The works of our ancient, learned, & excellent English poet, Jeffrey Chaucer as they have lately been compar'd with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print : to which is adjoyn'd The story of the siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate ... : together with The life of Chaucer, shewing his countrey, parentage, education, marriage, children, revenues, service, reward, friends, books, death : also a table, wherein the old and obscure words in Chaucer are explained, and such words ... that either are, by nature or derivation, Arabick, Greek, Latine, Italian, French, Dutch, or Saxon, mark'd with particular notes for the better understanding of their original.

The Prologue to the Remedy of LOVE.

SEeing the manifolde inconuenience Falling by vnbrideled prosperitie, Which is not tempred with mortal prudence, Nothing more wealthy than youths freeltie, Moued I am, both of right and equitie, To youths wele somewhat to write Whereby he may himselfe safecondite.

First I note, as thing most noyous Vnto youth a greeuous maladie, Among us called loue encombrous, Vexing yong people straungelie, Oft by force causeth hem to die, Age is eke turmented by loue, Bineath the girdle, and not aboue.

Wherfore this werk, which is right laborous For age me need nat in hond to take, To youth me oweth to be obsequious, Now I begin thus to worke for his sake, Which may the feruence of loue aslake To the louer, as a mitigatiue, To him that is none a preseruatiue.

That mighty lord which me gouerneth, Youth I meane, measure if I pace In euery matter which him concerneth, First, as is behouefull, I woll aske grace,

And forthwithall in this same place, Ere I begin, I woll kneel and sa These few words, and him of helpe pray.

Flouring youth, which hast auauntage In strength of body, in lust and beaute, Also a precelling hast aboue age In many a singular commodite, Howbeit, one thing he hath beyond thee, To thy most profite & greatest auaile, Which shuld the conduit, I mean sad coun∣saile.

And yet good lord, of a presumption, I nill depraue thy might and deitie, I liue but vnder thy protection, I am thy subiect, I weare thy liuerie, For thou art ground of my prosperitie, And freshest floure of all my garland, My singular aid, as I well vnderstand.

But as he that oweth his lord best seruise, And entire faith, his honour to support, Right so I speake, and in none other wise, I knowledge my selfe one of the least sort Of thy seruannts, to our elders comfort, Draw sad counsaile to thee if thou list, Thee and thy power, who may then resist.

Fie on age, vnder words few, And his erronious opinion, What spekest of him, which saith most vn∣true, All youth to be of ill dispositioun, Dampneth vs all without exceptioun, And for a colerable auauntage, He saith in him resteth counsaile sage.

Well may sad counsaile in him rest, But yet his deeds ben ferre therefro, He may say with our parish priest, * Do as I say, but not as I do, For I my selfe know one or two, Well striken in age, for neighbourhed Woll to their neighbours wiues bed.

He will in presence of the young man Her clippe and kisse, ye and doune lay, To bleare his eye, thus he saieth than, * O suffer ye old Morel to play, Now haue I doen that I can or may, Thus he saieth her husband to queme, That he nor no man should not misdeme.

In word nor deed nedeth him not be coy, It is impossible that he doe amisse, If the yong man speake, anone he saith boy, To rebuke age, beseemeth thee not iwis, Thus his old face aye his warrant is, All is in him sleight and subtiltee, And ferre from reason I tell thee.

And shortly age is not aboue me, Age is impotent, and of no resistence, Age vnweldie may not fight nor flee, What were age, without my defence (Sad counsaile saist thou giueth him assi∣stence) Reason is freshest where that I am, Wherefore in thy saying thou art to blame.

Sith reason to me is rather accompanied Than vnto age, whith is the opinion Of euery wise man not to be denied, And sith sad counsaile proceedeth of reason, Sad counsaile in me hath his cheef mansion, This is no nay, but what is the end Of this thy suasion, what doest entend.

Age to compare vnto thine excellence, I nill presume him so to dignifie, Ye be not egall, howbeit experience Him auauntageth, for she most certainly, Him teacheth what thing to him is contrary, And oft to foresee it, and warely eschew Which thou neuer assaidest yet nor knew.

* Experience maketh a man most certaine Of any thing yearthly, and of necessite, Sad counsaile requireth certaintie plaine, So ferre to moue thus whereto need we But to my purpose, as thou commandest me, Shortly mine entent is thus, & none other, Vnder thy license to counsaile my brother.

How shuldest thou giue any counsail so yong. Lacking experience vnto thine owne speach, I report me, I wote well as for thy tong Wil serue thee right wel, but then for to teach, I doubt me lest that thy wit woll not reach, Youth & experience thou saist be not conuert, How shouldest thou then teach well vnexpert.

* Scripture witnesseth, y^t God will oft shitte Fro the hie witted man, & shew it to y^• child, To him I meane that of his own witte Presumeth not, but is debonaire and mild, By counsaile I entend vertue for to bild, Which of mine elders part haue I borowed, And part of Experience, w^ch I haue sorowed.

Wel then, if it be as thou lettest fare, Shew forth thy doctrine, be not agast, I woll thee support, looke thou not spare, Maugre age, though he frete or gnast, To aske age counsaile herein, were but wast, Boldely begin, go forth to the processe, Feare not sith thou art of such surenesse.

Graunt mercie lord, sith it thee doeth like To license me, now I woll dare boldly Assail my purpose, with scriptures autentike, My werke woll I ground, vnderset, & fortefie, Aspire my beginning, O thou wood furie, Alecto, with thy susters, and in especiall To the mother of ielousie Iuno I call.

Explicit Prologus.