GP 1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
GP 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
GP 3 And bathed every veyne in swich licour
GP 4 Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
GP 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
GP 6 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
GP 7 The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
GP 8 Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne,
GP 9 And smale foweles maken melodye,
GP 10 That slepen al the nyght with open ye
GP 11 (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages),
GP 12 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
GP 13 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
GP 14 To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
GP 15 And specially from every shires ende
GP 16 Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
GP 17 The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
GP 18 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
GP 19 Bifil that in that seson on a day,
GP 20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
GP 21 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
GP 22 To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
GP 23 At nyght was come into that hostelrye
GP 24 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
GP 25 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
GP 26 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
GP 27 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
GP 28 The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
GP 29 And wel we weren esed atte beste.
GP 30 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
GP 31 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon
GP 32 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
GP 33 And made forward erly for to ryse,
GP 34 To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.
GP 35 But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
GP 36 Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
GP 37 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
GP 38 To telle yow al the condicioun
GP 39 Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
GP 40 And whiche they weren, and of what degree,
GP 41 And eek in what array that they were inne;
GP 42 And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.
GP 43 A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
GP 44 That fro the tyme that he first bigan
GP 45 To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
GP 46 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
GP 47 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
GP 48 And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
GP 49 As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
GP 50 And evere honoured for his worthynesse;
GP 51 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne.
GP 52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
GP 53 Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
GP 54 In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
GP 55 No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
GP 56 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
GP 57 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
GP 58 At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
GP 59 Whan they were wonne, and in the Grete See
GP 60 At many a noble armee hadde he be.
GP 61 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
GP 62 And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
GP 63 In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
GP 64 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
GP 65 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
GP 66 Agayn another hethen in Turkye;
GP 67 And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
GP 68 And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
GP 69 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
GP 70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
GP 71 In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
GP 72 He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
GP 73 But for to tellen yow of his array,
GP 74 His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
GP 75 Of fustian he wered a gypon
GP 76 Al bismotered with his habergeon,
GP 77 For he was late ycome from his viage,
GP 78 And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
GP 79 With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER,
GP 80 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,
GP 81 With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse.
GP 82 Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
GP 83 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
GP 84 And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe.
GP 85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
GP 86 In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
GP 87 And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
GP 88 In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
GP 89 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
GP 90 Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
GP 91 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;
GP 92 He was as fressh as is the month of May.
GP 93 Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
GP 94 Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
GP 95 He koude songes make and wel endite,
GP 96 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write.
GP 97 So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
GP 98 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
GP 99 Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,
GP 100 And carf biforn his fader at the table.
GP 101 A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo
GP 102 At that tyme, for hym liste ride so,
GP 103 And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
GP 104 A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
GP 105 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily
GP 106 (Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly;
GP 107 His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
GP 108 And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
GP 109 A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
GP 110 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage.
GP 111 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,
GP 112 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
GP 113 And on that oother syde a gay daggere
GP 114 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere;
GP 115 A Cristopher on his brest of silver sheene.
GP 116 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene;
GP 117 A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
GP 118 Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE,
GP 119 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;
GP 120 Hire gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy;
GP 121 And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
GP 122 Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
GP 123 Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
GP 124 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
GP 125 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
GP 126 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
GP 127 At mete wel ytaught was she with alle;
GP 128 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
GP 129 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
GP 130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
GP 131 That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
GP 132 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.
GP 133 Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene
GP 134 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
GP 135 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
GP 136 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.
GP 137 And sikerly she was of greet desport,
GP 138 And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,
GP 139 And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
GP 140 Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,
GP 141 And to ben holden digne of reverence.
GP 142 But for to speken of hire conscience,
GP 143 She was so charitable and so pitous
GP 144 She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
GP 145 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
GP 146 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
GP 147 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
GP 148 But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
GP 149 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
GP 150 And al was conscience and tendre herte.
GP 151 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,
GP 152 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
GP 153 Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed.
GP 154 But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
GP 155 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
GP 156 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
GP 157 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
GP 158 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
GP 159 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
GP 160 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
GP 161 On which ther was first write a crowned A,
GP 162 And after Amor vincit omnia.
GP 163 Another NONNE with hire hadde she,
GP 164 That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
GP 165 A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie,
GP 166 An outridere, that lovede venerie,
GP 167 A manly man, to been an abbot able.
GP 168 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable,
GP 169 And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
GP 170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere
GP 171 And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle
GP 172 Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle.
GP 173 The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit --
GP 174 By cause that it was old and somdel streit
GP 175 This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace,
GP 176 And heeld after the newe world the space.
GP 177 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
GP 178 That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
GP 179 Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
GP 180 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees --
GP 181 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
GP 182 But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
GP 183 And I seyde his opinion was good.
GP 184 What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,
GP 185 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
GP 186 Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
GP 187 As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?
GP 188 Lat Austyn have his swynk to hym reserved!
GP 189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
GP 190 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
GP 191 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
GP 192 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
GP 193 I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
GP 194 With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
GP 195 And for to festne his hood under his chyn,
GP 196 He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn;
GP 197 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
GP 198 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
GP 199 And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt.
GP 200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;
GP 201 His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,
GP 202 That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
GP 203 His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
GP 204 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;
GP 205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
GP 206 A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
GP 207 His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
GP 208 A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
GP 209 A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
GP 210 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
GP 211 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
GP 212 He hadde maad ful many a mariage
GP 213 Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
GP 214 Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
GP 215 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
GP 216 With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
GP 217 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
GP 218 For he hadde power of confessioun,
GP 219 As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
GP 220 For of his ordre he was licenciat.
GP 221 Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
GP 222 And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
GP 223 He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
GP 224 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
GP 225 For unto a povre ordre for to yive
GP 226 Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;
GP 227 For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
GP 228 He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
GP 229 For many a man so hard is of his herte,
GP 230 He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.
GP 231 Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
GP 232 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
GP 233 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
GP 234 And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
GP 235 And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
GP 236 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;
GP 237 Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
GP 238 His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;
GP 239 Therto he strong was as a champioun.
GP 240 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
GP 241 And everich hostiler and tappestere
GP 242 Bet than a lazar or a beggestere,
GP 243 For unto swich a worthy man as he
GP 244 Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
GP 245 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
GP 246 It is nat honest; it may nat avaunce,
GP 247 For to deelen with no swich poraille,
GP 248 But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
GP 249 And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
GP 250 Curteis he was and lowely of servyse;
GP 251 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
GP 252 He was the beste beggere in his hous;
GP 252a [And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt;
GP 252b Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;]
GP 253 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
GP 254 So plesaunt was his " In principio, "
GP 255 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente.
GP 256 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
GP 257 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
GP 258 In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
GP 259 For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
GP 260 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
GP 261 But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
GP 262 Of double worstede was his semycope,
GP 263 That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
GP 264 Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
GP 265 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
GP 266 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
GP 267 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
GP 268 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
GP 269 This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
GP 270 A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd,
GP 271 In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
GP 272 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,
GP 273 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
GP 274 His resons he spak ful solempnely,
GP 275 Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng.
GP 276 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng
GP 277 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
GP 278 Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
GP 279 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
GP 280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
GP 281 So estatly was he of his governaunce
GP 282 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
GP 283 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
GP 284 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
GP 285 A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,
GP 286 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
GP 287 As leene was his hors as is a rake,
GP 288 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
GP 289 But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.
GP 290 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy,
GP 291 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
GP 292 Ne was so worldly for to have office.
GP 293 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
GP 294 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
GP 295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie
GP 296 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
GP 297 But al be that he was a philosophre,
GP 298 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
GP 299 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
GP 300 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
GP 301 And bisily gan for the soules preye
GP 302 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
GP 303 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede.
GP 304 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
GP 305 And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
GP 306 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;
GP 307 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
GP 308 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
GP 309 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
GP 310 That often hadde been at the Parvys,
GP 311 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
GP 312 Discreet he was and of greet reverence --
GP 313 He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
GP 314 Justice he was ful often in assise,
GP 315 By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
GP 316 For his science and for his heigh renoun,
GP 317 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
GP 318 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
GP 319 Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
GP 320 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
GP 321 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
GP 322 And yet he semed bisier than he was.
GP 323 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
GP 324 That from the tyme of kyng William were falle.
GP 325 Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
GP 326 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
GP 327 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
GP 328 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
GP 329 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
GP 330 Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
GP 331 A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye.
GP 332 Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
GP 333 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
GP 334 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn;
GP 335 To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
GP 336 For he was Epicurus owene sone,
GP 337 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
GP 338 Was verray felicitee parfit.
GP 339 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
GP 340 Seint Julian he was in his contree.
GP 341 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
GP 342 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
GP 343 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
GP 344 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous
GP 345 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke;
GP 346 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke,
GP 347 After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
GP 348 So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
GP 349 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
GP 350 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
GP 351 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
GP 352 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere.
GP 353 His table dormant in his halle alway
GP 354 Stood redy covered al the longe day.
GP 355 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
GP 356 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
GP 357 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk
GP 358 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
GP 359 A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour.
GP 360 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.
GP 361 AN HABERDASSHERE and a CARPENTER,
GP 362 A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER --
GP 363 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
GP 364 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
GP 365 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
GP 366 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras
GP 367 But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
GP 368 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
GP 369 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
GP 370 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
GP 371 Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
GP 372 Was shaply for to been an alderman.
GP 373 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
GP 374 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
GP 375 And elles certeyn were they to blame.
GP 376 It is ful fair to been ycleped " madame, "
GP 377 And goon to vigilies al bifore,
GP 378 And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
GP 379 A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones
GP 380 To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
GP 381 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
GP 382 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.
GP 383 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
GP 384 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
GP 385 But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
GP 386 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
GP 387 For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
GP 388 A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
GP 389 For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
GP 390 He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe,
GP 391 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
GP 392 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
GP 393 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
GP 394 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
GP 395 And certeinly he was a good felawe.
GP 396 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
GP 397 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep.
GP 398 Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
GP 399 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
GP 400 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
GP 401 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
GP 402 His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
GP 403 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
GP 404 Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
GP 405 Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
GP 406 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
GP 407 He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
GP 408 Fro Gootlond to the cape of Fynystere,
GP 409 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
GP 410 His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne.
GP 411 With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK;
GP 412 In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
GP 413 To speke of phisik and of surgerye,
GP 414 For he was grounded in astronomye.
GP 415 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
GP 416 In houres by his magyk natureel.
GP 417 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
GP 418 Of his ymages for his pacient.
GP 419 He knew the cause of everich maladye,
GP 420 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
GP 421 And where they engendred, and of what humour.
GP 422 He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
GP 423 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote,
GP 424 Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.
GP 425 Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
GP 426 To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,
GP 427 For ech of hem made oother for to wynne --
GP 428 Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
GP 429 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
GP 430 And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,
GP 431 Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,
GP 432 Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
GP 433 Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
GP 434 Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
GP 435 Of his diete mesurable was he,
GP 436 For it was of no superfluitee,
GP 437 But of greet norissyng and digestible.
GP 438 His studie was but litel on the Bible.
GP 439 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
GP 440 Lyned with taffata and with sendal.
GP 441 And yet he was but esy of dispence;
GP 442 He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
GP 443 For gold in phisik is a cordial,
GP 444 Therefore he lovede gold in special.
GP 445 A good WIF was ther OF biside BATHE,
GP 446 But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe.
GP 447 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt
GP 448 She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
GP 449 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
GP 450 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
GP 451 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she
GP 452 That she was out of alle charitee.
GP 453 Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground;
GP 454 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
GP 455 That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed.
GP 456 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
GP 457 Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
GP 458 Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
GP 459 She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
GP 460 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
GP 461 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe --
GP 462 But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
GP 463 And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
GP 464 She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
GP 465 At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
GP 466 In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.
GP 467 She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
GP 468 Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
GP 469 Upon an amblere esily she sat,
GP 470 Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
GP 471 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
GP 472 A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
GP 473 And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
GP 474 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
GP 475 Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
GP 476 For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
GP 477 A good man was ther of religioun,
GP 478 And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN,
GP 479 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
GP 480 He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
GP 481 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
GP 482 His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
GP 483 Benygne he was, and wonder diligent,
GP 484 And in adversitee ful pacient,
GP 485 And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
GP 486 Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
GP 487 But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
GP 488 Unto his povre parisshens aboute
GP 489 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
GP 490 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
GP 491 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
GP 492 But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
GP 493 In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
GP 494 The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite,
GP 495 Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
GP 496 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
GP 497 That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
GP 498 Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
GP 499 And this figure he added eek therto,
GP 500 That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
GP 501 For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
GP 502 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
GP 503 And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
GP 504 A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
GP 505 Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
GP 506 By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
GP 507 He sette nat his benefice to hyre
GP 508 And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
GP 509 And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
GP 510 To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
GP 511 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
GP 512 But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
GP 513 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
GP 514 He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
GP 515 And though he hooly were and vertuous,
GP 516 He was to synful men nat despitous,
GP 517 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
GP 518 But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
GP 519 To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
GP 520 By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
GP 521 But it were any persone obstinat,
GP 522 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
GP 523 Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
GP 524 A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
GP 525 He waited after no pompe and reverence,
GP 526 Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
GP 527 But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
GP 528 He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve.
GP 529 With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,
GP 530 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
GP 531 A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
GP 532 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
GP 533 God loved he best with al his hoole herte
GP 534 At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
GP 535 And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
GP 536 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
GP 537 For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
GP 538 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
GP 539 His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
GP 540 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
GP 541 In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
GP 542 Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE,
GP 543 A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER also,
GP 544 A MAUNCIPLE, and myself -- ther were namo.
GP 545 The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
GP 546 Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
GP 547 That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
GP 548 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
GP 549 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
GP 550 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
GP 551 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
GP 552 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
GP 572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good
GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire
GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
GP 603 Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
GP 604 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
GP 605 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
GP 606 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
GP 607 With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
GP 608 He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
GP 609 Ful riche he was astored pryvely.
GP 610 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
GP 611 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
GP 612 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
GP 613 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster:
GP 614 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
GP 615 This Reve sat upon a ful good stot
GP 616 That was al pomely grey and highte Scot.
GP 617 A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
GP 618 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
GP 619 Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
GP 620 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
GP 621 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
GP 622 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
GP 623 A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
GP 624 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
GP 625 For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
GP 626 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
GP 627 With scalled browes blake and piled berd.
GP 628 Of his visage children were aferd.
GP 629 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
GP 630 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
GP 631 Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
GP 632 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
GP 633 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
GP 634 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
GP 635 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
GP 636 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
GP 637 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
GP 638 Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
GP 639 A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
GP 640 That he had lerned out of som decree --
GP 641 No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
GP 642 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
GP 643 Kan clepen " Watte " as wel as kan the pope.
GP 644 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
GP 645 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
GP 646 Ay " Questio quid iuris " wolde he crie.
GP 647 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
GP 648 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
GP 649 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
GP 650 A good felawe to have his concubyn
GP 651 A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
GP 652 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
GP 653 And if he foond owher a good felawe,
GP 654 He wolde techen him to have noon awe
GP 655 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
GP 656 But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
GP 657 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
GP 658 " Purs is the ercedekenes helle, " seyde he.
GP 659 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
GP 660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
GP 661 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith,
GP 662 And also war hym of a Significavit.
GP 663 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
GP 664 The yonge girles of the diocise,
GP 665 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
GP 666 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed,
GP 667 As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
GP 668 A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.
GP 669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
GP 670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
GP 671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
GP 672 Ful loude he soong " Com hider, love, to me! "
GP 673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
GP 674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
GP 675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
GP 676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
GP 677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
GP 678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
GP 679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
GP 680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
GP 681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
GP 682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
GP 683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
GP 684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
GP 685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
GP 686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
GP 687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
GP 688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
GP 689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
GP 690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
GP 691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
GP 692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware
GP 693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
GP 694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
GP 695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
GP 696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
GP 697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
GP 698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
GP 699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
GP 700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
GP 701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
GP 702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
GP 703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
GP 704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
GP 705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
GP 706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
GP 707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
GP 708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
GP 709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
GP 710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
GP 711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
GP 712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
GP 713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
GP 714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
GP 715 Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause,
GP 716 Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause
GP 717 Why that assembled was this compaignye
GP 718 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye
GP 719 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
GP 720 But now is tyme to yow for to telle
GP 721 How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
GP 722 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght;
GP 723 And after wol I telle of our viage
GP 724 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
GP 725 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
GP 726 That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye,
GP 727 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
GP 728 To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
GP 729 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
GP 730 For this ye knowen al so wel as I:
GP 731 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
GP 732 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
GP 733 Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
GP 734 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large,
GP 735 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
GP 736 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
GP 737 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
GP 738 He moot as wel seye o word as another.
GP 739 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
GP 740 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.
GP 741 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede,
GP 742 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
GP 743 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
GP 744 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
GP 745 Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
GP 746 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
GP 747 Greet chiere made oure Hoost us everichon,
GP 748 And to the soper sette he us anon.
GP 749 He served us with vitaille at the beste;
GP 750 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
GP 751 A semely man OURE HOOSTE was withalle
GP 752 For to been a marchal in an halle.
GP 753 A large man he was with eyen stepe --
GP 754 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe --
GP 755 Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
GP 756 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
GP 757 Eek therto he was right a myrie man;
GP 758 And after soper pleyen he bigan,
GP 759 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
GP 760 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,
GP 761 And seyde thus: " Now, lordynges, trewely,
GP 762 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
GP 763 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
GP 764 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
GP 765 Atones in this herberwe as is now.
GP 766 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
GP 767 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
GP 768 To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
GP 769 " Ye goon to Caunterbury -- God yow speede,
GP 770 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede!
GP 771 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
GP 772 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
GP 773 For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
GP 774 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
GP 775 And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
GP 776 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
GP 777 And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
GP 778 For to stonden at my juggement,
GP 779 And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
GP 780 Tomorwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
GP 781 Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
GP 782 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed!
GP 783 Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche. "
GP 784 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
GP 785 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
GP 786 And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
GP 787 And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
GP 788 " Lordynges, " quod he, " now herkneth for the beste;
GP 789 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
GP 790 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
GP 791 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
GP 792 In this viage shal telle tales tweye
GP 793 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
GP 794 And homward he shal tellen othere two,
GP 795 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
GP 796 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle --
GP 797 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
GP 798 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas --
GP 799 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
GP 800 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
GP 801 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
GP 802 And for to make yow the moore mury,
GP 803 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
GP 804 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
GP 805 And whoso wole my juggement withseye
GP 806 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
GP 807 And if ye vouche sauf that it be so,
GP 808 Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
GP 809 And I wol erly shape me therfore. "
GP 810 This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
GP 811 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
GP 812 That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
GP 813 And that he wolde been oure governour,
GP 814 And of oure tales juge and reportour,
GP 815 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
GP 816 And we wol reuled been at his devys
GP 817 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
GP 818 We been acorded to his juggement.
GP 819 And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
GP 820 We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
GP 821 Withouten any lenger taryynge.
GP 822 Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
GP 823 Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok,
GP 824 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok,
GP 825 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas
GP 826 Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas;
GP 827 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste
GP 828 And seyde, " Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste.
GP 829 Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde.
GP 830 If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
GP 831 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
GP 832 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
GP 833 Whoso be rebel to my juggement
GP 834 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
GP 835 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne;
GP 836 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
GP 837 Sire Knyght, " quod he, " my mayster and my lord,
GP 838 Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
GP 839 Cometh neer, " quod he, " my lady Prioresse.
GP 840 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse,
GP 841 Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man! "
GP 842 Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
GP 843 And shortly for to tellen as it was,
GP 844 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
GP 845 The sothe is this: the cut fil to the Knyght,
GP 846 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght,
GP 847 And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
GP 848 By foreward and by composicioun,
GP 849 As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
GP 850 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
GP 851 As he that wys was and obedient
GP 852 To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
GP 853 He seyde, " Syn I shal bigynne the game,
GP 854 What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
GP 855 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye. "
GP 856 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
GP 857 And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
GP 858 His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere.
KnT 859 Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
KnT 860 Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
KnT 861 Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
KnT 862 And in his tyme swich a conquerour
KnT 863 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
KnT 864 Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
KnT 865 What with his wysdom and his chivalrie,
KnT 866 He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
KnT 867 That whilom was ycleped Scithia,
KnT 868 And weddede the queene Ypolita,
KnT 869 And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree
KnT 870 With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
KnT 871 And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
KnT 872 And thus with victorie and with melodye
KnT 873 Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,
KnT 874 And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
KnT 875 And certes, if it nere to long to heere,
KnT 876 I wolde have toold yow fully the manere
KnT 877 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
KnT 878 By Theseus and by his chivalrye;
KnT 879 And of the grete bataille for the nones
KnT 880 Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones;
KnT 881 And how asseged was Ypolita,
KnT 882 The faire, hardy queene of Scithia;
KnT 883 And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,
KnT 884 And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge;
KnT 885 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
KnT 886 I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
KnT 887 And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
KnT 888 The remenant of the tale is long ynough.
KnT 889 I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
KnT 890 Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute,
KnT 891 And lat se now who shal the soper wynne;
KnT 892 And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne.
KnT 893 This duc, of whom I make mencioun,
KnT 894 Whan he was come almoost unto the toun,
KnT 895 In al his wele and in his mooste pride,
KnT 896 He was war, as he caste his eye aside,
KnT 897 Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye
KnT 898 A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,
KnT 899 Ech after oother clad in clothes blake;
KnT 900 But swich a cry and swich a wo they make
KnT 901 That in this world nys creature lyvynge
KnT 902 That herde swich another waymentynge;
KnT 903 And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten
KnT 904 Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
KnT 905 " What folk been ye, that at myn hom-comynge
KnT 906 Perturben so my feste with criynge? "
KnT 907 Quod Theseus. " Have ye so greet envye
KnT 908 Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye?
KnT 909 Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
KnT 910 And telleth me if it may been amended,
KnT 911 And why that ye been clothed thus in blak. "
KnT 912 The eldeste lady of hem alle spak,
KnT 913 Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere,
KnT 914 That it was routhe for to seen and heere;
KnT 915 She seyde, " Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven
KnT 916 Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven,
KnT 917 Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour,
KnT 918 But we biseken mercy and socour.
KnT 919 Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse!
KnT 920 Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse,
KnT 921 Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle,
KnT 922 For, certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle
KnT 923 That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.
KnT 924 Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
KnT 925 Thanked be Fortune and hire false wheel,
KnT 926 That noon estaat assureth to be weel.
KnT 927 And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence,
KnT 928 Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence
KnT 929 We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
KnT 930 Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy myght.
KnT 931 " I, wrecche, which that wepe and wayle thus,
KnT 932 Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus,
KnT 933 That starf at Thebes -- cursed be that day! --
KnT 934 And alle we that been in this array
KnT 935 And maken al this lamentacioun,
KnT 936 We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun,
KnT 937 Whil that the seege theraboute lay.
KnT 938 And yet now the olde Creon -- weylaway! --
KnT 939 That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
KnT 940 Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,
KnT 941 He, for despit and for his tirannye,
KnT 942 To do the dede bodyes vileynye
KnT 943 Of alle oure lordes whiche that been yslawe,
KnT 944 Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe,
KnT 945 And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,
KnT 946 Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent,
KnT 947 But maketh houndes ete hem in despit. "
KnT 948 And with that word, withouten moore respit,
KnT 949 They fillen gruf and criden pitously,
KnT 950 " Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy,
KnT 951 And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte. "
KnT 952 This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
KnT 953 With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
KnT 954 Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
KnT 955 Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat,
KnT 956 That whilom weren of so greet estaat;
KnT 957 And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
KnT 958 And hem conforteth in ful good entente,
KnT 959 And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
KnT 960 He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght
KnT 961 Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke
KnT 962 That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
KnT 963 How Creon was of Theseus yserved
KnT 964 As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
KnT 965 And right anoon, withouten moore abood,
KnT 966 His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
KnT 967 To Thebes-ward, and al his hoost biside.
KnT 968 No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
KnT 969 Ne take his ese fully half a day,
KnT 970 But onward on his wey that nyght he lay,
KnT 971 And sente anon Ypolita the queene,
KnT 972 And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
KnT 973 Unto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle,
KnT 974 And forth he rit; ther is namoore to telle.
KnT 975 The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe,
KnT 976 So shyneth in his white baner large
KnT 977 That alle the feeldes glyteren up and doun;
KnT 978 And by his baner born is his penoun
KnT 979 Of gold ful riche, in which ther was ybete
KnT 980 The Mynotaur, which that he wan in Crete.
KnT 981 Thus rit this duc, thus rit this conquerour,
KnT 982 And in his hoost of chivalrie the flour,
KnT 983 Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte
KnT 984 Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte to fighte.
KnT 985 But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
KnT 986 With Creon, which that was of Thebes kyng,
KnT 987 He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght
KnT 988 In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght;
KnT 989 And by assaut he wan the citee after,
KnT 990 And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter;
KnT 991 And to the ladyes he restored agayn
KnT 992 The bones of hir freendes that were slayn,
KnT 993 To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
KnT 994 But it were al to longe for to devyse
KnT 995 The grete clamour and the waymentynge
KnT 996 That the ladyes made at the brennynge
KnT 997 Of the bodies, and the grete honour
KnT 998 That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
KnT 999 Dooth to the ladyes, whan they from hym wente;
KnT 1000 But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
KnT 1001 Whan that this worthy duc, this Theseus,
KnT 1002 Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus,
KnT 1003 Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,
KnT 1004 And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
KnT 1005 To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede,
KnT 1006 Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
KnT 1007 The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
KnT 1008 After the bataille and disconfiture.
KnT 1009 And so bifel that in the taas they founde,
KnT 1010 Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,
KnT 1011 Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
KnT 1012 Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
KnT 1013 Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon,
KnT 1014 And that oother knyght highte Palamon.
KnT 1015 Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were,
KnT 1016 But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere
KnT 1017 The heraudes knewe hem best in special
KnT 1018 As they that weren of the blood roial
KnT 1019 Of Thebes, and of sustren two yborn.
KnT 1020 Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn,
KnT 1021 And han hem caried softe unto the tente
KnT 1022 Of Theseus; and he ful soone hem sente
KnT 1023 To Atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun
KnT 1024 Perpetuelly -- he nolde no raunsoun.
KnT 1025 And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon,
KnT 1026 He took his hoost, and hoom he rit anon
KnT 1027 With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
KnT 1028 And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour
KnT 1029 Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1030 And in a tour, in angwissh and in wo,
KnT 1031 This Palamon and his felawe Arcite
KnT 1032 For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.
KnT 1033 This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
KnT 1034 Till it fil ones, in a morwe of May,
KnT 1035 That Emelye, that fairer was to sene
KnT 1036 Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene,
KnT 1037 And fressher than the May with floures newe --
KnT 1038 For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
KnT 1039 I noot which was the fyner of hem two --
KnT 1040 Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,
KnT 1041 She was arisen and al redy dight,
KnT 1042 For May wole have no slogardie anyght.
KnT 1043 The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
KnT 1044 And maketh it out of his slep to sterte,
KnT 1045 And seith " Arys, and do thyn observaunce. "
KnT 1046 This maked Emelye have remembraunce
KnT 1047 To doon honour to May, and for to ryse.
KnT 1048 Yclothed was she fressh, for to devyse:
KnT 1049 Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
KnT 1050 Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse.
KnT 1051 And in the gardyn, at the sonne upriste,
KnT 1052 She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
KnT 1053 She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
KnT 1054 To make a subtil gerland for hire hede;
KnT 1055 And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong.
KnT 1056 The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong,
KnT 1057 Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun
KnT 1058 (Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun
KnT 1059 Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal),
KnT 1060 Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal
KnT 1061 Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
KnT 1062 Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge,
KnT 1063 And Palamoun, this woful prisoner,
KnT 1064 As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
KnT 1065 Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
KnT 1066 In which he al the noble citee seigh,
KnT 1067 And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene,
KnT 1068 Ther as this fresshe Emelye the shene
KnT 1069 Was in hire walk, and romed up and doun.
KnT 1070 This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun,
KnT 1071 Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro
KnT 1072 And to hymself compleynynge of his wo.
KnT 1073 That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, " allas! "
KnT 1074 And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
KnT 1075 That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
KnT 1076 Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
KnT 1077 He cast his eye upon Emelya,
KnT 1078 And therwithal he bleynte and cride, " A! "
KnT 1079 As though he stongen were unto the herte.
KnT 1080 And with that cry Arcite anon up sterte
KnT 1081 And seyde, " Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee,
KnT 1082 That art so pale and deedly on to see?
KnT 1083 Why cridestow? Who hath thee doon offence?
KnT 1084 For Goddes love, taak al in pacience
KnT 1085 Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
KnT 1086 Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
KnT 1087 Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
KnT 1088 Of Saturne, by som constellacioun,
KnT 1089 Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn;
KnT 1090 So stood the hevene whan that we were born.
KnT 1091 We moste endure it; this is the short and playn. "
KnT 1092 This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn,
KnT 1093 " Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
KnT 1094 Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun.
KnT 1095 This prison caused me nat for to crye,
KnT 1096 But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye
KnT 1097 Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
KnT 1098 The fairnesse of that lady that I see
KnT 1099 Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
KnT 1100 Is cause of al my criyng and my wo.
KnT 1101 I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
KnT 1102 But Venus is it soothly, as I gesse. "
KnT 1103 And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
KnT 1104 And seyde, " Venus, if it be thy wil
KnT 1105 Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
KnT 1106 Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
KnT 1107 Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
KnT 1108 And if so be my destynee be shapen
KnT 1109 By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
KnT 1110 Of oure lynage have som compassioun,
KnT 1111 That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye. "
KnT 1112 And with that word Arcite gan espye
KnT 1113 Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
KnT 1114 And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
KnT 1115 That, if that Palamon was wounded sore,
KnT 1116 Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or moore.
KnT 1117 And with a sigh he seyde pitously,
KnT 1118 " The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
KnT 1119 Of hire that rometh in the yonder place;
KnT 1120 And but I have hir mercy and hir grace,
KnT 1121 That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
KnT 1122 I nam but deed; ther nis namoore to seye. "
KnT 1123 This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
KnT 1124 Dispitously he looked and answerde,
KnT 1125 " Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley? "
KnT 1126 " Nay, " quod Arcite, " in ernest, by my fey!
KnT 1127 God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye. "
KnT 1128 This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.
