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Title: Chaucer's Works, Volume 4 — The Canterbury Tales
Author: Chaucer, Geoffrey
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Chaucer's Works, Volume 4 — The Canterbury Tales" ***
HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
_EDITED, FROM NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS_
BY THE
REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A.
LITT.D., LL.D., D.C.L., PH.D.
ELRINGTON AND BOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON
AND FELLOW OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
* * * *
THE CANTERBURY TALES: TEXT
‘Let every felawe telle his tale aboute,
And lat see now who shal the soper winne.’
_The Knightes Tale;_ A 890
SECOND EDITION
Oxford
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M DCCCC
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Frontispiece_. CAMBRIDGE MS. (Gg. 4. 27). Prol. 326-342]
Oxford
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, M.A.,
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
[v]
* * * * *
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.—§ 1. The Present Text. § 2. The MSS.—I. In the British
Museum. II. In Oxford. III. In Cambridge. IV. In other Public Libraries. V.
In private hands. § 3. The Printed Editions. § 4. Plan of the present
Edition. § 5. Table of symbols denoting MSS. § 6. Table showing various
ways of numbering the lines. § 7. The four types of MSS.
THE CANTERBURY TALES
GROUP A. THE PROLOGUE
THE KNIGHTES TALE
THE MILLER’S PROLOGUE
THE MILLERES TALE
THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE
THE REVES TALE
THE COOK’S PROLOGUE
THE COKES TALE
GROUP B. INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE
MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE
THE SHIPMAN’S PROLOGUE
THE SHIPMANNES TALE
THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE
THE PRIORESSES TALE
PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS
SIR THOPAS
PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS
THE MONK’S PROLOGUE
THE MONKES TALE:—Lucifer; Adam; Sampson; Hercules;
Nabugodonosor; Balthasar; Cenobia; De Petro Rege Ispannie;
De Petro Rege De Cipro; De Barnabo de Lumbardia;
De Hugelino Comite de Pize; Nero; De Oloferno;
De Rege Anthiocho; De Alexandro; De Iulio Cesare; Cresus
[vi]
THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE
THE NONNE PRESTES TALE
EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PRESTES TALE
GROUP C. THE PHISICIENS TALE
WORDS OF THE HOST
PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE
THE PARDONERS TALE
GROUP D. THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE
THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE
THE FRERES TALE
THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE
THE SOMNOURS TALE
GROUP E. THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE
THE CLERKES TALE
THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE
THE MARCHANTES TALE
EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE
GROUP F. THE SQUIERES TALE
WORDS OF THE FRANKLIN
THE FRANKLIN’S PROLOGUE
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE
GROUP G. THE SECONDE NONNES TALE
THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE
GROUP H. THE MANCIPLE’S PROLOGUE
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE
GROUP I. THE PARSON’S PROLOGUE
THE PERSONES TALE
APPENDIX TO GROUP A. The Tale of Gamelyn
[vii]
* * * * *
INTRODUCTION
§ 1. THE PRESENT TEXT.
The text of the ‘Canterbury Tales,’ as printed in the present volume, is an
entirely new one, owing nothing to the numerous printed editions which have
preceded it. The only exceptions to this statement are to be found in the
case of such portions as have been formerly edited, for the Clarendon
Press, by Dr. Morris and myself. The reasons for the necessity of a
formation of an absolutely new text will appear on a perusal of the text
itself, as compared with any of its predecessors.
On the other hand, it owes everything to the labours of Dr. Furnivall for
the Chaucer Society, but for which no satisfactory results could have been
obtained, except at the cost of more time and toil than I could well devote
to the subject. In other words, my work is entirely founded upon the
splendid ‘Six-text’ Edition published by that Society, supplemented by the
very valuable reprint of the celebrated ‘Harleian’ manuscript in the same
series. These Seven Texts are all exact reproductions of seven important
MSS., and are, in two respects, more important to the student than the MSS.
themselves; that is to say, they can be studied simultaneously instead of
separately, and they can be consulted and re-consulted at any moment, being
always accessible. The importance of such opportunities is obvious.
§ 2. THE MANUSCRIPTS.
The following list contains all the MSS. of the existence of which I am
aware. As to their types, see § 7. [viii]
I. MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
1. Harl. 7334; denoted here by HL. By Tyrwhitt called ‘C.’ A MS of the
B-type (see below). Printed in full for the Chaucer Society, 1885. Collated
throughout.
A MS. of great importance, but difficult to understand or describe. For
the greater clearness, I shall roughly describe the MSS. as being of
the A-type, the B-type, the C-type, and the D-type (really a second
C-type). Of the A-type, the best example is the Ellesmere MS.; of the
B-type, the best example is the Harleian MS. 7334; of the C-type, the
Corpus and Lansdowne MSS.; the D-type is that exhibited by Caxton and
Thynne in the early printed editions. They may be called the
‘Ellesmere,’ ‘Harleian,’ ‘Corpus,’ and ‘Caxton’ types respectively.
These types differ as to the arrangement of the Tales, and even MSS. of
a similar type differ slightly, in this respect, among themselves. They
also frequently differ as to certain characteristic readings, although
many of the variations of reading are peculiar to one or two MSS. only.
MS. Hl. contains the best copy of the Tale of Gamelyn, for which see p.
645; this Tale is not found in MSS. of the A-type. Moreover, Group G
here precedes Group C and a large part of Group B, whereas in the
Ellesmere MS. it follows them. In the Monk’s Tale, the lines numbered B
3565-3652 (containing the Tales called the ‘modern instances’)
immediately follow B 3564 (as in this edition), whereas in the
Ellesmere MS. these lines come at the end of the Tale.
The ‘various readings’ of this MS. are often peculiar, and it is
difficult to appraise them. I take them to be of two kinds: (i)
readings which are better than those of the Six-text, and should
certainly be preferred, such as _halfe_ in A 8, _cloysterlees_ in A
179, _a_ (not _a ful_) in A 196, and the like; and (2) readings due to
a terrible blundering on the part of the scribe, such as _fleyng_ for
_flikeringe_ in A 1962, _greene_ for _kene_ in A 1966, and the like. It
is, in fact, a most dangerous MS. to trust to, unless constantly
corrected by others, and is not at all fitted to be taken as the
_basis_ of a text. For further remarks, see the description of Wright’s
printed edition at p. xvi.
As regards age, this MS. is one of the oldest; and it is beautifully
written. Its chief defect is the loss of eight leaves, so that ll.
617-1223 in Group F are missing. It also misses several lines in
various places; as A 2013-8, 2958, 3721-2, 4355, 4358, 4375-6, 4415-22;
B 417, 1186-90, 1355, 1376-9, 1995, 3213-20, 4136-7, 4479-80; C 299,
300, 305-6, 478-9; D 575-584, 605-612, 619-626, 717-720; E 2356-7; F
1455-6, 1493-8; G 155, 210-216; besides some lines in Melibee and the
Persones Tale. Moreover, it has nine spurious lines, D 2004 _b_, _c_,
2012 _b_, _c_, 2037 _b_, _c_ 2048 _b_, _c_, F 592. These imperfections
furnish an additional reason for not founding a text upon this MS.
2. Harl. 7335; by Tyrwhitt called ‘A.’ Of the B-type. Very imperfect,
especially at the end. A few lines are printed in the Six-text edition to
fill up gaps in various MSS., viz. E 1646-7, F 1-8, 1423-4, 1433-4, G 158,
213-4, 326-337, 432-3, 484. Collated so far.
[ix] 3. Harl. 7333; by Tyrwhitt called ‘E.’ Of the D-type. One of Shirley’s
MSS. Some lines are printed in the Six-text edition, viz. B 4233-8, E
1213-44, F 1147-8, 1567-8, G 156-9, 213-4, 326-337, 432. It also contains
some of the Minor Poems; see the description of MS. ‘Harl.’ in the
Introduction to those poems in vol. i.[1]
4. Harl. 1758, denoted by HARL. at p. 645; by Tyrwhitt called ‘F.’ In
Urry’s list, i. Of the D-type, but containing Gamelyn. Many lines are
printed in the Six-text, including the whole of ‘Gamelyn.’ It is freely
used to fill up gaps, as B 1-9, 2096-2108, 3049-78, 4112, 4114, 4581-4636,
&c.
5. Harl. 1239; in Tyrwhitt, ‘I.’ In Urry’s list, ii. Imperfect both at
beginning and end.
6. Royal 18 C II; denoted by RL.; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B.’ In Urry, vii. Of the
D-type, but containing Gamelyn. Used to fill up gaps in the Six-text; e.g.
in B 1163-1190 (Shipman’s Prologue, called in this MS. the Squire’s
Prologue), 2109-73, 3961-80, E 65, 73, 81, 143, G 1337-40, I 472-511. The
whole of ‘Gamelyn’ is also printed from this MS. in the Six-text.
7. Royal 17 D xv; in Tyrwhitt, ‘D.’ In Urry, viii. Of the D-type, but
containing Gamelyn. Used to fill up gaps in the Six-text; e.g. in B
2328-61, 3961-80, 4112, 4114, 4233-8, 4637-51, D 609-612, 619-626, 717-720,
E 1213-44, F 1423-4, 1433-4, H 47-52; and in the Tale of Gamelyn.
8. Sloane 1685; denoted by SL. In Tyrwhitt, ‘G.’ In Urry, iii. Of the
D-type, but containing Gamelyn. In two handwritings, one later than the
other. Imperfect; has no Sir Thopas, Melibee, Manciple, or Parson. Very
frequently quoted in the Six-text, to fill up rather large gaps in the
Cambridge MS.; e.g. A 754-964, 3829-90, 4365-4422, &c. Gamelyn is printed
from this MS. in the Six-text, the gaps in it being filled up from MS. 7
(above).
9. Sloane 1686; in Tyrwhitt, ‘H.’ In Urry, iv. Of the C-type; containing
Gamelyn. A late MS., on paper. Imperfect; no Canon’s Yeoman or Parson.
10. Lansdowne 851; denoted by LN. In Tyrwhitt, ‘W,’ because at that time in
the possession of P. C. Webb, Esq. Used by Mr. Wright to fill up the large
gap in Hl., viz. F 617-1223, and frequently consulted by him and others.
Printed in full as [x] the sixth MS. of the Six-text. Of the C-type;
containing Gamelyn. Not a good MS., being certainly the worst of the six;
but worth printing owing to the frequent use that has been made of it by
editors.
11. Additional 5140; in Tyrwhitt, ‘Ask. _2_,’ as being one of two MSS. lent
to him by Dr. Askew. It has in it the arms of H. Deane, Archbp. of
Canterbury, 1501-3. Of the A-type. Quoted in the Six-text to fill up gaps;
e.g. B 3961-80, 4233-8, 4637-52, D 2158-2294, E 1213-44, 1646-7, 2419-40, F
1-8, 673-708, G 103, I 887-944, 1044-92.
12. Additional 25718. A mere fragment. A short passage from it, C 409-427,
is quoted in the Six-text, to fill up a gap in Ln.
13. Egerton 2726; called the ‘Haistwell MS.’; in Tyrwhitt denoted by ‘HA,’
and formerly belonging to E. Haistwell, Esq. Of the A-type, but imperfect.
The Six-text quotes F 679, 680: also F 673-708 in the Preface.
II. MSS. IN OXFORD.
14. Bodley 686; no. 2527 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B α.’ A neat
MS., with illuminations. Of the A-type; imperfect. The latter part of
the Cook’s Tale is on an inserted leaf (leaf 55), and concludes the
Tale in a manner that is not Chaucer’s. After the Canterbury Tales
occur several poems by Lydgate.
15. Bodley 414; not noticed by Tyrwhitt. Given to the library by B.
Heath in 1766. A late MS. of the D-type, and imperfect. No Cook,
Gamelyn, Squire, or Merchant.
16. Laud 739: no. 1234 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B β.’ A poor
and late MS. of the D-type, but containing Gamelyn; imperfect at the
end; ends with Sir Thopas, down to B 2056.
17. Laud 600; no. 1476 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B γ.’
Imperfect; several leaves ‘restored.’ Apparently, of the B-type; but
Group D and the Clerk’s Tale follow Gamelyn. Some extracts from it are
given in the Six-text, viz. B 2328-61, D 717-20 (no other Oxford MS.
has these scarce lines), F 673-708.
18. Arch. Selden B 14; no. 3360 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B δ.’
Perhaps the best and earliest of the Bodleian MSS., but not very good.
Sometimes here quoted as SELD. Apparently of the A-type, having no
copy of Gamelyn; but it practically [xi] represents a transition-state
between the A and B types, and has one correction of prime importance,
as it is the only MS. which links together all the Tales in Group B,
making the Shipman follow the Man of Law. Frequent extracts from it
occur in the Six-text; e.g. A 1-72, B 1163-1190, &c. In particular, a
large portion of the Parson’s Tale, I 290-1086, is printed from this
MS. in the same.
19. Barlow 20; no. 6420 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B ζ’ A clearly
written MS. of the D-type, including Gamelyn; imperfect after Sir
Thopas, but contains a portion of the Manciple’s Tale. It contains
the somewhat rare lines F 679, 680, which are quoted from it in the
Six-text.
20. Hatton, Donat. 1 (not the same MS. as Hatton 1); no. 4138 in
Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B ε.’ The Tales are in great disorder,
the Man of Law being thrust in between the Reeve and the Cook, as in no
other MS. It contains Gamelyn. Lines F 679, 680 are quoted from it in
the Six-text; and a few lines are again quoted from it at the end of
the Parson’s Tale.
21. Rawlinson Poet. 149. Apparently of the D-type, but it is very
imperfect, having lost several leaves in various places. A late MS.
22. Rawlinson Poet. 141. Not a bad MS., but several Tales are omitted, and
the Shipman follows the Clerk. Groups C and G do not appear at all. The
Latin side-notes are numerous.
23. Rawlinson Poet. 223; the same as that called Rawl. Misc. 1133 in the
Six-text ‘Trial-table.’ No copy of Gamelyn. The Tales are strangely
misplaced. Slightly imperfect here and there.
24. Corpus Christi College (Oxford), no. 198; denoted by CP. The best of
the Oxford MSS., printed in full as the fourth MS. in the Six-text edition.
Of the C-type; collated throughout. It contains a copy of Gamelyn, which is
duly printed. It is rather imperfect from the loss of leaves in various
places; the gaps being usually supplied from the Selden MS. (no. 18 above).
25. Christ Church (Oxford), no. 152. Contains Gamelyn. The Tales are
extraordinarily arranged, but the MS. is nearly perfect, except at the end.
A large part of the Parson’s Tale, after I 550, being lost from the Hengwrt
MS., the gap is supplied, in the Six-text, from this MS. and Addit. 5140.
The Second Nun follows the Shipman. Of the A-type.
[xii] 26. New College (Oxford), no. 314; called ‘NC’ in Tyrwhitt. Of the
D-type; imperfect at the beginning. No copy of Gamelyn.
27. Trinity College (Oxford), no. 49; containing 302 leaves; formerly in
the possession of John Leche, temp. Edw. IV. It contains Gamelyn. The Tales
are misplaced; the Pardoner and Man of Law being thrust into the middle of
Group B, after the Prioress.
III. MSS. AT CAMBRIDGE.
28. University Library, Gg. 4. 27, not noticed by Tyrwhitt; here denoted by
CM. Also denoted, in vol. iii., by C.; and in vol. i., by GG. A highly
valuable and important MS. of the A-type, printed as the third text in the
Six-text edition. The best copy in any public library. See the description
of ‘Gg.’ in vol. i.; and the full description in the Library Catalogue.
29. University Library, Dd. 4. 24; in Tyrwhitt, ‘C 1.’ Quoted as DD. A good
MS. of the A-type, much relied upon by Tyrwhitt, who made good use of it.
Has lost several leaves. The whole of the Clerk’s Tale was printed from
this MS. by Mr. Aldis Wright. The passage in B 4637-52 occurs only in this
MS. and a few others, viz. Royal 17 D xv, Addit. 5140, and the Chr. Ch. MS.
It also contains the rare lines D 575-84, 609-12, 619-26, 717-20, all
printed from this MS. in the Six-text. Lines E 1213-44 are also quoted, to
fill a gap in Cm.
30. University Library, Ii. 3. 26; in Tyrwhitt, ‘C 2.’ Of the D-type,
including Gamelyn; but the Franklin’s Tale is inserted after the Merchant.
Contains many corrupt readings.
31. University Library, Mm. 2. 5. The arrangement of the Tales is very
unusual, but resembles that in the Petworth MS., than which it is a little
more irregular. A complete MS. of the D-type, including Gamelyn.
32. Trinity College (Cambridge), R. 3. 15; in Tyrwhitt, ‘Tt.’ In quarto, on
paper. Some leaves are missing, so that the Canon’s Yeoman, Prioress, and
Sir Thopas are lost. Of the D-type, without Gamelyn.
N.B. This MS. also contains the three poems printed as Chaucer’s
(though not his) in the edition of 1687, and numbered 66, 67, and 68,
in my Account of ‘Speght’s edition’ in vol. i. It also contains the
best MS. of Pierce the Ploughman’s Crede, edited by me from this MS. in
1867.
[xiii] 33. Trinity College (Cambridge), R. 3. 3; in Tyrwhitt, ‘T.’ A folio
MS., on vellum; of the D-type, without Gamelyn; but several Tales are
misplaced.
IV. IN OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
34. Sion College, London. A mere fragment, containing only the Clerk’s Tale
and Group D.
35. Lichfield Cathedral Library; quoted as LICH. or LI. Of the D-type,
omitting Gamelyn. The Tale of Melibee is missing. As the Hengwrt MS. has no
Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, lines G 554-1481 are printed from this MS. in the
Six-text.
36. Lincoln Cathedral Library; begins with A 381. Resembles no. 42.
37. Glasgow; in the Hunterian Museum. Begins with A 353; dated 1476.
38. MS. at Paris, mentioned by Dr. Furnivall. Of the B-type.
39. MS. at Naples, mentioned by Dr. Furnivall.[2]
V. MSS. IN PRIVATE HANDS.
These include some of the very best.
40. The ‘Ellesmere’ MS., in the possession of the Earl of Ellesmere;
denoted by E. It formerly belonged to the Duke of Bridgewater, and
afterwards to the Marquis of Stafford. The finest and best of all the MSS.
now extant. Of the A-type; printed as the first of the MSS. in the
Six-text, and taken as the basis of the present edition.
It contains the curious coloured drawings of 23 of the Canterbury
Pilgrims which have been reproduced for the Chaucer Society. At the end
of the MS. is a valuable copy of Chaucer’s Balade of ‘Truth’; see vol.
i. At the beginning of the MS., in a later hand, are written two poems
printed in Todd’s Illustrations of Gower, &c., pp. 295-309, which Todd
absurdly attributed to Chaucer! They are of slight value or interest.
It may suffice to say that, at the beginning of the former poem, we
find _revyved_ rimed with _meved_, and many of the lines in it are too
long; e.g.—‘I supposed yt to have been some noxiall fantasy.’ In the
latter poem, a compliment to the family of Vere, _by_ rimes with
_auncestrye_, and _quarter_ with _hereafter_; and the lines are of
similar over-length, e.g.—‘Of whom prophesyes of antiquite makyth
mencion.’
41. The ‘Hengwrt’ MS., no. 154, belonging to Mr. Wm. W. E. Wynne, of
Peniarth; denoted by HN. A valuable MS.; [xiv] it is really of the A-type,
though the Tales are strangely misplaced, and the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale is
missing. The readings frequently agree so closely with those of E. (no. 40)
that it is, to some extent, almost a duplicate of it. Printed as the second
MS. in the Six-text. It also contains Chaucer’s Boethius (imperfect).
42. The ‘Petworth’ MS., belonging to Lord Leconfield; denoted by PT. A
folio MS., on vellum, of high value. Formerly in the possession of the Earl
of Egremont (Todd’s Illustrations, p. 118). Of the D-type, including
Gamelyn; but the Shipman and Prioress wrongly precede the Man of Law.
Printed as the fifth MS. in the Six-text.
43. The ‘Holkham’ MS., noted by Todd (Illustrations, p. 127) as then
belonging to Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, and now belonging to the Earl of
Leicester. The Tales are out of order; perhaps the leaves are misarranged.
Imperfect in various places; has no Parson’s Tale.
44. The ‘Helmingham’ MS., at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, belonging to Lord
Tollemache. On paper and vellum; about 1460 A.D. For a specimen, see the
Shipman’s Prologue, printed in the Six-text, in the Preface, p. ix*. Either
of the C-type or the D-type.
45-48. Four MSS. in the collection of the late Sir Thos. Phillipps, at
Cheltenham, viz. nos. 6570, 8136, 8137, 8299.
Two of these are mentioned in Todd’s Illustrations, p. 127, as being
‘now [in 1810] in the collection of John P. Kemble, Esq., and in that
belonging to the late Duke of Roxburghe; the latter is remarkably
beautiful, and is believed to have been once the property of Sir Henry
Spelman.’ No. 8299 contains the Clerk’s Tale only.
49-52. Four MSS. belonging to the Earl of Ashburnham; numbered 124-127 in
the Appendix. Of these, no. 124 wants the end of the Man of Law’s Tale and
the beginning of the Squire’s, and therefore belongs to either the C-type
or D-type. Nos. 125 and 126 are imperfect. No. 127 seems to be complete.
53. A MS. belonging to the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth; and formerly
to Sir N. L’Estrange. (Of the A-type.)
54. A MS. belonging to Sir Henry Ingilby, of Ripley Castle, Yorkshire. (Of
the A-type.)
55. A MS. belonging to the Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick; and formerly
to Mrs. Thynne. (Of the A-type.)
[xv] 56. A MS. now (in 1891) in the possession of Lady Cardigan.
57-59. Tyrwhitt uses the symbol ‘Ask. 1’ to denote a MS. lent to him by the
late Dr. Askew. He also uses the symbols ‘Ch.’ and ‘N.’ to denote ‘two MSS.
described in the Preface to Urry’s edition, the one as belonging to Chas.
Cholmondeley, Esq. of Vale Royal, in Cheshire, and the other to Mr. Norton,
of Southwick, in Hampshire.’ Of these, ‘Ch.’ is now Lord Delamere’s MS.,
described by Dr. Furnivall in Notes and Queries, 4 Ser. ix. 353. The others
I cannot trace.
§ 3. THE PRINTED EDITIONS.
In the first five editions, the Canterbury Tales were published separately.
1. Caxton; about 1477-8, from a poor MS. Copies are in the British Museum,
Merton College, and in the Pepysian Library (no. 2053).
2. Caxton; about 1483, from a better MS. A perfect copy exists in St.
John’s College Library, Oxford. Caxton bravely issued this new edition
because he had found that his former one was faulty.
3. Pynson; about 1493. Copied from Caxton’s 2nd edition.
4. Wynkyn de Worde; in 1498. In the British Museum.
5. Pynson; in 1526. Copied from Caxton’s 2nd edition.
After this the Canterbury Tales were invariably issued with the rest of
Chaucer’s Works, until after 1721. Some account of these editions is given
in the Preface to the Minor Poems, in vol. i.; which see. They are:
Thynne’s three editions, in 1532, 1542, and 1550 (the last is undated);
Stowe’s edition, 1561; Speght’s editions, in 1598, 1602, and 1687; Urry’s
edition, in 1721.
Two modernised editions of the Canterbury Tales were published in London in
1737 or 1740, and in 1741.
Next came: ‘Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, to which is added, an Essay on his
Language and Versification; an introductory discourse; notes, and a
glossary. By Thomas Tyrwhitt, London, 1775-8, 8vo, 5 vols.’ A work of high
literary value, to which I am greatly indebted for many necessary notes.
Reprinted in 1798 in 4to, 2 vols., by the University of Oxford; and again,
at London, in 1822, in post 8vo, 5 vols.; (by Pickering) in 1830, 8vo, 5
vols.; [xvi] and (by Moxon) in 1845, in 1 vol. imp. 8vo. The last of these
adds poor texts of the rest of Chaucer’s Works, from old black-letter
editions, with which Tyrwhitt had nothing to do. In Tyrwhitt’s text, the
number of grammatical errors is very large, and he frequently introduces
words into the text without authority. For some account of the later
editions of Chaucer’s Works, see the Introduction to the Legend of Good
Women, in vol. iii. I may note, by the way, that the editions by Wright,
Bell, and Morris are all founded on MS. Harl. 7334, a very unsafe MS. in
some respects; see p. viii (above).
It is necessary to add here a few words of warning. Wright’s edition,
though it has many merits, turns out, in practice, to be dangerously
untrustworthy. He frequently inserts words, borrowed from Tyrwhitt’s
edition (which he heartily condemns as being full of errors in
grammar), without the least indication that they are _not in the MS._
This becomes the more serious when we find, upon examination, that
Tyrwhitt had likewise no authority for some of such insertions, but
simply introduced them, by guess, to fill up a line in a way that
pleased him. For example, A 628 runs thus, in all the seven MSS.:—
‘Of his visage children were aferd.’ It is quite correct; for ‘viság-e’
is trisyllabic. Tyrwhitt did not know this, and counted the syllables
as _two_ only, neglecting the final _e_. The line seemed then too short;
so he inserted _sore_ before _aferd_, thus ruining the scansion. Wright
follows suit, and inserts _sore_, though it is not in his MS.; giving
no notice at all of what he has done. Bell follows suit, and the word
is even preserved in Morris; but the latter prints the word in italics,
to shew that it is not in the MS. Nor is it in the Six-text.
I shall not adduce more instances, but shall content myself with saying
that, until the publications of the Chaucer Society appeared, no reader
had the means of knowing what the best MS. texts were really like. All
who have been accustomed to former (complete) editions have necessarily
imbibed hundreds of false impressions, and have necessarily accepted
numberless theories as to the scansion of lines which they will, in
course of due time, be prepared to abandon. In the course of my work,
it has been made clear to me that Chaucer’s text has been manipulated
and sophisticated, frequently in most cunning and plausible ways, to a
far greater extent than I could have believed to be possible. This is
not a pleasant subject, and I only mention it for the use of scholars.
Such variations fortunately seldom affect the sense; but they vitiate
the scansion, the grammar, and the etymology in many cases. Of course
it will be understood that I am saying no more than I can fully
substantiate.
It is absolutely appalling to read such a statement as the following in
Bell’s edition, vol. i. p. 60. ‘All deviations, either from Mr.
Wright’s edition, or from the original MS., are pointed out in the
footnotes for the ultimate satisfaction of the reader.’ For the
instances in which this is really done are very rare indeed, in spite
of the large number of such deviations.
Of Tyrwhitt’s text, it is sufficient to remark that it was hardly
possible, at [xvii] that date, for a better text to have been produced.
The rules of Middle English grammar had not been formulated, so that we
are not surprised to find that he constantly makes the past tense of a
weak verb monosyllabic, when it should be dissyllabic, and treats the
past participle as dissyllabic, when it should be monosyllabic: which
makes wild work with the scansion. It is also to be regretted that he
based his text upon the faulty black-letter editions, though he took a
great deal of pains in collating them with various MSS.
On the other hand, his literary notes are full of learning and
research; and the number of admirable illustrations by which he has
efficiently elucidated the text is very great. His reputation as one of
the foremost of our literary critics is thoroughly established, and
needs no comment.
Mr. Wright’s notes are likewise excellent, and resulted from a wide
reading. I have also found some most useful hints in the notes to
Bell’s edition. Of all such sources of information I have been only too
glad to avail myself, as is more fully shewn in the succeeding volume.
§ 4. PLAN OF THE PRESENT EDITION.
The text of the present edition of the Canterbury Tales is founded upon
that of the Ellesmere MS. (E.) It has been collated throughout with that of
the other six MSS. published by the Chaucer Society. Of these seven MSS.,
the Harleian MS. 7334 (Hl.) was printed separately. The other six were
printed in the valuable ‘Six-text’ edition, to which I constantly have
occasion to refer, in parallel columns. The six MSS. are: E. (Ellesmere),
Hn. (Hengwrt), Cm. (Cambridge, Gg. 4. 27), Cp. (Corpus Coll., Oxford), Pt.
(Petworth), and Ln. (Lansdowne). MSS. E. Hn. Cm. represent the earliest
type (A) of the text; Hl., a transitional type (B); Cp. and Ln., a still
later type (C); and Pt., the latest of all (D), but hardly differing from
C.
In using these terms, ‘earliest,’ &c., I do not refer to the age of the
MSS., but to the type of text which they exhibit.
In the list of MSS. given above, Hl. is no. 1; E., Hn., Cm., are nos. 40,
41, and 28; and Cp., Pt., Ln., are nos. 24, 42, and 10 respectively.
Of all the MSS., E. is the best in nearly every respect. It not only gives
good lines and good sense, but is also (usually) grammatically accurate and
thoroughly well spelt. The publication of it has been a very great boon to
all Chaucer students, for which Dr. Furnivall will be ever gratefully
remembered. We must not omit, at the same time, to recognise the liberality
and generosity of the owner of the MS., who so freely permitted such full
use of it to be made; the same remark applies, equally, to the [xviii]
owners of the Hengwrt and the Petworth MSS. The names of the Earl of
Ellesmere, Mr. Wm. W. E. Wynne of Peniarth, and Lord Leconfield have
deservedly become as ‘familiar as household words’ to many a student of
Chaucer.
This splendid MS. has also the great merit of being complete, requiring no
supplement from any other source, except in the few cases where a line or
two has been missed. For example, it does not contain A 252 _b-c_ (found in
Hn. only); nor A 2681-2 (also not in Hn. or Cm.); nor B 1163-1190 (also not
in Hn. or Cm.); nor B 1995 (very rare indeed).
It is slightly imperfect in B 2510, 2514, 2525, 2526, 2623-4, 2746, 2967.
It drops B 3147-8, C 103-4, C 297-8 (not in Hn. Cm. Pt.), E 1358-61, G
564-5; and has a few defects in the Parson’s Tale in I 190, 273, &c. In the
Tale of Melibeus, the French original shews that _all_ the MSS. have lost B
2252-3, 2623-4, which have to be supplied by translation.
None of the seven MSS. have B 4637-4652; these lines are genuine, but were
probably meant to be cancelled. They only occur, to my knowledge, in four
MSS., nos. 7, 11, 25, and 29; though found also in the old black-letter
editions.
On the other hand, E. preserves lines rarely found elsewhere. Such are A
3155-6, 3721-2, F 1455-6, 1493-9; twelve genuine lines, none of which are
in Tyrwhitt, and only the first two are in Wright. Observe also the stanza
in the footnote to p. 424; with which compare B 3083, on p. 241.
The text of the Ellesmere MS. has only been corrected in cases where
careful collation suggests a desirable improvement. Every instance of this
character is invariably recorded in the footnotes. Thus, in A 8, the
grammar and scansion require _half-e_, not _half_; though, curiously
enough, this correct form appears in Hl. only, among all the seven MSS. In
very difficult cases, other MSS. (besides the seven) have been collated,
but I have seldom gained much by it. The chief additional MSS. thus used
are Dd.= Cambridge, Dd. 4. 24 (no. 29 above); Slo. or Sl. = Sloane 1685
(no. 8); Roy. or Rl. = Royal 18 C 2 (no. 6); Harl. = Harleian 1758 (see p.
645); Li. or Lich. = Lichfield MS. (no. 35), for the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale;
and others that are sufficiently indicated.
I have paid especial attention to the suffixes required by Middle-English
grammar, to the scansion, and to the pronunciation; and I suppose that this
is the first complete edition in which the [xix] spelling has been tested
by phonetic considerations. With a view to making the spelling a little
clearer and more consistent, I have ventured to adopt certain methods which
I here explain.
In certain words of variable spelling in E., such as _whan_ or _whanne,
than_ or _thanne_, I have adopted that form which the scansion requires;
but the MS. is usually right.
E. usually has _hise_ for _his_ with a plural sb., as in l. 1; I use _his_
always, except in prose. E. has _hir, here_, for her, their; I use _hir_
only, except at the end of a line.
E. uses the endings _-ight_ or _-yght_, _-inde_ or _-ynde_; I use _-ight_
_-inde_ only; and, in general, I use _i_ to represent short _i_, and _y_ to
represent long _i_, as in _king, wyf_. Such is the usual habit of the
scribe, but he often changes _i_ into _y_ before _m_ and _n_, to make his
writing clearer; such a precaution is needless in modern printing. Thus, in
l. 42, I replace the scribe’s _bigynne_ by _biginne_; and in l. 78, I
replace his _pilgrymage_ by _pilgrimage_. This makes the text easier to
read.
For a like reason, where equivalent spellings occur, I select the simpler;
writing _couthe_ (as in Pt.) for _kowthe_, _sote_ for _soote_, _sege_ for
_seege_, and so on. In words such as _our_ or _oure_, _your_ or _youre_,
_hir_ or _hire_, _neuer_ or _neuere_, I usually give the simpler forms,
without the final _-e_, when the _-e_ is obviously silent.
For consonantal _u_, as in _neuer_, I write _v_, as in _never_. This is
usual in all editions. But I could not bring myself to use _j_ for _i_
consonant; the anachronism is too great. _Never_ for _neuer_ is common in
the fifteenth century, but _j_ does not occur even in the first folio of
Shakespeare. I therefore usually keep the capital _i_ of the MSS. and of
the Elizabethan printers, as in _Ioye_ (=_joye_) where initial, and the
small _i_, as in _enioinen_=_enjoinen_) elsewhere. Those who dislike such
conservatism may be comforted by the reflection that the sound rarely
occurs.
The word _eye_ has to be altered to _yë_ at the end of a line, to preserve
the rimes. The scribes usually write _eye_ in the middle of a line, but
when they come to it at the end of one, they are fairly puzzled. In l. 10,
the scribe of Hn. writes _Iye_, and that of Ln. writes _yhe_; and the
variations on this theme are most curious. The spelling _ye_ (=_yë_) is,
however, common; as in A 1096 (Cm., Pt.). I print it ‘yë’ to distinguish it
from _ye_, the pl. pronoun.
These minute variations are, I trust, legitimate, and I have not recorded
them. They cause trouble to the editor, but afford ease [xx] to the reader,
which seems a sufficient justification for adopting them. But the
scrupulous critic need not fear that the MS. has been departed from in any
case, where it could make any phonetic difference, without due notice.
Thus, in l. 9, where I have changed _foweles_ into _fowles_ as being a more
usual form, the fact that _foweles_ is the Ellesmere spelling is duly
recorded in the footnotes. And so in other cases.
The footnotes do not record various readings where E. is correct as it
stands; they have purposely been made as concise as possible. It would have
been easy to multiply them fourfold without giving much information of
value; this is not unfrequently done, but the gain is slight. With so good
a MS. as the basis of the text, it did not seem desirable.
The following methods for shortening the footnotes have been adopted.
1. Sometimes only the readings of _some_ of the MSS. are given. Thus at
l. 9 (p. 1), I omit the readings of Cp. and of Cm. As a fact, neither
of these MSS. contain the line; but it was not worth while to take up
space by saying so. At l. 10 (p. 1), I again omit the readings of Cp.
and of Cm., for the same reason; also of Ln., which is a poor MS.,
though here it agrees with Hl. (having _yhe_); also of Pt., which has
_eyghe_, a spelling not here to be thought of. At l. 12, I just note
that E. has _pilgrimage_ (by mistake); of course this means that it
should have had _pilgrimages_ in the plural, as in other MSS., and as
required by the rime.
2. At l. 23 (p. 2), the remark ‘_rest_ was’ implies that all the rest
of the seven MSS. specially collated have ‘was.’ The word ‘_rest_’ is a
convenient abbreviation.
3. When, as at l. 53, I give _nacions_ as a rejected reading of E. in
the footnote, it will be understood that _naciouns_ is a better
spelling, justified by other MSS., and by other lines in E. itself.
E.g., _naciouns_ occurs in Hl. and Pt., and Cm. has _naciounnys_.
4. I often use ‘_om._’ for ‘_omit_,’ or ‘_omits_’ as in the footnote to
l. 188 (p. 6).
5. At l. 335 (p. 11), I give the footnote:—‘ever] Hl. al.’ This means
that MS. Hl. has _al_ instead of the word _ever_ of the other MSS. It
seemed worth noting; but _ever_ is probably right.
6. At l. 520 (p. 16), the note is:—‘_All but_ Hl. this was.’ That is,
Hl. has _was_, as in the text; the rest have _this was_, where the
addition of _this_ sadly clogs the line.
With these hints, the footnotes present no difficulty.
As a rule, I have refrained from all emendation; but, in B 1189, I have
ventured to suggest _physices_[3], for reasons explained in the Notes.
Those who prefer the reading _Phislyas_ can adopt it.
For further details regarding particular passages, I beg leave to refer the
reader to the Notes in vol. v.
[xxi]
§ 5. TABLE OF SYMBOLS DENOTING MSS.
Cm.—Cambridge Univ. Lib. Gg. 4. 27 (Ellesmere type). No. 28 in list.
Cp.—Carpus Chr. Coll., Oxford, no. 198. No. 24.
Dd.—Cambridge Univ. Lib. Dd. 4. 24 (Ellesmere type). No. 29.
E.—Ellesmere MS. (basis of the text). No. 40.
Harl.—Harl. 1758; Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 4.
Hl.—Harl. 7334; British Museum. No. 1.
Hn.—Hengwrt MS. no. 154. No. 41.
Li. _or_ Lich.—Lichfield MS.; see pp. 533-553. No. 35.
Ln.—Lansdowne 851; Brit. Mus. (Corpus type). No. 10.
Pt.—Petworth MS. No. 42.
Rl. _or_ Roy.—Royal 18 C. II; Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 6.
Seld.—Arch. Selden, B. 14; Bodleian Library. No. 18.
Sl. _or_ Slo.—Sloane 1685: Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 8.
§ 6. TABLE SHEWING THE VARIOUS WAYS OF NUMBERING THE LINES.
SIX-TEXT (as here) TYRWHITT. WRIGHT.
A—1-4422 1-4420[4] 1-4420[4]
B—1-1162 4421-5582 4421-5582
B—1163-2156 12903-13894[5] 14384-15374[6]
B—2157-3078[7] Prose; not counted[8]. Prose; not counted.
B—3079-3564 13895-14380 15375-15860
B—3565-3652 14685-14772 15861-15948
[xxii]
B—3653-3956 14381-14684 15949-16262
B—3957-4652 14773-15468 16253-16932[9]
_Spurious_; see p. 11929-11934 13410-13415
289, note.
C—1-968 11935-12902 13416-14383
D (2294 lines); E 5583-11928[10] 5583-11928
(2440); F(1624)
G—1-1481 15469-16949 11929-13409
H—(362); I 1-74 16950-17385 16933-17368
Hence, to obtain the order of the lines in Tyrwhitt, see A-B 1162; D, E, F;
p. 289, footnote; C; B 1163-2156, 3079-3564, 3653-3956, 3565-3652,
3957-4652; G, H, I.
Or (by pages), see pp. 1-164, 320-508, 289 (footnote), 290-319, 165-256
(which includes Melibeus), 259-268, 256-258, 269-289, 509-end.
To facilitate reference, the numbering of the lines in Tyrwhitt’s text is
marked at the top of every page, preceded by the letter ‘T.’; lines which
Tyrwhitt omits are marked ‘[T. _om._’, as on p. 90; and his paragraphs (all
numbered in this edition) are carefully preserved in Melibeus and the
Parson’s Tale, which are in prose. In the Prologue, after l. 250, his
numbering is given within marks of parenthesis.
The lines in every piece are also numbered _separately_, within marks of
parenthesis, as (10), (20), on p. 26. This numbering (borrowed from Dr.
Murray) agrees with the references given in the New English Dictionary. It
also gives, in most cases, either exactly or approximately, the references
to Dr. Morris’s edition, who adopts a similar method, with a few variations
of detail. The lines in Bell’s edition are not numbered at all.
To obtain the order in Wright’s edition, see pp. 1-164, 320-554, 289
(footnote), 290-319, 165-289, 555-end. The variations are fewer.
Some may find it more convenient to observe the names of the Tales.
[xxiii] Tyrwhitt’s order of the Tales is as follows[11]:—Prologue, Knight,
Miller, Reeve, Cook—Man of Lawe—Wife, Friar, Somnour—Clerk,
Merchant—Squire, Franklin—Doctor (Physician), Pardoner—Shipman,
Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibeus, Monk[12], Nun’s Priest—Second Nun, Canon’s
Yeoman—Manciple—Parson.
§7. THE FOUR LEADING TYPES OF THE MSS.
The four leading types of MSS. usually exhibit a variation in the order of
the Tales, as well as many minor differences. I only note here the former
(omitting Gamelyn, which is absent from MSS. of the A-type, and from some
of the D-type).
A.—1. Prologue, Knight, Miller, Reeve, Cook.
2. Man of Lawe.
3. Wife of Bath, Friar, Sompnour.
4. Clerk, Merchant.
5. Squire, Franklin.
6. Doctor, Pardoner.
7. Shipman, Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibeus, Monk, Nun’s Priest.
8. Second Nun, Canon’s Yeoman.
9. Manciple, (_slightly linked to_) Parson.
B.—Places 8 before 6. Order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 6, 7, 9.
C.—Not only places 8 before 6 (as B), but splits 5 into 5 _a_
(Squire) and 5 _b_ (Franklin), and places 5 _a_ before 3. Order: 1,
2, 5 _a_, 3, 4, 5 _b_, 8, 6, 7, 9.
D.—As C, but further splits 4 into 4 _a_ (Clerk), and 4 _b_
(Merchant), and places 4 _b_ after 5 _a_. Order: 1, 2, 5 _a_, 4 b, 3, 4 _a_,
5 _b_, 8, 6, 7, 9. (D. is really a mere variety of C., with an external
difference.)
Observe the position of the Franklin. Thus: A. Squire, Franklin, Doctor. B.
Squire, Franklin, Second Nun. C. Merchant, Franklin, Second Nun. D. Clerk,
Franklin, Second Nun.
For further remarks on this subject, see vol. v.
[xxiv] ERRATA
N.B. The following are all the Errata that I have observed. Those
marked with an asterisk should be noticed. The rest are unimportant.
P. 14. A 467. Perhaps the full stop at the end of the line should be a
colon.
P. 15. Footnote to A 503. For ‘Hl. _alone_’ _read_ ‘Tyrwhitt.’
P. 85. A 3016. _For_ eye _read_ yë
*P. 110. A 3822. _For_ celle _read_ selle
*P. 131. B 59, 60. _For_ eek _and_ seek _read_ eke _and_ seke
P. 133. B 115. Insert marks of quotation at the beginning and end of
the line.
P. 133. B 120, 121. Insert marks of quotation at the beginning of l.
120 and at the end of l. 121.
P. 134. In the headline; _for_ T. 4454 _read_ T. 4554.
P. 146. B 540, 541, 547. _For_ cristen _read_ Cristen
P. 146. B 544 _For_ cristianitee _read_ Cristianitee. So also at p.
525; G 535.
P. 194. B 2043. _Dele_; _after_ spicerye
P. 202. B 2222. _For_ yevynge _read_ yevinge
P. 205. B 2253. _For_ owe _read_ ow
P. 207. B 2303. _For_ se _read_ see
P. 219, footnotes. _For_ 2251 and 2252 _read_ 2551 and 2552
*P. 222. B 2624. _For_ Iurisdicctioun _read_ Iurisdiccioun
P. 232, ll. 9, 10. _Dele the quotation-mark after_ certeyne, _and
insert it after_ another.
*P. 245. B 3230. _For_ my _read_ ny
*P. 253. B 3490. _For_ warre _read_ werre
P. 271. B 4011. _For_ stope _a better reading is_ stape
P. 285. B 4510. _For_ charitee _perhaps read_ Charitee
P. 285. B 4541. _For_ chide _read_ chyde
P. 299. C 291. _Either read_ advocas, _or note that the_ t _in_
advocats _is silent_.
*P. 309. C 601. _For_ opinoun _read_ opinioun
P. 318. C 955. _For_ Thay _read_ They
P. 338. In the headline; _for_ 6225 _read_ 6235.
P. 339. In the headline; for 6226 _read_ 6236.
P. 344. D 846. _For_ But if _read_ But-if
P. 345. D 859. _For_ All _read_ Al
P. 354. Footnotes; last line. _For_ 1205 _read_ 1204
P. 355. D 1219, 1227. _For_ Chese _and_ chese _read_ Chees _and_ chees.
P. 363. D 1436. _For_ But if _read_ But-if
P. 387. D 2242. _Perhaps insert a comma after_ himself
P. 419. E 994. _For_ gouernance _read_ governance
P. 428. E 1304, 1306. Insert quotation-mark at the end of l. 1304,
instead of the end of l. 1306.
P. 438. E 1635. _For_ Saue _read_ Save
P. 444. E 1866. _Insert_ Auctor _opposite this line_.
P. 449. E 2058. _For_ scorpion _read_ scorpioun; _as the last syllable
is accented_.
P. 459. E 2418. _For_ bless _read_ blesse
P. 461. F 20. After all, the right reading probably is that given by E.
Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl., but with the form _pietous_ for _pitous_ as in
Troilus, iii. 1444, and v. 451. Read—And piëtous and Iust, alwey
y-liche.
P. 468. F 266. _For_ Cambynskan _read_ Cambinskan. So also at p. 480,
first line.
P. 474. F 462. _For_ sle _read_ slee
P. 505, footnotes. _For_ 1527 _read_ 1526
P. 527. G 558, footnote. _The real reading of_ E _is_—
And vndernethe he wered a surplys
P. 543. G 1107. _For_ shall _read_ shal
*P. 545. G 1171. _For_ torned _read_ terved. [_The reading in_ E is
_really_ terued=terved, i.e. stripped, flayed. The _reading_ torned _is
a poor substitution_.]
*P. 548. G 1274. _For_ torne, _read_ terve,
*P. 560. H 144. _For_ hept _read_ kept
P. 626. Footnotes; last line. _For_ E. Seld. Ln. beauteis; _read_ E.
Seld. Ln. beautees;
P. 634. I 955. _For_ Daniel, _read_ David. [N.B. MSS. E. Cm. Danyel;
_the rest_, Dauid. Probably Chaucer wrote ‘Daniel’ at first, and
afterwards corrected it (by the original) to ‘David.’ Nevertheless,
‘Daniel’ is a good reading.]
* * * * *
[xxv]
ADDITIONS
TO
‘THE MINOR POEMS’ IN VOL. I.
* * * * *
[Further researches have brought to light some more of Chaucer’s Minor
Poems. I first met with the excellent Balade on ‘Womanly Noblesse’ in MS.
Phillipps 9030 (now MS. Addit. 34360) on June 1, 1894; and on the following
day I noticed in MS. Harl. 7578 (partly described in vol. i. p. 58) two
Complaints that may perhaps be attributed to our author. As, from the
nature of the case, they could not be included in Vol. i, they are inserted
here.]
* * * * *
XXIV. WOMANLY NOBLESSE.
* * * * *
BALADE THAT CHAUCIER MADE.
So hath my herte caught in rémembraunce
Your beautè hool, and stedfast governaunce,
Your vertues allè, and your hy noblesse,
That you to serve is set al my plesaunce;
So wel me lykth your womanly contenaunce, 5
[xxvi]
Your fresshe fetures and your comlinesse,
That, whyl I live, my herte to his maistresse,
You hath ful chose, in trew perséveraunce,
Never to chaunge, for no maner distresse.
From MS. Addit. 34360, fol. 21, back (with ascription by Shirley);
hitherto unprinted. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given.
1. hert. 2. Yowre (_throughout_); hoole; stidefast. 3. al; hie.
4. yow; sette. 5. likith; _for_ womanly _perhaps read_ wyfly. 6:
comlynesse. 7: whiles; myn hert; maystresse. 8: triev.
And sith I [you] shal do this observaunce 10
Al my lyf, withouten displesaunce,
You for to serve with al my besinesse,
[Taketh me, lady, in your obeisaunce,]
And have me somwhat in your souvenaunce.
My woful herte suffreth greet duresse; 15
And [loke] how humbl[el]y, with al simplesse,
My wil I cónforme to your ordenaunce,
As you best list, my peynes to redresse.
10: _I insert_ you. 11: (_Accent on_ Al); live. 12: besynesse.
13. _Dr. Furnivall supplies this lost line_; cf. Complaint to Pity, l.
84. 15. hert suffrith grete. 16: _I supply_ loke; humbly. 17:
ordynaunce. 18: for to (_I omit_ for).
Considring eek how I hange in balaunce
In your servysè; swich, lo! is my chaunce, 20
Abyding grace, whan that your gentilnesse
Of my gret wo list doon allegeaunce,
And with your pitè me som wyse avaunce,
In ful rebating of my hevinesse;
And thinkth, by reson, wommanly noblesse 25
Shuld nat desyre for to doon outrance
Ther-as she findeth noon unbuxumnesse.
19: eke. 20: service suche loo. 21: (_Perhaps omit_ that). 22:
grete woo; do. 23: wise. 24: rebatyng; myn hevynesse. 25: And
thynkith be raison that (_too long_). 26: desire; for til do the (_I
omit_ the). 27: fyndith non vn-.
_Lenvoye._
Auctour of norture, lady of plesaunce,
Soveraine of beautè, flour of wommanhede,
Take ye non hede unto myn ignoraunce, 30
But this receyveth of your goodlihede,
Thinking that I have caught in remembraunce
Your beautè hool, your stedfast governaunce.
29. Soueraigne; floure. 31. receyvith; goodelyhede. 32. Thynkyng.
33. hole; stidefast.
[xxvii]
* * * * *
XXV. COMPLAINT TO MY MORTAL FOE.
* * * * *
Al hoolly youres, withouten otheres part!
Wherefore? y-wis, that I ne can ne may
My service chaungen; thus of al suche art
The lerninge I desyre for ever and ay.
And evermore, whyl that I live may, 5
In trouthe I wol your servant stille abyde,
Although my wo encresè day by day,
Til that to me be come the dethes tyde.
From MS. Harl. 7578, fol. 15. At the bottom of fol. 14, back, is the
last line of Chaucer’s Complaint to Pity, beneath which is written
‘Balade.’ But the present poem is really a Complaint, like the
preceding one. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given. There is no
title in the MS. except ‘Balade.’
1. holly; others parte. 2. I wisse. 3. By (_surely an error for_
My); arte. 4. lernynge; desire; euer (_and_ u _for_ v _often_). 5.
while; leue. 6. trought (_sic_); youre; abide. 7. be (_for_ by).
Seint Valentyne! to you I rénovele
My woful lyf, as I can, compleyninge; 10
But, as me thinketh, to you a quarele
Right greet I have, whan I, rememberinge
Bitwene, how kinde, ayeins the yeres springe,
Upon your day, doth ech foul chese his make;
And you list not in swich comfórt me bringe, 15
That to her grace my lady shulde me take.
9. valentine; Renouele. 10. compleynynge. 12. grete; whanne;
remembringe. 13. Bytwene howe kende. 14. Vppon youre; doith eche
foule. 15. lyste; suche comforte.
[xxviii]
Wherfor unto you, Cupide, I beseche,
Furth with Venús, noble lusty goddesse,
Sith ye may best my sorowe lesse and eche;
And I, your man, oppressed with distresse, 20
Can not crye ‘help!’ but to your gentilnesse:
So voucheth sauf, sith I, your man, wol dye,
My ladies herte in pitè folde and presse,
That of my peyne I finde remedye.
21. cry helpe; vnto (_for_ to); gentelnesse. 22. safe. 24. peine;
fynde I may (_for_ I finde); remydie.
To your conning, my hertes right princesse, 25
My mortal fo, whiche I best love and serve,
I recommaunde my boistous lewednesse.
And, for I can not altherbest deserve
Your grace, I preye, as he that wol nat swerve,
That I may fare the better for my trouthe; 30
Sith I am youres, til deth my herte kerve,
On me, your man, now mercy have and routhe.
25. konnyngge; princes. 26. foo. 27. leudenesse. 29. prey;
swerue. 30. trouth. 31. herte wol kerue (_I omit_ wol). 32. haue;
routh.
[xxix]
* * * * *
XXVI. COMPLAINT TO MY LODE-STERRE.
* * * * *
Of gretter cause may no wight him compleyne
Than I; for love hath set me in swich caas
That lasse Ioye and more encrees of peyne
Ne hath no man; wherfore I crye ‘allas!’
A thousand tyme, whan I have tyme and space. 5
For she, that is my verray sorowes grounde,
Wol with her grace no wyse my sorowes sounde.
From MS. Harl. 7578, fol. 15, back. No title but ‘Balade’; but it is
really a Complaint. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given.
2. y (_for_ I); hath me sette in swiche. 3. encrese. 5. whenne;
haue. 6. sheo; werry (_for_ verray). 7. Wolle; wise; (sounde
_means_ heal).
And that, shulde be my sorowes hertes leche,
Is me ageins, and maketh me swich werre,
That shortly, [in] al maner thought and speche, 10
Whether it be that I be nigh or ferre,
I misse the grace of you, my lode-sterre,
Which causeth me on you thus for to crye;
And al is it for lakke of remedye.
9. Ys; swide (_miswritten for_ swiche). 10. _I supply_ in; alle
manere. 11. Whethr_e_. 12. mys; loode-. 13. Whiche. 14. alle;
remydie.
My soverain Ioye thus is my mortal fo; 15
She that shulde causen al my lustinesse
List in no wyse of my sorowes saye ‘ho!’
[xxx]
But let me thus darraine, in hevinesse,
With woful thoughtes and my grete distresse,
The which she might right wele, [at] every tyde, 20
If that her liste, out of my herte gyde.
15. souu_er_aine; foo. 16. alle; lustynesse. 17. Liste; wise; say
hoo. 18. lete; heuinesse. 19. wooful; grette. 20. sheo; _I
supply_ at; eu_ery_. 21. oute; guyde.
But it is so, that her list, in no wyse,
Have pitè on my woful besinesse;
And I ne can do no maner servyse
That may me torne out of my hevinesse; 25
So woldè god, that she now wolde impresse
Right in her herte my trouthe and eek good wille;
And let me not, for lakke of mercy, spille.
22. liste; wise. 23. Haue pitee. 24. kanne; manere seruice. 25.
be (_for_ me); oute; heuynesse. 26. sheo nowe. 27. herre (_for_
her); trough (_sic_); eke. 28. lette; lake.
Now wele I woot why thus I smerte sore;
For couthe I wele, as othere folkes, feyne, 30
Than neded me to live in peyne no more,
But, whan I were from you, unteye my reyne,
And, for the tyme, drawe in another cheyne.
But woldè god that alle swich were y-knowe,
And duely punisshed of hye and lowe. 35
29. woote; why that I thus smerte so sore (_two syllables too much_).
30. couth; sayne (_for_ feyne). 31. Thanne nedes; lyue. 32. whenne;
vnteye. 33. into (_for_ in); a-nothre. 35. punisshede both of high
(_I omit_ both).
Swich lyf defye I, bothe in thoughte and worde,
For yet me were wel lever for to sterve
Than in my herte for to make an horde
Of any falshood; for, til deth to-kerve
My herte and body, shal I never swerve 40
From you, that best may be my fynal cure,
But, at your liste, abyde myn aventure;
36. Swiche; defie. 37. yette; sterue. 38. Thanne; hoorde. 39.
falshode; til deth the kerue (_but see note on_ p. xxxii). 40.
neu_er_e swerue. 41. youre (_for_ my). 42. atte youre; abide.
And preye to you, noble seint Valentyne,
My ladies herte that ye wolde enbrace,
[xxxi]
And make her pitè to me more enclyne 45
That I may stonden in her noble grace
In hasty tyme, whyl I have lyves space:
For yit wiste I never noon, of my lyve,
So litel hony in so fayre hyve.
43. prey; sainte valentine. 45. pitee. 46. here. 47. whiles; haue
lyues. 48. yitte; neuere none; lyfe. 49. hiue.
* * * * *
NOTES TO THE PRECEDING POEMS.
* * * * *
XXIV.—I take the title from l. 25; cf. Troil. i. 287.
The metre exhibits the nine-line stanza, as in Anelida, 211-9; but the
same rimes recur in all three stanzas. The six-line Envoy, with the
rime-formula _a b a b a a_, is unique in Chaucer. There are nineteen
lines ending in _-aunce_, twelve in _-esse_, and two in _-ede_.
1. Note how ll. 1 and 2 are re-echoed in ll. 32, 33. For a similar
effect, see Anelida, 211, 350.
8. _ful chose_, fully chosen; parallel to _ful drive_ in C. T., F 1230.
14. _souvenance_, remembrance; not found elswhere in Chaucer.
16. _humblely_ is trisyllabic; see Leg. 156, Troil. ii. 1719, v. 1354.
20. _lo_ emphasises _swich_; cf. _lo, this_, T. v. 54; _lo, which_, T.
iv. 1231.
22. _allegeaunce_, _alleviation_; the verb _allegge_ is in the
Glossary.
26. _outrance_, extreme violence, great hurt; see Godefroy.
27. _unbuxumnesse_, unsubmissiveness; cf. _buxumnesse_, Truth, 15.
XXV.—I take the title from l. 26; cf. Compl. to his Lady, 41, 64.
1. Cf. Amorous Complaint, 87; Troil. v. 1318, i. 960.
3. ‘Love hath me taught no more of his art,’ &c.; Compl. to his Lady,
42-3.
9. Cf. Compl. of Mars, 13, 14; p. xxx above, l. 43; Parl. Foules,
386-9; Amorous Complaint, 85-6.
19. _eche_, augment; ‘hir sorwes _eche_,’ T. i. 705.
27. ‘And to your trouthe ay I me recomaunde;’ T. v. 1414. ‘I am a
_boistous_ man;’ C. T., H 211.
XXVI.—I take the title from l. 12; see T. v. 232, 638, 1392.
7. _sounde_, heal, cure; as in Anelida, 242.
8. Perhaps read _hertes sorwes leche_; see T. ii. 1066.
10. Cf. ‘as _in_ his speche;’ T. ii. 1069.
26. _impresse_; cf. T. ii. 1371.
[xxxii] 28. _spille_; cf. Compl. to his Lady, 121.
32. _reyne_, bridle. For this image, cf. Anelida, 184.
39. MS. _deth the kerue_. As _e_ and _o_ are constantly confused, the
prefix _to_ (written apart) may have looked like _te_, and would easily
be altered to _the_. Cf. _forkerveth_ in the Manc. Tale, H 340.
47. Here _spac-e_ rimes with _embrac-e_, but in l. 5 it rimes with
_allas_. This variation is no worse than the riming of _embrace_ with
_compas_ in Proverbs, 8 (vol. i. p. 407). Cf. _plac-e_ in C.T., B 1910,
with its variant _plas_, B 1971.
N.B. The Complaints numbered XXV and XXVI are obviously by the same
author; compare XXV. 26 with XXVI. 15; XXV. 9 with XXVI. 43; and XXV.
29-31 with XXVI. 39, 40. They were probably written nearly at the same
time.
* * * * *
[1: T. 1-22.]
THE CANTERBURY TALES.
* * * * *
GROUP A. THE PROLOGUE.
HERE BIGINNETH THE BOOK OF THE TALES OF CAUNTERBURY.
Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 5
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,
And smale fowles maken melodye,
That slepen al the night with open yë, 10
(So priketh hem nature in hir corages):
Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
(And palmers for to seken straunge strondes)
To ferne halwes, couthe in sondry londes;
And specially, from every shires ende 15
Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,
The holy blisful martir for to seke,
That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seke.
HEADING. _From_ E. 1. E. hise; _rest_ his. 8. Hl. halfe; _rest_
half. 9. Hl. fowles; Pt. Ln. foules; E. Hn. foweles. 10. Hl. yhe;
Hn. Iye; E. eye. 12. Pt. Ln. Than; E. Thanne. E. pilg_ri_mage (_by
mistake_). 13. Pt. Hl. palmers; E. Palmeres. 16. Hn. Caunter-; E.
Cauntur-. 18. E. seeke.
Bifel that, in that seson on a day,
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20
Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
[2: T. 23-58.]
At night was come in-to that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a companye,
Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle 25
In felawshipe, and pilgrims were they alle,
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde;
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
And wel we weren esed atte beste.
And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30
So hadde I spoken with hem everichon,
That I was of hir felawshipe anon,
And made forward erly for to ryse,
To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse.
19. Hn. Bifel; E. Bifil. 23. E. were; _rest_ was. 24. E. Hn.
compaignye. 26, 32. E. felaweship_e_. Hl. pilgryms; E. pilgrimes.
34. E. oure.
But natheles, whyl I have tyme and space, 35
Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
Me thinketh it acordaunt to resoun,
To telle yow al the condicioun
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
And whiche they weren, and of what degree; 40
And eek in what array that they were inne:
And at a knight than wol I first biginne.
35. E. Hn. nathelees. 40. Hl. weren; _rest_ were, weere.
A KNIGHT ther was, and that a worthy man, =Knight.=
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To ryden out, he loved chivalrye, 45
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
And therto hadde he riden (no man ferre)
As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse,
And ever honoured for his worthinesse. 50
49. Hn. Hl. as; _rest_ as in.
At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne;
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce.
In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
No Cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55
In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye,
[3: T. 59-92.]
Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See
At many a noble aryve hadde he be. 60
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
And foughten for our feith at Tramissene
In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo.
This ilke worthy knight had been also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye, 65
Ageyn another hethen in Turkye:
And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
And of his port as meke as is a mayde.
He never yet no vileinye ne sayde 70
In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight.
He was a verray parfit gentil knight.
But for to tellen yow of his array,
His hors were gode, but he was nat gay.
Of fustian he wered a gipoun 75
Al bismotered with his habergeoun;
For he was late y-come from his viage,
And wente for to doon his pilgrimage.
53. E. nacions. 56. E. seege. 60. Hl. ariue; Cm. aryue; E. Hn.
armee; Cp. Ln. arme. 62. E. oure. 64. Pt. had; _rest_ hadde. 67.
E. -moore. 68. E. Hn. Cm. were; _rest_ was. 74. E. Pt. weren; Hl.
Ln. was; _rest_ were. Hl. Hn. he ne was.
With him ther was his sone, a yong SQUYER, =SQUYER.=
A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler, 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 evene lengthe,
And wonderly deliver, and greet of strengthe.
And he had been somtyme in chivachye, 85
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye,
And born him wel, as of so litel space,
In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
Embrouded was he, as it were a mede
Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and rede. 90
Singinge he was, or floytinge, al the day;
He was as fresh as is the month of May.
[4: T. 93-127.]
Short was his goune, with sleves longe and wyde.
Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde.
He coude songes make and wel endyte, 95
Iuste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and wryte,
So hote he lovede, that by nightertale
He sleep namore than dooth a nightingale.
Curteys he was, lowly, and servisable,
And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100
83. Ln. euen; _rest_ euene. 84. Hl. Ln. delyuer; _rest_ delyuere.
E. Hn. of greet; Cm. of gret; _rest_ gret of. 85. Ln. had. 87. E.
weel. 89, 90. E. meede, reede. 92. E. fressh. E. in; _rest_ is.
E. Hn. Monthe; Cp. month; Hl. Pt. Ln. moneth; Cm. monyth. 96. E.
weel. 98. Hl. Cp. sleep; _rest_ slepte. E. -moore. 99. Hl. Cp.
Ln. lowly; E. Hn. Pt. lowely.
A YEMAN hadde he, and servaunts namo =Yeman.=
At that tyme, for him liste ryde so;
And he was clad in cote and hood of grene;
A sheef of pecok-arwes brighte and kene
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily; 105
(Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly:
His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
And in his hand he bar a mighty bowe.
A not-heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
Of wode-craft wel coude he al the usage. 110
Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer,
And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
And on that other syde a gay daggere,
Harneised wel, and sharp as point of spere;
A Cristofre on his brest of silver shene. 115
An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene;
A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
101. E. seruantz. 102. E. soo. 104. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. pocok. Cm.
bryghte; _rest_ bright. 107. E. Hise. 108, 111. E. baar. 113. E.
oother. 115. Hn. Cristofre; E. Cristophere. E. sheene.
Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, =Prioresse.=
That of hir smyling was ful simple and coy;
Hir gretteste ooth was but by sëynt Loy; 120
And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
Ful wel she song the service divyne,
Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 125
For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe.
At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle;
[5: T. 128-161.]
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe.
Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe, 130
That no drope ne fille up-on hir brest.
In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest.
Hir over lippe wyped she so clene,
That in hir coppe was no ferthing sene
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135
Ful semely after hir mete she raughte,
And sikerly she was of greet disport,
And ful plesaunt, and amiable of port,
And peyned hir to countrefete chere
Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 140
And to ben holden digne of reverence.
But, for to speken of hir conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous,
She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous
Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145
Of smale houndes had she, that she fedde
With rosted flesh, or milk and wastel-breed.
But sore weep she if oon of hem were deed,
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte:
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150
Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was;
Hir nose tretys; hir eyen greye as glas;
Hir mouth ful smal, and ther-to softe and reed;
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe; 155
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war.
Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar
A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene;
And ther-on heng a broche of gold ful shene, 160
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
[6: T. 162-195.]
And after, _Amor vincit omnia._
122. E. soong. 123. E. semeely. 131. Cm. brest; E. Hn. brist.
132. Cp. moche; Cm. meche; E. Hn. muchel. Hl. lest; E. Hn. Cm.
list. 134. Hl. was; _rest_ ther was. 137. E. Hn. desport; _rest_
disport. 140. E. to been; Hl. Hn. _omit_ to. 144. Hl. Hn. Cp. Ln.
sawe; E. saugh; Cm. seye. 146. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 148. Ln.
wepped; _rest_ wepte; _read_ weep; _cf_. l. 2878. E. any; _rest_ oon,
on, one. 151. E. semyly. E. wympul; Hn. wympel. 160. E. Hn. brooch;
_rest_ broche.
Another NONNE with hir hadde she, =Nonne.=
That was hir chapeleyne, and PREESTES three. =3 Preestes.=
A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrye, =Monk.=
An out-rydere, that lovede venerye; 166
A manly man, to been an abbot able.
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable:
And, whan he rood, men mighte his brydel here
Ginglen in a whistling wind as clere, 170
And eek as loude as dooth the chapel-belle,
Ther as this lord was keper of the celle.
The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit,
By-cause that it was old and som-del streit,
This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace, 175
And held after the newe world the space.
He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
That seith, that hunters been nat holy men;
Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees,
Is lykned til a fish that is waterlees; 180
This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloistre.
But thilke text held he nat worth an oistre;
And I seyde, his opinioun was good.
What sholde he studie, and make him-selven wood,
Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure, 185
Or swinken with his handes, and laboure,
As Austin bit? How shal the world be served?
Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved.
Therfore he was a pricasour aright;
Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as fowel in flight; 190
Of priking and of hunting for the hare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
And, for to festne his hood under his chin, 195
[7: T. 196-231.]
He hadde of gold y-wroght a curious pin:
A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
And eek his face, as he had been anoint.
He was a lord ful fat and in good point; 200
His eyen stepe, and rollinge in his heed,
That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
His botes souple, his hors in greet estat.
Now certeinly he was a fair prelat;
He was nat pale as a for-pyned goost. 205
A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
170. Hl. Cp. whistlyng; E. whistlynge. E. Cm. als; Ln. al-so; Hl. so;
_rest_ as. 176. E. Hn. heeld; Cm. held. 178. Hn. Hl. been; E.
beth. 179. Hl. cloysterles; E. Hn. recchelees; Cp. Pt. Ln. recheles;
Cm. rekeles (Ten Brink _proposes_ recetlees). 182. E. Hn. heeld; Cm.
held. 188. E. his owene; _rest om._ owene. 190. Hl. swifte; _rest_
swift. 193. Hl. Hn. purfiled; Cm. purfilid; E. ypurfiled. 196. Hl.
a; _rest_ a ful. 196, 218. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 199. E. it;
_rest_ he. 203, 4. E. estaat, prelaat.
A FRERE ther was, a wantown and a merye, =Frere.=
A limitour, a ful solempne man.
In alle the ordres foure is noon that can 210
So muche of daliaunce and fair langage.
He hadde maad ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen, at his owne cost.
Un-to his ordre he was a noble post.
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215
With frankeleyns over-al in his contree,
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun:
For he had power of confessioun,
As seyde him-self, more than a curat,
For of his ordre he was licentiat. 220
Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
And plesaunt was his absolucioun;
He was an esy man to yeve penaunce
Ther as he wiste to han a good pitaunce;
For unto a povre ordre for to yive 225
Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive.
For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
He wiste that a man was repentaunt.
For many a man so hard is of his herte,
He may nat wepe al-thogh him sore smerte. 230
Therfore, in stede of weping and preyeres,
[8: T. 232-265.]
Men moot yeve silver to the povre freres.
His tipet was ay farsed ful of knyves
And pinnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
And certeinly he hadde a mery note; 235
Wel coude he singe and pleyen on a rote.
Of yeddinges he bar utterly the prys.
His nekke whyt was as the flour-de-lys;
Ther-to he strong was as a champioun.
He knew the tavernes wel in every toun, 240
And everich hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;
For un-to swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
To have with seke lazars aqueyntaunce. 245
It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce
For to delen with no swich poraille,
But al with riche and sellers of vitaille.
And over-al, ther as profit sholde aryse,
Curteys he was, and lowly of servyse. 250
Ther nas no man no-wher so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere in his hous;
[And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt; 252 b
Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;] 252 c
For thogh a widwe hadde noght a sho,
So plesaunt was his “_In principio_,”
Yet wolde he have a ferthing, er he wente. 255
His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he coude, as it were right a whelpe.
In love-dayes ther coude he muchel helpe. (260)
For there he was nat lyk a cloisterer,
With a thredbar cope, as is a povre scoler, 260
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worsted was his semi-cope,
That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
[9: T. 266-300.]
Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
To make his English swete up-on his tonge; 265
And in his harping, whan that he had songe,
His eyen twinkled in his heed aright,
As doon the sterres in the frosty night. (270)
This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd.
208. E. wantowne. 211. Hn. muche; E. muchel. 213. Hl. owne; E.
owene. 215. E. And; _rest_ Ful. 217. Hl. Hn. eek; _rest omit_.
224. Hl. Cm. han; E. haue. 229. E. harde. 231. E. wepynge. 232.
E. Hn. moote; _see note_. 234. E. yonge; _rest_ faire. 235. Hl.
mery; E. murye. 237. E. baar. Pt. vttirly; Hl. vtturly; E. Hn.
outrely. 240. E. al the; _rest_ euery. 245. E. Hn. Cm. sike; Pt.
Ln. seke; see l. 18. 246. Cm. honest; E. honeste. 248. E.
selleres. 250. E. lowely. _After_ l. 252, Hn. _alone inserts_ ll. 252
_b_ and 252 _c_. 259. Hl. Cm. cloysterer; E. Hn. Cloystrer. 260. _So
all the_ MSS. (_but with_ -bare); _cf_. l. 290. 262. _All_ worstede
(_badly_). 266. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde.
A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, =Marchant.=
In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat, 271
Up-on his heed a Flaundrish bever hat;
His botes clasped faire and fetisly.
His resons he spak ful solempnely,
Souninge alway thencrees of his winning. 275
He wolde the see were kept for any thing
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
Wel coude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. (280)
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette;
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280
So estatly was he of his governaunce,
With his bargaynes, and with his chevisaunce.
For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle,
But sooth to seyn, I noot how men him calle.
271. Ln. motteley; Hl. motteleye; E. Hn. motlee. 272. E. beu_er_e.
273. Cp. Pt. clapsed; Hl. clapsud. 274. E. Hise. 281. Cp. statly.
A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also, =Clerk.=
That un-to logik hadde longe y-go. 286
As lene was his hors as is a rake,
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake; (290)
But loked holwe, and ther-to soberly.
Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy; 290
For he had geten him yet no benefyce,
Ne was so worldly for to have offyce.
For him was lever have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,
Of Aristotle and his philosophye, 295
Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye.
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; (300)
[10: T. 301-336.]
But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, 300
And bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf him wher-with to scoleye.
Of studie took he most cure and most hede.
Noght o word spak he more than was nede,
And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305
And short and quik, and ful of hy sentence.
Souninge in moral vertu was his speche,
And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. (310)
287. E. And; Hl. Al so; _rest_ As. 289. E. Hn. sobrely; _rest_
soburly. 290. _All_ -bare. Hl. ouerest; E. Hn. Cm. ouereste. 291.
Cp. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 293. Cp. Ln. Hl. leuer; _rest_ leuere.
300. E. Hl. his; _rest_ on.
A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys, =Man of Lawe.=
That often hadde been at the parvys, 310
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
Discreet he was, and of greet reverence:
He semed swich, his wordes weren so wyse.
Iustyce he was ful often in assyse,
By patente, and by pleyn commissioun; 315
For his science, and for his heigh renoun
Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
So greet a purchasour was no-wher noon. (320)
Al was fee simple to him in effect,
His purchasing mighte nat been infect. 320
No-wher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
And yet he semed bisier than he was.
In termes hadde he caas and domes alle,
That from the tyme of king William were falle.
Therto he coude endyte, and make a thing, 325
Ther coude no wight pinche at his wryting;
And every statut coude he pleyn by rote.
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote (330)
Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
324. E. yfalle; _rest_ falle. 326. E. Hn. pynchen; _rest_ pynche,
pinche.
A FRANKELEYN was in his companye; =Frankeleyn.=
Whyt was his berd, as is the dayesye.
Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn.
[11: T. 337-370.]
To liven in delyt was ever his wone, 335
For he was Epicurus owne sone,
That heeld opinioun, that pleyn delyt
Was verraily felicitee parfyt.
An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; (340)
Seint Iulian he was in his contree.
His breed, his ale, was alwey after oon;
A bettre envyned man was no-wher noon.
With-oute bake mete was never his hous,
Of fish and flesh, and that so plentevous,
It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke, 345
Of alle deyntees that men coude thinke.
After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
So chaunged he his mete and his soper. (350)
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe,
And many a breem and many a luce in stewe. 350
Wo was his cook, but-if his sauce were
Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his gere.
His table dormant in his halle alway
Stood redy covered al the longe day.
At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; 355
Ful ofte tyme he was knight of the shire.
An anlas and a gipser al of silk
Heng at his girdel, whyt as morne milk. (360)
A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour;
Was no-wher such a worthy vavasour. 360
332. E. heed; _ rest_ berd, berde. E. a; _rest_ the. 335. ever] Hl.
al. 336. E. Hn. Cm. owene; _rest_ owne. 338. Hl. verraily; _rest_
verray, verrey, uery. 340. E. was he; _rest_ he was. 341. Cm. Ln.
alwey; Hl. alway; E. Hn. Cp. alweys. 342. Hl. Pt. nowher; Cm. nower:
_rest_ neuere; _cf_. l. 360. 349, 350. E. Hn. muwe, stuwe. 357. E.
Hn. anlaas; Hl. Cm. anlas. 358. E. Hn. heeng. 359. E. Hn. Cm. _om._
a.
An HABERDASSHER and a CARPENTER, =Habaerdassher.=
A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPICER, =Carpenter.=
Were with us eek, clothed in o liveree, =Webbe. Dyere.=
Of a solempne and greet fraternitee. =Tapicer.=
Ful fresh and newe hir gere apyked was; 365
Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with bras,
But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
Hir girdles and hir pouches every-deel. (370)
[12: T. 371-406.]
Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys,
To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys. 370
Everich, for the wisdom that he can,
Was shaply for to been an alderman.
For catel hadde they y-nogh and rente,
And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
And elles certein were they to blame. 375
It is ful fair to been y-clept “_ma dame_,”
And goon to vigilyës al bifore,
And have a mantel royalliche y-bore. (380)
363. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ And they were clothed alle. 364. _All but_ Hl.
and a. 366. Hl. I-chapud; Cm. chapid; _rest_ chaped. 370. E.
yeldehalle. 376. E. Hn. ycleped; Hl. clept; _rest_ cleped, clepid.
380. Hl. _om. 1st_ the.
A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones, =Cook.=
To boille the chiknes with the mary-bones, 380
And poudre-marchant tart, and galingale.
Wel coude he knowe a draughte of London ale.
He coude roste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, 385
That on his shine a mormal hadde he;
For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. (389)
383. E. Hl. boille; Cm. boyle; _rest_ broille, broile. 388. E.
wonynge; Hn. wonyng.
A SHIPMAN was ther, woning fer by weste: =Shipman.=
For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
He rood up-on a rouncy, as he couthe, 390
In a gowne of falding to the knee.
A daggere hanging on a laas hadde he
Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun.
The hote somer had maad his hewe al broun;
And, certeinly, he was a good felawe. 395
Ful many a draughte of wyn had he y-drawe
From Burdeux-ward, whyl that the chapman sleep.
Of nyce conscience took he no keep. (400)
If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
His stremes and his daungers him bisydes,
His herberwe and his mone, his lodemenage,
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
[13: T. 407-441.]
Hardy he was, and wys to undertake; 405
With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
He knew wel alle the havenes, as they were,
From Gootlond to the cape of Finistere, (410)
And every cryke in Britayne and in Spayne;
His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 410
396. Cm. I-drawe; _rest_ drawe. 407. Hl. _ins._ wel; _rest om._
With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISYK, =Doctour.=
In al this world ne was ther noon him lyk
To speke of phisik and of surgerye;
For he was grounded in astronomye.
He kepte his pacient a ful greet del 415
In houres, by his magik naturel.
Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent
Of his images for his pacient. (420)
He knew the cause of everich maladye,
Were it of hoot or cold, or moiste, or drye, 420
And where engendred, and of what humour;
He was a verrey parfit practisour.
The cause y-knowe, and of his harm the rote,
Anon he yaf the seke man his bote.
Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries, 425
To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
For ech of hem made other for to winne;
Hir frendschipe nas nat newe to biginne. (430)
Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
And Deiscorides, and eek Rufus, 430
Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galien;
Serapion, Razis, and Avicen;
Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn;
Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable was he, 435
For it was of no superfluitee,
But of greet norissing and digestible.
His studie was but litel on the Bible. (440)
In sangwin and in pers he clad was al,
[14: T. 442-478.]
Lyned with taffata and with sendal; 440
And yet he was but esy of dispence;
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial,
Therfore he lovede gold in special.
415. Hl. wondurly wel; _rest_ a ful greet deel (del). 416. E. Hn.
natureel. 418. E. Hn. hise; Cm. hese. 421. E. Cm. Hl. where they;
Hn. where it. 424. Cm. Ln. seke; _rest_ sike. 425. E. hise. 426.
E. Hn. Cm. drogges; Cp. Pt. Ln. drugges; Hl. dragges. 430. Pt. Rufus;
Cm. Rufijs; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. Rusus; E. Risus. 431. Hl. Pt. Old; _rest_
Olde.
A good WYF was ther of bisyde BATHE, =Wyf of Bathe.=
But she was som-del deef, and that was scathe. 446
Of clooth-making she hadde swiche an haunt,
She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. (450)
In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon
That to the offring bifore hir sholde goon; 450
And if ther dide, certeyn, so wrooth was she,
That she was out of alle charitee.
Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground;
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
That on a Sonday were upon hir heed. 455
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
Ful streite y-teyd, and shoos ful moiste and newe.
Bold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. (460)
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve,
Housbondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyve, 460
Withouten other companye in youthe;
But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe.
And thryes hadde she been at Ierusalem;
She hadde passed many a straunge streem;
At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, 465
In Galice at seint Iame, and at Coloigne.
She coude muche of wandring by the weye.
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. (470)
Up-on an amblere esily she sat,
Y-wimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
In felawschip wel coude she laughe and carpe.
Of remedyes of love she knew per-chaunce, 475
For she coude of that art the olde daunce.
452. Hl. was thanne out. 453, 455. E. weren. 457. Cp. Hl. schoos;
E. Pt. Ln. shoes. 458. E. Hn. Boold. 463. Ln. had. 467. Ln.
muche; Hl. Pt. Cp. moche; E. Hn. muchel. 474. E. Hn. felaweschip.
476. Hl. For of that art sche knew.
[15: T. 479-513.]
A good man was ther of religioun, =Persoun.=
And was a povre PERSOUN of a toun; (480)
But riche he was of holy thoght and werk.
He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 480
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
Benigne he was, and wonder diligent,
And in adversitee ful pacient;
And swich he was y-preved ofte sythes. 485
Ful looth were him to cursen for his tythes,
But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
Un-to his povre parisshens aboute (490)
Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce.
He coude in litel thing han suffisaunce. 490
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer a-sonder,
But he ne lafte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
In siknes nor in meschief, to visyte
The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lyte,
Up-on his feet, and in his hand a staf. 495
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte;
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte; (500)
And this figure he added eek ther-to,
That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? 500
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
And shame it is, if a preest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, 505
By his clennesse, how that his sheep shold live.
He sette nat his benefice to hyre,
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre, (510)
And ran to London, un-to sëynt Poules,
To seken him a chaunterie for soules, 510
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
[16: T. 514-547.]
But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat miscarie;
He was a shepherde and no mercenarie.
And though he holy were, and vertuous, 515
He was to sinful man nat despitous,
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his teching discreet and benigne. (520)
To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse
By good ensample, was his bisinesse: 520
But it were any persone obstinat,
What-so he were, of heigh or lowe estat,
Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones.
A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher noon is.
He wayted after no pompe and reverence, 525
Ne maked him a spyced conscience,
But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve,
He taughte, and first he folwed it him-selve. (530)
485. Hl. I-proued; E. Cp. Pt. preued. 486. E. hise. 490. Hl. Cm.
Pt. han; E. Hn. Cp. Ln. haue. 493. E. siknesse. 497. E. firste.
E. _ins._ that (_by mistake_) _before_ he. 503. Hl. _alone ins._ that
_after_ if. 505. Hl. ȝiue; E. yeue. 509. Hl. Cp. seynte. 510.
Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. chaunterie; E. Hn. chauntrie. 512. E. dwelleth;
_rest_ dwelte. E. keepeth; Ln. keped; _rest_ kepte. 514. Hl. no;
_rest_ not a. 516. Hl. to senful man nought; _rest_ nat to sinful
man. 520. _All but_ Hl. this was. 522. Hn. lowe; E. lough. 523.
E. nonys. 525. E. waiteth; _rest_ waited. 527. E. hise. 528. Hl.
and; _rest_ but.
With him ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, =Plowman.=
That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother, 530
A trewe swinker and a good was he,
Livinge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best with al his hole herte
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
And thanne his neighebour right as him-selve. 535
He wolde thresshe, and ther-to dyke and delve,
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
Withouten hyre, if it lay in his might. (540)
His tythes payed he ful faire and wel,
Bothe of his propre swink and his catel. 540
In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
534. E. Pt. Ln. he; _rest_ him. 537. for] Hn. Hl. with. 539. Cp.
Pt. payed; Cm. Hl. payede; E. Hn. payde. 540. propre] Hl. owne.
Ther was also a Reve and a Millere,
A Somnour and a Pardoner also,
A Maunciple, and my-self; ther were namo.
The MILLER was a stout carl, for the nones, =Miller.=
[17: T. 548-582.]
Ful big he was of braun, and eek of bones; 546
That proved wel, for over-al ther he cam,
At wrastling he wolde have alwey the ram. (550)
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre,
Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, 550
Or breke it, at a renning, with his heed.
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
And ther-to brood, as though it were a spade.
Up-on the cop right of his nose he hade
A werte, and ther-on stood a tuft of heres, 555
Reed as the bristles of a sowes eres;
His nose-thirles blake were and wyde.
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde; (560)
His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
He was a Ianglere and a goliardeys, 560
And that was most of sinne and harlotryes.
Wel coude he stelen corn, and tollen thryes;
And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
A whyt cote and a blew hood wered he.
A baggepype wel coude he blowe and sowne, 565
And ther-with-al he broghte us out of towne.
550. Cp. Hl. nolde; Hn. noolde; E. ne wolde. 555. E. toft; Ln. tofte:
_rest_ tuft. E. herys. 556. Hn. bristles; E. brustles; Pt. brysteles;
Hl. Cp. berstles. E. erys. 558. _All but_ Cp. and a. 559. Hl.
wyde; _rest_ greet, gret. 565. Hl. _om._ wel.
A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple, =Maunciple.=
Of which achatours mighte take exemple (570)
For to be wyse in bying of vitaille.
For whether that he payde, or took by taille, 570
Algate he wayted so in his achat,
That he was ay biforn and in good stat.
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace,
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? 575
Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes ten,
That were of lawe expert and curious;
Of which ther were a doseyn in that hous, (580)
Worthy to been stiwardes of rente and lond
Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580
[18: T. 583-615.]
To make him live by his propre good,
In honour dettelees, but he were wood,
Or live as scarsly as him list desire;
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any cas that mighte falle or happe; 585
And yit this maunciple sette hir aller cappe.
570. E. Hn. wheither. 571. E. Achaat. 572. E. staat. 577. E.
weren. 578. E. whiche. Cm. doseyn; E. duszeyne. 581. E. maken.
582. Cm. but; Cp. Pt. but if that; _rest_ but if. 585. E. Hn. caas.
The REVE was a sclendre colerik man, =Reve.=
His berd was shave as ny as ever he can. (590)
His heer was by his eres round y-shorn.
His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn. 590
Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene,
Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene.
Wel coude he kepe a gerner and a binne;
Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne.
Wel wiste he, by the droghte, and by the reyn, 595
The yelding of his seed, and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye, (600)
Was hoolly in this reves governing,
And by his covenaunt yaf the rekening, 600
Sin that his lord was twenty yeer of age;
Ther coude no man bringe him in arrerage.
Ther nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hyne,
That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
They were adrad of him, as of the deeth. 605
His woning was ful fair up-on an heeth,
With grene treës shadwed was his place.
He coude bettre than his lord purchace. (610)
Ful riche he was astored prively,
His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly, 610
To yeve and lene him of his owne good,
And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister;
[19: T. 616-652.]
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This reve sat up-on a ful good stot, 615
That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot.
A long surcote of pers up-on he hade,
And by his syde he bar a rusty blade. (620)
Of Northfolk was this reve, of which I telle,
Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620
Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute,
And ever he rood the hindreste of our route.
589. _All but_ Hl. Ln. _ins._ ful _after_ eres. 590. E. doked. 594.
E. of; _rest_ on. 603. ne (2)] E. Hn. Cp. Pt. nor. 604. Hl. they
(_for_ he). E. Cm. _om._ ne. 606. Hl. fair; E. faire. 607. E. Hn.
shadwed; Hl. I-schadewed; Cm. I-schadewid; Cp. Pt. shadewed; Ln.
schadowed. 611. Hl. owne; E. owene. 612. E. _om._ and. E. gowne;
_rest_ cote. 613. _So_ Hn. Hl.; E. _and rest_ hadde lerned. Cp. Hl.
mester. 618. E. baar.
A SOMNOUR was ther with us in that place, =Somnour.=
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubinnes face,
For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe. 625
As hoot he was, and lecherous, as a sparwe;
With scalled browes blake, and piled berd;
Of his visage children were aferd. (630)
Ther nas quik-silver, litarge, ne brimstoon,
Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630
Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte,
That him mighte helpen of his whelkes whyte,
Nor of the knobbes sittinge on his chekes.
Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
And for to drinken strong wyn, reed as blood. 635
Thanne wolde he speke, and crye as he were wood.
And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. (640)
A fewe termes hadde he, two or three,
That he had lerned out of som decree; 640
No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
And eek ye knowen wel, how that a Iay
Can clepen ‘Watte,’ as well as can the pope.
But who-so coude in other thing him grope,
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophye; 645
Ay ‘_Questio quid iuris_’ wolde he crye.
He was a gentil harlot and a kinde;
A bettre felawe sholde men noght finde. (650)
He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn,
A good felawe to have his concubyn 650
[20: T. 653-687.]
A twelf-month, and excuse him atte fulle:
Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle.
And if he fond o-wher a good felawe,
He wolde techen him to have non awe,
In swich cas, of the erchedeknes curs, 655
But-if a mannes soule were in his purs;
For in his purs he sholde y-punisshed be.
‘Purs is the erchedeknes helle,’ seyde he. (660)
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
Of cursing oghte ech gilty man him drede— 660
For curs wol slee, right as assoilling saveth—
And also war him of a _significavit_.
In daunger hadde he at his owne gyse
The yonge girles of the diocyse,
And knew hir counseil, and was al hir reed. 665
A gerland hadde he set up-on his heed,
As greet as it were for an ale-stake;
A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. (670)
623. Cm. Pt. Somnour; Hl. sompnour; E. Hn. Somonour. 627. E. Hn. Cm.
scaled. 629. Cp. Pt. Hl. bremston. 632. E. the; _rest_ his. 652.
E. Ln. Hl. And; _rest_ Ful. 655. Cm. Cp. erche-; E. erce-; Hl.
arche-. 660. Cp. Ln. him; Hl. Pt. to; _rest om._ 661. Hl. Pt.
saueth; E. sauith. 663. Hl. owne; E. owene. 668. E. bokeleer.
With him ther rood a gentil PARDONER =Pardoner.=
Of Rouncival, his freend and his compeer, 670
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Ful loude he song, ‘Com hider, love, to me.’
This somnour bar to him a stif burdoun,
Was never trompe of half so greet a soun.
This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 675
But smothe it heng, as dooth a strike of flex;
By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
And ther-with he his shuldres overspradde; (680)
But thinne it lay, by colpons oon and oon;
But hood, for Iolitee, ne wered he noon, 680
For it was trussed up in his walet.
Him thoughte, he rood al of the newe Iet;
Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
Swiche glaringe eyen hadde he as an hare.
A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe. 685
[21: T. 688-722.]
His walet lay biforn him in his lappe,
Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot.
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. (690)
No berd hadde he, ne never sholde have,
As smothe it was as it were late y-shave; 690
I trowe he were a gelding or a mare.
But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware,
Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
Which that, he seyde, was our lady veyl: 695
He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl
That sëynt Peter hadde, whan that he wente
Up-on the see, til Iesu Crist him hente. (700)
He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of stones,
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700
But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
A povre person dwelling up-on lond,
Up-on a day he gat him more moneye
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye.
And thus, with feyned flaterye and Iapes, 705
He made the person and the peple his apes.
But trewely to tellen, atte laste,
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste. (710)
Wel coude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
But alderbest he song an offertorie; 710
For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge,
To winne silver, as he ful wel coude;
Therefore he song so meriely and loude.
669. E. was; _rest_ rood, rode. 670. E. Cm. Pt. Rounciuale. 672. E.
soong. 676. E. heeng. 677, 678. E. hise. 680. But] Cm. Hl. And.
Hl. ne; _rest omit_. 683. E. Discheuelee. 685. Hl. Cp. on; _rest_
vp on. 686. Hl. lay; _which the rest omit._ 687. Hl. Cm. come;
_rest_ comen. 688. Hl. eny (_for_ hath a). 690. Hn. yshaue; E.
shaue. 695. _All_ oure. 713. Hl. right (_for_ ful). 714. Cp. Pt.
Ln. so meriely; E. Hn. Cm. the murierly.
Now have I told you shortly, in a clause, 715
Thestat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause
Why that assembled was this companye
In Southwerk, at this gentil hostelrye, (720)
That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720
[22: T. 723-758.]
How that we baren us that ilke night,
Whan we were in that hostelrye alight.
And after wol I telle of our viage,
And al the remenaunt of our pilgrimage.
But first I pray yow, of your curteisye, 725
That ye narette it nat my vileinye,
Thogh that I pleynly speke in this matere,
To telle yow hir wordes and hir chere; (730)
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes properly.
For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 730
Who-so shal telle a tale after a man,
He moot reherce, as ny as ever he can,
Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
Al speke he never so rudeliche and large;
Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735
Or feyne thing, or finde wordes newe.
He may nat spare, al-thogh he were his brother;
He moot as wel seye o word as another. (740)
Crist spak him-self ful brode in holy writ,
And wel ye woot, no vileinye is it. 740
Eek Plato seith, who-so that can him rede,
The wordes mote be cosin to the dede.
Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
Here in this tale, as that they sholde stonde; 745
My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
715. E. Hl. shortly; _rest_ soothly. 716. Hl. Thestat; Hn. Thestaat;
E. The staat; Cm. Cp. The estat. 718. E. as; _rest_ at. 724. E.
oure (_but_ our _in_ l. 723). 725. E. youre; Hl. ȝour. 726. E.
Hn. Cm. narette; Cp. Pt. Hl. ne rette. 734. E. or; Hl. ne; _rest_
and. 741. _All but_ Hl. _om._ that.
Greet chere made our hoste us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon; (750)
And served us with vitaille at the beste.
Strong was the wyn, and wel to drinke us leste. 750
A semely man our hoste was with-alle
For to han been a marshal in an halle;
A large man he was with eyen stepe,
A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe:
Bold of his speche, and wys, and wel y-taught, 755
And of manhod him lakkede right naught.
[23: T. 759-793.]
Eek therto he was right a mery man,
And after soper pleyen he bigan, (760)
And spak of mirthe amonges othere thinges,
Whan that we hadde maad our rekeninges; 760
And seyde thus: ‘Now, lordinges, trewely,
Ye been to me right welcome hertely:
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
I ne saugh this yeer so mery a companye
At ones in this herberwe as is now. 765
Fayn wolde I doon yow mirthe, wiste I how.
And of a mirthe I am right now bithoght,
To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. (770)
747. E. chiere. E. hoost (_see_ l. 751). 752. Hl. han; _rest om._
754. E. Hn. was. 755. E. Hn. Boold. 756. Cm. Cp. lakkede; E.
lakked. 761. now] Hl. lo. 764. Hl. ne saugh; _rest_ saugh nat
(seigh not, &c.). Hl. Cm. mery; E. myrie.
Ye goon to Caunterbury; God yow spede,
The blisful martir quyte yow your mede. 770
And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
For trewely, confort ne mirthe is noon
To ryde by the weye doumb as a stoon;
And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 775
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if yow lyketh alle, by oon assent,
Now for to stonden at my Iugement, (780)
And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
To-morwe, whan ye ryden by the weye, 780
Now, by my fader soule, that is deed,
But ye be merye, I wol yeve yow myn heed.
Hold up your hond, withouten more speche.’
774. a] E. the; Hn. _om._ 778. _All but_ Hl. _om._ Now. 782. E. But
if; _rest_ But. E. myrie. Hl. merye smyteth of.
Our counseil was nat longe for to seche;
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785
And graunted him withouten more avys,
And bad him seye his verdit, as him leste.
785. Hl. nas. 787. Cp. verdit; Pt. veredit; Hl. Ln. verdite; Cm.
verdoit; E. Hn. voirdit.
‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘now herkneth for the beste; (790)
But tak it not, I prey yow, in desdeyn;
This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790
That ech of yow, to shorte with your weye,
[24: T. 794-827.]
In this viage, shal telle tales tweye,
To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
And hom-ward he shal tellen othere two,
Of aventures that whylom han bifalle. 795
And which of yow that bereth him best of alle,
That is to seyn, that telleth in this cas
Tales of best sentence and most solas, (800)
Shal have a soper at our aller cost
Here in this place, sitting by this post, 800
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And for to make yow the more mery,
I wol my-selven gladly with yow ryde,
Right at myn owne cost, and be your gyde.
And who-so wol my Iugement withseye 805
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, (810)
And I wol erly shape me therfore.’
789. E. taak; Ln. tak; Cp. Pt. take; Hl. Hn. taketh. 791. Cp. Hl.
your; _rest_ our; _cf._ l. 803. 795. Hl. ther (_for_ whylom). 797,
798. E. caas, solaas. 802. E. Hn. Cp. mury. 803. Hl. my seluen
gladly; E. my self goodly. 805. E. wole (_but_ wol _in_ l. 809).
This thing was graunted, and our othes swore 810
With ful glad herte, and preyden him also
That he wold vouche-sauf for to do so,
And that he wolde been our governour,
And of our tales Iuge and reportour,
And sette a soper at a certeyn prys; 815
And we wold reuled been at his devys,
In heigh and lowe; and thus, by oon assent,
We been acorded to his Iugement. (820)
And ther-up-on the wyn was fet anon;
We dronken, and to reste wente echon, 820
With-outen any lenger taryinge.
812. E. would. 816. Hl. wolde; Pt. wold; _rest_ wol, wolen, wiln,
wil. 817. Hl. lowe; E. lough.
A-morwe, whan that day bigan to springe,
Up roos our host, and was our aller cok,
And gadrede us togidre, alle in a flok,
And forth we riden, a litel more than pas, 825
[25: T. 828-860.]
Un-to the watering of seint Thomas.
And there our host bigan his hors areste,
And seyde; ‘Lordinges, herkneth, if yow leste. (830)
Ye woot your forward, and I it yow recorde.
If even-song and morwe-song acorde, 830
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
As ever mote I drinke wyn or ale,
Who-so be rebel to my Iugement
Shal paye for al that by the weye is spent.
Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twinne; 835
He which that hath the shortest shal biginne.
Sire knight,’ quod he, ‘my maister and my lord,
Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord. (840)
Cometh neer,’ quod he, ‘my lady prioresse;
And ye, sir clerk, lat be your shamfastnesse, 840
Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man.’
822. E. Hn. that; Hl. that the; _rest_ the. E. gan for; Hn. Cp. Hl.
bigan. 823. E. Hn. aller; Hl. althur; Cp. alther; Pt. Ln. alder.
825. E. paas. 829. E. foreward (_badly_). E. Hn. _om._ I. 831.
Hl. ferst a tale. 835. Cp. Pt. Ln. ferther; Hl. forther. 836. E.
Hn. shorteste. 840. E. shamefastnesse.
Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
And shortly for to tellen, as it was,
Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knight, 845
Of which ful blythe and glad was every wight;
And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
By forward and by composicioun, (850)
As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
And whan this gode man saugh it was so, 850
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his forward by his free assent,
He seyde: ‘Sin I shal biginne the game,
What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.’ 855
848, 852. E. foreward (_badly_). 850. _All insert_ that _after_ saugh
(_needlessly_). 854. Hl. thou (_for_ the).
And with that word we riden forth our weye;
And he bigan with right a mery chere
His tale anon, and seyde in this manere. (860)
=Here endeth the prolog of this book; and here biginneth the first
tale, which is the knightes tale.=
857. Cm. mery; E. myrie. 858. _So_ E. Hl.; _rest_ as ye may here.
COLOPHON: _from_ MS. Sloane 1685, _which has_ Heere endith, heere,
knyghte (_sic_).
[26: T. 861-885.]
* * * * *
THE KNIGHTES TALE.
* * * * *
_Iamque domos patrias, Scithice post aspera gentis_
_Prelia, laurigero, &c._
[Statius, _Theb._ xii. 519.]
Whylom, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duk that highte Theseus; 860
Of Athenes he was lord and governour,
And in his tyme swich a conquerour,
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
What with his wisdom and his chivalrye, 865
He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
That whylom was y-cleped Scithia;
And weddede the quene Ipolita, (10)
And broghte hir hoom with him in his contree
With muchel glorie and greet solempnitee, 870
And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
And thus with victorie and with melodye
Lete I this noble duk to Athenes ryde,
And al his hoost, in armes, him bisyde.
QUOTATION; _so in_ E. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. 865. E. Hl. That; _rest_
What. 868. Cp. Hl. weddede; Slo. weddide; _rest_ wedded. 871. E.
faire; Pt. yenge; _rest_ yonge.
And certes, if it nere to long to here, 875
I wolde han told yow fully the manere,
How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
By Theseus, and by his chivalrye; (20)
And of the grete bataille for the nones
Bitwixen Athenës and Amazones; 880
And how asseged was Ipolita,
The faire hardy quene of Scithia;
And of the feste that was at hir weddinge,
[27: T. 886-921.]
And of the tempest at hir hoom-cominge;
But al that thing I moot as now forbere. 885
I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
The remenant of the tale is long y-nough. (30)
I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute, 890
And lat see now who shal the soper winne;
And ther I lefte, I wol ageyn biginne.
876. Hl. han told ȝow; E. yow haue toold; _rest_ haue toold
(told). 880. Tyrwhitt _inserts_ the _after_ and; _but see_ 968, 973,
1023, &c. 889. Hl. lette eek non of al; _rest_ letten, _and omit_
al. 892. Hl. agayn; E. Hn. Cp. Pt. ayeyn.
This duk, of whom I make mencioun,
When he was come almost unto the toun,
In al his wele and in his moste pryde, 895
He was war, as he caste his eye asyde,
Wher that ther kneled in the hye weye
A companye of ladies, tweye and tweye, (40)
Ech after other, clad in clothes blake;
But swich a cry and swich a wo they make, 900
That in this world nis creature livinge,
That herde swich another weymentinge;
And of this cry they nolde never stenten,
Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
897. E. _om._ hye; _rest_ hye, heighe, hihe, highe, high.
‘What folk ben ye, that at myn hoom-cominge 905
Perturben so my feste with cryinge?’
Quod Theseus, ‘have ye so greet envye
Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye? (50)
Or who hath yow misboden, or offended?
And telleth me if it may been amended; 910
And why that ye ben clothed thus in blak?’
The eldest lady of hem alle spak,
When she hadde swowned with a deedly chere,
That it was routhe for to seen and here,
And seyde: ‘Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven 915
Victorie, and as a conquerour to liven,
Noght greveth us your glorie and your honour;
But we biseken mercy and socour. (60)
Have mercy on our wo and our distresse.
[28: T. 922-957.]
Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse, 920
Up-on us wrecched wommen lat thou falle.
For certes, lord, ther nis noon of us alle,
That she nath been a duchesse or a quene;
Now be we caitifs, as it is wel sene:
Thanked be Fortune, and hir false wheel, 925
That noon estat assureth to be weel.
And certes, lord, to abyden your presence,
Here in the temple of the goddesse Clemence (70)
We han ben waytinge al this fourtenight;
Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy might. 930
912. Cm. eldest; E. eldeste. 914. E. routhe; Ln. rewthe; Slo.
reuthe. Hl. or; _rest_ and. 915. Hn. yiuen; E. yeuen. 916. Hn.
conquerour; E. conqueror. 917. Hn. Hl. Noght; E. Pt. Ln. Nat. Hl.
_om. 2nd _ your. 922. Hl. nys; _rest_ is. 923. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. ne
hath. 924. Cp. Hl. caytifs; E. Hn. Pt. caytyues.
I wrecche, which that wepe and waille thus,
Was whylom wyf to king Capaneus,
That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day!
And alle we, that been in this array,
And maken al this lamentacioun, 935
We losten alle our housbondes at that toun,
Whyl that the sege ther-aboute lay.
And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway! (80)
That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee, 940
He, for despyt, and for his tirannye,
To do the dede bodyes vileinye,
Of alle our lordes, whiche that ben slawe,
Hath alle the bodyes on an heep y-drawe,
And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent, 945
Neither to been y-buried nor y-brent,
But maketh houndes ete hem in despyt.’
And with that word, with-outen more respyt, (90)
They fillen gruf, and cryden pitously,
‘Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy, 950
And lat our sorwe sinken in thyn herte.’
931. E. crie; Hn. Hl. waille; Cp. Pt. weile. 938. _Only_ Hl. _om._
now. 943. Hl. i-slawe. 944. E. He hath; _rest_ Hath.
This gentil duk doun from his courser sterte
With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
Him thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so mat, 955
[29: T. 958-995.]
That whylom weren of so greet estat.
And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
And hem conforteth in ful good entente; (100)
And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knight,
He wolde doon so ferforthly his might 960
Up-on the tyraunt Creon hem to wreke,
That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
How Creon was of Theseus y-served,
As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
And right anoon, with-outen more abood, 965
His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
To Thebes-ward, and al his host bisyde;
No neer Athenës wolde he go ne ryde, (110)
Ne take his ese fully half a day,
But onward on his wey that night he lay; 970
And sente anoon Ipolita the quene,
And Emelye hir yonge suster shene,
Un-to the toun of Athenës to dwelle;
And forth he rit; ther nis namore to telle.
955. E. maat. 956. E. estaat. 974. Hn. Cp. nys; _rest_ is.
The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe, 975
So shyneth in his whyte baner large,
That alle the feeldes gliteren up and doun;
And by his baner born is his penoun (120)
Of gold ful riche, in which ther was y-bete
The Minotaur, which that he slough in Crete. 980
Thus rit this duk, thus rit this conquerour,
And in his host of chivalrye the flour,
Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte
Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoghte fighte.
But shortly for to speken of this thing, 985
With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,
He faught, and slough him manly as a knight
In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flight; (130)
And by assaut he wan the citee after,
And rente adoun bothe wal, and sparre, and rafter; 990
And to the ladyes he restored agayn
The bones of hir housbondes that were slayn,
To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
[30: T. 996-1031.]
But it were al to long for to devyse
The grete clamour and the waymentinge 995
That the ladyes made at the brenninge
Of the bodyes, and the grete honour
That Theseus, the noble conquerour, (140)
Doth to the ladyes, whan they from him wente;
But shortly for to telle is myn entente. 1000
Whan that this worthy duk, this Theseus,
Hath Creon slayn, and wonne Thebes thus,
Stille in that feeld he took al night his reste,
And dide with al the contree as him leste.
984. Hn. thoghte; E. thoughte. 992. E. weren. 996. Hl. Which that.
To ransake in the tas of bodyes dede, 1005
Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
The pilours diden bisinesse and cure,
After the bataille and disconfiture. (150)
And so bifel, that in the tas they founde,
Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde, 1010
Two yonge knightes ligging by and by,
Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
Of whiche two, Arcita hight that oon,
And that other knight hight Palamon.
Nat fully quike, ne fully dede they were, 1015
But by hir cote-armures, and by hir gere,
The heraudes knewe hem best in special,
As they that weren of the blood royal (160)
Of Thebes, and of sustren two y-born.
Out of the tas the pilours han hem torn, 1020
And han hem caried softe un-to the tente
Of Theseus, and he ful sone hem sente
To Athenës, to dwellen in prisoun
Perpetuelly, he nolde no raunsoun.
And whan this worthy duk hath thus y-don, 1025
He took his host, and hoom he rood anon
With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
And there he liveth, in Ioye and in honour, (170)
Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
[31: T. 1032-1066.]
And in a tour, in angwish and in wo, 1030
Dwellen this Palamoun and eek Arcite,
For evermore, ther may no gold hem quyte.
1005, 1009, 1020. E. Hn. Cm. taas; Hl. cas; Cp. Pt. Ln. caas; _read_
tas. 1005. Hn. Cm. Hl. of; _rest_ of the. 1013, 1014. Hl. hight; E.
highte. 1022. E. Hl. ful soone he. 1023. Hl. Tathenes for to.
1029. E. Cm. _om._ his. E. lyue; _rest_ lyf, lif. 1031. E. Cm. Hl.
This Palamon and his felawe Arcite.
This passeth yeer by yeer, and day by day,
Til it fil ones, in a morwe of May,
That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035
Than is the lilie upon his stalke grene,
And fressher than the May with floures newe—
For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe, (180)
I noot which was the fairer of hem two—
Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040
She was arisen, and al redy dight;
For May wol have no slogardye a-night.
The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
And maketh him out of his sleep to sterte,
And seith, ‘Arys, and do thyn observaunce.’ 1045
This maked Emelye have remembraunce
To doon honour to May, and for to ryse.
Y-clothed was she fresh, for to devyse; (190)
Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse,
Bihinde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse. 1050
And in the gardin, at the sonne up-riste,
She walketh up and doun, and as hir liste
She gadereth floures, party whyte and rede,
To make a sotil gerland for hir hede,
And as an aungel hevenly she song. 1055
The grete tour, that was so thikke and strong,
Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun,
(Ther-as the knightes weren in prisoun, (200)
Of whiche I tolde yow, and tellen shal)
Was evene Ioynant to the gardin-wal, 1060
Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyinge.
Bright was the sonne, and cleer that morweninge,
And Palamon, this woful prisoner,
As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
[32: T. 1067-1103.]
Was risen, and romed in a chambre on heigh, 1065
In which he al the noble citee seigh,
And eek the gardin, ful of braunches grene,
Ther-as this fresshe Emelye the shene (210)
Was in hir walk, and romed up and doun.
This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 1070
Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro,
And to him-self compleyning of his wo;
That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, ‘alas!’
And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
That thurgh a window, thikke of many a barre 1075
Of yren greet, and square as any sparre,
He caste his eye upon Emelya,
And ther-with-al he bleynte, and cryde ‘a!’ (220)
As though he stongen were un-to the herte.
And with that cry Arcite anon up-sterte, 1080
And seyde, ‘Cosin myn, what eyleth thee,
That art so pale and deedly on to see?
Why crydestow? who hath thee doon offence?
For Goddes love, tak al in pacience
Our prisoun, for it may non other be; 1085
Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
Of Saturne, by sum constellacioun, (230)
Hath yeven us this, al-though we hadde it sworn;
So stood the heven whan that we were born; 1090
We moste endure it: this is the short and pleyn.’
1036. Hl. on hire. 1039. E. Hl. fyner; Cm. fynere; Hn. Cp. Pt.
fairer. 1042. E. slogardrie; _rest_ slogardye (sloggardye,
sluggardie). 1049. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. broyded; Pt. breided; Ln. Hl.
browded. 1054. Ln. sotil; Cp. sotyl; E. Hn. Cm. subtil; Pt. subtile;
Hl. certeyn. 1055. Hl. Pt. heuenly; Cm. heueneliche; E. Hn. Cp. Ln.
heuenysshly. 1063. E. And this Palamon. 1065. Hl. Cp. Pt. on;
_rest_ an. 1091. _Only_ E. _om._ it.
This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn,
‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun.
This prison caused me nat for to crye. 1095
But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë
In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be.
The fairnesse of that lady that I see (240)
Yond in the gardin romen to and fro,
Is cause of al my crying and my wo. 1100
I noot wher she be womman or goddesse;
[33: T. 1104-1139.]
But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’
And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil,
And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil
Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure 1105
Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature,
Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
And if so be my destinee be shapen (250)
By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
Of our linage have som compassioun, 1110
That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’
And with that word Arcite gan espye
Wher-as this lady romed to and fro.
And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so,
That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115
Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more.
And with a sigh he seyde pitously:
‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly (260)
Of hir that rometh in the yonder place;
And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, 1120
That I may seen hir atte leeste weye,
I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’
1096. Cm. Pt. ye; Hn. Iye; Cp. Hl. yhe; E. eye. 1101. Cm. wheþer; Hl.
wheþur. 1103. Hl. Cp. a doun. 1115. E. _wrongly om._ was. 1116.
Hn. muche; E. moche. 1122. E. is; _rest_ nys.
This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
Dispitously he loked, and answerde:
‘Whether seistow this in ernest or in pley?’ 1125
1125 E. Wheither.
‘Nay,’ quod Arcite, ‘in ernest, by my fey!
God help me so, me list ful yvele pleye.’
This Palamon gan knitte his browes tweye: (270)
‘It nere,’ quod he, ‘to thee no greet honour
For to be fals, ne for to be traytour 1130
To me, that am thy cosin and thy brother
Y-sworn ful depe, and ech of us til other,
That never, for to dyen in the peyne,
Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
Neither of us in love to hindren other, 1135
Ne in non other cas, my leve brother;
But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
[34: T. 1140-1174.]
In every cas, and I shal forthren thee. (280)
This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
I wot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn. 1140
Thus artow of my counseil, out of doute.
And now thou woldest falsly been aboute
To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
And ever shal, til that myn herte sterve.
Now certes, fals Arcite, thou shalt nat so. 1145
I loved hir first, and tolde thee my wo
As to my counseil, and my brother sworn
To forthre me, as I have told biforn. (290)
For which thou art y-bounden as a knight
To helpen me, if it lay in thy might, 1150
Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.’
1132. til] Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. to. 1134. E. Ln. Hl. _om._ the. 1135. E.
hyndre; Cm. hynderyn. 1138. E. as; _rest_ and. 1141, 1151. E. Hn.
artow; _rest_ art thou. 1145. E. Nay; _rest_ Now. 1147. E. Cm. and
to my.
This Arcitë ful proudly spak ageyn,
‘Thou shalt,’ quod he, ‘be rather fals than I;
But thou art fals, I telle thee utterly;
For _par amour_ I loved hir first er thow. 1155
What wiltow seyn? thou wistest nat yet now
Whether she be a womman or goddesse!
Thyn is affeccioun of holinesse, (300)
And myn is love, as to a creature;
For which I tolde thee myn aventure 1160
As to my cosin, and my brother sworn.
I pose, that thou lovedest hir biforn;
Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
That ‘who shal yeve a lover any lawe?’
Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, 1165
Than may be yeve to any erthly man.
And therefore positif lawe and swich decree
Is broke al-day for love, in ech degree. (310)
A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed.
He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed, 1170
Al be she mayde, or widwe, or elles wyf.
And eek it is nat lykly, al thy lyf,
[35: T. 1175-1210.]
To stonden in hir grace; namore shal I;
For wel thou woost thy-selven, verraily,
That thou and I be dampned to prisoun 1175
Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon,
They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon; (320)
Ther cam a kyte, whyl that they were wrothe,
And bar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 1180
And therfore, at the kinges court, my brother,
Ech man for him-self, ther is non other.
Love if thee list; for I love and ay shal;
And soothly, leve brother, this is al.
Here in this prisoun mote we endure, 1185
And everich of us take his aventure.’
1154. E. Hn. And; _rest_ But. Hl. Cm. uttirly; Cp. Pt. Ln. witterly; E.
Hn. outrely. 1156. Cp. Pt. wilt thou; Hl. wolt thou. 1157. E.
Wheither. 1163. Cm. Wist thou; Hl. Ln. Wost thou; Pt. Woost thow.
1166. E. of; _rest_ to. 1167. Hl. _om._ And. 1168. L. Cm. broken.
1170. Hn. Cp. Pt. fleen; E. Hl. flee. 1177. Hn. Cm. Hl. stryue;
_rest_ stryuen. 1179. E. _om._ that. _All but_ Cm. Hl. _ins._ so
_after_ were.
Greet was the stryf and long bitwixe hem tweye,
If that I hadde leyser for to seye; (330)
But to theffect. It happed on a day,
(To telle it yow as shortly as I may) 1190
A worthy duk that highte Perotheus,
That felawe was un-to duk Theseus
Sin thilke day that they were children lyte,
Was come to Athenes, his felawe to visyte,
And for to pleye, as he was wont to do, 1195
For in this world he loved no man so:
And he loved him as tendrely ageyn.
So wel they loved, as olde bokes seyn, (340)
That whan that oon was deed, sothly to telle,
His felawe wente and soghte him doun in helle; 1200
But of that story list me nat to wryte.
Duk Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
And hadde him knowe at Thebes yeer by yere;
And fynally, at requeste and preyere
Of Perotheus, with-oute any raunsoun, 1205
Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun,
Freely to goon, wher that him liste over-al,
In swich a gyse, as I you tellen shal. (350)
[36: T. 1211-1247.]
This was the forward, pleynly for tendyte,
Bitwixen Theseus and him Arcite: 1210
That if so were, that Arcite were y-founde
Ever in his lyf, by day or night or stounde
In any contree of this Theseus,
And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed; 1215
Ther nas non other remedye ne reed,
But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde;
Let him be war, his nekke lyth to wedde! (360)
1192. E. to; Hl. to the; _rest_ un-to. 1195. E. won; Cm. wone; _rest_
wont. 1197. E. Cp. als; Hn. Cm. Hl. as. 1198. E. louede. 1200.
Hn. soghte; E. soughte. 1205. Hl. Cp. Pt. with-oute; _rest_
with-outen. 1217. Hl. (_alone_) took.
How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite!
The deeth he feleth thurgh his herte smyte; 1220
He wepeth, wayleth, cryeth pitously;
To sleen him-self he wayteth prively.
He seyde, ‘Allas that day that I was born!
Now is my prison worse than biforn;
Now is me shape eternally to dwelle 1225
Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
Allas! that ever knew I Perotheus!
For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus (370)
Y-fetered in his prisoun ever-mo.
Than hadde I been in blisse, and nat in wo. 1230
Only the sighte of hir, whom that I serve,
Though that I never hir grace may deserve,
Wolde han suffised right y-nough for me.
O dere cosin Palamon,’ quod he,
‘Thyn is the victorie of this aventure, 1235
Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure;
In prison? certes nay, but in paradys!
Wel hath fortune y-turned thee the dys, (380)
That hast the sighte of hir, and I thabsence.
For possible is, sin thou hast hir presence, 1240
And art a knight, a worthy and an able,
That by som cas, sin fortune is chaungeable,
Thou mayst to thy desyr som-tyme atteyne.
But I, that am exyled, and bareyne
Of alle grace, and in so greet despeir, 1245
[37: T. 1248-1283.]
That ther nis erthe, water, fyr, ne eir,
Ne creature, that of hem maked is,
That may me helpe or doon confort in this. (390)
Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse;
Farwel my lyf, my lust, and my gladnesse! 1250
1223. that (i)] Hn. Hl. the. E. he; _rest_ I. 1226. Hn. Noght; E.
Nat; Cm. Not; _rest_ Nought. E. _ins._ my _after_ in. 1228. Hl.
dweld. 1237. Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ in. 1242. E. (_alone_) _om._ by.
1248. E. heele; _rest_ helpe.
Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
Of purveyaunce of God, or of fortune,
That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse?
Som man desyreth for to han richesse, 1255
That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse.
And som man wolde out of his prison fayn,
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. (400)
Infinite harmes been in this matere;
We witen nat what thing we preyen here. 1260
We faren as he that dronke is as a mous;
A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous,
But he noot which the righte wey is thider;
And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
And certes, in this world so faren we; 1265
We seken faste after felicitee,
But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, (410)
That wende and hadde a greet opinioun,
That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, 1270
Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele,
Ther now I am exyled fro my wele.
Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye,
I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’
1256. Cp. Ln. mordre; E. Hn. moerdre; Cm. Pt: mordere; Hl. morthre.
1260. E. (_alone_) _om._ thing. 1262. E. Cm. wel that he. 1268. Hl.
seyen; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. seyn. 1272. Ther] E. That.
Up-on that other syde Palamon, 1275
Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
Swich sorwe he maketh, that the grete tour
Resouneth of his youling and clamour. (420)
The pure fettres on his shines grete
Weren of his bittre salte teres wete. 1280
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘Arcita, cosin myn,
[38: T. 1284-1317.]
Of al our stryf, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,
And of my wo thou yevest litel charge.
Thou mayst, sin thou hast wisdom and manhede, 1285
Assemblen alle the folk of our kinrede,
And make a werre so sharp on this citee,
That by som aventure, or som tretee, (430)
Thou mayst have hir to lady and to wyf,
For whom that I mot nedes lese my lyf. 1290
For, as by wey of possibilitee,
Sith thou art at thy large, of prison free,
And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage,
More than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
For I mot wepe and wayle, whyl I live, 1295
With al the wo that prison may me yive,
And eek with peyne that love me yiveth also,
That doubleth al my torment and my wo.’ (440)
Ther-with the fyr of Ielousye up-sterte
With-inne his brest, and hente him by the herte 1300
So woodly, that he lyk was to biholde
The box-tree, or the asshen dede and colde.
Tho seyde he; ‘O cruel goddes, that governe
This world with binding of your word eterne,
And wryten in the table of athamaunt 1305
Your parlement, and your eterne graunt,
What is mankinde more un-to yow holde
Than is the sheep, that rouketh in the folde? (450)
For slayn is man right as another beste,
And dwelleth eek in prison and areste, 1310
And hath siknesse, and greet adversitee,
And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee!
1278. E. Resouned; _rest_ Resouneth. Cp. Hl. yollyng; Pt. Ln.
yellinge. 1290. _All_ moste, most, muste; _but read_ mot: _see_ l.
1295. 1296. Hl. ȝyue; E. yeue. 1297. E. yeueth. 1299. Hl.
Ielousye; E. Ialousie. 1303. Hl. Tho; E. Thanne. E. crueel
gooddes(!). 1305. Hl. Cm. athamaunte; E. Atthamaunt. 1309. Cm. Hl.
beste; E. beest. 1310. Cm. areste; Hl. arreste; E. arreest. 1312,
1314. Cm. Cp. Hl. gilteles; E. giltlees.
What governaunce is in this prescience,
That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
And yet encreseth this al my penaunce, 1315
[39: T. 1318-1353.]
That man is bounden to his observaunce,
For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille. (460)
And whan a beest is deed, he hath no peyne;
But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne, 1320
Though in this world he have care and wo:
With-outen doute it may stonden so.
The answere of this I lete to divynis,
But wel I woot, that in this world gret pyne is.
Allas! I see a serpent or a theef, 1325
That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
Goon at his large, and wher him list may turne.
But I mot been in prison thurgh Saturne, (470)
And eek thurgh Iuno, Ialous and eek wood,
That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 1330
Of Thebes, with his waste walles wyde.
And Venus sleeth me on that other syde
For Ielousye, and fere of him Arcite.’
1315. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. encreseth; E. encresseth. 1320. _So_ Hn. Cm.
Hl.; _rest_ after his deeth man. 1323. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ lete I.
1331. E. hise. 1333. E. Ialousie.
Now wol I stinte of Palamon a lyte,
And lete him in his prison stille dwelle, 1335
And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
The somer passeth, and the nightes longe
Encresen double wyse the peynes stronge (480)
Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
I noot which hath the wofullere mester. 1340
For shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
In cheynes and in fettres to ben deed;
And Arcite is exyled upon his heed
For ever-mo as out of that contree, 1345
Ne never-mo he shal his lady see.
1337. E. (_alone_) sonne. 1338. E. Encressen. 1344. Cm. Cp. Pt. vp
(_perhaps rightly_).
Yow loveres axe I now this questioun,
Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun? (490)
That oon may seen his lady day by day,
But in prison he moot dwelle alway. 1350
That other wher him list may ryde or go,
[40: T. 1354-1386.]
But seen his lady shal he never-mo.
Now demeth as yow liste, ye that can,
For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
1347. E. Now (_wrongly_); rest Yow. 1350. Hn. Cp. Pt. moot he.
1353. Ln. liste; Cm. lyste; Hl. luste; _rest_ list.
=Explicit prima Pars. Sequitur pars secunda.=
Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was, 1355
Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde ‘allas,’
For seen his lady shal he never-mo.
And shortly to concluden al his wo, (500)
So muche sorwe had never creature
That is, or shal, whyl that the world may dure. 1360
His sleep, his mete, his drink is him biraft,
That lene he wex, and drye as is a shaft.
His eyen holwe, and grisly to biholde;
His hewe falwe, and pale as asshen colde,
And solitarie he was, and ever allone, 1365
And wailling al the night, making his mone.
And if he herde song or instrument,
Then wolde he wepe, he mighte nat be stent; (510)
So feble eek were his spirits, and so lowe,
And chaunged so, that no man coude knowe 1370
His speche nor his vois, though men it herde.
And in his gere, for al the world he ferde
Nat oonly lyk the loveres maladye
Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye
Engendred of humour malencolyk, 1375
Biforen, in his celle fantastyk.
And shortly, turned was al up-so-doun
Bothe habit and eek disposicioun (520)
Of him, this woful lovere daun Arcite.
1359. Hl. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 1362. E. Pt. wexeth. 1364. Hi.
Cm. Cp. falwe; E. Hn. falow. 1369. E. spiritz. 1376. E. Biforn his
owene; Cm. Be-forn hese owene; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Biforn his; Hl. Beforne
in his.
What sholde I al-day of his wo endyte? 1380
Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
This cruel torment, and this peyne and wo,
At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
Up-on a night, in sleep as he him leyde,
[41: T. 1387-1424.]
Him thoughte how that the winged god Mercurie 1385
Biforn him stood, and bad him to be murye.
His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
An hat he werede up-on his heres brighte. (530)
Arrayed was this god (as he took keep)
As he was whan that Argus took his sleep; 1390
And seyde him thus: ‘To Athenes shaltou wende;
Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.’
And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.
‘Now trewely, how sore that me smerte,’
Quod he, ‘to Athenes right now wol I fare; 1395
Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
To see my lady, that I love and serve;
In hir presence I recche nat to sterve.’ (540)
1382. E. crueel. 1388. E. vp (_perhaps rightly_); _rest_ vp-on.
1389. E. I; _rest_ he.
And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
And saugh that chaunged was al his colour, 1400
And saugh his visage al in another kinde.
And right anoon it ran him in his minde,
That, sith his face was so disfigured
Of maladye, the which he hadde endured,
He mighte wel, if that he bar him lowe, 1405
Live in Athenes ever-more unknowe,
And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
And right anon he chaunged his array, (550)
And cladde him as a povre laborer,
And al allone, save oonly a squyer, 1410
That knew his privetee and al his cas,
Which was disgysed povrely, as he was,
To Athenes is he goon the nexte way.
And to the court he wente up-on a day,
And at the gate he profreth his servyse, 1415
To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
He fil in office with a chamberleyn, (560)
The which that dwelling was with Emelye.
For he was wys, and coude soon aspye 1420
Of every servaunt, which that serveth here.
Wel coude he hewen wode, and water bere,
[42: T. 1425-1461.]
For he was yong and mighty for the nones,
And ther-to be was strong and big of bones
To doon that any wight can him devyse. 1425
A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte;
And ‘Philostrate’ he seide that he highte. (570)
But half so wel biloved a man as he
Ne was ther never in court, of his degree; 1430
He was so gentil of condicioun,
That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
They seyden, that it were a charitee
That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
And putten him in worshipful servyse, 1435
Ther as he mighte his vertu excercyse.
And thus, with-inne a whyle, his name is spronge
Bothe of his dedes, and his goode tonge, (580)
That Theseus hath taken him so neer
That of his chambre he made him a squyer, 1440
And yaf him gold to mayntene his degree;
And eek men broghte him out of his contree
From yeer to yeer, ful prively, his rente;
But honestly and slyly he it spente,
That no man wondred how that he it hadde. 1445
And three yeer in this wyse his lyf he ladde,
And bar him so in pees and eek in werre,
Ther nas no man that Theseus hath derre. (590)
And in this blisse lete I now Arcite,
And speke I wol of Palamon a lyte. 1450
1424. E. Cm. long; _rest_ strong. 1431. E. Hl. _ins._ his _after_
of. 1441. E. Hn. Cp. gaf.
In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
This seven yeer hath seten Palamoun,
Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse;
Who feleth double soor and hevinesse
But Palamon? that love destreyneth so, 1455
That wood out of his wit he gooth for wo;
And eek therto he is a prisoner
Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yeer. (600)
Who coude ryme in English proprely
[43: T. 1462-1497.]
His martirdom? for sothe, it am nat I; 1460
Therefore I passe as lightly as I may.
1454. E. Hn. Pt. soor; Cp. Ln. sore; Cm. Hl. sorwe. E. _om._ and.
It fel that in the seventhe yeer, in May,
The thridde night, (as olde bokes seyn,
That al this storie tellen more pleyn,)
Were it by aventure or destinee, 1465
(As, whan a thing is shapen, it shal be,)
That, sone after the midnight, Palamoun,
By helping of a freend, brak his prisoun, (610)
And fleeth the citee, faste as he may go;
For he had yive his gayler drinke so 1470
Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn,
With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
That al that night, thogh that men wolde him shake,
The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake;
And thus he fleeth as faste as ever he may. 1475
The night was short, and faste by the day,
That nedes-cost he moste him-selven hyde,
And til a grove, faste ther besyde, (620)
With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun.
For shortly, this was his opinioun, 1480
That in that grove he wolde him hyde al day,
And in the night than wolde he take his way
To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
On Theseus to helpe him to werreye;
And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lyf, 1485
Or winnen Emelye un-to his wyf;
This is theffect and his entente pleyn.
1470. Hl. ȝiue; E. yeue. 1472. E. Of; _rest_ With. 1477. E.
moot; _rest_ moste, most, muste. 1479. E. Hn. Cm. thanne; _rest_
than.
Now wol I torne un-to Arcite ageyn, (630)
That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
Til that fortune had broght him in the snare. 1490
1488. E. Hn. Ln. to; _rest_ vn-to.
The bisy larke, messager of day,
Saluëth in hir song the morwe gray;
And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte,
That al the orient laugheth of the lighte,
And with his stremes dryeth in the greves 1495
[44: T. 1498-1532.]
The silver dropes, hanging on the leves.
And Arcite, that is in the court royal
With Theseus, his squyer principal, (640)
Is risen, and loketh on the myrie day.
And, for to doon his observaunce to May, 1500
Remembring on the poynt of his desyr,
He on a courser, sterting as the fyr,
Is riden in-to the feeldes, him to pleye,
Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye;
And to the grove, of which that I yow tolde, 1505
By aventure, his wey he gan to holde,
To maken him a gerland of the greves,
Were it of wodebinde or hawethorn-leves, (650)
And loude he song ageyn the sonne shene:
‘May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, 1510
Wel-come be thou, faire fresshe May,
I hope that I som grene gete may.’
And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
In-to the grove ful hastily he sterte,
And in a path he rometh up and doun, 1515
Ther-as, by aventure, this Palamoun
Was in a bush, that no man mighte him see,
For sore afered of his deeth was he. (660)
No-thing ne knew he that it was Arcite:
God wot he wolde have trowed it ful lyte. 1520
But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres,
That ‘feeld hath eyen, and the wode hath eres.’
It is ful fair a man to bere him evene,
For al-day meteth men at unset stevene.
Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, 1525
That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
For in the bush he sitteth now ful stille.
1491. day] Hl. May. 1495. E. hise. 1497. Hl. Arcite; _rest_
Arcita. 1502. E. Hn. Cm. a; _rest_ his. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. stertyng;
E. Hn. startlynge; Cm. stertelynge. 1511. Hl. wel faire; _rest om._
wel. 1512. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. In; _rest_ I. 1514. E. a; _rest_ the.
1518. Hn. Hl. afered; Cm. ofered; _rest_ aferd. E. (_alone_) _ins._
thanne _bef._ was. 1521. Hl. Pt. goon; Cm. Ln. gon; E. Hn. Cp. go.
1526. E. Hn. al; _rest_ of.
Whan that Arcite had romed al his fille, (670)
And songen al the roundel lustily,
In-to a studie he fil sodeynly, 1530
[45: T. 1533-1567.]
As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
Now in the croppe, now doun in the breres,
Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle,
Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste, 1535
Right so can gery Venus overcaste
The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
Is gerful, right so chaungeth she array. (680)
Selde is the Friday al the wyke y-lyke.
1530. E. fil al: _rest om._ al. 1532. E. Hn. Cm. crop; Cp. Hl. Pt.
croppe. 1536. E. Hn. Cm. kan; _rest_ gan. 1538. E. gereful; Cp.
geerful; Hl. grisful; _rest_ gerful. 1539. Hl. wyke; Hn. Cp. wike;
Pt. Ln. weke; Cm. wouke; E. wowke.
Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to syke, 1540
And sette him doun with-outen any more:
‘Alas!’ quod he, ‘that day that I was bore!
How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee,
Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
Allas! y-broght is to confusioun 1545
The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun;
Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man
That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan, 690
And of the citee first was crouned king,
Of his linage am I, and his of-spring 1550
By verray ligne, as of the stok royal:
And now I am so caitif and so thral,
That he, that is my mortal enemy,
I serve him as his squyer povrely.
And yet doth Iuno me wel more shame, 1555
For I dar noght biknowe myn owne name;
But ther-as I was wont to highte Arcite,
Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte. 700
Allas! thou felle Mars, allas! Iuno,
Thus hath your ire our kinrede al fordo, 1560
Save only me, and wrecched Palamoun,
That Theseus martyreth in prisoun.
And over al this, to sleen me utterly,
Love hath his fyry dart so brenningly
Y-stiked thurgh my trewe careful herte, 1565
[46: T. 1568-1602.]
That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
Ye sleen me with your eyen, Emelye;
Ye been the cause wherfor that I dye. (710)
Of al the remenant of myn other care
Ne sette I nat the mountaunce of a tare, 1570
So that I coude don aught to your plesaunce!’
And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
A longe tyme; and after he up-sterte.
1551. Cm. Pt. Hl. lyne. 1556. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. owne; E. owene. 1557.
highte] Hl. hote. 1560. E. kynrede; _rest_ lynage (lignage). 1563.
Hl. vtterly; E. outrely. 1573. _So_ E.; _rest_ afterward (_for_
after). Hl. _om_ he.
This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde, 1575
For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he byde.
And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
As he were wood, with face deed and pale, (720)
He sterte him up out of the buskes thikke,
And seyde: ‘Arcite, false traitour wikke, 1580
Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
And art my blood, and to my counseil sworn,
As I ful ofte have told thee heer-biforn,
And hast by-iaped here duk Theseus, 1585
And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus;
I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye, (730)
But I wol love hir only, and namo;
For I am Palamoun, thy mortal fo. 1590
And though that I no wepne have in this place,
But out of prison am astert by grace,
I drede noght that outher thou shalt dye,
Or thou ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
Chees which thou wilt, for thou shalt nat asterte.’ 1595
1579. Hl. bussches; Cm. boschis; Ln. boskes. 1581. E. Hn. artow;
_rest_ art thou. 1584. told] E. Cm. seyd. 1589. E. Hn. namo; Hl.
Cm. no mo. 1595. E. Hn. wolt. Hl. for; _rest_ or.
This Arcitë, with ful despitous herte,
Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale herd,
As fiers as leoun, pulled out a swerd, (740)
And seyde thus: ‘by God that sit above,
Nere it that thou art sik, and wood for love, 1600
[47: T. 1603-1639.]
And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place,
Thou sholdest never out of this grove pace,
That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
For I defye the seurtee and the bond
Which that thou seyst that I have maad to thee. 1605
What, verray fool, think wel that love is free,
And I wol love hir, maugre al thy might!
But, for as muche thou art a worthy knight, (750)
And wilnest to darreyne hir by batayle,
Have heer my trouthe, to-morwe I wol nat fayle, 1610
With-outen witing of any other wight,
That here I wol be founden as a knight,
And bringen harneys right y-nough for thee;
And chees the beste, and leve the worste for me.
And mete and drinke this night wol I bringe 1615
Y-nough for thee, and clothes for thy beddinge.
And, if so be that thou my lady winne,
And slee me in this wode ther I am inne, (760)
Thou mayst wel have thy lady, as for me.’
This Palamon answerde: ‘I graunte it thee.’ 1620
And thus they been departed til a-morwe,
When ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
1598. E. Hn. his; _rest_ a. 1599. E. sit; Cm. set; _rest_ sitteth.
1604. Hl. seurte; Cp. sewrte; E. seurete; Hn. seuretee. 1609. Cp.
derreyne; Hl. dereyne. 1614. Hn. chees; Cm. Hl. ches; _rest_ chese.
O Cupide, out of alle charitee!
O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
Ful sooth is seyd, that love ne lordshipe 1625
Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe;
Wel finden that Arcite and Palamoun.
Arcite is riden anon un-to the toun, (770)
And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
Ful prively two harneys hath he dight, 1630
Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne.
And on his hors, allone as he was born,
He carieth al this harneys him biforn;
And in the grove, at tyme and place y-set, 1635
This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face;
[48: T. 1640-1675.]
Right as the hunter in the regne of Trace, (780)
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere, 1640
And hereth him come russhing in the greves,
And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
And thinketh, ‘heer cometh my mortel enemy,
With-oute faile, he moot be deed, or I;
For outher I mot sleen him at the gappe, 1645
Or he mot sleen me, if that me mishappe:’
So ferden they, in chaunging of hir hewe,
As fer as everich of hem other knewe. (790)
Ther nas no good day, ne no saluing;
But streight, with-outen word or rehersing, 1650
Everich of hem halp for to armen other,
As freendly as he were his owne brother;
And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
They foynen ech at other wonder longe.
Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun 1655
In his fighting were a wood leoun,
And as a cruel tygre was Arcite:
As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, (800)
That frothen whyte as foom for ire wood.
Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood. 1660
And in this wyse I lete hem fighting dwelle;
And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle.
1626. E. hir; _rest_ his. 1634. E. the; Hn. Cm. Hl. this. 1637. Hl.
Tho; _rest_ To. 1638. Hl. honter_us_; _rest_ hunters, hunterys; _ed._
1542, hunter. 1640. E. and; _rest_ or. 1651. Cm. halp; Cp. hilp; E.
Hn. heelp; Hl. Pt. helpeth; Ln. helpe. Hl. Ln. _om._ for. 1652. E.
owene. 1656. Tyrwhitt _ins._ as _bef._ a. 1659. E. Hn. whit.
1660. E. anclee. 1662. E. wole.
The destinee, ministre general,
That executeth in the world over-al
The purveyaunce, that God hath seyn biforn, 1665
So strong it is, that, though the world had sworn
The contrarie of a thing, by ye or nay,
Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day (810)
That falleth nat eft with-inne a thousand yere.
For certeinly, our appetytes here, 1670
Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
This mene I now by mighty Theseus,
[49: T. 1676-1712.]
That for to honten is so desirous,
And namely at the grete hert in May, 1675
That in his bed ther daweth him no day,
That he nis clad, and redy for to ryde
With hunte and horn, and houndes him bisyde. (820)
For in his hunting hath he swich delyt,
That it is al his Ioye and appetyt 1680
To been him-self the grete hertes bane;
For after Mars he serveth now Diane.
1672. this] Hl. it.
Cleer was the day, as I have told er this,
And Theseus, with alle Ioye and blis,
With his Ipolita, the fayre quene, 1685
And Emelye, clothed al in grene,
On hunting be they riden royally.
And to the grove, that stood ful faste by, (830)
In which ther was an hert, as men him tolde,
Duk Theseus the streighte wey hath holde. 1690
And to the launde he rydeth him ful right,
For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
This duk wol han a cours at him, or tweye,
With houndes, swiche as that him list comaunde. 1695
1693. E. Hl. in; _rest_ on. 1695. Hn. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._
And whan this duk was come un-to the launde,
Under the sonne he loketh, and anon
He was war of Arcite and Palamon, (840)
That foughten breme, as it were bores two;
The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro 1700
So hidously, that with the leeste strook
It seemed as it wolde felle an ook;
But what they were, no-thing he ne woot.
This duk his courser with his spores smoot,
And at a stert he was bitwix hem two, 1705
And pulled out a swerd and cryed, ‘ho!
Namore, up peyne of lesing of your heed.
By mighty Mars, he shal anon be deed, (850)
That smyteth any strook, that I may seen!
But telleth me what mister men ye been, 1710
[50: T. 1713-1749.]
That been so hardy for to fighten here
With-outen Iuge or other officere,
As it were in a listes royally?’
1699. E. Cm. Hl. bores; _rest_ boles. 1702. E. fille. 1706. E.
cride; Hn. Cp. Pt. cryed. 1707. E. Hn. Ln. vp-on; _rest_ vp. 1710.
Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. myster; E. mystiers; Ln. mester; Hl. mestir.
This Palamon answerde hastily,
And seyde: ‘sire, what nedeth wordes mo? 1715
We have the deeth deserved bothe two.
Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
That been encombred of our owne lyves; (860)
And as thou art a rightful lord and Iuge,
Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge, 1720
But slee me first, for seynte charitee;
But slee my felawe eek as wel as me.
Or slee him first; for, though thou knowe it lyte,
This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite,
That fro thy lond is banished on his heed, 1725
For which he hath deserved to be deed.
For this is he that cam un-to thy gate,
And seyde, that he highte Philostrate. (870)
Thus hath he Iaped thee ful many a yeer,
And thou has maked him thy chief squyer; 1730
And this is he that loveth Emelye.
For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
I make pleynly my confessioun,
That I am thilke woful Palamoun,
That hath thy prison broken wikkedly. 1735
I am thy mortal fo, and it am I
That loveth so hote Emelye the brighte,
That I wol dye present in hir sighte. (880)
Therfore I axe deeth and my Iuwyse;
But slee my felawe in the same wyse, 1740
For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.’
1716. E. Hn. disserued. 1718. E. Hn. Cm. owene. 1723. Hl. Hn.
knowe; _rest_ knowest. 1741. Ln. Hl. we haue.
This worthy duk answerde anon agayn,
And seyde, ‘This is a short conclusioun:
Youre owne mouth, by your confessioun,
Hath dampned you, and I wol it recorde, 1745
It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
Ye shul be deed, by mighty Mars the rede!’
[51: T. 1750-1787.]
The quene anon, for verray wommanhede, (890)
Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye,
And alle the ladies in the companye. 1750
Gret pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
That ever swich a chaunce sholde falle;
For gentil men they were, of greet estat,
And no-thing but for love was this debat;
And sawe hir blody woundes wyde and sore; 1755
And alle cryden, bothe lasse and more,
‘Have mercy, lord, up-on us wommen alle!’
And on hir bare knees adoun they falle, (900)
And wolde have kist his feet ther-as he stood,
Til at the laste aslaked was his mood; 1760
For pitee renneth sone 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:
And al-though that his ire hir gilt accused, 1765
Yet in his reson he hem bothe excused;
As thus: he thoghte wel, that every man
Wol helpe him-self in love, if that he can, (910)
And eek delivere him-self out of prisoun;
And eek his herte had compassioun 1770
Of wommen, for they wepen ever in oon;
And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon,
And softe un-to himself he seyde: ‘fy
Up-on a lord that wol have no mercy,
But been a leoun, bothe in word and dede, 1775
To hem that been in repentaunce and drede
As wel as to a proud despitous man
That wol maynteyne that he first bigan! (920)
That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
That in swich cas can no divisioun, 1780
But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.’
And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
He gan to loken up with eyen lighte,
And spak thise same wordes al on highte:—
The god of love, a! _benedicite_, 1785
[52: T. 1788-1823.]
How mighty and how greet a lord is he!
Ayeins his might ther gayneth none obstacles,
He may be cleped a god for his miracles; (930)
For he can maken at his owne gyse
Of everich herte, as that him list devyse. 1790
Lo heer, this Arcite and this Palamoun,
That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
And mighte han lived in Thebes royally,
And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
And that hir deeth lyth in my might also, 1795
And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
Y-broght hem hider bothe for to dye!
Now loketh, is nat that an heigh folye? (940)
Who may been a fool, but-if he love?
Bihold, for Goddes sake that sit above, 1800
Se how they blede! be they noght wel arrayed?
Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, y-payed
Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
That serven love, for aught that may bifalle! 1805
But this is yet the beste game of alle,
That she, for whom they han this Iolitee,
Can hem ther-for as muche thank as me; (950)
She woot namore of al this hote fare,
By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare! 1810
But al mot been assayed, hoot and cold;
A man mot been a fool, or yong or old;
I woot it by my-self ful yore agoon:
For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
And therfore, sin I knowe of loves peyne, 1815
And woot how sore it can a man distreyne,
As he that hath ben caught ofte in his las,
I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespas, (960)
At requeste of the quene that kneleth here,
And eek of Emelye, my suster dere. 1820
And ye shul bothe anon un-to me swere,
[53: T. 1824-1859.]
That never-mo ye shul my contree dere,
Ne make werre up-on me night ne day,
But been my freendes in al that ye may;
I yow foryeve this trespas every del.’ 1825
And they him swore his axing fayre and wel,
And him of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde: (970)
1744. E. Hn. Cm. owene; Hl. Cp. Pt. owne. 1747. Hn. Pt. shul; Cm. Hl.
schul; E. shal. 1753. E. estaat. 1754. E. debaat. 1767. Hn. Cm.
Cp. As; _rest_ And. 1770. Hl. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 1771. Hn.
wepten; _rest_ wepen. 1788. E. hise. 1789. E. Hn. Cm. owene; Cp.
Pt. owne. 1790. E. diuyse. 1797. Hl. I-brought; _rest_ Broght,
Brought. 1799. _See note._ Hl. if that; _rest_ but if. 1810. E. Hn.
Cp. of; _rest_ or. 1811. and] Cm. Hl. or. 1817. E. Hn. Cp. Pt.
laas; Cm. las; Hl. Ln. lace. 1818. E. Pt. trespaas. 1822. E. Hn.
Cp. Ln. shal. contree] Cp. Ln. Hl. coroune. 1825, 1826. E. deel,
weel; Hn. Cm. Cp. del, wel. Hl. Pt. swore; _rest_ sworen, sworne,
sworyn. 1828. Hl. Cm. graunted.
‘To speke of royal linage and richesse,
Though that she were a quene or a princesse, 1830
Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees,
To wedden whan tyme is, but nathelees
I speke as for my suster Emelye,
For whom ye have this stryf and Ielousye;
Ye woot your-self, she may not wedden two 1835
At ones, though ye fighten ever-mo:
That oon of yow, al be him looth or leef,
He moot go pypen in an ivy-leef; (980)
This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
Al be ye never so Ielous, ne so wrothe. 1840
And for-thy I yow putte in this degree,
That ech of yow shal have his destinee
As him is shape; and herkneth in what wyse;
Lo, heer your ende of that I shal devyse.
1832. E. _wrongly repeats_ doutelees. 1834. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye.
1837. E. Hn. Pt. lief. 1838. E. _om._ go. 1840. E. Hn. Cp. Ialouse.
My wil is this, for plat conclusioun, 1845
With-outen any replicacioun,
If that yow lyketh, tak it for the beste,
That everich of yow shal gon wher him leste (990)
Frely, with-outen raunson or daunger;
And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner, 1850
Everich of yow shal bringe an hundred knightes,
Armed for listes up at alle rightes,
Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille.
And this bihote I yow, with-outen faille,
Up-on my trouthe, and as I am a knight, 1855
That whether of yow bothe that hath might,
This is to seyn, that whether he or thou
[54: T. 1860-1892.]
May with his hundred, as I spak of now, (1000)
Sleen his contrarie, or out of listes dryve,
Him shal I yeve Emelya to wyve, 1860
To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
The listes shal I maken in this place,
And God so wisly on my soule rewe,
As I shal even Iuge been and trewe.
Ye shul non other ende with me maken, 1865
That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
And if yow thinketh this is wel y-sayd,
Seyeth your avys, and holdeth yow apayd. (1010)
This is your ende and your conclusioun.’
1856, 7. E. wheither. 1860. Hl. Him; Cp. Ln. That; E. Hn. Thanne; Cm.
Pt. Than. E. Cp. Ln. Emelya; Hl. Hn. Emelye.
Who loketh lightly now but Palamoun? 1870
Who springeth up for Ioye but Arcite?
Who couthe telle, or who couthe it endyte,
The Ioye that is maked in the place
Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
But doun on knees wente every maner wight, 1875
And thanked him with al her herte and might,
And namely the Thebans ofte sythe.
And thus with good hope and with herte blythe (1020)
They take hir leve, and hom-ward gonne they ryde
To Thebes, with his olde walles wyde. 1880
1872. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ it. 1876. Hl. thanked; Cm. thankede; Cp. Pt.
Ln. thonked; E. Hn. thonken. 1877. E. often; Ln. oft; Pt. mony;
_rest_ ofte.
=Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.=
I trowe men wolde deme it necligence,
If I foryete to tellen the dispence
Of Theseus, that goth so bisily
To maken up the listes royally;
That swich a noble theatre as it was, 1885
I dar wel seyn that in this world ther nas.
The circuit a myle was aboute,
Walled of stoon, and diched al with-oute. (1030)
Round was the shap, in maner of compas,
Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas, 1890
[55: T. 1893-1928.]
That, whan a man was set on o degree,
He letted nat his felawe for to see.
1886. Hl. that; _rest om._ 1889. E. compaas. 1892. E. lette; Cm.
lettyth; _rest_ letted.
Est-ward ther stood a gate of marbel whyt,
West-ward, right swich another in the opposit.
And shortly to concluden, swich a place 1895
Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
For in the lond ther nas no crafty man,
That geometrie or ars-metrik can, (1040)
Ne purtreyour, ne kerver of images,
That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages 1900
The theatre for to maken and devyse.
And for to doon his ryte and sacrifyse,
He est-ward hath, up-on the gate above,
In worship of Venus, goddesse of love,
Don make an auter and an oratorie; 1905
And west-ward, in the minde and in memorie
Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
That coste largely of gold a fother. (1050)
And north-ward, in a touret on the wal,
Of alabastre whyt and reed coral 1910
An oratorie riche for to see,
In worship of Dyane of chastitee,
Hath Theseus don wroght in noble wyse.
1893. E. Hn. Hl. marbul. 1899. Hl. Hn. Cp. purtreyour; E.
portreitour. 1900. Cp. Pt. Cm. him; Hl. hem; _rest om._ 1906. _So_
Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. (_wrongly_) And on the west-ward in memorie.
But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
The noble kerving, and the portreitures, 1915
The shap, the countenaunce, and the figures,
That weren in thise oratories three.
First in the temple of Venus maystow see (1060)
Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
The broken slepes, and the sykes colde; 1920
The sacred teres, and the waymenting;
The fyry strokes of the desiring,
That loves servaunts in this lyf enduren;
The othes, that hir covenants assuren;
Plesaunce and hope, desyr, fool-hardinesse, 1925
Beautee and youthe, bauderie, richesse,
[56: T. 1929-1963.]
Charmes and force, lesinges, flaterye,
Dispense, bisynesse, and Ielousye, (1070)
That wered of yelwe goldes a gerland,
And a cokkow sitting on hir hand; 1930
Festes, instruments, caroles, daunces,
Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
Of love, whiche that I rekne and rekne shal,
By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
And mo than I can make of mencioun. 1935
For soothly, al the mount of Citheroun,
Ther Venus hath hir principal dwelling,
Was shewed on the wal in portreying, (1080)
With al the gardin, and the lustinesse.
Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, 1940
Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
Ne yet the folye of king Salamon,
Ne yet the grete strengthe of Hercules—
Thenchauntements of Medea and Circes—
Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, 1945
The riche Cresus, caytif in servage.
Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne richesse,
Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe, ne hardinesse, (1090)
Ne may with Venus holde champartye;
For as hir list the world than may she gye. 1950
Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
Til they for wo ful ofte seyde ‘allas!’
Suffyceth heer ensamples oon or two,
And though I coude rekne a thousand mo.
1922. E. Hl. and; _rest_ of. 1928. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye. 1929. Hl.
guldes. 1930. Cp. Ln. Cm. his. 1933. Cm. I reken and rekne schal;
Hn. Hl. I rekned and rekne shal; E. I rekned haue and rekne shal (_too
long_). 1942. E. Cm. And; _rest_ Ne. 1943. E. Cm. And eek; Hn. Cp.
Pt. Ln. Ne yet; Hl. Ne eek. E. Hn. Cm. Ercules. 1948. E. Hn. Pt.
_om._ ne.
The statue of Venus, glorious for to see, 1955
Was naked fleting in the large see,
And fro the navele doun all covered was
With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas. (1100)
A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
And on hir heed, ful semely for to see, 1960
A rose gerland, fresh and wel smellinge;
[57: T. 1964-1997.]
Above hir heed hir dowves flikeringe.
Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido,
Up-on his shuldres winges hadde he two;
And blind he was, as it is ofte sene; 1965
A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
1965. E. it was; _rest_ it is.
Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
The portreiture, that was up-on the wal (1110)
With-inne the temple of mighty Mars the rede?
Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede, 1970
Lyk to the estres of the grisly place,
That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
In thilke colde frosty regioun,
Ther-as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
First on the wal was peynted a foreste, 1975
In which ther dwelleth neither man ne beste,
With knotty knarry bareyn treës olde
Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to biholde; (1120)
In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough,
As though a storm sholde bresten every bough: 1980
And downward from an hille, under a bente,
Ther stood the temple of Mars armipotente,
Wroght al of burned steel, of which thentree
Was long and streit, and gastly for to see.
And ther-out cam a rage and such a vese, 1985
That it made al the gates for to rese.
The northren light in at the dores shoon,
For windowe on the wal ne was ther noon, (1130)
Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne.
The dores were alle of adamant eterne, 1990
Y-clenched overthwart and endelong
With iren tough; and, for to make it strong,
Every piler, the temple to sustene,
Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
1975. Hl. foreste; E. forest. 1976. Hl. beste; E. best. 1977. E.
Hn. Cm. Cp. bareyne. 1979. E. rumbel; Cm. ru_m_bil; Hn. rombul; Cp.
Ln. rombel; Hl. swymbul. E. Pt. and; _rest_ in. 1980. Ln. berste;
Hl. berst. 1981. Hn. Hl. on (_for_ from). 1983. E. Hn. the
entree. 1985. Cp. vese; Cm. wese; E. Hn. Ln. veze; Hl. prise. 1986.
E. Hn. Cm. gate. Hl. rise. 1990. E. Hn. Pt. dore was.
Ther saugh I first the derke imagining 1995
[58: T. 1998-2033.]
Of felonye, and al the compassing;
The cruel ire, reed as any glede;
The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede; (1140)
The smyler with the knyf under the cloke;
The shepne brenning with the blake smoke; 2000
The treson of the mordring in the bedde;
The open werre, with woundes al bi-bledde;
Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace;
Al ful of chirking was that sory place.
The sleere of him-self yet saugh I ther, 2005
His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer;
The nayl y-driven in the shode a-night;
The colde deeth, with mouth gaping up-right. (1150)
Amiddes of the temple sat meschaunce,
With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 2010
Yet saugh I woodnesse laughing in his rage;
Armed compleint, out-hees, and fiers outrage.
The careyne in the bush, with throte y-corve:
A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm y-storve;
The tiraunt, with the prey by force y-raft; 2015
The toun destroyed, ther was no-thing laft.
Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
The hunte strangled with the wilde beres: (1160)
The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
The cook y-scalded, for al his longe ladel. 2020
Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte;
The carter over-riden with his carte,
Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
Ther were also, of Martes divisioun,
The barbour, and the bocher, and the smith 2025
That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith.
And al above, depeynted in a tour,
Saw I conquest sittinge in greet honour, (1170)
With the sharpe swerde over his heed
Hanginge by a sotil twynes threed. 2030
Depeynted was the slaughtre of Iulius,
[59: T. 2034-2069.]
Of grete Nero, and of Antonius;
Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
Yet was hir deeth depeynted ther-biforn,
By manasinge of Mars, right by figure; 2035
So was it shewed in that portreiture
As is depeynted in the sterres above,
Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love. (1180)
Suffyceth oon ensample in stories olde,
I may not rekne hem alle, thogh I wolde. 2040
1995. E. Hn. dirke. 1996. E. Cm. on. al. 1998. E. Cm. _om._ eek.
2012. Cm. outes. 2013. E. Cp. Ln. busk; Cm. bosch; Hn. Pt. bussh.
2014. E. _ins._ oon _after_ nat. 2021. Hl. _om._ by. 2025. E. Cm.
laborer; _rest_ barbour. 2029. Pt. Ln. swerde; _rest_ swerd. 2030.
