The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

CHiAUCER'S TALE OF MELIBCUS. IS3
delights, and honours of this world, that he is battle is not always to the strong or the numerdrunken, and has forgotten Jesus. Christ his ous, and the perils of conflict are many. MeliSaviour; the three enemies of mankind, the bcens then curtly asks her for her counsel how
flesh, the fiend, and the world, have entered he shall do in this need; and she answers that
his heart by the windows of his body, and certainly she counsels him to agree with his
wounded his soul in five places-that is to say, adversaries and have peace with them. Melithe deadly sins that have entered into his heart boeus on this cries out that plainly she loves not
by the five senses; and in the same manner his honour or his worship, in counselling him to
Christ has suffered his three enemies to enter go and humble himself before his enemies, cryhis house by the windows, and wound his ing mercy to them that, having done him so
daughter in the five places before specified. grievous wrong, ask him not to be reconciled.
Melibceus demurs, that if his wife's objections Then Prudence, making semblance of wrath,
prevailed, vengeance would never be taken, and retorts that she loves his honour and profit as
thence great mischiefs would arise; but Pru- she loves her oWn, and ever has done; she cites
dence replies that the taking of vengeance lies the Scriptures in support of her counsel to seek
with the judges, to whom the private individual peace; and says she will leave him to his own
must have recourse. Meliboeus declares that courses, for she knows well he is so stubborn,
such vengeance does not please him, and that, that he will do nothing for her. Melibceus then
as Fortune has nourished and helped him from relents; admits that he is angry and cannot
his childhood, he will now assay her, trusting, judge aright; and puts himself wholly in her
with God's help, that she will aid him to hands, promising to do just as she desires, and
avenge his shame. Prudence warns him against admitting that he is the more held to love and
trusting to Fortune, all the less because she has praise her, if she reproves him of his folly.]
hitherto favoured him, for just on that account Then Dame Prudence discovered all her counshe is the more likely to fail him; and she calls sel and her will unto him, and said: " I counsel
on him to leave his vengeance with the Sove- you," quoth she, "above all things, that ye
reign Judge, that avengeth all villainies and make peace between God and you, and be rewrongs. Melibceus argues that if he refrains conciled unto him and to his grace; for, as I
from taking vengeance he willinvite his enemies have said to you herebefore, God hath suffered
to do him further wrong, and he will be put you to have this tribulation and disease1 for
and held over low; but Prudence contends that your sins; and if ye do as I say you, God will
such a result can be brought about only by the send your adversaries unto you, and make them
neglect of the judges, not by the patience of the fall at your feet, ready to do your will and your
individual. Supposing that he had leave to commandment. For Solomonsaith,'WVhen the
avenge himself, she repeats that he is not strong condition of man is pleasant and liking to God,
enough, and quotes the common saw, that it is he changeth the hearts of the man's adversaries,
madness for a man to strive with a stronger and constraineth them to beseech him of peace
than himself, peril to strive with one of equal and of grace.' And I pray you let me speak
strength, and folly to strive with a weaker. with your adversaries in privy place, for they
But, considering his own defaults and demerits shall not know it is by your will or your assent;
-remembering the patience of Christandthe un- and then, when I know their will and their indeserved tribulations of the saints, the brevity tent, I may counsel you the more surely."
of this life with all its trouble and sorrow, the " Dame," quoth Melibceus, " do your will and
discredit thrown on the wisdom and training of your liking, for I put me wholly in your disa man who cannot bear wrong with patience- position and ordinance."
he should refrain wholly from taking vengeance. Then Dame Prudence, when she saw the goodMeliboeus submits that he is not at all a perfect will of her husband, deliberated and took advice
man, and his heart will never be at peace until in herself, thinking how she might bring this
he is avenged; and that as his enemies disre- need2 unto a good end. And when she saw
garded the peril when they attacked him, so he her time, she sent for these adversaries to come
might, without reproach, incur some peril in unto her into a privy place, and showed wisely
attacking them in return, even though he did a unto them the great goods that come of peace,
great excess in avenging one wrong by another. and the great harms and perils that be in war;
Prudence strongly deprecates all outrage or and said to them, in goodly manner, how that
excess; but Meliboeus insists that he cannot see they ought have great repentance of the injuries
that it might greatly harm him though he took and wrongs that they had done to Meliboeus her
vengeance, for he is richer and mightier than lord, and unto her and her daughter. And
his enemies, and all things obey money. Pru- when they heard the goodly words of Dame
dencethereupon launchesinto a longdissertation Prudence, then they were surprised and raon the advantages of riches, the evils of poverty, vished, and had so great joy of her, that wonthe means by which wealth should be gathered, der was to tell. "Ah lady!" quoth they, "ye
and the manner in which it should be used; have showed unto us the blessing of sweetness,
and concludes by counselling her husband not after the saying of David the prophet; for the
to move war and battle through trust in his reconciling which we be not worthy to have in
riches, for they suffice not to maintain war, the no manner, but we ought require it with great
1 Distress, trouble. 2 Affair, emergency.