KnT 1129 " It nere, " quod he, " to thee no greet honour
KnT 1130 For to be fals, ne for to be traitour
KnT 1131 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother
KnT 1132 Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother,
KnT 1133 That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
KnT 1134 Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
KnT 1135 Neither of us in love to hyndre oother,
KnT 1136 Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother,
KnT 1137 But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
KnT 1138 In every cas, as I shal forthren thee --
KnT 1139 This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
KnT 1140 I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.
KnT 1141 Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute,
KnT 1142 And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
KnT 1143 To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
KnT 1144 And evere shal til that myn herte sterve.
KnT 1145 Nay, certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so.
KnT 1146 I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo
KnT 1147 As to my conseil and my brother sworn
KnT 1148 To forthre me, as I have toold biforn.
KnT 1149 For which thou art ybounden as a knyght
KnT 1150 To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght,
KnT 1151 Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn. "
KnT 1152 This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn:
KnT 1153 " Thow shalt, " quod he, " be rather fals than I;
KnT 1154 And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,
KnT 1155 For paramour I loved hire first er thow.
KnT 1156 What wiltow seyen? Thou woost nat yet now
KnT 1157 Wheither she be a womman or goddesse!
KnT 1158 Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse,
KnT 1159 And myn is love as to a creature;
KnT 1160 For which I tolde thee myn aventure
KnT 1161 As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
KnT 1162 I pose that thow lovedest hire biforn;
KnT 1163 Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
KnT 1164 That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?'
KnT 1165 Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan,
KnT 1166 Than may be yeve to any erthely man;
KnT 1167 And therfore positif lawe and swich decree
KnT 1168 Is broken al day for love in ech degree.
KnT 1169 A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed;
KnT 1170 He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
KnT 1171 Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
KnT 1172 And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
KnT 1173 To stonden in hir grace; namoore shal I;
KnT 1174 For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily,
KnT 1175 That thou and I be dampned to prisoun
KnT 1176 Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
KnT 1177 We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon;
KnT 1178 They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon.
KnT 1179 Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe,
KnT 1180 And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe.
KnT 1181 And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
KnT 1182 Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
KnT 1183 Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shal;
KnT 1184 And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.
KnT 1185 Heere in this prisoun moote we endure,
KnT 1186 And everich of us take his aventure. "
KnT 1187 Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye,
KnT 1188 If that I hadde leyser for to seye;
KnT 1189 But to th' effect. It happed on a day,
KnT 1190 To telle it yow as shortly as I may,
KnT 1191 A worthy duc that highte Perotheus,
KnT 1192 That felawe was unto duc Theseus
KnT 1193 Syn thilke day that they were children lite,
KnT 1194 Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite,
KnT 1195 And for to pleye as he was wont to do;
KnT 1196 For in this world he loved no man so,
KnT 1197 And he loved hym als tendrely agayn.
KnT 1198 So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn,
KnT 1199 That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle,
KnT 1200 His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle --
KnT 1201 But of that storie list me nat to write.
KnT 1202 Duc Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
KnT 1203 And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere,
KnT 1204 And finally at requeste and preyere
KnT 1205 Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun,
KnT 1206 Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun
KnT 1207 Frely to goon wher that hym liste over al,
KnT 1208 In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.
KnT 1209 This was the forward, pleynly for t' endite,
KnT 1210 Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite:
KnT 1211 That if so were that Arcite were yfounde
KnT 1212 Evere in his lif, by day or nyght, oo stounde
KnT 1213 In any contree of this Theseus,
KnT 1214 And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
KnT 1215 That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
KnT 1216 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;
KnT 1217 But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde.
KnT 1218 Lat hym be war! His nekke lith to wedde.
KnT 1219 How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite!
KnT 1220 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte;
KnT 1221 He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously;
KnT 1222 To sleen hymself he waiteth prively.
KnT 1223 He seyde, " Allas that day that I was born!
KnT 1224 Now is my prisoun worse than biforn;
KnT 1225 Now is me shape eternally to dwelle
KnT 1226 Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
KnT 1227 Allas, that evere knew I Perotheus!
KnT 1228 For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus,
KnT 1229 Yfetered in his prisoun everemo.
KnT 1230 Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo.
KnT 1231 Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve,
KnT 1232 Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve,
KnT 1233 Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
KnT 1234 O deere cosyn Palamon, " quod he,
KnT 1235 " Thyn is the victorie of this aventure.
KnT 1236 Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure --
KnT 1237 In prison? Certes nay, but in paradys!
KnT 1238 Wel hath Fortune yturned thee the dys,
KnT 1239 That hast the sighte of hire, and I th' absence.
KnT 1240 For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence,
KnT 1241 And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
KnT 1242 That by som cas, syn Fortune is chaungeable,
KnT 1243 Thow maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne.
KnT 1244 But I, that am exiled and bareyne
KnT 1245 Of alle grace, and in so greet dispeir
KnT 1246 That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir,
KnT 1247 Ne creature that of hem maked is,
KnT 1248 That may me helpe or doon confort in this,
KnT 1249 Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse.
KnT 1250 Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!
KnT 1251 " Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
KnT 1252 On purveiaunce of God, or of Fortune,
KnT 1253 That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
KnT 1254 Wel bettre than they kan hemself devyse?
KnT 1255 Som man desireth for to han richesse,
KnT 1256 That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse;
KnT 1257 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
KnT 1258 That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
KnT 1259 Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
KnT 1260 We witen nat what thing we preyen heere;
KnT 1261 We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
KnT 1262 A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
KnT 1263 But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
KnT 1264 And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
KnT 1265 And certes, in this world so faren we;
KnT 1266 We seken faste after felicitee,
KnT 1267 But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
KnT 1268 Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
KnT 1269 That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
KnT 1270 That if I myghte escapen from prisoun,
KnT 1271 Thanne hadde I been in joye and parfit heele,
KnT 1272 Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
KnT 1273 Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye,
KnT 1274 I nam but deed; ther nys no remedye. "
KnT 1275 Upon that oother syde Palamon,
KnT 1276 Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
KnT 1277 Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
KnT 1278 Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.
KnT 1279 The pure fettres on his shynes grete
KnT 1280 Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete.
KnT 1281 " Allas, " quod he, " Arcita, cosyn myn,
KnT 1282 Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
KnT 1283 Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,
KnT 1284 And of my wo thow yevest litel charge.
KnT 1285 Thou mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
KnT 1286 Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede,
KnT 1287 And make a werre so sharp on this citee
KnT 1288 That by som aventure or some tretee
KnT 1289 Thow mayst have hire to lady and to wyf
KnT 1290 For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.
KnT 1291 For, as by wey of possibilitee,
KnT 1292 Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
KnT 1293 And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage
KnT 1294 Moore than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
KnT 1295 For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve,
KnT 1296 With al the wo that prison may me yive,
KnT 1297 And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also,
KnT 1298 That doubleth al my torment and my wo. "
KnT 1299 Therwith the fyr of jalousie up sterte
KnT 1300 Withinne his brest, and hente him by the herte
KnT 1301 So woodly that he lyk was to biholde
KnT 1302 The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
KnT 1303 Thanne seyde he, " O crueel goddes that governe
KnT 1304 This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
KnT 1305 And writen in the table of atthamaunt
KnT 1306 Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
KnT 1307 What is mankynde moore unto you holde
KnT 1308 Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde?
KnT 1309 For slayn is man right as another beest,
KnT 1310 And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest,
KnT 1311 And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
KnT 1312 And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee.
KnT 1313 " What governance is in this prescience,
KnT 1314 That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
KnT 1315 And yet encresseth this al my penaunce,
KnT 1316 That man is bounden to his observaunce,
KnT 1317 For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
KnT 1318 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.
KnT 1319 And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne;
KnT 1320 But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne,
KnT 1321 Though in this world he have care and wo.
KnT 1322 Withouten doute it may stonden so.
KnT 1323 The answere of this lete I to dyvynys,
KnT 1324 But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne ys.
KnT 1325 Allas, I se a serpent or a theef,
KnT 1326 That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
KnT 1327 Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne.
KnT 1328 But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne,
KnT 1329 And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood,
KnT 1330 That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood
KnT 1331 Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde;
KnT 1332 And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde
KnT 1333 For jalousie and fere of hym Arcite. "
KnT 1334 Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite,
KnT 1335 And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle,
KnT 1336 And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
KnT 1337 The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
KnT 1338 Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
KnT 1339 Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
KnT 1340 I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
KnT 1341 For, shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
KnT 1342 Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
KnT 1343 In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
KnT 1344 And Arcite is exiled upon his heed
KnT 1345 For everemo, as out of that contree,
KnT 1346 Ne nevere mo ne shal his lady see.
KnT 1347 Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
KnT 1348 Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
KnT 1349 That oon may seen his lady day by day,
KnT 1350 But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
KnT 1351 That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
KnT 1352 But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1353 Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
KnT 1354 For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
KnT 1355 Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was,
KnT 1356 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde " Allas! "
KnT 1357 For seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1358 And shortly to concluden al his wo,
KnT 1359 So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature
KnT 1360 That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
KnT 1361 His slep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft,
KnT 1362 That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft;
KnT 1363 His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde,
KnT 1364 His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde,
KnT 1365 And solitarie he was and evere allone,
KnT 1366 And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his mone;
KnT 1367 And if he herde song or instrument,
KnT 1368 Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.
KnT 1369 So feble eek were his spiritz, and so lowe,
KnT 1370 And chaunged so, that no man koude knowe
KnT 1371 His speche nor his voys, though men it herde.
KnT 1372 And in his geere for al the world he ferde
KnT 1373 Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye
KnT 1374 Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye,
KnT 1375 Engendred of humour malencolik
KnT 1376 Biforen, in his celle fantastik.
KnT 1377 And shortly, turned was al up so doun
KnT 1378 Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
KnT 1379 Of hym, this woful lovere daun Arcite.
KnT 1380 What sholde I al day of his wo endite?
KnT 1381 Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
KnT 1382 This crueel torment and this peyne and wo,
KnT 1383 At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
KnT 1384 Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde,
KnT 1385 Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie
KnT 1386 Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie.
KnT 1387 His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
KnT 1388 An hat he werede upon his heris brighte.
KnT 1389 Arrayed was this god, as he took keep,
KnT 1390 As he was whan that Argus took his sleep;
KnT 1391 And seyde hym thus: " To Atthenes shaltou wende,
KnT 1392 Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende. "
KnT 1393 And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.
KnT 1394 " Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte, "
KnT 1395 Quod he, " to Atthenes right now wol I fare,
KnT 1396 Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
KnT 1397 To se my lady, that I love and serve.
KnT 1398 In hire presence I recche nat to sterve. "
KnT 1399 And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
KnT 1400 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour,
KnT 1401 And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
KnT 1402 And right anon it ran hym in his mynde,
KnT 1403 That, sith his face was so disfigured
KnT 1404 Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
KnT 1405 He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe,
KnT 1406 Lyve in Atthenes everemoore unknowe,
KnT 1407 And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
KnT 1408 And right anon he chaunged his array,
KnT 1409 And cladde hym as a povre laborer,
KnT 1410 And al allone, save oonly a squier
KnT 1411 That knew his privetee and al his cas,
KnT 1412 Which was disgised povrely as he was,
KnT 1413 To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
KnT 1414 And to the court he wente upon a day,
KnT 1415 And at the gate he profreth his servyse
KnT 1416 To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
KnT 1417 And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
KnT 1418 He fil in office with a chamberleyn
KnT 1419 The which that dwellynge was with Emelye,
KnT 1420 For he was wys and koude soone espye,
KnT 1421 Of every servaunt, which that serveth here.
KnT 1422 Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere,
KnT 1423 For he was yong and myghty for the nones,
KnT 1424 And therto he was long and big of bones
KnT 1425 To doon that any wight kan hym devyse.
KnT 1426 A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
KnT 1427 Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte,
KnT 1428 And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
KnT 1429 But half so wel biloved a man as he
KnT 1430 Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree;
KnT 1431 He was so gentil of condicioun
KnT 1432 That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
KnT 1433 They seyden that it were a charitee
KnT 1434 That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
KnT 1435 And putten hym in worshipful servyse,
KnT 1436 Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
KnT 1437 And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
KnT 1438 Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,
KnT 1439 That Theseus hath taken hym so neer
KnT 1440 That of his chambre he made hym a squier,
KnT 1441 And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
KnT 1442 And eek men broghte hym out of his contree,
KnT 1443 From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely his rente;
KnT 1444 But honestly and slyly he it spente,
KnT 1445 That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
KnT 1446 And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde,
KnT 1447 And bar hym so, in pees and eek in werre,
KnT 1448 Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre.
KnT 1449 And in this blisse lete I now Arcite,
KnT 1450 And speke I wole of Palamon a lite.
KnT 1451 In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
KnT 1452 Thise seven yeer hath seten Palamoun
KnT 1453 Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.
KnT 1454 Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse
KnT 1455 But Palamon, that love destreyneth so
KnT 1456 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo?
KnT 1457 And eek therto he is a prisoner
KnT 1458 Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yer.
KnT 1459 Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely
KnT 1460 His martirdom? For sothe it am nat I;
KnT 1461 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
KnT 1462 It fel that in the seventhe yer, of May
KnT 1463 The thridde nyght (as olde bookes seyn,
KnT 1464 That al this storie tellen moore pleyn),
KnT 1465 Were it by aventure or destynee --
KnT 1466 As, whan a thyng is shapen, it shal be --
KnT 1467 That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun,
KnT 1468 By helpyng of a freend, brak his prisoun
KnT 1469 And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
KnT 1470 For he hadde yeve his gayler drynke so
KnT 1471 Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn,
KnT 1472 With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
KnT 1473 That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake,
KnT 1474 The gayler sleep; he myghte nat awake.
KnT 1475 And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may.
KnT 1476 The nyght was short and faste by the day
KnT 1477 That nedes cost he moot hymselven hyde,
KnT 1478 And til a grove faste ther bisyde
KnT 1479 With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamon.
KnT 1480 For, shortly, this was his opinion:
KnT 1481 That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day,
KnT 1482 And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
KnT 1483 To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
KnT 1484 On Theseus to helpe him to werreye;
KnT 1485 And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif
KnT 1486 Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf.
KnT 1487 This is th' effect and his entente pleyn.
KnT 1488 Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn,
KnT 1489 That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
KnT 1490 Til that Fortune had broght him in the snare.
KnT 1491 The bisy larke, messager of day,
KnT 1492 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
KnT 1493 And firy Phebus riseth up so bright
KnT 1494 That al the orient laugheth of the light,
KnT 1495 And with his stremes dryeth in the greves
KnT 1496 The silver dropes hangynge on the leves.
KnT 1497 And Arcita, that in the court roial
KnT 1498 With Theseus is squier principal,
KnT 1499 Is risen and looketh on the myrie day.
KnT 1500 And for to doon his observaunce to May,
KnT 1501 Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
KnT 1502 He on a courser, startlynge as the fir,
KnT 1503 Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,
KnT 1504 Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
KnT 1505 And to the grove of which that I yow tolde
KnT 1506 By aventure his wey he gan to holde
KnT 1507 To maken hym a gerland of the greves,
KnT 1508 Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leves,
KnT 1509 And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene:
KnT 1510 " May, with alle thy floures and thy grene,
KnT 1511 Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May,
KnT 1512 In hope that I som grene gete may. "
KnT 1513 And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
KnT 1514 Into the grove ful hastily he sterte,
KnT 1515 And in a path he rometh up and doun,
KnT 1516 Ther as by aventure this Palamoun
KnT 1517 Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se,
KnT 1518 For soore afered of his deeth was he.
KnT 1519 No thyng ne knew he that it was Arcite;
KnT 1520 God woot he wolde have trowed it ful lite.
KnT 1521 But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres,
KnT 1522 That " feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres. "
KnT 1523 It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene,
KnT 1524 For al day meeteth men at unset stevene.
KnT 1525 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe,
KnT 1526 That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
KnT 1527 For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
KnT 1528 Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille,
KnT 1529 And songen al the roundel lustily,
KnT 1530 Into a studie he fil sodeynly,
KnT 1531 As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
KnT 1532 Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
KnT 1533 Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
KnT 1534 Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle,
KnT 1535 Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
KnT 1536 Right so kan geery Venus overcaste
KnT 1537 The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
KnT 1538 Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
KnT 1539 Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike.
KnT 1540 Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to sike
KnT 1541 And sette hym doun withouten any moore.
KnT 1542 " Allas, " quod he, " that day that I was bore!
KnT 1543 How longe, Juno, thurgh thy crueltee,
KnT 1544 Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
KnT 1545 Allas, ybroght is to confusioun
KnT 1546 The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun --
KnT 1547 Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man
KnT 1548 That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan,
KnT 1549 And of the citee first was crouned kyng.
KnT 1550 Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng
KnT 1551 By verray ligne, as of the stok roial,
KnT 1552 And now I am so caytyf and so thral,
KnT 1553 That he that is my mortal enemy,
KnT 1554 I serve hym as his squier povrely.
KnT 1555 And yet dooth Juno me wel moore shame,
KnT 1556 For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name;
KnT 1557 But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite,
KnT 1558 Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte.
KnT 1559 Allas, thou felle Mars! Allas, Juno!
KnT 1560 Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo,
KnT 1561 Save oonly me and wrecched Palamoun,
KnT 1562 That Theseus martireth in prisoun.
KnT 1563 And over al this, to sleen me outrely
KnT 1564 Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly
KnT 1565 Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte
KnT 1566 That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
KnT 1567 Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye!
KnT 1568 Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.
KnT 1569 Of al the remenant of myn oother care
KnT 1570 Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare,
KnT 1571 So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce. "
KnT 1572 And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
KnT 1573 A longe tyme, and after he up sterte.
KnT 1574 This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
KnT 1575 He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde,
KnT 1576 For ire he quook; no lenger wolde he byde.
KnT 1577 And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
KnT 1578 As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
KnT 1579 He stirte hym up out of the buskes thikke
KnT 1580 And seide: " Arcite, false traytour wikke,
KnT 1581 Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
KnT 1582 For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
KnT 1583 And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn,
KnT 1584 As I ful ofte have told thee heerbiforn,
KnT 1585 And hast byjaped heere duc Theseus,
KnT 1586 And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus!
KnT 1587 I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
KnT 1588 Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye,
KnT 1589 But I wol love hire oonly and namo;
KnT 1590 For I am Palamon, thy mortal foo.
KnT 1591 And though that I no wepene have in this place,
KnT 1592 But out of prison am astert by grace,
KnT 1593 I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye,
KnT 1594 Or thow ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
KnT 1595 Chees which thou wolt, or thou shalt nat asterte! "
KnT 1596 This Arcite, with ful despitous herte,
KnT 1597 Whan he hym knew, and hadde his tale herd,
KnT 1598 As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd,
KnT 1599 And seyde thus: " By God that sit above,
KnT 1600 Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love,
KnT 1601 And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
KnT 1602 Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
KnT 1603 That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
KnT 1604 For I defye the seurete and the bond
KnT 1605 Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee.
KnT 1606 What! Verray fool, thynk wel that love is free,
KnT 1607 And I wol love hire maugree al thy myght!
KnT 1608 But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght
KnT 1609 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
KnT 1610 Have heer my trouthe; tomorwe I wol nat faille,
KnT 1611 Withoute wityng of any oother wight,
KnT 1612 That heere I wol be founden as a knyght,
KnT 1613 And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee;
KnT 1614 And ches the beste, and leef the worste for me.
KnT 1615 And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
KnT 1616 Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge.
KnT 1617 And if so be that thou my lady wynne,
KnT 1618 And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
KnT 1619 Thow mayst wel have thy lady as for me. "
KnT 1620 This Palamon answerde, " I graunte it thee. "
KnT 1621 And thus they been departed til amorwe,
KnT 1622 Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
KnT 1623 O Cupide, out of alle charitee!
KnT 1624 O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
KnT 1625 Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe
KnT 1626 Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
KnT 1627 Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun.
KnT 1628 Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
KnT 1629 And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
KnT 1630 Ful prively two harneys hath he dight,
KnT 1631 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
KnT 1632 The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne;
KnT 1633 And on his hors, allone as he was born,
KnT 1634 He carieth al the harneys hym biforn.
KnT 1635 And in the grove, at tyme and place yset,
KnT 1636 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
KnT 1637 To chaungen gan the colour in hir face;
KnT 1638 Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
KnT 1639 That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
KnT 1640 Whan hunted is the leon or the bere,
KnT 1641 And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves,
KnT 1642 And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
KnT 1643 And thynketh, " Heere cometh my mortal enemy!
KnT 1644 Withoute faille, he moot be deed, or I,
KnT 1645 For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe,
KnT 1646 Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe. "
KnT 1647 So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
KnT 1648 As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
KnT 1649 Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng,
KnT 1650 But streight, withouten word or rehersyng,
KnT 1651 Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother
KnT 1652 As freendly as he were his owene brother;
KnT 1653 And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
KnT 1654 They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
KnT 1655 Thou myghtest wene that this Palamon
KnT 1656 In his fightyng were a wood leon,
KnT 1657 And as a crueel tigre was Arcite;
KnT 1658 As wilde bores gonne they to smyte,
KnT 1659 That frothen whit as foom for ire wood.
KnT 1660 Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
KnT 1661 And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
KnT 1662 And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle.
KnT 1663 The destinee, ministre general,
KnT 1664 That executeth in the world over al
KnT 1665 The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn,
KnT 1666 So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
KnT 1667 The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
KnT 1668 Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day
KnT 1669 That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
KnT 1670 For certeinly, oure appetites heer,
KnT 1671 Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
KnT 1672 Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
KnT 1673 This mene I now by myghty Theseus,
KnT 1674 That for to hunten is so desirus,
KnT 1675 And namely at the grete hert in May,
KnT 1676 That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
KnT 1677 That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde
KnT 1678 With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.
KnT 1679 For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
KnT 1680 That it is al his joye and appetit
KnT 1681 To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
KnT 1682 For after Mars he serveth now Dyane.
KnT 1683 Cleer was the day, as I have toold er this,
KnT 1684 And Theseus with alle joye and blis,
KnT 1685 With his Ypolita, the faire queene,
KnT 1686 And Emelye, clothed al in grene,
KnT 1687 On huntyng be they riden roially.
KnT 1688 And to the grove that stood ful faste by,
KnT 1689 In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde,
KnT 1690 Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde.
KnT 1691 And to the launde he rideth hym ful right,
KnT 1692 For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
KnT 1693 And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
KnT 1694 This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
KnT 1695 With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
KnT 1696 And whan this duc was come unto the launde,
KnT 1697 Under the sonne he looketh, and anon
KnT 1698 He was war of Arcite and Palamon,
KnT 1699 That foughten breme as it were bores two.
KnT 1700 The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro
KnT 1701 So hidously that with the leeste strook
KnT 1702 It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
KnT 1703 But what they were, no thyng he ne woot.
KnT 1704 This duc his courser with his spores smoot,
KnT 1705 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two,
KnT 1706 And pulled out a swerd and cride, " Hoo!
KnT 1707 Namoore, up peyne of lesynge of youre heed!
KnT 1708 By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed
KnT 1709 That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
KnT 1710 But telleth me what myster men ye been,
KnT 1711 That been so hardy for to fighten heere
KnT 1712 Withouten juge or oother officere,
KnT 1713 As it were in a lystes roially. "
KnT 1714 This Palamon answerde hastily
KnT 1715 And seyde, " Sire, what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1716 We have the deeth disserved bothe two.
KnT 1717 Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
KnT 1718 That been encombred of oure owene lyves;
KnT 1719 And as thou art a rightful lord and juge,
KnT 1720 Ne yif us neither mercy ne refuge,
KnT 1721 But sle me first, for seinte charitee!
KnT 1722 But sle my felawe eek as wel as me;
KnT 1723 Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite,
KnT 1724 This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite,
KnT 1725 That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
KnT 1726 For which he hath deserved to be deed.
KnT 1727 For this is he that cam unto thy gate
KnT 1728 And seyde that he highte Philostrate.
KnT 1729 Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer,
KnT 1730 And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier;
KnT 1731 And this is he that loveth Emelye.
KnT 1732 For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
KnT 1733 I make pleynly my confessioun
KnT 1734 That I am thilke woful Palamoun
KnT 1735 That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly.
KnT 1736 I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
KnT 1737 That loveth so hoote Emelye the brighte
KnT 1738 That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
KnT 1739 Wherfore I axe deeth and my juwise;
KnT 1740 But sle my felawe in the same wise,
KnT 1741 For bothe han we deserved to be slayn. "
KnT 1742 This worthy duc answerde anon agayn,
KnT 1743 And seyde, " This is a short conclusioun.
KnT 1744 Youre owene mouth, by youre confessioun,
KnT 1745 Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde;
KnT 1746 It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
KnT 1747 Ye shal be deed, by myghty Mars the rede! "
KnT 1748 The queene anon, for verray wommanhede,
KnT 1749 Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye,
KnT 1750 And alle the ladyes in the compaignye.
KnT 1751 Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
KnT 1752 That evere swich a chaunce sholde falle,
KnT 1753 For gentil men they were of greet estaat,
KnT 1754 And no thyng but for love was this debaat;
KnT 1755 And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore,
KnT 1756 And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore,
KnT 1757 " Have mercy, Lord, upon us wommen alle! "
KnT 1758 And on hir bare knees adoun they falle
KnT 1759 And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood;
KnT 1760 Til at the laste aslaked was his mood,
KnT 1761 For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
KnT 1762 And though he first for ire quook and sterte,
KnT 1763 He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
KnT 1764 The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
KnT 1765 And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
KnT 1766 Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
KnT 1767 As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
KnT 1768 Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
KnT 1769 And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
KnT 1770 And eek his herte hadde compassioun
KnT 1771 Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon,
KnT 1772 And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon,
KnT 1773 And softe unto hymself he seyde, " Fy
KnT 1774 Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
KnT 1775 But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
KnT 1776 To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
KnT 1777 As wel as to a proud despitous man
KnT 1778 That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
KnT 1779 That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
KnT 1780 That in swich cas kan no divisioun
KnT 1781 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon. "
KnT 1782 And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
KnT 1783 He gan to looken up with eyen lighte
KnT 1784 And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
KnT 1785 " The god of love, a benedicite!
KnT 1786 How myghty and how greet a lord is he!
KnT 1787 Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
KnT 1788 He may be cleped a god for his myracles,
KnT 1789 For he kan maken, at his owene gyse,
KnT 1790 Of everich herte as that hym list divyse.
KnT 1791 Lo heere this Arcite and this Palamoun,
KnT 1792 That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
KnT 1793 And myghte han lyved in Thebes roially,
KnT 1794 And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
KnT 1795 And that hir deth lith in my myght also,
KnT 1796 And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
KnT 1797 Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
KnT 1798 Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?
KnT 1799 Who may been a fool but if he love?
KnT 1800 Bihoold, for Goddes sake that sit above,
KnT 1801 Se how they blede! Be they noght wel arrayed?
KnT 1802 Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, ypayed
KnT 1803 Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
KnT 1804 And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
KnT 1805 That serven love, for aught that may bifalle.
KnT 1806 But this is yet the beste game of alle,
KnT 1807 That she for whom they han this jolitee
KnT 1808 Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.
KnT 1809 She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
KnT 1810 By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare!
KnT 1811 But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
KnT 1812 A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold --
KnT 1813 I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
KnT 1814 For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
KnT 1815 And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne
KnT 1816 And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
KnT 1817 As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
KnT 1818 I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas,
KnT 1819 At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere,
KnT 1820 And eek of Emelye, my suster deere.
KnT 1821 And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere
KnT 1822 That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere,
KnT 1823 Ne make werre upon me nyght ne day,
KnT 1824 But been my freendes in all that ye may.
KnT 1825 I yow foryeve this trespas every deel. "
KnT 1826 And they hym sworen his axyng faire and weel,
KnT 1827 And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
KnT 1828 And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:
KnT 1829 " To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
KnT 1830 Though that she were a queene or a princesse,
KnT 1831 Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees,
KnT 1832 To wedden whan tyme is; but nathelees --
KnT 1833 I speke as for my suster Emelye,
KnT 1834 For whom ye have this strif and jalousye --
KnT 1835 Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
KnT 1836 Atones, though ye fighten everemo,
KnT 1837 That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief,
KnT 1838 He moot go pipen in an yvy leef;
KnT 1839 This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
KnT 1840 Al be ye never so jalouse ne so wrothe.
KnT 1841 And forthy I yow putte in this degree,
KnT 1842 That ech of yow shal have his destynee
KnT 1843 As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse;
KnT 1844 Lo, heere youre ende of that I shal devyse.
KnT 1845 My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun,
KnT 1846 Withouten any repplicacioun --
KnT 1847 If that you liketh, take it for the beste:
KnT 1848 That everich of you shal goon where hym leste
KnT 1849 Frely, withouten raunson or daunger,
KnT 1850 And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner,
KnT 1851 Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
KnT 1852 Armed for lystes up at alle rightes,
KnT 1853 Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
KnT 1854 And this bihote I yow withouten faille,
KnT 1855 Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knyght,
KnT 1856 That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght --
KnT 1857 This is to seyn, that wheither he or thow
KnT 1858 May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
KnT 1859 Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryve,
KnT 1860 Thanne shal I yeve Emelya to wyve
KnT 1861 To whom that Fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
KnT 1862 The lystes shal I maken in this place,
KnT 1863 And God so wisly on my soule rewe
KnT 1864 As I shal evene juge been and trewe.
KnT 1865 Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken,
KnT 1866 That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
KnT 1867 And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd,
KnT 1868 Seyeth youre avys, and holdeth you apayd.
KnT 1869 This is youre ende and youre conclusioun. "
KnT 1870 Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun?
KnT 1871 Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite?
KnT 1872 Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite,
KnT 1873 The joye that is maked in the place
KnT 1874 Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
KnT 1875 But doun on knees wente every maner wight,
KnT 1876 And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght,
KnT 1877 And namely the Thebans often sithe.
KnT 1878 And thus with good hope and with herte blithe
KnT 1879 They taken hir leve, and homward gonne they ride
KnT 1880 To Thebes with his olde walles wyde.
KnT 1881 I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
KnT 1882 If I foryete to tellen the dispence
KnT 1883 Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily
KnT 1884 To maken up the lystes roially,
KnT 1885 That swich a noble theatre as it was
KnT 1886 I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas.
KnT 1887 The circuit a myle was aboute,
KnT 1888 Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute.
KnT 1889 Round was the shap, in manere of compas,
KnT 1890 Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas,
KnT 1891 That whan a man was set on o degree,
KnT 1892 He letted nat his felawe for to see.