E. soutil; Hn. Cp. Ln. subtil. 2037. Hl. sterres; E. Pt. certres;
_rest_ sertres.
The statue of Mars up-on a carte stood,
Armed, and loked grim as he were wood;
And over his he’ed ther shynen two figures
Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
That oon Puella, that other Rubeus. 2045
This god of armes was arrayed thus:—
A wolf ther stood biforn him at his feet
With eyen rede, and of a man he eet; (1190)
With sotil pencel was depeynt this storie,
In redoutinge of Mars and of his glorie. 2050
2049. Cm. sotyl; E. soutil. _All_ depeynted (_badly_); _see_ C. 950.
Now to the temple of Diane the chaste
As shortly as I can I wol me haste,
To telle yow al the descripcioun.
Depeynted been the walles up and doun
Of hunting and of shamfast chastitee. 2055
Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
Whan that Diane agreved was with here,
Was turned from a womman til a bere, (1200)
And after was she maad the lode-sterre;
Thus was it peynt, I can say yow no ferre; 2060
Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree,
I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
But Penneus doughter, which that highte Dane.
Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked, 2065
For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked;
I saugh how that his houndes have him caught,
[60: T. 2070-2106.]
And freten him, for that they knewe him naught. (1210)
Yet peynted was a litel forther-moor,
How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 2070
And Meleagre, and many another mo,
For which Diane wroghte him care and wo.
Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie.
This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, 2075
With smale houndes al aboute hir feet;
And undernethe hir feet she hadde a mone,
Wexing it was, and sholde wanie sone. (1220)
In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
With bowe in honde, and arwes in a cas. 2080
Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun,
Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
A womman travailinge was hir biforn,
But, for hir child so longe was unborn,
Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle, 2085
And seyde, ‘help, for thou mayst best of alle.’
Wel couthe he peynten lyfly that it wroghte,
With many a florin he the hewes boghte. (1230)
2058. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. to; _rest_ til; _see_ l. 2062. 2060. _All_
peynted; _see_ l. 2049. Hl. _om._ yow. 2062. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln.
turned. 2067. E. Hn. hise; Cm. hese. 2069. E. _om._ was. 2071. E.
Hn. Meleagree. 2075. E. Cp. Pt. _ins._ wel _after_ ful.
Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus,
That at his grete cost arrayed thus 2090
The temples and the theatre every del,
Whan it was doon, him lyked wonder wel.
But stinte I wol of Theseus a lyte,
And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
2089. thise] E. the.
The day approcheth of hir retourninge, 2095
That everich sholde an hundred knightes bringe,
The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde;
And til Athenes, hir covenant for to holde, (1240)
Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knightes
Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes. 2100
And sikerly, ther trowed many a man
That never, sithen that the world bigan,
As for to speke of knighthod of hir hond,
As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
[61: T. 2107-2143.]
Nas, of so fewe, so noble a companye. 2105
For every wight that lovede chivalrye,
And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that game; (1250)
And wel was him, that ther-to chosen was.
For if ther fille to-morwe swich a cas, 2110
Ye knowen wel, that every lusty knight,
That loveth paramours, and hath his might,
Were it in Engelond, or elles-where,
They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there.
To fighte for a lady, _benedicite!_ 2115
It were a lusty sighte for to see.
2098. E. couenantz. Hl. _om._ for. 2108. E. preyd; Hn. prayd; Hl. Cm.
preyed. 2110. E. Cp. Pt. Hl. caas.
And right so ferden they with Palamon.
With him ther wenten knightes many oon; (1260)
Som wol ben armed in an habergeoun,
In a brest-plat and in a light gipoun; 2120
And somme woln have a peyre plates large;
And somme woln have a Pruce sheld, or a targe;
Somme woln ben armed on hir legges weel,
And have an ax, and somme a mace of steel.
Ther nis no newe gyse, that it nas old. 2125
Armed were they, as I have you told,
Everich after his opinioun.
2120. Hl. In a; E. And in; Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. And in a; Pt. And a.
Ther maistow seen coming with Palamoun (1270)
Ligurge him-self, the grete king of Trace;
Blak was his berd, and manly was his face. 2130
The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
They gloweden bitwixe yelow and reed;
And lyk a griffon loked he aboute,
With kempe heres on his browes stoute;
His limes grete, his braunes harde and stronge, 2135
His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe.
And as the gyse was in his contree,
Ful hye up-on a char of gold stood he, (1280)
With foure whyte boles in the trays.
In-stede of cote-armure over his harnays, 2140
With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold,
[62: T. 2144-2179.]
He hadde a beres skin, col-blak, for-old.
His longe heer was kembd bihinde his bak,
As any ravenes fether it shoon for-blak:
A wrethe of gold arm-greet, of huge wighte, 2145
Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
Of fyne rubies and of dyamaunts.
Aboute his char ther wenten whyte alaunts, (1290)
Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
To hunten at the leoun or the deer, 2150
And folwed him, with mosel faste y-bounde,
Colers of gold, and torets fyled rounde.
An hundred lordes hadde he in his route
Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and stoute.
2132. E. Hn. bitwyxen. 2134, 5, 6. E. hise. 2141. Hn. Cm. yelwe; E.
yelewe; Hl. yolwe. 2148. E. chaar. 2152. Pt. Ln. Colers; Cp.
Coleres; Hl. Colerd; E. Hn. Colered; Cm. Colerid. E. to_u_rettes; Cp.
Pt. torettes; Hl. torettz (_better_ torets); Ln. turettes. 2154. E.
Hn. stierne.
With Arcita, in stories as men finde, 2155
The grete Emetreus, the king of Inde,
Up-on a stede bay, trapped in steel,
Covered in cloth of gold diapred weel, (1300)
Cam ryding lyk the god of armes, Mars.
His cote-armure was of cloth of Tars, 2160
Couched with perles whyte and rounde and grete.
His sadel was of brend gold newe y-bete;
A mantelet upon his shuldre hanginge
Bret-ful of rubies rede, as fyr sparklinge.
His crispe heer lyk ringes was y-ronne, 2165
And that was yelow, and glitered as the sonne.
His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn, (1310)
A fewe fraknes in his face y-spreynd,
Betwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd, 2170
And as a leoun he his loking caste.
Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
His berd was wel bigonne for to springe;
His voys was as a trompe thunderinge.
Up-on his heed he wered of laurer grene 2175
A gerland fresh and lusty for to sene.
Up-on his hand he bar, for his deduyt,
[63: T. 2180-2215.]
An egle tame, as eny lilie whyt. (1320)
An hundred lordes hadde he with him there,
Al armed, sauf hir heddes, in al hir gere, 2180
Ful richely in alle maner thinges.
For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles, kinges,
Were gadered in this noble companye,
For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
Aboute this king ther ran on every part 2185
Ful many a tame leoun and lepart.
And in this wyse thise lordes, alle and some,
Ben on the Sonday to the citee come (1330)
Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
2155. E. Pt. Arcite; _rest_ Arcita. 2163. E. Cm. Pt. mantel. 2164.
E. Brat-ful. 2180. Hl. _om._ al. 2186. Hl. Cp. Ln. lepart; E.
leopard.
This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight, 2190
Whan he had broght hem in-to his citee,
And inned hem, everich in his degree,
He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
To esen hem, and doon hem al honour,
That yet men weneth that no mannes wit 2195
Of noon estat ne coude amenden it.
The minstralcye, the service at the feste,
The grete yiftes to the moste and leste, (1340)
The riche array of Theseus paleys,
Ne who sat first ne last up-on the deys, 2200
What ladies fairest been or best daunsinge,
Or which of hem can dauncen best and singe,
Ne who most felingly speketh of love:
What haukes sitten on the perche above,
What houndes liggen on the floor adoun: 2205
Of al this make I now no mencioun;
But al theffect, that thinketh me the beste;
Now comth the poynt, and herkneth if yow leste. (1350)
2192. E. in; Pt. after; _rest_ at. 2195. E. maner. 2198. E. Hn.
meeste; Cm. Cp. meste; _rest_ most. 2205. E. Cm. Hl. in; _rest_ on.
2207. al] Hl. of. 2208. Hn. Hl. comth; _rest_ cometh.
The Sonday night, er day bigan to springe,
When Palamon the larke herde singe, 2210
Although it nere nat day by houres two,
Yet song the larke, and Palamon also.
With holy herte, and with an heigh corage
[64: T. 2216-2251.]
He roos, to wenden on his pilgrimage
Un-to the blisful Citherea benigne, 2215
I mene Venus, honurable and digne.
And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
Un-to the listes, ther hir temple was, (1360)
And doun he kneleth, and with humble chere
And herte soor, he seyde as ye shul here. 2220
2212. also] Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. right tho. 2217. E. paas. 2219. E. with
ful; _rest_ and with. 2220. E. and seyde in this manere.
‘Faireste of faire, o lady myn, Venus,
Doughter to Iove and spouse of Vulcanus,
Thou glader of the mount of Citheroun,
For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun,
Have pitee of my bittre teres smerte, 2225
And tak myn humble preyer at thyn herte.
Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
Theffectes ne the torments of myn helle; (1370)
Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
I am so confus, that I can noght seye. 2230
But mercy, lady bright, that knowest weel
My thought, and seest what harmes that I feel,
Considere al this, and rewe up-on my sore,
As wisly as I shal for evermore,
Emforth my might, thy trewe servant be, 2235
And holden werre alwey with chastitee;
That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe.
I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, (1380)
Ne I ne axe nat to-morwe to have victorie,
Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie 2240
Of pris of armes blowen up and doun,
But I wolde have fully possessioun
Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse;
Find thou the maner how, and in what wyse.
I recche nat, but it may bettre be, 2245
To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
So that I have my lady in myne armes.
For though so be that Mars is god of armes, (1390)
Your vertu is so greet in hevene above,
[65: T. 2252-2287.]
That, if yow list, I shal wel have my love, 2250
Thy temple wol I worshipe evermo,
And on thyn auter, wher I ryde or go,
I wol don sacrifice, and fyres bete.
And if ye wol nat so, my lady swete,
Than preye I thee, to-morwe with a spere 2255
That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf. (1400)
This is theffect and ende of my preyere,
Yif me my love, thou blisful lady dere.’ 2260
2222. to] Hn. Hl. of. of] _all but_ E. Cm. to. 2226. E. Cm.
preyere; Hn. prayere. at] Hl. to. 2227. to] Hl. for to. 2231, 2.
Cm. Hl. wel, fel; _rest_ wele, fele. 2239. Hl. aske. Hl. Ln. to
morn.
Whan thorisoun was doon of Palamon,
His sacrifice he dide, and that anon
Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
Al telle I noght as now his observaunces.
But atte laste the statue of Venus shook, 2265
And made a signe, wher-by that he took
That his preyere accepted was that day.
For thogh the signe shewed a delay, (1410)
Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his bone;
And with glad herte he wente him hoom ful sone. 2270
2261. Hl. thorisoun; _rest_ the orison (orisoun). 2263. E. Cm.
circumstaunce. 2264. E. Cm. obseruaunce.
The thridde houre inequal that Palamon
Bigan to Venus temple for to goon,
Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye,
And to the temple of Diane gan hye.
Hir maydens, that she thider with hir ladde, 2275
Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al
That to the sacrifyce longen shal; (1420)
The hornes fulle of meth, as was the gyse;
Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifyse. 2280
Smoking the temple, ful of clothes faire,
This Emelye, with herte debonaire,
Hir body wessh with water of a welle;
But how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
But it be any thing in general; 2285
[66: T. 2288-2324.]
And yet it were a game to heren al;
To him that meneth wel, it were no charge:
But it is good a man ben at his large. (1430)
Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al;
A coroune of a grene ook cerial 2290
Up-on hir heed was set ful fair and mete.
Two fyres on the auter gan she bete,
And dide hir thinges, as men may biholde
In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde.
Whan kindled was the fyr, with pitous chere 2295
Un-to Diane she spak, as ye may here.
2274. Pt. Hl. _ins._ she _after_ gan. 2276. E. ladde; _rest_ hadde.
2279. Cp. Pt. Ln. methe; Hl. meth; E. meeth; Hn. mede. 2287. were]
Hn. Cp. Ln. nere. 2289. E. kempd.
‘O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene, (1440)
Quene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe 2300
Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
That Attheon aboughte cruelly.
Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
Desire to been a mayden al my lyf, 2305
Ne never wol I be no love ne wyf.
I am, thou woost, yet of thy companye,
A mayde, and love hunting and venerye, (1450)
And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
And noght to been a wyf, and be with childe. 2310
Noght wol I knowe companye of man.
Now help me, lady, sith ye may and can,
For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
And eek Arcite, that loveth me so sore, 2315
This grace I preye thee with-oute more,
As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two;
And fro me turne awey hir hertes so, (1460)
That al hir hote love, and hir desyr,
And al hir bisy torment, and hir fyr 2320
Be queynt, or turned in another place;
And if so be thou wolt not do me grace,
[67: T. 2325-2360.]
Or if my destinee be shapen so,
That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
As sende me him that most desireth me. 2325
Bihold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
The bittre teres that on my chekes falle.
Sin thou are mayde, and keper of us alle, (1470)
My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve,
And whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee serve.’ 2330
2303. Hl. Atheon. cruelly] Hl. trewely. 2311. E. Hl. _ins._ the
_after_ knowe. 2317. Hn. As; _rest_ And; _see_ l. 2325. 2322. not
do me] E. Hl. Pt. do me no. 2323. E. And; _rest_ Or. 2328. E. Cm.
Cp. kepere.
The fyres brenne up-on the auter clere,
Whyl Emelye was thus in hir preyere;
But sodeinly she saugh a sighte queynte,
For right anon oon of the fyres queynte,
And quiked agayn, and after that anon 2335
That other fyr was queynt, and al agon;
And as it queynte, it made a whistelinge,
As doon thise wete brondes in hir brenninge, (1480)
And at the brondes ende out-ran anoon
As it were blody dropes many oon; 2340
For which so sore agast was Emelye,
That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye,
For she ne wiste what it signifyed;
But only for the fere thus hath she cryed,
And weep, that it was pitee for to here. 2345
And ther-with-al Diane gan appere,
With bowe in hond, right as an hunteresse,
And seyde: ‘Doghter, stint thyn hevinesse. (1490)
Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
And by eterne word write and confermed, 2350
Thou shalt ben wedded un-to oon of tho
That han for thee so muchel care and wo;
But un-to which of hem I may nat telle.
Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
The fyres which that on myn auter brenne 2355
Shul thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas.’
And with that word, the arwes in the cas (1500)
[68: T. 2361-2398.]
Of the goddesse clateren faste and ringe,
And forth she wente, and made a vanisshinge; 2360
For which this Emelye astoned was,
And seyde, ‘What amounteth this, allas!
I putte me in thy proteccioun,
Diane, and in thy disposicioun.’
And hoom she gooth anon the nexte weye. 2365
This is theffect, ther is namore to seye.
2337. E. Hn. Cp. whistlynge. 2338. Hl. (_only_) As doth a wete brond
in his. 2344. Pt Hl. _om._ hath. 2350. Hl. write; Pt. writt; _rest_
writen. 2356. E. Cp. Hl. declare. 2358. E. caas.
The nexte houre of Mars folwinge this,
Arcite un-to the temple walked is (1510)
Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifyse,
With alle the rytes of his payen wyse. 2370
With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:
2369. E. Hn. fierse; Cm. ferse; Hl. fyry.
‘O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
Of Trace honoured art, and lord y-holde,
And hast in every regne and every lond 2375
Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
And hem fortunest as thee list devyse,
Accept of me my pitous sacrifyse. (1520)
If so be that my youthe may deserve,
And that my might be worthy for to serve 2380
Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
Than preye I thee to rewe up-on my pyne.
For thilke peyne, and thilke hote fyr,
In which thou whylom brendest for desyr,
Whan that thou usedest the grete beautee 2385
Of fayre yonge fresshe Venus free,
And haddest hir in armes at thy wille,
Al-though thee ones on a tyme misfille (1530)
Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his las,
And fond thee ligging by his wyf, allas! 2390
For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
Have routhe as wel up-on my peynes smerte.
I am yong and unkonning, as thou wost,
And, as I trowe, with love offended most,
That ever was any lyves creature; 2395
For she, that dooth me al this wo endure,
[69: T. 2399-2436.]
Ne reccheth never wher I sinke or flete.
And wel I woot, er she me mercy hete, (1540)
I moot with strengthe winne hir in the place;
And wel I woot, withouten help or grace 2400
Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght availle.
Than help me, lord, to-morwe in my bataille,
For thilke fyr that whylom brente thee,
As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me;
And do that I to-morwe have victorie. 2405
Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
Thy soverein temple wol I most honouren
Of any place, and alwey most labouren (1550)
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
And in thy temple I wol my baner honge, 2410
And alle the armes of my companye;
And evere-mo, un-to that day I dye,
Eterne fyr I wol biforn thee finde.
And eek to this avow I wol me binde:
My berd, myn heer that hongeth long adoun, 2415
That never yet ne felte offensioun
Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
And ben thy trewe servant whyl I live. (1560)
Now lord, have routhe up-on my sorwes sore,
Yif me victorie, I aske thee namore.’ 2420
2385. Hl. the gret; _rest om._ gret. 2402. E. Hn. Thanne. 2420.
_All ins._ the (Hl. thy) _after_ me; (_read_ victórie).
The preyere stinte of Arcita the stronge,
The ringes on the temple-dore that honge,
And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
Of which Arcita som-what him agaste.
The fyres brende up-on the auter brighte, 2425
That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
And swete smel the ground anon up-yaf,
And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, (1570)
And more encens in-to the fyr he caste,
With othere rytes mo; and atte laste 2430
The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk ringe.
And with that soun he herde a murmuringe
Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus, ‘Victorie:’
For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
[70: T. 2437-2473.]
And thus with Ioye, and hope wel to fare, 2435
Arcite anon un-to his inne is fare,
As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
2425. Hn. Cm. brende; E. Cp. Hl. brenden. 2433. E. Hn. Hl. and;
_rest_ that. 2436. E. Hn. Cm. in.
And right anon swich stryf ther is bigonne (1580)
For thilke graunting, in the hevene above,
Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love, 2440
And Mars, the sterne god armipotente,
That Iupiter was bisy it to stente;
Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
That knew so manye of aventures olde,
Fond in his olde experience an art, 2445
That he ful sone hath plesed every part.
As sooth is sayd, elde hath greet avantage;
In elde is bothe wisdom and usage; (1590)
Men may the olde at-renne, and noght at-rede.
Saturne anon, to stinten stryf and drede, 2450
Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde.
2441. E. stierne. 2445. an] E. Pt. and. 2449. Hl. Pt. but; _rest_
and.
‘My dere doghter Venus,’ quod Saturne,
‘My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
Hath more power than wot any man. 2455
Myn is the drenching in the see so wan;
Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
Myn is the strangling and hanging by the throte; (1600)
The murmure, and the cherles rebelling,
The groyning, and the pryvee empoysoning: 2460
I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun
Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
Myn is the ruine of the hye halles,
The falling of the toures and of the walles
Up-on the mynour or the carpenter. 2465
I slow Sampsoun in shaking the piler;
And myne be the maladyes colde,
The derke tresons, and the castes olde; (1610)
My loking is the fader of pestilence.
Now weep namore, I shal doon diligence 2470
That Palamon, that is thyn owne knight,
[71: T. 2474-2506.]
Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
Though Mars shal helpe his knight, yet nathelees
Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
Al be ye noght of o complexioun, 2475
That causeth al day swich divisioun.
I am thin ayel, redy at thy wille;
Weep thou namore, I wol thy lust fulfille.’ (1620)
2462. E. _om. 1st_ the. 2466. Hl. in; _rest om._ 2468. Hl. tresoun.
Now wol I stinten of the goddes above,
Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love, 2480
And telle yow, as pleynly as I can,
The grete effect, for which that I bigan.
=Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.=
Greet was the feste in Athenes that day,
And eek the lusty seson of that May
Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce, 2485
That al that Monday Iusten they and daunce,
And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
But by the cause that they sholde ryse (1630)
Erly, for to seen the grete fight,
Unto hir reste wente they at night. 2490
And on the morwe, whan that day gan springe,
Of hors and harneys, noyse and clateringe
Ther was in hostelryes al aboute;
And to the paleys rood ther many a route
Of lordes, up-on stedes and palfreys. 2495
Ther maystow seen devysing of herneys
So uncouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
Of goldsmithrie, of browding, and of steel; (1640)
The sheeldes brighte, testers, and trappures;
Gold-hewen helmes, hauberks, cote-armures; 2500
Lordes in paraments on hir courseres,
Knightes of retenue, and eek squyeres
Nailinge the speres, and helmes bokelinge,
Gigginge of sheeldes, with layneres lacinge;
[72: T. 2507-2543.]
Ther as need is, they weren no-thing ydel; 2505
The fomy stedes on the golden brydel
Gnawinge, and faste the armurers also
With fyle and hamer prikinge to and fro; (1650)
Yemen on fote, and communes many oon
With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon; 2510
Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
The paleys ful of peples up and doun,
Heer three, ther ten, holding hir questioun,
Divyninge of thise Thebane knightes two. 2515
Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so;
Somme helden with him with the blake berd,
Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke-herd; (1660)
Somme sayde, he loked grim and he wolde fighte;
He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. 2520
Thus was the halle ful of divyninge,
Longe after that the sonne gan to springe.
2489. Hl. Erly a-morwe for to see that fight. 2493. E. _ins._ the
_after_ in. 2500. Hl. Gold-beten. 2503. Nailinge] Hl. Rayhyng.
2504. Hl. Girdyng. 2511. E. nakerers (_wrongly_). 2513. Hl. pepul;
Pt. puple; Ln. peple.
The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked
With minstralcye and noyse that was maked,
Held yet the chambre of his paleys riche, 2525
Til that the Thebane knightes, bothe y-liche
Honoured, were into the paleys fet.
Duk Theseus was at a window set, (1670)
Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
The peple preesseth thider-ward ful sone 2530
Him for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
And eek to herkne his hest and his sentence.
An heraud on a scaffold made an ho,
Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do;
And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, 2535
Tho showed he the mighty dukes wille.
2533. E. Hn. Pt. oo. 2534. E. _om. 2nd_ the. 2535. E. Cm. the noyse
of peple.
‘The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
Considered, that it were destruccioun (1680)
To gentil blood, to fighten in the gyse
Of mortal bataille now in this empryse; 2540
Wherfore, to shapen that they shul not dye,
[73: T. 2544-2579.]
He wol his firste purpos modifye.
No man therfor, up peyne of los of lyf,
No maner shot, ne pollax, ne short knyf
Into the listes sende, or thider bringe; 2545
Ne short swerd for to stoke, with poynt bytinge,
No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
Ne no man shal un-to his felawe ryde (1690)
But o cours, with a sharp y-grounde spere;
Foyne, if him list, on fote, him-self to were. 2550
And he that is at meschief, shal be take,
And noght slayn, but be broght un-to the stake
That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
But thider he shal by force, and ther abyde.
And if so falle, the chieftayn be take 2555
On either syde, or elles slee his make,
No lenger shal the turneyinge laste.
God spede yow; goth forth, and ley on faste. (1700)
With long swerd and with maces fight your fille.
Goth now your wey; this is the lordes wille.’ 2560
2544. E. Cm. _om. 1st_ ne. 2545. or] E. Cm. Ln. ne. 2547. E. Hl.
_om._ it. 2555. falle] E. be. Cm. cheuynteyn; Cp. cheuentein; Hl.
cheuenten. 2556. Hl. sle; _rest_ sleen (sclayn). 2559. Hl. fight;
Ln. fihten; _rest_ fighteth.
The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
So loude cryden they with mery stevene:
‘God save swich a lord, that is so good,
He wilneth no destruccioun of blood!’
Up goon the trompes and the melodye. 2565
And to the listes rit the companye
By ordinaunce, thurgh-out the citee large,
Hanged with cloth of gold, and nat with sarge. (1710)
Ful lyk a lord this noble duk gan ryde,
Thise two Thebanes up-on either syde; 2570
And after rood the quene, and Emelye,
And after that another companye
Of oon and other, after hir degree.
And thus they passen thurgh-out the citee,
And to the listes come they by tyme. 2575
It nas not of the day yet fully pryme,
Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
[74: T. 2580-2617.]
Ipolita the quene and Emelye, (1720)
And other ladies in degrees aboute.
Un-to the seetes preesseth al the route. 2580
And west-ward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte,
With baner reed is entred right anon;
And in that selve moment Palamon
Is under Venus, est-ward in the place, 2585
With baner whyt, and hardy chere and face.
In al the world, to seken up and doun,
So even with-outen variacioun, (1730)
Ther nere swiche companyes tweye.
For ther nas noon so wys that coude seye, 2590
That any hadde of other avauntage
Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
So even were they chosen, for to gesse.
And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
Whan that hir names rad were everichoon, 2595
That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
Tho were the gates shet, and cryed was loude:
‘Do now your devoir, yonge knightes proude!’ (1740)
2561. Cm. Cp. touchede; Hl. touchith; _rest_ touched. 2562. Cm.
cryedyn; E. cride. E. murie. 2570. E. Hn. Hl. Thebans; _see_ l.
2623. 2593. E. _om._ they. 2598. Hl. Dooth.
The heraudes lefte hir priking up and doun;
Now ringen trompes loude and clarioun; 2600
Ther is namore to seyn, but west and est
In goon the speres ful sadly in arest;
In goth the sharpe spore in-to the syde.
Ther seen men who can Iuste, and who can ryde;
Ther shiveren shaftes up-on sheeldes thikke; 2605
He feleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
Up springen speres twenty foot on highte;
Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte. (1750)
The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede;
Out brest the blood, with sterne stremes rede. 2610
With mighty maces the bones they to-breste.
He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste.
Ther stomblen stedes stronge, and doun goth al.
He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal.
He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, 2615
[75: T. 2618-2655.]
And he him hurtleth with his hors adoun.
He thurgh the body is hurt, and sithen y-take,
Maugree his heed, and broght un-to the stake, (1760)
As forward was, right ther he moste abyde;
Another lad is on that other syde. 2620
And som tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste,
Hem to refresshe, and drinken if hem leste.
Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two
Togidre y-met, and wroght his felawe wo;
Unhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. 2625
Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
Whan that hir whelp is stole, whan it is lyte,
So cruel on the hunte, as is Arcite (1770)
For Ielous herte upon this Palamoun:
Ne in Belmarye ther nis so fel leoun, 2630
That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
As Palamon to sleen his fo Arcite.
The Ielous strokes on hir helmes byte;
Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. 2635
2608. E. gooth; _rest_ goon. 2613. stomblen] E. Cm. semblen. 2622.
E. fresshen.
Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede;
For er the sonne un-to the reste wente,
The stronge king Emetreus gan hente (1780)
This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
And made his swerd depe in his flesh to byte; 2640
And by the force of twenty is he take
Unyolden, and y-drawe unto the stake.
And in the rescous of this Palamoun
The stronge king Ligurge is born adoun;
And king Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 2645
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. (1790)
His hardy herte mighte him helpe naught;
He moste abyde, whan that he was caught 2650
By force, and eek by composicioun.
2643. E. rescus; Pt. rescowe; _rest_ rescous.
Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
That moot namore goon agayn to fighte?
[76: T. 2656-2691.]
And whan that Theseus had seyn this sighte,
Un-to the folk that foghten thus echoon 2655
He cryde, ‘Ho! namore, for it is doon!
I wol be trewe Iuge, and no partye.
Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelye, (1800)
That by his fortune hath hir faire y-wonne.’
Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 2660
For Ioye of this, so loude and heigh with-alle,
It semed that the listes sholde falle.
What can now faire Venus doon above?
What seith she now? what dooth this quene of love?
But wepeth so, for wanting of hir wille, 2665
Til that hir teres in the listes fille;
She seyde: ‘I am ashamed, doutelees.’
Saturnus seyde: ‘Doghter, hold thy pees. (1810)
Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al his bone,
And, by myn heed, thou shalt ben esed sone.’ 2670
The trompes, with the loude minstralcye,
The heraudes, that ful loude yolle and crye,
Been in hir wele for Ioye of daun Arcite.
But herkneth me, and stinteth now a lyte,
Which a miracle ther bifel anon. 2675
2671. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. trompours.
This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don,
And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
He priketh endelong the large place, (1820)
Loking upward up-on this Emelye;
And she agayn him caste a freendlich yë, 2680
(For wommen, as to speken in comune,
They folwen al the favour of fortune),
And she was al his chere, as in his herte.
Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
From Pluto sent, at requeste of Saturne, 2685
For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
And leep asyde, and foundred as he leep;
And, er that Arcite may taken keep, (1830)
He pighte him on the pomel of his heed,
[77: T. 2692-2729.]
That in the place he lay as he were deed, 2690
His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe.
As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
So was the blood y-ronnen in his face.
Anon he was y-born out of the place
With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 2695
Tho was he corven out of his harneys,
And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blyve,
For he was yet in memorie and alyve, (1840)
And alway crying after Emelye.
2676. Cm. ferse; E. Hn. fierse. 2679. E. Pt. _om._ this. 2681. E.
Hn. Cm. _omit_ ll. 2681, 2682. 2683. Hn. she; _rest om._ 2684. E.
furie; Hn. Cm. furye; _rest_ fyr, fir, fire, fyre; _see note_. 2698.
Hl. Pt. on lyue.
Duk Theseus, with al his companye, 2700
Is comen hoom to Athenes his citee,
With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
Al be it that this aventure was falle,
He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
Men seyde eek, that Arcite shal nat dye; 2705
He shal ben heled of his maladye.
And of another thing they were as fayn,
That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, (1850)
Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon,
That with a spere was thirled his brest-boon. 2710
To othere woundes, and to broken armes,
Some hadden salves, and some hadden charmes;
Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
They dronken, for they wolde hir limes have.
For which this noble duk, as he wel can, 2715
Conforteth and honoureth every man,
And made revel al the longe night,
Un-to the straunge lordes, as was right. (1860)
Ne ther was holden no disconfitinge,
But as a Iustes or a tourneyinge; 2720
For soothly ther was no disconfiture,
For falling nis nat but an aventure;
Ne to be lad with fors un-to the stake
Unyolden, and with twenty knightes take,
O persone allone, with-outen mo, 2725
And haried forth by arme, foot, and to,
And eek his stede driven forth with staves,
[78: T. 2730-2767.]
With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, (1870)
It nas aretted him no vileinye,
Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 2730
2714. limes] Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. lyues. 2726. E. Hn. Cm. arm.
For which anon duk Theseus leet crye,
To stinten alle rancour and envye,
The gree as wel of o syde as of other,
And either syde y-lyk, as otheres brother;
And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, 2735
And fully heeld a feste dayes three;
And conveyed the kinges worthily
Out of his toun a Iournee largely. (1880)
And hoom wente every man the righte way.
Ther was namore, but ‘far wel, have good day!’ 2740
Of this bataille I wol namore endyte,
But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
2737. E. conuoyed. 2740. E. fare; Cm. Hl. far.
Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the sore
Encreesseth at his herte more and more.
The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, 2745
Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft,
That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusinge,
Ne drinke of herbes may ben his helpinge. (1890)
The vertu expulsif, or animal,
Fro thilke vertu cleped natural 2750
Ne may the venim voyden, ne expelle.
The pypes of his longes gonne to swelle,
And every lacerte in his brest adoun
Is shent with venim and corrupcioun.
Him gayneth neither, for to gete his lyf, 2755
Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif;
Al is to-brosten thilke regioun,
Nature hath now no dominacioun. (1900)
And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche,
Far-wel, phisyk! go ber the man to chirche! 2760
This al and som, that Arcita mot dye,
For which he sendeth after Emelye,
And Palamon, that was his cosin dere;
Than seyde he thus, as ye shul after here.
2746. Hl. Pt. Corrumpith. 2760. E. fare; Cm. Hl. far.
‘Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte 2765
[79: T. 2768-2803.]
Declare o poynt of alle my sorwes smerte
To yow, my lady, that I love most;
But I biquethe the service of my gost (1910)
To yow aboven every creature,
Sin that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2770
Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge,
That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
Allas, the deeth! allas, myn Emelye!
Allas, departing of our companye!
Allas, myn hertes quene! allas, my wyf! 2775
Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
What is this world? what asketh men to have?
Now with his love, now in his colde grave (1920)
Allone, with-outen any companye.
Far-wel, my swete fo! myn Emelye! 2780
And softe tak me in your armes tweye,
For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
2770. Tyrwhitt _has_ ne may; ne _is not in the_ MSS. 2781. E. taak.
I have heer with my cosin Palamon
Had stryf and rancour, many a day a-gon,
For love of yow, and for my Ielousye. 2785
And Iupiter so wis my soule gye,
To speken of a servant proprely,
With alle circumstaunces trewely, (1930)
That is to seyn, trouthe, honour, and knighthede,
Wisdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kinrede, 2790
Fredom, and al that longeth to that art,
So Iupiter have of my soule part,
As in this world right now ne knowe I non
So worthy to ben loved as Palamon,
That serveth yow, and wol don al his lyf. 2795
And if that ever ye shul been a wyf,
Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man.’
And with that word his speche faille gan, (1940)
For from his feet up to his brest was come
The cold of deeth, that hadde him overcome. 2800
And yet more-over, in his armes two
[80: T. 2804-2840.]
The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago.
Only the intellect, with-outen more,
That dwelled in his herte syk and sore,
Gan faillen, when the herte felte deeth, 2805
Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth.
But on his lady yet caste he his yë;
His laste word was, ‘mercy, Emelye!’ (1950)
His spirit chaunged hous, and wente ther,
As I cam never, I can nat tellen wher. 2810
Therfor I stinte, I nam no divinistre;
Of soules finde I nat in this registre,
Ne me ne list thilke opiniouns to telle
Of hem, though that they wryten wher they dwelle.
Arcite is cold, ther Mars his soule gye; 2815
Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
2785. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye. 2789. Cp. Pt. Hl. and; rest _om._ 2799.
For] E. And. feet] E. Hl. Cm. herte. 2801. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ for
_before_ in.
Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
And Theseus his suster took anon (1960)
Swowninge, and bar hir fro the corps away.
What helpeth it to tarien forth the day, 2820
To tellen how she weep, bothe eve and morwe?
For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
Whan that hir housbonds been from hem ago,
That for the more part they sorwen so,
Or elles fallen in swich maladye, 2825
That at the laste certeinly they dye.
2819. E. Hn. baar. 2822. Hl. can haue; _rest om._ can. 2823. E.
housbond is.
Infinite been the sorwes and the teres
Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres, (1970)
In al the toun, for deeth of this Theban;
For him ther wepeth bothe child and man; 2830
So greet a weping was ther noon, certayn,
Whan Ector was y-broght, al fresh y-slayn,
To Troye; allas! the pitee that was ther,
Cracching of chekes, rending eek of heer.
‘Why woldestow be deed,’ thise wommen crye, 2835
‘And haddest gold y-nough, and Emelye?’
No man mighte gladen Theseus,
Savinge his olde fader Egeus, (1980)
[81: T. 2841-2876.]
That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
As he had seyn it chaungen up and doun, 2840
Ioye after wo, and wo after gladnesse:
And shewed hem ensamples and lyknesse.
2828. E. eek; _for 2nd_ folk. 2834. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. rentynge. 2840.
Hn. chaungen; Hl. torne; _rest om._
‘Right as ther deyed never man,’ quod he,
‘That he ne livede in erthe in som degree,
Right so ther livede never man,’ he seyde, 2845
‘In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
This world nis but a thurghfare ful of wo,
And we ben pilgrimes, passinge to and fro; (1990)
Deeth is an ende of every worldly sore.’
And over al this yet seyde he muchel more 2850
To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte
The peple, that they sholde hem reconforte.
2843. Hn. deyed; E. dyed. 2849. E. worldes.
Duk Theseus, with al his bisy cure,
Caste now wher that the sepulture
Of good Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855
And eek most honurable in his degree.
And at the laste he took conclusioun,
That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun (2000)
Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
That in that selve grove, swote and grene, 2860
Ther as he hadde his amorous desires,
His compleynt, and for love his hote fires,
He wolde make a fyr, in which thoffice
Funeral he mighte al accomplice;
And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe 2865
The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne;
His officers with swifte feet they renne (2010)
And ryde anon at his comaundement.
And after this, Theseus hath y-sent 2870
After a bere, and it al over-spradde
With cloth of gold, the richest that he hadde.
And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite;
Upon his hondes hadde he gloves whyte;
[82: T. 2877-2913.]
Eek on his heed a croune of laurer grene, 2875
And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
He leyde him bare the visage on the bere,
Therwith he weep that pitee was to here. (2020)
And for the peple sholde seen him alle,
Whan it was day, he broghte him to the halle, 2880
That roreth of the crying and the soun.
2854. Hn. Caste; E. Hl. Cast. now] Hl. busyly. 2861. E. amorouse.
2863. E. the office; Hl. thoffice. 2869. E. ryden. 2875. Cp. Pt.
Hl. croune; _rest_ coroune.
Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heres,
In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teres;
And, passing othere of weping, Emelye, 2885
The rewfulleste of al the companye.
In as muche as the service sholde be
The more noble and riche in his degree, (2030)
Duk Theseus leet forth three stedes bringe,
That trapped were in steel al gliteringe, 2890
And covered with the armes of daun Arcite.
Up-on thise stedes, that weren grete and whyte,
Ther seten folk, of which oon bar his sheeld,
Another his spere up in his hondes heeld;
The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, 2895
Of brend gold was the cas, and eek the harneys;
And riden forth a pas with sorweful chere
Toward the grove, as ye shul after here. (2040)
The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
Upon hir shuldres carieden the bere, 2900
With slakke pas, 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 al the strete y-wrye.
Up-on the right hond wente old Egeus, 2905
And on that other syde duk Theseus,
With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn; (2050)
Eek Palamon, with ful greet companye;
And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910
With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
[83: T. 2914-2949.]
To do thoffice of funeral servyse.
2883. E. rugged. 2892. Hl. that weren; _rest om._ 2893. E. Ln.
sitten. 2894. E. _om._ up. 2901. Ln. slake (_for_ slakke); _rest_
slak. 2904. Hl. al; _rest om._ 2912. _So_ Hl. Cp.; _rest_ the
office.
Heigh labour, and ful greet apparaillinge
Was at the service and the fyr-makinge,
That with his grene top the heven raughte, 2915
And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte;
This is to seyn, the bowes were so brode.
Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode. (2060)
But how the fyr was maked up on highte,
And eek the names how the treës highte, 2920
As ook, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler,
Wilow, elm, plane, ash, box, chasteyn, lind, laurer,
Mapul, thorn, beech, hasel, ew, whippeltree,
How they weren feld, shal nat be told for me;
Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun, 2925
Disherited of hir habitacioun,
In which they woneden in reste and pees,
Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrides; (2070)
Ne how the bestes and the briddes alle
Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle; 2930
Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
And than with drye stokkes cloven a three,
And than with grene wode and spycerye, 2935
And than with cloth of gold and with perrye,
And gerlandes hanging with ful many a flour,
The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour; (2080)
Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
Ne what richesse aboute his body is; 2940
Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr;
Ne what Ieweles men in the fyr tho caste, 2945
Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
Ne how som caste hir sheeld, and som hir spere,
[84: T. 2950-2986.]
And of hir vestiments, whiche that they were, (2090)
And cuppes ful of wyn, and milk, and blood,
Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood; 2950
Ne how the Grekes with an huge route
Thryës riden al the fyr aboute
Up-on the left hand, with a loud shoutinge,
And thryës with hir speres clateringe;
And thryës how the ladies gonne crye; 2955
Ne how that lad was hom-ward Emelye;
Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
Ne how that liche-wake was y-holde (2100)
Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye
The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye; 2960
Who wrastleth best naked, with oille enoynt,
Ne who that bar him best, in no disioynt.
I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
Hoom til Athenes, whan the pley is doon;
But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende, 2965
And maken of my longe tale an ende.
2916. Hl. tharme. 2920. how] E. that. 2921. Hn. Hl. popler; _rest_
popelere. 2924. E. fild. 2926. Hl. Disheryt. 2928. E. Cm.
Nymphus. 2934, 5, 6. Pt. Ln. than; _rest_ thanne. 2934. E. Cp.
stokkes; _rest_ stikkes. 2943. E. _om._ the. 2945. Hl. tho; _rest
om._ 2952. _So all but_ Hl., _which has_ Thre tymes; _see_ l. 2954.
E. place (_for_ fyr). 2956. E. Hn. And (_for_ Ne). 2958. E. Hn.
lych; _rest_ liche.
By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres
Al stinted is the moorning and the teres (2110)
Of Grekes, by oon general assent.
Than semed me ther was a parlement 2970
At Athenes, up-on certeyn poynts and cas;
Among the whiche poynts y-spoken was
To have with certeyn contrees alliaunce,
And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
For which this noble Theseus anon 2975
Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
Unwist of him what was the cause and why;
But in his blake clothes sorwefully (2120)
He cam at his comaundement in hye.
Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 2980
Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
And Theseus abiden hadde a space
Er any word cam from his wyse brest,
His eyen sette he ther as was his lest,
[85: T. 2987-3020.]
And with a sad visage he syked stille, 2985
And after that right thus he seyde his wille.
‘The firste moevere of the cause above,
Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, (2130)
Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente;
Wel wiste he why, and what ther-of he mente; 2990
For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee;
That same prince and that moevere,’ quod he,
‘Hath stablissed, in this wrecched world adoun, 2995
Certeyne dayes and duracioun
To al that is engendred in this place,
Over the whiche day they may nat pace, (2140)
Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge;
Ther needeth non auctoritee allegge, 3000
For it is preved by experience,
But that me list declaren my sentence.
Than may men by this ordre wel discerne,
That thilke moevere stable is and eterne.
Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005
That every part deryveth from his hool.
For nature hath nat take his beginning
Of no partye ne cantel of a thing, (2150)
But of a thing that parfit is and stable,
Descending so, til it be corrumpable. 3010
And therfore, of his wyse purveyaunce,
He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce,
That speces of thinges and progressiouns
Shullen enduren by successiouns,
And nat eterne be, with-oute lye: 3015
This maistow understonde and seen at eye.
2994. Hn. Ln. that; _rest_ (_except_ Hl.) that same. Hl. and moeuere
eek. 2995. Hl. Ln. stabled. 2997. Hl. alle that er; Cp. alle that
beth. 3000. E. Cp. _ins._ noght _bef._ noon. Hl. tallegge; Hn. to
allegge; Cm. Cp. Pt. to legge. 3006. E. dirryueth. 3007. Hl. Ln.
take; _rest_ taken; E. Cm. _om._ nat. 3008. Hl. ne; E. Hn. Pt. or of;
Cm. or of a. 3015. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ eterne with-outen any lye.
3016. at] E. it.
‘Lo the ook, that hath so long a norisshinge
From tyme that it first biginneth springe, (2160)
[86: T. 3021-3058.]
And hath so long a lyf, as we may see,
Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020
‘Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon
Under our feet, on which we trede and goon,
Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye.
The brode river somtyme wexeth dreye.
The grete tounes see we wane and wende. 3025
Than may ye see that al this thing hath ende.
3025. E. toures.
‘Of man and womman seen we wel also,
That nedeth, in oon of thise termes two, (2170)
This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age,
He moot ben deed, the king as shal a page; 3030
Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
Som in the large feeld, as men may se;
Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye.
Thanne may I seyn that al this thing moot deye.
What maketh this but Iupiter the king? 3035
The which is prince and cause of alle thing,
Converting al un-to his propre welle,
From which it is deryved, sooth to telle. (2180)
And here-agayns no creature on lyve
Of no degree availleth for to stryve. 3040
3034. E. Cm. _om._ that. 3036. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ That is.
‘Thanne is it wisdom, as it thinketh me,
To maken vertu of necessitee,
And take it wel, that we may nat eschue,
And namely that to us alle is due.
And who-so gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, 3045
And rebel is to him that al may gye.
And certeinly a man hath most honour
To dyen in his excellence and flour, (2190)
Whan he is siker of his gode name;
Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, no shame. 3050
And gladder oghte his freend ben of his deeth,
Whan with honour up-yolden is his breeth,
Than whan his name apalled is for age;
For al forgeten is his vasselage.
Than is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055
To dyen whan that he is best of name.
[87: T. 3059-3095.]
The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
Why grucchen we? why have we hevinesse, (2200)
That good Arcite, of chivalrye flour
Departed is, with duetee and honour, 3060
Out of this foule prison of this lyf?
Why grucchen heer his cosin and his wyf
Of his wel-fare that loved hem so weel?
Can he hem thank? nay, God wot, never a deel,
That bothe his soule and eek hem-self offende, 3065
And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
3056. Hl. whan a man. 3059. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. _ins._ the _bef._ flour.
‘What may I conclude of this longe serie,
But, after wo, I rede us to be merie, (2210)
And thanken Iupiter of al his grace?
And, er that we departen from this place, 3070
I rede that we make, of sorwes two,
O parfyt Ioye, lasting ever-mo;
And loketh now, wher most sorwe is her-inne,
Ther wol we first amenden and biginne.
3071. Hl. that; _rest om._
‘Suster,’ quod he, ‘this is my fulle assent, 3075
With al thavys heer of my parlement,
That gentil Palamon, your owne knight,
That serveth yow with wille, herte, and might, (2220)
And ever hath doon, sin that ye first him knewe,
That ye shul, of your grace, up-on him rewe, 3080
And taken him for housbonde and for lord:
Leen me your hond, for this is our acord.
Lat see now of your wommanly pitee.
He is a kinges brother sone, pardee;
And, though he were a povre bacheler, 3085
Sin he hath served yow so many a yeer,
And had for yow so greet adversitee,
It moste been considered, leveth me; (2230)
For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.’
3077. your] E. thyn. 3082. Hn. Leen; _rest_ Lene.
Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful right; 3090
‘I trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning
To make yow assente to this thing.
Com neer, and tak your lady by the hond.’
[88: T. 3096-3110.]
Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond,
That highte matrimoine or mariage, 3095
By al the counseil and the baronage.
And thus with alle blisse and melodye
Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. (2240)
And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
Sende him his love, that hath it dere a-boght. 3100
For now is Palamon in alle wele,
Living in blisse, in richesse, and in hele;
And Emelye him loveth so tendrely,
And he hir serveth al-so gentilly,
That never was ther no word hem bitwene 3105
Of Ielousye, or any other tene.
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye;
And God save al this faire companye!—Amen. (2250)
HERE IS ENDED THE KNIGHTES TALE.
3095. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. matrimoigne; Pt. matrimoyne; Hl. matrimoyn.
3100. E. _om._ hath. 3104. Hl. also; _rest_ so. 3106. E. Hn. Cp.
Ialousye. Hl. ne of non othir teene. COLOPHON; _so_ E. Hn.; Pt. Hl.
endeth.
[89: T. 3111-3133.]
* * * * *
THE MILLER’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
HERE FOLWEN THE WORDES BITWENE THE HOST AND THE MILLERE.
Whan that the Knight had thus his tale y-told,
In al the route nas ther yong ne old 3110
That he ne seyde it was a noble storie,
And worthy for to drawen to memorie;
And namely the gentils everichoon.
Our Hoste lough and swoor, ‘so moot I goon,
This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male; 3115
Lat see now who shal telle another tale:
For trewely, the game is wel bigonne.
Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye conne, (10)
Sumwhat, to quyte with the Knightes tale.’
The Miller, that for-dronken was al pale, 3120
So that unnethe up-on his hors he sat,
He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
Ne abyde no man for his curteisye,
But in Pilates vois he gan to crye,
And swoor by armes and by blood and bones, 3125
‘I can a noble tale for the nones,
With which I wol now quyte the Knightes tale.’
HEADING. _From_ E. Heere; hoost. 3118. E. on; _rest_ ye.
Our Hoste saugh that he was dronke of ale, (20)
And seyde: ‘abyd, Robin, my leve brother,
Som bettre man shal telle us first another: 3130
Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.’
3128. Ln. oste; E. hoost; Hl. _has_—Oure hoost saugh wel how.
[90: T. 3134-3166.]
‘By goddes soul,’ quod he, ‘that wol nat I;
For I wol speke, or elles go my wey.’
Our Hoste answerde: ‘tel on, a devel wey!
Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome.’ 3135
3134. Pt. hooste; Ln. oste; E. hoost.
‘Now herkneth,’ quod the Miller, ‘alle and some!
But first I make a protestacioun
That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun; (30)
And therfore, if that I misspeke or seye,
Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye; 3140
For 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.’
3140. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ yow.
The Reve answerde and seyde, ‘stint thy clappe,
Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. 3145
It is a sinne and eek a greet folye
To apeiren any man, or him diffame,
And eek to bringen wyves in swich fame. (40)
Thou mayst y-nogh of othere thinges seyn.’
3147. E. Ln. Hl. defame; _rest_ diffame.
This dronken Miller spak ful sone ageyn, 3150
And seyde, ‘leve brother Osewold,
Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon;
Ther been ful gode wyves many oon, 3154
And ever a thousand gode ayeyns oon badde, [T. _om._
That knowestow wel thy-self, but-if thou madde. [T. _om._
Why artow angry with my tale now?
I have a wyf, pardee, as well as thou, (50)
Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh,
Taken up-on me more than y-nogh, 3160
As demen of my-self that I were oon;
I wol beleve wel that I am noon.
An housbond shal nat been inquisitif
Of goddes privetee, nor of his wyf.
So he may finde goddes foyson there, 3165
Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere.’
3150. E. dronke; Cm. dronkyn; _rest_ dronken. 3155, 6. _These two
lines are in_ E. Cm. Hl. only. 3160. Cm. Takyn; _rest_ Take, Tak.
3166. enquere] Cp. Pt. Ln. to enquere.
[91: T. 3167-3186.]
What sholde I more seyn, but this Millere
He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, (60)
But tolde his cherles tale in his manere;
Me thinketh that I shal reherce it here. 3170
And ther-fore every gentil wight I preye,
For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
Of evel entente, but that I moot reherce
Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
Or elles falsen som of my matere. 3175
And therfore, who-so list it nat y-here,
Turne over the leef, and chese another tale;
For he shal finde y-nowe, grete and smale, (70)
Of storial thing that toucheth gentillesse,
And eek moralitee and holinesse; 3180
Blameth nat me if that ye chese amis.
The Miller is a cherl, ye knowe wel this;
So was the Reve, and othere many mo,
And harlotrye they tolden bothe two.
Avyseth yow and putte me out of blame; 3185
And eek men shal nat make ernest of game.
HERE ENDETH THE PROLOGE.
3170. E. Mathynketh; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. Me athynketh; Cm. Me thynkyth.
3172. demeth] Hl. as deme. 3173. E. yuel; Cm. euyl. 3177. Cp.
chees; Cm. ches; _rest_ chese. 3185. E. Cm. _om._ and. E. Cp.
putteth; _rest_ putte, put. 3186. E. Hn. Cm. maken; _rest_ make.
COLOPHON. _From_ Cm.; Pt. Thus endeth the prologe; Ln. Explicit
prologus; Hl. Here endeth the prologe of the Miller.
[92: T. 3187-3214.]
* * * * *
THE MILLERES TALE.
* * * * *
HERE BIGINNETH THE MILLERE HIS TALE.
Whylom ther was dwellinge at Oxenford
A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
And of his craft he was a Carpenter.
With him ther was dwellinge a povre scoler, 3190
Had lerned art, but al his fantasye
Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
And coude a certeyn of conclusiouns
To demen by interrogaciouns,
If that men axed him in certein houres, 3195
Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, (10)
Or if men axed him what sholde bifalle
Of every thing, I may nat rekene hem alle.
3187. Cm. Pt. in (_for_ at). 3190. Cm. Pt. Hl. pore; E. Hn. poure (=
povre); Cp. Ln. pouer (= pover). 3195, 7. E. asked; _rest_ axed.
This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas;
Of derne love he coude and of solas; 3200
And ther-to be was sleigh and ful privee,
And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
Allone, with-outen any companye,
Ful fetisly y-dight with herbes swote; 3205
And he him-self as swete as is the rote (20)
Of licorys, or any cetewale.
His Almageste and bokes grete and smale,
His astrelabie, longinge for his art,
His augrim-stones layen faire a-part 3210
On shelves couched at his beddes heed:
His presse y-covered with a falding reed.
And al above ther lay a gay sautrye,
On which he made a nightes melodye
[93: T. 3215-3250.]
So swetely, that al the chambre rong; 3215
And _Angelus ad virginem_ he song; (30)
And after that he song the kinges note;
Ful often blessed was his mery throte.
And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente
After his freendes finding and his rente. 3220
3218. Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. mery; E. myrie.
This Carpenter had wedded newe a wyf
Which that he lovede more than his lyf;
Of eightetene yeer she was of age.
Ialous he was, and heeld hir narwe in cage,
For she was wilde and yong, and he was old 3225
And demed him-self ben lyk a cokewold. (40)
He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,
That bad man sholde wedde his similitude.
Men sholde wedden after hir estaat,
For youthe and elde is often at debaat. 3230
But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
He moste endure, as other folk, his care.
3223. Hl. eyghteteene; _rest_ xviij. 3225. E. yong and wylde. 3230.
Cm. Hl. ben; _rest_ is.
Fair was this yonge wyf, and ther-with-al
As any wesele hir body gent and smal.
A ceynt she werede barred al of silk, 3235
A barmclooth eek as whyt as morne milk (50)
Up-on hir lendes, ful of many a gore.
Whyt was hir smok, and brouded al bifore
And eek bihinde, on hir coler aboute,
Of col-blak silk, with-inne and eek with-oute. 3240
The tapes of hir whyte voluper
Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye:
And sikerly she hadde a likerous yë.
Ful smale y-pulled were hir browes two, 3245
And tho were bent, and blake as any sloo. (60)
She was ful more blisful on to see
Than is the newe pere-ionette tree;
And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether 3250
[94: T. 3251-3285.]
Tasseld with silk, and perled with latoun.
In al this world, to seken up and doun,
There nis no man so wys, that coude thenche
So gay a popelote, or swich a wenche.
Ful brighter was the shyning of hir hewe 3255
Than in the tour the noble y-forged newe. (70)
But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
As any swalwe sittinge on a berne.
Ther-to she coude skippe and make game,
As any kide or calf folwinge his dame. 3260
Hir mouth was swete as bragot or the meeth,
Or hord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
Winsinge she was, as is a Ioly colt,
Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
A brooch she baar up-on hir lowe coler, 3265
As brood as is the bos of a bocler. (80)
Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye;
She was a prymerole, a pigges-nye
For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. 3270
3235. E. y-barred; _rest_ barred. 3236. Hl. eek; _rest om._ 3238.
Cp. brouded; Hl. browdid; Cm. I-brouded; E. Hn. broyden. 3251. E. Hn.
Tasseled; Ln. Tassilde; Hl. Cp. Tassid. E. grene; _rest_ silk.
3253. E. nas; Hn. Pt. Hl. nys; Cm. Cp. Ln. is. 3261. Cm. Pt. Cp. Ln.
braket. 3265. Cm. lowe; _rest_ loue. 3266. Cp. bocler; Hl. bocleer;
_rest_ bokeler.
Now sire, and eft sire, so bifel the cas,
That on a day this hende Nicholas
Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
Whyl that hir housbond was at Oseneye,
As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte; 3275
And prively he caughte hir by the queynte, (90)
And seyde, ‘y-wis, but if ich have my wille,
For derne love of thee, lemman, I spille.’
And heeld hir harde by the haunche-bones,
And seyde, ‘lemman, love me al at-ones, 3280
Or I wol dyen, also god me save!’
And she sprong as a colt doth in the trave,
And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
And seyde, ‘I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey,
Why, lat be,’ quod she, ‘lat be, Nicholas, 3285
[95: T. 3286-3322.]
Or I wol crye out “harrow” and “allas.” (100)
Do wey your handes for your curteisye!’
3283. Cm. wrythed. 3285. Pt. she; Cm. Hl. sche; Ln. iche; _rest_ ich.
This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
And spak so faire, and profred hir so faste,
That she hir love him graunted atte laste, 3290
And swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent,
That she wol been at his comandement,
Whan that she may hir leyser wel espye.
‘Myn housbond is so ful of Ialousye,
That but ye wayte wel and been privee, 3295
I woot right wel I nam but deed,’ quod she. (110)
‘Ye moste been ful derne, as in this cas.’
‘Nay ther-of care thee noght,’ quod Nicholas,
‘A clerk had litherly biset his whyle,
But-if he coude a Carpenter bigyle.’ 3300
And thus they been acorded and y-sworn
To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
Whan Nicholas had doon thus everydeel,
And thakked hir aboute the lendes weel,
He kist hir swete, and taketh his sautrye, 3305
And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodye. (120)
3289. E. hir; _rest_ him.
Than fil it thus, that to the parish-chirche,
Cristes owne werkes for to wirche,
This gode wyf wente on an haliday;
Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day, 3310
So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
Now was ther of that chirche a parish-clerk,
The which that was y-cleped Absolon.
Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
And strouted as a fanne large and brode; 3315
Ful streight and even lay his Ioly shode. (130)
His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos;
With Powles window corven on his shoos,
In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
Y-clad he was ful smal and proprely, 3320
Al in a kirtel of a light wachet;
Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
[96: T. 3323-3358.]
And ther-up-on he hadde a gay surplys
As whyt as is the blosme up-on the rys.
A mery child he was, so god me save, 3325
Wel coude he laten blood and clippe and shave, (140)
And make a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
In twenty manere coude he trippe and daunce
After the scole of Oxenforde tho,
And with his legges casten to and fro, 3330
And pleyen songes on a small rubible;
Ther-to he song som-tyme a loud quinible;
And as wel coude he pleye on his giterne.
In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
That he ne visited with his solas, 3335
Ther any gaylard tappestere was. (150)
But sooth to seyn, he was somdel squaymous
Of farting, and of speche daungerous.
3319. Cm. hosyn; Pt. hosen; _rest_ hoses. 3321. Hl. fyn (_for_
light). Hl. Ln. wachet; Cm. vachet; _rest_ waget. 3325. E. myrie;
Hn. murye. 3327. E. Hn. maken. 3329. E. Hn. Oxenford; Cm.
Oxenforthe; _rest_ Oxenforde. 3333. E. his; _rest_ a.
This Absolon, that Iolif was and gay,
Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, 3340
Sensinge the wyves of the parish faste;
And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
And namely on this carpenteres wyf.
To loke on hir him thoughte a mery lyf,
She was so propre and swete and likerous. 3345
I dar wel seyn, if she had been a mous, (160)
And he a cat, he wolde hir hente anon.
3344. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 3347. E. Hl. wold; _rest_ wolde.
This parish-clerk, this Ioly Absolon,
Hath in his herte swich a love-longinge,
That of no wyf ne took he noon offringe; 3350
For curteisye, he seyde, he wolde noon.
The mone, whan it was night, ful brighte shoon,
And Absolon his giterne hath y-take,
For paramours, he thoghte for to wake.
And forth he gooth, Iolif and amorous, 3353
Til he cam to the carpenteres hous (170)
A litel after cokkes hadde y-crowe;
And dressed him up by a shot-windowe
[97: T. 3359-3392.]
That was up-on the carpenteres wal.
He singeth in his vois gentil and smal, 3360
‘Now, dere lady, if thy wille be,
I preye yow that ye wol rewe on me,’
Ful wel acordaunt to his giterninge.
This carpenter awook, and herde him singe,
And spak un-to his wyf, and seyde anon, 3365
‘What! Alison! herestow nat Absolon (180)
That chaunteth thus under our boures wal?’
And she answerde hir housbond ther-with-al,
‘Yis, god wot, Iohn, I here it every-del.’
3350. Hn. Hl. ne; _rest om._ 3362. Cm. preye; Hl. praye; Ln. preie;
E. Hn. Cp. Pt. pray. E. wole; Cm. wele; Hn. Hl. wol; _rest_ wil. E.
thynke; _rest_ rewe. 3364. E. _om._ him.
This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than wel? 3370
Fro day to day this Ioly Absolon
So woweth hir, that him is wo bigon.
He waketh al the night and al the day;
He kempte hise lokkes brode, and made him gay;
He woweth hir by menes and brocage, 3375
And swoor he wolde been hir owne page; (190)
He singeth, brokkinge as a nightingale;
He sente hir piment, meeth, and spyced ale,
And wafres, pyping hote out of the glede;
And for she was of toune, he profred mede. 3380
For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
And som for strokes, and som for gentillesse.
3371. E. _repeats_ to day. 3374. Cm. kempte; Hn. Ln. kembed; Cp.
kembede; E. Pt. kembeth. 3379. Cm. Pt. Ln. hote; E. Hn. Cp. hoot.
3380. E. profreth.
Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
He pleyeth Herodes on a scaffold hye.
But what availleth him as in this cas? 3385
She loveth so this hende Nicholas, (200)
That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn;
And thus she maketh Absolon hir ape,
And al his ernest turneth til a Iape. 3390
Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
Men seyn right thus, ‘alwey the nye slye
[98: T. 3393-3429.]
Maketh the ferre leve to be looth.’
For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
By-cause that he fer was from hir sighte, 3395
This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte. (210)
3384. Hl. Herodz; Ln. Heraude; _rest_ Herodes, Heraudes. Hl. on;
_rest_ vp on. 3390. Hl. Pt. to; _rest_ til.
Now bere thee wel, thou hende Nicholas!
For Absolon may waille and singe ‘allas.’
And so bifel it on a Saterday,
This carpenter was goon til Osenay; 3400
And hende Nicholas and Alisoun
Acorded been to this conclusioun,
That Nicholas shal shapen him a wyle
This sely Ialous housbond to bigyle;
And if so be the game wente aright, 3405
She sholde slepen in his arm al night, (220)
For this was his desyr and hir also.
And right anon, with-outen wordes mo,
This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
But doth ful softe un-to his chambre carie 3410
Bothe mete and drinke for a day or tweye,
And to hir housbonde bad hir for to seye,
If that he axed after Nicholas,
She sholde seye she niste where he was,
Of al that day she saugh him nat with yë; 3415
She trowed that he was in maladye, (230)
For, for no cry, hir mayde coude him calle;
He nolde answere, for no-thing that mighte falle.
3415. Cm. Pt. ye; Hl. Iye; _rest_ eye. 3418. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. no
thyng; Pt. Hl. nought; E. thyng. Pt. Hl. may bifalle. (_Read_ mighte
_as_ might’).
This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,
That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay, 3420
And eet and sleep, or dide what him leste,
Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
Of Nicholas, or what thing mighte him eyle,
And seyde, ‘I am adrad, by seint Thomas, 3425
It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. (240)
God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
This world is now ful tikel, sikerly;
I saugh to-day a cors y-born to chirche
[99: T. 3430-3465.]
That now, on Monday last, I saugh him wirche. 3430
Go up,’ quod he un-to his knave anoon,
‘Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon,
Loke how it is, and tel me boldely.’
This knave gooth him up ful sturdily,
And at the chambre-dore, whyl that he stood, 3435
He cryde and knokked as that he were wood:— (250)
‘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 fond, ful lowe up-on a bord, 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 him a sighte.
This Nicholas sat gaping ever up-righte,
As he had kyked on the newe mone. 3445
Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister sone (260)
In what array he saugh this ilke man.
3440. E. Hn. foond; Pt. foonde. 3444. E. Hn. Cp. capyng. 3445. Cp.
Ln. keked; Hl. loked. 3447. E. Pt. that; _rest_ this.
This carpenter to blessen him bigan,
And seyde, ‘help us, seinte Frideswyde!
A man woot litel what him shal bityde. 3450
This man is falle, with his astromye,
In som woodnesse or in som agonye;
I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
Men sholde nat knowe of goddes privetee.
Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man, 3455
That noght but oonly his bileve can! (270)
So ferde another clerk with astromye;
He walked in the feeldes for to prye
Up-on the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
Til he was in a marle-pit y-falle; 3460
He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint Thomas,
Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas.
He shal be rated of his studying,
If that I may, by Iesus, hevene king!
3451. E. Hn. Astromye; Ln. Arstromye; _rest_ astronomye; _but_ Astromye
_is meant; see_ l. 3457. 3457. _So_ E. Hn.; _rest_ astronomye.
3460. E. -put.
Get me a staf, that I may underspore, 3465
[100: T. 3466-3498.]
Whyl that thou, Robin, hevest up the dore. (280)
He shal out of his studying, as I gesse’—
And to the chambre-dore he gan him dresse.
His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
And by the haspe he haf it up atones; 3470
In-to the floor the dore fil anon.
This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
And ever gaped upward in-to the eir.
This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
And hente him by the sholdres mightily, 3475
And shook him harde, and cryde spitously, (290)
‘What! Nicholay! what, how! what! loke adoun!
Awake, and thenk on Cristes passioun;
I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes!’
Ther-with the night-spel seyde he anon-rightes 3480
On foure halves of the hous aboute,
And on the threshfold of the dore with-oute:—
‘Iesu Crist, and seynt Benedight,
Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
For nightes verye, the white _pater-noster_! 3485
Where wentestow, seynt Petres soster?’ (300)
3466. E. of; _rest_ vp, vpe. 3470. Cm. Hl. haf; E. Hn. haaf; Cp.
heef. Hn. Pt. Ln. Hl. vp; _rest_ of. 3473. E. Hn. caped; Hl. capyd;
Cp. capede; _rest_ gaped, gapede. 3477. Hl. man (_for 3rd_ what);
_rest om._ 3485. _All but_ E. Hl. For the nyghtes. E. Hn. uerye;
Cm. verie; Cp. Pt. verye; Ln. very; Hl. verray. 3486. Cm. wonyst
þ_o_u; Hl. wonestow; _after which_ Cm. Hl. _ins._ now.
And atte laste this hende Nicholas
Gan for to syke sore, and seyde, ‘allas!
Shal al the world be lost eftsones now?’
3487. Hl. _om._ this. 3489. E. this; _rest_ the.
This carpenter answerde, ‘what seystow? 3490
What! thenk on god, as we don, men that swinke.’
3491. Hn. Pt. Hl. thenk; _rest_ thynk; _see_ 3478. Cm. as men don whan
they swinke.
This Nicholas answerde, ‘fecche me drinke;
And after wol I speke in privetee
Of certeyn thing that toucheth me and thee;
I wol telle it non other man, certeyn.’ 3495
This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn, (310)
And broghte of mighty ale a large quart;
And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
[101: T. 3499-3534.]
This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
And doun the carpenter by him he sette. 3500
He seyde, ‘Iohn, myn hoste lief and dere,
Thou shall up-on thy trouthe swere me here,
That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye;
For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,
And if thou telle it man, thou are forlore; 3505
For this vengaunce thou shalt han therfore, (320)
That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood!’
‘Nay, Crist forbede it, for his holy blood!’
Quod tho this sely man, ‘I nam no labbe,
Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe. 3510
Sey what thou wolt, I shal it never telle
To child ne wyf, by him that harwed helle!’
3501. Cp. Pt. hooste; Ln. ostee; Hl. host ful; E. Hn. hoost; Cm. ost.
3505. E. _om._ it. 3510. E. Hl. am; _rest_ nam, ne am.
‘Now John,’ quod Nicholas, ‘I wol nat lye;
I have y-founde in myn astrologye,
As I have loked in the mone bright, 3515
That now, a Monday next, at quarter-night, (330)
Shal falle a reyn and that so wilde and wood,
That half so greet was never Noës flood.
This world,’ he seyde, ‘in lasse than in an hour
Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour; 3520
Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese hir lyf.’
3516. a] Hl. on. 3519. Cm. Hl. _om. 2nd_ in.
This carpenter answerde, ‘allas, my wyf!
And shal she drenche? allas! myn Alisoun!’
For sorwe of this he fil almost adoun,
And seyde, ‘is ther no remedie in this cas?’ 3525
3525. Pt. Ln. _om._ ther.
‘Why, yis, for gode,’ quod hende Nicholas, (340)
‘If thou wolt werken after lore and reed;
Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed.
For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe,
“Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.” 3530
And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
I undertake, with-outen mast and seyl,
Yet shal I saven hir and thee and me
Hastow nat herd how saved was Noë,
[102: T. 3535-3570.]
Whan that our lord had warned him biforn 3535
That al the world with water sholde be lorn?’ (350)
3527. E. aftir. 3534. E. hou. 3535. Hl. had; E. Hn. Cm. hadde.
‘Yis,’ quod this carpenter, ‘ful yore ago.’
‘Hastow nat herd,’ quod Nicholas, ‘also
The sorwe of Noë with his felawshipe,
Er that he mighte gete his wyf to shipe? 3540
Him had be lever, I dar wel undertake,
At thilke tyme, than alle hise wetheres blake,
That she hadde had a ship hir-self allone.
And ther-fore, wostou what is best to done?
This asketh haste, and of an hastif thing 3545
Men may nat preche or maken tarying. (360)
3539. E. felaweshipe. 3540. E. brynge; _rest_ gete. 3541. E. hadde;
leuere. 3544. E. woostou; doone.
Anon go gete us faste in-to this in
A kneding-trogh, or elles a kimelin,
For ech of us, but loke that they be large,
In whiche we mowe swimme as in a barge, 3550
And han ther-inne vitaille suffisant
But for a day; fy on the remenant!
The water shal aslake and goon away
Aboute pryme up-on the nexte day.
But Robin may nat wite of this, thy knave, 3555
Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save; (370)
Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
I wol nat tellen goddes privetee.
Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
To han as greet a grace as Noë hadde. 3560
Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute,
Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
3548. E. ellis. E. kymelyn; Hl. kemelyn.
But whan thou hast, for hir and thee and me,
Y-geten us thise kneding-tubbes three,
Than shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye, 3565
That no man of our purveyaunce spye. (380)
And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd,
And hast our vitaille faire in hem y-leyd,
And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo
When that the water comth, that we may go, 3570
[103: T. 3571-3606.]
And broke an hole an heigh, up-on the gable,
Unto the gardin-ward, over the stable,
That we may frely passen forth our way
Whan that the grete shour is goon away—
Than shaltow swimme as myrie, I undertake, 3575
As doth the whyte doke after hir drake. (390)
Than wol I clepe, “how! Alison! how! John!
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.” 3580
And than shul we be lordes al our lyf
Of al the world, as Noë and his wyf.
3565: E. Thanne. 3571. E. Pt. Ln. broke; _rest_ breke. 3575. E.
Thanne. E. shal I; _rest_ shaltow, shalt thou. 3577. E. Thanne.
But of o thyng I warne thee ful right,
Be wel avysed, on that ilke night
That we ben entred in-to shippes bord, 3585
That noon of us ne speke nat a word, (400)
Ne clepe, ne crye, but been in his preyere;
For it is goddes owne heste dere.
3588. E. heeste.
Thy wyf and thou mote hange fer a-twinne,
For that bitwixe yow shal be no sinne 3590
No more in looking than ther shal in dede;
This ordinance is seyd, go, god thee spede!
Tomorwe at night, whan men ben alle aslepe,
In-to our kneding-tubbes wol we crepe,
And sitten ther, abyding goddes grace. 3595
Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space (410)
To make of this no lenger sermoning.
Men seyn thus, “send the wyse, and sey no-thing;”
Thou art so wys, it nedeth thee nat teche;
Go, save our lyf, and that I thee biseche.’ 3600
3591. E. Hn. Na. 3592. E. Pt. Hl. so; _rest_ go. 3593. E. folk; Cm.
we; _rest_ men. 3598. E. sende. 3599. E. to preche; Cp. to teche;
_rest_ teche.
This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
Ful ofte he seith ‘allas’ and ‘weylawey,’
And to his wyf he tolde his privetee;
And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
What al this queynte cast was for to seye. 3605
But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye, (420)
[104: T. 3607-3641.]
And seyde, ‘allas! go forth thy wey anon,
Help us to scape, or we ben lost echon;
I am thy trewe verray wedded wyf;
Go, dere spouse, and help to save our lyf.’ 3610
3608. Cm. er (_for_ or). E. lost; _rest_ dede, deede, ded. 3609.
Cm. Hl. verray trewe.
Lo! which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
Men may dye of imaginacioun,
So depe may impressioun be take.
This sely carpenter biginneth quake;
Him thinketh verraily that he may see 3615
Noës flood come walwing as the see (430)
To drenchen Alisoun, his hony dere.
He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory chere,
He syketh with ful many a sory swogh.
He gooth and geteth him a kneding-trogh, 3620
And after that a tubbe and a kimelin,
And prively he sente hem to his in,
And heng hem in the roof in privetee.
His owne hand he made laddres three,
To climben by the ronges and the stalkes 3625
Un-to the tubbes hanginge in the balkes, (440)
And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
With breed and chese, and good ale in a Iubbe,
Suffysinge right y-nogh as for a day.
But er that he had maad al this array, 3630
He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
Up-on his nede to London for to go.
And on the Monday, whan it drow to night,
He shette his dore with-oute candel-light,
And dressed al thing as it sholde be. 3635
And shortly, up they clomben alle three; (450)
They sitten stille wel a furlong-way.
3611. E. Auctor (_in margin_). 3612. Hl. A man. E. Hn. dyen. Pt.
Hl. for; Cm. thour; _rest_ of. 3624. E. _om._ he; Hl. _has_ þan.
3626. E. In-to; Cm. Onto; _rest_ Vnto. 3627. E. vitailleth. 3630.
E. hadde. 3635. E. dresseth; _rest_ dressed. E. Hn. Cm. alle.
Hn. Cp. scholde; E. shal.
‘Now, _Pater-noster_, clom!’ seyde Nicholay,
And ‘clom,’ quod John, and ‘clom,’ seyde Alisoun.
This carpenter seyde his devocioun, 3640
And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
[105: T. 3642-3677.]
Awaytinge on the reyn, if he it here.
The dede sleep, for wery bisinesse,
Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,
Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel more; 3645
For travail of his goost he groneth sore, (460)
And eft he routeth, for his heed mislay.
Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,
And Alisoun, ful softe adoun she spedde;
With-outen wordes mo, they goon to bedde 3650
Ther-as the carpenter is wont to lye.
Ther was the revel and the melodye;
And thus lyth Alison and Nicholas,
In bisinesse of mirthe and of solas,
Til that the belle of laudes gan to ringe, 3655
And freres in the chauncel gonne singe. (470)
3643. Cm. Hl. verray; _rest_ wery.
This parish-clerk, this amorous Absolon,
That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
Up-on the Monday was at Oseneye
With companye, him to disporte and pleye, 3660
And axed up-on cas a cloisterer
Ful prively after Iohn the carpenter;
And he drough him a-part out of the chirche,
And seyde, ‘I noot, I saugh him here nat wirche
Sin Saterday; I trow that he be went 3665
For timber, ther our abbot hath him sent; (480)
For he is wont for timber for to go,
And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn;
Wher that he be, I can nat sothly seyn.’ 3670
3660. E. With a compaignye. 3661. E. Cloistrer; Pt. Ln. Cloystrere.
This Absolon ful Ioly was and light,
And thoghte, ‘now is tyme wake al night;
For sikirly I saugh him nat stiringe
Aboute his dore sin day bigan to springe.
So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe, 3675
Ful prively knokken at his windowe (490)
That stant ful lowe up-on his boures wal.
[106: T. 3678-3712.]
To Alison now wol I tellen al
My love-longing, for yet I shal nat misse
That at the leste wey I shal hir kisse. 3680
Som maner confort shal I have, parfay,
My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
That is a signe of kissing atte leste.
Al night me mette eek, I was at a feste.
Therfor I wol gon slepe an houre or tweye, 3685
And al the night than wol I wake and pleye.’ (500)
3672. E. Hl. wake; Cm. to waky_n_; _rest_ to wake. 3676. Hn. Cp. Pt.
Ln. knokken; E. Cm. knokke; Hl. go knokke.
Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
Up rist this Ioly lover Absolon,
And him arrayeth gay, at point-devys.
But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys, 3690
To smellen swete, er he had kembd his heer.
Under his tonge a trewe love he beer,
For ther-by wende he to ben gracious.
He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
And stille he stant under the shot-windowe; 3695
Un-to his brest it raughte, it was so lowe; (510)
And softe he cogheth with a semi-soun—
‘What do ye, hony-comb, swete Alisoun?
My faire brid, my swete cinamome,
Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me! 3700
Wel litel thenken ye up-on my wo,
That for your love I swete ther I go.
No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
I moorne as doth a lamb after the tete.
Y-wis, lemman, I have swich love-longinge, 3705
That lyk a turtel trewe is my moorninge; (520)
I may nat ete na more than a mayde.’
3690. E. of; _rest_ and. 3696. E. brist. 3697. Hn. cogheth; Cp.
coughed; Hl. cowhith; Pt. kougheþ; Cm. coude; E. knokketh. 3701. Cp.
Pt. thenken; _rest_ thynken, thynke.
‘Go fro the window, Iakke fool,’ she sayde,
‘As help me god, it wol nat be “com ba me,”
I love another, and elles I were to blame, 3710
Wel bet than thee, by Iesu, Absolon!
Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
[107: T. 3713-3745.]
And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!’
3709. E. Hn. com pa me; Cp. com pame; Cm. cu_m_pame; Pt. compame; Hl.
Ln. compaine; _several_ MSS. come bame, combame; _see note_.
‘Allas,’ quod Absolon, ‘and weylawey!
That trewe love was ever so yvel biset! 3715
Than kisse me, sin it may be no bet, (530)
For Iesus love and for the love of me.’
3716. Cp. Pt. Ln. kisse; Hl. kisseth; _rest_ kys.
‘Wiltow than go thy wey ther-with?’ quod she.
3718. E. _om._ ther-with.
‘Ye, certes, lemman,’ quod this Absolon.
‘Thanne make thee redy,’ quod she, ‘I come anon;’ 3720
And un-to Nicholas she seyde stille, [T. _om._
‘Now hust, and thou shall laughen al thy fille.’ [T. _om._
3721, 2. _These 2 lines in_ E. _only._
This Absolon doun sette him on his knees,
And seyde, ‘I am a lord at alle degrees;
For after this I hope ther cometh more! 3725
Lemman, thy grace, and swete brid, thyn ore!’ (540)
3724. E. _om._ a.
The window she undoth, and that in haste,
‘Have do,’ quod she, ‘com of, and speed thee faste,
Lest that our neighebores thee espye.’
3728. Cm. don; Hl. doon; Pt. doo; _rest_ do. Hn. thee; _rest_ the.
This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drye; 3730
Derk was the night as pich, or as the cole,
And at the window out she putte hir hole,
And Absolon, him fil no bet ne wers,
But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
Ful savourly, er he was war of this. 3735
3731. E. Dirk. 3732. E. pitte.
Abak he sterte, and thoghte it was amis, (550)
For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd;
He felte a thing al rough and long y-herd,
And seyde, ‘fy! allas! what have I do?’
3736. E. Cm. stirte.
‘Tehee!’ quod she, and clapte the window to; 3740
And Absolon goth forth a sory pas.
‘A berd, a berd!’ quod hende Nicholas,
‘By goddes _corpus_, this goth faire and weel!’
This sely Absolon herde every deel,
And on his lippe he gan for anger byte; 3745
And to him-self he seyde, ‘I shal thee quyte!’ (560)
3743, 4. E. weel, deel; Ln. wele, dele; _rest_ wel, del.
Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
[108: T. 3746-3780.]
With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,
But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, ‘allas!
My soule bitake I un-to Sathanas, 3750
But me wer lever than al this toun,’ quod he,
‘Of this despyt awroken for to be!
Allas!’ quod he, ‘allas! I ne hadde y-bleynt!’
His hote love was cold and al y-queynt;
For fro that tyme that he had kiste hir ers, 3755
Of paramours he sette nat a kers, (570)
For he was heled of his maladye;
Ful ofte paramours he gan deffye,
And weep as dooth a child that is y-bete.
A softe paas he wente over the strete 3760
Un-til a smith men cleped daun Gerveys,
That in his forge smithed plough-harneys;
He sharpeth shaar and culter bisily.
This Absolon knokketh al esily,
And seyde, ‘undo, Gerveys, and that anon.’ 3765
3753. Hl. nadde bleynt. 3759. Cm. wepte; Hl. wept. 3763. E. Hn.
kultour; Cp. Pt. Ln. culter.
‘What, who artow?’ ‘It am I, Absolon.’ (580)
‘What, Absolon! for Cristes swete tree,
Why ryse ye so rathe, ey, _benedicite!_
What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, god it woot,
Hath broght yow thus up-on the viritoot; 3770
By sëynt Note, ye woot wel what I mene.’
3766. E. I am heere; _rest_ it am I. 3770. E. Hn. Cp. viritoot; Pt.
Vyritote; Ln. veritote; Cm. merytot; Hl. verytrot. 3771. Pt. Ln.
seynt; _rest_ seinte. Pt. Hl. Noet.
This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
Of al his pley, no word agayn he yaf;
He hadde more tow on his distaf
Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, ‘freend so dere, 3775
That hote culter in the chimenee here, (590)
As lene it me, I have ther-with to done,
And I wol bringe it thee agayn ful sone.’
3776. E. kultour.
Gerveys answerde, ‘certes, were it gold,
Or in a poke nobles alle untold, 3780
Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smith;
Ey, Cristes foo! what wol ye do ther-with?’
[109: T. 3781-3815.]
3781. Hl. Ye schul him haue. 3782. Hl. fo; _rest_ foo; ed. 1561,
fote.
‘Ther-of,’ quod Absolon, ‘be as be may;
I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day’—
And caughte the culter by the colde stele. 3785
Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele, (600)
And wente un-to the carpenteres wal.
He cogheth first, and knokketh ther-with-al
Upon the windowe, right as he dide er.
3785. E. kultour.
This Alison answerde, ‘Who is ther 3790
That knokketh so? I warante it a theef.’
‘Why, nay,’ quod he, ‘god woot, my swete leef,
I am thyn Absolon, my dereling!
Of gold,’ quod he, ‘I have thee broght a ring;
My moder yaf it me, so god me save, 3795
Ful fyn it is, and ther-to wel y-grave; (610)
This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse!’
3793. E. Hn. my; Cm. myn; Hl. O my; Cp. thi; Pt. thine; Ln. þin. E.
deerelyng; Hn. Cm. Cp. derelyng.
This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
And thoghte he wolde amenden al the Iape,
He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape. 3800
And up the windowe dide he hastily,
And out his ers he putteth prively
Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
And ther-with spak this clerk, this Absolon,
‘Spek, swete brid, I noot nat wher thou art.’ 3805
3800. E. _om._ ers.
This Nicholas anon leet flee a fart, (620)
As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
That with the strook he was almost y-blent;
And he was redy with his iren hoot,
And Nicholas amidde the ers he smoot. 3810
3810. E. _om._ the.
Of gooth the skin an hande-brede aboute,
The hole culter brende so his toute,
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!’ 3815
3812. E. kultour. 3813. And] Hn. That.
This carpenter out of his slomber sterte, (630)
And herde oon cryen ‘water’ as he were wood,
[110: T. 3816-3848.]
And thoghte, ‘Allas! now comth Nowelis flood!’
He sit him up with-outen wordes mo,
And with his ax he smoot the corde a-two, 3820
And doun goth al; he fond neither to selle,
Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
Up-on the floor; and ther aswowne he lay.
3818. E. Hn. Nowelis; Cp. Noweles (_intentionally_); Cm. Newel_is_; Pt.
Ln. Hl. noes. 3821. Hl. he goth (_for_ goth al). E. Hn. foond.
Up sterte hir Alison, and Nicholay,
And cryden ‘out’ and ‘harrow’ in the strete. 3835
The neighebores, bothe smale and grete, (640)
In ronnen, for to gauren on this man,
That yet aswowne he lay, bothe pale and wan;
For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm;
But stonde he moste un-to his owne harm. 3830
For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
They tolden every man that he was wood,
He was agast so of ‘Nowelis flood’
Thurgh fantasye, that of his vanitee 3835
He hadde y-boght him kneding-tubbes three, (650)
And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
And that he preyed hem, for goddes love,
To sitten in the roof, _par companye_.
3828. E. Hn. he; _rest om._ 3831. Pt. Ln. Hl. born. 3834. E. Hn.
Nowelis; Cp. Ln. the Nowels; Pt. þe Noes; Hl. Noes. 3837. E. roue;
_see_ l. 3839. 3838. E. Hn. Ln. preyde.
The folk gan laughen at his fantasye; 3840
In-to the roof they kyken and they gape,
And turned al his harm un-to a Iape.
For what so that this carpenter answerde,
It was for noght, no man his reson herde;
With othes grete he was so sworn adoun, 3845
That he was holden wood in al the toun; (660)
For every clerk anon-right heeld with other.
They seyde, ‘the man is wood, my leve brother;’
And every wight gan laughen of this stryf.
3841. E. Hn. Cp. cape. 3846. E. holde. 3848. E. Hn. Hl. was; _rest_
is. 3849. E. of this; Hn. at this; _rest_ at his.
Thus swyved was the carpenteres wyf, 3850
[111: T. 3849-3852.]
For al his keping and his Ialousye;
And Absolon hath kist hir nether yë;
And Nicholas is scalded in the toute. (667)
This tale is doon, and god save al the route! 3854
HERE ENDETH THE MILLERE HIS TALE.
3850. E. this; _rest_ the. 3852. Pt. Hl. ye; Hn. Iye; E. Ln. eye.
3853. E. Hn. the; _rest_ his. COLOPHON. _So_ E. (_with_ Heere); Hl.
Pn. Here endeth the Millers tale; Hn. Here is ended the Millerys tale;
Cp. Ln. Explicit fabula Molendinarii.
[112: T. 3853-3882.]
* * * * *
THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE
* * * * *
THE PROLOGE OF THE REVES TALE.
Whan folk had laughen at this nyce cas 3855
Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
Diverse folk diversely they seyde;
But, for the more part, they loughe and pleyde,
Ne at this tale I saugh no man him greve,
But it were only Osewold the Reve, 3860
By-cause he was of carpenteres craft.
A litel ire is in his herte y-laft,
He gan to grucche and blamed it a lyte.
3862. E. Pt. _om._ is.
‘So theek,’ quod he, ‘ful wel coude I yow quyte (10)
With blering of a proud milleres yë, 3865
If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
But ik am old, me list not pley for age;
Gras-tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage,
This whyte top wryteth myne olde yeres,
Myn herte is al-so mowled as myne heres, 3870
But-if I fare as dooth an open-ers;
That ilke fruit is ever leng the wers,
Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
We olde men, I drede, so fare we; (20)
Til we be roten, can we nat be rype; 3875
We hoppen ay, whyl that the world wol pype.
For in oure wil ther stiketh ever a nayl,
To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
As hath a leek; for thogh our might be goon,
Our wil desireth folie ever in oon. 3880
For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
Yet in our asshen olde is fyr y-reke.
3865. E. Ln. eye. 3867. E. Hn. no (_for_ not). 3869. Hl. My (_for_
This). 3870. E. mowled also. 3872. E. leng; Ln. longe: _rest_
lenger. 3876. E. ay whil that; Hn. alwey whil þat; _rest_ alwey
while.
Foure gledes han we, whiche I shal devyse,
Avaunting, lying, anger, coveityse; (30)
[113: T. 3883-3918.]
Thise foure sparkles longen un-to elde. 3885
Our olde lemes mowe wel been unwelde,
But wil ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
As many a yeer as it is passed henne
Sin that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne. 3890
For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
Deeth drogh the tappe of lyf and leet it gon;
And ever sith hath so the tappe y-ronne,
Til that almost al empty is the tonne. (40)
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chimbe; 3895
The sely tonge may wel ringe and chimbe
Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yore;
With olde folk, save dotage, is namore.’
3885. E. eelde. 3886. E. vnweelde. 3893. Hn. sith; E. sithe.
Whan that our host hadde herd this sermoning,
He gan to speke as lordly as a king; 3900
He seide, ‘what amounteth al this wit?
What shul we speke alday of holy writ?
The devel made a reve for to preche,
And of a souter a shipman or a leche. (50)
Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme, 3905
Lo, Depeford! and it is half-way pryme.
Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrewe is inne;
It were al tyme thy tale to biginne.’
3904. E. Cm. And; _rest_ Or. _All but_ Hn. _om. 2nd_ a. 3907. Cp.
Pt. Ln. that (_for_ ther). 3908. Pt. hie (_for_ al).
‘Now, sires,’ quod this Osewold the Reve,
‘I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve, 3910
Thogh I answere and somdel sette his howve;
For leveful is with force force of-showve.
3912. _In margin of_ E.—vim vi repellere.
This dronke millere hath y-told us heer,
How that bigyled was a carpenteer, (60)
Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon. 3915
And, by your leve, I shal him quyte anoon;
Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
I pray to god his nekke mote breke;
He can wel in myn yë seen a stalke,
But in his owne he can nat seen a balke. 3920
3918. Hl. tobreke; Pt. alto-breke. 3919. Pt. ye; Cp. ȝe; rest eye.
[114: T. 3919-3943.]
* * * * *
THE REVES TALE.
* * * * *
HERE BIGINNETH THE REVES TALE.
At Trumpington, nat fer fro Cantebrigge,
Ther goth a brook and over that a brigge,
Up-on the whiche brook ther stant a melle;
And this is verray soth that I yow telle.
A Miller was ther dwelling many a day; 3925
As eny pecok he was proud and gay.
Pypen he coude and fisshe, and nettes bete,
And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and shete;
And by his belt he baar a long panade,
And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade. 3930
A Ioly popper baar he in his pouche; (11)
Ther was no man for peril dorste him touche.
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. 3935
He was a market-beter atte fulle.
Ther dorste no wight hand up-on him legge,
That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.
A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele,
And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele. 3940
His name was hoten dëynous Simkin. (21)
A wyf he hadde, y-comen of noble kin;
The person of the toun hir fader was.
With hir he yaf ful many a panne of bras,
For that Simkin sholde in his blood allye. 3945
[115: T. 3944-3976.]
She was y-fostred in a nonnerye;
For Simkin wolde no wyf, as he sayde,
But she were wel y-norissed and a mayde,
To saven his estaat of yomanrye.
And she was proud, and pert as is a pye. 3950
A ful fair sighte was it on hem two; (31)
On haly-dayes biforn hir wolde he go
With his tipet bounden about his heed,
And she cam after in a gyte of reed;
And Simkin hadde hosen of the same. 3955
Ther dorste no wight clepen hir but ‘dame.’
Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye
That with hir dorste rage or ones pleye,
But-if he wolde be slayn of Simkin
With panade, or with knyf, or boydekin. 3960
For Ialous folk ben perilous evermo, (41)
Algate they wolde hir wyves wenden so.
And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich,
She was as digne as water in a dich;
And ful of hoker and of bisemare. 3965
Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hir spare,
What for hir kinrede and hir nortelrye
That she had lerned in the nonnerye.
3923. E. Hn. Cm. which; _rest_ whiche. 3928. Hl. wrastle wel (_om._
and). 3934. Hl. camois; Pt. camoyse. 3939. E. was of corn and eek
of Mele. 3941. E. Cp. Hl. hoote; Cm. hotyn; _rest_ hoten. Pt.
deyneȝouse. 3944. panne] Cm. peny. 3948. E. But if; _rest_
But. 3949. Hn. Cm. Pt. yemanrye. 3950. E. Hn. Pt. peert. 3951.
Cm. Hl. on; _rest_ vp-on. 3953. Cm. boundyn; Pt. bounden; Hn. Cp. Ln.
wounden; Hl. ybounde. 3956. Hl. ma dame. 3958. Hl. elles (_for_
ones). 3959. Hl. Symekyn. 3965. Hn. Cm. And; _rest_ As. Hl.
bissemare; Cp. bisemare; E. Hn. Pt. Ln. bismare.
A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two
Of twenty yeer, with-outen any mo, 3970
Savinge a child that was of half-yeer age; (51)
In cradel it lay and was a propre page.
This wenche thikke and wel y-growen was,
With camuse nose and yën greye as glas;
With buttokes brode and brestes rounde and hye, 3975
But right fair was hir heer, I wol nat lye.
3974. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. camoys. MSS. eyen, eyȝen. 3975. E. Cm.
_om._ With.
The person of the toun, for she was feir,
In purpos was to maken hir his heir
[116: T. 3977-4012.]
Bothe of his catel and his messuage,
And straunge he made it of hir mariage. 3980
His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye (61)
In-to som worthy blood of auncetrye;
For holy chirches good moot been despended
On holy chirches blood, that is descended.
Therfore he wolde his holy blood honoure, 3985
Though that he holy chirche sholde devoure.
3977. E. Cm. This; _rest_ The.
Gret soken hath this miller, out of doute,
With whete and malt of al the land aboute;
And nameliche ther was a greet collegge,
Men clepen the Soler-halle at Cantebregge, 3990
Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt y-grounde. (71)
And on a day it happed, in a stounde,
Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye;
Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye.
For which this miller stal bothe mele and corn 3995
An hundred tyme more than biforn;
For ther-biforn he stal but curteisly,
But now he was a theef outrageously,
For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare.
But ther-of sette the miller nat a tare; 4000
He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so. (81)
3987. E. Cm. sokene.
Than were ther yonge povre clerkes two,
That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye.
Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye,
And, only for hir mirthe and revelrye, 4005
Up-on the wardeyn bisily they crye,
To yeve hem leve but a litel stounde
To goon to mille and seen hir corn y-grounde;
And hardily, they dorste leye hir nekke,
The miller shold nat stele hem half a pekke 4010
Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve; (91)
And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve.
Iohn hight that oon, and Aleyn hight that other;
Of o toun were they born, that highte Strother,
[117: T. 4013-4045.]
Fer in the north, I can nat telle where. 4015
4002. Pt. Ln. Than; _rest_ Thanne. 4004. Pt. Teestif. 4005. Ln.
revelrie; _rest_ reuerye; ed. 1561, reuelry. 4013. E. highte (_1st_);
heet (_2nd_). Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. hight.
This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere,
And on an hors the sak he caste anon.
Forth goth Aleyn the clerk, and also Iohn,
With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde.
Iohn knew the wey, hem nedede no gyde, 4020
And at the mille the sak adoun he layth. (101)
Aleyn spak first, ‘al hayl, Symond, y-fayth;
How fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?’
4019. E. Cm. Pt. _om._ with. 4020. Cp. needede (_see_ l. 4161); E.
Hn. Pt. neded; Cm. Hl. nedyth; Ln. nedeþ. 4022. Hn. Symkyn; _rest_
Symond, Symon; _see_ l. 4026.
‘Aleyn! welcome,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my lyf,
And Iohn also, how now, what do ye heer?’ 4025
‘Symond,’ quod Iohn, ‘by god, nede has na peer;
Him boës serve him-selve that has na swayn,
Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.
Our manciple, I hope he wil be deed,
Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed. 4030
And forthy is I come, and eek Alayn, (111)
To grinde our corn and carie it ham agayn;
I pray yow spede us hethen that ye may.’
4027. E. boes (= North. E. _bus_); Hn. Cp. bihoues; Pt. Ln. byhoueþ;
Cm. muste; Hl. falles. 4033. E. Hn. Cp. heythen; Ln. hethen (_the
right form_); Cm. hene; Pt. hepen (_for_ heþen).
‘It shal be doon,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my fay;
What wol ye doon whyl that it is in hande?’ 4035
‘By god, right by the hoper wil I stande,’
Quod Iohn, ‘and se how that the corn gas in;
Yet saugh I never, by my fader kin,
How that the hoper wagges til and fra.’
4036. E. hopur.
Aleyn answerde, ‘Iohn, and wiltow swa, 4040
Than wil I be bynethe, by my croun, (121)
And se how that the mele falles doun
In-to the trough; that sal be my disport.
For Iohn, in faith, I may been of your sort;
I is as ille a miller as are ye.’ 4045
4040. Cp. Hl. and; _rest om._ 4044. E. Cm. yfayth. 4045. Cm. Pt. is
(_for_ are); Ln. es.
This miller smyled of hir nycetee,
And thoghte, ‘al this nis doon but for a wyle;
[118: T. 4046-4079.]
They wene that no man may hem bigyle;
But, by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir yë
For al the sleighte in hir philosophye. 4050
The more queynte crekes that they make, (131)
The more wol I stele whan I take.
In stede of flour, yet wol I yeve hem bren.
“The gretteste clerkes been noght the wysest men,”
As whylom to the wolf thus spak the mare; 4055
Of al hir art I counte noght a tare.’
4049. E. Ln. eye. 4051. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. crekes; Hl. knakkes. 4053.
E. stide. 4054. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ the. 4056. Cm. I counte; Hl. ne
counte I; _rest_ counte I.
Out at the dore he gooth ful prively,
Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely;
He loketh up and doun til he hath founde
The clerkes hors, ther as it stood y-bounde 4060
Bihinde the mille, under a levesel; (141)
And to the hors he gooth him faire and wel;
He strepeth of the brydel right anon.
And whan the hors was loos, he ginneth gon
Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne, 4065
Forth with wehee, thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne.
4061. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. leuesel; E. lefsel; Hn. leefsel. 4064. E. Hn.
Cp. Ln. laus; Hl. loos; Cm. los; Pt. louse; _see_ l. 4138.
This miller gooth agayn, no word he seyde,
But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde,
Til that hir corn was faire and wel y-grounde.
And whan the mele is sakked and y-bounde, 4070
This Iohn goth out and fynt his hors away, (151)
And gan to crye ‘harrow’ and ‘weylaway!
Our hors is lorn! Alayn, for goddes banes,
Step on thy feet, com out, man, al at anes!
Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.’ 4075
This Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn,
Al was out of his mynde his housbondrye.
‘What? whilk way is he geen?’ he gan to crye.
4069. E. weel. 4074. E. out; Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. of; Hl. on. 4078.
E. geen; Hn. Ln. gane; Hl. gan; Cm. Cp. Pt. gon.
The wyf cam leping inward with a ren,
She seyde, ‘allas! your hors goth to the fen 4080
With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. (161)
[119: T. 4080-4114.]
Unthank come on his hand that bond him so,
And he that bettre sholde han knit the reyne.’
4082. E. Hn. boond.
‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘Aleyn, for Cristes peyne,
Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa; 4085
I is ful wight, god waat, as is a raa;
By goddes herte he sal nat scape us bathe.
Why nadstow pit the capul in the lathe?
Il-hayl, by god, Aleyn, thou is a fonne!’
4084. E. Cm. _om._ Iohn. 4087. E. Hn. god; _rest_ goddes, goddis.
4088. E. Hn. Cm. pit; _rest_ put (putte).
This sely clerkes han ful faste y-ronne 4090
To-ward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek Iohn. (171)
And whan the miller saugh that they were gon,
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; 4095
Yet can a miller make a clerkes berd
For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye.
Lo wher they goon, ye, lat the children pleye;
They gete him nat so lightly, by my croun!’
4094. E. _om._ a.
Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun 4100
With ‘keep, keep, stand, stand, Iossa, warderere, (181)
Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe him here!’
But shortly, til that it was verray night,
They coude nat, though they do al hir might,
Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste, 4105
Til in a dich they caughte him atte laste.
4101. Cm. ware þe rere; Hl. ware derere; _rest_ warderere; ed. 1561,
wartherere. 4104. E. do; Cm. don; _rest_ dide (did).
Wery and weet, as beste is in the reyn,
Comth sely Iohn, and with him comth Aleyn.
‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘the day that I was born!
Now are we drive til hething and til scorn. 4110
Our corn is stole, men wil us foles calle, (191)
Bathe the wardeyn and our felawes alle,
And namely the miller; weylaway!’
4107. Cm. beste; E. Hn. beest. 4110. E. Hl. dryue; _rest_ dryuen
(dreven). 4111. E. stoln me.
Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goth by the way
Toward the mille, and Bayard in his hond. 4115
The miller sitting by the fyr he fond,
[120: T. 4115-4147.]
For it was night, and forther mighte they noght;
But, for the love of god, they him bisoght
Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.
The miller seyde agayn, ‘if ther be eny, 4120
Swich as it is, yet shal ye have your part. (201)
Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art;
Ye conne by argumentes make a place
A myle brood of twenty foot of space.
Lat see now if this place may suffyse, 4125
Or make it roum with speche, as is youre gyse.’
4123. E. Hn. Argumentz; Cm. argumentis; Cp. Hl. argumentes. 4126. E.
in (_for_ is).
‘Now, Symond,’ seyde Iohn, ‘by seint Cutberd,
Ay is thou mery, and this is faire answerd.
I have herd seyd, man sal taa of twa thinges
Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he bringes. 4130
But specially, I pray thee, hoste dere, (211)
Get us som mete and drinke, and make us chere,
And we wil payen trewely atte fulle.
With empty hand men may na haukes tulle;
Lo here our silver, redy for to spende.’ 4135
4128. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. mery; E. Hn. myrie. 4129. E. taa; Cm. tan; Pt.
taken; Hn. tak; Cp. take. 4131. E. Hn. hoost; Hl. host ful; Pt.
hooste; Cp. Ln. ooste. 4134. Hl. na; Cp. naan; E. Hn. Cm. none; Pt.
not.
This miller in-to toun his doghter sende
For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos,
And bond hir hors, it sholde nat gon loos;
And in his owne chambre hem made a bed
With shetes and with chalons faire y-spred, 4140
Noght from his owne bed ten foot or twelve. (221)
His doghter hadde a bed, al by hir-selve,
Right in the same chambre, by and by;
It mighte be no bet, and cause why,
Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place. 4145
They soupen and they speke, hem to solace,
And drinken ever strong ale atte beste.
Aboute midnight wente they to reste.
4138. E. Hn. Cp. boond. E. nat; Cm. not; Hn. namoore; Cp. namore; Pt.
Ln. Hl. no more. 4147. E. drynke; Hn. Cp. Pt. drynken; Hl. Cm.
dronken.
Wel hath this miller vernisshed his heed;
[121: T. 4148-4180.]
Ful pale he was for-dronken, and nat reed. 4150
He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the nose (231)
As he were on the quakke, or on the pose.
To bedde he gooth, and with him goth his wyf.
As any Iay she light was and Iolyf,
So was hir Ioly whistle wel y-wet. 4155
The cradel at hir beddes feet is set,
To rokken, and to yeve the child to souke.
And whan that dronken al was in the crouke,
To bedde went the doghter right anon;
To bedde gooth Aleyn and also Iohn; 4160
Ther nas na more, hem nedede no dwale. (241)
This miller hath so wisly bibbed ale,
That as an hors he snorteth in his sleep,
Ne of his tayl bihinde he took no keep.
His wyf bar him a burdon, a ful strong, 4165
Men mighte hir routing here two furlong;
The wenche routeth eek _par companye_.
4151. Hl. yoxeth. 4160. E. wente; _rest_ gooth (goth). 4161. Cp.
needede (_see_ l. 4020); _rest_ neded. 4162. Hl. wysly; Cm. wysely;
E. wisely; _rest_ wisly. 4166. Hl. Cp. a (_for_ two).
Aleyn the clerk, that herd this melodye,
He poked Iohn, and seyde, ‘slepestow?
Herdestow ever slyk a sang er now? 4170
Lo, whilk a compline is y-mel hem alle! (251)
A wilde fyr up-on thair bodyes falle!
Wha herkned ever slyk a ferly thing?
Ye, they sal have the flour of il ending.
This lange night ther tydes me na reste; 4175
But yet, na fors; al sal be for the beste.
For Iohn,’ seyde he, ‘als ever moot I thryve,
If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve.
Som esement has lawe y-shapen us;
For Iohn, ther is a lawe that says thus, 4180
That gif a man in a point be y-greved, (261)
That in another he sal be releved.
[122: T. 4181-4216.]
Our corn is stoln, shortly, it is na nay,
And we han had an il fit al this day.
And sin I sal have neen amendement, 4185
Agayn my los I wil have esement.
By goddes saule, it sal neen other be!’
4170. Cp. Herdestow; Cm. Ln. Herdist thou; Hl. Herdistow; E. Herdtow;
Hn. Herd thow. 4171. E. whilk; Hn. Cp. Ln. swilke; Cm. swich; Pt.
sclike; Hl. slik. 4171. Ln. compline; Hn. conplyng; Pt. conplinge;
Hl. couplyng (_wrongly_); E. cowplyng; Cm. copil. 4181. Hl.
(_margin_) Qui in vno grauatur in alio debet releuari. 4183. E. Cm.
shortly; _rest_ sothly. E. is; _rest_ it is. Hn. Hl. na; E. ne;
_rest_ no (non). 4185. E. neen; Hn. naan; Hl. nan; _rest_ non (noon);
_so in_ 4187.
This Iohn answerde, ‘Alayn, avyse thee,
The miller is a perilous man,’ he seyde,
‘And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde, 4190
He mighte doon us bathe a vileinye.’ (271)
Aleyn answerde, ‘I count him nat a flye;’
And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte.
This wenche lay upright, and faste slepte,
Til he so ny was, er she mighte espye, 4195
That it had been to late for to crye,
And shortly for to seyn, they were at on;
Now pley, Aleyn! for I wol speke of Iohn.
This Iohn lyth stille a furlong-wey or two,
And to him-self he maketh routhe and wo: 4200
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘this is a wikked Iape; (281)
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.
He auntred him, and has his nedes sped, 4205
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!
I wil aryse, and auntre it, by my fayth!
“Unhardy is unsely,” thus men sayth.’ 4210
And up he roos and softely he wente (291)
Un-to the cradel, and in his hand it hente,
And baar it softe un-to his beddes feet.
4206. E. Cm. sek; _rest_ sak. 4213. E. the; _rest_ his.
Sone after this the wyf hir routing leet,
And gan awake, and wente hir out to pisse, 4215
And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel misse,
And groped heer and ther, but she fond noon.
‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘I hadde almost misgoon;
[123: T. 4217-4252.]
I hadde almost gon to the clerkes bed.
By, _benedicite!_ thanne hadde I foule y-sped:’ 4220
And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond. (301)
She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond,
And fond the bed, and thoghte noght but good,
By-cause that the cradel by it stood,
And niste wher she was, for it was derk; 4225,
But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk,
And lyth ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep.
With-inne a whyl this Iohn the clerk up leep,
And on this gode wyf he leyth on sore.
So mery a fit ne hadde she nat ful yore; 4230
He priketh harde and depe as he were mad. (311)
This Ioly lyf han thise two clerkes lad
Til that the thridde cok bigan to singe.
4217. E. Hn. Pt. foond. 4223. E. Hn. foond. 4226. to] Cm. bi.
4230. E. myrie; _om._ ne. 4231. E. soore; Cm. sore; _rest_ depe
(deepe).
Aleyn wex wery in the daweninge,
For he had swonken al the longe night; 4235
And seyde, ‘far wel, Malin, swete wight!
The day is come, I may no lenger byde;
But evermo, wher so I go or ryde,
I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel!’
4234. Cm. Ln. Pt. wex; _rest_ wax. 4236. Cm. Cp. Hl. far; _rest_
fare; _see note._
‘Now dere lemman,’ quod she, ‘go, far weel! 4240
But er thou go, o thing I wol thee telle, (321)
Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle,
Right at the entree of the dore bihinde,
Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel finde
That was y-maked of thyn owne mele, 4245
Which that I heelp my fader for to stele.
And, gode lemman, god thee save and kepe!’
And with that word almost she gan to wepe.
4246. Cm. halp; E. Hn. heelp.
Aleyn up-rist, and thoughte, ‘er that it dawe,
I wol go crepen in by my felawe; 4250
And fond the cradel with his hand anon, (331)
‘By god,’ thoghte he, ‘al wrang I have misgon;
Myn heed is toty of my swink to-night,
That maketh me that I go nat aright.
[124: T. 4253-4288.]
I woot wel by the cradel, I have misgo, 4255
Heer lyth the miller and his wyf also.’
And forth he goth, a twenty devel way,
Un-to the bed ther-as the miller lay.
He wende have cropen by his felawe Iohn;
And by the miller in he creep anon, 4260
And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak: (341)
He seyde, ‘thou, Iohn, thou swynes-heed, awak
For Cristes saule, and heer a noble game.
For by that lord that called is seint Iame,
As I have thryes, in this shorte night, 4265
Swyved the milleres doghter bolt-upright,
Whyl thow hast as a coward been agast.’
‘Ye, false harlot,’ quod the miller, ‘hast?
A! false traitour! false clerk!’ quod he,
‘Thou shalt be deed, by goddes dignitee! 4270
Who dorste be so bold to disparage (351)
My doghter, that is come of swich linage?’
And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn.
And he hente hym despitously agayn,
And on the nose he smoot him with his fest. 4275
Doun ran the blody streem up-on his brest;
And in the floor, with nose and mouth to-broke,
They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke.
And up they goon, and doun agayn anon,
Til that the miller sporned at a stoon, 4280
And doun he fil bakward up-on his wyf, (361)
That wiste no-thing of this nyce stryf;
For she was falle aslepe a lyte wight
With Iohn the clerk, that waked hadde al night.
And with the fal, out of hir sleep she breyde— 4285
‘Help, holy croys of Bromeholm,’ she seyde,
_In manus tuas!_ lord, to thee I calle!
Awak, Symond! the feend is on us falle,
Myn herte is broken, help, I nam but deed;
There lyth oon up my wombe and up myn heed; 4290
[125: T. 4289-4322.]
Help, Simkin, for the false clerkes fighte.’ (371)
4277. in] Hn. on. 4278. Hl. walweden as pigges. 4280. Hn. on; Cm.
aȝen; _rest_ at. 4283. E. lite; Cm. lyte; _rest_ litel. 4286.
Cm. Pt. Ln. Bromeholm; _rest_ Bromholm. 4290. Cp. Ln. vp (_twice_).
E. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. vp on (_for 1st_ up). E. Cm. Pt. Hl. on (Hn. vp);
_for 2nd_ vp.
This Iohn sterte up as faste as ever he mighte,
And graspeth by the walles to and fro,
To finde a staf; and she sterte up also,
And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn, 4295
And by the wal a staf she fond, anon,
And saugh a litel shimering of a light,
For at an hole in shoon the mone bright;
And by that light she saugh hem bothe two,
But sikerly she niste who was who, 4300
But as she saugh a whyt thing in hir yë. (38l)
And whan she gan the whyte thing espye,
She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer.
And with the staf she drough ay neer and neer,
And wende han hit this Aleyn at the fulle, 4305
And smoot the miller on the pyled skulle,
That doun he gooth and cryde, ‘harrow! I dye!’
Thise clerkes bete him weel and lete him lye;
And greythen hem, and toke hir hors anon,
And eek hir mele, and on hir wey they gon. 4310
And at the mille yet they toke hir cake (391)
Of half a busshel flour, ful wel y-bake.
4292. E. Cm. stirte. E. soone (_for_ faste). 4296. E. Hn. foond;
Hl. took. 4301. Hl. ye; Hn. Iye; _rest_ eye. 4307. E. Cm. Hl. And;
_rest_ That. 4309. Hl. greyth; Cm. hastede.
Thus is the proude miller wel y-bete,
And hath y-lost the grinding of the whete,
And payed for the soper every-deel 4315
Of Aleyn and of Iohn, that bette him weel.
His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als;
Lo, swich it is a miller to be fals!
And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth,
‘Him thar nat wene wel that yvel dooth; 4320
A gylour shal him-self bigyled be.’ (401)
And God, that sitteth heighe in magestee,
Save al this companye grete and smale!
Thus have I quit the miller in my tale.
HERE IS ENDED THE REVES TALE.
4320. E. Hn. yuele; Cm. euele. 4322. E. Trinitee; _rest_ magestee
(mageste). COLOPHON. Hn. Hl. Here endeth the Reves tale.
[126: T. 4323-4347.]
* * * * *
THE COOK’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
THE PROLOGE OF THE COKES TALE.
The Cook of London, whyl the Reve spak, 4325
For Ioye, him thoughte, he clawed him on the bak,
‘Ha! ha!’ quod he, ‘for Cristes passioun,
This miller hadde a sharp conclusioun
Upon his argument of herbergage!
Wel seyde Salomon in his langage, 4330
“Ne bringe nat every man in-to thyn hous;”
For herberwing by nighte is perilous.
Wel oghte a man avysed for to be
Whom that he broghte in-to his privetee. (10)
I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and care, 4335
If ever, sith I highte Hogge of Ware,
Herde I a miller bettre y-set a-werk.
He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk.
But god forbede that we stinten here;
And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to here 4340
A tale of me, that am a povre man,
I wol yow telle as wel as ever I can
A litel Iape that fil in our citee.’
4325. E. whil that the. 4332. Hl. herburgage. 4336. Hn. sith; E.
sitthe; Hl. siþþe; Cp. Pt. Ln. sithen. 4339. Hn. Hl. stynten; E.
stynte. 4339, 4340. _Last two words glossed_ hic _and_ audire _in_ E.
Hn.
Our host answerde, and seide, ‘I graunte it thee; (20)
Now telle on, Roger, loke that it be good; 4345
For many a pastee hastow laten blood,
And many a Iakke of Dover hastow sold
That hath been twyes hoot and twyes cold.
Of many a pilgrim hastow Cristes curs,
[127: T. 4348-4362.]
For of thy persly yet they fare the wors, 4350
That they han eten with thy stubbel-goos;
For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos.
Now telle on, gentil Roger, by thy name.
But yet I pray thee, be nat wrooth for game, (30)
A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley.’ 4355
4347. E. Hn. Cm. Ln. Douere. E. Hn. soold. 4348. E. Hn. coold.
4350. Hl. persly; Hn. p_er_sle; E. p_er_cely. 4355. Hl. _omits_.
‘Thou seist ful sooth,’ quod Roger, ‘by my fey,
But “sooth pley, quaad pley,” as the Fleming seith;
And ther-fore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith,
Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer,
Though that my tale be of an hostileer. 4360
But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit,
But er we parte, y-wis, thou shalt be quit.’
And ther-with-al he lough and made chere,
And seyde his tale, as ye shul after here. (40)
THUS ENDETH THE PROLOGE OF THE COKES TALE.
4357. E. Cm. quaad; Cp. Hl. quad; _rest_ quade. 4359. E. na (_for_
nat). COLOPHON. _In_ Pt.; Ln. Explicit prologus.
[128: T. 4363-4390.]
* * * * *
THE COKES TALE.
* * * * *
HEER BIGYNNETH THE COKES TALE.
A prentis whylom dwelled in our citee, 4365
And of a craft of vitaillers was he;
Gaillard he was as goldfinch in the shawe,
Broun as a berie, a propre short felawe,
With lokkes blake, y-kempt ful fetisly.
Dauncen he coude so wel and Iolily, 4370
That he was cleped Perkin Revelour.
He was as ful of love and paramour
As is the hyve ful of hony swete;
Wel was the wenche with him mighte mete. (10)
At every brydale wolde he singe and hoppe, 4375
He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe.
4366. E. vitailliers. 4369. E. ykempd; Hn. ykembd; _rest_ ykempt.
For whan ther any ryding was in Chepe,
Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe.
Til that he hadde al the sighte y-seyn,
And daunced wel, he wolde nat come ageyn. 4380
And gadered him a meinee of his sort
To hoppe and singe, and maken swich disport.
And ther they setten Steven for to mete
To pleyen at the dys in swich a strete. (20)
For in the toune nas ther no prentys, 4385
That fairer coude caste a paire of dys
Than Perkin coude, and ther-to he was free
Of his dispense, in place of privetee.
That fond his maister wel in his chaffare;
For often tyme he fond his box ful bare. 4390
For sikerly a prentis revelour,
That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour,
[129: T. 4391-4420.]
His maister shal it in his shoppe abye,
Al have he no part of the minstralcye; (30)
For thefte and riot, they ben convertible, 4395
Al conne he pleye on giterne or ribible.
Revel and trouthe, as in a low degree,
They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see.
4380. E. ayeyn. 4383. Pt. Ln. steuen; _rest_ steuene. 4385. Pt. Ln.
toune; _rest_ toun. 4396. E. Ln. ribible; _rest_ rubible. 4397. E.
lowe.
This Ioly prentis with his maister bood,
Til he were ny out of his prentishood, 4400
Al were he snibbed bothe erly and late,
And somtyme lad with revel to Newgate;
But atte laste his maister him bithoghte,
Up-on a day, whan he his paper soghte, (40)
Of a proverbe that seith this same word, 4405
‘Wel bet is roten appel out of hord
Than that it rotie al the remenaunt.’
So fareth it by a riotous servaunt;
It is wel lasse harm to lete him pace,
Than he shende alle the servants in the place. 4410
Therfore his maister yaf him acquitance,
And bad him go with sorwe and with meschance;
And thus this Ioly prentis hadde his leve.
Now lat him riote al the night or leve. (50)
4402. E. Newegate. 4404. E. Hn. Hl. papir. 4406. E. Hn. Cp. Hl.
Appul. 4410. E. seruantz.
And for ther is no theef with-oute a louke, 4415
That helpeth him to wasten and to souke
Of that he brybe can or borwe may,
Anon he sente his bed and his array
Un-to a compeer of his owne sort,
That lovede dys and revel and disport, 4420
And hadde a wyf that heeld for countenance
A shoppe, and swyved for hir sustenance. 4422
OF THIS COKES TALE MAKED CHAUCER NA MORE.
[_For_ The Tale of Gamelin, _see the_ Appendix.]
4415-22. Hl. _omits._ 4415. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. lowke; Pt. louke; Cm.
loke. 4416. Pt. souke; _rest_ sowke. 4419. E. compier; Hn. compeer;
Cp. Pt. Ln. conpere. COLOPHON. _In_ Hn. _only. Blank space in_ E.
[130: T. 4421-4446.]
* * * * *
GROUP B.
INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
THE WORDES OF THE HOOST TO THE COMPANYE.
Our Hoste sey wel that the brighte sonne
The ark of his artificial day had ronne
The fourthe part, and half an houre, and more;
And though he were not depe expert in lore,
He wiste it was the eightetethe day 5
Of April, that is messager to May;
And sey wel that the shadwe of every tree
Was as in lengthe the same quantitee
That was the body erect that caused it.
And therfor by the shadwe he took his wit 10
That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte;
And for that day, as in that latitude,
It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. 15
1. Hl. Hoste; Ln. oste; _rest_ hoost (oost). _On_ sey, see note. 2.
E. Hn. Hl. hath; _rest_ had. 4. Cm. _wanting_; Cp. Pt. Ln. expert; E.
Hn. ystert; Hl. _om._ 5. Hn. xviijthe; Cp. xviije; Pt. Ln. xviij; E.
eighte and twentithe; Hl. threttenthe. 14. Cm. Pt. Hl. of the; E. Hn.
at the; Cp. atte; Ln. att.
‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘I warne yow, al this route,
The fourthe party of this day is goon;
Now, for the love of god and of seint Iohn,
Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may;
Lordinges, the tyme wasteth night and day, 20
And steleth from us, what prively slepinge,
And what thurgh necligence in our wakinge,
As dooth the streem, that turneth never agayn,
Descending fro the montaigne in-to playn.
Wel can Senek, and many a philosophre 25
Biwailen tyme, more than gold in cofre.
[131: T. 4447-4483.]
“For los of catel may recovered be,
But los of tyme shendeth us,” quod he.
It wol nat come agayn, with-outen drede,
Na more than wol Malkins maydenhede, 30
Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse;
Lat us nat moulen thus in ydelnesse.
Sir man of lawe,’ quod he, ‘so have ye blis,
Tel us a tale anon, as forward is;
Ye been submitted thurgh your free assent 35
To stonde in this cas at my Iugement.
Acquiteth yow, and holdeth your biheste,
Than have ye doon your devoir atte leste.’
37. Hl. and holdeth; _rest_ now of (_badly_). 38. E. do.
‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘_depardieux_ ich assente,
To breke forward is not myn entente. 40
Biheste is dette, and I wol holde fayn
Al my biheste; I can no better seyn.
For swich lawe as man yeveth another wight,
He sholde him-selven usen it by right;
Thus wol our text; but natheles certeyn 45
I can right now no thrifty tale seyn,
But Chaucer, though he can but lewedly
On metres and on ryming craftily,
Hath seyd hem in swich English as he can
Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. 50
And if he have not seyd hem, leve brother,
In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
For he hath told of loveres up and doun
Mo than Ovyde made of mencioun
In his Epistelles, that been ful olde. 55
What sholde I tellen hem, sin they ben tolde?
In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcion,
And sithen hath he spoke of everichon,
Thise noble wyves and thise loveres eek.
Who-so that wol his large volume seek 60
Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupyde,
Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tisbee;
[132: T. 4484-4518.]
The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;
The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon; 65
The pleinte of Dianire and Hermion,
Of Adriane and of Isiphilee;
The bareyne yle stonding in the see;
The dreynte Leander for his Erro;
The teres of Eleyne, and eek the wo 70
Of Brixseyde, and of thee, Ladomëa;
The crueltee of thee, queen Medëa,
Thy litel children hanging by the hals
For thy Iason, that was of love so fals!
O Ypermistra, Penelopee, Alceste, 75
Your wyfhod he comendeth with the beste!
43. Cm. man; _rest_ a man. 45. E. wole; Hn. wol. 47. MS. Camb. Dd.
4. 24 _has_ But; _rest_ That; _see note_. 55. Hl. Cm. Epistelles; E.
Hn. Cp. Epistles. 56. E. Hn. telle; _rest_ tellen. 64. Hl. sorwe;
_rest_ swerd. 66. E. Cm. Hl. Diane; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Dianire, _or_
Dyanyre. 69. E. Hn. Ln. Leandre. 70. E. _omits_ eek. 71. E.
_omits_ of. 72. Cp. Hl. queen; _rest_ quene. 74. E. Cm. in; _rest_
of. 75. E. Hn. Cm. Penolopee. 76. E. wifhede.
But certeinly no word ne wryteth he
Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,
That lovede hir owne brother sinfully;
Of swiche cursed stories I sey ‘fy’; 80
Or elles of Tyro Apollonius,
How that the cursed king Antiochus
Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
Whan he hir threw up-on the pavement. 85
And therfor he, of ful avysement,
Nolde never wryte in none of his sermouns
Of swiche unkinde abhominaciouns,
Ne I wol noon reherse, if that I may.
But of my tale how shal I doon this day? 90
Me were looth be lykned, doutelees,
To Muses that men clepe Pierides—
_Metamorphoseos_ wot what I mene:—
But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
Though I come after him with hawe-bake; 95
I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make.’
And with that word he, with a sobre chere,
Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here.
95. Hn. Cp. Pt. Hl. hawe bake; E. hawebake; Cm. aw bake; Ln. halve
bake.
[133: T. 4519-4553.]
* * * * *
THE PROLOGE OF THE MANNES TALE OF LAWE.
O hateful harm! condicion of poverte!
With thurst, with cold, with hunger so confounded! 100
To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
If thou noon aske, with nede artow so wounded,
That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence! 105
Thou blamest Crist, and seyst ful bitterly,
He misdeparteth richesse temporal;
Thy neighebour thou wytest sinfully, (10)
And seyst thou hast to lyte, and he hath al.
‘Parfay,’ seistow, ‘somtyme he rekne shal, 110
Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the glede,
For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir nede.’
Herkne what is the sentence of the wyse:—
‘Bet is to dyën than have indigence;’
Thy selve neighebour wol thee despyse; 115
If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
Yet of the wyse man tak this sentence:—
‘Alle the dayes of povre men ben wikke;’ (20)
Be war therfor, er thou come in that prikke!
If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee, 120
And alle thy freendes fleen fro thee, alas!
O riche marchaunts, ful of wele ben ye,
O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
Your bagges been nat filled with _ambes as_,
But with _sis cink_, than renneth for your chaunce; 125
At Cristemasse merie may ye daunce!
Ye seken lond and see for your winninges,
As wyse folk ye knowen al thestaat (30)
Of regnes; ye ben fadres of tydinges
And tales, bothe of pees and of debat. 130
I were right now of tales desolat,
Nere that a marchaunt, goon is many a yere,
Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal here.
102. _So_ Hn.; Cp. Pt. art þou so; Ln. þou art so; Hl. so art thou;
_but_ E. so soore artow ywoundid. 109. E. Hn. lite; _rest_ litel.
118. E. _om._ the. 119. E. Hn. Hl. to; Cp. Pt. Ln. in. 124. E.
fild.
[134: T. 4554-4579.]
* * * * *
THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE.
* * * * *
HERE BEGINNETH THE MAN OF LAWE HIS TALE.
In Surrie whylom dwelte a companye
Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe, 135
That wyde-wher senten her spycerye,
Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe;
Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe, (40)
That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware. 140
Now fel it, that the maistres of that sort
Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
Were it for chapmanhode or for disport,
Nan other message wolde they thider sende,
But comen hem-self to Rome, this is the ende; 145
And in swich place, as thoughte hem avantage
For her entente, they take her herbergage.
Soiourned han thise marchants in that toun (50)
A certein tyme, as fel to hir plesance.
And so bifel, that thexcellent renoun 150
Of themperoures doghter, dame Custance,
Reported was, with every circumstance,
Un-to thise Surrien marchants in swich wyse,
Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
150. E. And; _rest_ But. 153. E. swich a wyse; _the rest omit_ a.
This was the commune vois of every man— 155
‘Our Emperour of Rome, god him see,
A doghter hath that, sin the world bigan,
To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee, (60)
Nas never swich another as is she;
[135: T. 4580-4616.]
I prey to god in honour hir sustene, 160
And wolde she were of al Europe the quene.
In hir is heigh beautee, with-oute pryde,
Yowthe, with-oute grenehede or folye;
To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde,
Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye. 165
She is mirour of alle curteisye;
Hir herte is verray chambre of holinesse,
Hir hand, ministre of fredom for almesse.’ (70)
And al this vois was soth, as god is trewe,
But now to purpos lat us turne agayn; 170
Thise marchants han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
And, whan they han this blisful mayden seyn,
Hoom to Surryë been they went ful fayn,
And doon her nedes as they han don yore,
And liven in wele; I can sey yow no more. 175
Now fel it, that thise marchants stode in grace
Of him, that was the sowdan of Surrye;
For whan they came from any strange place, (80)
He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
Make hem good chere, and bisily espye 180
Tydings of sondry regnes, for to lere
The wondres that they mighte seen or here.
Amonges othere thinges, specially
Thise marchants han him told of dame Custance,
So gret noblesse in ernest, ceriously, 185
That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesance
To han hir figure in his remembrance,
That al his lust and al his bisy cure (90)
Was for to love hir whyl his lyf may dure.
Paraventure in thilke large book 190
Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen was
With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
That he for love shulde han his deeth, allas!
For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
Is writen, god wot, who-so coude it rede, 195
The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
[136: T. 4617-4651.]
In sterres, many a winter ther-biforn,
Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles, (100)
Of Pompey, Iulius, er they were born;
The stryf of Thebes; and of Ercules, 200
Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
The deeth; but mennes wittes been so dulle,
That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle.
This sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
And, shortly of this mater for to pace, 205
He hath to hem declared his entente,
And seyde hem certein, ‘but he mighte have grace
To han Custance with-inne a litel space, (110)
He nas but deed;’ and charged hem, in hye,
To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 210
Diverse men diverse thinges seyden;
They argumenten, casten up and doun;
Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden,
They speken of magik and abusioun;
But finally, as in conclusioun, 215
They can not seen in that non avantage,
Ne in non other wey, save mariage.
212. Hl. Cp. argumentes.
Than sawe they ther-in swich difficultee (120)
By wey of resoun, for to speke al playn,
By-cause that ther was swich diversitee 220
Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn,
They trowe ‘that no cristen prince wolde fayn
Wedden his child under oure lawes swete
That us were taught by Mahoun our prophete.’
220. Cm. _om._ that.
And he answerde, ‘rather than I lese 225
Custance, I wol be cristned doutelees;
I mot ben hires, I may non other chese.
I prey yow holde your arguments in pees; (130)
Saveth my lyf, and beeth noght recchelees
To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure; 230
For in this wo I may not longe endure.’
[137: T. 4652-4686.]
What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
I seye, by tretis and embassadrye,
And by the popes mediacioun,
And al the chirche, and al the chivalrye, 235
That, in destruccioun of Maumetrye,
And in encrees of Cristes lawe dere,
They ben acorded, so as ye shal here; (140)
How that the sowdan and his baronage
And alle his liges shulde y-cristned be, 240
And he shal han Custance in mariage,
And certein gold, I noot what quantitee,
And her-to founden suffisant seurtee;
This same acord was sworn on eyther syde;
Now, faire Custance, almighty god thee gyde! 245
Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
That I shulde tellen al the purveyance
That themperour, of his grete noblesse, (150)
Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance.
Wel may men knowe that so gret ordinance 250
May no man tellen in a litel clause
As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
255. E. ynough; Hn. Cp. Hl. ynowe; Cm. Ln. Inowe.
Bisshopes ben shapen with hir for to wende,
Lordes, ladyes, knightes of renoun,
And other folk y-nowe, this is the ende; 255
And notifyed is thurgh-out the toun
That every wight, with gret devocioun,
Shulde preyen Crist that he this mariage (160)
Receyve in gree, and spede this viage.
The day is comen of hir departinge, 260
I sey, the woful day fatal is come,
That ther may be no lenger taryinge,
But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some;
Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to wende; 265
For wel she seeth ther is non other ende.
[138: T. 4687-4721.]
Allas! what wonder is it though she wepte,
That shal be sent to strange nacioun (170)
Fro freendes, that so tendrely hir kepte,
And to be bounden under subieccioun 270
Of oon, she knoweth not his condicioun.
Housbondes been alle gode, and han ben yore,
That knowen wyves, I dar say yow no more.
‘Fader,’ she sayde, ‘thy wrecched child Custance,
Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe, 275
And ye, my moder, my soverayn plesance
Over alle thing, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
Custance, your child, hir recomandeth ofte (180)
Un-to your grace, for I shal to Surryë,
Ne shal I never seen yow more with yë. 280
Allas! un-to the Barbre nacioun
I moste anon, sin that it is your wille;
But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun,
So yeve me grace, his hestes to fulfille;
I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille. 285
Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
And to ben under mannes governance.’
282. E. goon; _rest_ anon. 283. E. sauacioun; _rest_ redempcioun.
I trowe, at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal (190)
Or Ylion brende, at Thebes the citee,
Nat Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanibal 290
That Romayns hath venquisshed tymes thre,
Nas herd swich tendre weping for pitee
As in the chambre was for hir departinge;
Bot forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or singe.
289. Cm. at; _rest om._ (Or _means_ ere, _and_ brende _is
intransitive_.) 290. E. Hn. Cm. Nat (_for_ Ne at); Hl. Ne at.
O firste moevyng cruel firmament, 295
With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
And hurlest al from Est til Occident,
That naturelly wolde holde another way, (200)
Thy crowding set the heven in swich array
At the beginning of this fiers viage, 300
That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
[139: T. 4722-4756.]
Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
Of which the lord is helples falle, allas!
Out of his angle in-to the derkest hous.
O Mars, O Atazir, as in this cas! 305
O feble mone, unhappy been thy pas!
Thou knittest thee ther thou art nat receyved,
Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved. (210)
306. E. Hn. Cp. fieble.
Imprudent emperour of Rome, allas!
Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun? 310
Is no tyme bet than other in swich cas?
Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
Namely to folk of heigh condicioun,
Nat whan a rote is of a birthe y-knowe?
Allas! we ben to lewed or to slowe. 315
To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
Solempnely, with every circumstance.
‘Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle,’ she sayde; (220)
Ther nis namore but ‘farewel! faire Custance!’
She peyneth hir to make good countenance, 320
And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere,
And turne I wol agayn to my matere.
316. E. come; _rest_ brought.
The moder of the sowdan, welle of vyces,
Espyëd hath hir sones pleyn entente,
How he wol lete his olde sacrifyces, 325
And right anon she for hir conseil sente;
And they ben come, to knowe what she mente.
And when assembled was this folk in-fere, (230)
She sette hir doun, and sayde as ye shal here.
‘Lordes,’ quod she, ‘ye knowen everichon, 330
How that my sone in point is for to lete
The holy lawes of our Alkaron,
Yeven by goddes message Makomete.
But oon avow to grete god I hete,
The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte 335
Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
330. E. she seyde; _rest_ quod she. 333. Cp. Pt. Ln. messager; Hl.
messanger; _see note._
[140: T. 4757-4791.]
What shulde us tyden of this newe lawe
But thraldom to our bodies and penance? (240)
And afterward in helle to be drawe
For we reneyed Mahoun our creance? 340
But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
As I shal seyn, assenting to my lore,
And I shall make us sauf for evermore?’
They sworen and assenten, every man,
To live with hir and dye, and by hir stonde; 345
And everich, in the beste wyse he can,
To strengthen hir shal alle his freendes fonde;
And she hath this empryse y-take on honde, (250)
Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse. 350
‘We shul first feyne us cristendom to take,
Cold water shal not greve us but a lyte;
And I shal swich a feste and revel make,
That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quyte.
For though his wyf be cristned never so whyte, 355
She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
Thogh she a font-ful water with hir lede.’
O sowdanesse, rote of iniquitee, (260)
Virago, thou Semyram the secounde,
O serpent under femininitee, 360
Lyk to the serpent depe in helle y-bounde,
O feyned womman, al that may confounde
Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malyce,
Is bred in thee, as nest of every vyce!
O Satan, envious sin thilke day 365
That thou were chased from our heritage,
Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
Thou madest Eva bringe us in servage. (270)
Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage.
Thyn instrument so, weylawey the whyle! 370
Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt begyle.
[141: T. 4792-4824.]
This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warie,
Leet prively hir conseil goon hir way.
What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie?
She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, 375
And seyde him, that she wolde reneye hir lay,
And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
Repenting hir she hethen was so longe, (280)
Biseching him to doon hir that honour,
That she moste han the cristen men to feste; 380
‘To plesen hem I wol do my labour.’
The sowdan seith, ‘I wol don at your heste,’
And kneling thanketh hir of that requeste.
So glad he was, he niste what to seye;
She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye. 385
385. E. hoome; Hn. Cm. hom.
Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.
Arryved ben this cristen folk to londe,
In Surrie, with a greet solempne route,
And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde, (290)
First to his moder, and al the regne aboute,
And seyde, his wyf was comen, out of doute, 390
And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the quene,
The honour of his regne to sustene.
Gret was the prees, and riche was tharray
Of Surriens and Romayns met y-fere;
The moder of the sowdan, riche and gay, 395
Receyveth hir with al-so glad a chere
As any moder mighte hir doghter dere,
And to the nexte citee ther bisyde (300)
A softe pas solempnely they ryde.
Noght trowe I the triumphe of Iulius, 400
Of which that Lucan maketh swich a bost,
Was royaller, ne more curious
Than was thassemblee of this blisful host.
But this scorpioun, this wikked gost,
[142: T. 4825-4859.]
The sowdanesse, for al hir flateringe, 405
Caste under this ful mortally to stinge.
402. E. or; _rest_ ne. E. curius.
The sowdan comth him-self sone after this
So royally, that wonder is to telle, (310)
And welcometh hir with alle Ioye and blis.
And thus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle. 410
The fruyt of this matere is that I telle.
Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
That revel stinte, and men goon to hir reste.
411. E. Cm. Cp. matiere; Hn. Pt. matere. 413. E. The; _rest_ That.
The tyme cam, this olde sowdanesse
Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde, 415
And to the feste cristen folk hem dresse
In general, ye! bothe yonge and olde.
Here may men feste and royaltee biholde, (320)
And deyntees mo than I can yow devyse,
But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse. 420
418. E. bihold.
O sodeyn wo! that ever art successour
To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse;
Thende of the Ioye of our worldly labour;
Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse.
Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse, 425
Up-on thy glade day have in thy minde
The unwar wo or harm that comth bihinde.
423. _So_ Cm.; _rest_ The ende.
For shortly for to tellen at o word, (330)
The sowdan and the cristen everichone
Ben al to-hewe and stiked at the bord, 430
But it were only dame Custance allone.
This olde sowdanesse, cursed crone,
Hath with hir frendes doon this cursed dede,
For she hir-self wolde al the contree lede.
428. E. soothly; _rest_ shortly. 432. Pt. Hl. this cursed; _rest
omit_ this.
Ne ther was Surrien noon that was converted 435
That of the conseil of the sowdan woot,
That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted.
And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot, (340)
And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot,
[143: T. 4860-4889.]
They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne sayle 440
Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle.
435. E. _omits_ ther. 440. Hn. Cm. bidde; Cp. Pt. bidden; Ln. beden;
E. biddeth; Hl. bad.
A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
And, sooth to sayn, vitaille gret plentee
They han hir yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
And forth she sayleth in the salte see. 445
O my Custance, ful of benignitee,
O emperoures yonge doghter dere,
He that is lord of fortune be thy stere! (350)
442. E. with hir_e_; _rest_ thider.
She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys
Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she, 450
‘O clere, o welful auter, holy croys,
Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee,
That wesh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe,
That day that I shal drenchen in the depe. 455
451. E. woful; _rest_ welful, wilful, weleful. 453. E. wesshe; Cm.
wesch; Pt. wessh.
Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
That only worthy were for to bere
The king of heven with his woundes newe, (360)
The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the spere,
Flemer of feendes out of him and here 460
On which thy limes feithfully extenden,
Me keep, and yif me might my lyf tamenden.’
462. Cm. Ln. kep; Hn. Pt. Hl. kepe; Cp. keepe; E. helpe.
Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
Thurghout the see of Grece un-to the strayte
Of Marrok, as it was hir aventure; 465
On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
After her deeth ful often may she wayte,
Er that the wilde wawes wole hir dryve (370)
Un-to the place, ther she shal arryve.
463. E. fleteth; but Hn. Cp. Pt. fleet. 469. _Read_ placë; Hl. _alone
inserts_ as _after_ ther.
[144: T. 4890-4924.]
Men mighten asken why she was not slayn? 470
Eek at the feste who mighte hir body save?
And I answere to that demaunde agayn,
Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave,
Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
Was with the leoun frete er he asterte? 475
No wight but god, that he bar in his herte.
473. Hl. thorrible.
God liste to shewe his wonderful miracle
In hir, for we sholde seen his mighty werkes; (380)
Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
By certein menes ofte, as knowen clerkes, 480
Doth thing for certein ende that ful derk is
To mannes wit, that for our ignorance
Ne conne not knowe his prudent purveyance.
Now, sith she was not at the feste y-slawe,
Who kepte hir fro the drenching in the see? 485
Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe
Til he was spouted up at Ninivee?
Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he (390)
That kepte peple Ebraik fro hir drenchinge,
With drye feet thurgh-out the see passinge. 490
489. Pt. Ln. _om._ hir.
Who bad the foure spirits of tempest,
That power han tanoyen land and see,
‘Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree?’
Sothly, the comaundour of that was he, 495
That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
As wel whan [that] she wook as whan she slepte.
497. _I insert_ that; Hl. awok.
Wher mighte this womman mete and drinke have? (400)
Three yeer and more how lasteth hir vitaille?
Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave, 500
Or in desert? no wight but Crist, sans faille.
Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mervaille
With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede.
God sente his foison at hir grete nede.
[145: T. 4925-4959.]
She dryveth forth in-to our occean 505
Thurgh-out our wilde see, til, atte laste,
Under an hold that nempnen I ne can,
Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hir caste, (410)
And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste,
That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde, 510
The wille of Crist was that she shulde abyde.
The constable of the castel doun is fare
To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
And fond this wery womman ful of care;
He fond also the tresor that she broghte. 515
In hir langage mercy she bisoghte
The lyf out of hir body for to twinne,
Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne. (420)
A maner Latin corrupt was hir speche,
But algates ther-by was she understonde; 520
The constable, whan him list no lenger seche,
This woful womman broghte he to the londe;
She kneleth doun, and thanketh goddes sonde.
But what she was, she wolde no man seye,
For foul ne fair, thogh that she shulde deye. 525
She seyde, she was so mased in the see
That she forgat hir minde, by hir trouthe;
The constable hath of hir so greet pitee, (430)
And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe,
She was so diligent, with-outen slouthe, 530
To serve and plesen everich in that place,
That alle hir loven that loken on hir face.
531. MSS. plese. 532. E. Cm. in; _rest_ on.
This constable and dame Hermengild his wyf
Were payens, and that contree every-where;
But Hermengild lovede hir right as hir lyf, 535
And Custance hath so longe soiourned there,
In orisons, with many a bitter tere,
Til Iesu hath converted thurgh his grace (440)
Dame Hermengild, constablesse of that place.
536. soiourned] Hl. herberwed.
[146: T. 4960-4994.]
In al that lond no cristen durste route, 540
Alle cristen folk ben fled fro that contree
Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
The plages of the North, by land and see;
To Walis fled the cristianitee
Of olde Britons, dwellinge in this yle; 545
Ther was hir refut for the mene whyle.
But yet nere cristen Britons so exyled
That ther nere somme that in hir privetee (450)
Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bigyled;
And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three. 550
That oon of hem was blind, and mighte nat see
But it were with thilke yën of his minde,
With whiche men seen, after that they ben blinde.
553. E. whan; _rest_ after.
Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
For which the constable and his wyf also 555
And Custance han y-take the righte way
Toward the see, a furlong wey or two,
To pleyen and to romen to and fro; (460)
And in hir walk this blinde man they mette
Croked and old, with yën faste y-shette. 560
561. E. olde; Hl. old; _rest_ blynde, blynd.
‘In name of Crist,’ cryde this blinde Britoun,
‘Dame Hermengild, yif me my sighte agayn.’
This lady wex affrayed of the soun,
Lest that hir housbond, shortly for to sayn,
Wolde hir for Iesu Cristes love han slayn, 565
Til Custance made hir bold, and bad hir werche
The wil of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
The constable wex abasshed of that sight, (470)
And seyde, ‘what amounteth al this fare?’
Custance answerde, ‘sire, it is Cristes might, 570
That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.’
And so ferforth she gan our lay declare,
That she the constable, er that it were eve,
Converted, and on Crist made him bileve.
574. Hl. Cm. Conuerted; _rest_ Conuerteth. E. maketh; Ln. maad;
_rest_ made.
[147: T. 4995-5029.]
This constable was no-thing lord of this place 575
Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
But kepte it strongly, many wintres space,
Under Alla, king of al Northumberlond, (480)
That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel here, 580
But turne I wol agayn to my matere.
Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigyle,
Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun,
And caste anon how he mighte quyte hir whyle,
And made a yong knight, that dwelte in that toun 585
Love hir so hote, of foul affeccioun,
That verraily him thoughte he shulde spille
But he of hir mighte ones have his wille. (490)
He woweth hir, but it availleth noght,
She wolde do no sinne, by no weye; 590
And, for despyt, he compassed in his thoght
To maken hir on shamful deth to deye.
He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
And prively, up-on a night, he crepte
In Hermengildes chambre whyl she slepte. 595
Wery, for-waked in her orisouns,
Slepeth Custance, and Hermengild also.
This knight, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns, (500)
Al softely is to the bed y-go,
And kitte the throte of Hermengild a-two, 600
And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
And wente his wey, ther god yeve him meschance!
598. E. Hn. Sathans; Hl. Satanas; _but_ Sathanas _in_ Cp. Pt. Ln.
Sone after comth this constable hoom agayn,
And eek Alla, that king was of that lond,
And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn, 605
For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond,
And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
By dame Custance; allas! what mighte she seye? (510)
For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
606. E. Hn. weep; Cm. Cp. Pt. wepte; Hl. wept. E. wroong.
[148: T. 5030-5064.]
To king Alla was told al this meschance, 610
And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wyse
That in a ship was founden dame Custance,
As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse,
Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 615
Falle in disese and in misaventure.
For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
So stant this innocent bifore the king; (520)
This false knight that hath this tresoun wroght
Berth hir on hond that she hath doon this thing. 620
But nathelees, ther was greet moorning
Among the peple, and seyn, ‘they can not gesse
That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse.
620. _So in_ E.; _rest_ Bereth. 621. _All_ moorning (mornyng);
Tyrwhitt _has_ murmuring; _see note_.
For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous,
And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.’ 625
Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous
Save he that Hermengild slow with his knyf.
This gentil king hath caught a gret motyf (530)
Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630
626. E. baar.
Allas! Custance! thou hast no champioun,
Ne fighte canstow nought, so weylawey!
But he, that starf for our redempcioun
And bond Sathan (and yit lyth ther he lay)
So be thy stronge champioun this day! 635
For, but-if Crist open miracle kythe,
Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swythe.
She sette her doun on knees, and thus she sayde, (540)
‘Immortal god, that savedest Susanne
Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, 640
Mary I mene, doghter to Seint Anne,
Bifore whos child aungeles singe Osanne,
If I be giltlees of this felonye,
My socour be, for elles I shal dye!’
638. E. sit; Hn. Cm. Pt. sette; Hl. set. 644. E. or; _rest_ for.
[149: T. 5065-5099.]
Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face, 645
Among a prees, of him that hath be lad
Toward his deeth, wher-as him gat no grace,
And swich a colour in his face hath had, (550)
Men mighte knowe his face, that was bistad,
Amonges alle the faces in that route: 650
So stant Custance, and loketh hir aboute.
647. gat] Cp. get; Pt. gete; Hl. geyneth.
O quenes, livinge in prosperitee,
Duchesses, and ye ladies everichone,
Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee;
An emperoures doghter stant allone; 655
She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
O blood royal, that stondest in this drede,
Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede! (560)
654. E. Ln. _om._ ye.
This Alla king hath swich compassioun,
As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 660
That from his yën ran the water doun.
‘Now hastily do fecche a book,’ quod he,
‘And if this knight wol sweren how that she
This womman slow, yet wole we us avyse
Whom that we wole that shal ben our Iustyse.’ 665
A Briton book, writen with Evangyles,
Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
She gilty was, and in the mene whyles (570)
A hand him smoot upon the nekke-boon,
That doun he fil atones as a stoon, 670
And bothe his yën broste out of his face
In sight of every body in that place.
A vois was herd in general audience,
And seyde, ‘thou hast desclaundred giltelees
The doghter of holy chirche in hey presence; 675
Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees.’
Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
As mased folk they stoden everichone, (580)
For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
[150: T. 5100-5134.]
Greet was the drede and eek the repentance 680
Of hem that hadden wrong suspeccioun
Upon this sely innocent Custance;
And, for this miracle, in conclusioun,
And by Custances mediacioun,
The king, and many another in that place, 685
Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
This false knight was slayn for his untrouthe
By Iugement of Alla hastifly; (590)
And yet Custance hadde of his deeth gret routhe.
And after this Iesus, of his mercy, 690
Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
This holy mayden, that is so bright and shene,
And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a quene.
But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
Of this wedding but Donegild, and na mo, 695
The kinges moder, ful of tirannye?
Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast a-two;
She wolde noght hir sone had do so; (600)
Hir thoughte a despit, that he sholde take
So strange a creature un-to his make. 700
Me list nat of the chaf nor of the stree
Maken so long a tale, as of the corn.
What sholde I tellen of the royaltee
At mariage, or which cours gooth biforn,
Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn? 705
The fruit of every tale is for to seye;
They ete, and drinke, and daunce, and singe, and pleye.
701. Cm. nor; E. or; _rest_ ne. 704. E. Hn. mariages; Ln. þe mariage;
_rest_ mariage; Hl. Of mariage. 705. a] E. the; Hn. Pt. _omit_.
They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right; (610)
For, thogh that wyves been ful holy thinges,
They moste take in pacience at night 710
Swich maner necessaries as been plesinges
To folk that han y-wedded hem with ringes,
And leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde
As for the tyme; it may no bet bityde.
[151: T. 5135-5169.]
On hir he gat a knave-child anoon, 715
And to a bishop and his constable eke
He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is goon
To Scotland-ward, his fo-men for to seke; (620)
Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
So longe is goon with childe, til that stille 720
She halt hir chambre, abyding Cristes wille.
The tyme is come, a knave-child she ber;
Mauricius at the font-stoon they him calle;
This Constable dooth forth come a messager,
And wroot un-to his king, that cleped was Alle, 725
How that this blisful tyding is bifalle,
And othere tydings speedful for to seye;
He takth the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye. (630)
728. Hn. tath; Cm. taath; _rest_ taketh.
This messager, to doon his avantage,
Un-to the kinges moder rydeth swythe, 730
And salueth hir ful faire in his langage,
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘ye may be glad and blythe,
And thanke god an hundred thousand sythe;
My lady quene hath child, with-outen doute,
To Ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute. 735
733. Cp. Hl. thanke; E. Hn. thanketh; Cm. thankede; Pt. Ln. thonketh.
735. E. Cm. to; _rest_ of.
Lo, heer the lettres seled of this thing,
That I mot bere with al the haste I may;
If ye wol aught un-to your sone the king, (640)
I am your servant, bothe night and day.’
Donegild answerde, ‘as now at this tyme, nay; 740
But heer al night I wol thou take thy reste,
Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.’
740. Hl. _om._ at.
This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
And stolen were his lettres prively
Out of his box, whyl he sleep as a swyn; 745
And countrefeted was ful subtilly
Another lettre, wroght ful sinfully,
Un-to the king direct of this matere (650)
Fro his constable, as ye shul after here.
[152: T. 5170-5204.]
The lettre spak, ‘the queen delivered was 750
Of so horrible a feendly creature,
That in the castel noon so hardy was
That any whyle dorste ther endure.
The moder was an elf, by aventure
Y-come, by charmes or by sorcerye, 755
And every wight hateth hir companye.’
750. MSS. queene, queen. 755. E. Hn. Cm. Y-comen. 756. E. Hn. _om._
wight; Hl. man.
Wo was this king whan he this lettre had seyn,
But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes sore, (660)
But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn,
‘Welcome the sonde of Crist for evermore 760
To me, that am now lerned in his lore;
Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce,
My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce!
Kepeth this child, al be it foul or fair,
And eek my wyf, un-to myn hoom-cominge; 765
Crist, whan him list, may sende me an heir
More agreable than this to my lykinge.’
This lettre he seleth, prively wepinge, (670)
Which to the messager was take sone,
And forth he gooth; ther is na more to done. 770
O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay,
And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
Thy mind is lorn, thou Ianglest as a Iay,
Thy face is turned in a newe array! 775
Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
Ther is no conseil hid, with-outen doute.
O Donegild, I ne have noon English digne (680)
Un-to thy malice and thy tirannye!
And therfor to the feend I thee resigne, 780
Let him endyten of thy traitorye!
Fy, mannish, fy! o nay, by god, I lye,
Fy, _feendly_ spirit, for I dar wel telle,
Though thou heer walke, thy spirit is in helle!
[153: T. 5205-5239.]
This messager comth fro the king agayn, 785
And at the kinges modres court he lighte,
And she was of this messager ful fayn,
And plesed him in al that ever she mighte. (690)
He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte.
He slepeth, and he snoreth in his gyse 790
Al night, un-til the sonne gan aryse.
791. Hl. vn-to; Pt. to; _rest_ til; _but_ vn-til (_as in_ Tyrwhitt)
_seems better_.
Eft were his lettres stolen everichon
And countrefeted lettres in this wyse;
‘The king comandeth his constable anon,
Up peyne of hanging, and on heigh Iuÿse, 795
That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
Custance in-with his regne for tabyde
Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde; (700)
795. _So_ E. Hn.; Cm. and heigh; Cp. on a heih; Pt. on an high; Hl. of
an heigh; Ln. or an hihe. 797. regne] E. Reawme.
But in the same ship as he hir fond,
Hir and hir yonge sone, and al hir gere, 800
He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the lond,
And charge hir that she never eft come there.’
O my Custance, wel may thy goost have fere
And sleping in thy dreem been in penance,
When Donegild caste al this ordinance! 805
This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
Un-to the castel halt the nexte wey,
And to the constable he the lettre took; (710)
And whan that he this pitous lettre sey,
Ful ofte he seyde ‘allas!’ and ‘weylawey!’ 810
‘Lord Crist,’ quod he, ‘how may this world endure?
So ful of sinne is many a creature!
O mighty god, if that it be thy wille,
Sith thou art rightful Iuge, how may it be
That thou wolt suffren innocents to spille, 815
And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
O good Custance, allas! so wo is me
That I mot be thy tormentour, or deye (720)
On shames deeth; ther is noon other weye!’
819. shames] Hl. schamful.
[154: T. 5240-5274.]
Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, 820
Whan that the king this cursed lettre sente,
And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
But natheles she taketh in good entente
The wille of Crist, and, kneling on the stronde, 825
She seyde, ‘lord! ay wel-com be thy sonde!
823. E. Ln. the; _rest_ hir.
He that me kepte fro the false blame
Whyl I was on the londe amonges yow, (730)
He can me kepe from harme and eek fro shame
In salte see, al-thogh I se nat how. 830
As strong as ever he was, he is yet now.
In him triste I, and in his moder dere,
That is to me my seyl and eek my stere.’
Hir litel child lay weping in hir arm,
And kneling, pitously to him she seyde, 835
‘Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee non harm.’
With that hir kerchef of hir heed she breyde,
And over his litel yën she it leyde; (740)
And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
And in-to heven hir yën up she caste. 840
837. Ln. Hl. kerchef; Pt. keerchef; E. Hn. couerchief; Cm. couerchif;
Cp. couerchef. E. Hn. Cm. ouer (_wrongly_); _rest_ of.
‘Moder,’ quod she, ‘and mayde bright, Marye,
Sooth is that thurgh wommannes eggement
Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye,
For which thy child was on a croys y-rent;
Thy blisful yën sawe al his torment; 845
Than is ther no comparisoun bitwene
Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
Thou sawe thy child y-slayn bifor thyn yën, (750)
And yet now liveth my litel child, parfay!
Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryën, 850
Thou glorie of wommanhede, thou faire may,
Thou haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
Rewest on every rewful in distresse!
849. E. Ln. _om._ litel; _rest have it_.
[155: T. 5275-5302.]
O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt, 855
That never wroughtest sinne as yet, pardee,
Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
O mercy, dere Constable!’ quod she; (760)
‘As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
And if thou darst not saven him, for blame, 860
So kis him ones in his fadres name!’
861. E. Yet; _rest_ So.
Ther-with she loketh bakward to the londe,
And seyde, ‘far-wel, housbond routhelees!’
And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
Toward the ship; hir folweth al the prees, 865
And ever she preyeth hir child to holde his pees;
And taketh hir leve, and with an holy entente
She blesseth hir; and in-to ship she wente. (770)
862. E. Ln. Hl. looked; rest looketh, loketh. 868. Hn. Pt. Hl.
blesseth; Cm. Cp. Ln. blisseth; E. blissed.
Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
Habundantly for hir, ful longe space, 870
And other necessaries that sholde nede
She hadde y-nogh, heried be goddes grace!
For wind and weder almighty god purchace,
And bringe hir hoom! I can no bettre seye;
But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 875
=Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.=
Alla the king comth hoom, sone after this,
Unto his castel of the which I tolde,
And axeth wher his wyf and his child is. (780)
The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
And pleynly al the maner he him tolde 880
As ye han herd, I can telle it no bettre,
And sheweth the king his seel and [eek] his lettre,
882. _The word_ eek _seems wanted; but is not in the MSS_.
[156: T. 5303-5337.]
And seyde, ‘lord, as ye comaunded me
Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein.’
This messager tormented was til he 885
Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and plein,
Fro night to night, in what place he had leyn.
And thus, by wit and subtil enqueringe, (790)
Ymagined was by whom this harm gan springe.
The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, 890
And al the venim of this cursed dede,
But in what wyse, certeinly I noot.
Theffect is this, that Alla, out of drede,
His moder slow, that men may pleinly rede,
For that she traitour was to hir ligeaunce. 895
Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce.
The sorwe that this Alla, night and day,
Maketh for his wyf and for his child also, (800)
Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
But now wol I un-to Custance go, 900
That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
Fyve yeer and more, as lyked Cristes sonde,
Er that hir ship approched un-to londe.
903. _So_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Hl.; E. Ln. vn-to the; Cm. to the.
Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
Of which the name in my text noght I finde, 905
Custance and eek hir child the see up-caste.
Almighty god, that saveth al mankinde,
Have on Custance and on hir child som minde, (810)
That fallen is in hethen land eft-sone,
In point to spille, as I shal telle yow sone. 910
907. E. saued; _rest_ saueth.
Doun from the castel comth ther many a wight
To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
But shortly, from the castel, on a night,
The lordes styward—god yeve him meschaunce!—
A theef, that had reneyed our creaunce, 915
Com in-to ship allone, and seyde he sholde
Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
916. E. Cm. in-to the; _rest omit_ the.
[157: T. 5338-5370.]
Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon, (820)
Hir child cryde, and she cryde pitously;
But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon; 920
For with hir strugling wel and mightily
The theef fil over bord al sodeinly,
And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
920. E. Hn. heelp; Hl. hilp; Cm. Cp. halp; Pt. halpe; Ln. helped.
O foule lust of luxurie! lo, thyn ende! =Auctor.=
925
Nat only that thou feyntest mannes minde,
But verraily thou wolt his body shende;
Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blinde (830)
Is compleyning, how many-oon may men finde
That noght for werk som-tyme, but for thentente 930
To doon this sinne, ben outher sleyn or shente!
How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
Hir to defende agayn this renegat?
O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
How mighte David make thee so mat, 935
So yong and of armure so desolat?
How dorste he loke up-on thy dredful face?
Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace! (840)
938. E. Hl. nas; Ln. is; _the rest_ was.
Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse
To sleen him, Olofernus, in his tente, 940
And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
The peple of god? I seye, for this entente,
That, right as god spirit of vigour sente
To hem, and saved hem out of meschance,
So sente he might and vigour to Custance. 945
940. E. Oloferne; Hl. Olefernes; _the rest_ Olofernus, Olefernus, _or_
Olesphernus; _see note_.
Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth
Of Iubaltar and Septe, dryving ay,
Som-tyme West, som-tyme North and South, (850)
And som-tyme Est, ful many a wery day,
Til Cristes moder (blessed be she ay!) 950
[158: T. 5371-5400.]
Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
To make an ende of al hir hevinesse.
947. E. alway; _rest_ ay. (_The latter is better, but recurs in_ l.
950.) 948. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ and _after_ West.
Now lat us stinte of Custance but a throwe,
And speke we of the Romain Emperour,
That out of Surrie hath by lettres knowe 955
The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
Don to his doghter by a fals traitour,
I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse, (860)
That at the feste leet sleen both more and lesse.
For which this emperour hath sent anoon 960
His senatour, with royal ordinance,
And othere lordes, got wot, many oon,
On Surriens to taken heigh vengeance.
They brennen, sleen, and bringe hem to meschance
Ful many a day; but shortly, this is thende, 965
Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
This senatour repaireth with victorie
To Rome-ward, sayling ful royally, (870)
And mette the ship dryving, as seith the storie,
In which Custance sit ful pitously. 970
No-thing ne knew he what she was, ne why
She was in swich array; ne she nil seye
Of hir estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
971. E. Cm. _om._ ne _before_ knew; _the rest have it_. 973. Hl.
although; Pt. though that; _rest_ thogh, though, thow.
He bringeth hir to Rome, and to his wyf
He yaf hir, and hir yonge sone also; 975
And with the senatour she ladde her lyf.
Thus can our lady bringen out of wo
Woful Custance, and many another mo. (880)
And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
In holy werkes ever, as was hir grace. 980
[159: T. 5401-5435.]
The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
But for al that she knew hir never the more;
I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
But to king Alla, which I spak of yore,
That for his wyf wepeth and syketh sore, 985
I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
Under the senatoures governance.
985. E. _puts_ wepeth _after_ That.
King Alla, which that hadde his moder slayn, (890)
Upon a day fil in swich repentance,
That, if I shortly tellen shal and plain, 990
To Rome he comth, to receyven his penance;
And putte him in the popes ordinance
In heigh and low, and Iesu Crist bisoghte
Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born, 995
How Alla king shal come in pilgrimage,
By herbergeours that wenten him biforn;
For which the senatour, as was usage, (900)
Rood him ageyn, and many of his linage,
As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence 1000
As to don any king a reverence.
995. E. thurgh out the toun; _rest_ thurgh Rome toun. 996. E. Hn. Cp.
Pt. comen. 999. E. Hn. agayns.
Greet chere dooth this noble senatour
To king Alla, and he to him also;
Everich of hem doth other greet honour;
And so bifel that, in a day or two, 1005
This senatour is to king Alla go
To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
Custances sone wente in his companye. (910)
Som men wolde seyn, at requeste of Custance,
This senatour hath lad this child to feste; 1010
I may nat tellen every circumstance,
Be as be may, ther was he at the leste.
But soth is this, that, at his modres heste,
Biforn Alla, during the metes space,
The child stood, loking in the kinges face. 1015
[160: T. 5436-5470.]
This Alla king hath of this child greet wonder,
And to the senatour he seyde anon,
‘Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?’ (920)
‘I noot,’ quod he, ‘by god, and by seint Iohn!
A moder he hath, but fader hath he non 1020
That I of woot’—but shortly, in a stounde,
He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
‘But god wot,’ quod this senatour also,
‘So vertuous a livere in my lyf,
Ne saugh I never as she, ne herde of mo 1025
Of worldly wommen, mayden, nor of wyf;
I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf
Thurgh-out her breste, than been a womman wikke; (930)
Ther is no man coude bringe hir to that prikke.’
1026. Hl. Cm. Ln. mayden; _rest_ mayde. Cm. nor; Hl. Ln. or; _rest_ ne.
Now was this child as lyk un-to Custance 1030
As possible is a creature to be.
This Alla hath the face in remembrance
Of dame Custance, and ther-on mused he
If that the childes moder were aught she
That was his wyf, and prively he sighte, 1035
And spedde him fro the table that he mighte.
‘Parfay,’ thoghte he, ‘fantome is in myn heed!
I oghte deme, of skilful Iugement, (940)
That in the salte see my wyf is deed.’
And afterward he made his argument— 1040
‘What woot I, if that Crist have hider y-sent
My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente
To my contree fro thennes that she wente?’
1041. E. haue; _rest_ hath. E. ysent; Cm. I-sent; _rest_ sent.
And, after noon, hoom with the senatour
Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1045
This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce (950)
Whan that she wiste wherefor was that sonde.
Unnethe up-on hir feet she mighte stonde. 1050
1047. E. Pt. hastifly; _rest_ hastily, hastely.
[161: T. 5471-5505.]
When Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette,
And weep, that it was routhe for to see.
For at the firste look he on hir sette
He knew wel verraily that it was she.
And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree; 1055
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
Whan she remembred his unkindenesse.
Twyës she swowned in his owne sighte; (960)
He weep, and him excuseth pitously:—
‘Now god,’ quod he, ‘and alle his halwes brighte 1060
So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
That of your harm as giltelees am I
As is Maurice my sone so lyk your face;
Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!’
1060. Hl. alle; _which the rest omit_.
Long was the sobbing and the bitter peyne 1065
Er that hir woful hertes mighte cesse;
Greet was the pitee for to here hem pleyne,
Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. (970)
I prey yow al my labour to relesse;
I may nat telle hir wo un-til tomorwe, 1070
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
But fynally, when that the sooth is wist
That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two 1075
That, save the Ioye that lasteth evermo,
Ther is non lyk, that any creature
Hath seyn or shal, whyl that the world may dure. (980)
1074. Hl. they ben.
Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely,
In relief of hir longe pitous pyne, 1080
That he wold preye hir fader specially
That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne
To vouche-sauf som day with him to dyne;
She preyde him eek, he sholde by no weye
Un-to hir fader no word of hir seye. 1085
1084. E. wolde; _rest_ sholde.
[162: T. 5506-5540.]
Som men wold seyn, how that the child Maurice
Doth this message un-to this emperour;
But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce (990)
To him, that was of so sovereyn honour
As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1090
Sente any child, but it is bet to deme
He wente him-self, and so it may wel seme.
This emperour hath graunted gentilly
To come to diner, as he him bisoghte;
And wel rede I, he loked bisily 1095
Up-on this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
Alla goth to his in, and, as him oghte,
Arrayed for this feste in every wyse (1000)
As ferforth as his conning may suffyse.
The morwe cam, and Alla gan him dresse, 1100
And eek his wyf, this emperour to mete;
And forth they ryde in Ioye and in gladnesse.
And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
She lighte doun, and falleth him to fete.
‘Fader,’ quod she, ‘your yonge child Custance 1105
Is now ful clene out of your remembrance.
I am your doghter Custance,’ quod she,
‘That whylom ye han sent un-to Surrye. (1010)
It am I, fader, that in the salte see
Was put allone and dampned for to dye. 1110
Now, gode fader, mercy I yow crye,
Send me namore un-to non hethenesse,
But thonketh my lord heer of his kindenesse.’
1107. _So in all the MSS.; to be read as_ Cústancë (_three syllables_).
Who can the pitous Ioye tellen al
Bitwix hem three, sin they ben thus y-mette? 1115
But of my tale make an ende I shal;
The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
This glade folk to diner they hem sette; (1020)
In Ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
A thousand fold wel more than I can telle. 1120
[163: T. 5541-5573.]
This child Maurice was sithen emperour
Maad by the pope, and lived cristenly.
To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour;
But I lete al his storie passen by,
Of Custance is my tale specially. 1125
In olde Romayn gestes may men finde
Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in minde.
1126. E. Hn. Cm. In the; _rest om._ the.
This king Alla, whan he his tyme sey, (1030)
With his Custance, his holy wyf so swete,
To Engelond been they come the righte wey, 1130
Wher-as they live in Ioye and in quiete.
But litel whyl it lasteth, I yow hete,
Ioye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
Fro day to night it changeth as the tyde.
Who lived ever in swich delyt o day 1135
That him ne moeved outher conscience,
Or ire, or talent, or som kin affray,
Envye, or pryde, or passion, or offence? (1040)
I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
That litel whyl in Ioye or in plesance 1140
Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
1137. E. som kynnes; Cm. su_m_kenys; Hl. som maner; Hn. Cp. Pt. som
kyn; Ln. sumkin.
For deeth, that taketh of heigh and low his rente,
When passed was a yeer, even as I gesse,
Out of this world this king Alla he hente,
For whom Custance hath ful gret hevinesse. 1145
Now lat us preyen god his soule blesse!
And dame Custance; fynally to seye,
Towards the toun of Rome gooth hir weye. (1050)
1146. E. praye to; Hl. pray that; _rest_ preyen, prayen, preien, _or_
preyne.
To Rome is come this holy creature,
And fyndeth ther hir frendes hole and sounde: 1150
Now is she scaped al hir aventure;
And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde,
Doun on hir kneës falleth she to grounde;
[164: T. 5574-5582.]
Weping for tendrenesse in herte blythe,
She herieth god an hundred thousand sythe. 1155
1150. Hl. And fynt hir freendes ther bothe hool and sound. _The rest
omit_ ther.
In vertu and in holy almes-dede
They liven alle, and never a-sonder wende;
Til deeth departed hem, this lyf they lede. (1060)
And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende.
Now Iesu Crist, that of his might may sende 1160
Ioye after wo, governe us in his grace,
And kepe us alle that ben in this place! Amen.
=Here endeth the Tale of the Man of Lawe; and next folweth the
Shipmannes Prolog.=
*** For l. 5583 _in_ Tyrwhitt’s Text, _see_ Group D, l. 1.
COLOPHON. _The latter part is from_ MS. Arch. Selden B. 14. _Many MSS.
have_ The prolog of the squyers tale, _or_ the prolog of the Squier.
_The_ Petworth MS. _and some others have here an ill-written and
spurious_ Prologue to the Shipman’s Tale, _which is here subjoined:_
‘Now freendes,’ seide our Hoost so dere,
‘How lyketh you by Iohn the Pardonere?
For he hath unbokeled wel the male;
He hath us told right a thrifty tale
As touching of misgovernaunce—
I preye to God, yeve him good chaunce!—
As ye han herd of thise riotoures three.
Now, gentil Mariner, hertely I preye thee,
Telle us a good tale, and that right anon.’
‘It shall be doon, by god and by seint Iohn,’
Seyde this Mariner, ‘as wel as ever I can,’
And right anon his tale he bigan.
[165: T. 12903-12924.]
* * * * *
THE SHIPMAN’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Shipmannes Prolog.=
Our hoste up-on his stiropes stood anon,
And seyde, ‘good men, herkneth everich on;
This was a thrifty tale for the nones! 1165
Sir parish prest,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones,
Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore.
I see wel that ye lerned men in lore
Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!’
1163-1190. _From_ Cp., _collated with_ Hl. Pt. Ln. Seld. Royal, _and_
Sloane; E. Hn. Cm. _omit_. 1164. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth.
The Persone him answerde, ‘_benedicite_! 1170
What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?’
Our hoste answerde, ‘O Iankin, be ye there? (10)
I smelle a loller in the wind,’ quod he.
‘How! good men,’ quod our hoste, ‘herkneth me;
Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, 1175
For we shal han a predicacioun;
This loller heer wil prechen us som-what.’
1174. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth. 1174. Hl. Now; _rest_ How
(Howe). 1175. Hl. _omits_.
‘Nay, by my fader soule! that shal be nat,’
Seyde the Shipman; ‘heer he shal nat preche,
He shal no gospel glosen heer ne teche. 1180
We leve alle in the grete god,’ quod he,
‘He wolde sowen som difficultee, (20)
Or springen cokkel in our clene corn;
And therfor, hoste, I warne thee biforn,
[166: T. 12925-12930.]
My Ioly body shal a tale telle, 1185
And I shal clinken yow so mery a belle,
That I shal waken al this companye;
But it shal nat ben of philosophye,
Ne _physices_, ne termes queinte of lawe; (27)
Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe.’ 1190
Here endeth the Shipman his Prolog.
1179. Seld. _has_ Shipman; Roy. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. squier; Hl.
sompnour. 1181. Seld. Hl. We leuen; Roy. Cp. Pt. Ln. He leueth.
1182. Seld. Hl. quod, _which_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Roy. Slo. _omit_. 1186-90.
Hl. omits. 1189. Tyrwhitt _has_ of physike; _the_ MSS. _have the
unmeaning word_ phislyas (Sloane phillyas; Ln. fisleas); _read_
physices; see note. COLOPHON. _From_ Seld.
[167: T. 12931-12957.]
* * * * *
THE SHIPMANNES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Shipmannes Tale.=
A marchant whylom dwelled at Seint Denys,
That riche was, for which men helde him wys;
A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee,
And compaignable and revelous was she,
Which is a thing that causeth more dispence 1195
Than worth is al the chere and reverence
That men hem doon at festes and at daunces;
Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces
Passen as dooth a shadwe up-on the wal.
But wo is him that payen moot for al; 1200
The sely housbond, algate he mot paye; (11)
He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,
Al for his owene worship richely,
In which array we daunce Iolily.
And if that he noght may, par-aventure, 1205
Or elles, list no swich dispence endure,
But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost,
Than moot another payen for our cost,
Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.
1191. Hl. hild. 1196. E. chiere. 1201. E. honsbonde. Hn. moot;
Pt. mot; rest moste. 1205. Pt. Hl. may not. 1206. E. ellis. 1208.
E. Thanne.
This noble Marchant heeld a worthy hous, 1210
For which he hadde alday so greet repair (21)
For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,
That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale.
Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale,
Ther was a monk, a fair man and a bold, 1215
I trowe of thritty winter he was old,
That ever in oon was drawing to that place.
[168: T. 12958-12994.]
This yonge monk, that was so fair of face,
Aqueinted was so with the gode man,
Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan, 1220
That in his hous as famulier was he (31)
As it possible is any freend to be.
1214. E. Hn. hise; Hl. these; _rest_ his. 1216. E. of; Hn. Cp. Ln. a;
_rest om._ 1217. E. comynge; rest drawyng. 1220-3. Pt. _omits._
And for as muchel as this gode man
And eek this monk, of which that I bigan,
Were bothe two y-born in o village, 1225
The monk him claimeth as for cosinage;
And he again, he seith nat ones nay,
But was as glad ther-of as fowel of day;
For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce.
Thus been they knit with eterne alliaunce, 1230
And ech of hem gan other for tassure (41)
Of bretherhede, whyl that hir lyf may dure.
1222. E. _om._ is; Hl. possibil is; _rest_ is possible. 1231. E. Hn.
Pt. ech; Hl. ilk; _rest_ ilke. Cp. for to assure; Hl. Ln. to assure
(_om._ for).
Free was daun Iohn, and namely of dispence,
As in that hous; and ful of diligence
To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage. 1235
He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page
In al that hous; but, after hir degree,
He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,
When that he cam, som maner honest thing;
For which they were as glad of his coming 1240
As fowel is fayn, whan that the sonne up-ryseth. (51)
Na more of this as now, for it suffyseth.
1237. E. the; _rest_ that.
But so bifel, this marchant on a day
Shoop him to make redy his array
Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, 1245
To byën ther a porcioun of ware;
For which he hath to Paris sent anon
A messager, and preyed hath daun Iohn
That he sholde come to Seint Denys to pleye
With him and with his wyf a day or tweye, 1250
Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wyse. (61)
This noble monk, of which I yow devyse,
Hath of his abbot, as him list, licence,
By-cause he was a man of heigh prudence,
[169: T. 12995-13031.]
And eek an officer, out for to ryde, 1255
To seen hir graunges and hir bernes wyde;
And un-to Seint Denys he comth anon.
Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn,
Our dere cosin, ful of curteisye?
With him broghte he a Iubbe of Malvesye, 1260
And eek another, ful of fyn Vernage, (71)
And volatyl, as ay was his usage.
And thus I lete hem ete and drinke and pleye,
This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
1261. Cp. Ln. good (_for_ fyn); Hl. wyn. 1262. Hl. volantyn (!)
1263. E. _om._ ete and.
The thridde day, this marchant up aryseth, 1265
And on his nedes sadly him avyseth,
And up in-to his countour-hous goth he
To rekene with him-self, as wel may be,
Of thilke yeer, how that it with him stood,
And how that he despended hadde his good; 1270
And if that he encressed were or noon. (81)
His bokes and his bagges many oon
He leith biforn him on his counting-bord;
Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette; 1275
And eek he nolde that no man sholde him lette
Of his accountes, for the mene tyme;
And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.
1266, 1272, 1277. E. hise. 1268. Pt. Hl. as; _rest om._
Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also,
And in the gardin walketh to and fro, 1280
And hath his thinges seyd ful curteisly. (91)
This gode wyf cam walking prively
In-to the gardin, ther he walketh softe,
And him saleweth, as she hath don ofte.
A mayde child cam in hir companye, 1285
Which as hir list she may governe and gye,
For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
‘O dere cosin myn, daun Iohn,’ she sayde,
‘What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?’
‘Nece,’ quod he, ‘it oghte y-nough suffyse 1290
Fyve houres for to slepe up-on a night, (101)
[170: T. 13032-13066.]
But it were for an old appalled wight,
As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
As in a forme sit a wery hare,
Were al for-straught with houndes grete and smale. 1295
But dere nece, why be ye so pale?
I trowe certes that our gode man
Hath yow laboured sith the night bigan,
That yow were nede to resten hastily?’
And with that word he lough ful merily, 1300
And of his owene thought he wex al reed. (111)
1294. E. fourme; _rest_ forme. 1300. E. murily. 1301. E. Cp. wax.
This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed,
And seyde thus, ‘ye, god wot al,’ quod she;
‘Nay, cosin myn, it stant nat so with me.
For, by that god that yaf me soule and lyf, 1305
In al the reme of France is ther no wyf
That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
For I may singe “allas” and “weylawey,
That I was born,” but to no wight,’ quod she,
‘Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me. 1310
Wherfore I thinke out of this land to wende, (121)
Or elles of my-self to make an ende,
So ful am I of drede and eek of care.’
1304. E. _repeats_ nay. 1306. Cp. Pt. rewme; Hl. Ln. reme; E. Hn.
Reawme; _see_ B. 4326.
This monk bigan up-on this wyf to stare,
And seyde, ‘allas, my nece, god forbede 1315
That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,
Fordo your-self; but telleth me your grief;
Paraventure I may, in your meschief,
Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me
Al your anoy, for it shal been secree; 1320
For on my porthors here I make an ooth, (131)
That never in my lyf, for lief ne looth,
Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.’
1317. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. telleth; E. tel. E. me of; Cp. Ln.
forth; _rest_ me. 1318. E. I yow may; _rest om._ yow. 1321. Cm.
here; _rest_ om.
‘The same agayn to yow,’ quod she, ‘I seye;
By god and by this porthors, I yow swere, 1325
Though men me wolde al in-to peces tere,
[171: T. 13067-13103.]
Ne shal I never, for to goon to helle,
Biwreye a word of thing that ye me telle,
Nat for no cosinage ne alliance,
But verraily, for love and affiance.’ 1330
Thus been they sworn, and heer-upon they kiste, (141)
And ech of hem tolde other what hem liste.
1326. E. pieces; _rest_ peces, peeces.
‘Cosin,’ quod she, ‘if that I hadde a space,
As I have noon, and namely in this place,
Than wolde I telle a legende of my lyf, 1335
What I have suffred sith I was a wyf
With myn housbonde, al be he your cosyn.’
1335. E. Thanne. 1337. your cosyn] E. of youre kyn.
‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘by god and seint Martyn,
He is na more cosin un-to me
Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree! 1340
I clepe him so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce, (151)
To have the more cause of aqueintaunce
Of yow, which I have loved specially
Aboven alle wommen sikerly;
This swere I yow on my professioun. 1345
Telleth your grief, lest that he come adoun,
And hasteth yow, and gooth your wey anon.’
1338. and] E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and by. 1340. E. lief.
‘My dere love,’ quod she, ‘o my daun Iohn,
Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
But out it moot, I may namore abyde. 1350
Myn housbond is to me the worste man (161)
That ever was, sith that the world bigan.
But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
To tellen no wight of our privetee,
Neither a bedde, ne in non other place; 1355
God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
But al honour, as I can understonde;
Save un-to yow thus muche I tellen shal;
As help me god, he is noght worth at al 1360
In no degree the value of a flye. (171)
But yet me greveth most his nigardye;
And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
[172: T. 13104-13140.]
Desyren thinges sixe, as wel as I.
They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be 1365
Hardy, and wyse, and riche, and ther-to free,
And buxom to his wyf, and fresh a-bedde.
But, by that ilke lord that for us bledde,
For his honour, my-self for to arraye,
A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye 1370
An hundred frankes, or elles am I lorn. (181)
Yet were me lever that I were unborn
Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileinye;
And if myn housbond eek it mighte espye,
I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye 1375
Lene me this somme, or elles moot I deye.
Daun Iohn, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes;
Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes,
If that yow list to doon that I yow praye.
For at a certein day I wol yow paye, 1380
And doon to yow what plesance and servyce (191)
That I may doon, right as yow list devyse.
And but I do, god take on me vengeance
As foul as ever had Geniloun of France!’
1351. E. housbonde. 1355. Hl. _om._ 1367. to] E. Hn. Cm. unto.
1371, 1376. E. ellis. 1371. E. Ln. Hl. I am; _rest_ am I. 1374. E.
housbonde. 1376-9. Hl. _omits_. 1384. E. hadde.
This gentil monk answerde in this manere; 1385
‘Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere,
I have,’ quod he, ‘on yow so greet a routhe,
That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe,
That whan your housbond is to Flaundres fare,
I wol delivere yow out of this care; 1390
For I wol bringe yow an hundred frankes.’ (201)
And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes,
And hir embraceth harde, and kiste hir ofte.
‘Goth now your wey,’ quod he, ‘al stille and softe,
And lat us dyne as sone as that ye may; 1395
For by my chilindre it is pryme of day.
Goth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be.’
1389. E. housbonde.
‘Now, elles god forbede, sire,’ quod she,
And forth she gooth, as Iolif as a pye,
And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye, 1400
[173: T. 13141-13176.]
So that men mighte dyne, and that anon. (211)
Up to hir housbonde is this wyf y-gon,
And knokketh at his countour boldely.
‘_Qui la_?’ quod he. ‘Peter! it am I,’
Quod she, ‘what, sire, how longe wol ye faste? 1405
How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
Your sommes, and your bokes, and your thinges?
The devel have part of alle swiche rekeninges!
Ye have y-nough, pardee, of goddes sonde;
Come doun to-day, and lat your bagges stonde. 1410
Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn (221)
Shal fasting al this day elenge goon?
What! lat us here a messe, and go we dyne.’
1404. E. Hn. Who ther (_with_ Qi la _in margin_); Hl. Qy la; Cp. Pt.
Quy la; Ln. Que la. 1408. Hl. Cm. of; _rest_ on. 1412. E. Cm.
alenge; _rest_ elenge. 1413. E. _om._ What.
‘Wyf,’ quod this man, ‘litel canstow devyne
The curious bisinesse that we have. 1415
For of us chapmen, al-so god me save,
And by that lord that cleped is Seint Yve,
Scarsly amonges twelve ten shul thryve,
Continuelly, lastinge un-to our age.
We may wel make chere and good visage, 1420
And dryve forth the world as it may be, (231)
And kepen our estaat in privetee,
Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye
A pilgrimage, or goon out of the weye.
And therfor have I greet necessitee 1425
Up-on this queinte world tavyse me;
For evermore we mote stonde in drede
Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede.
1417. E. clepid. 1418. E. xij. 1420. E. chiere. 1426. E. Hn. Cm.
tauyse; _rest_ to auyse.
To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day,
And come agayn, as sone as ever I may. 1430
For which, my dere wyf, I thee biseke, (241)
As be to every wight buxom and meke,
And for to kepe our good be curious,
And honestly governe wel our hous.
Thou hast y-nough, in every maner wyse, 1435
That to a thrifty houshold may suffyse.
[174: T. 13177-13214.]
Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille,
Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.’
And with that word his countour-dore he shette,
And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette, 1440
But hastily a messe was ther seyd, (251)
And spedily the tables were y-leyd,
And to the diner faste they hem spedde;
And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
1441. E. Hn. But; _rest_ And.
At-after diner daun Iohn sobrely 1445
This chapman took a-part, and prively
He seyde him thus, ‘cosyn, it standeth so,
That wel I see to Brugges wol ye go.
God and seint Austin spede yow and gyde!
I prey yow, cosin, wysly that ye ryde; 1450
Governeth yow also of your diete (261)
Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
Fare-wel, cosyn; god shilde yow fro care.
If any thing ther be by day or night, 1455
If it lye in my power and my might,
That ye me wol comande in any wyse,
It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse.
1445. E. Hn. Cm. At; _rest_ And. 1455. E. Hn. And if that any thyng
by day or night.
O thing, er that ye goon, if it may be,
I wolde prey yow; for to lene me 1460
An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye, (271)
For certein beestes that I moste beye,
To store with a place that is oures.
God help me so, I wolde it were youres!
I shal nat faille surely of my day, 1465
Nat for a thousand frankes, a myle-way.
But lat this thing be secree, I yow preye,
For yet to-night thise beestes moot I beye;
And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin dere,
Graunt mercy of your cost and of your chere.’ 1470
1465. E. at; _rest_ of.
This noble marchant gentilly anon (281)
Answerde, and seyde, ‘o cosin myn, daun Iohn,
Now sikerly this is a smal requeste;
My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste.
[175: T. 13215-13250.]
And nat only my gold, but my chaffare; 1475
Take what yow list, god shilde that ye spare.
But o thing is, ye knowe it wel y-nogh,
Of chapmen, that hir moneye is hir plogh.
We may creaunce whyl we have a name,
But goldlees for to be, it is no game. 1480
Paye it agayn whan it lyth in your ese; (291)
After my might ful fayn wolde I yow plese.’
1479. Cm. encrece (_for_ creaunce).
Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon,
And prively he took hem to daun Iohn.
No wight in al this world wiste of this lone, 1485
Savinge this marchant and daun Iohn allone.
They drinke, and speke, and rome a whyle and pleye,
Til that daun Iohn rydeth to his abbeye.
1483. E. fette hyrn forth; _rest om._ hym.
The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rydeth
To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him gydeth, 1490
Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. (301)
Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily
Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth;
But as a marchant, shortly for to telle, 1495
He let his lyf, and there I lete him dwelle.
1491. E. Hn. murily. 1494. E. Cm. _om._ the. 1496. E. Hn. let; Cm.
lat; Hl. Pt. lad; Cp. leet; Ln. leteþ (let = ledeth).
The Sonday next this Marchant was agon,
To Seint Denys y-comen is daun Iohn,
With crowne and berd all fresh and newe y-shave.
In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave, 1500
Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn, (311)
For that my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
And shortly to the point right for to gon,
This faire wyf accorded with daun Iohn,
That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al night 1505
Have hir in his armes bolt-upright;
And this acord parfourned was in dede.
In mirthe al night a bisy lyf they lede
Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way,
And bad the meynee ‘fare-wel, have good day!’ 1510
[176: T. 13251-13287.]
For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun, (321)
Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
Or where him list; namore of him I seye.
1502. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ For. 1503. E. right to the point. 1506. E.
hise.
This marchant, whan that ended was the faire, 1515
To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire,
And with his wyf he maketh feste and chere,
And telleth hir that chaffare is so dere,
That nedes moste he make a chevisaunce.
For he was bounde in a reconissaunce 1520
To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. (331)
For which this marchant is to Paris gon,
To borwe of certein frendes that he hadde
A certein frankes; and somme with him he ladde.
And whan that he was come in-to the toun, 1525
For greet chertee and greet affeccioun,
Un-to daun Iohn he gooth him first, to pleye;
Nat for to axe or borwe of him moneye,
But for to wite and seen of his welfare,
And for to tellen him of his chaffare, 1530
As freendes doon whan they ben met y-fere. (341)
Daun Iohn him maketh feste and mery chere;
And he him tolde agayn ful specially,
How he hadde wel y-boght and graciously,
Thanked be god, al hool his marchandyse. 1535
Save that he moste, in alle maner wyse,
Maken a chevisaunce, as for his beste,
And thanne he sholde been in Ioye and reste.
1517, 1532. E. feeste. 1519, 1537. E. cheuyssau_n_ce. 1520. Hl.
bounde; _rest_ bounden. 1526. Pt. cheertee; Ln. chere; _rest_
chiertee. 1532. E. murye.
Daun Iohn answerde, ‘certes, I am fayn
That ye in hele ar comen hoom agayn. 1540
And if that I were riche, as have I blisse, (351)
Of twenty thousand sheeld shold ye nat misse,
For ye so kindely this other day
Lente me gold; and as I can and may,
I thanke yow, by god and by seint Iame! 1545
But nathelees I took un-to our dame,
Your wyf at hoom, the same gold ageyn
[177: T. 13288-13323.]
Upon your bench; she woot it wel, certeyn,
By certein tokenes that I can hir telle.
Now, by your leve, I may no lenger dwelle, 1550
Our abbot wol out of this toun anon; (361)
And in his companye moot I gon.
Grete wel our dame, myn owene nece swete,
And fare-wel, dere cosin, til we mete!’
1540. ar] Cp. Pt. Ln. be. 1549. E. Hn. Cm. yow; _rest_ hir.
This Marchant, which that was ful war and wys, 1555
Creaunced hath, and payd eek in Parys,
To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond,
The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond;
And hoom he gooth, mery as a papeiay.
For wel he knew he stood in swich array, 1560
That nedes moste he winne in that viage (371)
A thousand frankes above al his costage.
1558. E. hadde; Hl. took; _rest_ gat. _Over_ bond _is the
gloss_—obligacionem. 1559. E. murie. E. papeiay; _rest_ papyniay,
popiniay. 1562. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. abouen; _rest_ aboue.
His wyf ful redy mette him atte gate,
As she was wont of old usage algate,
And al that night in mirthe they bisette; 1565
For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace
His wyf al newe, and kiste hir on hir face,
And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough.
‘Namore,’ quod she, ‘by god, ye have y-nough!’ 1570
And wantounly agayn with him she pleyde; (381)
Til, atte laste, that this Marchant seyde,
‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I am a litel wrooth
With yow, my wyf, al-thogh it be me looth.
And woot ye why? by god, as that I gesse, 1575
That ye han maad a maner straungenesse
Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon,
That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed
By redy tokene; and heeld him yvel apayed, 1580
For that I to him spak of chevisaunce, (391)
Me semed so, as by his contenaunce.
But nathelees, by god our hevene king,
[178: T. 13324-13359.]
I thoghte nat to axe of him no-thing.
I prey thee, wyf, ne do namore so; 1585
Tel me alwey, er that I fro thee go,
If any dettour hath in myn absence
Y-payëd thee; lest, thurgh thy necligence,
I mighte him axe a thing that he hath payed.’
1571. E. wantownely. 1572. Cp. Pt. þat; Hl. þus; _rest om._ 1574.
E. were; _rest_ be. 1584. E. axen; _rest_ axe. E. Hl. _om._ of.
1585. E. as; Hl. _om._; _rest_ ne. 1586. Hn. Hl. Tel; Ln. Til; _rest_
Telle.
This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed, 1590
But boldely she seyde, and that anon: (401)
‘Marie, I defye the false monk, daun Iohn!
I kepe nat of hise tokenes never a deel;
He took me certein gold, that woot I weel!
What! yvel thedom on his monkes snoute! 1595
For, god it woot, I wende, withouten doute,
That he had yeve it me bycause of yow,
To doon ther-with myn honour and my prow,
For cosinage, and eek for bele chere
That he hath had ful ofte tymes here. 1600
But sith I see I stonde in this disioint, (411)
I wol answere yow shortly, to the point.
Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I!
For I wol paye yow wel and redily
Fro day to day; and, if so be I faille, 1605
I am your wyf; score it up-on my taille,
And I shal paye, as sone as ever I may.
For, by my trouthe, I have on myn array,
And nat on wast, bistowed every deel.
And for I have bistowed it so weel 1610
For your honour, for goddes sake, I seye, (421)
As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye.
Ye shal my Ioly body have to wedde;
By god, I wol nat paye yow but a-bedde.
Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere; 1615
Turne hiderward and maketh bettre chere.’
1592. Cm. defye; _rest_ deffie. 1595. E. Hn. Cp. thedam. 1597. E.
hadde. 1599. E. beele; Cm. beel; _rest_ bele. 1601. E. Hn. Hl.
this; _rest_ suche, such. 1611. E. Hn. For; _rest_ To.
This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye,
Sith that the thing may nat amended be.
[179: T. 13360-13364.]
‘Now, wyf,’ he seyde, ‘and I foryeve it thee; 1620
But, by thy lyf, ne be namore so large; (431)
Keep bet our good, this yeve I thee in charge.’
Thus endeth now my tale, and god us sende
Taling y-nough un-to our lyves ende. Amen.
=Here endeth the Shipmannes Tale.=
1622. E. that; _rest_ this. 1623. E. Hn. _om._ now. 1624. Cm.
Talynge; Hl. Talyng; E. Hn. Pt. Taillynge; Cp. Ln. Toylyng(!).
COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Cp. Pt.
[180: T. 13365-13382.]
* * * * *
THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE
* * * * *
=Bihold the mery wordes of the Host to the Shipman
and to the lady Prioresse.=
‘Wel seyd, by _corpus dominus_,’ quod our hoste, 1625
‘Now longe moot thou sayle by the coste,
Sir gentil maister, gentil marineer!
God yeve this monk a thousand last quad yeer!
A ha! felawes! beth ware of swiche a Iape!
The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape, 1630
And in his wyves eek, by seint Austin!
Draweth no monkes more un-to your in.
HEADING. _So_ E. (_with_ Bihoold, murie, Hoost); Hn. Herke the myrie
Wordes of the Worthy Hoost; Pt. And here bygynneth the prologe of the
priores; Ln. Incipit prologus Priorisse. 1625. E. Hn. Hoost. 1626.
E. Hn. moote; Ln. Hl. mot; _rest_ mote. E. saille; cost. 1628. E.
this; _rest_ the. Hn. quaad; _rest_ quade.
But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute,
Who shal now telle first, of al this route, (10)
Another tale;’ and with that word he sayde, 1635
As curteisly as it had been a mayde,
‘My lady Prioresse, by your leve,
So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve,
I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde
A tale next, if so were that ye wolde. 1640
Now wol ye vouche-sauf, my lady dere?’
‘Gladly,’ quod she, and seyde as ye shal here. (18)
_Explicit_.
1642. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. sayde in this manere.
[181: T. 13383-13403.]
* * * * *
THE PRIORESSES TALE.
* * * * *
=The Prologe of the Prioresses Tale.=
_Domine, dominus noster_.
O Lord our lord, thy name how merveillous
Is in this large worlde y-sprad—quod she:—
For noght only thy laude precious 1645
Parfourned is by men of dignitee,
But by the mouth of children thy bountee
Parfourned is, for on the brest soukinge
Som tyme shewen they thyn heryinge.
HEADING. _From_ E. Hn. (Hn. proheme, _for_ prologe). Cp. _has_—Here
begynneth the tale of Alma redemptoris, the prioresses Tale. Prolog.
_Domine Dominus noster_.
Wherfor in laude, as I best can or may, 1650
Of thee, and of the whyte lily flour
Which that thee bar, and is a mayde alway, (10)
To telle a storie I wol do my labour;
Not that I may encresen hir honour;
For she hir-self is honour, and the rote 1655
Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules bote.—
1651. E. _om._ whyte.
O moder mayde! o mayde moder free!
O bush unbrent, brenninge in Moyses sighte,
That ravisedest doun fro the deitee,
Thurgh thyn humblesse, the goost that in thalighte, 1660
Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte,
Conceived was the fadres sapience, (20)
Help me to telle it in thy reverence!
1660. Hl. Cp. the alight.
[182: T. 13404-13431.]
Lady! thy bountee, thy magnificence,
Thy vertu, and thy grete humilitee 1665
Ther may no tonge expresse in no science;
For som-tyme, lady, er men praye to thee,
Thou goost biforn of thy benignitee,
And getest us the light, thurgh thy preyere,
To gyden us un-to thy sone so dere. 1670
1669. Hn. Slo. Ln. Hl. the] E. thurgh; Cp. Pt. to. E. Hn. of; _but
the rest_ thurgh.
My conning is so wayk, o blisful quene,
For to declare thy grete worthinesse, (30)
That I ne may the weighte nat sustene,
But as a child of twelf monthe old, or lesse,
That can unnethes any word expresse, 1675
Right so fare I, and therfor I yow preye,
Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye.
_Explicit_.
1675. Cp. Pt. Hl. vnnethes. E. Hn. vnnethe.
=Here biginneth the Prioresses Tale.
Ther was in Asie, in a greet citee,
Amonges cristen folk, a Iewerye,
Sustened by a lord of that contree 1680
For foule usure and lucre of vilanye,
Hateful to Crist and to his companye; (40)
And thurgh the strete men mighte ryde or wende,
For it was free, and open at either ende.
HEADING. _From_ E. Hn. _has_—Here biggynneth the Prioresse tale of
Alma redemptoris mater.
A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood 1685
Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were
Children an heep, y-comen of cristen blood,
That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
Swich maner doctrine as men used there,
This is to seyn, to singen and to rede, 1690
As smale children doon in hir childhede.
[183: T. 13432-13466.]
Among thise children was a widwes sone, (50)
A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age,
That day by day to scole was his wone,
And eek also, wher-as he saugh thimage 1695
Of Cristes moder, hadde he in usage,
As him was taught, to knele adoun and seye
His _Ave Marie_, as he goth by the weye.
1695. Cp. Pt. Ln. the ymage. 1696. E. he hadde.
Thus hath this widwe hir litel sone y-taught
Our blisful lady, Cristes moder dere, 1700
To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught,
For sely child wol alday sone lere; (60)
But ay, whan I remembre on this matere,
Seint Nicholas stant ever in my presence,
For he so yong to Crist did reverence. 1705
1701. E. Pt. forgate. 1702. Hn. Hl. alwey.
This litel child, his litel book lerninge,
As he sat in the scole at his prymer,
He _Alma redemptoris_ herde singe,
As children lerned hir antiphoner;
And, as he dorste, he drough him ner and ner, 1710
And herkned ay the wordes and the note,
Til he the firste vers coude al by rote. (70)
Noght wiste he what this Latin was to seye,
For he so yong and tendre was of age;
But on a day his felaw gan he preye 1715
Texpounden him this song in his langage,
Or telle him why this song was in usage;
This preyde he him to construe and declare
Ful ofte tyme upon his knowes bare.
1719. E. Hl. often.
His felaw, which that elder was than he, 1720
Answerde him thus: ‘this song, I have herd seye,
Was maked of our blisful lady free, (80)
Hir to salue, and eek hir for to preye
To been our help and socour whan we deye.
I can no more expounde in this matere; 1725
I lerne song, I can but smal grammere.’
1725. E. Hn. na.
[184: T. 13467-13501.]
‘And is this song maked in reverence
Of Cristes moder?’ seyde this innocent;
‘Now certes, I wol do my diligence
To conne it al, er Cristemasse is went; 1730
Though that I for my prymer shal be shent,
And shal be beten thryës in an houre, (90)
I wol it conne, our lady for to honoure.’
1733. Cp. Pt. Hl. _omit_ for.
His felaw taughte him homward prively,
Fro day to day, til he coude it by rote, 1735
And than he song it wel and boldely
Fro word to word, acording with the note;
Twyës a day it passed thurgh his throte,
To scoleward and homward whan he wente;
On Cristes moder set was his entente. 1740
As I have seyd, thurgh-out the Iewerye
This litel child, as he cam to and fro, (100)
Ful merily than wolde he singe, and crye
_O Alma redemptoris_ ever-mo.
The swetnes hath his herte perced so 1745
Of Cristes moder, that, to hir to preye,
He can nat stinte of singing by the weye.
1741. E. Iuerie. 1743. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. than; E. Hn. _omit_.
1745. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. hath; E. Hn. _omit_.
Our firste fo, the serpent Sathanas,
That hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest,
Up swal, and seide, ‘o Hebraik peple, allas! 1750
Is this to yow a thing that is honest,
That swich a boy shal walken as him lest (110)
In your despyt, and singe of swich sentence,
Which is agayn your lawes reverence?’
1754. Hl. your; Pt. Ln. ȝoure; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. oure.
Fro thennes forth the Iewes han conspyred 1755
This innocent out of this world to chace;
An homicyde ther-to han they hyred,
That in an aley hadde a privee place;
And as the child gan for-by for to pace,
This cursed Iew him hente and heeld him faste, 1760
And kitte his throte, and in a pit him caste.
[185: T. 13502-13536.]
I seye that in a wardrobe they him threwe (120)
Wher-as these Iewes purgen hir entraille.
O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,
What may your yvel entente yow availle? 1765
Mordre wol out, certein, it wol nat faille,
And namely ther thonour of god shal sprede,
The blood out cryeth on your cursed dede.
1767. thonour] Cp. Pt. Ln. honour.
‘O martir, souded to virginitee,
Now maystou singen, folwing ever in oon 1770
The whyte lamb celestial,’ quod she,
‘Of which the grete evangelist, seint Iohn, (130)
In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon
Biforn this lamb, and singe a song al newe,
That never, fleshly, wommen they ne knewe.’ 1775
This povre widwe awaiteth al that night
After hir litel child, but he cam noght;
For which, as sone as it was dayes light,
With face pale of drede and bisy thoght,
She hath at scole and elles-wher him soght, 1780
Til finally she gan so fer espye
That he last seyn was in the Iewerye. (140)
With modres pitee in hir brest enclosed,
She gooth, as she were half out of hir minde,
To every place wher she hath supposed 1785
By lyklihede hir litel child to finde;
And ever on Cristes moder meke and kinde
She cryde, and atte laste thus she wroghte,
Among the cursed Iewes she him soghte.
She frayneth and she preyeth pitously 1790
To every Iew that dwelte in thilke place,
To telle hir, if hir child wente oght for-by. (150)
They seyde, ‘nay’; but Iesu, of his grace,
Yaf in hir thought, inwith a litel space,
That in that place after hir sone she cryde, 1795
Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde.
1794. inwith] Cm. Cp. Hl. withinne.
[186: T. 13537-13569.]
O grete god, that parfournest thy laude
By mouth of innocents, lo heer thy might!
This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude,
And eek of martirdom the ruby bright, 1800
Ther he with throte y-corven lay upright,
He ‘_Alma redemptoris_’ gan to singe (160)
So loude, that al the place gan to ringe.
The Cristen folk, that thurgh the strete wente,
In coomen, for to wondre up-on this thing, 1805
And hastily they for the provost sente;
He cam anon with-outen tarying,
And herieth Crist that is of heven king,
And eek his moder, honour of mankinde,
And after that, the Iewes leet he binde, 1810
1805. Cp. Pt. wondren on; Ln. wonderne of; E. Hn. wondre vpon; Hl.
wonder vpon; Cm. wonderyn vp-on.
This child with pitous lamentacioun
Up-taken was, singing his song alway; (170)
And with honour of greet processioun
They carien him un-to the nexte abbay.
His moder swowning by the bere lay; 1815
Unnethe might the peple that was there
This newe Rachel bringe fro his bere.
1815. E. Hn. his; _rest_ the; see l. 1817. 1817. Cm. Hl. the; _rest_
his.
With torment and with shamful deth echon
This provost dooth thise Iewes for to sterve
That of this mordre wiste, and that anon; 1820
He nolde no swich cursednesse observe.
Yvel shal have, that yvel wol deserve. (180)
Therfor with wilde hors he dide hem drawe,
And after that he heng hem by the lawe.
1819. E. the; _rest_ thise, these. 1822. E. Cm. shal he; Pt. he shal;
_rest omit_ he.
Up-on his here ay lyth this innocent 1825
Biforn the chief auter, whyl masse laste,
And after that, the abbot with his covent
Han sped hem for to burien him ful faste;
And whan they holy water on him caste,
[187: T. 13570-13604.]
Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was holy water, 1830
And song—‘_O Alma redemptoris mater_!’
1825. Hn. Hl. his; _the rest_ this. 1826. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. the masse;
Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ the. 1827. Hl. thabbot.
This abbot, which that was an holy man (190)
As monkes been, or elles oghten be,
This yonge child to coniure he bigan,
And seyde, ‘o dere child, I halse thee, 1835
In vertu of the holy Trinitee,
Tel me what is thy cause for to singe,
Sith that thy throte is cut, to my seminge?’
‘My throte is cut un-to my nekke-boon,’
Seyde this child, ‘and, as by wey of kinde, 1840
I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon,
But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde, (200)
Wil that his glorie laste and be in minde,
And, for the worship of his moder dere,
Yet may I singe “_O Alma_” loude and clere. 1845
This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete,
I lovede alwey, as after my conninge;
And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete,
To me she cam, and bad me for to singe
This antem verraily in my deyinge, 1850
As ye han herd, and, whan that I had songe,
Me thoughte, she leyde a greyn up-on my tonge. (210)
1850. Cm. Cp. Pt. anteme; Ln. antime; Hl. antym; Hn. antheme; E.
Anthephen.
Wherfor I singe, and singe I moot certeyn
In honour of that blisful mayden free,
Til fro my tonge of-taken is the greyn; 1855
And afterward thus seyde she to me,
“My litel child, now wol I fecche thee
Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge y-take;
Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake.”’
This holy monk, this abbot, him mene I, 1860
His tonge out-caughte, and took a-wey the greyn,
And he yaf up the goost ful softely. (220)
And whan this abbot had this wonder seyn,
His salte teres trikled doun as reyn,
[188: T. 13605-13620.]
And gruf he fil al plat up-on the grounde, 1865
And stille he lay as he had been y-bounde.
1864. E. Hn. Cm. trikled; Cp. Pt. stryked; Ln. strikled; Hl. striken.
1866. Cp. Hl. ben; Pt. Ln. bene; E. Hn. Cm. Ieyn.
The covent eek lay on the pavement
Weping, and herien Cristes moder dere,
And after that they ryse, and forth ben went,
And toke awey this martir fro his bere, 1870
And in a tombe of marbul-stones clere
Enclosen they his litel body swete; (230)
Ther he is now, god leve us for to mete.
1869. Hl. thay went; _rest_ been, ben, bene went. 1870. E. tooken;
Hl. took; _rest_ toke. 1871. E. temple; _rest_ tombe, toumbe. 1873.
E. alle for; _rest omit_ alle.
O yonge Hugh of Lincoln, slayn also
With cursed Iewes, as it is notable, 1875
For it nis but a litel whyle ago;
Preye eek for us, we sinful folk unstable,
That, of his mercy, god so merciable
On us his grete mercy multiplye, (237)
For reverence of his moder Marye. Amen. 1880
=Here is ended the Prioresses Tale.=
1876. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. nys; E. Hn. Cm. is. COLOPHON. _From_ E.
[189: T. 13621-13641.]
* * * * *
PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS.
* * * * *
=Bihold the murye wordes of the Host to Chaucer.=
Whan seyd was al this miracle, every man
As sobre was, that wonder was to se,
Til that our hoste Iapen tho bigan,
And than at erst he loked up-on me,
And seyde thus, ‘what man artow?’ quod he; 1885
‘Thou lokest as thou woldest finde an hare,
For ever up-on the ground I see thee stare.
HEADING. _From_ E. E. Bihoold; Hoost. 1883. _Only_ Hl. _inserts_ to
_before_ Iapen. Cm. Cp. tho; E. to; Hn. he; Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit_.
Approche neer, and loke up merily.
Now war yow, sirs, and lat this man have place;
He in the waast is shape as wel as I; 1890
This were a popet in an arm tenbrace (11)
For any womman, smal and fair of face.
He semeth elvish by his contenaunce,
For un-to no wight dooth he daliaunce.
1888. E. murily; Hl. merily.
Sey now somwhat, sin other folk han sayd; 1895
Tel us a tale of mirthe, and that anoon;’—
‘Hoste,’ quod I, ‘ne beth nat yvel apayd,
For other tale certes can I noon,
But of a ryme I lerned longe agoon.’
‘Ye, that is good,’ quod he; ‘now shul we here 1900
Som deyntee thing, me thinketh by his chere.’ (21)
_Explicit._
1897. Cp. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Cm. Hoost. 1900. E. ye; _rest_ we.
[190: T. 13642-13665.]
* * * * *
SIR THOPAS.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth Chaucers Tale of Thopas.=
Listeth, lordes, in good entent,
And I wol telle verrayment
Of mirthe and of solas;
Al of a knyght was fair and gent 1905
In bataille and in tourneyment,
His name was sir Thopas.
HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere).
Y-born he was in fer contree,
In Flaundres, al biyonde the see,
At Popering, in the place; 1910
His fader was a man ful free, (10)
And lord he was of that contree,
As it was goddes grace.
Sir Thopas wex a doghty swayn,
Whyt was his face as payndemayn, 1915
His lippes rede as rose;
His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn,
And I yow telle in good certayn,
He hadde a semely nose.
His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun, 1920
That to his girdel raughte adoun; (20)
His shoon of Cordewane.
Of Brugges were his hosen broun,
His robe was of ciclatoun,
That coste many a Iane. 1925
1922. E. shoos; Hn. Pt. shoon; _rest_ schoon, schon, schone.
[191: T. 13666-13695.]
He coude hunte at wilde deer,
And ryde an hauking for riveer,
With grey goshauk on honde;
Ther-to be was a good archeer,
Of wrastling was ther noon his peer, 1930
Ther any ram shal stonde. (30)
1927. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. for; Cp. by þe; Pt. Ln. for þe. 1931. E. Hn. Cm.
Hl. shal; Cp. schulde; Pt. shulde; Ln. scholde.
Ful many a mayde, bright in bour,
They moorne for him, paramour,
Whan hem were bet to slepe;
But he was chast and no lechour, 1935
And sweet as is the bremble-flour
That bereth the rede hepe.
And so bifel up-on a day,
For sothe, as I yow telle may,
Sir Thopas wolde out ryde; 1940
He worth upon his stede gray, (40)
And in his honde a launcegay,
A long swerd by his syde.
1938. Hn. Hl. it fel; Cm. it fil.
He priketh thurgh a fair forest,
Ther-inne is many a wilde best, 1945
Ye, bothe bukke and hare;
And, as he priketh north and est,
I telle it yow, him hadde almest
Bitid a sory care.
1949. Cm. Hl. Bytid; _rest_ Bitidde, Betydde (!).
Ther springen herbes grete and smale, 1950
The lycorys and cetewale, (50)
And many a clowe-gilofre;
And notemuge to putte in ale,
Whether it be moyste or stale,
Or for to leye in cofre. 1955
[192: T. 13696-13725.]
The briddes singe, it is no nay,
The sparhauk and the papeiay,
That Ioye it was to here;
The thrustelcok made eek his lay,
The wodedowve upon the spray 1960
She sang ful loude and clere. (60)
1959. E. hir; _rest_ his. 1960. E. a; _rest_ the.
Sir Thopas fil in love-longinge
Al whan he herde the thrustel singe,
And priked as he were wood:
His faire stede in his prikinge 1965
So swatte that men mighte him wringe,
His sydes were al blood.
Sir Thopas eek so wery was
For prikinge on the softe gras,
So fiers was his corage, 1970
That doun he leyde him in that plas (70)
To make his stede som solas,
And yaf him good forage.
‘O seinte Marie, _benedicite!_
What eyleth this love at me 1975
To binde me so sore?
Me dremed al this night, pardee,
An elf-queen shal my lemman be,
And slepe under my gore.
An elf-queen wol I love, y-wis, 1980
For in this world no womman is (80)
Worthy to be my make [T. 13722
In toune; [T. 13722
Alle othere wommen I forsake, [T. 13723
And to an elf-queen I me take 1985
By dale and eek by doune!’
1980. Hn. Cm. Hl. haue; _rest_ loue.
[193: T. 13726-13755.]
In-to his sadel he clamb anoon,
And priketh over style and stoon
An elf-queen for tespye,
Til he so longe had riden and goon 1990
That he fond, in a privee woon, (90)
The contree of Fairye [T. 13731
So wilde; [T. 13734
For in that contree was ther noon
That to him dorste ryde or goon, 1995
Neither wyf ne childe.
1989. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; Cp. Pt. Ln. to aspie; Hl. to spye. 1995. _Not
in the best_ MSS.; _supplied from_ MS. Reg. 17 D. 15 (Tyrwhitt).
Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
His name was sir Olifaunt,
A perilous man of dede;
He seyde, ‘child, by Termagaunt, 2000
But-if thou prike out of myn haunt, (100)
Anon I slee thy stede [T. 13743
With mace. [T. 13743
Heer is the queen of Fayërye,
With harpe and pype and simphonye 2005
Dwelling in this place.’
2000. Hl. swar; _rest_ seyde. 2004. Cp. Hl. fayerye; E. Hn. Cm.
Fairye. 2005. Hl. lute; _rest_ pype _or_ pipe.
The child seyde, ‘al-so mote I thee,
Tomorwe wol I mete thee
Whan I have myn armoure;
And yet I hope, _par ma fay_, 2010
That thou shalt with this launcegay (110)
Abyen it ful soure; [T. 13752
Thy mawe [T. 13752
Shal I percen, if I may,
Er it be fully pryme of day, 2015
For heer thou shalt be slawe.’
2008. E. Hl. meete with; _rest omit_ with. 2012. E. Hn. sowre; Cm.
soure; _rest_ sore. 2014. E. Cm. Thyn hauberk shal I percen, if I
may; _but the rest rightly omit_ Thyn hauberk.
[194: T. 13756-13785.]
Sir Thopas drow abak ful faste;
This geaunt at him stones caste
Out of a fel staf-slinge;
But faire escapeth child Thopas, 2020
And al it was thurgh goddes gras, (120)
And thurgh his fair beringe.
2020. E. Cm. sire; _rest_ child.
Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale
Merier than the nightingale,
For now I wol yow roune 2025
How sir Thopas with sydes smale,
Priking over hil and dale,
Is come agayn to toune.
2025. Cp. Pt. Ln. _insert_ For now, _which the rest omit_. 2027. hil]
Hl. hul; Cp. Pt. Ln. downe. 2028. E. Cm. comen.
His merie men comanded he
To make him bothe game and glee, 2030
For nedes moste he fighte (130)
With a geaunt with hevedes three,
For paramour and Iolitee
Of oon that shoon ful brighte.
2032. E. Hn. heuedes; Hl. heedes; Cm. hedis; Cp. Pt. Ln. hedes.
‘Do come,’ he seyde, ‘my minstrales, 2035
And gestours, for to tellen tales
Anon in myn arminge;
Of romances that been royales,
Of popes and of cardinales,
And eek of love-lykinge.’ 2040
2038. Hn. Pt. Hl. reales.
They fette him first the swete wyn, (140)
And mede eek in a maselyn,
And royal spicerye;
Of gingebreed that was ful fyn,
And lycorys, and eek comyn, 2045
With sugre that is so trye.
2041. E. sette; _rest_ fette _or_ fet. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ the. 2044.
E. And; Hn. Cm. Hl. Of. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ ll. 2042-4. 2046. E.
_alone retains_ so.
[195: T. 13786-13818.]
He dide next his whyte lere
Of clooth of lake fyn and clere
A breech and eek a sherte;
And next his sherte an aketoun, 2050
And over that an habergeoun (150)
For percinge of his herte;
And over that a fyn hauberk,
Was al y-wroght of Iewes werk,
Ful strong it was of plate; 2055
And over that his cote-armour
As whyt as is a lily-flour,
In which he wol debate.
2058. Cm. wolde; Hl. wold; _rest_ wol, wole, wil.
His sheeld was al of gold so reed,
And ther-in was a bores heed, 2060
A charbocle bisyde; (160)
And there he swoor, on ale and breed,
How that ‘the geaunt shal be deed,
Bityde what bityde!’
2061. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. by his syde; Cp. him besyde. 2063. Cm. Cp. Ln.
schulde.
His Iambeux were of quirboilly, 2065
His swerdes shethe of yvory,
His helm of laton bright;
His sadel was of rewel-boon,
His brydel as the sonne shoon,
Or as the mone light. 2070
2068. Pt. Hl. rowel; Cp. Ln. ruel.
His spere was of fyn ciprees, (170)
That bodeth werre, and no-thing pees,
The heed ful sharpe y-grounde;
His stede was al dappel-gray,
It gooth an ambel in the way 2075
Ful softely and rounde [T. 13815
In londe. [T. 13815
Lo, lordes myne, heer is a fit!
If ye wol any more of it,
To telle it wol I fonde. 2080
2071. E. it was; _rest omit_ it.
[196: T. 13819-13846.]
[_The Second Fit_.]
Now hold your mouth, _par charitee_, (180)
Bothe knight and lady free,
And herkneth to my spelle;
Of bataille and of chivalry,
And of ladyes love-drury 2085
Anon I wol yow telle.
2084. E. batailles; Hn. bataille; _rest_ bataile, batail, batell.
Men speke of romances of prys,
Of Horn child and of Ypotys,
Of Bevis and sir Gy,
Of sir Libeux and Pleyn-damour; 2090
But sir Thopas, he bereth the flour (190)
Of royal chivalry.
2089. E. Pt. and of; _rest omit_ of.
His gode stede al he bistrood,
And forth upon his wey he glood
As sparkle out of the bronde; 2095
Up-on his crest he bar a tour,
And ther-in stiked a lily-flour,
God shilde his cors fro shonde!
2094. E. rood; _rest_ glood, glod, glode. 2095. Hl. Pt. spark; Cp.
Ln. sparcles.
And for he was a knight auntrous,
He nolde slepen in non hous, 2100
But liggen in his hode; (200)
His brighte helm was his wonger,
And by him baiteth his dextrer
Of herbes fyne and gode.
Him-self drank water of the wel, 2105
As did the knight sir Percivel,
So worthy under wede,
Til on a day—— (207)
=Here the host stinteth Chaucer of his Tale of Thopas.=
2107. Hl. worthy; E. Hn. worly; Pt. worthely; Cm. Cp. Ln. _omit_ ll.
2105-8. COLOPHON. _From_ E. (E. Heere; Hoost).
[197: T. 13847-13875.]
* * * * *
PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS.
* * * * *
‘No more of this, for goddes dignitee,’
Quod oure hoste, ‘for thou makest me 2110
So wery of thy verray lewednesse
That, also wisly god my soule blesse,
Myn eres aken of thy drasty speche;
Now swiche a rym the devel I biteche!
This may wel be rym dogerel,’ quod he. 2115
‘Why so?’ quod I, ‘why wiltow lette me
More of my tale than another man,
Sin that it is the beste rym I can?’ (10)
2118. E. tale; _rest_ rym, ryme.
‘By god,’ quod he, ‘for pleynly, at a word,
Thy drasty ryming is nat worth a tord; 2120
Thou doost nought elles but despendest tyme,
Sir, at o word, thou shall no lenger ryme.
Lat see wher thou canst tellen aught in geste,
Or telle in prose somwhat at the leste
In which ther be som mirthe or som doctryne.’ 2125
‘Gladly,’ quod I, ‘by goddes swete pyne,
I wol yow telle a litel thing in prose,
That oghte lyken yow, as I suppose, (20)
Or elles, certes, ye been to daungerous.
It is a moral tale vertuous, 2130
Al be it told som-tyme in sondry wyse
Of sondry folk, as I shal yow devyse.
As thus; ye woot that every evangelist,
That telleth us the peyne of Iesu Crist,
Ne saith nat al thing as his felaw dooth, 2135
But natheles, hir sentence is al sooth,
And alle acorden as in hir sentence,
[198: T. 13876-13894.]
Al be ther in hir telling difference. (30)
For somme of hem seyn more, and somme lesse,
Whan they his pitous passioun expresse; 2140
I mene of Marke, Mathew, Luk and Iohn;
But doutelees hir sentence is al oon.
Therfor, lordinges alle, I yow biseche,
If that ye thinke I varie as in my speche,
As thus, thogh that I telle som-what more 2145
Of proverbes, than ye han herd bifore,
Comprehended in this litel tretis here,
To enforce with the theffect of my matere, (40)
And thogh I nat the same wordes seye
As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye, 2150
Blameth me nat; for, as in my sentence,
Ye shul not fynden moche difference
Fro the sentence of this tretis lyte
After the which this mery tale I wryte.
And therfor herkneth what that I shal seye, 2155
And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye.’ (48)
_Explicit_.
2131. E. take; _rest_ told, tolde, toold. 2139. E. Hn. Ln. somme
seyn; _but_ Cp. Pt. Hl. _omit 2nd_ seyn. 2141. Ed. 1561, Marke; E.
Cp. Pt. Hl. Marke (?); Hn. Ln. Mark. 2144. E. Hl. yow; _rest_ ye.
Cp. Ln. _om._ as. 2146. Cp. prouerbis. 2152. Cm. Cp. Ln. Ye schal
not fynden moche; E. Hn. Pt. Hl. Shul ye nowher fynden. 2154. E.
murye; Hn. myry; Hl. litil; _rest_ mery.
[199]
* * * * *
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth Chaucers Tale of Melibee.=
§ 1. A yong man called Melibeus, mighty and riche, bigat up-on his wyf that
called was Prudence, a doghter which that called was Sophie. /
HEADING. _From_ E.
§ 2. Upon a day bifel, that he for his desport is went in-to the feeldes
him to pleye. / His wyf and eek his doghter hath he left inwith his hous,
of which the dores weren fast y-shette. / Thre of his olde foos han it
espyed, and setten laddres to the walles of his hous, and by the windowes
been entred, /2160 and betten his wyf, and wounded his doghter with fyve
mortal woundes in fyve sondry places; / this is to seyn, in hir feet, in
hir handes, in hir eres, in hir nose, and in hir mouth; and leften hir for
deed, and wenten awey. /
2159. inwith] Ln. Cp. within. 2160. Thre] Cp. Ln. Foure. E. hise.
E. foes; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. foos. by the] E. Hn. _om._ the. 2162. E.
erys.
§ 3. Whan Melibeus retourned was in-to his hous, and saugh al this
meschief, he, lyk a mad man, rendinge his clothes, gan to wepe and crye. /
2163. E. Hn. Ln. rentynge; _rest_ rendyng.
§ 4. Prudence his wyf, as ferforth as she dorste, bisoghte him of his
weping for to stinte; / but nat for-thy he gan to crye and wepen ever
lenger the more. /2165
§ 5. This noble wyf Prudence remembered hir upon the sentence of Ovide, in
his book that cleped is The Remedie of Love, wher-as he seith; / ‘he is a
fool that destourbeth the moder to wepen in the deeth of hir child, til she
have wept hir fille, as for a certain tyme; / and thanne shal man doon his
diligence with amiable wordes hir to reconforte, and preyen hir of hir
weping for to stinte.’ / For which resoun this noble wyf Prudence suffred
hir housbond for to wepe and crye as for a certein space; / and whan she
saugh hir tyme, she seyde him in this wyse. ‘Allas, my lord,’ quod she,’
why make ye your-self for to be lyk a fool? /2170 For [200] sothe, it
aperteneth nat to a wys man, to maken swiche a sorwe. / Your doghter, with
the grace of god, shal warisshe and escape. / And al were it so that she
right now were deed, ye ne oghte nat as for hir deeth your-self to
destroye. / Senek seith: “the wise man shal nat take to greet disconfort
for the deeth of his children, / but certes he sholde suffren it in
pacience, as wel as he abydeth the deeth of his owene propre persone.”’
/2175
2172. Cp. Ln. be warisshed; Hl. warischt be. 2173. _Only_ E. Cp. Ln.
_insert_ to _before_ destroye.
§ 6. This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde, ‘What man,’ quod he, ‘sholde of
his weping stinte, that hath so greet a cause for to wepe? / Iesu Crist,
our lord, him-self wepte for the deeth of Lazarus his freend.’ / Prudence
answerde, ‘Certes, wel I woot, attempree weping is no-thing defended to him
that sorweful is, amonges folk in sorwe, but it is rather graunted him to
wepe. / The Apostle Paul un-to the Romayns wryteth, “man shal reioyse with
hem that maken Ioye, and wepen with swich folk as wepen.” / But thogh
attempree weping be y-graunted, outrageous weping certes is defended. /2180
Mesure of weping sholde be considered, after the lore that techeth us
Senek. / “Whan that thy freend is deed,” quod he, “lat nat thyne eyen to
moyste been of teres, ne to muche drye; althogh the teres come to thyne
eyen, lat hem nat falle.” / And whan thou hast for-goon thy freend, do
diligence to gete another freend; and this is more wysdom than for to wepe
for thy freend which that thou hast lorn; for ther-inne is no bote. / And
therfore, if ye governe yow by sapience, put awey sorwe out of your herte.
/ Remembre yow that Iesus Syrak seith: “a man that is Ioyous and glad in
herte, it him conserveth florisshing in his age; but soothly sorweful herte
maketh his bones drye.” /2185 He seith eek thus: “that sorwe in herte
sleeth ful many a man.” / 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.” / Wherfore us oghte, as wel in the
deeth of our children as in the losse of our goodes temporels, have
pacience. /
2176. E. Pt. stente. 2178, 2180. E. deffended. 2182. E. teeris.
2185. E. florissynge. 2187. E. Hl. Motthes; Pt. Cm. mothes; Hn.
moththes; Cp. moughtes. 2188. E. othere (_for_ our _before_ goodes);
_rest_ oure, our.
§ 7. Remembre yow up-on the pacient Iob, whan he hadde lost his children
and his temporel substance, and in his body [201] endured and receyved ful
many a grevous tribulacioun; yet seyde he thus: / “our lord hath yeven it
me, our lord hath biraft it me; right as our lord hath wold, right so it is
doon; blessed be the name of our lord.”’ /2190 To thise foreseide thinges
answerde Melibeus un-to his wyf Prudence: ‘Alle thy wordes,’ quod he, ‘been
sothe, and ther-to profitable; but trewely myn herte is troubled with this
sorwe so grevously, that I noot what to done.’ / ‘Lat calle,’ quod
Prudence, ‘thy trewe freendes alle, and thy linage whiche that been wyse;
telleth your cas, and herkneth what they seye in conseiling, and yow
governe after hir sentence. / Salomon seith: “werk alle thy thinges by
conseil, and thou shalt never repente.”’ /
2189. E. temporeel. 2190. Cp. haþ ȝoue [_read_ yeuen] it me; Ln.
yaue it me; Hl. it sent vnto me; _rest omit_; _only_ Cp. Ln. Hl.
_repeat_ our lord. 2191. E. therwith; _rest_ ther-to.
§ 8. Thanne, by the conseil of his wyf Prudence, this Melibeus leet callen
a greet congregacioun of folk; / as surgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and
yonge, and somme of hise olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblaunt to his
love and in-to his grace; /2195 and ther-with-al ther comen somme of hise
neighebores that diden him reverence more for drede than for love, as it
happeth ofte. / Ther comen also ful many subtile flatereres, and wyse
advocats lerned in the lawe. /
2196, 7. E. coomen.
§ 9. And whan this folk togidre assembled weren, this Melibeus in sorweful
wyse shewed hem his cas; / and by the manere of his speche it semed that in
herte he bar a cruel ire, redy to doon vengeaunce up-on hise foos, and
sodeynly desired that the werre sholde biginne; / but nathelees yet axed he
hir conseil upon this matere. /2200 A surgien, by licence and assent of
swiche as weren wyse, up roos and un-to Melibeus seyde as ye may here. /
2199. E. _only ins._ wel _after_ semed. E. baar a crueel; foes.
2200. E. Cm. matiere; Hl. matier. 2201. E. Hl. to (_for_ un-to).
§ 10. ‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘as to us surgiens aperteneth, that we do to every
wight the beste that we can, wher-as we been with-holde, and to our
pacients that we do no damage; / wherfore it happeth, many tyme and ofte,
that whan twey men han everich wounded other, oon same surgien heleth hem
bothe; / wherefore un-to our art it is nat pertinent to norice werre, ne
parties to supporte. / But certes, as to the warisshinge of your doghter,
al-be-it so that she perilously be wounded, we shullen do so ententif
bisinesse fro day to night, that with the grace of god she shal be hool and
[202] sound as sone as is possible.’ /2205 Almost right in the same wyse
the phisiciens answerden, save that they seyden a fewe wordes more: /
‘That, right as maladyes been cured by hir contraries, right so shul men
warisshe werre by vengeaunce.’ / His neighebores, ful of envye, his feyned
freendes that semeden reconsiled, and his flatereres, / maden semblant of
weping, and empeireden and agreggeden muchel of this matere, in preising
greetly Melibee of might, of power, of richesse, and of freendes,
despysinge the power of his adversaries, / and seiden outrely that he anon
sholde wreken him on his foos and biginne werre. /2210
2209. E. matiere. 2210. E. foes.
§ 11. Up roos thanne an advocat that was wys, by leve and by conseil of
othere that were wyse, and seyde: / ‘Lordinges, the nede for which we been
assembled in this place is a ful hevy thing and an heigh matere, / by-cause
of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon, and eek by resoun of
the grete damages that in tyme cominge been possible to fallen for this
same cause; / and eek by resoun of the grete richesse and power of the
parties bothe; / for the whiche resouns it were a ful greet peril to erren
in this matere. /2215 Wherfore, Melibeus, this is our sentence: we
conseille yow aboven alle thing, that right anon thou do thy diligence in
kepinge of thy propre persone, in swich a wyse that thou ne wante noon
espye ne wacche, thy body for to save. / And after that we conseille, that
in thyn hous thou sette suffisant garnisoun, so that they may as wel thy
body as thyn hous defende. / But certes, for to moeve werre, or sodeynly
for to doon vengeaunce, we may nat demen in so litel tyme that it were
profitable. / Wherfore we axen leyser and espace to have deliberacioun in
this cas to deme. / For the commune proverbe seith thus: “he that sone
demeth, sone shal repente.” /2220 And eek men seyn that thilke Iuge is wys,
that sone understondeth a matere and Iuggeth by leyser. / For al-be-it so
that alle tarying be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve in yevynge of
Iugement, ne in vengeance-taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable. / And
that shewed our lord Iesu Crist by ensample; for whan that the womman that
was taken in avoutrie was broght in his presence, to knowen what sholde be
doon with hir persone, al-be-it so that he wiste wel him-self what that he
[203] wolde answere, yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly, but he wolde
have deliberacioun, and in the ground he wroot twyes. / And by thise causes
we axen deliberacioun, and we shal thanne, by the grace of god, conseille
thee thing that shal be profitable.’ /
2212, 2215. E. matiere. 2216. E. _om. 1st._ ne. E. p_er_sone (_for_
body). 2217. E. sufficeant; Cp. suffisaunt; Hn. Pt. suffisant.
2218. or] _so_ E. Pt; _rest_ ne. 2221. E. matiere. 2222. E.
sufficeant; Cp. Pt. suffisaunt; Hn. Ln. suffisant. 2223. Cm. Pt. Hl.
of (_for_ with).
§ 12. Up stirten thanne the yonge folk at-ones, and the moste partie of
that companye han scorned the olde wyse men, and bigonnen to make noyse,
and seyden: that, /2225 right so as whyl that iren is hoot, men sholden
smyte, right so, men sholde wreken hir wronges whyle that they been fresshe
and newe; and with loud voys they cryden, ‘werre! werre!’ /
2225. E. _om._ han.
Up roos tho oon of thise olde wyse, and with his hand made contenaunce that
men sholde holden hem stille and yeven him audience. / ‘Lordinges,’ quod
he, ‘ther is ful many a man that cryeth “werre! werre!” that woot ful litel
what werre amounteth. / Werre at his biginning hath so greet an entree and
so large, that every wight may entre whan him lyketh, and lightly finde
werre. / But, certes, what ende that shal ther-of bifalle, it is nat light
to knowe. /2230 For sothly, whan that werre is ones bigonne, ther is ful
many a child unborn of his moder, that shal sterve yong by-cause of that
ilke werre, or elles live in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse. / And
ther-fore, er that any werre biginne, men moste have greet conseil and
greet deliberacioun.’ / And whan this olde man wende to enforcen his tale
by resons, wel ny alle at-ones bigonne they to ryse for to breken his tale,
and beden him ful ofte his wordes for to abregge. / For soothly, he that
precheth to hem that listen nat heren his wordes, his sermon hem anoyeth. /
For Iesus Syrak seith: that “musik in wepinge is anoyous thing;” this is to
seyn: as muche availleth to speken bifore folk to whiche his speche
anoyeth, as dooth to singe biforn him that wepeth. /2235 And whan this wyse
man saugh that him wanted audience, al shamefast he sette him doun agayn. /
For Salomon seith: “ther-as thou ne mayst have noon audience, enforce thee
nat to speke.” / ‘I see wel,’ quod this wyse man, ‘that the commune
proverbe is sooth; that “good conseil wanteth whan it is most nede.”’ /
2229. Hn. entree; Cm. Pt. Hl. entre; E. Cp. Ln. entryng. 2235. Hn.
Cm. Hl. a noyous; E. anoyous; Cp. annoyous; Pt. noyous. Cm. doth;
_rest_ it is (_badly_). 2236. E. _om._ whan. E. and al (_for_ al).
2238. E. _om._ nede.
§ 13. Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk, that [204] prively
in his ere conseilled him certeyn thing, and conseilled him the contrarie
in general audience. /
Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste partie of his conseil weren
accorded that he sholde maken werre, anoon he consented to hir conseilling,
and fully affermed hir sentence. /2240 Thanne dame Prudence, whan that she
saugh how that hir housbonde shoop him for to wreken him on his foos, and
to biginne werre, she in ful humble wyse, when she saugh hir tyme, seide
him thise wordes: / ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I yow biseche as hertely as I dar
and can, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for alle guerdons as yeveth me
audience. / For Piers Alfonce seith: “who-so that dooth to that other good
or harm, haste thee nat to quyten it; for in this wyse thy freend wol
abyde, and thyn enemy shal the lenger live in drede.” / The proverbe seith:
“he hasteth wel that wysely can abyde;” and in wikked haste is no profit.’
/
2241. E. foes; to him (_rest om._ to). 2242. Pt. guerdons; Cp. Ln.
Hl. guerdouns; E. Hn. gerdons.
§ 14. This Melibee answerde un-to his wyf Prudence: ‘I purpose nat,’ quod
he, ‘to werke by thy conseil, for many causes and resouns. For certes every
wight wolde holde me thanne a fool; /2245 this is to seyn, if I, for thy
conseilling, wolde chaungen thinges that been ordeyned and affermed by so
manye wyse. / Secoundly I seye, that alle wommen been wikke and noon good
of hem alle. For “of a thousand men,” seith Salomon, “I fond a good man:
but certes, of alle wommen, good womman fond I never.” / And also certes,
if I governed me by thy conseil, it sholde seme that I hadde yeve to thee
over me the maistrie; and god forbede that it so were. / For Iesus Syrak
seith; “that if the wyf have maistrie, she is contrarious to hir
housbonde.” / And Salomon seith: “never in thy lyf, to thy wyf, ne to thy
child, ne to thy freend, ne yeve no power over thy-self. For bettre it were
that thy children aske of thy persone thinges that hem nedeth, than thou
see thy-self in the handes of thy children.” /2250 And also, if I wolde
werke by thy conseilling, certes my conseilling moste som tyme be secree,
til it were tyme that it moste be knowe; and this ne may noght be. / [For
it is writen, that “the Ianglerie of wommen can hyden thinges that they
witen noght.” / [205] Furthermore, the philosophre seith, “in wikked
conseil wommen venquisshe men;” and for thise resouns I ne owe nat usen thy
conseil.’] /
2247. E. Hn. foond; Cm. fond. 2248. E. weere. 2250. see] E. be; Pt.
sese. 2251. E. _om._ also. 2252, 3. _Not in the_ MSS., _but
necessary; see_ ll. 2274, 2280, _and see_ Note.
§ 15. Whanne dame Prudence, ful debonairly and with greet pacience, hadde
herd al that hir housbonde lyked for to seye, thanne axed she of him
licence for to speke, and seyde in this wyse. / ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘as to
your firste resoun, certes it may lightly been answered. For I seye, that
it is no folie to chaunge conseil whan the thing is chaunged; or elles whan
the thing semeth otherweyes than it was biforn. /2255 And more-over I seye,
that though ye han sworn and bihight to perfourne your emprise, and
nathelees ye weyve to perfourne thilke same emprise by Iuste cause, men
sholde nat seyn therefore that ye were a lyer ne forsworn. / For the book
seith, that “the wyse man maketh no lesing whan he turneth his corage to
the bettre.” / And al-be-it so that your emprise be establissed and
ordeyned by greet multitude of folk, yet thar ye nat accomplice thilke same
ordinaunce but yow lyke. / For the trouthe of thinges and the profit been
rather founden in fewe folk that been wyse and ful of resoun, than by greet
multitude of folk, ther every man cryeth and clatereth what that him
lyketh. Soothly swich multitude is nat honeste. / As to the seconde resoun,
where-as ye seyn that “alle wommen been wikke,” save your grace, certes ye
despysen alle wommen in this wyse; and “he that alle despyseth alle
displeseth,” as seith the book. /2260 And Senek seith that “who-so wole
have sapience, shal no man dispreise; but he shal gladly techen the science
that he can, with-outen presumpcioun or pryde. / And swiche thinges as he
nought ne can, he shal nat been ashamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse
folk than him-self.” / And sir, that ther hath been many a good womman, may
lightly be preved. / For certes, sir, our lord Iesu Crist wolde never have
descended to be born of a womman, if alle wommen hadden ben wikke. / And
after that, for the grete bountee that is in wommen, our lord Iesu Crist,
whan he was risen fro deeth to lyve, appeered rather to a womman than to
his apostles. /2265 And though that Salomon seith, that “he ne fond never
womman good,” it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke. / For
though that he ne fond no good [206] womman, certes, ful many another man
hath founden many a womman ful good and trewe. / Or elles per-aventure the
entente of Salomon was this; that, as in sovereyn bountee, he fond no
womman; / this is to seyn, that ther is no wight that hath sovereyn bountee
save god allone; as he him-self recordeth in his Evaungelie. / For ther nis
no creature so good that him ne wanteth somwhat of the perfeccioun of god,
that is his maker. /2270 Your thridde resoun is this: ye seyn that “if ye
governe yow by my conseil, it sholde seme that ye hadde yeve me the
maistrie and the lordshipe over your persone.” / Sir, save your grace, it
is nat so. For if it were so, that no man sholde be conseilled but only of
hem that hadden lordshipe and maistrie of his persone, men wolden nat be
conseilled so ofte. / For soothly, thilke man that asketh conseil of a
purpos, yet hath he free chois, wheither he wole werke by that conseil or
noon. / And as to your fourthe resoun, ther ye seyn that “the Ianglerie of
wommen hath hid thinges that they woot noght,” as who seith, that “a womman
can nat hyde that she woot;” / sir, thise wordes been understonde of wommen
that been Iangleresses and wikked; /2275 of whiche wommen, men seyn that
“three thinges dryven a man out of his hous; that is to seyn, smoke,
dropping of reyn, and wikked wyves;” / and of swiche wommen seith Salomon,
that “it were bettre dwelle in desert, than with a womman that is riotous.”
/ And sir, by your leve, that am nat I; / for ye han ful ofte assayed my
grete silence and my gret pacience; and eek how wel that I can hyde and
hele thinges that men oghte secreely to hyde. / And soothly, as to your
fifthe resoun, wher-as ye seyn, that “in wikked conseil wommen venquisshe
men;” god woot, thilke resoun stant here in no stede. /2280 For understand
now, ye asken conseil to do wikkednesse; / and if ye wole werken
wikkednesse, and your wyf restreyneth thilke wikked purpos, and overcometh
yow by resoun and by good conseil; / certes, your wyf oghte rather to be
preised than y-blamed. / Thus sholde ye understonde the philosophre that
seith, “in wikked conseil wommen venquisshen hir housbondes.” / And ther-as
ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, 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. /2285 Eek som men han seyd, that “the [207]
conseillinge of wommen is outher to dere, or elles to litel of prys.” / But
al-be-it so, that 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 conseillinge. / Lo, Iacob, by good conseil of his moder
Rebekka, wan the benisoun of Ysaak his fader, and the lordshipe over alle
his bretheren. / Iudith, by hir good conseil, delivered the citee of
Bethulie, in which she dwelled, out of the handes of Olofernus, that hadde
it biseged and wolde have al destroyed it. / Abigail delivered Nabal hir
housbonde fro David the king, that wolde have slayn him, and apaysed the
ire of the king by hir wit and by hir good conseilling. /2290 Hester by hir
good conseil enhaunced greetly the peple of god in the regne of Assuerus
the king. / And the same bountee in good conseilling of many a good womman
may men telle. / And moreover, whan our lord hadde creat Adam our
forme-fader, he seyde in this wyse: / “it is nat good to been a man allone;
make we to him an help semblable to himself.” / Here may ye se that, if
that wommen were nat goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable, /2295
our lord god of hevene wolde never han wroght hem, ne called hem help of
man, but rather confusioun of man. / And ther seyde ones a clerk in two
vers: “what is bettre than gold? Iaspre. What is bettre than Iaspre?
Wisdom. / And what is bettre than wisdom? Womman. And what is bettre than a
good womman? No-thing.” / And sir, by manye of othre resons may ye seen,
that manye wommen been goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable. / And
therfore sir, if ye wol triste to my conseil, I shal restore yow your
doghter hool and sound. /2300 And eek I wol do to yow so muche, that ye
shul have honour in this cause.’ /
2258. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ same. 2260. E. (_only_) _om._ and he that _to_
book. 2261. E. Ln. despise; _rest_ dispreise. 2266, 7. E. Hn.
foond; Cm. fond. 2271. E. _om._ that. 2274. E. wiste noght. 2277.
E. Cp. Pt. _om._ of. 2291. E. (_only_) _puts_ by ... conseil after
greetly. 2297, 8. E. wisedom.
§ 16. Whan Melibee hadde herd the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he seyde
thus: / ‘I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth; he seith, that “wordes
that been spoken discreetly by ordinaunce, been honycombes; for they yeven
swetnesse to the soule, and hoolsomnesse to the body.” / And wyf, by-cause
of thy swete wordes, and eek for I have assayed and preved thy grete
sapience and thy grete trouthe, I wol governe me by thy conseil in alle
thing.’ /
§ 17. ‘Now sir,’ quod dame Prudence, ‘and sin ye vouche-sauf [208] to been
governed by my conseil, I wol enforme yow how ye shul governe your-self in
chesinge of your conseillours. /2305 Ye shul first, in alle your werkes,
mekely biseken to the heighe god that he wol be your conseillour; / and
shapeth yow to swich entente, that he yeve yow conseil and confort, as
taughte Thobie his sone. / “At alle tymes thou shalt blesse god, and praye
him to dresse thy weyes”; and looke that alle thy conseils been in him for
evermore. / Seint Iame eek seith: “if any of yow have nede of sapience, axe
it of god.” / And afterward thanne shul ye taken conseil in your-self, and
examine wel your thoghtes, of swich thing as yow thinketh that is best for
your profit. /2310 And thanne shul ye dryve fro your herte three thinges
that been contrariouse to good conseil, / that is to seyn, ire, coveitise,
and hastifnesse. /
2310. in] E. of. E. _om._ self.
§ 18. First, he that axeth conseil of him-self, certes he moste been
with-outen ire, for manye causes. / The firste is this: he that hath greet
ire and wratthe in him-self, he weneth alwey that he may do thing that he
may nat do. / And secoundely, he that is irous and wroth, he ne may nat wel
deme; /2315 and he that may nat wel deme, may nat wel conseille. / The
thridde is this; that “he that is irous and wrooth,” as seith Senek, “ne
may nat speke but he blame thinges;” / and with his viciouse wordes he
stireth other folk to angre and to ire. / And eek sir, ye moste dryve
coveitise out of your herte. / For the apostle seith, that “coveitise is
rote of alle harmes.” /2320 And trust wel that a coveitous man ne can noght
deme ne thinke, but only to fulfille the ende of his coveitise; / and
certes, that ne may never been accompliced; for ever the more habundaunce
that he hath of richesse, the more he desyreth. / And sir, ye moste also
dryve out of your herte hastifnesse; for certes, / ye ne may nat deme for
the beste a sodeyn thought that falleth in youre herte, but ye moste avyse
yow on it ful ofte. / For as ye herde biforn, the commune proverbe is this,
that “he that sone demeth, sone repenteth.” /2325
§ 19. Sir, ye ne be nat alwey in lyke disposicioun; / for certes, som thing
that somtyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do, another tyme it
semeth to yow the contrarie. /
§ 20. Whan ye han taken conseil in your-self, and han demed by good
deliberacion swich thing as you semeth best, / thanne rede I yow, that ye
kepe it secree. / Biwrey nat your conseil to no persone, [209] but-if so be
that ye wenen sikerly that, thurgh your biwreying, your condicioun shal be
to yow the more profitable. /2330 For Iesus Syrak seith: “neither to thy
foo ne to thy freend discovere nat thy secree ne thy folie; / for they wol
yeve yow audience and loking and supportacioun in thy presence, and scorne
thee in thyn absence.” / Another clerk seith, that “scarsly shaltou finden
any persone that may kepe conseil secreely.” / The book seith: “whyl that
thou kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thou kepest it in thy prisoun: / and
whan thou biwreyest thy conseil to any wight, he holdeth thee in his
snare.” /2335 And therefore yow is bettre to hyde your conseil in your
herte, than praye him, to whom ye han biwreyed your conseil, that he wole
kepen it cloos and stille. / For Seneca seith: “if so be that thou ne mayst
nat thyn owene conseil hyde, how darstou prayen any other wight thy conseil
secreely to kepe?” / But nathelees, if thou wene sikerly that the biwreying
of thy conseil to a persone wol make thy condicioun to stonden in the
bettre plyt, thanne shaltou tellen him thy conseil in this wyse. / First,
thou shalt make no semblant whether thee were lever pees or werre, or this
or that, ne shewe him nat thy wille and thyn entente; / for trust wel, that
comunly thise conseillours been flatereres, /2340 namely the conseillours
of grete lordes; / for they enforcen hem alwey rather to speken plesante
wordes, enclyninge to the lordes lust, than wordes that been trewe or
profitable. / And therfore men seyn, that “the riche man hath seld good
conseil but-if he have it of him-self.” / And after that, thou shalt
considere thy freendes and thyne enemys. / And as touchinge thy freendes,
thou shalt considere whiche of hem been most feithful and most wyse, and
eldest and most approved in conseilling. /2345 And of hem shalt thou aske
thy conseil, as the caas requireth. /
2328. in] E. of; Ln. vnto. semeth] E. list. 2332. E. to (_after_
loking); _rest_ and. 2333, 7. E. sikerly; _rest_ secreely. 2336. E.
hem; _rest_ him. 2339. E. wheither. 2340. E. co_m_e_n_li. 2343.
E. seeld. 2345. E. wiche. been] E. Hn. that been.
§ 21. I seye that first ye shul clepe to your conseil your freendes that
been trewe. / For Salomon seith: that “right as the herte of a man delyteth
in savour that is sote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeveth
swetenesse to the soule.” / He seith also: “ther may no-thing be lykned to
the trewe freend.” / For certes, gold ne silver beth nat so muche worth as
the gode wil of a trewe freend. /2350 And eek he seith, that “a trewe
freend is a strong deffense; who-so that it findeth, certes he findeth a
greet tresour.” / Thanne [210] shul ye eek considere, if that your trewe
freendes been discrete and wyse. For the book seith: “axe alwey thy conseil
of hem that been wyse.” / And by this same resoun shul ye clepen to your
conseil, of your freendes that been of age, swiche as han seyn and been
expert in manye thinges, and been approved in conseillinges. / For the book
seith, that “in olde men is the sapience and in longe tyme the prudence.” /
And Tullius seith: that “grete thinges ne been nat ay accompliced by
strengthe, ne by delivernesse of body, but by good conseil, by auctoritee
of persones, and by science; the whiche three thinges ne been nat feble by
age, but certes they enforcen and encreesen day by day.” /2355 And thanne
shul ye kepe this for a general reule. First shul ye clepen to your conseil
a fewe of your freendes that been especiale; / for Salomon seith: “manye
freendes have thou; but among a thousand chese thee oon to be thy
conseillour.” / For al-be-it so that thou first ne telle thy conseil but to
a fewe, thou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk, if it be nede. / But loke
alwey that thy conseillours have thilke three condiciouns that I have seyd
bifore; that is to seyn, that they be trewe, wyse, and of old experience. /
And werke nat alwey in every nede by oon counseillour allone; for somtyme
bihoveth it to been conseilled by manye. /2360 For Salomon seith:
“salvacioun of thinges is wher-as ther been manye conseillours.” /
2355. E. Hn. fieble; Cp. Pt. Hl. feble; Cm. feblid; Ln. fiebled. E.
encreescen.
§ 22. Now sith that I have told yow of which folk ye sholde been
counseilled, now wol I teche yow which conseil ye oghte to eschewe. / First
ye shul eschewe the conseilling of foles; for Salomon seith: “taak no
conseil of a fool, for he ne can noght conseille but after his owene lust
and his affeccioun.” / The book seith: that “the propretee of a fool is
this; he troweth lightly harm of every wight, and lightly troweth alle
bountee in him-self.” / Thou shalt eek eschewe the conseilling of alle
flatereres, swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise your persone by
flaterye than for to telle yow the sothfastnesse of thinges. /2365
2362. Hn. Cm. Hl. that; Pt. what; _rest om._ 2365. E. _om._ alle.
§ 23. ‘Wherfore Tullius seith: “amonges alle the pestilences that been in
freendshipe, the gretteste is flaterye.” And therfore is it more nede that
thou eschewe and drede flatereres than any other peple. / The book seith:
“thou shalt rather drede and flee fro the swete wordes of flateringe
preiseres, than fro the egre [211] wordes of thy freend that seith thee thy
sothes.” / Salomon seith, that “the wordes of a flaterere is a snare to
cacche with innocents.” / He seith also, that “he that speketh to his
freend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce, setteth a net biforn his feet
to cacche him.” / And therfore seith Tullius: “enclyne nat thyne eres to
flatereres, ne taketh no conseil of wordes of flaterye.” /2370 And Caton
seith: “avyse thee wel, and eschewe the wordes of swetnesse and of
plesaunce.” / And eek thou shalt eschewe the conseilling of thyne olde
enemys that been reconsiled. / The book seith: that “no wight retourneth
saufly in-to the grace of his olde enemy.” / And Isope seith: “ne trust nat
to hem to whiche thou hast had som-tyme werre or enmitee, ne telle hem nat
thy conseil.” / And Seneca telleth the cause why. “It may nat be,” seith
he, “that, where greet fyr hath longe tyme endured, that ther ne dwelleth
som vapour of warmnesse.” /2375 And therfore seith Salomon: “in thyn olde
foo trust never.” / For sikerly, though thyn enemy be reconsiled and maketh
thee chere of humilitee, and louteth to thee with his heed, ne trust him
never. / For certes, he maketh thilke feyned humilitee more for his profit
than for any love of thy persone; by-cause that he demeth to have victorie
over thy persone by swich feyned contenance, the which victorie he mighte
nat have by stryf or werre. / And Peter Alfonce seith: “make no felawshipe
with thyne olde enemys; for if thou do hem bountee, they wol perverten it
in-to wikkednesse.” / And eek thou most eschewe the conseilling of hem that
been thy servants, and beren thee greet reverence; for peraventure they
seyn it more for drede than for love. /2380 And therfore seith a
philosophre in this wyse: “ther is no wight parfitly trewe to him that he
to sore dredeth.” / And Tullius seith: “ther nis no might so greet of any
emperour, that longe may endure, but-if he have more love of the peple than
drede.” / Thou shalt also eschewe the conseiling of folk that been
dronkelewe; for they ne can no conseil hyde. / For Salomon seith: “ther is
no privetee ther-as regneth dronkenesse.” / Ye shul also han in suspect the
conseilling of swich folk as conseille yow a thing prively, and conseille
yow the contrarie openly. /2385 For [212] Cassidorie seith: that “it is a
maner sleighte to hindre, whan he sheweth to doon a thing openly and
werketh prively the contrarie.” / Thou shalt also have in suspect the
conseilling of wikked folk. For the book seith: “the conseilling of wikked
folk is alwey ful of fraude:” / And David seith: “blisful is that man that
hath nat folwed the conseilling of shrewes.” / Thou shalt also eschewe the
conseilling of yong folk; for hir conseil is nat rype. /
2368. E. chacche (_for_ cacche). Pt. to cacchen innocentes withe;
_rest_ (_except_ E.) _om._ with. 2370. E. Cp. Ln. the wordes; _rest
om._ the. 2374. E. Hn. enemytee. 2377. E. chiere. 2378. E. nat
winne; _rest_ nat haue. 2380. E. doon; _rest_ seyn. 2382. E. for
drede; _rest om._ for. 2383. E. _om._ ne. 2388. E. sherewes.
§ 24. Now sir, sith I have shewed yow of which folk ye shul take your
conseil, and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil, /2390 now wol I teche
yow how ye shal examine your conseil, after the doctrine of Tullius. / In
the examininge thanne of your conseillour, ye shul considere manye thinges.
/ Alderfirst thou shalt considere, that in thilke thing that thou
purposest, and upon what thing thou wolt have conseil, that verray trouthe
be seyd and conserved; this is to seyn, telle trewely thy tale. / For he
that seith fals may nat wel be conseilled, in that cas of which he lyeth. /
And after this, thou shalt considere the thinges that acorden to that thou
purposest for to do by thy conseillours, if resoun accorde therto; /2395
and eek, if thy might may atteine ther-to; and if the more part and the
bettre part of thy conseillours acorde ther-to, or no. / Thanne shaltou
considere what thing shal folwe of that conseilling; as hate, pees, werre,
grace, profit, or damage; and manye othere thinges. / And in alle thise
thinges thou shalt chese the beste, and weyve alle othere thinges. / Thanne
shaltow considere of what rote is engendred the matere of thy conseil, and
what fruit it may conceyve and engendre. / Thou shalt eek considere alle
thise causes, fro whennes they been sprongen. /2400 And whan ye han
examined your conseil as I have seyd, and which partie is the bettre and
more profitable, and hast approved it by manye wyse folk and olde; / thanne
shaltou considere, if thou mayst parfourne it and maken of it a good ende.
/ For certes, resoun wol nat that any man sholde biginne a thing, but-if he
mighte parfourne it as him oghte. / Ne no wight sholde take up-on hym so
hevy a charge that he mighte nat bere it. / For the proverbe seith: “he
that to muche embraceth, distreyneth litel.” /2405 And Catoun seith: “assay
to do swich thing as thou hast power to doon, lest that the charge [213]
oppresse thee so sore, that thee bihoveth to weyve thing that thou hast
bigonne.” / And if so be that thou be in doute, whether thou mayst
parfourne a thing or noon, chese rather to suffre than biginne. / And Piers
Alphonce seith: “if thou hast might to doon a thing of which thou most
repente thee, it is bettre ‘nay’ than ‘ye’;” / this is to seyn, that thee
is bettre holde thy tonge stille, than for to speke. / Thanne may ye
understonde by strenger resons, that if thou hast power to parfourne a werk
of which thou shalt repente, thanne is it bettre that thou suffre than
biginne. /2410 Wel seyn they, that defenden every wight to assaye any thing
of which he is in doute, whether he may parfourne it or no. / And after,
whan ye han examined your conseil as I have seyd biforn, and knowen wel
that ye may parfourne youre emprise, conferme it thanne sadly til it be at
an ende. /
2396. or no] E. or noon; Pt. anoon. 2397. of that] E. after hir.
2398. E. Thanne of; _rest_ And in. 2399. E. matiere. conceyve] E.
Hl. conserue. 2407, 2411. E. wheither. 2411. Hn. Cm. no; _rest_
noon (non).
§ 25. Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow, whanne, and wherfore,
that ye may chaunge your conseil with-outen your repreve. / Soothly, a man
may chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth, or whan a
newe caas bitydeth. / For the lawe seith: that “upon thinges that newely
bityden bihoveth newe conseil.” /2415 And Senek seith: “if thy conseil is
comen to the eres of thyn enemy, chaunge thy conseil.” / Thou mayst also
chaunge thy conseil if so be that thou finde that, by errour or by other
cause, harm or damage may bityde. / Also, if thy conseil be dishonest, or
elles cometh of dishoneste cause, chaunge thy conseil. / For the lawes
seyn: that “alle bihestes that been dishoneste been of no value.” / And
eek, if it so be that it be inpossible, or may nat goodly be parfourned or
kept. /2420
2413. Hl. conseil; _rest_ conseillors. 2416. E. eeris. 2417. finde]
E. mayst finde. 2420. E. Cp. if; _rest_ if it.
§ 26. And take this for a general reule, that every conseil that is
affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged, for no condicioun that
may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked.’ /
§ 27. This Melibeus, whanne he hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf dame
Prudence, answerde in this wyse. / ‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘as yet in-to this tyme
ye han wel and covenably taught me as in general, how I shal governe me in
the chesinge and in the withholdinge of my conseillours. / But now wolde I
fayn that ye wolde condescende in especial, / and telle me how lyketh yow,
[214] or what semeth yow, by our conseillours that we han chosen in our
present nede.’ /2425
2423. in-to] Cp. Ln. vnto. E. couenablely.
§ 28. ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I biseke yow in al humblesse, that ye wol nat
wilfully replye agayn my resouns, ne distempre your herte thogh I speke
thing that yow displese. / For god wot that, as in myn entente, I speke it
for your beste, for your honour and for your profite eke. / And soothly, I
hope that your benignitee wol taken it in pacience. / Trusteth me wel,’
quod she, ‘that your conseil as in this caas ne sholde nat, as to speke
properly, be called a conseilling, but a mocioun or a moevyng of folye; /
in which conseil ye han erred in many a sondry wyse. /2430
2428. E. benyngnytee.
§ 29. First and forward, ye han erred in thassemblinge of your
conseillours. / For ye sholde first have cleped a fewe folk to your
conseil, and after ye mighte han shewed it to mo folk, if it hadde been
nede. / But certes, ye han sodeynly cleped to your conseil a greet
multitude of peple, ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to here. / Also ye
han erred, for there-as ye sholden only have cleped to your conseil your
trewe freendes olde and wyse, / ye han y-cleped straunge folk, and yong
folk, false flatereres, and enemys reconsiled, and folk that doon yow
reverence withouten love. /2435 And eek also ye have erred, for ye han
broght with yow to your conseil ire, covetise, and hastifnesse; / the
whiche three thinges been contrariouse to every conseil honeste and
profitable; / the whiche three thinges ye han nat anientissed or destroyed
hem, neither in your-self ne in your conseillours, as yow oghte. / Ye han
erred also, for ye han shewed to your conseillours your talent, and your
affeccioun to make werre anon and for to do vengeance; / they han espyed by
your wordes to what thing ye been enclyned. /2440 And therfore han they
rather conseilled yow to your talent than to your profit. / Ye han erred
also, for it semeth that yow suffyseth to han been conseilled by thise
conseillours only, and with litel avys; / wher-as, in so greet and so heigh
a nede, it hadde been necessarie mo conseillours, and more deliberacioun to
parfourne your emprise. / Ye han erred also, for ye han nat examined your
conseil in the forseyde manere, ne in due manere as the caas requireth. /
Ye han erred also, for ye han maked no divisioun bitwixe your conseillours;
this is to [215] seyn, bitwixen your trewe freendes and your feyned
conseillours; /2445 ne ye han nat knowe the wil of your trewe freendes olde
and wyse; / but ye han cast alle hir wordes in an hochepot, and enclyned
your herte to the more part and to the gretter nombre; and ther been ye
condescended. / And sith ye wot wel that men shal alwey finde a gretter
nombre of foles than of wyse men, / and therfore the conseils that been at
congregaciouns and multitudes of folk, ther-as men take more reward to the
nombre than to the sapience of persones, / ye see wel that in swiche
conseillinges foles han the maistrie.’ /2450 Melibeus answerde agayn, and
seyde: ‘I graunte wel that I have erred; / but ther-as thou hast told me
heer-biforn, that he nis nat to blame that chaungeth hise conseillours in
certein caas, and for certeine Iuste causes, / I am al redy to chaunge my
conseillours, right as thow wolt devyse. / The proverbe seith: that “for to
do sinne is mannish, but certes for to persevere longe in sinne is werk of
the devel.”’ /
2438. E. _om._ thinges. Hl. _om._ hem. 2442. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. yow;
E. it. 2445. E. nat maked; _rest om._ nat. 2447. E. partie; _rest_
part.
§ 30. To this sentence answerde anon dame Prudence, and seyde: /2455
‘Examineth,’ quod she, ‘your conseil, and lat us see the whiche of hem han
spoken most resonably, and taught yow best conseil. / And for-as-muche as
that the examinacioun is necessarie, lat us biginne at the surgiens and at
the phisiciens, that first speken in this matere. / I sey yow, that the
surgiens and phisiciens han seyd yow in your conseil discreetly, as hem
oughte; / and in hir speche seyden ful wysly, that to the office of hem
aperteneth to doon to every wight honour and profit, and no wight for to
anoye; / and, after hir craft, to doon greet diligence un-to the cure of
hem whiche that they han in hir governaunce. /2460 And sir, right as they
han answered wysly and discreetly, / right so rede I that they been heighly
and sovereynly guerdoned for hir noble speche; / and eek for they sholde do
the more ententif bisinesse in the curacioun of your doghter dere. / For
al-be-it so that they been your freendes, therfore shal ye nat suffren that
they serve yow for noght; / but ye oghte the rather guerdone hem and shewe
hem your largesse. /2465 And as touchinge the proposicioun [216] which that
the phisiciens entreteden in this caas, this is to seyn, / that, in
maladyes, that oon contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie, / I wolde
fayn knowe how ye understonde thilke text, and what is your sentence.’ /
‘Certes,’ quod Melibeus, ‘I understonde it in this wyse: / that, right as
they han doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I doon hem another. /2470 For
right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong, right so shal I venge
me upon hem and doon hem wrong; / and thanne have I cured oon contrarie by
another.’ /
2455. E. answereth; _rest_ answerde (andswered). 2456. E.
resonablely. 2457. E. matiere. 2459. E. seyd; Hn. Cm. Hl. seyden.
2460. E. in; _rest_ after. 2462. E. Hn. gerdoned; _rest_ guerdoned.
2465. E. Hn. Pt. gerdone. 2466. E. encreesceden; Hn. Ln. encresceden;
Cp. Cm. encreseden; Pt. encresden; Hl. han schewed; ed. 1561,
entreteden. 2468. thilke] E. this.
§ 31. ‘Lo, lo!’ quod dame Prudence, ‘how lightly is every man enclyned to
his owene desyr and to his owene plesaunce! / Certes,’ quod she, ‘the
wordes of the phisiciens ne sholde nat han been understonden in this wyse.
/ For certes, wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse, ne vengeaunce to
vengeaunce, ne wrong to wrong; but they been semblable. /2475 And therfore,
o vengeaunce is nat warisshed by another vengeaunce, ne o wrong by another
wrong; / but everich of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth other. / But certes,
the wordes of the phisiciens sholde been understonden in this wyse: / for
good and wikkednesse been two contraries, and pees and werre, vengeaunce
and suffraunce, discord and accord, and manye othere thinges. / But certes,
wikkednesse shal be warisshed by goodnesse, discord by accord, werre by
pees, and so forth of othere thinges. /2480 And heer-to accordeth Seint
Paul the apostle in manye places. / He seith: “ne yeldeth nat harm for
harm, ne wikked speche for wikked speche; / but do wel to him that dooth
thee harm, and blesse him that seith to thee harm.” / And in manye othere
places he amonesteth pees and accord. / But now wol I speke to yow of the
conseil which that was yeven to yow by the men of lawe and the wyse folk,
/2485 that seyden alle by oon accord as ye han herd bifore; / that, over
alle thynges, ye sholde doon your diligence to kepen your persone and to
warnestore your hous. / And seyden also, that in this caas ye oghten for to
werken ful avysely and with greet deliberacioun. / And sir, as to the
firste point, that toucheth to the keping of your persone; / ye shul
understonde that he that hath werre shal evermore mekely and devoutly
preyen biforn alle thinges, /2490 that Iesus Crist of his grete [217] mercy
wol han him in his proteccioun, and been his sovereyn helping at his nede.
/ For certes, in this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept
suffisantly withouten the keping of our lord Iesu Crist. / To this sentence
accordeth the prophete David, that seith: / “if god ne kepe the citee, in
ydel waketh he that it kepeth.” / Now sir, thanne shul ye committe the
keping of your persone to your trewe freendes that been approved and
y-knowe; /2495 and of hem shul ye axen help your persone for to kepe. For
Catoun seith: “if thou hast nede of help, axe it of thy freendes; / for
ther nis noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe freend.” / And after this,
thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk, and fro lyeres, and have
alwey in suspect hir companye. / For Piers Alfonce seith: “ne tak no
companye by the weye of a straunge man, but-if so be that thou have knowe
him of a lenger tyme. / And if so be that he falle in-to thy companye
paraventure withouten thyn assent, /2500 enquere thanne, as subtilly as
thou mayst, of his conversacioun and of his lyf bifore, and feyne thy wey;
seye that thou goost thider as thou wolt nat go; / and if he bereth a
spere, hold thee on the right syde, and if he bere a swerd, hold thee on
the lift syde.” / And after this, thanne shul ye kepe yow wysely from alle
swich manere peple as I have seyd bifore, and hem and hir conseil eschewe.
/ And after this, thanne shul ye kepe yow in swich manere, / that for any
presumpcioun of your strengthe, that ye ne dispyse nat ne acounte nat the
might of your adversarie so litel, that ye lete the keping of your persone
for your presumpcioun; /2505 for every wys man dredeth his enemy. / And
Salomon seith: “weleful is he that of alle hath drede; / for certes, he
that thurgh the hardinesse of his herte and thurgh the hardinesse of
him-self hath to greet presumpcioun, him shal yvel bityde.” / Thanne shul
ye evermore countrewayte embusshements and alle espiaille. / For Senek
seith: that “the wyse man that dredeth harmes escheweth harmes; /2510 ne he
ne falleth in-to perils, that perils escheweth.” / And al-be-it so that it
seme that thou art in siker place, yet shaltow alwey do thy diligence in
kepinge of thy persone; / this is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe thy
persone, nat only fro [218] thy gretteste enemys but fro thy leeste enemy.
/ Senek seith: “a man that is wel avysed, he dredeth his leste enemy.” /
Ovide seith: that “the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde
hert.” /2515 And the book seith: “a litel thorn may prikke a greet king ful
sore; and an hound wol holde the wilde boor.” / But nathelees, I sey nat
thou shall be so coward that thou doute ther wher-as is no drede. / The
book seith: that “somme folk han greet lust to deceyve, but yet they dreden
hem to be deceyved.” / Yet shaltou drede to been empoisoned, and kepe yow
from the companye of scorneres. / For the book seith: “with scorneres make
no companye, but flee hir wordes as venim.” /2520
2488. E. Ln. Hl. yow; _rest_ ye. 2491. E grete; _rest om._ 2492. E.
sufficeantly; Hn. suffisantly. 2495. y-knowe] E. knowe. 2499. E.
taak; compaignye. E. straunge men; Cp. straunge man; _rest_ a
straunge man. 2500. he] E. he be. 2502. E. his lift; _rest_ the
lift. 2510. E. he dredeth; _rest_ that dredeth. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl.
escheweth harmes; _rest om._ 2513. fro] E. Hl. for. 2514. E.
_omits_ Senek ... enemy; _the rest have it_. 2517. E. _om._ so.
§ 32. Now as to the seconde point, wher-as your wyse conseillours
conseilled yow to warnestore your hous with gret diligence, / I wolde fayn
knowe, how that ye understonde thilke wordes, and what is your sentence.’ /
§ 33. Melibeus answerde and seyde, ‘Certes I understande it in this wise;
that I shal warnestore myn hous with toures, swiche as han castelles and
othere manere edifices, and armure and artelleries, / by whiche thinges I
may my persone and myn hous so kepen and defenden, that myne enemys shul
been in drede myn hous for to approche.’ /
2523. Cm. artelleryes; E. Hn. artelries; Hl. artilries; Cp. Ln.
archers.
§ 34. To this sentence answerde anon Prudence; ‘warnestoring,’ quod she,
‘of heighe toures and of grete edifices apperteneth som-tyme to pryde;
/2525 and eek men make heighe toures and grete edifices with grete costages
and with greet travaille; 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 wyse. / And understond wel, that the gretteste and strongeste garnison
that a riche man may have, as wel to kepen his persone as hise goodes, is /
that he be biloved amonges his subgets and with hise neighebores. / For
thus seith Tullius: that “ther is a maner garnison that no man may
venquisse ne disconfite, and that is, / a lord to be biloved of hise
citezeins and of his peple.” /2530
2525, 6. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. _omit_ apperteneth ... edifices; Cp. Ln.
_have it_; _see note_.
§ 35. Now sir, as to the thridde point; wher-as your olde and wise
conseillours seyden, that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in
this nede, / but that yow oghte purveyen and [219] apparaillen yow in this
caas with greet diligence and greet deliberacioun; / trewely, I trowe that
they seyden right wysly and right sooth. / For Tullius seith, “in every
nede, er thou biginne it, apparaille thee with greet diligence.” / Thanne
seye I, that in vengeance-taking, in werre, in bataille, and in
warnestoring, /2535 er thow biginne, I rede that thou apparaille thee
ther-to, and do it with greet deliberacioun. / For Tullius seith: that
“long apparailling biforn the bataille maketh short victorie.” / And
Cassidorus seith: “the garnison is stronger whan it is longe tyme avysed.”
/
2537. E. Ln. The longe; _rest_ that long.
§ 36. But now lat us speken of the conseil that was accorded by your
neighebores, swiche as doon yow reverence withouten love, / your olde
enemys reconsiled, your flatereres, /2540 that conseilled yow certeyne
thinges prively, and openly conseilleden yow the contrarie; / the yonge
folk also, that conseilleden yow to venge yow and make werre anon. / And
certes, sir, as I have seyd biforn, ye han greetly erred to han cleped
swich maner folk to your conseil; / which conseillours been y-nogh repreved
by the resouns afore-seyd. / But nathelees, lat us now descende to the
special. Ye shuln first procede after the doctrine of Tullius. /2545
Certes, the trouthe of this matere or of this conseil nedeth nat diligently
enquere; / for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to yow this
trespas and vileinye, / and how manye trespassours, and in what manere they
han to yow doon al this wrong and al this vileinye. / And after this,
thanne shul ye examine the seconde condicioun, which that the same Tullius
addeth in this matere. / For Tullius put a thing, which that he clepeth
“consentinge,” this is to seyn; /2550 who been they and how manye, and
whiche been they, that consenteden to thy conseil, in thy wilfulnesse to
doon hastif vengeance. / And lat us considere also who been they, and how
manye been they, and whiche been they, that consenteden to your
adversaries. / And certes, as to the firste poynt, it is wel knowen whiche
folk been they that consenteden to your hastif wilfulnesse; / for trewely,
alle tho that conseilleden yow to maken sodeyn werre ne been nat your
freendes. / Lat us now considere whiche been they, that ye holde so greetly
your freendes as to your persone. /2555 For al-be-it so that ye be mighty
[220] and riche, certes ye ne been nat but allone. / For certes, ye ne han
no child but a doghter; / ne ye ne han bretheren ne cosins germayns, ne
noon other neigh kinrede, / wherfore that your enemys, for drede, sholde
stinte to plede with yow or to destroye your persone. / Ye knowen also,
that your richesses moten been dispended in diverse parties; /2560 and whan
that every wight hath his part, they ne wollen taken but litel reward to
venge thy deeth. / But thyne enemys been three, and they han manie
children, bretheren, cosins, and other ny kinrede; / and, though so were
that thou haddest slayn of hem two or three, yet dwellen ther y-nowe to
wreken hir deeth and to slee thy persone. / And though so be that your
kinrede be more siker and stedefast than the kin of your adversarie, / yet
nathelees your kinrede nis but a fer kinrede; they been but litel sib to
yow, /2565 and the kin of your enemys been ny sib to hem. And certes, as in
that, hir condicioun is bet than youres. / Thanne lat us considere also if
the conseilling of hem that conseilleden yow to taken sodeyn vengeaunce,
whether it accorde to resoun? / And certes, ye knowe wel “nay.” / For as by
right and resoun, ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight, but the Iuge
that hath the Iurisdiccioun of it, / whan it is graunted him to take thilke
vengeance, hastily or attemprely, as the lawe requireth. /2570 And yet
more-over, of thilke word that Tullius clepeth “consentinge,” / thou shalt
considere if thy might and thy power may consenten and suffyse to thy
wilfulnesse and to thy conseillours. / And certes, thou mayst wel seyn that
“nay.” / For sikerly, as for to speke proprely, we may do no-thing but only
swich thing as we may doon rightfully. / And certes, rightfully ne mowe ye
take no vengeance as of your propre auctoritee. /2575 Thanne mowe ye seen,
that your power ne consenteth nat ne accordeth nat with your wilfulnesse. /
Lat us now examine the thridde point that Tullius clepeth “consequent.” /
Thou shalt understonde that the vengeance that thou purposest for to take
is the consequent. / And ther-of folweth another vengeaunce, peril, and
werre; and othere damages with-oute nombre, of whiche we be nat war as at
this tyme. / And as touchinge the fourthe point, that Tullius clepeth
“engendringe,” /2580 thou shalt considere, that this wrong which that is
doon to thee is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys; / and of the
vengeance-takinge upon that wolde engendre another vengeance, and muchel
sorwe and wastinge of richesses, as I seyde. /
2551. E. _om._ and whiche been they; _see_ 2552. Hk. consentid;
_rest_ consenten (_for_ consenteden); _see_ 2552.
[221] § 37. Now sir, as to the point that Tullius clepeth “causes,” which
that is the laste point, / thou shall understonde that the wrong that thou
hast receyved hath certeine causes, / whiche that clerkes clepen _Oriens_
and _Efficiens_, and _Causa longinqua_ and _Causa propinqua_; this is to
seyn, the fer cause and the ny cause. /2585 The fer cause is almighty god,
that is cause of alle thinges. / The neer cause is thy three enemys. / The
cause accidental was hate. / The cause material been the fyve woundes of
thy doghter. / The cause formal is the manere of hir werkinge, that
broghten laddres and cloumben in at thy windowes. /2590 The cause final was
for to slee thy doghter; it letted nat in as muche as in hem was. / 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 can I nat deme but by coniectinge
and by supposinge. / For we shul suppose that they shul come to a wikked
ende, / by-cause that the Book of Decrees seith: “selden or with greet
peyne been causes y-broght to good ende whanne they been baddely bigonne.”
/
2594. E. seelden.
§ 38. Now sir, if men wolde axe me, why that god suffred men to do yow this
vileinye, certes, I can nat wel answere as for no sothfastnesse. /2595 For
thapostle seith, that “the sciences and the Iuggementz of our lord god
almighty been ful depe; / ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem
suffisantly.” / Nathelees, by certeyne presumpcions and coniectinges, I
holde and bileve / that god, which that is ful of Iustice and of
rightwisnesse, hath suffred this bityde by Iuste cause resonable. /
§ 39. Thy name is Melibee, this is to seyn, “a man that drinketh hony.”
/2600 Thou hast y-dronke so muchel hony of swete temporel richesses and
delices and honours of this world, / that thou art dronken; and hast
forgeten Iesu Crist thy creatour; / thou ne hast nat doon to him swich
honour and reverence as thee oughte. / Ne thou ne hast nat wel y-taken kepe
to the wordes of Ovide, that seith: / “under the hony of the godes of the
body is hid the venim that sleeth the soule.” /2605 And Salomon seith, “if
thou hast founden hony, ete of it that suffyseth; / for if thou ete of it
out of mesure, thou shalt spewe,” and be nedy and povre. / And peraventure
Crist hath thee in despit, and hath turned awey fro thee his face and hise
eres of misericorde; / and also he hath suffred that thou hast been
punisshed in the manere that thow [222] hast y-trespassed. / Thou hast doon
sinne agayn our lord Crist; /2610 for certes, the three enemys of mankinde,
that is to seyn, the flessh, the feend, and the world, / thou hast suffred
hem entre in-to thyn herte wilfully by the windowes of thy body, / and hast
nat defended thy-self suffisantly agayns hir assautes and hir temptaciouns,
so that they han wounded thy soule in fyve places; / this is to seyn, the
deedly sinnes that been entred in-to thyn herte by thy fyve wittes. / And
in the same manere our lord Crist hath wold and suffred, that thy three
enemys been entred in-to thyn hous by the windowes, /2615 and han y-wounded
thy doghter in the fore-seyde manere.’ /
2601. E. sweete temporeel. 2608. E. eeris.
§ 40. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I see wel that ye enforce yow muchel by
wordes to overcome me in swich manere, that I shal nat venge me of myne
enemys; / shewinge me the perils and the yveles that mighten falle of this
vengeance. / But who-so wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and
yveles that mighte sewe of vengeance-takinge, / a man wolde never take
vengeance, and that were harm; /2620 for by the vengeance-takinge been the
wikked men dissevered fro the gode men. / And they that han wil to do
wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos, whan they seen the punissinge and
chastysinge of the trespassours.’ / [And to this answerde dame Prudence:
‘Certes,’ seyde she, ‘I graunte wel that of vengeaunce cometh muchel yvel
and muchel good; / but vengeaunce-taking aperteneth nat unto everichoon,
but only unto Iuges and unto hem that han Iurisdicctioun upon the
trespassours.] / And yet seye I more, that right as a singuler persone
sinneth in takinge vengeance of another man, /2625 right so sinneth the
Iuge if he do no vengeance of hem that it han deserved. / For Senek seith
thus: “that maister,” he seith, “is good that proveth shrewes.” / And as
Cassidore seith: “A man dredeth to do outrages, whan he woot and knoweth
that it displeseth to the Iuges and sovereyns.” / And another seith: “the
Iuge that dredeth to do right, maketh men shrewes.” / And Seint Paule the
apostle seith in his epistle, whan he wryteth un-to the Romayns: that “the
Iuges beren nat the spere with-outen cause;” /2630 but they beren it to
punisse the shrewes and misdoeres, and for to defende the gode men. / If ye
wol thanne take vengeance of [223] your enemys, ye shul retourne or have
your recours to the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccion up-on hem; / and he
shal punisse hem as the lawe axeth and requyreth.’ /
2623, 2624. _Not in the_ MSS. _Supplied by translating the French
text_. 2626. E. Hn. disserued. 2629. E. _om._ And. 2631. E. Ln.
_om._ for.
§ 41. ‘A!’ quod Melibee, ‘this vengeance lyketh me no-thing. / I bithenke
me now and take hede, how fortune hath norissed me fro my childhede, and
hath holpen me to passe many a strong pas. /2635 Now wol I assayen hir,
trowinge, with goddes help, that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge.’
/
§ 42. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘if ye wol werke by my conseil, ye shul nat
assaye fortune by no wey; / ne ye shul nat lene or bowe unto hir, after the
word of Senek: / for “thinges that been folily doon, and that been in hope
of fortune, shullen never come to good ende.” / And as the same Senek
seith: “the more cleer and the more shyning that fortune is, the more
brotil and the sonner broken she is.” /2640 Trusteth nat in hir, for she
nis nat stidefast ne stable; / for whan thow trowest to be most seur or
siker of hir help, she wol faille thee and deceyve thee. / And wher-as ye
seyn that fortune hath norissed yow fro your childhede, / I seye, that in
so muchel shul ye the lasse truste in hir and in hir wit. / For Senek
seith: “what man that is norissed by fortune, she maketh him a greet fool.”
/2645 Now thanne, sin ye desyre and axe vengeance, and the vengeance that
is doon after the lawe and bifore the Iuge ne lyketh yow nat, / and the
vengeance that is doon in hope of fortune is perilous and uncertein, /
thanne have ye noon other remedie but for to have your recours unto the
sovereyn Iuge that vengeth alle vileinyes and wronges; / and he shal venge
yow after that him-self witnesseth, wher-as he seith: / “leveth the
vengeance to me, and I shal do it.”’ /2650
2642. E. and (_before_ siker); _rest_ or; Hl. _om._ or siker.
§ 43. Melibee answerde, ‘if I ne venge me nat of the vileinye that men han
doon to me, / I sompne or warne hem that han doon to me that vileinye and
alle othere, to do me another vileinye. / For it is writen: “if thou take
no vengeance of an old vileinye, thou sompnest thyne adversaries to do thee
a newe vileinye.” / And also, for my suffrance, men wolden do to me so
muchel vileinye, that I mighte neither here it ne sustene; / and so sholde
I been put and holden over lowe. /2655 For men seyn: “in muchel suffringe
shul manye thinges falle un-to thee whiche thou shalt nat mowe suffre.”’ /
[224] § 44. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘I graunte yow that over muchel
suffraunce nis nat good; / but yet ne folweth it nat ther-of, that every
persone to whom men doon vileinye take of it vengeance; / for that
aperteneth and longeth al only to the Iuges, for they shul venge the
vileinyes and iniuries. / And ther-fore tho two auctoritees that ye han
seyd above, been only understonden in the Iuges; /2660 for whan they
suffren over muchel the wronges and the vileinyes to be doon withouten
punisshinge, / they sompne nat a man al only for to do newe wronges, but
they comanden it. / Also a wys man seith: that “the Iuge that correcteth
nat the sinnere comandeth and biddeth him do sinne.” / And the Iuges and
sovereyns mighten in hir land so muchel suffre of the shrewes and
misdoeres, / that they sholden by swich suffrance, by proces of tyme, wexen
of swich power and might, that they sholden putte out the Iuges and the
sovereyns from hir places, /2665 and atte laste maken hem lesen hir
lordshipes. /
§ 45. But lat us now putte, that ye have leve to venge yow. / I seye ye
been nat of might and power as now to venge yow. / For if ye wole maken
comparisoun un-to the might of your adversaries, ye shul finde in manye
thinges, that I have shewed yow er this, that hir condicioun is bettre than
youres. / And therfore seye I, that it is good as now that ye suffre and be
pacient. /2670
§ 46. Forther-more, ye knowen wel that, after the comune sawe, “it is a
woodnesse a man to stryve with a strenger or a more mighty man than he is
him-self; / and for to stryve with a man of evene strengthe, that is to
seyn, with as strong a man as he, it is peril; / and for to stryve with a
weyker man, it is folie.” / And therfore sholde a man flee stryvinge as
muchel as he mighte. / For Salomon seith: “it is a greet worship to a man
to kepen him fro noyse and stryf.” /2675 And if it so bifalle or happe that
a man of gretter might and strengthe than thou art do thee grevaunce, /
studie and bisie thee rather to stille the same grevaunce, than for to
venge thee. / For Senek seith: that “he putteth him in greet peril that
stryveth with a gretter man than he is him-self.” / And Catoun seith: “if a
man of hyer estaat or degree, or more mighty than thou, do thee anoy or
grevaunce, suffre him; / for he that ones hath greved thee may another tyme
releve thee and helpe.” /2680 Yet sette I caas, ye have bothe might and
licence for to [225] venge yow. / I seye, that ther be ful manye thinges
that shul restreyne yow of vengeance-takinge, / and make yow for to enclyne
to suffre, and for to han pacience in the thinges that han been doon to
yow. / First and foreward, if ye wole considere the defautes that been in
your owene persone, / for whiche defautes god hath suffred yow have this
tribulacioun, as I have seyd yow heer-biforn. /2685 For the poete seith,
that “we oghte paciently taken the tribulacions that comen to us, whan we
thinken and consideren that we han deserved to have hem.” / And Seint
Gregorie seith: that “whan a man considereth wel the nombre of hise
defautes and of his sinnes, / the peynes and the tribulaciouns that he
suffreth semen the lesse un-to hym; / and in-as-muche as him thinketh hise
sinnes more hevy and grevous, / in-so-muche semeth his peyne the lighter
and the esier un-to him.” /2690 Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe your herte
to take the pacience of our lord Iesu Crist, as seith seint Peter in hise
epistles: / “Iesu Crist,” he seith, “hath suffred for us, and yeven
ensample to every man to folwe and sewe him; / for he dide never sinne, ne
never cam ther a vileinous word out of his mouth: / whan men cursed him, he
cursed hem noght; and whan men betten him, he manaced hem noght.” / Also
the grete pacience, which the seintes that been in paradys han had in
tribulaciouns that they han y-suffred, with-outen hir desert or gilt, /2695
oghte muchel stiren yow to pacience. / Forthermore, ye sholde enforce yow
to have pacience, / consideringe that the tribulaciouns of this world but
litel whyle endure, and sone passed been and goon. / And the Ioye that a
man seketh to have by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable, after that
the apostle seith in his epistle: / “the Ioye of god,” he seith, “is
perdurable,” that is to seyn, everlastinge. /2700 Also troweth and bileveth
stedefastly, that he nis nat wel y-norissed ne wel y-taught, that can nat
have pacience or wol nat receyve pacience. / For Salomon seith: that “the
doctrine and the wit of a man is knowen by pacience.” / And in another
place he seith: that “he that is pacient governeth him by greet prudence.”
/ And the same Salomon seith: “the angry and wrathful man maketh noyses,
and the pacient man atempreth hem and stilleth.” / He seith also: “it is
more worth to be pacient than for to be right strong; /2705 and he that may
have the lordshipe of his owene herte is more to preyse, than [226] he that
by his force or strengthe taketh grete citees.” / And therfore seith seint
Iame in his epistle: that “pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun.”’ /
2680. E. (_only_) _puts_ may _after_ tyme. 2686. E. Hn. Cp.
disserued. 2698. E. Cm. goone.
§ 47. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I graunte yow, dame Prudence, that pacience
is a greet vertu of perfeccioun; / but every man may nat have the
perfeccioun that ye seken; / ne I nam nat of the nombre of right parfite
men, /2710 for myn herte may never been in pees un-to the tyme it be
venged. / And al-be-it so that it was greet peril to myne enemys, to do me
a vileinye in takinge vengeance up-on me, / yet token they noon hede of the
peril, but fulfilleden hir wikked wil and hir corage. / And therfore, me
thinketh men oghten nat repreve me, though I putte me in a litel peril for
to venge me, / and though I do a greet excesse, that is to seyn, that I
venge oon outrage by another.’ /2715
§ 48. ‘A!’ quod dame Prudence, ‘ye seyn your wil and as yow lyketh; / but
in no caas of the world a man sholde nat doon outrage ne excesse for to
vengen him. / For Cassidore seith: that “as yvel doth he that vengeth him
by outrage, as he that doth the outrage.” / 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. / And also, if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of your
adversaries in other maner than right comandeth, ye sinnen; /2720 and
therfore seith Senek: that “a man shal never vengen shrewednesse by
shrewednesse.” / And if ye seye, that right axeth a man to defenden
violence by violence, and fighting by fighting, / certes ye seye sooth,
whan the defense is doon anon with-outen intervalle or with-outen tarying
or delay, / for to defenden him and nat for to vengen him. / And it
bihoveth that a man putte swich attemperance in his defence, /2725 that men
have no cause ne matere to repreven him that defendeth him of excesse and
outrage; for elles were it agayn resoun. / Pardee, ye knowen wel, that ye
maken no defence as now for to defende yow, but for to venge yow; / and so
seweth it that ye han no wil to do your dede attemprely. / And therfore, me
thinketh that pacience is good. For Salomon seith: that “he that is nat
pacient shal have greet harm.”’ /
2724-7. E. deffenden, deffense. 2728. E. sheweth; Hl. semeth; _rest_
seweth.
§ 49. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I graunte yow, that whan [227] a man is
inpacient and wroth, of that that toucheth him noght and that aperteneth
nat un-to him, though it harme him, it is no wonder. /2730 For the lawe
seith: that “he is coupable that entremetteth or medleth with swich thyng
as aperteneth nat un-to him.” / And Salomon seith: that “he that
entremetteth him of the noyse or stryf of another man, is lyk to him that
taketh an hound by the eres.” / For right as he that taketh a straunge
hound by the eres is outherwhyle biten with the hound, / right in the same
wyse is it resoun that he have harm, that by his inpacience medleth him of
the noyse of another man, wher-as it aperteneth nat un-to him. / But ye
knowen wel that this dede, that is to seyn, my grief and my disese,
toucheth me right ny. /2735 And therfore, though I be wroth and inpacient,
it is no merveille. / And savinge your grace, I can nat seen that it mighte
greetly harme me though I toke vengeaunce; / for I am richer and more
mighty than myne enemys been. / And wel knowen ye, that by moneye and by
havinge grete possessions been all the thinges of this world governed. /
And Salomon seith: that “alle thinges obeyen to moneye.”’ /2740
§ 50. Whan Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde avanten him of his richesse
and of his moneye, dispreisinge the power of hise adversaries, she spak,
and seyde in this wyse: / ‘certes, dere sir, I graunte yow that ye been
rich and mighty, / and that the richesses been goode to hem that han wel
y-geten hem and wel conne usen hem. / For right as the body of a man may
nat liven with-oute the soule, namore may it live with-outen temporel
goodes. / And by richesses may a man gete him grete freendes. /2745 And
therfore seith Pamphilles: “if a net-herdes doghter,” seith he, “be riche,
she may chesen of a thousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde; /
for, of a thousand men, oon wol nat forsaken hir ne refusen hir.” / And
this Pamphilles seith also: “if thou be right happy, that is to seyn, if
thou be right riche, thou shalt find a greet nombre of felawes and
freendes. / And if thy fortune change that thou wexe povre, farewel
freendshipe and felaweshipe; / for thou shalt be allone with-outen any
companye, but-if it be the companye of povre folk.” /2750 And yet seith
this Pamphilles moreover: that “they that been thralle and bonde of [228]
linage shullen been maad worthy and noble by the richesses.” / And right so
as by richesses ther comen manye goodes, right so by poverte come ther
manye harmes and yveles. / For greet poverte constreyneth a man to do manye
yveles. / And therfore clepeth Cassidore poverte “the moder of ruine,” /
that is to seyn, the moder of overthrowinge or fallinge doun. /2755 And
therfore seith Piers Alfonce: “oon of the gretteste adversitees of this
world is / whan a free man, by kinde or by burthe, is constreyned by
poverte to eten the almesse of his enemy.” / And the same seith Innocent in
oon of hise bokes; he seith: that “sorweful and mishappy is the condicioun
of a povre begger; / for if he axe nat his mete, he dyeth for hunger; / and
if he axe, he dyeth for shame; and algates necessitee constreyneth him to
axe.” /2760 And therfore seith Salomon: that “bet it is to dye than for to
have swich poverte.” / And as the same Salomon seith: “bettre it is to dye
of bitter deeth than for to liven in swich wyse.” / By thise resons that I
have seid un-to yow, and by manye othere resons that I coude seye, / I
graunte yow that richesses been goode to hem that geten hem wel, and to hem
that wel usen tho richesses. / And therfore wol I shewe yow how ye shul
have yow, and how ye shul here yow in gaderinge of richesses, and in what
manere ye shul usen hem. /2765
2744. E. tempered. 2745. by] E. for. 2746. _All_ Pamphilles. Hn.
Hl. which she ... housbonde; _rest om._ 2750. E. Hn. al alloone;
_rest omit_ al.
§ 51. First, ye shul geten hem with-outen greet desyr, by good leyser
sokingly, and nat over hastily. / For a man that is to desyringe to gete
richesses abaundoneth him first to thefte and to alle other yveles. / And
therfore seith Salomon: “he that hasteth him to bisily to wexe riche shal
be noon innocent.” / He seith also: that “the richesse that hastily cometh
to a man, sone and lightly gooth and passeth fro a man; / but that richesse
that cometh litel and litel wexeth alwey and multiplyeth.” /2770 And sir,
ye shul geten richesses by your wit and by your travaille un-to your
profit; / and that with-outen wrong or harm-doinge to any other persone. /
For the lawe seith: that “ther maketh no man himselven riche, if he do harm
to another wight;” / this is to seyn, that nature defendeth and forbedeth
by right, that no man make him-self riche un-to the harm of another
persone. / And Tullius seith: that “no sorwe ne no drede of deeth, ne
no-thing that may falle un-to a man /2775 is so muchel agayns nature, as a
man to [229] encressen his owene profit to the harm of another man. / And
though the grete men and the mighty men geten richesses more lightly than
thou, / yet shaltou nat been ydel ne slow to do thy profit; for thou shalt
in alle wyse flee ydelnesse.” / For Salomon seith: that “ydelnesse techeth
a man to do manye yveles.” / And the same Salomon seith: that “he that
travailleth and bisieth him to tilien his land, shal eten breed; /2780 but
he that is ydel and casteth him to no bisinesse ne occupacioun, shal falle
in-to poverte, and dye for hunger.” / And he that is ydel and slow can
never finde covenable tyme for to doon his profit. / For ther is a
versifiour seith: that “the ydel man excuseth hym in winter, by cause of
the grete cold; and in somer, by enchesoun of the hete.” / For thise causes
seith Caton: “waketh and enclyneth nat yow over muchel for to slepe; for
over muchel reste norisseth and causeth manye vices.” / And therfore seith
seint Ierome: “doth somme gode dedes, that the devel which is our enemy ne
finde yow nat unoccupied.” /2785 For the devel ne taketh nat lightly un-to
his werkinge swiche as he findeth occupied in gode werkes. /
2766. E. Hn. sekyngly; _rest_ sokyngly. 2785. E. goodes; _rest_ goode
dedes.
§ 52. Thanne thus, in getinge richesses, ye mosten flee ydelnesse. / And
afterward, ye shul use the richesses, whiche ye have geten by your wit and
by your travaille, / in swich a manere, that men holde nat yow to scars, ne
to sparinge, ne to fool-large, that is to seyn, over-large a spender. / For
right as men blamen an avaricious man by-cause of his scarsetee and
chincherye, /2790 in the same wyse is he to blame that spendeth over
largely. / And therfore seith Caton: “use,” he seith, “thy richesses that
thou hast geten / in swich a manere, that men have no matere ne cause to
calle thee neither wrecche ne chinche; / for it is a greet shame to a man
to have a povere herte and a riche purs.” / He seith also: “the goodes that
thou hast y-geten, use hem by mesure,” that is to seyn, spende hem
mesurably; /2795 for they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that
they han, / whan they han namore propre of hir owene, they shapen hem to
take the goodes of another man. / I seye thanne, that ye shul fleen
avarice; / usinge your richesses in swich manere, that men seye nat that
your richesses been y-buried, / but that ye have hem in [230] your might
and in your weeldinge. /2800 For a wys man repreveth the avaricious man,
and seith thus, in two vers: / “wherto and why burieth a man hise goodes by
his grete avarice, and knoweth wel that nedes moste he dye; / for deeth is
the ende of every man as in this present lyf.” / And for what cause or
enchesoun Ioyneth he him or knitteth he him so faste un-to hise goodes, /
that alle his wittes mowen nat disseveren him or departen him from hise
goodes; /2805 and knoweth wel, or oghte knowe, that whan he is deed, he
shal no-thing bere with him out of this world. / And ther-fore seith seint
Augustin: that “the avaricious man is likned un-to helle; / that the more
it swelweth, the more desyr it hath to swelwe and devoure.” / And as wel as
ye wolde eschewe to be called an avaricious man or chinche, / as wel sholde
ye kepe yow and governe yow in swich a wyse that men calle yow nat
fool-large. /2810 Therfore seith Tullius: “the goodes,” he seith, “of thyn
hous ne sholde nat been hid, ne kept so cloos but that they mighte been
opened by pitee and debonairetee;” / that is to seyn, to yeven part to hem
that han greet nede; / “ne thy goodes shullen nat been so opene, to been
every mannes goodes.” / Afterward, in getinge of your richesses and in
usinge hem, ye shul alwey have three thinges in your herte; / that is to
seyn, our lord god, conscience, and good name. /2815 First, ye shul have
god in your herte; / and for no richesse ye shullen do nothing, which may
in any manere displese god, that is your creatour and maker. / For after
the word of Salomon: “it is bettre to have a litel good with the love of
god, / than to have muchel good and tresour, and lese the love of his lord
god.” / And the prophete seith: that “bettre it is to been a good man and
have litel good and tresour, /2820 than to been holden a shrewe and have
grete richesses.” / And yet seye I ferthermore, that ye sholde alwey doon
your bisinesse to gete yow richesses, / so that ye gete hem with good
conscience. / And thapostle seith: that “ther nis thing in this world, of
which we sholden have so greet Ioye as whan our conscience bereth us good
witnesse.” / And the wyse man seith: “the substance of a man is ful good,
whan sinne is nat in mannes conscience.” /2825 Afterward, in getinge of
your richesses, and in usinge of hem, / yow moste have greet bisinesse and
greet diligence, that your goode name be alwey kept and conserved. / For
Salomon seith: that “bettre it is and more it availleth a man to have a
good name, than for to have grete richesses.” / [231] And therfore he seith
in another place: “do greet diligence,” seith Salomon, “in keping of thy
freend and of thy gode name; / for it shal lenger abide with thee than any
tresour, be it never so precious.” /2830 And certes he sholde nat be called
a gentil man, that after god and good conscience, alle thinges left, ne
dooth his diligence and bisinesse to kepen his good name. / And Cassidore
seith: that “it is signe of a gentil herte, whan a man loveth and desyreth
to han a good name.” / And therfore seith seint Augustin: that “ther been
two thinges that arn necessarie and nedefulle, / and that is good
conscience and good loos; / that is to seyn, good conscience to thyn owene
persone inward, and good loos for thy neighebore outward.” /2835 And he
that trusteth him so muchel in his gode conscience, / that he displeseth
and setteth at noght his gode name or loos, and rekketh noght though he
kepe nat his gode name, nis but a cruel cherl. /
2790. E. chyngerie; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. chyncherye. 2837. E. crueel.
§ 53. Sire, now have I shewed yow how ye shul do in getinge richesses, and
how ye shullen usen hem; / and I se wel, that for the trust that ye han in
youre richesses, ye wole moeve werre and bataille. / I conseille yow, that
ye biginne no werre in trust of your richesses; for they ne suffysen noght
werres to mayntene. /2840 And therfore seith a philosophre: “that man that
desyreth and wole algates han werre, shal never have suffisaunce; / for the
richer that he is, the gretter despenses moste he make, if he wole have
worship and victorie.” / And Salomon seith: that “the gretter richesses
that a man hath, the mo despendours he hath.” / And dere sire, al-be-it so
that for your richesses ye mowe have muchel folk, / yet bihoveth it nat, ne
it is nat good, to biginne werre, where-as ye mowe in other manere have
pees, un-to your worship and profit. /2845 For 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; / but it lyth in the wil and in the hand of our
lord god almighty. / And therfore Iudas Machabeus, which was goddes knight,
/ whan he sholde fighte agayn his adversarie that hadde a greet nombre, and
a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was this peple of Machabee, /
yet he reconforted his litel companye, and seyde right in this wyse: /2850
“als lightly,” quod he, “may our lord god almighty yeve victorie to a fewe
folk as to many folk; / for the victorie of bataile cometh nat by the grete
[232] nombre of peple, / but it cometh from our lord god of hevene.” / And
dere sir, for as muchel as there is no man certein, if he be worthy that
god yeve him victorie, [namore than he is certein whether he be worthy of
the love of god] or naught, after that Salomon seith, / therfore every man
sholde greetly drede werres to biginne. /2855 And by-cause that in
batailles fallen manye perils, / and happeth outher-while, that as sone is
the grete man sleyn as the litel man; / and, as it is written in the
seconde book of Kinges, “the dedes of batailles been aventurouse and
nothing certeyne;” / for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another. /
And for ther is gret peril in werre, therfore sholde a man flee and eschewe
werre, in as muchel as a man may goodly. /2860 For Salomon seith: “he that
loveth peril shal falle in peril.”’ /
2852. E. Hn. a bataile; _rest om._ a. E. comth. 2853. E. come;
_rest_ cometh. 2854. E. he be; _rest_ it be. _I supply from_ namore
_to_ god; _see_ Note.
§ 54. After that Dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibee
answerde and seyde, / ‘I see wel, dame Prudence, that by your faire wordes
and by your resons that ye han shewed me, that the werre lyketh yow
no-thing; / but I have nat yet herd your conseil, how I shal do in this
nede.’ /
§ 55. ‘Certes,’ quod she, ‘I conseille yow that ye accorde with youre
adversaries, and that ye haue pees with hem. /2865 For seint Iame seith in
hise epistles: that “by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete, /
and by debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun.” / And ye knowen
wel that oon of the gretteste and most sovereyn thing, that is in this
world, is unitee and pees. / And therfore seyde oure lord Iesu Crist to
hise apostles in this wyse: / “wel happy and blessed been they that loven
and purchacen pees; for they been called children of god.”’ /2870 ‘A!’ quod
Melibee, ‘now se I wel that ye loven nat myn honour ne my worshipe. / Ye
knowen wel that myne adversaries han bigonnen this debaat and brige by hir
outrage; / and ye see wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees,
ne they asken nat to be reconsiled. / Wol ye thanne that I go and meke me
and obeye me to hem, and crye hem mercy? / For sothe, that were nat my
worship. /2875 For right as men seyn, that “over-greet homlinesse
engendreth dispreysinge,” so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse.’
/
2866. seint Iame] F. text, Seneques. 2872. E. bryge; Hn. Cm. Hl.
brige; Cp. Pt. brigge (F. text, _brigue_).
[233] § 56. Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wratthe, and
seyde, / ‘certes, sir, sauf your grace, I love your honour and your profit
as I do myn owene, and ever have doon; / ne ye ne noon other syen never the
contrarie. / And yit, if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees
and the reconsiliacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mistaken me, ne seyd amis.
/2880 For the wyse man seith: “the dissensioun biginneth by another man,
and the reconsiling bi-ginneth by thy-self.” / And the prophete seith:
“flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse; / seke pees and folwe it, as muchel as
in thee is.” / Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to your
adversaries for pees than they shuln to yow; / for I knowe wel that ye been
so hard-herted, that ye wol do no-thing for me. /2885 And Salomon seith:
“he that hath over-hard an herte, atte laste he shal mishappe and
mistyde.”’ /
§ 57. Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence maken semblant of wratthe, he
seyde in this wyse, / ‘dame, I prey yow that ye be nat displesed of thinges
that I seye; / for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth, and that is no
wonder; / and they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they doon, ne what
they seyn. /2890 Therfore the prophete seith: that “troubled eyen han no
cleer sighte.” / But seyeth and conseileth me as yow lyketh; for I am redy
to do right as ye wol desyre; / and if ye repreve me of my folye, I am the
more holden to love yow and to preyse yow. / For Salomon seith: that “he
that repreveth him that doth folye, / he shal finde gretter grace than he
that deceyveth him by swete wordes.”’ /2895
2893. to preyse] E. _om._ to.
§ 58. Thanne seide dame Prudence, ‘I make no semblant of wratthe ne anger
but for your grete profit. / For Salomon seith: “he is more worth, that
repreveth or chydeth a fool for his folye, shewinge him semblant of
wratthe, / than he that supporteth him and preyseth him in his misdoinge,
and laugheth at his folye.” / And this same Salomon seith afterward: that
“by the sorweful visage of a man,” that is to seyn, by the sory and hevy
countenaunce of a man, / “the fool correcteth and amendeth him-self.”’
/2900
2898. E. peyseth (_for_ preyseth).
§ 59. Thanne seyde Melibee, ‘I shal nat conne answere to so manye faire
resouns as ye putten to me and shewen. / Seyeth shortly your wil and your
conseil, and I am al ready to fulfille and parfourne it.’ /
[234] § 60. Thanne dame Prudence discovered al hir wil to him, and seyde, /
‘I conseille yow,’ quod she, ‘aboven alle thinges, that ye make pees
bitwene god and yow; / and beth reconsiled un-to him and to his grace.
/2905 For as I have seyd yow heer-biforn, god hath suffred yow to have this
tribulacioun and disese for your sinnes. / And if ye do as I sey yow, god
wol sende your adversaries un-to yow, / and maken hem fallen at your feet,
redy to do your wil and your comandements. / For Salomon seith: “whan the
condicioun of man is plesaunt and likinge to god, / he chaungeth the hertes
of the mannes adversaries, and constreyneth hem to biseken him of pees and
of grace.” /2910 And I prey yow, lat me speke with your adversaries in
privee place; / for they shul nat knowe that it be of your wil or your
assent. / And thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and hir entente, I may conseille
yow the more seurly.’ /
2913. E. seurely; Hn. Cp. Hl. seurly.
§ 61. ‘Dame,’ quod Melibee, ‘dooth your wil and your lykinge, / for I putte
me hoolly in your disposicioun and ordinaunce.’ /2915
§ 62. Thanne Dame Prudence, whan she saugh the gode wil of her housbonde,
delibered and took avys in hir-self, / thinkinge how she mighte bringe this
nede un-to a good conclusioun and to a good ende. / And whan she saugh hir
tyme, she sente for thise adversaries to come un-to hir in-to a privee
place, / and shewed wysly un-to hem the grete goodes that comen of pees, /
and the grete harmes and perils that been in werre; /2920 and seyde to hem
in a goodly manere, how that hem oughte have greet repentaunce / of the
iniurie and wrong that they hadden doon to Melibee hir lord, and to hir,
and to hir doghter. /
2921. Cm. oughte; Cp. Hl. aughte; _rest_ oughten.
§ 63. And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Prudence, / they
weren so surprised and ravisshed, and hadden so greet Ioye of hir, that
wonder was to telle. / ‘A! lady!’ quod they, ‘ye han shewed un-to us “the
blessinge of swetnesse,” after the sawe of David the prophete; /2925 for
the reconsilinge which we been nat worthy to have in no manere, / but we
oghte requeren it with greet contricioun and humilitee, / ye of your grete
goodnesse have presented unto us. / Now see we wel that the science and the
conninge of Salomon is ful trewe; / for he seith: that “swete wordes
multiplyen and encresen freendes, and maken shrewes to be debonaire and
meke.” /2930
2924. Hl. surprised; Cm. suppreysed; _rest_ supprised.
[235] § 64. ‘Certes,’ quod they, ‘we putten our dede and al our matere and
cause al hoolly in your goode wil; / and been redy to obeye to the speche
and comandement of my lord Melibee. / And therfore, dere and benigne lady,
we preyen yow and biseke yow as mekely as we conne and mowen, / that it
lyke un-to your grete goodnesse to fulfillen in dede your goodliche wordes;
/ for we consideren and knowlichen that we han offended and greved my lord
Melibee out of mesure; /2935 so ferforth, that we be nat of power to maken
hise amendes. / And therfore we oblige and binden us and our freendes to
doon al his wil and hise comandements. / But peraventure he hath swich
hevinesse and swich wratthe to us-ward, by-cause of our offence, / that he
wole enioyne us swich a peyne as we mowe nat here ne sustene. / And
therfore, noble lady, we biseke to your wommanly pitee, /2940 to taken
swich avysement in this nede, that we, ne our freendes, be nat desherited
ne destroyed thurgh our folye.’ /
§ 65. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘it is an hard thing and right perilous, /
that a man putte him al outrely in the arbitracioun and Iuggement, and in
the might and power of hise enemys. / For Salomon seith: “leveth me, and
yeveth credence to that I shal seyn; I seye,” quod he, “ye peple, folk, and
governours of holy chirche, / to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne to
thy brother /2945 ne yeve thou never might ne maistrie of thy body, whyl
thou livest.” / Now sithen he defendeth, that man shal nat yeven to his
brother ne to his freend the might of his body, / by a strenger resoun he
defendeth and forbedeth a man to yeven him-self to his enemy. / And
nathelees I conseille you, that ye mistruste nat my lord. / For I wool wel
and knowe verraily, that he is debonaire and meke, large, curteys, /2950
and nothing desyrous ne coveitous of good ne richesse. / For ther nis
no-thing in this world that he desyreth, save only worship and honour. /
Forther-more I knowe wel, and am right seur, that he shal no-thing doon in
this nede with-outen my conseil. / And I shal so werken in this cause,
that, by grace of our lord god, ye shul been reconsiled un-to us.’ /
§ 66. Thanne seyden they with o vois, ‘worshipful lady, we putten us and
our goodes al fully in your wil and disposicioun; /2955 and been redy to
comen, what day that it lyke un-to your noblesse to limite us or assigne
us, / for to maken our obligacioun and bond as strong as it lyketh un-to
your goodnesse; / that we mowe fulfille the wille of yow and of my lord
Melibee.’ /
[236] § 67. Whan dame Prudence hadde herd the answeres of thise men, she
bad hem goon agayn prively; / and she retourned to hir lord Melibee, and
tolde him how she fond hise adversaries ful repentant, /2960 knowlechinge
ful lowely hir sinnes and trespas, and how they were redy to suffren al
peyne, / requiringe and preyinge him of mercy and pitee. /
§ 68. Thanne seyde Melibee, ‘he is wel worthy to have pardoun and
foryifnesse of his sinne, that excuseth nat his sinne, / but knowlecheth it
and repenteth him, axinge indulgence. / For Senek seith: “ther is the
remissioun and foryifnesse, where-as confessioun is;” /2965 for confession
is neighebore to innocence. / And he seith in another place: “he that hath
shame for his sinne and knowlecheth it, is worthy remissioun.” And therfore
I assente and conferme me to have pees; / but it is good that we do it nat
with-outen the assent and wil of our freendes.’ /
2967. E. Cm. _omit from_ And he _to_ remissioun; Hn. Cp. Hl. _om. only_
is worthy remissioun, _which occurs in_ Pt., _where_ Ln. _has_ is
worthi haue mercy. E. corforme (_sic_); _rest_ conferme.
§ 69. Thanne was Prudence right glad and loyeful, and seyde, / ‘Certes,
sir,’ quod she, ‘ye han wel and goodly answered. /2970 For right as by the
conseil, assent, and help of your freendes, ye han been stired to venge yow
and maken werre, / right so with-outen hir conseil shul ye nat accorden
yow, ne have pees with your adversaries. / For the lawe seith: “ther nis
no-thing so good by wey of kinde, as a thing to been unbounde by him that
it was y-bounde.”’ /
§ 70. And thanne dame Prudence, with-outen delay or taryinge, sente anon
hir messages for hir kin, and for hir olde freendes whiche that were trewe
and wyse, / and tolde hem by ordre, in the presence of Melibee, al this
matere as it is aboven expressed and declared; /2975 and preyden hem that
they wolde yeven hir avys and conseil, what best were to doon in this nede.
