wyn Line 608 And after token her cours and wenten her way Tho fond þe sherreue nyst but none eye The sherreue light doune and wente in to halle And fond þe lord fetred fast with alle Line 612 The shirreue vnfetered him right sone anone And sent after a leche to hele his rigge bone Late we now þe fals knyght lie in his care And take we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare Line 616 Gamelyn in to þe wood stalkid stille And Adam spencer liked right ille Adam swore to Gamelyn by seint Richere Now I see it is mery to be a spencer Line 620 That leuer me were keys to bere Than walken in þis wild woode my clothes to tere Adam seide Gamelyn dismay þe right noght [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 64b] Mony good mannys child in care is broght Line 624 As thei stod talkyng bothen in ffere Adam herd talking of men and nyghe him þought þei were Tho Gamelyn vnder wood lokid a-right Seuen score of ȝong men he se wel I-dight Line 628 Alle sate at þe mete compas aboute Adam seide Gamelyn now haue I no doute After bale cometh bote þorgh goddes might Me thinke of mete and drinke y haue a sight Line 632

Line 632 Adam loke tho vnder wode bough And tho he say mete and he was glad I-nough ffor he hoped to god to haue his dele And he was sore alonged after a gode mele Line 636 As he saide þat word þe maister outlawe Sawgh Adam and Gamelyn vnder wode shawe Ȝonge men saide þe maister bi þe gode rode I am war of gestes god send vs gode Line 640 Yonde ben two yonge men wel I-dight And parauenture ther ben more who so loked aright Ariseth vp yong men and fette hem to me It is good þat we witten what men thei be Line 644 Vp þer sterten seuene fro þe dyner And metten wiþ gamelyn and Adam spencer Whan thei were nighe hem þan seide þat one Yeldeth vp ȝonge men ȝoure bowes and ȝoure flone Line 648 Than saide Gamelyn that ȝonge was of elde Moche sorowe mote þei haue at to ȝow hem ȝelde I course none other but right my selue Thei ȝe fette to ȝow fyue þan be ȝe twelue Line 652 Þo þei herde by his word that might was in his arme Ther was none of hem þat wolde don hem harme But seide to Gamelyn myldely and stille Come a-fore oure maistre and sai to him þi wille Line 656 Ȝonge men saide Gamelyn bi ȝoure lewte What man is ȝour maister that ȝe with be Alle þe answerde with-oute lesinge Oure maister is crowned of outlawes kynge Line 660 Adam seide Gamelyn go we in cristes name He may neither mete ne drinke werne vs for shame Ȝif þat he be hende and come of gentil blood He wil ȝeue vs mete and drinke and do vs some good [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 65a] Be seint Iame saide Adam what harme þat I gete Line 665 I wil auenture me þat I hadde mete Gamelyn and Adam went forth in fere And þei grette þe maister that þei fonde þere Line 668

Line 668 Than saide þe maister kynge of owtlawes What seke ȝe ȝonge men vnder wode shawes Gamelyn answerde þe kynge with his crowne He moste nedes walke in felde þat may not walke in towne Sire we walke not here none harne to do Line 673 But ȝif we mete a dere to shete þerto As men that ben hungry and mow no mete fynde And ben hard be-stad vnder wode lynde Line 676 Of Gamelyn wordes þe maister hadde rewthe And seide ȝe shal haue y-nowe haue god my treuthe He bad hem sitte down for to take reste And bad hem ete and drinke and þat of þe beste Line 680 As þei eten and dronken wel and fyne Than saide on to an other this is gamelyn Tho was þe maister outlawe in to conseil nome And tolde how it was gamelyn that thider was come Line 684 Anone as he herde how it was be-falle He made him maister vndir him ouer hem alle With-in þe thridde wike him come tydynge To þe maister outlawe that was here kynge Line 688 That he shulde come home his pees was made And of þat gode tydinge he was ful gladde Tho saide he to his ȝonge men soth forto telle Me ben comen tydinges I may no lenger dwelle Line 692 Tho was Gamelyn anone with-oute tarienge Made maister outlawe and crowned her kynge Tho was Gamelyn crowned kynge of outlawes And walkid a while vnder wode shawes Line 696 The fals knyght his broþer was shereue and sire And lete his brother endite for hate and for hire Tho were his bonde men sory and no thinge glad When Gamelyn her lorde wolfes hede was cried and made And sent oute of his men where þei might him fynde Line 701 ffor to go seke Gamelyn vnder wode lynde To telle him tydinge the wynde was went And alle his good reued and alle his men shent Line 704