KnT 1893 Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,
KnT 1894 Westward right swich another in the opposit.
KnT 1895 And shortly to concluden, swich a place
KnT 1896 Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
KnT 1897 For in the lond ther was no crafty man
KnT 1898 That geometrie or ars-metrike kan,
KnT 1899 Ne portreyour, ne kervere of ymages,
KnT 1900 That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages
KnT 1901 The theatre for to maken and devyse.
KnT 1902 And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise,
KnT 1903 He estward hath, upon the gate above,
KnT 1904 In worshipe of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 1905 Doon make an auter and an oratorie;
KnT 1906 And on the gate westward, in memorie
KnT 1907 Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
KnT 1908 That coste largely of gold a fother.
KnT 1909 And northward, in a touret on the wal,
KnT 1910 Of alabastre whit and reed coral,
KnT 1911 An oratorie, riche for to see,
KnT 1912 In worshipe of Dyane of chastitee,
KnT 1913 Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse.
KnT 1914 But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
KnT 1915 The noble kervyng and the portreitures,
KnT 1916 The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures
KnT 1917 That weren in thise oratories thre.
KnT 1918 First in the temple of Venus maystow se
KnT 1919 Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
KnT 1920 The broken slepes, and the sikes colde,
KnT 1921 The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
KnT 1922 The firy strokes of the desirynge
KnT 1923 That loves servantz in this lyf enduren;
KnT 1924 The othes that hir covenantz assuren;
KnT 1925 Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse,
KnT 1926 Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse,
KnT 1927 Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye,
KnT 1928 Despense, Bisynesse, and Jalousye,
KnT 1929 That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland,
KnT 1930 And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand;
KnT 1931 Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
KnT 1932 Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
KnT 1933 Of love, which that I rekned and rekne shal,
KnT 1934 By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
KnT 1935 And mo than I kan make of mencioun.
KnT 1936 For soothly al the mount of Citheroun,
KnT 1937 Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
KnT 1938 Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
KnT 1939 With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
KnT 1940 Nat was foryeten the porter, Ydelnesse,
KnT 1941 Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
KnT 1942 Ne yet the folye of kyng Salomon,
KnT 1943 Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules --
KnT 1944 Th' enchauntementz of Medea and Circes --
KnT 1945 Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage,
KnT 1946 The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage.
KnT 1947 Thus may ye seen that wysdom ne richesse,
KnT 1948 Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,
KnT 1949 Ne may with Venus holde champartie,
KnT 1950 For as hir list the world than may she gye.
KnT 1951 Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
KnT 1952 Til they for wo ful ofte seyde " allas! "
KnT 1953 Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
KnT 1954 And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
KnT 1955 The statue of Venus, glorious for to se,
KnT 1956 Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
KnT 1957 And fro the navele doun al covered was
KnT 1958 With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
KnT 1959 A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
KnT 1960 And on hir heed, ful semely for to se,
KnT 1961 A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge;
KnT 1962 Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
KnT 1963 Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido;
KnT 1964 Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
KnT 1965 And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
KnT 1966 A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
KnT 1967 Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
KnT 1968 The portreiture that was upon the wal
KnT 1969 Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede?
KnT 1970 Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede,
KnT 1971 Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
KnT 1972 That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
KnT 1973 In thilke colde, frosty regioun
KnT 1974 Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
KnT 1975 First on the wal was peynted a forest,
KnT 1976 In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
KnT 1977 With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,
KnT 1978 Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,
KnT 1979 In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough,
KnT 1980 As though a storm sholde bresten every bough.
KnT 1981 And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
KnT 1982 Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente,
KnT 1983 Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
KnT 1984 Was long and streit, and gastly for to see.
KnT 1985 And therout came a rage and swich a veze
KnT 1986 That it made al the gate for to rese.
KnT 1987 The northren lyght in at the dores shoon,
KnT 1988 For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon,
KnT 1989 Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
KnT 1990 The dore was al of adamant eterne,
KnT 1991 Yclenched overthwart and endelong
KnT 1992 With iren tough; and for to make it strong,
KnT 1993 Every pyler, the temple to sustene,
KnT 1994 Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
KnT 1995 Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng
KnT 1996 Of Felonye, and al the compassyng;
KnT 1997 The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede;
KnT 1998 The pykepurs, and eek the pale Drede;
KnT 1999 The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
KnT 2000 The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
KnT 2001 The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
KnT 2002 The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
KnT 2003 Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.
KnT 2004 Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
KnT 2005 The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther --
KnT 2006 His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer --
KnT 2007 The nayl ydryven in the shode anyght;
KnT 2008 The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright.
KnT 2009 Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce,
KnT 2010 With disconfort and sory contenaunce.
KnT 2011 Yet saugh I Woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
KnT 2012 Armed Compleint, Outhees, and fiers Outrage;
KnT 2013 The careyne in the busk, with throte ycorve;
KnT 2014 A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm ystorve;
KnT 2015 The tiraunt, with the pray by force yraft;
KnT 2016 The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
KnT 2017 Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
KnT 2018 The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;
KnT 2019 The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
KnT 2020 The cook yscalded, for al his longe ladel.
KnT 2021 Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte.
KnT 2022 The cartere overryden with his carte --
KnT 2023 Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
KnT 2024 Ther were also, of Martes divisioun,
KnT 2025 The barbour, and the bocher, and the smyth,
KnT 2026 That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
KnT 2027 And al above, depeynted in a tour,
KnT 2028 Saugh I Conquest, sittynge in greet honour,
KnT 2029 With the sharpe swerd over his heed
KnT 2030 Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.
KnT 2031 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius,
KnT 2032 Of grete Nero, and of Antonius;
KnT 2033 Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
KnT 2034 Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn
KnT 2035 By manasynge of Mars, right by figure;
KnT 2036 So was it shewed in that portreiture,
KnT 2037 As is depeynted in the sterres above
KnT 2038 Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
KnT 2039 Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde;
KnT 2040 I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde.
KnT 2041 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood
KnT 2042 Armed, and looked grym as he were wood;
KnT 2043 And over his heed ther shynen two figures
KnT 2044 Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
KnT 2045 That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus --
KnT 2046 This god of armes was arrayed thus.
KnT 2047 A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
KnT 2048 With eyen rede, and of a man he eet;
KnT 2049 With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie
KnT 2050 In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie.
KnT 2051 Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste,
KnT 2052 As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste,
KnT 2053 To telle yow al the descripsioun.
KnT 2054 Depeynted been the walles up and doun
KnT 2055 Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
KnT 2056 Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
KnT 2057 Whan that Diane agreved was with here,
KnT 2058 Was turned from a womman til a bere,
KnT 2059 And after was she maad the loode-sterre.
KnT 2060 Thus was it peynted; I kan sey yow no ferre.
KnT 2061 Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
KnT 2062 Ther saugh I Dane, yturned til a tree --
KnT 2063 I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
KnT 2064 But Penneus doghter, which that highte Dane.
KnT 2065 Ther saugh I Attheon an hert ymaked,
KnT 2066 For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked;
KnT 2067 I saugh how that his houndes have hym caught
KnT 2068 And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
KnT 2069 Yet peynted was a litel forther moor
KnT 2070 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor,
KnT 2071 And Meleagre, and many another mo,
KnT 2072 For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
KnT 2073 Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
KnT 2074 The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
KnT 2075 This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet,
KnT 2076 With smale houndes al aboute hir feet,
KnT 2077 And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone --
KnT 2078 Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone.
KnT 2079 In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
KnT 2080 With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas.
KnT 2081 Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun
KnT 2082 Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
KnT 2083 A womman travaillynge was hire biforn;
KnT 2084 But for hir child so longe was unborn,
KnT 2085 Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle
KnT 2086 And seyde, " Help, for thou mayst best of alle! "
KnT 2087 Wel koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte;
KnT 2088 With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
KnT 2089 Now been thise lystes maad, and Theseus,
KnT 2090 That at his grete cost arrayed thus
KnT 2091 The temples and the theatre every deel,
KnT 2092 Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.
KnT 2093 But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,
KnT 2094 And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2095 The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
KnT 2096 That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
KnT 2097 The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
KnT 2098 And til Atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
KnT 2099 Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
KnT 2100 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
KnT 2101 And sikerly ther trowed many a man
KnT 2102 That nevere, sithen that the world bigan,
KnT 2103 As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
KnT 2104 As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
KnT 2105 Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
KnT 2106 For every wight that lovede chivalrye
KnT 2107 And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
KnT 2108 Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
KnT 2109 And wel was hym that therto chosen was,
KnT 2110 For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,
KnT 2111 Ye knowen wel that every lusty knyght
KnT 2112 That loveth paramours and hath his myght,
KnT 2113 Were it in Engelond or elleswhere,
KnT 2114 They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there --
KnT 2115 To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
KnT 2116 It were a lusty sighte for to see.
KnT 2117 And right so ferden they with Palamon.
KnT 2118 With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on;
KnT 2119 Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun,
KnT 2120 And in a brestplate and a light gypoun;
KnT 2121 And som wol have a paire plates large;
KnT 2122 And som wol have a Pruce sheeld or a targe;
KnT 2123 Som wol ben armed on his legges weel,
KnT 2124 And have an ax, and som a mace of steel --
KnT 2125 Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.
KnT 2126 Armed were they, as I have yow told,
KnT 2127 Everych after his opinioun.
KnT 2128 Ther maistow seen, comynge with Palamoun,
KnT 2129 Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace.
KnT 2130 Blak was his berd, and manly was his face;
KnT 2131 The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
KnT 2132 They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed,
KnT 2133 And lik a grifphon looked he aboute,
KnT 2134 With kempe heeris on his browes stoute;
KnT 2135 His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
KnT 2136 His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe;
KnT 2137 And as the gyse was in his contree,
KnT 2138 Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he,
KnT 2139 With foure white boles in the trays.
KnT 2140 In stede of cote-armure over his harnays,
KnT 2141 With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold,
KnT 2142 He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak for old.
KnT 2143 His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak;
KnT 2144 As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak;
KnT 2145 A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
KnT 2146 Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
KnT 2147 Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
KnT 2148 Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz,
KnT 2149 Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
KnT 2150 To hunten at the leoun or the deer,
KnT 2151 And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
KnT 2152 Colered of gold, and tourettes fyled rounde.
KnT 2153 An hundred lordes hadde he in his route,
KnT 2154 Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
KnT 2155 With Arcita, in stories as men fynde,
KnT 2156 The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde,
KnT 2157 Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,
KnT 2158 Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
KnT 2159 Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars.
KnT 2160 His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars
KnT 2161 Couched with perles white and rounde and grete;
KnT 2162 His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete;
KnT 2163 A mantelet upon his shulder hangynge,
KnT 2164 Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge;
KnT 2165 His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne,
KnT 2166 And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
KnT 2167 His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
KnT 2168 His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn;
KnT 2169 A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd,
KnT 2170 Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd;
KnT 2171 And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
KnT 2172 Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
KnT 2173 His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge;
KnT 2174 His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
KnT 2175 Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene
KnT 2176 A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
KnT 2177 Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
KnT 2178 An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
KnT 2179 An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
KnT 2180 Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere,
KnT 2181 Ful richely in alle maner thynges.
KnT 2182 For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
KnT 2183 Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
KnT 2184 For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
KnT 2185 Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part
KnT 2186 Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
KnT 2187 And in this wise thise lordes, alle and some,
KnT 2188 Been on the Sonday to the citee come
KnT 2189 Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
KnT 2190 This Theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,
KnT 2191 Whan he had broght hem into his citee,
KnT 2192 And inned hem, everich at his degree,
KnT 2193 He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
KnT 2194 To esen hem and doon hem al honour
KnT 2195 That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
KnT 2196 Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
KnT 2197 The mynstralcye, the service at the feeste,
KnT 2198 The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,
KnT 2199 The riche array of Theseus paleys,
KnT 2200 Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys,
KnT 2201 What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge,
KnT 2202 Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge,
KnT 2203 Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love;
KnT 2204 What haukes sitten on the perche above,
KnT 2205 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun --
KnT 2206 Of al this make I now no mencioun,
KnT 2207 But al th' effect; that thynketh me the beste.
KnT 2208 Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste.
KnT 2209 The Sonday nyght, er day bigan to sprynge,
KnT 2210 Whan Palamon the larke herde synge
KnT 2211 (Although it nere nat day by houres two,
KnT 2212 Yet song the larke) and Palamon right tho
KnT 2213 With hooly herte and with an heigh corage,
KnT 2214 He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage
KnT 2215 Unto the blisful Citherea benigne --
KnT 2216 I mene Venus, honurable and digne.
KnT 2217 And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
KnT 2218 Unto the lystes ther hire temple was,
KnT 2219 And doun he kneleth, and with humble cheere
KnT 2220 And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere:
KnT 2221 " Faireste of faire, O lady myn, Venus,
KnT 2222 Doughter to Jove and spouse of Vulcanus,
KnT 2223 Thow gladere of the mount of Citheron,
KnT 2224 For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon,
KnT 2225 Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte,
KnT 2226 And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
KnT 2227 Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
KnT 2228 Th' effectes ne the tormentz of myn helle;
KnT 2229 Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
KnT 2230 I am so confus that I kan noght seye
KnT 2231 But `Mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele
KnT 2232 My thought and seest what harmes that I feele!'
KnT 2233 Considere al this and rewe upon my soore,
KnT 2234 As wisly as I shal for everemoore,
KnT 2235 Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be,
KnT 2236 And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
KnT 2237 That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe!
KnT 2238 I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe,
KnT 2239 Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
KnT 2240 Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie
KnT 2241 Of pris of armes blowen up and doun;
KnT 2242 But I wolde have fully possessioun
KnT 2243 Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse.
KnT 2244 Fynd thow the manere hou and in what wyse:
KnT 2245 I recche nat but it may bettre be
KnT 2246 To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
KnT 2247 So that I have my lady in myne armes.
KnT 2248 For though so be that Mars is god of armes,
KnT 2249 Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above
KnT 2250 That if yow list, I shal wel have my love.
KnT 2251 Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo,
KnT 2252 And on thyn auter, where I ride or go,
KnT 2253 I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete.
KnT 2254 And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete,
KnT 2255 Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere
KnT 2256 That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
KnT 2257 Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
KnT 2258 Though that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf.
KnT 2259 This is th' effect and ende of my preyere:
KnT 2260 Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere. "
KnT 2261 Whan the orison was doon of Palamon,
KnT 2262 His sacrifice he dide, and that anon,
KnT 2263 Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
KnT 2264 Al telle I noght as now his observaunces;
KnT 2265 But atte laste the statue of Venus shook,
KnT 2266 And made a signe, wherby that he took
KnT 2267 That his preyere accepted was that day.
KnT 2268 For thogh the signe shewed a delay,
KnT 2269 Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone,
KnT 2270 And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.
KnT 2271 The thridde houre inequal that Palamon
KnT 2272 Bigan to Venus temple for to gon,
KnT 2273 Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye
KnT 2274 And to the temple of Dyane gan hye.
KnT 2275 Hir maydens, that she thider with hire ladde,
KnT 2276 Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
KnT 2277 Th' encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
KnT 2278 That to the sacrifice longen shal;
KnT 2279 The hornes fulle of meeth, as was the gyse --
KnT 2280 Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.
KnT 2281 Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
KnT 2282 This Emelye, with herte debonaire,
KnT 2283 Hir body wessh with water of a welle.
KnT 2284 But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
KnT 2285 But it be any thing in general;
KnT 2286 And yet it were a game to heeren al.
KnT 2287 To hym that meneth wel it were no charge;
KnT 2288 But it is good a man been at his large.
KnT 2289 Hir brighte heer was kembd, untressed al;
KnT 2290 A coroune of a grene ook cerial
KnT 2291 Upon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
KnT 2292 Two fyres on the auter gan she beete,
KnT 2293 And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde
KnT 2294 In Stace of Thebes and thise bookes olde.
KnT 2295 Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
KnT 2296 Unto Dyane she spak as ye may heere:
KnT 2297 " O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
KnT 2298 To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
KnT 2299 Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
KnT 2300 Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe
KnT 2301 Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
KnT 2302 As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
KnT 2303 That Attheon aboughte cruelly.
KnT 2304 Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
KnT 2305 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf,
KnT 2306 Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf.
KnT 2307 I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye,
KnT 2308 A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
KnT 2309 And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
KnT 2310 And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe.
KnT 2311 Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
KnT 2312 Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
KnT 2313 For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
KnT 2314 And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
KnT 2315 And eek Arcite, that loveth me so soore,
KnT 2316 This grace I preye thee withoute moore,
KnT 2317 As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
KnT 2318 And fro me turne awey hir hertes so
KnT 2319 That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
KnT 2320 And al hir bisy torment, and hir fir
KnT 2321 Be queynt, or turned in another place.
KnT 2322 And if so be thou wolt nat do me grace,
KnT 2323 Or if my destynee be shapen so
KnT 2324 That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
KnT 2325 As sende me hym that moost desireth me.
KnT 2326 Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
KnT 2327 The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle.
KnT 2328 Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle,
KnT 2329 My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve,
KnT 2330 And whil I lyve, a mayde I wol thee serve. "
KnT 2331 The fires brenne upon the auter cleere,
KnT 2332 Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere.
KnT 2333 But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
KnT 2334 For right anon oon of the fyres queynte
KnT 2335 And quyked agayn, and after that anon
KnT 2336 That oother fyr was queynt and al agon;
KnT 2337 And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
KnT 2338 As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge,
KnT 2339 And at the brondes ende out ran anon
KnT 2340 As it were blody dropes many oon;
KnT 2341 For which so soore agast was Emelye
KnT 2342 That she was wel ny mad and gan to crye,
KnT 2343 For she ne wiste what it signyfied,
KnT 2344 But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried,
KnT 2345 And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
KnT 2346 And therwithal Dyane gan appeere,
KnT 2347 With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse,
KnT 2348 And seyde, " Doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
KnT 2349 Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
KnT 2350 And by eterne word writen and confermed,
KnT 2351 Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
KnT 2352 That han for thee so muchel care and wo,
KnT 2353 But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
KnT 2354 Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
KnT 2355 The fires which that on myn auter brenne
KnT 2356 Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
KnT 2357 Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas. "
KnT 2358 And with that word, the arwes in the caas
KnT 2359 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
KnT 2360 And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge;
KnT 2361 For which this Emelye astoned was,
KnT 2362 And seyde, " What amounteth this, allas?
KnT 2363 I putte me in thy proteccioun,
KnT 2364 Dyane, and in thy disposicioun. "
KnT 2365 And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye.
KnT 2366 This is th' effect; ther is namoore to seye.
KnT 2367 The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this,
KnT 2368 Arcite unto the temple walked is
KnT 2369 Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise,
KnT 2370 With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.
KnT 2371 With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
KnT 2372 Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:
KnT 2373 " O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
KnT 2374 Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde,
KnT 2375 And hast in every regne and every lond
KnT 2376 Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
KnT 2377 And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse,
KnT 2378 Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.
KnT 2379 If so be that my youthe may deserve,
KnT 2380 And that my myght be worthy for to serve
KnT 2381 Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
KnT 2382 Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne.
KnT 2383 For thilke peyne and thilke hoote fir
KnT 2384 In which thow whilom brendest for desir,
KnT 2385 Whan that thow usedest the beautee
KnT 2386 Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free,
KnT 2387 And haddest hire in armes at thy wille --
KnT 2388 Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille,
KnT 2389 Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las
KnT 2390 And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, allas! --
KnT 2391 For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
KnT 2392 Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte.
KnT 2393 I am yong and unkonnynge, as thow woost,
KnT 2394 And, as I trowe, with love offended moost
KnT 2395 That evere was any lyves creature,
KnT 2396 For she that dooth me al this wo endure
KnT 2397 Ne reccheth nevere wher I synke or fleete.
KnT 2398 And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete,
KnT 2399 I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place,
KnT 2400 And wel I woot, withouten help or grace
KnT 2401 Of thee ne may my strengthe noght availle.
KnT 2402 Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille,
KnT 2403 For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee,
KnT 2404 As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me,
KnT 2405 And do that I tomorwe have victorie.
KnT 2406 Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
KnT 2407 Thy sovereyn temple wol I moost honouren
KnT 2408 Of any place, and alwey moost labouren
KnT 2409 In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
KnT 2410 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge
KnT 2411 And alle the armes of my compaignye,
KnT 2412 And everemo, unto that day I dye,
KnT 2413 Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde.
KnT 2414 And eek to this avow I wol me bynde:
KnT 2415 My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun,
KnT 2416 That nevere yet ne felte offensioun
KnT 2417 Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
KnT 2418 And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve.
KnT 2419 Now, lord, have routhe upon my sorwes soore;
KnT 2420 Yif me [victorie]; I aske thee namoore. "
KnT 2421 The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge,
KnT 2422 The rynges on the temple dore that honge,
KnT 2423 And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
KnT 2424 Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste.
KnT 2425 The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte
KnT 2426 That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
KnT 2427 A sweete smel the ground anon up yaf,
KnT 2428 And Arcita anon his hand up haf,
KnT 2429 And moore encens into the fyr he caste,
KnT 2430 With othere rytes mo; and atte laste
KnT 2431 The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge,
KnT 2432 And with that soun he herde a murmurynge
KnT 2433 Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus, " Victorie! "
KnT 2434 For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
KnT 2435 And thus with joye and hope wel to fare
KnT 2436 Arcite anon unto his in is fare,
KnT 2437 As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
KnT 2438 And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne,
KnT 2439 For thilke grauntyng, in the hevene above,
KnT 2440 Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love,
KnT 2441 And Mars, the stierne god armypotente,
KnT 2442 That Juppiter was bisy it to stente,
KnT 2443 Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
KnT 2444 That knew so manye of aventures olde,
KnT 2445 Foond in his olde experience an art
KnT 2446 That he ful soone hath plesed every part.
KnT 2447 As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet avantage;
KnT 2448 In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
KnT 2449 Men may the olde atrenne and noght atrede.
KnT 2450 Saturne anon, to stynten strif and drede,
KnT 2451 Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
KnT 2452 Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde.
KnT 2453 " My deere doghter Venus, " quod Saturne,
KnT 2454 " My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
KnT 2455 Hath moore power than woot any man.
KnT 2456 Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan;
KnT 2457 Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
KnT 2458 Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte,
KnT 2459 The murmure and the cherles rebellyng,
KnT 2460 The groynynge, and the pryvee empoysonyng;
KnT 2461 I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun,
KnT 2462 Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
KnT 2463 Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles,
KnT 2464 The fallynge of the toures and of the walles
KnT 2465 Upon the mynour or the carpenter.
KnT 2466 I slow Sampsoun, shakynge the piler;
KnT 2467 And myne be the maladyes colde,
KnT 2468 The derke tresons, and the castes olde;
KnT 2469 My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
KnT 2470 Now weep namoore; I shal doon diligence
KnT 2471 That Palamon, that is thyn owene knyght,
KnT 2472 Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
KnT 2473 Though Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees
KnT 2474 Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
KnT 2475 Al be ye noght of o compleccioun,
KnT 2476 That causeth al day swich divisioun.
KnT 2477 I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille;
KnT 2478 Weep now namoore; I wol thy lust fulfille. "
KnT 2479 Now wol I stynten of the goddes above,
KnT 2480 Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 2481 And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
KnT 2482 The grete effect, for which that I bygan.
KnT 2483 Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day,
KnT 2484 And eek the lusty seson of that May
KnT 2485 Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce
KnT 2486 That al that Monday justen they and daunce,
KnT 2487 And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
KnT 2488 But by the cause that they sholde ryse
KnT 2489 Eerly, for to seen the grete fight,
KnT 2490 Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght.
KnT 2491 And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
KnT 2492 Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
KnT 2493 Ther was in hostelryes al aboute,
KnT 2494 And to the paleys rood ther many a route
KnT 2495 Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys.
KnT 2496 Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys
KnT 2497 So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
KnT 2498 Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel;
KnT 2499 The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures,
KnT 2500 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures;
KnT 2501 Lordes in parementz on hir courseres,
KnT 2502 Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres
KnT 2503 Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge;
KnT 2504 Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge --
KnT 2505 There as nede is they weren no thyng ydel;
KnT 2506 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
KnT 2507 Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
KnT 2508 With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
KnT 2509 Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
KnT 2510 With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon;
KnT 2511 Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
KnT 2512 That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
KnT 2513 The paleys ful of peple up and doun,
KnT 2514 Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
KnT 2515 Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two.
KnT 2516 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde " it shal be so " ;
KnT 2517 Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
KnT 2518 Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd;
KnT 2519 Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte:
KnT 2520 " He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. "
KnT 2521 Thus was the halle ful of divynynge,
KnT 2522 Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
KnT 2523 The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked
KnT 2524 With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
KnT 2525 Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche
KnT 2526 Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche
KnT 2527 Honured, were into the paleys fet.
KnT 2528 Duc Theseus was at a wyndow set,
KnT 2529 Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
KnT 2530 The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone
KnT 2531 Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
KnT 2532 And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
KnT 2533 An heraud on a scaffold made an " Oo! "
KnT 2534 Til al the noyse of peple was ydo,
KnT 2535 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille,
KnT 2536 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille:
KnT 2537 " The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
KnT 2538 Considered that it were destruccioun
KnT 2539 To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
KnT 2540 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.
KnT 2541 Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye,
KnT 2542 He wol his firste purpos modifye.
KnT 2543 No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf,
KnT 2544 No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf
KnT 2545 Into the lystes sende or thider brynge;
KnT 2546 Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge,
KnT 2547 No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
KnT 2548 Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
KnT 2549 But o cours with a sharpe ygrounde spere;
KnT 2550 Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were.
KnT 2551 And he that is at meschief shal be take
KnT 2552 And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
KnT 2553 That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
KnT 2554 But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
KnT 2555 And if so falle the chieftayn be take
KnT 2556 On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
KnT 2557 No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
KnT 2558 God spede you! Gooth forth and ley on faste!
KnT 2559 With long swerd and with mace fighteth youre fille.
KnT 2560 Gooth now youre wey; this is the lordes wille. "
KnT 2561 The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
KnT 2562 So loude cride they with murie stevene,
KnT 2563 " God save swich a lord, that is so good
KnT 2564 He wilneth no destruccion of blood! "
KnT 2565 Up goon the trompes and the melodye,
KnT 2566 And to the lystes rit the compaignye,
KnT 2567 By ordinance, thurghout the citee large,
KnT 2568 Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
KnT 2569 Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
KnT 2570 Thise two Thebans upon either syde,
KnT 2571 And after rood the queene and Emelye,
KnT 2572 And after that another compaignye
KnT 2573 Of oon and oother, after hir degree.
KnT 2574 And thus they passen thurghout the citee,
KnT 2575 And to the lystes come they by tyme.
KnT 2576 It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme
KnT 2577 Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
KnT 2578 Ypolita the queene, and Emelye,
KnT 2579 And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
KnT 2580 Unto the seetes preesseth al the route.
KnT 2581 And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
KnT 2582 Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
KnT 2583 With baner reed is entred right anon;
KnT 2584 And in that selve moment Palamon
KnT 2585 Is under Venus, estward in the place,
KnT 2586 With baner whyt and hardy chiere and face.
KnT 2587 In al the world, to seken up and doun,
KnT 2588 So evene, withouten variacioun,
KnT 2589 Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye,
KnT 2590 For ther was noon so wys that koude seye
KnT 2591 That any hadde of oother avauntage
KnT 2592 Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
KnT 2593 So evene were they chosen, for to gesse.
KnT 2594 And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
KnT 2595 Whan that hir names rad were everichon,
KnT 2596 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
KnT 2597 Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude:
KnT 2598 " Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude! "
KnT 2599 The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun;
KnT 2600 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
KnT 2601 Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
KnT 2602 In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest;
KnT 2603 In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
KnT 2604 Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde;
KnT 2605 Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke;
KnT 2606 He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
KnT 2607 Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte;
KnT 2608 Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte;
KnT 2609 The helmes they tohewen and toshrede;
KnT 2610 Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede;
KnT 2611 With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
KnT 2612 He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste;
KnT 2613 Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al,
KnT 2614 He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal;
KnT 2615 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun,
KnT 2616 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun;
KnT 2617 He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake,
KnT 2618 Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake;
KnT 2619 As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
KnT 2620 Another lad is on that oother syde.
KnT 2621 And some tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste,
KnT 2622 Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
KnT 2623 Ful ofte a day han thise Thebanes two
KnT 2624 Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo;
KnT 2625 Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
KnT 2626 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
KnT 2627 Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
KnT 2628 So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite
KnT 2629 For jelous herte upon this Palamon.
KnT 2630 Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
KnT 2631 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
KnT 2632 Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
KnT 2633 As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
KnT 2634 The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte;
KnT 2635 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
KnT 2636 Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede.
KnT 2637 For er the sonne unto the reste wente,
KnT 2638 The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente
KnT 2639 This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
KnT 2640 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte,
KnT 2641 And by the force of twenty is he take
KnT 2642 Unyolden, and ydrawen to the stake.
KnT 2643 And in the rescus of this Palamoun
KnT 2644 The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun,
KnT 2645 And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe,
KnT 2646 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
KnT 2647 So hitte him Palamoun er he were take.
KnT 2648 But al for noght; he was broght to the stake.
KnT 2649 His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught:
KnT 2650 He moste abyde, whan that he was caught,
KnT 2651 By force and eek by composicioun.
KnT 2652 Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
KnT 2653 That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?
KnT 2654 And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
KnT 2655 Unto the folk that foghten thus echon
KnT 2656 He cryde, " Hoo! namoore, for it is doon!
KnT 2657 I wol be trewe juge, and no partie.
KnT 2658 Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelie,
KnT 2659 That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne. "
KnT 2660 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne
KnT 2661 For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle
KnT 2662 It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
KnT 2663 What kan now faire Venus doon above?
KnT 2664 What seith she now? What dooth this queene of love,
KnT 2665 But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille,
KnT 2666 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille?
KnT 2667 She seyde, " I am ashamed, doutelees. "
KnT 2668 Saturnus seyde, " Doghter, hoold thy pees!
KnT 2669 Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone,
KnT 2670 And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone. "
KnT 2671 The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie,
KnT 2672 The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie,
KnT 2673 Been in hire wele for joye of daun Arcite.
KnT 2674 But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
KnT 2675 Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
KnT 2676 This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon,
KnT 2677 And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
KnT 2678 He priketh endelong the large place
KnT 2679 Lokynge upward upon this Emelye;
KnT 2680 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye
KnT 2681 (For wommen, as to speken in comune,
KnT 2682 Thei folwen alle the favour of Fortune)
KnT 2683 And was al his chiere, as in his herte.