/ And whan Melibees freendes hadde taken hir avys and deliberacioun of the
forseide matere, / and hadden examined it by greet bisinesse and greet
diligence, / they yave ful conseil for to have pees and reste; / and that
Melibee sholde receyve with good herte hise adversaries to foryifnesse and
mercy. /2980
2976. E. _om._ hem.
§ 71. And whan dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibee, and
the conseil of hise freendes, / accorde with hir wille and hir entencioun,
/ she was wonderly glad in hir herte, and [237] seyde: / ‘ther is an old
proverbe,’ quod she, ‘seith: that “the goodnesse that thou mayst do this
day, do it; / and abyde nat ne delaye it nat til to-morwe.” /2985 And
therfore I conseille that ye sende your messages, swiche as been discrete
and wyse, / un-to your adversaries; tellinge hem, on your bihalve, / that
if they wole trete of pees and of accord, / that they shape hem, with-outen
delay or tarying, to comen un-to us.’ / Which thing parfourned was in dede.
/2990 And whanne thise trespassours and repentinge folk of hir folies, that
is to seyn, the adversaries of Melibee, / hadden herd what thise messagers
seyden un-to hem, / they weren right glad and Ioyeful, and answereden ful
mekely and benignely, / yeldinge graces and thankinges to hir lord Melibee
and to al his companye; / and shopen hem, with-outen delay, to go with the
messagers, and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibee. /2995
§ 72. And right anon they token hir wey to the court of Melibee, / and
token with hem somme of hir trewe freendes, to maken feith for hem and for
to been hir borwes. / And whan they were comen to the presence of Melibee,
he seyde hem thise wordes: / ‘it standeth thus,’ quod Melibee, ‘and sooth
it is, that ye, / causeless, and with-outen skile and resoun, /3000 han
doon grete iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence, and to my
doghter also. / For ye han entred in-to myn hous by violence, / and have
doon swich outrage, that alle men knowen wel that ye have deserved the
deeth; / and therfore wol I knowe and wite of yow, / whether ye wol putte
the punissement and the chastysinge and the vengeance of this outrage in
the wil of me and of my wyf Prudence; or ye wol nat?’ /3005
3003. E. disserued.
§ 73. Thanne the wyseste of hem three answerde for hem alle, and seyde: /
‘sire,’ quod he, ‘we knowen wel, that we been unworthy to comen un-to the
court of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been. / For we han so greetly
mistaken us, and han offended and agilt in swich a wyse agayn your heigh
lordshipe, / that trewely we han deserved the deeth. / But yet, for the
grete goodnesse and debonairetee that all the world witnesseth of your
persone, /3010 we submitten us to the excellence and benignitee of your
gracious lordshipe, / and been redy to obeie to alle your comandements; /
bisekinge yow, that of your merciable pitee ye wol [238] considere our
grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun, / and graunten us foryevenesse of
our outrageous trespas and offence. / For wel we knowe, that your liberal
grace and mercy strecchen hem ferther in-to goodnesse, than doon our
outrageouse giltes and trespas in-to wikkednesse; /3015 al-be-it that
cursedly and dampnably we han agilt agayn your heigh lordshipe.’ /
3005. E. wheither. 3009. E. disserued. 3010. of] E. in. 3013. E.
lough; _rest_ lowe. 3016. E. Hn. dampnablely.
§ 74. Thanne Melibee took hem up fro the ground ful benignely, / and
receyved hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes up-on hir plegges and
borwes, / and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne un-to his court, / for
to accepte and receyve the sentence and Iugement that Melibee wolde comande
to be doon on hem by the causes afore-seyd; /3020 whiche thinges ordeyned,
every man retourned to his hous. /
§ 75. And whan that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme, she freyned and axed hir
lord Melibee, / what vengeance he thoughte to taken of hise adversaries? /
§ 76. To which Melibee answerde and seyde, ‘certes,’ quod he, ‘I thinke and
purpose me fully / to desherite hem of al that ever they han, and for to
putte hem in exil for ever.’ /3025
§ 77. ‘Certes,’ quod dame Prudence, ‘this were a cruel sentence, and muchel
agayn resoun. / For ye been riche y-nough, and han no nede of other mennes
good; / and ye mighte lightly in this wyse gete yow a coveitous name, /
which is a vicious thing, and oghte been eschewed of every good man. / For
after the sawe of the word of the apostle: “coveitise is rote of alle
harmes.” /3030 And therfore, it were bettre for yow to lese so muchel good
of your owene, than for to taken of hir good in this manere. / For bettre
it is to lesen good with worshipe, than it is to winne good with vileinye
and shame. / And every man oghte to doon his diligence and his bisinesse to
geten him a good name. / And yet shal he nat only bisie him in kepinge of
his good name, / but he shal also enforcen him alwey to do som-thing by
which he may renovelle his good name; /3035 for it is writen, that “the
olde good loos or good name of a man is sone goon and passed, whan it is
nat newed ne renovelled.” / And as touchinge that ye seyn, ye wole exile
your adversaries, / that thinketh me muchel agayn resoun and out of mesure,
/ considered the power that they han yeve yow [239] up-on hem-self. / And
it is writen, that “he is worthy to lesen his privilege that misuseth the
might and the power that is yeven him.” /3040 And I sette cas ye mighte
enioyne hem that peyne by right and by lawe, / which I trowe ye mowe nat
do, / I seye, ye mighte nat putten it to execucioun per-aventure, / and
thanne were it lykly to retourne to the werre as it was biforn. / And
therfore, if ye wole that men do yow obeisance, ye moste demen more
curteisly; /3045 this is to seyn, ye moste yeven more esy sentences and
Iugements. / For it is writen, that “he that most curteisly comandeth, to
him men most obeyen.” / And therfore, I prey yow that in this necessitee
and in this nede, ye caste yow to overcome your herte. / For Senek seith:
that “he that overcometh his herte, overcometh twyes.” / And Tullius seith:
“ther is nothing so comendable in a greet lord /3050 as whan he is
debonaire and meke, and appeseth him lightly.” / And I prey yow that ye
wole forbere now to do vengeance, / in swich a manere, that your goode name
may be kept and conserved; / and that men mowe have cause and matere to
preyse yow of pitee and of mercy; / and that ye have no cause to repente
yow of thing that ye doon. /3055 For Senek seith: “he overcometh in an yvel
manere, that repenteth him of his victorie.” / Wherfore I pray yow, lat
mercy been in your minde and in your herte, / to theffect and entente that
god almighty have mercy on yow in his laste Iugement. / For seint Iame
seith in his epistle: “Iugement withouten mercy shal be doon to him, that
hath no mercy of another wight.”’ /
3026. E. crueel. 3032. E. _om._ good (_twice_). 3036. or] E. and.
3051. E. _om._ him. 3057. E. in youre mynde and; _rest om._
§ 78. Whanne Melibee hadde herd the grete skiles and resouns of dame
Prudence, and hir wise informaciouns and techinges, /3060 his herte gan
enclyne to the wil of his wyf, consideringe hir trewe entente; / and
conformed him anon, and assented fully to werken after hir conseil; / and
thonked god, of whom procedeth al vertu and alle goodnesse, that him sente
a wyf of so greet discrecioun. / And whan the day cam that hise adversaries
sholde apperen in his presence, / he spak unto hem ful goodly, and seyde in
this wyse: /3065 ‘al-be-it so that of your pryde and presumpcioun and
folie, and of your necligence and unconninge, / ye have misborn yow and
trespassed un-to me; / yet, for as much as I see and biholde your grete
humilitee, / and that ye [240] been sory and repentant of your giltes, / it
constreyneth me to doon yow grace and mercy. /3070 Therfore I receyve yow
to my grace, / and foryeve yow outrely alle the offences, iniuries, and
wronges, that ye have doon agayn me and myne; / to this effect and to this
ende, that god of his endelees mercy / wole at the tyme of our dyinge
foryeven us our giltes that we han trespassed to him in this wrecched
world. / For doutelees, if we be sory and repentant of the sinnes and
giltes whiche we han trespassed in the sighte of our lord god, /3075 he is
so free and so merciable, / that he wole foryeven us our giltes, / and
bringen us to his blisse that never hath ende. Amen.’ /3078
=Here is ended Chaucers Tale of Melibee and of Dame Prudence.=
3064 E. Hn., appieren. 3078. E. his; Hn. Pt. Hl. the; Cp. Ln.
thilke. _After_ ende, Cp. Ln. _have this spurious couplet_:—
To whiche blisse he us bringe
That blood on crosse for us gan springe,
followed by—_Qui cum patre_, &c.
COLOPHON. _From_ E.; Hn. _has_—Here is endid Chaucers tale of Melibe;
Hl. _has_—Here endith Chaucer his tale of Melibe.
[241: T. 13895-13924.]
* * * * *
THE MONK’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=The mery wordes of the Host to the Monk.=
Whan ended was my tale of Melibee,
And of Prudence and hir benignitee, 3080
Our hoste seyde, ‘as I am faithful man,
And by the precious _corpus Madrian_,
I hadde lever than a barel ale
That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this tale!
For she nis no-thing of swich pacience 3085
As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence.
By goddes bones! whan I bete my knaves,
She bringth me forth the grete clobbed staves, (10)
And cryeth, “slee the dogges everichoon,
And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon.” 3090
And if that any neighebor of myne
Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne,
Or be so hardy to hir to trespace,
Whan she comth hoom, she rampeth in my face,
And cryeth, “false coward, wreek thy wyf, 3095
By _corpus_ bones! I wol have thy knyf,
And thou shalt have my distaf and go spinne!”
Fro day to night right thus she wol biginne;— (20)
“Allas!” she seith, “that ever I was shape
To wedde a milksop or a coward ape, 3100
That wol be overlad with every wight!
Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right!”
This is my lyf, but-if that I wol fighte;
And out at dore anon I moot me dighte,
Or elles I am but lost, but-if that I 3105
Be lyk a wilde leoun fool-hardy.
I woot wel she wol do me slee som day
Som neighebor, and thanne go my wey. (30)
[242: T. 13925-13962.]
For I am perilous with knyf in honde,
Al be it that I dar nat hir withstonde, 3110
For she is big in armes, by my feith,
That shal he finde, that hir misdooth or seith.
But lat us passe awey fro this matere.
HEADING. _From_ E.; Hn. Here bigynneth The Prologe of the Monkes
tale. E. murye. 3082. the] E. Hn. that. 3085. E. Hn. _omit_
For. 3094. Pt. hoom; Hl. hom; Cp. Ln. home; E. Hn. _omit._ 3099. E.
Hn. euere that I. 3110. E. Cp. Ln. hire nat; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. nat
hire.
My lord the Monk,’ quod he, ‘be mery of chere;
For ye shul telle a tale trewely. 3115
Lo! Rouchestre stant heer faste by!
Ryd forth, myn owene lord, brek nat our game,
But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat your name, (40)
Wher shal I calle yow my lord dan Iohn,
Or dan Thomas, or elles dan Albon? 3120
Of what hous be ye, by your fader kin?
I vow to god, thou, hast a ful fair skin,
It is a gentil pasture ther thou goost;
Thou art nat lyk a penaunt or a goost.
Upon my feith, thou art som officer, 3125
Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer,
For by my fader soule, as to my doom,
Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom; (50)
No povre cloisterer, ne no novys,
But a governour, wyly and wys. 3130
And therwithal of brawnes and of bones
A wel-faring persone for the nones.
I pray to god, yeve him confusioun
That first thee broghte un-to religioun;
Thou woldest han been a trede-foul aright. 3135
Haddestow as greet a leve, as thou hast might
To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,
Thou haddest bigeten many a creature. (60)
Alas! why werestow so wyd a cope?
God yeve me sorwe! but, and I were a pope, 3140
Not only thou, but every mighty man,
Thogh he were shorn ful hye upon his pan,
Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn!
Religioun hath take up al the corn
Of treding, and we borel men ben shrimpes! 3145
Of feble trees ther comen wrecched impes.
[243: T. 13963-13996.]
This maketh that our heires been so sclendre
And feble, that they may nat wel engendre. (70)
This maketh that our wyves wol assaye
Religious folk, for ye may bettre paye 3150
Of Venus payements than mowe we;
God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye!
But be nat wrooth, my lord, for that I pleye;
Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye.’
3114. E. Hn. myrie. 3119, 20. E. daun. 3129. E. Hn. Pt. Ln.
cloistrer. 3138. E. Hn. ful many. 3147, 8. E. _om. these lines;
from_ Hn.; Hn. Cm. sklendre; Cp. Pt. sclendre (sclender_e_). 3151. E.
paiementz. 3152. E. Hn. lussheburgh; Cp. lussheburghes; Hl.
lusscheburghes.
This worthy monk took al in pacience, 3155
And seyde, ‘I wol doon al my diligence,
As fer as souneth in-to honestee,
To telle yow a tale, or two, or three. (80)
And if yow list to herkne hiderward,
I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward; 3160
Or elles first Tragedies wol I telle
Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle.
Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie,
As olde bokes maken us memorie,
Of him that stood in greet prosperitee 3165
And is y-fallen out of heigh degree
Into miserie, and endeth wrecchedly.
And they ben versifyed comunly (90)
Of six feet, which men clepe _exametron_.
In prose eek been endyted many oon, 3170
And eek in metre, in many a sondry wyse.
Lo! this declaring oughte y-nough suffise.
3160. E. _omits_ yow. 3163. Cp. Pt. Ln. for to; _rest omit_ for.
3168. E. communely; Cm. comounly; Hn. Hl. comunly.
Now herkneth, if yow lyketh for to here;
But first I yow biseke in this matere,
Though I by ordre telle nat thise thinges, 3175
Be it of popes, emperours, or kinges,
After hir ages, as men writen finde,
But telle hem som bifore and som bihinde, (100)
As it now comth un-to my remembraunce;
Have me excused of myn ignoraunce.’ 3180
_Explicit_.
[244: T. 13997-14016.]
* * * * *
THE MONKES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Monkes Tale, De Casibus Virorum Illustrium.=
I wol biwayle in maner of Tragedie
The harm of hem that stode in heigh degree,
And fillen so that ther nas no remedie
To bringe hem out of hir adversitee;
For certein, whan that fortune list to flee, 3185
Ther may no man the cours of hir withholde;
Lat no man truste on blind prosperitee;
Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.
HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere). 3188. E. Pt. of; _rest_ by.
LUCIFER.
At Lucifer, though he an angel were,
And nat a man, at him I wol biginne; 3190
For, thogh fortune may non angel dere, (11)
From heigh degree yet fel he for his sinne
Doun in-to helle, wher he yet is inne.
O Lucifer! brightest of angels alle,
Now artow Sathanas, that maist nat twinne 3195
Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle.
3191. E. though; Hn. thogh.
ADAM.
Lo Adam, in the feld of Damassene,
With goddes owene finger wroght was he,
And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene,
And welte al Paradys, saving o tree. 3200
[245: T. 14017-14048.]
Had never worldly man so heigh degree (21)
As Adam, til he for misgovernaunce
Was drive out of his hye prosperitee
To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce.
3197. Cm. Hl. Damassene; E. Hn. Damyssene.
SAMPSON.
Lo Sampson, which that was annunciat 3205
By thangel, longe er his nativitee,
And was to god almighty consecrat,
And stood in noblesse, whyl he mighte see.
Was never swich another as was he,
To speke of strengthe, and therwith hardinesse; 3210
But to his wyves tolde he his secree, (31)
Through which he slow him-self, for wrecchednesse.
3206. Hl. Cp. thangel; Hn. Pt. Ln. the aungel; E. Cm. angel.
Sampson, this noble almighty champioun,
Withouten wepen save his hondes tweye,
He slow and al to-rente the leoun, 3215
Toward his wedding walking by the weye.
His false wyf coude him so plese and preye
Til she his conseil knew, and she untrewe
Un-to his foos his conseil gan biwreye,
And him forsook, and took another newe. 3220
Three hundred foxes took Sampson for ire, (41)
And alle hir tayles he togider bond,
And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire,
For he on every tayl had knit a brond;
And they brende alle the cornes in that lond, 3225
And alle hir oliveres and vynes eek.
A thousand men he slow eek with his hond,
And had no wepen but an asses cheek.
Whan they were slayn, so thursted him that he
Was wel my lorn, for which he gan to preye 3230
That god wolde on his peyne han som pitee, (51)
And sende him drinke, or elles moste he deye;
[246: T. 14049-14080.]
And of this asses cheke, that was dreye,
Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle,
Of which he drank y-nogh, shortly to seye, 3235
Thus heelp him god, as _Iudicum_ can telle.
3235. E. anon; _rest_ ynogh, ynough, ynouhe, &c.
By verray force, at Gazan, on a night,
Maugree Philistiens of that citee,
The gates of the toun he hath up-plight,
And on his bak y-caried hem hath he 3240
Hye on an hille, that men mighte hem see. (61)
O noble almighty Sampson, leef and dere,
Had thou nat told to wommen thy secree,
In al this worlde ne hadde been thy pere!
This Sampson never sicer drank ne wyn, 3245
Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere,
By precept of the messager divyn,
For alle his strengthes in his heres were;
And fully twenty winter, yeer by yere,
He hadde of Israel the governaunce. 3250
But sone shal he wepen many a tere, (71)
For wommen shal him bringen to meschaunce!
3245. E. Hn. ciser (_for_ sicer); Hl. siser; Cm. Pt. Ln. sythir; Cp.
cyder.
Un-to his lemman Dalida he tolde
That in his heres al his strengthe lay,
And falsly to his fo-men she him solde. 3255
And sleping in hir barme up-on a day
She made to clippe or shere his heer awey,
And made his fo-men al his craft espyen;
And whan that they him fonde in this array,
They bounde him faste, and putten out his yën. 3260
3257. E. Hl. heres; _rest_ heer, here. 3258. E. Hn. this craft;
_rest_ his craft.
But er his heer were clipped or y-shave, (81)
Ther was no bond with which men might him binde;
But now is he in prisoun in a cave,
Wher-as they made him at the querne grinde.
[247: T. 14081-14112.]
O noble Sampson, strongest of mankinde, 3265
O whylom Iuge in glorie and in richesse,
Now maystow wepen with thyn yën blinde,
Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.
3261. E. were; _rest_ was; _see l._ 3328.
Thende of this caytif was as I shal seye;
His fo-men made a feste upon a day, 3270
And made him as hir fool bifore hem pleye, (91)
And this was in a temple of greet array.
But atte laste he made a foul affray;
For he two pilers shook, and made hem falle,
And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, 3275
And slow him-self, and eek his fo-men alle.
3271. E. Cm. a; _rest_ hire, here. 3274. E. the; _rest_ two.
This is to seyn, the princes everichoon,
And eek three thousand bodies wer ther slayn
With falling of the grete temple of stoon.
Of Sampson now wol I na-more seyn. 3280
Beth war by this ensample old and playn (101)
That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyves
Of swich thing as they wolde han secree fayn,
If that it touche hir limmes or hir lyves.
HERCULES.
Of Hercules the sovereyn conquerour 3285
Singen his workes laude and heigh renoun;
For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.
He slow, and rafte the skin of the leoun;
He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun;
He Arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle; 3290
He golden apples rafte of the dragoun; (111)
He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle:
He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus,
And made his hors to frete him, flesh and boon;
He slow the firy serpent venimous; 3295
Of Achelois two hornes, he brak oon;
[248: T. 14113-14148.]
And he slow Cacus in a cave of stoon;
He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge;
He slow the grisly boor, and that anoon,
And bar the heven on his nekke longe. 3300
3294. E. flessh. 3296. E. Cm. hornes two; _rest_ two hornes.
Was never wight, sith that the world bigan, (121)
That slow so many monstres as dide he.
Thurgh-out this wyde world his name ran,
What for his strengthe, and for his heigh bountee,
And every reaume wente he for to see. 3305
He was so strong that no man mighte him lette;
At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee,
In stede of boundes, he a piler sette.
3308. E. stide; pileer.
A lemman hadde this noble champioun,
That highte Dianira, fresh as May; 3310
And, as thise clerkes maken mencioun, (131)
She hath him sent a sherte fresh and gay.
Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway!
Envenimed was so subtilly with-alle,
That, er that he had wered it half a day, 3315
It made his flesh al from his bones falle.
3310, 2. E. fressh. 3316. E. flessh.
But nathelees somme clerkes hir excusen
By oon that highte Nessus, that it maked;
Be as be may, I wol hir noght accusen;
But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked, 3320
Til that his flesh was for the venim blaked. (141)
And whan he sey noon other remedye,
In hote coles he hath him-selven raked,
For with no venim deyned him to dye.
Thus starf this worthy mighty Hercules; 3325
Lo, who may truste on fortune any throwe?
For him that folweth al this world of prees,
Er he be war, is ofte y-leyd ful lowe.
Ful wys is he that can him-selven knowe.
Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose, 3330
Than wayteth she hir man to overthrowe (151)
By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.
[249: T. 14149-14180.]
NABUGODONOSOR (NEBUCHADNEZZAR).
The mighty trone, the precious tresor,
The glorious ceptre and royal magestee
That hadde the king Nabugodonosor, 3335
With tonge unnethe may discryved be.
He twyes wan Ierusalem the citee;
The vessel of the temple he with him ladde.
At Babiloyne was his sovereyn see,
In which his glorie and his delyt he hadde. 3340
3336. Hl. vnnethes.
The fairest children of the blood royal (161)
Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon,
And maked ech of hem to been his thral.
Amonges othere Daniel was oon,
That was the wysest child of everichoon; 3345
For he the dremes of the king expouned,
Wher-as in Chaldey clerk ne was ther noon
That wiste to what fyn his dremes souned.
This proude king leet make a statue of golde,
Sixty cubytes long, and seven in brede, 3350
To which image bothe yonge and olde (171)
Comaunded he to loute, and have in drede;
Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede
He shal be brent, that wolde noght obeye.
But never wolde assente to that dede 3355
Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye.
3351. E. The; _rest_ To. E. Hn. Cm. he bothe; _rest omit_ he. 3352.
E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ he.
This king of kinges proud was and elaat,
He wende that god, that sit in magestee,
Ne mighte him nat bireve of his estaat:
But sodeynly he loste his dignitee, 3360
And lyk a beste him semed for to be, (181)
And eet hay as an oxe, and lay ther-oute;
In reyn with wilde bestes walked he,
Til certein tyme was y-come aboute.
[250: T. 14181-14212.]
And lyk an egles fetheres wexe his heres, 3365
His nayles lyk a briddes clawes were;
Til god relessed him a certein yeres,
And yaf him wit; and than with many a tere
He thanked god, and ever his lyf in fere
Was he to doon amis, or more trespace; 3370
And, til that tyme he leyd was on his bere, (191)
He knew that god was ful of might and grace.
3365. Wexe _is the right reading, whence_ Cm. wexsyn, _and_ Hl. Cp.
were (_for_ wexe); E. Hn. wax; Pt. Ln. was (_for_ wax).
BALTHASAR (BELSHAZZAR).
His sone, which that highte Balthasar,
That heeld the regne after his fader day,
He by his fader coude nought be war, 3375
For proud he was of herte and of array;
And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
His hye estaat assured him in pryde.
But fortune caste him doun, and ther he lay,
And sodeynly his regne gan divyde. 3380
3377. E. he was; _rest_ was he.
A feste he made un-to his lordes alle (201)
Up-on a tyme, and bad hem blythe be,
And than his officeres gan he calle—
‘Goth, bringeth forth the vessels,’ [tho] quod he,
‘Which that my fader, in his prosperitee, 3385
Out of the temple of Ierusalem birafte,
And to our hye goddes thanke we
Of honour, that our eldres with us lafte.’
3384. _I supply_ tho. _For_ vessels, _see_ 3391, 3416, 3418.
His wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes
Ay dronken, whyl hir appetytes laste, 3390
Out of thise noble vessels sundry wynes; (211)
And on a wal this king his yën caste,
And sey an hond armlees, that wroot ful faste,
For fere of which he quook and syked sore.
This hond, that Balthasar so sore agaste, 3395
Wroot _Mane, techel, phares_, and na-more.
[251: T. 14213-14244.]
In al that lond magicien was noon
That coude expoune what this lettre mente;
But Daniel expouned it anoon,
And seyde, ‘king, god to thy fader lente 3400
Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente: (221)
And he was proud, and no-thing god ne dradde,
And therfor god gret wreche up-on him sente,
And him birafte the regne that he hadde.
3400. Hn. lente; _rest_ sente (_but see_ l. 3403).
He was out cast of mannes companye, 3405
With asses was his habitacioun,
And eet hey as a beste in weet and drye,
Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,
That god of heven hath dominacioun
Over every regne and every creature; 3410
And thanne had god of him compassioun, (231)
And him restored his regne and his figure.
Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,
And knowest alle thise thinges verraily,
And art rebel to god, and art his fo. 3415
Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;
Thy wyf eek and thy wenches sinfully
Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynes,
And heriest false goddes cursedly;
Therfor to thee y-shapen ful gret pyne is. 3420
This hand was sent from god, that on the walle (241)
Wroot _mane, techel, phares_, truste me;
Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at alle;
Divyded is thy regne, and it shal be
To Medes and to Perses yeven,’ quod he. 3425
And thilke same night this king was slawe,
And Darius occupyeth his degree,
Thogh he therto had neither right ne lawe.
3422. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. truste; Pt. trest; Ln. trust; Cm. trust to. See
B. 4214. 3425. E. _om._ yeven.
[252: T. 14245-14276.]
Lordinges, ensample heer-by may ye take
How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse; 3430
For whan fortune wol a man forsake, (251)
She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,
And eek his freendes, bothe more and lesse;
For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,
Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse: 3435
This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.
3435. E. as I; _the rest omit_ as.
CENOBIA (ZENOBIA).
Cenobia, of Palimerie quene,
As writen Persiens of hir noblesse,
So worthy was in armes and so kene,
That no wight passed hir in hardinesse, 3440
Ne in linage, ne in other gentillesse. (261)
Of kinges blode of Perse is she descended;
I seye nat that she hadde most fairnesse,
But of hir shape she mighte nat been amended.
3437. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; _and_ Cp. _has the heading_—De Cenobia
Palymerie regina. 3441. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. ne in; E. nor in; Hn. ne; Cm.
nor; (ne in = n’in).
From hir childhede I finde that she fledde 3445
Office of wommen, and to wode she wente;
And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde
With arwes brode that she to hem sente.
She was so swift that she anon hem hente,
And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille 3450
Leouns, lepardes, and beres al to-rente, (271)
And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille.
She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,
And rennen in the montaignes al the night,
And slepen under a bush, and she coude eke 3455
Wrastlen by verray force and verray might
With any yong man, were he never so wight;
Ther mighte no-thing in hir armes stonde.
She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight,
To no man deigned hir for to be bonde. 3460
3455. E. Hn. Cm. the; _rest_ a. E. bussh.
[253: T. 14277-14308.]
But atte laste hir frendes han hir maried (281)
To Odenake, a prince of that contree,
Al were it so that she hem longe taried;
And ye shul understonde how that he
Hadde swiche fantasyes as hadde she. 3465
But nathelees, whan they were knit in-fere,
They lived in Ioye and in felicitee;
For ech of hem hadde other leef and dere.
3462. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; Cp. Ln. Hl. Odenake; Pt. Odonak. 3468. E.
oother lief.
Save o thing, that she never wolde assente
By no wey, that he sholde by hir lye 3470
But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente (291)
To have a child, the world to multiplye;
And al-so sone as that she mighte espye
That she was nat with childe with that dede,
Than wolde she suffre him doon his fantasye 3475
Eft-sone, and nat but ones, out of drede.
And if she were with childe at thilke cast,
Na-more sholde he pleyen thilke game
Til fully fourty dayes weren past;
Than wolde she ones suffre him do the same. 3480
Al were this Odenake wilde or tame, (301)
He gat na-more of hir, for thus she seyde,
‘It was to wyves lecherye and shame
In other cas, if that men with hem pleyde.’
3481. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; _rest_ Odenake.
Two sones by this Odenake hadde she, 3485
The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure;
But now un-to our tale turne we.
I seye, so worshipful a creature,
And wys therwith, and large with mesure,
So penible in the warre, and curteis eke, 3490
Ne more labour mighte in werre endure, (311)
Was noon, thogh al this world men sholde seke.
3485. E. _om._ this. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; _rest_ Odenake. 3492. E.
though; Hn. thogh. E. wolde; _rest_ sholde (schulde).
[254: T. 14309-14340.]
Hir riche array ne mighte nat be told
As wel in vessel as in hir clothing;
She was al clad in perree and in gold, 3495
And eek she lafte noght, for noon hunting,
To have of sondry tonges ful knowing,
Whan that she leyser hadde, and for to entende
To lernen bokes was al hir lyking,
How she in vertu mighte hir lyf dispende. 3500
And, shortly of this storie for to trete, (321)
So doughty was hir housbonde and eek she,
That they conquered many regnes grete
In the orient, with many a fair citee,
Apertenaunt un-to the magestee 3505
Of Rome, and with strong hond helde hem ful faste;
Ne never mighte hir fo-men doon hem flee,
Ay whyl that Odenakes dayes laste.
3501. E. proces; _rest_ storie. 3508. Hl. Odenakes; _rest_ Onedakes,
Odenake.
Hir batailes, who-so list hem for to rede,
Agayn Sapor the king and othere mo, 3510
And how that al this proces fil in dede, (331)
Why she conquered and what title had therto,
And after of hir meschief and hir wo,
How that she was biseged and y-take,
Let him un-to my maister Petrark go, 3515
That writ y-nough of this, I undertake.
3511. E. _omits_ that. 3512. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. had; _which_ E. Hn. Cm.
_omit._
When Odenake was deed, she mightily
The regnes heeld, and with hir propre honde
Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly,
That ther nas king ne prince in al that londe 3520
That he nas glad, if that he grace fonde, (341)
That she ne wolde up-on his lond werreye;
With hir they made alliaunce by bonde
To been in pees, and lete hir ryde and pleye.
3517. _So_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. Onedake. 3518. E. hond_e_; Pt.
honde; Ln. hande; _rest_ hond. 3523. _MSS._ made; _read_ maden?
[255: T. 14341-14372.]
The emperour of Rome, Claudius, 3525
Ne him bifore, the Romayn Galien,
Ne dorste never been so corageous,
Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien,
Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabien,
Within the feld that dorste with hir fighte 3530
Lest that she wolde hem with hir hondes slen, (351)
Or with hir meynee putten hem to flighte.
3530. Cp. feeld; Hl. feld; Ln. felde; Pt. feelde; E. Hn. Cm. feeldes.
In kinges habit wente hir sones two,
As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
And Hermanno, and Thymalaö 3535
Her names were, as Persiens hem calle.
But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle;
This mighty quene may no whyl endure.
Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle
To wrecchednesse and to misaventure. 3540
Aurelian, whan that the governaunce (361)
Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tweye,
He shoop up-on this queen to do vengeaunce,
And with his legiouns he took his weye
Toward Cenobie, and, shortly for to seye, 3545
He made hir flee, and atte laste hir hente,
And fettred hir, and eek hir children tweye,
And wan the lond, and hoom to Rome he wente.
Amonges othere thinges that he wan,
Hir char, that was with gold wrought and perree, 3550
This grete Romayn, this Aurelian, (371)
Hath with him lad, for that men sholde it see.
Biforen his triumphe walketh she
With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hanging;
Corouned was she, as after hir degree, 3555
And ful of perree charged hir clothing.
3553. _MSS._ Biforn, Bifore (Hl. Bifore this). 3555. E. _omits_ as.
[256: T. 14373-14708.]
Allas, fortune! she that whylom was
Dredful to kinges and to emperoures,
Now gaureth al the peple on hir, allas!
And she that helmed was in starke stoures, 3560
And wan by force tounes stronge and toures, (381)
Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures
Shal bere a distaf, hir cost for to quyte. [T. 14380.
3560. E. shoures. 3562. Hl. wyntermyte. 3564. Hn. Cm. Ln. cost; Pt.
coste; E. Cp. costes; Hl. self.
(NERO _follows in_ T.; _see_ p. 259.)
DE PETRO REGE ISPANNIE.
O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne, [T. 14685.
Whom fortune heeld so hy in magestee, 3566
Wel oughten men thy pitous deeth complayne!
Out of thy lond thy brother made thee flee;
And after, at a sege, by subtiltee,
Thou were bitrayed, and lad un-to his tente, 3570
Wher-as he with his owene hond slow thee, (391)
Succeding in thy regne and in thy rente.
3570. E. Hn. Cm. bitraysed.
The feeld of snow, with thegle of blak ther-inne, [T. 14693.
Caught with the lymrod, coloured as the glede,
He brew this cursednes and al this sinne. 3575
The ‘wikked nest’ was werker of this nede;
Noght Charles Oliver, that ay took hede
Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike
Genilon Oliver, corrupt for mede,
Broghte this worthy king in swich a brike. 3580
3577. E. Hn. Cm. took ay; _rest_ ay took.
DE PETRO REGE DE CIPRO.
O worthy Petro, king of Cypre, also, (401)
That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrye,
Ful many a hethen wroghtestow ful wo,
Of which thyn owene liges hadde envye,
And, for no thing but for thy chivalrye, 3585
They in thy bedde han slayn thee by the morwe.
Thus can fortune hir wheel governe and gye,
And out of Ioye bringe men to sorwe. [T. 14708.
[257: T. 14709-14740.]
DE BARNABO DE LUMBARDIA.
Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte,
God of delyt, and scourge of Lumbardye, 3590
Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, (411)
Sith in estaat thou clombe were so hye?
Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,
For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe,
With-inne his prisoun made thee to dye; 3595
But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe.
DE HUGELINO, COMITE DE PIZE.
Of the erl Hugelyn of Pyse the langour
Ther may no tonge telle for pitee;
But litel out of Pyse stant a tour,
In whiche tour in prisoun put was he, 3600
And with him been his litel children three. (421)
The eldeste scarsly fyf yeer was of age.
Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee
Swiche briddes for to putte in swiche a cage!
3597. E. Pyze; Hn. Pize; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise. 3599. E. Hn. Cm.
Pize; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise.
Dampned was he to deye in that prisoun, 3605
For Roger, which that bisshop was of Pyse,
Hadde on him maad a fals suggestioun,
Thurgh which the peple gan upon him ryse,
And putten him to prisoun in swich wyse
As ye han herd, and mete and drink he hadde 3610
So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffyse, (431)
And therwith-al it was ful povre and badde.
3606. E. Hn. Pize; Cm. Pyze; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise. 3611. E. Pt.
_omit_ wel.
And on a day bifil that, in that hour,
Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,
The gayler shette the dores of the tour. 3615
He herde it wel,—but he spak right noght,
And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght,
That they for hunger wolde doon him dyen.
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘allas! that I was wroght!’
Therwith the teres fillen from his yën. 3620
3616. E. Hn. spak right; Cp. Hl. saugh it; Pt. seegh it; Ln. sawe it.
[258: T. 14741-14772.]
His yonge sone, that three yeer was of age, (441)
Un-to him seyde, ‘fader, why do ye wepe?
Whan wol the gayler bringen our potage,
Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?
I am so hungry that I may nat slepe, 3625
Now wolde god that I mighte slepen ever!
Than sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;
Ther is no thing, save breed, that me were lever.’
3622. E. Hn. _repeat_ fader. 3628. Ln. Hl. saue; Cp. Pt. sauf; E. Hn.
but.
Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,
Til in his fadres barme adoun it lay, 3630
And seyde, ‘far-wel, fader, I moot dye,’ (451)
And kiste his fader, and deyde the same day.
And whan the woful fader deed it sey,
For wo his armes two he gan to byte,
And seyde, ‘allas, fortune! and weylaway! 3635
Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte!’
3632. E. Hl. dyde; Hn. Cp. deyde; _see_ l. 3644.
His children wende that it for hunger was
That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,
And seyde, ‘fader, do nat so, allas!
But rather eet the flesh upon us two; 3640
Our flesh thou yaf us, tak our flesh us fro (461)
And eet y-nough:’ right thus they to him seyde,
And after that, with-in a day or two,
They leyde hem in his lappe adoun, and deyde.
3640. E. flessh. 3641. E. flessh. E. Hn. _omit_ vs _after_ yaf.
Him-self, despeired, eek for hunger starf; 3645
Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pyse;
From heigh estaat fortune awey him carf.
Of this Tragedie it oghte y-nough suffyse.
Who-so wol here it in a lenger wyse,
Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, 3650
That highte Dant, for he can al devyse (471)
Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. [T. 14772.
3646. _See note to _ l. 3597.
[259: T. 14381-14412.] (_For_ T. 14773, _see_ p. 269; _for_ T. 14380, _see_
p. 256.)
NERO.
Al-though that Nero were as vicious [T. 14381.
As any feend that lyth ful lowe adoun,
Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius, 3655
This wyde world hadde in subieccioun,
Both Est and West, South and Septemtrioun;
Of rubies, saphires, and of perles whyte
Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun;
For he in gemmes greetly gan delyte. 3660
3653. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ as. 3654. E. in helle; _rest_ full lowe.
3657. E. Hn. Cm. North (_but read_ South); Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl _omit_!
More delicat, more pompous of array, (481)
More proud was never emperour than he;
That ilke cloth, that he had wered o day,
After that tyme he nolde it never see.
Nettes of gold-thred hadde he gret plentee 3665
To fisshe in Tybre, whan him liste pleye.
His lustes were al lawe in his decree,
For fortune as his freend him wolde obeye.
He Rome brende for his delicacye;
The senatours he slow up-on a day. 3670
To here how men wolde wepe and crye; (491)
And slow his brother, and by his sister lay.
His moder made he in pitous array;
For he hir wombe slitte, to biholde
Wher he conceyved was; so weilawey! 3675
That he so litel of his moder tolde!
3673, 6. E. mooder.
No tere out of his yën for that sighte
Ne cam, but seyde, ‘a fair womman was she.’
Gret wonder is, how that he coude or mighte
Be domesman of hir dede beautee. 3680
The wyn to bringen him comaunded he, (501)
And drank anon; non other wo he made.
Whan might is Ioyned un-to crueltee,
Allas! to depe wol the venim wade!
3682. E. noon oother.
[260: T. 14413-14444.]
In youthe a maister hadde this emperour, 3685
To teche him letterure and curteisye,
For of moralitee he was the flour,
As in his tyme, but-if bokes lye;
And whyl this maister hadde of him maistrye,
He maked him so conning and so souple 3690
That longe tyme it was er tirannye (511)
Or any vyce dorste on him uncouple.
This Seneca, of which that I devyse,
By-cause Nero hadde of him swich drede,
For he fro vyces wolde him ay chastyse 3695
Discreetly as by worde and nat by dede;—
‘Sir,’ wolde he seyn, ‘an emperour moot nede
Be vertuous, and hate tirannye’—
For which he in a bath made him to blede
On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. 3700
3694. Cm. Bycause that. 3695. Hn. Cm. ay; _rest omit._ [3699.
_Misnumbered_ 520 _in the_ Aldine Edition; _but corrected further on._]
This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce (521)
In youthe ageyn his maister for to ryse,
Which afterward him thoughte a greet grevaunce;
Therfor he made him deyen in this wyse.
But natheles this Seneca the wyse 3705
Chees in a bath to deye in this manere
Rather than han another tormentyse;
And thus hath Nero slayn his maister dere.
3703. E. (_only_) _omits_ a. 3707. E. any oother.
Now fil it so that fortune list no lenger
The hye pryde of Nero to cheryce; 3710
For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger; (531)
She thoughte thus, ‘by god, I am to nyce
To sette a man that is fulfild of vyce
In heigh degree, and emperour him calle.
By god, out of his sete I wol him tryce; 3715
When he leest weneth, sonest shal he falle.’
3711. E. Hn. was; _the rest_ were.
[261: T. 14445-14476.]
The peple roos up-on him on a night
For his defaute, and whan he it espyed,
Out of his dores anon he hath him dight
Alone, and, ther he wende han ben allyed, 3720
He knokked faste, and ay, the more he cryed, (541)
The faster shette they the dores alle;
Tho wiste he wel he hadde him-self misgyed,
And wente his wey, no lenger dorste he calle.
3723. E. Hn. _wrongly repeat_ l. 3731 _here._
The peple cryde and rombled up and doun, 3725
That with his eres herde he how they seyde,
‘Wher is this false tyraunt, this Neroun?’
For fere almost out of his wit he breyde,
And to his goddes pitously he preyde
For socour, but it mighte nat bityde. 3730
For drede of this, him thoughte that he deyde, (551)
And ran in-to a gardin, him to hyde.
And in this gardin fond he cherles tweye
That seten by a fyr ful greet and reed,
And to thise cherles two he gan to preye 3735
To sleen him, and to girden of his heed,
That to his body, whan that he were deed,
Were no despyt y-doon, for his defame.
Him-self he slow, he coude no better reed,
Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game. 3740
3733. E. Hn. foond. 3734. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ ful.
DE OLOFERNO (HOLOFERNES).
Was never capitayn under a king (561)
That regnes mo putte in subieccioun,
Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thing,
As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,
Ne more pompous in heigh presumpcioun 3745
Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste
So likerously, and ladde him up and doun
Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.
[262: T. 14477-14508.]
Nat only that this world hadde him in awe
For lesinge of richesse or libertee, 3750
But he made every man reneye his lawe. (571)
‘Nabugodonosor was god,’ seyde he,
‘Noon other god sholde adoured be.’
Ageyns his heste no wight dar trespace
Save in Bethulia, a strong citee, 3755
Wher Eliachim a prest was of that place.
3751. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _omit_ he. 3753. E. Hn. Cm. adoured; Cp. Pt. Ln.
Hl. honoured. 3754. E. Hn. dorste; _rest_ dar.
But tak kepe of the deeth of Olofern;
Amidde his host he dronke lay a night,
With-inne his tente, large as is a bern,
And yit, for al his pompe and al his might, 3760
Iudith, a womman, as he lay upright, (581)
Sleping, his heed of smoot, and from his tente
Ful prively she stal from every wight,
And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.
DE REGE ANTHIOCHO ILLUSTRI.
What nedeth it of King Anthiochus 3765
To telle his hye royal magestee,
His hye pryde, his werkes venimous?
For swich another was ther noon as he.
Rede which that he was in Machabee,
And rede the proude wordes that he seyde, 3770
And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee, (591)
And in an hil how wrechedly he deyde.
Fortune him hadde enhaunced so in pryde
That verraily he wende he mighte attayne
Unto the sterres, upon every syde, 3775
And in balance weyen ech montayne,
And alle the flodes of the see restrayne.
And goddes peple hadde he most in hate,
Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,
Wening that god ne mighte his pryde abate. 3780
3777. Cm. flodys; _rest_ floodes. 3778. E. Hn. moost.
[263: T. 14509-14540.]
And for that Nichanor and Thimothee (601)
Of Iewes weren venquisshed mightily,
Unto the Iewes swich an hate hadde he
That he bad greithe his char ful hastily,
And swoor, and seyde, ful despitously, 3785
Unto Ierusalem he wolde eft-sone,
To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
But of his purpos he was let ful sone.
3784. E. greithen; Hn. greithe; Cm. ordeyne. E. Hn. chaar; Cm. char.
God for his manace him so sore smoot
With invisible wounde, ay incurable, 3790
That in his guttes carf it so and boot (611)
That his peynes weren importable.
And certeinly, the wreche was resonable,
For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne;
But from his purpos cursed and dampnable 3795
For al his smert he wolde him nat restreyne;
But bad anon apparaillen his host,
And sodeynly, er he of it was war,
God daunted al his pryde and al his bost.
For he so sore fil out of his char, 3800
That it his limes and his skin to-tar, (621)
So that he neither mighte go ne ryde,
But in a chayer men aboute him bar,
Al for-brused, bothe bak and syde.
3797, 9. E. hoost, boost. 3801. E. lemes; Hn. Cp. Hl. lymes; Cm.
lymys; Ln. limes.
The wreche of god him smoot so cruelly 3805
That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte;
And ther-with-al he stank so horribly,
That noon of al his meynee that him kepte,
Whether so he wook or elles slepte,
Ne mighte noght for stink of him endure. 3810
In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte, (631)
And knew god lord of every creature.
3807. E. _om._ so; E. horriblely. 3809. E. Hn. Cm. so; Pt. Hl. that;
Cp. Ln. so that. 3810. E. Hn. for; _rest_ the.
[264: T. 14541-14572.]
To al his host and to him-self also
Ful wlatsom was the stink of his careyne;
No man ne mighte him bere to ne fro. 3815
And in this stink and this horrible peyne
He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
Thus hath this robbour and this homicyde,
That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,
Swich guerdon as bilongeth unto pryde. 3820
DE ALEXANDRO.
The storie of Alisaundre is so comune, (641)
That every wight that hath discrecioun
Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
This wyde world, as in conclusioun,
He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun 3825
They weren glad for pees un-to him sende.
The pryde of man and beste he leyde adoun,
Wher-so he cam, un-to the worldes ende.
3827. beste] Hl. bost.
Comparisoun might never yit be maked
Bitwixe him and another conquerour; 3830
For al this world for drede of him hath quaked, (651)
He was of knighthode and of fredom flour;
Fortune him made the heir of hir honour;
Save wyn and wommen, no-thing mighte aswage
His hye entente in armes and labour; 3835
So was he ful of leonyn corage.
3830. E. Hn. Bitwixen. 3832. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ was. 3834. E. man:
_rest_ thing.
What preys were it to him, though I yow tolde
Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo,
Of kinges, princes, erles, dukes bolde,
Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem in-to wo? 3840
I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, (661)
The world was his, what sholde I more devyse?
For though I write or tolde you evermo
Of his knighthode, it mighte nat suffyse.
3837. Cm. preys; E. Hn. pris: Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. pite. 3843. Hl.
_omits._
[265: T. 14573-14604.]
Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee; 3845
Philippes sone of Macedoyne he was,
That first was king in Grece the contree.
O worthy gentil Alisaundre, allas!
That ever sholde fallen swich a cas!
Empoisoned of thyn owene folk thou were; 3850
Thy _sys_ fortune hath turned into _as;_ (671)
And yit for thee ne weep she never a tere!
3851. E. Hn. Cm. aas; Cp. Pt. Hl. an aas; Ln. an as. 3852. E. Hn. Cm.
_omit_ yit; Hl. _has_ right.
Who shal me yeven teres to compleyne
The deeth of gentillesse and of fraunchyse,
That al the world welded in his demeyne, 3855
And yit him thoughte it mighte nat suffyse?
So ful was his corage of heigh empryse.
Allas! who shal me helpe to endyte
False fortune, and poison to despyse,
The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? 3860
DE IULIO CESARE.
By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour (681)
Fro humble bed to royal magestee,
Up roos he, Iulius the conquerour,
That wan al thoccident by lond and see,
By strengthe of hond, or elles by tretee, 3865
And un-to Rome made hem tributarie;
And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he,
Til that fortune wex his adversarie.
3861. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ greet. 3862. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. humble bed;
Pt. Cp. Ln. humblehede.
O mighty Cesar, that in Thessalye
Ageyn Pompeius, fader thyn in lawe, 3870
That of thorient hadde al the chivalrye (691)
As fer as that the day biginneth dawe,
Thou thurgh thy knighthode hast hem take and slawe,
Save fewe folk that with Pompeius fledde,
Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in awe. 3875
Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde!
3870. _MSS._ Pompeus, Pompius.
[266: T. 14605-14636.]
But now a litel whyl I wol biwaille
This Pompeius, this noble governour
Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille;
I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour, 3880
His heed of smoot, to winnen him favour (701)
Of Iulius, and him the heed he broghte.
Allas, Pompey, of thorient conquerour,
That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!
[3881. _Misnumbered_ 700 _in the_ Aldine edition.]
To Rome ageyn repaireth Iulius 3885
With his triumphe, laureat ful hye,
But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
That ever hadde of his hye estaat envye,
Ful prively hath maad conspiracye
Ageins this Iulius, in subtil wyse, 3890
And cast the place, in whiche he sholde dye (711)
With boydekins, as I shal yow devyse.
3887. _So in the MSS.; observe_ hath _in l._ 3889.
This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,
And in the Capitolie anon him hente 3895
This false Brutus, and his othere foon,
And stikede him with boydekins anoon
With many a wounde, and thus they lete him lye;
But never gronte he at no strook but oon,
Or elles at two, but-if his storie lye. 3900
So manly was this Iulius at herte (721)
And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,
That, though his deedly woundes sore smerte,
His mantel over his hippes casteth he,
For no man sholde seen his privitee. 3905
And, as he lay on deying in a traunce,
And wiste verraily that deed was he,
Of honestee yit hadde he remembraunce.
3904. Cm. castyth; _rest_ caste, cast. 3906. Cm. on deyinge; Pt. on
dyinge; Ln. in deynge; E. Hn. of dyyng.
[267: T. 14637-14668.]
Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,
And to Sweton, and to Valerie also, 3910
That of this storie wryten word and ende, (731)
How that to thise grete conqueroures two
Fortune was first freend, and sithen fo.
No man ne truste up-on hir favour longe,
But have hir in awayt for ever-mo. 3915
Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.
3910. Hl. Valirien; _rest_ Valerius; ed. 1561, Valerie. 3911. _The
MSS. have_ word (_for_ ord); _see the note._ 3913. E. sitthe; Hl.
siththen; Hn. Cm. siththe a.
CRESUS.
This riche Cresus, whylom king of Lyde,
Of whiche Cresus Cyrus sore him dradde,
Yit was he caught amiddes al his pryde,
And to be brent men to the fyr him ladde. 3920
But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde (741)
That slow the fyr, and made him to escape;
But to be war no grace yet he hadde,
Til fortune on the galwes made him gape.
Whan he escaped was, he can nat stente 3925
For to biginne a newe werre agayn.
He wende wel, for that fortune him sente
Swich hap, that he escaped thurgh the rayn,
That of his foos he mighte nat be slayn;
And eek a sweven up-on a night he mette, 3930
Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn, (751)
That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette.
Up-on a tree he was, as that him thoughte,
Ther Iuppiter him wesh, bothe bak and syde,
And Phebus eek a fair towaille him broughte 3935
To drye him with, and ther-for wex his pryde;
And to his doghter, that stood him bisyde,
Which that he knew in heigh science habounde,
He bad hir telle him what it signifyde,
And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde. 3940
3936. Cm. Pt. Ln. wex; _rest_ wax.
[268: T. 14669-14684.]
‘The tree,’ quod she, ‘the galwes is to mene, (761)
And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
And Phebus, with his towaille so clene,
Tho ben the sonne stremes for to seyn;
Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn; 3945
Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye;’
Thus warned she him ful plat and ful pleyn,
His doughter, which that called was Phanye.
3944. E. bemes; _rest_ stremes. 3947. Pt. Ln. Hl. she; _rest omit_.
Anhanged was Cresus, the proude king,
His royal trone mighte him nat availle.— 3950
Tragedie is noon other maner thing, (771)
Ne can in singing crye ne biwaille,
But for that fortune alwey wol assaille
With unwar strook the regnes that ben proude;
For when men trusteth hir, than wol she faille, 3955
And covere hir brighte face with a cloude. [See p. 256.
_Explicit Tragedia_.
=Here stinteth the Knight the Monk of his Tale.=
3951. Cm. Tragedy is; _so_ Cp. Pt.; Ln. Tregedrye in; E. Hn. Tragedies;
Hl. Tegredis(!). 3953. Cm. Hl. for; _rest omit_. [3956. _Reckoned
as 775 in the_ Aldine edition; _but really_ 776.] _After l._ 3956, E.
Hn. Cm. _have_ ll. 3565-3652. COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn. Here is ended
the Monkes tale.
[269: T. 14773-14798.]
* * * * *
THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE.
* * * * *
=The prologue of the Nonne Preestes Tale.=
‘Ho!’ quod the knight, ‘good sir, na-more of this,
That ye han seyd is right y-nough, y-wis,
And mochel more; for litel hevinesse
Is right y-nough to mochel folk, I gesse. 3960
I seye for me, it is a greet disese
Wher-as men han ben in greet welthe and ese,
To heren of hir sodeyn fal, allas!
And the contrarie is Ioie and greet solas,
As whan a man hath been in povre estaat, 3965
And clymbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, (10)
And ther abydeth in prosperitee,
Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me,
And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.’
‘Ye,’ quod our hoste, ‘by seint Poules belle, 3970
Ye seye right sooth; this monk, he clappeth loude,
He spak how “fortune covered with a cloude”
I noot never what, and als of a “Tragedie”
Right now ye herde, and parde! no remedie
It is for to biwaille, ne compleyne 3975
That that is doon, and als it is a peyne, (20)
As ye han seyd, to here of hevinesse.
Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow blesse!
Your tale anoyeth al this companye;
Swich talking is nat worth a boterflye; 3980
For ther-in is ther no desport ne game.
Wherfor, sir Monk, or dan Piers by your name,
[270: T. 14799-14826.]
I preye yow hertely, telle us somwhat elles,
For sikerly, nere clinking of your belles,
That on your brydel hange on every syde, 3985
By heven king, that for us alle dyde, (30)
I sholde er this han fallen doun for slepe,
Although the slough had never been so depe;
Than had your tale al be told in vayn.
For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, 3990
“Wher-as a man may have noon audience,
Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.”
And wel I woot the substance is in me,
If any thing shal wel reported be.
Sir, sey somwhat of hunting, I yow preye.’ 3995
‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘I have no lust to pleye; (40)
Now let another telle, as I have told.’
Than spak our host, with rude speche and bold,
And seyde un-to the Nonnes Preest anon,
‘Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou sir Iohn, 4000
Tel us swich thing as may our hertes glade,
Be blythe, though thou ryde up-on a Iade.
What though thyn hors be bothe foule and lene,
If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene;
Look that thyn herte be mery evermo.’ 4005
‘Yis, sir,’ quod he, ‘yis, host, so mote I go, (50)
But I be mery, y-wis, I wol be blamed:‘—
And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
And thus he seyde un-to us everichon,
This swete preest, this goodly man, sir Iohn. 4010
_Explicit._
3982. Pt. or; Hn. o; _rest omit._ 4002. though] Hl. al-though.
4004. Pt. Hl. rek. 4005. E. Hn. murie; _rest_ mery. 4006. Cp. Ln.
Yis, ost, quod he, so mote I ryde or go.
[271: T. 14827-14852.]
* * * * *
THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Nonne Preestes Tale of the Cok
and Hen, Chauntecleer and Pertelote.=
A povre widwe, somdel stope in age,
Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cotage,
Bisyde a grove, stonding in a dale.
This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015
In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf,
For litel was hir catel and hir rente;
By housbondrye, of such as God hir sente,
She fond hir-self, and eek hir doghtren two.
Three large sowes hadde she, and namo, 4020
Three kyn, and eek a sheep that highte Malle. (11)
Ful sooty was hir bour, and eek hir halle,
In which she eet ful many a sclendre meel.
Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte; 4025
Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote.
Repleccioun ne made hir never syk;
Attempree dyete was al hir phisyk,
And exercyse, and hertes suffisaunce.
The goute lette hir no-thing for to daunce, 4030
Napoplexye shente nat hir heed; (21)
No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne reed;
Hir bord was served most with whyt and blak,
Milk and broun breed, in which she fond no lak,
Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye, 4035
For she was as it were a maner deye.
4011. E. Hn. stape; Ln. stoupe; _rest_ stope. 4013. E. grene. 4021.
E. keen; Hn. Hl. Cp. kyn. 4031. E. Hn. Napoplexie; _rest_ Ne
poplexie.
[272: T. 14853-14887.]
A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
With stikkes, and a drye dich with-oute,
In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer,
In al the land of crowing nas his peer. 4040
His vois was merier than the mery orgon (31)
On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon;
Wel sikerer was his crowing in his logge,
Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge.
By nature knew he ech ascencioun 4045
Of equinoxial in thilke toun;
For whan degrees fiftene were ascended,
Thanne crew he, that it mighte nat ben amended.
His comb was redder than the fyn coral,
And batailed, as it were a castel-wal. 4050
His bile was blak, and as the Ieet it shoon; (41)
Lyk asur were his legges, and his toon;
His nayles whytter than the lilie flour,
And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce 4055
Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce,
Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,
And wonder lyk to him, as of colours.
Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 4060
Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire, (51)
And compaignable, and bar hir-self so faire,
Sin thilke day that she was seven night old,
That trewely she hath the herte in hold
Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith; 4065
He loved hir so, that wel was him therwith.
But such a Ioye was it to here hem singe,
Whan that the brighte sonne gan to springe,
In swete accord, ‘my lief is faren in londe.’
For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, 4070
Bestes and briddes coude speke and singe. (61)
4039. E. Hn. heet; Cp. that highte; _rest_ that hight. 4041. E. Hn.
Cm. murier. E. Cm. murie. 4045. Hl. knew he; E. Pt. he crew; _rest_
he knew. 4046. E. Ln. _ins._ the _after_ Of. 4051. Hl. geet; Pt.
Ln. gete. 4054. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. burnischt. 4062. Hl. ful (_for_
so). 4068. E. Cm. Ln. bigan.
[273: T. 14888-14924.]
And so bifel, that in a daweninge,
As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle
Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
And next him sat this faire Pertelote, 4075
This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
As man that in his dreem is drecched sore.
And whan that Pertelote thus herde him rore,
She was agast, and seyde, ‘O herte dere,
What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere? 4080
Ye been a verray sleper, fy for shame!’ (71)
And he answerde and seyde thus, ‘madame,
I pray yow, that ye take it nat a-grief:
By god, me mette I was in swich meschief
Right now, that yet myn herte is sore afright. 4085
Now god,’ quod he, ‘my swevene recche aright,
And keep my body out of foul prisoun!
Me mette, how that I romed up and doun
Withinne our yerde, wher-as I saugh a beste,
Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areste 4090
Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed. (81)
His colour was bitwixe yelwe and reed;
And tipped was his tail, and bothe his eres,
With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heres;
His snowte smal, with glowinge eyen tweye. 4095
Yet of his look for fere almost I deye;
This caused me my groning, doutelees.’
4072. a] E. Pt. the. 4079. E. o; _rest om._ 4084. mette] E.
thoughte. 4086. E. Hn. recche; Cm. reche; _rest_ rede, reed. 4091.
E. Hn. Cm. _om._ wolde.
‘Avoy!’ quod she, ‘fy on yow, hertelees!
Allas!’ quod she, ‘for, by that god above,
Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love; 4100
I can nat love a coward, by my feith. (91)
For certes, what so any womman seith,
We alle desyren, if it mighte be,
To han housbondes hardy, wyse, and free,
And secree, and no nigard, ne no fool, 4105
Ne him that is agast of every tool,
Ne noon avauntour, by that god above!
How dorste ye seyn for shame unto your love,
[274: T. 14925-14960.]
That any thing mighte make yow aferd?
Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? 4110
Allas! and conne ye been agast of swevenis? (101)
No-thing, god wot, but vanitee, in sweven is.
Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
And ofte of fume, and of complecciouns,
Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 4115
Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-night,
Cometh of the grete superfluitee
Of youre rede _colera_, pardee,
Which causeth folk to dreden in here dremes
Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, 4120
Of grete bestes, that they wol hem byte, (111)
Of contek, and of whelpes grete and lyte;
Right as the humour of malencolye
Causeth ful many a man, in sleep, to crye,
For fere of blake beres, or boles blake, 4125
Or elles, blake develes wole hem take.
Of othere humours coude I telle also,
That werken many a man in sleep ful wo;
But I wol passe as lightly as I can.
4117. E. _om._ the, _and has_ greet. 4119. E. Hn. Cm. dreden; _rest_
dremen; _see_ 4159. 4121. E. grete; _rest_ rede. 4125. _So_ E. Hn.
Cm.; Cp. of beres and of boles; Ln. Pt. of beres and boles; Hl. of
beres or of boles.
Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man, 4130
Seyde he nat thus, ne do no fors of dremes? (121)
Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘whan we flee fro the bemes,
For Goddes love, as tak som laxatyf;
Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf,
I counseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, 4135
That bothe of colere and of malencolye
Ye purge yow; and for ye shul nat tarie,
Though in this toun is noon apotecarie,
I shal my-self to herbes techen yow,
That shul ben for your hele, and for your prow; 4140
And in our yerd tho herbes shal I finde, (131)
The whiche han of hir propretee, by kinde,
To purgen yow binethe, and eek above.
Forget not this, for goddes owene love!
[275: T. 14961-14996.]
Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun. 4145
Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hote;
And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,
That ye shul have a fevere terciane,
Or an agu, that may be youre bane. 4150
A day or two ye shul have digestyves (141)
Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves,
Of lauriol, centaure, and fumetere,
Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,
Of catapuce, or of gaytres beryis, 4155
Of erbe yve, growing in our yerd, that mery is;
Pekke hem up right as they growe, and ete hem in.
Be mery, housbond, for your fader kin!
Dredeth no dreem; I can say yow na-more.’
4132. E. ye; _rest_ we. 4136, 7. Hl. _om._ 4155. Cp. Ln. gaytres;
E. gaitrys; Hn. gaytrys; Hl. gaytre; Cm. gattris; Pt. gatys. 4156.
Ln. that; Hn. they; _rest_ ther.
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘_graunt mercy_ of your lore. 4160
But nathelees, as touching daun Catoun, (151)
That hath of wisdom such a greet renoun,
Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
By god, men may in olde bokes rede
Of many a man, more of auctoritee 4165
Than ever Catoun was, so mote I thee,
Than al the revers seyn of his sentence,
And han wel founden by experience,
That dremes ben significaciouns,
As wel of Ioye as tribulaciouns 4170
That folk enduren in this lyf present. (161)
Ther nedeth make of this noon argument;
The verray preve sheweth it in dede.
4166. Hn. Cm. Cp. mote; E. moot. 4167. his] E. Pt. this. 4170. E.
Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. _ins._ of _after_ as.
Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede
Seith thus, that whylom two felawes wente 4175
On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente;
And happed so, thay come into 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, 4180
[276: T. 14997-15033.]
In which they bothe mighte y-logged be. (171)
Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee,
As for that night, departen compaignye;
And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye,
And took his logging as it wolde falle. 4185
That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough;
That other man was logged wel y-nough,
As was his aventure, or his fortune,
That us governeth alle as in commune. 4190
4174. Cm. autourys; Hl. auctorite; _rest_ auctour (_sic_). 4177. E.
Hn. coomen in; Cm. comyn in. 4181. E. logged.
And so bifel, that, longe er it were day, (181)
This man mette in his bed, ther-as he lay,
How that his felawe gan up-on him calle,
And seyde, ‘allas! for in an oxes stalle
This night I shal be mordred ther I lye. 4195
Now help me, dere brother, er I dye;
In alle haste com to me,’ he sayde.
This man out of his sleep for fere abrayde;
But whan that he was wakned of his sleep,
He turned him, and took of this no keep; 4200
Him thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee. (191)
Thus twyës in his sleping dremed he.
And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
Cam, as him thoughte, and seide, ‘I am now slawe;
Bihold my blody woundes, depe and wyde! 4205
Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde,
And at the west gate of the toun,’ quod he,
‘A carte ful of donge ther shaltow see,
In which my body is hid ful prively;
Do thilke carte aresten boldely. 4210
My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn;’ (201)
And tolde him every poynt how he was slayn,
With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful trewe;
For on the morwe, as sone as it was day, 4215
To his felawes in he took the way;
And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
[277: T. 15034-15069.]
After his felawe he bigan to calle.
4194. Hl. Cp. Ln. oxe. 4196. er] Ln. ar; E. Hn. Hl. or. 4200. E.
it; _rest_ this. 4210. E. arresten. 4217. Hl. Cp. Ln. oxe.
The hostiler answered him anon,
And seyde, ‘sire, your felawe is agon, 4220
As sone as day he wente out of the toun.’ (211)
This man gan fallen in suspecioun,
Remembring on his dremes that he mette,
And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette,
Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond 4225
A dong-carte, as it were to donge lond,
That was arrayed in the same wyse
As ye han herd the dede man devyse;
And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
Vengeaunce and Iustice of this felonye:— 4230
‘My felawe mordred is this same night, (221)
And in this carte he lyth gapinge upright.
I crye out on the ministres,’ quod he,
‘That sholden kepe and reulen this citee;
Harrow! allas! her lyth my felawe slayn!’ 4235
What sholde I more un-to this tale sayn?
The peple out-sterte, and caste the cart to grounde,
And in the middel of the dong they founde
The dede man, that mordred was al newe.
4219. Cp. Hl. answered; E. Hn. answerde. 4222. Hl. _ins._ a _after_
in; Cp. Pt. Ln. _ins._ gret (grete). 4226. Hn. Cm. Hl. wente as it
were; Cp. Pt. Ln. as he wente. 4232. E. Hn. Cm. _ins._ heere _after_
carte.
O blisful god, that art so Iust and trewe! 4240
Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway! (231)
Mordre wol out, that see we day by day.
Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable
To god, that is so Iust and resonable,
That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be; 4245
Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or three,
Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.
And right anoon, ministres of that toun
Han hent the carter, and so sore him pyned,
And eek the hostiler so sore engyned, 4250
That thay biknewe hir wikkednesse anoon, (241)
And were an-hanged by the nekke-boon.
4247. E. Hn. Cm. this (this is _being pronounced_ this); _rest_ this
is. 4248. Hl. _ins._ the _after_ anoon.
Here may men seen that dremes been to drede.
[278: T. 15070-15105.]
And certes, in the same book I rede,
Right in the nexte chapitre after this, 4255
(I gabbe nat, so have I Ioye or blis,)
Two men that wolde han passed over see,
For certeyn cause, in-to a fer contree,
If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie,
That made hem in a citee for to tarie, 4260
That stood ful mery upon an haven-syde. (251)
But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
Iolif and glad they wente un-to hir reste,
And casten hem ful erly for to saille; 4265
But to that oo man fil a greet mervaille.
That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay,
Him mette a wonder dreem, agayn the day;
Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
And him comaunded, that he sholde abyde, 4270
And seyde him thus, ‘if thou to-morwe wende, (261)
Thou shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.’
He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette,
And preyde him his viage for to lette;
As for that day, he preyde him to abyde. 4275
His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
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 thinges.
I sette not a straw by thy dreminges, 4280
For swevenes been but vanitees and Iapes. (271)
Men dreme al-day of owles or of apes,
And eke of many a mase therwithal;
Men dreme of thing that nevere was ne shal.
But sith I see that thou wolt heer abyde, 4285
And thus for-sleuthen wilfully thy tyde,
God wot it reweth me; and have good day.’
And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.
But er that he hadde halfe his cours y-seyled,
[279: T. 15106-15141.]
Noot I nat why, ne what mischaunce it eyled, 4290
But casuelly the shippes botme rente, (281)
And ship and man under the water wente
In sighte of othere shippes it byside,
That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere, 4295
By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere,
That no man sholde been to recchelees
Of dremes, for I sey thee, doutelees,
That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede.
4256. Cp. Ln. and (_for_ or). 4266. _All ins._ herkneth (herken)
_after_ But. 4274. E. Hn. Hl. _om._ for; _cf._ l. 4265. 4275. E.
Hn. byde. 4282. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. 4283. Hl. eke; _rest om._
4293. it] Cp. Pt. him; Ln. hem; Hl. ther. 4296. E. _ins._ yet _after_
olde.
Lo, in the lyf of seint Kenelm, I rede, 4300
That was Kenulphus sone, the noble king (291)
Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing;
A lyte er he was mordred, on a day,
His mordre in his avisioun he say.
His norice him expouned every del 4305
His sweven, and bad him for to kepe him wel
For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer old,
And therfore litel tale hath he told
Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.
By god, I hadde lever than my sherte 4310
That ye had rad his legende, as have I. (301)
Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been 4315
Warning of thinges that men after seen.
4309. E. is; _rest_ was. 4313. Cm. thauysioun.
And forther-more, I pray yow loketh wel
In the olde testament, of Daniel,
If he held dremes any vanitee.
Reed eek of Ioseph, and ther shul ye see 4320
Wher dremes ben somtyme (I sey nat alle) (311)
Warning of thinges that shul after falle.
Loke of Egipt the king, daun Pharao,
His bakere and his boteler also,
Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. 4325
[280: T. 15142-15177.]
Who-so wol seken actes of sondry remes,
May rede of dremes many a wonder thing.
4319. E. Hn. Cp. heeld. 4324. Cm. Ln. boteler: Pt. botelere; E. Hn.
butiller.
Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde king,
Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
Which signified he sholde anhanged be? 4330
Lo heer Andromacha, Ectores wyf, (321)
That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,
She dremed on the same night biforn,
How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,
If thilke day he wente in-to bataille; 4335
She warned him, but it mighte nat availle;
He wente for to fighte nathelees,
But he was slayn anoon of Achilles.
But thilke tale is al to long to telle,
And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. 4340
Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, (331)
That I shal han of this avisioun
Adversitee; and I seye forther-more,
That I ne telle of laxatyves no store,
For they ben venimous, I woot it wel; 4345
I hem defye, I love hem never a del.
4331. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Adromacha. 4338. Hn. And (_for_ But). 4345.
Hn. Cm. venymes. it] Cp. Pt. Ln. right. 4346. E. Cp. diffye.
Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte al this;
Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,
Of o thing god hath sent me large grace;
For whan I see the beautee of your face, 4350
Ye ben so scarlet-reed about your yën, (341)
It maketh al my drede for to dyen;
For, also siker as _In principio_,
_Mulier est hominis confusio_;
Madame, the sentence of this Latin is— 4355
Womman is mannes Ioye and al his blis.
For whan I fele a-night your softe syde,
Al-be-it that I may nat on you ryde,
For that our perche is maad so narwe, alas!
I am so ful of Ioye and of solas 4360
That I defye bothe sweven and dreem.’ (351)
[281: T. 15178-15211.]
And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
For it was day, and eek his hennes alle;
And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
For he had founde a corn, lay in the yerd. 4365
Royal he was, he was namore aferd;
He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme,
And trad as ofte, er that it was pryme.
He loketh as it were a grim leoun;
And on his toos he rometh up and doun, 4370
Him deyned not to sette his foot to grounde. (361)
He chukketh, whan he hath a corn y-founde,
And to him rennen thanne his wyves alle.
Thus royal, as a prince is in his halle,
Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture; 4375
And after wol I telle his aventure.
4361. E. Cp. diffye. 4362. Hn. Cm. fley; E. fly; Hl. Cp. fleigh.
4365. E. Hn. Cm. hadde. 4366. Cm. Ln. Royal; _rest_ Real; _but see_
l. 4374. 4367. He] E. And. 4368. Hl. that; _rest om._ Cp. Pt. Ln.
were. Hl. er that it was prime. 4370. Hl. toon. 4371. Cm.
deynyth. 4374. his] E. Cm. an.
Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
That highte March, whan god first maked man,
Was complet, and [y]-passed were also,
Sin March bigan, thritty dayes and two, 4380
Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pryde, (371)
His seven wyves walking by his syde,
Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne
Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat more; 4385
And knew by kynde, and by noon other lore,
That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
‘The sonne,’ he sayde, ‘is clomben up on hevene
Fourty degrees and oon, and more, y-wis.
Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 4390
Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they singe, (381)
And see the fresshe floures how they springe;
Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.’
But sodeinly him fil a sorweful cas;
For ever the latter ende of Ioye is wo. 4395
[282: T. 15212-15248.]
God woot that worldly Ioye is sone ago;
And if a rethor coude faire endyte,
He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte,
As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; 4400
This storie is al-so trewe, I undertake, (391)
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
That wommen holde in ful gret reverence.
Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
4379. _All_ passed. 4380. Hl. tway monthes and dayes tuo. 4386.
And] Cp. Pt. Ln. He. 4398. Hl. Cp. cronique; _rest_ cronicle. 4404.
torne] E. come.
A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, 4405
That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast,
The same night thurgh-out the hegges brast
Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire
Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire; 4410
And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, (401)
Til it was passed undern of the day,
Wayting his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,
As gladly doon thise homicydes alle,
That in awayt liggen to mordre men. 4415
O false mordrer, lurking in thy den!
O newe Scariot, newe Genilon!
False dissimilour, O Greek Sinon,
That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe!
O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, 4420
That thou into that yerd flough fro the bemes! (411)
Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes,
That thilke day was perilous to thee.
But what that god forwoot mot nedes be,
After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. 4425
Witnesse on him, that any perfit clerk is,
That in scole is gret altercacioun
In this matere, and greet disputisoun,
And hath ben of an hundred thousand men.
But I ne can not bulte it to the bren, 4430
As can the holy doctour Augustyn, (421)
Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardyn,
[283: T. 15249-15284.]
Whether that goddes worthy forwiting
Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing,
(Nedely clepe I simple necessitee); 4435
Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
To do that same thing, or do it noght,
Though god forwoot it, er that it was wroght;
Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del
But by necessitee condicionel. 4440
I wol not han to do of swich matere; (431)
My tale is of a cok, as ye may here,
That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
That he had met the dreem, that I yow tolde. 4445
Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde;
Wommannes counseil broghte us first to wo,
And made Adam fro paradys to go,
Ther-as he was ful mery, and wel at ese.
But for I noot, to whom it mighte displese, 4450
If I counseil of wommen wolde blame, (441)
Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich matere,
And what thay seyn of wommen ye may here.
Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne; 4455
I can noon harm of no womman divyne.
4412. E. Hn. Pt. vndren. 4421. E. Hn. flaugh; Cm. flaw; Cp.
fleyȝe; Hl. flough. 4433. E. Wheither. 4434. E. nedefully to
doon. 4442. may] Hl. Cp. Pt. schal (schuln). 4445. yow] E. of.
4448. E. out of (_for_ fro). 4452. seyde] E. seye.
Faire in the sond, to bathe hir merily,
Lyth Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by,
Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free
Song merier than the mermayde in the see; 4460
For Phisiologus seith sikerly, (451)
How that they singen wel and merily.
And so bifel that, as he caste his yë,
Among the wortes, on a boterflye,
He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465
No-thing ne liste him thanne for to crowe,
But cryde anon, ‘cok, cok,’ and up he sterte,
As man that was affrayed in his herte.
[284: T. 15285-15322.]
For naturelly a beest desyreth flee
Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470
Though he never erst had seyn it with his yë. (461)
4460. E murier. 4462. E. myrily.
This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye,
He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
Seyde, ‘Gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon?
Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend? 4475
Now certes, I were worse than a feend,
If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye.
I am nat come your counseil for tespye;
But trewely, the cause of my cominge
Was only for to herkne how that ye singe. 4480
For trewely ye have as mery a stevene (471)
As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene;
Therwith ye han in musik more felinge
Than hadde Boece, or any that can singe.
My lord your fader (god his soule blesse!) 4485
And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse,
Han in myn hous y-been, to my gret ese;
And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
But for men speke of singing, I wol saye,
So mote I brouke wel myn eyen tweye, 4490
Save yow, I herde never man so singe, (48l)
As dide your fader in the morweninge;
Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.
And for to make his voys the more strong,
He wolde so peyne him, that with bothe his yën 4495
He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen,
And stonden on his tiptoon ther-with-al,
And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
And eek he was of swich discrecioun,
That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500
That him in song or wisdom mighte passe. (491)
I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse,
Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,
For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok
Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and nyce, 4505
He made him for to lese his benefyce.
[285: T. 15323-15359.]
But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun
Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun
Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee.
Now singeth, sire, for seinte charitee, 4510
Let see, conne ye your fader countrefete?’ (501)
This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete,
As man that coude his tresoun nat espye,
So was he ravisshed with his flaterye.
4482. E. _om._ hath. 4484. Hl. Pt. had. 4489. E. _ins._ yow _after_
wol. 4491. E. herde I; yet (_for_ so). 4508. E. Cm. Cp. Bitwixe.
Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515
Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour,
That plesen yow wel more, by my feith,
Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye;
Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520
This Chauntecleer stood hye up-on his toos, (511)
Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,
And gan to crowe loude for the nones;
And daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones,
And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525
And on his bak toward the wode him beer,
For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed.
O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes! 4530
And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. (521)
O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce,
Sin that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,
And in thy service dide al his poweer,
More for delyt, than world to multiplye, 4535
Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye?
O Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn,
That, whan thy worthy king Richard was slayn
With shot, compleynedest his deth so sore,
Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy lore, 4540
The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? (531)
(For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.)
Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne
[286: T. 15360-15395.]
For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne.
4524. E. Hn. Cm. stirte. 4525. E. Hn. gargat; Cm. Hl. garget; Ln.
gorge. 4531. E. Hn. Cm. fil; _rest_ fel.
Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun 4545
Was never of ladies maad, whan Ilioun
Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd,
Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the berd,
And slayn him (as saith us _Eneydos_),
As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550
Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. (541)
But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte,
Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf,
Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his lyf,
And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage; 4555
She was so ful of torment and of rage,
That wilfully into the fyr she sterte,
And brende hir-selven with a stedfast herte.
O woful hennes, right so cryden ye,
As, whan that Nero brende the citee 4560
Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves, (551)
For that hir housbondes losten alle hir lyves;
Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
Now wol I torne to my tale agayn:—
4552. E. sodeynly (_for_ sovereynly). 4554. Hn. Cm. y-lost. 4564.
E. Now turne I wole.
This sely widwe, and eek hir doghtres two, 4565
Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo,
And out at dores sterten they anoon,
And syen the fox toward the grove goon,
And bar upon his bak the cok away;
And cryden, ‘Out! harrow! and weylaway! 4570
Ha, ha, the fox!’ and after him they ran, (561)
And eek with staves many another man;
Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland,
And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand;
Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges 4575
So were they fered for berking of the dogges
And shouting of the men and wimmen eke,
They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke.
They yelleden as feendes doon in helle;
[287: T. 15396-15431.]
The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle; 4580
The gees for fere flowen over the trees; (571)
Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees;
So hidous was the noyse, a! _benedicite_!
Certes, he Iakke Straw, and his meynee,
Ne made never shoutes half so shrille, 4585
Whan that they wolden any Fleming kille,
As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
Of bras thay broghten bemes, and of box,
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped,
And therwithal thay shryked and they houped; 4590
It semed as that heven sholde falle. (581)
Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle!
4567. E. Hn. Cm. stirten. 4570. Pt. They. 4575. E. Hl. _om._ eek.
4576. Hl. were they; _rest om._ 4579. E. yolleden. 4585. E. Ln.
shille. 4590. E. Hn. skriked.
Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly
The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595
In al his drede, un-to the fox he spak,
And seyde, ‘sire, if that I were as ye,
Yet sholde I seyn (as wis god helpe me),
Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle!
A verray pestilence up-on yow falle! 4600
Now am I come un-to this wodes syde, (591)
Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer abyde;
I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.’—
The fox answerde, ‘in feith, it shal be don,’—
And as he spak that word, al sodeinly 4605
This cok brak from his mouth deliverly,
And heighe up-on a tree he fleigh anon.
And whan the fox saugh that he was y-gon,
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘O Chauntecleer, allas!
I have to yow,’ quod he, ‘y-doon trespas, 4610
In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, (601)
Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of the yerd;
But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente;
Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente.
I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.’ 4615
[288: T. 15432-15452.]
‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘I shrewe us bothe two,
And first I shrewe my-self, bothe blood and bones,
If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye,
Do me to singe and winke with myn yë. 4620
For he that winketh, whan he sholde see, (611)
Al wilfully, god lat him never thee!’
‘Nay,’ quod the fox, ‘but god yeve him meschaunce,
That is so undiscreet of governaunce,
That Iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.’ 4625
4594. E. _om._ eek. 4598. E. wolde (_for_ sholde). 4601. E. the
(_for_ this). 4608. Hl. i-goon; _rest_ gon, goon. 4612. E. Hn. into
this (_for_ out of the). 4613. E. of (_for_ in). 4618. E. Hn. Hl.
_ins._ any _before_ ofter.
Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees,
And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
But ye that holden this tale a folye,
As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
Taketh the moralitee, good men. 4630
For seint Paul seith, that al that writen is, (621)
To our doctryne it is y-write, y-wis.
Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
4630. Pt. good; _rest_ goode.
Now, gode god, if that it be thy wille,
As seith my lord, so make us alle good men; 4635
And bringe us to his heighe blisse. Amen.
=Here is ended the Nonne Preestes Tale.=
4635. Hl. Pt. Ln. good; _rest_ goode. COLOPHON. Cp. Nonne; E. Hn.
Nonnes. Hl. Here endeth the tale of Chaunteclere and p_er_telote.
[289: T. 15453-15468.]
* * * * *
EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE.
* * * * *
‘Sir Nonnes Preest,’ our hoste seyde anoon,
‘Y-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon!
This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer.
But, by my trouthe, if thou were seculer, 4640
Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right.
For, if thou have corage as thou hast might,
Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene,
Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene.
See, whiche braunes hath this gentil Preest, 4645
So greet a nekke, and swich a large breest! (10)
He loketh as a sperhauk with his yën;
Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen
With brasil, ne with greyn of Portingale.
Now sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!’ 4650
And after that he, with ful mery chere,
Seide to another, as ye shullen here.
_These genuine lines only occur in_ Dd., _in_ MS. Reg. 17 D. xv, _and
in_ MS. Addit. 5140 (B. M.). _The text is founded on_ Dd.
4637. Dd. oure hoost. 4639. Dd. murie; Reg. Add. mery. 4641. Dd.
ben. Dd. tredfoul; Reg. Add. trede foule. 4645. Dd. which; Reg.
whiche; Add. suche. 4646. Dd. gret. 4647. Dd. sp_er_hauke; eyen.
4648. Dd. dyghen; Reg. Add. dyen. 4650-2. _I suspect these three
lines to be spurious._ 4650. Reg. youre mery tale. 4652. to] _all_
un-to. another] Add. the Nonne.
NOTE. _Three varieties of a_ Doctour’s Prologue _are given,
respectively, by_ Tyrwhitt, Wright, _and_ Morris; _but are all
spurious. Perhaps the best is the very short one in_ Tyrwhitt, _as
follows:—_
‘Ye, let that passen,’ quod our Hoste, ‘as now.
Sire Doctour of Phisyk, I preye yow,
Telle us a tale of som honest matere.’
‘It shal be doon, if that ye wol it here,’
Seyde this Doctour, and his tale bigan anon.
‘Now, good men,’ quod he, ‘herkneth everichon.’
[290: T. 11935-11957.]
* * * * *
GROUP C.
THE PHISICIENS TALE.
* * * * *
*** _For a spurious_ Prologue, _see p._ 289.
=Here folweth the Phisiciens Tale.=
Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius,
A knight that called was Virginius,
Fulfild of honour and of worthinesse,
And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.
2. Hn. called was; E. was called; _rest_ cleped was.
This knight a doghter hadde by his wyf, 5
No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.
Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
Aboven every wight that man may see;
For nature hath with sovereyn diligence
Y-formed hir in so greet excellence, 10
As though she wolde seyn, ‘lo! I, Nature,
Thus can I forme and peynte a creature,
Whan that me list; who can me countrefete?
Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete,
Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn, 15
Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn,
Outher to grave or peynte or forge or bete,
If they presumed me to countrefete.
For he that is the former principal
Hath maked me his vicaire general, 20
To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
Right as me list, and ech thing in my cure is
Under the mone, that may wane and waxe,
[291: T. 11958-11993.]
And for my werk right no-thing wol I axe;
My lord and I ben ful of oon accord; 25
I made hir to the worship of my lord.
So do I alle myne othere creatures,
What colour that they han, or what figures.’—
Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.
16. E. Hn. Apelles; Hl. Appollus; rest Apollus. E. Hn. Zanzis; rest
zephirus (!). 25. E. Hn. ful of oon; _rest_ fully at.
This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, 30
In which that Nature hadde swich delyt.
For right as she can peynte a lilie whyt
And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
She peynted hath this noble creature
Er she were born, up-on hir limes free, 35
Wher-as by right swiche colours sholde be;
And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete
Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete.
And if that excellent was hir beautee,
A thousand-fold more vertuous was she. 40
In hir ne lakked no condicioun,
That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.
As wel in goost as body chast was she;
For which she floured in virginitee
With alle humilitee and abstinence, 45
With alle attemperaunce and pacience,
With mesure eek of bering and array.
Discreet she was in answering alway;
Though she were wys as Pallas, dar I seyn,
Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn, 50
No countrefeted termes hadde she
To seme wys; but after hir degree
She spak, and alle hir wordes more and lesse
Souninge in vertu and in gentillesse.
Shamfast she was in maydens shamfastnesse, 55
Constant in herte, and ever in bisinesse
To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye.
Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye;
For wyn and youthe doon Venus encrece,
[292: T. 11994-12028.]
As men in fyr wol casten oile or grece. 60
And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned,
She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned,
For that she wolde fleen the companye
Wher lykly was to treten of folye,
As is at festes, revels, and at daunces, 65
That been occasions of daliaunces.
Swich thinges maken children for to be
To sone rype and bold, as men may see,
Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore.
For al to sone may she lerne lore 70
Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.
49. Cp. Pt. Ln. as; _rest om._ 50. E. a (_for_ and). 55. E.
Shamefast. E. _om._ in. 59. E. Hn. dooth; _rest_ doon. E. Hn.
encresse. 60. E. man; _rest_ men. E. wasten; _rest_ casten. E.
oille; greesse. 67. E. Hn. thyng; _rest_ thinges. 70. E. Hn. they;
_rest_ she.
And ye maistresses in your olde lyf,
That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce;
Thenketh that ye ben set in governinges 75
Of lordes doghtres, only for two thinges;
Outher for ye han kept your honestee,
Or elles ye han falle in freletee,
And knowen wel y-nough the olde daunce,
And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce 80
For evermo; therfore, for Cristes sake,
To teche hem vertu loke that ye ne slake.
A theef of venisoun, that hath forlaft
His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft,
Can kepe a forest best of any man. 85
Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol, ye can;
Loke wel that ye un-to no vice assente,
Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente;
For who-so doth, a traitour is certeyn.
And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn; 90
Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence
Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
80. E. Hn. han; _rest_ conne. 82. _So_ E. Hn.; _rest_ Kepeth wel tho
that ye undertake. 84. E. Hn. olde; _rest_ theves. 86. _Read_
kep’th; E. Hn. _om._ hem; Hl. hir(!). E. wolde; _rest_ wole (wil).
92. E. Hn. bitrayseth; _rest_ betrayeth.
Ye fadres and ye modres eek also,
Though ye han children, be it oon or two,
[293: T. 12029-12063.]
Your is the charge of al hir surveyaunce, 95
Whyl that they been under your governaunce.
Beth war that by ensample of your livinge,
Or by your necligence in chastisinge,
That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye,
If that they doon, ye shul it dere abeye. 100
Under a shepherde softe and necligent
The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent.
Suffyseth oon ensample now as here,
For I mot turne agayn to my matere.
95. E. Hn. surveiaunce; _rest_ sufferaunce (suffraunce). 97. E. Hn.
if; _rest_ that. 99. E. Hn. _om._ ne. 103, 4. E. _om. both lines; I
follow_ Hn. _and the rest_.
This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse, 105
So kepte hir-self, hir neded no maistresse;
For in hir living maydens mighten rede,
As in a book, every good word or dede,
That longeth to a mayden vertuous;
She was so prudent and so bountevous. 110
For which the fame out-sprong on every syde
Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde;
That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone,
That loved vertu, save envye allone,
That sory is of other mennes wele, 115
And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele;
(The doctour maketh this descripcioun).
This mayde up-on a day wente in the toun
Toward a temple, with hir moder dere,
As is of yonge maydens the manere. 120
105. E. Hn. I wol this; _rest_ I telle my. 119. E. Hn. a; _rest_ the.
Now was ther thanne a Iustice in that toun,
That governour was of that regioun.
And so bifel, this Iuge his eyen caste
Up-on this mayde, avysinge him ful faste,
As she cam forby ther this Iuge stood. 125
Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,
So was he caught with beautee of this mayde;
And to him-self ful prively he sayde,
‘This mayde shal be myn, for any man.’
125. E. Hn. ther as; _rest om._ as.
[294: T. 12064-12100.]
Anon the feend in-to his herte ran, 130
And taughte him sodeynly, that he by slighte
The mayden to his purpos winne mighte.
For certes, by no force, ne by no mede,
Him thoughte, he was nat able for to spede;
For she was strong of freendes, and eek she 135
Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee,
That wel he wiste he mighte hir never winne
As for to make hir with hir body sinne.
For which, by greet deliberacioun,
He sente after a cherl, was in the toun, 140
Which that he knew for subtil and for bold.
This Iuge un-to this cherl his tale hath told
In secree wyse, and made him to ensure,
He sholde telle it to no creature,
And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed. 145
Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
Glad was this Iuge and maked him greet chere,
And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and dere.
138. E. maken; _rest_ make. 140, 142. E. Hn. cherl; _rest_ clerk.
147. E. Hn. this; _rest_ the.
Whan shapen was al hir conspiracye
Fro point to point, how that his lecherye 150
Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,
As ye shul here it after openly,
Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius.
This false Iuge that highte Apius,
So was his name, (for this is no fable, 155
But knowen for historial thing notable,
The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute),
This false Iuge gooth now faste aboute
To hasten his delyt al that he may.
And so bifel sone after, on a day, 160
This false Iuge, as telleth us the storie,
As he was wont, sat in his consistorie,
And yaf his domes up-on sondry cas.
This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas,
And seyde, ‘lord, if that it be your wille, 165
As dooth me right up-on this pitous bille,
[295: T. 12101-12136.]
In which I pleyne up-on Virginius.
And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
I wol it preve, and finde good witnesse,
That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.’ 170
149. E. Hn. hir; _rest_ this. 153, 164. E. Hn. cherl; _rest_ clerk.
155. E. Hn. this; _rest_ it.
The Iuge answerde, ‘of this, in his absence,
I may nat yeve diffinitif sentence.
Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here;
Thou shall have al right, and no wrong here.’
172. E. diffynyue; rest diffinitif. 173, 174. E. heere, glossed
audire; and heere, glossed hie.
Virginius cam, to wite the Iuges wille, 175
And right anon was rad this cursed bille;
The sentence of it was as ye shul here.
‘To yow, my lord, sire Apius so dere,
Sheweth your povre servant Claudius,
How that a knight, called Virginius, 180
Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee,
Holdeth, expres agayn the wil of me,
My servant, which that is my thral by right,
Which fro myn hous was stole up-on a night,
Whyl that she was ful yong; this wol I preve 185
By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greve.
She nis his doghter nat, what so he seye;
Wherfore to yow, my lord the Iuge, I preye,
Yeld me my thral, if that it be your wille.’
Lo! this was al the sentence of his bille. 190
Virginius gan up-on the cherl biholde,
But hastily, er he his tale tolde,
And wolde have preved it, as sholde a knight,
And eek by witnessing of many a wight,
That it was fals that seyde his adversarie, 195
This cursed Iuge wolde no-thing tarie,
Ne here a word more of Virginius,
But yaf his Iugement, and seyde thus:—
191. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk.
‘I deme anon this cherl his servant have;
Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save. 200
Go bring hir forth, and put hir in our warde,
The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde.’
199, 202. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk.
[296: T. 12137-12173.]
And whan this worthy knight Virginius,
Thurgh sentence of this Iustice Apius,
Moste by force his dere doghter yiven 205
Un-to the Iuge, in lecherye to liven,
He gooth him hoom, and sette him in his halle,
And leet anon his dere doghter calle,
And, with a face deed as asshen colde,
Upon hir humble face he gan biholde, 210
With fadres pitee stiking thurgh his herte,
Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte.
202. E. Hn. Cm. this; rest thus. 205. Hl. Cp. yiuen; rest yeuen.
‘Doghter,’ quod he, ‘Virginia, by thy name,
Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
That thou most suffre; allas! that I was bore! 215
For never thou deservedest wherfore
To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
O dere doghter, ender of my lyf,
Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce,
That thou were never out of my remembraunce! 220
O doghter, which that art my laste wo,
And in my lyf my laste Ioye also,
O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence.
For love and nat for hate, thou most be deed; 225
My pitous hand mot smyten of thyn heed.
Allas! that ever Apius thee say!
Thus hath he falsly Iuged thee to-day’—
And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore
Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it more. 230
223. E. o; rest of.
‘O mercy, dere fader,’ quod this mayde,
And with that word she both hir armes layde
About his nekke, as she was wont to do:
The teres broste out of hir eyen two,
And seyde, ‘gode fader, shal I dye? 235
Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?’
234. E. Hn. teeris. E. bruste; Cm. broste; Pt. brosten; Hn. borste;
Cp. Ln. barsten; Hl. brast.
‘No, certes, dere doghter myn,’ quod he.
‘Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,’ quod she,
‘My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;
[297: T. 12174-12208.]
For pardee, Iepte yaf his doghter grace 240
For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!
And god it woot, no-thing was hir trespas,
But for she ran hir fader first to see,
To welcome him with greet solempnitee.’
And with that word she fil aswowne anon, 245
And after, whan hir swowning is agon,
She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayde,
‘Blessed be god, that I shal dye a mayde.
Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
Doth with your child your wil, a goddes name!’ 250
243. E. Hn. for; _rest_ first. 248. E. Ln. Blissed; _rest_ Blessed.
And with that word she preyed him ful ofte,
That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe,
And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil,
Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente, 255
And to the Iuge he gan it to presente,
As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
And whan the Iuge it saugh, as seith the storie,
He bad to take him and anhange him faste.
But right anon a thousand peple in thraste, 260
To save the knight, for routhe and for pitee,
For knowen was the false iniquitee.
The peple anon hath suspect of this thing,
By manere of the cherles chalanging,
That it was by the assent of Apius; 265
They wisten wel that he was lecherous.
For which un-to this Apius they gon,
And caste him in a prison right anon,
Wher-as he slow him-self; and Claudius,
That servant was un-to this Apius, 270
Was demed for to hange upon a tree;
But that Virginius, of his pitee,
So preyde for him that he was exyled;
And elles, certes, he had been bigyled.
[298: T. 12209-12220.]
The remenant were anhanged, more and lesse, 275
That were consentant of this cursednesse.—
252. _All but_ E. Hn. _ins._ hir _before_ softe. 259. E. Hn. anhange;
_rest_ honge. 260. E. Hn. a thousand; _rest_ al the. 263. E. of;
_rest_ in. 264. E. Hn. the cherles; _rest_ this clerkes. 269. E.
Hn. Ther; _rest_ Wher. 271. E. And; _rest_ Was. 275. E. Hn. Hl.
anhanged; _rest_ honged.
Heer men may seen how sinne hath his meryte!
Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte
In no degree, ne in which maner wyse
The worm of conscience may agryse 280
Of wikked lyf, though it so privee be,
That no man woot ther-of but god and he.
For be he lewed man, or elles lered,
He noot how sone that he shal been afered.
Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, 285
Forsaketh sinne, er sinne yow forsake.
=Here endeth the Phisiciens Tale.=
278. E. Hn. whom; _rest_ how. 280. E. Hn. may agryse; _rest_ wol
(wil) arise. 283. E. ellis. Cp. Ln. Whether he be lewed man or
lered; _so_ Pt. (_with_ Where _for_ Whether); so Hl. (_with_ Wher that
_for_ Whether). COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.; Sloane _has_ Here endethe the
tale of the Mayster of phisyk; Hl. Here endeth the Doctor of phisique
his tale.
[299: T. 12221-12239.]
* * * * *
WORDS OF THE HOST.
* * * * *
=The wordes of the Host to the Phisicien and the Pardoner.=
Our Hoste gan to swere as he were wood,
‘Harrow!’ quod he, ‘by nayles and by blood!.
This was a fals cherl and a fals Iustyse!
As shamful deeth as herte may devyse 290
Come to thise Iuges and hir advocats!
Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas!
Allas! to dere boghte she beautee!
Wherfore I seye al day, as men may see,
That yiftes of fortune or of nature 295
Ben cause of deeth to many a creature. (10)
Hir beautee was hir deeth, I dar wel sayn;
Allas! so pitously as she was slayn!
Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now
Men han ful ofte more harm than prow. 300
But trewely, myn owene mayster dere,
This is a pitous tale for to here.
But natheles, passe over, is no fors;
I prey to god, so save thy gentil cors,
And eek thyne urinals and thy Iordanes, 305
[300: T. 12240-12262.]
Thyn Ypocras, and eek thy Galianes, (20)
And every boist ful of thy letuarie;
God blesse hem, and our lady seinte Marie!
So mot I theen, thou art a propre man,
And lyk a prelat, by seint Ronyan! 310
Seyde I nat wel? I can nat speke in terme;
But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to erme,
That I almost have caught a cardiacle.
By corpus bones! but I have triacle,
Or elles a draught of moyste and corny ale, 315
Or but I here anon a mery tale, (30)
Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.
Thou bel amy, thou Pardoner,’ he seyde,
‘Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.’
‘It shall be doon,’ quod he, ‘by seint Ronyon! 320
But first,’ quod he, ‘heer at this ale-stake
I wol both drinke, and eten of a cake.’
HEADING. _So_ E. E. Hoost. 287. Ln. oste; _rest_ hoost, ost. 290.
E. shameful. 291, 292. _So_ E. Hn. Pt.; _but_ Cp. _has_—So falle
vpon his body and his bones The deuyl I bekenne him al at ones; _so
also_ Ln. Hl. 291. E. (_alone_) _ins._ false _before_ Iuges. E. Hn.
Aduocatz; Pt. aduocas. 295. E. Hn. and; _rest_ or. 296. E. Hn. to;
_rest_ of. 297, 298. _So_ Cp. Ln. Hl.; _rest omit these lines._
300. E. Hn. for harm; _rest om._ for. 303. Hl. this is; _the rest
omit_ this. 305. Ln. Iordanes; Cp. Iurdanes; E. Hn. Iurdones. 306.
Cp. Galianes; E. Hn. Galiones. 307. Hl. boist; E. Hn. boyste; Cp. Pt.
Ln. box. 313. E. Hn. cardynacle(!). 322. eten of] Hl. byt on.
But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye,
‘Nay! lat him telle us of no ribaudye;
Tel us som moral thing, that we may lere 325
Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here.’ (40)
‘I graunte, y-wis,’ quod he, ‘but I mot thinke
Up-on som honest thing, whyl that I drinke.
323. E. Hn. And; _the rest_ But. 324. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. ribaudye; Ln.
rebaudie; Pt. rybaudrye. 327. _For ll._ 326, 327, Hl. _has_—Gladly,
quod he, and sayde as ye schal heere: But in the cuppe wil I me
bethinke.
[301: T. 12263-12288.]
* * * * *
THE PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE.
* * * * *
=Here folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.=
_Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, sexto._
‘Lordings,’ quod he, ‘in chirches whan I preche,
I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche, 330
And ringe it out as round as gooth a belle,
For I can al by rote that I telle.
My theme is alwey oon, and ever was—
“_Radix malorum est Cupiditas_.”
First I pronounce whennes that I come, 335
And than my bulles shewe I, alle and somme.
Our lige lordes seel on my patente,
That shewe I first, my body to warente, (10)
That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk,
Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk; 340
And after that than telle I forth my tales,
Bulles of popes and of cardinales,
Of patriarkes, and bishoppes I shewe;
And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe,
To saffron with my predicacioun, 345
And for to stire men to devocioun.
Than shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,
Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones; (20)
Reliks been they, as wenen they echoon.
Than have I in latoun a sholder-boon 350
Which that was of an holy Iewes shepe.
“Good men,” seye I, “tak of my wordes kepe;
If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle
[302: T. 12289-12324.]
That any worm hath ete, or worm y-stonge, 355
Tak water of that welle, and wash his tonge,
And it is hool anon; and forthermore,
Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every sore (30)
Shal every sheep be hool, that of this welle
Drinketh a draughte; tak kepe eek what I telle. 360
If that the good-man, that the bestes oweth,
Wol every wike, er that the cok him croweth,
Fastinge, drinken of this welle a draughte,
As thilke holy Iewe our eldres taughte,
His bestes and his stoor shal multiplye. 565
And, sirs, also it heleth Ialousye;
For, though a man be falle in Ialous rage,
Let maken with this water his potage, (40)
And never shal he more his wyf mistriste,
Though he the sooth of hir defaute wiste; 370
Al had she taken preestes two or three.
346. E. Hn. Hl. hem; _rest_ men. 350. E. _omits_ I _by accident._
352. E. Hl. Pt. Ln. Good; E. Hn. Cp. Goode. Hn. I seye; _rest_ say I,
saie I. 366. E. Hn. sire; _rest_ sires, sirs.
Heer is a miteyn eek, that ye may see.
He that his hond wol putte in this miteyn,
He shal have multiplying of his greyn,
Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, 375
So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.
Good men and wommen, o thing warne I yow,
If any wight be in this chirche now, (50)
That hath doon sinne horrible, that he
Dar nat, for shame, of it y-shriven be, 380
Or any womman, be she yong or old,
That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold,
Swich folk shul have no power ne no grace
To offren to my reliks in this place.
And who-so findeth him out of swich blame, 385
He wol com up and offre in goddes name,
And I assoille him by the auctoritee
Which that by bulle y-graunted was to me.” (60)
377. E. Hn. Goode; _rest_ And. 382. Cp. Ln. Hl. ymaad; Pt. made; E.
Hn. ymaked. 385. E. fame; _rest_ blame. 386. Hn. He; _rest_ They.
E. on; Hn. a; _rest_ in. 387. E. Hl. hem; _rest_ him or hym.
By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,
An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner. 390
[303: T. 12325-12361.]
I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,
And whan the lewed peple is doun y-set,
I preche, so as ye han herd bifore,
And telle an hundred false Iapes more.
Than peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, 395
And est and west upon the peple I bekke,
As doth a dowve sitting on a berne.
Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerne, (70)
That it is Ioye to see my bisinesse.
Of avaryce and of swich cursednesse 400
Is al my preching, for to make hem free
To yeve her pens, and namely un-to me.
For my entente is nat but for to winne,
And no-thing for correccioun of sinne.
I rekke never, whan that they ben beried, 405
Though that her soules goon a-blakeberied!
For certes, many a predicacioun
Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun; (80)
Som for plesaunce of folk and flaterye,
To been avaunced by ipocrisye, 410
And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
For, whan I dar non other weyes debate,
Than wol I stinge him with my tonge smerte
In preching, so that he shal nat asterte
To been defamed falsly, if that he 415
Hath trespased to my brethren or to me.
For, though I telle noght his propre name,
Men shal wel knowe that it is the same (90)
By signes and by othere circumstances.
Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances; 420
Thus spitte I out my venim under hewe
Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe.
395. the] Cm. myn; Cp. Ln. Hl. my. 405. E. Hl. _omit_ that.
But shortly myn entente I wol devyse;
I preche of no-thing but for coveityse.
Therfor my theme is yet, and ever was— 425
“_Radix malorum est cupiditas_.”
Thus can I preche agayn that same vyce
[304: T. 12362-12396.]
Which that I use, and that is avaryce. (100)
But, though my-self be gilty in that sinne,
Yet can I maken other folk to twinne 430
From avaryce, and sore to repente.
But that is nat my principal entente.
I preche no-thing but for coveityse;
Of this matere it oughte y-nogh suffyse.
425. E. Hn. theme; _rest_ teme (teem).
Than telle I hem ensamples many oon 435
Of olde stories, longe tyme agoon:
For lewed peple loven tales olde;
Swich thinges can they wel reporte and holde. (110)
What? trowe ye, the whyles I may preche,
And winne gold and silver for I teche, 440
That I wol live in povert wilfully?
Nay, nay, I thoghte it never trewely!
For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes;
I wol not do no labour with myn hondes,
Ne make baskettes, and live therby, 445
Because I wol nat beggen ydelly.
I wol non of the apostles counterfete;
I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, (120)
Al were it yeven of the povrest page,
Or of the povrest widwe in a village, 450
Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.
Nay! I wol drinke licour of the vyne,
And have a Ioly wenche in every toun.
But herkneth, lordings, in conclusioun;
Your lyking is that I shal telle a tale. 455
Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,
By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing
That shal, by resoun, been at your lyking. (130)
For, though myself be a ful vicious man,
A moral tale yet I yow telle can, 460
Which I am wont to preche, for to winne.
Now holde your pees, my tale I wol beginne.
439. E. Pt. the whiles; Cm. that whilis that; Cp. Ln. whiles that; Hl.
whiles; Hn. that whiles. 449. Hl. prestes (_for_ povrest).
[305: T. 12397-12422.]
* * * * *
THE PARDONERS TALE.
(_Numbered in continuation of the preceding_.)
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Pardoners Tale.=
In Flaundres whylom was a companye
Of yonge folk, that haunteden folye,
As ryot, hasard, stewes, and tavernes, 465
Wher-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes,
They daunce and pleye at dees bothe day and night,
And ete also and drinken over hir might, (140)
Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifyse
With-in that develes temple, in cursed wyse, 470
By superfluitee abhominable;
Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable,
That it is grisly for to here hem swere;
Our blissed lordes body they to-tere;
Hem thoughte Iewes rente him noght y-nough; 475
And ech of hem at otheres sinne lough.
And right anon than comen tombesteres
Fetys and smale, and yonge fruytesteres, (150)
Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres,
Whiche been the verray develes officeres 480
To kindle and blowe the fyr of lecherye,
That is annexed un-to glotonye;
The holy writ take I to my witnesse,
That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.
HEADING; _from_ E. Hn. 465. E. Hl. stywes. 475. _So_ Cp. Ln. Hl.;
E. Hn. Cm. that Iewes; Pt. þe Iwes. 478, 479. Hl. _omits._
Lo, how that dronken Loth, unkindely, 485
Lay by his doghtres two, unwitingly;
So dronke he was, he niste what he wroghte.
Herodes, (who-so wel the stories soghte), (160)
[306: T. 12423-12459.]
Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste,
Right at his owene table he yaf his heste 490
To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees.
488. E. Hn. Cm. P. Hl. _agree here_; Cp. Ln. _have two additional
(spurious) lines; see_ note.
Senek seith eek a good word doutelees;
He seith, he can no difference finde
Bitwix a man that is out of his minde
And a man which that is dronkelewe, 495
But that woodnesse, y-fallen in a shrewe,
Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse.
O glotonye, ful of cursednesse, (170)
O cause first of our confusioun,
O original of our dampnacioun, 500
Til Crist had boght us with his blood agayn!
Lo, how dere, shortly for to sayn,
Aboght was thilke cursed vileinye;
Corrupt was al this world for glotonye!
492. Hl. Seneca (_for_ Senek). Cp. Ln. eek; _rest omit._ 495. which
that] Hl. the which; Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ which. 496. E. Hl. fallen; Hn.
Cm. y-fallen.
Adam our fader, and his wyf also, 505
Fro Paradys to labour and to wo
Were driven for that vyce, it is no drede;
For whyl that Adam fasted, as I rede, (180)
He was in Paradys; and whan that he
Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree, 510
Anon he was out-cast to wo and peyne.
O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne!
O, wiste a man how many maladyes
Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes,
He wolde been the more mesurable 515
Of his diete, sittinge at his table.
Allas! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth,
Maketh that, Est and West, and North and South, (190)
In erthe, in eir, in water men to-swinke
To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drinke! 520
Of this matere, o Paul, wel canstow trete,
‘Mete un-to wombe, and wombe eek un-to mete,
Shal god destroyen bothe,’ as Paulus seith.
Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith,
To seye this word, and fouler is the dede, 525
[307: T. 12460-12496.]
Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede,
That of his throte he maketh his privee,
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. (200)
519. E. Hl. man; _rest_ men.
The apostel weping seith ful pitously,
‘Ther walken many of whiche yow told have I, 530
I seye it now weping with pitous voys,
That they been enemys of Cristes croys,
Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is her god.’
O wombe! O bely! O stinking cod,
Fulfild of donge and of corrupcioun! 535
At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
How greet labour and cost is thee to finde!
Thise cokes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grinde, (210)
And turnen substaunce in-to accident,
To fulfille al thy likerous talent! 540
Out of the harde bones knokke they
The mary, for they caste noght a-wey
That may go thurgh the golet softe and swote;
Of spicerye, of leef, and bark, and rote
Shal been his sauce y-maked by delyt, 545
To make him yet a newer appetyt.
But certes, he that haunteth swich delyces
Is deed, whyl that he liveth in tho vyces. (220)
532. That they _is_ Tyrwhitt’s _reading_; Hl. Thay; _but the rest have_
Ther, _probably repeated by mistake from_ l. 530. 534. Hl. o stynking
is thi cod.
A lecherous thing is wyn, and dronkenesse
Is ful of stryving and of wrecchednesse. 550
O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,
And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun
As though thou seydest ay ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun’;
And yet, god wot, Sampsoun drank never no wyn. 555
Thou fallest, as it were a stiked swyn;
Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honest cure;
For dronkenesse is verray sepulture (230)
Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
In whom that drinke hath dominacioun, 560
He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede.
Now kepe yow fro the whyte and fro the rede,
[308: T. 12497-12533.]
And namely fro the whyte wyn of Lepe,
That is to selle in Fish-strete or in Chepe.
This wyn of Spayne crepeth subtilly 565
In othere wynes, growing faste by,
Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee,
That whan a man hath dronken draughtes three, (240)
And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe,
He is in Spayne, right at the toune of Lepe, 570
Nat at the Rochel, ne at Burdeux toun;
And thanne wol he seye, ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun.’
But herkneth, lordings, o word, I yow preye,
That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye,
Of victories in the olde testament, 575
Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent,
Were doon in abstinence and in preyere;
Loketh the Bible, and ther ye may it lere. (250)
573. E. lordes; _rest_ lordinges, lordynges, lordyngs.
Loke, Attila, the grete conquerour,
Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour, 580
Bledinge ay at his nose in dronkenesse;
A capitayn shoulde live in sobrenesse.
And over al this, avyseth yow right wel
What was comaunded un-to Lamuel—
Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I— 585
Redeth the Bible, and finde it expresly
Of wyn-yeving to hem that han Iustyse.
Na-more of this, for it may wel suffyse. (260)
And now that I have spoke of glotonye,
Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye. 590
Hasard is verray moder of lesinges,
And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes,
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,
It is repreve and contrarie of honour 595
For to ben holde a commune hasardour.
And ever the hyër he is of estaat,
The more is he holden desolaat. (270)
If that a prince useth hasardrye,
[309: T. 12534-12569.]
In alle governaunce and policye 600
He is, as by commune opinoun,
Y-holde the lasse in reputacioun.
589. E. Hl. _omit_ that. 593. E. Blasphemyng; _rest_ Blaspheme.
Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour,
Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour,
Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. 605
And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce,
That alle the grettest that were of that lond,
Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. (280)
For which, as sone as it mighte be,
He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, 610
And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name;
Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,
Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours.
Sendeth othere wyse embassadours;
For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, 615
Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
For ye that been so glorious in honours
Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours (290)
As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’
This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. 620
606. Cm. Cp. Hl. happede; _rest_ happed. 612. Hn. Ny; Cm. Nay (_both
put for_ Ne I) _which shews the scansion._ Hl. I nyl not. 614. _So
all_.
Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius
The king of Parthes, as the book seith us,
Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,
For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;
For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625
At no value or reputacioun.
Lordes may finden other maner pley
Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. (300)
621. E. Ln. Hl. _omit_ to.
Now wol I speke of othes false and grete
A word or two, as olde bokes trete. 630
Gret swering is a thing abhominable,
And false swering is yet more reprevable.
The heighe god forbad swering at al,
Witnesse on Mathew; but in special
Of swering seith the holy Ieremye, 635
[310: T. 12570-12605.]
‘Thou shalt seye sooth thyn othes, and nat lye,
And swere in dome, and eek in rightwisnesse;’
But ydel swering is a cursednesse. (310)
Bihold and see, that in the firste table
Of heighe goddes hestes honurable, 640
How that the seconde heste of him is this—
‘Tak nat my name in ydel or amis.’
Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering
Than homicyde or many a cursed thing;
I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth; 645
This knowen, that his hestes understondeth,
How that the second heste of god is that.
And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat, (320)
That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous,
That of his othes is to outrageous. 650
‘By goddes precious herte, and by his nayles,
And by the blode of Crist, that it is in Hayles,
Seven is my chaunce, and thyn is cink and treye;
By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye,
This dagger shal thurgh-out thyn herte go’— 655
This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two,
Forswering, ire, falsnesse, homicyde.
Now, for the love of Crist that for us dyde, (330)
Leveth your othes, bothe grete and smale;
But, sirs, now wol I telle forth my tale. 660
632. Cp. Ln. Hl. _om._ yet. 644. Hn. Cm. Hl. many a.; E. any; Cp. Pt.
Ln. eny other. 656. Hl. bicchid; Ln. becched; Hn. Cm. bicche; Pt.
thilk. 659. E. Hn. Lete; _rest_ Leueth.
Thise ryotoures three, of whiche I telle,
Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle,
Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke;
And as they satte, they herde a belle clinke
Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; 665
That oon of hem gan callen to his knave,
‘Go bet,’ quod he, ‘and axe redily,
What cors is this that passeth heer forby; (340)
And look that thou reporte his name wel.’
661. E. Hn. Pt. Hl. riotours. 663. Cp. Pt. Hl. for; _rest om._
‘Sir,’ quod this boy, ‘it nedeth never-a-del. 670
It was me told, er ye cam heer, two houres;
[311: T. 12606-12642.]
He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres;
And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-night,
For-dronke, as he sat on his bench upright;
Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth Deeth, 675
That in this contree al the peple sleeth,
And with his spere he smoot his herte a-two,
And wente his wey with-outen wordes mo. (350)
He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence:
And, maister, er ye come in his presence, 680
Me thinketh that it were necessarie
For to be war of swich an adversarie:
Beth redy for to mete him evermore.
Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more.’
‘By seinte Marie,’ seyde this taverner, 685
‘The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer,
Henne over a myle, with-in a greet village,
Both man and womman, child and hyne, and page. (360)
I trowe his habitacioun be there;
To been avysed greet wisdom it were, 690
Er that he dide a man a dishonour.’
‘Ye, goddes armes,’ quod this ryotour,
‘Is it swich peril with him for to mete?
I shal him seke by wey and eek by strete,
I make avow to goddes digne bones! 695
Herkneth, felawes, we three been al ones;
Lat ech of us holde up his hond til other, (370)
And ech of us bicomen otheres brother,
And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth;
He shal be slayn, which that so many sleeth, 700
By goddes dignitee, er it be night.’
Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight,
To live and dyen ech of hem for other,
As though he were his owene y-boren brother.
And up they sterte al dronken, in this rage, 705
And forth they goon towardes that village,
Of which the taverner had spoke biforn,
And many a grisly ooth than han they sworn, (380)
[312: T. 12643-12680.]
And Cristes blessed body they to-rente—
‘Deeth shal be deed, if that they may him hente.’ 710
704. E. yborn; Hn. ybore; Cm. bore; Pt. born; Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne.
705. E. Hn. stirte. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. al; E. Cm. Pt. and. 710. they]
Cp. Pt. Ln. we.
Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle,
Right as they wolde han troden over a style,
An old man and a povre with hem mette.
This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
And seyde thus, ‘now, lordes, god yow see!’ 715
The proudest of thise ryotoures three
Answerde agayn, ‘what? carl, with sory grace,
Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? (390)
Why livestow so longe in so greet age?’
This olde man gan loke in his visage, 720
And seyde thus, ‘for I ne can nat finde
A man, though that I walked in-to Inde,
Neither in citee nor in no village,
That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;
And therfore moot I han myn age stille, 725
As longe time as it is goddes wille.
Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf;
Thus walke I, lyk a restelees caityf, (400)
And on the ground, which is my modres gate,
I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late, 730
And seye, “leve moder, leet me in!
Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and skin!
Allas! whan shul my bones been at reste?
Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste,
That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, 735
Ye! for an heyre clout to wrappe me!”
But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,
For which ful pale and welked is my face. (410)
But, sirs, to yow it is no curteisye
To speken to an old man vileinye, 740
But he trespasse in worde, or elles in dede.
In holy writ ye may your-self wel rede,
“Agayns an old man, hoor upon his heed,
Ye sholde aryse;” wherfor I yeve yow reed,
Ne dooth un-to an old man noon harm now, 745
Na-more than ye wolde men dide to yow
[313: T. 12681-12718.]
In age, if that ye so longe abyde;
And god be with yow, wher ye go or ryde. (420)
I moot go thider as I have to go.’
746. E. Hn. than that; _rest omit_ that.
‘Nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shall nat so,’ 750
Seyde this other hasardour anon;
‘Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint Iohn!
Thou spak right now of thilke traitour Deeth,
That in this contree alle our frendes sleeth.
Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his aspye, 755
Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye,
By god, and by the holy sacrament!
For soothly thou art oon of his assent, (430)
To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!’
‘Now, sirs,’ quod he, ‘if that yow be so leef 760
To finde Deeth, turne up this croked wey,
For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey,
Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde;
Nat for your boost he wol him no-thing hyde.
See ye that ook? right ther ye shul him finde. 765
God save yow, that boghte agayn mankinde,
And yow amende!’—thus seyde this olde man.
And everich of thise ryotoures ran, (440)
Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
Of florins fyne of golde y-coyned rounde 770
Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte.
No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,
But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte,
For that the florins been so faire and brighte,
That doun they sette hem by this precious hord. 775
The worste of hem he spake the firste word.
760. E. Cm. ye; Hn. Hl. yow.
‘Brethren,’ quod he, ‘tak kepe what I seye;
My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. (450)
This tresor hath fortune un-to us yiven,
In mirthe and Iolitee our lyf to liven, 780
And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.
Ey! goddes precious dignitee! who wende
To-day, that we sholde han so fair a grace?
But mighte this gold be caried fro this place
[314: T. 12719-12754.]
Hoom to myn hous, or elles un-to youres— 785
For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures—
Than were we in heigh felicitee.
But trewely, by daye it may nat be; (460)
Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,
And for our owene tresor doon us honge. 790
This tresor moste y-caried be by nighte
As wysly and as slyly as it mighte.
Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle
Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle;
And he that hath the cut with herte blythe 795
Shal renne to the toune, and that ful swythe,
And bringe us breed and wyn ful prively.
And two of us shul kepen subtilly (470)
This tresor wel; and, if he wol nat tarie,
Whan it is night, we wol this tresor carie 800
By oon assent, wher-as us thinketh best.’
That oon of hem the cut broughte in his fest,
And bad hem drawe, and loke wher it wol falle;
And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle;
And forth toward the toun he wente anon. 805
And al-so sone as that he was gon,
That oon of hem spak thus un-to that other,
‘Thou knowest wel thou art my sworne brother, (480)
Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
Thou woost wel that our felawe is agon; 810
And heer is gold, and that ful greet plentee,
That shal departed been among us three.
But natheles, if I can shape it so
That it departed were among us two,
Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?’ 815
779. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. yeuen. 780. E. Ioliftee. 796. Hl. Ln. the;
_rest omit._ 803. E. hym; _rest_ hem. E. Hn. Cp. wol; Hl. wil; Cm.
Pt. Ln. wolde. 807. E. _omits_ of hem. 808. E. Hn. Pt. sworn; Cm.
swore: Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne.
That other answerde, ‘I noot how that may be;
He woot how that the gold is with us tweye,
What shal we doon, what shal we to him seye?’ (490)
‘Shal it be conseil?’ seyde the firste shrewe,
‘And I shal tellen thee, in wordes fewe, 820
[315: T. 12755-12790.]
What we shal doon, and bringe it wel aboute.’
820. Hl. the (=thee); _rest omit._ E. Hn. Cm. in a; _rest omit_ a.
‘I graunte,’ quod that other, ‘out of doute,
That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye.’
823. E. shal; _rest_ wol (wil, wyl).
‘Now,’ quod the firste, ‘thou woost wel we be tweye,
And two of us shul strenger be than oon. 825
Look whan that he is set, and right anoon
Arys, as though thou woldest with him pleye;
And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes tweye (500)
Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in game,
And with thy dagger look thou do the same; 830
And than shal al this gold departed be,
My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee;
Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfille,
And pleye at dees right at our owene wille.’
And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye 835
To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.
826. E. Hn. Cm. that right; Cp. and thanne; Pt. Ln. Hl. and that. _I
take_ and _from_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl., _and_ right _from_ E. Hn. Cm.
This yongest, which that wente un-to the toun,
Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun (510)
The beautee of thise florins newe and brighte.
‘O lord!’ quod he, ‘if so were that I mighte 840
Have al this tresor to my-self allone,
Ther is no man that liveth under the trone
Of god, that sholde live so mery as I!’
And atte laste the feend, our enemy,
Putte in his thought that he shold poyson beye, 845
With which he mighte sleen his felawes tweye;
For-why the feend fond him in swich lyvinge,
That he had leve him to sorwe bringe, (520)
For this was outrely his fulle entente
To sleen hem bothe, and never to repente. 850
And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,
Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie,
And preyed him, that he him wolde selle
Som poyson, that he mighte his rattes quelle;
And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, 855
That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde y-slawe,
[316: T. 12791-12826.]
And fayn he wolde wreke him, if he mighte,
On vermin, that destroyed him by nighte. (530)
847. E. Hn. foond. 848. E. Cm. hem; _rest_ hym _or_ him. 853. Hn.
preyed; Cm. preyede; _rest_ preyde.
The pothecarie answerde, ‘and thou shalt have
A thing that, al-so god my soule save, 860
In al this world ther nis no creature,
That ete or dronke hath of this confiture
Noght but the mountance of a corn of whete,
That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete;
Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse whyle 865
Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a myle;
This poyson is so strong and violent.’
861. E. Hn. Cm. is; _rest_ nys _or_ nis.
This cursed man hath in his hond y-hent (540)
This poyson in a box, and sith he ran
In-to the nexte strete, un-to a man, 870
And borwed [of] him large botels three;
And in the two his poyson poured he;
The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke.
For al the night he shoop him for to swinke
In caryinge of the gold out of that place. 875
And whan this ryotour, with sory grace,
Had filled with wyn his grete botels three,
To his felawes agayn repaireth he. (550)
871. _All_ omit of. 873. E. his owene; _rest omit_ owene.
What nedeth it to sermone of it more?
For right as they had cast his deeth bifore, 880
Right so they han him slayn, and that anon.
And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon,
‘Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make us merie,
And afterward we wol his body berie.’
And with that word it happed him, par cas, 885
To take the botel ther the poyson was,
And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke also,
For which anon they storven bothe two. (560)
880. E. so as; _rest omit_ so.
But, certes, I suppose that Avicen
Wroot never in no canon, ne in no fen, 890
Mo wonder signes of empoisoning
Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir ending.
[317: T. 12827-12861.]
Thus ended been thise homicydes two,
And eek the false empoysoner also.
891. E. Hn. Cm. signes; Cp. Ln. Hl. sorwes; Pt. sorowes.
O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse! 895
O traytours homicyde, o wikkednesse!
O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye!
Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileinye (570)
And othes grete, of usage and of pryde!
Allas! mankinde, how may it bityde, 900
That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte,
And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte,
Thou art so fals and so unkinde, allas!
895. E. Hn. Cm. of alle; Cp. Ln. Hl. ful of; Pt. ful of al.
Now, goode men, god forgeve yow your trespas,
And ware yow fro the sinne of avaryce. 905
Myn holy pardoun may yow alle waryce,
So that ye offre nobles or sterlinges,
Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes. (580)
Boweth your heed under this holy bulle!
Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of your wolle! 910
Your name I entre heer in my rolle anon;
In-to the blisse of hevene shul ye gon;
I yow assoile, by myn heigh power,
Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer
As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I preche. 915
And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche,
So graunte yow his pardon to receyve;
For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve. (590)
910. E. Com; _rest_ Cometh, Comyth. 911. E. Hl. names; _rest_ name.
But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale,
I have relikes and pardon in my male, 920
As faire as any man in Engelond,
Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
If any of yow wol, of devocioun,
Offren, and han myn absolucioun,
Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer adoun, 925
And mekely receyveth my pardoun:
Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende,
[318: T. 12862-12897.]
Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende, (600)
So that ye offren alwey newe and newe
Nobles and pens, which that be gode and trewe. 930
It is an honour to everich that is heer,
That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
Tassoille yow, in contree as ye ryde,
For aventures which that may bityde.
Peraventure ther may falle oon or two 935
Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle
That I am in your felaweship y-falle, (610)
That may assoille yow, bothe more and lasse,
Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe, 940
I rede that our hoste heer shal biginne,
For he is most envoluped in sinne.
Com forth, sir hoste, and offre first anon,
And thou shalt kisse the reliks everichon,
Ye, for a grote! unbokel anon thy purs.’ 945
925. E. Hn. Com; _rest_ Cometh, Comyth. 928. E. Hn. Cm. myles; _rest_
tounes. 930. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. 935. E. fallen. 941. E. Cm.
heere; _rest om._ 944. E. my; Cm. myne; _rest_ the.
‘Nay, nay,’ quod he, ‘than have I Cristes curs!
Lat be,’ quod he, ‘it shal nat be, so theech!
Thou woldest make me kisse thyn old breech, (620)
And swere it were a relik of a seint,
Thogh it were with thy fundement depeint! 950
But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond,
I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond
In stede of relikes or of seintuarie;
Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;
Thay shul be shryned in an hogges tord.’ 955
947. Hn. thee ich; _rest_ theech. 954. Cp. Ln. the helpe; Pt. Hl.
helpe; E. with thee; Cm. from the; Hn. thee.
This pardoner answerde nat a word;
So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.
‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘I wol no lenger pleye (630)
With thee, ne with noon other angry man.’
But right anon the worthy knight bigan, 960
Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,
‘Na-more of this, for it is right y-nough;
Sir pardoner, be glad and mery of chere;
[319: T. 12898-12902.]
And ye, sir host, that been to me so dere,
I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner. 965
And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,
And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.’ (639)
Anon they kiste, and riden forth hir weye. [T. 12902.
=Here is ended the Pardoners Tale.=
(_For_ T. 12903, _see_ p. 165).
COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn.; Hl. Here endeth the pardoneres tale.
[320: T. 5583-5602.]
* * * * *
GROUP D.
THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE.
T. 5583 sqq.; _for_ T. 5582, _see_ p. 164.)
* * * * *
=The prologe of the Wyves Tale of Bathe.=
‘Experience, though noon auctoritee
Were in this world, were right y-nough to me
To speke of wo that is in mariage;
For, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age,
Thonked be god that is eterne on lyve, 5
Housbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve;
For I so ofte have y-wedded be;
And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
But me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is,
That sith that Crist ne wente never but onis 10
To wedding in the Cane of Galilee,
That by the same ensample taughte he me
That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
Herke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones
Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man, 15
Spak in repreve of the Samaritan:
“Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,” quod he,
“And thilke man, the which that hath now thee,
Is noght thyn housbond;” thus seyde he certeyn;
What that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn; 20
[321: T. 5603-5636.]
But that I axe, why that the fifthe man
Was noon housbond to the Samaritan?
How manye mighte she have in mariage?
Yet herde I never tellen in myn age
Upon this nombre diffinicioun; 25
Men may devyne and glosen up and doun.
But wel I woot expres, with-oute lye,
God bad us for to wexe and multiplye;
That gentil text can I wel understonde.
Eek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde 30
Sholde lete fader and moder, and take me;
But of no nombre mencioun made he,
Of bigamye or of octogamye;
Why sholde men speke of it vileinye?
HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. Here bigynneth the prologe of the tale of the Wyf
of Bathe; Hl. Here bygynneth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe. 5. Hn.
Pt. Ln. Thonked; E. Ythonked. 7. _So_ E.; _rest_ If (Hl. For) I so
ofte myghte haue wedded be. 12. E. _om._ That. E. thoughte; _rest_
taughte he. 14. E. Herkne; Hl. Herken; _rest_ Herke (Herk). E. Hl.
_om._ lo. 18. E. And that; _rest_ And that ilke (_read_ thilke).
29. E. _om._ wel. 31. E. take; Hl. folwe; _rest_ take to.
Lo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon; 35
I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon;
As, wolde god, it leveful were to me
To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis!
No man hath swich, that in this world alyve is. 40
God woot, this noble king, as to my wit,
The firste night had many a mery fit
With ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve!
Blessed be god that I have wedded fyve!
Welcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal. 45
For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al;
Whan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon,
Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon;
For thanne thapostle seith, that I am free
To wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me. 50
He seith that to be wedded is no sinne;
Bet is to be wedded than to brinne.
What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye
Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
[322: T. 5637-5672.]
I woot wel Abraham was an holy man, 55
And Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can;
And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two;
And many another holy man also.
Whan saugh ye ever, in any maner age,
That hye god defended mariage 60
By expres word? I pray you, telleth me;
Or wher comanded he virginitee?
I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
Thapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede;
He seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon. 65
Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
But conseilling is no comandement;
He putte it in our owene Iugement.
For hadde god comanded maydenhede,
Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede; 70
And certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe,
Virginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe?
Poul dorste nat comanden atte leste
A thing of which his maister yaf noon heste.
The dart is set up for virginitee; 75
Cacche who so may, who renneth best lat see.
37. _So all but_ E., _which has_ it were leueful vn-to me. 42. E.
myrie; Hn. murye. 44. E. Hl. Yblessed; _rest_ Blessed (Blissed).
46. E. chaast. 49. E. _om._ that. 50. Hl. wher so it be; _rest_
wher it liketh me (_correctly; for_ a goddes half = a god’s half).
51. E. _om._ that. 52. E. Hn. Hl. Bet; _rest_ Better. 54. E. Hl.
of; _rest_ his. 58. E. _om._ holy. 59. Hl. Whan; E. Whanne; _rest_
Where (Wher). E. _om._ any. 64. E. Whan thapostel speketh. 67. E.
nat; _rest_ no (non). 71. E. certein. 73. E. Hl. _ins._ ne _after_
Poul. 75. E. of; Cp. fro; Hl. on; _rest_ for.
But this word is nat take of every wight,
But ther as god list give it of his might.
I woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde;
But natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde, 80
He wolde that every wight were swich as he,
Al nis but conseil to virginitee;
And for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve
Of indulgence; so it is no repreve
To wedde me, if that my make dye, 85
With-oute excepcioun of bigamye.
Al were it good no womman for to touche,
He mente as in his bed or in his couche;
For peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble;
Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. 90
[323: T. 5673-5706.]
This is al and som, he heeld virginitee
More parfit than wedding in freletee.
Freeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she
Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
77. E. Hl. taken. 78. E. Cm. lust; Hn. Hl. list. 79. E. _om._
that. 85. E. Cm. _om._ that. 89. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. to assemble. 91.
E. Cm that; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. he heeld; Hl. he holdith. 92. E. Cm.
profiteth; _rest_ parfit. 94. Hn. Hl. leden; _rest_ lede.
I graunte it wel, I have noon envye, 95
Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye;
Hem lyketh to be clene, body and goost,
Of myn estaat I nil nat make no boost.
For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
He hath nat every vessel al of gold; 100
Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
God clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse,
And everich hath of god a propre yifte,
Som this, som that,—as him lyketh shifte.
104. _So all but_ Hl. Ln. _which have_ to schifte. _Perhaps read_ right
as him.
Virginitee is greet perfeccioun, 105
And continence eek with devocioun.
But Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle,
Bad nat every wight he shold go selle
All that he hadde, and give it to the pore,
And in swich wyse folwe hime and his fore. 110
He spak to hem that wolde live parfitly;
And lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I.
I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
In the actes and in fruit of mariage.
108. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ he. 109, 110. E poore, foore; _and_ foore _is
glossed by_ steppes. 113. E Hl. _om._ al.
Telle me also, to what conclusioun 115
Were membres maad of generacioun,
And for what profit was a wight y-wroght?
Trusteth right wel, they wer nat maad for noght.
Glose who-so wole, and seye bothe up and doun,
That they were maked for purgacioun
Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale
Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
And for noone other cause: sey ye no?
The experience woot wel it is noght so;
[324: T. 5707-5741.]
So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, 125
I sey this, that they maked been for bothe,
This is to seye, for office, and for ese
Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese.
Why sholde men elles in hir bokes sette,
That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette? 130
Now wher-with sholde he make his payement,
If he ne used his sely instrument?
Than were they maad up-on a creature,
To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.
116 E. ymaad. 120. Cm. makyd; _rest_ maad; _see_ l. 126. 121. _So_
Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. vryne bothe and thynges. 122. E. Cm. And; Hn. Hl.
Was; _rest_ Were. 126. this] E. yis. E. Cm. beth maked. 130. E.
Cm. a man. 133. E. Thanne. 134. E. Cm. _om._ eek.
But I seye noght that every wight is holde, 135
That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde,
To goon and usen hem in engendrure;
Than sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man,
And many a seint, sith that the world bigan, 140
Yet lived they ever in parfit chastitee.
I nil envye no virginitee;
Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed;
And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle can, 145
Our lord Iesu refresshed many a man.
In swich estaat as god hath cleped us
I wol persevere, I nam nat precious.
In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument
As frely as my maker hath it sent. 150
If I be daungerous, god yeve me sorwe!
Myn housbond shal it have bothe eve and morwe,
Whan that him list com forth and paye his dette.
An housbonde I wol have, I nil nat lette,
Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, 155
And have his tribulacioun with-al
Up-on his flessh, whyl that I am his wyf.
I have the power duringe al my lyf
Up-on his propre body, and noght he.
[325: T. 5742-5776.]
Right thus the apostel tolde it un-to me; 160
And bad our housbondes for to love us weel.
Al this sentence me lyketh every-deel’—
136. Hn. Hl. to yow; E. Cm. of. 138. E. Cm. They shul nat; _rest_
Than sholde men. 140. E. Cm. _om._ that (_perhaps read_ së-int).
142. E. Cm. nil nat. 144. E. hoten; Hn. Cm. hote; Cp. Pt. Ln. ete(!);
Hl. eten(!). 146. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ Iesu. 148. E. Hn. precius.
Up sterte the Pardoner, and that anon,
‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘by god and by seint Iohn,
Ye been a noble prechour in this cas! 165
I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
What sholde I bye it on my flesh so dere?
Yet hadde I lever wedde no wyf to-yere!’
163. E. Hn. stirte.
‘Abyde!’ quod she, ‘my tale is nat bigonne;
Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne 170
Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
And whan that I have told thee forth my tale
Of tribulacioun in mariage,
Of which I am expert in al myn age,
This to seyn, my-self have been the whippe;— 175
Than maystow chese whether thou wolt sippe
Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
Who-so that nil be war by othere men, 180
By him shul othere men corrected be.
The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee;
Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.’
172. Hn. Hl. thee; _rest om._ 173. E. Cm. that is in (_for_ in).
176. E. wheither. 177. E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke. 180. Hn. nyle;
Hl. nyl; _rest_ wol nat. 182. Ln. tholome; Pt. ptholome; Hl.
p_ro_tholome; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Protholome(!). 183. E. Cm. Rede it in.
‘Dame, I wolde praye yow, if your wil it were,’
Seyde this Pardoner, ‘as ye bigan, 185
Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man,
And teche us yonge men of your praktike.’
184. E. Cm. _om._ yow.
‘Gladly,’ quod she, ‘sith it may yow lyke.
But yet I praye to al this companye,
If that I speke after my fantasye, 190
As taketh not a-grief of that I seye;
For myn entente nis but for to pleye.
188. E. sires; Cm. sire; _rest_ quod she. 191. E. Cm. _om._ of.
192. Hn. nis; E. Cm. is; _rest_ is not.
Now sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.—
As ever mote I drinken wyn or ale,
[326: T. 5777-5811.]
I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, 195
As three of hem were gode and two were badde.
The three men were gode, and riche, and olde;
Unnethe mighte they the statut holde
In which that they were bounden un-to me.
Ye woot wel what I mene of this, pardee! 200
As help me god, I laughe whan I thinke
How pitously a-night I made hem swinke;
And by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor.
They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor;
Me neded nat do lenger diligence 205
To winne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
They loved me so wel, by god above,
That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love!
A wys womman wol sette hir ever in oon
To gete hir love, ther as she hath noon. 210
But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond,
And sith they hadde me yeven all hir lond,
What sholde I taken hede hem for to plese,
But it were for my profit and myn ese?
I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, 215
That many a night they songen “weilawey!”
The bacoun was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
I governed hem so wel, after my lawe,
That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe 220
To bringe me gaye thinges fro the fayre.
They were ful glad whan I spak to hem fayre;
For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously.
193. E. Hn. Cm. sire. 195. E. of tho; Hl. Cm. of; Hn. Cp. Pt. tho;
Ln. the. 197. Cp. Pt. Ln. men; _rest om._ 210. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ye
ther; _but read_ lov-ë. 215. E. Hn. a-werk; _rest_ a-werke. 220. E.
was ful blisful; Cm. was blysful and ful.
Now herkneth, how I bar me proprely,
Ye wyse wyves, that can understonde. 225
224. E. baar.
Thus shul ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde;
For half so boldely can ther no man
Swere and lyen as a womman can.
I sey nat this by wyves that ben wyse,
[327: T. 5812-5845.]
But-if it be whan they hem misavyse. 230
A wys wyf, if that she can hir good,
Shal beren him on hond the cow is wood,
And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
Of hir assent; but herkneth how I sayde.
226. E. beren: _om._ wrong. 228. MSS. lye; _read_ lyen. Hn. Ln. a
womman kan; Pt. womman can; _rest_ kan a womman. 231. E. Hn. Cm. A
wys; Hl. I-wis a; _rest_ wise. _Read_ wys-e? 232. Hl. beren; _rest_
bere. Cm. cou; Pt. Ln. cowe.
‘Sir olde kaynard, is this thyn array? 235
Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?
She is honoured over-al ther she goth;
I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty cloth.
What dostow at my neighebores hous?
Is she so fair? artow so amorous? 240
What rowne ye with our mayde? _benedicite_!
Sir olde lechour, lat thy Iapes be!
And if I have a gossib or a freend,
With-outen gilt, thou chydest as a feend,
If that I walke or pleye un-to his hous! 245
Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!
Thou seist to me, it is a greet meschief
To wedde a povre womman, for costage;
And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, 250
Than seistow that it is a tormentrye
To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye.
And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have;
She may no whyle in chastitee abyde, 255
That is assailled up-on ech a syde.
242. E. Pt. Hl. lecchour. 250. E. Cm. _om._ that. E. Cm. Hl. and
of; _rest_ of. 251. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ that. 252. E. soffren.
Thou seyst, som folk desyre us for richesse,
Somme for our shap, and somme for our fairnesse;
And som, for she can outher singe or daunce,
And som, for gentillesse and daliaunce; 260
Som, for hir handes and hir armes smale;
Thus goth al to the devel by thy tale.
Thou seyst, men may nat kepe a castel-wal;
[328: T. 5846-5880.]
It may so longe assailled been over-al.
257. E. Cm. that som. E. Hn. Cm. desiren. 258. E. Cm. _om._ and.
259. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ outher. E. Cm. Hl. and (_for_ or). 260. and]
E. Cm. and som for; Hl. or.
And if that she be foul, thou seist that she 265
Coveiteth every man that she may se;
For as a spaynel she wol on him lepe,
Til that she finde som man hir to chepe;
Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake,
As, seistow, that wol been with-oute make. 270
And seyst, it is an hard thing for to welde
A thing that no man wol, his thankes, helde.
Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde;
And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
Ne no man that entendeth un-to hevene. 275
With wilde thonder-dint and firy levene
Mote thy welked nekke be to-broke!
269. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ther; _rest om._ 270. Cp. Pt. Ln. that; _rest
om._ 271, 272. Hn. Hl. wolde, holde. 277. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. welked;
Cm. wekede; Cp. Hl. wicked.
Thow seyst that dropping houses, and eek smoke,
And chyding wyves, maken men to flee
Out of hir owene hous; a! _benedicite_! 280
What eyleth swich an old man for to chyde?
280. E. Hn. Cp. houses.
Thow seyst, we wyves wol our vyces hyde
Til we be fast, and than we wol hem shewe;
Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!
282. E. Cm. that we.
Thou seist, that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes, 285
They been assayed at diverse stoundes;
Bacins, lavours, er that men hem bye,
Spones and stoles, and al swich housbondrye,
And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
But folk of wyves maken noon assay 290
Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe!
And than, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.
286. E. assayd; Pt. Ln. assaide; _rest_ assayed. 292. Hn. Hl.
_supply_ And.
Thou seist also, that it displeseth me
But-if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
And but thou poure alwey up-on my face, 295
And clepe me “faire dame” in every place;
And but thou make a feste on thilke day
That I was born, and make me fresh and gay,
[329: T. 5881-5913.]
And but thou do to my norice honour,
And to my chamberere with-inne my bour, 300
And to my fadres folk and his allyes;—
Thus seistow, olde barel ful of lyes!
295. Hl. pore; _rest_ poure. 300. Cm. chaumberere; Hl. chamberer; E.
Hn. chambrere.
And yet of our apprentice Ianekyn,
For his crisp heer, shyninge as gold so fyn,
And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun, 305
Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun;
I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed to-morwe.
303. E. Ianekyn; _rest_ Iankyn.
But tel me this, why hydestow, with sorwe,
The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee. 310
What wenestow make an idiot of our dame?
Now by that lord, that called is seint Iame,
Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,
Be maister of my body and of my good;
That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yën; 315
What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyën?
I trowe, thou woldest loke me in thy chiste!
Thou sholdest seye, “wyf, go wher thee liste,
Tak your disport, I wol nat leve no talis;
I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alis.” 320
We love no man that taketh kepe or charge
Wher that we goon, we wol ben at our large.
308. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ this. 309. thy] E. Cm. my. 311. E. Cm. to
make; _rest om._ to. 313. Hn. Ln. that; _rest om._ 315. Hl. yen; E.
eyen. 316. E. nedeth thee; _rest_ helpeth it. Hn. Cp. Ln. _om._
to. Hl. tenqueren; _read_ t’enquere. 319. _All but_ Cp. Ln. _om._
not (nat). 320. E. Pt. Alys; Ln. Ales.
Of alle men y-blessed moot he be,
The wyse astrologien Dan Ptholome,
That seith this proverbe in his Almageste, 325
“Of alle men his wisdom is the hyeste,
That rekketh never who hath the world in honde.”
By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
Have thou y-nogh, what thar thee recche or care
How merily that othere folkes fare? 330
For certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve,
[330: T. 5914-5949.]
Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve.
He is to greet a nigard that wol werne
A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne;
He shal have never the lasse light, pardee; 335
Have thou y-nough, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
323. Hn. Hl. yblessed; _rest_ blessed. 324. MSS. Daun. E.
Protholome; Hn. Cm. Hl. P_ro_tholome. 326. E. Cm. _ins._ the _before_
hyeste; (_read_ th’ hy-est-e). 328. Cp. Pt. Ln. shal wel. 330. E.
myrily. 333. E. Cm. wolde.
Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
With clothing and with precious array,
That it is peril of our chastitee;
And yet, with sorwe, thou most enforce thee, 340
And seye thise wordes in the apostles name,
“In habit, maad with chastitee and shame,
Ye wommen shul apparaille yow,” quod he,
“And noght in tressed heer and gay perree,
As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche;” 345
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;
For who-so wolde senge a cattes skin,
Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in; 350
And if the cattes skin be slyk and gay,
She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
But forth she wole, er any day be dawed,
To shewe hir skin, and goon a-caterwawed;
This is to seye, if I be gay, sir shrewe, 355
I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe.
348. Hl. thus; Cp. Pt. Ln. als; _rest_ this. 350. _All_ his.
Sire olde fool, what eyleth thee to spyën?
Thogh thou preye Argus, with his hundred yën,
To be my warde-cors, as he can best,
In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest; 360
Yet coude I make his berd, so moot I thee.
358. Hl. yen; E. eyen. 359. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. -corps. 360. E.
_om. 2nd_ me.
Thou seydest eek, that ther ben thinges three,
The whiche thinges troublen al this erthe,
And that no wight ne may endure the ferthe;
O leve sir shrewe, Iesu shorte thy lyf! 365
Yet prechestow, and seyst, an hateful wyf
Y-rekened is for oon of thise meschances.
[331: T. 5950-5982.]
Been ther none othere maner resemblances
That ye may lykne your parables to,
But-if a sely wyf be oon of tho? 370
364. _All but_ Pt. Ln. _om._ ne. 366. E. and (_for_ an). 368. Cp.
Pt. Ln. maner; Cm. of these; Hl. of thy; E. _om._
Thou lykenest wommanes love to helle,
To bareyne lond, ther water may not dwelle.
Thou lyknest it also to wilde fyr;
The more it brenneth, the more it hath desyr
To consume every thing that brent wol be. 375
Thou seyst, that right as wormes shende a tree,
Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde;
This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.’
371. Cp. Ln. Hl. likenest; Cm. likkenyst; E. Hn. Pt. liknest. E.
wommennes. 375. E. Hn. consumen. 376. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._
Hn. Cp. Pt. shende; E. Pt. shendeth.
Lordinges, right thus, as ye have understonde,
Bar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde, 380
That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
On Ianekin and on my nece also.
O lord, the peyne I dide hem and the wo,
Ful giltelees, by goddes swete pyne! 385
For as an hors I coude byte and whyne.
I coude pleyne, thogh I were in the gilt,
Or elles often tyme hadde I ben spilt.
Who-so that first to mille comth, first grint;
I pleyned first, so was our werre y-stint. 390
They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyve
Of thing of which they never agilte hir lyve.
383. Hl. vpon. 385. E. Hn. giltlees. 389. _So_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E.
Who so comth first to mille; Hl. Who-so first cometh to the mylle.
391. E. Cm. _om. 2nd_ ful.
Of wenches wolde I beren him on honde,
Whan that for syk unnethes mighte he stonde.
Yet tikled it his herte, for that he 395
Wende that I hadde of him so greet chiertee.
I swoor that al my walkinge out by nighte
Was for tespye wenches that he dighte;
Under that colour hadde I many a mirthe.
For al swich wit is yeven us in our birthe; 400
[332: T. 5983-6019.]
Deceite, weping, spinning god hath yive
To wommen kindely, whyl they may live.
And thus of o thing I avaunte me,
Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,
By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thing, 405
As by continuel murmur or grucching;
Namely a bedde hadden they meschaunce,
Ther wolde I chyde and do hem no plesaunce;
I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,
If that I felte his arm over my syde, 410
Til he had maad his raunson un-to me;
Than wolde I suffre him do his nycetee.
And ther-fore every man this tale I telle,
Winne who-so may, for al is for to selle.
With empty hand men may none haukes lure; 415
For winning wolde I al his lust endure,
And make me a feyned appetyt;
And yet in bacon hadde I never delyt;
That made me that ever I wolde hem chyde.
For thogh the pope had seten hem biside, 420
I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord.
For by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word.
As help me verray god omnipotent,
Thogh I right now sholde make my testament,
I ne owe hem nat a word that it nis quit. 425
I broghte it so aboute by my wit,
That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste;
Or elles hadde we never been in reste.
For thogh he loked as a wood leoun,
Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun. 430
393. E. hym; _rest_ hem; _but see_ 394. 395. E. it; _rest_ I. 400.
E. thyng was; _rest_ wit is. 401. E. yeue. 402. _All but_ Hn. Hl.
_ins._ that _before_ they. 406. E. continueel. 428. E. rest.
Thanne wolde I seye, ‘gode lief, tak keep
How mekely loketh Wilkin oure sheep;
Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!
Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
And han a swete spyced conscience, 435
Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience.
Suffreth alwey, sin ye so wel can preche;
[333: T. 6020-6056.]
And but ye do, certain we shal yow teche
That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.
Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; 440
And sith a man is more resonable
Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.
What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone?
Why taak it al, lo, have it every-deel; 445
Peter! I shrewe yow but ye love it weel!
For if I wolde selle my _bele chose,_
I coude walke as fresh as is a rose;
But I wol kepe it for your owene tooth.
Ye be to blame, by god, I sey yow sooth.’ 450
431. Cp. Pt. Hl. _ins._ now _before_ goode. 445. E. Hn. Pt. Wy.
Swiche maner wordes hadde we on honde.
Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
My fourthe housbonde was a revelour,
This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour;
And I was yong and ful of ragerye, 455
Stiborn and strong, and Ioly as a pye.
Wel coude I daunce to an harpe smale,
And singe, y-wis, as any nightingale,
Whan I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn.
Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, 460
That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,
For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf,
He sholde nat han daunted me fro drinke;
And, after wyn, on Venus moste I thinke:
For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, 465
A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
In womman vinolent is no defence,
This knowen lechours by experience.
456. Cm. Cp. Ln. Styborne; Pt. Hl. Stiborn; E. Hn. Stibourne. 464.
Cm. muste; Ln. must. 467. E. Hl. wommen.
But, lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me
Up-on my yowthe, and on my Iolitee, 470
It tikleth me aboute myn herte rote.
Unto this day it dooth myn herte bote
That I have had my world as in my tyme.
But age, allas! that al wol envenyme,
[334: T. 6057-6093.]
Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith; 475
Lat go, fare-wel, the devel go therwith!
The flour is goon, ther is na-more to telle,
The bren, as I best can, now moste I selle;
But yet to be right mery wol I fonde.
Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. 480
479. E. myrie; Hn. murye.
I seye, I hadde in herte greet despyt
That he of any other had delyt.
But he was quit, by god and by seint Ioce!
I made him of the same wode a croce;
Nat of my body in no foul manere, 485
But certeinly, I made folk swich chere,
That in his owene grece I made him frye
For angre, and for verray Ialousye.
By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie,
For which I hope his soule be in glorie. 490
For god it woot, he sat ful ofte and song
Whan that his shoo ful bitterly him wrong.
Ther was no wight, save god and he, that wiste,
In many wyse, how sore I him twiste.
He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem, 495
And lyth y-grave under the rode-beem,
Al is his tombe noght so curious
As was the sepulcre of him, Darius,
Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly;
It nis but wast to burie him preciously. 500
Lat him fare-wel, god yeve his soule reste,
He is now in the grave and in his cheste.
486. E. c_er_tein. 497. E. Hn. curyus.
Now of my fifthe housbond wol I telle.
God lete his soule never come in helle!
And yet was he to me the moste shrewe; 505
That fele I on my ribbes al by rewe,
And ever shal, un-to myn ending-day.
But in our bed he was so fresh and gay,
And ther-with-al so wel coude he me glose,
Whan that he wolde han my _bele chose,_ 510
That thogh he hadde me bet on every boon,
[335: T. 6094-6129.]
He coude winne agayn my love anoon.
I trowe I loved him beste, for that he
Was of his love daungerous to me.
We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye, 515
In this matere a queynte fantasye;
Wayte what thing we may nat lightly have,
Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave.
Forbede us thing, and that desyren we;
Prees on us faste, and thanne wol we flee. 520
With daunger oute we al our chaffare;
Greet prees at market maketh dere ware,
And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys;
This knoweth every womman that is wys.
508. E. ful; _rest_ so. 511. Cp. Hl. boon; _rest_ bon. 513. Cm. Hl.
beste; E. Hn. best; Cp. Pt. the bet; Ln. bette. 520. E. Hn. Preesse;
Cm Presse. 521. E. Hn. Cm. oute; Cp. Ln. Hl. outen; Pt. outer.
My fifthe housbonde, god his soule blesse! 525
Which that I took for love and no richesse,
He som-tyme was a clerk of Oxenford,
And had left scole, and wente at hoom to bord
With my gossib, dwellinge in oure toun,
God have hir soule! hir name was Alisoun. 530
She knew myn herte and eek my privetee
Bet than our parisshe-preest, so moot I thee!
To hir biwreyed I my conseil al.
For had myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
Or doon a thing that sholde han cost his lyf, 535
To hir, and to another worthy wyf,
And to my nece, which that I loved weel,
I wolde han told his conseil every-deel.
And so I dide ful often, god it woot,
That made his face ful often reed and hoot 540
For verray shame, and blamed him-self for he
Had told to me so greet a privetee.
528. E. hadde; hom. 532. E. Hn. as; _rest_ so. 534. E. Hn. Cm. Cp.
hadde.
And so bifel that ones, in a Lente,
(So often tymes I to my gossib wente,
For ever yet I lovede to be gay, 545
And for to walke, in March, Averille, and May,
Fro hous to hous, to here sondry talis),
[336: T. 6130-6164.]
That Iankin clerk, and my gossib dame Alis,
And I my-self, in-to the feldes wente.
Myn housbond was at London al that Lente; 550
I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye,
And for to see, and eek for to be seye
Of lusty folk; what wiste I wher my grace
Was shapen for to be, or in what place?
Therefore I made my visitaciouns, 555
To vigilies and to processiouns,
To preching eek and to thise pilgrimages,
To pleyes of miracles and mariages,
And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes.
Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes, 560
Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel;
And wostow why? for they were used weel.
545. Hn. Cm. louede; E. Hl. loued. 550. E. the; _rest_ that. 558.
E. Hn. and to; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. and of; Hl. _om._ to (_or_ of). 561.
E. Hn. Cm. Cp. peril (_correctly_); Pt. perile; Ln. Hl. perel.
Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
I seye, that in the feeldes walked we,
Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, 565
This clerk and I, that of my purveyance
I spak to him, and seyde him, how that he,
If I were widwe, sholde wedde me.
For certeinly, I sey for no bobance,
Yet was I never with-outen purveyance 570
Of mariage, nof othere thinges eek.
I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek,
That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
And if that faille, thanne is al y-do.
571. E. Hn. nof; Cm. and more; _rest_ ne of. 572. herte] Cp. Pt. Ln.
witte.
I bar him on honde, he hadde enchanted me; 575
My dame taughte me that soutiltee.
And eek I seyde, I mette of him al night;
He wolde han slayn me as I lay up-right,
And al my bed was ful of verray blood,
But yet I hope that he shal do me good; 580
For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught.
And al was fals, I dremed of it right naught,
[337: T. 6165-6199.]
But as I folwed ay my dames lore,
As wel of this as of other thinges more.
575-584. _All but_ E. Cm. _omit these lines;_ (Dd. _has them_). 583.
E. Cm. _om._ as; _but it occurs in_ MSS. Camb. Dd. 4. 24, Ii. I. 36,
&c.
But now sir, lat me see, what I shal seyn? 585
A! ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn.
Whan that my fourthe housbond was on bere,
I weep algate, and made sory chere,
As wyves moten, for it is usage,
And with my coverchief covered my visage; 590
But for that I was purveyed of a make,
I weep but smal, and that I undertake.
592. E. wepte; _but see_ 588.
To chirche was myn housbond born a-morwe
With neighebores, that for him maden sorwe;
And Iankin oure clerk was oon of tho. 595
As help me god, whan that I saugh him go
After the bere, me thoughte he hadde a paire
Of legges and of feet so clene and faire,
That al myn herte I yaf un-to his hold.
He was, I trowe, a twenty winter old, 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 sëynt Venus seel.