Line 704 Whan þei had den him founden on knees þei hem setten [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 65b] And a-doun with her hode and here lorde gretten Sire wrathe ȝowe noght for þe gode rode ffor we han brought ȝow tydynge but þei be not goode Line 708 Now is þi brother sherreue and haþ þe baillie And hath endited þe and wolfes hede doth þe crie Allas seide Gamelyn þat euer I was so slak That I ne hadde broke his nekke þo I his rigge brak Line 712 Goth greteth wel myn housbondes and wife I wil be at the next shire haue god my lyfe Gamelyn came redy to þe next shire And ther was his brother both lorde and sire Line 716 Gamelyn boldeliche came in to þe mote halle And putte adoun his hood amonge þe lordes alle God saue ȝow lordinges þat here be But broke bak sherreue euel mote thu the Line 720 Whi hast thou do me þat shame and velonye ffor to lete endite me and wolfeshede do me crie Tho thought the fals knyght for to ben a-wreke And lete Gamelyn most he no thinge speke Line 724 Might þer be no grace but Gamelyn at þe laste Was caste in prison and fetered faste Gamelyn hath a brother that hight sire Ote As gode a knyght and hende as might gon on foote Line 728 Anone ȝede a messagere to that gode knyght And tolde him al to-gidre how Gamelyn was dight . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He was right sory was he no þing light Line 732 And lete sadle a stede and þe way he name And to his twei breþerne right sone he came Sire saide sir Ote to the sherreue tho We ben but thre bretheren shul we neuer be mo Line 736 And þou hast prisoned þe beste of vs alle Suche a nother brother euel mote him be-falle Sire ote saide þe fals knyght lat be þi cours By god for thi wordes he shal fare the wors Line 740

Line 740 To þe kynges prisone he is I-nome And ther he shal a-bide til þe Iustice come Parde saide sir Ote better it shal be I bid hym to mainprys þat þou graunte me Line 744 Til þe next sitting of deliueraunce And late þan Gamelyn stond to his chaunce Brother in suche a forward I take him to the [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 66a] And by þi fadres soule þat þe bygat and me Line 748 But he be redy whan þe Iustice sitte Thou shalt bere þe Iugement for al þi grete witte I graunt wel saide sir Ote þat it so be Late delyuer hym anone and take him to me Line 752 Tho was Gamelin delyuered to sir Ote his brother And þat nyght dwelled þe oon with þe tother On the morwen saide Gamelyn to sir Ote þe hynde Brother he saide I mote for soth fro ȝow wynde Line 756 To loke how my ȝonge men leden her lif Whether þei lyuen in Ioy or elles in strif By god seide sir Ote þat is a cold rede Now I see þat alle þe Carke schal falle on my hede Line 760 ffor whan þe Iustice sitte and þou be not I-fonde I shal anone be take and in þi stede I-bonde Brother saide Gamelyn dismaie þe nyght ffor by seint Iame in Galys þat mony man hath sought Line 764 Ȝif þat god almyghti hold me my lif and my witte I wil be redy whan þe Iustice sitte Than saide sir Ote to Gamelyn god shild þe fro shame Come when þou seest tyme and bryng vs out of blame Line 768 Litheþ and listeneþ and hold ȝow stille And ȝe schul here how Gamelyn hadde his wille Gamelyn went vnder wood Rys And fond ther playng ȝong men of prys Line 772 Tho was ȝong Gamelyn right glad I-noghe When he fonde his men vnder woode boghe Gamelyn and his men talkeden in fere And þei had gode game her maister to here Line 776