KnT 2684 Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
KnT 2685 From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne,
KnT 2686 For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
KnT 2687 And leep aside, and foundred as he leep;
KnT 2688 And er that Arcite may taken keep,
KnT 2689 He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
KnT 2690 That in the place he lay as he were deed,
KnT 2691 His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
KnT 2692 As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
KnT 2693 So was the blood yronnen in his face.
KnT 2694 Anon he was yborn out of the place,
KnT 2695 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys.
KnT 2696 Tho was he korven out of his harneys
KnT 2697 And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve,
KnT 2698 For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
KnT 2699 And alwey criynge after Emelye.
KnT 2700 Duc Theseus, with al his compaignye,
KnT 2701 Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee,
KnT 2702 With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
KnT 2703 Al be it that this aventure was falle,
KnT 2704 He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
KnT 2705 Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye;
KnT 2706 He shal been heeled of his maladye.
KnT 2707 And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
KnT 2708 That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
KnT 2709 Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon,
KnT 2710 That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
KnT 2711 To othere woundes and to broken armes
KnT 2712 Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes;
KnT 2713 Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
KnT 2714 They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
KnT 2715 For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,
KnT 2716 Conforteth and honoureth every man,
KnT 2717 And made revel al the longe nyght
KnT 2718 Unto the straunge lordes, as was right.
KnT 2719 Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
KnT 2720 But as a justes or a tourneiynge;
KnT 2721 For soothly ther was no disconfiture.
KnT 2722 For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
KnT 2723 Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
KnT 2724 Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
KnT 2725 O persone allone, withouten mo,
KnT 2726 And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too,
KnT 2727 And eke his steede dryven forth with staves
KnT 2728 With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves --
KnT 2729 It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
KnT 2730 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.
KnT 2731 For which anon duc Theseus leet crye,
KnT 2732 To stynten alle rancour and envye,
KnT 2733 The gree as wel of o syde as of oother,
KnT 2734 And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother;
KnT 2735 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree,
KnT 2736 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
KnT 2737 And conveyed the kynges worthily
KnT 2738 Out of his toun a journee largely.
KnT 2739 And hoom wente every man the righte way.
KnT 2740 Ther was namoore but " Fare wel, have good day! "
KnT 2741 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
KnT 2742 But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2743 Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
KnT 2744 Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
KnT 2745 The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
KnT 2746 Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft,
KnT 2747 That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge,
KnT 2748 Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge.
KnT 2749 The vertu expulsif, or animal,
KnT 2750 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural
KnT 2751 Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
KnT 2752 The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
KnT 2753 And every lacerte in his brest adoun
KnT 2754 Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
KnT 2755 Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif,
KnT 2756 Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif.
KnT 2757 Al is tobrosten thilke regioun;
KnT 2758 Nature hath now no dominacioun.
KnT 2759 And certeinly, ther Nature wol nat wirche,
KnT 2760 Fare wel phisik! Go ber the man to chirche!
KnT 2761 This al and som, that Arcita moot dye;
KnT 2762 For which he sendeth after Emelye,
KnT 2763 And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
KnT 2764 Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere:
KnT 2765 " Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte
KnT 2766 Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte
KnT 2767 To yow, my lady, that I love moost,
KnT 2768 But I biquethe the servyce of my goost
KnT 2769 To yow aboven every creature,
KnT 2770 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.
KnT 2771 Allas, the wo! Allas, the peynes stronge,
KnT 2772 That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
KnT 2773 Allas, the deeth! Allas, myn Emelye!
KnT 2774 Allas, departynge of oure compaignye!
KnT 2775 Allas, myn hertes queene! Allas, my wyf,
KnT 2776 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
KnT 2777 What is this world? What asketh men to have?
KnT 2778 Now with his love, now in his colde grave
KnT 2779 Allone, withouten any compaignye.
KnT 2780 Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn Emelye!
KnT 2781 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye,
KnT 2782 For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
KnT 2783 " I have heer with my cosyn Palamon
KnT 2784 Had strif and rancour many a day agon
KnT 2785 For love of yow, and for my jalousye.
KnT 2786 And Juppiter so wys my soule gye,
KnT 2787 To speken of a servaunt proprely,
KnT 2788 With alle circumstances trewely --
KnT 2789 That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede,
KnT 2790 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede,
KnT 2791 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art --
KnT 2792 So Juppiter have of my soule part,
KnT 2793 As in this world right now ne knowe I non
KnT 2794 So worthy to ben loved as Palamon,
KnT 2795 That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf.
KnT 2796 And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf,
KnT 2797 Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man. "
KnT 2798 And with that word his speche faille gan,
KnT 2799 For from his feet up to his brest was come
KnT 2800 The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome,
KnT 2801 And yet mooreover, for in his armes two
KnT 2802 The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
KnT 2803 Oonly the intellect, withouten moore,
KnT 2804 That dwelled in his herte syk and soore,
KnT 2805 Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
KnT 2806 Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth,
KnT 2807 But on his lady yet caste he his ye;
KnT 2808 His laste word was, " Mercy, Emelye! "
KnT 2809 His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
KnT 2810 As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
KnT 2811 Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
KnT 2812 Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
KnT 2813 Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
KnT 2814 Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
KnT 2815 Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye!
KnT 2816 Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
KnT 2817 Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
KnT 2818 And Theseus his suster took anon
KnT 2819 Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away.
KnT 2820 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
KnT 2821 To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
KnT 2822 For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
KnT 2823 Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago,
KnT 2824 That for the moore part they sorwen so,
KnT 2825 Or ellis fallen in swich maladye
KnT 2826 That at the laste certeinly they dye.
KnT 2827 Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
KnT 2828 Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeeres
KnT 2829 In al the toun for deeth of this Theban.
KnT 2830 For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
KnT 2831 So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
KnT 2832 Whan Ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn,
KnT 2833 To Troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
KnT 2834 Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer.
KnT 2835 " Why woldestow be deed, " thise wommen crye,
KnT 2836 " And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye? "
KnT 2837 No man myghte gladen Theseus,
KnT 2838 Savynge his olde fader Egeus,
KnT 2839 That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
KnT 2840 As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun,
KnT 2841 Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse,
KnT 2842 And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse.
KnT 2843 " Right as ther dyed nevere man, " quod he,
KnT 2844 " That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree,
KnT 2845 Right so ther lyvede never man, " he seyde,
KnT 2846 " In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
KnT 2847 This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
KnT 2848 And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro.
KnT 2849 Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore. "
KnT 2850 And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore
KnT 2851 To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte
KnT 2852 The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
KnT 2853 Duc Theseus, with al his bisy cure,
KnT 2854 Caste now wher that the sepulture
KnT 2855 Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be,
KnT 2856 And eek moost honurable in his degree.
KnT 2857 And at the laste he took conclusioun
KnT 2858 That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun
KnT 2859 Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
KnT 2860 That in that selve grove, swoote and grene,
KnT 2861 Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires,
KnT 2862 His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires,
KnT 2863 He wolde make a fyr in which the office
KnT 2864 Funeral he myghte al accomplice.
KnT 2865 And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe
KnT 2866 The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
KnT 2867 In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
KnT 2868 His officers with swifte feet they renne
KnT 2869 And ryde anon at his comandement.
KnT 2870 And after this, Theseus hath ysent
KnT 2871 After a beere, and it al overspradde
KnT 2872 With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
KnT 2873 And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite;
KnT 2874 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
KnT 2875 Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene,
KnT 2876 And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
KnT 2877 He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere;
KnT 2878 Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
KnT 2879 And for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
KnT 2880 Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle,
KnT 2881 That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
KnT 2882 Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
KnT 2883 With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres,
KnT 2884 In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres;
KnT 2885 And, passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye,
KnT 2886 The rewefulleste of al the compaignye.
KnT 2887 In as muche as the servyce sholde be
KnT 2888 The moore noble and riche in his degree,
KnT 2889 Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
KnT 2890 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge,
KnT 2891 And covered with the armes of daun Arcite.
KnT 2892 Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white,
KnT 2893 Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
KnT 2894 Another his spere up on his hondes heeld,
KnT 2895 The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys
KnT 2896 (Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys);
KnT 2897 And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere
KnT 2898 Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
KnT 2899 The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
KnT 2900 Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere,
KnT 2901 With slakke paas and eyen rede and wete,
KnT 2902 Thurghout the citee by the maister strete,
KnT 2903 That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
KnT 2904 Right of the same is the strete ywrye.
KnT 2905 Upon the right hond wente olde Egeus,
KnT 2906 And on that oother syde duc Theseus,
KnT 2907 With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
KnT 2908 Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn;
KnT 2909 Eek Palamon, with ful greet compaignye;
KnT 2910 And after that cam woful Emelye,
KnT 2911 With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
KnT 2912 To do the office of funeral servyse.
KnT 2913 Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge
KnT 2914 Was at the service and the fyr-makynge,
KnT 2915 That with his grene top the hevene raughte;
KnT 2916 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte --
KnT 2917 This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode.
KnT 2918 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode.
KnT 2919 But how the fyr was maked upon highte,
KnT 2920 Ne eek the names that the trees highte,
KnT 2921 As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler,
KnT 2922 Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
KnT 2923 Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree --
KnT 2924 How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me;
KnT 2925 Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun,
KnT 2926 Disherited of hire habitacioun,
KnT 2927 In which they woneden in reste and pees,
KnT 2928 Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
KnT 2929 Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
KnT 2930 Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle;
KnT 2931 Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
KnT 2932 That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
KnT 2933 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
KnT 2934 And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre,
KnT 2935 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
KnT 2936 And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye,
KnT 2937 And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour;
KnT 2938 The mirre, th' encens, with al so greet odour;
KnT 2939 Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
KnT 2940 Ne what richesse aboute his body is;
KnT 2941 Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
KnT 2942 Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
KnT 2943 Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
KnT 2944 Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;
KnT 2945 Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste,
KnT 2946 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
KnT 2947 Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
KnT 2948 And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were,
KnT 2949 And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood,
KnT 2950 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood;
KnT 2951 Ne how the Grekes, with an huge route,
KnT 2952 Thries riden al the fyr aboute
KnT 2953 Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
KnT 2954 And thries with hir speres claterynge;
KnT 2955 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;
KnT 2956 And how that lad was homward Emelye;
KnT 2957 Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
KnT 2958 Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde
KnT 2959 Al thilke nyght; ne how the Grekes pleye
KnT 2960 The wake-pleyes; ne kepe I nat to seye
KnT 2961 Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
KnT 2962 Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt.
KnT 2963 I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
KnT 2964 Hoom til Atthenes, whan the pley is doon;
KnT 2965 But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende
KnT 2966 And maken of my longe tale an ende.
KnT 2967 By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
KnT 2968 Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres
KnT 2969 Of Grekes, by oon general assent.
KnT 2970 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement
KnT 2971 At Atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas;
KnT 2972 Among the whiche pointz yspoken was,
KnT 2973 To have with certein contrees alliaunce,
KnT 2974 And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
KnT 2975 For which this noble Theseus anon
KnT 2976 Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
KnT 2977 Unwist of hym what was the cause and why,
KnT 2978 But in his blake clothes sorwefully
KnT 2979 He cam at his comandement in hye.
KnT 2980 Tho sente Theseus for Emelye.
KnT 2981 Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
KnT 2982 And Theseus abiden hadde a space
KnT 2983 Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
KnT 2984 His eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
KnT 2985 And with a sad visage he siked stille,
KnT 2986 And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
KnT 2987 " The Firste Moevere of the cause above,
KnT 2988 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
KnT 2989 Greet was th' effect, and heigh was his entente.
KnT 2990 Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente,
KnT 2991 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
KnT 2992 The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
KnT 2993 In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee.
KnT 2994 That same Prince and that Moevere, " quod he,
KnT 2995 " Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun
KnT 2996 Certeyne dayes and duracioun
KnT 2997 To al that is engendred in this place,
KnT 2998 Over the whiche day they may nat pace,
KnT 2999 Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge.
KnT 3000 Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t' allegge,
KnT 3001 For it is preeved by experience,
KnT 3002 But that me list declaren my sentence.
KnT 3003 Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
KnT 3004 That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne.
KnT 3005 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
KnT 3006 That every part dirryveth from his hool,
KnT 3007 For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
KnT 3008 Of no partie or cantel of a thyng,
KnT 3009 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
KnT 3010 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.
KnT 3011 And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce,
KnT 3012 He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce
KnT 3013 That speces of thynges and progressiouns
KnT 3014 Shullen enduren by successiouns,
KnT 3015 And nat eterne, withouten any lye.
KnT 3016 This maystow understonde and seen at ye.
KnT 3017 " Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge
KnT 3018 From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge,
KnT 3019 And hath so long a lif, as we may see,
KnT 3020 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
KnT 3021 " Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
KnT 3022 Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon,
KnT 3023 Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.
KnT 3024 The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye;
KnT 3025 The grete tounes se we wane and wende.
KnT 3026 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
KnT 3027 " Of man and womman seen we wel also
KnT 3028 That nedes, in oon of thise termes two --
KnT 3029 This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age --
KnT 3030 He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
KnT 3031 Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
KnT 3032 Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
KnT 3033 Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye.
KnT 3034 Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
KnT 3035 " What maketh this but Juppiter, the kyng,
KnT 3036 That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
KnT 3037 Convertynge al unto his propre welle
KnT 3038 From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle?
KnT 3039 And heer-agayns no creature on lyve,
KnT 3040 Of no degree, availleth for to stryve.
KnT 3041 " Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
KnT 3042 To maken vertu of necessitee,
KnT 3043 And take it weel that we may nat eschue,
KnT 3044 And namely that to us alle is due.
KnT 3045 And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye,
KnT 3046 And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
KnT 3047 And certeinly a man hath moost honour
KnT 3048 To dyen in his excellence and flour,
KnT 3049 Whan he is siker of his goode name;
KnT 3050 Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
KnT 3051 And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
KnT 3052 Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
KnT 3053 Than whan his name apalled is for age,
KnT 3054 For al forgeten is his vassellage.
KnT 3055 Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
KnT 3056 To dyen whan that he is best of name.
KnT 3057 " The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
KnT 3058 Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse,
KnT 3059 That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour,
KnT 3060 Departed is with duetee and honour
KnT 3061 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?
KnT 3062 Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
KnT 3063 Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel?
KnT 3064 Kan he hem thank? Nay, God woot, never a deel,
KnT 3065 That both his soule and eek hemself offende,
KnT 3066 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
KnT 3067 " What may I conclude of this longe serye,
KnT 3068 But after wo I rede us to be merye
KnT 3069 And thanken Juppiter of al his grace?
KnT 3070 And er that we departen from this place
KnT 3071 I rede that we make of sorwes two
KnT 3072 O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
KnT 3073 And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne,
KnT 3074 Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
KnT 3075 " Suster, " quod he, " this is my fulle assent,
KnT 3076 With al th' avys heere of my parlement,
KnT 3077 That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght,
KnT 3078 That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
KnT 3079 And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,
KnT 3080 That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe,
KnT 3081 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
KnT 3082 Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
KnT 3083 Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
KnT 3084 He is a kynges brother sone, pardee;
KnT 3085 And though he were a povre bacheler,
KnT 3086 Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
KnT 3087 And had for yow so greet adversitee,
KnT 3088 It moste been considered, leeveth me,
KnT 3089 For gentil mercy oghte to passen right. "
KnT 3090 Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knight:
KnT 3091 " I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
KnT 3092 To make yow assente to this thyng.
KnT 3093 Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond. "
KnT 3094 Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
KnT 3095 That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
KnT 3096 By al the conseil and the baronage.
KnT 3097 And thus with alle blisse and melodye
KnT 3098 Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
KnT 3099 And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
KnT 3100 Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght;
KnT 3101 For now is Palamon in alle wele,
KnT 3102 Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
KnT 3103 And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
KnT 3104 And he hire serveth so gentilly,
KnT 3105 That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene
KnT 3106 Of jalousie or any oother teene.
KnT 3107 Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye;
KnT 3108 And God save al this faire compaignye! Amen.
MilT 3109 Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold,
MilT 3110 In al the route nas ther yong ne oold
MilT 3111 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie
MilT 3112 And worthy for to drawen to memorie,
MilT 3113 And namely the gentils everichon.
MilT 3114 Oure Hooste lough and swoor, " So moot I gon,
MilT 3115 This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male.
MilT 3116 Lat se now who shal telle another tale;
MilT 3117 For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
MilT 3118 Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye konne,
MilT 3119 Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3120 The Millere, that for dronken was al pale,
MilT 3121 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,
MilT 3122 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
MilT 3123 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,
MilT 3124 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,
MilT 3125 And swoor, " By armes, and by blood and bones,
MilT 3126 I kan a noble tale for the nones,
MilT 3127 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3128 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,
MilT 3129 And seyde, " Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother;
MilT 3130 Som bettre man shal telle us first another.
MilT 3131 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily. "
MilT 3132 " By Goddes soule, " quod he, " that wol nat I;
MilT 3133 For I wol speke or elles go my wey. "
MilT 3134 Oure Hoost answerde, " Tel on, a devel wey!
MilT 3135 Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome. "
MilT 3136 " Now herkneth, " quod the Millere, " alle and some!
MilT 3137 But first I make a protestacioun
MilT 3138 That I am dronke; I knowe it by my soun.
MilT 3139 And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye,
MilT 3140 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye.
MilT 3141 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
MilT 3142 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
MilT 3143 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe. "
MilT 3144 The Reve answerde and seyde, " Stynt thy clappe!
MilT 3145 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye.
MilT 3146 It is a synne and eek a greet folye
MilT 3147 To apeyren any man, or hym defame,
MilT 3148 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame.
MilT 3149 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn. "
MilT 3150 This dronke Millere spak ful soone ageyn
MilT 3151 And seyde, " Leve brother Osewold,
MilT 3152 Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
MilT 3153 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon;
MilT 3154 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,
MilT 3155 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde.
MilT 3156 That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.
MilT 3157 Why artow angry with my tale now?
MilT 3158 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow;
MilT 3159 Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh,
MilT 3160 Take upon me moore than ynogh,
MilT 3161 As demen of myself that I were oon;
MilT 3162 I wol bileve wel that I am noon.
MilT 3163 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf
MilT 3164 Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.
MilT 3165 So he may fynde Goddes foyson there,
MilT 3166 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere. "
MilT 3167 What sholde I moore seyn, but this Millere
MilT 3168 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
MilT 3169 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere.
MilT 3170 M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere.
MilT 3171 And therfore every gentil wight I preye,
MilT 3172 For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
MilT 3173 Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce
MilT 3174 Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
MilT 3175 Or elles falsen som of my mateere.
MilT 3176 And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere,
MilT 3177 Turne over the leef and chese another tale;
MilT 3178 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
MilT 3179 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,
MilT 3180 And eek moralitee and hoolynesse.
MilT 3181 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys.
MilT 3182 The Millere is a cherl; ye knowe wel this.
MilT 3183 So was the Reve eek and othere mo,
MilT 3184 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.
MilT 3185 Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame;
MilT 3186 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.
MilT 3187 Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford
MilT 3188 A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
MilT 3189 And of his craft he was a carpenter.
MilT 3190 With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
MilT 3191 Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye
MilT 3192 Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
MilT 3193 And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,
MilT 3194 To demen by interrogaciouns,
MilT 3195 If that men asked hym, in certein houres
MilT 3196 Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,
MilT 3197 Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle
MilT 3198 Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.
MilT 3199 This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.
MilT 3200 Of deerne love he koude and of solas;
MilT 3201 And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,
MilT 3202 And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
MilT 3203 A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
MilT 3204 Allone, withouten any compaignye,
MilT 3205 Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;
MilT 3206 And he hymself as sweete as is the roote
MilT 3207 Of lycorys or any cetewale.
MilT 3208 His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale,
MilT 3209 His astrelabie, longynge for his art,
MilT 3210 His augrym stones layen faire apart,
MilT 3211 On shelves couched at his beddes heed;
MilT 3212 His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;
MilT 3213 And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,
MilT 3214 On which he made a-nyghtes melodie
MilT 3215 So swetely that all the chambre rong;
MilT 3216 And Angelus ad virginem he song;
MilT 3217 And after that he song the Kynges Noote.
MilT 3218 Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.
MilT 3219 And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente
MilT 3220 After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.
MilT 3221 This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,
MilT 3222 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;
MilT 3223 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.
MilT 3224 Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,
MilT 3225 For she was wylde and yong, and he was old
MilT 3226 And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.
MilT 3227 He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,
MilT 3228 That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.
MilT 3229 Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,
MilT 3230 For youthe and elde is often at debaat.
MilT 3231 But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
MilT 3232 He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.
MilT 3233 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
MilT 3234 As any wezele hir body gent and smal.
MilT 3235 A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,
MilT 3236 A barmclooth as whit as morne milk
MilT 3237 Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.
MilT 3238 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore
MilT 3239 And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
MilT 3240 Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.
MilT 3241 The tapes of hir white voluper
MilT 3242 Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
MilT 3243 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.
MilT 3244 And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;
MilT 3245 Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,
MilT 3246 And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.
MilT 3247 She was ful moore blisful on to see
MilT 3248 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,
MilT 3249 And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
MilT 3250 And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,
MilT 3251 Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.
MilT 3252 In al this world, to seken up and doun,
MilT 3253 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche
MilT 3254 So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
MilT 3255 Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
MilT 3256 Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.
MilT 3257 But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
MilT 3258 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.
MilT 3259 Therto she koude skippe and make game,
MilT 3260 As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.
MilT 3261 Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
MilT 3262 Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
MilT 3263 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,
MilT 3264 Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
MilT 3265 A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,
MilT 3266 As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.
MilT 3267 Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
MilT 3268 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,
MilT 3269 For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
MilT 3270 Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
MilT 3271 Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas
MilT 3272 That on a day this hende Nicholas
MilT 3273 Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
MilT 3274 Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye,
MilT 3275 As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
MilT 3276 And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
MilT 3277 And seyde, " Ywis, but if ich have my wille,
MilT 3278 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille. "
MilT 3279 And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
MilT 3280 And seyde, " Lemman, love me al atones,
MilT 3281 Or I wol dyen, also God me save! "
MilT 3282 And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
MilT 3283 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
MilT 3284 And seyde, " I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
MilT 3285 Why, lat be! " quod she. " Lat be, Nicholas,
MilT 3286 Or I wol crie `out, harrow' and `allas'!
MilT 3287 Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye! "
MilT 3288 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
MilT 3289 And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
MilT 3290 That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
MilT 3291 And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent,
MilT 3292 That she wol been at his comandement,
MilT 3293 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
MilT 3294 " Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
MilT 3295 That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
MilT 3296 I woot right wel I nam but deed, " quod she.
MilT 3297 " Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas. "
MilT 3298 " Nay, therof care thee noght, " quod Nicholas.
MilT 3299 " A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
MilT 3300 But if he koude a carpenter bigyle. "
MilT 3301 And thus they been accorded and ysworn
MilT 3302 To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
MilT 3303 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel
MilT 3304 And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
MilT 3305 He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
MilT 3306 And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
MilT 3307 Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,
MilT 3308 Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
MilT 3309 This goode wyf went on an haliday.
MilT 3310 Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,
MilT 3311 So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
MilT 3312 Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
MilT 3313 The which that was ycleped Absolon.
MilT 3314 Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
MilT 3315 And strouted as a fanne large and brode;
MilT 3316 Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
MilT 3317 His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.
MilT 3318 With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos,
MilT 3319 In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
MilT 3320 Yclad he was ful smal and proprely
MilT 3321 Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;
MilT 3322 Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
MilT 3323 And therupon he hadde a gay surplys
MilT 3324 As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
MilT 3325 A myrie child he was, so God me save.
MilT 3326 Wel koude he laten blood, and clippe and shave,
MilT 3327 And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
MilT 3328 In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
MilT 3329 After the scole of Oxenforde tho,
MilT 3330 And with his legges casten to and fro,
MilT 3331 And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;
MilT 3332 Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;
MilT 3333 And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.
MilT 3334 In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
MilT 3335 That he ne visited with his solas,
MilT 3336 Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
MilT 3337 But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous
MilT 3338 Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.
MilT 3339 This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,
MilT 3340 Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,
MilT 3341 Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;
MilT 3342 And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
MilT 3343 And namely on this carpenteris wyf.
MilT 3344 To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,
MilT 3345 She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
MilT 3346 I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,
MilT 3347 And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.
MilT 3348 This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,
MilT 3349 Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge
MilT 3350 That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;
MilT 3351 For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.
MilT 3352 The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
MilT 3353 And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake;
MilT 3354 For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
MilT 3355 And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,
MilT 3356 Til he cam to the carpenteres hous
MilT 3357 A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,
MilT 3358 And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe
MilT 3359 That was upon the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3360 He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,
MilT 3361 " Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,
MilT 3362 I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me, "
MilT 3363 Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.
MilT 3364 This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,
MilT 3365 And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,
MilT 3366 " What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon,
MilT 3367 That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal? "
MilT 3368 And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,
MilT 3369 " Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel. "
MilT 3370 This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?
MilT 3371 Fro day to day this joly Absolon
MilT 3372 So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.
MilT 3373 He waketh al the nyght and al the day;
MilT 3374 He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;
MilT 3375 He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,
MilT 3376 And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;
MilT 3377 He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;
MilT 3378 He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,
MilT 3379 And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;
MilT 3380 And, for she was of town, he profred meede;
MilT 3381 For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
MilT 3382 And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.
MilT 3383 Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
MilT 3384 He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye.
MilT 3385 But what availleth hym as in this cas?
MilT 3386 She loveth so this hende Nicholas
MilT 3387 That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
MilT 3388 He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.
MilT 3389 And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,
MilT 3390 And al his ernest turneth til a jape.
MilT 3391 Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
MilT 3392 Men seyn right thus: " Alwey the nye slye
MilT 3393 Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth. "
MilT 3394 For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
MilT 3395 By cause that he fer was from hire sight,
MilT 3396 This nye Nicholas stood in his light.
MilT 3397 Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,
MilT 3398 For Absolon may waille and synge " allas. "
MilT 3399 And so bifel it on a Saterday,
MilT 3400 This carpenter was goon til Osenay;
MilT 3401 And hende Nicholas and Alisoun
MilT 3402 Acorded been to this conclusioun,
MilT 3403 That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
MilT 3404 This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;
MilT 3405 And if so be the game wente aright,
MilT 3406 She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,
MilT 3407 For this was his desir and hire also.
MilT 3408 And right anon, withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3409 This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
MilT 3410 But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie
MilT 3411 Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,
MilT 3412 And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,
MilT 3413 If that he axed after Nicholas,
MilT 3414 She sholde seye she nyste where he was;
MilT 3415 Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;
MilT 3416 She trowed that he was in maladye,
MilT 3417 For, for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,
MilT 3418 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.
MilT 3419 This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,
MilT 3420 That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,
MilT 3421 And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,
MilT 3422 Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
MilT 3423 This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
MilT 3424 Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,
MilT 3425 And seyde, " I am adrad, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3426 It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.
MilT 3427 God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
MilT 3428 This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.
MilT 3429 I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche
MilT 3430 That now, on Monday last, I saugh hym wirche.
MilT 3431 " Go up, " quod he unto his knave anoon,
MilT 3432 " Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
MilT 3433 Looke how it is, and tel me boldely. "
MilT 3434 This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,
MilT 3435 And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,
MilT 3436 He cride and knokked as that he were wood,
MilT 3437 " What, how! What do ye, maister Nicholay?
MilT 3438 How may ye slepen al the longe day? "
MilT 3439 But al for noght; he herde nat a word.
MilT 3440 An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,
MilT 3441 Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,
MilT 3442 And at that hole he looked in ful depe,
MilT 3443 And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.
MilT 3444 This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,
MilT 3445 As he had kiked on the newe moone.
MilT 3446 Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone
MilT 3447 In what array he saugh this ilke man.
MilT 3448 This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,
MilT 3449 And seyde, " Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde!
MilT 3450 A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.
MilT 3451 This man is falle, with his astromye,
MilT 3452 In some woodnesse or in som agonye.
MilT 3453 I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
MilT 3454 Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3455 Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man
MilT 3456 That noght but oonly his bileve kan!
MilT 3457 So ferde another clerk with astromye;
MilT 3458 He walked in the feeldes for to prye
MilT 3459 Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
MilT 3460 Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;
MilT 3461 He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3462 Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.
MilT 3463 He shal be rated of his studiyng,
MilT 3464 If that I may, by Jhesus, hevene kyng!
MilT 3465 Get me a staf, that I may underspore,
MilT 3466 Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore.
MilT 3467 He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse. "
MilT 3468 And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.
MilT 3469 His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
MilT 3470 And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;
MilT 3471 Into the floor the dore fil anon.
MilT 3472 This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
MilT 3473 And evere caped upward into the eir.
MilT 3474 This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
MilT 3475 And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,
MilT 3476 And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,
MilT 3477 " What! Nicholay! What, how! What, looke adoun!
MilT 3478 Awak, and thenk on Cristes passioun!
MilT 3479 I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes. "
MilT 3480 Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes
MilT 3481 On foure halves of the hous aboute,
MilT 3482 And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute:
MilT 3483 " Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight,
MilT 3484 Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
MilT 3485 For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!
MilT 3486 Where wentestow, Seinte Petres soster? "
MilT 3487 And atte laste this hende Nicholas
MilT 3488 Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, " Allas!
MilT 3489 Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now? "
MilT 3490 This carpenter answerde, " What seystow?
MilT 3491 What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke. "
MilT 3492 This Nicholas answerde, " Fecche me drynke,
MilT 3493 And after wol I speke in pryvetee
MilT 3494 Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.
MilT 3495 I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn. "
MilT 3496 This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,
MilT 3497 And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;
MilT 3498 And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
MilT 3499 This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
MilT 3500 And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.
MilT 3501 He seyde, " John, myn hooste, lief and deere,
MilT 3502 Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
MilT 3503 That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye,
MilT 3504 For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,
MilT 3505 And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
MilT 3506 For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,
MilT 3507 That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood. "
MilT 3508 " Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood! "
MilT 3509 Quod tho this sely man, " I nam no labbe,
MilT 3510 Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.
MilT 3511 Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle
MilT 3512 To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle! "
MilT 3513 " Now John, " quod Nicholas, " I wol nat lye;
MilT 3514 I have yfounde in myn astrologye,
MilT 3515 As I have looked in the moone bright,
MilT 3516 That now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,
MilT 3517 Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood
MilT 3518 That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.
MilT 3519 This world, " he seyde, " in lasse than an hour
MilT 3520 Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.