As help me god, I was a lusty oon, 605
And faire and riche, and yong, and wel bigoon;
And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
I had the beste _quoniam_ mighte be.
For certes, I am al Venerien
In felinge, and myn herte is Marcien. 610
Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,
And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.
Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars ther-inne.
Allas! allas! that ever love was sinne!
I folwed ay myn inclinacioun 615
By vertu of my constellacioun;
That made me I coude noght withdrawe
[338: T. 6200-6225.]
My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
Yet have I Martes mark up-on my face,
And also in another privee place. 620
For, god so wis be my savacioun,
I ne loved never by no discrecioun,
But ever folwede myn appetyt,
Al were he short or long, or blak or whyt;
I took no kepe, so that he lyked me, 625
How pore he was, ne eek of what degree.
595. _Or_ Ianekin, _see_ 383; MSS. Iankyn. 603. Ln. Gate-toþede.
605-612. Hl. _omits._ 608. E. hadde. E. Hn. quonyam; Cm. Pt. Ln.
quoniam; Cp. queynte. 609-612. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit._ 619-626. Hn.
Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit._ 623. Cm. folwede; E. folwed. 626. Cm. pore;
E. poore.
What sholde I seye, but, at the monthes ende,
This Ioly clerk Iankin, that was so hende,
Hath wedded me with greet solempnitee,
And to him yaf I al the lond and fee 630
That ever was me yeven ther-bifore;
But afterward repented me ful sore.
He nolde suffre nothing of my list.
By god, he smoot me ones on the list,
For that I rente out of his book a leef, 635
That of the strook myn ere wex al deef.
Stiborn I was as is a leonesse,
And of my tonge a verray Iangleresse,
And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
From hous to hous, al-though he had it sworn. 640
For which he often tymes wolde preche,
And me of olde Romayn gestes teche,
How he, Simplicius Gallus, lefte his wyf,
And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf,
Noght but for open-heeded he hir say 645
Lokinge out at his dore upon a day.
634. E. Hn. on the lyst; (Ln. luste; Cp. Pt. lest); Hl. Cm. with his
fist. 636. E. Hl. wax. 637. E. Hn. Stibourne. 645. E. Hn.
-heueded; Hl. heedid.
Another Romayn tolde he me by name,
That, for his wyf was at a someres game
With-oute his witing, he forsook hir eke.
And than wolde he up-on his Bible seke 650
That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste,
Wher he comandeth and forbedeth faste,
Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute;
[339: T. 6226-6271.]
Than wolde he seye right thus, with-outen doute,
“Who-so that buildeth his hous al of salwes, 655
And priketh his blinde hors over the falwes,
And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!”
But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe
Of his proverbes nof his olde sawe, 660
Ne I wolde nat of him corrected be.
I hate him that my vices telleth me,
And so do mo, god woot! of us than I.
This made him with me wood al outrely;
I nolde noght forbere him in no cas. 665
649. E. Hn. Cm. With-outen. 650. E. thanne. 654. E. Thanne. 660.
E. Hn. nof; _rest_ ne of. E. awe; Hn. Cm. Hl. sawe; Cp. Pt. Ln. lawe.
Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas,
Why that I rente out of his book a leef,
For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
He hadde a book that gladly, night and day,
For his desport he wolde rede alway. 670
He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste,
At whiche book he lough alwey ful faste.
And eek ther was som-tyme a clerk at Rome,
A cardinal, that highte Seint Ierome,
That made a book agayn Iovinian; 675
In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan,
Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys,
That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys;
And eek the Parables of Salomon,
Ovydes Art, and bokes many on, 680
And alle thise wer bounden in o volume.
And every night and day was his custume,
Whan he had leyser and vacacioun
From other worldly occupacioun,
To reden on this book of wikked wyves. 685
He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
Than been of gode wyves in the Bible.
For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
[340: T. 6272-6305.]
But-if it be of holy seintes lyves, 690
Ne of noon other womman never the mo.
Who peyntede the leoun, tel me who?
By god, if wommen hadde writen stories,
As clerkes han with-inne hir oratories,
They wolde han writen of men more wikkednesse 695
Than all the mark of Adam may redresse.
The children of Mercurie and of Venus
Been in hir wirking ful contrarious;
Mercurie loveth wisdom and science,
And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. 700
And, for hir diverse disposicioun,
Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun;
And thus, god woot! Mercurie is desolat
In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat;
And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed; 705
Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
The clerk, whan he is old, and may noght do
Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
Than sit he doun, and writ in his dotage
That wommen can nat kepe hir mariage! 710
676. Cm. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. Cp. Pt. Hl. Terculan. 680. Hl.
bourdes; _rest_ bookes (bokes). 683. E. hadde. 691. E. Ne; Hn. Nof;
_rest_ Ne of. 692. Cm. peyntede; _rest_ peynted. 697. Cm. Hl. and
of; _rest om._ of. 698. E. Hn. Ln. Hl. contrarius. 699. E.
wysdam. 705. _Over_ is reysed E. _has_ i. in Virgine. 709. E.
Thanne.
But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
That I was beten for a book, pardee.
Up-on a night Iankin, that was our syre,
Redde on his book, as he sat by the fyre,
Of Eva first, that, for hir wikkednesse, 715
Was al mankinde broght to wrecchednesse,
For which that Iesu Crist him-self was slayn,
That boghte us with his herte-blood agayn.
Lo, here expres of womman may ye finde,
That womman was the los of al mankinde. 720
717-720. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit._ 717. E. _om._ that Iesu;
_which occurs in_ MS. Bibl. Reg. 17. D. xv. _and in_ Dd.
Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres,
Slepinge, his lemman kitte hem with hir sheres;
Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe his yën.
721, 723. E. hise. 722. Cm. hem; _rest_ it (_badly_). 723. Pt. Ln.
whiche; _rest_ which (_badly_). E. eyen.
[341: T. 6306-6340.]
Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, 725
That caused him to sette himself a-fyre.
No-thing forgat he the penaunce and wo
That Socrates had with hise wyves two;
How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his heed;
This sely man sat stille, as he were deed; 730
He wyped his heed, namore dorste he seyn
But “er that thonder stinte, comth a reyn.”
727. Cp. Pt. Ln. penaunce; E. Hn. sorwe; Cm. Hl. care. 728. E. hadde.
Of Phasipha, that was the quene of Crete,
For shrewednesse, him thoughte the tale swete;
Fy! spek na-more—it is a grisly thing— 735
Of hir horrible lust and hir lyking.
733. E. Hn. Phasifpha; Cm. Phasippa; _rest_ Phasipha. 735. E. speke;
Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. spek.
Of Clitemistra, for hir lecherye,
That falsly made hir housbond for to dye,
He redde it with ful good devocioun.
737. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Clitermystra; Cm. Clitemysta; Hl. Clydemystra.
He tolde me eek for what occasioun 740
Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf;
Myn housbond hadde a legende of his wyf,
Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold
Hath prively un-to the Grekes told
Wher that hir housbonde hidde him in a place, 745
For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.
Of Lyma tolde he me, and of Lucye,
They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye;
That oon for love, that other was for hate;
Lyma hir housbond, on an even late, 750
Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo.
Lucya, likerous, loved hir housbond so,
That, for he sholde alwey up-on hir thinke,
She yaf him swich a maner love-drinke,
That he was deed, er it were by the morwe; 755
And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.
750. E. vpon; _rest_ on.
Than tolde he me, how oon Latumius
Compleyned to his felawe Arrius,
[342: T. 6341-6376.]
That in his gardin growed swich a tree,
On which, he seyde, how that his wyves three 760
Hanged hem-self for herte despitous.
“O leve brother,” quod this Arrius,
“Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree,
And in my gardin planted shal it be!”
757. E. Thanne. E. Hn. how that oon. Cm. Latymyus; _rest_ Latumyus.
758. E. Hn. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 764. E. Ln. it shal; Pt. shal he;
_rest_ shal it.
Of latter date, of wyves hath he red, 765
That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the night
Whyl that the corps lay in the floor up-right.
And somme han drive nayles in hir brayn
Whyl that they slepte, and thus they han hem slayn. 770
Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir drinke.
He spak more harm than herte may bithinke.
And ther-with-al, he knew of mo proverbes
Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
“Bet is,” quod he, “thyn habitacioun 775
Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun,
Than with a womman usinge 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; 780
They haten that hir housbondes loveth 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,
Is lyk a gold ring in a sowes nose.” 785
Who wolde wenen, or who wolde suppose
The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
767. E. lecchour. 768. Cm. Whils; Hl. Whil; _rest_ Whan; _see_ 770.
786. E. leeue; _rest_ wene; _but read_ wenen.
And whan I saugh he wolde never fyne
To reden on this cursed book al night,
Al sodeynly three leves have I plight 790
Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke,
I with my fist so took him on the cheke,
That in our fyr he fil bakward adoun.
And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
[343: T. 6377-6410.]
And with his fist he smoot me on the heed, 795
That in the floor I lay as I were deed.
And when he saugh how stille that 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, 800
“And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.”
792. E. Cp. fest; _rest_ fist. 795. E. Hn. Cp. fest; _rest_ fist.
And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun,
And seyde, “dere suster Alisoun,
As help me god, I shal thee never smyte; 805
That I have doon, it is thy-self to wyte.
Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke”—
And yet eft-sones I hitte him on the cheke,
And seyde, “theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.” 810
But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
We fille acorded, by us selven two.
He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond
To han the governance of hous and lond,
And of his tonge and of his hond also, 815
And made him brenne his book anon right tho.
And whan that I hadde geten un-to me,
By maistrie, al the soveraynetee,
And that he seyde, “myn owene trewe wyf,
Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf, 820
Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat”—
After that day we hadden never debaat.
God help me so, I was to him as kinde
As any wyf from Denmark un-to Inde,
And also trewe, and so was he to me. 825
I prey to god that sit in magestee,
So blesse his soule, for his mercy dere!
Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol here.’
812. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. vs; Cm. Ln. Hl. oure. 815. E. Hn. Pt. _om. 2nd_
of. 820. E. to; Cm. for; Hl. in; _rest_ the (_before_ terme). 822.
Hl. neuer had.
[344: T. 6411-6438.]
=Biholde the wordes bitween the Somonour and the Frere.=
The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this,
‘Now, dame,’ quod he, ‘so have I Ioye or blis, 830
This is a long preamble of a tale!’
And whan the Somnour herde the Frere gale,
‘Lo!’ quod the Somnour, ‘goddes armes two!
A frere wol entremette him ever-mo.
Lo, gode men, a flye and eek a frere 835
Wol falle in every dish and eek matere.
What spekestow of preambulacioun?
What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun;
Thou lettest our disport in this manere.’
832. E. Somonour; Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. somnour. 836. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek;
_rest om._
‘Ye, woltow so, sir Somnour?’ quod the Frere, 840
‘Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go,
Telle of a Somnour swich a tale or two,
That alle the folk shal laughen in this place.’
‘Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy face,’
Quod this Somnour, ‘and I bishrewe me, 845
But if I telle tales two or thre
Of freres er I come to Sidingborne,
That I shal make thyn herte for to morne;
For wel I wool thy patience is goon.’
Our hoste cryde ‘pees! and that anoon!’ 850
And seyde, ‘lat the womman telle hir tale.
Ye fare as folk that dronken been of ale.
Do, dame, tel forth your tale, and that is best.’
850. Cp. Hl. hoste; Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost. 852. E. Cm. were; _rest_
ben. 853. E. telle (_but_ tel _in_ 856).
‘Al redy, sir,’ quod she, ‘right as yow lest,
If I have licence of this worthy Frere.’ 855
‘Yis, dame,’ quod he, ‘tel forth, and I wol here.’
=Here endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe.=
COLOPHON. Hn. Here endeth the prologe of the Wyf of Bathe. E. _adds_
and bigynneth hir tale.
[345: T. 6439-6463.]
* * * * *
THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.=
In tholde dayes of the king Arthour,
Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
All was this land fulfild of fayerye.
The elf-queen, with hir Ioly companye, 860
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede;
This was the olde opinion, as I rede,
I speke of manye hundred yeres ago;
But now can no man see none elves mo.
For now the grete charitee and prayeres 865
Of limitours and othere holy freres, (10)
That serchen every lond and every streem,
As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
Blessinge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, 870
Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes,
This maketh that ther been no fayeryes.
For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
Ther walketh now the limitour him-self
In undermeles and in morweninges, 875
And seyth his matins and his holy thinges (20)
As he goth in his limitacioun.
Wommen may go saufly up and doun,
In every bush, or under every tree;
Ther is noon other incubus but he, 880
And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
HEADING. _From_ Hn. 857. E. Cm. _om._ the. 859. Cp. fayerie; _rest_
fairye. 872. Cp. fayeries; E. Hn. fairyes. 880. Hl. incumbent
(!). 881. Cm. non; _rest_ but. Hl. ne wol but doon hem.
[346: T. 6464-6498.]
And so bifel it, that this king Arthour
Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
That on a day cam rydinge fro river;
And happed that, allone as she was born, 885
He saugh a mayde walkinge him biforn, (30)
Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
By verray force he rafte hir maydenheed;
For which oppressioun was swich clamour
And swich pursute un-to the king Arthour, 890
That dampned was this knight for to be deed
By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed
Paraventure, swich was the statut tho;
But that the quene and othere ladies mo
So longe preyeden the king of grace, 895
Til he his lyf him graunted in the place, (40)
And yaf him to the quene al at hir wille,
To chese, whether she wolde him save or spille.
882. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ it. 883. E. _om._ his. 885. E. Hn. he(!).
887. Cm. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. 888. E. Cm. Hl. birafte; _rest_ he
rafte (refte). 895. Hl. Cm. preyeden; E. Hn. preyden. 898. E.
wheither.
The quene thanketh the king with al hir might,
And after this thus spak she to the knight, 900
Whan that she saugh hir tyme, up-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 canst tellen me
What thing is it that wommen most desyren? 905
Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from yren. (50)
And if thou canst nat tellen it anon,
Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon
A twelf-month and a day, to seche and lere
An answere suffisant in this matere. 910
And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
Thy body for to yelden in this place.’
907. E. Hl. tellen it; Hn. tellen me; Cm. telle me; _rest_ telle it
me. 908. E. shal (_for_ wol).
Wo was this knight and sorwefully he syketh;
But what! he may nat do al as him lyketh.
And at the laste, he chees him for to wende, 915
And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, (60)
[347: T. 6499-6536.]
With swich answere as god wolde him purveye;
And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
914. Cm. ȝit (_for_ what); E. _om._
He seketh every hous and every place,
Wher-as he hopeth for to finde grace, 920
To lerne, what thing wommen loven most;
But he ne coude arryven in no cost,
Wher-as he mighte finde in this matere
Two creatures accordinge in-fere.
Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse, 925
Somme seyde, honour, somme seyde, Iolynesse; (70)
Somme, riche array, somme seyden, lust abedde,
And ofte tyme to be widwe and wedde.
Somme seyde, that our hertes been most esed,
Whan that we been y-flatered and y-plesed. 930
He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye;
A man shal winne us best with flaterye;
And with attendance, and with bisinesse,
Been we y-lymed, bothe more and lesse.
And somme seyn, how that we loven best 935
For to be free, and do right as us lest, (80)
And that no man repreve us of our vyce,
But seye that we be wyse, and no-thing nyce.
For trewely, ther is noon of us alle,
If any wight wol clawe us on the galle, 940
That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth;
Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth.
For be we never so vicious with-inne,
We wol been holden wyse, and clene of sinne.
935. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ how. 941. nil] E. nel; Cm. nolde.
And somme seyn, that greet delyt han we 945
For to ben holden stable and eek secree, (90)
And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
And nat biwreye thing that men us telle.
But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele;
Pardee, we wommen conne no-thing hele; 950
Witnesse on Myda; wol ye here the tale?
Ovyde, amonges othere thinges smale,
Seyde, Myda hadde, under his longe heres,
Growinge up-on his heed two asses eres,
[348: T. 6537-6572.]
The which vyce he hidde, as he best mighte, 955
Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, (100)
That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it na-mo.
He loved hir most, and trusted hir also;
He preyede hir, that to no creature
She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960
958. Hn. Cp. Hl. trusted; Cm. trostid; E. triste. 959. Cm. preyede;
Hl. prayed; Hn. preyed; E. preyde.
She swoor him ‘nay, for al this world to winne,
She nolde do that vileinye or sinne,
To make hir housbond han so foul a name;
She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.’
But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, 965
That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; (110)
Hir thoughte it swal so sore aboute hir herte,
That nedely som word hir moste asterte;
And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
Doun to a mareys faste by she ran; 970
Til she came there, hir herte was a-fyre,
And, as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
She leyde hir mouth un-to the water doun:
‘Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,’
Quod she, ‘to thee I telle it, and namo; 975
Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two! (120)
Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute;
I mighte no lenger kepe it, out of doute,’
Heer may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
Yet out it moot, we can no conseil hyde; 980
The remenant of the tale if ye wol here,
Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere.
972. Cm. bumbith; Cp. Pt. bumlith; Hl. bumblith.
This knight, of which my tale is specially,
Whan that he saugh he mighte nat come therby,
This is to seye, what wommen loven moost, 985
With-inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost; (130)
But hoom he gooth, he mighte nat soiourne.
The day was come, that hoomward moste he tourne,
And in his wey it happed him to ryde,
In al this care, under a forest-syde, 990
[349: T. 6573-6609.]
Wher-as he saugh up-on a daunce go
Of ladies foure and twenty, and yet mo;
Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,
In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne.
But certeinly, er he came fully there, 995
Vanisshed was this daunce, he niste where. (140)
No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
Save on the grene he saugh sittinge a wyf;
A fouler wight ther may no man devyse.
Agayn the knight this olde wyf gan ryse, 1000
And seyde, ‘sir knight, heer-forth ne lyth no wey.
Tel me, what that ye seken, by your fey?
Paraventure it may the bettre be;
Thise olde folk can muchel thing,’ quod she.
985. E. loue. 990. E. Hn. this; _rest_ his. 993. Hn. whiche; E.
which; _rest vary_.
‘My leve mooder,’ quod this knight certeyn, 1005
‘I nam but deed, but-if that I can seyn (150)
What thing it is that wommen most desyre;
Coude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quyte your hyre.’
‘Plighte me thy trouthe, heer in myn hand,’ quod she,
‘The nexte thing that I requere thee, 1010
Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy might;
And I wol telle it yow er it be night.’
‘Have heer my trouthe,’ quod the knight, ‘I grante.’
‘Thanne,’ quod she, ‘I dar me wel avante,
Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby, 1015
Up-on my lyf, the queen wol seye as I. (160)
Lat see which is the proudeste of hem alle,
That wereth on a coverchief or a calle,
That dar seye nay, of that I shal thee teche;
Lat us go forth with-outen lenger speche.’ 1020
Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere,
And bad him to be glad, and have no fere.
1016. E. queene.
Whan they be comen to the court, this knight
Seyde, ‘he had holde his day, as he hadde hight,
And redy was his answere,’ as he sayde. 1025
Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, (170)
And many a widwe, for that they ben wyse,
[350: T. 6610-6645.]
The quene hir-self sittinge as a Iustyse,
Assembled been, his answere for to here;
And afterward this knight was bode appere. 1030
1028. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. _om._ a.
To every wight comanded was silence,
And that the knight sholde telle in audience,
What thing that worldly wommen loven best.
This knight ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
But to his questioun anon answerde 1035
With manly voys, that al the court it herde: (180)
‘My lige lady, generally,’ quod he,
‘Wommen desyren to have sovereyntee
As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
And for to been in maistrie him above; 1040
This is your moste desyr, thogh ye me kille,
Doth as yow list, I am heer at your wille.’
1038. E. _om._ to. 1042. E. _om._ heer; Cm. al.
In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde,
Ne widwe, that contraried that he sayde,
But seyden, ‘he was worthy han his lyf.’ 1045
And with that word up stirte the olde wyf, (190)
Which that the knight saugh sittinge in the grene:
‘Mercy,’ quod she, ‘my sovereyn lady quene!
Er that your court departe, do me right.
I taughte this answere un-to the knight; 1050
For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
The firste thing I wolde of him requere,
He wolde it do, if it lay in his might.
Bifore the court than preye I thee, sir knight,’
Quod she, ‘that thou me take un-to thy wyf; 1055
For wel thou wost that I have kept thy lyf. (200)
If I sey fals, sey nay, up-on thy fey!’
1052. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ of. 1054. E. thanne.
This knight answerde, ‘allas! and weylawey!
I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste; 1060
Tak al my good, and lat my body go.’
1061. E. Hn. Taak.
‘Nay than,’ quod she, ‘I shrewe us bothe two!
For thogh that I be foul, and old, and pore,
[351: T. 6646-6682.]
I nolde for al the metal, ne for ore,
That under erthe is grave, or lyth above, 1065
But-if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.’ (210)
1062. E. thanne. 1063. _All but_ Cp. Pt. _om. 1st_ and. E. oold,
poore. 1064. Hl. the oure; E. Hn. oore; Cm. Pt. ore; Cp. oure; Ln.
oer.
‘My love?’ quod he; ‘nay, my dampnacioun!
Allas! that any of my nacioun
Sholde ever so foule disparaged be!’
But al for noght, the ende is this, that he 1070
Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir wedde;
And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
1070. E. Hn. thende.
Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
That, for my necligence, I do no cure
To tellen yow the Ioye and al tharray 1075
That at the feste was that ilke day. (220)
To whiche thing shortly answere I shal;
I seye, ther nas no Ioye ne feste at al,
Ther nas but hevinesse and muche sorwe;
For prively he wedded hir on a morwe, 1080
And al day after hidde him as an oule;
So wo was him, his wyf looked so foule.
Greet was the wo the knight hadde in his thoght,
Whan he was with his wyf a-bedde y-broght;
He walweth, and he turneth to and fro. 1085
His olde wyf lay smylinge evermo, (230)
And seyde, ‘o dere housbond, _benedicite_!
Fareth every knight thus with his wyf as ye?
Is this the lawe of king Arthures hous?
Is every knight of his so dangerous? 1090
I am your owene love and eek your wyf;
I am she, which that saved hath your lyf;
And certes, yet dide I yow never unright;
Why fare ye thus with me this firste night?
Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit; 1095
What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it, (240)
And it shal been amended, if I may.’
1091. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek; _rest om._ 1093. E. Hn. yet ne dide. 1096.
Cm. Hl. me; _rest om._ (_Read_ goddes _as_ god’s).
‘Amended?’ quod this knight, ‘allas! nay, nay!
It wol nat been amended never mo!
Thou art so loothly, and so old also, 1100
[352: T. 6683-6718.]
And ther-to comen of so lowe a kinde,
That litel wonder is, thogh I walwe and winde.
So wolde god myn herte wolde breste!’
1101. E. lough. 1102. Pt. no (_for_ litel). _Read_ wonder’s.
‘Is this,’ quod she, ‘the cause of your unreste?’
‘Ye, certainly,’ quod he, ‘no wonder is.’ 1105
‘Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘I coude amende al this, (250)
If that me liste, er it were dayes three,
So wel ye mighte here yow un-to me.
But for ye speken of swich gentillesse
As is descended out of old richesse, 1110
That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
Loke who that is most vertuous alway,
Privee and apert, and most entendeth ay
To do the gentil dedes that he can, 1115
And tak him for the grettest gentil man. (260)
Crist wol, we clayme of him our gentillesse,
Nat of our eldres for hir old richesse.
For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage,
For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, 1120
Yet may they nat biquethe, for no-thing,
To noon of us hir vertuous living,
That made hem gentil men y-called be;
And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
1112. Cp. Pt. nys (_for_ is). 1116. Cp. Pt. Ln. And take; _rest om._
And.
Wel can the wyse poete of Florence, 1125
That highte Dant, speken in this sentence; (270)
Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:
“Ful selde up ryseth by his branches smale
Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnesse,
Wol that of him we clayme our gentillesse;” 1130
For of our eldres may we no-thing clayme
But temporel thing, that man may hurte and mayme.
1126. Hl. of (_for_ in). Cm. declare (_for_ speken in). 1129. E.
goodnesse; _rest_ prowesse.
Eek every wight wot this as wel as I,
If gentillesse were planted naturelly
Un-to a certeyn linage, doun the lyne, 1135
Privee ne apert, than wolde they never fyne (280)
[353: T. 6719-6753.]
To doon of gentillesse the faire offyce;
They mighte do no vileinye or vyce.
1134. E. natureelly. 1136. E. Cm. nor; Hl. ne; _rest_ and. E. thanne.
Tak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous
Bitwix this and the mount of Caucasus, 1140
And lat men shette the dores and go thenne;
Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne,
As twenty thousand men mighte it biholde;
His office naturel ay wol it holde,
Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. 1145
1139. E. Taak. 1140. E. Kaukasous. 1144. E. natureel.
Heer may ye see wel, how that genterye (290)
Is nat annexed to possessioun,
Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo! in his kinde.
For, god it woot, men may wel often finde 1150
A lordes sone do shame and vileinye;
And he that wol han prys of his gentrye
For he was boren of a gentil hous,
And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous,
And nil him-selven do no gentil dedis, 1155
Ne folwe his gentil auncestre that deed is, (300)
He nis nat gentil, be he duk or erl;
For vileyns sinful dedes make a cherl.
For gentillesse nis but renomee
Of thyne auncestres, for hir heigh bountee, 1160
Which is a strange thing to thy persone.
Thy gentillesse cometh fro god allone;
Than comth our verray gentillesse of grace,
It was no-thing biquethe us with our place.
1153. Cp. Hl. boren; Cm. bore; _rest_ born. 1155. E. nel; _rest_
nyl. 1156. E. Hn. folwen. 1162. _Read_ comth; _see_ 1163. 1163.
E. Thanne.
Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius, 1165
Was thilke Tullius Hostilius, (310)
That out of povert roos to heigh noblesse.
Redeth Senek, and redeth eek Boëce,
Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is,
That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis; 1170
And therfore, leve housbond, I thus conclude,
[354: T. 6754-6788.]
Al were it that myne auncestres were rude,
Yet may the hye god, and so hope I,
Grante me grace to liven vertuously.
Thanne am I gentil, whan that I biginne 1175
To liven vertuously and weyve sinne. (320)
1166. E. Hn. Hostillius. 1167. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. pouert; _rest_
pouerte. 1168. E. Reed; _rest_ Redeth. 1169. Cp. Pt. Ln. it; _rest
om._ 1172. E. Hn. weren (_2nd_). 1176. Cm. leuyn; Pt. leuen; _rest_
weyue (weyuen).
And ther-as ye of povert me repreve,
The hye god, on whom that we bileve,
In wilful povert chees to live his lyf.
And certes every man, mayden, or wyf, 1180
May understonde that Iesus, hevene king,
Ne wolde nat chese a vicious living.
Glad povert is an honest thing, certeyn;
This wol Senek and othere clerkes seyn.
Who-so that halt him payd of his poverte, 1185
I holde him riche, al hadde he nat a sherte. (330)
He that coveyteth is a povre wight,
For he wolde han that is nat in his might.
But he that noght hath, ne coveyteth have,
Is riche, al-though ye holde him but a knave. 1190
1177. E. Hn. pouerte; _rest_ pouert. 1179. E. Hn. Pt. pouerte; _rest_
pouert; _so in_ 1183, 1191. 1182. E. chesen; E. _om._ a. 1183. E.
Hn. honeste; Cm. oneste.
Verray povert, it singeth proprely;
Iuvenal seith of povert merily:
“The povre man, whan he goth by the weye,
Bifore the theves he may singe and pleye.”
Povert is hateful good, and, as I gesse, 1195
A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; (340)
A greet amender eek of sapience
To him that taketh it in pacience.
Povert is this, al-though it seme elenge:
Possessioun, that no wight wol chalenge. 1200
Povert ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
Maketh his god and eek him-self to knowe.
Povert a spectacle is, as thinketh me,
Thurgh which he may his verray frendes see.
And therfore, sire, sin that I noght yow greve, 1205
Of my povert na-more ye me repreve. (350)
1191. E. Cm. it syngeth; _rest_ is sinne (!). 1192. E. Hn. Cp.
myrily. 1195. Cp. Pt. Ln. hatel. 1199. Hn. Hl. elenge; Ln. alinge;
_rest_ alenge. 1205. E. hise.
[355: T. 6789-6826.]
Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me;
And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
Seyn that men sholde an old wight doon favour, 1210
And clepe him fader, for your gentillesse;
And auctours shal I finden, as I gesse.
Now ther ye seye, that I am foul and old,
Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;
For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee, 1215
Been grete wardeyns up-on chastitee. (360)
But nathelees, sin I knowe your delyt,
I shal fulfille your worldly appetyt.
Chese now,’ quod she, ‘oon of thise thinges tweye,
To han me foul and old til that I deye, 1220
And be to yow a trewe humble wyf,
And never yow displese in al my lyf,
Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
And take your aventure of the repair
That shal be to your hous, by-cause of me, 1225
Or in som other place, may wel be. (370)
Now chese your-selven, whether that yow lyketh.’
1227. E. wheither.
This knight avyseth him and sore syketh,
But atte laste he seyde in this manere,
‘My lady and my love, and wyf so dere, 1230
I put me in your wyse governance;
Cheseth your-self, which may be most plesance,
And most honour to yow and me also.
I do no fors the whether of the two;
For as yow lyketh, it suffiseth me.’ 1235
‘Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, (380)
‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’
1234. E. wheither. 1236. of—maistrye] Cm. the maysterye.
‘Ye, certes, wyf,’ quod he, ‘I holde it best.’
‘Kis me,’ quod she, ‘we be no lenger wrothe;
For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe, 1240
This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
I prey to god that I mot sterven wood,
But I to yow be al-so good and trewe
As ever was wyf, sin that the world was newe.
[356: T. 6827-6846.]
And, but I be to-morn as fair to sene 1245
As any lady, emperyce, or quene, (390)
That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
Doth with my lyf and deeth right as yow lest.
Cast up the curtin, loke how that it is.’
And whan the knight saugh verraily al this, 1250
That she so fair was, and so yong ther-to,
For Ioye he hente hir in his armes two,
His herte bathed in a bath of blisse;
A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hir kisse.
And she obeyed him in every thing 1255
That mighte doon him plesance or lyking. (400)
1254. E. Hn. Ln. a rewe; Hl. on rowe; _rest_ a rowe.
And thus they live, un-to hir lyves ende,
In parfit Ioye; and Iesu Crist us sende
Housbondes meke, yonge, and fresshe a-bedde,
And grace toverbyde hem that we wedde. 1260
And eek I preye Iesu shorte hir lyves
That wol nat be governed by hir wyves;
And olde and angry nigardes of dispence,
God sende hem sone verray pestilence.
=Here endeth the Wyves Tale of Bathe.=
1259. E. _om._ and Ln. fresshe; E. fressh. 1260. E. Hn. touerbyde;
Cm. Hl. to ouerbyde; Cp. Pt. Ln. to ouerlede (!). 1261. Cm. preye;
Hn. praye; E. pray. 1262. E. Hn. nat wol; _rest transpose_.
COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.
[357: T. 6847-6868.]
* * * * *
THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=The prologe of the Freres Tale.=
This worthy limitour, this noble Frere, 1265
He made alwey a maner louring chere
Upon the Somnour, but for honestee
No vileyns word as yet to him spak he.
But atte laste he seyde un-to the Wyf,
‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘god yeve yow right good lyf! 1270
Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee,
In scole-matere greet difficultee;
Ye han seyd muchel thing right wel, I seye;
But dame, here as we ryden by the weye, (10)
Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, 1275
And lete auctoritees, on goddes name,
To preching and to scole eek of clergye.
But if it lyke to this companye,
I wol yow of a somnour telle a game.
Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name, 1280
That of a somnour may no good be sayd;
I praye that noon of you be yvel apayd.
A somnour is a renner up and doun
With mandements for fornicacioun, (20)
And is y-bet at every tounes ende.’ 1285
HEADING. _So_ E. Hn. 1266. E. chiere. 1267. E. Somonour; Hn.
Somnour. 1273. E. Hn. muche; Ln. muchel; _rest_ mochel. 1274. E.
ryde; _rest_ ryden. 1277. Hl. scoles. E. Hn. Hl. _om._ eek. 1278.
K. And; _rest_ But. 1284. E. Hn. mandementz.
Our host tho spak, ‘a! sire, ye sholde be hende
[358: T. 6869-6882.]
And curteys, as a man of your estaat;
In companye we wol have no debaat.
Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.’
1286. Hl. oste (_om._ tho).
‘Nay,’ quod the Somnour, ‘lat him seye to me 1290
What so him list; whan it comth to my lot,
By god, I shal him quyten every grot.
I shal him tellen which a greet honour (29)
It is to be a flateringe limitour; [T. 6876
And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.’ [T. 6879
_After_ l. 1294 _all but_ Hl. _wrongly insert_ ll. 1307 _and_ 1308;
_which see_. Tyrwhitt _also inserts them._
Our host answerde, ‘pees, na-more of this.’ 1296
And after this he seyde un-to the Frere,
‘Tel forth your tale, leve maister deere.’
=Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere.=
1298. E. Hn. leeue; Hl. my; Cp. Ln. my leue; Pt. my owen. COLOPHON.
_From_ Hn.; _so_ Pt.(_with_ Thus _for_ Here).
[359: T. 6883-6902.]
* * * * *
THE FRERES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Freres Tale.=
Whilom ther was dwellinge in my contree
An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, 1300
That boldely dide execucioun
In punisshinge of fornicacioun,
Of wicchecraft, and eek of bauderye,
Of diffamacioun, and avoutrye,
Of chirche-reves, and of testaments, 1305
Of contractes, and of lakke of sacraments,
And eek of many another maner cryme [T. _om._
Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; [T. _om._
Of usure, and of symonye also. (11)
But certes, lechours dide he grettest wo; 1310
They sholde singen, if that they were hent;
And smale tytheres weren foule y-shent.
If any persone wolde up-on hem pleyne,
Ther mighte asterte him no pecunial peyne.
For smale tythes and for smal offringe, 1315
He made the peple pitously to singe.
For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook,
They weren in the erchedeknes book. (20)
Thanne hadde he, thurgh his Iurisdiccioun,
Power to doon on hem correccioun. 1320
[360: T. 6903-6937.]
He hadde a Somnour redy to his hond,
A slyer boy was noon in Engelond;
For subtilly he hadde his espiaille,
That taughte him, wher that him mighte availle.
He coude spare of lechours oon or two, 1325
To techen him to foure and twenty mo.
For thogh this Somnour wood were as an hare,
To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; (30)
For we been out of his correccioun;
They han of us no Iurisdiccioun, 1330
Ne never shullen, terme of alle hir lyves.
HEADING. _So_ E. Pt. 1306. E. Hn. and eek; _rest_ and. 1307, 1308.
_Wrongly inserted after_ l. 1294 _in all but_ Hl. 1307. E. Hn. Ln.
_om._ eek. 1308. E. Hn. for; _rest_ at. 1310. Ln. lychoures; _rest_
lecchours. 1315. Hn. Hl. for; Cp. eek for; Pt. Ln. eek; E. _om._
1317. E. Hl. him. 1318. Cp. Pt. Hl. weren; _rest_ were. 1319. Hl.
And; _rest_ And thanne; _read_ Thanne. 1321. E. Somonour; Hl.
Sompnour; _rest_ Somnour. 1322. E. Pt. Ln. boye. 1324. _Read_
taughten(?), _or_ taught-e. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._ 1325. E.
lecchours. 1327. E. was; _rest_ were. 1331. E. Hn. _om._ alle.
‘Peter! so been the wommen of the styves,’
Quod the Somnour, ‘y-put out of my cure!’
1332. E. Cm. _om. 1st_ the.
‘Pees, with mischance and with misaventure,’
Thus seyde our host, ‘and lat him telle his tale. 1335
Now telleth forth, thogh that the Somnour gale,
Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister dere.’
This false theef, this Somnour, quod the Frere, (40)
Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond,
As any hauk to lure in Engelond, 1340
That tolde him al the secree that they knewe;
For hir acqueyntance was nat come of-newe.
They weren hise approwours prively;
He took him-self a greet profit therby;
His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. 1345
With-outen mandement, a lewed man
He coude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs,
And they were gladde for to fille his purs, (50)
And make him grete festes atte nale.
And right as Iudas hadde purses smale, 1350
And was a theef, right swich a theef was he;
His maister hadde but half his duëtee.
He was, if I shal yeven him his laude,
A theef, and eek a Somnour, and a baude.
He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, 1355
[361: T. 6938-6971.]
That, whether that sir Robert or sir Huwe,
Or Iakke, or Rauf, or who-so that it were,
That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere; (60)
Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent.
And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, 1360
And somne hem to the chapitre bothe two,
And pile the man, and lete the wenche go.
Thanne wolde he seye, ‘frend, I shal for thy sake
Do stryken hir out of our lettres blake;
Thee thar na-more as in this cas travaille; 1365
I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.’
Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo
Than possible is to telle in yeres two. (70)
For in this world nis dogge for the bowe,
That can an hurt deer from an hool y-knowe, 1370
Bet than this Somnour knew a sly lechour,
Or an avouter, or a paramour.
And, for that was the fruit of al his rente,
Therfore on it he sette al his entente.
1343. Ln. approwers; Cm. apprououris; Pt. aprouers; _rest_
approuwours. 1348. Cp. gladde; E. Hn. glade. 1349. Cm. at the nale;
(atte nale = atten ale). 1352. Hl. not (_for_ but). Cp. dewete.
1356. E. wheither. 1364. E. Hn. hir; _rest_ þe. 1367. E.
bribryes. 1370. Hl. y-knowe; _rest_ knowe [_perhaps read_ hole
knowe). 1371. Cm. lechour; E. Hn. lecchour. 1372. Hn. Cp. Pt.
auouter; E. Hl. auowtier.
And so bifel, that ones on a day 1375
This Somnour, ever waiting on his pray,
Rood for to somne a widwe, an old ribybe,
Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. (80)
And happed that he saugh bifore him ryde
A gay yeman, under a forest-syde. 1380
A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene;
He hadde up-on a courtepy of grene;
An hat up-on his heed with frenges blake.
1377. Hl. Rod; Cp. Pt. Ln. Rode; Cm. Wente; E. Hn. _om._ Cm. a wedewe
an old; Hl. a widew and(!) old; E. Hn. an old wydwe a. 1379. E.
Hn._om._ And
‘Sir,’ quod this Somnour, ‘hayl! and wel a-take!’
‘Wel-come,’ quod he, ‘and every good felawe! 1385
Wher rydestow under this grene shawe?’
Seyde this yeman, ‘wiltow fer to day?’
1386. E. Cm. Pt. Ln. grene wode shawe (_too long_).
This Somnour him answerde, and seyde, ‘nay; (90)
Heer faste by,’ quod he, ‘is myn entente
[362: T. 6972-7007.]
To ryden, for to reysen up a rente 1390
That longeth to my lordes duëtee.
1391. Cp. dewete.
‘Artow thanne a bailly?’ ‘Ye!’ quod he.
He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame,
Seye that he was a somnour, for the name.
‘_Depardieux_,’ quod this yeman, ‘dere brother, 1395
Thou art a bailly, and I am another.
I am unknowen as in this contree;
Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, (100)
And eek of brotherhede, if that yow leste.
I have gold and silver in my cheste; 1400
If that thee happe to comen in our shyre,
Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desyre.’
1395. Cm. leue; Hl. lieue; _rest_ dere (deere). 1399. Cm.
brotherhode; Hl. brotherheed; _rest_ brether-.
‘Grantmercy,’ quod this Somnour, ‘by my feith!’
Everich in otheres hand his trouthe leith,
For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. 1405
In daliance they ryden forth hir weye.
1405. Hl. sworne; E. Hn. sworn; _rest_ swore.
This Somnour, which that was as ful of Iangles,
As ful of venim been thise wariangles, (no)
And ever enquering up-on every thing,
‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘where is now your dwelling, 1410
Another day if that I sholde yow seche?’
1407. E. Cm. _om._ which.
This yeman him answerde in softe speche,
‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘fer in the north contree,
Wher, as I hope, som-tyme I shal thee see.
Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse, 1415
That of myn hous ne shaltow never misse.’
‘Now, brother,’ quod this Somnour, ‘I yow preye,
Teche me, whyl that we ryden by the weye, (120)
Sin that ye been a baillif as am I,
Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully 1420
In myn offyce how I may most winne;
And spareth nat for conscience ne sinne,
But as my brother tel me, how do ye?’
1421. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. how that I.
‘Now, by my trouthe, brother dere,’ seyde he,
‘As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, 1425
[363: T. 7008-7043.]
My wages been ful streite and ful smale.
My lord is hard to me and daungerous,
And myn offyce is ful laborous; (130)
And therfore by extorcions I live.
For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive; 1430
Algate, by sleyghte or by violence,
Fro yeer to yeer I winne al my dispence.
I can no bettre telle feithfully.’
1426. Hl. and eek (_but read_ streit-e). 1428. Cp. laborious; _rest_
laborous. 1430. E. yeue.
‘Now, certes,’ quod this Somnour, ‘so fare I;
I spare nat to taken, god it woot, 1435
But if it be to hevy or to hoot.
What I may gete in conseil prively,
No maner conscience of that have I; (140)
Nere myn extorcioun, I mighte nat liven,
Ne of swiche Iapes wol I nat be shriven. 1440
Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon;
I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everichoon.
Wel be we met, by god and by seint Iame!
But, leve brother, tel me than thy name,’
Quod this Somnour; and in this mene-whyle, 1445
This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.
1440. E. Nor; Hn. Cm. Hl. Ne. 1444. E. thanne. 1445. Cm. and; _rest
om._
‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘wiltow that I thee telle?
I am a feend, my dwelling is in helle. (150)
And here I ryde about my purchasing,
To wite wher men wolde yeve me any thing. 1450
My purchas is theffect of al my rente.
Loke how thou rydest for the same entente,
To winne good, thou rekkest never how;
Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now
Un-to the worldes ende for a preye.’ 1455
1450. E. me yeuen; _rest_ yeue (yiue) me. 1454. E. I wolde right; Hl.
I wolde; _rest_ wolde I.
‘A,’ quod this Somnour, ‘_benedicite_, what sey ye?
I wende ye were a yeman trewely.
Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; (160)
Han ye figure than determinat
In helle, ther ye been in your estat?’ 1460
1459. E. thanne.
‘Nay, certeinly,’ quod he, ‘ther have we noon;
[364: T. 7044-7080.]
But whan us lyketh, we can take us oon,
Or elles make yow seme we ben shape
Som-tyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape;
Or lyk an angel can I ryde or go. 1465
It is no wonder thing thogh it be so;
A lousy Iogelour can deceyve thee,
And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.’ (170)
‘Why,’ quod the Somnour, ‘ryde ye thanne or goon
In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?’ 1470
‘For we,’ quod he, ‘wol us swich formes make
As most able is our preyes for to take.’
1471. E. Hn. swiche; Cm. Cp. swich.
‘What maketh yow to han al this labour?’
‘Ful many a cause, leve sir Somnour,’
Seyde this feend, ‘but alle thing hath tyme. 1475
The day is short, and it is passed pryme,
And yet ne wan I no-thing in this day.
I wol entende to winnen, if I may, (180)
And nat entende our wittes to declare.
For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare 1480
To understonde, al-thogh I tolde hem thee.
But, for thou axest why labouren we;
For, som-tyme, we ben goddes instruments,
And menes to don his comandements,
Whan that him list, up-on his creatures, 1485
In divers art and in divers figures.
With-outen him we have no might, certayn,
If that him list to stonden ther-agayn. (190)
And som-tyme, at our prayere, han we leve
Only the body and nat the soule greve; 1490
Witnesse on Iob, whom that we diden wo.
And som-tyme han we might of bothe two,
This is to seyn, of soule and body eke.
And somtyme be we suffred for to seke
Up-on a man, and doon his soule unreste, 1495
And nat his body, and al is for the beste.
Whan he withstandeth our temptacioun,
It is a cause of his savacioun; (200)
[365: T. 7081-7118.]
Al-be-it that it was nat our entente
He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde him hente. 1500
And som-tyme be we servant un-to man,
As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan,
And to the apostles servant eek was I.’
1479. E. hir; _rest_ oure. Cm. wordis; Hl. thinges; _rest_ wittes.
1486. E. Hn. Cm. diuerse (_2nd time_). 1496. body] E. soule(!).
1498. E. _om._ a; Cm. the. 1502. E. bisshop(!).
‘Yet tel me,’ quod the Somnour, ‘feithfully,
Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway 1505
Of elements?’ the feend answerde, ‘nay;
Som-tyme we feyne, and som-tyme we aryse
With dede bodies in ful sondry wyse, (210)
And speke as renably and faire and wel
As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. 1510
And yet wol som men seye it was nat he;
I do no fors of your divinitee.
But o thing warne I thee, I wol nat Iape,
Thou wolt algates wite how we ben shape;
Thou shalt her-afterward, my brother dere, 1515
Com ther thee nedeth nat of me to lere.
For thou shalt by thyn owene experience
Conne in a chayer rede of this sentence (220)
Bet than Virgyle, whyl he was on lyve,
Or Dant also; now lat us ryde blyve. 1520
For I wol holde companye with thee
Til it be so, that thou forsake me.’
1515. E Hn. -wardes; _rest_ -ward.
‘Nay,’ quod this Somnour, ‘that shal nat bityde;
I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde;
My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas. 1525
For though thou were the devel Sathanas,
My trouthe wol I holde to my brother,
As I am sworn, and ech of us til other (230)
For to be trewe brother in this cas;
And bothe we goon abouten our purchas. 1530
Tak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive,
And I shal myn; thus may we bothe live.
And if that any of us have more than other,
Lat him be trewe, and parte it with his brother.’
1528, 1533. E. oother. 1531. E. Taak; yeue.
‘I graunte,’ quod the devel, ‘by my fey.’ 1535
And with that word they ryden forth hir wey.
[366: T. 7119-7153.]
And right at the entring of the tounes ende,
To which this Somnour shoop him for to wende, (240)
They saugh a cart, that charged was with hey,
Which that a carter droof forth in his wey. 1540
Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood.
The carter 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,
As ferforthly as ever were ye foled! 1545
So muche wo as I have with yow tholed!
The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey!’
This Somnour seyde, ‘heer shal we have a pley;’ (250)
And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were,
Ful prively, and rouned in his ere: 1550
‘Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith;
Herestow nat how that the carter seith?
Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee,
Bothe hey and cart, and eek hise caples three.’
‘Nay,’ quod the devel, ‘god wot, never a deel; 1555
It is nat his entente, trust me weel.
Axe him thy-self, if thou nat trowest me,
Or elles stint a while, and thou shall see.’ (260)
1556. E. Hn. trust thou; _rest om._ thou.
This carter thakketh his hors upon the croupe,
And they bigonne drawen and to-stoupe; 1560
‘Heyt, now!’ quod he, ‘ther Iesu Crist yow blesse,
And al his handwerk, bothe more and lesse!
That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy!
I pray god save thee and sëynt Loy!
Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!’ 1565
1559. Cm. thakkyth; Hl. thakketh; Ln. thakkes; Cp. Pt. thakked; E. Hn.
taketh. Hn. Cm. Hl. upon; _rest om._ 1562. Cp. hondywerk; Hn.
handes werk. 1564. E. to god; _rest om._ to. 1565. Cp. slough; Pt.
schlough; Ln. slouhe; Hl. sloo.
‘Lo! brother,’ quod the feend, ‘what tolde I thee?
Heer may ye see, myn owene dere brother,
The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another. (270)
Lat us go forth abouten our viage;
Heer winne I no-thing up-on cariage.’ 1570
1568. E. Hl. oon; Cm. on; _rest_ o (oo). E. _om._ thing.
Whan that they comen som-what out of toune,
[367: T. 7154-7187.]
This Somnour to his brother gan to roune,
‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘heer woneth an old rebekke,
That hadde almost as lief to lese hir nekke
As for to yeve a peny of hir good. 1575
I wol han twelf pens, though that she be wood,
Or I wol sompne hir un-to our offyce;
And yet, god woot, of hir knowe I no vyce. (280)
But for thou canst nat, as in this contree,
Winne thy cost, tak heer ensample of me.’ 1580
1571. E. coomen.
This Somnour clappeth at the widwes gate.
‘Com out,’ quod he, ‘thou olde viritrate!
I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee!’
1582. Hn. Cp. Hl. viritrate; E. virytrate; Cm. verye crate; Pt.
viritate; Ln. veritate.
‘Who clappeth?’ seyde this widwe, ‘_benedicite_!
God save you, sire, what is your swete wille?’ 1585
1584. Cm. widew; Hl. widow; _rest_ wyf (_but read_ ben’cite).
‘I have,’ quod he, ‘of somonce here a bille;
Up peyne of cursing, loke that thou be
To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee (290)
Tanswere to the court of certeyn thinges.’
1586. Cp. Pt. Ln. here; _rest om._ 1587. E. Vp-on; _rest_ Vp. 1589.
E. Hn. Tanswere; _rest_ To answere (answer).
‘Now, lord,’ quod she, ‘Crist Iesu, king of kinges, 1590
So wisly helpe me, as I ne may.
I have been syk, and that ful many a day.
I may nat go so fer,’ quod she, ‘ne ryde,
But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde.
May I nat axe a libel, sir Somnour, 1595
And answere there, by my procutour,
To swich thing as men wol opposen me?’
1596. Hl. ther; Ln. the; _rest_ there. Hl. procuratour; Cm. Ln.
procatour; _rest_ procutour.
‘Yis,’ quod this Somnour, ‘pay anon, lat se, (300)
Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquyte.
I shall no profit han ther-by but lyte; 1600
My maister hath the profit, and nat I.
Com of, and lat me ryden hastily;
Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarie.’
‘Twelf pens,’ quod she, ‘now lady Seinte Marie
So wisly help me out of care and sinne, 1605
[368: T. 7188-7225.]
This wyde world thogh that I sholde winne,
Ne have I nat twelf pens with-inne myn hold.
Ye knowen wel that I am povre and old; (310)
Kythe your almesse on me povre wrecche.’
1605. E. Hn. me god; _rest om._ god.
‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘the foule feend me fecche 1610
If I thexcuse, though them shul be spilt!’
1610. E. thanne.
‘Alas,’ quod she, ‘god woot, I have no gilt.’
‘Pay me,’ quod he, ‘or by the swete seinte Anne,
As I wol bere awey thy newe panne
For dette, which that thou owest me of old, 1615
Whan that thou madest thyn housbond cokewold,
I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.’
‘Thou lixt,’ quod she, ‘by my savacioun! (320)
Ne was I never er now, widwe ne wyf,
Somoned un-to your court in al my lyf; 1620
Ne never I nas but of my body trewe!
Un-to the devel blak and rough of hewe
Yeve I thy body and my panne also!’
And whan the devel herde hir cursen so
Up-on hir knees, he seyde in this manere, 1625
‘Now Mabely, myn owene moder dere,
Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye?’
1626. Cm. Mabelyn.
‘The devel,’ quod she, ‘so fecche him er he deye, (330)
And panne and al, but he wol him repente!’
‘Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,’ 1630
Quod this Somnour, ‘for to repente me,
For any thing that I have had of thee;
I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth!’
‘Now, brother,’ quod the devel, ‘be nat wrooth;
Thy body and this panne ben myne by right. 1635
Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-night,
Where thou shalt knowen of our privetee
More than a maister of divinitee:’ (340)
And with that word this foule feend him hente;
Body and soule, he with the devel wente 1640
Wher-as that somnours han hir heritage.
And god, that maked after his image
Mankinde, save and gyde us alle and some;
[369: T. 7226-7246.]
And leve this Somnour good man to bicome!
1642. Hl. maked; _rest_ made. 1644. E. Hn. this Somonours goode men
bicome.
Lordinges, I coude han told yow, quod this Frere, 1645
Hadde I had leyser for this Somnour here,
After the text of Crist [and] Poul and Iohn
And of our othere doctours many oon, (350)
Swiche peynes, that your hertes mighte agryse,
Al-be-it so, no tonge may devyse, 1650
Thogh that I mighte a thousand winter telle,
The peyne of thilke cursed hous of helle.
But, for to kepe us fro that cursed place,
Waketh, and preyeth Iesu for his grace
So kepe us fro the temptour Sathanas. 1655
Herketh this word, beth war as in this cas;
The leoun sit in his await alway
To slee the innocent, if that he may. (360)
Disposeth ay your hertes to withstonde
The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. 1660
He may nat tempten yow over your might;
For Crist wol be your champion and knight.
And prayeth that thise Somnours hem repente
Of hir misdedes, er that the feend hem hente.
=Here endeth the Freres Tale.=
1647. _I supply_ and. 1649. E. Ln. Hl. herte (_see_ l. 1659). 1650.
E. Hn. may it; _rest om._ it. 1652. E. Hn. Pt. peynes; _rest_
peyne. 1661. E. Hn. Hl. tempte; _rest_ tempten. 1663. _So_ E. Hn.;
Cp. Pt. Ln. this somnour him; Hl. oure sompnour him. 1664. _So_ E.
Hn.; _rest_ his mysdede ... him. Cm. _om._ that (_perhaps
rightly_). COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; Cp. Hl. Her endeth the Frere
his tale.
[370: T. 7247-7270.]
* * * * *
THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE
* * * * *
=The prologe of the Somnours Tale.=
This Somnour in his stiropes hye stood; 1665
Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood,
That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre.
HEADING. _So_ E. Hn.; E. Somonours. 1665. E. Somonour; Hl. sompnour;
_rest_ Somnour.
‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘but o thing I desyre;
I yow biseke that, of your curteisye,
Sin ye han herd this false Frere lye, 1670
As suffereth me I may my tale telle!
This Frere bosteth that he knoweth helle,
And god it woot, that it is litel wonder;
Freres and feendes been but lyte a-sonder. (10)
For pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle, 1675
How that a frere ravisshed was to helle
In spirit ones by a visioun;
And as an angel ladde him up and doun,
To shewen him the peynes that ther were,
In al the place saugh he nat a frere; 1680
Of other folk he saugh y-nowe in wo.
Un-to this angel spak the frere tho:
1676. E. vanysshed(!); _rest_ rauysshed.
“Now, sir,” quod he, “han freres swich a grace
That noon of hem shal come to this place?” (20)
“Yis,” quod this angel, “many a millioun!” 1685
And un-to Sathanas he ladde him doun.
“And now hath Sathanas,” seith he, “a tayl
Brodder than of a carrik is the sayl.
[371: T. 7271-7290.]
Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas!” quod he,
“Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere see 1690
Wher is the nest of freres in this place!”
And, er that half a furlong-wey of space,
Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve,
Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve (30)
Twenty thousand freres in a route, 1695
And thurgh-out helle swarmeden aboute;
And comen agayn, as faste as they may gon,
And in his ers they crepten everichon.
He clapte his tayl agayn, and lay ful stille.
This frere, whan he loked hadde his fille 1700
Upon the torments of this sory place,
His spirit god restored of his grace
Un-to his body agayn, and he awook;
But natheles, for fere yet he quook, (40)
So was the develes ers ay in his minde, 1705
That is his heritage of verray kinde.
God save yow alle, save this cursed Frere;
My prologe wol I ende in this manere.’
=Here endeth the prologe of the Somnours Tale.=
1692. Pt. Hl. than; _rest_ that. 1693. E. Hn. swarmeden; Hl. swarmed
al. 1700. Cp. Hn. loked hadde; Pt. Ln. Hl. loked had; E. hadde looke
al (_sic_). COLOPHON. _From_ Hn.
[372: T. 7291-7314.]
* * * * *
THE SOMNOURS TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Somonour his Tale.=
Lordinges, ther is in Yorkshire, as I gesse,
A mersshy contree called Holdernesse, 1710
In which ther wente a limitour aboute,
To preche, and eek to begge, it is no doute.
And so bifel, that on a day this frere
Had preched at a chirche in his manere,
And specially, aboven every thing, 1715
Excited he the peple in his preching,
To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake,
Wher-with men mighten holy houses make, (10)
Ther as divyne service is honoured,
Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, 1720
Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive,
As to possessioners, that mowen live,
Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce.
‘Trentals,’ seyde he, ‘deliveren fro penaunce
Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, 1725
Ye, whan that they been hastily y-songe;
Nat for to holde a preest Ioly and gay,
He singeth nat but o masse in a day; (20)
Delivereth out,’ quod he, ‘anon the soules;
Ful hard it is with fleshhook or with oules 1730
To been y-clawed, or to brenne or bake;
Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake.’
[373: T. 7315-7349.]
And whan this frere had seyd al his entente,
With _qui cum patre_ forth his wey he wente.
HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. Somnours (_for_ Somonour his). 1710. Cp. Pt.
Ln. mersshy; Hl. mersschly; E. Hn. merssh. 1718. Cp. Hl. mighten; E.
Hn. myghte. 1721. Cp. Hl. yiue; _rest_ yeue.
Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, 1735
He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste,
With scrippe and tipped staf, y-tukked hye;
In every hous he gan to poure and prye, (30)
And beggeth mele, and chese, or elles corn.
His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, 1740
A peyre of tables al of yvory,
And a poyntel polisshed fetisly,
And wroot the names alwey, as he stood,
Of alle folk that yaf him any good,
Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye. 1745
‘Yeve us a busshel whete, malt, or reye,
A goddes kechil, or a trip of chese,
Or elles what yow list, we may nat chese; (40)
A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny,
Or yeve us of your brawn, if ye have eny; 1750
A dagon of your blanket, leve dame,
Our suster dere, lo! here I write your name;
Bacon or beef, or swich thing as ye finde.’
1735. E. lest. 1736. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. went. 1738. E. Hn. Ln. poure;
_rest_ pore. 1743. E. wroote. 1745. Hn. Ascaunces; E. Asaunces; Hl.
Pt. Ln. Ascaunce; Cp. Ascance. E. prey. 1746. Ln. Yeue; Cp. Yiue;
_rest_ Yif (_see_ 1750). E. him; _rest_ vs. 1747. Ln. kechel; Hl.
kichil. Cp. Pt. trippe; Ln. trep. 1750. E. Hn. Hl. yif; _rest_ yeue
(yiue). 1751. Cm. Cp. Hl. dagoun.
A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihinde,
That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, 1755
And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak.
And whan that he was out at dore anon,
He planed awey the names everichon (50)
That he biforn had writen in his tables;
He served hem with nyfles and with fables. 1760
‘Nay, ther thou lixt, thou Somnour,’ quod the Frere.
‘Pees,’ quod our Host, ‘for Cristes moder dere;
Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al.’
So thryve I, quod this Somnour, so I shal.—
So longe he wente hous by hous, til he 1765
Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be
Refresshed more than in an hundred placis.
[374: T. 7350-7385.]
Sik lay the gode man, whos that the place is; (60)
Bedrede up-on a couche lowe he lay.
‘_Deus hic_,’ quod he, ‘O Thomas, freend, good day,’ 1770
Seyde this frere curteisly and softe.
‘Thomas,’ quod he, ‘god yelde yow! ful ofte
Have I up-on this bench faren ful weel.
Here have I eten many a mery meel’;
And fro the bench he droof awey the cat, 1775
And leyde adoun his potente and his hat,
And eek his scrippe, and sette him softe adoun.
His felawe was go walked in-to toun, (70)
Forth with his knave, in-to that hostelrye
Wher-as he shoop him thilke night to lye. 1780
1768. Hl. that; _rest om._ 1769. Pt. Hl. Bedred. 1772. Hl. yeld
it. 1774. E. myrie; Hn. Cm. murye; _rest_ mery.
‘O dere maister,’ quod this syke man,
‘How han ye fare sith that March bigan?
I saugh yow noght this fourtenight or more.’
‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘laboured have I ful sore;
And specially, for thy savacioun 1785
Have I seyd many a precious orisoun,
And for our othere frendes, god hem blesse!
I have to-day been at your chirche at messe, (80)
And seyd a sermon after my simple wit,
Nat al after the text of holy writ; 1790
For it is hard to yow, as I suppose,
And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose.
Glosinge is a glorious thing, certeyn,
For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn.
Ther have I taught hem to be charitable, 1795
And spende hir good ther it is resonable,
And ther I saugh our dame; a! wher is she?’
1783. E. Hn. fourtnyght; _rest_ fourtenight. 1784. E. Hn. I haue;
_rest_ haue I. 1792. Hl. ay (_for_ al). 1793. Hl. a ful glorious.
1794. E. thise; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. we.
‘Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,’ (90)
Seyde this man, ‘and she wol come anon.’
‘Ey, maister! wel-come be ye, by seint Iohn!’ 1800
Seyde this wyf, ‘how fare ye hertely?’
The frere aryseth up ful curteisly,
And hir embraceth in his armes narwe,
[375: T. 7386-7422.]
And kiste hir swete, and chirketh as a sparwe
With his lippes: ‘dame,’ quod he, ‘right weel, 1805
As he that is your servant every deel.
Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf,
Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf (100)
In al the chirche, god so save me!’
1804. E. Hn. chirteth.
‘Ye, god amende defautes, sir,’ quod she, 1810
‘Algates wel-come be ye, by my fey!’
‘Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey.
But of your grete goodnesse, by your leve,
I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve,
I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe. 1815
Thise curats been ful necligent and slowe
To grope tendrely a conscience.
In shrift, in preching is my diligence, (110)
And studie in Petres wordes, and in Poules.
I walke, and fisshe Cristen mennes soules, 1820
To yelden Iesu Crist his propre rente;
To sprede his word is set al myn entente.’
‘Now, by your leve, o dere sir,’ quod she,
‘Chydeth him weel, for seinte Trinitee.
He is as angry as a pissemyre, 1825
Though that he have al that he can desyre.
Though I him wrye a-night and make him warm,
And on hym leye my leg outher myn arm, (120)
He groneth lyk our boor, lyth in our sty.
Other desport right noon of him have I; 1830
I may nat plese him in no maner cas.’
1830. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. of him right non.
‘O Thomas! _Ie vous dy_, Thomas! Thomas!
This maketh the feend, this moste ben amended.
Ire is a thing that hye god defended,
And ther-of wol I speke a word or two.’ 1835
1832. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _Ieo_.
‘Now maister,’ quod the wyf, ‘er that I go,
What wol ye dyne? I wol go ther-aboute.’
‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘_Ie vous dy sanz doute_, (130)
Have I nat of a capon but the livere,
And of your softe breed nat but a shivere, 1840
[376: T. 7423-7459.]
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.
My spirit hath his fostring in the Bible. 1845
The body is ay so redy and penyble
To wake, that my stomak is destroyed.
I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, (140)
Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe;
By god, I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.’ 1850
1838. Cp. Pt. Hl. _Ieo_.
‘Now, sir,’ quod she, ‘but o word er I go;
My child is deed with-inne thise wykes two,
Sone after that ye wente out of this toun.’
‘His deeth saugh I by revelacioun,’
Seith this frere, ‘at hoom in our dortour. 1855
I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour
After his deeth, I saugh him born to blisse
In myn avisioun, so god me wisse! (150)
So dide our sexteyn and our fermerer,
That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; 1860
They may now, god be thanked of his lone,
Maken hir Iubilee and walke allone.
And up I roos, and al our covent eke,
With many a tere trikling on my cheke,
Withouten noyse or clateringe of belles; 1865
_Te deum_ was our song and no-thing elles,
Save that to Crist I seyde an orisoun,
Thankinge him of his revelacioun. (160)
For sir and dame, trusteth me right weel,
Our orisons been more effectueel, 1870
And more we seen of Cristes secree thinges
Than burel folk, al-though they weren kinges.
We live in povert and in abstinence,
And burel folk in richesse and despence
Of mete and drinke, and in hir foul delyt. 1875
We han this worldes lust al in despyt.
Lazar and Dives liveden diversly,
[377: T. 7460-7496.]
And diverse guerdon hadden they ther-by. (170)
Who-so wol preye, he moot faste and be clene,
And fatte his soule and make his body lene. 1880
We fare as seith thapostle; cloth and fode
Suffysen us, though they be nat ful gode.
The clennesse and the fastinge of us freres
Maketh that Crist accepteth our preyeres.
1856. Ln. than; _rest_ that. 1870. E. Hn. wel moore; _rest om._
wel. 1872. Hl. borel. 1873. Cm. Hl. pouert; _rest_ pouerte. 1874.
Hl. borel. 1878. E. Hn. gerdon; Cm. gerdoun; Pt. guardon.
Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty night 1885
Fasted, er that the heighe god of might
Spak with him in the mountain of Sinay.
With empty wombe, fastinge many a day, (180)
Receyved he the lawe that was writen
With goddes finger; and Elie, wel ye witen, 1890
In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche
With hye god, that is our lyves leche,
He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce.
1887. Hn. mountayne; Ln. Dd. mounte; _rest_ mount.
Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce,
And eek the othere preestes everichon, 1895
In-to the temple whan they sholde gon
To preye for the peple, and do servyse,
They nolden drinken, in no maner wyse, (190)
No drinke, which that mighte hem dronke make,
But there in abstinence preye and wake, 1900
Lest that they deyden; tak heed what I seye.
But they be sobre that for the peple preye,
War that I seye,—namore! for it suffyseth.
Our lord Iesu, as holy writ devyseth,
Yaf us ensample of fastinge and preyeres. 1905
Therfor we mendinants, we sely freres,
Been wedded to poverte and continence,
To charitee, humblesse, and abstinence, (200)
To persecucion for rightwisnesse,
To wepinge, misericorde, and clennesse. 1910
And therfor may ye see that our preyeres—
I speke of us, we mendinants, we freres—
Ben to the hye god more acceptable
Than youres, with your festes at the table.
[378: T. 7497-7530.]
Fro Paradys first, if I shal nat lye, 1915
Was man out chaced for his glotonye;
And chaast was man in Paradys, certeyn.
1895. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. that; Cm. Hl. Pt. the. 1901. E. taak heede.
1906, 12. E. mendynantz.
But herkne now, Thomas, what I shal seyn. (210)
I ne have no text of it, as I suppose,
But I shall finde it in a maner glose, 1930
That specially our swete lord Iesus
Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus:
“Blessed be they that povre in spirit been.”
And so forth al the gospel may ye seen,
Wher it be lyker our professioun, 1925
Or hirs that swimmen in possessioun.
Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye!
And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. (220)
1918. Cm. Pt. Hl. now; _rest om._ 1923. E. pouere; Hn. poure; Ln. Hl.
pouer; Cm. poore; Cp. pore. 1925. E. Hn. likker; Cm. lykere. 1927.
E. Hn. _om. 2nd_ on.
Me thinketh they ben lyk Iovinian,
Fat as a whale, and walkinge as a swan; 1930
Al vinolent as botel in the spence.
Hir preyer is of ful gret reverence;
Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Davit,
Lo, “buf!” they seye, “_cor meum eructavit_!”
Who folweth Cristes gospel and his fore, 1935
But we that humble been and chast and pore,
Werkers of goddes word, not auditours?
Therfore, right as an hauk up, at a sours, (230)
Up springeth in-to their, right so prayeres
Of charitable and chaste bisy freres 1940
Maken hir sours to goddes eres two.
Thomas! Thomas! so mote I ryde or go,
And by that lord that clepid is seint Yve,
Nere thou our brother, sholdestou nat thryve!
In our chapitre praye we day and night 1945
To Crist, that he thee sende hele and might,
Thy body for to welden hastily.’
1934. buf] E. but; Hl. boef. 1935. E. Hn. foore; Cm. Hl. fore; _rest_
lore. 1937. E. Cm. Werkeris. 1938. up at] Hl. vpon. 1939. Hl.
thaer; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. the eyre (ayre). 1947. E. weelden.
‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘no-thing ther-of fele I; (240)
[379: T. 7531-7565.]
As help me Crist, as I, in fewe yeres,
Han spended, up-on dyvers maner freres, 1950
Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet.
Certeyn, my good have I almost biset.
Farwel, my gold! for it is al ago!’
1949. Hn. Hl. I in; E. Cm. in a; Pt. I haue in. 1950. Hn. Hl. Haue
spended; E. I han spent. 1952. E. I haue.
The frere answerde, ‘O Thomas, dostow so?
What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? 1955
What nedeth him that hath a parfit leche
To sechen othere leches in the toun?
Your inconstance is your confusioun. (250)
Holde ye than me, or elles our covent,
To praye for yow ben insufficient? 1960
Thomas, that Iape nis nat worth a myte;
Your maladye is for we han to lyte.
“A! yif that covent half a quarter otes!”
“A! yif that covent four and twenty grotes!”
“A! yif that frere a peny, and lat him go!” 1965
Nay, nay, Thomas! it may no-thing be so.
What is a ferthing worth parted in twelve?
Lo, ech thing that is oned in him-selve (260)
Is more strong than whan it is to-scatered.
Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been y-flatered; 1970
Thou woldest han our labour al for noght.
The hye god, that al this world hath wroght,
Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre.
Thomas! noght of your tresor I desyre
As for my-self, but that al our covent 1975
To preye for yow is ay so diligent,
And for to builden Cristes owene chirche.
Thomas! if ye wol lernen for to wirche, (270)
Of buildinge up of chirches may ye finde
If it be good, in Thomas lyf of Inde. 1980
Ye lye heer, ful of anger and of yre,
With which the devel set your herte a-fyre,
And chyden heer this sely innocent,
[380: T. 7566-7597.]
Your wyf, that is so meke and pacient.
And therfor, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste, 1985
Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste;
And ber this word awey now, by thy feith,
Touchinge this thing, lo, what the wyse seith: (280)
“With-in thyn hous ne be thou no leoun;
To thy subgits do noon oppressioun; 1990
Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee.”
And Thomas, yet eft-sones I charge thee,
Be war from hir that in thy bosom slepeth;
War fro the serpent that so slyly crepeth
Under the gras, and stingeth subtilly. 1995
Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently,
That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves,
For stryving with hir lemmans and hir wyves. (290)
Now sith ye han so holy and meke a wyf,
What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf? 2000
Ther nis, y-wis, no serpent so cruel,
Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel,
As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire;
Vengeance is thanne al that they desyre.
Ire is a sinne, oon of the grete of sevene, 2005
Abhominable un-to the god of hevene;
And to him-self it is destruccion.
This every lewed viker or person (300)
Can seye, how Ire engendreth homicyde.
Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. 2010
I coude of Ire seye so muche sorwe,
My tale sholde laste til to-morwe.
And therfor preye I god bothe day and night,
An irous man, god sende him litel might!
It is greet harm and, certes, gret pitee, 2015
[381: T. 7598-7632.]
To sette an irous man in heigh degree.
1959. E. thanne. 1968. E. it-; _rest_ him-. 1977. E. Hn. Hl.
buylden; Cm. bildyn; Cp. bulden; Pt. beelden; Ln. bilden. 1981. E.
_om._ and. 1983. E. Hn. Hl. the; _rest_ this. 1988. E. this; _rest_
swich (such). 1989. _All_ With-inne. 1991. E. Hn. Cm. aqueyntances;
Hl. acqueyntis; _rest_ aqueintance. Cm. not to; Pt. for to; Hl. fro
thee; _rest_ nat for to. 1993. Pt. yre (_for_ hir). 1994. Hn. War
fro; Hl. War for; Pt. Ware the for; Cm. By-war from; E. Be war fro; Cp.
Ln. Be war of. 1999. Hl. and meke; Cp. Ln. and so meke; _rest_
meke. 2002. E. What (_for_ Whan). E. Hn. man tret; Cm. man trat;
_rest_ men trede. After 2004 Hl. _ins. 2 spurious lines_: Schortly
may no man by rym and vers Tellen her thoughtes, thay ben so diuers.
_After_ 2012 Hl. _ins. 2 spurious lines_: Ire is the grate of synne as
saith the wise To fle ther-fro ech man schuld him deuyse. 2015. Hn.
Cp. Ln. certes; Hl. also; _rest_ eke (eek).
Whilom ther was an irous potestat,
As seith Senek, that, duringe his estaat, (310)
Up-on a day out riden knightes two,
And as fortune wolde that it were so, 2020
That oon of hem cam hoom, that other noght.
Anon the knight bifore the Iuge is broght,
That seyde thus, ‘thou hast thy felawe slayn,
For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn.’
And to another knight comanded he, 2025
‘Go lede him to the deeth, I charge thee.’
And happed, as they wente by the weye
Toward the place ther he sholde deye, (320)
The knight cam, which men wenden had be deed.
Thanne thoughte they, it was the beste reed, 2030
To lede hem bothe to the Iuge agayn.
They seiden, ‘lord, the knight ne hath nat slayn
His felawe; here he standeth hool alyve.’
‘Ye shul be deed,’ quod he, ‘so moot I thryve!
That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and three!’ 2035
And to the firste knight right thus spak he,
‘I dampned thee, thou most algate be deed.
And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, (330)
For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.’
And to the thridde knight right thus he seyth, 2040
‘Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.’
And thus he dide don sleen hem alle three.
2037. _Here_ Hl. _adds two spurious lines_: Than thoughte thay it were
the beste rede To lede him forth into a fair mede.
Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe,
And ay delyted him to been a shrewe.
And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, 2045
That lovede vertuous moralitee,
Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus:
‘A lord is lost, if he be vicious; (340)
And dronkenesse is eek a foul record
Of any man, and namely in a lord. 2050
[382: T. 7633-7669.]
Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere
Awaiting on a lord, and he noot where.
For goddes love, drink more attemprely;
Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly
His minde, and eek his limes everichon.’ 2055
2046. Hn. Cm. louede (= lov’de); E. loued. 2047. E. bitwene. 2048.
_Here_ Hl. _adds two spurious lines_: An irous man is lik a frentik
best In which ther is of wisdom noon arrest. 2048. E. Pt. vicius.
2050. Hl. of (_for_ in). 2055. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. eek; _rest om._
‘The revers shaltou se,’ quod he, ‘anon;
And preve it, by thyn owene experience,
That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. (350)
Ther is no wyn bireveth me my might
Of hand ne foot, ne of myn eyen sight’— 2060
And, for despyt, he drank ful muchel more
An hondred part than he had doon bifore;
And right anon, this irous cursed wrecche
Leet this knightes sone bifore him fecche,
Comandinge him he sholde bifore him stonde. 2065
And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde,
And up the streng he pulled to his ere,
And with an arwe he slow the child right there: (360)
‘Now whether have I a siker hand or noon?’
Quod he, ‘is al my might and minde agoon? 2070
Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?’
2062. E. _om._ doon. 2064. Hl. sone anoon; _rest_ sone. 2069. E.
wheither. 2071. E. bireft; _rest_ byreued.
What sholde I telle thanswere of the knight?
His sone was slayn, ther is na-more to seye.
Beth war therfor with lordes how ye pleye.
Singeth _Placebo_, and I shal, if I can, 2075
But if it be un-to a povre man.
To a povre man men sholde hise vyces telle,
But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle. (370)
Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien,
How he destroyed the river of Gysen, 2080
For that an hors of his was dreynt ther-inne,
Whan that he wente Babiloigne to winne.
He made that the river was so smal,
That wommen mighte wade it over al.
Lo, what seyde he, that so wel teche can? 2085
“Ne be no felawe to an irous man,
Ne with no wood man walke by the weye,
[383: T. 7670-7704.]
Lest thee repente;” ther is na-more to seye. (380)
Now Thomas, leve brother, lef thyn ire;
Thou shall me finde as Iust as is a squire. 2090
Hold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte;
Thyn angre dooth thee al to sore smerte;
But shewe to me al thy confessioun.’
2091, 2. Hl. _transposes these lines._
‘Nay,’ quod the syke man, ‘by Seint Simoun!
I have be shriven this day at my curat; 2095
I have him told al hoolly myn estat;
Nedeth na-more to speke of it,’ seith he,
‘But if me list of myn humilitee.’ (390)
2095. Hl. of (_for_ at). 2096. E. Hn. Hl. hoolly al; _rest_ al holly
(holy). 2097. E. Hl. speken.
‘Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make our cloistre,’
Quod he, ‘for many a muscle and many an oistre, 2100
Whan other men han ben ful wel at eyse,
Hath been our fode, our cloistre for to reyse.
And yet, god woot, unnethe the fundement
Parfourned is, ne of our pavement
Nis nat a tyle yet with-inne our wones; 2105
By god, we owen fourty pound for stones!
Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed helle!
For elles moste we our bokes selle. (400)
And if ye lakke our predicacioun,
Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. 2110
For who-so wolde us fro this world bireve,
So god me save, Thomas, by your leve,
He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne.
For who can teche and werchen as we conne?
And that is nat of litel tyme,’ quod he; 2115
‘But sith that Elie was, or Elisee,
Han freres been, that finde I of record,
In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. (410)
Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!’
And doun anon he sette him on his knee. 2120
2101, 2. Hl. _transposes these lines_. 2105. E. Cm. tyl; _rest_
tyle. 2110. E. Thanne. 2116. Hl. siththen; Cp. Ln. sethyns; Cm.
sithe that; E. syn; Hn. Ln. sith. E. Ennok; _rest_ Elie (Elye).
This syke man wex wel ny wood for ire;
He wolde that the frere had been on-fire
[384: T. 7705-7738.]
With his false dissimulacioun.
‘Swich thing as is in my possessioun,’
Quod he, ‘that may I yeven, and non other. 2125
Ye sey me thus, how that I am your brother?’
2121. E. wax; Hn. weex; _rest_ wex. 2125. Hl. yeue yow; _rest om._
yow. 2126. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ how.
‘Ye, certes,’ quod the frere, ‘trusteth weel;
I took our dame our lettre with our seel.’ (420)
2128. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. with; E. and; Pt. of; Hl. vnder.
‘Now wel,’ quod he, ‘and som-what shal I yive
Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, 2130
And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anoon;
On this condicioun, and other noon,
That thou departe it so, my dere brother,
That every frere have also muche as other.
This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 2135
With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.’
2129. Cp. Hl. yiue; _rest_ yeue. 2133. E. leeue; _rest_ dere (deere).
‘I swere it,’ quod this frere, ‘upon my feith!’
And ther-with-al his hand in his he leith: (430)
‘Lo, heer my feith! in me shal be no lak.’
2137. E. Pt. by; _rest_ vpon.
‘Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by my bak,’ 2140
Seyde this man, ‘and grope wel bihinde;
Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde
A thing that I have hid in privetee.’
2140. E. Now thanne put in; Hn. Hl. Now thanne put; Pt. Now than put;
Cp. Ln. Than putte (put).
‘A!’ thoghte this frere, ‘this shal go with me!’
And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, 2145
In hope for to finde ther a yifte.
And whan this syke man felte this frere
Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, (440)
Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart.
Ther nis no capul, drawinge in a cart, 2150
That mighte have lete a fart of swich a soun.
2145. Hl. launched; Cp. Pt. Ln. launceth. 2148. Cm. tewel; Hl. tuel;
Ln. touele.
‘The frere up stirte as doth a wood leoun:
‘A! false cherl,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones,
This hastow for despyt doon, for the nones!
Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may!’ 2155
2153. E. Pt. Ln. fals.
His meynee, whiche that herden this affray,
[385: T. 7739-7773.]
Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the frere;
And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere, (450)
And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor.
He looked as it were a wilde boor; 2160
He grinte with his teeth, so was he wrooth.
A sturdy pas doun to the court he gooth,
Wher-as ther woned a man of greet honour,
To whom that he was alwey confessour;
This worthy man was lord of that village. 2165
This frere cam, as he were in a rage,
Wher-as this lord sat eting at his bord.
Unnethes mighte the frere speke a word, (460)
Til atte laste he seyde: ‘god yow see!’
2161. Hn. Cm. Pt. grynt; Cp. grynded; Ln. grenteth. 2162. E. Hn. Cp.
Hl. paas. E. lordes court; _rest om._ lordes. 2163. E. _om._ ther.
This lord gan loke, and seide, ‘_benedicite!_ 2170
What, frere Iohn, what maner world is this?
I see wel that som thing ther is amis.
Ye loken as the wode were ful of thevis,
Sit doun anon, and tel me what your greef is,
And it shal been amended, if I may.’ 2175
2170. E. bigan to; Cm. gan to; _rest_ gan. 2172. _So_ Hn. Cm.; E. I
trowe som manerthing. 2174. Cp. greef; Cm. Hl. gref; E. Hn. grief.
2175. E. Cp. Ln. Hl. if that; _rest om._ that.
‘I have,’ quod he, ‘had a despyt this day,
God yelde yow! adoun in your village,
That in this world is noon so povre a page, (470)
That he nolde have abhominacioun
Of that I have receyved in your toun. 2180
And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore,
As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore,
Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.’
2181. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ ne.
‘Now, maister,’ quod this lord, ‘I yow biseke.’
‘No maister, sire,’ quod he, ‘but servitour, 2185
Thogh I have had in scole swich honour.
God lyketh nat that “Raby” men us calle,
Neither in market ne in your large halle.’ (480)
2185. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ sire. 2186. E. swich; Hl. such; _rest_
that.
‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘but tel me al your grief.’
‘Sire,’ quod this frere, ‘an odious meschief 2190
This day bitid is to myn ordre and me,
[386: T. 7774-7808.]
And so _per consequens_ to ech degree
Of holy chirche, god amende it sone!’
2190. E. he (_for_ this frere). 2192. E. Pt. in; _rest_ to.
‘Sir,’ quod the lord, ‘ye woot what is to done.
Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; 2195
Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour.
For goddes love your pacience ye holde;
Tel me your grief:’ and he anon him tolde, (490)
As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what.
The lady of the hous ay stille sat, 2200
Til she had herd al what the frere sayde:
‘Ey, goddes moder,’ quod she, ‘blisful mayde!
Is ther oght elles? telle me faithfully.’
2200. E. al; _rest_ ay. 2201. MS. Add. 5140. all; _rest om._
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘how thinketh yow her-by?’
2204. Hn. thynketh yow; Cp. thenke you; Hl. Ln. thynke yow; E. thynke
ye. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. ther-by.
‘How that me thinketh?’ quod she; ‘so god me speede,
I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede.
What shold I seye? god lat him never thee!
His syke heed is ful of vanitee, (500)
I hold him in a maner frenesye.’
2205. thinketh = think’th.
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god I shal nat lye; 2210
But I on other weyes may be wreke,
I shal diffame him over-al ther I speke,
This false blasphemour, that charged me
To parte that wol nat departed be,
To every man y-liche, with meschaunce!’ 2215
2211. E. _ins._ hym _after_ on (_wrongly_). E. _om._ may. 2212. Hn.
Cp. diffame; Cm. Hl. defame; E. disclaundre.
The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce,
And in his herte he rolled up and doun,
‘How hadde this cherl imaginacioun (510)
To shewe swich a probleme to the frere?
Never erst er now herde I of swich matere; 2220
I trowe the devel putte it in his minde.
In ars-metryke shal ther no man finde,
Biforn this day, of swich a questioun.
Who sholde make a demonstracioun,
That every man sholde have y-liche his part 2225
As of the soun or savour of a fart?
[387: T. 7809-7843.]
O nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face!
Lo, sires,’ quod the lord, with harde grace, (520)
‘Who ever herde of swich a thing er now?
To every man y-lyke? tel me how? 2230
It is an inpossible, it may nat be!
Ey, nyce cherl, god lete him never thee!
The rumblinge of a fart, and every soun,
Nis but of eir reverberacioun,
And ever it wasteth lyte and lyte awey. 2235
Ther is no man can demen, by my fey,
If that it were departed equally.
What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly (530)
Un-to my confessour to-day he spak!
I holde him certeyn a demoniak! 2240
Now ete your mete, and lat the cherl go pleye,
Lat him go honge himself a devel weye!’
2218. E. the (_for_ this). E. Cm. _insert_ this _after_ cherl.
2222. Ln. metrike; _rest_ metrik. 2224. _So the rest_; E. Certes it
was a shrewed conclusion. 2227. E. vile; _rest_ nyce. 2229. E.
herd; _rest_ herde. E. Cm. Cp. herd euere. 2232. him] E. thee.
2235. E. Cp. Pt. Hl. litel and litel.
Now stood the lordes squyer at the bord,
That carf his mete, and herde, word by word,
Of alle thinges of which I have yow sayd. 2245
‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘be ye nat yvel apayd;
I coude telle, for a goune-clooth,
To yow, sir frere, so ye be nat wrooth, (540)
How that this fart sholde even deled be
Among your covent, if it lyked me.’ 2250
2245. _So_ Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. which that I haue. 2246. E. Cp. beth; Ln.
be; _rest_ be ye. 2249. E. euene delt shal; Hl. euen departed schuld;
_rest as above_.
‘Tel,’ quod the lord, ‘and thou shall have anon
A goune-cloth, by god and by Seint Iohn!’
‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘whan that the weder is fair,
With-outen wind or perturbinge of air,
Lat bringe a cartwheel here in-to this halle, 2255
But loke that it have his spokes alle.
Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
And bring me than twelf freres, woot ye why? (550)
For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse.
The confessour heer, for his worthinesse, 2260
Shal parfourne up the nombre of his covent.
[388: T. 7844-7876.]
Than shal they knele doun, by oon assent,
And to every spokes ende, in this manere,
Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere.
Your noble confessour, ther god him save, 2265
Shal holde his nose upright, under the nave.
Than shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght
As any tabour, hider been y-broght; (560)
And sette him on the wheel right of this cart,
Upon the nave, and make him lete a fart. 2270
And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf,
By preve which that is demonstratif,
That equally the soun of it wol wende,
And eek the stink, un-to the spokes ende;
Save that this worthy man, your confessour, 2275
By-cause he is a man of greet honour,
Shal have the firste fruit, as reson is;
The noble usage of freres yet is this, (570)
The worthy men of hem shul first be served;
And certeinly, he hath it weel deserved. 2280
He hath to-day taught us so muchel good
With preching in the pulpit ther he stood,
That I may vouche-sauf, I sey for me,
He hadde the firste smel of fartes three,
And so wolde al his covent hardily; 2285
He bereth him so faire and holily.’
2255. E. Hl. _om._ here. Hl. a large wheel. 2257. Hn. Hl. Twelf; E.
Cm. Twelue. 2258. E. thanne. xij. 2259. E. Ln. twelue (_for_
thrittene). 2262, 7. E. Thanne. 2268. E. Cm. been hyder. 2272.
Hl. By verray proef. 2274. E. eke; Hn. eek. 2278. _So_ Hn. Cp. Ln.;
Pt. it (_for_ yet); Hl. _om._ yet; E. As yet the noble vsage of freres
is. 2280. E. Hn. Cp. disserued. 2281. Hn. muchel; Hl. Cp. mochil;
E. Ln. muche. 2285. E. the (_for_ his).
The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere,
Seyde that Iankin spak, in this matere, (580)
As wel as Euclide or [as] Ptholomee.
Touchinge this cherl, they seyde, subtiltee 2290
And heigh wit made him speken as he spak;
He nis no fool, ne no demoniak.
And Iankin hath y-wonne a newe goune.—
My tale is doon; we been almost at toune. 2294
=Here endeth the Somnours Tale.=
2287. E. alle men. 2289. E. Euclude. _I supply 2nd_ as (Hl.
_supplies_ elles); Ln. _has_ ptholome; E. Hn. Protholomee; Cp. Hl.
p_ro_tholome. 2291. Hl. speken; _rest_ speke. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.
Cp. Hl.; E. Somonours.
[389: T. 7877-7898.]
* * * * *
GROUP E
THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=Here folweth the Prologe of the Clerkes Tale of Oxenford.=
‘Sir clerk of Oxenford,’ our hoste sayde,
‘Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde,
Were newe spoused, sitting at the bord;
This day ne herde I of your tonge a word.
I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme, 5
But Salomon seith, “every thing hath tyme.”
1. Hl. hoste; Cp. Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost.
For goddes sake, as beth of bettre chere,
It is no tyme for to studien here.
Telle us som mery tale, by your fey;
For what man that is entred in a pley, 10
He nedes moot unto the pley assente.
But precheth nat, as freres doon in Lente,
To make us for our olde sinnes wepe,
Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.
Telle us som mery thing of aventures;— 15
Your termes, your colours, and your figures,
Kepe hem in stoor til so be ye endyte
Heigh style, as whan that men to kinges wryte.
Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, I yow preye,
That we may understonde what ye seye.’ 20
17. E. Hl. that ye; _rest omit_ that. 19. E. Hn. we; _rest_ I.
This worthy clerk benignely answerde,
‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘I am under your yerde;
[390: T. 7899-7932.]
Ye han of us as now the governaunce,
And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce,
As fer as reson axeth, hardily. 25
I wol yow telle a tale which that I
Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk,
As preved by his wordes and his werk.
He is now deed and nayled in his cheste,
I prey to god so yeve his soule reste! 30
22. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Pt. Hoost; Hl. Sir host.
Fraunceys Petrark, the laureat poete,
Highte this clerk, whos rethoryke sweete
Enlumined al Itaille of poetrye,
As Linian dide of philosophye
Or lawe, or other art particuler; 35
But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer
But as it were a twinkling of an yë,
Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dyë.
32. Hl. rethorique; Cp. retorique; Pt. retorike; E. Hn. Ln. rethorik.
36. E. _omits_ suffre us.
But forth to tellen of this worthy man,
That taughte me this tale, as I bigan, 40
I seye that first with heigh style he endyteth,
Er he the body of his tale wryteth,
A proheme, in the which discryveth he
Pemond, and of Saluces the contree,
And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye, 45
That been the boundes of West Lumbardye,
And of Mount Vesulus in special,
Where as the Poo, out of a welle smal,
Taketh his firste springing and his sours,
That estward ay encresseth in his cours 50
To Emelward, to Ferrare, and Venyse:
The which a long thing were to devyse.
And trewely, as to my Iugement,
Me thinketh it a thing impertinent,
Save that he wol convey en his matere: 55
But this his tale, which that ye may here.’
51. E. Hn. Emele; Hl. Emyl; Cp. Pt. Ln. Emel. 55. E. Hn. conuoyen;
_rest_ conueyen (-eye). 56. E. Hn. this his tale (_where_ this _is a
contraction for_ this is; _cf. mod._ E. ’tis); Hl. Pt. this is the
tale; Ln. this is tale.
[391: T. 7933-7957.]
* * * * *
THE CLERKES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.=
Ther is, at the west syde of Itaille,
Doun at the rote of Vesulus the colde,
A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille,
Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde, 60
That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
And many another delitable sighte,
And Saluces this noble contree highte.
A markis whylom lord was of that londe,
As were his worthy eldres him bifore; 65
And obeisant and redy to his honde (10)
Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and more.
Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore,
Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune,
Bothe of his lordes and of his commune. 70
Therwith he was, to speke as of linage,
The gentilleste y-born of Lumbardye,
A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
And ful of honour and of curteisye;
Discreet y-nogh his contree for to gye, 75
Save in somme thinges that he was to blame, (20)
And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
76. E. Saue that; _rest omit_ that.
I blame him thus, that he considereth noght
In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde,
But on his lust present was al his thoght, 80
As for to hauke and hunte on every syde;
[392: T. 7958-7988.]
Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde,
And eek he nolde, and that was worst of alle,
Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.
79. _So_ Hn. Ln.; E. hym myghte; Pt. myȝt; Hl. mighte. 84. Pt. Ln.
ouȝt; E. Hn. noght; Hl. no thing.
Only that point his peple bar so sore, 85
That flokmele on a day they to him wente, (30)
And oon of hem, that wysest was of lore,
Or elles that the lord best wolde assente
That he sholde telle him what his peple mente,
Or elles coude he shewe wel swich matere, 90
He to the markis seyde as ye shul here.
‘O noble markis, your humanitee
Assureth us and yeveth us hardinesse,
As ofte as tyme is of necessitee
That we to yow mowe telle our hevinesse; 95
Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse, (40)
That we with pitous herte un-to yow pleyne,
And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne.
93. Hn. Pt. and yeueth; Hl. and yiueth; E. to yeue; Ln. and whisse.
Al have I noght to done in this matere
More than another man hath in this place, 100
Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so dere,
Han alwey shewed me favour and grace,
I dar the better aske of yow a space
Of audience, to shewen our requeste,
And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste. 105
103. E. Hn. bettre; _rest_ better.
For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow (50)
And al your werk and ever han doon, that we
Ne coude nat us self devysen how
We mighte liven in more felicitee,
Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be, 110
That for to been a wedded man yow leste,
Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
108. Pt. Ln. oure; E. Hn. Cp. vs. 110. E. Ln. _omit_ it.
[393: T. 7989-8023.]
Boweth your nekke under that blisful yok
Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok; 115
And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse, (60)
How that our dayes passe in sondry wyse;
For though we slepe or wake, or rome, or ryde,
Ay fleeth the tyme, it nil no man abyde.
And though your grene youthe floure as yit, 120
In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon,
And deeth manaceth every age, and smit
In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon:
And al so certein as we knowe echoon
That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle 125
Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle. (70)
Accepteth than of us the trewe entente,
That never yet refuseden your heste,
And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente,
Chese yow a wyf in short tyme, atte leste, 130
Born of the gentilleste and of the meste
Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme
Honour to god and yow, as we can deme.
128. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. your; E. Hn. Cm. thyn. 128, 130, 131. E. heeste,
leeste, meeste; Cm. heste, leste, meste.
Deliver us out of al this bisy drede,
And tak a wyf, for hye goddes sake; 135
For if it so bifelle, as god forbede, (80)
That thurgh your deeth your linage sholde slake,
And that a straunge successour sholde take
Your heritage, o! wo were us alyve!
Wherfor we pray you hastily to wyve.’ 140
137. Cp. Pt. lynage; Ln. Hl. lignage; E. lyne; Hn. ligne; Cm. lyf.
Hir meke preyere and hir pitous chere
Made the markis herte han pitee.
‘Ye wol,’ quod he, ‘myn owene peple dere,
To that I never erst thoghte streyne me.
I me reioysed of my libertee, 145
That selde tyme is founde in mariage; (90)
Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
144. E. thoughte; Hn. thoghte.
[394: T. 8024-8058.]
But nathelees I see your trewe entente,
And truste upon your wit, and have don ay;
Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente 150
To wedde me, as sone as ever I may.
But ther-as ye han profred me to-day
To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse.
152. to-] E. this. 154. E. (_only_) _omits_ yow.
For god it woot, that children ofte been 155
Unlyk her worthy eldres hem bifore; (100)
Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen
Of which they been engendred and y-bore;
I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore
My mariage and myn estaat and reste 160
I him bitake; he may don as him leste.
Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf,
That charge up-on my bak I wol endure;
But I yow preye, and charge up-on your lyf,
That what wyf that I take, ye me assure 165
To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure, (110)
In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere,
As she an emperoures doghter were.
165. So Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. Cm. _omit_ That; Pt. _om._ what.
And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye
Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve; 170
For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
At your requeste, as ever moot I thryve,
Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve;
And but ye wole assente in swich manere,
I prey yow, speketh na-more of this matere.’ 175
174. E. this; _rest_ swich, such.
With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten (120)
To al this thing, ther seyde no wight nay;
Bisekinge him of grace, er that they wenten,
That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
Of his spousaille, as sone as ever he may; 180
For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde
Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde.
[395: T. 8059-8089.]
He graunted hem a day, swich as him leste,
On which he wolde be wedded sikerly,
And seyde, he dide al this at hir requeste; 185
And they, with humble entente, buxomly, (130)
Knelinge up-on her knees ful reverently
Him thanken alle, and thus they han an ende
Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they wende.
And heer-up-on he to his officeres 190
Comaundeth for the feste to purveye,
And to his privee knightes and squyeres
Swich charge yaf, as him liste on hem leye;
And they to his comandement obeye,
And ech of hem doth al his diligence 195
To doon un-to the feste reverence. (140)
=Explicit prima pars. Incipit secunda pars.=
Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable
Ther-as this markis shoop his mariage,
Ther stood a throp, of site delitable,
In which that povre folk of that village 200
Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage,
And of hir labour took hir sustenance
After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
199. Hl. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop.
Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; 205
But hye god som tyme senden can (150)
His grace in-to a litel oxes stalle:
Ianicula men of that throp him calle.
A doghter hadde he, fair y-nogh to sighte,
And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte. 210
208. Pt. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop; Cm. thorp; Ln. thorpe.
But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
Than was she oon the faireste under sonne;
For povreliche y-fostred up was she,
[396: T. 8090-8121.]
No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne;
Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne 215
She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese, (160)
She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese.
211. E. bountee; _rest_ beautee, beute.
But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
Yet in the brest of hir virginitee
Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; 220
And in greet reverence and charitee
Hir olde povre fader fostred she;
A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte,
She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.
And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe 225
Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, (170)
The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir livinge,
And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing softe;
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte
With everich obeisaunce and diligence 230
That child may doon to fadres reverence.
Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature,
Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his yë
As he on hunting rood paraventure;
And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye, 235
He noght with wantoun loking of folye (180)
His yën caste on hir, but in sad wyse
Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse,
233. E. caste; _rest_ sette (set). 235. E. that it; _rest omit_
that. 238. E. gan; _rest_ wolde. 238. E. chiere.
Commending in his herte hir wommanhede,
And eek hir vertu, passing any wight 240
Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede.
For thogh the peple have no greet insight
In vertu, he considered ful right
Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde. 245
241. E. chiere. 242. E. hadde; Hn. Cm. hath; Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. haue.
[397: T. 8122-8156.]
The day of wedding cam, but no wight can (190)
Telle what womman that it sholde be;
For which merveille wondred many a man,
And seyden, whan they were in privetee,
‘Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee? 250
Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas the whyle!
Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle?’
249. E. Cm. that they; _rest omit_ that.
But natheles this markis hath don make
Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,
Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake, 255
And of hir clothing took he the mesure (200)
By a mayde, lyk to hir stature,
And eek of othere ornamentes alle
That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle.
257. Hl. y-lik to hir of stature.
The tyme of undern of the same day 360
Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be;
And al the paleys put was in array,
Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree;
Houses of office stuffed with plentee
Ther maystow seen of deyntevous vitaille, 265
That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille. (210)
This royal markis, richely arrayed,
Lordes and ladyes in his companye,
The whiche unto the feste were y-prayed,
And of his retenue the bachelrye, 270
With many a soun of sondry melodye,
Un-to the village, of the which I tolde,
In this array the righte wey han holde.
269. Cp. Ln. Hl. vnto; Cm. Pt. to; E. Hn. that to. E. weren.
Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent,
That for hir shapen was al this array, 275
To fecchen water at a welle is went, (220)
And cometh hoom as sone as ever she may.
For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke day
The markis sholde wedde, and, if she mighte,
She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte. 280
[398: T. 8157-8191.]
She thoghte, ‘I wol with othere maydens stonde,
That been my felawes, in our dore, and see
The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde
To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be,
The labour which that longeth un-to me; 285
And than I may at leyser hir biholde, (230)
If she this wey un-to the castel holde.’
And as she wolde over hir threshfold goon,
The markis cam and gan hir for to calle;
And she sette doun hir water-pot anoon 290
Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxes stalle,
And doun up-on hir knees she gan to falle,
And with sad contenance kneleth stille
Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.
This thoghtful markis spak un-to this mayde 295
Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere, (240)
‘Wher is your fader, Grisildis?’ he sayde,
And she with reverence, in humble chere,
Answerde, ‘lord, he is al redy here.’
And in she gooth with-outen lenger lette, 300
And to the markis she hir fader fette.
297. E. Hn. Cm. _insert_ o _after_ fader.
He by the hond than took this olde man,
And seyde thus, whan he him hadde asyde,
‘Ianicula, I neither may ne can
Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde. 305
If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde, (250)
Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende.
302. E. thanne; Hn, than.
Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn,
And art my feithful lige man y-bore; 310
And al that lyketh me, I dar wel seyn
It lyketh thee, and specially therfore
Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,
If that thou wolt un-to that purpos drawe,
To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe?’ 315
[399: T. 8192-8226.]
This sodeyn cas this man astoned so, (260)
That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking
He stood unnethes seyde he wordes mo,
But only thus: ‘lord,’ quod he, ‘my willing
Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking 320
I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere;
Right as yow lust governeth this matere.’
317. E. Cp. Hl. wax; Hn. weex; _rest_ wex. 320. E. ayeins; Ln.
a-yeines; see l. 2325 _below_ (Group E).
‘Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely,
‘That in thy chambre I and thou and she
Have a collacion, and wostow why? 325
For I wol axe if it hir wille be (270)
To be my wyf, and reule hir after me;
And al this shal be doon in thy presence,
I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.’
And in the chambre whyl they were aboute 330
Hir tretis, which as ye shal after here,
The peple cam un-to the hous with-oute,
And wondred hem in how honest manere
And tentifly she kepte hir fader dere.
But outerly Grisildis wondre mighte, 335
For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. (280)
No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
To seen so greet a gest come in that place;
She never was to swiche gestes woned,
For which she loked with ful pale face. 340
But shortly forth this tale for to chace,
Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde
To this benigne verray feithful mayde.
337. E. Pt. _omit_ that.
‘Grisilde,’ he seyde, ‘ye shul wel understonde
It lyketh to your fader and to me 345
That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde, (290)
As I suppose, ye wol that it so be.
But thise demandes axe I first,’ quod he,
‘That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse? 350
[400: T. 8227-8261.]
I seye this, be ye redy with good herte
To al my lust, and that I frely may,
As me best thinketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
And never ye to grucche it, night ne day?
And eek whan I sey “ye,” ne sey nat “nay,” 355
Neither by word ne frowning contenance; (300)
Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’
357. E. yow; _rest_ oure.
Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede,
She seyde, ‘lord, undigne and unworthy
Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede; 360
But as ye wol your-self, right so wol I.
And heer I swere that never willingly
In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye,
For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.’
‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn!’ quod he. 365
And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere (310)
Out at the dore, and after that cam she,
And to the peple he seyde in this manere,
‘This is my wyf,’ quod he, ‘that standeth here.
Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye, 370
Who-so me loveth; ther is na-more to seye.’
And for that no-thing of hir olde gere
She sholde bringe in-to his hous, he bad
That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right there;
Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad 375
To handle hir clothes wher-in she was clad. (320)
But natheles this mayde bright of hewe
Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.
Hir heres han they kembd, that lay untressed
Ful rudely, and with hir fingres smale 380
A corone on hir heed they han y-dressed,
And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale;
Of hir array what sholde I make a tale?
Unnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse,
Whan she translated was in swich richesse. 385
385. translated] Cp. transmewed; Pt. transformed.
[401: T. 8262-8296.]
This markis hath hir spoused with a ring (330)
Broght for the same cause, and than hir sette
Up-on an hors, snow-whyt and wel ambling,
And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,
With Ioyful peple that hir ladde and mette, 390
Conveyed hir, and thus the day they spende
In revel, til the sonne gan descende.
And shortly forth this tale for to chace,
I seye that to this newe markisesse
God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace, 395
That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse (340)
That she was born and fed in rudenesse,
As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,
But norished in an emperoures halle.
To every wight she woxen is so dere 400
And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore
And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yere,
Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore
That to Ianicle, of which I spak bifore,
She doghter nas, for, as by coniecture, 405
Hem thoughte she was another creature. (350)
404. E. That she; _rest omit_ she. 405. Cp. Ln. nas; E. Hn. Cm. Hl.
were; Pt. ne were.
For thogh that ever vertuous was she,
She was encressed in swich excellence
Of thewes gode, y-set in heigh bountee,
And so discreet and fair of eloquence, 410
So benigne and so digne of reverence,
And coude so the peples herte embrace,
That ech hir lovede that loked on hir face.
Noght only of Saluces in the toun
Publiced was the bountee of hir name, 415
But eek bisyde in many a regioun, (360)
If oon seyde wel, another seyde the same;
So spradde of hir heigh bountee the fame,
That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde,
Gon to Saluce, upon hir to biholde. 420
415. E. Publiced; Pt. Publisshed; Hn. Publissed. E. beautee; _rest_
bountee. 418. E. heighe. E. name; _rest_ fame.
[402: T. 8297-8324.]
Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally,
Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
In goddes pees liveth ful esily
At hoom, and outward grace y-nogh had he;
And for he saugh that under low degree 425
Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde (370)
A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde.
425. E. saugh; _see_ B. 810. E. heigh; _the rest_ lowe, low. 426. E
_omits_ ofte.
Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
But eek, whan that the cas requyred it, 430
The commune profit coude she redresse.
Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevinesse
In al that lond, that she ne coude apese,
And wysly bringe hem alle in reste and ese.
429. _So_ Cp. Ln.; Hl. humblesse; _rest_ humblenesse.
Though that hir housbonde absent were anoon, 435
If gentil men, or othere of hir contree (380)
Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon;
So wyse and rype wordes hadde she,
And Iugements of so greet equitee,
That she from heven sent was, as men wende, 440
Peple to save and every wrong tamende.
439. E. Iuggementz.
Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore,
Al had hir lever have born a knave child.
Glad was this markis and the folk therfore; 445
For though a mayde child come al bifore, (390)
She may unto a knave child atteyne
By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne.
=Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.=
444. E. man; _rest_ knaue. 447. E. man; _the rest_ knaue. 448. Cm.
liklyhed; E. Hn. liklihede.
[403: T. 8325-8359.]
Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, 450
This markis in his herte longeth so
To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe
This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye,
Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for taffraye. 455
He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, (400)
And fond hir ever good; what neded it
Hir for to tempte and alwey more and more?
Though som men preise it for a subtil wit,
But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit 460
Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
And putten her in anguish and in drede.
457. E. foond; Hn. Cm. fond.
For which this markis wroghte in this manere;
He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay,
With sterne face and with ful trouble chere, 465
And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day (410)
That I yow took out of your povre array,
And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse,
Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse.
465. Cm. sterne; E. stierne. 466, 470. Hl. Grisild; E. Hn. Cm.
Grisilde.
I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, 470
In which that I have put yow, as I trowe,
Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe
For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe.
Tak hede of every word that I yow seye, 475
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. (420)
Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam here
In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago,
And though to me that ye be lief and dere,
Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so; 480
They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
For to be subgets and ben in servage
To thee, that born art of a smal village.
477. E. Hn. Cm. cam; Cp. Pt. come; Ln. com; Hl. comen. 482. E.
subgetz and to; _rest omit_ to.
[404: T. 8360-8394.]
And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore,
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees; 485
But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, (430)
To live my lyf with hem in reste and pees;
I may nat in this caas be recchelees.
I moot don with thy doghter for the beste,
Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste. 490
And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to me;
But nathelees with-oute your witing
I wol nat doon, but this wol I,’ quod he,
‘That ye to me assente as in this thing.
Shewe now your pacience in your werking 495
That ye me highte and swore in your village (440)
That day that maked was our mariage.’
Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
Neither in word, or chere, or countenaunce;
For, as it semed, she was nat agreved: 500
She seyde, ‘lord, al lyth in your plesaunce,
My child and I with hertly obeisaunce
Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
Your owene thing; werketh after your wille.
499. E. chiere. 503. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and; _rest_ or.
Ther may no-thing, god so my soule save, 505
Lyken to yow that may displese me; (450)
Ne I desyre no-thing for to have,
Ne drede for to lese, save only ye;
This wil is in myn herte and ay shal be.
No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface, 510
Ne chaunge my corage to another place.’
507. E. Hn. Ne I ne; _rest omit_ ne. 508. E. Hn. thee _vel_ yee; Pt.
Hl. ȝe; Cm. Cp. Ln. thee.
Glad was this markis of hir answering,
But yet he feyned as he were nat so;
Al drery was his chere and his loking
Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go. 515
Sone after this, a furlong wey or two, (460)
He prively hath told al his entente
Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente.
[405: T. 8395-8429.]
A maner sergeant was this privee man,
The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde 520
In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can
Don execucioun on thinges badde.
The lord knew wel that he him loved and dradde;
And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille,
In-to the chambre he stalked him ful stille. 525
524. his] E. the; Cm. this.
‘Madame,’ he seyde, ‘ye mote foryeve it me, (470)
Thogh I do thing to which I am constreyned;
Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye
That lordes hestes mowe nat been y-feyned;
They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned, 530
But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye,
And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye.
530. E. Cm. and; _rest_ or.
This child I am comanded for to take’—
And spak na-more, but out the child he hente
Despitously, and gan a chere make 535
As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. (480)
Grisildis mot al suffren and consente;
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille.
Suspecious was the diffame of this man, 540
Suspect his face, suspect his word also;
Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
Allas! hir doghter that she lovede so
She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.
But natheles she neither weep ne syked, 545
Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. (490)
But atte laste speken she bigan,
And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
So as he was a worthy gentil man,
That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde; 550
And in her barm this litel child she leyde
With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse
And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.
547. E. to speken; _rest omit_ to. 552, 3. E. kisse, blisse; _rest_
blisse, kisse; _see_ 678.
[406: T. 8430-8462.]
And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys,
‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see; 555
But, sith I thee have marked with the croys, (500)
Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be,
That for us deyde up-on a croys of tree.
Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake,
For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’ 560
557. E. Hn. Cm. he; _rest_ thou.
I trowe that to a norice in this cas
It had ben hard this rewthe for to se;
Wel mighte a mooder than han cryed ‘allas!’
But nathelees so sad stedfast was she,
That she endured all adversitee, 565
And to the sergeant mekely she sayde, (510)
‘Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.
564. E. Cm. Pt. sad and; _rest omit_ and. E. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-;
_rest_ stede-.
Goth now,’ quod she, ‘and dooth my lordes heste,
But o thing wol I preye yow of your grace,
That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leste 570
Burieth this litel body in som place
That bestes ne no briddes it to-race.’
But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
But took the child and wente upon his weye.
569. E. Pt. And; _rest_ But.
This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn, 575
And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere (520)
He tolde him point for point, in short and playn,
And him presenteth with his doghter dere.
Somwhat this lord hath rewthe in his manere;
But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille, 580
As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;
And bad his sergeant that he prively
Sholde this child ful softe winde and wrappe
With alle circumstances tendrely,
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; 585
But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe, (530)
[407: T. 8463-8492.]
That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
583. Cp. Pt. Ln. ful; _rest omit._ 588. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Hl. he cam
(com); E. Ln. _omit._
But at Boloigne to his suster dere,
That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse, 590
He sholde it take, and shewe hir this matere,
Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse
This child to fostre in alle gentilesse;
And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde
From every wight, for oght that may bityde. 595
590. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; _rest_ Pavik, Pauyk, Pavie. 594. E. him;
_rest_ hire, hir.
The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing; (540)
But to this markis now retourne we;
For now goth he ful faste imagining
If by his wyves chere he mighte see,
Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600
Were chaunged; but he never hir coude finde
But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde.
As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
And eek in love as she was wont to be,
Was she to him in every maner wyse; 605
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. (550)
Non accident for noon adversitee
Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter name
Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
=Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.=
In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer 610
Er she with childe was; but, as god wolde,
A knave child she bar by this Walter,
Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
Nat only he, but al his contree, merie 615
Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie. (560)
612. E. man; _rest_ knaue.
[408: T. 8493-8527.]
Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest
Departed of his norice, on a day
This markis caughte yet another lest
To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may. 620
O needles was she tempted in assay!
But wedded men ne knowe no mesure,
Whan that they finde a pacient creature.
‘Wyf,’ quod this markis, ‘ye han herd er this,
My peple sikly berth our mariage, 625
And namely, sith my sone y-boren is, (570)
Now is it worse than ever in al our age.
The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage;
For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte,
That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte. 630
626. Hl. y-boren; E. Hn. Cm. yborn.
Now sey they thus, “whan Walter is agoon,
Then shal the blood of Ianicle succede
And been our lord, for other have we noon;”
Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede.
Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken hede; 635
For certeinly I drede swich sentence, (580)
Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.
I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte;
Wherfor I am disposed outerly,
As I his suster servede by nighte, 640
Right so thenke I to serve him prively;
This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly
Out of your-self for no wo sholde outraye;
Beth pacient, and ther-of I yow preye.’
640. Cm. Cp. Hl. seruede; _rest_ serued. 643. E. outreye.
‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal, 645
I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn, (590)
But as yow list; noght greveth me at al,
Thogh that my doghter and my sone be slayn,
At your comandement, this is to sayn.
I have noght had no part of children tweyne 650
But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.
[409: T. 8528-8562.]
Ye been our lord, doth with your owene thing
Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me.
For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing,
Whan I first cam to yow, right so,’ quod she, 655
‘Left I my wil and al my libertee, (600)
And took your clothing; wherfor I yow preye,
Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust obeye.
And certes, if I hadde prescience
Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me tolde, 660
I wolde it doon with-outen necligence;
But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde,
Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I holde;
For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. 665
Deth may noght make no comparisoun (610)
Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey
The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
His yën two, and wondreth that she may
In pacience suffre al this array. 670
And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce,
But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce.
667. MSS. say.
This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
That he hir doghter caughte, right so he,
Or worse, if men worse can devyse, 675
Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee. (620)
And ever in oon so pacient was she,
That she no chere made of hevinesse,
But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse;
Save this; she preyed him that, if he mighte, 680
Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave,
His tendre limes, delicat to sighte,
Fro foules and fro bestes for to save.
But she non answer of him mighte have.
He wente his wey, as him no-thing ne roghte; 685
But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte. (630)
680. Cm. preyede; Hl. prayed; E. Hn. preyde.
[410: T. 8563-8597.]
This markis wondreth ever lenger the more
Up-on hir pacience, and if that he
Ne hadde soothly knowen ther-bifore,
That parfitly hir children lovede she, 690
He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
And of malice or for cruel corage,
That she had suffred this with sad visage.
687. E. wondred; _rest_ wondreth. 692. E. crueel.
But wel he knew that next him-self, certayn,
She loved hir children best in every wyse. 695
But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn, (640)
If thise assayes mighte nat suffyse?
What coude a sturdy housbond more devyse
To preve hir wyfhod and hir stedfastnesse,
And he continuing ever in sturdinesse? 700
699. E. or; _rest_ and. E. stede-.
But ther ben folk of swich condicioun,
That, whan they have a certein purpos take,
They can nat stinte of hir entencioun,
But, right as they were bounden to a stake,
They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. 705
Right so this markis fulliche hath purposed (650)
To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed.
704. E. Hn. Cm. that; _the rest_ a.
He waiteth, if by word or contenance
That she to him was changed of corage;
But never coude he finde variance; 710
She was ay oon in herte and in visage;
And ay the forther that she was in age,
The more trewe, if that it were possible,
She was to him in love, and more penible.
For which it semed thus, that of hem two 715
Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste, (660)
The same lust was hir plesance also,
And, god be thanked, al fil for the beste.
She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste
A wyf, as of hir-self, no-thing ne sholde 720
Wille in effect, but as hir housbond wolde.
[411: T. 8598-8630.]
The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,
That of a cruel herte he wikkedly,
For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
Hath mordred bothe his children prively. 725
Swich murmur was among hem comunly. (670)
No wonder is, for to the peples ere
Ther cam no word but that they mordred were.
For which, wher-as his peple ther-bifore
Had loved him wel, the sclaundre of his diffame 730
Made hem that they him hatede therfore;
To been a mordrer is an hateful name.
But natheles, for ernest ne for game
He of his cruel purpos nolde stente;
To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. 735
731. Cp. Hl. hatede; _rest_ hated. 734. E. crueel.
Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age, (680)
He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse
Enformed of his wil, sente his message,
Comaunding hem swiche bulles to devyse
As to his cruel purpos may suffyse, 740
How that the pope, as for his peples reste,
Bad him to wedde another, if him leste.
740. E. crueel.
I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
The popes bulles, making mencioun
That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, 745
As by the popes dispensacioun, (690)
To stinte rancour and dissencioun
Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde the bulle,
The which they han publiced atte fulle.
749. E. publiced; Cp. publisshed; Hn. publissed.
The rude peple, as it no wonder is, 750
Wenden ful wel that it had been right so;
But whan thise tydinges cam to Grisildis,
I deme that hir herte was ful wo.
But she, y-lyke sad for evermo,
[412: T. 8631-8660.]
Disposed was, this humble creature, 755
Thadversitee of fortune al tendure. (700)
751. Cm. been; Hn. ben; _rest_ be.
Abyding ever his lust and his plesaunce,
To whom that she was yeven, herte and al,
As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce;
But shortly if this storie I tellen shal, 760
This markis writen hath in special
A lettre in which he sheweth his entente,
And secrely he to Boloigne it sente.
To the erl of Panik, which that hadde tho
Wedded his suster, preyde he specially 765
To bringen boom agayn his children two (710)
In honurable estaat al openly.
But o thing he him preyede outerly,
That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere,
Sholde nat telle, whos children that they were, 770
764. Hl. panyk; Cp. Panyke; _rest_ Pavyk, Pauyke, Pavie. 770. E. Hn.
Cp. Ln. that they; _the rest omit_ that.
But seye, the mayden sholde y-wedded be
Un-to the markis of Saluce anon.
And as this erl was preyed, so dide he;
For at day set he on his wey is goon
Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon, 775
In riche array, this mayden for to gyde; (720)
Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde.
773. Cp. Cm. preyed; E. preyd; Hn. Hl. prayd.
Arrayed was toward hir mariage
This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere;
Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age, 780
Arrayed eek ful fresh in his manere.
And thus in greet noblesse and with glad chere,
Toward Saluces shaping hir Iourney,
Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.
=Explicit quarta pars. Sequitur quinta pars.=
[413: T. 8661-8695.]
Among al this, after his wikke usage, 785
This markis, yet his wyf to tempte more (730)
To the uttereste preve of hir corage,
Fully to han experience and lore
If that she were as stedfast as bifore,
He on a day in open audience 790
Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence:
787. Cm. vttyreste; E. outtreste. 789. E. Cp. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-;
_rest_ stede-.
‘Certes, Grisilde, I hadde y-nough plesaunce
To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse,
As for your trouthe and for your obeisaunce,
Nought for your linage ne for your richesse; 795
But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse (740)
That in gret lordshipe, if I wel avyse,
Ther is gret servitute in sondry wyse.
I may nat don as every plowman may;
My peple me constreyneth for to take 800
Another wyf, and cryen day by day;
And eek the pope, rancour for to slake,
Consenteth it, that dar I undertake;
And treweliche thus muche I wol yow seye,
My newe wyf is coming by the weye. 805
Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place, (750)
And thilke dower that ye broghten me
Tak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace;
Retourneth to your fadres hous,’ quod he;
‘No man may alwey han prosperitee; 810
With evene herte I rede yow tendure
The strook of fortune or of aventure.’
812. E. This; _the rest_ The.
And she answerde agayn in pacience,
‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I woot, and wiste alway
How that bitwixen your magnificence 815
And my poverte no wight can ne may (760)
Maken comparison; it is no nay.
I ne heeld me never digne in no manere
To be your wyf, no, ne your chamberere.
[414: T. 8696-8730.]
And in this hous, ther ye me lady made— 820
The heighe god take I for my witnesse,
And also wisly he my soule glade—
I never heeld me lady ne maistresse,
But humble servant to your worthinesse,
And ever shal, whyl that my lyf may dure, 825
Aboven every worldly creature. (770)
That ye so longe of your benignitee
Han holden me in honour and nobleye,
Wher-as I was noght worthy for to be,
That thonke I god and yow, to whom I preye 830
Foryelde it yow; there is na-more to seye.
Un-to my fader gladly wol I wende,
And with him dwelle un-to my lyves ende.
829. E. _omits_ for to.
Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal,
Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede 835
A widwe clene, in body, herte, and al. (780)
For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede,
And am your trewe wyf, it is no drede,
God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take
Another man to housbonde or to make. 840
And of your newe wyf, god of his grace
So graunte yow wele and prosperitee:
For I wol gladly yelden hir my place,
In which that I was blisful wont to be,
For sith it lyketh yow, my lord,’ quod she, 845
‘That whylom weren al myn hertes reste, (790)
That I shal goon, I wol gon whan yow leste.
But ther-as ye me profre swich dowaire
As I first broghte, it is wel in my minde
It were my wrecched clothes, no-thing faire, 850
The which to me were hard now for to finde.
O gode god! how gentil and how kinde
Ye semed by your speche and your visage
The day that maked was our mariage!
[415: T. 8731-8765.]
But sooth is seyd, algate I finde it trewe— 855
For in effect it preved is on me— (800)
Love is noght old as whan that it is newe.
But certes, lord, for noon adversitee,
To dyen in the cas, it shal nat be
That ever in word or werk I shal repente 860
That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.
My lord, ye woot that, in my fadres place,
Ye dede me strepe out of my povre wede,
And richely me cladden, of your grace.
To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede, 865
But feyth and nakednesse and maydenhede. (810)
And here agayn my clothing I restore,
And eek my wedding-ring, for evermore.
867, 868. my] Cp. Pt. Ln. your.
The remenant of your Iewels redy be
In-with your chambre, dar I saufly sayn; 870
Naked out of my fadres hous,’ quod she,
‘I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn.
Al your plesaunce wol I folwen fayn;
But yet I hope it be nat your entente
That I smoklees out of your paleys wente. 875
869. Hn. Hl. Ln. Iewels; E. Iueles.
Ye coude nat doon so dishoneste a thing, (820)
That thilke wombe in which your children leye
Sholde, biforn the peple, in my walking,
Be seyn al bare; wherfor I yow preye,
Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye. 880
Remembre yow, myn owene lord so dere,
I was your wyf, thogh I unworthy were.
Wherfor, in guerdon of my maydenhede,
Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere,
As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my mede, 885
But swich a smok as I was wont to were, (830)
That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
That was your wyf; and heer take I my leve
Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.’
883. E. Hn. gerdon; _rest_ guerdon, guerdo_u_n.
[416: T. 8766-8798.]
‘The smok,’ quod he, ‘that thou hast on thy bak, 890
Lat it be stille, and ber it forth with thee.’
But wel unnethes thilke word he spak,
But wente his wey for rewthe and for pitee.
Biforn the folk hir-selven strepeth she,
And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare, 895
Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare. (840)
The folk hir folwe wepinge in hir weye,
And fortune ay they cursen as they goon;
But she fro weping kepte hir yën dreye,
Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon. 900
Hir fader, that this tyding herde anoon,
Curseth the day and tyme that nature
Shoop him to been a lyves creature.
For out of doute this olde povre man
Was ever in suspect of hir mariage; 905
For ever he demed, sith that it bigan, (850)
That whan the lord fulfild had his corage,
Him wolde thinke it were a disparage
To his estaat so lowe for talighte,
And voyden hir as sone as ever he mighte. 910
Agayns his doghter hastilich goth he,
For he by noyse of folk knew hir cominge,
And with hir olde cote, as it mighte be,
He covered hir, ful sorwefully wepinge;
But on hir body mighte he it nat bringe. 915
For rude was the cloth, and more of age (860)
By dayes fele than at hir mariage.
916. E. Hn. Cm. and she moore; _rest omit_ she.
Thus with hir fader, for a certeyn space,
Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience,
That neither by hir wordes ne hir face 920
Biforn the folk, ne eek in hir absence,
Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence;
[417: T. 8799-8828.]
Ne of hir heigh estaat no remembraunce
Ne hadde she, as by hir countenaunce.
No wonder is, for in hir grete estaat 925
Hir goost was ever in pleyn humylitee; (870)
No tendre mouth, non herte delicaat,
No pompe, no semblant of royaltee,
But ful of pacient benignitee,
Discreet and prydeles, ay honurable, 930
And to hir housbonde ever meke and stable.
Men speke of Iob and most for his humblesse,
As clerkes, whan hem list, can wel endyte,
Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse,
Thogh clerkes preyse wommen but a lyte, 935
Ther can no man in humblesse him acquyte (880)
As womman can, ne can ben half so trewe
As wommen been, but it be falle of-newe.
933. E. Hn. conne; _rest_ can. 937. Hn. kan; Cp. Ln. Hl. can; _rest
omit (2nd time)_.
[_Pars Sexta._]
Fro Boloigne is this erl of Panik come,
Of which the fame up-sprang to more and lesse, 940
And in the peples eres alle and some
Was couth eek, that a newe markisesse
He with him broghte, in swich pompe and richesse,
That never was ther seyn with mannes yë
So noble array in al West Lumbardye. 945
939. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; Pt. Pavie; _rest_ Pavyk, Pauyk. 944. Hl.
ye; _rest_ eye.
The markis, which that shoop and knew al this, (890)
Er that this erl was come, sente his message
For thilke sely povre Grisildis;
And she with humble herte and glad visage,
Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage, 950
Cam at his heste, and on hir knees hir sette,
And reverently and wysly she him grette.
[418: T. 8829-8863.]
‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘my wille is outerly,
This mayden, that shal wedded been to me,
Receyved be to-morwe as royally 955
As it possible is in myn hous to be. (900)
And eek that every wight in his degree
Have his estaat in sitting and servyse
And heigh plesaunce, as I can best devyse.
953. Cp. Pt. wille; _rest_ wil.
I have no wommen suffisaunt certayn 960
The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce
After my lust, and therfor wolde I fayn
That thyn were al swich maner governaunce;
Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce;
Though thyn array be badde and yvel biseye, 965
Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.’ (910)
‘Nat only, lord, that I am glad,’ quod she,
‘To doon your lust, but I desyre also
Yow for to serve and plese in my degree
With-outen feynting, and shal evermo. 970
Ne never, for no wele ne no wo,
Ne shal the gost with-in myn herte stente
To love yow best with al my trewe entente.’
And with that word she gan the hous to dighte,
And tables for to sette and beddes make; 975
And peyned hir to doon al that she mighte, (920)
Preying the chambereres, for goddes sake,
To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake;
And she, the moste servisable of alle,
Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle. 980
977. Cp. Hl. Cm. chambereres; E. Hn. Pt. Ln. chambreres.
Abouten undern gan this erl alighte,
That with him broghte thise noble children tweye,
For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
Of hir array, so richely biseye;
And than at erst amonges hem they seye, 985
That Walter was no fool, thogh that him leste (930)
To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.
981. Hl. Pt. Ln. vndern; E. Hn. Cp. vndren; Cm. vndryn.
[419: T. 8864-8898.]
For she is fairer, as they demen alle,
Than is Grisild, and more tendre of age,
And fairer fruit bitwene hem sholde falle, 990
And more plesant, for hir heigh linage;
Hir brother eek so fair was of visage,
That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce,
Commending now the markis gouernaunce.—
_Auctor_. ‘O stormy peple! unsad and ever untrewe! 995
Ay undiscreet and chaunging as a vane, (940)
Delyting ever in rumbel that is newe,
For lyk the mone ay wexe ye and wane;
Ay ful of clapping, dere y-nogh a Iane;
Your doom is fals, your constance yvel preveth, 1000
A ful greet fool is he that on yow leveth!’
997. E. Cm. rumbul; Hn. rumbel; Hl. rombel. 1000. Hl. yuel; Cm. euel;
E. Hn. yuele.
Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee,
Whan that the peple gazed up and doun,
For they were glad, right for the noveltee,
To han a newe lady of hir toun. 1005
Na-more of this make I now mencioun; (950)
But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse,
And telle hir constance and hir bisinesse.—
Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thing
That to the feste was apertinent; 1010
Right noght was she abayst of hir clothing,
Though it were rude and somdel eek to-rent.
But with glad chere to the yate is went,
With other folk, to grete the markisesse,
And after that doth forth hir bisinesse. 1015
1013. E. Hn. Hl. is she; _rest omit_ she. E. Hn. Ln. chiere; Hl.
chier.
With so glad chere his gestes she receyveth, (960)
And conningly, everich in his degree,
That no defaute no man aperceyveth;
But ay they wondren what she mighte be
That in so povre array was for to see, 1020
And coude swich honour and reverence;
And worthily they preisen hir prudence.
1017. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. And so; Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ so.
[420: T. 8899-8933.]
In al this mene whyle she ne stente
This mayde and eek hir brother to commende
With al hir herte, in ful benigne entente, 1025
So wel, that no man coude hir prys amende. (970)
But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende
To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle
Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.
‘Grisilde,’ quod he, as it were in his pley, 1030
‘How lyketh thee my wyf and hir beautee?’
‘Right wel,’ quod she, ‘my lord; for, in good fey,
A fairer say I never noon than she.
I prey to god yeve hir prosperitee;
And so hope I that he wol to yow sende 1035
Plesance y-nogh un-to your lyves ende. (980)
1033. E. saugh; see l. 1114.
O thing biseke I yow and warne also,
That ye ne prikke with no tormentinge
This tendre mayden, as ye han don mo;
For she is fostred in hir norishinge 1040
More tendrely, and, to my supposinge,
She coude nat adversitee endure
As coude a povre fostred creature.’
1040. E. Hn. norissynge.
And whan this Walter say hir pacience,
Hir glade chere and no malice at al, 1045
And he so ofte had doon to hir offence, (990)
And she ay sad and constant as a wal,
Continuing ever hir innocence overal,
This sturdy markis gan his herte dresse
To rewen up-on hir wyfly stedfastnesse. 1050
1044. E. saugh; see l. 1114. 1045. E. Ln. chiere.
‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn,’ quod he,
‘Be now na-more agast ne yvel apayed;
I have thy feith and thy benignitee,
As wel as ever womman was, assayed,
In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed. 1055
Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse,’— (1000)
And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse.
1056. E. goode; _rest_ dere.
[421: T. 8934-8968.]
And she for wonder took of it no keep;
She herde nat what thing he to hir seyde;
She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep, 1060
Til she out of hir masednesse abreyde.
‘Grisilde,’ quod he, ‘by god that for us deyde,
Thou art my wyf, ne noon other I have,
Ne never hadde, as god my soule save!
1063. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. ne; Pt. and; E. Hn. _omit_ ne.
This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed 1065
To be my wyf; that other feithfully (1010)
Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed;
Thou bare him in thy body trewely.
At Boloigne have I kept hem prively;
Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye 1070
That thou hast lorn non of thy children tweye.
1067. Cp. Ln. Hl. purposed; E. Hn. Cm. supposed (_wrongly_); Pt.
disposed. 1070. E. Taak.
And folk that otherweyes han seyd of me,
I warne hem wel that I have doon this dede
For no malice ne for no crueltee,
But for tassaye in thee thy wommanhede, 1075
And nat to sleen my children, god forbede! (1020)
But for to kepe hem prively and stille,
Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.’
Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
For pitous Ioye, and after hir swowninge 1080
She bothe hir yonge children un-to hir calleth,
And in hir armes, pitously wepinge,
Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissinge
Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teres
She batheth bothe hir visage and hir heres. 1085
O, which a pitous thing it was to see (1030)
Hir swowning, and hir humble voys to here!
‘Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow,’ quod she,
‘That ye han saved me my children dere!
Now rekke I never to ben deed right here; 1090
Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace,
No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!
[422: T. 8969-9003.]
O tendre, o dere, o yonge children myne,
Your woful mooder wende stedfastly
That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne 1095
Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy, (1040)
And your benigne fader tendrely
Hath doon yow kept;’ and in that same stounde
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.
1095. E. crueel.
And in her swough so sadly holdeth she 1100
Hir children two, whan she gan hem tembrace,
That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee
The children from hir arm they gonne arace.
O many a teer on many a pitous face
Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bisyde; 1105
Unnethe abouten hir mighte they abyde. (1050)
Walter hir gladeth, and hir sorwe slaketh;
She ryseth up, abaysed, from hir traunce,
And every wight hir Ioye and feste maketh,
Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce. 1110
Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce,
That it was deyntee for to seen the chere
Bitwixe hem two, now they ben met y-fere.
Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say,
Han taken hir, and in-to chambre goon, 1115
And strepen hir out of hir rude array, (1060)
And in a cloth of gold that brighte shoon,
With a coroune of many a riche stoon
Up-on hir heed, they in-to halle hir broghte,
And ther she was honoured as hir oghte. 1120
1117. Cm. cloth; E. Hn. clooth.
Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,
For every man and womman dooth his might
This day in murthe and revel to dispende
Til on the welkne shoon the sterres light.
For more solempne in every mannes sight 1125
This feste was, and gretter of costage, (1070)
Than was the revel of hir mariage.
[423: T. 9004-9036.]
Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee
Liven thise two in concord and in reste,
And richely his doghter maried he 1130
Un-to a lord, oon of the worthieste
Of al Itaille; and than in pees and reste
His wyves fader in his court he kepeth,
Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.
His sone succedeth in his heritage 1135
In reste and pees, after his fader day; (1080)
And fortunat was eek in mariage,
Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay.
This world is nat so strong, it is no nay,
As it hath been in olde tymes yore, 1140
And herkneth what this auctour seith therfore.
1140. in] E. of.
This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde
Folwen Grisilde as in humilitee,
For it were importable, though they wolde;
But for that every wight, in his degree, 1145
Sholde be constant in adversitee (1090)
As was Grisilde; therfor Petrark wryteth
This storie, which with heigh style he endyteth.
1147. Cm. this Petrak; _rest omit_ this. Hl. Petrark; E. Hn. Cm.
Petrak.
For, sith a womman was so pacient
Un-to a mortal man, wel more us oghte 1150
Receyven al in gree that god us sent;
For greet skile is, he preve that he wroghte.
But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte,
As seith seint Iame, if ye his pistel rede;
He preveth folk al day, it is no drede, 1155
And suffreth us, as for our excercyse, (1100)
With sharpe scourges of adversitee
Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse;
Nat for to knowe our wil, for certes he,
Er we were bom, knew al our freletee; 1160
[424: T. 9037-9055.]
And for our beste is al his governaunce;
Lat us than live in vertuous suffraunce.
1160. E. _omits_ al; _the rest have it_.
* * * * *
_It seems to have been Chaucer’s intention, in the first instance, to
end this_ Tale _here. Hence, we find, in_ MSS. E. Hn. Cm. Dd., _the
following genuine, but rejected stanza, suitable for insertion at this
point_:—
=Bihold the merye wordes of the Hoste.=
This worthy Clerk, whan ended was his tale,
Our hoste seyde, and swoor by goddes bones,
‘Me were lever than a barel ale
My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones;
This is a gentil tale for the nones, 5
As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille;
But thing that wol nat be, lat it be stille.’
=Here endeth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.=
HEADING. E. Bihoold; murye; Hoost. 2. E. Oure hoost. 3. E. leuere.
Dd. barel of ale. 5. E. Hn. Dd. is; Cm. was. 6. E. Hn. wiste; Dd.
wyst; Cm. woste. N.B. _With_ 1. 3, _compare_ B. 3083.
* * * * *
But o word, lordinges, herkneth er I go:—
It were ful hard to finde now a dayes
In al a toun Grisildes three or two; 1165
For, if that they were put to swiche assayes, (1110)
The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes
With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at yë,
It wolde rather breste a-two than plye.
For which heer, for the wyves love of Bathe, 1170
Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene
In heigh maistrye, and elles were it scathe,
I wol with lusty herte fresshe and grene
Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene,
And lat us stinte of ernestful matere:— 1175
Herkneth my song, that seith in this manere. (1120)
=Lenvoy De Chaucer.=
Grisilde is deed, and eek hir pacience,
And bothe atones buried in Itaille;
For which I crye in open audience,
[425: T. 9056-9088.]
No wedded man so hardy be tassaille 1180
His wyves pacience, in hope to finde
Grisildes, for in certein he shall faille!
O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence,
Lat noon humilitee your tonge naille,
Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence 1185
To wryte of yow a storie of swich mervaille (1130)
As of Grisildis pacient and kinde;
Lest Chichevache yow swelwe in hir entraille!
Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence,
But evere answereth at the countretaille; 1190
Beth nat bidaffed for your innocence,
But sharply tak on yow the governaille.
Emprinteth wel this lesson in your minde
For commune profit, sith it may availle.
Ye archewyves, stondeth at defence, 1195
Sin ye be stronge as is a greet camaille; (1140)
Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offence.
And sclendre wyves, feble as in bataille,
Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Inde;
Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille. 1200
Ne dreed hem nat, do hem no reverence;
For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille,
The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
Shal perce his brest, and eek his aventaille;
In Ialousye I rede eek thou him binde, 1205
And thou shalt make him couche as dooth a quaille.
1201. Cm. Ln. Hl. do; rest doth.
If thou be fair, ther folk ben in presence
Shew thou thy visage and thyn apparaille;
If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence,
To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille; 1210
Be ay of chere as light as leef on linde,
And lat him care, and wepe, and wringe, and waille!
=Here endeth the Clerk of Oxonford his Tale.=
1211. E. chiere; Hn. cheere. COLOPHON. _From_ Cp.
[426: T. 9089-9120.]
* * * * *
THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale.=
‘Weping and wayling, care, and other sorwe
I know y-nogh, on even and a-morwe,’
Quod the Marchaunt, ‘and so don othere mo 1215
That wedded been, I trowe that it be so.
For, wel I woot, it fareth so with me.
I have a wyf, the worste that may be;
For thogh the feend to hir y-coupled were,
She wolde him overmacche, I dar wel swere. 1220
What sholde I yow reherce in special
Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al. (10)
Ther is a long and large difference
Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience
And of my wyf the passing crueltee. 1225
Were I unbounden, al-so moot I thee!
I wolde never eft comen in the snare.
We wedded men live in sorwe and care;
Assaye who-so wol, and he shal finde
I seye sooth, by seint Thomas of Inde, 1230
As for the more part, I sey nat alle.
God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! (20)
A! good sir hoost! I have y-wedded be
Thise monthes two, and more nat, pardee;
And yet, I trowe, he that all his lyve 1235
Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve
Un-to the herte, ne coude in no manere
Tellen so muchel sorwe, as I now here
Coude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!’
‘Now,’ quod our hoost, ‘Marchaunt, so god yow blesse, 1240
Sin ye so muchel knowen of that art,
Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.’ (30)
‘Gladly,’ quod he, ‘but of myn owene sore,
For sory herte, I telle may na-more.’
[427: T. 9121-9147.]
* * * * *
THE MARCHANTES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Marchantes Tale.=
Whylom ther was dwellinge in Lumbardye 1245
A worthy knight, that born was of Pavye,
In which he lived in greet prosperitee;
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he,
And folwed ay his bodily delyt
On wommen, ther-as was his appetyt, 1250
As doon thise foles that ben seculeer.
And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,
Were it for holinesse or for dotage,
I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage (10)
Hadde this knight to been a wedded man, 1255
That day and night he dooth al that he can
Tespyen where he mighte wedded be;
Preyinge our lord to granten him, that he
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf
That is bitwixe an housbond and his wyf; 1260
And for to live under that holy bond
With which that first god man and womman bond,
‘Non other lyf,’ seyde he, ‘is worth a bene;
For wedlok is so esy and so clene, (20)
That in this world it is a paradys.’ 1265
Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wys.
HEADING. _So_ E. Hn. Pt. 1246. Pt. at; Ln. in (_for_ of).
And certeinly, as sooth as god is king,
To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing,
And namely whan a man is old and hoor;
Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor. 1270
Than sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
[428: T. 9148-9180.]
On which he mighte engendren him an heir,
And lede his lyf in Ioye and in solas,
Wher-as thise bacheleres singe ‘allas,’ (30)
Whan that they finden any adversitee 1275
In love, which nis but childish vanitee.
And trewely it sit wel to be so,
That bacheleres have often peyne and wo;
On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse
They finde, whan they wene sikernesse. 1280
They live but as a brid or as a beste,
In libertee, and under non areste,
Ther-as a wedded man in his estaat
Liveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, (40)
Under the yok of mariage y-bounde; 1285
Wel may his herte in Ioye and blisse habounde.
For who can be so buxom as a wyf?
Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf
To kepe him, syk and hool, as is his make?
For wele or wo, she wol him nat forsake. 1290
She nis nat wery him to love and serve,
Thogh that he lye bedrede til he sterve.
And yet somme clerkes seyn, it nis nat so,
Of whiche he, Theofraste, is oon of tho. (50)
What force though Theofraste liste lye? 1295
‘Ne take no wyf,’ quod he, ‘for housbondrye,
As for to spare in houshold thy dispence;
A trewe servant dooth more diligence,
Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf.
For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf; 1300
And if that thou be syk, so god me save,
Thy verray frendes or a trewe knave
Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay
After thy good, and hath don many a day. (60)
And if thou take a wyf un-to thyn hold, [T. _om._
Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold.’ [T. _om._
[429: T. 9181-9216.]
This sentence, and an hundred thinges worse,
Wryteth this man, ther god his bones corse!
But take no kepe of al swich vanitee;
Deffye Theofraste and herke me. 1310
1271. E. Thanne. 1274, 1278. E. bacheleris. 1281, 2. E. Pt. beest,
arreest; Cm. Ln. beste, areste. 1285. E. Hn. this; _rest_ the.
1293. E. Cp. nis; _rest_ is. 1301. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ that. 1305, 6.
_Not in_ Cp. Ln.; _in a spurious form in _Hn. Pt. Hl. 1310. Cp. Hl.
herkne; Pt. Ln. herkeneth.
A wyf is goddes yifte verraily;
Alle other maner yiftes hardily,
As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune,
Or moebles, alle ben yiftes of fortune, (70)
That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. 1315
But dredelees, if pleynly speke I shal,
A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure,
Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.
1316. Cm. dredles; Hn. Hl. dreed nat; Cp. Ln. drede nought; Pt. drede
it nouȝt.
Mariage is a ful gret sacrement;
He which that hath no wyf, I holde him shent; 1320
He liveth 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 help y-wroght. (80)
The hye god, whan he hadde Adam maked, 1325
And saugh him al allone, bely-naked,
God of his grete goodnesse seyde than,
‘Lat us now make an help un-to this man
Lyk to him-self;’ and thanne he made him Eve.
Heer may ye se, and heer-by may ye preve, 1330
That wyf is mannes help and his confort,
His paradys terrestre and his disport.
So buxom and so vertuous is she,
They moste nedes live in unitee. (90)
O flesh they been, and o flesh, as I gesse, 1335
Hath but on herte, in wele and in distresse.
1323. Cp. herkne; Pt. Ln. Hl. herken.
A wyf! a! Seinte Marie, _benedicite!_
How mighte a man han any adversitee
That hath a wyf? certes, I can nat seye.
The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye 1340
Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thinke.
If he be povre, she helpeth him to swinke;
[430: T. 9217-9252.]
She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel;
Al that hir housbonde lust, hir lyketh weel; (100)
She seith not ones ‘nay,’ whan he seith ‘ye.’ 1345
‘Do this,’ seith he; ‘al redy, sir,’ seith she.
O blisful ordre of wedlok precious,
Thou art so mery, and eek so vertuous,
And so commended and appreved eek,
That every man that halt him worth a leek, 1350
Up-on his bare knees oghte al his lyf
Thanken his god that him hath sent a wyf;
Or elles preye to god him for to sende
A wyf, to laste un-to his lyves ende. (110)
For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; 1355
He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse,
So that he werke after his wyves reed;
Than may he boldly beren up his heed,
They been so trewe and ther-with-al so wyse;
For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, 1360
Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.
1340. Hl. ioye (_for_ blisse). 1348. E. Hn. murye. 1350. Hl. holt;
Ln. holdeth. 1351. E. oughte; Hn. Cm. oghte. 1357. E. reede; Hn.
Cm. Cp. reed. _The scribe of_ E. _misses 1358-61, by confusing this_
reed _with_ rede (1361). 1358-61. _From_ Hn.; _so_ Cm.; _so the rest
(nearly)_. 1358. Hn. kepen; _rest_ beren, bere.
Lo, how that Iacob, as thise clerkes rede,
By good conseil of his moder Rebekke,
Bond the kides skin aboute his nekke; (120)
Thurgh which his fadres benisoun he wan. 1365
Lo, Iudith, as the storie eek telle can,
By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte,
And slow him, Olofernus, whyl he slepte.
Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she
Saved hir housbond Nabal, whan that he 1370
Sholde han be slayn; and loke, Ester also
By good conseil delivered out of wo
The peple of god, and made him, Mardochee,
Of Assuere enhaunced for to be. (130)
Ther nis no-thing in gree superlatyf, 1375
As seith Senek, above an humble wyf.
Suffre thy wyves tonge, as Caton bit;
She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it;
[431: T. 9253-9289.]
And yet she wol obeye of curteisye.
A wyf is keper of thyn housbondrye; 1380
Wel may the syke man biwaille and wepe,
Ther-as ther nis no wyf the hous to kepe.
I warne thee, if wysly thou wolt wirche,
Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loveth his chirche. (140)
If thou lovest thy-self, thou lovest thy wyf; 1385
No man hateth his flesh, but in his lyf
He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee,
Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt never thee.
Housbond and wyf, what so men Iape or pleye,
Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 1390
They been so knit, ther may noon harm bityde;
And namely, up-on the wyves syde.
For which this Ianuarie, of whom I tolde,
Considered hath, in with his dayes olde, (150)
The lusty lyf, the vertuous quiete, 1395
That is in mariage hony-swete;
And for his freendes on a day he sente,
To tellen hem theffect of his entente.
1384. E. Hn. loued; Cm. louede; Cp. Pt. Ln. loueth; Hl. doth.
With face sad, his tale he hath hem told;
He seyde, ‘freendes, I am hoor and old, 1400
And almost, god wot, on my pittes brinke;
Up-on my soule somwhat moste I thinke.
I have my body folily despended;
Blessed be god, that it shal been amended! (160)
For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, 1405
And that anoon in al the haste I can,
Un-to som mayde fair and tendre of age.
I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage
Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde;
And I wol fonde tespyen, on my syde, 1410
To whom I may be wedded hastily.
But for-as-muche as ye ben mo than I,
Ye shullen rather swich a thing espyen
Than I, and wher me best were to allyen. (170)
1402. E. Cm. the; _rest_ my. 1410. Cp. Ln. aspye.
But o thing warne I yow, my freendes dere, 1415
[432: T. 9290-9324.]
I wol non old wyf han in no manere.
She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn;
Old fish and yong flesh wolde I have ful fayn.
Bet is,’ quod he, ‘a pyk than a pikerel;
And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. 1420
I wol no womman thritty yeer of age,
It is but bene-straw and greet forage.
And eek thise olde widwes, god it woot,
They conne so muchel craft on Wades boot, (180)
So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, 1425
That with hem sholde I never live in reste.
For sondry scoles maken sotil clerkis;
Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.
But certeynly, a yong thing may men gye,
Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. 1430
Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause,
I wol non old wyf han right for this cause.
For if so were, I hadde swich mischaunce,
That I in hir ne coude han no plesaunce, (190)
Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, 1435
And go streight to the devel, whan I dye.
Ne children sholde I none up-on hir geten;
Yet were me lever houndes had me eten,
Than that myn heritage sholde falle
In straunge hand, and this I tell yow alle. 1440
I dote nat, I woot the cause why
Men sholde wedde, and forthermore wot I,
Ther speketh many a man of mariage,
That woot na-more of it than woot my page, (200)
For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. 1445
If he ne may nat liven chast his lyf,
Take him a wyf with greet devocioun,
By-cause of leveful procreacioun
Of children, to thonour of god above,
And nat only for paramour or love; 1450
[433: T. 9325-9360.]
And for they sholde lecherye eschue,
And yelde hir dettes whan that they ben due;
Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen other
In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; (210)
And live in chastitee ful holily. 1455
But sires, by your leve, that am nat I.
For god be thanked, I dar make avaunt,
I fele my limes stark and suffisaunt
To do al that a man bilongeth to;
I woot my-selven best what I may do. 1460
Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree
That blosmeth er that fruyt y-woxen be;
A blosmy tree nis neither drye ne deed.
I fele me nowher hoor but on myn heed; (220)
Myn herte and alle my limes been as grene 1465
As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.
And sin that ye han herd al myn entente,
I prey yow to my wil ye wole assente.’
1418. E. Hn. Pt. _om._ ful. 1420. Cm. bef; Cp. Pt. beef. Hl. Ln.
_om._ the. 1427. E. sotile. 1432. E. Cm. Cp. Ln. _om._ right.
1433. E. were that I. 1436. Hl. Hn. go; Cp. Pt. Ln. so; E. Cm.
_om._ E. vnto (_for_ to). 1438. E. Pt. leuere that houndes. 1446.
E. Siththe; Cm. Sith (_for_ If). Hn. Cm. Hl. ne; _rest om._ 1451.
E. Hl. Cp. Pt. leccherye. 1456. Cm. siris. 1462. E. Cp. that; Ln.
Hl. that the; Cm. than; Hn. Pt. the. 1463. E. Hn. And; Pt. That;
_rest_ A.
Diverse men diversely him tolde
Of mariage manye ensamples olde. 1470
Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn;
But atte laste, shortly for to seyn,
As al day falleth altercacioun
Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, (230)
Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, 1475
Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo,
Iustinus soothly called was that other.
Placebo seyde, ‘o Ianuarie, brother,
Ful litel nede had ye, my lord so dere,
Conseil to axe of any that is here; 1480
But that ye been so ful of sapience,
That yow ne lyketh, for your heighe prudence,
To weyven fro the word of Salomon.
This word seyde he un-to us everichon: (240)
“Wirk alle thing by conseil,” thus seyde he, 1485
“And thanne shaltow nat repente thee.”
[434: T. 9361-9394.]
But though that Salomon spak swich a word,
Myn owene dere brother and my lord,
So wisly god my soule bringe at reste,
I hold your owene conseil is the beste. 1490
For brother myn, of me tak this motyf,
I have now been a court-man al my lyf.
And god it woot, though I unworthy be,
I have stonden in ful greet degree (250)
Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; 1495
Yet hadde I never with noon of hem debaat.
I never hem contraried, trewely;
I woot wel that my lord can more than I.
What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable;
I seye the same, or elles thing semblable. 1500
A ful gret fool is any conseillour,
That serveth any lord of heigh honour,
That dar presume, or elles thenken it,
That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. (260)
Nay, lordes been no foles, by my fay; 1505
Ye han your-selven shewed heer to-day
So heigh sentence, so holily and weel,
That I consente and conferme every-deel
Your wordes alle, and your opinioun.
By god, ther nis no man in al this toun 1510
Nin al Itaille, that coude bet han sayd;
Crist halt him of this conseil wel apayd.
And trewely, it is an heigh corage
Of any man, that stopen is in age, (270)
To take a yong wyf; by my fader kin, 1515
Your herte hangeth on a Ioly pin.
Doth now in this matere right as yow leste,
For finally I holde it for the beste.’
1479. E. hadde. 1490. MSS. holde. 1491. E. taak. 1503. E. Hn. Cm.
elles; _rest_ ones. 1506. Hn. Cm. shewed; E. seyd; Hl. y-spoken;
_rest_ spoken. 1511. E. Nyn; _rest_ Ne in. Cm. al; _rest om._
1512. E. Hn. _ins._ ful (Cm. wol) _before_ wel; _rest_ Crist holdeth
him of this ful wel apayd. 1514. Cp. Hl. stopen; Ln. stoupin; E. Hn.
stapen; Cm. schapyn. 1517. E. matiere.
Iustinus, that ay stille sat and herde,
Right in this wyse to Placebo answerde: 1520
[435: T. 9395-9430.]
‘Now brother myn, be pacient, I preye,
Sin ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye.
Senek among his othere wordes wyse
Seith, that a man oghte him right wel avyse, (280)
To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. 1525
And sin I oghte avyse me right wel
To whom I yeve my good awey fro me,
Wel muchel more I oghte avysed be
To whom I yeve my body; for alwey
I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley 1530
To take a wyf with-oute avysement.
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent,
Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe,
Or proud, or elles other-weys a shrewe; (290)
A chydester, or wastour of thy good, 1535
Or riche, or poore, or elles mannish wood.
Al-be-it so that no man finden shal
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al,
Ne man ne beest, swich as men coude devyse;
But nathelees, it oghte y-nough suffise 1540
With any wyf, if so were that she hadde
Mo gode thewes than hir vyces badde;
And al this axeth leyser for tenquere.
For god it woot, I have wept many a tere (300)
Ful prively, sin I have had a wyf. 1545
Preyse who-so wole a wedded mannes lyf,
Certein, I finde in it but cost and care,
And observances, of alle blisses bare.
And yet, god woot, my neighebores aboute,
And namely of wommen many a route, 1550
Seyn that I have the moste stedefast wyf,
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf.
But I wot best wher wringeth me my sho.
Ye mowe, for me, right as yow lyketh do; (300)
Avyseth yow, ye been a man of age, 1555
How that ye entren in-to mariage,
[436: T. 9431-9465.]
And namely with a yong wyf and a fair.
By him that made water, erthe, and air,
The yongest man that is in al this route
Is bisy y-nogh to bringen it aboute 1560
To han his wyf allone, trusteth me.
Ye shul nat plese hir fully yeres three,
This is to seyn, to doon hir ful plesaunce.
A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. (320)
I prey yow that ye be nat yvel apayd.’ 1565
1520. _All but_ Cm. _insert_ he _before_ Right, _or_ to, _or_
answerde. 1531. E. Hn. Ln. withouten. 1539. E. Cm. which. Hl. man
can; Cp. Pt. men conne; E. Hn. Cm. men koude. 1543. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl.
to enquere. 1545. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. sin that I hadde. 1551. Ln.
stedfast. 1559. E. yongeste. 1560. E. ynough; Cm. I-nogh. 1562.
Cm. Hl. plese; _rest_ plesen.
‘Wel,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘and hastow sayd?
Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes,
I counte nat a panier ful of herbes
Of scole-termes; wyser men than thow,
As thou hast herd, assenteden right now 1570
To my purpos; Placebo, what sey ye?’
1566. E. Hn. ysayd; Cm. Hl. sayd; Cp. Pt. Ln. al said.
‘I seye, it is a cursed man,’ quod he,
‘That letteth matrimoine, sikerly.’
And with that word they rysen sodeynly, (330)
And been assented fully, that he sholde 1575
Be wedded whanne him list and wher he wolde.
1573. E. Hn. Hl. matrimoigne; Pt. matrimoyne; _rest_ matrimonye.
Heigh fantasye and curious bisinesse
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse
Of Ianuarie aboute his mariage.
Many fair shap, and many a fair visage 1580
Ther passeth thurgh his herte, night by night.
As who-so toke a mirour polished bright,
And sette it in a commune market-place,
Than sholde he see many a figure pace (340)
By his mirour; and, in the same wyse, 1585
Gan Ianuarie inwith his thoght devyse
Of maydens, whiche that dwelten him bisyde.
He wiste nat wher that he mighte abyde.
For if that oon have beaute in hir face,
Another stant so in the peples grace 1590
For hir sadnesse, and hir benignitee,
[437: T. 9466-9503.]
That of the peple grettest voys hath she.
And somme were riche, and hadden badde name.
But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, (350)
He atte laste apoynted him on oon, 1595
And leet alle othere from his herte goon,
And chees hir of his owene auctoritee;
For love is blind al day, and may nat see.
