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

CHAAUCER'S TALE OF MEZIB US. tSS
is, that ye causeless, and without skill and rea- his good name, but he shall also enforce him
son, have done great injuries and wrongs to me, alway to do some thing by which he may renew
and to my wife Prudence, and to my daughter his good name; for it is written, that the old
also; for ye have entered into my house by vio- good los 0 of a man is soon gone and passed,
lence, and have done such outrage, that all men when it is not renewed.'And as touching that
know well that ye have deserved the death: and ye say, that ye will exile your adversaries, that
therefore will I know and weet of you, whether thinketh me much against reason, and out of
ye will put the punishing and chastising, and the measure,ll considered the power that they have
vengeance of this outrage, in the will of me and given you upon themselves. And it is written,
of my wife, or ye will not?" Then the wisest that he is worthy to lose his privilege, that misof them three answered for them all, and said; useth the might and the power that is given
"Sir," quoth he, "we know well, that we be him. And I set case12 ye might enjoin them
unworthy to come to the court of so great a lord that pain by right and by law (which I trow ye
and so worthy as ye be, for we have so greatly may not do), I say, ye might not put it to exemistaken us, and have offended and aguilt in cution peradventuret and then it were like to
such wise against your high lordship, that truly return to the war, as it was before. And therewe have deserved the death. But yet for the fore if ye will that men do you obeisance, ye
great goodness and debonairte2 that all the must deeml3 more courteously, that is to say, ye
world witnesseth of your person, we submit us must give more easy sentences and judgments.
to the excellence and benignity of your gracious For it is written,' He that most courteously
lordship, and be ready to obey to all your com- commandeth, to him men most obey.' And
mandments, beseeching you, that of your merci- therefore I pray you, that in this necessity and
able3 pity ye will consider our great repentance in this need ye cast you 14 to overcome your
and low submission, and grant us forgiveness of heart. For Seneca saith, that he that overour outrageous trespass and offence; for well we cometh his heart, overcometh twice. And'Tulknow, that your liberal grace and mercy stretch lius saith,'There is nothing so commendable in
them farther into goodness, than do our out- a great lord, as when he is debonair and meek,
rageous guilt and trespass into wickedness; and appeaseth him lightly.'? And I pray you,,
albeit that cursedly4 and damnably we have that ye will now forbear to do vengeance, in
aguiltl against yourhighlordship." ThenMeli- such a manner, that your good name may be
bceus took them up from the ground full be- kept and conserved, and that men may have
nignly, and received their obligations and their cause and matter to praise you of pity and of
bonds, by their oaths upon their pledges and mercy; and that ye have no cause to repent you
borrows,5 and assigned them a certain day to of thing that ye do. For Seneca saith,'He
return unto his court for to receive and accept overcometh in an evil manner, that repenteth
sentence and judgment, that Melibceus would him of his victory.' Wherefore I pray you let
command to be done on them, by the causes mercy be in your heart, to the effect and intent
aforesaid; which things ordained, every man that God Almighty have mercy upon you in his
returned home to his house. last judgment; for Saint James saith in his
And when that Dame Prudence saw her time, Epistle,'Judgment without mercy shall be
she freined 6 and asked her lord Meliboeus, what done to him, that hath no mercy of another
vengeance he thought totake of his adversaries. wight."'
To which Meliboeus answered, and said; When Melibceus had heard the great skills 1
"Certes," quoth he, "I think and purpose and reasons of Dame Prudence, and her wise
me fully to disinherit them of all that ever information and teaching, his heart gan incline,
they have, and for to put them in exile for to the will of his wife, considering her true inevermore." "Certes," quoth Dame Prudence, tent, he conformed him anon and assented fully
"this were a cruel sentence, and much against to work after her counsel, and thanked God,
reason. For ye be rich enough, and have no of whom proceedeth all goodness and all virtue,
need of other men's goods; and ye might lightly7 that him sent a wife of so great discretion.
in this wise get you a covetous name, which is a And when the day came that his adversaries
vicious thing, and ought to be eschewed of every should appear in his presence, he spake to them
good man: for, after the saying of the Apostle, full goodly, and said in this wise; " Albeit so,
covetousness is root of all harms. And there- that of your pride and high presumption and
fore it were better for you to lose much good of folly, and of your negligence and unconning,l6
your own, than for to take of their good in this ye have misborne 7 you, and trespassed 18 unto
manner. For better it is to lose good with me, yet forasmuch as I see and behold your
worship, than to win good with villainy and great humility, and that ye be sorry and reshame. And every man ought to do his dili- pentant of your guilts, it constraineth me to
gence and his business to get him a good name. do you grace and mercy. Wherefore I receive
And yet 9 shall he not only busy him in keeping you into my grace, and forgive you utterly all
1 Incurred guilt. 2 Courtesy, gentleness.' 11 Moderation. 12 If I assume.
8 Merciful. 4 Wickedly. 5 Sureties. 13 Decide.
6 Inquired. 7 Easily. 8 Honour.' 9 Further. 14 Endeavour, devise a way.
10 Reputation; from the past participle of the Anglo- 15 Arguments, reasons. 16 Ignorance.:axon, "hlisan," to celebrate. Compare Latin, "laus." 17 Misbehaved. 18 Done injury.
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