MilT 3521 Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf. "
MilT 3522 This carpenter answerde, " Allas, my wyf!
MilT 3523 And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun! "
MilT 3524 For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,
MilT 3525 And seyde, " Is ther no remedie in this cas? "
MilT 3526 " Why, yis, for Gode, " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3527 " If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.
MilT 3528 Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;
MilT 3529 For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe:
MilT 3530 `Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.'
MilT 3531 And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
MilT 3532 I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,
MilT 3533 Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.
MilT 3534 Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,
MilT 3535 Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn
MilT 3536 That al the world with water sholde be lorn? "
MilT 3537 " Yis, " quod this Carpenter, " ful yoore ago. "
MilT 3538 " Hastou nat herd, " quod Nicholas, " also
MilT 3539 The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe,
MilT 3540 Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?
MilT 3541 Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake,
MilT 3542 At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake
MilT 3543 That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
MilT 3544 And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?
MilT 3545 This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng
MilT 3546 Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.
MilT 3547 " Anon go gete us faste into this in
MilT 3548 A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,
MilT 3549 For ech of us, but looke that they be large,
MilT 3550 In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,
MilT 3551 And han therinne vitaille suffisant
MilT 3552 But for a day -- fy on the remenant!
MilT 3553 The water shal aslake and goon away
MilT 3554 Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.
MilT 3555 But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,
MilT 3556 Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save;
MilT 3557 Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
MilT 3558 I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3559 Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
MilT 3560 To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.
MilT 3561 Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.
MilT 3562 Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
MilT 3563 " But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,
MilT 3564 Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3565 Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,
MilT 3566 That no man of oure purveiaunce espye.
MilT 3567 And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd,
MilT 3568 And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,
MilT 3569 And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo,
MilT 3570 Whan that the water comth, that we may go
MilT 3571 And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,
MilT 3572 Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,
MilT 3573 That we may frely passen forth oure way,
MilT 3574 Whan that the grete shour is goon away.
MilT 3575 Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,
MilT 3576 As dooth the white doke after hire drake.
MilT 3577 Thanne wol I clepe, `How, Alison! How, John!
MilT 3578 Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.'
MilT 3579 And thou wolt seyn, `Hayl, maister Nicholay!
MilT 3580 Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.'
MilT 3581 And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf
MilT 3582 Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.
MilT 3583 " But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:
MilT 3584 Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght
MilT 3585 That we ben entred into shippes bord,
MilT 3586 That noon of us ne speke nat a word,
MilT 3587 Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;
MilT 3588 For it is Goddes owene heeste deere.
MilT 3589 " Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne,
MilT 3590 For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,
MilT 3591 Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede.
MilT 3592 This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!
MilT 3593 Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,
MilT 3594 Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,
MilT 3595 And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace.
MilT 3596 Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space
MilT 3597 To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
MilT 3598 Men seyn thus, `sende the wise, and sey no thyng.'
MilT 3599 Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.
MilT 3600 Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche. "
MilT 3601 This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
MilT 3602 Ful ofte he seide " Allas and weylawey, "
MilT 3603 And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
MilT 3604 And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
MilT 3605 What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
MilT 3606 But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,
MilT 3607 And seyde, " Allas! go forth thy wey anon,
MilT 3608 Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!
MilT 3609 I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;
MilT 3610 Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf. "
MilT 3611 Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
MilT 3612 Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,
MilT 3613 So depe may impressioun be take.
MilT 3614 This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;
MilT 3615 Hym thynketh verraily that he may see
MilT 3616 Noees flood come walwynge as the see
MilT 3617 To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.
MilT 3618 He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;
MilT 3619 He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;
MilT 3620 He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,
MilT 3621 And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,
MilT 3622 And pryvely he sente hem to his in,
MilT 3623 And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.
MilT 3624 His owene hand he made laddres thre,
MilT 3625 To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
MilT 3626 Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,
MilT 3627 And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
MilT 3628 With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,
MilT 3629 Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
MilT 3630 But er that he hadde maad al this array,
MilT 3631 He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
MilT 3632 Upon his nede to London for to go.
MilT 3633 And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght,
MilT 3634 He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,
MilT 3635 And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
MilT 3636 And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;
MilT 3637 They seten stille wel a furlong way.
MilT 3638 " Now, Pater-noster, clom! " seyde Nicholay,
MilT 3639 And " Clom! " quod John, and " Clom! " seyde Alisoun.
MilT 3640 This carpenter seyde his devocioun,
MilT 3641 And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
MilT 3642 Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.
MilT 3643 The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,
MilT 3644 Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,
MilT 3645 Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;
MilT 3646 For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,
MilT 3647 And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.
MilT 3648 Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,
MilT 3649 And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;
MilT 3650 Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,
MilT 3651 Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.
MilT 3652 Ther was the revel and the melodye;
MilT 3653 And thus lith Alison and Nicholas,
MilT 3654 In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,
MilT 3655 Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,
MilT 3656 And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.
MilT 3657 This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,
MilT 3658 That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
MilT 3659 Upon the Monday was at Oseneye
MilT 3660 With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,
MilT 3661 And axed upon cas a cloisterer
MilT 3662 Ful prively after John the carpenter;
MilT 3663 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,
MilT 3664 And seyde, " I noot; I saugh hym heere nat wirche
MilT 3665 Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went
MilT 3666 For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;
MilT 3667 For he is wont for tymber for to go
MilT 3668 And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
MilT 3669 Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.
MilT 3670 Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn. "
MilT 3671 This Absolon ful joly was and light,
MilT 3672 And thoghte, " Now is tyme to wake al nyght,
MilT 3673 For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge
MilT 3674 Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.
MilT 3675 " So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,
MilT 3676 Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe
MilT 3677 That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.
MilT 3678 To Alison now wol I tellen al
MilT 3679 My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse
MilT 3680 That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.
MilT 3681 Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.
MilT 3682 My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
MilT 3683 That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.
MilT 3684 Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
MilT 3685 Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,
MilT 3686 And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye. "
MilT 3687 Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
MilT 3688 Up rist this joly lovere Absolon,
MilT 3689 And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.
MilT 3690 But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,
MilT 3691 To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.
MilT 3692 Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,
MilT 3693 For therby wende he to ben gracious.
MilT 3694 He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
MilT 3695 And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --
MilT 3696 Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --
MilT 3697 And softe he cougheth with a semy soun:
MilT 3698 " What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,
MilT 3699 My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?
MilT 3700 Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!
MilT 3701 Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,
MilT 3702 That for youre love I swete ther I go.
MilT 3703 No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
MilT 3704 I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
MilT 3705 Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge
MilT 3706 That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.
MilT 3707 I may nat ete na moore than a mayde. "
MilT 3708 " Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool, " she sayde;
MilT 3709 " As help me God, it wol nat be `com pa me.'
MilT 3710 I love another -- and elles I were to blame --
MilT 3711 Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon.
MilT 3712 Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
MilT 3713 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey! "
MilT 3714 " Allas, " quod Absolon, " and weylawey,
MilT 3715 That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!
MilT 3716 Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,
MilT 3717 For Jhesus love, and for the love of me. "
MilT 3718 " Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? " quod she.
MilT 3719 " Ye, certes, lemman, " quod this Absolon.
MilT 3720 " Thanne make thee redy, " quod she, " I come anon. "
MilT 3721 And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,
MilT 3722 " Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille. "
MilT 3723 This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees
MilT 3724 And seyde, " I am a lord at alle degrees;
MilT 3725 For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
MilT 3726 Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore! "
MilT 3727 The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.
MilT 3728 " Have do, " quod she, " com of, and speed the faste,
MilT 3729 Lest that oure neighebores thee espie. "
MilT 3730 This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.
MilT 3731 Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
MilT 3732 And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
MilT 3733 And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
MilT 3734 But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
MilT 3735 Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
MilT 3736 Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
MilT 3737 For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
MilT 3738 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
MilT 3739 And seyde, " Fy! allas! what have I do? "
MilT 3740 " Tehee! " quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,
MilT 3741 And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.
MilT 3742 " A berd! A berd! " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3743 " By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel. "
MilT 3744 This sely Absolon herde every deel,
MilT 3745 And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,
MilT 3746 And to hymself he seyde, " I shal thee quyte. "
MilT 3747 Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
MilT 3748 With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,
MilT 3749 But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, " Allas! "
MilT 3750 " My soule bitake I unto Sathanas,
MilT 3751 But me were levere than al this toun, " quod he,
MilT 3752 " Of this despit awroken for to be.
MilT 3753 Allas, " quod he, " allas, I ne hadde ybleynt! "
MilT 3754 His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;
MilT 3755 For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
MilT 3756 Of paramours he sette nat a kers,
MilT 3757 For he was heeled of his maladie.
MilT 3758 Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,
MilT 3759 And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
MilT 3760 A softe paas he wente over the strete
MilT 3761 Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys,
MilT 3762 That in his forge smythed plough harneys;
MilT 3763 He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.
MilT 3764 This Absolon knokketh al esily,
MilT 3765 And seyde, " Undo, Gerveys, and that anon. "
MilT 3766 " What, who artow? " " It am I, Absolon. "
MilT 3767 " What, Absolon! for Cristes sweete tree,
MilT 3768 Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee!
MilT 3769 What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot,
MilT 3770 Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.
MilT 3771 By Seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene. "
MilT 3772 This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
MilT 3773 Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;
MilT 3774 He hadde moore tow on his distaf
MilT 3775 Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, " Freend so deere,
MilT 3776 That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,
MilT 3777 As lene it me; I have therwith to doone,
MilT 3778 And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone. "
MilT 3779 Gerveys answerde, " Certes, were it gold,
MilT 3780 Or in a poke nobles alle untold,
MilT 3781 Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.
MilT 3782 Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith? "
MilT 3783 " Therof, " quod Absolon, " be as be may.
MilT 3784 I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day " --
MilT 3785 And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.
MilT 3786 Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,
MilT 3787 And wente unto the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3788 He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal
MilT 3789 Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.
MilT 3790 This Alison answerde, " Who is ther
MilT 3791 That knokketh so? I warante it a theef. "
MilT 3792 " Why, nay, " quod he, " God woot, my sweete leef,
MilT 3793 I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.
MilT 3794 Of gold, " quod he, " I have thee broght a ryng.
MilT 3795 My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;
MilT 3796 Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.
MilT 3797 This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse. "
MilT 3798 This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
MilT 3799 And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
MilT 3800 He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
MilT 3801 And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
MilT 3802 And out his ers he putteth pryvely
MilT 3803 Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
MilT 3804 And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,
MilT 3805 " Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art. "
MilT 3806 This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart
MilT 3807 As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
MilT 3808 That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
MilT 3809 And he was redy with his iren hoot,
MilT 3810 And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.
MilT 3811 Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,
MilT 3812 The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
MilT 3813 And for the smert he wende for to dye.
MilT 3814 As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,
MilT 3815 " Help! Water! Water! Help, for Goddes herte! "
MilT 3816 This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,
MilT 3817 And herde oon crien " water! " as he were wood,
MilT 3818 And thoughte, " Allas, now comth Nowelis flood! "
MilT 3819 He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3820 And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,
MilT 3821 And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,
MilT 3822 Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
MilT 3823 Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.
MilT 3824 Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,
MilT 3825 And criden " Out " and " Harrow " in the strete.
MilT 3826 The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
MilT 3827 In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
MilT 3828 That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
MilT 3829 For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
MilT 3830 But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
MilT 3831 For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
MilT 3832 With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
MilT 3833 They tolden every man that he was wood;
MilT 3834 He was agast so of Nowelis flood
MilT 3835 Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee
MilT 3836 He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3837 And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
MilT 3838 And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,
MilT 3839 To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
MilT 3840 The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;
MilT 3841 Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
MilT 3842 And turned al his harm unto a jape.
MilT 3843 For what so that this carpenter answerde,
MilT 3844 It was for noght; no man his reson herde.
MilT 3845 With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
MilT 3846 That he was holde wood in al the toun;
MilT 3847 For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.
MilT 3848 They seyde, " The man is wood, my leeve brother " ;
MilT 3849 And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.
MilT 3850 Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,
MilT 3851 For al his kepyng and his jalousye,
MilT 3852 And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye,
MilT 3853 And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
MilT 3854 This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!
RvT 3855 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas
RvT 3856 Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
RvT 3857 Diverse folk diversely they seyde,
RvT 3858 But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde.
RvT 3859 Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,
RvT 3860 But it were oonly Osewold the Reve.
RvT 3861 By cause he was of carpenteris craft,
RvT 3862 A litel ire is in his herte ylaft;
RvT 3863 He gan to grucche, and blamed it a lite.
RvT 3864 " So theek, " quod he, " ful wel koude I thee quite
RvT 3865 With bleryng of a proud milleres ye,
RvT 3866 If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
RvT 3867 But ik am oold; me list not pley for age;
RvT 3868 Gras tyme is doon; my fodder is now forage;
RvT 3869 This white top writeth myne olde yeris;
RvT 3870 Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris,
RvT 3871 But if I fare as dooth an open-ers --
RvT 3872 That ilke fruyt is ever lenger the wers,
RvT 3873 Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
RvT 3874 We olde men, I drede, so fare we:
RvT 3875 Til we be roten, kan we nat be rype;
RvT 3876 We hoppen alwey whil that the world wol pype.
RvT 3877 For in oure wyl ther stiketh evere a nayl,
RvT 3878 To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
RvT 3879 As hath a leek; for thogh oure myght be goon,
RvT 3880 Oure wyl desireth folie evere in oon.
RvT 3881 For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
RvT 3882 Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke.
RvT 3883 " Foure gleedes han we, which I shal devyse --
RvT 3884 Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise;
RvT 3885 Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde.
RvT 3886 Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde,
RvT 3887 But wyl ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
RvT 3888 And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
RvT 3889 As many a yeer as it is passed henne
RvT 3890 Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne.
RvT 3891 For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
RvT 3892 Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,
RvT 3893 And ever sithe hath so the tappe yronne
RvT 3894 Til that almoost al empty is the tonne.
RvT 3895 The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe.
RvT 3896 The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
RvT 3897 Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore;
RvT 3898 With olde folk, save dotage, is namoore! "
RvT 3899 Whan that oure Hoost hadde herd this sermonyng,
RvT 3900 He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng.
RvT 3901 He seide, " What amounteth al this wit?
RvT 3902 What shul we speke alday of hooly writ?
RvT 3903 The devel made a reve for to preche,
RvT 3904 Or of a soutere a shipman or a leche.
RvT 3905 Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme.
RvT 3906 Lo Depeford, and it is half-wey pryme!
RvT 3907 Lo Grenewych, ther many a shrewe is inne!
RvT 3908 It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne. "
RvT 3909 " Now, sires, " quod this Osewold the Reve,
RvT 3910 " I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve,
RvT 3911 Thogh I answere, and somdeel sette his howve;
RvT 3912 For leveful is with force force of-showve.
RvT 3913 " This dronke Millere hath ytoold us heer
RvT 3914 How that bigyled was a carpenteer,
RvT 3915 Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon.
RvT 3916 And, by youre leve, I shal hym quite anoon;
RvT 3917 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
RvT 3918 I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;
RvT 3919 He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
RvT 3920 But in his owene he kan nat seen a balke. "
MLT 1 Oure Hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne
MLT 2 The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
MLT 3 The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore,
MLT 4 And though he were not depe ystert in loore,
MLT 5 He wiste it was the eightetethe day
MLT 6 Of Aprill, that is messager to May;
MLT 7 And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree
MLT 8 Was in lengthe the same quantitee
MLT 9 That was the body erect that caused it.
MLT 10 And therefore by the shadwe he took his wit
MLT 11 That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
MLT 12 Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte,
MLT 13 And for that day, as in that latitude,
MLT 14 It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
MLT 15 And sodeynly he plighte his horse aboute.
MLT 16 " Lordynges, " quod he, " I warne yow, al this route,
MLT 17 The fourthe party of this day is gon.
MLT 18 Now for the love of God and of Seint John,
MLT 19 Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may.
MLT 20 Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day,
MLT 21 And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge,
MLT 22 And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,
MLT 23 As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn,
MLT 24 Descendynge from the mountaigne into playn.
MLT 25 Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre
MLT 26 Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre;
MLT 27 For `Los of catel may recovered be,
MLT 28 But los of tyme shendeth us,' quod he.
MLT 29 It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede,
MLT 30 Nomoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede,
MLT 31 Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
MLT 32 Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
MLT 33 " Sire Man of Lawe, " quod he, " so have ye blis,
MLT 34 Telle us a tale anon, as forward is.
MLT 35 Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent,
MLT 36 To stonden in this cas at my juggement.
MLT 37 Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste;
MLT 38 Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste. "
MLT 39 " Hooste, " quod he, " depardieux, ich assente;
MLT 40 To breke forward is nat myn entente.
MLT 41 Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn
MLT 42 Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn.
MLT 43 For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight,
MLT 44 He sholde hymselven usen it, by right;
MLT 45 Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn,
MLT 46 I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn
MLT 47 That Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly
MLT 48 On metres and on rymyng craftily,
MLT 49 Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan
MLT 50 Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man;
MLT 51 And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,
MLT 52 In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
MLT 53 For he hath toold of loveris up and doun
MLT 54 Mo than Ovide made of mencioun
MLT 55 In his Episteles, that been ful olde.
MLT 56 What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde?
MLT 57 " In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione,
MLT 58 And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone,
MLT 59 Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.
MLT 60 Whoso that wole his large volume seke,
MLT 61 Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide,
MLT 62 Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
MLT 63 Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tesbee;
MLT 64 The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;
MLT 65 The tree of Phillis for hire Demophon;
MLT 66 The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon,
MLT 67 Of Adriane, and of Isiphilee --
MLT 68 The bareyne yle stondynge in the see --
MLT 69 The dreynte Leandre for his Erro;
MLT 70 The teeris of Eleyne, and eek the wo
MLT 71 Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomya;
MLT 72 The crueltee of the, queene Medea,
MLT 73 Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,
MLT 74 For thy Jason, that was of love so fals!
MLT 75 O Ypermystra, Penelopee, Alceste,
MLT 76 Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste!
MLT 77 " But certeinly no word ne writeth he
MLT 78 Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,
MLT 79 That loved hir owene brother synfully --
MLT 80 Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! --
MLT 81 Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius,
MLT 82 How that the cursed kyng Antiochus
MLT 83 Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
MLT 84 That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
MLT 85 Whan he hir threw upon the pavement.
MLT 86 And therfore he, of ful avysement,
MLT 87 Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons
MLT 88 Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,
MLT 89 Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
MLT 90 " But of my tale how shal I doon this day?
MLT 91 Me were looth be likned, doutelees,
MLT 92 To Muses that men clepe Pierides --
MLT 93 Methamorphosios woot what I mene;
MLT 94 But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
MLT 95 Though I come after hym with hawebake.
MLT 96 I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make. "
MLT 97 And with that word he, with a sobre cheere,
MLT 98 Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 99 O hateful harm, condicion of poverte!
MLT 100 With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid!
MLT 101 To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
MLT 102 If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid
MLT 103 That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
MLT 104 Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
MLT 105 Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!
MLT 106 Thow blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly
MLT 107 He mysdeparteth richesse temporal;
MLT 108 Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully,
MLT 109 And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al.
MLT 110 " Parfay, " seistow, " somtyme he rekene shal,
MLT 111 Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,
MLT 112 For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede. "
MLT 113 Herkne what is the sentence of the wise:
MLT 114 " Bet is to dyen than have indigence " ;
MLT 115 " Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise. "
MLT 116 If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
MLT 117 Yet of the wise man take this sentence:
MLT 118 " Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke. "
MLT 119 Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke!
MLT 120 If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee,
MLT 121 And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas!
MLT 122 O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,
MLT 123 O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
MLT 124 Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,
MLT 125 But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;
MLT 126 At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!
MLT 127 Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges;
MLT 128 As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat
MLT 129 Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges
MLT 130 And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat.
MLT 131 I were right now of tales desolaat,
MLT 132 Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere,
MLT 133 Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.
MLT 134 In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
MLT 135 Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
MLT 136 That wyde-where senten hir spicerye,
MLT 137 Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe.
MLT 138 Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe
MLT 139 That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
MLT 140 With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware.
MLT 141 Now fil it that the maistres of that sort
MLT 142 Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
MLT 143 Were it for chapmanhod or for disport,
MLT 144 Noon oother message wolde they thider sende,
MLT 145 But comen hemself to Rome; this is the ende.
MLT 146 And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage
MLT 147 For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.
MLT 148 Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun
MLT 149 A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.
MLT 150 And so bifel that th' excellent renoun
MLT 151 Of the Emperoures doghter, dame Custance,
MLT 152 Reported was, with every circumstance,
MLT 153 Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse,
MLT 154 Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
MLT 155 This was the commune voys of every man:
MLT 156 " Oure Emperour of Rome -- God hym see! --
MLT 157 A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,
MLT 158 To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,
MLT 159 Nas nevere swich another as is shee.
MLT 160 I prey to God in honour hire susteene,
MLT 161 And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.
MLT 162 " In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,
MLT 163 Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;
MLT 164 To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
MLT 165 Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.
MLT 166 She is mirour of alle curteisye;
MLT 167 Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
MLT 168 Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse. "
MLT 169 And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe.
MLT 170 But now to purpos lat us turne agayn.
MLT 171 Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
MLT 172 And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,
MLT 173 Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn,
MLT 174 And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore,
MLT 175 And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore.
MLT 176 Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace
MLT 177 Of hym that was the Sowdan of Surrye;
MLT 178 For whan they cam from any strange place,
MLT 179 He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
MLT 180 Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye
MLT 181 Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere
MLT 182 The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.
MLT 183 Amonges othere thynges, specially,
MLT 184 Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame Custance
MLT 185 So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously,
MLT 186 That this Sowdan hath caught so greet plesance
MLT 187 To han hir figure in his remembrance,
MLT 188 That al his lust and al his bisy cure
MLT 189 Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.
MLT 190 Paraventure in thilke large book
MLT 191 Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was
MLT 192 With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
MLT 193 That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!
MLT 194 For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
MLT 195 Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,
MLT 196 The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
MLT 197 In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn,
MLT 198 Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,
MLT 199 Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born;
MLT 200 The strif of Thebes; and of Ercules,
MLT 201 Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
MLT 202 The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle
MLT 203 That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.
MLT 204 This Sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
MLT 205 And, shortly of this matiere for to pace,
MLT 206 He hath to hem declared his entente,
MLT 207 And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace
MLT 208 To han Custance withinne a litel space,
MLT 209 He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye
MLT 210 To shapen for his lyf som remedye.
MLT 211 Diverse men diverse thynges seyden;
MLT 212 They argumenten, casten up and doun;
MLT 213 Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden;
MLT 214 They speken of magyk and abusioun.
MLT 215 But finally, as in conclusioun,
MLT 216 They kan nat seen in that noon avantage,
MLT 217 Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage.
MLT 218 Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee
MLT 219 By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
MLT 220 By cause that ther was swich diversitee
MLT 221 Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn
MLT 222 They trowe that no " Cristen prince wolde fayn
MLT 223 Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete
MLT 224 That us was taught by Mahoun, oure prophete. "
MLT 225 And he answerde, " Rather than I lese
MLT 226 Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.
MLT 227 I moot been hires; I may noon oother chese.
MLT 228 I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees;
MLT 229 Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees
MLT 230 To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure,
MLT 231 For in this wo I may nat longe endure. "
MLT 232 What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
MLT 233 I seye, by tretys and embassadrie,
MLT 234 And by the popes mediacioun,
MLT 235 And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie,
MLT 236 That in destruccioun of mawmettrie,
MLT 237 And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere,
MLT 238 They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:
MLT 239 How that the Sowdan and his baronage
MLT 240 And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,
MLT 241 And he shal han Custance in mariage,
MLT 242 And certein gold, I noot what quantitee;
MLT 243 And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.
MLT 244 This same accord was sworn on eyther syde;
MLT 245 Now, faire Custance, almyghty God thee gyde!
MLT 246 Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
MLT 247 That I sholde tellen al the purveiance
MLT 248 That th' Emperour, of his grete noblesse,
MLT 249 Hath shapen for his doghter, dame Custance.
MLT 250 Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance
MLT 251 May no man tellen in a litel clause
MLT 252 As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
MLT 253 Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende,
MLT 254 Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,
MLT 255 And oother folk ynowe; this is th' ende;
MLT 256 And notified is thurghout the toun
MLT 257 That every wight, with greet devocioun,
MLT 258 Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage
MLT 259 Receyve in gree and spede this viage.
MLT 260 The day is comen of hir departynge;
MLT 261 I seye, the woful day fatal is come,
MLT 262 That ther may be no lenger tariynge,
MLT 263 But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.
MLT 264 Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
MLT 265 Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende;
MLT 266 For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.
MLT 267 Allas, what wonder is it thogh she wepte,
MLT 268 That shal be sent to strange nacioun
MLT 269 Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,
MLT 270 And to be bounden under subjeccioun
MLT 271 Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun?
MLT 272 Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore;
MLT 273 That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore.
MLT 274 " Fader, " she seyde, " thy wrecched child Custance,
MLT 275 Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe,
MLT 276 And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance
MLT 277 Over alle thyng, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
MLT 278 Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte
MLT 279 Unto youre grace, for I shal to Surrye,
MLT 280 Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye.
MLT 281 " Allas, unto the Barbre nacioun
MLT 282 I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille;
MLT 283 But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun
MLT 284 So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille!
MLT 285 I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille!
MLT 286 Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
MLT 287 And to been under mannes governance. "
MLT 288 I trowe at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal
MLT 289 Or Ilion brende, at Thebes the citee,
MLT 290 N' at Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanybal
MLT 291 That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre,
MLT 292 Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee
MLT 293 As in the chambre was for hire departynge;
MLT 294 But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge.
MLT 295 O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,
MLT 296 With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
MLT 297 And hurlest al from est til occident
MLT 298 That naturelly wolde holde another way,
MLT 299 Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array
MLT 300 At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage,
MLT 301 That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
MLT 302 Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
MLT 303 Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas,
MLT 304 Out of his angle into the derkeste hous!
MLT 305 O Mars, o atazir, as in this cas!
MLT 306 O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas!
MLT 307 Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved;
MLT 308 Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.
MLT 309 Imprudent Emperour of Rome, allas!
MLT 310 Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?
MLT 311 Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
MLT 312 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
MLT 313 Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?
MLT 314 Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
MLT 315 Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!
MLT 316 To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
MLT 317 Solempnely, with every circumstance.
MLT 318 " Now Jhesu Crist be with yow alle! " she sayde;
MLT 319 Ther nys namoore, but " Farewel, faire Custance! "
MLT 320 She peyneth hire to make good contenance;
MLT 321 And forth I lete hire saille in this manere,
MLT 322 And turne I wole agayn to my matere.
MLT 323 The mooder of the Sowdan, welle of vices,
MLT 324 Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente,
MLT 325 How he wol lete his olde sacrifices;
MLT 326 And right anon she for hir conseil sente,
MLT 327 And they been come to knowe what she mente.
MLT 328 And whan assembled was this folk in-feere,
MLT 329 She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere.
MLT 330 " Lordes, " quod she, " ye knowen everichon,
MLT 331 How that my sone in point is for to lete
MLT 332 The hooly lawes of our Alkaron,
MLT 333 Yeven by Goddes message Makomete.
MLT 334 But oon avow to grete God I heete,
MLT 335 The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte
MLT 336 Or Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
MLT 337 " What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe
MLT 338 But thraldom to oure bodies and penance,
MLT 339 And afterward in helle to be drawe,
MLT 340 For we reneyed Mahoun oure creance?
MLT 341 But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
MLT 342 As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore,
MLT 343 And I shal make us sauf for everemoore? "
MLT 344 They sworen and assenten, every man,
MLT 345 To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde,
MLT 346 And everich, in the beste wise he kan,
MLT 347 To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde;
MLT 348 And she hath this emprise ytake on honde,
MLT 349 Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
MLT 350 And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse:
MLT 351 " We shul first feyne us cristendom to take --
MLT 352 Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite! --
MLT 353 And I shal swich a feeste and revel make
MLT 354 That, as I trowe, I shal the Sowdan quite.
MLT 355 For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white,
MLT 356 She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
MLT 357 Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede. "
MLT 358 O Sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee!
MLT 359 Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde!
MLT 360 O serpent under femynynytee,
MLT 361 Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!
MLT 362 O feyned womman, al that may confounde
MLT 363 Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice,
MLT 364 Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!
MLT 365 O Sathan, envious syn thilke day
MLT 366 That thou were chaced from oure heritage,
MLT 367 Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
MLT 368 Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage;
MLT 369 Thou wolt fordoon this Cristen mariage.
MLT 370 Thyn instrument so -- weylawey the while! --
MLT 371 Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile.
MLT 372 This Sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye,
MLT 373 Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way.
MLT 374 What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?
MLT 375 She rydeth to the Sowdan on a day,
MLT 376 And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay,
MLT 377 And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
MLT 378 Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe,
MLT 379 Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
MLT 380 That she moste han the Cristen folk to feeste --
MLT 381 " To plesen hem I wol do my labour. "
MLT 382 The Sowdan seith, " I wol doon at youre heeste, "
MLT 383 And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.
MLT 384 So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.
MLT 385 She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.
MLT 386 Arryved been this Cristen folk to londe
MLT 387 In Surrye, with a greet solempne route,
MLT 388 And hastifliche this Sowdan sente his sonde
MLT 389 First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute,
MLT 390 And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute,
MLT 391 And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene,
MLT 392 The honour of his regne to susteene.
MLT 393 Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array
MLT 394 Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere;
MLT 395 The mooder of the Sowdan, riche and gay,
MLT 396 Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere
MLT 397 As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere,
MLT 398 And to the nexte citee ther bisyde
MLT 399 A softe paas solempnely they ryde.
MLT 400 Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius,
MLT 401 Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost,
MLT 402 Was roialler ne moore curius
MLT 403 Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost.
MLT 404 But this scorpioun, this wikked goost,
MLT 405 The Sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge,
MLT 406 Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.
MLT 407 The Sowdan comth hymself soone after this
MLT 408 So roially that wonder is to telle,
MLT 409 And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis.
MLT 410 And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle;
MLT 411 The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle.
MLT 412 Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
MLT 413 That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.
MLT 414 The tyme cam, this olde Sowdanesse
MLT 415 Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde,
MLT 416 And to the feeste Cristen folk hem dresse
MLT 417 In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde.
MLT 418 Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde,
MLT 419 And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse;
MLT 420 But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.
MLT 421 O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour
MLT 422 To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse,
MLT 423 The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour!