Line 776 His men told him of auentures þat þei had fonde And Gamelyn hem told hem a-ȝen how he was fast bonde While Gamelyn was outlaw hade he no cors Þer was no man þat for him ferd þe wors Line 780 But Abbotes and Priours monk and Chanon On hem left he noght when he might hem nome While Gamelyn and his men made myrthes Ryve The fals knyght his brother euel mote he priue Line 784 ffor he was fast aboute bothe day and other ffor to hire þe queste to hangen his brother Gamelyn stood on a day and be-beld The wodes and þe shawes and þe wild feld [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 66b] Line 788 He þoght on his brother how he him by-hette That he wolde be redy whan þe Iustice sette He þoght welle he wold with-oute delay Come a-fore þe Iustice to kepen his day Line 792 And seide to his ȝong men dighteþ ȝow ȝare ffor whan þe Iustice sitte we most be þere ffor I am vnder borow til þat I come And my brother for me to pryson shal be nome Line 796 Be seint Iame said his ȝong men and þou rede þerto Ordeigne how it shal be and it shal be do While Gamelyn was comyng þer þe Iustice satte The fals knyght his broþer for-ȝate he not þate Line 800 To hire þe men on his quest to hangen his brother Thoghe þei hadde not þe oon þei wolde haue þe tother Tho come Gamelyn fro vnder þe wode Rys And broght with him ȝong men of prys Line 804 I see wel seide Gamelyn þe Iustice is sette Goo a-forn Adam and loke how it spette Adam went in to þe halle and loked all a-boute He say þer stonde lordes grete and stoute Line 808 And sir Ote his brother fetered ful faste Tho wente Adam oute of halle as he were a-gast Adam seide to Gamelyn and to his felawes alle Sire Ote stant fetered in þe mote halle Line 812

Line 812 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ȝif god ȝif vs grace wel for to doo He schal it a-bigge þat it broght þertoo Line 816 Than saide Adam þat lokkes hade hore Cristes curs mote he haue þat him bond so sore And þou wilt Gamelyn do after my rede Ther is none in þe halle schal bere away his hede Line 820 Adam seide Gamelyn we wil not do soo We wil sle þe giltif and late þe tother goo I wil in to þe halle and with þe Iustice speke On hem þat ben giltif I wil ben a-wreke Line 824 Lete none scape at þe dore take ȝong men ȝeme ffor I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme God spede me þis day at my new werke Adam come with me for þou shalt be my clerk Line 828 His men answerden him and bade him don his best And ȝif þou to vs haue nede þou shalt fynde vs prest We wille stond with þe while þat we may dure [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 67a] And bute we wirken manly pay vs none hure Line 832 Ȝong men saide Gamelyn so mote I wel the As trusti a mayster ȝe shal fynde me Right þere þe Iustice satte in þe halle In went Gamelyn amonges hem alle Line 836 Gamelyn lete vnfetere his brother out of bond Then seide sir Ote his brother þat was hende Thou haddest Almost Gamelyn dwellet to long ffor þe quest is oute on me þat I shuld hong Line 840 Brother seide Gamelyn so god ȝeue me good rest Þis day þe shul ben honged þat ben on þe quest And the Iustice bothe þat is þe Iuge man And the Shirreue bothe þorgh him it by-gan Line 844 Than saide Gamelyn to þe Iustice Now is þi power done þou moste nedes rise Thou hast ȝeuen domes þat ben yuel dight I wille sitten in thi sete and dressen hem aright Line 848