And whan that he was in his bed y-broght,
He purtreyed, in his herte and in his thoght, 1600
Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre,
Hir myddel smal, hir armes longe and sclendre,
Hir wyse governaunce, hir gentillesse,
Hir wommanly beringe and hir sadnesse. (360)
And whan that he on hir was condescended, 1605
Him thoughte his chois mighte nat ben amended.
For whan that he him-self concluded hadde,
Him thoughte ech other mannes wit so badde,
That inpossible it were to replye
Agayn his chois, this was his fantasye. 1610
His freendes sente he to at his instaunce,
And preyed hem to doon him that plesaunce,
That hastily they wolden to him come;
He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. (370)
Nedeth na-more for him to go ne ryde, 1615
He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde.
1582. E. And; _rest_ As. E. polisshed. 1584. E. Thanne. E. Hn. se
ful many. 1587. E. Cm. Pt. dwellen. 1591. E. Cm. benyngnytee.
1602. E. sklendre. 1609. E. repplye. 1611. E. Cm. Hise. 1615. Ln.
hem.
Placebo cam, and eek his freendes sone,
And alderfirst he bad hem alle a bone,
That noon of hem none argumentes make
Agayn the purpos which that he hath take; 1620
‘Which purpos was plesant to god,’ seyde he,
‘And verray ground of his prosperitee.’
1617. E. Cm. Hise.
He seyde, ther was a mayden in the toun,
Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, (380)
Al were it so she were of smal degree; 1625
Suffyseth him hir youthe and hir beautee.
Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf,
To lede in ese and holinesse his lyf.
And thanked god, that he mighte han hire al,
[438: T. 9504-9539.]
That no wight of his blisse parten shal. 1630
And preyde hem to labouren in this nede,
And shapen that he faille nat to spede;
For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese.
‘Thanne is,’ quod he, ‘no-thing may me displese, (390)
Saue o thing priketh in my conscience, 1635
The which I wol reherce in your presence.
1630. Cm. of; Cp. Ln. with; _rest om._ 1631. Hn. labouren; _rest_
laboure.
I have,’ quod he, ‘herd seyd, ful yore ago,
Ther may no man han parfite blisses two,
This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene.
For though he kepe him fro the sinnes sevene, 1640
And eek from every branche of thilke tree,
Yet is ther so parfit felicitee,
And so greet ese and lust in mariage,
That ever I am agast, now in myn age, (400)
That I shal lede now so mery a lyf, 1645
So delicat, with-outen wo and stryf,
That I shal have myn hevene in erthe here.
For sith that verray hevene is boght so dere,
With tribulacioun and greet penaunce,
How sholde I thanne, that live in swich plesaunce 1650
As alle wedded men don with hir wyvis,
Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve is?
This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye,
Assoilleth me this questioun, I preye.’ (410)
1645. E. myrie; Hn. murye.
Iustinus, which that hated his folye, 1655
Answerde anon, right in his Iaperye;
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge,
He wolde noon auctoritee allegge,
But seyde, ‘sire, so ther be noon obstacle
Other than this, god of his hye miracle 1660
And of his mercy may so for yow wirche,
That, er ye have your right of holy chirche,
Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf,
In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. (420)
And elles, god forbede but he sente 1665
[439: T. 9540-9576.]
A wedded man him grace to repente
Wel ofte rather than a sengle man!
And therfore, sire, the beste reed I can,
Dispeire yow noght, but have in your memorie,
Paraunter she may be your purgatorie! 1670
She may be goddes mene, and goddes whippe;
Than shal your soule up to hevene skippe
Swifter than dooth an arwe out of the bowe!
I hope to god, her-after shul ye knowe, (430)
That their nis no so greet felicitee 1675
In mariage, ne never-mo shal be,
That yow shal lette of your savacioun,
So that ye use, as skile is and resoun,
The lustes of your wyf attemprely,
And that ye plese hir nat to amorously, 1680
And that ye kepe yow eek from other sinne.
My tale is doon:—for my wit is thinne.
Beth nat agast her-of, my brother dere.’—
(But lat us waden out of this matere. (440)
The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde, 1685
Of mariage, which we have on honde,
Declared hath ful wel in litel space).—
‘Fareth now wel, god have yow in his grace.’
1660. Hn. Pt. hye; E. hygh. 1661. E. his hygh mercy; _rest om._
hygh. 1665. Cp. Pt. Ln. but if. 1672. E. Thanne. 1682.
_Incomplete_. 1686. Hn. we; _rest_ ye.
And with this word this Justin and his brother
Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of other. 1690
For whan they sawe it moste nedes be,
They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee,
That she, this mayden, which that Maius highte,
As hastily as ever that she mighte, (450)
Shal wedded be un-to this Ianuarie. 1695
I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie,
If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond,
By which that she was feffed in his lond;
Or for to herknen of hir riche array.
But finally y-comen is the day 1700
That to the chirche bothe be they went
For to receyve the holy sacrement.
[440: T. 9577-9612.]
Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke,
And bad hir be lyk Sarra and Rebekke, (460)
In wisdom and in trouthe of mariage; 1705
And seyde his orisons, as is usage,
And crouched hem, and bad god sholde hem blesse,
And made al siker y-nogh with holinesse.
1691. Hn. Cp. sawe; E. Hl. saugh. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _ins._ that _bef_.
it. E. _om._ nedes. 1692. sly] Hl. sleighte. 1693. MSS. Mayus.
1698. Hl. feoffed. 1704. E. lyk to; _rest om._ to. 1706. his] E.
hir. 1707. E. Hn. Cm. croucheth.
Thus been they wedded with solempnitee,
And at the feste sitteth he and she 1710
With other worthy folk up-on the deys.
Al ful of Ioye and blisse is the paleys,
And ful of instruments and of vitaille,
The moste deyntevous of al Itaille. (470)
Biforn hem stoode swiche instruments of soun, 1715
That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun,
Ne maden never swich a melodye.
1715. _So_ Cm. Hl.; E. _puts_ swich _before_ soun; Hn. _repeats_ swich
_before_ soun.
At every cours than cam loud minstraleye,
That never tromped Ioab, for to here,
Nor he, Theodomas, yet half so clere, 1720
At Thebes, whan the citee was in doute.
Bacus the wyn hem skinketh al aboute,
And Venus laugheth up-on every wight.
For Ianuarie was bicome hir knight, (480)
And wolde bothe assayen his corage 1725
In libertee, and eek in mariage;
And with hir fyrbrond in hir hand aboute
Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route.
And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this,
Ymenëus, that god of wedding is, 1730
Saugh never his lyf so mery a wedded man.
Hold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian,
That wrytest us that ilke wedding murie
Of hir, Philologye, and him, Mercurie (490)
And of the songes that the Muses songe. 1735
To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy tonge,
For to descryven of this mariage.
Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stouping age,
[441: T. 9613-9648.]
Ther is swich mirthe that it may nat be writen;
Assayeth it your-self, than may ye witen 1740
If that I lye or noon in this matere.
1718. E. Hn. thanne; Hl. ther. 1731. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 1740. E.
thanne. 1741. E. matiere.
Maius, that sit with so benigne a chere,
Hir to biholde it semed fayëryë;
Quene Ester loked never with swich an yë (500)
On Assuer, so meke a look hath she. 1745
I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee;
But thus muche of hir beautee telle I may,
That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May,
Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.
1742. E. benyngne; chiere. 1743. Cp. Pt. Hl. fayerye: _rest_
fairye. 1744. Pt. Hl. ye; Cp. yhe; _rest_ eye.
This Ianuarie is ravisshed in a traunce 1750
At every time he loked on hir face;
But in his herte he gan hir to manace,
That he that night in armes wolde hir streyne
Harder than ever Paris dide Eleyne. (510)
But nathelees, yet hadde he greet pitee, 1755
That thilke night offenden hir moste he;
And thoughte, ‘allas! o tendre creature!
Now wolde god ye mighte wel endure
Al my corage, it is so sharp and kene;
I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. 1760
But god forbede that I dide al my might!
Now wolde god that it were woxen night,
And that the night wolde lasten evermo.
I wolde that al this peple were ago.’ (520)
And finally, he doth al his labour, 1765
As he best mighte, savinge his honour,
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse.
1751. Hl. lokith.
The tyme cam that reson was to ryse;
And after that, men daunce and drinken faste,
And spyces al aboute the hous they caste; 1770
And ful of Ioye and blisse is every man;
All but a squyer, highte Damian,
Which carf biforn the knight ful many a day.
He was so ravisshed on his lady May, (530)
[442: T. 9649-9683.]
That for the verray peyne he was ny wood; 1775
Almost he swelte and swowned ther he stood.
So sore hath Venus hurt him with hir brond,
As that she bar it daunsinge in hir hond.
And to his bed he wente him hastily;
Na-more of him as at this tyme speke I. 1780
But ther I lete him wepe y-nough and pleyne,
Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne.
1772. E. Hn. Cm. highte; _rest_ that highte (hight). 1780. Hl. as;
_rest om._ E. _om._ I.
O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! =Auctor.=
O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! (540)
O servant traitour, false hoomly hewe, 1785
Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe,
God shilde us alle from your aqueyntaunce!
O Ianuarie, dronken in plesaunce
Of mariage, see how thy Damian,
Thyn owene squyer and thy borne man, 1790
Entendeth for to do thee vileinye.
God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo tespye.
For in this world nis worse pestilence
Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. (550)
1784. Cp. Hl. famuler; Pt. famulere; Ln. famylere. 1786. Hn. Cp.
neddre; Cm. neddere; Hl. nedder; Pt. adder. 1789. Pt. Hl. Of; Cp. Ln.
O(!); _rest_ In. 1790. Cm. bore; Cp. Ln. Hl. borne; _rest_ born.
1792. Cp. Ln. to espye; Hn. Hl. espye.
Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne, 1795
No lenger may the body of him soiurne
On thorisonte, as in that latitude.
Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude,
Gan oversprede the hemisperie aboute;
For which departed is this lusty route 1800
Fro Ianuarie, with thank on every syde.
Hom to hir houses lustily they ryde,
Wher-as they doon hir thinges as hem leste,
And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. (560)
Sone after that, this hastif Ianuarie 1805
Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarie.
He drinketh ipocras, clarree, and vernage
Of spyces hote, tencresen his corage;
And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn,
[443: T. 9684-9719.]
Swiche as the cursed monk dan Constantyn 1810
Hath writen in his book _de Coitu_;
To eten hem alle, he nas no-thing eschu.
And to his privee freendes thus seyde he:
‘For goddes love, as sone as it may be, (570)
Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse.’ 1815
And they han doon right as he wol devyse.
Men drinken, and the travers drawe anon;
The bryde was broght a-bedde as stille as stoon;
And whan the bed was with the preest y-blessed,
Out of the chambre hath every wight him dressed. 1820
And Ianuarie hath faste in armes take
His fresshe May, his paradys, his make.
He lulleth hir, he kisseth hir ful ofte
With thikke bristles of his berd unsofte, (580)
Lyk to the skin of houndfish, sharp as brere, 1825
For he was shave al newe in his manere.
He rubbeth hir aboute hir tendre face,
And seyde thus, ‘allas! I moot trespace
To yow, my spouse, and yow gretly offende,
Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. 1830
But nathelees, considereth this,’ quod he,
‘Ther nis no werkman, what-so-ever he be,
That may bothe werke wel and hastily;
This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. (590)
It is no fors how longe that we pleye; 1835
In trewe wedlok wedded be we tweye;
And blessed be the yok that we been inne,
For in our actes we mowe do no sinne.
A man may do no sinne with his wyf,
Ne hurte him-selven with his owene knyf; 1840
For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe.’
Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe;
And than he taketh a sop in fyn clarree,
And upright in his bed than sitteth he, (600)
And after that he sang ful loude and clere, 1845
[444: T. 9720-9755.]
And kiste his wyf, and made wantoun chere.
He was al coltish, ful of ragerye,
And ful of Iargon as a flekked pye.
The slakke skin aboute his nekke shaketh,
Whyl that he sang; so chaunteth he and craketh. 1850
But god wot what that May thoughte in hir herte,
Whan she him saugh up sittinge in his sherte,
In his night-cappe, and with his nekke lene;
She preyseth nat his pleying worth a bene. (610)
Than seide he thus, ‘my reste wol I take; 1855
Now day is come, I may no lenger wake.’
And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme.
And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme,
Up ryseth Ianuarie; but fresshe May
Holdeth hir chambre un-to the fourthe day, 1860
As usage is of wyves for the beste.
For every labour som-tyme moot han reste,
Or elles longe may he nat endure;
This is to seyn, no lyves creature, (620)
Be it of fish, or brid, or beest, or man. 1865
1802. E. Hl. hous; _rest_ houses. 1808. Cp. Pt. Hl. to encresen.
1809. E. hath. 1810. E. _om._ cursed. 1812. Cm. Ln. was; _rest_
nas. 1824. Cp. HL. thikke; _rest_ thilke (_with_ lk = kk). E. Cm.
brustles. 1838. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ our. 1843. E. thanne; fyne.
1844. E. thanne. 1846. E. wantowne. 1847. E. coltissh. 1848. Cp.
Pt. Girgoun; Ln. Girgun. 1851. Hn. thoghte. 1855. E. Thanne.
1860. Pt. Ln. Hl. Holdeth; Cp. Holt; E. Hn. Heeld; Cm. Held.
Now wol I speke of woful Damian,
That languissheth for love, as ye shul here;
Therfore I speke to him in this manere:
I seye, ‘O sely Damian, allas!
Answere to my demaunde, as in this cas, 1870
How shaltow to thy lady fresshe May
Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye “nay”;
Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye;
God be thyn help, I can no bettre seye.’ (630)
1867. Cp. langureth; Pt. languowreth; Ln. longurith. 1870. E.
Andswere.
This syke Damian in Venus fyr 1875
So brenneth, that he dyeth for desyr;
For which he putte his lyf in aventure,
No lenger mighte he in this wyse endure;
But prively a penner gan he borwe,
And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, 1880
In manere of a compleynt or a lay,
[445: T. 9756-9792.]
Un-to his faire fresshe lady May.
And in a purs of silk, heng on his sherte,
He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. (640)
The mone that, at noon, was, thilke day 1885
That Ianuarie hath wedded fresshe May,
In two of Taur, was in-to Cancre gliden;
So longe hath Maius in hir chambre biden,
As custume is un-to thise nobles alle.
A bryde shal nat eten in the halle, 1890
Til dayes foure or three dayes atte leste
Y-passed been; than lat hir go to feste.
The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon,
Whan that the heighe masse was y-doon, (650)
In halle sit this Ianuarie, and May 1895
As fresh as is the brighte someres day.
And so bifel, how that this gode man
Remembred him upon this Damian,
And seyde, ‘Seinte Marie! how may this be,
That Damian entendeth nat to me? 1900
Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?’
His squyeres, whiche that stoden ther bisyde,
Excused him by-cause of his siknesse,
Which letted him to doon his bisinesse; (660)
Noon other cause mighte make him tarie. 1905
1888. Hl. Hn. Cp. abiden. 1892. E. thanne. 1896. E. fressh. 1902.
E. Hise.
‘That me forthinketh,’ quod this Ianuarie,
‘He is a gentil squyer, by my trouthe!
If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe;
He is as wys, discreet, and as secree
As any man I woot of his degree; 1910
And ther-to manly and eek servisable,
And for to been a thrifty man right able.
But after mete, as sone as ever I may,
I wol my-self visyte him and eek May, (670)
To doon him al the confort that I can.’ 1915
And for that word him blessed every man,
That, of his bountee and his gentillesse,
He wolde so conforten in siknesse
[446: T. 9793-9830.]
His squyer, for it was a gentil dede.
‘Dame,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘tak good hede, 1920
At-after mete ye, with your wommen alle,
Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle,
That alle ye go see this Damian;
Doth him disport, he is a gentil man; (680)
And telleth him that I wol him visyte, 1925
Have I no-thing but rested me a lyte;
And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde
Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.’
And with that word he gan to him to calle
A squyer, that was marchal of his halle, 1930
And tolde him certeyn thinges, what he wolde.
1920. E. taak. 1921. E. noon; _rest_ mete.
This fresshe May hath streight hir wey y-holde,
With alle hir wommen, un-to Damian.
Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, (690)
Confortinge him as goodly as she may. 1935
This Damian, whan that his tyme he say,
In secree wise his purs, and eek his bille,
In which that he y-writen hadde his wille,
Hath put in-to hir hand, with-outen more,
Save that he syketh wonder depe and sore, 1940
And softely to hir right thus seyde he:
‘Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me;
For I am deed, if that this thing be kid.’
This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hid, (700)
And wente hir wey; ye gete namore of me. 1945
But un-to Ianuarie y-comen is she,
That on his beddes syde sit ful softe.
He taketh hir, and kisseth hir ful ofte,
And leyde him doun to slepe, and that anon.
She feyned hir as that she moste gon 1950
Ther-as ye woot that every wight mot nede.
And whan she of this bille hath taken hede,
She rente it al to cloutes atte laste,
And in the privee softely it caste. (710)
Who studieth now but faire fresshe May? 1955
Adoun by olde Ianuarie she lay,
[447: T. 9831-9866.]
That sleep, til that the coughe hath him awaked;
Anon he preyde hir strepen hir al naked;
He wolde of hir, he seyde, han som plesaunce,
And seyde, hir clothes dide him encombraunce, 1960
And she obeyeth, be hir lief or looth.
But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth,
How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle;
Or whether hir thoughte it paradys or helle; (720)
But here I lete hem werken in hir wyse 1965
Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse.
1957. Hn. Cm. coghe; Ln. couhe. 1962. E. ye; Cm. the; _rest_ that.
1964. E. wheither that; Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ that. 1966. Cp. Ln.
euesong.
Were it by destinee or aventure,
Were it by influence or by nature,
Or constellacion, that in swich estat
The hevene stood, that tyme fortunat 1970
Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes
(For alle thing hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes)
To any womman, for to gete hir love,
I can nat seye; but grete god above, (730)
That knoweth that non act is causelees, 1975
He deme of al, for I wol holde my pees.
But sooth is this, how that this fresshe May
Hath take swich impression that day,
For pitee of this syke Damian,
That from hir herte she ne dryve can 1980
The remembraunce for to doon him ese.
‘Certeyn,’ thoghte she, ‘whom that this thing displese,
I rekke noght, for here I him assure,
To love him best of any creature, (740)
Though he na-more hadde than his sherte.’ 1985
Lo, pitee renneth sone in gentil herte.
1967. _All but_ Ln. Hl. _ins._ by _after_ or. 1969, 70. E. estaat,
fortunaat. 1971. Hn. Hl. As; E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Was.
Heer may ye se how excellent franchyse
In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse.
Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon,
That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, 1990
Which wolde han lete him sterven in the place
Wel rather than han graunted him hir grace;
[448: T. 9867-9902.]
And hem reioysen in hir cruel pryde,
And rekke nat to been an homicyde. (750)
1991. E. Cm. lat. E. storuen. 1993. E. crueel.
This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee, 1995
Right of hir hande a lettre made she,
In which she graunteth him hir verray grace;
Ther lakketh noght but only day and place,
Wher that she mighte un-to his lust suffyse:
For it shal be right as he wol devyse. 2000
And whan she saugh hir time, up-on a day,
To visite this Damian goth May,
And sotilly this lettre doun she threste
Under his pilwe, rede it if him leste. (760)
She taketh him by the hand, and harde him twiste 2005
So secrely, that no wight of it wiste,
And bad him been al hool, and forth she wente
To Ianuarie, whan that he for hir sente.
1996. Hn. Hl. maked; Cm. makede. 1998. Cm. Hl. but only; _rest_ only
but. 2002. _All_ visite; _perhaps read_ visiten. 2007. she] E.
he. 2008. hir] E. him.
Up ryseth Damian the nexte morwe,
Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. 2010
He kembeth him, he proyneth him and pyketh,
He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh;
And eek to Ianuarie he gooth as lowe
As ever dide a dogge for the bowe. (770)
He is so plesant un-to every man, 2015
(For craft is al, who-so that do it can)
That every wight is fayn to speke him good;
And fully in his lady grace he stood.
Thus lete I Damian aboute his nede,
And in my tale forth I wol procede. 2020
2011. E. preyneth; Hn. prayneth; Hl. pruneth. 2018. Hn. Cm. ladyes;
_rest_ lady.
Somme clerkes holden that felicitee
Stant in delyt, and therefor certeyn he,
This noble Ianuarie, with al his might,
In honest wyse, as longeth to a knight, (780)
Shoop him to live ful deliciously. 2025
His housinge, his array, as honestly
To his degree was maked as a kinges.
Amonges othere of his honest thinges,
[449: T. 9903-9938.]
He made a gardin, walled al with stoon;
So fair a gardin woot I nowher noon. 2030
For out of doute, I verraily suppose,
That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose
Ne coude of it the beautee wel devyse;
Ne Priapus ne mighte nat suffyse, (790)
Though he be god of gardins, for to telle 2035
The beautee of the gardin and the welle,
That stood under a laurer alwey grene.
Ful ofte tyme he, Pluto, and his quene,
Proserpina, and al hir fayërye
Disporten hem and maken melodye
Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde.
2024, 2028. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. honeste. 2032. Cm. Hl. romanus; Ln.
romans. 2039. Cp. Hl. fayerie; _rest_ fairye.
This noble knight, this Ianuarie the olde,
Swich deintee hath in it to walke and pleye,
That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye (800)
Save he him-self; for of the smale wiket 2045
He bar alwey of silver a smal cliket,
With which, whan that him leste, he it unshette.
And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette
In somer seson, thider wolde he go,
And May his wyf, and no wight but they two;
And thinges whiche that were nat doon a-bedde,
He in the gardin parfourned hem and spedde.
And in this wyse, many a mery day,
Lived this Ianuarie and fresshe May. (810)
But worldly Ioye may nat alwey dure 2055
To Ianuarie, ne to no creature.
2046. E. baar. Hl. smal; _rest om._ 2053. E. Hn. murye.
O sodeyn hap, o thou fortune instable, =Auctor.=
Lyk to the scorpion so deceivable,
That flaterest with thyn heed when thou wolt stinge;
Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn enveniminge. 2060
O brotil Ioye! o swete venim queynte!
O monstre, that so subtilly canst peynte
Thy yiftes, under hewe of stedfastnesse,
That thou deceyvest bothe more and lesse! (820)
[450: T. 9939-9974.]
Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyved, 2065
That haddest him for thy ful frend receyved?
And now thou hast biraft him bothe hise yën,
For sorwe of which desyreth he to dyen.
2059. E. synge; _rest_ stinge. 2061. venim] Cp. Pt. Ln. poyson.
2063. E. stidefastnesse. 2067. Hl. yen; Cm. Iyen; _rest_ eyen.
Allas! this noble Ianuarie free,
Amidde his lust and his prosperitee, 2070
Is woxen blind, and that al sodeynly.
He wepeth and he wayleth pitously;
And ther-with-al the fyr of Ialousye,
Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, (830)
So brente his herte, that he wolde fayn 2075
That som man bothe him and hir had slayn.
For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf,
Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf,
But ever live as widwe in clothes blake,
Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir make. 2080
But atte laste, after a monthe or tweye,
His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye;
For whan he wiste it may noon other be,
He paciently took his adversitee; (840)
Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon 2085
That he nas Ialous evermore in oon;
Which Ialousye it was so outrageous,
That neither in halle, nin noon other hous,
Ne in noon other place, never-the-mo,
He nolde suffre hir for to ryde or go, 2090
But-if that he had hand on hir alway;
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May,
That loveth Damian so benignely,
That she mot outher dyen sodeynly, (850)
Or elles she mot han him as hir leste; 2095
She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.
2074. E. swich; _rest_ som (sum). 2080. Cp. Ln. Soule; Pt. Sool;
_rest_ Soul. 2089. E. Nyn; _rest_ Ne in. 2091. E. hond (_but_ hand
_in_ l. 2103). 2093. E. benyngnely.
Up-on that other syde Damian
Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man
That ever was; for neither night ne day
Ne mighte he speke a word to fresshe May, 2100
[451: T. 9975-10010.]
As to his purpos, of no swich matere,
But-if that Ianuarie moste it here,
That hadde an hand up-on hir evermo.
But nathelees, by wryting to and fro (860)
And privee signes, wiste he what she mente; 2105
And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.
O Ianuarie, what mighte it thee availle, =Auctor.=
Thou mightest see as fer as shippes saille?
For also good is blind deceyved be,
As be deceyved whan a man may se. 2110
Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred yën,
For al that ever he coude poure or pryen,
Yet was he blent; and, god wot, so ben mo,
That wenen wisly that it be nat so. (870)
Passe over is an ese, I sey na-more. 2115
2108. E. Ln. Thogh thou; Hl. If thou; _rest_ Thou. 2109. Cm. Ln.
also; _rest_ as. 2110. _All_ As to be. 2111. Ln. yene; _rest_ eyen.
This fresshe May, that I spak of so yore,
In warme wex hath emprented the cliket,
That Ianuarie bar of the smale wiket,
By which in-to his gardin ofte he wente.
And Damian, that knew al hir entente, 2120
The cliket countrefeted prively;
Ther nis na-more to seye, but hastily
Som wonder by this cliket shal bityde,
Which ye shul heren, if ye wole abyde. (880)
2117. Pt. Ln. warme; _rest_ warm. _Perhaps read_ emprented hath.
2118. Pt. smal; _rest_ smale.
O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, god woot! =Auctor.=
What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, 2126
That he nil finde it out in som manere?
By Piramus and Tesbee may men lere;
Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal,
They been accorded, rouninge thurgh a wal, 2130
Ther no wight coude han founde out swich a sleighte.
But now to purpos; er that dayes eighte
Were passed, er the monthe of Iuil, bifil
That Ianuarie hath caught so greet a wil, (890)
Thurgh egging of his wyf, him for to pleye 2135
In his gardin, and no wight but they tweye,
[452: T. 10011-10046.]
That in a morwe un-to this May seith he:
‘Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free;
The turtles vois is herd, my douve swete;
The winter is goon, with alle his reynes wete; 2140
Com forth now, with thyn eyën columbyn!
How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn!
The gardin is enclosed al aboute;
Com forth, my whyte spouse; out of doute, (900)
Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! 2145
No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf.
Com forth, and lat us taken our disport;
I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.’
2133, 4. Cm. befel, wyl; _rest_ bifille, wille; _see note._ 2139. E.
turtle. 2140. Cp. Pt. Ln. alle (al); _rest om._ 2146. Cp. Pt. Ln.
in (_for_ of). 2147. E. som; _rest_ our (oure).
Swiche olde lewed wordes used he;
On Damian a signe made she, 2150
That he sholde go biforen with his cliket:
This Damian thanne hath opened the wiket,
And in he stirte, and that in swich manere,
That no wight mighte it see neither y-here; (910)
And stille he sit under a bush anoon. 2155
2151. Ln. beforne; _rest_ biforn; _read_ biforen.
This Ianuarie, as blind as is a stoon,
With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo,
In-to his fresshe gardin is ago,
And clapte to the wiket sodeynly.
‘Now, wyf,’ quod he, ‘heer nis but thou and I, 2160
That art the creature that I best love.
For, by that lord that sit in heven above,
Lever ich hadde dyen on a knyf,
Than thee offende, trewe dere wyf! (920)
For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, 2165
Noght for no coveityse, doutelees,
But only for the love I had to thee.
And though that I be old, and may nat see,
Beth to me trewe, and I shal telle yow why.
Three thinges, certes, shul ye winne ther-by; 2170
First, love of Crist, and to your-self honour,
And al myn heritage, toun and tour;
[453: T. 10047-10082.]
I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste;
This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste. (930)
So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse, 2175
I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse.
And thogh that I be Ialous, wyte me noght.
Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght,
That, whan that I considere your beautee,
And ther-with-al the unlykly elde of me, 2180
I may nat, certes, thogh I sholde dye,
Forbere to been out of your companye
For verray love; this is with-outen doute.
Now kis me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute.’ (940)
2163. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. to dyen; Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ to. 2170. E. Hn.
shal; Pt. Cm. Hl. shul. 2177, 2181. E. though. 2179. E. Pt. _om._
that.
This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde, 2185
Benignely to Ianuarie answerde,
But first and forward she bigan to wepe,
‘I have,’ quod she, ‘a soule for to kepe
As wel as ye, and also myn honour,
And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, 2190
Which that I have assured in your hond,
Whan that the preest to yow my body bond;
Wherfore I wole answere in this manere
By the leve of yow, my lord so dere: (950)
I prey to god, that never dawe the day 2195
That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may,
If ever I do un-to my kin 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, 2200
And in the nexte river do me drenche.
I am a gentil womman and no wenche.
Why speke ye thus? but men ben ever untrewe,
And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. (960)
Ye han non other contenance, I leve, 2205
But speke to us of untrust and repreve.’
2186. E. Benyngnely. 2194. Cp. Pt. Ln. With (_for_ By). 2205. Cm.
Cp. Pt. Ln. can (_for_ han).
And with that word she saugh wher Damian
Sat in the bush, and coughen she bigan,
[454: T. 10083-10114.]
And with hir finger signes made she,
That Damian sholde climbe up-on a tree, 2210
That charged was with fruit, and up he wente;
For verraily he knew al hir entente,
And every signe that she coude make
Wel bet than Ianuarie, hir owene make. (970)
For in a lettre she had told him al 2215
Of this matere, how he werchen shal.
And thus I lete him sitte up-on the pyrie,
And Ianuarie and May rominge myrie.
2208. E. Hl. coughen; Hn. coghen; Cm. coghe. 2215. E. hadde toold.
2217. Pt. pirry; Hn. purye; _rest_ pyrie (pirie, pyry). 2218. Hn.
murye; Cp. myry; Hl. mirye; Cm. Pt. Ln. merie (mery).
Bright was the day, and blew the firmament,
Phebus of gold his stremes doun hath sent, 2220
To gladen every flour with his warmnesse.
He was that tyme _in Geminis_, as I gesse,
But litel fro his declinacioun
Of Cancer, Iovis exaltacioun. (980)
And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, 2225
That in that gardin, in the ferther syde,
Pluto, that is the king of fayërye,
And many a lady in his companye,
Folwinge his wyf, the quene Proserpyne,
Ech after other, right as any lyne— 2230
Whil that she gadered floures in the mede,
In Claudian ye may the story rede,
How in his grisly carte he hir fette:—
This king of fairye thanne adoun him sette (990)
Up-on a bench of turves, fresh and grene, 2235
And right anon thus seyde he to his quene.
2220. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _put_ hath _before_ of gold; Cp. Pt. Ln. doun hath
his stremes sent. E. Hn. Hl. ysent; _rest_ sent. 2227. Cp. Pt. Ln.
the; _rest_ on. Cp. Hl. fayerye; _rest_ fairye. 2230. Cm. ony; E. Hl.
a (_for_ any). Cp. Pt. Ln. _have_ Which that he rauysshed out of
Proserpyna(!). 2232. Hl. story; _rest_ stories. 2233. E. And;
_rest_ How. E. grisely. E. Hn. Cm. sette; _rest_ fette. 2234. Cp.
Pt. Ln. _om._ thanne.
‘My wyf,’ quod he, ‘ther may no wight sey nay;
Thexperience so preveth every day
The treson whiche that wommen doon to man.
Ten hondred thousand [stories] telle I can 2240
[455: T. 10115-10149.]
Notable of your untrouthe and brotilnesse.
O Salomon, wys, richest of richesse,
Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie,
Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie (1000)
To every wight that wit and reson can. 2245
Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man:
“Amonges a thousand men yet fond I oon,
But of wommen alle fond I noon.”
2237. E. seye. 2239. E. tresons. 2240. _I supply_ stories. Pt.
Ln. telle; _rest_ tellen. 2242. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. wys and; Cp. Pt. Ln.
_om. both_ wys _and_ and. 2247, 8. E. foond.
Thus seith the king that knoweth your wikkednesse;
And Iesus _filius Syrak_, as I gesse, 2250
Ne speketh of yow but selde reverence.
A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence
So falle up-on your bodies yet to-night!
Ne see ye nat this honurable knight, (1010)
By-cause, allas! that he is blind and old, 2255
His owene man shal make him cokewold;
Lo heer he sit, the lechour, in the tree.
Now wol I graunten, of my magestee,
Un-to this olde blinde worthy knight
That he shal have ayeyn his eyen sight, 2260
Whan that his wyf wold doon him vileinye;
Than shal he knowen al hir harlotrye
Both in repreve of hir and othere mo.’
2262. E. Thanne.
‘Ye shal,’ quod Proserpyne, ‘wol ye so; (1020)
Now, by my modres sires soule I swere, 2265
That I shal yeven hir suffisant answere,
And alle wommen after, for hir sake;
That, though they be in any gilt y-take,
With face bold they shulle hem-self excuse,
And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. 2270
For lakke of answer, noon of hem shal dyen.
Al hadde man seyn a thing with bothe his yën,
Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily,
And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, (1030)
So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees.
[456: T. 10150-10184.]
What rekketh me of your auctoritees?
2264. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. and wol (_for_ wol). 2272. Pt. Hl. yen; _rest_
eyen (eyȝen). 2273. Cp. Pt. Ln. so (_for_ wommen). 2274. E.
visage it (_for_ chyde, _by mistake_).
I woot wel that this Iew, this Salomon,
Fond of us wommen foles many oon.
But though that he ne fond no good womman,
Yet hath ther founde many another man 2280
Wommen ful trewe, ful gode, and vertuous.
Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous,
With martirdom they preved hir constance.
The Romayn gestes maken remembrance (1040)
Of many a verray trewe wyf also. 2285
But sire, ne be nat wrooth, al-be-it so,
Though that he seyde he fond no good womman,
I prey yow take the sentence of the man;
He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee
Nis noon but god, that sit in Trinitee. 2290
2278. E. Foond; fooles. 2279. E. foond. 2284. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. eek
maken; _rest om._ eek. 2287. E. foond. 2290. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. but
neither he ne she (_for_ that ... Trinitee).
Ey! for verray god, that nis but oon,
What make ye so muche of Salomon?
What though he made a temple, goddes hous?
What though he were riche and glorious? (1050)
So made he eek a temple of false goddis, 2295
How mighte he do a thing that more forbode is?
Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre,
He was a lechour and an ydolastre;
And in his elde he verray god forsook.
And if that god ne hadde, as seith the book, 2300
Y-spared him for his fadres sake, he sholde
Have lost his regne rather than he wolde.
I sette noght of al the vileinye,
That ye of wommen wryte, a boterflye. (1060)
I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, 2305
Or elles swelle til myn herte breke.
For sithen he seyde that we ben Iangleresses,
As ever hool I mote brouke my tresses,
I shal nat spare, for no curteisye,
To speke him harm that wolde us vileinye.’ 2310
[457: T. 10185-10221.]
‘Dame,’ quod this Pluto, ‘be no lenger wrooth;
I yeve it up; but sith I swoor myn ooth
That I wolde graunten him his sighte ageyn,
My word shal stonde, I warne yow, certeyn. (1070)
I am a king, it sit me noght to lye.’ 2315
2291. _So all_. 2298. E. lecchour. 2300. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._
that. 2301. E. Cm. _om._ him. 2303. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. sette right
noght.
‘And I,’ quod she, ‘a queene of fayërye.
Hir answere shal she have, I undertake;
Lat us na-more wordes heer-of make.
For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie.’
2316. Cp. Hl. fayerye; _rest_ fairye (fayre).
Now lat us turne agayn to Ianuarie, 2320
That in the gardin with his faire May
Singeth, ful merier than the papeiay,
‘Yow love I best, and shal, and other noon.’
So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, (1080)
Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie, 2325
Wher-as this Damian sitteth fill myrie
An heigh, among the fresshe leves grene.
2322. E. Hn. Cm. murier. 2325. Hl. agaynes; _rest_ agayns. 2327.
Pt. Ln. Hl. On (_for_ An).
This fresshe May, that is so bright and shene,
Gan for to syke, and seyde, ‘allas, my syde!
Now sir,’ quod she, ‘for aught that may bityde, 2330
I moste han of the peres that I see,
Or I mot dye, so sore longeth me
To eten of the smale peres grene.
Help, for hir love that is of hevene quene! (1090)
I telle yow wel, a womman in my plyt 2335
May han to fruit so greet an appetyt,
That she may dyen, but she of it have.’
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘that I ne had heer a knave
That coude climbe; allas! allas!’ quod he,
‘That I am blind.’ ‘Ye, sir, no fors,’ quod she: 2340
‘But wolde ye vouche-sauf, for goddes sake,
The pyrie inwith your armes for to take,
(For wel I woot that ye mistruste me)
Thanne sholde I climbe wel y-nogh,’ quod she, (1100)
‘So I my foot mighte sette upon your bak.’ 2345
‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘ther-on shal be no lak,
Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood.’
[458: T. 10222-10257.]
He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood,
And caughte hir by a twiste, and up she gooth.
Ladies, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; 2350
I can nat glose, I am a rude man.
And sodeynly anon this Damian
Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng.
And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong, (1110)
To Ianuarie he gaf agayn his sighte, 2355
And made him see, as wel as ever he mighte.
And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn,
Ne was ther never man of thing so fayn.
But on his wyf his thoght was evermo;
Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, 2360
And saugh that Damian his wyf had dressed
In swich manere, it may nat ben expressed
But if I wolde speke uncurteisly:
And up he yaf a roring and a cry (1120)
As doth the moder whan the child shal dye: 2365
‘Out! help! allas! harrow!’ he gan to crye,
‘O stronge lady store, what dostow?’
2355. Pt. Ln. Hl. his sight ageyn (_and miss_ ll. 2356, 2357, _by
confusion with_ agayn _in_ 2357). 2367. E. Hn. Cm. stoore; Pt. stoor;
Cp. Ln. Hl. stoure.
And she answerde, ‘sir, what eyleth yow?
Have pacience, and reson in your minde,
I have yow holpe on bothe your eyen blinde. 2370
Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen,
As me was taught, to hele with your yën,
Was no-thing bet to make yow to see
Than strugle with a man up-on a tree. (1130)
God woot, I dide it in ful good entente.’ 2375
2372. Ln. Hl. yen; _rest_ eyen (eyȝen).
‘Strugle!’ quod he, ‘ye, algate in it wente!
God yeve yow bothe on shames deeth to dyen!
He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yën,
And elles be I hanged by the hals!’
2378. Ln. Hl. yen; _rest_ eyen (eyȝen).
‘Thanne is,’ quod she, ‘my medicyne al fals; 2380
For certeinly, if that ye mighte see,
Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes un-to me;
Ye han som glimsing and no parfit sighte.’
2380. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. _om._ al.
[459: T. 10258-10292.]
‘I see,’ quod he, ‘as wel as ever I mighte, (1140)
Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two, 2385
And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so.’
‘Ye maze, maze, gode sire,’ quod she,
‘This thank have I for I have maad yow see;
Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever I was so kinde!’
‘Now, dame,’ quod he, ‘lat al passe out of minde. 2390
Com doun, my lief, and if I have missayd,
God help me so, as I am yvel apayd.
But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn,
How that this Damian had by thee leyn, (1150)
And that thy smok had leyn up-on his brest.’ 2395
2394, 5. E. hadde.
‘Ye, sire,’ quod she, ‘ye may wene as yow lest;
But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep,
He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep
Up-on a thing, ne seen it parfitly,
Til that he be adawed verraily; 2400
Right so a man, that longe hath blind y-be,
Ne may nat sodeynly so wel y-see,
First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn,
As he that hath a day or two y-seyn. (1160)
Til that your sighte y-satled be a whyle, 2405
Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigyle.
Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene king,
Ful many a man weneth to seen a thing,
And it is al another than it semeth.
He that misconceyveth, he misdemeth.’ 2410
And with that word she leep doun fro the tree.
2397. Cm. Pt. _om._ his. 2405. Cp. Pt. Hl. I-stabled; Ln. stablid.
This Ianuarie, who is glad but he?
He kisseth hir, and clippeth hir ful ofte,
And on hir wombe he stroketh hir ful softe, (1170)
And to his palays hoom he hath hir lad. 2415
Now, gode men, I pray yow to be glad.
Thus endeth heer my tale of Ianuarie;
God bless us and his moder Seinte Marie!
=Here Is Ended the Marchantes Tale of Ianuarie.=
2416. E. _om._ to. 2418. Hn. Hl. _add_ Amen. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.;
Hl. Here endith the marchauntes tale.
[460: T. 10293-10314.]
* * * * *
EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE.
* * * * *
‘Ey! goddes mercy!’ seyde our Hoste tho,
‘Now swich a wyf I pray god kepe me fro! 2420
Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees
In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees
Ben they, us sely men for to deceyve,
And from a sothe ever wol they weyve;
By this Marchauntes Tale it preveth weel. 2425
But doutelees, as trewe as any steel
I have a wyf, though that she povre be;
But of hir tonge a labbing shrewe is she, (10)
And yet she hath an heep of vyces mo;
Ther-of no fors, lat alle swiche thinges go. 2430
But, wite ye what? in conseil be it seyd,
Me reweth sore I am un-to hir teyd.
For, and I sholde rekenen every vyce
Which that she hath, y-wis, I were to nyce,
And cause why; it sholde reported be 2435
And told to hir of somme of this meynee;
Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare,
Sin wommen connen outen swich chaffare; (20)
And eek my wit suffyseth nat ther-to
To tellen al; wherfor my tale is do.’ 2440
HEADING. E. The Prologe of the Squieres Tale; Hn. Here folwen the
Wordes of the Worthy Hoost to the Frankeleyn; Pt. The prologe of the
Fraunkeleyn. 2419. E. oure Hoost; Hl. our hoste. 2421. Hl.
subtilitees; E. Hn. subtiltees. 2424. E. Hn. sooth; Pt. Hl. soth
(_not_ sothe); _see_ G. 167, 662.
[461: T. 10315-10334.]
* * * * *
GROUP F.
THE SQUIERES TALE.
* * * * *
[THE SQUIRE’S PROLOGUE.]
‘Squier, com neer, if it your wille be,
And sey somwhat of love; for, certes, ye
Connen ther-on as muche as any man.’
‘Nay, sir,’ quod he, ‘but I wol seye as I can
With hertly wille; for I wol nat rebelle 5
Agayn your lust; a tale wol I telle.
Have me excused if I speke amis,
My wil is good; and lo, my tale is this.
=Here biginneth the Squieres Tale.=
At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye, (1)
Ther dwelte a king, that werreyed Russye, 10
Thurgh which ther deyde many a doughty man.
This noble king was cleped Cambinskan,
Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun
That ther nas no-wher in no regioun
So excellent a lord in alle thing; 15
Him lakked noght that longeth to a king.
As of the secte of which that he was born
He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn; (10)
And ther-to be was hardy, wys, and riche,
Pitous and Iust, and ever-more y-liche 20
[462: T. 10335-10371.]
Sooth of his word, benigne and honurable,
Of his corage as any centre stable;
Yong, fresh, and strong, in armes desirous
As any bacheler of al his hous.
A fair persone he was and fortunat, 25
And kepte alwey so wel royal estat,
That ther was nowher swich another man.
This noble king, this Tartre Cambinskan (20)
Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf,
Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf, 30
That other sone was cleped Cambalo.
A doghter hadde this worthy king also,
That yongest was, and highte Canacee.
But for to telle yow al hir beautee,
It lyth nat in my tonge, nin my conning; 35
I dar nat undertake so heigh a thing.
Myn English eek is insufficient;
It moste been a rethor excellent, (30)
That coude his colours longing for that art,
If he sholde hir discryven every part. 40
I am non swich, I moot speke as I can.
HEADING (_after_ l. 8). _So_ E. Hn. Pt. Hl. 20. Hn. Pietous and Iust
and euere moore yliche; E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. And pitous and Iust alwey
yliche (_with first syllable deficient_). 23. and strong] E. strong
and. 35. nin] Cp. Pt. Ln. ne in; Hl. ne. 38. E. I moste,
_miswritten_; Hl. He moste; _rest_ It moste.
And so bifel that, whan this Cambinskan
Hath twenty winter born his diademe,
As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme,
He leet the feste of his nativitee 45
Don cryen thurghout Sarray his citee,
The last Idus of March, after the yeer.
Phebus the sonne ful Iory was and cleer; (40)
For he was neigh his exaltacioun
In Martes face, and in his mansioun 50
In Aries, the colerik hote signe.
Ful lusty was the weder and benigne,
For which the foules, agayn the sonne shene,
What for the seson and the yonge grene,
Ful loude songen hir affecciouns; 55
Him semed han geten hem protecciouns
Agayn the swerd of winter kene and cold.
46. Hn. thurghout; _rest_ thurgh. 53. E. Hn. foweles.
[463: T. 10372-10408.]
This Cambinskan, of which I have yow told, (50)
In royal vestiment sit on his deys,
With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys, 60
And halt his feste, so solempne and so riche
That in this world ne was ther noon it liche.
Of which if I shal tellen al tharray,
Than wolde it occupye a someres day;
And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse 65
At every cours the ordre of hir servyse.
I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes,
Ne of hir swannes, ne of hir heronsewes. (60)
Eek in that lond, as tellen knightes olde,
Ther is som mete that is ful deyntee holde, 70
That in this lond men recche of it but smal;
Ther nis no man that may reporten al.
I wol nat tarien yow, for it is pryme,
And for it is no fruit but los of tyme;
Un-to my firste I wol have my recours. 75
62. E. Hl. _om._ ne. 68. E. nor; _rest_ ne.
And so bifel that, after the thridde cours,
Whyl that this king sit thus in his nobleye,
Herkninge his minstralles hir thinges pleye (70)
Biforn him at the bord deliciously,
In at the halle-dore al sodeynly 80
Ther cam a knight up-on a stede of bras,
And in his hand a brood mirour of glas.
Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ring,
And by his syde a naked swerd hanging;
And up he rydeth to the heighe bord. 85
In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word
For merveille of this knight; him to biholde
Ful bisily ther wayten yonge and olde. (80)
78. E. Hn. mynstrals. 86. E. spoken; Cm. spokyn; _rest_ spoke.
This strange knight, that cam thus sodeynly,
Al armed save his heed ful richely, 90
Saluëth king and queen, and lordes alle,
By ordre, as they seten in the halle,
With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce
As wel in speche as in contenaunce,
[464: T. 10409-10444.]
That Gawain, with his olde curteisye, 95
Though he were come ageyn out of Fairye,
Ne coude him nat amende with a word.
And after this, biforn the heighe bord, (90)
He with a manly voys seith his message,
After the forme used in his langage, 100
With-outen vyce of sillable or of lettre;
And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre,
Accordant to his wordes was his chere,
As techeth art of speche hem that it lere;
Al-be-it that I can nat soune his style, 105
Ne can nat climben over so heigh a style,
Yet seye I this, as to commune entente,
Thus muche amounteth al that ever he mente, (100)
If it so be that I have it in minde.
91. E. Saleweth; Hn. Cm. Salueth; _rest_ salued. 96. E. Cm. comen.
105. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. it; E. Hn. Cm. _omit_.
He seyde, ‘the king of Arabie and of Inde, 110
My lige lord, on this solempne day
Saluëth yow as he best can and may,
And sendeth yow, in honour of your feste,
By me, that am al redy at your heste,
This stede of bras, that esily and wel 115
Can, in the space of o day naturel,
This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres,
Wher-so yow list, in droghte or elles shoures, (110)
Beren your body in-to every place
To which your herte wilneth for to pace 120
With-outen wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair;
Or, if yow list to fleen as hye in the air
As doth an egle, whan him list to sore,
This same stede shal bere yow ever-more
With-outen harm, til ye be ther yow leste, 125
Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste;
And turne ayeyn, with wrything of a pin.
He that it wroghte coude ful many a gin; (120)
He wayted many a constellacioun
Er he had doon this operacioun; 130
[465: T. 10445-10480.]
And knew ful many a seel and many a bond.
110. E. Hn. Arabe. 113, 114. E. feeste, heeste. 115. E. Hn. weel.
116. E. natureel. 123. E. whan þat; _rest omit_ þat.
This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond,
Hath swich a might, that men may in it see
Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee
Un-to your regne or to your-self also; 135
And openly who is your freend or foo.
And over al this, if any lady bright
Hath set hir herte on any maner wight, (130)
If he be fals, she shal his treson see,
His newe love and al his subtiltee 140
So openly, that ther shal no-thing hyde.
Wherfor, ageyn this lusty someres tyde,
This mirour and this ring, that ye may see,
He hath sent to my lady Canacee,
Your excellente doghter that is here. 145
138. E. Pt. in; _rest_ on. 144. E. vn-to; Cm. on-to; _rest_ to.
The vertu of the ring, if ye wol here,
Is this; that, if hir lust it for to were
Up-on hir thombe, or in hir purs it bere, (140)
Ther is no foul that fleeth under the hevene
That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, 150
And knowe his mening openly and pleyn,
And answere him in his langage ageyn.
And every gras that groweth up-on rote
She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do bote,
Al be his woundes never so depe and wyde. 155
This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde,
Swich vertu hath, that what man so ye smyte,
Thurgh-out his armure it wol kerve and byte, (150)
Were it as thikke as is a branched ook;
And what man that is wounded with the strook 160
Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace,
To stroke him with the platte in thilke place
Ther he is hurt: this is as muche to seyn,
Ye mote with the platte swerd ageyn
Stroke him in the wounde, and it wol close; 165
This is a verray sooth, with-outen glose,
[466: T. 10481-10516.]
It failleth nat whyl it is in your hold.’
158. E. wol hym; _rest omit_ hym. 160. E. a; Cm. that; _rest_ the.
162. Hn. platte; _rest_ plat (see 164). E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke.
164. E. Cm. Pt. plat; _rest_ platte. 165. E. Cm. Strike; _rest_
Stroke.
And whan this knight hath thus his tale told, (160)
He rydeth out of halle, and doun he lighte.
His stede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, 170
Stant in the court, as stille as any stoon.
This knight is to his chambre lad anon,
And is unarmed and to mete y-set.
171. Hl. as stille; _rest om._ as. 173. E. vn-to; _the rest_ to.
The presentes ben ful royally y-fet,
This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour, 175
And born anon in-to the heighe tour
With certeine officers ordeyned therfore;
And un-to Canacee this ring was bore (170)
Solempnely, ther she sit at the table.
But sikerly, with-outen any fable, 180
The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed,
It stant as it were to the ground y-glewed.
Ther may no man out of the place it dryve
For noon engyn of windas or polyve;
And cause why, for they can nat the craft. 185
And therefore in the place they han it laft
Til that the knight hath taught hem the manere
To voyden him, as ye shal after here. (180)
178. E. Cm. this; _rest_ the. 184. E. ne; _rest_ or.
Greet was the prees, that swarmeth to and fro,
To gauren on this hors that stondeth so; 190
For it so heigh was, and so brood and long,
So wel proporcioned for to ben strong,
Right as it were a stede of Lumbardye;
Ther-with so horsly, and so quik of yë
As it a gentil Poileys courser were. 195
For certes, fro his tayl un-to his ere,
Nature ne art ne coude him nat amende
In no degree, as al the peple wende. (190)
But evermore hir moste wonder was,
How that it coude goon, and was of bras; 200
It was of Fairye, as the peple semed.
Diverse folk diversely they demed;
[467: T. 10517-10552.]
As many hedes, as many wittes ther been.
They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been,
And maden skiles after hir fantasyes, 205
Rehersinge of thise olde poetryes,
And seyden, it was lyk the Pegasee,
The hors that hadde winges for to flee; (200)
Or elles it was the Grekes hors Synon,
That broghte Troye to destruccion, 210
As men may in thise olde gestes rede,
‘Myn herte,’ quod oon, ‘is evermore in drede;
I trowe som men of armes been ther-inne,
That shapen hem this citee for to winne.
It were right good that al swich thing were knowe.’ 215
Another rowned to his felawe lowe,
And seyde, ‘he lyeth, it is rather lyk
An apparence y-maad by som magyk, (210)
As Iogelours pleyen at thise festes grete.’
Of sondry doutes thus they Iangle and trete, 220
As lewed peple demeth comunly
Of thinges that ben maad more subtilly
Than they can in her lewednes comprehende;
They demen gladly to the badder ende.
189. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. swarmed. 195. E. Poilleys. 200. E. go. 201.
E. Hn. a; Cm. as; _rest_ of. E. Cm. al the; _rest omit_ al. 202.
they] Hn. Cp. Pt. han; Ln. haue. 203. E. heddes; Hn. heuedes; Cp.
heedes; _rest_ hedes (hedis). Hl. _om._ ther. 206. thise] Cp. Pt.
Ln. Hl. the. 207. E. that it; _rest omit_ that. 211. Hl. may; _rest
omit_. 217. E. Cm. it; _rest_ for it. 223. E. lewednesse; Hl.
lewednes.
And somme of hem wondred on the mirour, 225
That born was up in-to the maister-tour,
How men mighte in it swiche thinges see.
Another answerde, and seyde it mighte wel be (220)
Naturelly, by composiciouns
Of angles and of slye reflexiouns, 230
And seyden, that in Rome was swich oon.
They speken of Alocen and Vitulon,
And Aristotle, that writen in hir lyves
Of queynte mirours and of prospectyves,
As knowen they that han hir bokes herd. 235
226. E. hye; Cm. hyghe; _rest_ maister.
And othere folk han wondred on the swerd
That wolde percen thurgh-out every-thing;
And fille in speche of Thelophus the king, (230)
[468: T. 10553-10587.]
And of Achilles with his queynte spere,
For he coude with it bothe hele and dere, 240
Right in swich wyse as men may with the swerd
Of which right now ye han your-selven herd.
They speken of sondry harding of metal,
And speke of medicynes ther-with-al,
And how, and whanne, it sholde y-harded be; 245
Which is unknowe algates unto me.
239. E. Cm. with; _rest_ for.
Tho speke they of Canaceës ring,
And seyden alle, that swich a wonder thing (240)
Of craft of ringes herde they never non,
Save that he, Moyses, and king Salomon 250
Hadde a name of konning in swich art.
Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem apart.
But nathelees, somme seyden that it was
Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas,
And yet nis glas nat lyk asshen of fern; 255
But for they han y-knowen it so fern,
Therfore cesseth her Iangling and her wonder.
As sore wondren somme on cause of thonder, (250)
On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on mist,
And alle thing, til that the cause is wist. 260
Thus Iangle they and demen and devyse,
Til that the king gan fro the bord aryse.
251. _All_ Hadde (Had). 256. Hl. i-knowen; _rest_ knowen. 260. E.
Hl. on alle; _rest om._ on. 262. E. Hn. the bord; _rest_ his bord.
Phebus hath laft the angle meridional,
And yet ascending was the beest royal,
The gentil Leon, with his Aldiran, 265
Whan that this Tartre king, this Cambynskan,
Roos fro his bord, ther that he sat ful hye.
Toforn him gooth the loude minstralcye, (260)
Til he cam to his chambre of parements,
Ther as they sownen diverse instruments, 270
That it is lyk an heven for to here.
Now dauncen lusty Venus children dere,
For in the Fish hir lady sat ful hye,
[469: T. 10588-10623.]
And loketh on hem with a freendly yë.
265. Hn. Aldiran; Hl. adryan; _rest_ Aldrian. 266. Hl. _repeats_
this; _rest omit 2nd_ this. 269, 270. E. parementz, Instrumentz.
271. Hl. Ln. heuen; _rest_ heuene.
This noble king is set up in his trone. 275
This strange knight is fet to him ful sone,
And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee.
Heer is the revel and the Iolitee (270)
That is nat able a dul man to devyse.
He moste han knowen love and his servyse, 280
And been a festlich man as fresh as May,
That sholde yow devysen swich array.
275. E. Cm. vp in; _rest_ vp on.
Who coude telle yow the forme of daunces,
So uncouthe and so fresshe contenaunces,
Swich subtil loking and dissimulinges 285
For drede of Ialouse mennes aperceyvinges?
No man but Launcelot, and he is deed.
Therefor I passe of al this lustiheed; (280)
I seye na-more, but in this Iolynesse
I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse. 290
288. E. Hn. of; _rest_ ouer.
The styward bit the spyces for to hye,
And eek the wyn, in al this melodye.
The usshers and the squyers ben y-goon;
The spyces and the wyn is come anoon.
They ete and drinke; and whan this hadde an ende, 295
Un-to the temple, as reson was, they wende.
291. Hl. the; _rest omit._
The service doon, they soupen al by day.
What nedeth yow rehercen hir array? (290)
Ech man wot wel, that at a kinges feeste
Hath plentee, to the moste and to the leeste, 300
And deyntees mo than been in my knowing.
At-after soper gooth this noble king
To seen this hors of bras, with al the route
Of lordes and of ladyes him aboute.
298. E. me; _the rest_ yow. 299. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. that at; E. Cm. Hl.
_om._ at. 300. Hath (_so; for_ Is; _cf. French _il y a.) 303. E.
Cm. the; Hl. his; _rest_ a.
Swich wondring was ther on this hors of bras 305
That, sin the grete sege of Troye was,
Ther-as men wondreden on an hors also,
Ne was ther swich a wondring as was tho. (300)
But fynally the king axeth this knight
[470: T. 10624-10657.]
The vertu of this courser and the might, 310
And preyede him to telle his governaunce.
311. Cm. preyede; Hn. preyed; E. preyde.
This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce,
Whan that this knight leyde hand up-on his reyne,
And seyde, ‘sir, ther is na-more to seyne,
But, whan yow list to ryden any-where, 315
Ye moten trille a pin, stant in his ere,
Which I shall telle yow bitwix vs two.
Ye mote nempne him to what place also (310)
Or to what contree that yow list to ryde.
And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde, 320
Bidde him descende, and trille another pin,
For ther-in lyth the effect of al the gin,
And he wol doun descende and doon your wille;
And in that place he wol abyde stille,
Though al the world the contrarie hadde y-swore; 325
He shal nat thennes ben y-drawe ne y-bore.
Or, if yow liste bidde him thennes goon,
Trille this pin, and he wol vanishe anoon (320)
Out of the sighte of every maner wight,
And come agayn, be it by day or night, 330
When that yow list to clepen him ageyn
In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn
Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful sone.
Ryde whan yow list, ther is na-more to done.’
317. E. Hn. Cm. yow telle; _rest_ telle yow. 322. E. ther; Cm.
theere; _rest_ ther-inne, ther-in. 324. Cp. Hl. abyde; Hn. abiden;
Pt. Ln. abide; E. Cm. stonde; _see l._ 320. 326. E. Hn. nor; _the
rest_ ne. 327. Cp. liste; Ln. luste; Hl. lust to; Cm. wit; E. Hn. Pt.
list. 330. Hl. by; _rest omit._
Enformed whan the king was of that knight, 335
And hath conceyved in his wit aright
The maner and the forme of al this thing,
Thus glad and blythe, this noble doughty king (330)
Repeireth to his revel as biforn.
The brydel is un-to the tour y-born, 340
And kept among his Iewels leve and dere.
The hors vanisshed, I noot in what manere,
Out of hir sighte; ye gete na-more of me.
[471: T. 10658-10692.]
But thus I lete in lust and Iolitee
This Cambynskan his lordes festeyinge, 345
Til wel ny the day bigan to springe.
338. E. Cm. Thus; _rest_ Ful. E. Cm. _omit_ doughty. 341. E.
Iueles.
=Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.=
The norice of digestioun, the slepe,
Gan on hem winke, and bad hem taken kepe, (340)
That muchel drink and labour wolde han reste;
And with a galping mouth hem alle he keste, 350
And seyde, ‘it was tyme to lye adoun,
For blood was in his dominacioun;
Cherissheth blood, natures freend,’ quod he.
They thanken him galpinge, by two, by three,
And every wight gan drawe him to his reste, 355
As slepe hem bad; they toke it for the beste.
Hir dremes shul nat been y-told for me;
Ful were hir hedes of fumositee, (350)
That causeth dreem, of which ther nis no charge.
They slepen til that it was pryme large, 360
The moste part, but it were Canacee;
She was ful mesurable, as wommen be.
For of hir fader hadde she take leve
To gon to reste, sone after it was eve;
Hir liste nat appalled for to be, 365
Nor on the morwe unfestlich for to see;
And slepte hir firste sleep, and thanne awook.
For swich a Ioye she in hir herte took (360)
Both of hir queynte ring and hir mirour,
That twenty tyme she changed hir colour; 370
And in hir slepe, right for impressioun
Of hir mirour, she hadde a visioun.
Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde,
She cleped on hir maistresse hir bisyde,
And seyde, that hir liste for to ryse. 375
358. E. heddes; Cm. heedys. 366. Hn. Cm. Nor; E. Hl. Ne; Cp. Pt. Ln.
For [_for_ Nor]. 372. E. Avisioun; _rest_ a visioun.
Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse,
As is hir maistresse, answerde hir anoon,
And seyde, ‘madame, whider wil ye goon (370)
[472: T. 10693-10728.]
Thus erly? for the folk ben alle on reste.’
‘I wol,’ quod she, ‘aryse, for me leste 380
No lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute.’
377. E. _omits_ is. 379. E. Hn. on; Cm. at; _rest_ in.
Hir maistresse clepeth wommen a gret route,
And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve;
Up ryseth fresshe Canacee hir-selve,
As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne, 385
That in the Ram is four degrees up-ronne;
Noon hyer was he, whan she redy was;
And forth she walketh esily a pas, (380)
Arrayed after the lusty seson sote
Lightly, for to pleye and walke on fote; 390
Nat but with fyve or six of hir meynee;
And in a trench, forth in the park, goth she.
The vapour, which that fro the erthe glood,
Made the sonne to seme rody and brood;
But nathelees, it was so fair a sighte 395
That it made alle hir hertes for to lighte,
What for the seson and the morweninge,
And for the foules that she herde singe; (390)
For right anon she wiste what they mente
Right by hir song, and knew al hir entente. 400
382. E. Hn. an; Cm. Hl. a. 386. E. Cm. foure (_rightly_); Hn. 4;
_rest_ ten.
The knotte, why that every tale is told,
If it be taried til that lust be cold
Of hem that han it after herkned yore,
The savour passeth ever lenger the more,
For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee. 405
And by the same reson thinketh me,
I sholde to the knotte condescende,
And maken of hir walking sone an ende. (400)
Amidde a tree fordrye, as whyt as chalk,
As Canacee was pleying in hir walk, 410
Ther sat a faucon over hir heed ful hye,
That with a pitous voys so gan to crye
That all the wode resouned of hir cry.
Y-beten hath she hir-self so pitously
[473: T. 10729-10763.]
With bothe hir winges, til the rede blood 415
Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood.
And ever in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte,
And with hir beek hir-selven so she prighte, (410)
That ther nis tygre, ne noon so cruel beste,
That dwelleth either in wode or in foreste 420
That nolde han wept, if that he wepe coude,
For sorwe of hir, she shrighte alwey so loude.
For ther nas never yet no man on lyve—
If that I coude a faucon wel discryve—
That herde of swich another of fairnesse, 425
As wel of plumage as of gentillesse
Of shap, and al that mighte y-rekened be.
A faucon peregryn than semed she (420)
Of fremde land; and evermore, as she stood,
She swowneth now and now for lakke of blood, 430
Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree.
409. E. fordryed; Cm. fordreyed; _but_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. for-drye; Hl.
for-druye. 414. E. Cm. hath; _rest_ hadde (had). 416. E. Cm. omit
as. 419, 420. E. Hn. Pt. beest, forest; rest beste, foreste. 420.
E. Hn. outher; rest eyther. 421. E. Pt. she; the rest he. 423. So
Cp. Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. neuere man yet; Pt. Ln. neuere yit man.
This faire kinges doghter, Canacee,
That on hir finger bar the queynte ring,
Thurgh which she understood wel every thing
That any foul may in his ledene seyn, 435
And coude answere him in his ledene ageyn,
Hath understonde what this faucon seyde,
And wel neigh for the rewthe almost she deyde. (430)
And to the tree she gooth ful hastily,
And on this faucon loketh pitously, 440
And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste
The faucon moste fallen fro the twiste,
When that it swowned next, for lakke of blood.
A longe while to wayten hir she stood
Till atte laste she spak in this manere 445
Un-to the hauk, as ye shul after here.
433. E. Hn. baar. 435. E. fowel. 438. Hl. rewthe; Ln. reuthe; rest
routhe.
‘What is the cause, if it be for to telle,
That ye be in this furial pyne of helle?’ (440)
Quod Canacee un-to this hauk above.
[474: T. 10764-10798.]
‘Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love? 450
For, as I trowe, thise ben causes two
That causen moost a gentil herte wo;
Of other harm it nedeth nat to speke.
For ye your-self upon your-self yow wreke,
Which proveth wel, that either love or drede 455
Mot been encheson of your cruel dede,
Sin that I see non other wight yow chace.
For love of god, as dooth your-selven grace (450)
Or what may ben your help; for west nor eest
Ne sey I never er now no brid ne beest 460
That ferde with him-self so pitously.
Ye sle me with your sorwe, verraily;
I have of yow so gret compassioun.
For goddes love, com fro the tree adoun;
And, as I am a kinges doghter trewe, 465
If that I verraily the cause knewe
Of your disese, if it lay in my might,
I wolde amende it, er that it were night, (460)
As wisly helpe me gret god of kinde!
And herbes shal I right y-nowe y-finde 470
To hele with your hurtes hastily.’
448. E. Hn. pyne; rest peyne. 449. E. the; rest this. 452. E.
causeth; _rest_ causen. 455. E. Hn. outher; _rest_ either. 459,
460. E. Hn. Est, beest; Cp. est, best; Cm. est, beste; _rest_ este,
beste. 463. E. passioun; _rest_ compassioun. 469. E. the grete;
_rest omit_ the.
Tho shrighte this faucon more pitously
Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anoon,
And lyth aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon,
Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take 475
Un-to the tyme she gan of swough awake.
And, after that she of hir swough gan breyde,
Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde:— (470)
‘That pitee renneth sone in gentil herte,
Feling his similitude in peynes smerte, 480
Is preved al-day, as men may it see,
As wel by werk as by auctoritee;
For gentil herte kytheth gentillesse.
I see wel, that ye han of my distresse
[475: T. 10799-10833.]
Compassioun, my faire Canacee, 485
Of verray wommanly benignitee
That nature in your principles hath set.
But for non hope for to fare the bet, (480)
But for to obeye un-to your herte free,
And for to maken other be war by me, 490
As by the whelp chasted is the leoun,
Right for that cause and that conclusioun,
Whyl that I have a leyser and a space,
Myn harm I wol confessen, er I pace.’
And ever, whyl that oon hir sorwe tolde, 495
That other weep, as she to water wolde,
Til that the faucon bad hir to be stille;
And, with a syk, right thus she seyde hir wille. (490)
472. Hn. Cp. Pt. yet moore; E. Cm. moore yet; Hl. Ln. more. 477. Cm.
swow a-breyde. 481. E. Hl. _omit_ it. 484. E. Cm. _omit_ that.
487. E. yset; Cm. I-set; the _rest_ set, sette. 489. E. _omits_ to.
491. E. Hn. chasted; _rest_ chastysed; _I should propose to read_ is
chasted; _but authority is lacking._ 492. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ and for
that. 498. E. Hn. wille; _rest_ tille (!)
‘Ther I was bred (allas! that harde day!)
And fostred in a roche of marbul gray 500
So tendrely, that nothing eyled me,
I niste nat what was adversitee,
Til I coude flee ful hye under the sky.
Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by,
That semed welle of alle gentillesse; 505
Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse,
It was so wrapped under humble chere,
And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere, (500)
Under plesance, and under bisy peyne,
That no wight coude han wend he coude feyne, 510
So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures.
Right as a serpent hit him under floures
Til he may seen his tyme for to byte,
Right so this god of love, this ypocryte,
Doth so his cerimonies and obeisaunces, 515
And kepeth in semblant alle his observances
That sowneth in-to gentillesse of love.
As in a toumbe is al the faire above, (510)
And under is the corps, swich as ye woot,
[476: T. 10834-10868.]
Swich was this ypocryte, bothe cold and hoot, 520
And in this wyse he served his entente,
That (save the feend) non wiste what he mente.
Til he so longe had wopen and compleyned,
And many a yeer his service to me feyned,
Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, 525
Al innocent of his crouned malice,
For-fered of his deeth, as thoughte me,
Upon his othes and his seuretee, (520)
Graunted him love, on this condicioun,
That evermore myn honour and renoun 530
Were saved, bothe privee and apert;
This is to seyn, that, after his desert,
I yaf him al myn herte and al my thoght—
God woot and he, that otherwyse noght—
And took his herte in chaunge for myn for ay. 535
But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many a day,
“A trew wight and a theef thenken nat oon.”
And, whan he saugh the thing so fer y-goon, (530)
That I had graunted him fully my love,
In swich a gyse as I have seyd above, 540
And yeven him my trewe herte, as free
As he swoor he his herte yaf to me;
Anon this tygre, ful of doublenesse,
Fil on his knees with so devout humblesse,
With so heigh reverence, and, as by his chere, 545
So lyk a gentil lovere of manere,
So ravisshed, as it semed, for the Ioye,
That never Iason, ne Parys of Troye, (540)
Iason? certes, ne non other man,
Sin Lameth was, that alderfirst bigan 550
To loven two, as writen folk biforn,
Ne never, sin the firste man was born,
Ne coude man, by twenty thousand part,
Countrefete the sophimes of his art;
[477: T. 10869-10905.]
Ne were worthy unbokele his galoche, 555
Ther doublenesse or feyning sholde approche,
Ne so coude thanke a wight as he did me!
His maner was an heven for to see (550)
Til any womman, were she never so wys;
So peynted he and kembde at point-devys 560
As wel his wordes as his contenaunce.
And I so lovede him for his obeisaunce,
And for the trouthe I demed in his herte,
That, if so were that any thing him smerte,
Al were it never so lyte, and I it wiste, 565
Me thoughte, I felte deeth myn herte twiste.
And shortly, so ferforth this thing is went,
That my wil was his willes instrument; (560)
This is to seyn, my wil obeyed his wil
In alle thing, as fer as reson fil, 570
Keping the boundes of my worship ever.
Ne never hadde I thing so leef, ne lever,
As him, god woot! ne never shal na-mo.
499. E. Cm. That; _rest_ Ther. 508. MSS. trouthe, trowthe. 510. E.
I ne; Cm. I not; _rest_ no wight. 511. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. colours. 512.
hit] Hl. hut; Ln. hideth. 516. _Pronounced_ kep’th. 520. E. the;
_the rest_ this. 526. Hl. crouned; Hn. Cp. Pt. crowned; E.
coronned. 529. MSS. vp-on (_for_ on). 533. Cm. Ln. Hl. and al;
_rest omit_ al. 535. E. for myn; _rest_ of myn. 537. Hl. Pt. trew;
_rest_ trewe. 542. _All_ yaf his herte. 545. _Only_ Cm. _om._
and. 548. E. Cm. Troilus; _rest_ Iason. 551. Cm. wrytyn; _rest_
writen. 555. E. vnbokelen. 557. E. Cp. dide; Cm. dede; _rest_
did. 562. E. Cm. _omit_ so. 572. E. Hn. lief; Ln. lefe; _rest_
leef.
This lasteth lenger than a yeer or two,
That I supposed of him noght but good. 575
But fynally, thus atte laste it stood,
That fortune wolde that he moste twinne
Out of that place which that I was inne. (570)
Wher me was wo, that is no questioun;
I can nat make of it discripcioun; 580
For o thing dar I tellen boldely,
I knowe what is the peyne of deth ther-by;
Swich harm I felte for he ne mighte bileve.
So on a day of me he took his leve,
So sorwefully eek, that I wende verraily 585
That he had felt as muche harm as I,
Whan that I herde him speke, and saugh his hewe.
But nathelees, I thoughte he was so trewe, (580)
And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn
With-inne a litel whyle, sooth to seyn; 590
And reson wolde eek that he moste go
[478: T. 10906-10940.]
For his honour, as ofte it happeth so,
That I made vertu of necessitee,
And took it wel, sin that it moste be.
As I best mighte, I hidde fro him my sorwe, 595
And took him by the hond, seint Iohn to borwe,
And seyde him thus: “lo, I am youres al;
Beth swich as I to yow have been, and shal.” (590)
What he answerde, it nedeth noght reherce,
Who can sey bet than he, who can do werse? 600
Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon.
“Therfor bihoveth him a ful long spoon
That shal ete with a feend,” thus herde I seye.
So atte laste he moste forth his weye,
And forth he fleeth, til he cam ther him leste. 605
Whan it cam him to purpos for to reste,
I trowe he hadde thilke text in minde,
That “alle thing, repairing to his kinde, (600)
Gladeth him-self”; thus seyn men, as I gesse;
Men loven of propre kinde newfangelnesse, 610
As briddes doon that men in cages fede.
For though thou night and day take of hem hede,
And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk,
And yeve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk,
Yet right anon, as that his dore is uppe, 615
He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe,
And to the wode he wol and wormes ete;
So newefangel been they of hir mete, (610)
And loven novelryes of propre kinde;
No gentillesse of blood [ne] may hem binde. 620
So ferde this tercelet, allas the day!
Though he were gentil born, and fresh and gay,
And goodly for to seen, and humble and free,
He saugh up-on a tyme a kyte flee,
And sodeynly he loved this kyte so, 625
That al his love is clene fro me ago,
[479: T. 10941-10974.]
And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse;
Thus hath the kyte my love in hir servyse, (620)
And I am lorn with-outen remedye!’
And with that word this faucon gan to crye, 630
And swowned eft in Canaceës barme.
585. Cp. _om._ that. 601. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. wel seyd; Cm. I-seyd;
E. seyd. 602. E. Hn. Cm. hire; _rest_ him. 616. Hl. _has here lost
8 leaves, to_ 1. 1223. 619. E. nouelrie; _the rest have the plural,
except_ Ln. none leueres, _a corruption of_ nouelries. 620. _I
supply_ ne. 622. Hn. and fressh; _rest omit_ and. 623. E. Hn.
goodlich; _rest_ goodly. E. Pt. _om._ and _before_ humble.
Greet was the sorwe, for the haukes harme,
That Canacee and alle hir wommen made;
They niste how they mighte the faucon glade.
But Canacee hom bereth hir in hir lappe, 635
And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe,
Ther as she with hir beek had hurt hir-selve.
Now can nat Canacee but herbes delve (630)
Out of the grounde, and make salves newe
Of herbes precious, and fyne of hewe, 640
To helen with this hauk; fro day to night
She dooth hir bisinesse and al hir might.
And by hir beddes heed she made a mewe,
And covered it with veluëttes blewe,
In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene. 645
And al with-oute, the mewe is peynted grene,
In which were peynted alle thise false foules,
As beth thise tidifs, tercelets, and oules, (640)
Right for despyt were peynted hem bisyde,
And pyes, on hem for to crye and chyde. 650
632, 633. E. Hn. Cp. barm, harm; _rest_ barme, harme. 639. E. Hn.
saues; _the rest_ salues. 642. E. hire fulle; _the rest_ al hir.
644. Slo. velowetys. 647. E. ther were ypeynted; _rest_ were
peynted. 648. E. Hn. tidyues; Ln. tideues; _rest_ tidifs. 649, 650.
_Transposed by_ Tyrwhitt. 650. And] Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._
Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk keping;
I wol na-more as now speke of hir ring,
Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn
How that this faucon gat hir love ageyn
Repentant, as the storie telleth us, 655
By mediacioun of Cambalus,
The kinges sone, of whiche I yow tolde.
But hennes-forth I wol my proces holde (650)
To speke of aventures and of batailles,
That never yet was herd so grete mervailles. 660
657. Slo. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. Hn. of which I to yow tolde.
[480: T. 10975-10998.]
First wol I telle yow of Cambynskan,
That in his tyme many a citee wan;
And after wol I speke of Algarsyf,
How that he wan Theodora to his wyf,
For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was, 665
Ne hadde he ben holpen by the stede of bras;
And after wol I speke of Cambalo,
That faught in listes with the bretheren two (660)
For Canacee, er that he mighte hir winne.
And ther I lefte I wol ageyn biginne. 670
664. E. Theodera.
=Explicit secunda pars. Incipit pars tercia.=
Appollo whirleth up his char so hye, [T. _om._
Til that the god Mercurius hous the slye— [T. _om._
. . . . . .
672. _Here the_ MSS. _fail_. Ln. _has 8 spurious lines in place of_ ll.
671, 672.
* * * * *
=Here folwen the wordes of the Frankelin to the Squier,
and the wordes of the Host to the Frankelin.=
‘In feith, Squier, thou hast thee wel y-quit,
And gentilly I preise wel thy wit,’
Quod the Frankeleyn, ‘considering thy youthe, 675
So feelingly thou spekest, sir, I allow the!
As to my doom, there is non that is here
Of eloquence that shal be thy pere,
If that thou live; god yeve thee good chaunce,
And in vertu sende thee continuaunce! 680
For of thy speche I have greet deyntee.
I have a sone, and, by the Trinitee, (10)
I hadde lever than twenty pound worth lond,
Though it right now were fallen in myn hond,
He were a man of swich discrecioun 685
As that ye been! fy on possessioun
[481: T. 10999-11020.]
But-if a man be vertuous with-al.
I have my sone snibbed, and yet shal,
For he to vertu listeth nat entende;
But for to pleye at dees, and to despende, 690
And lese al that he hath, is his usage.
And he hath lever talken with a page (20)
Than to comune with any gentil wight
Ther he mighte lerne gentillesse aright.’—
HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. The prologe of the Marchauntes tale. 676. E.
allowethe; Hn. allowthe. 689. E. listneth; _rest_ listeth, lusteth.
‘Straw for your gentillesse,’ quod our host; 695
‘What, frankeleyn? pardee, sir, wel thou wost
That eche of yow mot tellen atte leste
A tale or two, or breken his biheste.’
695, 696. Laud 600 _has_ host, wost; E. Hn. Pt. hoost, woost.
‘That knowe I wel, sir,’ quod the frankeleyn;
‘I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn 700
Though to this man I speke a word or two.’
‘Telle on thy tale with-outen wordes mo.’ (30)
‘Gladly, sir host,’ quod he, ‘I wol obeye
Un-to your wil; now herkneth what I seye.
I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse 705
As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse;
I prey to god that it may plesen yow,
Than woot I wel that it is good y-now.’
[_The_ Frankleyn’s Prologue _follows immediately; see_ p. 482.]
[482: T. 11021-11040.]
* * * * *
THE FRANKLIN’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=The prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale.=
[_This_ Prologue _follows immediately after the_ Words _on_ p. 481.]
Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes
Of diverse aventures maden layes, 710
Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge;
Which layes with hir instruments they songe, (40)
Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;
And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,
Which I shal seyn with good wil as I can. 715
HEADING. _So_ E.; Ln. Incipit prologus de le Frankeleyne; Hn. Pt. Here
bigynneth the Frankeleyns tale. Hl. _omits_ ll. 709-1223. 712. E.
whiche.
But, sires, by-cause I am a burel man,
At my biginning first I yow biseche
Have me excused of my rude speche;
I lerned never rethoryk certeyn;
Thing that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. 720
I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso,
Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cithero. (50)
Colours ne knowe I none, with-outen drede,
But swiche colours as growen in the mede,
Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. 725
Colours of rethoryk ben me to queynte;
My spirit feleth noght of swich matere.
But if yow list, my tale shul ye here.
722. E. Hn. Scithero. 726. Cp. Ln. ben me to; Pt. bene to me; Hn.
they ben to; E. been to.
[483: T. 11041-11068.]
* * * * *
THE FRANKELEYNS TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Frankeleyns Tale.=
In Armorik, that called is Britayne,
Ther was a knight that loved and dide his payne 730
To serve a lady in his beste wyse;
And many a labour, many a greet empryse
He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne.
For she was oon, the faireste under sonne,
And eek therto come of so heigh kinrede, 735
That wel unnethes dorste this knight, for drede,
Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
But atte laste, she, for his worthinesse, (10)
And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce, 740
That prively she fil of his accord
To take him for hir housbonde and hir lord,
Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves;
And for to lede the more in blisse hir lyves,
Of his free wil he swoor hir as a knight, 745
That never in al his lyf he, day ne night,
Ne sholde up-on him take no maistrye
Agayn hir wil, ne kythe hir Ialousye, (20)
But hir obeye, and folwe hir wil in al
As any lovere to his lady shal; 750
Save that the name of soveraynetee,
That wolde he have for shame of his degree.
She thanked him, and with ful greet humblesse
She seyde, ‘sire, sith of your gentillesse
Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, 755
Ne wolde never god bitwixe us tweyne,
[484: T. 11069-11106.]
As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
Sir, I wol be your humble trewe wyf, (30)
Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste.’
Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. 760
For o thing, sires, saufly dar I seye,
That frendes everich other moot obeye,
If they wol longe holden companye.
Love wol nat ben constreyned by maistrye;
Whan maistrie comth, the god of love anon 765
Beteth hise winges, and farewel! he is gon!
Love is a thing as any spirit free;
Wommen of kinde desiren libertee, (40)
And nat to ben constreyned as a thral;
And so don men, if I soth seyen shal. 770
Loke who that is most pacient in love,
He is at his avantage al above.
Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn;
For it venquisseth, as thise clerkes seyn,
Thinges that rigour sholde never atteyne. 775
For every word men may nat chyde or pleyne.
Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,
Ye shul it lerne, wher-so ye wole or noon. (50)
For in this world, certein, ther no wight is,
That he ne dooth or seith som-tyme amis. 780
Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,
Wyn, wo, or chaunginge of complexioun
Causeth ful ofte to doon amis or speken.
On every wrong a man may nat be wreken;
After the tyme, moste be temperaunce 785
To every wight that can on governaunce.
And therfore hath this wyse worthy knight,
To live in ese, suffrance hir bihight, (60)
And she to him ful wisly gan to swere
That never sholde ther be defaute in here. 790
772. E. auantate (_sic_).
Heer may men seen an humble wys accord;
Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord,
Servant in love, and lord in mariage;
Than was he bothe in lordship and servage;
[485: T. 11107-11144.]
Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above, 795
Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;
His lady, certes, and his wyf also,
The which that lawe of love acordeth to. (70)
And whan he was in this prosperitee,
Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, 800
Nat fer fro Penmark, ther his dwelling was,
Wher-as he liveth in blisse and in solas.
791. E. Heere. 794. E. Thanne. 801. Ln. penmarke; _rest_ Pedmark.
Who coude telle, but he had wedded be,
The Ioye, the ese, and the prosperitee
That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf? 805
A yeer and more lasted this blisful lyf,
Til that the knight of which I speke of thus,
That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, (80)
Shoop him to goon, and dwelle a yeer or tweyne
In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne, 810
To seke in armes worship and honour;
For al his lust he sette in swich labour;
And dwelled ther two yeer, the book seith thus.
803. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 810. Cm. er (_for_ eek); Pt. _om._
Now wol I stinte of this Arveragus,
And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf, 815
That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf.
For his absence wepeth she and syketh,
As doon thise noble wyves whan hem lyketh. (90)
She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;
Desyr of his presence hir so distreyneth, 820
That al this wyde world she sette at noght.
Hir frendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,
Conforten hir in al that ever they may;
They prechen hir, they telle hir night and day,
That causelees she sleeth hir-self, allas! 825
And every confort possible in this cas
They doon to hir with al hir bisinesse,
Al for to make hir leve hir hevinesse. (100)
814. E. stynten.
By proces, as ye knowen everichoon,
Men may so longe graven in a stoon, 830
Til som figure ther-inne emprented be.
So longe han they conforted hir, til she
[486: T. 11145-11181.]
Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,
The emprenting of hir consolacioun,
Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; 835
She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.
And eek Arveragus, in al this care,
Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his welfare, (110)
And that he wol come hastily agayn;
Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. 840
Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake,
And preyede hir on knees, for goddes sake,
To come and romen hir in companye,
Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye.
And finally, she graunted that requeste; 845
For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.
842. Cm. preyede; Cp. preyed; E. Hn. preyde; Pt. preiden.
Now stood hir castel faste by the see,
And often with hir freendes walketh she (120)
Hir to disporte up-on the bank an heigh,
Wher-as she many a ship and barge seigh 850
Seilinge hir cours, wher-as hem liste go;
But than was that a parcel of hir wo.
For to hir-self ful ofte ‘allas!’ seith she,
‘Is ther no ship, of so manye as I see,
Wol bringen hom my lord? than were myn herte 855
Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte.’
851. E. Hn. Seillynge. 852. E. thanne. 855. E. thanne.
Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thinke,
And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brinke. (130)
But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,
For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake, 860
That on hir feet she mighte hir noght sustene.
Than wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,
And pitously in-to the see biholde,
And seyn right thus, with sorweful sykes colde:
862. E. Thanne.
‘Eterne god, that thurgh thy purveyaunce 865
Ledest the world by certein governaunce,
In ydel, as men seyn, ye no-thing make;
But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, (140)
That semen rather a foul confusioun
[487: T. 11182-11217.]
Of werk than any fair creacioun 870
Of swich a parfit wys god and a stable,
Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?
For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,
Ther nis y-fostred man, ne brid, ne beest;
It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth. 875
See ye nat, lord, how mankinde it destroyeth?
An hundred thousand bodies of mankinde
Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in minde, (150)
Which mankinde is so fair part of thy werk
That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. 880
Than semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee
Toward mankinde; but how than may it be
That ye swiche menes make it to destroyen,
Whiche menes do no good, but ever anoyen?
I wool wel clerkes wol seyn, as hem leste, 885
By arguments, that al is for the beste,
Though I ne can the causes nat y-knowe.
But thilke god, that made wind to blowe, (160)
As kepe my lord! this my conclusioun;
To clerkes lete I al disputisoun. 890
But wolde god that alle thise rokkes blake
Were sonken in-to helle for his sake!
Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the fere.’
Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous tere.
873. MSS. eest, est. 874. MSS. beest, best. 881. E. Thanne. Pt.
cheerte. 882. E. thanne. 887. E. _om._ ne. 889. Cm. Cp. Pt. this
is (this = this is). 890. E. al this: _rest om._ this.
Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport 895
To romen by the see, but disconfort;
And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.
They leden hir by riveres and by welles, (170)
And eek in othere places delitables;
They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables. 900
So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,
Un-to a gardin that was ther bisyde,
In which that they had maad hir ordinaunce
Of vitaille and of other purveyaunce,
They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. 905
[488: T. 11218-11253.]
And this was on the sixte morwe of May,
Which May had peynted with his softe shoures
This gardin ful of leves and of floures; (180)
And craft of mannes hand so curiously
Arrayed hadde this gardin, trewely, 910
That never was ther gardin of swich prys,
But-if it were the verray paradys.
The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte
Wolde han maad any herte for to lighte
That ever was born, but-if to gret siknesse, 915
Or to gret sorwe helde it in distresse;
So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.
At-after diner gonne they to daunce, (190)
And singe also, save Dorigen allone,
Which made alwey hir compleint and hir mone; 920
For she ne saugh him on the daunce go,
That was hir housbonde and hir love also.
But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde,
And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.
903. E. hadde. 906. E. in; _rest_ on. 907. E. hadde. 914. _So_
Cm. (_see_ Group F, l. 396); E. Hn. maked, _and om._ for to; Cp. Pt.
Wold han made ony pensif herte light.
Up-on this daunce, amonges othere men, 925
Daunced a squyer biforen Dorigen,
That fressher was and Iolyer of array,
As to my doom, than is the monthe of May. (200)
He singeth, daunceth, passinge any man
That is, or was, sith that the world bigan. 930
Ther-with he was, if men sholde him discryve,
Oon of the beste faringe man on-lyve;
Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche and wys,
And wel biloved, and holden in gret prys.
And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, 935
Unwiting of this Dorigen at al,
This lusty squyer, servant to Venus,
Which that y-cleped was Aurelius, (210)
Had loved hir best of any creature
Two yeer and more, as was his aventure, 940
But never dorste he telle hir his grevaunce;
[489: T. 11254-11290.]
With-outen coppe he drank al his penaunce.
He was despeyred, no-thing dorste he seye,
Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye
His wo, as in a general compleyning; 945
He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no-thing.
Of swich matere made he manye layes,
Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, (220)
How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,
But languissheth, as a furie dooth in helle; 950
And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko
For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.
In other manere than ye here me seye,
Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye;
Save that, paraventure, som-tyme at daunces, 955
Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,
It may wel be he loked on hir face
In swich a wyse, as man that asketh grace; (230)
But no-thing wiste she of his entente.
Nathelees, it happed, er they thennes wente, 960
By-cause that he was hir neighebour,
And was a man of worship and honour,
And hadde y-knowen him of tyme yore,
They fille in speche; and forth more and more
Un-to his purpos drough Aurelius, 965
And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus:
926. Cp. biforen; Hn. Cm. bifore; E. biforn. 939. E. hadde. 941. E.
Hn. tellen. 950. E. Cm. a furye; Hn. Pt. a fuyre; Cp. fuyre; Ln.
fire. 956. E. Hn. yong. 965. E. Hn. this; _rest_ his.
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god that this world made,
So that I wiste it mighte your herte glade, (240)
I wolde, that day that your Arveragus
Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, 970
Had went ther never I sholde have come agayn;
For wel I woot my service is in vayn.
My guerdon is but bresting of myn herte;
Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;
For with a word ye may me sleen or save, 975
Heer at your feet god wolde that I were grave!
I ne have as now no leyser more to seye;
Have mercy, swete, or ye wol do me deye!’ (250)
[490: T. 11291-11327.]
She gan to loke up-on Aurelius:
‘Is this your wil,’ quod she, ‘and sey ye thus? 980
Never erst,’ quod she, ‘ne wiste I what ye mente.
But now, Aurelie, I knowe your entente,
By thilke god that yaf me soule and lyf,
Ne shal I never been untrewe wyf
In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit: 985
I wol ben his to whom that I am knit;
Tak this for fynal answer as of me.’
But after that in pley thus seyde she: (260)
971. E. Hn. Cm. Ln. Hadde. 973. E. Hn. gerdon. 987. E. Hn. Taak.
‘Aurelie,’ quod she, ‘by heighe god above,
Yet wolde I graunte yow to been your love, 990
Sin I yow see so pitously complayne;
Loke what day that, endelong Britayne,
Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,
That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon—
I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene 995
Of rokkes, that ther nis no stoon y-sene,
Than wol I love yow best of any man;
Have heer my trouthe in al that ever I can.’ (270)
993. Cm. remoue; Cp. Ln. remewe; Pt. remeue. 997. E. Thanne.
‘Is ther non other grace in yow,’ quod he.
‘No, by that lord,’ quod she, ‘that maked me! 1000
For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.
Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde.
What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf
For to go love another mannes wyf,
That hath hir body whan so that him lyketh?’ 1005
Aurelius ful ofte sore syketh;
Wo was Aurelie, whan that he this herde,
And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde: (280)
‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘this were an inpossible!
Than moot I dye of sodein deth horrible.’ 1010
And with that word he turned him anoon.
Tho come hir othere freendes many oon,
And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,
And no-thing wiste of this conclusioun,
But sodeinly bigonne revel newe 1015
[491: T. 11328-11362.]
Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;
For thorisonte hath reft the sonne his light;
This is as muche to seye as it was night. (290)
And hoom they goon in Ioye and in solas,
Save only wrecche Aurelius, allas! 1020
He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte;
He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte.
Him semed that he felte his herte colde;
Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,
And on his knowes bare he sette him doun, 1025
And in his raving seyde his orisoun.
For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.
He niste what he spak, but thus he seyde; (300)
With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne
Un-to the goddes, and first un-to the sonne: 1030
1010. E. Thanne. 1011. MSS. anon, anone. 1012. E. Hn. coome.
1017. Ln. the orizonte; 1025. Cm. kneis; Cp. Pt. knees.
He seyde, ‘Appollo, god and governour
Of every plaunte, herbe, tree and flour,
That yevest, after thy declinacioun,
To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun,
As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or hye, 1035
Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable yë
On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn.
Lo, lord! my lady hath my deeth y-sworn (310)
With-oute gilt, but thy benignitee
Upon my dedly herte have som pitee! 1040
For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest,
Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.
Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse
How that I may been holpe and in what wyse.
1035. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. Pt. hie; E. Hn. Cp. heighe; Cm. hyghe;
Ln. hihe. 1036. Pt. ye; Cm. lye; E. Hn. Cp. eighe; Ln. eyhe. 1037.
E._om._ that. 1044. E. holpen.
Your blisful suster, Lucina the shene, 1045
That of the see is chief goddesse and quene,
Though Neptunus have deitee in the see,
Yet emperesse aboven him is she: (320)
Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desyr
Is to be quiked and lightned of your fyr, 1050
[492: T. 11363-11400.]
For which she folweth yow ful bisily,
Right so the see desyreth naturelly
To folwen hir, as she that is goddesse
Bothe in the see and riveres more and lesse.
Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste— 1055
Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste—
That now, next at this opposicioun,
Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun, (330)
As preyeth hir so greet a flood to bringe,
That fyve fadme at the leeste it overspringe 1060
The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne;
And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne;
Than certes to my lady may I seye:
“Holdeth your heste, the rokkes been aweye.”
1045. E. Lucina, _glossed_ i. luna. 1048. E. Emperisse. 1050. Hn.
lighted; Cm. lyghtenyd. 1063. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Thanne.
Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me; 1065
Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye;
I seye, preyeth your suster that she go
No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. (340)
Than shal she been evene atte fulle alway,
And spring-flood laste bothe night and day. 1070
And, but she vouche-sauf in swiche manere
To graunte me my sovereyn lady dere,
Prey hir to sinken every rok adoun
In-to hir owene derke regioun
Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne, 1075
Or never-mo shal I my lady winne.
Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke;
Lord Phebus, see the teres on my cheke, (350)
And of my peyne have som compassioun.’
And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, 1080
And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.
1069. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Thanne. 1074. E. Hn. dirke. 1078. E. teeris.
His brother, which that knew of his penaunce,
Up caughte him and to bedde he hath him broght.
Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght
Lete I this woful creature lye; 1085
Chese he, for me, whether he wol live or dye.
1086. E. wheither.
Arveragus, with hele and greet honour,
As he that was of chivalrye the flour, (360)
[493: T. 11401-11436.]
Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.
O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen, 1090
That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,
The fresshe knight, the worthy man of armes,
That loveth thee, as his owene hertes lyf.
No-thing list him to been imaginatyf
If any wight had spoke, whyl he was oute, 1095
To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.
He noght entendeth to no swich matere,
But daunceth, Iusteth, maketh hir good chere; (370)
And thus in Ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,
And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle. 1100
1096. Cp. Pt. Ln. ther-of (_for_ of it). 1100. E. Cm. I wol (wele)
yow; _rest_ wol (wil) I.
In langour and in torment furious
Two yeer and more lay wrecche Aurelius,
Er any foot he mighte on erthe goon;
Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,
Save of his brother, which that was a clerk; 1105
He knew of al this wo and al this werk.
For to non other creature certeyn
Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. (380)
Under his brest he bar it more secree
Than ever dide Pamphilus for Galathee. 1110
His brest was hool, with-oute for to sene,
But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.
And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure
In surgerye is perilous the cure,
But men mighte touche the arwe, or come therby. 1115
His brother weep and wayled prively,
Til atte laste him fil in remembraunce,
That whyl he was at Orliens in Fraunce, (390)
As yonge clerkes, that been likerous
To reden artes that been curious, 1120
Seken in every halke and every herne
Particuler sciences for to lerne,
He him remembred that, upon a day,
At Orliens in studie a book he say
[494: T. 11437-11471.]
Of magik natural, which his felawe, 1125
That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,
Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
Had prively upon his desk y-laft; (400)
Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns,
Touchinge the eighte and twenty mansiouns 1130
That longen to the mone, and swich folye,
As in our dayes is nat worth a flye;
For holy chirches feith in our bileve
Ne suffreth noon illusion us to greve.
And whan this book was in his remembraunce, 1135
Anon for Ioye his herte gan to daunce,
And to him-self he seyde prively:
‘My brother shal be warisshed hastily; (410)
For I am siker that ther be sciences,
By whiche men make diverse apparences 1140
Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.
For ofte at festes have I wel herd seye,
That tregetours, with-inne an halle large,
Have maad come in a water and a barge,
And in the halle rowen up and doun. 1145
Somtyme hath semed come a grim leoun;
And somtyme floures springe as in a mede;
Somtyme a vyne, and grapes whyte and rede; (420)
Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;
And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon. 1150
Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.
1101. E. Hn. Cm. furyus. 1109. E. Hn. baar. 1118. Cm. whil; _rest_
whiles. Ln. Cp. Pt. Orliaunce. 1125. E. natureel. 1129. Pt. _om._
the (_which seems better_). 1140. E. whee(!); _for_ whiche. 1141.
Cm tregettourys; Cp. tregetoures; _rest_ tregetours. 1147, 8. Cp. Pt.
Ln. _omit these two lines_. 1150. E. Cm. Ln. hym; _rest_ hem.
Now than conclude I thus, that if I mighte
At Orliens som old felawe y-finde,
That hadde this mones mansions in minde,
Or other magik naturel above, 1155
He sholde wel make my brother han his love.
For with an apparence a clerk may make
To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake (430)
Of Britaigne weren y-voyded everichon,
[495: T. 11472-11507.]
And shippes by the brinke comen and gon, 1160
And in swich forme endure a day or two;
Than were my brother warisshed of his wo.
Than moste she nedes holden hir biheste,
Or elles he shal shame hir atte leste.’
1152. E. thanne. 1155. E. natureel. 1161. E. Hn. Pt. enduren. Hn.
Cm. day; E. wowke; Cp. Pt. Ln. yeer. 1162, 3. E. Thanne.
What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? 1165
Un-to his brotheres bed he comen is,
And swich confort he yaf him for to gon
To Orliens, that he up stirte anon, (440)
And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare,
In hope for to ben lissed of his care. 1170
Whan they were come almost to that citee,
But-if it were a two furlong or three,
A yong clerk rominge by him-self they mette,
Which that in Latin thriftily hem grette,
And after that he seyde a wonder thing: 1175
‘I knowe,’ quod he, ‘the cause of your coming’;
And er they ferther any fote wente,
He tolde hem al that was in hir entente. (450)
This Briton clerk him asked of felawes
The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes; 1180
And he answerde him that they dede were,
For which he weep ful ofte many a tere.
Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon,
And forth with this magicien is he gon
Hoom to his hous, and made hem wel at ese. 1185
Hem lakked no vitaille that mighte hem plese;
So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon
Aurelius in his lyf saugh never noon. (460)
1184. E. Hn. Cm. _put_ forth _before_ is. 1185. E. Hn. maden.
He shewed him, er he wente to sopeer,
Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; 1190
Ther saugh he hertes with hir homes hye,
The gretteste that ever were seyn with yë.
He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,
And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.
He saugh, whan voided were thise wilde deer, 1195
[496: T. 11508-11543.]
Thise fauconers upon a fair river,
That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.
1191-1196. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit six lines._ 1192. Cm. Iye; E. Hn. eye.
Tho saugh he knightes Iusting in a playn; (470)
And after this, he dide him swich plesaunce,
That he him shewed his lady on a daunce 1200
On which him-self he daunced, as him thoughte.
And whan this maister, that this magik wroughte,
Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,
And farewel! al our revel was ago.
And yet remoeved they never out of the hous, 1205
Whyl they saugh al this sighte merveillous,
But in his studie, ther-as his bookes be,
They seten stille, and no wight but they three. (480)
To him this maister called his squyer,
And seyde him thus: ‘is redy our soper? 1210
Almost an houre it is, I undertake,
Sith I yow bad our soper for to make,
Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me
In-to my studie, ther-as my bookes be.’
‘Sire,’ quod this squyer, ‘whan it lyketh yow, 1215
It is al redy, though ye wol right now.’
‘Go we than soupe,’ quod he, ‘as for the beste;
This amorous folk som-tyme mote han reste.’ (490)
1216. E. though; Hn. thogh. 1217. E. Hn. Cm. thanne. 1218. E. Hn.
hir reste; _rest om._ hir.
At-after soper fille they in tretee,
What somme sholde this maistres guerdon be, 1220
To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne,
And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.
1220. E. Hn. Cm. gerdou_n_. 1221. Cm. remeuy_n_; Cp. remewe; Ln.
remoue].
He made it straunge, and swoor, so god him save,
Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,
Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. 1225
1224. _Here Hl. begins again._
Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,
Answerde thus, ‘fy on a thousand pound!
This wyde world, which that men seye is round, (500)
I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.
This bargayn is ful drive, for we ben knit. 1230
Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!
[497: T. 11544-11578.]
But loketh now, for no necligence or slouthe,
Ye tarie us heer no lenger than to-morwe.’
‘Nay,’ quod this clerk, ‘have heer my feith to borwe.’
To bedde is goon Aurelius whan him leste, 1235
And wel ny al that night he hadde his reste;
What for his labour and his hope of blisse,
His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. (510)
Upon the morwe, whan that it was day,
To Britaigne toke they the righte way, 1240
Aurelius, and this magicien bisyde,
And been descended ther they wolde abyde;
And this was, as the bokes me remembre,
The colde frosty seson of Decembre.
1241. _So all; see_ 1184. 1243. E. Hn. thise; Hl. these; _rest_ the.
Phebus wex old, and hewed lyk latoun, 1245
That in his hote declinacioun
Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;
But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, (520)
Wher-as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.
The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, 1250
Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.
Ianus sit by the fyr, with double berd,
And drinketh of his bugle-horn the wyn.
Biforn him stant braun of the tusked swyn,
And “Nowel” cryeth every lusty man. 1255
1245. Cm. Pt. wex; E. Hn. Hl. Cp. wax. 1254. Hl. Cm. Cp. braun; Pt.
brawne; E. Hn. brawen.
Aurelius, in al that ever he can,
Doth to his maister chere and reverence,
And preyeth him to doon his diligence (530)
To bringen him out of his peynes smerte,
Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. 1260
1257. E. chiere; Cm. Ln. Hl. chier.
This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man,
That night and day he spedde him that he can,
To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun;
This is to seye, to make illusioun,
By swich an apparence or Iogelrye, 1265
I ne can no termes of astrologye,
[498: T. 11579-11611.]
That she and every wight sholde wene and seye,
That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, (540)
Or elles they were sonken under grounde.
So atte laste he hath his tyme y-founde 1270
To maken his Iapes and his wrecchednesse
Of swich a superstitious cursednesse.
His tables Toletanes forth he broght,
Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked noght,
Neither his collect ne his expans yeres, 1275
Ne his rotes ne his othere geres,
As been his centres and his arguments,
And his proporcionels convenients (550)
For his equacions in every thing.
And, by his eighte spere in his wirking, 1280
He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove
Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above
That in the ninthe speere considered is;
Ful subtilly he calculed al this.
1263. E. Hn. Cm. wayten. 1264. E. Cm. maken. 1265. E. a (_for_
an). 1269. E. ellis. 1273. E. Hn. tolletanes; Hl. tollitanes;
_rest_ colletanes(!). E. brought; Hn. broght. 1274. E. nought; Hn.
noght. 1275. E. yeeris. 1276. _So all_: (E. hise, rootes, geris).
1277. Ln. centres; _rest_ centris. 1278. Hn. Hl. proporcionels; E.
-cioneles; Cm. -ciounnys; Cp. Pt. -cions. 1280. E. speere. 1283.
Cm. nynte; Hl. fourthe(!); _rest_ 9. 1284. E. he hadde kalkuled;
_rest om._ hadde.
Whan he had founde his firste mansioun, 1285
He knew the remenant by proporcioun;
And knew the arysing of his mone weel,
And in whos face, and terme, and every-deel; (560)
And knew ful weel the mones mansioun
Acordaunt to his operacioun, 1290
And knew also his othere observaunces
For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces
As hethen folk used in thilke dayes;
For which no lenger maked he delayes,
But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, 1295
It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.
1285. E. hadde. 1293. Cp. Pt. Hl. vsed; E. Hn. vseden. 1295. E. Hn.
Cm. wyke; Hl. Cp. wike; Pt. Ln. weke. 1296. Hl. _om._ alle.
Aurelius, which that yet despeired is
Wher he shal han his love or fare amis, (570)
Awaiteth night and day on this miracle;
[499: T. 11612-11648.]
And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, 1300
That voided were thise rokkes everichon,
Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,
And seyde, ‘I woful wrecche, Aurelius,
Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus,
That me han holpen fro my cares colde:’ 1305
And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,
Wher-as he knew he sholde his lady see.
And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right he, (580)
With dredful herte and with ful humble chere,
Salewed hath his sovereyn lady dere: 1310
1302. E. Cm. hise.
‘My righte lady,’ quod this woful man,
‘Whom I most drede and love as I best can,
And lothest were of al this world displese,
Nere it that I for yow have swich disese,
That I moste dyen heer at your foot anon, 1315
Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon;
But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;
Ye slee me giltelees for verray peyne. (590)
But of my deeth, thogh that ye have no routhe,
Avyseth yow, er that ye breke your trouthe. 1320
Repenteth yow, for thilke god above,
Er ye me sleen by-cause that I yow love.
For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight;
Nat that I chalange any thing of right
Of yow my sovereyn lady, but your grace; 1325
But in a gardin yond, at swich a place,
Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;
And in myn hand your trouthe plighten ye (600)
To love me best, god woot, ye seyde so,
Al be that I unworthy be therto. 1330
Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow,
More than to save myn hertes lyf right now;
I have do so as ye comanded me;
And if ye vouche-sauf, ye may go see.
Doth as yow list, have your biheste in minde, 1335
For quik or deed, right ther ye shul me finde;
[500: T. 11649-11683.]
In yow lyth al, to do me live or deye;—
But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye!’ (610)
1318. Pt. Cp. giltelees; Hl. gulteles; _rest_ giltless (-les). 1333.
E. Hn. Hl. do; _rest_ don. 1336. E. Hn. shal; Ln. schal.
He taketh his leve, and she astonied stood,
In al hir face nas a drope of blood; 1340
She wende never han come in swich a trappe:
‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever this sholde happe!
For wende I never, by possibilitee,
That swich a monstre or merveille mighte be!
It is agayns the proces of nature’: 1345
And hoom she gooth a sorweful creature.
For verray fere unnethe may she go,
She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, (620)
And swowneth, that it routhe was to see;
But why it was, to no wight tolde she; 1350
For out of toune was goon Arveragus.
But to hir-self she spak, and seyde thus,
With face pale and with ful sorweful chere,
In hir compleynt, as ye shul after here:
1340. Hl. oon; Pt. on (_for_ a). 1354. E. Hn. Cm. shal.
‘Allas,’ quod she, ‘on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, 1355
That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne;
For which, tescape, woot I no socour
Save only deeth or elles dishonour; (630)
Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.
But nathelees, yet have I lever to lese 1360
My lyf than of my body have a shame,
Or knowe my-selven fals, or lese my name,
And with my deth I may be quit, y-wis.
Hath ther nat many a noble wyf, er this,
And many a mayde y-slayn hir-self, allas! 1365
Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
1357. Hl. Fro; _rest_ For. 1358. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. _om._ elles. 1360.
Pt. Hl. _om._ to.
Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse;
Whan thretty tyraunts, ful of cursednesse, (640)
Had slayn Phidoun in Athenes, atte feste,
They comanded his doghtres for tareste, 1370
And bringen hem biforn hem in despyt
[501: T. 11684-11719.]
Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delyt,
And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce
Upon the pavement, god yeve hem mischaunce!
For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede, 1375
Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,
They prively ben stirt in-to a welle,
And dreynte hem-selven, as the bokes telle. (650)
1367. Cm. bere. 1368. Cm. thretty; Hl. thritty; _rest_ xxx. 1369.
E. Hadde. E. Hn. Cm. Atthenes. E. at; _rest_ atte, at the. 1374.
Cp. Ln. pament.
They of Messene lete enquere and seke
Of Lacedomie fifty maydens eke, 1380
On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye;
But was ther noon of al that companye
That she nas slayn, and with a good entente
Chees rather for to dye than assente
To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. 1385
Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?
1379. Cm. Messene; E. Hn. Hl. Mecene.
Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides
That loved a mayden, heet Stimphalides, (660)
Whan that hir fader slayn was on a night,
Un-to Dianes temple goth she right, 1390
And hente the image in hir handes two,
Fro which image wolde she never go.
No wight ne mighte hir handes of it arace,
Til she was slayn right in the selve place.
Now sith that maydens hadden swich despyt 1395
To been defouled with mannes foul delyt,
Wel oghte a wyf rather hir-selven slee
Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. (670)
1388. E. Hl. heet; Hn. Cm. highte; Cp. Ln. that hight (hiht); Pt. which
hiȝt.
What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf,
That at Cartage birafte hir-self hir lyf? 1400
For 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 hir vileinye.
Hath nat Lucresse y-slayn hir-self, allas! 1405
At Rome, whanne she oppressed was
Of Tarquin, for hir thoughte it was a shame
[502: T. 11720-11753.]
To liven whan she hadde lost hir name? (680)
1406. Hl. whanne; E. Hn. Cm. whan; Cp. Pt. there; Ln. thare. 1408.
Hn. Cm. Hl. hadde; _rest_ had.
The sevene maydens of Milesie also
Han slayn hem-self, for verray drede and wo, 1410
Rather than folk of Gaule hem sholde oppresse.
Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,
Coude I now telle as touchinge this matere.
1409. Hn. Cp. Ln. Milesie; E. Cm. Melesie. 1410. Hn. Cm. Hl. verray;
_rest om._
Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so dere
Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde 1415
In Habradates woundes depe and wyde,
And seyde, “my body, at the leeste way,
Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.” (690)
1414. Hn. Hl. habradace; Cp. Pt. habradas; Ln. Abradas.
What sholde I mo ensamples heer-of sayn,
Sith that so manye han hem-selven slayn 1420
Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?
I wol conclude, that it is bet for me
To sleen my-self, than been defouled thus.
I wol be trewe un-to Arveragus,
Or rather sleen my-self in som manere, 1425
As dide Demociones doghter dere,
By-cause that she wolde nat defouled be.
O Cedasus! it is ful greet pitee, (700)
To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas!
That slowe hem-selven for swich maner cas. 1430
1430. _All_ hem-self; _see_ l. 1420.
As greet a pitee was it, or wel more,
The Theban mayden, that for Nichanore
Hir-selven slow, right for swich maner wo.
Another Theban mayden dide right so;
For oon of Macedoine hadde hir oppressed, 1435
She with hir deeth hir maydenhede redressed.
1435. Cm. Massedoyne; Ln. Macedoyne; Cp. Macedoigne; Pt. Masidoigne;
Hl. Macidone; E. Hn. Macidonye.
What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf,
That for swich cas birafte hir-self hir lyf? (710)
1437. Hn. Hl. Niceratis; Cm. Nycherates.
How trewe eek was to Alcebiades
His love, that rather for to dyen chees 1440
Than for to suffre his body unburied be!
[503: T. 11754-11785.]
Lo which a wyf was Alceste,’ quod she.
1440. Cm. al (_for_ that); E. _om._ 1442. Cp. Ln. Alcestem; Pt.
Alcesteyn; _rest_ Alceste.
‘What seith Omer of gode Penalopee?
Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee.
1443. E. Penalopee; _rest_ Penolopee (-pe).
Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus, 1445
That whan at Troye was slayn Protheselaus,
No lenger wolde she live after his day.
1445. Hn. Hl. Laodomya; E. Cm. Lacedomya; _rest_ Leodamya.
The same of noble Porcia telle I may; (720)
With-oute Brutus coude she nat live,
To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive. 1450
1450. Cp. Cm. Hl. yiue; E. Hn. Pt. yeue.
The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesye
Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye,
1452. E. Honured.
O Teuta, queen! thy wyfly chastitee
To alle wyves may a mirour be.
The same thing I seye of Bilia, [T. _om._
Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria.’ [T. _om._
1453. Cm. Cp. Hl. queen; _rest_ queene (quene). 1455, 1456. _These
two lines are in_ E. _and_ edd. _only_. E. Bilyea (_edd._ Bilia; _see
note_).
Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye,
Purposinge ever that she wolde deye. (730)
1457. E. pleyne; _rest_ pleyned.
But nathelees, upon the thridde night,
Hom cam Arveragus, this worthy knight, 1460
And asked hir, why that she weep so sore?
And she gan wepen ever lenger the more.
‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever was I born!
Thus have I seyd,’ quod she, ‘thus have I sworn’—
And told him al as ye han herd bifore; 1465
It nedeth nat reherce it yow na-more.
1463. E. I was; _rest_ was I.
This housbond with glad chere, in freendly wyse,
Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse: (740)
‘Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?’
1467. E. Hl. chiere.
‘Nay, nay,’ quod she, ‘god help me so, as wis; 1470
This is to muche, and it were goddes wille.’
‘Ye, wyf,’ quod he, ‘lat slepen that is stille;
It may be wel, paraventure, yet to-day.
Ye shul your trouthe holden, by my fay!
For god so wisly have mercy on me, 1475
[504: T. 11786-11816.]
I hadde wel lever y-stiked for to be,
For verray love which that I to yow have,
But-if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and save. (750)
Trouthe is the hyeste thing that man may kepe’:—
But with that word he brast anon to wepe, 1480
And seyde, ‘I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,
That never, whyl thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,
To no wight tel thou of this aventure.
As I may best, I wol my wo endure,
Ne make no contenance of hevinesse, 1485
That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.’
1475. Hl. on; E. Hn. Cm. vp on. 1481. E. _om._ of. 1483. Hn. tel;
_rest_ telle; _see_ l. 1591.
And forth he cleped a squyer and a mayde:
‘Goth forth anon with Dorigen,’ he sayde, (760)
‘And bringeth hir to swich a place anon.’
They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon; 1490
But they ne wiste why she thider wente.
He nolde no wight tellen his entente. (764)
Paraventure an heep of yow, y-wis, [T. _om._
Wol holden him a lewed man in this, [T. _om._
That he wol putte his wyf in Iupartye; [T. _om._
Herkneth the tale, er ye up-on hir crye. [T. _om._
She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth; [T. _om._
And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. [T. _om._
1493-98. _found in_ E. _only_.
This squyer, which that highte Aurelius, (771)
On Dorigen that was so amorous, 1500
Of aventure happed hir to mete
Amidde the toun, right in the quikkest strete,
As she was boun to goon the wey forth-right
Toward the gardin ther-as she had hight.
And he was to the gardinward also; 1505
For wel he spyed, whan she wolde go
Out of hir hous to any maner place.
But thus they mette, of aventure or grace; (780)
And he saleweth hir with glad entente,
And asked of hir whiderward she wente?
1500. E. Hn. Cm. amorus. 1503. E. bown; _rest_ boun.
And she answerde, half as she were mad,
‘Un-to the gardin, as myn housbond bad,
[505: T. 11817-11854.]
My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas!’
Aurelius gan wondren on this cas,
And in his herte had greet compassioun 1515
Of hir and of hir lamentacioun,
And of Arveragus, the worthy knight,
That bad hir holden al that she had hight, (790)
So looth him was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe;
And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, 1520
Consideringe the beste on every syde,
That fro his lust yet were him lever abyde
Than doon so heigh a cherlish wrecchednesse
Agayns franchyse and alle gentillesse;
For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: 1525
1515. E. Hn. Cm. hadde.
‘Madame, seyth to your lord Arveragus,
That sith I see his grete gentillesse (800)
To yow, and eek I see wel your distresse,
That him were lever han shame (and that were routhe)
Than ye to me sholde breke thus your trouthe, 1530
I have wel lever ever to suffre wo
Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.
I yow relesse, madame, in-to your hond
Quit every surement and every bond,
That ye han maad to me as heer-biforn, 1535
Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.
My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve
Of no biheste, and here I take my leve, (810)
As of the treweste and the beste wyf
That ever yet I knew in al my lyf. 1540
But every wyf be-war of hir biheste,
On Dorigene remembreth atte leste.
Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede,
As well as can a knight, with-outen drede.’
1527. E. Hn. seyeth. 1534. Hn. serement; Hl. seurement.
She thonketh him up-on hir knees al bare, 1545
And hoom un-to hir housbond is she fare,
And tolde him al as ye han herd me sayd;
And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd, (820)
That it were inpossible me to wryte;
What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? 1550
[506: T. 11855-11889.]
Arveragus and Dorigene his wyf
In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.
Never eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene;
He cherisseth hir as though she were a quene;
And she was to him trewe for evermore. 1555
Of thise two folk ye gete of me na-more.
1556. E. _om._ two.
Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,
Curseth the tyme that ever he was born: (830)
‘Allas,’ quod he, ‘allas! that I bihighte
Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte 1560
Un-to this philosophre! how shal I do?
I see na-more but that I am fordo.
Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,
And been a begger; heer may I nat dwelle,
And shamen al my kinrede in this place, 1565
But I of him may gete bettre grace.
But nathelees, I wol of him assaye,
At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, (840)
And thanke him of his grete curteisye;
My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.’ 1570
With herte soor he gooth un-to his cofre,
And broghte gold un-to this philosophre,
The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,
And him bisecheth, of his gentillesse,
To graunte him dayes of the remenaunt, 1575
And seyde, ‘maister, I dar wel make avaunt,
I failled never of my trouthe as yit;
For sikerly my dette shal be quit (850)
Towardes yow, how-ever that I fare
To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. 1580
But wolde ye vouche-sauf, up-on seurtee,
Two yeer or three for to respyten me,
Than were I wel; for elles moot I selle
Myn heritage; ther is na-more to telle.’
1580. E. Hn. Cp. a-begged; Ln. abigged; Hl. a begge; Cm. Pt. a
beggere. 1581. Cm. Cp. Hl. seurte; Pt. swerte; E. Hn. seuretee.
1583. E. Thanne.
This philosophre sobrely answerde, 1585
[507: T. 11890-11924.]
And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde:
‘Have I nat holden covenant un-to thee?’
‘Yes, certes, wel and trewely,’ quod he. (860)
‘Hastow nat had thy lady as thee lyketh?’
‘No, no,’ quod he, and sorwefully he syketh. 1590
‘What was the cause? tel me if thou can.’
Aurelius his tale anon bigan,
And tolde him al, as ye han herd bifore;
It nedeth nat to yow reherce it more.
He seide, ‘Arveragus, of gentillesse, 1595
Had lever dye in sorwe and in distresse
Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals.’
The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als, (870)
How looth hir was to been a wikked wyf,
And that she lever had lost that day hir lyf, 1600
And that hir trouthe she swoor, thurgh innocence:
‘She never erst herde speke of apparence;
That made me han of hir so greet pitee.
And right as frely as he sente hir me,
As frely sente I hir to him ageyn. 1605
This al and som, ther is na-more to seyn.’
1596. E. Hn. Hadde. 1602. E. Hn. Hl. hadde herd; _rest_ herde
(herd). 1606. E. Hn. This; _rest_ This is.
This philosophre answerde, ‘leve brother,
Everich of yow dide gentilly til other. (880)
Thou art a squyer, and he is a knight;
But god forbede, for his blisful might, 1610
But-if a clerk coude doon a gentil dede
As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!
Sire, I relesse thee thy thousand pound,
As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,
Ne never er now ne haddest knowen me. 1615
For sire, I wol nat take a peny of thee
For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.
Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitaille; (890)
It is y-nogh, and farewel, have good day:’
And took his hors, and forth he gooth his way. 1620
1613. E. releesse. 1614. Cp. Hl. crope; Ln. crepe. Cm. _om._ the.
1616. E. Cm. Cp. taken.
[508: T. 11925-11928.]
Lordinges, this question wolde I aske now, 1621
Which was the moste free, as thinketh yow?
Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.
I can na-more, my tale is at an ende. (896)
HERE IS ENDED THE FRANKELEYNS TALE.
1621. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. _ins._ thanne _before_ wolde. COLOPHON. _From_
E.; Hn. Here endeth, &c.; Pt. Thus endeth the Frankleyn his tale.
*** For ll. 11929-34 _in_ Tyrwhitt’s text, _see_ Note _at the foot of_
p. 289; _for_ ll. 11935-12902, _see_ pp. 290-319; _for_ ll.
12903-15468, _see_ pp. 165-289.
[509: T. 15469-15489.]
* * * * *
GROUP G.
THE SECONDE NONNES TALE.
***In Tyrwhitt’s text, ll. 15469 sqq.; see p. 508.
* * * * *
=The Prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale.=
The ministre and the norice un-to vyces,
Which that men clepe in English ydelnesse,
That porter of the gate is of delyces,
To eschue, and by hir contrarie hir oppresse,
That is to seyn, by leveful bisinesse, 5
Wel oghten we to doon al our entente,
Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
7. Hn. Hl. hente; E. shente, Pt. shent, Ln. schent, _wrongly._
For he, that with his thousand cordes slye
Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye, 10
He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe,
Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
He nis nat war the feend hath him in honde;
Wel oughte us werche, and ydelnes withstonde.
And though men dradden never for to dye, 15
Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees,
That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
Of which ther never comth no good encrees;
And seen, that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees
Only to slepe, and for to ete and drinke, 20
And to devouren al that othere swinke.
17. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. Hl. roten; Cm. rote. 18. E. Hn. no good nencrees;
Pt. Ln. non encrese; Hl. good encres; Cm. encrees. 19. Cm. hire; Pt.
hure; Hn. Ln. hir; E. it; Hl. her.
[510: T. 15490-15520.]
And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
That cause is of so greet confusioun,
I have heer doon my feithful bisinesse,
After the legende, in translacioun 25
Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun,
Thou with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie;
Thee mene I, mayde and martir, seint Cecilie!
27. Hn. Pt. of; E. Cm. Ln. Hl. with. 28. Hn. Cm. Pt. Ln. martir
seinte (seint); Hl. martir; E. mooder.
_Inuocacio ad Mariam._
And thou that flour of virgines art alle,
Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte, 30
To thee at my biginning first I calle;
Thou comfort of us wrecches, do me endyte
Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir meryte
The eternal lyf, and of the feend victorie,
As man may after reden in hir storie. 35
32. Hn. mendite (_shewing the scansion_). 34. E. eterneel; Hn. Cm.
eternal.
Thou mayde and mooder, doghter of thy sone,
Thou welle of mercy, sinful soules cure,
In whom that god, for bountee, chees to wone,
Thou humble, and heigh over every creature,
Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature, 40
That no desdeyn the maker hadde of kinde,
His sone in blode and flesh to clothe and winde.
Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydes
Took mannes shap the eternal love and pees,
That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is, 45
Whom erthe and see and heven, out of relees,
Ay herien; and thou, virgin wemmelees,
Bar of thy body, and dweltest mayden pure,
The creatour of every creature.
43. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. sydis. 44. E. eterneel; Hn. Cm. eternal.
Assembled is in thee magnificence 50
With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee
That thou, that art the sonne of excellence,
[511: T. 15521-15552.]
Nat only helpest hem that preyen thee,
But ofte tyme, of thy benignitee,
Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche, 55
Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche.
54. E. often; Hn. Cm. ofte.
Now help, thou meke and blisful fayre mayde,
Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;
Think on the womman Cananee, that sayde
That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle 60
That from hir lordes table been y-falle;
And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve,
Be sinful, yet accepte my bileve.
And, for that feith is deed with-outen werkes,
So for to werken yif me wit and space, 65
That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!
O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace,
Be myn advocat in that heighe place
Ther-as withouten ende is songe ‘Osanne,’
Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of Anne! 70
And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,
That troubled is by the contagioun
Of my body, and also by the wighte
Of erthly luste and fals affeccioun;
O haven of refut, o salvacioun 75
Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.
Yet preye I yow that reden that I wryte,
Foryeve me, that I do no diligence
This ilke storie subtilly to endyte; 80
For both have I the wordes and sentence
Of him that at the seintes reverence
The storie wroot, and folwe hir legende,
And prey yow, that ye wol my werk amende.
80. Hn. Cm. tendite (_shewing the scansion_). 82. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. him;
_but_ Cp. Pt. Ln. hem. 83. Cm. folwe; E. Hn. Hl. folwen; Cp. Pt. Ln.
folowen. 84. E. I pray; Cp. And pray I; _rest_ And pray (_or_ prei,
_or_ preye).
[512: T. 15552-15580.]
_Interpretado nominis Cecilie, quam ponit frater Iacobus_
_Ianuensis in Legenda Aurea._
First wolde I yow the name of seint Cecilie 85
Expoune, as men may in hir storie see,
It is to seye in English ‘hevenes lilie,’
For pure chastnesse of virginitee;
Or, for she whytnesse hadde of honestee,
And grene of conscience, and of good fame 90
The sole savour, ‘lilie’ was hir name.
HEADING. _In margin of _E. Hn. (E. om. _Aurea_). 85. E. _omits_
yow. 91. E. favour; _rest_ savour; _see_ l. 229.
Or Cecile is to seye ‘the wey to blinde,’
For she ensample was by good techinge;
Or elles Cecile, as I writen finde,
Is ioyned, by a maner conioininge 95
Of ‘hevene’ and ‘Lia’; and heer, in figuringe,
The ‘heven’ is set for thoght of holinesse,
And ‘Lia’ for hir lasting bisinesse.
95. E. manere.
Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,
‘Wanting of blindnesse,’ for hir grete light 100
Of sapience, and for hir thewes clere;
Or elles, lo! this maydens name bright
Of ‘hevene’ and ‘leos’ comth, for which by right
Men mighte hir wel ‘the heven of peple’ calle,
Ensample of gode and wyse werkes alle. 105
For ‘leos’ ‘peple’ in English is to seye,
And right as men may in the hevene see
The sonne and mone and sterres every weye,
Right so men gostly, in this mayden free,
Seyen of feith the magnanimitee, 110
And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,
And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.
110. E. Syen; Cp. Ln. Seyen; Hn. Sayen.
[513: T. 15581-15608.]
And right so as thise philosophres wryte
That heven is swift and round and eek brenninge,
Right so was fayre Cecilie the whyte 115
Ful swift and bisy ever in good werkinge,
And round and hool in good perseveringe,
And brenning ever in charitee ful brighte;
Now have I yow declared what she highte.
_Explicit_.
=Here Biginneth the Seconde Nonnes Tale, of the Lyf of Seinte Cecile.=
This mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lyf seith, 120
Was comen of Romayns, and of noble kinde,
And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith
Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir minde;
She never cessed, as I writen finde,
Of hir preyere, and god to love and drede, 125
Biseking him to kepe hir maydenhede.
And when this mayden sholde unto a man
Y-wedded be, that was ful yong of age,
Which that y-cleped was Valerian,
And day was comen of hir mariage, 130
She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful fayre,
Had next hir flesh y-clad hir in an heyre.
And whyl the organs maden melodye,
To god alone in herte thus sang she; 135
‘O lord, my soule and eek my body gye
Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be:’
And, for his love that deyde upon a tree,
Every seconde or thridde day she faste,
Ay biddinge in hir orisons ful faste. 140
134. Hl. Hn. organs; Ln. orgens; E. Orgues; Cp. Orgles; Pt. Orgels.
137. E. it; _rest_ I. 138. Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. deyde; E. dyde. 139. E.
Hn. and; _rest_ or.
[514: T. 15609-15643.]
The night cam, and to bedde moste she gon
With hir housbonde, as ofte is the manere,
And prively to him she seyde anon,
‘O swete and wel biloved spouse dere,
Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it here, 145
Which that right fain I wolde unto yow seye,
So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye.’
147. E. me; _rest_ it; _see_ l. 150.
Valerian gan faste unto hir swere,
That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be,
He sholde never-mo biwreyen here; 150
And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she,
‘I have an angel which that loveth me,
That with greet love, wher-so I wake or slepe,
Is redy ay my body for to kepe.
152. E. aungel.
And if that he may felen, out of drede, 155
That ye me touche or love in vileinye,
He right anon wol slee yow with the dede,
And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye;
And if that ye in clene love me gye,
He wol yow loven as me, for your clennesse, 160
And shewen yow his Ioye and his brightnesse.’
Valerian, corrected as god wolde,
Answerde agayn, ‘if I shal trusten thee,
Lat me that angel se, and him biholde;
And if that it a verray angel be, 165
Than wol I doon as thou hast preyed me;
And if thou love another man, for sothe
Right with this swerd than wol I slee yow bothe.’
164. E. aungel; _but_ angel _in_ 165, 170.
Cecile answerde anon right in this wyse,
‘If that yow list, the angel shul ye see, 170
So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptyse.
Goth forth to Via Apia,’ quod she,
‘That fro this toun ne stant but myles three,
And, to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,
Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle. 175
171. on] E. in.
[515: T. 15644-15674.]
Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente,
To shewen yow the gode Urban the olde,
For secree nedes and for good entente.
And whan that ye seint Urban han biholde,
Telle him the wordes whiche I to yow tolde; 180
And whan that he hath purged yow fro sinne,
Thanne shul ye see that angel, er ye twinne.’
178. E. thynges; _rest_ nedes, nedis, needes. 180. E. Cp. Ln. Hl.
whiche þat I; _but_ Hn. Cm. Pt. _omit_ that.
Valerian is to the place y-gon,
And right as him was taught by his lerninge,
He fond this holy olde Urban anon 185
Among the seintes buriels lotinge.
And he anon, with-outen taryinge,
Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,
Urban for Ioye his hondes gan up holde.
The teres from his yën leet he falle— 190
‘Almighty lord, o Iesu Crist,’ quod he,
‘Sower of chast conseil, herde of us alle,
The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee
That thou hast sowe in Cecile, tak to thee!
Lo, lyk a bisy bee, with-outen gyle, 195
Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile!
190. Ln. yen; _rest_ eyen, eyhen. 192. E. Hn. hierde.
For thilke spouse, that she took but now
Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth here,
As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow!’
And with that worde, anon ther gan appere 200
An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere,
That hadde a book with lettre of golde in honde,
And gan biforn Valerian to stonde.
197. E. Hl. right; _rest_ but. 203. E. bifore; Hl. to-forn; _rest_
biforn, biforne, beforne.
Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
Whan he him saugh, and he up hente him tho, 205
And on his book right thus he gan to rede—
[516: T. 15675-15706.]
‘Oo Lord, oo feith, oo god with-outen mo,
Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also,
Aboven alle and over al everywhere’—
Thise wordes al with gold y-writen were. 210
208. E. Hn. Cm. O; Hl. On; Cp. Pt. Ln. Of. 209. E. _omits_ and.
Whan this was rad, than seyde this olde man,
‘Levestow this thing or no? sey ye or nay.’
‘I leve al this thing,’ quod Valerian,
‘For sother thing than this, I dar wel say,
Under the hevene no wight thinke may.’ 215
Tho vanisshed the olde man, he niste where,
And pope Urban him cristened right there.
210-216. Hl. _omits_. 214. E. oother; _rest_ sother. 216. E. Hn.
Cm. this; Pt. that; Cp. Ln. the. 217. Hl. Pt. cristened; Cm.
cristenede; E. Hn. Cp. cristned.
Valerian goth hoom, and fint Cecilie
With-inne his chambre with an angel stonde;
This angel hadde of roses and of lilie 220
Corones two, the which he bar in honde;
And first to Cecile, as I understonde,
He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
That other to Valerian, hir make.
‘With body clene and with unwemmed thoght 225
Kepeth ay wel thise corones,’ quod he;
‘Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght,
Ne never-mo ne shal they roten be,
Ne lese her sote savour, trusteth me;
Ne never wight shal seen hem with his yë, 230
But he be chaast and hate vileinyë.
226. E. three; Hl. thre; _rest_ quod he.
And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone
Assentedest to good conseil also,
Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy bone.’
‘I have a brother,’ quod Valerian tho, 235
‘That in this world I love no man so.
I pray yow that my brother may han grace
To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place.’
[517: T. 15707-15737.]
The angel seyde, ‘god lyketh thy requeste,
And bothe, with the palm of martirdom, 240
Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.’
And with that word Tiburce his brother com.
And whan that he the savour undernom
Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
With-inne his herte he gan to wondre faste, 245
And seyde, ‘I wondre, this tyme of the yeer,
Whennes that sote savour cometh so
Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.
For though I hadde hem in myn hondes two,
The savour mighte in me no depper go. 250
The sote smel that in myn herte I finde
Hath chaunged me al in another kinde.’
251. _The MSS. have_ swete _here; but in_ l. 247 _we find only _sote,
soote, swote, suote, _except_ swete _in_ Pt.; _in_ l. 229, E. Hl.
soote; Hn. swote; Cm. sote; Cp. Pt. Ln. swete.
Valerian seyde, ‘two corones han we,
Snow-whyte and rose-reed, that shynen clere,
Whiche that thyn yën han no might to see; 255
And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,
So shaltow seen hem, leve brother dere,
If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe.’
Tiburce answerde, ‘seistow this to me 260
In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?’
‘In dremes,’ quod Valerian, ‘han we be
Unto this tyme, brother myn, y-wis.
But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is.’
‘How woostow this,’ quod Tiburce, ‘in what wyse?’ 265
Quod Valerian, ‘that shal I thee devyse.
The angel of god hath me the trouthe y-taught
Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.’—
[518: T. 15738-15769.]
And of the miracle of thise corones tweye 270
Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;
Solempnely this noble doctour dere
Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:
267. E. Ln. Hl. _omit_ the. 273. E. hym; _rest_ it.
The palm of martirdom for to receyve,
Seinte Cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte, 275
The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyve;
Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte,
To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte
Corones two of floures wel smellinge,
And made his angel hem the corones bringe: 280
277. _The MSS. have_ Cecilies, _wrongly_ (for Valerians); Lat.
_text_—Ualeriani; cf. l. 281.
The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;
The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,
Devocioun of chastitee to love.—
Tho shewede him Cecile al open and pleyn
That alle ydoles nis but a thing in veyn; 285
For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,
And charged him his ydoles for to leve.
281. E. Hn. _omit_ thise; _the rest retain it, except_ Cm., _which has_
brought hem to blysse. 284. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ al.
‘Who so that troweth nat this, a beste he is,’
Quod tho Tiburce, ‘if that I shal nat lye.’
And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this, 290
And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye.
‘This day I take thee for myn allye,’
Seyde this blisful fayre mayde dere;
And after that she seyde as ye may here:
288. E. Hn. Pt. beest; Hl. best; Cm. Cp. Ln. beste.
‘Lo, right so as the love of Crist,’ quod she, 295
‘Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wyse
Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,
Sin that thou wolt thyn ydoles despyse.
Go with thy brother now, and thee baptyse,
And make thee clene; so that thou mowe biholde 300
The angels face of which thy brother tolde.’
[519: T. 15770-15804.]
Tiburce answerde and seyde, ‘brother dere,
First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?’
‘To whom?’ quod he, ‘com forth with right good chere,
I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban.’ 305
’Til Urban? brother myn Valerian,’
Quod tho Tiburce, ‘woltow me thider lede?
Me thinketh that it were a wonder dede.
303. E. Hn. Cm. that I; _rest omit_ that. 304. Hl. _om._ right.
Ne menestow nat Urban,’ quod he tho,
‘That is so ofte dampned to be deed, 310
And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so reed
If he were founde, or that men mighte him spye;
And we also, to bere him companye— 315
And whyl we seken thilke divinitee
That is y-hid in hevene prively,
Algate y-brend in this world shul we be!’
To whom Cecile answerde boldely,
‘Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully 320
This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother,
If this were livinge only and non other.
But ther is better lyf in other place,
That never shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace; 325
That fadres sone hath alle thinges wroght;
And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
The goost, that fro the fader gan precede,
Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
323. Ln. Hl. Pt. better; E. Hn. bettre. 326. E. thyng ywroght; Hn.
Cm. thynges wroght. 326-337. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_.
By word and by miracle goddes sone, 330
Whan he was in this world, declared here
That ther was other lyf ther men may wone.’
To whom answerde Tiburce, ‘o suster dere,
Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfastnesse; 335
And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?’
[520: T. 15805-15839.]
‘That shal I telle,’ quod she, ‘er I go.
Right as a man hath sapiences three,
Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
So, in o being of divinitee, 340
Three persones may ther right wel be.’
Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche
Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche,
340. E. _omits_ o.
And many pointes of his passioun;
How goddes sone in this world was withholde, 345
To doon mankinde pleyn remissioun,
That was y-bounde in sinne and cares colde:
Al this thing she unto Tiburce tolde.
And after this Tiburce, in good entente,
With Valerian to pope Urban he wente, 350
That thanked god; and with glad herte and light
He cristned him, and made him in that place
Parfit in his lerninge, goddes knight.
And after this Tiburce gat swich grace,
That every day he saugh, in tyme and space, 355
The angel of god; and every maner bone
That he god axed, it was sped ful sone.
355. E. saugh; Hl. say.
It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
How many wondres Iesus for hem wroghte;
But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn, 360
The sergeants of the toun of Rome hem soghte,
And hem biforn Almache the prefect broghte,
Which hem apposed, and knew al hir entente,
And to the image of Iupiter hem sente,
363. Hl. apposed; _the rest _opposed, _wrongly._
And seyde, ‘who so wol nat sacrifyse, 365
Swap of his heed, this is my sentence here.’
Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,
Oon Maximus, that was an officere
Of the prefectes and his corniculere,
Hem hente; and whan he forth the seintes ladde, 370
Him-self he weep, for pitee that he hadde.
366. E. Cm. Hl. _omit_ is.
[521: T. 15840-15872.]
Whan Maximus had herd the seintes lore,
He gat him of the tormentoures leve,
And ladde hem to his hous withoute more;
And with hir preching, er that it were eve, 375
They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,
And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone
The false feith, to trowe in god allone.
373. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. tormentours.
Cecilie cam, whan it was woxen night,
With preestes that hem cristned alle y-fere; 380
And afterward, whan day was woxen light,
Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobre chere,
‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere,
Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse. 385
382. E. Hn. Hl. ful stedefast; Cm. ful sobere; Cp. Pt. Ln. sobre.
384. Cp. Pt. Casteth; _rest_ Cast.
Ye han for sothe y-doon a greet bataille,
Your cours is doon, your feith han ye conserved,
Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat faille;
The rightful Iuge, which that ye han served,
Shall yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.’ 390
And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse,
Men ladde hem forth to doon the sacrifyse.
392. E. Hn. Cm. ledde.
But whan they weren to the place broght,
To tellen shortly the conclusioun,
They nolde encense ne sacrifice right noght, 395
But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
With humble herte and sad devocioun,
And losten bothe hir hedes in the place.
Hir soules wenten to the king of grace.
398. E. Hn. Cm. heuedes; _rest_ hedes.
This Maximus, that saugh this thing bityde, 400
With pitous teres tolde it anon-right,
That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde
With angels ful of cleernesse and of light,
And with his word converted many a wight;
[522: T. 15873-15905.]
For which Almachius dide him so to-bete 405
With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan lete.
400. E. saugh; Hn. Cp. Hl. say. 404. E. this; _rest_ his. 405. E.
Hn. Cm. Hl. so bete; Cp. Pt. Ln. so to-bete. 406. E. the; _rest_ his.
Cecile him took and buried him anoon
By Tiburce and Valerian softely,
Withinne hir burying-place, under the stoon.
And after this Almachius hastily 410
Bad his ministres fecchen openly
Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence
Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense.
But they, converted at hir wyse lore,
Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence 415
Unto hir word, and cryden more and more,
‘Crist, goddes sone withouten difference,
Is verray god, this is al our sentence,
That hath so good a servant him to serve;
This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!’ 420
418. E. _omits_ al.
Almachius, that herde of this doinge,
Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir see,
And alderfirst, lo! this was his axinge,
‘What maner womman artow?’ tho quod he.
‘I am a gentil womman born,’ quod she. 425
‘I axe thee,’ quod he, ‘thogh it thee greve,
Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.’
424. Cp. Pt. Ln. tho; _rest omit._
‘Ye han bigonne your question folily,’
Quod she, ‘that wolden two answeres conclude
In oo demande; ye axed lewedly.’ 430
Almache answerde unto that similitude,
‘Of whennes comth thyn answering so rude?’
‘Of whennes?’ quod she, whan that she was freyned,
‘Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned.’
Almachius seyde, ‘ne takestow non hede 435
Of my power?’ and she answerde him this—
‘Your might,’ quod she, ‘ful litel is to drede;
[523: T. 15906-15937.]
For every mortal mannes power nis
But lyk a bladdre, ful of wind, y-wis.
For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe, 440
May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.’
436. Hn. Hl. this; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. thus; E. _omits._
‘Ful wrongfully bigonne thou,’ quod he,
‘And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce;
Wostow nat how our mighty princes free
Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce, 445
That every cristen wight shal han penaunce
But-if that he his cristendom withseye,
And goon al quit, if he wol it reneye?’
‘Your princes erren, as your nobley dooth,’
Quod tho Cecile, ‘and with a wood sentence 450
Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth;
For ye, that knowen wel our innocence,
For as muche as we doon a reverence
To Crist, and for we bere a cristen name,
Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame. 455
451. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ it.
But we that knowen thilke name so
For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.’
Almache answerde, ‘chees oon of thise two,
Do sacrifyce, or cristendom reneye,
That thou mowe now escapen by that weye.’ 460
At which the holy blisful fayre mayde
Gan for to laughe, and to the Iuge seyde,
‘O Iuge, confus in thy nycetee,
Woltow that I reneye innocence,
To make me a wikked wight?’ quod she; 465
‘Lo! he dissimuleth here in audience,
He stareth and woodeth in his advertence!’
To whom Almachius, ‘unsely wrecche,
Ne woostow nat how far my might may strecche?
467. E. and he; _rest omit_ he.
[524: T. 15938-15972.]
Han noght our mighty princes to me yeven, 470
Ye, bothe power and auctoritee
To maken folk to dyen or to liven?
Why spekestow so proudly than to me?’
‘I speke noght but stedfastly,’ quod she,
‘Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde, 475
We haten deedly thilke vyce of pryde.
475. E. speke; _rest_ seye.
And if thou drede nat a sooth to here,
Than wol I shewe al openly, by right,
That thou hast maad a ful gret lesing here.
Thou seyst, thy princes han thee yeven might 480
Bothe for to sleen and for to quiken a wight;
Thou, that ne mayst but only lyf bireve,
Thou hast non other power ne no leve!
But thou mayst seyn, thy princes han thee maked
Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo, 485
Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.’
‘Do wey thy boldnes,’ seyde Almachius tho,
‘And sacrifyce to our goddes, er thou go;
I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
For I can suffre it as a philosophre; 490
487. Hl. lewednes; _rest_ boldnesse.
But thilke wronges may I nat endure
That thou spekest of our goddes here,’ quod he.
Cecile answerede, ‘o nyce creature,
Thou seydest no word sin thou spak to me
That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee; 495
And that thou were, in every maner wyse,
A lewed officer and a veyn Iustyse.
Ther lakketh no-thing to thyn utter yën
That thou nart blind, for thing that we seen alle
That it is stoon, that men may wel espyen, 500
That ilke stoon a god thou wolt it calle.
I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle,
And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it finde,
Sin that thou seest nat with thyn yën blinde.
[525: T. 15973-16005.]
It is a shame that the peple shal 505
So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye;
For comunly men woot it wel overal,
That mighty god is in his hevenes hye,
And thise images, wel thou mayst espye,
To thee ne to hem-self mowe nought profyte, 510
For in effect they been nat worth a myte.’
510. E. Ln. _insert_ ne _before_ mowe; E. mowen; Hn. mowe.
Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,
And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede
Hom til hir hous, ‘and in hir hous,’ quod he,
‘Brenne hir right in a bath of flambes rede.’ 515
And as he bad, right so was doon in dede;
For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten,
And night and day greet fyr they under betten.
518. E. fyre; Hn. Cm. fyr.
The longe night and eek a day also,
For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete, 520
She sat al cold, and felede no wo,
It made hir nat a drope for to swete.
But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete;
For he, Almachius, with ful wikke entente
To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente. 525
521. Cm. felede; E. Hn. feled; Cp. Pt. Ln. felt of it. 524. E. Hn. a
ful; Cm. a; _rest_ ful.
Three strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho,
The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
He mighte noght smyte al hir nekke a-two;
And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce,
That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce 530
The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or sore,
This tormentour ne dorste do na-more.
528. Cp. Pt. smyten; _rest_ smyte. 530. man (2)] E. men.
But half-deed, with hir nekke y-corven there,
He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went.
The cristen folk, which that aboute hir were, 535
With shetes han the blood ful faire y-hent.
Thre dayes lived she in this torment,
[526: T. 16006-16021.]
And never cessed hem the feith to teche;
That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to preche;
534. Cm. is went; _rest_ he wente (_or_ he went) _against the rime._
And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thing, 540
And to the pope Urban bitook hem tho,
And seyde, ‘I axed this at hevene king,
To han respyt three dayes and na-mo,
To recomende to yow, er that I go,
Thise soules, lo! and that I mighte do werche 545
Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.’
542. E. at; _rest_ of; _see_ G 621.
Seint Urban, with his deknes, prively
The body fette, and buried it by nighte
Among his othere seintes honestly.
Hir hous the chirche of seint Cecilie highte; 550
Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel mighte;
In which, into this day, in noble wyse,
Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse.
=Here is ended the Seconde Nonnes Tale.=
548. E. This; _rest_ The. 550. E. Hn. Ln. seinte. 553. E. Hn. Pt.
seinte; Cp. seintz; Pt. seintes. COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn.; Hl. Here
endeth the secounde Nonne hir tale of the lif of seint Cecilie.
[527: T. 16022-16043.]
* * * * *
THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE
* * * * *
=The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes Tale.=
Whan ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle,
Er we had riden fully fyve myle, 555
At Boghton under Blee us gan atake
A man, that clothed was in clothes blake,
And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,
So swatte, that it wonder was to see; 560
It semed he had priked myles three.
The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon. (10)
Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye,
He was of fome al flekked as a pye. 565
A male tweyfold on his croper lay,
It semed that he caried lyte array.
Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
And in myn herte wondren I bigan
What that he was, til that I understood 570
How that his cloke was sowed to his hood;
For which, when I had longe avysed me,
I demed him som chanon for to be. (20)
His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas,
For he had riden more than trot or paas; 575
[528: T. 16044-16079.]
He had ay priked lyk as he were wood.
A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from hete.
But it was Ioye for to seen him swete!
His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, 580
Were ful of plantain and of paritorie.
And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,
‘God save,’ quod he, ‘this Ioly companye! (30)
Faste have I priked,’ quod he, ‘for your sake,
By-cause that I wolde yow atake, 585
To ryden in this mery companye.’
His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
And seyde, ‘sires, now in the morwe-tyde
Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde,
And warned heer my lord and my soverayn, 590
Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn,
For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.’
554. E. toold was al; Cm. told was; _rest_ ended was. E. Pt.
seinte. 558. So E.; _rest_ And vnder that he hadde a whit surplys.
559. E. which þat; _rest omit_ which. 561. E. as he; Cm. that he;
_rest_ he. 562. E. hakeney; _rest_ hors. 564. E. _omits_ ll. 564,
565. 566. E. Hn. vpon; _rest_ on. 569. E. to wondren; _rest omit_
to. 574. E. Hn. heeng; Hl. heng; Cm. Cp. hyng. 586. E. som; _rest_
this. 589. E. Hn. sangh; Pt. segh. 591. E. _omits_ that.
‘Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee good chaunce,’
Than seyde our host, ‘for certes, it wolde seme (41)
Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme; 595
He is ful Iocund also, dar I leye.
Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye,
With which he glade may this companye?’
593. E. _omits_ good. 594. E. certain; _rest_ certes.
‘Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, withouten lye,
He can of murthe, and eek of Iolitee 600
Nat but ynough; also sir, trusteth me,
And ye him knewe as wel as do I,
Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily (50)
He coude werke, and that in sondry wyse.
He hath take on him many a greet empryse, 605
Which were ful hard for any that is here
To bringe aboute, but they of him it lere.
As homely as he rit amonges yow,
If ye him knewe, it wolde be for your prow;
Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce 610
For mochel good, I dar leye in balaunce
[529: T. 16080-16117.]
Al that I have in my possessioun.
He is a man of heigh discrecioun, (60)
I warne you wel, he is a passing man.’
603. E. Cm. craftily; _rest_ thriftily.
‘Wel,’ quod our host, ‘I pray thee, tel me than, 615
Is he a clerk, or noon? tel what he is.’
‘Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,’
Seyde this yeman, ‘and in wordes fewe,
Host, of his craft som-what I wol yow shewe.
I seye, my lord can swich subtilitee— 620
(But al his craft ye may nat wite at me;
And som-what helpe I yet to his werking)—
That al this ground on which we been ryding, (70)
Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,
He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun, 625
And pave it al of silver and of gold.’
621. E. for; Hl. of; _rest_ at.
And whan this yeman hadde thus y-told
Unto our host, he seyde, ‘_benedicite!_
This thing is wonder merveillous to me,
Sin that thy lord is of so heigh prudence, 630
By-cause of which men sholde him reverence,
That of his worship rekketh he so lyte;
His oversloppe nis nat worth a myte, (80)
As in effect, to him, so mote I go!
It is al baudy and to-tore also. 635
Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee preye,
And is of power better cloth to beye,
If that his dede accorde with thy speche?
Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.’
627. E. this tale; Cm. this; _rest_ thus.
‘Why?’ quod this yeman, ‘wherto axe ye me? 640
God help me so, for he shal never thee!
(But I wol nat avowe that I seye,
And therfor kepe it secree, I yow preye). (90)
He is to wys, in feith, as I bileve;
That that is overdoon, it wol nat preve 645
Aright, as clerkes seyn, it is a vyce.
Wherfor in that I holde him lewed and nyce.
For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,
Ful oft him happeth to misusen it;
[530: T. 16118-16154.]
So dooth my lord, and that me greveth sore. 650
God it amende, I can sey yow na-more.’
‘Ther-of no fors, good yeman,’ quod our host;
‘Sin of the conning of thy lord thou wost, (100)
Tel how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
Sin that he is so crafty and so sly. 655
Wher dwellen ye, if it to telle be?’
‘In the suburbes of a toun,’ quod he,
‘Lurkinge in hernes and in lanes blinde,
Wher-as thise robbours and thise theves by kinde
Holden hir privee fereful residence, 660
As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;
So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.’
‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘yit lat me talke to the; (110)
Why artow so discoloured of thy face?’
663. Cm. Hl. yit; _rest omit_. E. telle; Cm. speke; _rest_ talke.
‘Peter!’ quod he, ‘god yeve it harde grace, 665
I am so used in the fyr to blowe,
That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.
I am nat wont in no mirour to prye,
But swinke sore and lerne multiplye.
We blondren ever and pouren in the fyr, 670
And for al that we fayle of our desyr,
For ever we lakken our conclusioun.
To mochel folk we doon illusioun, (120)
And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
Or ten, or twelve, or many sommes mo, 675
And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
That of a pound we coude make tweye!
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 us biforn, 680
We mowen nat, al-though we hadde it sworn,
It overtake, it slit awey so faste;
It wol us maken beggers atte laste.’ (130)
672. E. Cm. lakke; _rest_ lakken. E. of oure; _rest omit_ of. 681.
E. _omits_ it.
Whyl this yeman was thus in his talking,
This chanoun drough him neer, and herde al thing 685
Which this yeman spak, for suspecioun
[531: T. 16155-16187.]
Of mennes speche ever hadde this chanoun.
For Catoun seith, that he that gilty is
Demeth al thing be spoke of him, y-wis.
That was the cause he gan so ny him drawe 690
To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe.
And thus he seyde un-to his yeman tho,
‘Hold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes mo, (140)
For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abye;
Thou sclaundrest me heer in this companye, 695
And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde.’
686. E. Cm. Which this; _rest_ Which that this; cf. ll. 684, 691, 701
(yemán).
‘Ye,’ quod our host, ‘telle on, what so bityde;
Of al his threting rekke nat a myte!’
698. E. his; _rest_ this. E. Cm. rekke; Cp. recche I; Hl. Pt. Ln.
recche the.
‘In feith,’ quod he, ‘namore I do but lyte.’
And whan this chanon saugh it wolde nat be, 700
But his yeman wolde telle his privetee,
He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
‘A!’ quod the yeman, ‘heer shal aryse game, (150)
Al that I can anon now wol I telle.
Sin he is goon, the foule feend him quelle! 705
For never her-after wol I with him mete
For peny ne for pound, I yow bihete!
He that me broghte first unto that game,
Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!
For it is ernest to me, by my feith; 710
That fele I wel, what so any man seith.
And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,
For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, (160)
I coude never leve it in no wyse.
Now wolde god my wit mighte suffyse 715
To tellen al that longeth to that art!
But natheles yow wol I tellen part;
Sin that my lord is gon, I wol nat spare;
Swich thing as that I knowe, I wol declare.— 719
=Here endeth the Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.=
706. _So_ Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. _omits_ after, _having_ heer _only_.
711. E. that; _rest_ so. 717. E. And; _rest_ But.
[532: T. 16188-16211.]
* * * * *
THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale.=
[_Prima pars_.]
With this chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, 720
And of his science am I never the neer.
Al that I hadde, I have y-lost ther-by;
And god wot, so hath many mo than I. (170)
Ther I was wont to be right fresh and gay
Of clothing and of other good array, 725
Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;
And wher my colour was bothe fresh and reed,
Now is it wan and of a leden hewe;
Who-so it useth, sore shal he rewe.
And of my swink yet blered is myn yë, 730
Lo! which avantage is to multiplye!
That slyding science hath me maad so bare,
That I have no good, wher that ever I fare; (180)
And yet I am endetted so ther-by
Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, 735
That whyl I live, I shal it quyte never.
Lat every man be war by me for ever!
What maner man that casteth him ther-to,
If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do.
So helpe me god, ther-by shal he nat winne, 740
But empte his purs, and make his wittes thinne.
And whan he, thurgh his madnes and folye,
Hath lost his owene good thurgh Iupartye, (190)
[533: T. 16212-16246.]
Thanne he excyteth other folk ther-to,
To lese hir good as he him-self hath do. 745
For unto shrewes Ioye it is and ese
To have hir felawes in peyne and disese;
Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
Of that no charge, I wol speke of our werk.
728. E. _omits_ a. 740. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. For so; _but_ Cp. _omits_ For.
Whan we been ther as we shul exercyse 750
Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wyse,
Our termes been so clergial and so queynte.