MLT 424 Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.
MLT 425 Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:
MLT 426 Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde
MLT 427 The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.
MLT 428 For shortly for to tellen, at o word,
MLT 429 The Sowdan and the Cristen everichone
MLT 430 Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord,
MLT 431 But it were oonly dame Custance allone.
MLT 432 This olde Sowdanesse, cursed krone,
MLT 433 Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,
MLT 434 For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.
MLT 435 Ne ther was Surryen noon that was converted,
MLT 436 That of the conseil of the Sowdan woot,
MLT 437 That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.
MLT 438 And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,
MLT 439 And in a ship al steerelees, God woot,
MLT 440 They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille
MLT 441 Out of Surrye agaynward to Ytaille.
MLT 442 A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
MLT 443 And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee
MLT 444 They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
MLT 445 And forth she sailleth in the salte see.
MLT 446 O my Custance, ful of benignytee,
MLT 447 O Emperoures yonge doghter deere,
MLT 448 He that is lord of Fortune be thy steere!
MLT 449 She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys
MLT 450 Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she:
MLT 451 " O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys,
MLT 452 Reed of the Lambes blood ful of pitee,
MLT 453 That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
MLT 454 Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe,
MLT 455 That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.
MLT 456 " Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
MLT 457 That oonly worthy were for to bere
MLT 458 The Kyng of Hevene with his woundes newe,
MLT 459 The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spere,
MLT 460 Flemere of feendes out of hym and here
MLT 461 On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,
MLT 462 Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden. "
MLT 463 Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
MLT 464 Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte
MLT 465 Of Marrok, as it was hire aventure.
MLT 466 On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
MLT 467 After hir deeth ful often may she wayte,
MLT 468 Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve
MLT 469 Unto the place ther she shal arryve.
MLT 470 Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn
MLT 471 Eek at the feeste? Who myghte hir body save?
MLT 472 And I answere to that demande agayn,
MLT 473 Who saved Danyel in the horrible cave
MLT 474 Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
MLT 475 Was with the leon frete er he asterte?
MLT 476 No wight but God that he bar in his herte.
MLT 477 God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle
MLT 478 In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis;
MLT 479 Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
MLT 480 By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis,
MLT 481 Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
MLT 482 To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance
MLT 483 Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.
MLT 484 Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe,
MLT 485 Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?
MLT 486 Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes mawe
MLT 487 Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee?
MLT 488 Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he
MLT 489 That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge,
MLT 490 With drye feet thurghout the see passynge.
MLT 491 Who bad the foure spirites of tempest
MLT 492 That power han t' anoyen lond and see,
MLT 493 Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
MLT 494 " Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree " ?
MLT 495 Soothly, the comandour of that was he
MLT 496 That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
MLT 497 As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.
MLT 498 Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have
MLT 499 Thre yeer and moore? How lasteth hire vitaille?
MLT 500 Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave,
MLT 501 Or in desert? No wight but Crist, sanz faille.
MLT 502 Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille
MLT 503 With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede.
MLT 504 God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.
MLT 505 She dryveth forth into oure occian
MLT 506 Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste
MLT 507 Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan,
MLT 508 Fer in Northhumberlond the wawe hire caste,
MLT 509 And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste
MLT 510 That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde;
MLT 511 The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.
MLT 512 The constable of the castel doun is fare
MLT 513 To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
MLT 514 And foond this wery womman ful of care;
MLT 515 He foond also the tresor that she broghte.
MLT 516 In hir langage mercy she bisoghte,
MLT 517 The lyf out of hir body for to twynne,
MLT 518 Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne.
MLT 519 A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche,
MLT 520 But algates therby was she understonde.
MLT 521 The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche,
MLT 522 This woful womman broghte he to the londe.
MLT 523 She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde;
MLT 524 But what she was she wolde no man seye,
MLT 525 For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye.
MLT 526 She seyde she was so mazed in the see
MLT 527 That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.
MLT 528 The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,
MLT 529 And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.
MLT 530 She was so diligent, withouten slouthe,
MLT 531 To serve and plesen everich in that place
MLT 532 That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.
MLT 533 This constable and dame Hermengyld, his wyf,
MLT 534 Were payens, and that contree everywhere;
MLT 535 But Hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf,
MLT 536 And Custance hath so longe sojourned there,
MLT 537 In orisons, with many a bitter teere,
MLT 538 Til Jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace
MLT 539 Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of that place.
MLT 540 In al that lond no Cristen dorste route;
MLT 541 Alle Cristen folk been fled fro that contree
MLT 542 Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
MLT 543 The plages of the north, by land and see.
MLT 544 To Walys fledde the Cristyanytee
MLT 545 Of olde Britons dwellynge in this ile;
MLT 546 Ther was hir refut for the meene while.
MLT 547 But yet nere Cristene Britons so exiled
MLT 548 That ther nere somme that in hir privetee
MLT 549 Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled,
MLT 550 And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.
MLT 551 That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see,
MLT 552 But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde
MLT 553 With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde.
MLT 554 Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
MLT 555 For which the constable and his wyf also
MLT 556 And Custance han ytake the righte way
MLT 557 Toward the see a furlong wey or two,
MLT 558 To pleyen and to romen to and fro,
MLT 559 And in hir walk this blynde man they mette,
MLT 560 Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette.
MLT 561 " In name of Crist, " cride this blinde Britoun,
MLT 562 " Dame Hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn! "
MLT 563 This lady weex affrayed of the soun,
MLT 564 Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
MLT 565 Wolde hire for Jhesu Cristes love han slayn,
MLT 566 Til Custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche
MLT 567 The wyl of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
MLT 568 The constable weex abasshed of that sight,
MLT 569 And seyde, " What amounteth al this fare? "
MLT 570 Custance answerde, " Sire, it is Cristes myght,
MLT 571 That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare. "
MLT 572 And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare
MLT 573 That she the constable, er that it was eve
MLT 574 Converteth, and on Crist made hym bileve.
MLT 575 This constable was nothyng lord of this place
MLT 576 Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
MLT 577 But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space
MLT 578 Under Alla, kyng of al Northhumbrelond,
MLT 579 That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
MLT 580 Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere;
MLT 581 But turne I wole agayn to my mateere.
MLT 582 Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile,
MLT 583 Saugh of Custance al hire perfeccioun,
MLT 584 And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,
MLT 585 And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun
MLT 586 Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun,
MLT 587 That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,
MLT 588 But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.
MLT 589 He woweth hire, but it availleth noght;
MLT 590 She wolde do no synne, by no weye.
MLT 591 And for despit he compassed in his thoght
MLT 592 To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.
MLT 593 He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
MLT 594 And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte
MLT 595 In Hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte.
MLT 596 Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns,
MLT 597 Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.
MLT 598 This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,
MLT 599 Al softely is to the bed ygo,
MLT 600 And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo,
MLT 601 And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
MLT 602 And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!
MLT 603 Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn,
MLT 604 And eek Alla, that kyng was of that lond,
MLT 605 And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn,
MLT 606 For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,
MLT 607 And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
MLT 608 By Dame Custance. Allas, what myghte she seye?
MLT 609 For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
MLT 610 To kyng Alla was toold al this meschance,
MLT 611 And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise
MLT 612 That in a ship was founden this Custance,
MLT 613 As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
MLT 614 The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,
MLT 615 Whan he saugh so benigne a creature
MLT 616 Falle in disese and in mysaventure.
MLT 617 For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
MLT 618 So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.
MLT 619 This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,
MLT 620 Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng.
MLT 621 But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng
MLT 622 Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
MLT 623 That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse,
MLT 624 For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
MLT 625 And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf.
MLT 626 Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,
MLT 627 Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.
MLT 628 This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
MLT 629 Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
MLT 630 Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.
MLT 631 Allas! Custance, thou hast no champioun,
MLT 632 Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway!
MLT 633 But he that starf for our redempcioun,
MLT 634 And boond Sathan (and yet lith ther he lay),
MLT 635 So be thy stronge champion this day!
MLT 636 For, but if Crist open myracle kithe,
MLT 637 Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
MLT 638 She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde:
MLT 639 " Immortal God, that savedest Susanne
MLT 640 Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,
MLT 641 Marie I meene, doghter to Seint Anne,
MLT 642 Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,
MLT 643 If I be giltlees of this felonye,
MLT 644 My socour be, for ellis shal I dye! "
MLT 645 Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,
MLT 646 Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad
MLT 647 Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace,
MLT 648 And swich a colour in his face hath had
MLT 649 Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad
MLT 650 Amonges alle the faces in that route?
MLT 651 So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute.
MLT 652 O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee,
MLT 653 Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone,
MLT 654 Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee!
MLT 655 An Emperoures doghter stant allone;
MLT 656 She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
MLT 657 O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,
MLT 658 Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede!
MLT 659 This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun,
MLT 660 As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,
MLT 661 That from his eyen ran the water doun.
MLT 662 " Now hastily do fecche a book, " quod he,
MLT 663 " And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
MLT 664 This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse
MLT 665 Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise. "
MLT 666 A Britoun book, written with Evaungiles,
MLT 667 Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
MLT 668 She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
MLT 669 An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon,
MLT 670 That doun he fil atones as a stoon,
MLT 671 And bothe his eyen broste out of his face
MLT 672 In sighte of every body in that place.
MLT 673 A voys was herd in general audience,
MLT 674 And seyde, " Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,
MLT 675 The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence;
MLT 676 Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees! "
MLT 677 Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
MLT 678 As mazed folk they stoden everichone,
MLT 679 For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
MLT 680 Greet was the drede and eek the repentance
MLT 681 Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun
MLT 682 Upon this sely innocent, Custance;
MLT 683 And for this miracle, in conclusioun,
MLT 684 And by Custances mediacioun,
MLT 685 The kyng -- and many another in that place --
MLT 686 Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
MLT 687 This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe
MLT 688 By juggement of Alla hastifly;
MLT 689 And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe.
MLT 690 And after this Jhesus, of his mercy,
MLT 691 Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
MLT 692 This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene;
MLT 693 And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene.
MLT 694 But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 695 Of this weddyng but Donegild, and namo,
MLT 696 The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye?
MLT 697 Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo.
MLT 698 She wolde noght hir sone had do so;
MLT 699 Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
MLT 700 So strange a creature unto his make.
MLT 701 Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree,
MLT 702 Maken so long a tale as of the corn.
MLT 703 What sholde I tellen of the roialtee
MLT 704 At mariage, or which cours goth biforn;
MLT 705 Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn?
MLT 706 The fruyt of every tale is for to seye:
MLT 707 They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye.
MLT 708 They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;
MLT 709 For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges,
MLT 710 They moste take in pacience at nyght
MLT 711 Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges
MLT 712 To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges,
MLT 713 And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside,
MLT 714 As for the tyme -- it may no bet bitide.
MLT 715 On hire he gat a knave child anon,
MLT 716 And to a bisshop, and his constable eke,
MLT 717 He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon
MLT 718 To Scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke.
MLT 719 Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
MLT 720 So longe is goon with childe, til that stille
MLT 721 She halt hire chambre, abidyng Cristes wille.
MLT 722 The tyme is come a knave child she beer;
MLT 723 Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
MLT 724 This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
MLT 725 And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle,
MLT 726 How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
MLT 727 And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
MLT 728 He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.
MLT 729 This messager, to doon his avantage,
MLT 730 Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,
MLT 731 And salueth hire ful faire in his langage:
MLT 732 " Madame, " quod he, " ye may be glad and blithe,
MLT 733 And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe!
MLT 734 My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,
MLT 735 To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.
MLT 736 " Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,
MLT 737 That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
MLT 738 If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,
MLT 739 I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day. "
MLT 740 Donegild answerde, " As now at this tyme, nay;
MLT 741 But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.
MLT 742 To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste. "
MLT 743 This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
MLT 744 And stolen were his lettres pryvely
MLT 745 Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn;
MLT 746 And countrefeted was ful subtilly
MLT 747 Another lettre, wroght ful synfully,
MLT 748 Unto the kyng direct of this mateere
MLT 749 Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 750 The lettre spak the queene delivered was
MLT 751 Of so horrible a feendly creature
MLT 752 That in the castel noon so hardy was
MLT 753 That any while dorste ther endure.
MLT 754 The mooder was an elf, by aventure
MLT 755 Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie,
MLT 756 And every wight hateth hir compaignye.
MLT 757 Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,
MLT 758 But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,
MLT 759 But of his owene hand he wroot agayn,
MLT 760 " Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore
MLT 761 To me that am now lerned in his loore!
MLT 762 Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;
MLT 763 My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.
MLT 764 " Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,
MLT 765 And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge.
MLT 766 Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir
MLT 767 Moore agreable than this to my likynge. "
MLT 768 This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,
MLT 769 Which to the messager was take soone,
MLT 770 And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone.
MLT 771 O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
MLT 772 Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay,
MLT 773 And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
MLT 774 Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay,
MLT 775 Thy face is turned in a newe array.
MLT 776 Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
MLT 777 Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.
MLT 778 O Donegild, I ne have noon Englissh digne
MLT 779 Unto thy malice and thy tirannye!
MLT 780 And therfore to the feend I thee resigne;
MLT 781 Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!
MLT 782 Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by God, I lye --
MLT 783 Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle,
MLT 784 Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle!
MLT 785 This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,
MLT 786 And at the kynges moodres court he lighte,
MLT 787 And she was of this messager ful fayn,
MLT 788 And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.
MLT 789 He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte;
MLT 790 He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse
MLT 791 Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.
MLT 792 Eft were his lettres stolen everychon,
MLT 793 And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:
MLT 794 " The king comandeth his constable anon,
MLT 795 Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse,
MLT 796 That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
MLT 797 Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde
MLT 798 Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde;
MLT 799 " But in the same ship as he hire fond,
MLT 800 Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,
MLT 801 He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond,
MLT 802 And charge hire that she never eft coome theere. "
MLT 803 O my Custance, wel may thy goost have feere,
MLT 804 And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance,
MLT 805 Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance.
MLT 806 This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
MLT 807 Unto the castel halt the nexte way,
MLT 808 And to the constable he the lettre took;
MLT 809 And whan that he this pitous lettre say,
MLT 810 Ful ofte he seyde, " Allas and weylaway! "
MLT 811 " Lord Crist, " quod he, " how may this world endure,
MLT 812 So ful of synne is many a creature?
MLT 813 " O myghty God, if that it be thy wille,
MLT 814 Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be
MLT 815 That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille,
MLT 816 And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
MLT 817 O goode Custance, allas, so wo is me
MLT 818 That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye
MLT 819 On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye. "
MLT 820 Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place
MLT 821 Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,
MLT 822 And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
MLT 823 The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
MLT 824 But nathelees she taketh in good entente
MLT 825 The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde,
MLT 826 She seyde, " Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde!
MLT 827 " He that me kepte fro the false blame
MLT 828 While I was on the lond amonges yow,
MLT 829 He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame
MLT 830 In salte see, althogh I se noght how.
MLT 831 As strong as evere he was, he is yet now.
MLT 832 In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,
MLT 833 That is to me my seyl and eek my steere. "
MLT 834 Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
MLT 835 And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde,
MLT 836 " Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm. "
MLT 837 With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde,
MLT 838 And over his litel eyen she it leyde,
MLT 839 And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
MLT 840 And into hevene hire eyen up she caste.
MLT 841 " Mooder, " quod she, " and mayde bright, Marie,
MLT 842 Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement
MLT 843 Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye,
MLT 844 For which thy child was on a croys yrent.
MLT 845 Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment;
MLT 846 Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
MLT 847 Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
MLT 848 " Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen,
MLT 849 And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay!
MLT 850 Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,
MLT 851 Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,
MLT 852 Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
MLT 853 Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
MLT 854 Rewest on every reweful in distresse.
MLT 855 " O litel child, allas! What is thy gilt,
MLT 856 That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee?
MLT 857 Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
MLT 858 O mercy, deere constable, " quod she,
MLT 859 " As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
MLT 860 And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame,
MLT 861 So kys hym ones in his fadres name! "
MLT 862 Therwith she looked bakward to the londe,
MLT 863 And seyde, " Farewel, housbonde routhelees! "
MLT 864 And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
MLT 865 Toward the ship -- hir folweth al the prees --
MLT 866 And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees;
MLT 867 And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente
MLT 868 She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente.
MLT 869 Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
MLT 870 Habundantly for hire ful longe space,
MLT 871 And othere necessaries that sholde nede
MLT 872 She hadde ynogh -- heryed be Goddes grace!
MLT 873 For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace,
MLT 874 And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye,
MLT 875 But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.
MLT 876 Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this
MLT 877 Unto his castel, of the which I tolde,
MLT 878 And asketh where his wyf and his child is.
MLT 879 The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
MLT 880 And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde
MLT 881 As ye han herd -- I kan telle it no bettre --
MLT 882 And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre,
MLT 883 And seyde, " Lord, as ye comanded me
MLT 884 Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein. "
MLT 885 This messager tormented was til he
MLT 886 Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn,
MLT 887 Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn;
MLT 888 And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge,
MLT 889 Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
MLT 890 The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,
MLT 891 And al the venym of this cursed dede,
MLT 892 But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.
MLT 893 Th' effect is this: that Alla, out of drede,
MLT 894 His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede --
MLT 895 For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.
MLT 896 Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!
MLT 897 The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day
MLT 898 Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also,
MLT 899 Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
MLT 900 But now wol I unto Custance go,
MLT 901 That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
MLT 902 Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde,
MLT 903 Er that hir ship approched unto londe.
MLT 904 Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
MLT 905 Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,
MLT 906 Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste.
MLT 907 Almyghty God, that saveth al mankynde,
MLT 908 Have on Custance and on hir child som mynde,
MLT 909 That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone,
MLT 910 In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.
MLT 911 Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight
MLT 912 To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
MLT 913 But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght,
MLT 914 The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! --
MLT 915 A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance,
MLT 916 Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde
MLT 917 Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
MLT 918 Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon;
MLT 919 Hir child cride, and she cride pitously.
MLT 920 But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon;
MLT 921 For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily
MLT 922 The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,
MLT 923 And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
MLT 924 And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
MLT 925 O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!
MLT 926 Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,
MLT 927 But verraily thou wolt his body shende.
MLT 928 Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde,
MLT 929 Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde
MLT 930 That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente
MLT 931 To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!
MLT 932 How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
MLT 933 Hire to defende agayn this renegat?
MLT 934 O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
MLT 935 Hou myghte David make thee so maat,
MLT 936 So yong and of armure so desolaat?
MLT 937 Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?
MLT 938 Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace.
MLT 939 Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse
MLT 940 To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente,
MLT 941 And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
MLT 942 The peple of God? I seye, for this entente,
MLT 943 That right as God spirit of vigour sente
MLT 944 To hem and saved hem out of meschance,
MLT 945 So sente he myght and vigour to Custance.
MLT 946 Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
MLT 947 Of Jubaltare and Septe, dryvynge ay
MLT 948 Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,
MLT 949 And somtyme est, ful many a wery day,
MLT 950 Til Cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! --
MLT 951 Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
MLT 952 To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
MLT 953 Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe,
MLT 954 And speke we of the Romayn Emperour,
MLT 955 That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe
MLT 956 The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
MLT 957 Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,
MLT 958 I mene the cursed wikked Sowdanesse
MLT 959 That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.
MLT 960 For which this Emperour hath sent anon
MLT 961 His senatour, with roial ordinance,
MLT 962 And othere lordes, God woot, many oon,
MLT 963 On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance.
MLT 964 They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance
MLT 965 Ful many a day; but shortly -- this is th' ende --
MLT 966 Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
MLT 967 This senatour repaireth with victorie
MLT 968 To Rome-ward, saillynge ful roially,
MLT 969 And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie,
MLT 970 In which Custance sit ful pitously.
MLT 971 Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why
MLT 972 She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye
MLT 973 Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
MLT 974 He bryngeth hire to Rome, and to his wyf
MLT 975 He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also;
MLT 976 And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
MLT 977 Thus kan Oure Lady bryngen out of wo
MLT 978 Woful Custance, and many another mo.
MLT 979 And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
MLT 980 In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace.
MLT 981 The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
MLT 982 But for al that she knew hire never the moore.
MLT 983 I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
MLT 984 But to kyng Alla, which I spak of yoore,
MLT 985 That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore,
MLT 986 I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
MLT 987 Under the senatoures governance.
MLT 988 Kyng Alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn,
MLT 989 Upon a day fil in swich repentance
MLT 990 That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,
MLT 991 To Rome he comth to receyven his penance;
MLT 992 And putte hym in the Popes ordinance
MLT 993 In heigh and logh, and Jhesu Crist bisoghte
MLT 994 Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
MLT 995 The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born,
MLT 996 How Alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage,
MLT 997 By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn;
MLT 998 For which the senatour, as was usage,
MLT 999 Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage,
MLT 1000 As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence
MLT 1001 As to doon any kyng a reverence.
MLT 1002 Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
MLT 1003 To kyng Alla, and he to hym also;
MLT 1004 Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour.
MLT 1005 And so bifel that in a day or two
MLT 1006 This senatour is to kyng Alla go
MLT 1007 To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 1008 Custances sone wente in his compaignye.
MLT 1009 Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custance
MLT 1010 This senatour hath lad this child to feeste;
MLT 1011 I may nat tellen every circumstance --
MLT 1012 Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste.
MLT 1013 But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste
MLT 1014 Biforn Alla, durynge the metes space,
MLT 1015 The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face.
MLT 1016 This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder,
MLT 1017 And to the senatour he seyde anon,
MLT 1018 " Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder? "
MLT 1019 " I noot, " quod he, " by God, and by Seint John!
MLT 1020 A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon
MLT 1021 That I of woot " -- and shortly, in a stounde,
MLT 1022 He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
MLT 1023 " But God woot, " quod this senatour also,
MLT 1024 " So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
MLT 1025 Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,
MLT 1026 Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.
MLT 1027 I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
MLT 1028 Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;
MLT 1029 There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke. "
MLT 1030 Now was this child as lyk unto Custance
MLT 1031 As possible is a creature to be.
MLT 1032 This Alla hath the face in remembrance
MLT 1033 Of dame Custance, and ther on mused he
MLT 1034 If that the childes mooder were aught she
MLT 1035 That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte,
MLT 1036 And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
MLT 1037 " Parfay, " thoghte he, " fantome is in myn heed!
MLT 1038 I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,
MLT 1039 That in the salte see my wyf is deed. "
MLT 1040 And afterward he made his argument:
MLT 1041 " What woot I if that Crist have hyder ysent
MLT 1042 My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
MLT 1043 To my contree fro thennes that she wente? "
MLT 1044 And after noon, hoom with the senatour
MLT 1045 Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.
MLT 1046 This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
MLT 1047 And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
MLT 1048 But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce
MLT 1049 Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;
MLT 1050 Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.
MLT 1051 Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,
MLT 1052 And weep that it was routhe for to see;
MLT 1053 For at the firste look he on hire sette
MLT 1054 He knew wel verraily that it was she.
MLT 1055 And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,
MLT 1056 So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,
MLT 1057 Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.
MLT 1058 Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte;
MLT 1059 He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.
MLT 1060 " Now God, " quod he, " and his halwes brighte
MLT 1061 So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
MLT 1062 That of youre harm as giltelees am I
MLT 1063 As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;
MLT 1064 Elles the feend me fecche out of this place! "
MLT 1065 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne,
MLT 1066 Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse;
MLT 1067 Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,
MLT 1068 Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
MLT 1069 I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;
MLT 1070 I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe,
MLT 1071 I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
MLT 1072 But finally, whan that the sothe is wist
MLT 1073 That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
MLT 1074 I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
MLT 1075 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two
MLT 1076 That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,
MLT 1077 Ther is noon lyk that any creature
MLT 1078 Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure.
MLT 1079 Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
MLT 1080 In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne,
MLT 1081 That he wolde preye hir fader specially
MLT 1082 That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
MLT 1083 To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
MLT 1084 She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye
MLT 1085 Unto hir fader no word of hire seye.
MLT 1086 Som men wolde seyn how that the child Maurice
MLT 1087 Dooth this message unto this Emperour;
MLT 1088 But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce
MLT 1089 To hym that was of so sovereyn honour
MLT 1090 As he that is of Cristen folk the flour,
MLT 1091 Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme
MLT 1092 He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.
MLT 1093 This Emperour hath graunted gentilly
MLT 1094 To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte;
MLT 1095 And wel rede I he looked bisily
MLT 1096 Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
MLT 1097 Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte,
MLT 1098 Arrayed for this feste in every wise
MLT 1099 As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.
MLT 1100 The morwe cam, and Alla gan hym dresse,
MLT 1101 And eek his wyf, this Emperour to meete;
MLT 1102 And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse.
MLT 1103 And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
MLT 1104 She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete.
MLT 1105 " Fader, " quod she, " youre yonge child Custance
MLT 1106 Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
MLT 1107 " I am youre doghter Custance, " quod she,
MLT 1108 " That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.
MLT 1109 It am I, fader, that in the salte see
MLT 1110 Was put allone and dampned for to dye.
MLT 1111 Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye!
MLT 1112 Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
MLT 1113 But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse. "
MLT 1114 Who kan the pitous joye tellen al
MLT 1115 Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?
MLT 1116 But of my tale make an ende I shal;
MLT 1117 The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
MLT 1118 This glade folk to dyner they hem sette;
MLT 1119 In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
MLT 1120 A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.
MLT 1121 This child Maurice was sithen Emperour
MLT 1122 Maad by the Pope, and lyved cristenly;
MLT 1123 To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
MLT 1124 But I lete al his storie passen by;
MLT 1125 Of Custance is my tale specially.
MLT 1126 In the olde Romayn geestes may men fynde
MLT 1127 Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde.
MLT 1128 This kyng Alla, whan he his tyme say,
MLT 1129 With his Custance, his hooly wyf so sweete,
MLT 1130 To Engelond been they come the righte way,
MLT 1131 Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete.
MLT 1132 But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete,
MLT 1133 Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
MLT 1134 Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
MLT 1135 Who lyved euere in swich delit o day
MLT 1136 That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
MLT 1137 Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
MLT 1138 Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?
MLT 1139 I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
MLT 1140 That litel while in joye or in plesance
MLT 1141 Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
MLT 1142 For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
MLT 1143 Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,
MLT 1144 Out of this world this kyng Alla he hente,
MLT 1145 For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse.
MLT 1146 Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse!
MLT 1147 And dame Custance, finally to seye,
MLT 1148 Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye.
MLT 1149 To Rome is come this hooly creature,
MLT 1150 And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde;
MLT 1151 Now is she scaped al hire aventure.
MLT 1152 And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde,
MLT 1153 Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
MLT 1154 Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe,
MLT 1155 She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe.
MLT 1156 In vertu and in hooly almus-dede
MLT 1157 They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende;
MLT 1158 Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede.
MLT 1159 And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende.
MLT 1160 Now Jhesu Crist, that of his myght may sende
MLT 1161 Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,
MLT 1162 And kepe us alle that been in this place! Amen
GP 1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
GP 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
GP 3 And bathed every veyne in swich licour
GP 4 Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
GP 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
GP 6 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
GP 7 The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
GP 8 Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne,
GP 9 And smale foweles maken melodye,
GP 10 That slepen al the nyght with open ye
GP 11 (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages),
GP 12 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
GP 13 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
GP 14 To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
GP 15 And specially from every shires ende
GP 16 Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
GP 17 The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
GP 18 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
GP 19 Bifil that in that seson on a day,
GP 20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
GP 21 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
GP 22 To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
GP 23 At nyght was come into that hostelrye
GP 24 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
GP 25 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
GP 26 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
GP 27 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
GP 28 The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
GP 29 And wel we weren esed atte beste.
GP 30 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
GP 31 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon
GP 32 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
GP 33 And made forward erly for to ryse,
GP 34 To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.
GP 35 But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
GP 36 Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
GP 37 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
GP 38 To telle yow al the condicioun
GP 39 Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
GP 40 And whiche they weren, and of what degree,
GP 41 And eek in what array that they were inne;
GP 42 And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.
GP 43 A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
GP 44 That fro the tyme that he first bigan
GP 45 To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
GP 46 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
GP 47 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
GP 48 And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
GP 49 As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
GP 50 And evere honoured for his worthynesse;
GP 51 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne.
GP 52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
GP 53 Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
GP 54 In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
GP 55 No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
GP 56 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
GP 57 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
GP 58 At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
GP 59 Whan they were wonne, and in the Grete See
GP 60 At many a noble armee hadde he be.
GP 61 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
GP 62 And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
GP 63 In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
GP 64 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
GP 65 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
GP 66 Agayn another hethen in Turkye;
GP 67 And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
GP 68 And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
GP 69 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
GP 70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
GP 71 In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
GP 72 He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
GP 73 But for to tellen yow of his array,
GP 74 His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
GP 75 Of fustian he wered a gypon
GP 76 Al bismotered with his habergeon,
GP 77 For he was late ycome from his viage,
GP 78 And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
GP 79 With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER,
GP 80 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,
GP 81 With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse.
GP 82 Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
GP 83 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
GP 84 And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe.
GP 85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
GP 86 In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
GP 87 And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
GP 88 In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
GP 89 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
GP 90 Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
GP 91 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;
GP 92 He was as fressh as is the month of May.
GP 93 Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
GP 94 Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
GP 95 He koude songes make and wel endite,
GP 96 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write.
GP 97 So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
GP 98 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
GP 99 Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,
GP 100 And carf biforn his fader at the table.
GP 101 A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo
GP 102 At that tyme, for hym liste ride so,
GP 103 And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
GP 104 A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
GP 105 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily
GP 106 (Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly;
GP 107 His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
GP 108 And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
GP 109 A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
GP 110 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage.
GP 111 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,
GP 112 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
GP 113 And on that oother syde a gay daggere
GP 114 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere;
GP 115 A Cristopher on his brest of silver sheene.
GP 116 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene;
GP 117 A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
GP 118 Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE,
GP 119 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;
GP 120 Hire gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy;
GP 121 And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
GP 122 Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
GP 123 Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
GP 124 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
GP 125 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
GP 126 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
GP 127 At mete wel ytaught was she with alle;
GP 128 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
GP 129 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
GP 130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
GP 131 That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
GP 132 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.
GP 133 Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene
GP 134 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
GP 135 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
GP 136 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.
GP 137 And sikerly she was of greet desport,
GP 138 And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,
GP 139 And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
GP 140 Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,
GP 141 And to ben holden digne of reverence.
GP 142 But for to speken of hire conscience,
GP 143 She was so charitable and so pitous
GP 144 She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
GP 145 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
GP 146 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
GP 147 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
GP 148 But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
GP 149 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
GP 150 And al was conscience and tendre herte.