Line 848 The Iustice sate stille and rose not a-none And Gamelyn cleued his chike bone Gamelyn toke him in his armes and nomore spake But thrw him ouer þe barre and his arme brake Line 852 Dorst none to Gamelyn say but goode ffor ferd of þe company þat with-oute stoode Gamely sette him down in þe Iustice sete And sir Ote his brother by him and Adam at his fete Line 856 Whan Gamelyn was sette in þe Iustice sete Herken of a bourd þat Gamelyn dide He lete feter þe Iustice and his fals brother And lete hem come to þe barre þat on with þat other Line 860 Tho Gamelyn hadde þus y-done hade no rest Til he hadde enquered who was on þe quest ffor to demen his brother sir Ote for to hong Er he wiste whiche þei were him þoght ful long Line 864 But as sone as Gamelyn wiste where þai were He dide hem euerychon feter in fere And bringen hem to þe barre and setten hem in rew Bi my feith said þe Iustice þe shirreue is a shrew Line 868 Than seide Gamelyn to þe Iustice Thow hast ȝeue domes of the worst assise And the xij. sisoures þat weren on þe quest Thei shul ben honged þis day so haue I gode rest [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 67b] Than saide þe shirreue to ȝong Gamelyn Line 873 Lord .I. cry the mercy brother art þou myn Ther-fore saide Gamelyn haue þou cristes curs ffor and þou were maister ȝit shuld I haue wors Line 876 ffor to make short tale and noght to long He ordeyned hym a quest of his men so strong The Iustice and þe shirreue both honged hye To weyuen with þe ropes and þe wynd drye Line 880 And the xij sisours sorow haue þat rewe Alle þei were hanged fast by þe nekke Thus endid þe fals knyght with his trecherie Þat euer had lad his lif in falsenes and folie Line 884

Line 884 He was honged by þe nekke and not by þe purs Þat was þe mede þat he hadde for his faders curse Sire Otes was eldest and Gamelyn was ȝong Wenten to her frendes and passeden to þe kyng Line 888 Thei maden pees with the kyng of þe best sise The kyng loued wel sir Ote and made him Iustice And after þe kyng made Gamelyn in Est and in Weste Chief Iustice of his fre foreste Line 892 Alle his wight ȝong men þe kyng for-ȝaf her gilt And sithen in gode Office þe kyng hath alle them pilt Thus wanne Gamelyn his lond and his lede And wreke him on his enemys and quite hem her mede Line 896 And sire Ote his brother made him his heier And sithen wedden Gamelyn a wif gode and faier Thei lyueden to-gedre while þat crist wolde And sithen was Gamelyn grauen vnder molde Line 900 And so shal we alle may þer no man fle God bring vs to þe Ioye þat euer shal be

[6-text p 167]

2 THE MAN-OF-LAW—SHIPMAN LINK. Here endith the man of lawe his tale. And // next folwith the Shipman his prolog.

OVre Ost vppon his stiropes / stood anoon and seide good men herkeneth euerychoon this was a thrifty tale / for the nonys Sir parisshe preste quod he / for godis bonys Line 1166 telle vs a tale / as was thi forward yore I se wel / that ye lernede men in lore can meche good / bi godis dignite the parson him answerde / benedicite Line 1170 What eyleth the man / so synfully to swere oure Ost answerde / O Iankyn be ye there I smelle a lollere in the wynde quod he Howe goodmen quod oure Ost / herkeneth me Line 1174 a-bide for godis digne passion for we shul han / a predicacion this lollere here / wol prechen vs somwhat nay bi godis soule / that shal he nat Line 1178 Seide the Shipman / here shal he not preche he shal no gospel glosen here / ne teche We leuen alle / in the grete god quod he He wolde sowen / som difficulte Line 1182 or sprengen Cokkel / in oure clene corn and therfore Ost / I warne the biforn my ioly body / shal a tale telle and I shal clynkyn yow / so mery a belle Line 1186 that I shal wakyn / al this companye but it shal not ben / of Philosophie ne phislyas / ne termes queynte of lawe ther is but litil latyn / in my mawe. Line 1190

Here endith the Shipman his prolog. And next fol|wyng he bigynneth his tale &c.