I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte. (200)
What sholde I tellen ech proporcioun
Of thinges whiche that we werche upon, 755
As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,
Of silver or som other quantite,
And bisie me to telle yow the names
Of orpiment, brent bones, yren squames,
That into poudre grounden been ful smal? 760
And in an erthen potte how put is al,
And salt y-put in, and also papeer,
Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer, (210)
And wel y-covered with a lampe of glas,
And mochel other thing which that ther was? 765
And of the pot and glasses enluting,
That of the eyre mighte passe out no-thing?
And of the esy fyr and smart also,
Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
That we hadde in our matires sublyming, 770
And in amalgaming and calcening
Of quik-silver, y-clept Mercurie crude?
For alle our sleightes we can nat conclude. (220)
Our orpiment and sublymed Mercurie,
Our grounden litarge eek on the porphurie, 775
Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn
Nought helpeth us, our labour is in veyn.
Ne eek our spirites ascencioun,
[534: T. 16247-16281.]
Ne our materes that lyen al fixe adoun,
Mowe in our werking no-thing us avayle. 780
For lost is al our labour and travayle,
And al the cost, a twenty devel weye,
Is lost also, which we upon it leye. (230)
761. E. _omits_ how. 762. E. Cm. papeer; Ln. papere; Lich. papire;
Cp. Pt. Hl. paupere. (Tyrwhitt _reads_ pepere.) 764. _The MSS. have_
lampe, laumpe, lamp. 767. Lich. Pt. eyre; Ln. eyere; E. eyr; Cm. ayr;
Cp. Hl. aier. 775. E. in; Cm. &c; _rest_ on. 776. E. And; _rest_
Of. 782. E. Cm. a; Ln. in; _rest_ on. 782, 3. Cm. Pt. Ln. weye,
leye; _rest_ way, lay.
Ther is also ful many another thing
That is unto our craft apertening; 785
Though I by ordre hem nat reherce can,
By-cause that I am a lewed man,
Yet wol I telle hem as they come to minde,
Though I ne can nat sette hem in hir kinde;
As bole armoniak, verdegrees, boras, 790
And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,
Our urinales and our descensories,
Violes, croslets, and sublymatories, (240)
Cucurbites, and alembykes eek,
And othere swiche, dere y-nough a leek. 795
Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle,
Watres rubifying and boles galle,
Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimstoon;
And herbes coude I telle eek many oon,
As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie, 800
And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie.
Our lampes brenning bothe night and day,
To bringe aboute our craft, if that we may. (250)
Our fourneys eek of calcinacioun,
And of watres albificacioun, 805
Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
Poudres diverse, asshes, dong, pisse, and cley,
Cered pokets, sal peter, vitriole;
And divers fyres maad of wode and cole;
Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, 810
And combust materes and coagulat,
Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oile
Of tartre, alum, glas, berm, wort, and argoile, (260)
[535: T. 16282-16317.]
Resalgar, and our materes enbibing;
And eek of our materes encorporing, 815
And of our silver citrinacioun,
Our cementing and fermentacioun,
Our ingottes, testes, and many mo.
790. E. vertgrees; Li. Cm. Cp. Hl. verdegres; Pt. verdegrees. 792. E.
Li. Hl. vrinals; Cm. vrynallis; Cp. Pt. vrinales. 803. E. purpos if;
_rest_ craft if that. 806. _The MSS. all retain_ an. 808.
_Miswritten_ pottes in E.; Hl. poketts. 812. E. and; _rest_ or.
813. _Accent_ alum _on the_ u. 817. E. And of oure; _rest omit_ And
of.
I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,
The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, 820
By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
The firste spirit quik-silver called is,
The second orpiment, the thridde, y-wis, (270)
Sal armoniak, and the ferthe brimstoon.
The bodies sevene eek, lo! hem heer anoon: 825
Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe,
Mars yren, Mercurie quik-silver we clepe,
Saturnus leed, and Iupiter is tin,
And Venus coper, by my fader kin!
820. E. seuene; _rest_ foure.
This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse, 830
He shal no good han that him may suffyse;
For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute,
He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute. (280)
Who-so that listeth outen his folye,
Lat him come forth, and lerne multiplye; 835
And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
Lat him appere, and wexe a philosofre.
Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere?
Nay, nay, god woot, al be he monk or frere,
Preest or chanoun, or any other wight, 840
Though he sitte at his book bothe day and night,
In lernyng of this elvish nyce lore,
Al is in veyn, and parde, mochel more! (290)
To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee,
Fy! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat be; 845
Al conne he letterure, or conne he noon,
As in effect, he shal finde it al oon.
For bothe two, by my savacioun,
Concluden, in multiplicacioun,
[536: T. 16318-16352.]
Y-lyke wel, whan they han al y-do; 850
This is to seyn, they faylen bothe two.
834. E. _omits_ so. 836. E. oght hath; _rest_ hath oght (ought).
838. E. Cm. Hl. Askauns; Ln. Ascance; _rest_ Ascaunce. 846. E. Cm.
And; _rest_ Al.
Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
Of watres corosif and of limaille, (300)
And of bodyes mollificacioun,
And also of hir induracioun, 855
Oiles, ablucions, and metal fusible,
To tellen al wolde passen any bible
That o-wher is; wherfor, as for the beste,
Of alle thise names now wol I me reste.
For, as I trowe, I have yow told y-nowe 860
To reyse a feend, al loke he never so rowe.
860, 861. E. Pt. Hl. ynowe, rowe; Li. ynogh, rogh; Cm. I-nogh, rogh;
Cp. ynough, rough.
A! nay! lat be; the philosophres stoon,
Elixir clept, we sechen faste echoon; (310)
For hadde we him, than were we siker y-now.
But, unto god of heven I make avow, 865
For al our craft, whan we han al y-do,
And al our sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
He hath y-maad us spenden mochel good,
For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood,
But that good hope crepeth in our herte, 870
Supposinge ever, though we sore smerte,
To be releved by him afterward;
Swich supposing and hope is sharp and hard; (320)
I warne yow wel, it is to seken ever;
That futur temps hath maad men to dissever, 875
In trust ther-of, from al that ever they hadde.
Yet of that art they can nat wexen sadde,
For unto hem it is a bitter swete;
So semeth it; for nadde they but a shete
Which that they mighte wrappe hem inne a-night, 880
And a bak to walken inne by day-light,
They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft;
They can nat stinte til no-thing be laft. (330)
And evermore, wher that ever they goon,
[537: T. 16353-16387.]
Men may hem knowe by smel of brimstoon; 885
For al the world, they stinken as a goot;
Her savour is so rammish and so hoot,
That, though a man from hem a myle be,
The savour wol infecte him, trusteth me;
Lo, thus by smelling and threedbare array, 890
If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.
And if a man wol aske hem prively,
Why they been clothed so unthriftily, (340)
They right anon wol rownen in his ere,
And seyn, that if that they espyed were, 895
Men wolde hem slee, by-cause of hir science;
Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!
864. we (2)] E. it. 867. E. With; _rest_ And. 868. Cm. I-mad vs;
Hl. I-made vs; E. maad vs; _rest_ vs made. 871. E. _omits_ euer.
875. Cm. to; _rest omit_. 880. E. Inne at; _rest_ in a. 881. E.
brat; _rest_ bak. 882. E. Li. the; _rest_ this. 888. E. a Mile from
hem; _rest_ from hem a myle. 889. E. truste; _rest_ trusteth. 890.
E. And; _rest_ Lo. E. smel; _rest_ smellyng.
Passe over this; I go my tale un-to.
Er than the pot be on the fyr y-do,
Of metals with a certein quantite, 900
My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he—
Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely—
For, as men seyn, he can don craftily; (350)
Algate I wool wel he hath swich a name,
And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame; 905
And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth so,
The pot to-breketh, and farewel! al is go!
Thise metals been of so greet violence,
Our walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon; 910
They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon,
And somme of hem sinken in-to the ground—
Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound— (360)
And somme are scatered al the floor aboute,
Somme lepe in-to the roof; with-outen doute, 915
Though that the feend noght in our sighte him shewe,
I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!
In helle wher that he is lord and sire,
Nis ther more wo, ne more rancour ne ire.
[538: T. 16388-16423.]
Whan that our pot is broke, as I have sayd, 920
Every man chit, and halt him yvel apayd.
899. E. Ln. Lich. that; _rest_ than. 902. dar] E. Ln. dare. 905. E.
oft. 912. E. Cm. synke; _rest_ sinken. 915. E. lepte; _rest_ lepe,
lepen. 918. E. lord is; _rest_ is lord. 919. _So_ E. Cm.; _rest_
Nis ther no more wo ne anger ne ire.
Som seyde, it was long on the fyr-making,
Som seyde, nay! it was on the blowing; (370)
(Than was I fered, for that was myn office);
‘Straw!’ quod the thridde, ‘ye been lewed and nyce, 925
It was nat tempred as it oghte be.’
‘Nay!’ quod the ferthe, ‘stint, and herkne me;
By-cause our fyr ne was nat maad of beech,
That is the cause, and other noon, so theech!’
I can nat telle wher-on it was long, 930
But wel I wot greet stryf is us among.
922. E. Cm. along; _rest_ long. 927. E. fourthe; _see_ l. 824. 930.
Cm. Hl. long; _rest_ along; see l. 922. 931. E. vs is; _rest_ is vs.
‘What!’ quod my lord, ‘ther is na-more to done,
Of thise perils I wol be war eft-sone; (380)
I am right siker that the pot was crased.
Be as be may, be ye no-thing amased; 935
As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swythe,
Plukke up your hertes, and beth gladde and blythe.’
The mullok on an hepe y-sweped was,
And on the floor y-cast a canevas,
And al this mullok in a sive y-throwe, 940
And sifted, and y-piked many a throwe.
938. Cm. I-swepid; Ln. yswepped; E. sweped; Cp. Pt. Hl. yswoped.
‘Pardee,’ quod oon, ‘somwhat of our metal
Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat al. (390)
Al-though this thing mishapped have as now,
Another tyme it may be wel y-now, 945
Us moste putte our good in aventure;
A marchant, parde! may nat ay endure,
Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee;
Somtyme his good is drenched in the see,
And somtym comth it sauf un-to the londe.’ 950
‘Pees!’ quod my lord, ‘the next tyme I wol fonde
To bringe our craft al in another plyte;
And but I do, sirs, lat me han the wyte; (400)
Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I woot.’
951. E. shal; _rest_ wol, wil, wele. 952. E. bryngen; _rest_
bringe. 953. E. _omits_ sirs.
Another seyde, the fyr was over hoot:— 955
[539: T. 16424-16454.]
But, be it hoot or cold, I dar seye this,
That we concluden evermore amis.
We fayle of that which that we wolden have,
And in our madnesse evermore we rave.
And whan we been togidres everichoon, 960
Every man semeth a Salomon.
But al thing which that shyneth as the gold
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told; (410)
Ne every appel that is fair at yë
Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or crye. 965
Right so, lo! fareth it amonges us;
He that semeth the wysest, by Iesus!
Is most fool, whan it cometh to the preef;
And he that semeth trewest is a theef;
That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende, 970
By that I of my tale have maad an ende.
_Explicit prima pars. Et sequitur pars secunda_.
956. E. And; _rest_ But. 962. E. eu_er_y; _rest_ al, alle. Cm.
schynyth; Ln. schyneth; Hl. schineth; E. seineth; Cp. semeth. 963.
Cp. Pt. Ln. it; E. Cm. Hl. _omit_ it. 964. E. to; _rest_ at. 965.
E. Nis; _rest_ Ne is. 966. E. _omits_ lo. 967. E. Cm. wiseste;
_rest_ wisest. 972. E. was; _rest_ is. Cf. l. 987.
Ther is a chanoun of religioun
Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun, (420)
Though it as greet were as was Ninivee,
Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. 975
His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse
Ther coude no man wryten, as I gesse,
Thogh that he mighte liven a thousand yeer.
In al this world of falshede nis his peer;
For in his termes so he wolde him winde, 980
And speke his wordes in so sly a kinde,
Whan he commune shal with any wight,
That he wol make him doten anon right, (430)
But it a feend be, as him-selven is.
Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this, 985
And wol, if that he live may a whyle;
[540: T. 16455-16488.]
And yet men ryde and goon ful many a myle
Him for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
Noght knowinge of his false governaunce.
And if yow list to yeve me audience, 990
I wol it tellen heer in your presence.
976. E. sleighte; Hl. sleight; _rest_ sleightes. 978. E. lyne myghte;
_rest_ myghte lyuen. 979. E. nas; Ln. ne is; _rest_ nis, nys. 991.
Cp. Pt. Ln. tellen; _rest_ telle.
But worshipful chanouns religious,
Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your hous, (440)
Al-though my tale of a chanoun be.
Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde, 995
And god forbede that al a companye
Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye.
To sclaundre yow is no-thing myn entente,
But to correcten that is mis I mente.
This tale was nat only told for yow, 1000
But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
That, among Cristes apostelles twelve,
Ther nas no traytour but Iudas him-selve. (450)
Than why sholde al the remenant have blame
That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same. 1005
Save only this, if ye wol herkne me,
If any Iudas in your covent be,
Remeveth him bitymes, I yow rede,
If shame or los may causen any drede.
And beth no-thing displesed, I yow preye, 1010
But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
993. E. desclaundre; _rest_ sclaundre; see l. 998. 994. E. Al-though
that; _rest omit_ that. 997. E. o; _rest_ a. 1002. Cm. apostellis;
Li. aposteles; E. apostles. 1004. E. Hl. a blame; _rest omit_ a.
1008. Cm. Remeuyth; E. Remoeueth. 1011. E. herketh.
In London was a preest, an annueleer,
That therin dwelled hadde many a yeer, (460)
Which was so plesaunt and so servisable
Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table, 1015
That she wolde suffre him no-thing for to paye
For bord ne clothing, wente he never so gaye;
And spending-silver hadde he right y-now.
Therof no fors; I wol precede as now,
And telle forth my tale of the chanoun, 1020
[541: T. 16489-16524.]
That broghte this preest to confusioun.
1012. E. _omits_ an. 1013. E. had dwelled; _rest_ dwelled hadde (or
had).
This false chanoun cam up-on a day
Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, (470)
Biseching him to lene him a certeyn
Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him ageyn. 1025
‘Lene me a mark,’ quod he, ‘but dayes three,
And at my day I wol it quyten thee.
And if so be that thou me finde fals,
Another day do hange me by the hals!’
This preest him took a mark, and that as swythe, 1030
And this chanoun him thanked ofte sythe,
And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,
And at the thridde day broghte his moneye, (480)
And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. 1035
‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘no-thing anoyeth me
To lene a man a noble, or two or three,
Or what thing were in my possessioun,
Whan he so trewe is of condicioun,
That in no wyse he breke wol his day; 1040
To swich a man I can never seye nay.’
‘What!’ quod this chanoun, ‘sholde I be untrewe?
Nay, that were thing y-fallen al of-newe. (490)
Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe
Un-to that day in which that I shal crepe 1045
In-to my grave, and elles god forbede;
Bileveth this as siker as is your crede.
God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
That ther was never man yet yvel apayd
For gold ne silver that he to me lente, 1050
Ne never falshede in myn herte I mente.
And sir,’ quod he, ‘now of my privetee,
Sin ye so goodlich han been un-to me, (500)
And kythed to me so greet gentillesse,
Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse, 1055
I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere,
[542: T. 16525-16559.]
I wol yow teche pleynly the manere,
How I can werken in philosophye.
Taketh good heed, ye shul wel seen at yë,
That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.’ 1060
1043. E. Cm. a thyng; _rest omit_ a. 1045. E. Ln. In-to; _rest_
Vn-to. 1046. E. or; _rest_ and. 1047. E. the; Hl. your; _rest_ is
your. 1056. E. if that; _rest_ and if (_or_ yif.) 1059. Cp. Hl.
heed; E. Li. heede.
‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘ye, sir, and wol ye so?
Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!’
1061. _After_ sir, E. _wrongly inserts_ quod he.
‘At your comandement, sir, trewely,’ (510)
Quod the chanoun, ‘and elles god forbede!’
Lo, how this theef coude his servyse bede! 1065
Ful sooth it is, that swich profred servyse
Stinketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse;
And that ful sone I wol it verifye
In this chanoun, rote of al trecherye,
That ever-more delyt hath and gladnesse— 1070
Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse—
How Cristes peple he may to meschief bringe;
God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge! (520)
1073. E. Cm. false; _rest_ fals.
Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing felte. 1075
O sely preest! o sely innocent!
With coveityse anon thou shall be blent!
O gracelees, ful blind is thy conceit,
No-thing ne artow war of the deceit
Which that this fox y-shapen hath to thee! 1080
His wyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun
That refereth to thy confusioun, (530)
Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye
To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, 1085
And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche,
As ferforth as that my conning may strecche.
1078, 1079. Hn. Hl. conceyt, deceyt; E. conceite, deceite. 1080. E.
for; _rest_ to. 1085. E. his; Cm. heigh; _rest_ thy. 1087. Cm.
that, _which seems required; rest omit_.
This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden wene?
Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes quene,
It was another chanoun, and nat he, 1090
That can an hundred fold more subtiltee!
[543: T. 16560-16594.]
He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme. (540)
Ever whan that I speke of his falshede,
For shame of him my chekes wexen rede; 1095
Algates, they biginnen for to glowe,
For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
In my visage; for fumes dyverse
Of metals, which ye han herd me reherce,
Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. 1100
Now tak heed of this chanouns cursednesse!
1101. E. heede; Hl. heed; Cm. hed.
‘Sir,’ quod he to the preest, ‘lat your man gon
For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon; (550)
And lat him bringen ounces two or three;
And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see 1105
A wonder thing, which ye saugh never er this.’
1103. E. Cm. hadde it; _rest_ it hadde. 1106. Cm. Cp. say; E. saugh.
‘Sir,’ quod the preest, ‘it shall be doon, y-wis.’
He bad his servant fecchen him this thing,
And he al redy was at his bidding,
And wente him forth, and cam anon agayn 1110
With this quik-silver, soothly for to sayn,
And took thise ounces three to the chanoun;
And he hem leyde fayre and wel adoun, (560)
And bad the servant coles for to bringe,
That he anon mighte go to his werkinge. 1115
1111. E. Cm. soothly; _rest_ schortly. 1112. Hl. took; E. toke.
1113. E. Cm. hem; _rest_ it.
The coles right anon weren y-fet,
And this chanoun took out a crosselet
Of his bosom, and shewed it the preest.
‘This instrument,’ quod he, ‘which that thou seest,
Tak in thyn hand, and put thy-self ther-inne 1120
Of this quik-silver an ounce, and heer biginne,
In the name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.
Ther been ful fewe, whiche that I wolde profre (570)
To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
For ye shul seen heer, by experience, 1125
That this quik-silver wol I mortifye
[544: T. 16595-16627.]
Right in your sighte anon, withouten lye,
And make it as good silver and as fyn
As ther is any in your purs or myn,
Or elleswher, and make it malliable; 1130
And elles, holdeth me fals and unable
Amonges folk for ever to appere!
I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere, (580)
Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
My conning, which that I yow shewen shal. 1135
Voydeth your man, and lat him be ther-oute,
And shet the dore, whyls we been aboute
Our privetee, that no man us espye
Whyls that we werke in this philosophye.’
Al as he bad, fulfilled was in dede, 1140
This ilke servant anon-right out yede,
And his maister shette the dore anon,
And to hir labour speedily they gon. (590)
1118. E. to the; _rest_ omit to. 1120. Hl. Cp. Tak; E. Taake. 1123.
E. to whiche; Cm. to whiche that; _rest_ whiche that. 1127. E. I wol
nat; Hl. with-outen; Cm. w_i_t_h_-outyn; _the rest_ withoute (_or_
without.) 1128. E. _omits_ it. 1135. E. to yow; _rest omit_ to.
1137. Hl. Cp. Pt. schitte.
This preest, at this cursed chanouns bidding,
Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing, 1145
And blew the fyr, and bisied him ful faste;
And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste
A poudre, noot I wher-of that it was
Y-maad, other of chalk, other of glas,
Or som-what elles, was nat worth a flye, 1150
To blynde with the preest; and bad him hye
The coles for to couchen al above
The croslet, ‘for, in tokening I thee love,’ (600)
Quod this chanoun, ‘thyn owene hondes two
Shul werche al thing which that shal heer be do.’ 1155
1147. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Li. crosselet. _So in_ 1153. 1149. other
(2)] E. Li. or: Pt. or ellis. 1155. Cm. Hl. that; E. _om._; _rest_
as. E. Cm. heer; _rest om._
‘Graunt mercy,’ quod the preest, and was ful glad,
And couched coles as the chanoun bad.
And whyle he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,
This fals chanoun, the foule feend him fecche!
[545: T. 16628-16659.]
Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, 1160
In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,
And ther-in put was of silver lymaille
An ounce, and stopped was, with-outen fayle, (610)
The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in.
And understondeth, that this false gin 1165
Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;
And othere thinges I shal telle more
Herafterward, which that he with him broghte;
Er he cam ther, him to bigyle he thoghte,
And so he dide, er that they wente a-twinne; 1170
Til he had torned him, coude he not blinne.
It dulleth me whan that I of him speke,
On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, (620)
If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther:
He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher. 1175
1157. E. Cm. cole; _rest_ coles. E. that; Cm. that the; _rest_ the.
1159. Li. Pt. Ln. fals; _rest_ false. 1160. E. he took; _rest omit_
he. 1162, 1164. E. lemaille; _but_ Cm. lymayle, lymayl; _see_ l.
853. 1171. E. terned; Cm. ternede; _rest_ torned, turned. E. he
coude. 1175. E. Cp. that he; _rest omit_ that.
But taketh heed now, sirs, for goddes love!
He took his cole of which I spak above,
And in his hond he baar it prively.
And whyls the preest couchede busily
The coles, as I tolde yow er this, 1180
This chanoun seyde, ‘freend, ye doon amis;
This is nat couched as it oghte be;
But sone I shal amenden it,’ quod he. (630)
‘Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle,
For of yow have I pitee, by seint Gyle! 1185
Ye been right hoot, I see wel how ye swete,
Have heer a cloth, and wype awey the wete.’
And whyles that the preest wyped his face,
This chanoun took his cole with harde grace,
And leyde it above, up-on the middeward 1190
Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward,
[546: T. 16660-16695.]
Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
1177. E. this; _rest_ his; _see_ l. 1189. 1179. Cm. couchede; Cp.
couchide; _rest_ couched. 1188. Cm. Pt. whilis; Hl. Lichf. whiles; E.
whils. 1189. _So_ E.; Cm. with sory grace (_see_ l. 665). _Most MSS.
have_. I shrewe his face, _and make_ l. 1188 _end with_ him wyped
has. 1190. E. _has_ aboue vp on; Cm. _the same, but omitting_ it; Hl.
abouen on; _the rest_ vpon abouen. 1191. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Cp.
crosselet.
‘Now yeve us drinke,’ quod the chanoun thenne, (640)
‘As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake;
Sitte we doun, and lat us mery make.’ 1195
And whan that this chanounes bechen cole
Was brent, al the lymaille, out of the hole,
Into the croslet fil anon adoun;
And so it moste nedes, by resoun,
Sin it so even aboven couched was; 1200
But ther-of wiste the preest no-thing, alas!
He demed alle the coles y-liche good,
For of the sleighte he no-thing understood. (650)
And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme,
‘Rys up,’ quod he, ‘sir preest, and stondeth by me; 1205
And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,
Goth, walketh forth, and bring us a chalk-stoon;
For I wol make oon of the same shap
That is an ingot, if I may han hap.
And bringeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne, 1210
Ful of water, and ye shul see wel thanne
How that our bisinesse shal thryve and preve.
And yet, for ye shul han no misbileve (660)
Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence,
I ne wol nat been out of your presence, 1215
But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn.’
The chambre-dore, shortly for to seyn,
They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.
And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
And come agayn with-outen any delay. 1220
What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wyse
Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. (670)
1195. E. myrie; Cm. Cp. merye; _rest_ mery. 1200. E. abouen it;
_rest_ aboue. 1203. the] E. that. 1205. Lichf. Cp. Pt. stondeth;
Ln. Hl. stonde; Cm. stand; E. sit. 1206. ye] E. I. 1214. E.
conceite.
I seye, he took out of his owene sleve,
A teyne of silver (yvele mote he cheve!) 1225
Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte;
And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte!
1226. Cm. ne; _rest omit_. 1227. E. taak; _rest_ taketh. 1228. E.
eek; _rest omit_.
[547: T. 16696-16730.]
He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and eek in brede,
Of this teyne, with-outen any drede,
So slyly, that the preest it nat espyde; 1230
And in his sleve agayn he gan it hyde;
And fro the fyr he took up his matere,
And in thingot putte it with mery chere, (680)
And in the water-vessel he it caste
Whan that him luste, and bad the preest as faste, 1235
‘Look what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope,
Thow finde shalt ther silver, as I hope;
What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be?
Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!’
He putte his hond in, and took up a teyne 1240
Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so.
‘Goddes blessing, and his modres also, (690)
And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,’
Seyde this preest, ‘and I hir malisoun, 1245
But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me
This noble craft and this subtilitee,
I wol be youre, in al that ever I may!’
1229. Tyrwhitt _reads_ Of thilke; _I propose_—As of this teyne.
1236. E. What that heer is; _rest_ Look what ther is. 1239. E.
_omits_ ll. 1238, 1239. _From_ Lichf. 1242. E. Hl. _omit_ that;
_found in_ Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. 1247. Hl. subtilite; Cm. sotylete; E.
subtiltee; _rest_ sotilte, sotiltie; _see_ l. 620.
Quod the chanoun, ‘yet wol I make assay
The second tyme, that ye may taken hede 1250
And been expert of this, and in your nede
Another day assaye in myn absence
This disciplyne and this crafty science. (700)
Lat take another ounce,’ quod he tho,
‘Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo, 1255
And do ther-with as ye han doon er this
With that other, which that now silver is.’
1249. E. preest; _rest_ chanoun.
This preest him bisieth in al that he can
To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
Comanded him, and faste he blew the fyr, 1260
For to come to theffect of his desyr.
And this chanoun, right in the mene whyle,
[548: T. 16731-16763.]
Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle, (710)
And, for a countenance, in his hande he bar
An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war!) 1265
In the ende of which an ounce, and na-more,
Of silver lymail put was, as bifore
Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel
For to kepe in his lymail every deel.
And whyl this preest was in his bisinesse, 1270
This chanoun with his stikke gan him dresse
To him anon, and his pouder caste in
As he did er; (the devel out of his skin (720)
Him torne, I pray to god, for his falshede;
For he was ever fals in thoght and dede); 1275
And with this stikke, above the croslet,
That was ordeyned with that false get,
He stired the coles, til relente gan
The wex agayn the fyr, as every man,
But it a fool be, woot wel it mot nede, 1280
And al that in the stikke was out yede,
And in the croslet hastily it fel.
1260. E. he; _rest om._ 1265. Hl. keep; E. kepe; Cm. keepe; _rest_
hede. 1268. E. _omits_ Was. 1272. Lichf. Ln. pouder; Cm. poudere;
E. Cp. poudre. 1274. E. terve; Cm. Pt. turne; _rest_ torne. 1277.
E. Cm. Iet ( = jet); Hl. get; Ln. gett; Cp. Pt. gette.
Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than wel? (730)
Whan that this preest thus was bigyled ageyn,
Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to seyn, 1285
He was so glad, that I can nat expresse
In no manere his mirthe and his gladnesse;
And to the chanoun he profred eftsone
Body and good; ‘ye,’ quod the chanoun sone,
‘Though povre I be, crafty thou shalt me finde; 1290
I warne thee, yet is ther more bihinde.
Is ther any coper her-inne?’ seyde he.
‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘sir, I trowe wel ther be.’ (740)
‘Elles go by us som, and that as swythe,
Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy the.’ 1295
1283. Cm. goode: E. good; see l. 1295. Cp. Pt. Ln. The preest
supposede nothing but wel. 1284. Cp. Pt. Ln. But busyed him faste,
and was wonder fayn. 1286. E. ne kan; _rest omit_ ne. 1292. _So
all_. 1295. Cm. Hl. goode; E. good; _rest omit_.
[549: T. 16764-16799.]
He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,
And this chanoun it in his handes nam,
And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce,
As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse 1300
Of this chanoun, rote of al cursednesse.
He semed freendly to hem that knewe him noght,
But he was feendly bothe in herte and thoght. (750)
It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, 1305
To thentente that men may be war therby,
And for noon other cause, trewely.
1301. E. Cm. alle; _rest omit; read_ al.
He putte his ounce of coper in the croslet,
And on the fyr as swythe he hath it set,
And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe, 1310
And in his werking for to stoupe lowe,
As he dide er, and al nas but a Iape;
Right as him liste, the preest he made his ape; (760)
And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
And in the panne putte it at the laste 1315
Of water, and in he putte his owene hond.
And in his sleve (as ye biforn-hond
Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.
He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne—
Unwiting this preest of his false craft— 1320
And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
And in the water rombled to and fro,
And wonder prively took up also (770)
The coper teyne, noght knowing this preest,
And hidde it, and him hente by the breest, 1325
And to him spak, and thus seyde in his game,
‘Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to blame,
Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whyl-er,
Putte in your hand, and loketh what is ther.’
1308. Cm. his; E. the; _rest_ this. 1316. E. the water; _rest_ water
and. 1318. E. _omits_ he. 1319. Cp. Hl. took; Cm. tok; E. tooke.
1328. E. a; _rest_ I.
This preest took up this silver teyne anon, 1330
And thanne seyde the chanoun, ‘lat us gon
[550: T. 16800-16836.]
With thise three teynes, which that we han wroght,
To som goldsmith, and wite if they been oght. (780)
For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
But-if that they were silver, fyn and good, 1335
And that as swythe preved shal it be.’
1336. E. it shal; Ln. schal he; _rest_ shal it.
Un-to the goldsmith with thise teynes three
They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay
To fyr and hamer; mighte no man sey nay,
But that they weren as hem oghte be. 1340
1339. E. seye; Cm. sey.
This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
Was never brid gladder agayn the day,
Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May, (790)
Nas never noon that luste bet to singe;
Ne lady lustier in carolinge 1345
Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,
Ne knight in armes to doon an hardy dede
To stonde in grace of his lady dere,
Than had this preest this sory craft to lere;
And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde, 1350
‘For love of god, that for us alle deyde,
And as I may deserve it un-to yow,
What shal this receit coste? telleth now!’ (800)
1344. E. man; _rest_ noon (non). 1353. E. receite; Lichf. Cp. Hl.
receyt.
‘By our lady,’ quod this chanoun, ‘it is dere,
I warne yow wel; for, save I and a frere, 1355
In Engelond ther can no man it make.’
‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘now, sir, for goddes sake,
What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.’
‘Y-wis,’ quod he, ‘it is ful dere, I seye;
Sir, at o word, if that thee list it have, 1360
Ye shul paye fourty pound, so god me save!
And, nere the freendship that ye dide er this
To me, ye sholde paye more, y-wis.’ (810)
This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon 1365
To this chanoun, for this ilke receit;
Al his werking nas but fraude and deceit.
‘Sir preest,’ he seyde, ‘I kepe han no loos
[551: T. 16837-16871.]
Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
And as ye love me, kepeth it secree; 1370
For, and men knewe al my subtilitee,
By god, they wolden han so greet envye
To me, by-cause of my philosophye, (820)
I sholde be deed, ther were non other weye.’
1371. E. Cp. knewen; Cm. knewyn; _rest_ knewe. Ln. subtilite; Cm.
subtilete; E. soutiltee; _see_ ll. 620, 1247.
‘God it forbede!’ quod the preest, ‘what sey ye?’ 1375
Yet hadde I lever spenden al the good
Which that I have (and elles wexe I wood!)
Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef.’
1377. E. or; _rest_ and.
‘For your good wil, sir, have ye right good preef,’
Quod the chanoun, ‘and far-wel, grant mercy!’ 1380
He wente his wey and never the preest him sy
After that day; and whan that this preest sholde
Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, (830)
Of this receit, far-wel! it wolde nat be!
Lo, thus byiaped and bigyled was he! 1385
Thus maketh he his introduccioun
To bringe folk to hir destruccioun.—
1387. E. Cm. _omit_ hir.
Considereth, sirs, how that, in ech estaat,
Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
So ferforth, that unnethes is ther noon. 1390
This multiplying blent so many oon,
That in good feith I trowe that it be
The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. (840)
Philosophres speken so mistily
In this craft, that men can nat come therby, 1395
For any wit that men han now a-dayes.
They mowe wel chiteren, as doon thise Iayes,
And in her termes sette hir lust and peyne,
But to hir purpos shul they never atteyne.
A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught, 1400
To multiplye, and bringe his good to naught!
1390. E. Hl. vnnethe; _rest_ vnnethes. 1397. E. as that doon; Cm. as
don; _rest_ as doon thise.
Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,
A mannes mirthe it wol torne un-to grame, (850)
[552: T. 16872-16907.]
And empten also grete and hevy purses,
And maken folk for to purchasen curses 1405
Of hem, that han hir good therto y-lent.
O! fy! for shame! they that han been brent,
Allas! can they nat flee the fyres hete?
Ye that it use, I rede ye it lete,
Lest ye lese al; for bet than never is late. 1410
Never to thryve were to long a date.
Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it never finde;
Ye been as bolde as is Bayard the blinde, (860)
That blundreth forth, and peril casteth noon;
He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon 1415
As for to goon besydes in the weye.
So faren ye that multiplye, I seye.
If that your yën can nat seen aright,
Loke that your minde lakke nought his sight.
For, though ye loke never so brode, and stare, 1420
Ye shul nat winne a myte on that chaffare,
But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.
Withdrawe the fyr, lest it to faste brenne; (870)
Medleth na-more with that art, I mene,
For, if ye doon, your thrift is goon ful clene. 1425
And right as swythe I wol yow tellen here,
What philosophres seyn in this matere.
1404. E. Cp. heuye; _rest_ hevy. 1407. E. _omits_ O. 1414. E.
blondreth. 1421. E. Cm. no thyng wynne; Hl. nought Wynne (upon);
_rest_ nat wynne a myte. 1427. Cm. What that ȝe; _rest_ What that
the (_badly_). 1434. E. fader first was; _rest omit_ first.
Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,
As his Rosarie maketh mencioun;
He seith right thus, with-outen any lye, 1430
‘Ther may no man Mercurie mortifye,
But it be with his brother knowleching.
How that he, which that first seyde this thing, (880)
Of philosophres fader was, Hermes;
He seith, how that the dragoun, doutelees, 1435
Ne deyeth nat, but-if that he be slayn
With his brother; and that is for to sayn,
By the dragoun, Mercurie and noon other
He understood; and brimstoon by his brother,
[553: T. 16908-16942.]
That out of _sol_ and _luna_ were y-drawe. 1440
And therfor,’ seyde he, ‘tak heed to my sawe,
Let no man bisy him this art for to seche,
But-if that he thentencioun and speche (890)
Of philosophres understonde can;
And if he do, he is a lewed man. 1445
For this science and this conning,’ quod he,
‘Is of the secree of secrees, parde.’
1441. Cm. Cp. Hl. heed; _rest_ heede, hede. 1447. E. Cm. of the
secretes; Cp. Pt. of secrees; Hl. of secretz; Ln. of secretees.
Also ther was a disciple of Plato,
That on a tyme seyde his maister to,
As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, 1450
And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:
‘Tel me the name of the privy stoon?’
And Plato answerde unto him anoon, (900)
‘Tak the stoon that Titanos men name.’
‘Which is that?’ quod he. ‘Magnesia is the same,’ 1455
Seyde Plato. ‘Ye, sir, and is it thus?
This is _ignotum per ignotius_.
What is Magnesia, good sir, I yow preye?’
1455, 8. Lichf. Ln. magnesia; _rest_ magnasia.
‘It is a water that is maad, I seye,
Of elementes foure,’ quod Plato. 1460
‘Tel me the rote, good sir,’ quod he tho,
‘Of that water, if that it be your wille?’
1461. E. roote; _rest_ roche, rooche, roches. 1462. Cm. that it;
_rest omit_ that.
‘Nay, nay,’ quod Plato, ‘certein, that I nille. (910)
The philosophres sworn were everichoon,
That they sholden discovere it un-to noon, 1465
Ne in no book it wryte in no manere;
For un-to Crist it is so leef and dere
That he wol nat that it discovered be,
But wher it lyketh to his deitee
Man for tenspyre, and eek for to defende 1470
Whom that him lyketh; lo, this is the ende.’
1467. E. lief; Lichf. Cp. Pt. Hl. leef; Cm. lef.
Thanne conclude I thus; sith god of hevene
Ne wol nat that the philosophres nevene (920)
How that a man shal come un-to this stoon,
[554: T. 16943-9.]
I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. 1475
For who-so maketh god his adversarie,
As for to werken any thing in contrarie
Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve,
Thogh that he multiplye terme of his lyve.
And ther a poynt; for ended is my tale; 1480
God sende every trewe man bote of his bale!—Amen. (928)
=Here is ended the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.=
1472. Hl. syn; Lichf. Cm. syn that; E. sith that; Cp. Pt. sithens that;
_rest_ sith that, sithens that. 1475. E. _vs_; _the rest_ as. 1477.
E. werken; Cm. werkyn; Hl. werke; _rest_ worche. 1479. E. Cm. _omit_
his. COLOPHON. _So in_ E. Cm.; Hl. has—Here endeth the chanouns
yeman his tale.
[555: T. 16950-16968.]
* * * * *
GROUP H
THE MANCIPLE’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=Here folweth the Prologe of the Maunciples Tale.=
Wite ye nat wher ther stant a litel toun
Which that y-cleped is Bob-up-and-doun,
Under the Blee, in Caunterbury weye?
Ther gan our hoste for to Iape and pleye,
And seyde, ‘sirs, what! Dun is in the myre!
Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre,
That wol awake our felawe heer bihinde?
A theef mighte him ful lightly robbe and binde.
See how he nappeth! see, for cokkes bones,
As he wol falle from his hors at ones.
Is that a cook of Londoun, with meschaunce?
Do him come forth, he knoweth his penaunce,
For he shal telle a tale, by my fey!
Al-though it be nat worth a botel hey.
Awake, thou cook,’ quod he, ‘god yeve thee sorwe,
What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?
Hastow had fleen al night, or artow dronke,
Or hastow with som quene al night y-swonke,
So that thou mayst nat holden up thyn heed?’
HEADING: _from_ E. Cp.; Cm. _has_—Heryth the merye wordys of the Host
to the cok of Lundene. 1. E. Hn. Woot; Cp. Hl. Wot; Cm. Wote; Pt. Ln.
Wete; Wite _is better, as in_ l. 82. 7. Cm. here; E. Hn. Hl. al;
_rest omit_. 9. _So_ Cp. Hl.; E. see how for; Hn. se how for; Cm. so
how for.
[556: T. 16969-17003.]
This cook, that was ful pale and no-thing reed, 20
Seyde to our host, ‘so god my soule blesse,
As ther is falle on me swich hevinesse,
Noot I nat why, that me were lever slepe
Than the beste galoun wyn in Chepe.’
‘Wel,’ quod the maunciple, ‘if it may doon ese 25
To thee, sir cook, and to no wight displese
Which that heer rydeth in this companye,
And that our host wol, of his curteisye,
I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale;
For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale, 30
Thyn yën daswen eek, as that me thinketh,
And wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure stinketh,
That sheweth wel thou art not wel disposed;
Of me, certein, thou shalt nat been y-glosed.
Se how he ganeth, lo, this dronken wight, 35
As though he wolde us swolwe anon-right.
Hold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kin!
The devel of helle sette his foot ther-in!
Thy cursed breeth infecte wol us alle;
Fy, stinking swyn, fy! foule moot thee falle! 40
A! taketh heed, sirs, of this lusty man.
Now, swete sir, wol ye Iusten atte fan?
Ther-to me thinketh ye been wel y-shape!
I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape,
And that is whan men pleyen with a straw.’ 45
And with this speche the cook wex wrooth and wraw,
And on the maunciple he gan nodde faste
For lakke of speche, and doun the hors him caste,
Wher as he lay, til that men up him took;
This was a fayr chivachee of a cook! 50
Allas! he nadde holde him by his ladel!
And, er that he agayn were in his sadel,
Ther was greet showving bothe to and fro,
To lifte him up, and muchel care and wo,
[557: T. 17004-17038.]
So unweldy was this sory palled gost. 55
And to the maunciple thanne spak our host,
‘By-cause drink hath dominacioun
Upon this man, by my savacioun
I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale.
For, were it wyn, or old or moysty ale, 60
That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose,
And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the pose.
He hath also to do more than y-nough
To kepe him and his capel out of slough;
And, if he falle from his capel eft-sone, 65
Than shul we alle have y-nough to done,
In lifting up his hevy dronken cors.
Telle on thy tale, of him make I no fors.
29. E. _omits_ as. 31. E. Hn. Hl. daswen; Cm. daswe; Cp. dasewen; Pt.
dasen; Ln. dasoweþe. 36. Cp. Ln. vs swolwe; _rest_ swolwe vs. 40.
E. thou; _rest_ thee _or_ the. 46. Cm. Pt, Ln. wex; _rest_ wax. 49.
E. Hn. vp hym; _rest_ him vp. 55. E. vnweeldy. 59. E. Cm. Ln. _put_
lewedly _before_ he. 62. _So_ E. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl.; Cm. sneseth; Pt.
galpeth. 64. E. of; _rest_ of the.
But yet, maunciple, in feith thou art to nyce,
Thus openly repreve him of his vyce. 70
Another day he wol, peraventure,
Reclayme thee, and bringe thee to lure;
I mene, he speke wol of smale thinges,
As for to pinchen at thy rekeninges,
That wer not honeste, if it cam to preef.’ 75
‘No,’ quod the maunciple, ‘that were a greet mescheef!
So mighte he lightly bringe me in the snare.
Yet hadde I lever payen for the mare
Which he rit on, than he sholde with me stryve;
I wol nat wratthe him, al-so mote I thryve! 80
That that I spak, I seyde it in my bourde;
And wite ye what? I have heer, in a gourde,
A draught of wyn, ye, of a rype grape,
And right anon ye shul seen a good Iape.
This cook shal drinke ther-of, if I may; 85
Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me nay!’
76. _All the 7 MSS. retain_ a: Hl. _omits_ No. 79. E. Which that;
_rest omit_ that. 81. E. speke; _rest_ spak. 85. E. Pt. if that;
_rest omit_ that.
And certeinly, to tellen as it was,
Of this vessel the cook drank faste, allas!
What neded him? he drank y-nough biforn.
[558: T. 17039-17053.]
And whan he hadde pouped in this horn, 90
To the maunciple he took the gourde agayn;
And of that drinke the cook was wonder fayn,
And thanked him in swich wyse as he coude.
89. So E.; Cm. nedith hym; Hn. Hl. neded it; _rest_ needeth it. 90.
E. Hn. Cm. this; _rest_ his.
Than gan our host to laughen wonder loude,
And seyde, ‘I see wel, it is necessarie, 95
Wher that we goon, good drink we with us carie;
For that wol turne rancour and disese
Tacord and love, and many a wrong apese.
96. E. that; _rest_ good. 98. _So_ E. Hn.; Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. To acord;
Pt. To pees.
O thou Bachus, y-blessed be thy name,
That so canst turnen ernest in-to game! 100
Worship and thank be to thy deitee!
Of that matere ye gete na-more of me.
Tel on thy tale, maunciple, I thee preye.’
99. Hl. thou; _rest omit_. Cp. Pt. Ln. Bachus; _rest_ Bacus.
‘Wel, sir,’ quod he, ‘now herkneth what I seye.’
=Thus Endeth the Prologe of the Manciple.=
COLOPHON. _From_ Pt.
[559: T. 17054-17079.]
* * * * *
THE MAUNCIPLES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe.=
Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun, 105
As olde bokes maken mencioun,
He was the moste lusty bachiler
In al this world, and eek the beste archer;
He slow Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay
Slepinge agayn the sonne upon a day; 110
And many another noble worthy dede
He with his bowe wroghte, as men may rede.
105. E. world; _rest_ erthe. 108. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. Of (_for In_).
Pleyen he coude on every minstralcye,
And singen, that it was a melodye, (10)
To heren of his clere vois the soun. 115
Certes the king of Thebes, Amphioun,
That with his singing walled that citee,
Coude never singen half so wel as he.
Therto he was the semelieste man
That is or was, sith that the world bigan. 120
What nedeth it his fetures to discryve?
For in this world was noon so fair on lyve.
He was ther-with fulfild of gentillesse,
Of honour, and of parfit worthinesse. (20)
This Phebus, that was flour of bachelrye, 125
As wel in fredom as in chivalrye,
For his desport, in signe eek of victorie
Of Phitoun, so as telleth us the storie,
Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.
125. Hn. Cp. bachelrye; E. Bachilrie.
Now had this Phebus in his hous a crowe, 130
[560: T. 17080-17114.]
Which in a cage he fostred many a day,
And taughte it speken, as men teche a Iay.
Whyt was this crowe, as is a snow-whyt swan,
And countrefete the speche of every man (30)
He coude, whan he sholde telle a tale. 135
Ther-with in al this world no nightingale
Ne coude, by an hondred thousand deel,
Singen so wonder merily and weel.
130. E. hadde. 132. Hl. speken; _rest_ speke. 133. E. _om._ is.
138. E. Hn. myrily.
Now had this Phebus in his hous a wyf,
Which that he lovede more than his lyf, 140
And night and day dide ever his diligence
Hir for to plese, and doon hir reverence,
Save only, if the sothe that I shal sayn,
Ialous he was, and wolde have hept hir fayn; (40)
For him were looth by-iaped for to be. 145
And so is every wight in swich degree;
But al in ydel, for it availleth noght.
A good wyf, that is clene of werk and thoght,
Sholde nat been kept in noon await, certayn;
And trewely, the labour is in vayn 150
To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat be.
This holde I for a verray nycetee,
To spille labour, for to kepe wyves;
Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves. (50)
139. E. hadde. 143. E. Cm. _om._ if; Hn. that. that] Hn. if. 147.
E. Cm. in ydel; _rest_ for naught.
But now to purpos, as I first bigan: 155
This worthy Phebus dooth all that he can
To plesen hir, weninge by swich plesaunce,
And for his manhede and his governaunce,
That no man sholde han put him from hir grace.
But god it woot, ther may no man embrace 160
As to destreyne a thing, which that nature
Hath naturelly set in a creature.
157. E. Cm. that; Hn. for; _rest_ by (be). 162. E. natureelly.
Tak any brid, and put it in a cage,
And do al thyn entente and thy corage (60)
To fostre it tendrely with mete and drinke, 165
[561: T. 17115-17149.]
Of alle deyntees that thou canst bithinke,
And keep it al-so clenly as thou may;
Al-though his cage of gold be never so gay,
Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand fold,
Lever in a forest, that is rude and cold, 170
Gon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
For ever this brid wol doon his bisinesse
To escape out of his cage, if he may;
His libertee this brid desireth ay. (70)
163. E. Taak. 170. Cp. Pt. Ln. wilde (_for_ rude); Hl. wyd. 173.
Cp. when; Ln. Hl. whan; _rest_ if. 174. E. Hn. Cm. this; _rest_ the.
Lat take a cat, and fostre him wel with milk, 175
And tendre flesh, and make his couche of silk,
And lat him seen a mous go by the wal;
Anon he weyveth milk, and flesh, and al,
And every deyntee that is in that hous,
Swich appetyt hath he to ete a mous. 180
Lo, here hath lust his dominacioun,
And appetyt flemeth discrecioun.
180. E. he hath; Cp. hath sche; _rest_ hath he.
A she-wolf hath also a vileins kinde;
The lewedeste wolf that she may finde, (80)
Or leest of reputacion wol she take, 185
In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.
185. Hl. _ins._ him, _and the rest_ that, _before_ wol (_badly_).
Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men
That been untrewe, and no-thing by wommen.
For men han ever a likerous appetyt
On lower thing to parfourne hir delyt 190
Than on hir wyves, be they never so faire,
Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire.
Flesh is so newefangel, with meschaunce,
That we ne conne in no-thing han plesaunce (90)
That souneth in-to vertu any whyle. 195
195. Hl. Cm. souneth; _rest_ sowneth.
This Phebus, which that thoghte upon no gyle,
Deceyved was, for al his Iolitee;
For under him another hadde she,
A man of litel reputacioun,
Noght worth to Phebus in comparisoun. 200
[562: T. 17150-17184.]
The more harm is; it happeth ofte so,
Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.
200. Cp. Hl. Nought; E. Hn. Nat; _rest_ Not; _see_ l. 254.
And so bifel, whan Phebus was absent,
His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent, (100)
Hir lemman? certes, this is a knavish speche! 205
Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche.
The wyse Plato seith, as ye may rede,
The word mot nede accorde with the dede.
If men shal telle proprely a thing,
The word mot cosin be to the werking. 210
I am a boistous man, right thus seye I,
Ther nis no difference, trewely,
Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree,
If of hir body dishonest she be, (110)
And a povre wenche, other than this— 215
If it so be, they werke bothe amis—
But that the gentile, in estaat above,
She shal be cleped his lady, as in love;
And for that other is a povre womman,
She shal be cleped his wenche, or his lemman. 220
And, god it wool, myn owene dere brother,
Men leyn that oon as lowe as lyth that other.
214. E. Cp. dishoneste; Hn. deshoneste. 215. _For_ a, Tyrwhitt
_reads_ any. 217. E. Cm. hir estaat (stat); _rest om._ hir.
Right so, bitwixe a titlelees tiraunt
And an outlawe, or a theef erraunt, (120)
The same I seye, ther is no difference. 225
To Alisaundre told was this sentence;
That, for the tyrant is of gretter might,
By force of meynee for to sleen doun-right,
And brennen hous and hoom, and make al plain,
Lo! therfor is he cleped a capitain; 230
And, for the outlawe hath but smal meynee,
And may nat doon so greet an harm as he,
Ne bringe a contree to so greet mescheef,
Men clepen him an outlawe or a theef. (130)
But, for I am a man noght textuel, 235
[563: T. 17185-17219.]
I wol noght telle of textes never a del;
I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.
Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman,
Anon they wroghten al hir lust volage.
223. In Hn., titlelees _is glossed by_ sine titulo. 226. Hl. told
was; _rest_ was told. 235, 236. E. textueel, deel.
The whyte crowe, that heng ay in the cage, 240
Biheld hir werk, and seyde never a word.
And whan that hoom was come Phebus, the lord,
This crowe sang ‘cokkow! cokkow! cokkow!’
240. E. they (_for_ that). E. heeng; Ln. honge; _rest_ heng. 241.
E. Biheeld.
‘What, brid?’ quod Phebus, ‘what song singestow? (140)
Ne were thow wont so merily to singe 245
That to myn herte it was a reioisinge
To here thy vois? allas! what song is this?’
245. E. Hn. myrily.
‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I singe nat amis;
Phebus,’ quod he, ‘for al thy worthinesse,
For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse, 250
For al thy song and al thy minstralcye,
For al thy waiting, blered is thyn yë
With oon of litel reputacioun,
Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun, (150)
The mountance of a gnat; so mote I thryve! 255
For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh him swyve.’
251. E. Cm. Hl. _om. 2nd_ al. 254. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ as. 255. E. Hn.
montance.
What wol ye more? the crowe anon him tolde,
By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde,
How that his wyf had doon hir lecherye,
Him to gret shame and to gret vileinye; 260
And tolde him ofte, he saugh it with his yën.
This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen,
Him thoughte his sorweful herte brast a-two;
His bowe he bente, and sette ther-inne a flo, (160)
And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn. 265
This is theffect, ther is na-more to sayn;
For sorwe of which he brak his minstralcye,
Bothe harpe, and lute, and giterne, and sautrye;
And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe.
And after that, thus spak he to the crowe: 270
261. Cm. Hl. yen; Ln. eyȝen; _rest_ eyen. 263. E. Hn. Cm. And;
_rest_ Him.
[564: T. 17220-17254.]
‘Traitour,’ quod he, ‘with tonge of scorpioun,
Thou hast me broght to my confusioun!
Allas! that I was wroght! why nere I deed?
O dere wyf, o gemme of lustiheed, (170)
That were to me so sad and eek so trewe, 275
Now lystow deed, with face pale of hewe,
Ful giltelees, that dorste I swere, y-wis!
O rakel hand, to doon so foule amis!
O trouble wit, o ire recchelees,
That unavysed smytest giltelees! 280
O wantrust, ful of fals suspecioun,
Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun?
O every man, be-war of rakelnesse,
Ne trowe no-thing with-outen strong witnesse; (180)
Smyt nat to sone, er that ye witen why, 285
And beeth avysed wel and sobrely
Er ye doon any execucioun,
Up-on your ire, for suspecioun.
Allas! a thousand folk hath rakel ire
Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the mire. 290
Allas! for sorwe I wol my-selven slee!’
276. Cm. Hl. lyst thow; Pt. Ln. liest thou; Cp. lyes thou. 277. Cm.
gylteles; Cp. Hl. gulteles; E. Hn. giltlees; _rest_ giltles. 278. Cm.
troubele; _rest_ trouble. 280. E. smyteth; _rest_ smytest. Cm.
gilteles; Cp. Hl. gulteles; E. giltles.
And to the crowe, ‘o false theef!’ seyde he,
‘I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale!
Thou songe whylom lyk a nightingale; (190)
Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon, 295
And eek thy whyte fetheres everichon,
Ne never in al thy lyf ne shaltou speke.
Thus shal men on a traitour been awreke;
Thou and thyn of-spring ever shul be blake,
Ne never swete noise shul ye make, 300
But ever crye agayn tempest and rayn,
In tokeninge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn.’
And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon,
And pulled his whyte fetheres everichon, (200)
And made him blak, and refte him al his song, 305
[565: T. 17255-17289.]
And eek his speche, and out at dore him slong
Un-to the devel, which I him bitake;
And for this caas ben alle crowes blake.—
300. E. voys (_for_ noyse). 302. is] Cp. Hl. was. 308. E. Cp. caas;
Hn. Cm. Ln. cas; Pt. caus; Hl. cause.
Lordings, by this ensample I yow preye,
Beth war, and taketh kepe what I seye: 310
Ne telleth never no man in your lyf
How that another man hath dight his wyf;
He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn.
Daun Salomon, as wyse clerkes seyn, (210)
Techeth a man to kepe his tonge wel; 315
But as I seyde, I am noght textuel.
But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame:
‘My sone, thenk on the crowe, a goddes name;
My sone, keep wel thy tonge and keep thy freend.
A wikked tonge is worse than a feend. 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,
For man sholde him avyse what he speke. (220)
My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche, 325
Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes teche;
But for a litel speche avysely
Is no men shent, to speke generally.
My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne
At alle tyme, but whan thou doost thy peyne 330
To speke of god, in honour and preyere.
The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt lere,
Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge.—
Thus lerne children whan that they ben yonge.— (230)
My sone, of muchel speking yvel-avysed, 335
Ther lasse speking hadde y-nough suffysed,
Comth muchel harm, thus was me told and taught.
In muchel speche sinne wanteth naught.
Wostow wher-of a rakel tonge serveth?
Right as a swerd forcutteth and forkerveth 340
[566: T. 17290-17311.]
An arm a-two, my dere sone, right so
A tonge cutteth frendship al a-two.
A Iangler is to god abhominable;
Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable; (240)
Reed David in his psalmes, reed Senekke. 345
My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke.
Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou here
A Iangler speke of perilous matere.
The Fleming seith, and lerne it, if thee leste,
That litel Iangling causeth muchel reste. 350
My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd,
Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd;
But he that hath misseyd, I dar wel sayn,
He may by no wey clepe his word agayn. (250)
Thing that is seyd, is seyd; and forth it gooth, 355
Though him repente, or be him leef or looth.
He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd
A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd.
My sone, be war, and be non auctour newe
Of tydinges, whether they ben false or trewe. 360
Wher-so thou come, amonges hye or lowe,
Kepe wel thy tonge, and thenk up-on the crowe.
=Here is ended the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe.=
310. E. Hn. Cm. I; Hl. ye; _rest_ that ye. 315. E. Hn. kepen; _rest_
kepe. E. Cm. weel. 316. E. textueel; Hl. tixted wel. 318. a] E.
on; Hl. in. 319, 320. E. Hn. freend, feend. 327. Hl. a; _rest
om._ 330. E. Hn. Cm. tymes. 356. leef or] Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. neuer
so. 360. E. wheither. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.
[567: T. 17312-17330.]
* * * * *
GROUP I.
THE PARSON’S PROLOGUE.
* * * * *
=Here folweth the Prologe of the Persones Tale.=
By that the maunciple hadde his tale al ended,
The sonne fro the south lyne was descended
So lowe, that he nas nat, to my sighte,
Degreës nyne and twenty as in highte.
Foure of the clokke it was tho, as I gesse; 5
For eleven foot, or litel more or lesse,
My shadwe was at thilke tyme, as there,
Of swich feet as my lengthe parted were
In six feet equal of proporcioun.
Ther-with the mones exaltacioun, 10
I mene Libra, alwey gan ascende,
As we were entringe at a thropes ende;
For which our host, as he was wont to gye,
As in this caas, our Ioly companye,
Seyde in this wyse, ‘lordings everichoon, 15
Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon.
Fulfild is my sentence and my decree;
I trowe that we han herd of ech degree.
Almost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce;
[568: T. 17331-17366.]
I prey to god, so yeve him right good chaunce, 20
That telleth this tale to us lustily.
Sir preest,’ quod he, ‘artow a vicary?
Or art a person? sey sooth, by thy fey!
Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat our pley;
For every man, save thou, hath told his tale, 25
Unbokel, and shewe us what is in thy male;
For trewely, me thinketh, by thy chere,
Thou sholdest knitte up wel a greet matere.
Tel us a tale anon, for cokkes bones!’
1. E. Hn. al; _rest om._ 2. E. Cm. was; _rest_ is. 3. E. ne nas;
Cm. ne was; Cp. Pt. Ln. was. 5. _The MSS. have_ Ten; _but see the
note._ 8. Hn. swich; E. swiche. 10. _Perhaps for_ the mones _we
should read_ Saturnes; _see the note._ 11. _So all but_ Hl., _which
has_ In mena. 12. thropes] Hl. townes. 17. E. Fulfilled; Hn. Cp.
Fulfild; _see_ l. 19. 23. Cm. art; E. Hn. arte; Hl. artow; _rest_ art
thou.
This Persone him answerde, al at ones, 30
‘Thou getest fable noon y-told for me;
For Paul, that wryteth unto Timothee,
Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse,
And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest, 35
Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest?
For which I seye, if that yow list to here
Moralitee and vertuous matere,
And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience,
I wol ful fayn, at Cristes reverence, 40
Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I can.
But trusteth wel, I am a Southren man,
I can nat geste—rum, ram, ruf—by lettre,
Ne, god wot, rym holde I but litel bettre;
And therfor, if yow list, I wol nat glose. 45
I wol yow telle a mery tale in prose
To knitte up al this feeste, and make an ende.
And Iesu, for his grace, wit me sende
To shewe yow the wey, in this viage,
Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrimage 50
That highte Ierusalem celestial.
And, if ye vouche-sauf, anon I shal
Biginne upon my tale, for whiche I preye
Telle your avys, I can no bettre seye.
But nathelees, this meditacioun 55
[569: T. 17367-17385.]
I putte it ay under correccioun
Of clerkes, for I am nat textual;
I take but the sentens, trusteth wel.
Therfor I make protestacioun
That I wol stonde to correccioun.’ 60
30. _I supply_ him _from_ ed. 1550. 32. E. Hn. Thymothee. 33. E.
Hl. weyueth. 40. E. _omits_ ful. 41. E. leefful; Hn. leueful; Pt.
leefull; Cp. Ln. lefful. 43. E. geeste. rum] Hn. Cp. Ln. rom. 46.
E. Hn. myrie. 57, 58. E. textueel, weel. 58. E. _omits_ the. Hl.
sentens; _rest_ sentence. 59. E. make a; _rest omit_ a.
Up-on this word we han assented sone,
For, as us semed, it was for to done,
To enden in som vertuous sentence,
And for to yeve him space and audience;
And bede our host he sholde to him seye, 65
That alle we to telle his tale him preye.
62. E. vs; _rest_ it, _which is inferior._
Our host hadde the wordes for us alle:—
‘Sir preest,’ quod he, ‘now fayre yow bifalle!
Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly here’—
And with that word he seyde in this manere— 70
‘Telleth,’ quod he, ‘your meditacioun.
But hasteth yow, the sonne wol adoun;
Beth fructuous, and that in litel space,
And to do wel god sende yow his grace!’
=Explicit prohemium.=
COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Ln.; Pt.—Thus endeth the prolog of the persons
tale.
[570]
* * * * *
THE PERSONES TALE.
* * * * *
=Here biginneth the Persones Tale.=
_Ier._ 6º. _State super vias et videte et interrogate de viis antiquis, que
sit via bona; et ambulate in ea, et inuenietis refrigerium animabus
vestris, &c._
§ 1. Our swete lord god of hevene, that no man wole perisse, but wole that
we comen alle to the knoweleche of him, and to the blisful lyf that is
perdurable, /75 amonesteth us by the prophete Ieremie, that seith in this
wyse: / ‘stondeth upon the weyes, and seeth and axeth of olde pathes (that
is to seyn, of olde sentences) which is the goode wey; / and walketh in
that wey, and ye shul finde refresshinge for your soules,’ &c. / Manye been
the weyes espirituels that leden folk to oure Lord Iesu Crist, and to the
regne of glorie. / Of whiche weyes, ther is a ful noble wey and a ful
covenable, which may nat faile to man ne to womman, that thurgh sinne hath
misgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem celestial; /80 and this wey is
cleped Penitence, of which man sholde gladly herknen and enquere with al
his herte; / to witen what is Penitence, and whennes it is cleped
Penitence, and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkinges of
Penitence, / and how manye spyces ther been of Penitence, and whiche
thinges apertenen and bihoven to Penitence, and whiche thinges destourben
Penitence. /
HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere; Persouns). 75. E. _om. 2nd _to. 76.
E. and seith; _rest _that seith. 78. E. Hn. Ln. shal; Pt. shul. 79.
Pt. espiritual; Ln. spirituele. 80. E. _om. 2nd _ful. E. to no man;
_rest om._ no. 82. Ln. penance (_for 2nd and 3rd _Penitence). 83.
E. speces; Hl. spieces; _rest _spices.
§ 2. Seint Ambrose seith, that ‘Penitence is the pleyninge of man for the
gilt that he hath doon, and na-more to do any thing for which him oghte to
pleyne.’ / And som doctour seith: ‘Penitence is the waymentinge of man,
that sorweth for his sinne [571] and pyneth him-self for he hath misdoon.’
/85 Penitence, with certeyne circumstances, is verray repentance of a man
that halt him-self in sorwe and other peyne for hise giltes. / And for he
shal be verray penitent, he shal first biwailen the sinnes that he hath
doon, and stidefastly purposen in his herte to have shrift of mouthe, and
to doon satisfaccioun, / and never to doon thing for which him oghte more
to biwayle or to compleyne, and to continue in goode werkes: or elles his
repentance may nat availle. / For as seith seint Isidre: ‘he is a Iaper and
a gabber, and no verray repentant, that eftsoone dooth thing, for which him
oghte repente.’ / Wepinge, and nat for to stinte to doon sinne, may nat
avaylle. /90 But nathelees, men shal hope that every tyme that man falleth,
be it never so ofte, that he may arise thurgh Penitence, if he have grace:
but certeinly it is greet doute. / For as seith Seint Gregorie: ‘unnethe
aryseth he out of sinne, that is charged with the charge of yvel usage.’ /
And therfore repentant folk, that stinte for to sinne, and forlete sinne er
that sinne forlete hem, holy chirche holdeth hem siker of hir savacioun. /
And he that sinneth, and verraily repenteth him in his laste ende, holy
chirche yet hopeth his savacioun, by the grete mercy of oure lord Iesu
Crist, for his repentaunce; but tak the siker wey. /
84. E. _om._ the _before _gilt. 85. Ln. Hl. peyneth. 86. Hl.
holt. 88. E. _om._ to _bef_. biwayle _and_ continue. 90. Hl. doon;
E. _om._; _rest_ do. 94. Hl. Ln. ende; E. Hn. Pt. _om._ E. taak
(_glossed_ tene); siker (_glossed_ certum). Cm. sikerer. _After_
wey, Cm. _adds_—& the more certeyn.
§ 3. And now, sith I have declared yow what thing is Penitence, now shul ye
understonde that ther been three accions of Penitence. /95 The firste
accion of Penitence is, that a man be baptized after that he hath sinned. /
Seint Augustin seith: ‘but he be penitent for his olde sinful lyf, he may
nat biginne the newe clene lif.’ / For certes, if he be baptized withouten
penitence of his olde gilt, he receiveth the mark of baptisme, but nat the
grace ne the remission of his sinnes, til he have repentance verray. /
Another defaute is this, that men doon deedly sinne after that they han
received baptisme. / The thridde defaute is, that men fallen in venial
sinnes after hir baptisme, fro day to day. /100 Ther-of seith Seint
Augustin, that ‘penitence of goode and humble folk is the penitence of
every day.’ /
96. _All but_ E. _om._ accion of Penitence. 97. Hl. but if. 98-100.
E. Hn. baptesme. 100. Hl. in-to venial synne.
[572] § 4. The spyces of Penitence been three. That oon of hem is solempne,
another is commune, and the thridde is privee. / Thilke penance that is
solempne, is in two maneres; as to be put out of holy chirche in lente, for
slaughtre of children, and swich maner thing. / Another is, whan a man hath
sinned openly, of which sinne the fame is openly spoken in the contree; and
thanne holy chirche by Iugement destreineth him for to do open penaunce. /
Commune penaunce is that preestes enioinen men comunly in certeyn caas; as
for to goon, peraventure, naked in pilgrimages, or bare-foot. /105 Privee
penaunce is thilke that men doon alday for privee sinnes, of whiche we
shryve us prively and receyve privee penaunce. /
102. E. Hn. speces (_glossed_ species); _rest_ spices. 103. E. Hn. As
to; _rest_ as is to. 104. E. Another thyng is; _rest om._ thyng.
Hl. streyneth. 105. E. Cm. _om._ comunly. 106. E. they shryue hem.
§ 5. Now shaltow understande what is bihovely and necessarie to verray
parfit Penitence. And this stant on three thinges; / Contricioun of herte,
Confessioun of Mouth, and Satisfaccioun. / For which seith Seint Iohn
Crisostom: ‘Penitence destreyneth a man to accepte benignely every peyne
that him is enioyned, with contricion of herte, and shrift of mouth, with
satisfaccion; and in werkinge of alle maner humilitee.’ / And this is
fruitful Penitence agayn three thinges in whiche we wratthe oure lord Iesu
Crist: /110 this is to seyn, by delyt in thinkinge, by recchelesnesse in
spekinge, and by wikked sinful werkinge. / And agayns thise wikkede giltes
is Penitence, that may be lykned un-to a tree. /
107. E. is bihouely; Cm. is behofly; _rest_ bihoueth (behoueth). Hl.
stondith. 109. Hl. humblete. 112. Hl. these thre wickid.
§ 6. The rote of this tree is Contricion, that hydeth him in the herte of
him that is verray repentant, right as the rote of a tree hydeth him in the
erthe. / Of the rote of Contricion springeth a stalke, that bereth
braunches and leves of Confession, and fruit of Satisfaccion. / For which
Crist seith in his gospel: ‘dooth digne fruit of Penitence’; for by this
fruit may men knowe this tree, and nat by the rote that is hid in the herte
of man, ne by the braunches ne by the leves of Confession. /115 And
therefore oure Lord Iesu Crist seith thus: ‘by the fruit of hem ye shul
knowen hem.’ / Of this rote eek springeth a seed of grace, the which seed
is moder of sikernesse, and this seed is egre and [573] hoot. / The grace
of this seed springeth of god, thurgh remembrance of the day of dome and on
the peynes of helle. / Of this matere seith Salomon, that ‘in the drede of
god man forleteth his sinne.’ / The hete of this seed is the love of god,
and the desiring of the Ioye perdurable. /120 This hete draweth the herte
of a man to god, and dooth him haten his sinne. / For soothly, ther is
no-thing that savoureth so wel to a child as the milk of his norice, ne
no-thing is to him more abhominable than thilke milk whan it is medled with
other mete. / Right so the sinful man that loveth his sinne, him semeth
that it is to him most swete of any-thing; / but fro that tyme that he
loveth sadly our lord Iesu Crist, and desireth the lif perdurable, ther nis
to him no-thing more abhominable. / For soothly, the lawe of god is the
love of god; for which David the prophete seith: ‘I have loved thy lawe and
hated wikkednesse and hate’; he that loveth god kepeth his lawe and his
word. /125 This tree saugh the prophete Daniel in spirit, up-on the avision
of the king Nabugodonosor, whan he conseiled him to do penitence. /
Penaunce is the tree of lyf to hem that it receiven, and he that holdeth
him in verray penitence is blessed; after the sentence of Salomon. /
117. E. a grace (_for_ of grace). 122. E. _om._ is to him. 125. E.
loued god; _rest_ loueth god. 126. E. _om._ in spirit. up-on] E.
in.
§ 7. In this Penitence or Contricion man shal understonde foure thinges,
that is to seyn, what is Contricion: and whiche been the causes that moeven
a man to Contricion: and how he sholde be contrit: and what Contricion
availleth to the soule. / Thanne is it thus: that Contricion is the verray
sorwe that a man receiveth in his herte for his sinnes, with sad purpos to
shryve him, and to do penaunce, and nevermore to do sinne. / And this sorwe
shal been in this manere, as seith seint Bernard: ‘it shal been hevy and
grevous, and ful sharpe and poinant in herte.’ /130 First, for man hath
agilt his lord and his creatour; and more sharpe and poinant, for he hath
agilt his fader celestial; / and yet more sharpe and poinant, for he hath
wrathed and agilt him that boghte him; which with his precious blood hath
delivered us fro the bondes of sinne, and fro the crueltee of the devel and
fro the peynes of helle. /
131. Cp. agult; Hl. agiltid.
§ 8. The causes that oghte moeve a man to Contricion been six. First, a man
shal remembre him of hise sinnes; / but loke [574] he that thilke
remembrance ne be to him no delyt by no wey, but greet shame and sorwe for
his gilt. For Iob seith: ‘sinful men doon werkes worthy of Confession.’ /
And therfore seith Ezechie: ‘I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf, in
bitternesse of myn herte.’ /135 And god seith in the Apocalips: remembreth
yow fro whennes that ye been falle’; for biforn that tyme that ye sinned,
ye were the children of god, and limes of the regne of god; / but for your
sinne ye been woxen thral and foul, and membres of the feend, hate of
aungels, sclaundre of holy chirche, and fode of the false serpent;
perpetuel matere of the fyr of helle. / And yet more foul and abhominable,
for ye trespassen so ofte tyme, as doth the hound that retourneth to eten
his spewing. / And yet be ye fouler for your longe continuing in sinne and
your sinful usage, for which ye be roten in your sinne, as a beest in his
dong. / Swiche manere of thoghtes maken a man to have shame of his sinne,
and no delyt, as god seith by the prophete Ezechiel: /140 ‘ye shal remembre
yow of youre weyes, and they shuln displese yow.’ Sothly, sinnes been the
weyes that leden folk to helle. /
134. E. looke he; _rest om._ he. 135. Hl. Ln. Ezechiel. 137. E.
p_er_petueel.
§ 9. The seconde cause that oghte make a man to have desdeyn of sinne is
this: that, as seith seint Peter, ‘who-so that doth sinne is thral of
sinne’; and sinne put a man in greet thraldom. / And therfore seith the
prophete Ezechiel: ‘I wente sorweful in desdayn of my-self.’ And certes,
wel oghte a man have desdayn of sinne, and withdrawe him from that thraldom
and vileinye. / And lo, what seith Seneca in this matere. He seith thus:
‘though I wiste that neither god ne man ne sholde nevere knowe it, yet
wolde I have desdayn for to do sinne.’ / And the same Seneca also seith: ‘I
am born to gretter thinges than to be thral to my body, or than for to
maken of my body a thral.’ /145 Ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman
maken of his body, than for to yeven his body to sinne. / Al were it the
fouleste cherl, or the fouleste womman that liveth, and leest of value, yet
is he thanne more foule and more in servitute. / Evere fro the hyer degree
that man falleth, the more is he thral, and more to god and to the world
vile and abhominable. / O gode god, wel oghte [575] man have desdayn of
sinne; sith that, thurgh sinne, ther he was free, now is he maked bonde. /
And therfore seyth Seint Augustin: ‘if thou hast desdayn of thy servant, if
he agilte or sinne, have thou thanne desdayn that thou thy-self sholdest do
sinne.’ /150 Take reward of thy value, that thou ne be to foul to thy-self.
/ Allas! wel oghten they thanne have desdayn to been servauntz and thralles
to sinne, and sore been ashamed of hem-self, / that god of his endelees
goodnesse hath set hem in heigh estaat, or yeven hem wit, strengthe of
body, hele, beautee, prosperitee, / and boghte hem fro the deeth with his
herte blood, that they so unkindely, agayns his gentilesse, quyten him so
vileinsly, to slaughtre of hir owene soules. / O gode god, ye wommen that
been of so greet beautee, remembreth yow of the proverbe of Salomon, that
seith: /155 ‘he lykneth a fair womman, that is a fool of hir body, lyk to a
ring of gold that were in the groyn of a sowe.’ / For right as a sowe
wroteth in everich ordure, so wroteth she hir beautee in the stinkinge
ordure of sinne. /
143. E. And certes; _rest om._ And. 144. E. Hn. _wrongly ins_, god
_after_ that. 147. _All_ seruitute. 148. E. _om._ vile and. 150.
Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. Austyn. 152. Hl. men (_for_ they). 154. Cm.
vileynly. 155, 6. _So_ Hl.; E. Hn. he seith likneth; Cp. he seith he
likeneth; Cm. he seith & likkenyth; Pt. He likneth. E. soughe;
_rest_ sowe. 157. E. soughe; _om._ she.
§ 10. The thridde cause that oghte moeve a man to Contricion, is drede of
the day of dome, and of the horrible peynes of helle. / For as seint Ierome
seith: ‘at every tyme that me remembreth of the day of dome, I quake; / for
whan I ete or drinke, or what-so that I do, evere semeth me that the trompe
sowneth in myn ere: /160 riseth up, ye that been dede, and cometh to the
Iugement.’ / O gode god, muchel oghte a man to drede swich a Iugement,
‘ther-as we shullen been alle,’ as seint Poul seith, ‘biforn the sete of
oure lord Iesu Crist’; / wher-as he shal make a general congregacion,
wher-as no man may been absent. / For certes, there availleth noon essoyne
ne excusacion. / And nat only that oure defautes shullen be iuged, but eek
that alle oure werkes shullen openly be knowe. /165 And as seith Seint
Bernard: ‘ther ne shal no pledinge availle, ne no sleighte; we shullen
yeven rekeninge of everich ydel word.’ / Ther shul we han a Iuge that may
nat been deceived ne corrupt. And why? For, certes, alle our thoghtes been
discovered as to him; ne for preyere ne for mede he shal nat been corrupt.
/ And therfore [576] seith Salomon: ‘the wratthe of god ne wol nat spare no
wight, for preyere ne for yifte’; and therfore, at the day of doom, ther
nis noon hope to escape. / Wherfore, as seith Seint Anselm: ‘ful greet
angwissh shul the sinful folk have at that tyme; / ther shal the sterne and
wrothe Iuge sitte above, and under him the horrible put of helle open to
destroyen him that moot biknowen hise sinnes, whiche sinnes openly been
shewed biforn god and biforn every creature. /170 And on the left syde, mo
develes than herte may bithinke, for to harie and drawe the sinful soules
to the pyne of helle. / And with-inne the hertes of folk shal be the
bytinge conscience, and with-oute-forth shal be the world al brenninge. /
Whider shal thanne the wrecched sinful man flee to hyden him? Certes, he
may nat hyden him; he moste come forth and shewen him.’ / For certes, as
seith seint Ierome: ‘the erthe shal casten him out of him, and the see
also; and the eyr also, that shal be ful of thonder-clappes and
lightninges.’ / Now sothly, who-so wel remembreth him of thise thinges, I
gesse that his sinne shal nat turne him in-to delyt, but to greet sorwe,
for drede of the peyne of helle. /175 And therfore seith Iob to god:
‘suffre, lord, that I may a whyle biwaille and wepe, er I go with-oute
returning to the derke lond, covered with the derknesse of deeth; / to the
lond of misese and of derknesse, where-as is the shadwe of deeth; where-as
ther is noon ordre or ordinance, but grisly drede that evere shal laste.’ /
Lo, here may ye seen that Iob preyde respyt a whyle, to biwepe and waille
his trespas; for soothly oon day of respyt is bettre than al the tresor of
the world. / And for-as-muche as a man may acquiten him-self biforn god by
penitence in this world, and nat by tresor, therfore sholde he preye to god
to yeve him respyt a whyle, to biwepe and biwaillen his trespas. / For
certes, al the sorwe that a man mighte make fro the beginning of the world,
nis but a litel thing at regard of the sorwe of helle. /180 The cause why
that Iob clepeth helle ‘the lond of derknesse’; / under-stondeth that he
clepeth it ‘londe’ or erthe, for it is stable, and nevere shal faille;
‘derk,’ for he that is in helle hath defaute of light material. / For
certes, [577] the derke light, that shal come out of the fyr that evere
shal brenne, shal turne him al to peyne that is in helle; for it sheweth
him to the horrible develes that him tormenten. / ‘Covered with the
derknesse of deeth’: that is to seyn, that he that is in helle shal have
defaute of the sighte of god; for certes, the sighte of god is the lyf
perdurable. / ‘The derknesse of deeth’ been the sinnes that the wrecched
man hath doon, whiche that destourben him to see the face of god; right as
doth a derk cloude bitwixe us and the sonne. /185 ‘Lond of misese’:
by-cause that ther been three maneres of defautes, agayn three thinges that
folk of this world han in this present lyf, that is to seyn, honours,
delyces, and richesses. / Agayns honour, have they in helle shame and
confusion. / For wel ye woot that men clepen ‘honour’ the reverence that
man doth to man; but in helle is noon honour ne reverence. For certes,
na-more reverence shal be doon there to a king than to a knave. / For which
god seith by the prophete Ieremye: ‘thilke folk that me despysen shul been
in despyt.’ / ‘Honour’ is eek cleped greet lordshipe; ther shal no man
serven other but of harm and torment. ‘Honour’ is eek cleped greet dignitee
and heighnesse; but in helle shul they been al fortroden of develes. /190
And god seith: ‘the horrible develes shulle goon and comen up-on the
hevedes of the dampned folk.’ And this is for-as-muche as, the hyer that
they were in this present lyf, the more shulle they been abated and
defouled in helle. / Agayns the richesses of this world, shul they han
misese of poverte; and this poverte shal been in foure thinges: / in
defaute of tresor, of which that David seith; ‘the riche folk, that
embraceden and oneden al hir herte to tresor of this world, shul slepe in
the slepinge of deeth; and no-thing ne shul they finden in hir handes of al
hir tresor.’ / And more-over, the miseise of helle shal been in defaute of
mete and drinke. / For god seith thus by Moyses; ‘they shul been wasted
with hunger, and the briddes of helle shul devouren hem with bitter deeth,
and the galle of the dragon shal been hir drinke, and the venim of the
dragon hir morsels.’ /195 And forther-over, hir miseise shal been in
defaute of clothing: for they shulle be naked in body as of clothing, save
the fyr in which they brenne and othere filthes; / and naked shul they been
of [578] soule, of alle manere vertues, which that is the clothing of the
soule. Where been thanne the gaye robes and the softe shetes and the smale
shertes? / Lo, what seith god of hem by the prophete Isaye: ‘that under hem
shul been strawed motthes, and hir covertures shulle been of wormes of
helle.’ / And forther-over, hir miseise shal been in defaute of freendes;
for he nis nat povre that hath goode freendes, but there is no freend; /
for neither god ne no creature shal been freend to hem, and everich of hem
shal haten other with deedly hate. /200 ‘The sones and the doghtren shullen
rebellen agayns fader and mooder, and kinrede agayns kinrede, and chyden
and despysen everich of hem other,’ bothe day and night, as god seith by
the prophete Michias. / And the lovinge children, that whylom loveden so
fleshly everich other, wolden everich of hem eten other if they mighte. /
For how sholden they love hem togidre in the peyne of helle, whan they
hated ech of hem other in the prosperitee of this lyf? / For truste wel,
hir fleshly love was deedly hate; as seith the prophete David: ‘who-so that
loveth wikkednesse he hateth his soule.’ / And who-so hateth his owene
soule, certes, he may love noon other wight in no manere. /205 And
therefore, in helle is no solas ne no frendshipe, but evere the more
fleshly kinredes that been in helle, the more cursinges, the more
chydinges, and the more deedly hate ther is among hem. / And forther-over,
they shul have defaute of alle manere delyces; for certes, delyces been
after the appetytes of the fyve wittes, as sighte, heringe, smellinge,
savoringe, and touchinge. / But in helle hir sighte shal be ful of
derknesse and of smoke, and therfore ful of teres; and hir heringe, ful of
waymentinge and of grintinge of teeth, as seith Iesu Crist; / hir
nosethirles shullen be ful of stinkinge stink. And as seith Isaye the
prophete: ‘hir savoring shal be ful of bitter galle.’ / And touchinge of al
hir body, y-covered with ‘fyr that nevere shal quenche, and with wormes
that nevere shul dyen,’ as god seith by the mouth of Isaye. /210 And
for-as-muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne, and by hir
deeth flee fro peyne, that may they understonden by the word of Iob, that
seith: ‘ther-as is the [579] shadwe of deeth.’ / Certes, a shadwe hath the
lyknesse of the thing of which it is shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same
thing of which it is shadwe. / Right so fareth the peyne of helle; it is
lyk deeth for the horrible anguissh, and why? For it peyneth hem evere, as
though they sholde dye anon; but certes they shal nat dye. / For as seith
Seint Gregorie: ‘to wrecche caytives shal be deeth with-oute deeth, and
ende with-outen ende, and defaute with-oute failinge. / For hir deeth shal
alwey liven, and hir ende shal everemo biginne, and hir defaute shal nat
faille.’ /215 And therfore seith Seint Iohn the Evangelist: ‘they shullen
folwe deeth, and they shul nat finde him; and they shul desyren to dye, and
deeth shal flee fro hem.’ / And eek Iob seith: that ‘in helle is noon ordre
of rule.’ / And al-be-it so that god hath creat alle thinges in right
ordre, and no-thing with-outen ordre, but alle thinges been ordeyned and
nombred; yet nathelees they that been dampned been no-thing in ordre, ne
holden noon ordre. / For the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruit. / For, as the
prophete David seith: ‘god shal destroie the fruit of the erthe as fro
hem;’ ne water ne shal yeve hem no moisture; ne the eyr no refresshing, ne
fyr no light. /220 For as seith seint Basilie: ‘the brenninge of the fyr of
this world shal god yeven in helle to hem that been dampned; / but the
light and the cleernesse shal be yeven in hevene to hise children’; right
as the gode man yeveth flesh to hise children, and bones to his houndes. /
And for they shullen have noon hope to escape, seith seint Iob atte laste:
that ‘ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwellen with-outen ende.’ /
Horrour is alwey drede of harm that is to come, and this drede shal evere
dwelle in the hertes of hem that been dampned. And therefore han they lorn
al hir hope, for sevene causes. / First, for god that is hir Iuge shal be
with-outen mercy to hem; ne they may nat plese him, ne noon of hise halwes;
ne they ne may yeve no-thing for hir raunson; /225 ne they have no vois to
speke to him; ne they may nat flee fro peyne; ne they have no goodnesse in
hem, that they mowe shewe to delivere hem fro peyne. / And therfore seith
Salomon: ‘the wikked man dyeth; and whan he is deed, he shal have noon hope
to escape fro peyne.’ / Who-so thanne wolde wel understande these peynes,
[580] and bithinke him weel that he hath deserved thilke peynes for his
sinnes, certes, he sholde have more talent to syken and to wepe than for to
singen and to pleye. / For as that seith Salomon: ‘who-so that hadde the
science to knowe the peynes that been establissed and ordeyned for sinne,
he wolde make sorwe.’ / ‘Thilke science,’ as seith seint Augustin, ‘maketh
a man to waymenten in his herte.’ /230
166. E. _om. 2nd_ no. 168. Cp. Pt. Ln. repeat (after god) wol nought
ben corrupte and therefore saith Salamon. 170. E. Hn. stierne.
moot] E. noot. 171. on] E. in. E. Ln. peyne; Cm. pit; _rest_
pyne. 175. E. Hn. in; Hl. to; _rest_ in-to. 178. Hl. oon; Cm. on;
E. a; _rest_ oo (o). 182. or] E. Cp. Ln. of. E. Hn. dirk. 188. E.
Hn. woot; Cm. wote; Hl. witen; Cp. wite; Ln. weten. 189. Hl.
displesen (_for_ despysen). 190. E. _om. from_ ther shal _to 2nd_
greet. 195. E. with the bitter; _rest om._ the. Hl. teeth (_for_
deeth). 197. E. as of alle; _rest om._ as. E. (_only_) smale shetes
and the softe shertes. 203. E. _om._ hem _after_ love. 206. E. _om.
1st_ in helle. 207. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _om._ after. 208. Cp. Hl. Ln.
gruntynge; Cm. grochynge; Pt. gnaistynge. 214. Hl. shal be yiue
deth. 218. E. in the ordre. 221. E. Cm. Basilie; _rest_ Basile.
225. E. Cm. and they (_1st time_). 228. E. the (_for_ these).
§ 11. The fourthe point, that oghte maken a man to have contricion, is the
sorweful remembrance of the good that he hath left to doon here in erthe;
and eek the good that he hath lorn. / Soothly, the gode werkes that he hath
left, outher they been the gode werkes that he wroghte er he fel in-to
deedly sinne, or elles the gode werkes that he wroghte while he lay in
sinne. / Soothly, the gode werkes, that he dide biforn that he fil in
sinne, been al mortified and astoned and dulled by the ofte sinning. / The
othere gode werkes, that he wroghte whyl he lay in deedly sinne, they been
outrely dede as to the lyf perdurable in hevene. / Thanne thilke gode
werkes that been mortified by ofte sinning, whiche gode werkes he dide whyl
he was in charitee, ne mowe nevere quiken agayn with-outen verray
penitence. /235 And ther-of seith god, by the mouth of Ezechiel: that, ‘if
the rightful man returne agayn from his rightwisnesse and werke
wikkednesse, shal he live?’ / Nay; for alle the gode werkes that he hath
wroght ne shul nevere been in remembrance; for he shal dyen in his sinne. /
And up-on thilke chapitre seith seint Gregorie thus: ‘that we shulle
understonde this principally; / that whan we doon deedly sinne, it is for
noght thanne to rehercen or drawen in-to memorie the gode werkes that we
han wroght biforn.’ / For certes, in the werkinge of the deedly sinne, ther
is no trust to no good werk that we han doon biforn; that is to seyn, as
for to have therby the lyf perdurable in hevene. /240 But nathelees, the
gode werkes quiken agayn, and comen agayn, and helpen, and availlen to have
the lyf perdurable in hevene, whan we han contricion. / But soothly, the
gode werkes that men doon whyl they been in deedly sinne, for-as-muche as
they were doon in deedly sinne, they may nevere quiken agayn. / For certes,
thing that nevere hadde lyf may nevere quikene; and nathelees, al-be-it
that [581] they ne availle noght to han the lyf perdurable, yet availlen
they to abregge of the peyne of helle, or elles to geten temporal richesse,
/ or elles that god wole the rather enlumine and lightne the herte of the
sinful man to have repentance; / and eek they availlen for to usen a man to
doon gode werkes, that the feend have the lasse power of his soule. /245
And thus the curteis lord Iesu Crist wole that no good werk be lost; for in
somwhat it shal availle. / But for-as-muche as the gode werkes that men
doon whyl they been in good lyf, been al mortified by sinne folwinge; and
eek, sith that alle the gode werkes that men doon whyl they been in deedly
synne, been outrely dede as for to have the lyf perdurable; / wel may that
man, that no good werke ne dooth, singe thilke newe Frenshe song: “_Iay
tout perdu mon temps et mon labour_.” / For certes, sinne bireveth a man
bothe goodnesse of nature and eek the goodnesse of grace. / For soothly,
the grace of the holy goost fareth lyk fyr, that may nat been ydel; for fyr
faileth anoon as it forleteth his wirkinge, and right so grace fayleth
anoon as it forleteth his werkinge. /250 Than leseth the sinful man the
goodnesse of glorie, that only is bihight to gode men that labouren and
werken. / Wel may he be sory thanne, that oweth al his lif to god as longe
as he hath lived, and eek as longe as he shal live, that no goodnesse ne
hath to paye with his dette to god, to whom he oweth al his lyf. / For
trust wel, ‘he shal yeven acountes,’ as seith seint Bernard, ‘of alle the
godes that han be yeven him in this present lyf, and how he hath hem
despended; / in 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 yeve
of it a rekening.’ /
232. E. Pt. Ln. that he hath wroght (_1st time_). 233. Ln. mortified;
Hl. amortised; _rest_ mortefied. Cp. Pt. astonyed; Hl. astoneyed.
235. Ln. Hl. mortified; _rest_ mortefied. 240. E. is for to seyn.
242. E. quyke. 247. Ln. mortified; Hn. Hl. amortised; _rest_
mortefied. 254. _All_ noght (nat) _so_; ed. 1550, in so (_better_).
§ 12. The fifthe thing that oghte moeve a man to contricion, is remembrance
of the passion that oure lord Iesu Crist suffred for our sinnes. /255 For,
as seith seint Bernard: ‘whyl that I live, I shal have remembrance of the
travailles that oure lord Crist suffred in preching; / his werinesse in
travailling, hise temptacions whan he fasted, hise longe wakinges whan he
preyde, hise teres whan that he weep for pitee of good peple; / the wo and
the shame and the filthe that men seyden to him; of the foule spitting that
men spitte in his face, of the buffettes that men yaven [582] him, of the
foule mowes, and of the repreves that men to him seyden; / of the nayles
with whiche he was nailed to the croys, and of al the remenant of his
passion that he suffred for my sinnes, and no-thing for his gilt.’ / And ye
shul understonde, that in mannes sinne is every manere of ordre or
ordinance turned up-so-doun. /260 For it is sooth, that god, and reson, and
sensualitee, and the body of man been so ordeyned, that everich of thise
foure thinges sholde have lordshipe over that other; / as thus: god sholde
have lordshipe over reson, and reson over sensualitee, and sensualitee over
the body of man. / But sothly, whan man sinneth, al this ordre or ordinance
is turned up-so-doun. / 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,
therfore leseth it the lordshipe that it sholde have over sensualitee, and
eek over the body of man. / And why? For sensualitee rebelleth thanne
agayns reson; and by that wey leseth reson the lordshipe over sensualitee
and over the body. /265 For right as reson is rebel to god, right so is
bothe sensualitee rebel to reson and the body also. / And certes, this
disordinance and this rebellion oure lord Iesu Crist aboghte up-on his
precious body ful dere, and herkneth in which wyse. / For-as-muche thanne
as reson is rebel to god, therfore is man worthy to have sorwe and to be
deed. / This suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man, after that he hadde be
bitraysed of his disciple, and distreyned and bounde, ‘so that his blood
brast out at every nail of hise handes,’ as seith seint Augustin. / And
forther-over, for-as-muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee
whan it may, therfore is man worthy to have shame; and this suffred oure
lord Iesu Crist for man, whan they spetten in his visage. /270 And
forther-over, for-as-muchel thanne as the caitif body of man is rebel bothe
to reson and to sensualitee, therfore is it worthy the deeth. / And this
suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man up-on the croys, where-as ther was no
part of his body free, withouten greet peyne and bitter passion. / And al
this suffred Iesu Crist, that nevere forfeted. And therfore resonably may
be seyd of Iesu in this manere: ‘to muchel am I peyned for the thinges that
I nevere deserved, and to muche defouled for shend-shipe that man is worthy
to have.’ / And therfore may the sinful [583] man wel seye, as seith seint
Bernard: ‘acursed be the bitternesse of my sinne, for which ther moste be
suffred so muchel bitternesse.’ / For certes, after the diverse
discordances of oure wikkednesses, was the passion of Iesu Crist ordeyned
in diverse thinges, /275 as thus. Certes, sinful mannes soule is bitraysed
of the devel by coveitise of temporel prosperitee, and scorned by deceite
whan he cheseth fleshly delyces; and yet is it tormented by inpacience of
adversitee, and bispet by servage and subieccion of sinne; and atte laste
it is slayn fynally. / For this disordinaunce of sinful man was Iesu Crist
first bitraysed, and after that was he bounde, that cam for to unbynden us
of sinne and peyne. / Thanne was he biscorned, that only sholde han been
honoured in alle thinges and of alle thinges. / Thanne was his visage, that
oghte be desired to be seyn of al man-kinde, in which visage aungels
desyren to looke, vileynsly bispet. / Thanne was he scourged that no-thing
hadde agilt; and fynally, thanne was he crucified and slayn. /280 Thanne
was acompliced the word of Isaye: ‘he was wounded for oure misdedes, and
defouled for oure felonies.’ / Now sith that Iesu Crist took up-on him-self
the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses, muchel oghte sinful man wepen and
biwayle, that for hise sinnes goddes sone of hevene sholde al this peyne
endure. /
255. Hl. for vs and for our synnes. 261. E. Cm. _om._ so. 269. E.
Cm. his blood; _rest_ the blood. 270. Hl. face (_for_ visage). 273.
Cm. (_and_ ed. 1550) And therfore ... manere; _rest om._ 275. E.
disconcordances. 276. E. temporeel. bispet] E. dispeir (!). 277.
E. _om._ first. 281. E. Ysaye that seith that he; _rest om._ that
seith that.
§ 13. The sixte thing that oghte moeve a man to contricion, is the hope of
three thynges; that is to seyn, foryifnesse of sinne, and the yifte of
grace wel for to do, and the glorie of hevene, with which god shal guerdone
a man for hise gode dedes. / And for-as-muche as Iesu Crist yeveth us thise
yiftes of his largesse and of his sovereyn bountee, therfore is he cleped
_Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum._ / Iesus is to seyn ‘saveour’ or
‘salvacion,’ on whom men shul hope to have foryifnesse of sinnes, which
that is proprely salvacion of sinnes. /285 And therfore seyde the aungel to
Ioseph: ‘thou shall clepen his name Iesus, that shal saven his peple of hir
sinnes.’ / And heer-of seith seint Peter: ‘ther is noon other name under
hevene that is yeve to any man, by which a man may be saved, but only
Iesus.’ / _Nazarenus_ is as muche for to seye as ‘florisshinge,’ in which a
man shal hope, that he that yeveth him remission of sinnes shal yeve him
eek grace wel [584] for to do. For in the flour is hope of fruit in tyme
cominge; and in foryifnesse of sinnes hope of grace wel for to do. / ‘I was
atte dore of thyn herte,’ seith Iesus, ‘and cleped for to entre; he that
openeth to me shal have foryifnesse of sinne. / I wol entre in-to him by my
grace, and soupe with him,’ 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 yeven him. /290 Thus shal man hope, for hise werkes of
penaunce, that god shall yeven him his regne; as he bihoteth him in the
gospel. /
283. E. Hn. gerdone; Cm. gerdounnyn. 285. E. _om._ is _after_ that.
291. Hn. Cm. Hl. byheteth.
§ 14. Now shal a man understonde, in which manere shal been his contricion.
I seye, that it shal been universal and total; this is to seyn, a man shal
be verray repentant for alle hise sinnes that he hath doon in delyt of his
thoght; for delyt is ful perilous. / For ther been two manere of
consentinges; that oon of hem is cleped consentinge of affeccion, when a
man is moeved to do sinne, and delyteth him longe for to thinke on that
sinne; / and his reson aperceyveth it wel, that it is sinne agayns the lawe
of god, and yet his reson refreyneth nat his foul delyt or talent, though
he se wel apertly that it is agayns the reverence of god; al-though his
reson ne consente noght to doon that sinne in dede, / yet seyn somme
doctours that swich delyt that dwelleth longe, it is ful perilous, al be it
nevere so lite. /295 And also a man sholde sorwe, namely, for al that evere
he hath desired agayn the lawe of god with perfit consentinge of his reson;
for ther-of is no doute, that it is deedly sinne in consentinge. / For
certes, ther is no deedly sinne, that it nas first in mannes thought, and
after that in his delyt; and so forth in-to consentinge and in-to dede. /
Wherfore I seye, that many men ne repenten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes
and delytes, ne nevere shryven hem of it, but only of the dede of grete
sinnes outward. / Wherfore I seye, that swiche wikked delytes and wikked
thoghtes been subtile bigyleres of hem that shullen be dampned. /
More-over, man oghte to sorwe for hise wikkede wordes as wel as for hise
wikkede dedes; for certes, the repentance of a singuler sinne, and nat
repente of alle hise othere sinnes, or elles repenten him of alle hise
othere sinnes, and nat of a singuler sinne, may nat availle. /300 For
certes, god almighty is al good; and ther-fore he foryeveth al, [585] or
elles right noght. / And heer-of seith seint Augustin: ‘I woot certainly /
that god is enemy to everich sinnere’; and how thanne? He that observeth o
sinne, shal he have foryifnesse of the remenaunt of hise othere sinnes?
Nay. / And forther-over, contricion sholde be wonder sorweful and
anguissous, and therfore yeveth him god pleynly his mercy; and therfore,
whan my soule was anguissous with-inne me, I hadde remembrance of god that
my preyere mighte come to him. / Forther-over, contricion moste be
continuel, and that man have stedefast purpos to shryven him, and for to
amenden him of his lyf. /305 For soothly, whyl contricion lasteth, man may
evere have hope of foryifnesse; and of this comth hate of sinne, that
destroyeth sinne bothe in himself, and eek in other folk, at his power. /
For which seith David: ‘ye that loven god hateth wikkednesse.’ For trusteth
wel, to love god is for to love that he loveth, and hate that he hateth. /
303. E. _om._ I woot certeinly. 305. E. continueel.
§ 15. The laste thing that man shal understonde in contricion is this;
wher-of avayleth contricion. I seye, that som tyme contricion delivereth a
man fro sinne; / of which that David seith: ‘I seye,’ quod David, that is
to seyn, ‘I purposed fermely to shryve me; and thow, Lord, relesedest my
sinne.’ / And right so as contricion availleth noght, with-outen sad purpos
of shrifte, if man have oportunitee, right so litel worth is shrifte or
satisfaccion with-outen contricion. /310 And more-over, contricion
destroyeth the prison of helle, and maketh wayk and feble alle the
strengthes of the develes, and restoreth the yiftes of the holy goost and
of alle gode vertues; / and it clenseth the soule of sinne, and delivereth
the soule fro the peyne of helle, and fro the companye of the devel, and
fro the servage of sinne, and restoreth it to alle godes espirituels, and
to the companye and communion of holy chirche. / And forther-over, it
maketh him that whylom was sone of ire to be sone of grace; and alle thise
thinges been preved by holy writ. / And therfore, he that wolde sette his
entente to thise thinges, he were ful wys; for soothly, he ne sholde nat
thanne in al his lyf have corage to sinne, but yeven his body and al his
herte to the service of Iesu Crist, and ther-of doon him hommage. / For
soothly, oure swete lord Iesu Crist hath spared [586] us so debonairly in
our folies, that if he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule, a sory song we
mighten alle singe. /315
308. E. Ln. a man fro; _rest om._ a. 311. E. fieble. 313. Hl. Pt.
Ln. thinges he prouith by. 314. Hl. herte (_for_ entente).
=Explicit prima pars penitentie; et sequitur secunda pars eiusdem.=
§ 16. The seconde partie of Penitence is Confession, that is signe of
contricion. / Now shul ye understonde what is Confession, and whether it
oghte nedes be doon or noon, and whiche thinges been covenable to verray
Confession. /
317. E. wheither.
§ 17. First shaltow understonde that Confession is verray shewinge of
sinnes to the preest; / this is to seyn ‘verray,’ for he moste confessen
him of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his sinne, as ferforth as he
can. / Al moot be seyd, and no thing excused ne hid ne forwrapped, and
noght avaunte him of his gode werkes. /320 And forther over, it is
necessarie to understonde whennes that sinnes springen, and how they
encresen, and whiche they been. /
320. him of his] E. Cm. thee of thy. 321. E. encreessen.
§ 18. Of the springinge of sinnes seith seint Paul in this wise: that
‘right as by a man sinne entred first in-to this world, and thurgh that
sinne deeth, right so thilke deeth entred in-to alle men that sinneden.’ /
And this man was Adam, by whom sinne entred in-to this world whan he brak
the comaundement of god. / And therfore, he that first was so mighty that
he sholde not have dyed, bicam swich oon that he moste nedes dye, whether
he wolde or noon; and all his progenie in this world that in thilke man
sinneden. / Loke that in thestaat of innocence, when Adam and Eve naked
weren in paradys, and no-thing ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse, /325 how
that the serpent, that was most wyly of alle othere bestes that god hadde
maked, seyde to the womman: ‘why comaunded god to yow, ye sholde nat eten
of every tree in paradys?’ / The womman answerde: ‘of the fruit,’ quod she,
‘of the trees in paradys we feden us; but soothly, of the fruit of the tree
that is in the middel of paradys, god forbad us for to ete, ne nat touchen
it, lest per-aventure we should dyen.’ / 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,
knowinge [587] good and harm.’ / The womman thanne saugh that the tree was
good to feding, and fair to the eyen, and delytable to the sighte; she tok
of the fruit of the tree, and eet it, and yaf to hir housbonde, and he eet;
and anoon the eyen of hem bothe openeden. / And whan that they knewe that
they were naked, they sowed of fige-leves a manere of breches to hiden hir
membres. /330 There may ye seen that deedly sinne hath first suggestion of
the feend, as sheweth here by the naddre; and afterward, the delyt of the
flesh, as sheweth here by Eve; and after that, the consentinge of resoun,
as sheweth here by Adam. / For trust wel, thogh so were that the feend
tempted Eve, that is to seyn the flesh, and the flesh hadde delyt in the
beautee of the fruit defended, yet certes, til that resoun, that is to
seyn, Adam, consented to the etinge of the fruit, yet stood he in thestaat
of innocence. / Of thilke Adam toke we thilke sinne original; for of him
fleshly descended be we alle, and engendred of vile and corrupt matere. /
And whan the soule is put in our body, right anon is contract original
sinne; and that, that was erst but only peyne of concupiscence, is
afterward bothe peyne and sinne. / And therfore be we alle born sones of
wratthe and of dampnacion perdurable, if it nere baptesme that we receyven,
which binimeth us the culpe; but for sothe, the peyne dwelleth with us, as
to temptacion, which peyne highte concupiscence. /335 Whan it is wrongfully
disposed or ordeyned in man, it maketh him coveite, by coveitise of flesh,
fleshly sinne, by sighte of hise eyen as to erthely thinges. and coveitise
of hynesse by pryde of herte. /
323. E. Hn. comaundementz; _rest_ comaundement. 324. E. wheither.
325. Pt. þe astate; Ln. þe state; Cm. stat. 327. ne] E. and. 328.
E. _om._ ye _before_ shul. 330. E. Cm. a manere; _rest_ in manere.
335. E. bynyneth; Hn. Pt. Hl. bynymeth.
§ 19. Now as for to speken of the firste coveitise, that is, concupiscence
after the lawe of oure membres, that weren lawe-fulliche y-maked and by
rightful Iugement of god; / I seye, for-as-muche as man is nat obeisaunt to
god, that is his lord, therfore is the flesh to him disobeisaunt thurgh
concupiscence, which yet is cleped norissinge of sinne and occasion of
sinne. / Therfore, al the whyle that a man hath in him the peyne of
concupiscence, it is impossible but he be tempted somtyme, and moeved in
his flesh to sinne. And this thing may nat faille as longe as he liveth; it
may wel wexe feble and faille, by vertu of baptesme and by the grace of god
thurgh penitence; /340 but fully [588] ne shal it nevere quenche, that he
ne shal som tyme be moeved in him-self, but-if he were al refreyded by
siknesse, or by malefice of sorcerie or colde drinkes. / For lo, what seith
seint Paul: ‘the flesh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and the spirit agayn the
flesh; they been so contrarie and so stryven, that a man may nat alwey doon
as he wolde.’ / The same seint Paul, after his grete penaunce in water and
in lond (in water by night and by day, in greet peril and in greet peyne,
in lond, in famine, in thurst, in cold and clothlees, and ones stoned
almost to the deeth) / yet seyde he: ‘allas! I, caytif man, who shal
delivere me fro the prisoun of my caytif body?’ / And seint Ierome, whan he
longe tyme hadde woned in desert, where-as he hadde no companye but of
wilde bestes, where-as he ne hadde no mete but herbes and water to his
drinke, ne no bed but the naked erthe, for which his flesh was blak as an
Ethiopen for hete and ny destroyed for cold, /345 yet seyde he: that ‘the
brenninge of lecherie boiled in al his body.’ / Wherfore I woot wel
sikerly, that they been deceyved that seyn, that they ne be nat tempted in
hir body. / Witnesse on Seint Iame the Apostel, that seith: that ‘every
wight is tempted in his owen concupiscence’: that is to seyn, that everich
of us hath matere and occasion to be tempted of the norissinge of sinne
that is in his body. / And therfore seith Seint Iohn the Evaungelist: ‘if
that we seyn that we beth with-oute sinne, we deceyve us-selve, and trouthe
is nat in us.’ /
338. E. norrissynge. 340. E. fieble; _rest_ feble. 345. E.
Ethiopeen; _rest_ -pen.
§ 20. Now shal ye understonde in what manere that sinne wexeth or encreseth
in man. The firste thing is thilke norissinge of sinne, of which I spak
biforn, thilke fleshly concupiscence. /350 And after that comth the
subieccion of the devel, this is to seyn, the develes bely, with which he
bloweth in man the fyr of fleshly concupiscence. / And after that, a man
bithinketh him whether he wol doon, or no, thilke thing to which he is
tempted. / And thanne, if that a man withstonde and weyve the firste
entysinge of his flesh and of the feend, thanne is it no sinne; and if it
so be that he do nat so, thanne feleth he anon a flambe of delyt. / And
thanne is it good to be war, and kepen him wel, or elles he wol falle anon
in-to consentinge of sinne; and thanne wol he do it, if he may have tyme
and place. / And of this matere seith Moyses by the devel in this manere:
‘the feend seith, I wole [589] chace and pursue the man by wikked
suggestion, and I wole hente him by moevynge or stiringe of sinne. I wol
departe my pryse or my praye by deliberacion, and my lust shal been
accompliced in delyt; I wol drawe my swerd in consentinge:’ /355 for
certes, right as a swerd departeth a thing in two peces, right so
consentinge departeth god fro man: ‘and thanne wol I sleen him with myn
hand in dede of sinne’; thus seith the feend. / For certes, thanne is a man
al deed in soule. And thus is sinne accompliced by temptacion, by delyt,
and by consentinge; and thanne is the sin cleped actuel. /
350. E. encreesseth. 352. E. wheither. 357. E. Actueel.
§ 21. For sothe, sinne is in two maneres; outher it is venial, or deedly
sinne. Soothly, whan man loveth any creature more than Iesu Crist oure
creatour, thanne is it deedly sinne. And venial synne is it, if man love
Iesu Crist lasse than him oghte. / For sothe, the dede of this venial sinne
is ful perilous; for it amenuseth the love that men sholde han to god more
and more. / And therfore, if a man charge him-self with manye swiche venial
sinnes, certes, but-if so be that he som tyme descharge him of hem by
shrifte, they mowe ful lightly amenuse in him al the love that he hath to
Iesu Crist; /360 and in this wise skippeth venial in-to deedly sinne. For
certes, the more that a man chargeth his soule with venial sinnes, the more
is he enclyned to fallen in-to deedly sinne. / And therfore, lat us nat be
necligent to deschargen us of venial sinnes. For the proverbe seith: that
manye smale maken a greet. / And herkne this ensample. A greet wawe of the
see comth som-tyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship. And
the same harm doth som-tyme the smale dropes of water, that entren thurgh a
litel crevace in-to the thurrok, and in-to the botme of the ship, if men be
so necligent that they ne descharge hem nat by tyme. / And therfore,
al-thogh ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchinge,
algates the ship is dreynt. / Right so fareth it somtyme of deedly sinne,
and of anoyouse veniale sinnes, whan they multiplye in a man so greetly,
that thilke worldly thinges that he loveth, thurgh whiche he sinneth
venially, is as greet in his herte as the love of god, or more. /365 And
therfore, the love of every thing, that is nat biset in god ne doon
principally for goddes sake, al-though that a man love [590] it lasse than
god, yet is it venial sinne; / and deedly sinne, whan the love of any thing
weyeth in the herte of man as muchel as the love of god, or more. / ‘Deedly
sinne,’ as seith seint Augustin, ‘is, whan a man turneth his herte fro god,
which that is verray sovereyn bountee, that may nat chaunge, and yeveth his
herte to thing that may chaunge and flitte’; / and certes, that is every
thing, save god of hevene. For sooth is, that if a man yeve his love, the
which that he oweth al to god with al his herte, un-to a creature, certes,
as muche of his love as he yeveth to thilke creature, so muche he bireveth
fro god; / and therfore doth he sinne. For he, that is dettour to god, ne
yeldeth nat to god al his dette, that is to seyn, al the love of his herte.
/370
358. E. _om._ oghte. 361. sinnes] E. sinne. 363. E. Hn. Cm. in the
botme. 367. E. wexeth (_for_ weyeth). 369. E. as he yeueth of his
loue.
§ 22. Now sith man understondeth generally, which is venial sinne, thanne
is it covenable to tellen specially of sinnes whiche that many a man
per-aventure ne demeth hem nat sinnes, and ne shryveth him nat of the same
thinges; and yet nathelees they been sinnes. / Soothly, as thise clerkes
wryten, this is to seyn, that at every tyme that a man eteth or drinketh
more than suffyseth to the sustenaunce of his body, in certein he dooth
sinne. / And eek whan he speketh more than nedeth, it is sinne. Eke whan he
herkneth nat benignely the compleint of the povre. / Eke whan he is in hele
of body and wol nat faste, whan othere folk faste, withouten cause
resonable. Eke whan he slepeth more than nedeth, or whan he comth by thilke
enchesoun to late to chirche, or to othere werkes of charite. / Eke whan he
useth his wyf, withouten sovereyn desyr of engendrure, to the honour of
god, or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body. /375 Eke
whan he wol nat visite the sike and the prisoner, if he may. Eke if he love
wyf or child, or other worldly thing, more than resoun requyreth. Eke if he
flatere or blandishe more than him oghte for any necessitee. / Eke if he
amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the povre. Eke if he apparailleth his
mete more deliciously than nede is, or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse.
/ Eke if he tale vanitees at chirche or at goddes service, or that he be a
talker of ydel wordes of folye or of vileinye; for he shal yelden acountes
of it at the day of dome. / Eke whan he biheteth or assureth to do [591]
thinges that he may nat perfourne. Eke whan that he, by lightnesse or
folie, misseyeth or scorneth his neighebore. / Eke whan he hath any wikked
suspecion of thing, ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse. /380 Thise
thinges and mo with-oute nombre been sinnes, as seith seint Augustin. /
371. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. hem (_for_ him). 374. E. hym oghte (_for_ othere
folk). 376. E. Hn. blandise. 377. Hl. body (_for_ mete). E. Cm.
_om._ it. 378. Hl. talke of (_for_ tale). 379. Hn. Hl. acounte.
Now shal men understonde, that al-be-it so that noon erthely man may eschue
alle venial sinnes, yet may he refreyne him by the brenninge love that he
hath to oure lord Iesu Crist, and by preyeres and confession and othere
gode werkes, so that it shal but litel greve. / For, as seith seint
Augustin: ‘if a man love god in swiche manere, that al that evere he doth
is in the love of god, and for the love of god verraily, for he brenneth in
the love of god: / loke, how muche that a drope of water that falleth in a
fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth or greveth, so muche anoyeth a venial sinne
un-to a man that is parfit in the love of Iesu Crist.’ / Men may also
refreyne venial sinne by receyvinge worthily of the precious body of Iesu
Crist; /385 by receyving eek of holy water; by almesdede; by general
confession of _Confiteor_ at masse and at complin; and by blessinge of
bisshopes and of preestes, and by othere gode werkes. /
382. E. restreyne (_for_ refreyne); _see_ 385. 386. E. _om._ by
_before_ othere.
=Explicit secunda pars penitentie.=
=Sequitur De Septem Peccatis Mortalibus et eorum dependenciis
circumstanciis et speciebus.=
§ 23. Now is it bihovely thing to telle whiche been the deedly sinnes, this
is to seyn, chieftaines of sinnes; alle they renne in o lees, but in
diverse maneres. Now been they cleped chieftaines for-as-muche as they been
chief, and springers of alle othere sinnes. / Of the roote of thise sevene
sinnes thanne is Pryde, the general rote of alle harmes; for of this rote
springen certein braunches, as Ire, Envye, Accidie or Slewthe, Avarice or
Coveitise (to commune understondinge), Glotonye, and Lecherye. / And
everich of thise chief sinnes hath hise braunches and hise twigges, as shal
be declared in hir chapitres folwinge. /
HEADING. _So in_ E.; _but_ E. _adds_ De Superbia, _which should come at
the head of_ § 24, _as in_ Hn. 387. Hl. springers; Hn. sprynge; E.
Pt. Ln. spryngen.
=De Superbia.=
§ 24. And thogh so be that no man can outrely telle the [592] nombre of the
twigges and of the harmes that cometh of Pryde, yet wol I shewe a partie of
hem, as ye shul understonde. /390 Ther is Inobedience, Avauntinge,
Ipocrisie, Despyt, Arrogance, Impudence, Swellinge of herte, Insolence,
Elacion, Impacience, Strif, Contumacie, Presumpcion, Irreverence,
Pertinacie, Veyne Glorie; and many another twig that I can nat declare. /
Inobedient, is he that disobeyeth for despyt to the comandements of god and
to hise sovereyns, and to his goostly fader. / Avauntour, is he that
bosteth of the harm or of the bountee that he hath doon. / Ipocrite, is he
that hydeth to shewe him swiche as he is, and sheweth him swiche as he
noght is. / Despitous, is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebore, that is
to seyn, of his evene-cristene, or hath despyt to doon that him oghte to
do. /395 Arrogant, is he that thinketh that he hath thilke bountees in him
that he hath noght, or weneth that he sholde have hem by hise desertes; or
elles he demeth that he be that he nis nat. / Impudent, is he that for his
pride hath no shame of hise sinnes. / Swellinge of herte, is whan a man
reioyseth him of harm that he hath doon. / Insolent, is he that despyseth
in his Iugement alle othere folk as to regard of his value, and of his
conning, and of his speking, and of his bering. / Elacion, is whan he ne
may neither suffre to have maister ne felawe. /400 Impacient, is he that
wol nat been y-taught ne undernome of his vyce, and by stryf werreieth
trouthe witingly, and deffendeth his folye. / _Contumax_, is he that thurgh
his indignacion is agayns everich auctoritee or power of hem that been hise
sovereyns. / Presumpcion, is whan a man undertaketh an empryse that him
oghte nat do, or elles that he may nat do; and that is called Surquidrie.
Irreverence, is whan men do nat honour thereas hem oghte to doon, and
waiten to be reverenced. / Pertinacie, is whan man deffendeth his folye,
and trusteth to muchel in his owene wit. / Veyne glorie, is for to have
pompe and delyt in his temporel hynesse, and glorifie him in this worldly
estaat. /405 Ianglinge, is whan men speken to muche biforn folk, and
clappen as a mille, and taken no kepe what they seye. /
390. E. Hn. _om. 2nd_ the. 391. Pt. Hl. Imprudence; E. Hn. Inpudence.
E. Hn. Pt. Inpatience; _rest imperfect here._ 395. E. _om. 2nd_
his. 401. Ln. Hl. Impacient; _rest_ Inpatient (_or imperfect_). Pt.
Hl. vices. 403. E. and this is. E. Hn. surquidie. 404. E. hise
folies. 405. E. temporeel.
§ 25. And yet is ther a privee spece of Pryde, that waiteth first to be
salewed er he wole salewe, al be he lasse worth than that [593] other is,
per-aventure; and eek he waiteth or desyreth to sitte, or elles to goon
above him in the wey, or kisse pax, or been encensed, or goon to offring
biforn his neighebore, / and swiche semblable thinges; agayns his duetee,
per-aventure, but that he hath his herte and his entente in swich a proud
desyr to be magnifyed and honoured biforn the peple. /
§ 26. Now been ther two maneres of Pryde; that oon of hem is with-inne the
herte of man, and that other is with-oute. / Of whiche soothly thise
forseyde thinges, and mo than I have seyd, apertenen to pryde that is in
the herte of man; and that othere speces of pryde been with-oute. /410 But
natheles that oon of thise speces of pryde is signe of that other, right as
the gaye leefsel atte taverne is signe of the wyn that is in the celer. /
And this is in manye thinges: as in speche and contenaunce, and in
outrageous array of clothing; / for certes, if ther ne hadde be no sinne in
clothing, Crist wolde nat have noted and spoken of the clothing of thilke
riche man in the gospel. / And, as seith Seint Gregorie, that precious
clothing is coupable for the derthe of it, and for his softenesse, and for
his strangenesse and degysinesse, and for the superfluitee, or for the
inordinat scantnesse of it. / Allas! may men nat seen, as in oure dayes,
the sinful costlewe array of clothinge, and namely in to muche
superfluitee, or elles in to desordinat scantnesse? /415
410. _So_ E. Hn. Hl.; _perhaps read_ and that other spece of pryde is;
Pt. Ln. and ther-to other spices of pride bene. 411. Pt. Ln. Hl.
spices. Hn. leuesel; Hl. leuesselle; Pt. leeuesell; Ln. leuesal.
414. Pt. disgisenesse; Ln. Hl. disgisinesse. or] E. and.
§ 27. As to the firste sinne, that is in superfluitee of clothinge, which
that maketh it so dere, to harm of the peple; / nat only the cost of
embroudinge, the degyse endentinge or barringe, oundinge, palinge,
windinge, or bendinge, and semblable wast of clooth in vanitee; / but ther
is also costlewe furringe in hir gounes, so muche pounsoninge of chisels to
maken holes, so muche dagginge of sheres; / forth-with the superfluitee in
lengthe of the forseide gounes, trailinge in the dong and in the myre, on
horse and eek on fote, as wel of man as of womman, that al thilke trailing
is verraily as in effect wasted, consumed, thredbare, and roten with donge,
rather than it is yeven to the povre; to greet [594] damage of the forseyde
povre folk. / And that in sondry wyse: this is to seyn, that the more that
clooth is wasted, the more it costeth to the peple for the scantnesse; /420
and forther-over, if so be that they wolde yeven swich pounsoned and dagged
clothing to the povre folk, it is nat convenient to were for hir estaat, ne
suffisant to bete hir necessitee, to kepe hem fro the distemperance of the
firmament. / Upon that other syde, to speken of the horrible disordinat
scantnesse of clothing, as been thise cutted sloppes or hainselins, that
thurgh hir shortnesse ne covere nat the shameful membres of man, to wikked
entente. / Allas! somme of hem shewen the boce of hir shap, and the
horrible swollen membres, that semeth lyk the maladie of hirnia, in the
wrappinge of hir hoses; / and eek the buttokes of hem faren as it were the
hindre part of a she-ape in the fulle of the mone. / And more-over, the
wrecched swollen membres that they shewe thurgh the degysinge, in
departinge of hir hoses in whyt and reed, semeth that half hir shameful
privee membres weren flayn. /425 And if so be that they departen hire hoses
in othere colours, as is whyt and blak, or whyt and blew, or blak and reed,
and so forth; / thanne semeth it, as by variance of colour, that half the
partie of hir privee membres were corrupt by the fyr of seint Antony, or by
cancre, or by other swich meschaunce. / Of the hindre part of hir buttokes,
it is ful horrible for to see. For certes, in that partie of hir body
ther-as they purgen hir stinkinge ordure, / that foule partie shewe they to
the peple proudly in despyt of honestetee, the which honestetee that Iesu
Crist and hise freendes observede to shewen in hir lyve. / Now as of the
outrageous array of wommen, god woot, that though the visages of somme of
hem seme ful chaast and debonaire, yet notifie they in hir array of atyr
likerousnesse and pryde. /430 I sey nat that honestetee in clothinge of man
or womman is uncovenable, but certes the superfluitee or disordinat
scantitee of clothinge is reprevable. / Also the sinne of aornement or of
apparaille is in thinges that apertenen to rydinge, as in to manye delicat
horses that been holden for delyt, that been so faire, fatte, and costlewe;
/ and also to many a vicious knave that is sustened [595] by cause of hem;
in to curious harneys, as in sadeles, in crouperes, peytrels, and brydles
covered with precious clothing and riche, barres and plates of gold and of
silver. / For which god seith by Zakarie the prophete, ‘I wol confounde the
ryderes of swiche horses.’ / This folk taken litel reward of the rydinge of
goddes sone of hevene, and of his harneys whan he rood up-on the asse, and
ne hadde noon other harneys but the povre clothes of hise disciples; ne we
ne rede nat that evere he rood on other beest. /435 I speke this for the
sinne of superfluitee, and nat for reasonable honestetee, whan reson it
requyreth. / And forther, certes pryde is greetly notified in holdinge of
greet meinee, whan they be of litel profit or of right no profit. / And
namely, whan that meinee is felonous and damageous to the peple, by
hardinesse of heigh lordshipe or by wey of offices. / For certes, swiche
lordes sellen thanne hir lordshipe to the devel of helle, whanne they
sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meinee. / Or elles whan this folk of lowe
degree, as thilke that holden hostelries, sustenen the thefte of hir
hostilers, and that is in many manere of deceites. /440 Thilke manere of
folk been the flyes that folwen the hony, or elles the houndes that folwen
the careyne. Swiche forseyde folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes; /
for which thus seith David the prophete, ‘wikked deeth mote come up-on
thilke lordshipes, and god yeve that they mote descenden in-to helle al
doun; for in hir houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses,’ and nat god of
hevene. / And certes, but-if they doon amendement, right as god yaf his
benison to Laban by the service of Iacob, and to Pharao by the service of
Ioseph, right so god wol yeve his malison to swiche lordshipes as sustenen
the wikkednesse of hir servaunts, but-if they come to amendement. / Pryde
of the table appereth eek ful ofte; for certes, riche men been cleped to
festes, and povre folk been put awey and rebuked. / Also in excesse of
diverse metes and drinkes; and namely, swiche manere bake metes and
dish-metes, brenninge of wilde fyr, and peynted and castelled with papir,
and semblable wast; so that it is abusion for to thinke. /445 And eek in to
greet preciousnesse of vessel and curiositee of minstralcie, by whiche a
man is stired the more to delyces of luxurie, / [596] if so be that he
sette his herte the lasse up-on oure lord Iesu Crist, certein it is a
sinne; and certeinly the delyces mighte been so grete in this caas, that
man mighte lightly falle by hem in-to deedly sinne. / The especes that
sourden of pryde, soothly whan they sourden of malice ymagined, avysed, and
forncast, or elles of usage, been deedly synnes, it is no doute. / And whan
they sourden by freletee unavysed sodeinly, and sodeinly withdrawen ayein,
al been they grevouse sinnes, I gesse that they ne been nat deedly. / Now
mighte men axe wher-of that Pryde sourdeth and springeth, and I seye:
somtyme it springeth of the goodes of nature, and som-tyme of the goodes of
fortune, and som-tyme of the goodes of grace. /450 Certes, the goodes of
nature stonden outher in goodes of body or in goodes of soule. / Certes,
goodes of body been hele of body, as strengthe, delivernesse, beautee,
gentrye, franchise. / Goodes of nature of the soule been good wit, sharp
understondynge, subtil engin, vertu naturel, good memorie. / Goodes of
fortune been richesses, highe degrees of lordshipes, preisinges of the
peple. / Goodes of grace been science, power to suffre spirituel travaille,
benignitee, vertuous contemplacion, withstondinge of temptacion, and
semblable thinges. /455 Of whiche forseyde goodes, certes it is a ful greet
folye a man to pryden him in any of hem alle. / Now as for to speken of
goodes of nature, god woot that som-tyme we han hem in nature as muche to
oure damage as to oure profit. / As, for to speken of hele of body; certes
it passeth ful lightly, and eek it is ful ofte encheson of the siknesse of
oure soule; for god woot, the flesh is a ful greet enemy to the soule: and
therfore, the more that the body is hool, the more be we in peril to falle.
/ Eke for to pryde him in his strengthe of body, it is an heigh folye; for
certes, the flesh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and ay the more strong that
the flesh is, the sorier may the soule be: / and, over al this, strengthe
of body and worldly hardinesse causeth ful ofte many a man to peril and
meschaunce. /460 Eek for to pryde him of his gentrye is ful greet folye;
for ofte tyme the gentrye of the body binimeth the gentrye of the soule;
and eek we ben alle of o fader and of o moder; and alle we been of o nature
roten and corrupt, both riche and povre. / [597] For sothe, o manere
gentrye is for to preise, that apparailleth mannes corage with vertues and
moralitees, and maketh him Cristes child. / For truste wel, that over what
man sinne hath maistrie, he is a verray cherl to sinne. /
416. E. _om._ that is. 417. Hn. Pt. enbrawdynge. E. _om._ or _bef._
barringe. E. owndynge. 418. E. powsonynge; Hn. pownsonynge; Ln.
pounseinge; Hl. pounsyng. Pt. chisels; E. Hn. chisel; _rest_
chiseles (cheseles). 419. E. men; wo_m_men. 421. E. powsoned; Hn.
pownsonyd; Pt. pounsoned; Ln. Hl. pounsed. 422. E. haynselyns; Hn.
hanselyns; Ln. hanslynes; Pt. hanselynes; Hl. anslets; Harl. 1758,
haunseleynys. 425. _All but_ E. _om._ the _bef._ degysinge. E.
flayne. 429. E. honestitee (_twice_); Hn. honestetee; _rest_ honeste;
_so in_ 431, 436. 430. E. _om._ as. 432. Pt. anornement; Hl. here
ornament. 440. E. sustenynge; Hn. sustenen; Cm. Hl. susteyne. 442.
E. vp; Hn. vp on; Hl. vpon; Pt. Ln. on. E. al doun (_twice_); Hn.
adown (_twice_); Cm. al doun (_once_). 443. _All_ MSS. _transpose_
Laban _and_ Pharao. E. seruauntz. 448. Pt. Ln. Hl. espices. 449.
E. _om. 1st_ sodeinly. 452. E. gentries; Hl. Pt. gentrie; _rest_
genterye; _see_ 461. 453. E. natureel. 454. E. Ln. richesse. 455.
E. spiritueel. 460. _So in all_.
§ 28. Now been ther generale signes of gentilesse; as eschewinge of vyce
and ribaudye and servage of sinne, in word, in werk, and contenance; / and
usinge vertu, curteisye, and clennesse, and to be liberal, that is to seyn,
large by mesure; for thilke that passeth mesure is folye and sinne. /465
Another is, to remembre him of bountee that he of other folk hath receyved.
/ Another is, to be benigne to hise goode subgetis; wherfore, as seith
Senek, ‘ther is no-thing more covenable to a man of heigh estaat than
debonairetee and pitee. / And therfore thise flyes that men clepeth bees,
whan they maken hir king, they chesen oon that hath no prikke wherwith he
may stinge.’ / Another is, a man to have a noble herte and a diligent, to
attayne to heighe vertuouse thinges. / Now certes, a man to pryde him in
the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folye; for thilke yiftes of grace
that sholde have turned him to goodnesse and to medicine, turneth him to
venim and to confusion, as seith seint Gregorie. /470 Certes also, who-so
prydeth him in the goodes of fortune, he is a ful greet fool; for som-tyme
is a man a greet lord by the morwe, that is a caitif and a wrecche er it be
night: / and somtyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth; somtyme
the delyces of a man is cause of the grevous maladye thurgh which he dyeth.
/ Certes, the commendacion of the peple is somtyme ful fals and ful brotel
for to triste; this day they preyse, tomorwe they blame. / God woot, desyr
to have commendacion of the peple hath caused deeth to many a bisy man. /
467. E. Cm. _om._ as. 469. E. man; _rest_ a man. 470. E. yifte;
_rest_ yiftes. N.B. Section 470 _follows_ 474 _in_ Hn. Pt.; _see
note_.
=Remedium contra peccatum Superbie.=
§ 29. Now sith that so is, that ye han understonde what is pryde, and
whiche been the speces of it, and whennes pride sourdeth and springeth;
/475 now shul ye understonde which is the remedie agayns the sinne of
pryde, and that is, humilitee or mekenesse. / That is a vertu, thurgh which
a man hath verray knoweleche of him-self, and holdeth of him-self no prys
ne deyntee as in regard of hise desertes, consideringe evere his freletee.
/ Now [598] been ther three maneres of humilitee; as humilitee in herte,
and another humilitee in his mouth; the thridde in hise werkes. / The
humilitee in herte is in foure maneres: that oon is, whan a man holdeth
him-self as noght worth biforn god of hevene. Another is, whan he ne
despyseth noon other man. / The thridde is, whan he rekketh nat thogh men
holde him noght worth. The ferthe is, whan he nis nat sory of his
humiliacion. /480 Also, the humilitee of mouth is in foure thinges: in
attempree speche, and in humblesse of speche, and whan he biknoweth with
his owene mouth that he is swich as him thinketh that he is in his herte.
Another is, whan he preiseth the bountee of another man, and nothing
ther-of amenuseth. / Humilitee eek in werkes is in foure maneres: the
firste is, whan he putteth othere men biforn him. The seconde is, to chese
the loweste place over-al. The thridde is, gladly to assente to good
conseil. / The ferthe is, to stonde gladly to the award of hise sovereyns,
or of him that is in hyer degree; certein, this is a greet werk of
humilitee. /
482. E. _om._ good.
=Sequitur de Inuidia.=
§ 30. After Pryde wol I speken of the foule sinne of Envye, which is, as by
the word of the philosophre, sorwe of other mannes prosperitee; and after
the word of seint Augustin, it is sorwe of other mannes wele, and Ioye of
othere mennes harm. / This foule sinne is platly agayns the holy goost.
Al-be-it so that every sinne is agayns the holy goost, yet nathelees, for
as muche as bountee aperteneth proprely to the holy goost, and Envye comth
proprely of malice, therfore it is proprely agayn the bountee of the holy
goost. /485 Now hath malice two speces, that is to seyn, hardnesse of herte
in wikkednesse, or elles the flesh of man is so blind, that he considereth
nat that he is in sinne, or rekketh nat that he is in sinne; which is the
hardnesse of the devel. / That other spece 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 yeve to his neighebore; and al this is by
Envye. / Certes, thanne is Envye the worste sinne that is. For soothly,
alle othere sinnes been som-tyme only agayns o special vertu; / but certes,
Envye is agayns alle vertues and agayns alle goodnesses; for it is [599]
sory of alle the bountees of his neighebore; and in this manere it is
divers from alle othere sinnes. / For wel unnethe is ther any sinne that it
ne hath som delyt in itself, save only Envye, that evere hath in itself
anguish and sorwe. /490 The speces of Envye been thise: ther is first,
sorwe of other mannes goodnesse and of his prosperitee; and prosperitee is
kindely matere of Ioye; thanne is Envye a sinne agayns kinde. / The seconde
spece of Envye is Ioye of other mannes harm; and that is proprely lyk to
the devel, that evere reioyseth him of mannes harm. / Of thise two speces
comth bakbyting; and this sinne of bakbyting or detraccion hath certeine
speces, as thus. Som man preiseth his neighebore by a wikke entente; / for
he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste ende. Alwey he maketh a ‘but’
atte laste ende, that is digne of more blame, than worth is al the
preisinge. / The seconde spece is, that if a man be good and dooth or seith
a thing to good entente, the bakbyter wol turne all thilke goodnesse
up-so-doun to his shrewed entente. /495 The thridde is, to amenuse the
bountee of his neighebore. / The fourthe spece of bakbyting is this; that
if men speke goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbyter seyn, ‘parfey,
swich a man is yet bet than he’; in dispreisinge of him that men preise. /
The fifte spece is this; for to consente gladly and herkne gladly to the
harm that men speke of other folk. This sinne is ful greet, and ay
encreseth after the wikked entente of the bakbyter. / After bakbyting
cometh grucching or murmuracion; and somtyme it springeth of inpacience
agayns god, and somtyme agayns man. / Agayns god it is, whan a man
gruccheth agayn the peynes of helle, or agayns poverte, or los of catel, or
agayn reyn or tempest; or elles gruccheth that shrewes han prosperitee, or
elles for that goode men han adversitee. /500 And alle thise thinges sholde
men suffre paciently, for they comen by the rightful Iugement and ordinance
of god. / Som-tyme comth grucching of avarice; as Iudas grucched agayns the
Magdaleyne, whan she enoynte the heved of oure lord Iesu Crist with hir
precious oynement. / This maner murmure is swich as whan man gruccheth of
goodnesse that him-self dooth, or that other folk doon of hir owene catel.
/ Som-tyme comth murmure of pryde; as whan Simon the Pharisee grucched
agayn the Magdaleyne, whan she approched to Iesu Crist, and weep at his
feet for hir sinnes. / [600] And somtyme grucching sourdeth of Envye; whan
men discovereth a mannes harm that was privee, or bereth him on hond thing
that is fals. /505 Murmure eek is ofte amonges servaunts, that grucchen
whan hir sovereyns bidden hem doon leveful thinges; / and, for-as-muche as
they dar nat openly withseye the comaundements of hir sovereyns, yet wol
they seyn harm, and grucche, and murmure prively for verray despyt; /
whiche wordes men clepen the develes _Pater-noster_, though so be that the
devel ne hadde nevere _Pater-noster_, but that lewed folk yeven it swich a
name. / Som tyme grucching comth of ire or prive hate, that norisseth
rancour in herte, as afterward I shal declare. / Thanne cometh eek
bitternesse of herte; thurgh which bitternesse every good dede of his
neighebor semeth to him bitter and unsavory. /510 Thanne cometh discord,
that unbindeth alle manere of frendshipe. Thanne comth scorninge, as whan a
man seketh occasioun to anoyen his neighebor, al do he never so weel. /
Thanne comth accusinge, as whan man seketh occasion to anoyen his
neighebor, which that is lyk to the craft of the devel, that waiteth bothe
night and day to accusen us alle. / Thanne comth malignitee, thurgh which a
man anoyeth his neighebor prively if he may; / and if he noght may, algate
his wikked wil ne shal nat wante, as for to brennen his hous prively, or
empoysone or sleen hise bestes, and semblable thinges. /
485. E. _om._ foule. E. _om. 1st and 3rd_ goost. 486. Cm.
hardynesse (_twice_). 487. E. speche (_for_ spece); Hn. spece; _rest_
spice. E. malice (_and so_ Selden MS., _rightly_); _rest_ enuye.
497. parfey] E. pardee. 500. E. _om._ or _after_ catel. 502. E. Hn.
enoynte; Cm. Hl. anoynted; Pt. ennoynted. 506. E. seruauntz. Cm.
lefful; Pt. Hl. leeful. 507. E. comaundementz. 511. Cm. scornynge
as whanne a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his; _rest_ scornynge of his
(_merely_).
=Remedium contra peccatum Inuidie.=
§ 31. Now wol I speke of the remedie agayns this foule sinne of Envye.
First, is the love of god principal, and loving of his neighebor as
him-self; for soothly, that oon ne may nat been withoute that other. /515
And truste wel, that in the name of thy neighebore thou shalt understonde
the name of thy brother; for certes alle we have o fader fleshly, and o
moder, that is to seyn, Adam and Eve; and eek o fader espirituel, and that
is god of hevene. / Thy neighebore artow holden for to love, and wilne him
alle goodnesse; and therfore seith god, ‘love thy neighebore as thyselve,’
that is to seyn, to salvacion bothe of lyf and of soule. / And more-over,
thou shalt love him in word, and in benigne amonestinge, and chastysinge;
and conforten him in hise anoyes, and preye [601] for him with al thyn
herte. / And in dede thou shall love him in swich wyse, that thou shalt
doon to him in charitee as thou woldest that it were doon to thyn owene
persone. / And therfore, thou ne shalt doon him no damage in wikked word,
ne harm in his body, ne in his catel, ne in his soule, by entysing of
wikked ensample. /520 Thou shalt nat desyren his wyf, ne none of hise
thinges. Understond eek, that in the name of neighebor is comprehended his
enemy. / Certes man shal loven his enemy by the comandement of god; and
soothly thy frend shaltow love in God. / I seye, thyn enemy shaltow love
for goddes sake, by his comandement. For if it were reson that a man sholde
haten his enemy, for sothe god nolde nat receiven us to his love that been
hise enemys. / Agayns three manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym,
he shal doon three thinges, as thus. / Agayns hate and rancour of herte, he
shal love him in herte. Agayns chyding and wikkede wordes, he shal preye
for his enemy. And agayn the wikked dede of his enemy, he shal doon him
bountee. /525 For Crist seith, ‘loveth youre enemys, and preyeth for hem
that speke yow harm; and eek for hem that yow chacen and pursewen, and doth
bountee to hem that yow haten.’ Lo, thus comaundeth us oure lord Iesu
Crist, to do to oure enemys. / For soothly, nature dryveth us to loven oure
freendes, and parfey, oure enemys han more nede to love than oure freendes;
and they that more nede have, certes, to hem shal men doon goodnesse; / and
certes, in thilke dede have we remembrance of the love of Iesu Crist, that
deyde for hise enemys. / And in-as-muche as thilke love is the more grevous
to perfourne, in-so-muche is the more gretter the merite; and therfore the
lovinge of oure enemy hath confounded the venim of the devel. / For right
as the devel is disconfited by humilitee, right so is he wounded to the
deeth by love of oure enemy. /530 Certes, thanne is love the medicine that
casteth out the venim of Envye fro mannes herte. / The speces of this pas
shullen be more largely in hir chapitres folwinge declared. /
515. this] E. the. love] E. louynge. 516. E. espiritueel. 517. E.
_om._ bothe. 520. E. entissyng. 521. E. Hn. Vnderstoond. 524.
wronges] E. thinges. 525. E. _om._ the. 529. Ln. Hl. parforme; Pt.
perfourme. 532. E. paas; Hl. pa_r_t; _rest_ pas.
=Sequitur de Ira.=
§ 32. After Envye wol I discryven the sinne of Ire. For soothly, who-so
hath envye upon his neighebor, anon he wole comunly [602] finde him a
matere of wratthe, in word or in dede, agayns him to whom he hath envye. /
And as wel comth Ire of Pryde, as of Envye; for soothly, he that is proude
or envious is lightly wrooth. /
533. Hn. Pt. Ln. _om._ a _bef._ matere.
§ 33. This sinne of Ire, after the discryving of seint Augustin, is wikked
wil to been avenged by word or by dede. /535 Ire, after the philosophre, is
the fervent blood of man y-quiked in his herte, thurgh which he wole harm
to him that he hateth. / For certes the herte of man, by eschaufinge and
moevinge of his blood, wexeth so trouble, that he is out of alle Iugement
of resoun. / But ye shal understonde that Ire is in two maneres; that oon
of hem is good, and that other is wikked. / The gode Ire is by Ialousye of
goodnesse, thurgh which a man is wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns
wikkednesse; and therfore seith a wys man, that ‘Ire is bet than pley.’ /
This Ire is with debonairetee, and it is wrooth withouten bitternesse; nat
wrooth agayns the man, but wrooth with the misdede of the man; as seith the
prophete David, _Irascimini et nolite peccare_. /540 Now understondeth,
that wikked Ire is in two maneres, that is to seyn, sodeyn Ire or hastif
Ire, withouten avisement and consentinge of resoun. / The mening and the
sens of this is, that the resoun of man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn
Ire; and thanne it is venial. / Another Ire is ful wikked, that comth of
felonye of herte avysed and cast biforn; with wikked wil to do vengeance,
and therto his resoun consenteth; and soothly this is deedly sinne. / This
Ire is so displesant to god, that it troubleth his hous and chaceth the
holy goost out of mannes soule, and wasteth and destroyeth the lyknesse of
god, that is to seyn, the vertu that is in mannes soule; / and put in him
the lyknesse of the devel, and binimeth the man fro god that is his
rightful lord. /545 This Ire is a ful greet plesaunce to the devel; for it
is the develes fourneys, that is eschaufed with the fyr of helle. / For
certes, right so as fyr is more mighty to destroyen erthely thinges than
any other element, right so Ire is mighty to destroyen alle spirituel
thinges. / Loke how that fyr of smale gledes, that been almost dede under
asshen, wollen quike agayn whan they been touched with brimstoon; right so
Ire wol everemo quiken agayn, whan it is touched by the pryde that is
covered in mannes herte. / For certes fyr ne may nat comen out of no-thing,
but-if it were first in the same thing naturelly; as fyr is drawen out of
flintes [603] with steel. / And right so as pryde is ofte tyme matere of
Ire, right so is rancour norice and keper of Ire. /550 Ther is a maner
tree, as seith seint Isidre, that whan men maken fyr of thilke tree, and
covere the coles of it with asshen, soothly the fyr of it wol lasten al a
yeer or more. / And right so fareth it of rancour; whan it is ones
conceyved in the hertes of som men, certein, it wol lasten peraventure from
oon Estre-day unto another Estre-day, and more. / But certes, thilke man is
ful fer fro the mercy of god al thilke while. /
547. E. spiritueel. 549. E. natureelly. 551. E. fire. 553. E. in
(_for_ al).
§ 34. In this forseyde develes fourneys ther forgen three shrewes: Pryde,
that ay bloweth and encreseth the fyr by chydinge and wikked wordes. /
Thanne stant Envye, and holdeth the hote iren upon the herte of man with a
peire of longe tonges of long rancour. /555 And thanne stant the sinne of
contumelie or stryf and cheeste, and batereth and forgeth by vileyns
reprevinges. / Certes, this cursed sinne anoyeth bothe to the man him-self
and eek to his neighebor. For soothly, almost al the harm that any man
dooth to his neighebore comth of wratthe. / For certes, outrageous wratthe
doth al that evere the devel him comaundeth; for he ne spareth neither
Crist, ne his swete mooder. / And in his outrageous anger and Ire, allas!
allas! ful many oon at that tyme feleth in his herte ful wikkedly, bothe of
Crist and of alle hise halwes. / Is nat this a cursed vice? Yis, certes.
Allas! it binimeth from man his wit and his resoun, and al his debonaire
lyf espirituel that sholde kepen his soule. /560 Certes, it binimeth eek
goddes due lordshipe, and that is mannes soule, and the love of hise
neighebores. It stryveth eek alday agayn trouthe. It reveth him the quiete
of his herte, and subverteth his soule. /
554. E. encreesseth. 555. E. toonges. 558. Hl. _om._ swete. 560.
E. espiritueel.
§ 35. Of Ire comen thise stinkinge engendrures: first hate, that is old
wratthe; discord, thurgh which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he hath
loved ful longe. / And thanne cometh werre, and every manere of wrong that
man dooth to his neighebore, in body or in catel. / Of this cursed sinne of
Ire cometh eek manslaughtre. And understonde wel, that homicyde, that is
manslaughtre, is in dyverse wyse. Som manere of homicyde is spirituel, and
som is bodily. / Spirituel manslaughtre is in six [604] thinges. First, by
hate; as seint Iohn seith, ‘he that hateth his brother is homicyde.’ /565
Homicyde is eek by bakbytinge; of whiche bakbyteres seith Salomon, that
‘they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hir neighebores.’ For soothly,
as wikke is to binime his good name as his lyf. / Homicyde is eek, in
yevinge of wikked conseil by fraude; as for to yeven conseil to areysen
wrongful custumes and taillages. / Of whiche seith Salomon, ‘Leon rorynge
and bere hongry been lyke to the cruel lordshipes,’ in withholdinge or
abregginge of the shepe (or the hyre), or of the wages of servaunts, or
elles in usure or in withdrawinge of the almesse of povre folk. / For which
the wyse man seith, ‘fedeth him that almost dyeth for honger’; for soothly,
but-if thou fede him, thou sleest him; and alle thise been deadly sinnes. /
Bodily manslaughtre is, whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in other
manere; as whan thou comandest to sleen a man, or elles yevest him conseil
to sleen a man. /570 Manslaughtre in dede is in foure maneres. That oon is
by lawe; right as a Iustice dampneth him that is coupable to the deeth. But
lat the Iustice be war that he do it rightfully, and that he do it nat for
delyt to spille blood, but for kepinge of rightwisenesse. / Another
homicyde is, that is doon for necessitee, as whan o man sleeth another in
his defendaunt, and that he ne may noon otherwise escape from his owene
deeth. / But certeinly, if he may escape withouten manslaughtre of his
adversarie, and sleeth him, he doth sinne, and he shal bere penance as for
deedly sinne. / Eek if a man, by caas or aventure, shete an arwe or caste a
stoon with which he sleeth a man, he is homicyde. / Eek if a womman by
necligence overlyeth hir child in hir sleping, it is homicyde and deedly
sinne. /575 Eek whan man destourbeth concepcion of a child, and maketh a
womman outher bareyne by drinkinge venemouse herbes, thurgh which she may
nat conceyve, or sleeth a child by drinkes wilfully, or elles putteth
certeine material thinges in hir secree places to slee the child; / or
elles doth unkindely sinne, by which man or womman shedeth hir nature in
manere or in place ther-as a child may nat be conceived; or elles, if a
womman have conceyved and hurt hir-self, [605] and sleeth the child, yet is
it homicyde. / What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for
drede of worldly shame? Certes, an horrible homicyde. / Homicyde is eek if
a man approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherye, thurgh which the child
is perissed, or elles smyteth a womman witingly, thurgh which she leseth
hir child. Alle thise been homicydes and horrible deedly sinnes. / Yet
comen ther of Ire manye mo sinnes, as wel in word as in thoght and in dede;
as he that arretteth upon god, or blameth god, of thing of which he is
him-self gilty; or despyseth god and alle hise halwes, as doon thise
cursede hasardours in diverse contrees. /580 This cursed sinne doon they,
whan they felen in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes. /
Also, whan they treten unreverently the sacrement of the auter, thilke
sinne is so greet, that unnethe may it been relesed, but that the mercy of
god passeth alle hise werkes; it is so greet and he so benigne. / Thanne
comth of Ire attry angre; whan a man is sharply amonested in his shrifte to
forleten his sinne, / than wole he be angry and answeren hokerly and
angrily, and deffenden or excusen his sinne by unstedefastnesse of his
flesh; or elles he dide it for to holde companye with hise felawes, or
elles, he seith, the fend entyced him; / or elles he dide it for his
youthe, or elles his complexioun is so corageous, that he may nat forbere;
or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, unto a certein age; or elles, he
seith, it cometh him of gentillesse of hise auncestres; and semblable
thinges. /585 Alle this manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir sinnes, that
they ne wol nat delivere hem-self. For soothly, no wight that excuseth him
wilfully of his sinne may nat been delivered of his sinne, til that he
mekely biknoweth his sinne. / After this, thanne cometh swering, that is
expres agayn the comandement of god; and this bifalleth ofte of anger and
of Ire. / God seith: ‘thou shalt nat take the name of thy lord god in veyn
or in ydel.’ Also oure lord Iesu Crist seith by the word of seint Mathew:
‘_Nolite iurare omnino_: / ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere; neither by
hevene, 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 king; ne by thyn
heed, for thou mayst nat make an heer whyt ne blak. / But seyeth by youre
word, “ye, ye,” and “nay, nay”; and what [606] that is more, it is of
yvel,’ seith Crist. /590 For Cristes sake, ne swereth nat so sinfully, in
dismembringe of Crist by soule, herte, bones, and body. For certes, it
semeth that ye thinke that the cursede Iewes ne dismembred nat y-nough the
preciouse persone of Crist, but ye dismembre him more. / And if so be that
the lawe compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow after the lawe of god in
youre swering, as seith Ieremye _quarto capitulo_, ‘_Iurabis in veritate,
in iudido et in iustida_: thou shalt kepe three condicions; thou shalt
swere in trouthe, in doom, and in rightwisnesse.’ / This is to seyn, thou
shalt swere sooth; for every lesinge is agayns Crist. For Crist is verray
trouthe. And think wel this, that every greet swerere, nat compelled
lawefully to swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous whyl he useth
swich unleveful swering. / Thou shalt sweren eek in doom, whan thou art
constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe. / Eek thou shalt nat
swere for envye ne for favour, ne for mede, but for rightwisnesse; for
declaracioun of it to the worship of god and helping of thyne
evene-cristene. /595 And therfore, every man that taketh goddes name in
ydel, or falsly swereth with his mouth, or elles taketh on him the name of
Crist, to be called a Cristene man, and liveth agayns Cristes livinge and
his techinge, alle they taken goddes name in ydel. / Loke eek what seint
Peter seith, _Actuum quarto capitulo_, ‘_Non est aliud nomen sub celo_,’
&c. ‘Ther nis noon other name,’ seith seint Peter, ‘under hevene, yeven to
men, in which they mowe be saved;’ that is to seyn, but the name of Iesu
Crist. / Take kepe eek how that the precious name of Crist, as seith seint
Paul _ad Philipenses secundo_, ‘_In nomine Iesu_, &c.: that in the name of
Iesu every knee of hevenely 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 heren it y-nempned. / Thanne semeth it, that men
that sweren so horribly by his blessed name, that they despyse him more
boldely than dide the cursede Iewes, or elles the devel, that trembleth
whan he hereth his name. /
562. E. _om._ that he hath loved. 564, 565. E. spiritueel. 565. Pt.
Hl. an homicide. 566. E. the (_for 2nd_ they). 568. E. crueel.
Hl. Ln. schipe. E. vsures. 570. Hl. _om._ him _before_ conseil.
572. Hl. him (_for_ in his). 576. E. Cm. venenouse; Hl. venenous.
Hl. place. 577. -self] E. child. 577. is it] E. it is. 582. E.
releessed. 585. E. conplecciou_n_. 588. Christchurch MS.
_Nolite—omnino_; _and in margin of_ E.; _rest om._ 589. Ln.
throne. 592. E. (_in margin_) _Iurabis—iusticia_; Chr. (_in text_);
_rest om._ 593. Hl. wonder (_for_ wounde!). 595. E. and for
declaracioun; Chr. for declaracioun; Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. for declarynge.
597. Cm. cº; Hl. caº (i.e. _capitulo_); _rest om._ 599. E.
horriblely.
§ 36. Now certes, sith that swering, but-if it be lawefully doon, [607] is
so heighly deffended, muche worse is forswering falsly, and yet nedelees.
/600
§ 37. What seye we eek of hem that delyten hem in swering, and holden it a
gentrie or a manly dede to swere grete othes? And what of hem that, of
verray usage, ne cesse nat to swere grete othes, al be the cause nat worth
a straw? Certes, this is horrible sinne. / Sweringe sodeynly with-oute
avysement is eek a sinne. / But lat us go now to thilke horrible swering of
adiuracioun and coniuracioun, as doon thise false enchauntours or
nigromanciens in bacins ful of water, or in a bright swerd, in a cercle, or
in a fyr, or in a shulder-boon of a sheep. / I can nat seye but that they
doon cursedly and damnably, agayns Crist and al the feith of holy chirche.
/
601. E. it (_for_ this). 603. E. Nigromanens. 604. E. damnablely.
§ 38. What seye we of hem that bileven in divynailes, as by flight or by
noyse of briddes, or of bestes, or by sort, by geomancie, by dremes, by
chirkinge of dores, or crakkinge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes, and
swich manere wrecchednesse? /605 Certes, al this thing is deffended by god
and by al holy chirche. For which they been acursed, til they come to
amendement, that on swich filthe setten hir bileve. / Charmes for woundes
or maladye of men, or of bestes, if they taken any effect, it may be
peraventure that god suffreth it, for folk sholden yeve the more feith and
reverence to his name. /
605. Cm. Pt. dyuynalis. Hl. crakking; Ln. crakkeynge; E. Cm. Cp. Pt.
crakynge. 607. E. Pt. _om._ may.
§ 39. Now wol I speken of lesinges, which generally is fals significacioun
of word, in entente to deceyven his evene-cristene. / Som lesinge is of
which ther comth noon avantage to no wight: and som lesinge turneth to the
ese or profit of o man, and to disese and damage of another man. / Another
lesinge is for to saven his lyf or his catel. Another lesinge comth of
delyt for to lye, in which delyt they wol forge a long tale, and peynten it
with alle circumstaunces, where al the ground of the tale is fals. /610 Som
lesinge comth, for he wole sustene his word; and som lesinge comth of
recchelesnesse, with-outen avysement; and semblable thinges. /
609. E. and (_for_ or); Pt. either. 610. Selden, Pt. lesinge is;
_rest om._ is. _All but_ Selden, Pt. Ln. _om. 2nd_ Another lesinge.
§ 40. Lat us now touche the vyce of flateringe, which ne comth nat gladly
but for drede or for coveitise. / Flaterye is generally wrongful preisinge.
Flatereres been the develes norices, that [608] norissen hise children with
milk of losengerie. / For sothe, Salomon seith, that ‘flaterie is wors than
detraccioun.’ For som-tyme detraccion maketh an hautein man be the more
humble, for he dredeth detraccion; but certes flaterye, that maketh a man
to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce. / Flatereres been the develes
enchauntours; for they make a man to wene of him-self be lyk that he nis
nat lyk. /615 They been lyk to Iudas that bitraysed [god; and thise
flatereres bitraysen] a man to sellen him to his enemy, that is, to the
devel. / Flatereres been the develes chapelleyns, that singen evere
_Placebo_. / I rekene flaterye in the vyces of Ire; for ofte tyme, if o man
be wrooth with another, thanne wol he flatere som wight to sustene him in
his querele. /
615. E. the (_for_ they). 616. _All 7_ MSS. _om._ god ...
bitraysen. E. hise. 618. E. flarie (_for_ flaterye).