GP 151 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,
GP 152 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
GP 153 Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed.
GP 154 But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
GP 155 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
GP 156 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
GP 157 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
GP 158 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
GP 159 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
GP 160 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
GP 161 On which ther was first write a crowned A,
GP 162 And after Amor vincit omnia.
GP 163 Another NONNE with hire hadde she,
GP 164 That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
GP 165 A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie,
GP 166 An outridere, that lovede venerie,
GP 167 A manly man, to been an abbot able.
GP 168 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable,
GP 169 And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
GP 170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere
GP 171 And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle
GP 172 Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle.
GP 173 The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit --
GP 174 By cause that it was old and somdel streit
GP 175 This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace,
GP 176 And heeld after the newe world the space.
GP 177 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
GP 178 That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
GP 179 Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
GP 180 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees --
GP 181 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
GP 182 But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
GP 183 And I seyde his opinion was good.
GP 184 What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,
GP 185 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
GP 186 Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
GP 187 As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?
GP 188 Lat Austyn have his swynk to hym reserved!
GP 189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
GP 190 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
GP 191 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
GP 192 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
GP 193 I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
GP 194 With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
GP 195 And for to festne his hood under his chyn,
GP 196 He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn;
GP 197 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
GP 198 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
GP 199 And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt.
GP 200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;
GP 201 His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,
GP 202 That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
GP 203 His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
GP 204 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;
GP 205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
GP 206 A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
GP 207 His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
GP 208 A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
GP 209 A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
GP 210 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
GP 211 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
GP 212 He hadde maad ful many a mariage
GP 213 Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
GP 214 Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
GP 215 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
GP 216 With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
GP 217 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
GP 218 For he hadde power of confessioun,
GP 219 As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
GP 220 For of his ordre he was licenciat.
GP 221 Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
GP 222 And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
GP 223 He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
GP 224 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
GP 225 For unto a povre ordre for to yive
GP 226 Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;
GP 227 For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
GP 228 He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
GP 229 For many a man so hard is of his herte,
GP 230 He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.
GP 231 Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
GP 232 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
GP 233 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
GP 234 And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
GP 235 And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
GP 236 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;
GP 237 Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
GP 238 His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;
GP 239 Therto he strong was as a champioun.
GP 240 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
GP 241 And everich hostiler and tappestere
GP 242 Bet than a lazar or a beggestere,
GP 243 For unto swich a worthy man as he
GP 244 Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
GP 245 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
GP 246 It is nat honest; it may nat avaunce,
GP 247 For to deelen with no swich poraille,
GP 248 But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
GP 249 And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
GP 250 Curteis he was and lowely of servyse;
GP 251 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
GP 252 He was the beste beggere in his hous;
GP 252a [And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt;
GP 252b Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;]
GP 253 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
GP 254 So plesaunt was his " In principio, "
GP 255 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente.
GP 256 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
GP 257 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
GP 258 In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
GP 259 For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
GP 260 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
GP 261 But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
GP 262 Of double worstede was his semycope,
GP 263 That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
GP 264 Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
GP 265 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
GP 266 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
GP 267 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
GP 268 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
GP 269 This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
GP 270 A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd,
GP 271 In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
GP 272 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,
GP 273 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
GP 274 His resons he spak ful solempnely,
GP 275 Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng.
GP 276 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng
GP 277 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
GP 278 Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
GP 279 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
GP 280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
GP 281 So estatly was he of his governaunce
GP 282 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
GP 283 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
GP 284 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
GP 285 A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,
GP 286 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
GP 287 As leene was his hors as is a rake,
GP 288 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
GP 289 But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.
GP 290 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy,
GP 291 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
GP 292 Ne was so worldly for to have office.
GP 293 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
GP 294 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
GP 295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie
GP 296 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
GP 297 But al be that he was a philosophre,
GP 298 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
GP 299 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
GP 300 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
GP 301 And bisily gan for the soules preye
GP 302 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
GP 303 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede.
GP 304 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
GP 305 And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
GP 306 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;
GP 307 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
GP 308 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
GP 309 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
GP 310 That often hadde been at the Parvys,
GP 311 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
GP 312 Discreet he was and of greet reverence --
GP 313 He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
GP 314 Justice he was ful often in assise,
GP 315 By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
GP 316 For his science and for his heigh renoun,
GP 317 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
GP 318 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
GP 319 Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
GP 320 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
GP 321 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
GP 322 And yet he semed bisier than he was.
GP 323 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
GP 324 That from the tyme of kyng William were falle.
GP 325 Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
GP 326 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
GP 327 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
GP 328 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
GP 329 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
GP 330 Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
GP 331 A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye.
GP 332 Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
GP 333 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
GP 334 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn;
GP 335 To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
GP 336 For he was Epicurus owene sone,
GP 337 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
GP 338 Was verray felicitee parfit.
GP 339 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
GP 340 Seint Julian he was in his contree.
GP 341 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
GP 342 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
GP 343 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
GP 344 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous
GP 345 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke;
GP 346 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke,
GP 347 After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
GP 348 So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
GP 349 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
GP 350 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
GP 351 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
GP 352 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere.
GP 353 His table dormant in his halle alway
GP 354 Stood redy covered al the longe day.
GP 355 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
GP 356 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
GP 357 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk
GP 358 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
GP 359 A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour.
GP 360 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.
GP 361 AN HABERDASSHERE and a CARPENTER,
GP 362 A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER --
GP 363 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
GP 364 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
GP 365 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
GP 366 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras
GP 367 But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
GP 368 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
GP 369 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
GP 370 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
GP 371 Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
GP 372 Was shaply for to been an alderman.
GP 373 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
GP 374 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
GP 375 And elles certeyn were they to blame.
GP 376 It is ful fair to been ycleped " madame, "
GP 377 And goon to vigilies al bifore,
GP 378 And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
GP 379 A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones
GP 380 To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
GP 381 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
GP 382 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.
GP 383 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
GP 384 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
GP 385 But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
GP 386 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
GP 387 For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
GP 388 A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
GP 389 For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
GP 390 He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe,
GP 391 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
GP 392 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
GP 393 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
GP 394 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
GP 395 And certeinly he was a good felawe.
GP 396 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
GP 397 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep.
GP 398 Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
GP 399 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
GP 400 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
GP 401 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
GP 402 His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
GP 403 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
GP 404 Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
GP 405 Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
GP 406 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
GP 407 He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
GP 408 Fro Gootlond to the cape of Fynystere,
GP 409 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
GP 410 His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne.
GP 411 With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK;
GP 412 In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
GP 413 To speke of phisik and of surgerye,
GP 414 For he was grounded in astronomye.
GP 415 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
GP 416 In houres by his magyk natureel.
GP 417 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
GP 418 Of his ymages for his pacient.
GP 419 He knew the cause of everich maladye,
GP 420 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
GP 421 And where they engendred, and of what humour.
GP 422 He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
GP 423 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote,
GP 424 Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.
GP 425 Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
GP 426 To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,
GP 427 For ech of hem made oother for to wynne --
GP 428 Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
GP 429 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
GP 430 And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,
GP 431 Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,
GP 432 Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
GP 433 Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
GP 434 Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
GP 435 Of his diete mesurable was he,
GP 436 For it was of no superfluitee,
GP 437 But of greet norissyng and digestible.
GP 438 His studie was but litel on the Bible.
GP 439 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
GP 440 Lyned with taffata and with sendal.
GP 441 And yet he was but esy of dispence;
GP 442 He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
GP 443 For gold in phisik is a cordial,
GP 444 Therefore he lovede gold in special.
GP 445 A good WIF was ther OF biside BATHE,
GP 446 But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe.
GP 447 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt
GP 448 She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
GP 449 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
GP 450 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
GP 451 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she
GP 452 That she was out of alle charitee.
GP 453 Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground;
GP 454 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
GP 455 That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed.
GP 456 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
GP 457 Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
GP 458 Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
GP 459 She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
GP 460 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
GP 461 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe --
GP 462 But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
GP 463 And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
GP 464 She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
GP 465 At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
GP 466 In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.
GP 467 She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
GP 468 Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
GP 469 Upon an amblere esily she sat,
GP 470 Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
GP 471 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
GP 472 A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
GP 473 And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
GP 474 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
GP 475 Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
GP 476 For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
GP 477 A good man was ther of religioun,
GP 478 And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN,
GP 479 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
GP 480 He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
GP 481 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
GP 482 His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
GP 483 Benygne he was, and wonder diligent,
GP 484 And in adversitee ful pacient,
GP 485 And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
GP 486 Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
GP 487 But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
GP 488 Unto his povre parisshens aboute
GP 489 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
GP 490 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
GP 491 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
GP 492 But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
GP 493 In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
GP 494 The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite,
GP 495 Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
GP 496 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
GP 497 That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
GP 498 Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
GP 499 And this figure he added eek therto,
GP 500 That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
GP 501 For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
GP 502 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
GP 503 And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
GP 504 A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
GP 505 Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
GP 506 By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
GP 507 He sette nat his benefice to hyre
GP 508 And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
GP 509 And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
GP 510 To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
GP 511 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
GP 512 But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
GP 513 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
GP 514 He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
GP 515 And though he hooly were and vertuous,
GP 516 He was to synful men nat despitous,
GP 517 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
GP 518 But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
GP 519 To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
GP 520 By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
GP 521 But it were any persone obstinat,
GP 522 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
GP 523 Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
GP 524 A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
GP 525 He waited after no pompe and reverence,
GP 526 Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
GP 527 But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
GP 528 He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve.
GP 529 With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,
GP 530 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
GP 531 A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
GP 532 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
GP 533 God loved he best with al his hoole herte
GP 534 At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
GP 535 And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
GP 536 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
GP 537 For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
GP 538 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
GP 539 His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
GP 540 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
GP 541 In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
GP 542 Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE,
GP 543 A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER also,
GP 544 A MAUNCIPLE, and myself -- ther were namo.
GP 545 The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
GP 546 Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
GP 547 That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
GP 548 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
GP 549 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
GP 550 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
GP 551 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
GP 552 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
GP 572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good
GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire
GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
GP 603 Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
GP 604 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
GP 605 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
GP 606 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
GP 607 With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
GP 608 He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
GP 609 Ful riche he was astored pryvely.
GP 610 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
GP 611 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
GP 612 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
GP 613 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster:
GP 614 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
GP 615 This Reve sat upon a ful good stot
GP 616 That was al pomely grey and highte Scot.
GP 617 A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
GP 618 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
GP 619 Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
GP 620 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
GP 621 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
GP 622 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
GP 623 A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
GP 624 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
GP 625 For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
GP 626 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
GP 627 With scalled browes blake and piled berd.
GP 628 Of his visage children were aferd.
GP 629 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
GP 630 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
GP 631 Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
GP 632 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
GP 633 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
GP 634 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
GP 635 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
GP 636 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
GP 637 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
GP 638 Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
GP 639 A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
GP 640 That he had lerned out of som decree --
GP 641 No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
GP 642 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
GP 643 Kan clepen " Watte " as wel as kan the pope.
GP 644 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
GP 645 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
GP 646 Ay " Questio quid iuris " wolde he crie.
GP 647 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
GP 648 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
GP 649 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
GP 650 A good felawe to have his concubyn
GP 651 A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
GP 652 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
GP 653 And if he foond owher a good felawe,
GP 654 He wolde techen him to have noon awe
GP 655 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
GP 656 But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
GP 657 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
GP 658 " Purs is the ercedekenes helle, " seyde he.
GP 659 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
GP 660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
GP 661 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith,
GP 662 And also war hym of a Significavit.
GP 663 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
GP 664 The yonge girles of the diocise,
GP 665 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
GP 666 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed,
GP 667 As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
GP 668 A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.
GP 669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
GP 670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
GP 671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
GP 672 Ful loude he soong " Com hider, love, to me! "
GP 673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
GP 674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
GP 675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
GP 676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
GP 677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
GP 678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
GP 679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
GP 680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
GP 681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
GP 682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
GP 683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
GP 684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
GP 685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
GP 686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
GP 687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
GP 688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
GP 689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
GP 690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
GP 691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
GP 692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware
GP 693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
GP 694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
GP 695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
GP 696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
GP 697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
GP 698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
GP 699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
GP 700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
GP 701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
GP 702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
GP 703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
GP 704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
GP 705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
GP 706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
GP 707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
GP 708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
GP 709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
GP 710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
GP 711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
GP 712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
GP 713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
GP 714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
GP 715 Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause,
GP 716 Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause
GP 717 Why that assembled was this compaignye
GP 718 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye
GP 719 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
GP 720 But now is tyme to yow for to telle
GP 721 How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
GP 722 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght;
GP 723 And after wol I telle of our viage
GP 724 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
GP 725 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
GP 726 That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye,
GP 727 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
GP 728 To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
GP 729 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
GP 730 For this ye knowen al so wel as I:
GP 731 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
GP 732 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
GP 733 Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
GP 734 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large,
GP 735 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
GP 736 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
GP 737 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
GP 738 He moot as wel seye o word as another.
GP 739 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
GP 740 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.
GP 741 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede,
GP 742 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
GP 743 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
GP 744 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
GP 745 Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
GP 746 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
GP 747 Greet chiere made oure Hoost us everichon,
GP 748 And to the soper sette he us anon.
GP 749 He served us with vitaille at the beste;
GP 750 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
GP 751 A semely man OURE HOOSTE was withalle
GP 752 For to been a marchal in an halle.
GP 753 A large man he was with eyen stepe --
GP 754 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe --
GP 755 Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
GP 756 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
GP 757 Eek therto he was right a myrie man;
GP 758 And after soper pleyen he bigan,
GP 759 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
GP 760 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,
GP 761 And seyde thus: " Now, lordynges, trewely,
GP 762 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
GP 763 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
GP 764 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
GP 765 Atones in this herberwe as is now.
GP 766 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
GP 767 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
GP 768 To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
GP 769 " Ye goon to Caunterbury -- God yow speede,
GP 770 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede!
GP 771 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
GP 772 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
GP 773 For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
GP 774 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
GP 775 And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
GP 776 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
GP 777 And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
GP 778 For to stonden at my juggement,
GP 779 And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
GP 780 Tomorwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
GP 781 Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
GP 782 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed!
GP 783 Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche. "
GP 784 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
GP 785 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
GP 786 And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
GP 787 And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
GP 788 " Lordynges, " quod he, " now herkneth for the beste;
GP 789 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
GP 790 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
GP 791 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
GP 792 In this viage shal telle tales tweye
GP 793 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
GP 794 And homward he shal tellen othere two,
GP 795 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
GP 796 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle --
GP 797 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
GP 798 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas --
GP 799 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
GP 800 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
GP 801 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
GP 802 And for to make yow the moore mury,
GP 803 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
GP 804 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
GP 805 And whoso wole my juggement withseye
GP 806 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
GP 807 And if ye vouche sauf that it be so,
GP 808 Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
GP 809 And I wol erly shape me therfore. "
GP 810 This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
GP 811 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
GP 812 That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
GP 813 And that he wolde been oure governour,
GP 814 And of oure tales juge and reportour,
GP 815 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
GP 816 And we wol reuled been at his devys
GP 817 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
GP 818 We been acorded to his juggement.
GP 819 And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
GP 820 We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
GP 821 Withouten any lenger taryynge.
GP 822 Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
GP 823 Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok,
GP 824 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok,
GP 825 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas
GP 826 Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas;
GP 827 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste
GP 828 And seyde, " Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste.
GP 829 Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde.
GP 830 If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
GP 831 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
GP 832 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
GP 833 Whoso be rebel to my juggement
GP 834 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
GP 835 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne;
GP 836 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
GP 837 Sire Knyght, " quod he, " my mayster and my lord,
GP 838 Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
GP 839 Cometh neer, " quod he, " my lady Prioresse.
GP 840 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse,
GP 841 Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man! "
GP 842 Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
GP 843 And shortly for to tellen as it was,
GP 844 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
GP 845 The sothe is this: the cut fil to the Knyght,
GP 846 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght,
GP 847 And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
GP 848 By foreward and by composicioun,
GP 849 As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
GP 850 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
GP 851 As he that wys was and obedient
GP 852 To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
GP 853 He seyde, " Syn I shal bigynne the game,
GP 854 What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
GP 855 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye. "
GP 856 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
GP 857 And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
GP 858 His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere.
KnT 859 Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
KnT 860 Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
KnT 861 Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
KnT 862 And in his tyme swich a conquerour
KnT 863 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
KnT 864 Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
KnT 865 What with his wysdom and his chivalrie,
KnT 866 He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
KnT 867 That whilom was ycleped Scithia,
KnT 868 And weddede the queene Ypolita,
KnT 869 And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree
KnT 870 With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
KnT 871 And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
KnT 872 And thus with victorie and with melodye
KnT 873 Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,
KnT 874 And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
KnT 875 And certes, if it nere to long to heere,
KnT 876 I wolde have toold yow fully the manere
KnT 877 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
KnT 878 By Theseus and by his chivalrye;
KnT 879 And of the grete bataille for the nones
KnT 880 Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones;
KnT 881 And how asseged was Ypolita,
KnT 882 The faire, hardy queene of Scithia;
KnT 883 And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,
KnT 884 And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge;
KnT 885 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
KnT 886 I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
KnT 887 And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
KnT 888 The remenant of the tale is long ynough.
KnT 889 I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
KnT 890 Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute,
KnT 891 And lat se now who shal the soper wynne;
KnT 892 And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne.
KnT 893 This duc, of whom I make mencioun,
KnT 894 Whan he was come almoost unto the toun,
KnT 895 In al his wele and in his mooste pride,
KnT 896 He was war, as he caste his eye aside,
KnT 897 Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye
KnT 898 A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,
KnT 899 Ech after oother clad in clothes blake;
KnT 900 But swich a cry and swich a wo they make
KnT 901 That in this world nys creature lyvynge
KnT 902 That herde swich another waymentynge;
KnT 903 And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten
KnT 904 Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
KnT 905 " What folk been ye, that at myn hom-comynge
KnT 906 Perturben so my feste with criynge? "
KnT 907 Quod Theseus. " Have ye so greet envye
KnT 908 Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye?
KnT 909 Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
KnT 910 And telleth me if it may been amended,
KnT 911 And why that ye been clothed thus in blak. "
KnT 912 The eldeste lady of hem alle spak,
KnT 913 Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere,
KnT 914 That it was routhe for to seen and heere;
KnT 915 She seyde, " Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven
KnT 916 Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven,
KnT 917 Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour,
KnT 918 But we biseken mercy and socour.
KnT 919 Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse!
KnT 920 Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse,
KnT 921 Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle,
KnT 922 For, certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle
KnT 923 That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.
KnT 924 Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
KnT 925 Thanked be Fortune and hire false wheel,
KnT 926 That noon estaat assureth to be weel.
KnT 927 And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence,
KnT 928 Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence
KnT 929 We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
KnT 930 Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy myght.
KnT 931 " I, wrecche, which that wepe and wayle thus,
KnT 932 Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus,
KnT 933 That starf at Thebes -- cursed be that day! --
KnT 934 And alle we that been in this array
KnT 935 And maken al this lamentacioun,
KnT 936 We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun,
KnT 937 Whil that the seege theraboute lay.
KnT 938 And yet now the olde Creon -- weylaway! --
KnT 939 That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
KnT 940 Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,
KnT 941 He, for despit and for his tirannye,
KnT 942 To do the dede bodyes vileynye
KnT 943 Of alle oure lordes whiche that been yslawe,
KnT 944 Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe,
KnT 945 And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,
KnT 946 Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent,
KnT 947 But maketh houndes ete hem in despit. "
KnT 948 And with that word, withouten moore respit,
KnT 949 They fillen gruf and criden pitously,
KnT 950 " Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy,
KnT 951 And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte. "
KnT 952 This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
KnT 953 With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
KnT 954 Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
KnT 955 Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat,
KnT 956 That whilom weren of so greet estaat;
KnT 957 And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
KnT 958 And hem conforteth in ful good entente,
KnT 959 And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
KnT 960 He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght
KnT 961 Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke
KnT 962 That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
KnT 963 How Creon was of Theseus yserved
KnT 964 As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
KnT 965 And right anoon, withouten moore abood,
KnT 966 His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
KnT 967 To Thebes-ward, and al his hoost biside.
KnT 968 No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
KnT 969 Ne take his ese fully half a day,
KnT 970 But onward on his wey that nyght he lay,
KnT 971 And sente anon Ypolita the queene,
KnT 972 And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
KnT 973 Unto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle,
KnT 974 And forth he rit; ther is namoore to telle.
KnT 975 The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe,
KnT 976 So shyneth in his white baner large
KnT 977 That alle the feeldes glyteren up and doun;
KnT 978 And by his baner born is his penoun
KnT 979 Of gold ful riche, in which ther was ybete
KnT 980 The Mynotaur, which that he wan in Crete.
KnT 981 Thus rit this duc, thus rit this conquerour,
KnT 982 And in his hoost of chivalrie the flour,
KnT 983 Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte
KnT 984 Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte to fighte.
KnT 985 But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
KnT 986 With Creon, which that was of Thebes kyng,
KnT 987 He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght
KnT 988 In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght;
KnT 989 And by assaut he wan the citee after,
KnT 990 And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter;
KnT 991 And to the ladyes he restored agayn
KnT 992 The bones of hir freendes that were slayn,
KnT 993 To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
KnT 994 But it were al to longe for to devyse
KnT 995 The grete clamour and the waymentynge
KnT 996 That the ladyes made at the brennynge
KnT 997 Of the bodies, and the grete honour
KnT 998 That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
KnT 999 Dooth to the ladyes, whan they from hym wente;
KnT 1000 But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
KnT 1001 Whan that this worthy duc, this Theseus,
KnT 1002 Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus,
KnT 1003 Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,
KnT 1004 And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
KnT 1005 To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede,
KnT 1006 Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
KnT 1007 The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
KnT 1008 After the bataille and disconfiture.
KnT 1009 And so bifel that in the taas they founde,
KnT 1010 Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,
KnT 1011 Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
KnT 1012 Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
KnT 1013 Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon,
KnT 1014 And that oother knyght highte Palamon.
KnT 1015 Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were,
KnT 1016 But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere
KnT 1017 The heraudes knewe hem best in special
KnT 1018 As they that weren of the blood roial
KnT 1019 Of Thebes, and of sustren two yborn.
KnT 1020 Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn,
KnT 1021 And han hem caried softe unto the tente
KnT 1022 Of Theseus; and he ful soone hem sente
KnT 1023 To Atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun
KnT 1024 Perpetuelly -- he nolde no raunsoun.
KnT 1025 And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon,
KnT 1026 He took his hoost, and hoom he rit anon
KnT 1027 With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
KnT 1028 And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour
KnT 1029 Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1030 And in a tour, in angwissh and in wo,
KnT 1031 This Palamon and his felawe Arcite
KnT 1032 For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.
KnT 1033 This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
KnT 1034 Till it fil ones, in a morwe of May,
KnT 1035 That Emelye, that fairer was to sene
KnT 1036 Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene,
KnT 1037 And fressher than the May with floures newe --
KnT 1038 For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
KnT 1039 I noot which was the fyner of hem two --
KnT 1040 Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,
KnT 1041 She was arisen and al redy dight,
KnT 1042 For May wole have no slogardie anyght.
KnT 1043 The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
KnT 1044 And maketh it out of his slep to sterte,
KnT 1045 And seith " Arys, and do thyn observaunce. "
KnT 1046 This maked Emelye have remembraunce
KnT 1047 To doon honour to May, and for to ryse.
KnT 1048 Yclothed was she fressh, for to devyse:
KnT 1049 Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
KnT 1050 Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse.
KnT 1051 And in the gardyn, at the sonne upriste,
KnT 1052 She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
KnT 1053 She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
KnT 1054 To make a subtil gerland for hire hede;
KnT 1055 And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong.
KnT 1056 The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong,
KnT 1057 Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun
KnT 1058 (Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun
KnT 1059 Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal),
KnT 1060 Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal
KnT 1061 Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
KnT 1062 Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge,
KnT 1063 And Palamoun, this woful prisoner,
KnT 1064 As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
KnT 1065 Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
KnT 1066 In which he al the noble citee seigh,
KnT 1067 And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene,
KnT 1068 Ther as this fresshe Emelye the shene
KnT 1069 Was in hire walk, and romed up and doun.
KnT 1070 This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun,
KnT 1071 Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro
KnT 1072 And to hymself compleynynge of his wo.
KnT 1073 That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, " allas! "
KnT 1074 And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
KnT 1075 That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
KnT 1076 Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
KnT 1077 He cast his eye upon Emelya,
KnT 1078 And therwithal he bleynte and cride, " A! "
KnT 1079 As though he stongen were unto the herte.
KnT 1080 And with that cry Arcite anon up sterte
KnT 1081 And seyde, " Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee,
KnT 1082 That art so pale and deedly on to see?
KnT 1083 Why cridestow? Who hath thee doon offence?
KnT 1084 For Goddes love, taak al in pacience
KnT 1085 Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
KnT 1086 Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
KnT 1087 Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
KnT 1088 Of Saturne, by som constellacioun,
KnT 1089 Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn;
KnT 1090 So stood the hevene whan that we were born.
KnT 1091 We moste endure it; this is the short and playn. "
KnT 1092 This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn,
KnT 1093 " Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
KnT 1094 Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun.
KnT 1095 This prison caused me nat for to crye,
KnT 1096 But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye
KnT 1097 Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
KnT 1098 The fairnesse of that lady that I see
KnT 1099 Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
KnT 1100 Is cause of al my criyng and my wo.
KnT 1101 I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
KnT 1102 But Venus is it soothly, as I gesse. "
KnT 1103 And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
KnT 1104 And seyde, " Venus, if it be thy wil
KnT 1105 Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
KnT 1106 Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
KnT 1107 Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
KnT 1108 And if so be my destynee be shapen
KnT 1109 By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
KnT 1110 Of oure lynage have som compassioun,
KnT 1111 That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye. "
KnT 1112 And with that word Arcite gan espye
KnT 1113 Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
KnT 1114 And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
KnT 1115 That, if that Palamon was wounded sore,
KnT 1116 Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or moore.
KnT 1117 And with a sigh he seyde pitously,
KnT 1118 " The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
KnT 1119 Of hire that rometh in the yonder place;
KnT 1120 And but I have hir mercy and hir grace,
KnT 1121 That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
KnT 1122 I nam but deed; ther nis namoore to seye. "
KnT 1123 This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
KnT 1124 Dispitously he looked and answerde,
KnT 1125 " Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley? "
KnT 1126 " Nay, " quod Arcite, " in ernest, by my fey!
KnT 1127 God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye. "
KnT 1128 This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.
KnT 1129 " It nere, " quod he, " to thee no greet honour
KnT 1130 For to be fals, ne for to be traitour
KnT 1131 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother
KnT 1132 Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother,
KnT 1133 That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
KnT 1134 Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
KnT 1135 Neither of us in love to hyndre oother,
KnT 1136 Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother,
KnT 1137 But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
KnT 1138 In every cas, as I shal forthren thee --
KnT 1139 This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
KnT 1140 I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.
KnT 1141 Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute,
KnT 1142 And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
KnT 1143 To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
KnT 1144 And evere shal til that myn herte sterve.
KnT 1145 Nay, certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so.
KnT 1146 I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo
KnT 1147 As to my conseil and my brother sworn
KnT 1148 To forthre me, as I have toold biforn.
KnT 1149 For which thou art ybounden as a knyght
KnT 1150 To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght,
KnT 1151 Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn. "
KnT 1152 This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn:
KnT 1153 " Thow shalt, " quod he, " be rather fals than I;
KnT 1154 And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,
KnT 1155 For paramour I loved hire first er thow.
KnT 1156 What wiltow seyen? Thou woost nat yet now
KnT 1157 Wheither she be a womman or goddesse!
KnT 1158 Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse,
KnT 1159 And myn is love as to a creature;
KnT 1160 For which I tolde thee myn aventure
KnT 1161 As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
KnT 1162 I pose that thow lovedest hire biforn;
KnT 1163 Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
KnT 1164 That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?'
KnT 1165 Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan,
KnT 1166 Than may be yeve to any erthely man;
KnT 1167 And therfore positif lawe and swich decree
KnT 1168 Is broken al day for love in ech degree.
KnT 1169 A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed;
KnT 1170 He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
KnT 1171 Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
KnT 1172 And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
KnT 1173 To stonden in hir grace; namoore shal I;
KnT 1174 For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily,
KnT 1175 That thou and I be dampned to prisoun
KnT 1176 Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
KnT 1177 We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon;
KnT 1178 They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon.
KnT 1179 Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe,
KnT 1180 And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe.
KnT 1181 And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
KnT 1182 Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
KnT 1183 Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shal;
KnT 1184 And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.
KnT 1185 Heere in this prisoun moote we endure,
KnT 1186 And everich of us take his aventure. "
KnT 1187 Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye,
KnT 1188 If that I hadde leyser for to seye;
KnT 1189 But to th' effect. It happed on a day,
KnT 1190 To telle it yow as shortly as I may,
KnT 1191 A worthy duc that highte Perotheus,
KnT 1192 That felawe was unto duc Theseus
KnT 1193 Syn thilke day that they were children lite,
KnT 1194 Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite,
KnT 1195 And for to pleye as he was wont to do;
KnT 1196 For in this world he loved no man so,
KnT 1197 And he loved hym als tendrely agayn.
KnT 1198 So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn,
KnT 1199 That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle,
KnT 1200 His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle --
KnT 1201 But of that storie list me nat to write.
KnT 1202 Duc Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
KnT 1203 And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere,
KnT 1204 And finally at requeste and preyere
KnT 1205 Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun,
KnT 1206 Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun
KnT 1207 Frely to goon wher that hym liste over al,
KnT 1208 In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.
KnT 1209 This was the forward, pleynly for t' endite,
KnT 1210 Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite:
KnT 1211 That if so were that Arcite were yfounde
KnT 1212 Evere in his lif, by day or nyght, oo stounde
KnT 1213 In any contree of this Theseus,
KnT 1214 And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
KnT 1215 That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
KnT 1216 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;
KnT 1217 But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde.
KnT 1218 Lat hym be war! His nekke lith to wedde.
KnT 1219 How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite!
KnT 1220 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte;
KnT 1221 He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously;
KnT 1222 To sleen hymself he waiteth prively.
KnT 1223 He seyde, " Allas that day that I was born!