§ 41. Speke we now of swich cursinge as comth of irous herte. Malisoun
generally may be seyd every maner power or harm. Swich cursinge bireveth
man fro the regne of god, as seith seint Paul. / And ofte tyme swich
cursinge wrongfully retorneth agayn to him that curseth, as a brid that
retorneth agayn to his owene nest. /620 And over alle thing men oghten
eschewe to cursen hir children, and yeven to the devel hir engendrure, as
ferforth as in hem is; certes, it is greet peril and greet sinne. /
§ 42. Lat us thanne speken of chydinge and reproche, whiche been ful grete
woundes in mannes herte; for they unsowen the semes of frendshipe in mannes
herte. / For certes, unnethes may a man pleynly been accorded with him that
hath him openly revyled and repreved in disclaundre. This is a ful grisly
sinne, as Crist seith in the gospel. / And tak kepe now, that he that
repreveth his neighebor, outher he repreveth him by som harm of peyne that
he hath on his body, as ‘mesel,’ ‘croked harlot,’ or by som sinne that he
dooth. / Now if he repreve him by harm of peyne, thanne turneth the repreve
to Iesu Crist; for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god, and by his
suffrance, be it meselrie, or maheym, or maladye. /625 And if he repreve
him uncharitably of sinne, as, ‘thou holour,’ ‘thou dronkelewe harlot,’ and
so forth; thanne aperteneth that to the reioysinge of the devel, that evere
hath Ioye that men doon sinne. / And certes, chydinge may nat come but out
of a vileyns herte. For after the habundance of the herte speketh the mouth
ful ofte. / And ye shul understonde [609] that loke, by any wey, whan any
man shal chastyse another, that he be war from chydinge or reprevinge. For
trewely, but he be war, he may ful lightly quiken the fyr of angre and of
wratthe, which that he sholde quenche, and per-aventure sleeth him which
that he mighte chastyse with benignitee. / For as seith Salomon, ‘the
amiable tonge is the tree of lyf,’ that is to seyn, of lyf espirituel: and
sothly, a deslavee tonge sleeth the spirites of him that repreveth, and eek
of him that is repreved. / Lo, what seith seint Augustin: ‘ther is no-thing
so lyk the develes child as he that ofte chydeth.’ Seint Paul seith eek:
‘I, servant of god, bihove nat to chyde.’ /630 And how that chydinge be a
vileyns thing bitwixe alle manere folk, yet it is certes most uncovenable
bitwixe a man and his wyf; for there is nevere reste. And therfore seith
Salomon, ‘an hous that is uncovered and droppinge, and a chydinge wyf, been
lyke.’ / A man that is in a droppinge hous in many places, though he
eschewe the droppinge in o place, it droppeth on him in another place; so
fareth it by a chydinge wyf. But she chyde him in o place, she wol chyde
him in another. / And therfore, ‘bettre is a morsel of breed with Ioye than
an hous ful of delyces, with chydinge,’ seith Salomon. / Seint Paul seith:
‘O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre housbondes as bihoveth in god; and ye
men, loveth youre wyves.’ _Ad Colossenses, tertio_. /
623. E. in disclaundre; _rest_ and desclaundered. 624. E. taak.
625. Ln. mayme; Cm. Pt. maym. 626. E. _om._ thou holour. 628. or]
E. and. 629. E. espiritueel. Hn. deslaue; Cm. Ln. Hl. dislaue; Pt.
disselaue. 630. Cm. Selden, behoue; _rest_ byhoueth (!). 632. E.
manye. 634. E. _om._ as ... god. E. _Colonienses_; Cm.
_Colonienes_; Hn. Pt. _Colonisenses_; Ln. _Clonicenses_; Hl.
_Colocenses_.
§ 43. Afterward speke we of scorninge, which is a wikked sinne; and namely,
whan he scorneth a man for hise gode werkes. /635 For certes, swiche
scorneres faren lyk the foule tode, that may nat endure to smelle the sote
savour of the vyne whanne it florissheth. / Thise scorneres been parting
felawes with the devel; for they han Ioye whan the devel winneth, and sorwe
whan he leseth. / They been adversaries of Iesu Crist; for they haten that
he loveth, that is to seyn, salvacion of soule. /
§ 44. Speke we now of wikked conseil; for he that wikked conseil yeveth is
a traytour. For he deceyveth him that trusteth in him, _ut Achitofel ad
Absolonem_. But natheless, yet is his wikked conseil first agayn him-self.
/ For, as seith the wyse man, [610] every fals livinge hath this propertee
in him-self, that he that wole anoye another man, he anoyeth first
him-self. /640 And men shul understonde, that man shal nat taken his
conseil of fals folk, ne of angry folk, or grevous folk, ne of folk that
loven specially to muchel hir owene profit, ne to muche worldly folk,
namely, in conseilinge of soules. /
639. E. _om. 2nd_ for. 640. _All_ lyuynge (levyng, leueyng); _after
which_ Selden (_alone_) _adds_ man. Selden, Ln. Hl. this; _rest_
his. 641. E. Hn. _om._ ne of folk.
§ 45. Now comth the sinne of hem that sowen and maken discord amonges folk,
which is a sinne that Crist hateth outrely; and no wonder is. For he deyde
for to make concord. / And more shame do they to Crist, than dide they that
him crucifyede; for god loveth bettre, that frendshipe be amonges folk,
than he dide his owene body, the which that he yaf for unitee. Therfore
been they lykned to the devel, that evere been aboute to maken discord. /
643. E. been; Hl. ben (_before_ aboute); _rest_ is.
§ 46. Now comth the sinne of double tonge; swiche as speken faire biforn
folk, and wikkedly bihinde; or elles they maken semblant as though they
speke of good entencioun, or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of
wikked entente. /
644. E. speeke (_1st time_); Hn. Hl. speke; Cm. spoke; Pt. speken; Ln.
spake.
§ 47. Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed;
certes, unnethe may he restore the damage. /645
Now comth manace, that is an open folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he
threteth more than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme. /
Now cometh ydel wordes, that is with-outen profit of him that speketh tho
wordes, and eek of him that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been
tho that been nedelees, or with-outen entente of naturel profit. / And
al-be-it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial sinne, yet sholde men douten
hem; for we shul yeve rekeninge of hem bifore god. /
647. E. natureel.
Now comth Ianglinge, that may nat been withoute sinne. And, as seith
Salomon, ‘it is a sinne of apert folye.’ / And therfore a philosophre
seyde, whan men axed him how that men sholde plese the peple; and he
answerde, ‘do many gode werkes, and spek fewe Iangles.’ /650
After this comth the sinne of Iaperes, that been the develes apes; for they
maken folk to laughe at hir Iaperie, as folk doon at [611] the gaudes of an
ape. Swiche Iaperes deffendeth seint Paul. / Loke how that vertuouse wordes
and holy conforten hem that travaillen in the service of Crist; right so
conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of Iaperis hem that travaillen in
the service of the devel. / Thise been the sinnes that comen of the tonge,
that comen of Ire and of othere sinnes mo. /
651. Hl. Pt. Ln. Suche iapes. 652. E. _adds_ woordes (_after_ holy).
=Sequitur remedium contra peccatum Ire.=
§ 48. The remedye agayns Ire is a vertu that men clepen Mansuetude, that is
Debonairetee; and eek another vertu, that men callen Pacience or Suffrance.
/
654. Cm. (_only_) that Ihon de Bonania clepith debonayretee.
§ 49. Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the stiringes and the
moevynges of mannes corage in his herte, in swich manere that they ne
skippe nat out by angre ne by Ire. /655 Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the
anoyaunces and the wronges that men doon to man outward. / Seint Ierome
seith thus of debonairetee, that ‘it doth noon harm to no wight, ne seith;
ne for noon harm that men doon or seyn, he ne eschaufeth nat agayns, his
resoun.’ / This vertu som-tyme comth of nature; for, as seith the
philosophre, ‘a man is a quik thing, by nature debonaire and tretable to
goodnesse; but whan debonairetee is enformed of grace, thanne is it the
more worth.’ /
§ 50. Pacience, that is another remedye agayns Ire, is a vertu that
suffreth swetely every mannes goodnesse, and is nat wrooth for noon harm
that is doon to him. / The philosophre seith, that ‘pacience is thilke
vertu that suffreth debonairely alle the outrages of adversitee and every
wikked word.’ /660 This vertu maketh a man lyk to god, and maketh him
goddes owene dere child, as seith Crist. This vertu disconfiteth thyn
enemy. And therfore seith the wyse man, ‘if thou wolt venquisse thyn enemy,
lerne to suffre.’ / And thou shalt understonde, that man suffreth foure
manere of grevances in outward thinges, agayns the whiche foure he moot
have foure manere of paciences. /
659. E. Ln. it is a; _rest_ is a.
§ 51. The firste grevance is of wikkede wordes; thilke suffrede Iesu Crist
with-outen grucching, ful paciently, whan the Iewes despysed and repreved
him ful ofte. / Suffre thou therfore paciently; for the wyse man seith: ‘if
thou stryve with a [612] fool, though the fool be wrooth or though he
laughe, algate thou shalt have no reste.’ / That other grevance outward is
to have damage of thy catel. Ther-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently, whan
he was despoyled of al that he hadde in this lyf, and that nas but hise
clothes. /665 The thridde grevance is a man to have harm in his body. That
suffred Crist ful paciently in al his passioun. / The fourthe grevance is
in outrageous labour in werkes. Wherfore I seye, that folk that maken hir
servants to travaillen to grevously, or out of tyme, as on halydayes,
soothly they do greet sinne. / Heer-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently, and
taughte us pacience, whan he bar up-on his blissed shulder the croys, up-on
which he sholde suffren despitous deeth. / Heer may men lerne to be
pacient; for certes, noght only Cristen men been pacient for love of Iesu
Crist, and for guerdoun of the blisful lyf that is perdurable; but certes,
the olde payens, that nevere were Cristene, commendeden and useden the
vertu of pacience. /
668. E. baar. Cm. Ln. cros. 669. Hl. Pt. Ln. guerdoun; E. Cm.
gerdoun; Hn. gerdon. E. p_er_durale.
§ 52. A philosophre up-on a tyme, that wolde have beten his disciple for
his grete trespas, for which he was greetly amoeved, and broghte a yerde to
scourge the child; /670 and whan this child saugh the yerde, he seyde to
his maister, ‘what thenke ye to do?’ ‘I wol bete thee,’ quod the maister,
‘for thy correccion.’ / ‘For sothe,’ quod the child, ‘ye oghten first
correcte youre-self, that han lost al youre pacience for the gilt of a
child.’ / ‘For sothe,’ quod the maister al wepinge, ‘thou seyst sooth; have
thou the yerde, my dere sone, and correcte me for myn inpacience.’ / Of
Pacience comth Obedience, thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist and to
alle hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist. / And understond wel
that obedience is perfit, whan that a man doth gladly and hastily, with
good herte entierly, al that he sholde do. /675 Obedience generally, is to
perfourne the doctrine of god and of his sovereyns, to whiche him oghte to
ben obeisaunt in alle rightwysnesse. /
670. Hn. scourge; E. scoure with; _rest_ scoure(!). 671. Cm. Hl. to
do; E. do. Pt. Ln. what wil ye do.
=Sequitur de Accidia.=
§ 53. After the sinnes of Envie and of Ire, now wol I speken of the sinne
of Accidie. For Envye blindeth the herte of a man, [613] and Ire troubleth
a man; and Accidie maketh him hevy, thoghtful, and wrawe. / Envye and Ire
maken bitternesse in herte; which bitternesse is moder of Accidie, and
binimeth him the love of alle goodnesse. Thanne is Accidie the anguissh of
a trouble herte; and seint Augustin seith: ‘it is anoy of goodnesse and
Ioye of harm.’ / Certes, this is a dampnable sinne; for it doth wrong to
Iesu Crist, in-as-muche as it binimeth the service that men oghte doon to
Crist with alle diligence, as seith Salomon. / But Accidie dooth no swich
diligence; he dooth alle thing with anoy, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse,
and excusacioun, and with ydelnesse and unlust; for which the book seith:
‘acursed be he that doth the service of god necligently.’ /680 Thanne is
Accidie enemy to everich estaat of man; for certes, the estaat of man is in
three maneres. / Outher it is thestaat of innocence, as was thestaat of
Adam biforn that he fil into sinne; in which estaat he was holden to
wirche, as in heryinge and adouringe of god. / Another estaat is the estaat
of sinful men, in which estaat men been holden to laboure in preyinge to
god for amendement of hir sinnes, and that he wole graunte hem to arysen
out of hir sinnes. / Another estaat is thestaat of grace, in which estaat
he is holden to werkes of penitence; and certes, to alle thise thinges is
Accidie enemy and contrarie. For he loveth no bisinesse at al. / Now
certes, this foule sinne Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the lyflode of
the body; for it ne hath no purveaunce agayn temporel necessitee; for it
forsleweth and forsluggeth, and destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by
reccheleesnesse. /685
677. Selden, Pt. Ln. sinnes; _rest_ synne. E. _om._ a _after_ herte
of. E. wrawful; Pt. wrowe; _rest_ wrawe. 678. E. Hl. _om._ a. E.
troubled. 683. E. _om._ the. 685. sinne] E. swyn. E. temporeel
(for temporel).
§ 54. The fourthe thinge is, that Accidie is lyk to hem that been in the
peyne of helle, by-cause of hir slouthe and of hir hevinesse; for they that
been dampned been so bounde, that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thinke.
/ Of Accidie comth first, that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon
any goodnesse, and maketh that god hath abhominacion of swich Accidie, as
seith seint Iohan. /
687. E. _om._ as ... Iohan.
§ 55. Now comth Slouthe, that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce.
For soothly, Slouthe is so tendre, and so delicat, as seith Salomon, that
he wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce, and therfore he shendeth al
that he dooth. / Agayns [614] this roten-herted sinne of Accidie and
Slouthe sholde men exercise hem-self to doon gode werkes, and manly and
vertuously cacchen corage wel to doon; thinkinge that oure lord Iesu Crist
quyteth every good dede, be it never so lyte. / Usage of labour is a greet
thing; for it maketh, as seith seint Bernard, the laborer to have stronge
armes and harde sinwes; and Slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre. /690
Thanne comth drede to biginne to werke any gode werkes; for certes, he that
is enclyned to sinne, him thinketh it is so greet an empryse for to
undertake to doon werkes of goodnesse, / and casteth in his herte that the
circumstaunces of goodnesse been so grevouse and so chargeaunt for to
suffre, that he dar nat undertake to do werkes of goodnesse, as seith seint
Gregorie. /
688. E. delicaat. 691. E. anye.
§ 56. Now comth wanhope, that is despeir of the mercy of god, that comth
somtyme of to muche outrageous sorwe, and somtyme of to muche drede;
imagininge that he hath doon so muche sinne, that it wol nat availlen him,
though he wolde repenten him and forsake sinne: / thurgh which despeir or
drede he abaundoneth al his herte to every maner sinne, as seith seint
Augustin. / Which dampnable sinne, if that it continue un-to his ende, it
is cleped sinning in the holy gost. /695 This horrible sinne is so
perilous, that he that is despeired, ther nis no felonye ne no sinne that
he douteth for to do; as shewed wel by Iudas. / Certes, aboven alle sinnes
thanne is this sinne most displesant to Crist, and most adversarie. /
Soothly, he that despeireth him is lyk the coward champioun recreant, that
seith creant withoute nede. Allas! allas! nedeles is he recreant and
nedeles despeired. / Certes, the mercy of god is evere redy to every
penitent, and is aboven alle hise werkes. / Allas! can nat a man bithinke
him on the gospel of seint Luk, 15., where-as Crist seith that ‘as wel shal
ther be Ioye in hevene upon a sinful man that doth penitence, as up-on
nynety and nyne rightful men that neden no penitence?’ /700 Loke forther,
in the same gospel, the Ioye and the feste of the gode man that hadde lost
his sone, whan his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader. / Can
they nat remembren hem eek, that, as seith seint Luk _xxiii_º _capitulo_,
how that the theef that was hanged [615] bisyde Iesu Crist, seyde: ‘Lord,
remembre of me, whan thou comest in-to thy regne?’ / ‘For sothe,’ seyde
Crist, ‘I seye to thee, to-day shaltow been with me in Paradys.’ / Certes,
ther is noon so horrible sinne of man, that it ne may, in his lyf, be
destroyed by penitence, thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth of
Crist. / Allas! what nedeth man thanne to been despeired, sith that his
mercy so redy is and large? Axe and have. /705 Thanne cometh Sompnolence,
that is, sluggy slombringe, which maketh a man be hevy and dul, in body and
in soule; and this sinne comth of Slouthe. / And certes, the tyme that, by
wey of resoun, men sholde nat slepe, that is by the morwe; but-if ther were
cause resonable. / For soothly, the morwe-tyde is most covenable, a man to
seye his preyeres, and for to thinken on god, and for to honoure god, and
to yeven almesse to the povre, that first cometh in the name of Crist. /
Lo! what seith Salomon: ‘who-so wolde by the morwe awaken and seke me, he
shal finde.’ / Thanne cometh Necligence, or recchelesnesse, that rekketh of
no-thing. And how that ignoraunce be moder of alle harm, certes, Necligence
is the norice. /710 Necligence ne doth no fors, whan he shal doon a thing,
whether he do it weel or baddely. /
696. E. sheweth. 698. E. _om._ that seith ... recreant. Hl.
recreaunt (_for_ creant). 700. E. a man nat; Pt. a man not. Hl. as
vp-on; _rest_ than vp-on. Hl. Selden, nynety and nyne; _rest_ 90 and
19(!). 702. _All but_ Seld. Ln. _om._ capitulo. Seld. Pt. Ln. on
me. 706. E. Seld. sloggy; Ln. slogge. 707. E. _om._ the morwe.
711. E. wheither.
§ 57. Of the remedie of thise two sinnes, as seith the wyse man, that ‘he
that dredeth god, he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon.’ / And he
that loveth god, he wol doon diligence to plese god by his werkes, and
abaundone him-self, with al his might, wel for to doon. / Thanne comth
ydelnesse, that is the yate of alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk to a place
that hath no walles; the develes may entre on every syde and sheten at him
at discovert, by temptacion on every syde. / This ydelnesse is the thurrok
of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes, and of alle Iangles, trufles, and of
alle ordure. /715 Certes, the hevene is yeven to hem that wol labouren, and
nat to ydel folk. Eek David seith: that ‘they ne been nat in the labour of
men, ne they shul nat been whipped with men,’ that is to seyn, in
purgatorie. / Certes, thanne semeth it, they shul be tormented with the
devel in helle, but-if they doon penitence. /
715. Hl. tryfles; Seld. triflis.
§ 58. Thanne comth the sinne that men clepen _Tarditas_, as whan a man is
to latrede or taryinge, er he wole turne to god; and [616] certes, that is
a greet folye. He is lyk to him that falleth in the dich, and wol nat
aryse. / And this vyce comth of a fals hope, that he thinketh that he shal
live longe; but that hope faileth ful ofte. /
718. Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. so (_for_ to). E. Cm. laterede; Hl. Seld.
latrede; Pt. lattred; Ln. latred.
§ 59. Thanne comth Lachesse; that is he, that whan he biginneth any good
werk, anon he shal forleten it and stinten; as doon they that han any wight
to governe, and ne taken of him na-more kepe, anon as they finden any
contrarie or any anoy. /720 Thise been the newe shepherdes, that leten hir
sheep witingly go renne to the wolf that is in the breres, or do no fors of
hir owene governaunce. / Of this comth poverte and destruccioun, bothe of
spirituel and temporel thinges. Thanne comth a manere coldnesse, that
freseth al the herte of man. / Thanne comth undevocioun, thurgh which a man
is so blent, as seith Seint Bernard, and hath swiche langour in soule, that
he may neither rede ne singe in holy chirche, ne here ne thinke of no
devocioun, ne travaille with hise handes in no good werk, that it nis him
unsavory and al apalled. / Thanne wexeth he slow and slombry, and sone wol
be wrooth, and sone is enclyned to hate and to envye. / Thanne comth the
sinne of worldly sorwe, swich as is cleped _tristicia_, that sleeth man, as
seint Paul seith. /725 For certes, swich sorwe werketh to the deeth of the
soule and of the body also; for ther-of comth, that a man is anoyed of his
owene lyf. / Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lyf of a man, er
that his tyme be come by wey of kinde. /
722. E. spiritueel; temporeel. E. Pt. of a man. 723. E. _om._ so.
blent] Ln. blonte; Hl. blunt. 724. E. slough (for slow). 725. Cm.
swich as; Hl. such as; E. which as.
=Remedium contra peccatum Accidie.=
§ 60. Agayns this horrible sinne of Accidie, and the branches of the same,
ther is a vertu that is called _Fortitudo_ or Strengthe; that is, an
affeccioun thurgh which a man despyseth anoyous thinges. / This vertu is so
mighty and so vigorous, that it dar withstonde mightily and wysely kepen
him-self fro perils that been wikked, and wrastle agayn the assautes of the
devel. / For it enhaunceth and enforceth the soule, right as Accidie
abateth it and maketh it feble. For this _Fortitudo_ may endure by long
suffraunce the travailles that been covenable. /730
727. E. Cm. of man; Seld. of men; _rest_ of a man. 728. E. anoyouse;
Cm. noyouse; _rest_ noyous. 729. E. Cm. vigerous. 730. E. fieble.
Hl. conuenables.
[617]
§ 61. This vertu hath manye speces; and the firste is cleped Magnanimitee,
that is to seyn, greet corage. For certes, ther bihoveth greet corage
agains Accidie, lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the sinne of sorwe, or
destroye it by wanhope. / This vertu maketh folk to undertake harde thinges
and grevouse thinges, by hir owene wil, wysely and resonably. / And for as
muchel as the devel fighteth agayns a man more by queyntise and by sleighte
than by strengthe, therfore men shal withstonden him by wit and by resoun
and by discrecioun. / Thanne arn ther the vertues of feith, and hope in god
and in hise seintes, to acheve and acomplice the gode werkes in the whiche
he purposeth fermely to continue. / Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse;
and that is, whan a man ne douteth no travaille in tyme cominge of the gode
werkes that a man hath bigonne. /735 Thanne comth Magnificence, that is to
seyn, whan a man dooth and perfourneth grete werkes of goodnesse that he
hath bigonne; and that is the ende why that men sholde do gode werkes; for
in the acomplissinge of grete goode werkes lyth the grete guerdoun. /
Thanne is ther Constaunce, that is, stablenesse of corage; and this sholde
been in herte by stedefast feith, and in mouth, and in beringe, and in
chere and in dede. / Eke ther been mo speciale remedies agains Accidie, in
diverse werkes, and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle, and of the
Ioyes of hevene, and in trust of the grace of the holy goost, that wole
yeve him might to perfourne his gode entente. /
731. E. Magnificence (_by error; with_ Of Magnanimitee _in the
margin_). 732. E. wesely (_for_ wysely). 736. E. _om._ that he hath
bigonne. E. gerdo_u_n. 737. E. chiere.
=Sequitur de Auaricia.=
§ 62. After Accidie wol I speke of Avarice and of Coveitise, of which sinne
seith seint Paule, that ‘the rote of alle harmes is Coveitise’: _Ad
Timotheum, sexto capitulo_. / For 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 thinges. /740
739. Pt. _Capitulo_; _rest om._
§ 63. Avarice, after the descripcion of seint Augustin, is likerousnesse in
herte to have erthely thinges. / Som other folk seyn, that Avarice is, for
to purchacen manye erthely thinges, and nothing yeve to hem that han nede.
/ And understond, that Avarice ne stant nat only in lond ne catel, but
somtyme in science [618] and in glorie, and in every manere of outrageous
thing is Avarice and Coveitise. / And the difference bitwixe Avarice and
Coveitise is this. Coveitise is for to coveite swiche thinges as thou hast
nat; and Avarice is for to withholde and kepe swiche thinges as thou hast,
with-oute rightful nede. / Soothly, this Avarice is a sinne that is ful
dampnable; for al holy writ curseth it, and speketh agayns that vyce; for
it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist. /745 For it bireveth him the love that men to
him owen, and turneth it bakward agayns alle resoun; / and maketh that the
avaricious man hath more hope in his catel than in Iesu Crist, and dooth
more observance in kepinge of his tresor than he dooth to service of Iesu
Crist. / And therfore seith seint Paul _ad Ephesios, quinto_, that ‘an
avaricious man is in the thraldom of ydolatrie.’ /
743. E. vnderstoond. 748. E. Hl. _om._ in _after_ is; Pt. hath more
hope in his thraldome; Ln. is thral. _No_ MS. _has the precise reading
given; but it is clear that_ in _has been dropped_.
§ 64. What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an avaricious man, but
that an ydolastre, per aventure, ne hath but o mawmet or two, and the
avaricious man hath manye? For certes, every florin in his cofre is his
mawmet. / And certes, the sinne of Mawmetrye is the firste thing that God
deffended in the ten comaundments, as bereth witnesse _Exodi, capitulo
xx_º: /750 ‘Thou shall have no false goddes bifore me, ne thou shall make
to thee no grave thing.’ Thus is an avaricious man, that loveth his tresor
biforn god, an ydolastre, / thurgh this cursed sinne of Avarice. Of
Coveitise comen thise harde lordshipes, thurgh whiche men been distreyned
by tailages, custumes, and cariages, more than hir duetee or resoun is. And
eek they taken of hir bonde-men amerciments, whiche mighten more resonably
ben cleped extorcions than amerciments. / Of whiche amerciments and
raunsoninge of bondemen, somme lordes stywardes seyn, that it is rightful;
for-as-muche as a cherl hath no temporel thing that it ne is his lordes, as
they seyn. / But certes, thise lordshipes doon wrong, that bireven hir
bonde-folk thinges that they nevere yave hem: _Augustinus de Civitate,
libro nono_. / Sooth is, that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste
cause of thraldom is for sinne; _Genesis, quinto_. /755
752. E. Am_er_cimentz (_twice_); whice (_sic_). 753. E. temporeel.
§ 65. Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserveth thraldom, but nat nature. /
Wherfore thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifyen hem in hir lordshipes,
sith that by naturel condicion they been nat [619] lordes of thralles; but
for that thraldom comth first by the desert of sinne. / And forther-over,
ther-as the lawe seith, that temporel godes of bonde-folk been the godes of
hir lordshipes, ye, that is for to understonde, the godes of the emperour,
to deffenden hem in hir right, but nat for to robben hem ne reven hem. /
And therfore seith Seneca: ‘thy prudence sholde live benignely with thy
thralles.’ / Thilke that thou clepest thy thralles been goddes peple; for
humble folk been Cristes freendes; they been contubernial with the lord.
/760
757. E. natureel; _om._ for. 758. E. temporeel.
§ 66. Think eek, that of swich seed as cherles springeth, of swich seed
springen lordes. As wel may the cherl be saved as the lord. / The same
deeth that taketh the cherl, swich deeth taketh the lord. Wherfore I rede,
do right so with thy cherl, as thou woldest that thy lord dide with thee,
if thou were in his plyt. / Every sinful man is a cherl to sinne. I rede
thee, certes, that thou, lord, werke in swiche wyse with thy cherles, that
they rather love thee than drede. / I woot wel ther is degree above degree,
as reson is; and skile it is, that men do hir devoir ther-as it is due; but
certes, extorcions and despit of youre underlinges is dampnable. /
§ 67. And forther-over understand wel, that thise conquerours or tiraunts
maken ful ofte thralles of hem, that been born of as royal blood as been
they that hem conqueren. /765 This name of thraldom was nevere erst couth,
til that Noe seyde, that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren
for his sinne. / What seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon extorcions
to holy chirche? Certes, the swerd, that men yeven first to a knight whan
he is newe dubbed, signifyeth that he sholde deffenden holy chirche, and
nat robben it ne pilen it; and who so dooth, is traitour to Crist. / And,
as seith seint Augustin, ‘they been the develes wolves, that stranglen the
sheep of Iesu Crist’; and doon worse than wolves. / For soothly, whan the
wolf hath ful his wombe, he stinteth to strangle sheep. But soothly, the
pilours and destroyours of goddes holy chirche ne do nat so; for they ne
stinte nevere to pile. / Now, as I have seyd, sith so is that sinne was
first cause of thraldom, thanne is it thus; that thilke tyme that al this
world was in sinne, thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccioun.
/770 But certes, sith the tyme of grace cam, god ordeyned that som folk
sholde be more heigh [620] in estaat and in degree, and som folk more lowe,
and that everich sholde be served in his estaat and in his degree. / And
therfore, in somme contrees ther they byen thralles, whan they han turned
hem to the feith, they maken hir thralles free out of thraldom. And
therfore, certes, the lord oweth to his man that the man oweth to his lord.
/ The Pope calleth him-self servant of the servaunts of god; but
for-as-muche as the estaat of holy chirche ne mighte nat han be, ne the
commune profit mighte 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: /
therfore was sovereyntee ordeyned to kepe and mayntene and deffenden hir
underlinges or hir subgets in resoun, as ferforth as it lyth in hir power;
and nat to destroyen hem ne confounde. / Wherfore I seye, that thilke
lordes that been lyk wolves, that devouren the possessiouns or the catel of
povre folk wrongfully, with-outen mercy or mesure, /775 they shul receyven,
by the same mesure that they han mesured to povre folk, the mercy of Iesu
Crist, but-if it be amended. / Now comth deceite bitwixe marchant and
marchant. And thow shalt understonde, that marchandyse is in two maneres;
that oon is bodily, and that other is goostly. That oon is honeste and
leveful, and that other is deshoneste and unleveful. / Of thilke bodily
marchandyse, that is leveful and honeste, is this; that, there-as god hath
ordeyned that a regne or a contree is suffisaunt to him-self, thanne is it
honeste and leveful, that of habundaunce of this contree, that men helpe
another contree that is more nedy. / And therfore, ther mote been marchants
to bringen fro that o contree to that other hire marchandyses. / That other
marchandise, that men haunten with fraude and trecherie and deceite, with
lesinges and false othes, is cursed and dampnable. /780 Espirituel
marchandyse is proprely Symonye, that is, ententif desyr to byen thing
espirituel, that is, thing that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god and to
cure of the soule. / This desyr, if so be that a man do his diligence to
parfournen it, al-be-it that his desyr ne take noon effect, yet is it to
him a deedly sinne; and if he be ordred, he is irreguler. / Certes, Symonye
is cleped of Symon Magus, that wolde han boght, for temporel catel, the
yifte that god hadde yeven, by the holy goost, to seint Peter and to [621]
the apostles. / And therfore understond, that bothe he that selleth and he
that byeth thinges espirituels, been cleped Symonials; be it by catel, be
it by procuringe, or by fleshly preyere of hise freendes, fleshly freendes,
or espirituel freendes. / Fleshly, in two maneres; as by kinrede or othere
freendes. Soothly, if they praye for him that is nat worthy and able, it is
Symonye if he take the benefice; and if he be worthy and able, ther nis
noon. /785 That other manere is, whan a man or womman preyen for folk to
avauncen hem, only for wikked fleshly affeccioun that they have un-to the
persone; and that is foul Symonye. / But certes, in service, for which men
yeven thinges espirituels un-to hir servants, it moot been understonde that
the service moot been honeste, and elles nat; and eek that it be with-outen
bargayninge, and that the persone be able. / For, as seith Seint Damasie,
‘alle the sinnes of the world, at regard of this sinne, am as thing of
noght’; for it is the gretteste sinne that may be, after the sinne of
Lucifer and Antecrist. / For, by this sinne, god forleseth the chirche, and
the soule that he boghte with his precious blood, by hem that yeven
chirches to hem that been nat digne. / For they putten in theves, that
stelen the soules of Iesu Christ and destroyen his patrimoine. /790 By
swiche undigne preestes and curates han lewed men the lasse reverence of
the sacraments of holy chirche; and swiche yeveres of chirches putten out
the children of Crist, and putten in-to the chirche the develes owene sone.
/ They sellen the soules that lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that
strangleth hem. And therfore shul they nevere han part of the pasture of
lambes, that is, the blisse of hevene. / Now comth hasardrye with hise
apurtenaunces, as tables and rafles; of which comth deceite, false othes,
chydinges, and alle ravines, blaspheminge and reneyinge of god, and hate of
hise neighebores, wast of godes, misspendinge of tyme, and somtyme
manslaughtre. / Certes, hasardours ne mowe nat been with-outen greet sinne
whyles they haunte that craft. / Of avarice comen eek lesinges, thefte,
fals witnesse, and false othes. And ye shul understonde that thise been
grete sinnes, and expres agayn the comaundements of god, as I have seyd.
/795 Fals witnesse is in word and eek in dede. In word, as for to bireve
thy neighebores goode name by thy fals witnessing, or [622] bireven him his
catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessing; whan thou, for ire or for
mede, or for envye, berest fals witnesse, or accusest him or excusest him
by thy fals witnesse, or elles excusest thy-self falsly. / Ware yow,
questemongeres and notaries! Certes, for fals witnessing was Susanna in ful
gret sorwe and peyne, and many another mo. / The sinne of thefte is eek
expres agayns goddes heste, and that in two maneres, corporel and
espirituel. / Corporel, as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wil,
be it by force or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure. / By steling eek
of false enditements upon him, and in borwinge of thy neighebores catel, in
entente nevere to payen it agayn, and semblable thinges. /800 Espirituel
thefte is Sacrilege, that is to seyn, hurtinge of holy thinges, or of
thinges sacred to Crist, in two maneres; by reson of the holy place, as
chirches or chirche-hawes, / for which every vileyns sinne that men doon in
swiche places may be cleped sacrilege, or every violence in the semblable
places. Also, they that withdrawen falsly the rightes that longen to holy
chirche. / And pleynly and generally, sacrilege is to reven holy thing fro
holy place, or unholy thing out of holy place, or holy thing out of unholy
place. /
765. E. vnderstoond; tirauntz. 767. to (1)] E. in. 771. E. lough;
_om._ and in his degree. 774. E. subgetz. 777. Ed. 1550, two;
_MSS._ manye. 781. E. Espiritueel (_twice_). 782. E. irreguleer.
783. E. temporeel. 784. E. vnderstoond; beyeth; espiritueel. 791.
E. sacramentz. 793. Hl. raueynes; Pt. ravanys; Cm. rauynesse; Ln.
rauynges. 794. E. Cm. _om._ whyles ... craft. 798. E. heeste; _om._
that; corporeel. Hl. Pt. Ln. and; _rest_ or. E. espiritueel. 799.
Hl. Corporel; _rest om._ 801. E. Espiritueel.
=Relevacio contra peccatum Avaricie.=
§ 68. Now shul ye understonde, that the relevinge of Avarice is
misericorde, and pitee largely taken. And men mighten axe, why that
misericorde and pitee is relevinge of Avarice? / Certes, the avaricious man
sheweth no pitee ne misericorde to the nedeful man; for he delyteth him in
the kepinge of his tresor, and nat in the rescowinge ne relevinge of his
evene-cristene. And therfore fore speke I first of misericorde. /805 Thanne
is misericorde, as seith the philosophre, a vertu, by which the corage of
man is stired by the misese of him that is misesed. / Up-on which
misericorde folweth pitee, in parfourninge of charitable werkes of
misericorde. / And certes, thise thinges moeven a man to misericorde of
Iesu Crist, that he yaf him-self for oure gilt, and suffred deeth for
misericorde, and forgaf us oure originale sinnes; / and therby relessed us
fro the peynes of helle, and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by
penitence, and yeveth grace wel to do, and atte laste [623] the blisse of
hevene. / The speces of misericorde been, as for to lene and for to yeve
and to foryeven and relesse, and for to han pitee in herte, and compassioun
of the meschief of his evene-cristene, and eek to chastyse there as nede
is. /810 Another manere of remedie agayns Avarice is resonable largesse;
but soothly, here bihoveth the consideracioun of the grace of Iesu Crist,
and of hise temporel goodes, and eek of the godes perdurables that Crist
yaf to us; / and to han remembrance of the deeth that he shal receyve, he
noot whanne, where, ne how; and eek that he shal forgon al that he hath,
save only that he hath despended in gode werkes. /
TITLE. Hl. Remedium (_for_ Releuacio). 806. Cm. Ln. sterid. 811. E.
temporeel.
§ 69. But for-as-muche as som folk been unmesurable, men oghten eschue
fool-largesse, that men clepen wast. / Certes, he that is fool-large ne
yeveth nat his catel, but he leseth his catel. Soothly, what thing that he
yeveth for veyne glorie, as to minstrals and to folk, for to beren his
renoun in the world, he hath sinne ther-of and noon almesse. / Certes, he
leseth foule his good, that ne seketh with the yifte of his good no-thing
but sinne. /815 He is lyk to an hors that seketh rather to drinken drovy or
trouble water than for to drinken water of the clere welle. / And
for-as-muchel as they yeven ther as they sholde nat yeven, to hem
aperteneth thilke malisoun that Crist shal yeven at the day of dome to hem
that shullen been dampned. /
813. E. oughten. 816. Seld. droupy (_for_ drovy).
=Sequitur de Gula.=
§ 70. After Avarice comth Glotonye, which is expres eek agayn the
comandement of god. Glotonye is unmesurable appetyt to ete or to drinke, or
elles to doon y-nogh to the unmesurable appetyt and desordeynce coveityse
to eten or to drinke. / This sinne corrumped al this world, as is wel
shewed in the sinne of Adam and of Eve. Loke eek, what seith seint Paul of
Glotonye. / ‘Manye,’ seith seint Paul, ‘goon, of whiche I have ofte seyd to
yow, and now I seye it wepinge, that they been the enemys of the croys of
Crist; of whiche the ende is deeth, and of whiche hir wombe is hir god, and
hir glorie in confusioun of hem that so saveren erthely thinges.’ /820 He
that is usaunt to this sinne of Glotonye, he ne may no sinne withstonde. He
moot been in servage of alle vyces, for it is the develes hord ther he
hydeth him and resteth. / This [624] sinne hath manye speces. The firste is
dronkenesse, that is the horrible sepulture of mannes resoun; and therfore,
whan a man is dronken, he hath lost his resoun; and this is deedly sinne. /
But soothly, whan that a man is nat wont to strong drinke, and peraventure
ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the drinke, or hath feblesse in his heed,
or hath travailed, thurgh which he drinketh the more, al be he sodeynly
caught with drinke, it is no deedly sinne, but venial. / The seconde spece
of Glotonye is, that the spirit of a man wexeth al trouble; for dronkenesse
bireveth him the discrecioun of his wit. / The thridde spece of Glotonye
is, whan a man devoureth his mete, and hath no rightful manere of etinge.
/825 The fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete, the
humours in his body been destempred. / The fifthe is, foryetelnesse by to
muchel drinkinge; for which somtyme a man foryeteth er the morwe what he
dide at even or on the night biforn. /
820. Pt. Ln. thei; _rest om._ Hl. Pt. Ln. saueren; _rest_ deuouren.
821. E. hoord. 823. Cm. woned. 827. Cm. forȝetefulnesse.
§ 71. In other manere been distinct the speces of Glotonye, after seint
Gregorie. The firste is, for to ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde is,
whan a man get him to delicat mete or drinke. / The thridde is, whan men
taken to muche over mesure. The fourthe is curiositee, with greet entente
to maken and apparaillen his mete. The fifthe is, for to eten to gredily. /
Thise been the fyve fingres of the develes hand, by whiche he draweth folk
to sinne. /830
828. E. delicaat.
=Remedium contra peccatum Gule.=
§ 72. Agayns Glotonye is the remedie Abstinence, as seith Galien; but that
holde I nat meritorie, if he do it only for the hele of his body. Seint
Augustin wole, that Abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience. /
Abstinence, he seith, is litel worth, but if a man have 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 have the blisse of hevene. /
§ 73. The felawes of Abstinence been Attemperaunce, that holdeth the mene
in alle thinges: eek Shame, that eschueth alle deshonestee: Suffisance,
that seketh no riche metes ne drinkes, ne dooth no fors of to outrageous
apparailinge of mete. / Mesure also, that restreyneth by resoun the
deslavee appetyt of etinge: [625] Sobrenesse also, that restreyneth the
outrage of drinke: / Sparinge also, that restreyneth the delicat ese to
sitte longe at his mete and softely; wherfore som folk stonden of hir owene
wil, to eten at the lasse leyser. /835
835. E. delicaat.
=Sequitur de Luxuria.=
§ 74. After Glotonye, thanne comth Lecherie; for thise two sinnes been so
ny cosins, that ofte tyme they wol nat departe. / God woot, this sinne is
ful displesaunt thing to god; for he seyde himself, ‘do no lecherie.’ And
therfore he putte grete peynes agayns this sinne in the olde lawe. / If
womman thral were taken in this sinne, she sholde be beten with staves 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. / Forther over, by the sinne of Lecherie, god dreynte
al the world at the diluge. And after that, he brente fyve citees with
thonder-leyt, and sank hem in-to helle. /
838. Cm. stonys; Ln. stones; Hl. stoones (_for_ staues). 839. Pt. Ln.
diluve; Hl. diluue (_for_ diluge). E. thonder-leyt; Hl. -layt; _rest_
-light.
§ 75. Now lat us speke thanne of thilke stinkinge sinne of Lecherie that
men clepe Avoutrie of wedded folk, that is to seyn, if that oon of hem be
wedded, or elles bothe. /840 Seint Iohn seith, that avoutiers shullen been
in helle in a stank brenninge of fyr and of brimston; in fyr, for the
lecherie; in brimston, for the stink of hir ordure. / Certes, the brekinge
of this sacrement is an horrible thing; it was maked of god him-self in
paradys, and confermed by Iesu Crist, as witnesseth seint Mathew in the
gospel: ‘A man shal lete fader and moder, and taken him to his wyf, and
they shullen be two in o flesh.’ / This sacrement bitokneth the knittinge
togidre of Crist and of holy chirche. / And nat only that god forbad
avoutrie in dede, but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coveite thy
neighebores wyf. / In this heeste, seith seint Augustin, is forboden alle
manere coveitise to doon lecherie. Lo what seith seint Mathew in the
gospel: that ‘who-so seeth a womman to coveitise of his lust, he hath doon
lecherie with hir in his herte.’ /845 Here may ye seen that nat only the
dede of this sinne is forboden, but eek the desyr to doon that sinne. /
This cursed sinne anoyeth grevousliche [626] hem that it haunten. And
first, to hir soule; for he oblygeth it to sinne and to peyne of deeth that
is perdurable. / Un-to the body anoyeth it grevously also, for it dreyeth
him, and wasteth, and shent him, and of his blood he maketh sacrifyce to
the feend of helle; it wasteth his catel and his substaunce. / And certes,
if it be a foul thing, a man to waste his catel on wommen, yet is it a
fouler thing whan that, for swich ordure, wommen dispenden up-on men hir
catel and substaunce. / This sinne, as seith the prophete, bireveth man and
womman hir gode fame, and al hir honour; and it is ful pleasaunt to the
devel; for ther-by winneth he the moste partie of this world. /850 And
right as a marchant delyteth him most in chaffare that he hath most
avantage of, right so delyteth the feend in this ordure. /
841. Pt. in fuyre for lechery in bremstone; Hl. In fuyr for the
leccherie in brimston; Ln. for licherye in brimstone (_om._ in fyr); E.
Cm. _omit_. 848. Pt. Ln. drieth.
§ 76. This is that other hand of the devel, with fyve fingres, to cacche
the peple to his vileinye. / The firste finger is the fool lookinge of the
fool womman and of the fool man, that sleeth, right as the basilicok sleeth
folk by the venim of his sighte; for the coveitise of eyen folweth the
coveitise of the herte. / The seconde finger is the vileyns touchinge in
wikkede manere; and ther-fore seith Salomon, that who-so toucheth and
handleth a womman, he fareth lyk him that handleth the scorpioun that
stingeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his enveniminge; as who-so toucheth
warm pich, it shent hise fingres. / The thridde, is foule wordes, that
fareth lyk fyr, that right anon brenneth the herte. /855 The fourthe finger
is the kissinge; and trewely he were a greet fool that wolde kisse the
mouth of a brenninge ovene or of a fourneys. / And more fooles been they
that kissen in vileinye; for that mouth is the mouth of helle: and namely,
thise olde dotardes holours, yet wol they kisse, though they may nat do,
and smatre hem. / Certes, they been lyk to houndes; for an hound, whan he
comth by the roser or by othere [busshes], though he may nat pisse, yet
wole he heve up his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse. / And for that
many man weneth that he may nat sinne, for no likerousnesse that he doth
with his wyf; certes, that opinion is fals. God woot, a man may sleen
him-self with his owene knyf, and make him-selven dronken of his owene
tonne. / Certes, be it wyf, be it child, or any worldly thing that he
loveth [627] biforn god, it is his maumet, and he is an ydolastre. /860 Man
sholde loven his wyf by discrecioun, paciently and atemprely; and thanne is
she as though it were his suster. / The fifthe finger of the develes hand
is the stinkinge dede of Lecherie. / Certes, the fyve fingres of Glotonie
the feend put in the wombe of a man, and with hise fyve fyngres of Lecherie
he gripeth him by the reynes, for to throwen him in-to the fourneys of
helle; / ther-as they shul han the fyr and the wormes that evere shul
lasten, and wepinge and wailinge, sharp hunger and thurst, and grimnesse of
develes that shullen al to-trede hem, with-outen respit and withouten ende.
/ Of Lecherie, as I seyde, sourden diverse speces; as fornicacioun, that is
bitwixe man and womman that been nat maried; and this is deedly sinne and
agayns nature. /865 Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns
nature. / Parfay, the resoun of a man telleth eek him wel that it is deedly
sinne, for-as-muche as god forbad Lecherie. And seint Paul yeveth hem the
regne, that nis dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly sinne. /
Another sinne of Lecherie is to bireve 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 lyf, / and bireveth hir thilke precious fruit that the book
clepeth ‘the hundred fruit.’ I ne can seye it noon other weyes in English,
but in Latin it highte _Centesimus fructus_. / Certes, he that so dooth is
cause of manye damages and vileinyes, mo than any man can rekene; right as
he som-tyme is cause of alle damages that bestes don in the feeld, that
breketh the hegge or the closure; thurgh which he destroyeth that may nat
been restored. /870 For certes, na-more may maydenhede be restored than an
arm that is smiten fro the body may retourne agayn to wexe. / She may have
mercy, this woot I wel, if she do penitence; but nevere shal it be that she
nas corrupt. / And al-be-it so that I have spoken somwhat of Avoutrie, it
is good to shewen mo perils that longen to Avoutrie, for to eschue that
foule sinne. / Avoutrie in Latin is for to seyn, approchinge of other
mannes bed, thurgh which tho that whylom weren o flessh abaundone hir
bodyes to othere persones. / Of this sinne, as seith the wyse man, folwen
manye harmes. First, brekinge of feith; and certes, in feith is the keye of
Cristendom. /875 And whan that feith is broken and lorn, soothly Cristendom
stant [628] veyn and with-outen fruit. / This sinne is eek a thefte; for
thefte generally is for to reve a wight his thing agayns his wille. /
Certes, this is the fouleste thefte that may be, whan a womman steleth hir
body from hir housbonde and yeveth it to hire holour to defoulen hir; and
steleth hir soule fro Crist, and yeveth it to the devel. / This is a fouler
thefte, than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice; for thise
Avoutiers 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. / Soothly of this thefte douted gretly Joseph, whan
that his lordes wyf preyed him of vileinye, whan he seyde, ‘lo, my lady,
how my lord hath take to me under my warde al that he hath in this world;
ne no-thing of hise thinges is out of my power, but only ye that been his
wyf. /880 And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse, and sinne so
horribly agayns god, and agayns my lord? God it forbede.’ Allas! al to
litel is swich trouthe now y-founde! / The thridde harm is the filthe
thurgh which they breken the comandement of god, and defoulen the auctour
of matrimoine, that is Crist. / For certes, in-so-muche as the sacrement of
mariage is so noble and so digne, so muche is it gretter sinne for to
breken it; for god made mariage in paradys, in the estaat of Innocence, to
multiplye man-kinde to the service of god. / And therfore is the brekinge
ther-of more grevous. Of which brekinge comen false heires ofte tyme, that
wrongfully occupyen folkes heritages. And therfore wol Crist putte hem out
of the regne of hevene, that is heritage to gode folk. / Of this brekinge
comth eek ofte tyme, that folk unwar wedden or sinnen with hir owene
kinrede; and namely thilke harlottes that haunten bordels of thise fool
wommen, that mowe be lykned to a commune gonge, where-as men purgen hir
ordure. /885 What seye we eek of putours that liven by the horrible sinne
of putrie, and constreyne wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hir
bodily puterie, ye, somtyme of his owene wyf or his child; as doon this
baudes? Certes, thise been cursede sinnes. / Understond eek, that avoutrie
is set gladly in the ten comandements bitwixe thefte and manslaughtre; for
it is the gretteste thefte that may be; for it is thefte of body and of
soule. / And it is lyk to homicyde; for it kerveth a-two and [629] breketh
a-two hem that first were maked o flesh, and therfore, by the olde lawe of
god, they sholde be slayn. / But nathelees, by the lawe of Iesu Crist, that
is lawe of pitee, whan he seyde to the womman that was founden in avoutrie,
and sholde han been slayn with stones, after the wil of the Iewes, as was
hir lawe: ‘Go,’ quod Iesu Crist, ‘and have na-more wil to sinne’; or,
‘wille na-more to do sinne.’ / Soothly, the vengeaunce of avoutrie is
awarded to the peynes of helle, but-if so be that it be destourbed by
penitence. /890 Yet been ther mo speces of this cursed sinne; as whan that
oon of hem is religious, or elles bothe; or of folk that been entred in-to
ordre, as subdekne or dekne, or preest, or hospitaliers. And evere the hyer
that he is in ordre, the gretter is the sinne. / The thinges that gretly
agreggen hir sinne is the brekinge of hir avow of chastitee, whan they
receyved the ordre. / And forther-over, sooth is, that holy 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 most precious lyf
that is. / And thise ordred folk been specially tytled to god, and of the
special meynee of god; for which, whan they doon deedly sinne, they been
the special traytours of god and of his peple; for they liven of the peple,
to preye for the peple, and whyle they been suche traitours, hir preyers
availen nat to the peple. / Preestes been aungeles, as by the dignitee of
hir misterye; but for sothe, seint Paul seith, that ‘Sathanas transformeth
him in an aungel of light.’ /895 Soothly, the preest that haunteth deedly
sinne, he may be lykned to the aungel of derknesse transformed in the
aungel of light; he semeth aungel of light, but for sothe he is aungel of
derknesse. / Swiche preestes been the sones of Helie, as sheweth in the
book of Kinges, that they weren the sones of Belial, that is, the devel. /
Belial is to seyn ‘with-outen Iuge’; and so faren they; hem thinketh they
been free, and han no Iuge, na-more than hath a free bole that taketh which
cow that him lyketh in the toun. / So faren they by wommen. For right as a
free bole is y-nough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun
y-nough for al a parisshe, or for al a contree. / Thise preestes, as seith
the book, ne conne nat the misterie of preesthode to the peple, ne god ne
knowe they nat; they ne helde hem nat apayd, as seith the book, [630] of
soden flesh that was to hem offred, but they toke by force the flesh that
is rawe. /900 Certes, so thise shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of rosted
flesh and sode flesh, with which the peple fedden hem in greet reverence,
but they wole have raw flesh of folkes wyves and hir doghtres. / And
certes, thise wommen that consenten to hir harlotrie doon greet wrong to
Crist and to holy chirche and alle halwes, and to alle soules; for they
bireven alle thise him that sholde worshipe Crist and holy chirche, and
preye for cristene soules. / And therfore han swiche preestes, and hir
lemmanes eek that consenten to hir lecherie, the malisoun of al the court
cristen, till they come to amendement. / The thridde spece of avoutrie is
som-tyme bitwixe a man and his wyf; and that is whan they take no reward in
hir assemblinge, but only to hire fleshly delyt, as seith seint Ierome; /
and ne rekken of nothing but that they been assembled; by-cause that they
been maried, al is good y-nough, as thinketh to hem. /905 But in swich folk
hath the devel power, as seyde the aungel Raphael to Thobie; for in hir
assemblinge they putten Iesu Crist out of hir herte, and yeven hem-self to
alle ordure. / The fourthe spece is, the assemblee of hem that been of hire
kinrede, or of hem that been of oon affinitee, or elles with hem with
whiche hir fadres or hir kinrede han deled in the sinne of lecherie; this
sinne maketh hem lyk to houndes, that taken no kepe to kinrede. / And
certes, parentele is in two maneres, outher goostly or fleshly; goostly, as
for to delen with hise godsibbes. / For right so as he that engendreth a
child is his fleshly fader, right so is his godfader his fader espirituel.
For which a womman may in no lasse sinne assemblen with hir godsib than
with hir owene fleshly brother. / The fifthe spece is thilke abhominable
sinne, of which that no man unnethe oghte speke ne wryte, nathelees it is
openly reherced in holy writ. /910 This cursednesse doon men and wommen in
diverse entente and in diverse manere; but though that holy writ speke of
horrible sinne, certes, holy writ may nat been defouled, na-more than the
sonne that shyneth on the mixen. / Another sinne aperteneth to lecherie,
that comth in slepinge; and this sinne cometh ofte to hem that been
maydenes, and eek to hem that been corrupt; and this sinne men clepen
pollucioun, that [631] comth in foure maneres. / Somtyme, of languissinge
of body; for the humours been to ranke and habundaunt in the body of man.
Somtyme of infermetee; for the feblesse of the vertu retentif, as phisik
maketh mencioun. Som-tyme, for surfeet of mete and drinke. / And somtyme of
vileyns thoghtes, that been enclosed in mannes minde whan he goth to slepe;
which may nat been with-oute sinne. For which men moste kepen hem wysely,
or elles may men sinnen ful grevously. /
853. Hl. as a basiliskoc. 857. Hl. dotard fooles holours. C m. and
smatere hem thow they may nat doon. 858. Tyrwhitt _has_ bushes; E.
Seld. Ln. beauteis; Cm. beauteis; Hl. beautes; Pt. bewtees. 869.
After _fructus_, Hl. _adds_ secundum Ieronimum contra Iouinianum.
881. Hl. Pt. horribly; E. Cm. horrible. 882. E. Actour (_error for_
Auctour). 884. E. Hl. _om._ ther-of. E. ocupien. 887. E.
Vnderstoond. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. Seld. gladly; Cm. _om._ E.
comandementz. 891. Pt. Hl. or deken; Ln. & deken; Cm. dekene; E.
_om._ 894. E. meignee; Ln. Hl. meyne. E. Cm. _om._ to preye ... to
the peple; _the clause occurs in_ Pt. Ln. Selden, _and partly in_ Hl.
897. Seld. Pt. Ln. Hl. Belye (_for_ Helye); Cm. Belyal. 900. Cm.
helde; _rest_ holde. 903. E. cristiene; Hl. cristian; Cm. cristene;
_rest_ cristen. 908. Pt. Ln. Parentela; Hl. parenteal. 909. E.
espiritueel. 911. Pt. myxen; Cm. myxene; E. Mixne; Seld. Ln. mexen;
Hl. dongehul. 912. E. Poluciou_n_. 912. E. Cm. iij; _rest_ iiij.
913. Pt. feblesse; E. fieblesse; Cm. febillesse; Ln. Hl. feblenesse.
914. Cm. muste (_for_ moste). E. greously (!).
=Remedium contra peccatum Luxurie.=
§ 77. Now comth the remedie agayns Lecherie, and that is, generally,
Chastitee and Continence, that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moevinges
that comen of fleshly talentes. /915 And evere the gretter merite shal he
han, that most restreyneth the wikkede eschaufinges of the ordure of this
sinne. And this is in two maneres, that is to seyn, chastitee in mariage,
and chastitee of widwehode. / Now shaltow understonde, that matrimoine is
leefful assemblinge of man and of womman, that receyven by vertu of the
sacrement the bond, thurgh which they may nat be departed in al hir lyf,
that is to seyn, whyl that they liven bothe. / This, as seith the book, is
a ful greet sacrement. God maked it, as I have seyd, in paradys, and wolde
him-self be born in mariage. / And for to halwen mariage, he was at a
weddinge, where-as he turned water in-to wyn; which was the firste miracle
that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples. / Trewe effect of mariage
clenseth fornicacioun and replenisseth holy chirche of good linage; for
that is the ende of mariage; and it chaungeth deedly sinne in-to venial
sinne bitwixe hem that been y-wedded, and maketh the hertes al oon of hem
that been y-wedded, as wel as the bodies. /920 This is verray mariage, that
was establissed by god er that sinne bigan, whan naturel lawe was in his
right point in paradys; and it was ordeyned that o man sholde have but o
womman, and o womman but o man, as seith Seint Augustin, by manye resouns.
/
917. E. boond. 921. E. Cm. _om._ This is. E. natureel.
§ 78. First, for mariage is figured bitwixe Crist and holy chirche. And
that other is, for a man is heved of a womman; algate, by ordinaunce it
sholde be so. / For if a womman had mo men [632] than oon, thanne sholde
she have mo hevedes than oon, and that were an horrible thing biforn god;
and eek a womman ne mighte nat plese to many folk at ones. And also ther ne
sholde nevere be pees ne reste amonges hem; for everich wolde axen his
owene thing. / And forther-over, no man ne sholde knowe his owene
engendrure, ne who sholde have his heritage; and the womman sholde been the
lasse biloved, fro the time that she were conioynt to many men. /
923. E. no (_for_ mo) _before_ men.
§ 79. Now comth, how that a man sholde bere him with his wyf; and namely,
in two thinges, that is to seyn in suffraunce and reverence, as shewed
Crist whan he made first womman. /925 For he ne made hir nat of the heved
of Adam, for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe. / 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 suffyse. / Also
certes, god ne made nat womman of the foot of Adam, for she ne sholde nat
been holden to lowe; for she can nat paciently suffre: but god made womman
of the rib of Adam, for womman sholde be felawe un-to man. / Man sholde
bere him to his wyf in feith, in trouthe, and in love, as seith seint Paul:
that ‘a man sholde loven his wyf as Crist loved holy chirche, that loved it
so wel that he deyde for it.’ So sholde a man for his wyf, if it were nede.
/
927. Hl. disaray; Pt. Ln. disaraye.
§ 80. Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hir housbonde, that telleth
seint Peter. First, in obedience. /930 And eek, as seith the decree, a
womman that is a wyf, as longe as she is a wyf, she hath noon auctoritee to
swere ne bere witnesse with-oute leve of hir housbonde, that is hir lord;
algate, he sholde be so by resoun. / She sholde eek serven him in alle
honestee, and been attempree of hir array. I wot wel that they sholde
setten hir entente to plesen hir housbondes, but nat by hir queyntise of
array. / Seint Ierome seith, that wyves that been apparailled in silk and
in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen hem in Iesu Crist. What seith seint
Iohn eek in this matere? / Seint Gregorie eek seith, that no wight seketh
precious array but only for veyne glorie, to been honoured the more biforn
the peple. / It is a greet folye, a womman to have a fair array outward and
in hir-self be foul inward. /935 [633] A wyf sholde eek be mesurable in
lokinge and in beringe and in laughinge, and discreet in alle hir wordes
and hir dedes. / And aboven alle worldly thing she sholde loven hir
housbonde with al hir herte, and to him be trewe of hir body / so sholde an
housbonde eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body is the housbondes,
so sholde hir herte been, or elles ther is bitwixe hem two, as in that, no
parfit mariage. / Thanne shal men understonde that for three thinges a man
and his wyf fleshly mowen assemble. The firste is in entente of engendrure
of children to the service of god, for certes that is the cause fynal of
matrimoine. / Another cause is, to yelden everich of hem to other the dette
of hir bodies, for neither of hem hath power over his owene body. The
thridde is, for to eschewe lecherye and vileinye. The ferthe is for sothe
deadly sinne. /940 As to the firste, it is meritorie; the seconde also;
for, as seith the decree, that she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to
hir housbonde the dette of hir body, ye, though it be agayn hir lykinge and
the lust of hir herte. / The thridde manere is venial sinne, and trewely
scarsly may ther any of thise be with-oute venial sinne, for the corrupcion
and for the delyt. / The fourthe manere is for to understonde, if they
assemble only for amorous love and for noon of the forseyde causes, but for
to accomplice thilke brenninge delyt, they rekke nevere how ofte, sothly it
is deedly sinne; and yet, with sorwe, somme folk wol peynen hem more to
doon than to hir appetyt suffyseth. /
931. E. Cm. that is wyf; Hl. that is a wif. 935. Cm. Pt. be; Hl. to
ben; Ln. bue; E. _om._ 941. E. _om._ merite of chastitee. 942. E.
_om._ of.
§ 81. The seconde manere of chastitee is for to been a clene widewe, and
eschue the embracinges of man, and desyren the embracinge of Iesu Crist. /
Thise been tho that han been wyves and han forgoon hir housbondes, and eek
wommen that han doon lecherie and been releeved by Penitence. /945 And
certes, if that a wyf coude kepen hir al chaast by licence of hir
housbonde, so that she yeve nevere noon occasion that he agilte, it were to
hire a greet merite. / Thise manere wommen that observen chastitee moste be
clene in herte as well as in body and in thoght, and mesurable in clothinge
and in contenaunce; and been abstinent in etinge and drinkinge, in
spekinge, and in dede. They been the vessel or the boyste of the blissed
Magdelene, that fulfilleth holy chirche of good odour. / The thridde manere
of chastitee is [634] virginitee, and it bihoveth that she be holy in herte
and clene of body; thanne is she spouse to Iesu Crist, and she is the lyf
of angeles. / She is the preisinge of this world, and she is as thise
martirs in egalitee; she hath in hir that tonge may nat telle ne herte
thinke. / Virginitee baar oure lord Iesu Crist, and virgin was him-selve.
/950
947. E. _om._ moste be ... mesurable.
§ 82. Another remedie agayns Lecherie is, specially to withdrawen swiche
thinges as yeve occasion to thilke vileinye; as ese, etinge and drinkinge;
for certes, whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to
withdrawe the fyr. Slepinge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to
Lecherie. /
§ 83. Another remedie agayns Lecherie is, that a man or a womman eschue the
companye of hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted; for al-be-it so that
the dede is withstonden, yet is ther greet temptacioun. / Soothly a whyt
wal, al-though it ne brenne noght fully by stikinge of a candele, yet is
the wal blak of the leyt. / Ful ofte tyme I rede, that no man truste in his
owene perfeccioun, but he be stronger than Sampson, and holier than Daniel,
and wyser than Salomon. /955
954. E. leyt; Pt. Ln. leyte; Cm. lyght.
§ 84. Now after that I have declared yow, as I can, the sevene deedly
sinnes, and somme of hir braunches and hir remedies, soothly, if I coude, I
wolde telle yow the ten comandements. / But so heigh a doctrine I lete to
divines. Nathelees, I hope to god they been touched in this tretice,
everich of hem alle. /
=De Confessione.=
§ 85. Now for-as-muche as the second partie of Penitence stant in
Confessioun of mouth, as I bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye, seint
Augustin seith: / sinne is every word and every dede, and al that men
coveiten agayn the lawe of Iesu Crist; and this is for to sinne in herte,
in mouth, and in dede, by thy fyve wittes, that been sighte, heringe,
smellinge, tastinge or savouringe, and felinge. / Now is it good to
understonde that that agreggeth muchel every sinne. /960 Thou shall
considere what thou art that doost the sinne, whether thou be male or
femele, yong or old, gentil or thral, free or servant, hool or syk, wedded
or sengle, ordred or unordred, wys or fool, clerk or seculer; / if she be
of [635] thy kinrede, bodily or goostly, or noon; if any of thy kinrede
have sinned with hir or noon, and manye mo thinges. /
960. Pt. Hl. the circumstances that; Ln. the circumstance that (_for_
that that). 961. E. seculeer.
§ 86. Another circumstaunce is this; whether it be doon in fornicacioun, or
in avoutrie, or noon; incest, or noon; mayden, or noon; in manere of
homicyde, or noon; horrible grete sinnes, or smale; and how longe thou hast
continued in sinne. / The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thou hast
do sinne; whether in other mennes hous or in thyn owene; in feeld or in
chirche, or in chirche-hawe; in chirche dedicat, or noon. / For if the
chirche be halwed, and man or womman spille his kinde inwith that place by
wey of sinne, or by wikked temptacion, the chirche is entredited til it be
reconciled by the bishop; /965 and the preest that dide swich a vileinye,
to terme of al his lyf, he sholde na-more singe masse; and if he dide, he
sholde doon deedly sinne at every tyme that he so songe masse. / The
fourthe circumstaunce is, by whiche mediatours or by whiche messagers, as
for entycement, or for consentement to bere companye with felaweshipe; for
many a wrecche, for to bere companye, wil go to the devel of helle. /
Wher-fore they that eggen or consenten to the sinne been parteners of the
sinne, and of the dampnacioun of the sinner. / The fifthe circumstaunce is,
how manye tymes that he hath sinned, if it be in his minde, and how ofte
that he hath falle. / For he that ofte falleth in sinne, he despiseth the
mercy of god, and encreesseth his sinne, and is unkinde to Crist; and he
wexeth the more feble to withstonde sinne, and sinneth the more lightly,
/970 and the latter aryseth, and is the more eschew for to shryven him,
namely, to him that is his confessour. / For 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 diverse places; but
soothly, swich departed shrift deserveth no mercy of god of hise sinnes. /
The sixte circumstaunce is, why that a man sinneth, as by whiche
temptacioun; and if him-self procure thilke temptacioun, or by the
excytinge of other folk; or if he sinne with a womman by force, or by hir
owene assent; / or if the womman, maugree hir heed, hath been afforced, or
noon; this shal she telle; for coveitise, or for poverte, and if it was hir
procuringe or noon; and swiche manere harneys. / The seventhe [636]
circumstaunce is, in what manere he hath doon his sinne, or how that she
hath suffred that folk han doon to hir. /975 And the same shal the man
telle pleynly, with alle circumstaunces; and whether he hath sinned with
comune bordel-wommen, or noon; / or doon his sinne in holy tymes, or noon;
in fasting-tymes, or noon; or biforn his shrifte, or after his latter
shrifte; / and hath, per-aventure, broken ther-fore his penance enioyned;
by whos help and whos conseil; by sorcerie or craft; al moste be told. /
Alle thise thinges, after that they been grete or smale, engreggen the
conscience of man. And eek the preest that is thy Iuge, may the bettre been
avysed of his Iugement in yevinge of thy penaunce, and that is after thy
contricioun. / For understond wel, that after tyme that a man hath defouled
his baptesme by sinne, if he wole come to salvacioun, ther is noon other
wey but by penitence and shrifte and satisfaccioun; /980 and namely by the
two, if ther be a confessour to which he may shryven him; and the thridde,
if he have lyf to parfournen it. /
964. E. dedicaat. 965. E. Cm. _om._ til ... bishop. 967. wil] E.
shal. 968. dampnacioun] E. Cm. temptacioun. 970. E. fieble. 973.
Pt. Ln. H. whiche; _rest om._
§ 87. Thanne shal man looke and considere, that if he wole maken a trewe
and a profitable confessioun, ther moste be foure condiciouns. / First, it
moot been in sorweful bitternesse of herte, as seyde the king Ezekias to
god: ‘I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn
herte.’ / This condicioun of bitternesse hath fyve signes. The firste is,
that confessioun moste be shamefast, nat for to covere ne hyden his sinne,
for he hath agilt his god and defouled his soule. / And her-of seith seint
Augustin: ‘the herte travailleth for shame of his sinne’; and for he hath
greet shamefastnesse, he is digne to have greet mercy of god. /985 Swich
was the confession of the publican, that wolde nat heven up hise eyen to
hevene, for he hadde offended god of hevene; for which shamefastnesse he
hadde anon the mercy of god. / And ther-of seith seint Augustin, that swich
shamefast folk been next foryevenesse and remissioun. / Another signe is
humilitee in confessioun; of which seith seint Peter, ‘Humbleth yow under
the might of god.’ The hond of god is mighty in confession, for ther-by god
foryeveth thee thy sinnes; for he allone hath the power. / And this
humilitee shal been in herte, and in signe outward; for right as he hath
humilitee to god [637] in his herte, right so sholde he humble his body
outward to the preest that sit in goddes place. / For which in no manere,
sith that Crist is sovereyn and the preest mene and mediatour bitwixe Crist
and the sinnere, and the sinnere is the laste by wey of resoun, /990 thanne
sholde nat the sinnere sitte as heighe as his confessour, but knele biforn
him or at his feet, but-if maladie destourbe it. For he shal nat taken kepe
who sit there, but in whos place that he sitteth. / A man that 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 him outrageous, and nat
worthy so sone for to have remissioun ne mercy. / The thridde signe is, how
that thy shrift sholde be ful of teres, if man may; and if man may nat wepe
with hise bodily eyen, lat him wepe in herte. / Swich was the confession of
seint Peter; for after that he hadde forsake Iesu Crist, he wente out and
weep ful bitterly. / The fourthe signe is, that he ne lette nat for shame
to shewen his confessioun. /995 Swich was the confessioun of the Magdelene,
that ne spared, for no shame of hem that weren atte feste, for to go to
oure lord Iesu Crist and biknowe to him hir sinnes. / The fifthe signe is,
that a man or a womman be obeisant to receyven the penaunce that him is
enioyned for hise sinnes; for certes Iesu Crist, for the giltes of a man,
was obedient to the deeth. /
983. _All_ Ezekiel; _read_ Ezekias (Isaiah xxxviii. 15). 985. E.
ther-of; _rest_ her-of. 986. E. Ln. puplican. 993. E. teeris.
§ 88. The seconde condicion of verray confession is, that it be hastily
doon; for certes, if a man hadde a deedly wounde, evere the lenger that he
taried to warisshe him-self, the more wolde it corrupte and haste him to
his deeth; and eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to hele. / And right so
fareth sinne, that longe tyme is in a man unshewed. / Certes, a man oghte
hastily shewen hise sinnes for manye causes; as for drede of deeth, that
cometh ofte sodenly, and is in no certeyn what tyme it shal be, ne in what
place; and eek the drecchinge of o synne draweth in another; /1000 and eek
the lenger that he tarieth, the ferther he is fro Crist. And if he abyde to
his laste day, scarsly may he shryven him or remembre him of hise sinnes,
or repenten him, for the grevous maladie of his deeth. / And for-as-muche
as he ne hath nat in his lyf herkned Iesu Crist, whanne he hath spoken, he
shal crye to Iesu Crist at his laste day, and scarsly wol he herkne him. /
And understond that this condicioun moste han foure thinges. [638] Thy
shrift moste be purveyed bifore and avysed; for wikked haste doth no
profit; and that a man conne shryve him of hise sinnes be it of pryde, or
of envye, and so forth of the speces and circumstances; / and that he have
comprehended in his minde the nombre and the greetnesse of hise sinnes, and
how longe that he hath leyn in sinne; / and eek that he be contrit of hise
sinnes, and in stedefast purpos, by the grace of god, nevere eft to falle
in sinne; and eek that he drede and countrewaite him-self, that he flee the
occasiouns of sinne to whiche he is enclyned. /1005 Also thou shalt shryve
thee of alle thy sinnes to o man, and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel to
another; that is to understonde, in entente to departe thy confessioun as
for shame or drede; for it nis but stranglinge of thy soule. / For certes,
Iesu Crist is entierly al good; in him nis noon inperfeccioun; and therfore
outher he foryeveth al parfitly or never a deel. / I seye nat that if thou
be assigned to the penitauncer for certein sinne, that thou art bounde to
shewen him al the remenaunt of thy sinnes, of whiche thou hast be shriven
to thy curat, but-if it lyke to thee of thyn humilitee; this is no
departinge of shrifte. / Ne I seye nat, ther-as I speke of divisioun of
confessioun, that if thou have lycence for to shryve thee to a discreet and
an honeste preest, where thee lyketh, and by lycence of thy curat, that
thou ne mayst wel shryve thee to him of alle thy sinnes. / But lat no
blotte be bihinde; lat no sinne been untold, as fer as thou hast
remembraunce. /1010 And whan thou shalt be shriven to thy curat, telle him
eek alle the sinnes that thou hast doon sin thou were last y-shriven; this
is no wikked entente of divisioun of shrifte. /
1000. Pt. Ln. Seld. is in; _rest om._ 1005. E. stidefast; Cm. Hl.
stedefast. 1008, 1009, 1011. E. curaat.
§ 89. Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine condiciouns. First, that thou
shryve thee by thy free wil, noght constreyned, ne for shame of folk, ne
for maladie, ne swiche thinges; for it is resoun that he that trespasseth
by his free wil, that by his free wil he confesse his trespas; / and that
noon other man telle his sinne but he him-self, ne he shal nat nayte ne
denye his sinne, ne wratthe him agayn the preest for his amonestinge to
leve sinne. / The seconde condicioun is, that thy shrift be laweful; that
is to seyn, that thou that shryvest thee, and eek the preest that hereth
thy confessioun, been verraily in the feith of holy chirche; / and that a
man ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Iesu Crist, as [639] Caym or Iudas.
/1015 And eek a man moot accusen him-self of his owene trespas, and nat
another; but he shal blame and wyten him-self and his owene malice of his
sinne, and noon other; / but nathelees, if that another man be occasioun or
entycer of his sinne, or the estaat of a persone be swich thurgh which his
sinne is agregged, or elles that he may nat pleynly shryven him but he
telle the persone with which he hath sinned; thanne may he telle; / so that
his entente ne be nat to bakbyte the persone, but only to declaren his
confessioun. /
§ 90. Thou ne shall nat eek make no lesinges in thy confessioun; for
humilitee, per-aventure, to seyn that thou hast doon sinnes of whiche that
thou were nevere gilty. / For Seint Augustin seith: if thou, by cause of
thyn humilitee, makest lesinges on thy-self, though thou ne were nat in
sinne biforn, yet artow thanne in sinne thurgh thy lesinges. /1020 Thou
most eek shewe thy sinne by thyn owene propre mouth, but thou be wexe
doumb, and nat by no lettre; for thou that hast doon the sinne, thou shalt
have the shame therfore. / Thou shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by
faire subtile wordes, to covere the more thy sinne; for thanne bigylestow
thy-self and nat the preest; thou most tellen it pleynly, be it nevere so
foul ne so horrible. / Thou shalt eek shryve thee to a preest that is
discreet to conseille thee, and eek thou shalt nat shryve thee for veyne
glorie, ne for ypocrisye, ne for no cause, but only for the doute of Iesu
Crist and the hele of thy soule. / Thou shalt nat eek renne to the preest
sodeynly, to tellen him lightly thy sinne, as who-so telleth a Iape or a
tale, but avysely and with greet devocioun. / And generally, shryve thee
ofte. If thou ofte falle, ofte thou aryse by confessioun. /1025 And thogh
thou shryve thee ofter than ones of sinne, of which thou hast be shriven,
it is the more merite. And, as seith seint Augustin, thou shalt have the
more lightly relesing and grace of god, bothe of sinne and of peyne. / And
certes, ones a yere atte leeste wey it is laweful for to been housled; for
certes ones a yere alle thinges renovellen. /
1021. Cm. Pt. wexe; E. Hl. woxe. 1023. E. _om. 2nd_ thee.
=Explicit secunda pars penitencie; et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem, de
satisfaccione.=
§ 91. Now have I told you of verray Confessioun, that is the seconde partie
of Penitence. /
1028. E. toolde.
[640] The thridde partie of Penitence is Satisfaccioun; and that stant most
generally in almesse and in bodily peyne. / Now been ther three manere of
almesses; contricion of herte, where a man offreth himself to god; another
is, to han pitee of defaute of hise neighebores; and the thridde is, in
yevinge of good conseil goostly and bodily, where men han nede, and namely
in sustenaunce of mannes fode. /1030 And tak keep, that a man hath need of
thise thinges generally; he hath need of fode, he hath nede of clothing,
and herberwe, he hath nede of charitable conseil, and visitinge in prisone
and in maladie, and sepulture of his dede body. / And if thou mayst nat
visite the nedeful with thy persone, visite him by thy message and by thy
yiftes. / Thise been generally almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that
han temporel richesses or discrecioun in conseilinge. Of thise werkes
shaltow heren at the day of dome. /
1031. Hl. keep; Pt. Ln. kepe; E. Cm. _om._ 1033. E. temporeel.
§ 92. Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene propre thinges, and
hastily, and prively if thou mayst; / but nathelees, if thou mayst nat doon
it prively, thou shalt nat forbere to doon almesse though men seen it; so
that it be nat doon for thank of the world, but only for thank of Iesu
Crist. /1035 For as witnesseth Seint Mathew, _capitulo quinto_, ‘A citee
may nat been hid that is set on a montayne; ne men lighte nat a lanterne
and put it under a busshel; but men sette it on a candle-stikke, to yeve
light to the men in the hous. / Right so shal youre light lighten bifore
men, that they may seen youre gode werkes, and glorifie youre fader that is
in hevene.’ /
§ 93. Now as to speken of bodily peyne, it stant in preyeres, in wakinges,
in fastinges, in vertuouse techinges of orisouns. / And ye shul
understonde, that orisouns or preyeres is for to seyn a pilous wil of
herte, that redresseth it in god and expresseth it by word outward, to
remoeven harmes and to han thinges espirituel and durable, and somtyme
temporel thinges; of whiche orisouns, certes, in the orisoun of the
_Pater-noster_, hath Iesu Crist enclosed most thinges. / Certes, it is
privileged of three thinges in his dignitee, for which it is more digne
than any other preyere; for that Iesu Crist him-self maked it; /1040 and it
is short, for it sholde be coud the more lightly, and for to withholden it
the more esily in herte, and helpen him-self the ofter with the orisoun; /
[641] and for a man sholde be the lasse wery to seyen it, and for a man may
nat excusen him to lerne it, it is so short and so esy; and for it
comprehendeth in it-self alle gode preyeres. / The exposicioun of this holy
preyere, that is so excellent and digne, I bitake to thise maistres of
theologie; save thus muchel wol I seyn: that, whan thou prayest that god
sholde foryeve thee thy giltes as thou foryevest hem that agilten to thee,
be ful wel war that thou be nat out of charitee. / This holy orisoun
amenuseth eek venial sinne; and therfore it aperteneth specially to
penitence. /
1039. E. espiritueel; temporele.
§ 94. This preyere moste be trewely seyd and in verray feith, and that men
preye to god ordinatly and discreetly and devoutly; and alwey a man shal
putten his wil to be subget to the wille of god. /1045 This orisoun moste
eek been seyd with greet humblesse and ful pure; honestly, and nat to the
anoyaunce of any man or womman. It moste eek been continued with the werkes
of charitee. / It avayleth eek agayn the vyces of the soule; for, as seith
seint Ierome, ‘By fastinge been saved the vyces of the flesh, and by
preyere the vyces of the soule.’ /
1047. vyces (3)] E. vertues; Cm. vertu.
§ 95. After this, thou shalt understonde, that bodily peyne stant in
wakinge; for Iesu Crist seith, ‘waketh, and preyeth that ye ne entre in
wikked temptacioun.’ / Ye shul understanden also, that fastinge stant in
three thinges; in forberinge of bodily mete and drinke, and in forberinge
of worldly Iolitee, and in forberinge of deedly sinne; this is to seyn,
that a man shal kepen him fro deedly sinne with al his might. /
§ 96. And thou shalt understanden eek, that god ordeyned fastinge; and to
fastinge appertenen foure thinges. /1050 Largenesse to povre folk,
gladnesse of herte espirituel, 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 untyme, ne sitte the lenger at his table to ete
for he fasteth. /
1051. E. espiritueel.
§ 97. Thanne shaltow understonde, that bodily peyne stant in disciplyne or
techinge, by word or by wrytinge, or in ensample. Also in weringe of heyres
or of stamin, or of haubergeons on hir naked flesh, for Cristes sake, and
swiche manere penances. / But war thee wel that swiche manere penances on
thy flesh ne make nat thyn herte bitter or angry or anoyed of thy-self; for
bettre is to caste [642] awey thyn heyre, than for to caste away the
sikernesse of Iesu Crist. / And therfore seith seint Paul: ‘Clothe yow, as
they that been chosen of god, in herte of misericorde, debonairetee,
suffraunce, and swich manere of clothinge’; of whiche Iesu Crist is more
apayed than of heyres, or haubergeons, or hauberkes. /
1052. or by] E. and by. 1053. nat ... bitter] E. Cm. thee nat.
1053. sikernesse] Pt. Ln. Hl. swetnesse.
§ 98. Thanne is disciplyne eek in knokkinge of thy brest, in scourginge
with yerdes, in knelinges, in tribulacions; /1055 in suffringe paciently
wronges that been doon to thee, and eek in pacient suffraunce of maladies,
or lesinge of worldly catel, or of wyf, or of child, or othere freendes. /
§ 99. Thanne shaltow understonde, whiche thinges destourben penaunce; and
this is in foure maneres, that is, drede, shame, hope, and wanhope, that
is, desperacion. / And for to speke first of drede; for which he weneth
that he may suffre no penaunce; / ther-agayns is remedie for to thinke,
that bodily penaunce is but short and litel at regard of the peyne of
helle, that is so cruel and so long, that it lasteth with-outen ende. /
1058. weneth] E. demeth. 1059. E. crueel; peynes.
§ 100. Now again the shame that a man hath to shryven him, and namely,
thise ypocrites that wolden been holden so parfite that they han no nede to
shryven hem; /1060 agayns that shame, sholde a man thinke that, by wey of
resoun, that he that hath nat been ashamed to doon foule thinges, certes
him oghte nat been ashamed to do faire thinges, and that is confessiouns. /
A man sholde eek thinke, that god seeth and wool alle hise thoghtes and
alle hise werkes; to him may no thing been hid ne covered. / Men sholden
eek remembren hem of the shame that is to come at the day of dome, to hem
that been nat penitent and shriven in this present lyf. / For alle the
creatures in erthe and in helle shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in
this world. /
1061. ashamed (1)] E. shamed.
§ 101. Now for to speken of the hope of hem that been necligent and slowe
to shryven hem, that stant in two maneres. /1065 That oon is, that he
hopeth for to live longe and for to purchacen muche richesse for his delyt,
and thanne he wol shryven him; and, as he seith, him semeth thanne tymely
y-nough to come to shrifte. Another is, surquidrie that he hath in Cristes
mercy. / Agayns the firste vyce, he shal thinke, that oure lyf is in no
sikernesse; and eek that alle the richesses in this world ben in aventure,
and passen as a shadwe on the wal. / And, as seith seint Gregorie, [643]
that it aperteneth to the grete rightwisnesse of god, that nevere shal the
peyne stinte of hem that nevere wolde withdrawen hem fro sinne, hir
thankes, but ay continue in sinne; for thilke perpetuel wil to do sinne
shul they han perpetuel peyne. /
1065. E. _om._ the. 1069. E. perpetueel (_twice_).
§ 102. Wanhope is in two maneres: the firste wanhope is in the mercy of
Crist; that other is that they thinken, that they ne mighte nat longe
persevere in goodnesse. /1070 The firste wanhope comth of that he demeth
that he hath sinned so greetly and so ofte, and so longe leyn in sinne,
that he shal nat be saved. / Certes, agayns that cursed wanhope sholde he
thinke, that the passion of Iesu Crist is more strong for to unbinde than
sinne is strong for to binde. / Agayns the seconde wanhope, he shal thinke,
that as ofte as he falleth he may aryse agayn by penitence. And thogh he
never so longe have leyn in sinne, the mercy of Crist is alwey redy to
receiven him to mercy. / Agayns the wanhope, that he demeth that he sholde
nat longe persevere in goodnesse, he shal thinke, that the feblesse of the
devel may no-thing doon but-if men wol suffren him; / and eek he shal han
strengthe of the help of god, and of al holy chirche, and of the
proteccioun of aungels, if him list. /1075
§ 103. Thanne shal men understonde what is the fruit of penaunce; and,
after the word of Iesu Crist, it is the endelees blisse of hevene, / ther
Ioye hath no contrarioustee of wo ne grevaunce, ther alle harmes been
passed of this present lyf; ther-as is the sikernesse fro the peyne of
helle; ther-as is the blisful companye that reioysen hem everemo, everich
of otheres Ioye; / ther-as the body of man, that whylom was foul and derk,
is more cleer than the sonne; ther-as the body, that whylom was syk,
freele, and feble, and mortal, is inmortal, and so strong and so hool that
ther may no-thing apeyren it; / ther-as ne is neither hunger, thurst, ne
cold, but every soule replenissed with the sighte of the parfit knowinge of
god. / This blisful regne may men purchace by poverte espirituel, and the
glorie by lowenesse; the plentee of Ioye by hunger and thurst, and the
reste by travaille; and the lyf by deeth and mortificacion of sinne. /1080
1078. E. fieble. 1080. E. espiritueel; _om._ deeth and.
[644] =Here taketh the makere of this book his leve.=
§ 104. Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretis or rede, that
if ther be any thing in it that lyketh hem, that ther-of they thanken oure
lord Iesu Crist, of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse. / And if ther
be any thing that displese hem, I preye hem also that they arrette it to
the defaute of myn unconninge, and nat to my wil, that wolde ful fayn have
seyd bettre if I hadde had conninge. / For oure boke seith, ‘al that is
writen is writen for oure doctrine’; and that is myn entente. / Wherfore I
biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god, that ye preye for me, that Crist
have mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes: / —and namely, of my
translacions and endytinges of worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in my
retracciouns: /1085 as is the book of Troilus; The book also of Fame; The
book of the nynetene Ladies; The book of the Duchesse; The book of seint
Valentynes day of the Parlement of Briddes; The tales of Caunterbury,
thilke that sounen in-to sinne; / The book of the Leoun; and many another
book, if they were in my remembrance; and many a song and many a lecherous
lay; that Crist for his grete mercy foryeve me the sinne. / But of the
translacion of Boece de Consolacione, and othere bokes of Legendes of
seintes, and omelies, and moralitee, and devocioun, / that thanke I oure
lord Iesu Crist and his blisful moder, and alle the seintes of hevene; /
bisekinge hem that they from hennes-forth, un-to my lyves ende, sende me
grace to biwayle my giltes, and to studie to the salvacioun of my
soule:—and graunte me grace of verray penitence, confessioun and
satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf; /1090 thurgh the benigne grace
of him that is king of kinges and preest over alle preestes, that boghte us
with the precious blood of his herte; / so that I may been oon of hem at
the day of dome that shulle be saved: _Qui cum patre, &c._ /1092
1086. E. Pt. xxv; Ln. xv; Hl. 29; _read_ nynetene.
=Here is ended the book of the Tales of Caunterbury, compiled by Geffrey
Chaucer, of whos soule Iesu Crist have mercy. Amen.=
[645]
* * * * *
APPENDIX TO GROUP A.
THE TALE OF GAMELYN.
* * * * *
Litheth, and lesteneth · and herkeneth aright,
And ye schulle heere a talking · of a doughty knight;
Sire Iohan of Boundys · was his righte name,
He cowde of norture y-nough · and mochil of game.
Thre sones the knight hadde · that with his body he wan; 5
The eldest was a moche schrewe · and sone he bigan.
His bretheren loved wel here fader · and of him were agast,
The eldest deserved his fadres curs · and had it at the last.
The goode knight his fader · livede so yore,
That deth was comen him to · and handled him ful sore. 10
The goode knight cared sore · syk ther he lay,
How his children scholde · liven after his day.
He hadde ben wyde-wher · but non housbond he was,
Al the lond that he hadde · it was verrey purchas.
Fayn he wolde it were · dressed among hem alle, 15
That ech of hem hadde his part · as it mighte falle.
Tho sente he in-to cuntre · after wyse knightes,
To helpe delen his londes · and dressen hem to-rightes.
He sente hem word by lettres · they schulden hye blyve,
If they wolde speke with him · whyl he was on lyve. 20
N.B.—Hl.=Harleian MS. no. 7334 (_taken as the foundation of the
text_); Harl.=Harleian MS. no. 1758; Cp.=MS. Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxford;
Ln.=Lansdowne MS. no. 851; Pt.=Petworth MS.; Rl.=MS. Royal 18 c.ii;
Sl.= MS. Sloane, no. 1685. _Note that_ Cp. _and_ Ln. _are next in value
to_ Hl., _and often agree with it as against the rest._
1. Cp. lesteneth; Sl. Ln. listeneth; Hl. lestneth. Cp. herkeneth; Rl.
Sl. herkenyth; Hl. herkneth. 2. Cp. schulle; Ln. schullen; Hl.
schul. Hl. a talkyng; _rest om._ 3. Hl. right; _rest om._; _read_
righte. 4. Hl. ynough; _rest om._ 5. Cp. hadde; Rl. Sl. Pt. Ln.
had; Hl. _om._ 14. Cp. Rl. hadde; Hl. had (_and in l._ 16). 15. Cp.
Ln. wolde; Hl. wold. Hl. amonges; _rest_ among; _see l._ 36. 16.
Hl. might. 17. Cp. Sl. Rl. Pt. Ln. sente; Hl. sent. _So in l._ 19,
_where the MSS. wrongly have_ sent.
Tho the knightes herden · syk that he lay,
Hadde they no reste · nother night ne day,
Til they comen to him · ther he lay stille
On his deth-bedde · to abyde goddes wille.
Than seyde the goode knight · syk ther he lay, 25
‘Lordes, I you warne · for soth, withoute nay,
I may no lenger liven · heer in this stounde;
[646]
For thurgh goddes wille · deth draweth me to grounde.’
Ther nas non of hem alle · that herde him aright,
That they ne hadden reuthe · of that ilke knight, 30
And seyde, ‘sir, for goddes love · ne dismay you nought;
God may do bote of bale · that is now y-wrought.’
21. Hl. ther; _rest_ that. 27. Hl. Cp. lengere; Ln, longer; _rest_
lenger. 29. Sl. Cp. Ln. herde; Hl. herd. 30. Harl. Pt. ne; _rest
om._
Than spak the goode knight · syk ther he lay,
‘Boote of bale god may sende · I wot it is no nay;
But I byseke you, knightes · for the love of me, 35
Goth and dresseth my lond · among my sones three.
And sires, for the love of god · deleth hem nat amis,
And forgetith nat Gamelyn · my yonge sone that is.
Taketh heed to that on · as wel as to that other;
Selde ye see ony eyr · helpen his brother.’ 40
36. Hl. thre. 37. Hl. And sires; _rest om._ sires.
Tho leete they the knight lyen · that was nought in hele,
And wenten in-to counsel · his londes for to dele;
For to delen hem alle · to oon, that was her thought,
And for Gamelyn was yongest · he schulde have nought.
Al the lond that ther was · they dalten it in two, 45
And leeten Gamelyn the yonge · withoute londe go,
And ech of hem seyde · to other ful lowde,
His bretheren mighte yeve him lond · whan he good cowde.
Whan they hadde deled · the lond at here wille,
They comen ayein to the knight · ther he lay ful stille, 50
And tolden him anon-right · how they hadden wrought;
And the knight ther he lay · lyked it right nought.
Than seyde the knight · ‘by seynt Martyn,
For al that ye have y-doon · yit is the lond myn;
For goddes love, neyhebours · stondeth alle stille, 55
And I wil dele my lond · right after my wille.
Iohan, myn eldeste sone · schal have plowes fyve,
That was my fadres heritage · whyl he was on lyve;
And my middeleste sone · fyve plowes of lond,
That I halp for to gete · with my righte hond; 60
And al myn other purchas · of londes and leedes,
That I biquethe Gamelyn · and alle my goode steedes.
And I biseke yow, goode men · that lawe conne of londe,
For Gamelynes love · that my queste stonde.’
Thus dalte the knight · his lond by his day, 65
Right on his deth-bedde · syk ther he lay;
And sone aftirward · he lay stoon-stille,
And deyde whan tyme com · as it was Cristes wille.
[647]
And anon as he was deed · and under gras y-grave,
Sone the elder brother · gyled the yonge knave; 70
He took into his hond · his lond and his leede,
And Gamelyn himselfe · to clothen and to feede.
He clothed him and fedde him · yvel and eek wrothe,
And leet his londes for-fare · and his houses bothe,
His parkes and his woodes · and dede nothing wel; 75
And seththen he it aboughte · on his faire fel.
So longe was Gamelyn · in his brotheres halle,
For the strengest, of good wil · they doutiden him alle;
Ther was non ther-inne · nowther yong ne old,
That wolde wraththe Gamelyn · were he never so bold. 80
Gamelyn stood on a day · in his brotheres yerde,
And bigan with his hond · to handlen his berde;
He thoughte on his londes · that layen unsawe,
And his faire okes · that down were y-drawe;
His parkes were y-broken · and his deer bireved; 85
Of alle his goode steedes · noon was him bileved;
His howses were unhiled · and ful yvel dight;
Tho thoughte Gamelyn · it wente nought aright.
Afterward cam his brother · walkinge thare,
And seyde to Gamelyn · ‘is our mete yare?’ 90
Tho wraththed him Gamelyn · and swor by goddes book,
‘Thou schalt go bake thy-self · I wil nought be thy cook!’
‘How? brother Gamelyn · how answerest thou now?
Thou spake never such a word · as thou dost now.’
‘By my faith,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now me thinketh neede, 95
Of alle the harmes that I have · I tok never ar heede.
My parkes ben to-broken · and my deer bireved,
Of myn armure and my steedes · nought is me bileved;
Al that my fader me biquath · al goth to schame,
And therfor have thou goddes curs · brother by thy name!’ 100
Than bispak his brother · that rape was of rees,
‘Stond stille, gadeling · and hold right thy pees;
Thou schalt be fayn for to have · thy mete and thy wede;
What spekest thou, Gamelyn · of lond other of leede?’
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · the child that was ying, 105
‘Cristes curs mot he have · that clepeth me gadeling!
I am no worse gadeling · ne no worse wight,
But born of a lady · and geten of a knight.’
Ne durste he nat to Gamelyn · ner a-foote go,
But clepide to him his men · and seyde to hem tho, 110
[648]
‘Goth and beteth this boy · and reveth him his wit,
And lat him lerne another tyme · to answere me bet.’
Thanne seyde the child · yonge Gamelyn,
‘Cristes curs mot thou have · brother art thou myn!
And if I schal algate · be beten anon, 115
Cristes curs mot thou have · but thou be that oon!’
And anon his brother · in that grete hete
Made his men to fette staves · Gamelyn to bete.
Whan that everich of hem · a staf hadde y-nome,
Gamelyn was war anon · tho he seigh hem come; 120
Tho Gamelyn seigh hem come · he loked over-al,
And was war of a pestel · stood under a wal;
Gamelyn was light of foot · and thider gan he lepe,
And drof alle his brotheres men · right on an hepe.
He loked as a wilde lyoun · and leyde on good woon; 125
Tho his brother say that · he bigan to goon;
He fley up in-til a loft · and schette the dore fast;
Thus Gamelyn with the pestel · made hem alle agast.
Some for Gamelynes love · and some for his eye,
Alle they drowe by halves · tho he gan to pleye. 130
‘What! how now?’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘evel mot ye thee!
Wil ye biginne contek · and so sone flee?’
Gamelyn soughte his brother · whider he was flowe,
And saugh wher he loked · out at a windowe.
‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘com a litel ner, 135
And I wil teche thee a play · atte bokeler.’
His brother him answerde · and swor by seynt Richer,
‘Whyl the pestel is in thin hond · I wil come no neer:
Brother, I wil make thy pees · I swere by Cristes ore;
Cast away the pestel · and wraththe thee no-more.’ 140
‘I mot neede,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘wraththe me at oones,
For thou wolde make thy men · to breke myne boones,
Ne hadde I had mayn · and might in myn armes,
To have y-put hem fro me · they wolde have do me harmes.’
‘Gamelyn,’ sayde his brother · ‘be thou nought wroth, 145
For to seen thee have harm · it were me right loth;
I ne dide it nought, brother · but for a fonding,
For to loken if thou were strong · and art so ying.’
‘Com a-doun than to me · and graunte me my bone
Of thing I wil thee aske · and we schul saughte sone.’ 150
Doun than cam his brother · that fikil was and fel,
[649]
And was swithe sore · agast of the pestel.
He seyde, ‘brother Gamelyn · aske me thy boone,
And loke thou me blame · but I graunte sone.’
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · ‘brother, y-wis, 155
And we schulle ben at oon · thou most me graunte this:
Al that my fader me biquath · whyl he was on lyve,
Thou most do me it have · yif we schul nat stryve.’
‘That schalt thou have, Gamelyn · I swere by Cristes ore!
Al that thy fader thee biquath · though thou woldest have more; 160
Thy lond, that lyth laye · ful wel it schal be sowe,
And thyn howses reysed up · that ben leyd so lowe.’
Thus seyde the knight · to Gamelyn with mowthe,
And thoughte eek of falsnes · as he wel couthe.
The knight thoughte on tresoun · and Gamelyn on noon, 165
And wente and kiste his brother · and, whan they were at oon,
Allas! yonge Gamelyn · nothing he ne wiste
With which a false tresoun · his brother him kiste!
44. Hl. schuld; Cp. scholde. 46. Pt. londe; Ln. lande; _rest_ lond.
48. Hl. might; _read_ mighte. 50. Hl. come aȝein; _rest omit_
aȝein, _and read_ comen, camen, co_m_men. 51. Hl. anon right;
_rest_ anon, anoon. 56. Hl. Pt. _om._ right. 59. Hl. fyf; _rest_
fyue; _see l._ 57. 60. _Read_ righte; _MSS_. right. 61. Ln. and of
ledes. 64. Cp. bequeste. 66. Hl. bed; Cp. bedde; _see l_. 24. 69.
Hl. And anon; _rest om._ And. 71. Hl. as his (_for_ and his). 73.
Hl. fed; _rest_ fedde. 76. Cp. aboughte; Ln. abouhte; _rest_ abought,
abowght. 79, 80. Rl. Sl. old, bold; _rest_ olde, bolde. 83. Ln.
þouhte; _rest om. the final_ e; _see l_. 88. 85. Hl. byreeued; _rest
om._ by-. 103. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. _om._ for. 109. Hl. durst; Cp.
durste; Ln. dorste. 112. Cp. lere; Hl. Ln. leren; _rest_ lerne.
119. Hl. a staf had; _rest_ hadde (had) a staf. 120. Hl. anon; _rest
om._ 121. Hl. seyh. 123. Hl. of foot; _rest om._ 124. Hl. Ln. on;
_rest_ sone on. 128. Hl. the; _rest_ his. 129, 130. Hl. eyȝe,
pleyȝe; _rest_ eye, pleye. 131. Hl. how; _rest om._ 133. MSS.
_omit final_ e _in_ soughte. 137. Hl. Rycher. 138. Hl. Whil. 140,
146, 150, &c. Hl. the. 143. Cp. hadde I had; Hl. had I hadde. 144.
Hl. he; _rest_ thei. 148. Harl. Ln. if; Pt. wher; _rest_ or. 150.
Hl. Cp. Ln. Of; Harl. Of oo; Rl. Of a; Sl. Of o; Pt. Of oon. 151,
152. Ln. fel, pestel; _rest_ felle, pestelle. 154. Hl. I; _rest_ I
it. 157. Hl. whil. 161. Hl. Cp. laye; Rl. leie; Sl. leye; Pt. Ln.
ley. 164. Cp. þoughte; _rest om. final_ e. Hl. eek; _rest om._
Hl. Cp. Ln. of; _rest_ on. 165. _For_ knight, Hl. _wrongly has_
king. MSS. _omit_ e _in_ thoughte. 166. Pt. Harl. wente; _rest_
went. Hl. kist; _rest_ kissed; _see l._ 168.
Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth your tonge,
And ye schul heere talking · of Gamelyn the yonge. 170
Ther was ther bisyden · cryed a wrastling,
And therfor ther was set up · a ram and a ring;
And Gamelyn was in good wil · to wende therto,
For to preven his might · what he cowthe do.
‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘by seynt Richer, 175
Thou most lene me to-night · a litel courser
That is freisch to the spore · on for to ryde;
I most on an erande · a litel her bisyde.’
‘By god!’ seyde his brother · ‘of steedes in my stalle
Go and chese thee the best · and spare non of alle 180
Of steedes or of coursers · that stonden hem bisyde;
And tel me, goode brother · whider thou wolt ryde.’
169. Rl. lysteneth; Cp. lesteneth; Pt. listeneth; Hl. lestneth. 171.
Hl. wrastlyng; Cp. wrasteling; Rl. wrastelynge; Pt. wrastelinge. 172.
Hl. sette (_wrongly_); _see l._ 184. 173. Hl. good wil; Ln. wil;
_rest_ wille. 177. Hl. Pt. spore; _rest_ spores. 178. Hl. byside;
_so in_ 183. 179. Hl. seyd; _rest have final_ e. 180. Hl. the
the. 181. _For_ coursers, Hl. _wrongly has_ course.
‘Her bisyde, brother · is cryed a wrastling,
And therfor schal be set up · a ram and a ring;
Moche worschip it were · brother, to us alle, 185
Might I the ram and the ring · bring home to this halle.’
A steede ther was sadeled · smertely and skeet;
Gamelyn did a paire spores · fast on his feet.
He sette his foot in the styrop · the steede he bistrood,
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And toward the wrasteling · the yonge child rood. 190
Tho Gamelyn the yonge · was ride out at the gat,
The false knight his brother · lokked it after that,
And bisoughte Iesu Crist · that is heven king,
He mighte breke his nekke · in that wrasteling.
As sone as Gamelyn com · ther the place was, 195
He lighte doun of his steede · and stood on the gras,
And ther he herd a frankeleyn · wayloway singe,
And bigan bitterly · his hondes for to wringe.
‘Goode man,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘why makestow this fare?
Is ther no man that may · you helpe out of this care?’ 200
‘Allas!’ seyde this frankeleyn · ‘that ever was I bore!
For tweye stalworthe sones · I wene that I have lore;
A champioun is in the place · that hath y-wrought me sorwe,
For he hath slayn my two sones · but-if god hem borwe.
I wold yeve ten pound · by Iesu Crist! and more, 205
With the nones I fand a man · to handelen him sore.’
‘Goode man,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘wilt thou wel doon,
Hold myn hors, whyl my man · draweth of my schoon,
And help my man to kepe · my clothes and my steede,
And I wil into place go · to loke if I may speede.’ 210
‘By god!’ sayde the frankeleyn · ‘anon it schal be doon;
I wil my-self be thy man · and drawen of thy schoon,
And wende thou into the place · Iesu Crist thee speede,
And drede not of thy clothes · nor of thy goode steede.’
183. Pt. wrasteling; Ln. warsteling; _rest_ wrastlyng, wrastlynge.
184. Hl. vp; _rest om._ 189. Hl. set; Ln. sete; _rest_ sette. Hl.
_om. 1st_ the. 191. Hl. ride; _rest_ riden, reden. Hl. Ln. at the;
Cp. Pt. atte; _rest_ at. _All_ gate (_wrongly_); _and_ thate (_for_
that) _in next line_. 192. Cp. Ln. false: _rest_ fals. 194. Pt.
wrestelinge; _rest_ wrastlyng, wrastlinge, wrestlinge. 197, 198. Hl.
syng, wryng. 206. Cp. handelen; Hl. handil. 211. Hl. anon; _rest
om._ 213. Hl. Cp. Ln. the place; _rest om._ the. Hl. the.
Barfoot and ungert · Gamelyn in cam, 215
Alle that weren in the place · heede of him they nam,
How he durste auntre him · of him to doon his might
That was so doughty champioun · in wrastling and in fight.
Up sterte the champioun · rapely and anoon,
Toward yonge Gamelyn · he bigan to goon, 220
And sayde, ‘who is thy fader · and who is thy sire?
For sothe thou art a gret fool · that thou come hire!’
Gamelyn answerde · the champioun tho,
‘Thou knewe wel my fader · whyl he couthe go,
Whyles he was on lyve · by seint Martyn! 225
Sir Iohan of Boundys was his name · and I Gamelyn.’
‘Felaw,’ seyde the champioun · ‘al-so mot I thryve,
I knew wel thy fader · whyl he was on lyve;
And thyself, Gamelyn · I wil that thou it heere,
[651]
Whyl thou were a yong boy · a moche schrewe thou were.’ 230
Than seyde Gamelyn · and swor by Cristes ore,
‘Now I am older woxe · thou schalt me finde a more!’
‘By god!’ sayde the champioun · ‘welcome mote thou be!
Come thou ones in myn hond · schalt thou never thee.’
It was wel withinne the night · and the moone schon, 235
Whan Gamelyn and the champioun · togider gonne goon.
The champioun caste tornes · to Gamelyn that was prest,
And Gamelyn stood stille · and bad him doon his best.
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the champioun,
‘Thou art faste aboute · to bringe me adoun; 240
Now I have y-proved · many tornes of thyne,
Thow most,’ he seyde, ‘proven · on or two of myne.’
Gamelyn to the champioun · yede smertely anon,
Of all the tornes that he cowthe · he schewed him but oon,
And caste him on the lefte syde · that three ribbes to-brak, 245
And ther-to his oon arm · that yaf a gret crak.
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · smertely anoon,
‘Schal it be holde for a cast · or elles for noon?’
‘By god!’ seyde the champioun · ‘whether that it be,
He that cometh ones in thin hand · schal he never thee!’ 250
Than seyde the frankeleyn · that had his sones there,
‘Blessed be thou, Gamelyn · that ever thou bore were!’
The frankeleyn seyde to the champioun · of him stood him noon eye,
‘This is yonge Gamelyn · that taughte thee this pleye.’
Agein answerd the champioun · that lyked nothing wel, 255
‘He is a lither mayster · and his pley is right fel;
Sith I wrastled first · it is y-go ful yore,
But I was nevere in my lyf · handeled so sore.’
Gamelyn stood in the place · allone withoute serk,
And seyde, ‘if ther be eny mo · lat hem come to werk; 260
The champioun that peyned him · to werke so sore,
It semeth by his continaunce · that he wil no-more.’
Gamelyn in the place · stood as stille as stoon,
For to abyde wrasteling · but ther com noon;
Ther was noon with Gamelyn · wolde wrastle more, 265
For he handled the champioun · so wonderly sore.
Two gentil-men ther were · that yemede the place,
Comen to Gamelyn · (god yeve him goode grace!)
And sayde to him, ‘do on · thyn hosen and thy schoon,
[652]
For sothe at this tyme · this feire is y-doon.’ 270
And than seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel fare,
I have nought yet halven-del · sold up my ware.’
Tho seyde the champioun · ‘so brouke I my sweere,
He is a fool that ther-of byeth · thou sellest it so deere.’
Tho sayde the frankeleyn · that was in moche care, 275
‘Felaw,’ he seyde · ‘why lakkest thou his ware?
By seynt Iame in Galys · that many man hath sought,
Yet it is to good cheep · that thou hast y-bought.’
Tho that wardeynes were · of that wrasteling
Come and broughte Gamelyn · the ram and the ring, 280
And seyden, ‘have, Gamelyn · the ring and the ram,
For the beste wrasteler · that ever here cam.’
Thus wan Gamelyn · the ram and the ring,
And wente with moche Ioye · home in the morning.
His brother seih wher he cam · with the grete rowte, 285
And bad schitte the gate · and holde him withoute.
The porter of his lord · was ful sore agast,
And sterte anon to the gate · and lokked it fast.
217. Hl. Pt. durst; _rest_ durste, dorste. 218. _All but_ Hl. _ins._
a _bef_. champioun. 219. Hl. raply and; _rest_ rapely (_omitting_
and). 222. Rl. Harl. Sl. here. 224, 225. Hl. whil, Whiles. 227.
Hl. al; _rest om._ 232. Hl. fynd; _rest_ fynde, finde. 234. Hl.
the. 236. Hl. gon to; Cp. Ln. gonne; _rest_ gon. 242. Hl. tuo.
243. Hl. Ln. smartly; Rl. Pt. smertely; _see l._ 187. 245. _All_ kast
_or_ kest. _All_ left, lift; _read_ lefte. Hl. thre. 247. Hl.
smertly; _see l._ 243. 249, 253, 260. Hl. seyd; _rest have final_
e. 250. Hl. Ln. comes; _rest_ cometh; _read it as_ comth. 254. Hl.
the. 255. Hl. well_e_. 256. Hl. a lither; Cp. oure alther; _rest_
alther. _For_ fel, _all have_ felle _or_ fell_e_. 258. Hl. Cp. Ln.
my; _rest_ in my. Rl. Pt. Ln. handeled; Hl. Sl. Cp. handled. 260.
Hl. eny; _rest om._ 267. ther were that] Pt. that; _rest om._ 273.
H. brouk; Cp. Ln. brouke; Pt. broke. 274. Hl. beyeth; _rest_ byeth,
bieth. 279. Pt. wrasteling; Ln. warstelinge; Rl. wrastlinge; _rest_
wrastlyng. 282. Cp. beste; Hl. Ln. best; _rest om. ll._ 281, 282.
287. Hl. ful; _rest om._ 288. Rl. Harl. sterte; _rest_ stert.
Now litheth, and lesteneth · bothe yonge and olde,
And ye schul heere gamen · of Gamelyn the bolde. 290
Gamelyn come ther-to · for to have comen in,
And thanne was it y-schet · faste with a pin;
Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘porter, undo the yat,
For many good mannes sone · stondeth ther-at.’
Than answerd the porter · and swor by goddes berde, 295
‘Thow ne schalt, Gamelyn · come into this yerde.’
‘Thow lixt,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘so browke I my chin!’
He smot the wiket with his foot · and brak awey the pin.
The porter seyh tho · it might no better be,
He sette foot on erthe · and bigan to flee. 300
‘By my faith,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that travail is y-lore,
For I am of foot as light as thou · though thou haddest swore.’
Gamelyn overtook the porter · and his teene wrak,
And gerte him in the nekke · that the bon to-brak,
And took him by that oon arm · and threw him in a welle, 305
Seven fadmen it was deep · as I have herd telle.
Whan Gamelyn the yonge · thus hadde pleyd his play,
Alle that in the yerde were · drewen hem away;
They dredden him ful sore · for werkes that he wroughte,
And for the faire company · that he thider broughte. 310
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Gamelyn yede to the gate · and leet it up wyde;
He leet in alle maner men · that gon in wolde or ryde,
And seyde, ‘ye be welcome · withouten eny greeve,
For we wiln be maistres heer · and aske no man leve.
Yestirday I lefte’ · seyde yonge Gamelyn, 315
‘In my brother seller · fyve tonne of wyn;
I wil not that this compaignye · parten a-twinne,
And ye wil doon after me · whyl eny sope is thrinne,
And if my brother grucche · or make foul cheere,
Other for spense of mete or drink · that we spenden heere, 320
I am oure catour · and bere oure aller purs,
He schal have for his grucching · seint Maries curs.
My brother is a niggoun · I swer by Cristes ore,
And we wil spende largely · that he hath spared yore;
And who that maketh grucching · that we here dwelle, 325
He schal to the porter · into the draw-welle.’
Seven dayes and seven night · Gamelyn held his feste,
With moche mirth and solas · that was ther, and no cheste;
In a little toret · his brother lay y-steke,
And sey hem wasten his good · but durste he not speke. 330
Erly on a morning · on the eighte day,
The gestes come to Gamelyn · and wolde gon here way.
‘Lordes,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wil ye so hyë?
Al the wyn is not yet dronke · so brouke I myn yë.’
Gamelyn in his herte · was he ful wo, 335
Whan his gestes took her leve · from him for to go;
He wolde they had lenger abide · and they seyde ‘nay,’
But bitaughte Gamelyn · god, and good day.
Thus made Gamelyn his feest · and broughte it wel to ende,
And after his gestes · toke leve to wende. 340
289. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listneþ; _rest_ lesteneth, listenythe,
listeneth, lysteneyth. Pt. Ln. ȝonge; _rest_ yong, ȝong.
293. _All_ yate, gate; _and in the next line_ ther-ate. 295. Hl.
berd. 300. and] Hl. Cp. he. 304. Hl. Cp. gert; _rest_ girt. 306.
Hl. Cp. fadmen; Pt. fadme; Rl. Sl. fadame; Ln. faþem; Harl. fadome.
312. Hl. maner men; _rest om._ Hl. _has 2nd_ in; _rest om._ Hl. Rl.
Pt. wold; Cp. Ln. wolde. 317. Hl. that; _rest om._ 318. Hl. while.
Hl. thrynne; Cp. thrinne; Sl. Pt. þ_er_-inne; Ln. þ_e_re-inne. 323.
Hl. nyggou_n_; Rl. Sl. nygon; Pt. nigon; Cp. Ln. negon. 328. Hl.
myrth and; _rest om._ Hl. that was; _rest om._ that (_as being
understood_). 330. Hl. Cp. durst; _rest_ dorst. 334. Hl. y-dronke;
_rest omit_ y-. Pt. Ln. brouke; Rl. browke; Hl. brouk. 335. Hl. he;
_rest om._ 337. Hl. wold. Hl. lenger abide; _rest_ dwelled
lenger. 339. Pt. feest; Hl. fest. MSS. brought, broght. 340. Hl.
gestys; _see l._ 336. Hl. took; Ln. had take; Cp. tok_e_; Sl. to
(_sic_); _rest_ toke.
Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth youre tonge,
And ye schul heere gamen · of Gamelyn the yonge;
Herkeneth, lordinges · and lesteneth aright,
Whan alle gestes were goon · how Gamelyn was dight.
Al the whyl that Gamelyn · heeld his mangerye, 345
His brother thoughte on him be wreke · with his treccherye.
Tho Gamelyns gestes · were riden and y-goon,
Gamelyn stood allone · frendes had he noon;
Tho after ful soone · withinne a litel stounde,
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Gamelyn was y-taken · and ful harde y-bounde. 350
Forth com the false knight · out of the soleer,
To Gamelyn his brother · he yede ful neer,
And sayde to Gamelyn · ‘who made thee so bold
For to stroye my stoor · of myn houshold?’
‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wraththe thee right nought, 355
For it is many day y-gon · siththen it was bought;
For, brother, thou hast y-had · by seynt Richer,
Of fiftene plowes of lond · this sixtene yer,
And of alle the beestes · thou hast forth bred,
That my fader me biquath · on his deth-bed; 360
Of al this sixtene yeer · I yeve thee the prow,
For the mete and the drink · that we have spended now.’
Thanne seyde the false knight · (evel mot he thee!)
‘Herkne, brother Gamelyn · what I wol yeve thee;
For of my body, brother · heir geten have I noon, 365
I wil make thee myn heir · I swere by seint Iohan.’
‘_Par ma foy!_’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘and if it so be,
And thou thenke as thou seyst · god yelde it thee!’
Nothing wiste Gamelyn · of his brotheres gyle;
Therfore he him bigyled · in a litel whyle. 370
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde he · ‘o thing I thee telle;
Tho thou threwe my porter · in the draw-welle,
I swor in that wraththe · and in that grete moot,
That thou schuldest be bounde · bothe hand and foot;
Therfore I thee biseche · brother Gamelyn, 375
Lat me nought be forsworen · brother art thou myn;
Lat me binde thee now · bothe hand and feet,
For to holde myn avow · as I thee biheet.’
‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘al-so mot I thee!
Thou schalt not be forsworen · for the love of me.’ 380
Tho made they Gamelyn to sitte · mighte he nat stonde,
Til they hadde him bounde · bothe foot and honde.
The false knight his brother · of Gamelyn was agast,
And sente aftir feteres · to feteren him fast.
His brother made lesinges · on him ther he stood, 385
And tolde hem that comen in · that Gamelyn was wood.
Gamelyn stood to a post · bounden in the halle,
Tho that comen in ther · lokede on him alle.
Ever stood Gamelyn · even upright;
[655]
But mete ne drink had he non · neither day ne night. 390
Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘brother, by myn hals,
Now I have aspyed · thou art a party fals;
Had I wist that tresoun · that thou haddest y-founde,
I wolde have yeve thee strokes · or I had be bounde!’
Gamelyn stood bounden · stille as eny stoon; 395
Two dayes and two nightes · mete had he noon.
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that stood y-bounde stronge,
‘Adam spenser · me thinkth I faste to longe;
Adam spenser · now I byseche thee,
For the mochel love · my fader loved thee, 400
If thou may come to the keyes · lese me out of bond,
And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’
Thanne seyde Adam · that was the spencer,
‘I have served thy brother · this sixtene yeer,
If I leete thee goon · out of his bour, 405
He wolde say afterward · I were a traytour.’
‘Adam,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘so brouke I myn hals!
Thou schalt finde my brother · atte laste fals;
Therfor, brother Adam · louse me out of bond,
And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’ 410
‘Up swich a forward’ · seyde Adam, ‘y-wis,
I wil do therto · al that in me is.’
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘al-so mot I thee,
I wol holde thee covenant · and thou wil me.’
Anon as Adames lord · to bedde was y-goon, 415
Adam took the keyes, and leet · Gamelyn out anoon;
He unlokked Gamelyn · bothe handes and feet,
In hope of avauncement · that he him biheet.
Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘thanked be goddes sonde!
Now I am loosed · bothe foot and honde; 420
Had I now eten · and dronken aright,
Ther is noon in this hous · schulde binde me this night.’
Adam took Gamelyn · as stille as ony stoon,
And ladde him in-to spence · rapely and anon,
And sette him to soper · right in a privee stede, 425
He bad him do gladly · and Gamelyn so dede.
Anon as Gamelyn hadde · eten wel and fyn,
And therto y-dronke wel · of the rede wyn,
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘what is now thy reed?
Wher I go to my brother · and girde of his heed?’ 430
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘it schal not be so.
I can teche thee a reed · that is worth the two.
[656]
I wot wel for sothe · that this is no nay,
We schul have a mangery · right on Soneday;
Abbotes and priours · many heer schal be, 435
And other men of holy chirche · as I telle thee;
Thow schalt stonde up by the post · as thou were hond-fast,
And I schal leve hem unloke · awey thou may hem cast.
Whan that they have eten · and wasschen here hondes,
Thou schalt biseke hem alle · to bring thee out of bondes; 440
And if they wille borwe thee · that were good game,
Then were thou out of prisoun · and I out of blame;
And if everich of hem · say unto us ‘nay,’
I schal do an other · I swere by this day!
Thou schalt have a good staf · and I wil have another, 445
And Cristes curs have that oon · that faileth that other!’
‘Ye, for gode!’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘I say it for me,
If I fayle on my syde · yvel mot I thee!
If we schul algate · assoile hem of here sinne,
Warne me, brother Adam · whan I schal biginne.’ 450
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘by seynte Charite,
I wil warne thee biforn · whan that it schal be;
Whan I twinke on thee · loke for to goon,
And cast awey the feteres · and com to me anoon.’
‘Adam,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘blessed be thy bones! 455
That is a good counseil · yeven for the nones;
If they werne me thanne · to bringe me out of bendes,
I wol sette goode strokes · right on here lendes.’
341. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listen; _rest_ lesteneth, listenyth. 343. Hl.
herkneth; _rest_ Herkeneth, Herkenyth, Harkeneth. 346. MSS.
thought. 350. Hl. I-take; _rest_ taken. Cp. Ln. harde; _rest_
hard. 351. Cp. Rl. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. Hl. selleer; Cp.
sellere; Ln. selere; _rest_ solere (_rightly; cf._ toret _in l_.
329). 360. Pt. dethes; _rest_ deth; _see l_. 24. 363. Rl. Sl. Cp.
Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 365. Hl. Cp. Ln. geten heir (heer, here);
_rest_ heir (heire, here) geten. 367. Hl. sayd; _rest have final_
e. 376. Hl. forsworn; _but see l._ 380. 381. Hl. might; _read_
mighte; _rest vary_. 382. Sl. Ln. hadde; Cp. hadden; _rest_ had,
hadd. 383. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 384. Cp. sente; Sl. sende;
_rest_ sent. 386. Hl. Rl. told; Ln. tolden; _rest_ tolde. 388. Hl.
ther; _rest om._ Cp. lokeden; _rest_ loked; _read_ lokede. 394. Hl.
the; _rest om._ 400, 405, 432. _All_ the (_for_ thee). 407. Hl.
brouk; Cp. Pt. Ln. brouke. 414. Hl. Sl. hold; _rest_ holde, halde.
_After_ wil Cp. _ins._ lose, _and_ Harl. helpe. 417. Hl. hand; Cp.
handes; _rest_ hondes. 424. Hl. Cp. rapely and; _rest om._ and.
430. Hl. Wher; Ln. Where; Cp. For; _rest_ Or. 434. Ln. sonondaye; Hl.
_and rest_ sonday; _read_ sonnenday _or_ soneday. 437. Pt. Ln. Harl.
bound fast; _rest_ hond-fast (_rightly_). 438. _All but_ Hl. _ins._
that _bef_. awey. 439. Hl. waisschen; _rest_ wasschen, wasshen.
443. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 450. Hl. I; _rest_ we. 453. Ln. twynke;
Hl. Cp. twynk; _rest_ wynke, winke, wynk. 456. Hl. ȝeuyng; Cp.
yeuyng; _rest_ yeuen, ȝeuen, or ȝiuen. 457. Hl. thanne; _rest
om._
Tho the Sonday was y-come · and folk to the feste,
Faire they were welcomed · both leste and meste; 460
And ever atte halle-dore · as they comen in,
They caste their eye · on yonge Gamelyn.
The false knight his brother · ful of trechery,
Alle the gestes that ther were · atte mangery,
Of Gamelyn his brother · he tolde hem with mouthe 465
Al the harm and the schame · that he telle couthe.
Tho they were served · of messes two or three,
Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘how serve ye me?
It is nought wel served · by god that al made!
That I sitte fasting · and other men make glade.’ 470
The false knight his brother · ther that he stood,
Tolde alle his gestes · that Gamelyn was wood;
[657]
And Gamelyn stood stille · and answerde nought,
But Adames wordes · he held in his thought.
Tho Gamelyn gan speke · dolfully with-alle 475
To the grete lordes · that saten in the halle:
‘Lordes,’ he seyde · ‘for Cristes passioun,
Helpeth bringe Gamelyn · out of prisoun.’
Than seyde an abbot · sorwe on his cheeke!
‘He schal have Cristes curs · and seynte Maries eeke, 480
That thee out of prisoun · beggeth other borwe,
But ever worthe hem wel · that doth thee moche sorwe.’
After that abbot · than spak another,
‘I wold thin heed were of · though thou were my brother!
Alle that thee borwe · foule mot hem falle!’ 485
Thus they seyden alle · that weren in the halle.
Than seyde a priour · yvel mot he thryve!
‘It is moche scathe, boy · that thou art on lyve.’
‘Ow!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so brouke I my bon!
Now I have aspyed · that freendes have I non. 490
Cursed mot he worthe · bothe fleisch and blood,
That ever do priour · or abbot ony good!’
Adam the spencer · took up the cloth,
And loked on Gamelyn · and say that he was wroth;
Adam on the pantrye · litel he thoughte, 495
But two goode staves · to halle-dore he broughte,
Adam loked on Gamelyn · and he was war anoon,
And caste awey the feteres · and he bigan to goon:
Tho he com to Adam · he took that oo staf,
And bigan to worche · and goode strokes yaf. 500
Gamelyn cam in-to the halle · and the spencer bothe,
And loked hem aboute · as they had be wrothe;
Gamelyn sprengeth holy-water · with an oken spire,
That some that stoode upright · fellen in the fire.
There was no lewed man · that in the halle stood, 505
That wolde do Gamelyn · eny thing but good,
But stood bisyden · and leet hem bothe werche,
For they hadde no rewthe · of men of holy cherche;
Abbot or priour · monk or chanoun,
That Gamelyn overtok · anon they yeeden doun. 510
Ther was non of hem alle · that with his staf mette,
That he ne made him overthrowe · and quitte him his dette.
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘for seynte Charite,
Pay large liverey · for the love of me,
[658]
And I wil kepe the dore · so ever here I masse! 515
Er they ben assoyled · there shal noon passe.’
‘Dowt thee nought,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘whyl we ben in-feere,
Kep thou wel the dore · and I wol werche heere;
Stere thee, good Adam · and lat ther noon flee,
And we schul telle largely · how many that ther be.’ 520
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘do hem but good;
They ben men of holy chirche · draw of hem no blood,
Save wel the croune · and do hem non harmes,
But brek bothe her legges · and siththen here armes.’
Thus Gamelyn and Adam · wroughte right fast, 525
And pleyden with the monkes · and made hem agast.
Thider they come ryding · Iolily with swaynes,
And hom ayen they were y-lad · in cartes and in waynes.
Tho they hadden al y-don · than seyde a gray frere,
‘Allas! sire abbot · what dide we now heere? 530
Tho that we comen hider · it was a cold reed,
Us hadde ben better at home · with water and with breed.’
Whyl Gamelyn made ordres · of monkes and frere,
Ever stood his brother · and made foul chere;
Gamelyn up with his staf · that he wel knew, 535
And gerte him in the nekke · that he overthrew;
A litel above the girdel · the rigge-bon to-barst;
And sette him in the feteres · ther he sat arst.
‘Sitte ther, brother’ · sayde Gamelyn,
‘For to colen thy blood · as I dide myn.’ 540
As swithe as they hadde · y-wroken hem on here foon,
They askeden watir · and wisschen anoon,
What some for here love · and some for here awe,
Alle the servants served hem · of the beste lawe.
The scherreve was thennes · but a fyve myle, 545
And al was y-told him · in a litel whyle,
How Gamelyn and Adam · had doon a sory rees,
Bounden and y-wounded men · ayein the kinges pees;
Tho bigan sone · stryf for to wake,
And the scherref was aboute · Gamelyn for to take. 550
460. Hl. lest; Cp. leste. 461. _This is_ Zupitza’s _emendation_; MSS.
as they atte halle dore comen in. 463. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals.
464. Hl. wer; _rest_ were. 467. or] Hl. other. 471. Ln. false;
_rest_ fals. 478. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ to _bef._ bringe. 486. Hl.
seyde; Pt. Ln. Harl. seiden. Hl. were; Cp. Ln. weren. 488. _All
but_ Hl. _ins._ sorwe and _bef._ scathe. 489. Hl. brouk; _rest_
brouke, browke, broke. 495, 496. MSS. thought, brought; _against
grammar_. 498. Ln. keste; _rest_ cast. 504. Ln. fellen; _rest_
felle, fell. 505. Hl. lewede; Pt. Ln. lewe; _rest_ lewed, lewid.
507. Hl. besyde; Rl. by-siden; Sl. bisiden; Cp. besyden. 512. Pt. Ln.
ne; _rest_ om. Hl. him; _rest_ hem (_twice_). Sl. Cp. quitte; Hl.
quyt. 516. Hl. schan; _rest_ shal, schal. 520. Hl. Cp. Ln. _om._
that. 531. Hl. _om._ we. 532. Hl. Pt. Ln. _omit second_ with.
536. Cp. gerte; _rest_ gert, girt, gerd. 540. Hl. colyn; Cp. coole;
Ln. coly; _rest_ colen 543. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. _insert_ her (here)
_before_ awe; Hl. Cp. Ln. _omit_. 545. Hl. a; _rest om._ 550. _I
supply_ was; _the two_ Cambridge MSS. _have_ come; _which the rest
omit; see ll._ 240, 785.
Now lytheth and lesteneth · so god yif you good fyn!
And ye schul heere good game · of yonge Gamelyn.
Four and twenty yonge men · that heelden hem ful bolde,
Come to the schirref · and seyde that they wolde
Gamelyn and Adam · fetten, by her fay; 555
The scherref yaf hem leve · soth as I you say;
[659]
They hyeden faste · wold they nought bilinne,
Til they come to the gate · ther Gamelyn was inne.
They knokked on the gate · the porter was ny,
And loked out at an hol · as man that was sly. 560
The porter hadde biholde · hem a litel whyle,
He loved wel Gamelyn · and was adrad of gyle,
And leet the wicket stonden · y-steke ful stille,
And asked hem withoute · what was here wille.
For al the grete company · thanne spak but oon, 565
‘Undo the gate, porter · and lat us in goon.’
Than seyde the porter · ‘so brouke I my chin,
Ye schul sey your erand · er ye comen in.’
‘Sey to Gamelyn and Adam · if here wille be,
We wil speke with hem · wordes two or thre.’ 570
‘Felaw,’ seyde the porter · ‘stond there stille,
And I wil wende to Gamelyn · to witen his wille.’
In wente the porter · to Gamelyn anoon,
And seyde, ‘Sir, I warne you · her ben come your foon;
The scherreves meyne · ben atte gate, 575
For to take you bothe · schulle ye nat scape.’
‘Porter,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so moot I wel thee!
I wil allowe thee thy wordes · whan I my tyme see;
Go agayn to the yate · and dwel with hem a whyle,
And thou schalt see right sone · porter, a gyle. 580
Adam,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘looke thee to goon;
We have foo-men atte gate · and frendes never oon;
It ben the schirrefes men · that hider ben y-come,
They ben swore to-gidere · that we schul be nome.’
‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘hye thee right blyve, 585
And if I faile thee this day · evel mot I thryve!
And we schul so welcome · the scherreves men,
That some of hem schul make · here beddes in the fen.’
Atte posterne-gate · Gamelyn out wente,
And a good cart-staf · in his hand he hente; 590
Adam hente sone · another gret staf
For to helpe Gamelyn · and goode strokes yaf.
Adam felde tweyne · and Gamelyn felde three,
The other setten feet on erthe · and bigonne flee.
‘What?’ seyde Adam · ‘so ever here I masse! 595
I have a draught of good wyn! · drink er ye passe!’
‘Nay, by god!’ sayde thay · ‘thy drink is not good,
It wolde make mannes brayn · to lyen in his hood.’
Gamelyn stood stille · and loked him aboute,
[660]
And seih the scherreve come · with a gret route. 600
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘what be now thy reedes?
Here cometh the scherreve · and wil have cure heedes.’
Adam sayde, ‘Gamelyn · my reed is now this,
Abyde we no lenger · lest we fare amis:
I rede that we to wode goon · ar that we be founde, 605
Better is us ther loos · than in town y-bounde.’
Adam took by the hond · yonge Gamelyn;
And everich of hem two · drank a draught of wyn,
And after took her cours · and wenten her way;
Tho fond the scherreve · nest, but non ay. 610
The scherreve lighte adoun · and went in-to the halle,
And fond the lord y-fetered · faste with-alle.
The scherreve unfetered him · sone, and that anoon,
And sente after a leche · to hele his rigge-boon.
551. Hl. lestneth; Cp. lesteneth. Hl. goode. 555. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl.
by her (here) fay; Cp. be way; Hl. Ln. away. 563. Hl. y-steke; _rest
om._ 573. Cp. Ln. Harl. wente; _rest_ went. 576. Cp. schulle; Hl.
schul. Hl. na (_for_ nat); _rest_ not, nouht. 588. Hl. den; Pt.
fenne; _rest_ fen. 589. Cp. Ln. wente; _rest_ went. 594. Hl. fle;
_rest_ to fle (flee). 602. Hl. comth; _rest_ cometh. 603. _So_ Hl.;
_rest_ sayde to. 606. Hl. vs; _rest_ om. 608. Hl. tuo; _rest_ om.
609. Hl. coursers; _but see l._ 617. 611. Hl. adoun; _rest_ doun.
614. Hl. sent; Cp. Sl. sente.
Lete we now this false knight · lyen in his care, 615
And talke we of Gamelyn · and loke how he fare.
Gamelyn in-to the woode · stalkede stille,
And Adam the spenser · lykede ful ille;
Adam swor to Gamelyn · by seynt Richer,
‘Now I see it is mery · to be a spencer, 620
That lever me were · keyes for to bere,
Than walken in this wilde woode · my clothes to tere.’
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee right nought;
Many good mannes child · in care is y-brought.’
And as they stoode talking · bothen in-feere, 625
Adam herd talking of men · and neyh, him thought, they were.
Tho Gamelyn under the woode · lokede aright,
Sevene score of yonge men · he saugh wel a-dight;
Alle satte atte mete · in compas aboute.
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now have we no doute, 630
After bale cometh boote · thurgh grace of god almight;
Me thinketh of mete and drink · that I have a sight.’
Adam lokede tho · under woode-bowgh,
And whan he seyh mete · he was glad y-nough;
For he hopede to god · for to have his deel, 635
And he was sore alonged · after a good meel.
As he seyde that word · the mayster outlawe
Saugh Gamelyn and Adam · under woode-schawe.
‘Yonge men,’ seyde the maister · ‘by the goode roode,
I am war of gestes · god sende us non but goode; 640
[661]
Yonder ben two yonge men · wonder wel a-dight,
And paraventure ther ben mo · who-so lokede aright.
Ariseth up, ye yonge men · and fetteth hem to me;
It is good that we witen · what men they be.’
Up ther sterten sevene · fro the diner, 645
And metten with Gamelyn · and Adam spenser.
Whan they were neyh hem · than seyde that oon,
‘Yeldeth up, yonge men · your bowes and your floon.’
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that yong was of elde,
‘Moche sorwe mot he have · that to you hem yelde! 650
I curse non other · but right my-selve;
They ye fette to yow fyve · thanne ye be twelve!’
Tho they herde by his word · that might was in his arm,
Ther was non of hem alle · that wolde do him harm,
But sayde unto Gamelyn · mildely and stille, 655
‘Com afore our maister · and sey to him thy wille.’
‘Yonge men,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘by your lewte,
What man is your maister · that ye with be?’
Alle they answerde · withoute lesing,
‘Oure maister is y-crouned · of outlawes king.’ 660
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘go-we in Cristes name;
He may neyther mete nor drink · werne us, for schame.
If that he be hende · and come of gentil blood,
He wol yeve us mete and drink · and doon us som good.’
‘By seynt Iame!’ seyde Adam · ‘what harm that I gete, 665
I wil auntre to the dore · that I hadde mete.’
Gamelyn and Adam · wente forth in-feere,
And they grette the maister · that they founde there.
Than seide the maister · king of outlawes,
‘What seeke ye, yonge men · under woode-schawes?’ 670
Gamelyn answerde · the king with his croune,
‘He moste needes walke in woode · that may not walke in towne.
Sire, we walke not heer · noon harm for to do,
But-if we meete with a deer · to scheete ther-to,
As men that ben hungry · and mow no mete finde, 675
And ben harde bistad · under woode-linde.’
Of Gamelynes wordes · the maister hadde routhe,
And seyde, ‘ye schal have y-nough · have god my trouthe!’
He bad hem sitte ther adoun · for to take reste;
And bad hem ete and drinke · and that of the beste. 680
As they sete and eeten · and dronke wel and fyn,
[662]
Than seyde that oon to that other · ‘this is Gamelyn.’
Tho was the maister outlawe · in-to counseil nome,
And told how it was Gamelyn · that thider was y-come.
Anon as he herde · how it was bifalle, 685
He made him maister under him · over hem alle.
Within the thridde wyke · him com tyding,
To the maister outlawe · that tho was her king,
That he schulde come hom · his pees was y-mad;
And of that goode tyding · he was tho ful glad. 690
Tho seyde he to his yonge men · ‘soth for to telle,
Me ben comen tydinges · I may no lenger dwelle.’
Tho was Gamelyn anon · withoute tarying,
Maad maister outlawe · and crouned here king.
615. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 618. Cp. likede; Ln. loked; _rest_
liked. 621. Hl. for; _rest om._ 625. Hl. And; _rest om._ 627,
642. Hl. loked. 627. Hl. the; _rest om._ 640. Cp. Pt. Harl. sende;
_rest_ send. Hl. non but; _rest om._ 643. Hl. ȝe; _rest om._
652. Hl. Cp. They; Rl. Thei; Sl. Ln. Though. 654. Hl. alle; _rest
om._ 655. Hl. sayd; _rest add_ e. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 663. Hl.
heende; Cp. kynde; _rest_ hende. 664. Hl. an (_for 1st_ and). 665.
Hl. seyd; Ln. seid; _rest add_ e. 666. Hl. auntre; _rest_ auenture
me. Hl. Cp. Ln. to the dore; _rest om._ 673. Hl. for; _rest om._
674. Hl. with; _rest om._ 679. Hl. ther; _rest om._ Hl. adoun;
_rest_ doun. 681. Hl. sete and; _rest om._ 682. Hl. seyd; _rest
add_ e. Hl. Pt. Ln. that oon ... other; _rest_ on to an other. 688,
690. Hl. tho; _rest om._ 689. Hl. I-made; Cp. Sl. maad; _rest_
made. 694. Cp. Maad; _rest_ Made (_badly_). Cp. Ln. here; _rest_
her.
Tho was Gamelyn crouned · king of outlawes, 695
And walked a whyle · under woode-schawes.
The false knight his brother · was scherreve and sire,
And leet his brother endite · for hate and for ire.
Tho were his bonde-men · sory and nothing glad,
When Gamelyn her lord · ‘wolves-heed’ was cryed and maad;
And sente out of his men · wher they might him finde, 701
For to seke Gamelyn · under woode-linde,
To telle him tydinges · how the wind was went,
And al his good reved · and his men schent.
697. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 699. Rl. Sl. glad; _rest_ glade,
gladde. 700. Sl. Cp. maad; _rest_ made, maade. 703. Hl. how; _rest
om._ 704. _So_ Hl. Cp. Ln.; _rest_ and alle his.
Whan they had him founde · on knees they hem sette, 705
And a-doun with here hood · and here lord grette;
‘Sire, wraththe you nought · for the goode roode,
For we have brought you tydinges · but they be nat goode.
Now is thy brother scherreve · and hath the baillye,
And he hath endited thee · and ‘wolves-heed’ doth thee crye.’ 710
‘Allas!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that ever I was so slak
That I ne hadde broke his nekke · tho I his rigge brak!
Goth, greteth hem wel · myn housbondes and wyf,
I wol ben atte nexte schire · have god my lyf!’
Gamelyn com wel redy · to the nexte schire, 715
And ther was his brother · bothe lord and sire.
Gamelyn com boldelich · in-to the moot-halle,
And putte a-doun his hood · among the lordes alle;
‘God save you alle, lordinges · that now here be!
But broke-bak scherreve · evel mot thou thee! 720
Why hast thou do me · that schame and vilonye,
For to late endite me · and ‘wolves-heed’ me crye?’
[663]
Tho thoughte the false knight · for to ben awreke,
And leet take Gamelyn · moste he no more speke;
Might ther be no more grace · but Gamelyn atte laste 725
Was cast in-to prisoun · and fetered ful faste.
712. Hl. _om. 2nd_ I. 713. Hl. hem; rest _om._ Harl. boþe housbonde;
_rest_ myn housbondes. 715. Hl. came; _see_ l. 717. 718. Rl. Sl.
Cp. putte; _rest_ put. 719. Hl. alle; rest _om._ 722. Hl. me;
_rest_ do me. 723. Cp. thoughte the false; _rest_ thought the fals.
724. MSS. most, _the_ e _being elided_. 725, 726. Rl. Sl. Cp. laste,
faste; _rest_ last, fast.
Gamelyn hath a brother · that highte sir Ote,
As good a knight and hende · as mighte gon on foote.
Anon ther yede a messager · to that goode knight,
And tolde him al-togidere · how Gamelyn was dight. 730
Anon as sire Ote herde · how Gamelyn was a-dight,
He was wonder sory · was he no-thing light,
And leet sadle a steede · and the way he nam,
And to his tweyne bretheren · anon-right he cam.
‘Sire,’ seyde sire Ote · to the scherreve tho, 735
‘We ben but three bretheren · schul we never be mo;
And thou hast y-prisoned · the beste of us alle;
Swich another brother · yvel mot him bifalle!’
‘Sire Ote,’ seide the false knight · ‘lat be thy curs;
By god, for thy wordes · he schal fare the wurs; 740
To the kinges prisoun · anon he is y-nome,
And ther he schal abyde · til the Iustice come.’
‘Parde!’ seyde sir Ote · ‘better it schal be;
I bidde him to maynpris · that thou graunte him me
Til the nexte sitting · of deliveraunce, 745
And thanne lat Gamelyn · stande to his chaunce.’
‘Brother, in swich a forward · I take him to thee;
And by thy fader soule · that thee bigat and me,
But-if he be redy · whan the Iustice sitte,
Thou schalt bere the Iuggement · for al thy grete witte.’ 750
‘I graunte wel,’ seide sir Ote · ‘that it so be.
Let deliver him anon · and tak him to me.’
Tho was Gamelyn delivered · to sire Ote his brother,
And that night dwellede · that on with that other.
On the morn seyde Gamelyn · to sire Ote the hende, 755
‘Brother,’ he seide, ‘I moot · for sothe, from thee wende,
To loke how my yonge men · leden here lyf,
Whether they liven in Ioye · or elles in stryf.’
‘By god!’ seyde sire Ote · ‘that is a cold reed,
Now I see that al the cark · schal fallen on myn heed; 760
For when the Iustice sitte · and thou be nought y-founde,
[664]
I schal anon be take · and in thy stede y-bounde.’
‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee nought,
For by seint Iame in Gales · that many man hath sought,
If that god almighty · holde my lyf and wit, 765
I wil be ther redy · whan the Iustice sit.’
Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn · ‘god schilde thee fro schame;
Com whan thou seest tyme · and bring us out of blame.’
728. Hl. Cp. heende; _rest_ hende. 729. Hl. ther; _rest om._ 730.
Hl. Cp. told; _rest_ tolde. 734. Hl. anon right; Ln. ful sone; _rest_
right sone. 737. Rl. Cp. beste; _rest_ best. 739. Pt. Ln. false;
_rest_ fals. 741. Hl. anon; _rest om._ 744. Hl. Cp. maymp_ri_s.
Hl. Sl. Ln. graunt; _rest_ graunte. Hl. him; Cp. Ln. to; _rest on_.
747. Hl. forthward; _rest_ forward. 749. Hl. if; rest om. 754. Hl.
Cp. dwelleden; Ln. dwelden; _rest_ dwellide, dwellid, dwelled. 755.
Hl. Cp. heende: Rl. hynde; _rest_ hende. 761, 766. MSS. sitte,
_except_ Hl. sitt _in l._ 766. _Here_ sitte _is subj_.; _but in_ l. 766
sit = sitteth. 765. Hl. hold; Rl. hold me; _rest_ holde me. 765,
766. Hl. witt, sitt.
Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth you stille,
And ye schul here how Gamelyn · hadde al his wille. 770
Gamelyn wente ayein · under woode-rys,
And fond there pleying · yonge men of prys.
Tho was yong Gamelyn · glad and blithe y-nough,
Whan he fond his mery men · under woode-bough.
Gamelyn and his men · talkeden in-feere, 775
And they hadde good game · here maister to heere;
They tolden him of aventures · that they hadde founde,
And Gamelyn hem tolde ayein · how he was fast y-bounde.
Whyl Gamelyn was outlawed · hadde he no cors;
There was no man that for him · ferde the wors, 780
But abbotes and priours · monk and chanoun;
On hem left he no-thing · whan he mighte hem nom.
Whyl Gamelyn and his men · made merthes ryve,
The false knight his brother · yvel mot he thryve!
For he was fast aboute · bothe day and other, 785
For to hyre the quest · to hangen his brother.
Gamelyn stood on a day · and, as he biheeld
The woodes and the schawes · in the wilde feeld,
He thoughte on his brother · how he him beheet
That he wolde be redy · whan the Iustice seet; 790
He thoughte wel that he wolde · withoute delay,
Come afore the Iustice · to kepen his day,
And seide to his yonge men · ‘dighteth you yare,
For whan the Iustice sitte · we moote be thare,
For I am under borwe · til that I come, 795
And my brother for me · to prisoun schal be nome.’
‘By seint Iame!’ seyde his yonge men · ‘and thou rede therto,
Ordeyne how it schal be · and it schal be do.’
Whyl Gamelyn was coming · ther the Iustice sat,
The false knight his brother · foryat he nat that, 800
To huyre the men on his quest · to hangen his brother;
Though he hadde nought that oon · he wolde have that other.
[665]
Tho cam Gamelyn · fro under woode-rys,
And broughte with him · his yonge men of prys.
769. Hl. lestneth; Cp. lesteneth; Rl. Pt. listeneth. 770. Rl. Sl. Cp.
hadde; _rest_ had. Hl. Pt. al; _rest om._. 771. Hl. aȝein; _rest
om._. 773. Hl. Cp. Ln. ȝonge; _rest_ ȝong. 774. Hl. mery;
_rest om._. 775. Hl. talked; Rl. Pt. talkeden; Sl. talkiden. 779.
Sl. Cp. Ln. hadde; Rl. hade; _rest_ had. 782. MSS. might; _the_ e
_being elided._ 784. Cp. false; _rest_ fals. 789. Hl. thought; _see
l._ 791. 794. Hl. sitt. 800. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 804. Hl.
his; _rest om._
‘I see wel,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘the Iustice is set; 805
Go aforn, Adam · and loke how it spet.’
Adam wente into the halle · and loked al aboute,
He seyh there stonde · lordes grete and stoute,
And sir Ote his brother · fetered wel fast;
Tho went Adam out of halle · as he were agast. 810
Adam said to Gamelyn · and to his felawes alle,
‘Sir Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle.’
‘Yonge men,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘this ye heeren alle;
Sire Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle.
If god yif us grace · wel for to doo, 815
He schal it abegge · that broughte him ther-too.’
Thanne sayde Adam · that lokkes hadde hore,
‘Cristes curs mote he have · that him bond so sore!
And thou wilt, Gamelyn · do after my reed,
Ther is noon in the halle · schal bere awey his heed.’ 820
‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘we wiln nought don so,
We wil slee the giltif · and lat the other go.
I wil into the halle · and with the Iustice speke;
On hem that ben gultif · I wil ben awreke.
Lat non scape at the dore · take, yonge men, yeme; 825
For I wil be Iustice this day · domes for to deme.
God spede me this day · at my newe werk!
Adam, com on with me · for thou schalt be my clerk.’
His men answereden him · and bade him doon his best,
‘And if thou to us have neede · thou schalt finde us prest; 830
We wiln stande with thee · whyl that we may dure,
And but we werke manly · pay us non hure.’
‘Yonge men,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel thee!
As trusty a maister · ye schal finde of me.’
Right there the Iustice · sat in the halle, 835
In wente Gamelyn · amonges hem alle.
805, 806. MSS. sette, spette (_wrongly_). 807. Cp. wente; _rest_
went. 808. Hl. gret; _rest_ grete. 811. Hl. felaws; _rest_ felawes,
felowes. 816. Ln brouht it; Hl. _om._ it; _rest_ it broughte; but
read broughte him. 818. Rl. Sl, Pt. mote; Ln. mot; Hl. Cp. most.
819. Cp. reed; Hl. red; _rest_ rede. 822. Hl. Pt. lat; _rest_ late
826. for to _in_ MS. Camb. Mm. 2. 5; _rest om._ for. 828. Hl. on;
_rest om._ 829. Rl. bade; _rest_ bad.
Gamelyn leet unfetere · his brother out of bende.
Thanne seyde sire Ote · his brother that was hende,
‘Thou haddest almost, Gamelyn · dwelled to longe,
For the quest is oute on me · that I schulde honge.’ 840
‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so god yif me good rest!
This day they schuln ben hanged · that ben on thy quest;
And the Iustice bothe · that is the Iugge-man,
[666]
And the scherreve bothe · thurgh him it bigan.’
Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise, 845
Now is thy power y-don · thou most nedes arise;
Thow hast yeven domes · that ben yvel dight,
I wil sitten in thy sete · and dressen hem aright.’
The Iustice sat stille · and roos nought anoon;
And Gamelyn clevede · [a-two] his cheeke-boon; 850
Gamelyn took him in his arm · and no more spak,
But threw him over the barre · and his arm to-brak.
Durste non to Gamelyn · seye but good,
For ferd of the company · that withoute stood.
Gamelyn sette him doun · in the Iustices seet, 855
And sire Ote his brother by him · and Adam at his feet.
Whan Gamelyn was y-set · in the Iustices stede,
Herkneth of a bourde · that Gamelyn dede.
He leet fetre the Iustice · and his false brother,
And dede hem come to the barre · that oon with that other. 860
Tho Gamelyn hadde thus y-doon · hadde he no reste,
Til he had enquered · who was on the queste
For to deme his brother · sir Ote, for to honge;
Er he wiste which they were · him thoughte ful longe.
But as sone as Gamelyn · wiste wher they were, 865
He dede hem everichone · feteren in-feere,
And bringen hem to the barre · and sette hem in rewe;
‘By my faith!’ seyde the Iustice · ‘the scherreve is a schrewe!’
Than seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise,
‘Thou hast y-yeve domes · of the wors assise; 870
And the twelve sisours · that weren of the queste,
They schul ben hanged this day · so have I good reste!’
Thanne seide the scherreve · to yonge Gamelyn,
‘Lord, I crye the mercy · brother art thou myn.’
‘Therfore,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘have thou Cristes curs, 875
For, and thou were maister · yit I schulde have wors.’
For to make short tale · and nought to tarie longe,
He ordeyned him a queste · of his men so stronge;
The Iustice and the scherreve · bothe honged hye,
To weyven with the ropes · and with the winde drye; 880
And the twelve sisours · (sorwe have that rekke!)
Alle they were hanged · faste by the nekke.
Thus ended the false knight · with his treccherye,
[667]
That ever hadde y-lad his lyf · in falsnes and folye.
He was hanged by the nekke · and nought by the purs; 885
That was the meede that he hadde · for his fadres curs.
837. Hl. beende; Cp. Pt. Ln. bende. 838. Hl. Cp. heende; _rest_
hende. 843. Hl. _om._ the. Hl. Iugges; _rest_ Iugge, Iuge. 845.
Cp. Thanne; _rest_ Than. 850. _I supply_ a-two. 851. Hl. arm;
_rest_ armes. 854. Rl. Harl. ferd; Pt. feerd; Hl. Cp. fered; Ln.
ferde. 855. MSS. sete. 857. stede] Hl. Rl. Cp. sete (_wrongly_).
859. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 861. Cp. hadde; Rl. hade; Hl. had
(_2nd time_). 861, 862. Hl. rest, quest; _see ll._ 871, 872. 864.
Hl. Cp. Ln. he; Rl. Pt. him; Harl. (1758) hym. 866. Cp. feteren; Hl.
fetere. 872. Hl. _om._ good. 877. Hl. tarie; _rest om._ 878. Rl.
Pt. Harl. quest; _rest_ queste. 879. Cp. beþ; _rest_ bothe, both.
880. Hl. _om._ the _before_ ropes. Hl. Rl. Cp. wynd; _rest_ wynde,
winde. 883. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 884. Cp. hadde; Ln. hade;
_rest_ had. 885. Hl. Pt. nek; _rest_ necke, nekke. 886. Rl. Cp.
hadde; _rest_ had.
Sire Ote was eldest · and Gamelyn was ying,
They wenten with here frendes · even to the king;
They made pees with the king · of the best assise.
The king loved wel sir Ote · and made him Iustise. 890
And after, the king made Gamelyn · bothe in est and west,
Chief Iustice · of al his free forest;
Alle his wighte yonge men · the king foryaf here gilt,
And sitthen in good office · the king hem hath y-pilt.
Thus wan Gamelyn · his lond and his leede, 895
And wrak him of his enemys · and quitte hem here meede;
And sire Ote his brother · made him his heir,
And siththen wedded Gamelyn · a wyf bothe good and feyr;
They liveden to-gidere · whyl that Crist wolde,
And sithen was Gamelyn · graven under molde. 900
And so schal we alle · may ther no man flee:
God bringe us to the Ioye · that ever schal be!
888. Hl. They; _rest om._ Hl. freendes. Hl. euen to; Rl. Harl. and
passeden to; Pt. and passed to; Cp. and passed with; Ln. and pesed
with. 892. Hl. al; _rest om._ 896. Cp. Pt. quitte; Hl. quyt. 902.
Ln. bringe; _rest_ bryng, bring.
* * * * *
END OF VOL. IV.
NOTES
[1] Not the same MS. as that called ‘Harl.’ in the foot-notes to Gamelyn.
[2] It only contains the clerk’s Tale; see Reliquiae, ii. 68. The Longleat
MS. no. 25, belonging to the Marquis of Bath, contains both the Knight’s
Tale and the Clerk’s Tale.
[3] i.e. the gen. case of _physice_; ‘Magister Artium et Physices’ occurs
in Longfellow’s Golden Legend, § vi.
[4] Tyrwhitt counts 252_b_ and 252_c_ as 253 and 254; but omits 3155, 3156;
hence, in 3157-3720, the numbering is alike in the Six-text and T. He then
omits 3721, 3722, making a difference of _two_ lines. Wright follows
Tyrwhitt’s numbering in Group A, and in B 1-1162.
[5] T. counts B 1982, 1983 as one line; so also B 2002, 2003, and B 2012,
2013, and B 2076, 2077, making a difference of _four_ lines; but, on the
other hand, he expands B 1993 into _three_ lines; hence, on the whole, a
difference of _two_ lines in this portion. See pp. 192, 193, and note to B
1993 in vol. v.
[6] Wright counts the lines as I do, but his numbering is in one place
incorrect; after the line which he calls 15260, he counts the next thirteen
lines as ten.
[7] As in the Six-text, I call each clause of Melibeus between the sloping
marks _a line_, and so number it. So also in the Parson’s Tale.
[8] T. cuts up the Tale into paragraphs. So also in the Parson’s Tale
(Group I). I have _numbered_ these, for convenience; see head-lines, pp.
199-240.
[9] Sixteen lines short in Wright, because the Epilogue to the Nonne
Prestes Tale (see p. 289) is relegated to a footnote.
[10] Twelve lines short; T. omits E 1305-6, F 671-2, 1455-6, 1493-8. Wright
keeps E 1305-6, but does not count them, and omits the other ten.
[11] The dash (—) shews where the Groups end or are interrupted.
[12] The order of the divisions of this tale is different. The ‘modern
instances,’ viz. Peter of Spain, Peter of Cyrus, Barnabo of Lombardy, and
Ugolino of Pisa are placed at the end instead of coming in the middle.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Chaucer's Works, Volume 4 — The Canterbury Tales" ***
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