KnT 1224 Now is my prisoun worse than biforn;
KnT 1225 Now is me shape eternally to dwelle
KnT 1226 Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
KnT 1227 Allas, that evere knew I Perotheus!
KnT 1228 For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus,
KnT 1229 Yfetered in his prisoun everemo.
KnT 1230 Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo.
KnT 1231 Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve,
KnT 1232 Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve,
KnT 1233 Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
KnT 1234 O deere cosyn Palamon, " quod he,
KnT 1235 " Thyn is the victorie of this aventure.
KnT 1236 Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure --
KnT 1237 In prison? Certes nay, but in paradys!
KnT 1238 Wel hath Fortune yturned thee the dys,
KnT 1239 That hast the sighte of hire, and I th' absence.
KnT 1240 For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence,
KnT 1241 And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
KnT 1242 That by som cas, syn Fortune is chaungeable,
KnT 1243 Thow maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne.
KnT 1244 But I, that am exiled and bareyne
KnT 1245 Of alle grace, and in so greet dispeir
KnT 1246 That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir,
KnT 1247 Ne creature that of hem maked is,
KnT 1248 That may me helpe or doon confort in this,
KnT 1249 Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse.
KnT 1250 Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!
KnT 1251 " Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
KnT 1252 On purveiaunce of God, or of Fortune,
KnT 1253 That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
KnT 1254 Wel bettre than they kan hemself devyse?
KnT 1255 Som man desireth for to han richesse,
KnT 1256 That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse;
KnT 1257 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
KnT 1258 That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
KnT 1259 Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
KnT 1260 We witen nat what thing we preyen heere;
KnT 1261 We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
KnT 1262 A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
KnT 1263 But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
KnT 1264 And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
KnT 1265 And certes, in this world so faren we;
KnT 1266 We seken faste after felicitee,
KnT 1267 But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
KnT 1268 Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
KnT 1269 That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
KnT 1270 That if I myghte escapen from prisoun,
KnT 1271 Thanne hadde I been in joye and parfit heele,
KnT 1272 Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
KnT 1273 Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye,
KnT 1274 I nam but deed; ther nys no remedye. "
KnT 1275 Upon that oother syde Palamon,
KnT 1276 Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
KnT 1277 Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
KnT 1278 Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.
KnT 1279 The pure fettres on his shynes grete
KnT 1280 Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete.
KnT 1281 " Allas, " quod he, " Arcita, cosyn myn,
KnT 1282 Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
KnT 1283 Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,
KnT 1284 And of my wo thow yevest litel charge.
KnT 1285 Thou mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
KnT 1286 Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede,
KnT 1287 And make a werre so sharp on this citee
KnT 1288 That by som aventure or some tretee
KnT 1289 Thow mayst have hire to lady and to wyf
KnT 1290 For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.
KnT 1291 For, as by wey of possibilitee,
KnT 1292 Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
KnT 1293 And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage
KnT 1294 Moore than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
KnT 1295 For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve,
KnT 1296 With al the wo that prison may me yive,
KnT 1297 And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also,
KnT 1298 That doubleth al my torment and my wo. "
KnT 1299 Therwith the fyr of jalousie up sterte
KnT 1300 Withinne his brest, and hente him by the herte
KnT 1301 So woodly that he lyk was to biholde
KnT 1302 The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
KnT 1303 Thanne seyde he, " O crueel goddes that governe
KnT 1304 This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
KnT 1305 And writen in the table of atthamaunt
KnT 1306 Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
KnT 1307 What is mankynde moore unto you holde
KnT 1308 Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde?
KnT 1309 For slayn is man right as another beest,
KnT 1310 And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest,
KnT 1311 And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
KnT 1312 And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee.
KnT 1313 " What governance is in this prescience,
KnT 1314 That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
KnT 1315 And yet encresseth this al my penaunce,
KnT 1316 That man is bounden to his observaunce,
KnT 1317 For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
KnT 1318 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.
KnT 1319 And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne;
KnT 1320 But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne,
KnT 1321 Though in this world he have care and wo.
KnT 1322 Withouten doute it may stonden so.
KnT 1323 The answere of this lete I to dyvynys,
KnT 1324 But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne ys.
KnT 1325 Allas, I se a serpent or a theef,
KnT 1326 That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
KnT 1327 Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne.
KnT 1328 But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne,
KnT 1329 And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood,
KnT 1330 That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood
KnT 1331 Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde;
KnT 1332 And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde
KnT 1333 For jalousie and fere of hym Arcite. "
KnT 1334 Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite,
KnT 1335 And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle,
KnT 1336 And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
KnT 1337 The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
KnT 1338 Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
KnT 1339 Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
KnT 1340 I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
KnT 1341 For, shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
KnT 1342 Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
KnT 1343 In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
KnT 1344 And Arcite is exiled upon his heed
KnT 1345 For everemo, as out of that contree,
KnT 1346 Ne nevere mo ne shal his lady see.
KnT 1347 Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
KnT 1348 Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
KnT 1349 That oon may seen his lady day by day,
KnT 1350 But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
KnT 1351 That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
KnT 1352 But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1353 Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
KnT 1354 For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
KnT 1355 Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was,
KnT 1356 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde " Allas! "
KnT 1357 For seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1358 And shortly to concluden al his wo,
KnT 1359 So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature
KnT 1360 That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
KnT 1361 His slep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft,
KnT 1362 That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft;
KnT 1363 His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde,
KnT 1364 His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde,
KnT 1365 And solitarie he was and evere allone,
KnT 1366 And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his mone;
KnT 1367 And if he herde song or instrument,
KnT 1368 Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.
KnT 1369 So feble eek were his spiritz, and so lowe,
KnT 1370 And chaunged so, that no man koude knowe
KnT 1371 His speche nor his voys, though men it herde.
KnT 1372 And in his geere for al the world he ferde
KnT 1373 Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye
KnT 1374 Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye,
KnT 1375 Engendred of humour malencolik
KnT 1376 Biforen, in his celle fantastik.
KnT 1377 And shortly, turned was al up so doun
KnT 1378 Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
KnT 1379 Of hym, this woful lovere daun Arcite.
KnT 1380 What sholde I al day of his wo endite?
KnT 1381 Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
KnT 1382 This crueel torment and this peyne and wo,
KnT 1383 At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
KnT 1384 Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde,
KnT 1385 Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie
KnT 1386 Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie.
KnT 1387 His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
KnT 1388 An hat he werede upon his heris brighte.
KnT 1389 Arrayed was this god, as he took keep,
KnT 1390 As he was whan that Argus took his sleep;
KnT 1391 And seyde hym thus: " To Atthenes shaltou wende,
KnT 1392 Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende. "
KnT 1393 And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.
KnT 1394 " Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte, "
KnT 1395 Quod he, " to Atthenes right now wol I fare,
KnT 1396 Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
KnT 1397 To se my lady, that I love and serve.
KnT 1398 In hire presence I recche nat to sterve. "
KnT 1399 And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
KnT 1400 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour,
KnT 1401 And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
KnT 1402 And right anon it ran hym in his mynde,
KnT 1403 That, sith his face was so disfigured
KnT 1404 Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
KnT 1405 He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe,
KnT 1406 Lyve in Atthenes everemoore unknowe,
KnT 1407 And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
KnT 1408 And right anon he chaunged his array,
KnT 1409 And cladde hym as a povre laborer,
KnT 1410 And al allone, save oonly a squier
KnT 1411 That knew his privetee and al his cas,
KnT 1412 Which was disgised povrely as he was,
KnT 1413 To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
KnT 1414 And to the court he wente upon a day,
KnT 1415 And at the gate he profreth his servyse
KnT 1416 To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
KnT 1417 And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
KnT 1418 He fil in office with a chamberleyn
KnT 1419 The which that dwellynge was with Emelye,
KnT 1420 For he was wys and koude soone espye,
KnT 1421 Of every servaunt, which that serveth here.
KnT 1422 Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere,
KnT 1423 For he was yong and myghty for the nones,
KnT 1424 And therto he was long and big of bones
KnT 1425 To doon that any wight kan hym devyse.
KnT 1426 A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
KnT 1427 Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte,
KnT 1428 And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
KnT 1429 But half so wel biloved a man as he
KnT 1430 Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree;
KnT 1431 He was so gentil of condicioun
KnT 1432 That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
KnT 1433 They seyden that it were a charitee
KnT 1434 That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
KnT 1435 And putten hym in worshipful servyse,
KnT 1436 Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
KnT 1437 And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
KnT 1438 Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,
KnT 1439 That Theseus hath taken hym so neer
KnT 1440 That of his chambre he made hym a squier,
KnT 1441 And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
KnT 1442 And eek men broghte hym out of his contree,
KnT 1443 From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely his rente;
KnT 1444 But honestly and slyly he it spente,
KnT 1445 That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
KnT 1446 And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde,
KnT 1447 And bar hym so, in pees and eek in werre,
KnT 1448 Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre.
KnT 1449 And in this blisse lete I now Arcite,
KnT 1450 And speke I wole of Palamon a lite.
KnT 1451 In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
KnT 1452 Thise seven yeer hath seten Palamoun
KnT 1453 Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.
KnT 1454 Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse
KnT 1455 But Palamon, that love destreyneth so
KnT 1456 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo?
KnT 1457 And eek therto he is a prisoner
KnT 1458 Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yer.
KnT 1459 Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely
KnT 1460 His martirdom? For sothe it am nat I;
KnT 1461 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
KnT 1462 It fel that in the seventhe yer, of May
KnT 1463 The thridde nyght (as olde bookes seyn,
KnT 1464 That al this storie tellen moore pleyn),
KnT 1465 Were it by aventure or destynee --
KnT 1466 As, whan a thyng is shapen, it shal be --
KnT 1467 That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun,
KnT 1468 By helpyng of a freend, brak his prisoun
KnT 1469 And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
KnT 1470 For he hadde yeve his gayler drynke so
KnT 1471 Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn,
KnT 1472 With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
KnT 1473 That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake,
KnT 1474 The gayler sleep; he myghte nat awake.
KnT 1475 And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may.
KnT 1476 The nyght was short and faste by the day
KnT 1477 That nedes cost he moot hymselven hyde,
KnT 1478 And til a grove faste ther bisyde
KnT 1479 With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamon.
KnT 1480 For, shortly, this was his opinion:
KnT 1481 That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day,
KnT 1482 And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
KnT 1483 To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
KnT 1484 On Theseus to helpe him to werreye;
KnT 1485 And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif
KnT 1486 Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf.
KnT 1487 This is th' effect and his entente pleyn.
KnT 1488 Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn,
KnT 1489 That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
KnT 1490 Til that Fortune had broght him in the snare.
KnT 1491 The bisy larke, messager of day,
KnT 1492 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
KnT 1493 And firy Phebus riseth up so bright
KnT 1494 That al the orient laugheth of the light,
KnT 1495 And with his stremes dryeth in the greves
KnT 1496 The silver dropes hangynge on the leves.
KnT 1497 And Arcita, that in the court roial
KnT 1498 With Theseus is squier principal,
KnT 1499 Is risen and looketh on the myrie day.
KnT 1500 And for to doon his observaunce to May,
KnT 1501 Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
KnT 1502 He on a courser, startlynge as the fir,
KnT 1503 Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,
KnT 1504 Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
KnT 1505 And to the grove of which that I yow tolde
KnT 1506 By aventure his wey he gan to holde
KnT 1507 To maken hym a gerland of the greves,
KnT 1508 Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leves,
KnT 1509 And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene:
KnT 1510 " May, with alle thy floures and thy grene,
KnT 1511 Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May,
KnT 1512 In hope that I som grene gete may. "
KnT 1513 And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
KnT 1514 Into the grove ful hastily he sterte,
KnT 1515 And in a path he rometh up and doun,
KnT 1516 Ther as by aventure this Palamoun
KnT 1517 Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se,
KnT 1518 For soore afered of his deeth was he.
KnT 1519 No thyng ne knew he that it was Arcite;
KnT 1520 God woot he wolde have trowed it ful lite.
KnT 1521 But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres,
KnT 1522 That " feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres. "
KnT 1523 It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene,
KnT 1524 For al day meeteth men at unset stevene.
KnT 1525 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe,
KnT 1526 That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
KnT 1527 For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
KnT 1528 Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille,
KnT 1529 And songen al the roundel lustily,
KnT 1530 Into a studie he fil sodeynly,
KnT 1531 As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
KnT 1532 Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
KnT 1533 Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
KnT 1534 Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle,
KnT 1535 Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
KnT 1536 Right so kan geery Venus overcaste
KnT 1537 The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
KnT 1538 Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
KnT 1539 Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike.
KnT 1540 Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to sike
KnT 1541 And sette hym doun withouten any moore.
KnT 1542 " Allas, " quod he, " that day that I was bore!
KnT 1543 How longe, Juno, thurgh thy crueltee,
KnT 1544 Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
KnT 1545 Allas, ybroght is to confusioun
KnT 1546 The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun --
KnT 1547 Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man
KnT 1548 That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan,
KnT 1549 And of the citee first was crouned kyng.
KnT 1550 Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng
KnT 1551 By verray ligne, as of the stok roial,
KnT 1552 And now I am so caytyf and so thral,
KnT 1553 That he that is my mortal enemy,
KnT 1554 I serve hym as his squier povrely.
KnT 1555 And yet dooth Juno me wel moore shame,
KnT 1556 For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name;
KnT 1557 But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite,
KnT 1558 Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte.
KnT 1559 Allas, thou felle Mars! Allas, Juno!
KnT 1560 Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo,
KnT 1561 Save oonly me and wrecched Palamoun,
KnT 1562 That Theseus martireth in prisoun.
KnT 1563 And over al this, to sleen me outrely
KnT 1564 Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly
KnT 1565 Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte
KnT 1566 That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
KnT 1567 Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye!
KnT 1568 Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.
KnT 1569 Of al the remenant of myn oother care
KnT 1570 Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare,
KnT 1571 So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce. "
KnT 1572 And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
KnT 1573 A longe tyme, and after he up sterte.
KnT 1574 This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
KnT 1575 He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde,
KnT 1576 For ire he quook; no lenger wolde he byde.
KnT 1577 And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
KnT 1578 As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
KnT 1579 He stirte hym up out of the buskes thikke
KnT 1580 And seide: " Arcite, false traytour wikke,
KnT 1581 Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
KnT 1582 For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
KnT 1583 And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn,
KnT 1584 As I ful ofte have told thee heerbiforn,
KnT 1585 And hast byjaped heere duc Theseus,
KnT 1586 And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus!
KnT 1587 I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
KnT 1588 Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye,
KnT 1589 But I wol love hire oonly and namo;
KnT 1590 For I am Palamon, thy mortal foo.
KnT 1591 And though that I no wepene have in this place,
KnT 1592 But out of prison am astert by grace,
KnT 1593 I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye,
KnT 1594 Or thow ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
KnT 1595 Chees which thou wolt, or thou shalt nat asterte! "
KnT 1596 This Arcite, with ful despitous herte,
KnT 1597 Whan he hym knew, and hadde his tale herd,
KnT 1598 As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd,
KnT 1599 And seyde thus: " By God that sit above,
KnT 1600 Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love,
KnT 1601 And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
KnT 1602 Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
KnT 1603 That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
KnT 1604 For I defye the seurete and the bond
KnT 1605 Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee.
KnT 1606 What! Verray fool, thynk wel that love is free,
KnT 1607 And I wol love hire maugree al thy myght!
KnT 1608 But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght
KnT 1609 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
KnT 1610 Have heer my trouthe; tomorwe I wol nat faille,
KnT 1611 Withoute wityng of any oother wight,
KnT 1612 That heere I wol be founden as a knyght,
KnT 1613 And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee;
KnT 1614 And ches the beste, and leef the worste for me.
KnT 1615 And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
KnT 1616 Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge.
KnT 1617 And if so be that thou my lady wynne,
KnT 1618 And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
KnT 1619 Thow mayst wel have thy lady as for me. "
KnT 1620 This Palamon answerde, " I graunte it thee. "
KnT 1621 And thus they been departed til amorwe,
KnT 1622 Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
KnT 1623 O Cupide, out of alle charitee!
KnT 1624 O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
KnT 1625 Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe
KnT 1626 Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
KnT 1627 Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun.
KnT 1628 Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
KnT 1629 And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
KnT 1630 Ful prively two harneys hath he dight,
KnT 1631 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
KnT 1632 The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne;
KnT 1633 And on his hors, allone as he was born,
KnT 1634 He carieth al the harneys hym biforn.
KnT 1635 And in the grove, at tyme and place yset,
KnT 1636 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
KnT 1637 To chaungen gan the colour in hir face;
KnT 1638 Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
KnT 1639 That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
KnT 1640 Whan hunted is the leon or the bere,
KnT 1641 And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves,
KnT 1642 And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
KnT 1643 And thynketh, " Heere cometh my mortal enemy!
KnT 1644 Withoute faille, he moot be deed, or I,
KnT 1645 For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe,
KnT 1646 Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe. "
KnT 1647 So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
KnT 1648 As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
KnT 1649 Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng,
KnT 1650 But streight, withouten word or rehersyng,
KnT 1651 Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother
KnT 1652 As freendly as he were his owene brother;
KnT 1653 And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
KnT 1654 They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
KnT 1655 Thou myghtest wene that this Palamon
KnT 1656 In his fightyng were a wood leon,
KnT 1657 And as a crueel tigre was Arcite;
KnT 1658 As wilde bores gonne they to smyte,
KnT 1659 That frothen whit as foom for ire wood.
KnT 1660 Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
KnT 1661 And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
KnT 1662 And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle.
KnT 1663 The destinee, ministre general,
KnT 1664 That executeth in the world over al
KnT 1665 The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn,
KnT 1666 So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
KnT 1667 The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
KnT 1668 Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day
KnT 1669 That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
KnT 1670 For certeinly, oure appetites heer,
KnT 1671 Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
KnT 1672 Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
KnT 1673 This mene I now by myghty Theseus,
KnT 1674 That for to hunten is so desirus,
KnT 1675 And namely at the grete hert in May,
KnT 1676 That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
KnT 1677 That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde
KnT 1678 With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.
KnT 1679 For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
KnT 1680 That it is al his joye and appetit
KnT 1681 To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
KnT 1682 For after Mars he serveth now Dyane.
KnT 1683 Cleer was the day, as I have toold er this,
KnT 1684 And Theseus with alle joye and blis,
KnT 1685 With his Ypolita, the faire queene,
KnT 1686 And Emelye, clothed al in grene,
KnT 1687 On huntyng be they riden roially.
KnT 1688 And to the grove that stood ful faste by,
KnT 1689 In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde,
KnT 1690 Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde.
KnT 1691 And to the launde he rideth hym ful right,
KnT 1692 For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
KnT 1693 And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
KnT 1694 This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
KnT 1695 With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
KnT 1696 And whan this duc was come unto the launde,
KnT 1697 Under the sonne he looketh, and anon
KnT 1698 He was war of Arcite and Palamon,
KnT 1699 That foughten breme as it were bores two.
KnT 1700 The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro
KnT 1701 So hidously that with the leeste strook
KnT 1702 It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
KnT 1703 But what they were, no thyng he ne woot.
KnT 1704 This duc his courser with his spores smoot,
KnT 1705 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two,
KnT 1706 And pulled out a swerd and cride, " Hoo!
KnT 1707 Namoore, up peyne of lesynge of youre heed!
KnT 1708 By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed
KnT 1709 That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
KnT 1710 But telleth me what myster men ye been,
KnT 1711 That been so hardy for to fighten heere
KnT 1712 Withouten juge or oother officere,
KnT 1713 As it were in a lystes roially. "
KnT 1714 This Palamon answerde hastily
KnT 1715 And seyde, " Sire, what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1716 We have the deeth disserved bothe two.
KnT 1717 Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
KnT 1718 That been encombred of oure owene lyves;
KnT 1719 And as thou art a rightful lord and juge,
KnT 1720 Ne yif us neither mercy ne refuge,
KnT 1721 But sle me first, for seinte charitee!
KnT 1722 But sle my felawe eek as wel as me;
KnT 1723 Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite,
KnT 1724 This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite,
KnT 1725 That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
KnT 1726 For which he hath deserved to be deed.
KnT 1727 For this is he that cam unto thy gate
KnT 1728 And seyde that he highte Philostrate.
KnT 1729 Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer,
KnT 1730 And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier;
KnT 1731 And this is he that loveth Emelye.
KnT 1732 For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
KnT 1733 I make pleynly my confessioun
KnT 1734 That I am thilke woful Palamoun
KnT 1735 That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly.
KnT 1736 I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
KnT 1737 That loveth so hoote Emelye the brighte
KnT 1738 That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
KnT 1739 Wherfore I axe deeth and my juwise;
KnT 1740 But sle my felawe in the same wise,
KnT 1741 For bothe han we deserved to be slayn. "
KnT 1742 This worthy duc answerde anon agayn,
KnT 1743 And seyde, " This is a short conclusioun.
KnT 1744 Youre owene mouth, by youre confessioun,
KnT 1745 Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde;
KnT 1746 It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
KnT 1747 Ye shal be deed, by myghty Mars the rede! "
KnT 1748 The queene anon, for verray wommanhede,
KnT 1749 Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye,
KnT 1750 And alle the ladyes in the compaignye.
KnT 1751 Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
KnT 1752 That evere swich a chaunce sholde falle,
KnT 1753 For gentil men they were of greet estaat,
KnT 1754 And no thyng but for love was this debaat;
KnT 1755 And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore,
KnT 1756 And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore,
KnT 1757 " Have mercy, Lord, upon us wommen alle! "
KnT 1758 And on hir bare knees adoun they falle
KnT 1759 And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood;
KnT 1760 Til at the laste aslaked was his mood,
KnT 1761 For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
KnT 1762 And though he first for ire quook and sterte,
KnT 1763 He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
KnT 1764 The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
KnT 1765 And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
KnT 1766 Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
KnT 1767 As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
KnT 1768 Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
KnT 1769 And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
KnT 1770 And eek his herte hadde compassioun
KnT 1771 Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon,
KnT 1772 And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon,
KnT 1773 And softe unto hymself he seyde, " Fy
KnT 1774 Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
KnT 1775 But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
KnT 1776 To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
KnT 1777 As wel as to a proud despitous man
KnT 1778 That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
KnT 1779 That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
KnT 1780 That in swich cas kan no divisioun
KnT 1781 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon. "
KnT 1782 And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
KnT 1783 He gan to looken up with eyen lighte
KnT 1784 And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
KnT 1785 " The god of love, a benedicite!
KnT 1786 How myghty and how greet a lord is he!
KnT 1787 Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
KnT 1788 He may be cleped a god for his myracles,
KnT 1789 For he kan maken, at his owene gyse,
KnT 1790 Of everich herte as that hym list divyse.
KnT 1791 Lo heere this Arcite and this Palamoun,
KnT 1792 That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
KnT 1793 And myghte han lyved in Thebes roially,
KnT 1794 And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
KnT 1795 And that hir deth lith in my myght also,
KnT 1796 And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
KnT 1797 Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
KnT 1798 Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?
KnT 1799 Who may been a fool but if he love?
KnT 1800 Bihoold, for Goddes sake that sit above,
KnT 1801 Se how they blede! Be they noght wel arrayed?
KnT 1802 Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, ypayed
KnT 1803 Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
KnT 1804 And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
KnT 1805 That serven love, for aught that may bifalle.
KnT 1806 But this is yet the beste game of alle,
KnT 1807 That she for whom they han this jolitee
KnT 1808 Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.
KnT 1809 She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
KnT 1810 By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare!
KnT 1811 But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
KnT 1812 A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold --
KnT 1813 I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
KnT 1814 For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
KnT 1815 And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne
KnT 1816 And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
KnT 1817 As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
KnT 1818 I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas,
KnT 1819 At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere,
KnT 1820 And eek of Emelye, my suster deere.
KnT 1821 And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere
KnT 1822 That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere,
KnT 1823 Ne make werre upon me nyght ne day,
KnT 1824 But been my freendes in all that ye may.
KnT 1825 I yow foryeve this trespas every deel. "
KnT 1826 And they hym sworen his axyng faire and weel,
KnT 1827 And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
KnT 1828 And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:
KnT 1829 " To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
KnT 1830 Though that she were a queene or a princesse,
KnT 1831 Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees,
KnT 1832 To wedden whan tyme is; but nathelees --
KnT 1833 I speke as for my suster Emelye,
KnT 1834 For whom ye have this strif and jalousye --
KnT 1835 Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
KnT 1836 Atones, though ye fighten everemo,
KnT 1837 That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief,
KnT 1838 He moot go pipen in an yvy leef;
KnT 1839 This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
KnT 1840 Al be ye never so jalouse ne so wrothe.
KnT 1841 And forthy I yow putte in this degree,
KnT 1842 That ech of yow shal have his destynee
KnT 1843 As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse;
KnT 1844 Lo, heere youre ende of that I shal devyse.
KnT 1845 My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun,
KnT 1846 Withouten any repplicacioun --
KnT 1847 If that you liketh, take it for the beste:
KnT 1848 That everich of you shal goon where hym leste
KnT 1849 Frely, withouten raunson or daunger,
KnT 1850 And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner,
KnT 1851 Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
KnT 1852 Armed for lystes up at alle rightes,
KnT 1853 Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
KnT 1854 And this bihote I yow withouten faille,
KnT 1855 Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knyght,
KnT 1856 That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght --
KnT 1857 This is to seyn, that wheither he or thow
KnT 1858 May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
KnT 1859 Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryve,
KnT 1860 Thanne shal I yeve Emelya to wyve
KnT 1861 To whom that Fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
KnT 1862 The lystes shal I maken in this place,
KnT 1863 And God so wisly on my soule rewe
KnT 1864 As I shal evene juge been and trewe.
KnT 1865 Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken,
KnT 1866 That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
KnT 1867 And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd,
KnT 1868 Seyeth youre avys, and holdeth you apayd.
KnT 1869 This is youre ende and youre conclusioun. "
KnT 1870 Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun?
KnT 1871 Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite?
KnT 1872 Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite,
KnT 1873 The joye that is maked in the place
KnT 1874 Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
KnT 1875 But doun on knees wente every maner wight,
KnT 1876 And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght,
KnT 1877 And namely the Thebans often sithe.
KnT 1878 And thus with good hope and with herte blithe
KnT 1879 They taken hir leve, and homward gonne they ride
KnT 1880 To Thebes with his olde walles wyde.
KnT 1881 I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
KnT 1882 If I foryete to tellen the dispence
KnT 1883 Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily
KnT 1884 To maken up the lystes roially,
KnT 1885 That swich a noble theatre as it was
KnT 1886 I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas.
KnT 1887 The circuit a myle was aboute,
KnT 1888 Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute.
KnT 1889 Round was the shap, in manere of compas,
KnT 1890 Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas,
KnT 1891 That whan a man was set on o degree,
KnT 1892 He letted nat his felawe for to see.
KnT 1893 Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,
KnT 1894 Westward right swich another in the opposit.
KnT 1895 And shortly to concluden, swich a place
KnT 1896 Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
KnT 1897 For in the lond ther was no crafty man
KnT 1898 That geometrie or ars-metrike kan,
KnT 1899 Ne portreyour, ne kervere of ymages,
KnT 1900 That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages
KnT 1901 The theatre for to maken and devyse.
KnT 1902 And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise,
KnT 1903 He estward hath, upon the gate above,
KnT 1904 In worshipe of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 1905 Doon make an auter and an oratorie;
KnT 1906 And on the gate westward, in memorie
KnT 1907 Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
KnT 1908 That coste largely of gold a fother.
KnT 1909 And northward, in a touret on the wal,
KnT 1910 Of alabastre whit and reed coral,
KnT 1911 An oratorie, riche for to see,
KnT 1912 In worshipe of Dyane of chastitee,
KnT 1913 Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse.
KnT 1914 But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
KnT 1915 The noble kervyng and the portreitures,
KnT 1916 The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures
KnT 1917 That weren in thise oratories thre.
KnT 1918 First in the temple of Venus maystow se
KnT 1919 Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
KnT 1920 The broken slepes, and the sikes colde,
KnT 1921 The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
KnT 1922 The firy strokes of the desirynge
KnT 1923 That loves servantz in this lyf enduren;
KnT 1924 The othes that hir covenantz assuren;
KnT 1925 Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse,
KnT 1926 Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse,
KnT 1927 Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye,
KnT 1928 Despense, Bisynesse, and Jalousye,
KnT 1929 That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland,
KnT 1930 And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand;
KnT 1931 Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
KnT 1932 Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
KnT 1933 Of love, which that I rekned and rekne shal,
KnT 1934 By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
KnT 1935 And mo than I kan make of mencioun.
KnT 1936 For soothly al the mount of Citheroun,
KnT 1937 Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
KnT 1938 Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
KnT 1939 With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
KnT 1940 Nat was foryeten the porter, Ydelnesse,
KnT 1941 Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
KnT 1942 Ne yet the folye of kyng Salomon,
KnT 1943 Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules --
KnT 1944 Th' enchauntementz of Medea and Circes --
KnT 1945 Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage,
KnT 1946 The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage.
KnT 1947 Thus may ye seen that wysdom ne richesse,
KnT 1948 Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,
KnT 1949 Ne may with Venus holde champartie,
KnT 1950 For as hir list the world than may she gye.
KnT 1951 Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
KnT 1952 Til they for wo ful ofte seyde " allas! "
KnT 1953 Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
KnT 1954 And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
KnT 1955 The statue of Venus, glorious for to se,
KnT 1956 Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
KnT 1957 And fro the navele doun al covered was
KnT 1958 With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
KnT 1959 A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
KnT 1960 And on hir heed, ful semely for to se,
KnT 1961 A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge;
KnT 1962 Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
KnT 1963 Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido;
KnT 1964 Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
KnT 1965 And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
KnT 1966 A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
KnT 1967 Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
KnT 1968 The portreiture that was upon the wal
KnT 1969 Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede?
KnT 1970 Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede,
KnT 1971 Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
KnT 1972 That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
KnT 1973 In thilke colde, frosty regioun
KnT 1974 Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
KnT 1975 First on the wal was peynted a forest,
KnT 1976 In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
KnT 1977 With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,
KnT 1978 Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,
KnT 1979 In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough,
KnT 1980 As though a storm sholde bresten every bough.
KnT 1981 And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
KnT 1982 Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente,
KnT 1983 Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
KnT 1984 Was long and streit, and gastly for to see.
KnT 1985 And therout came a rage and swich a veze
KnT 1986 That it made al the gate for to rese.
KnT 1987 The northren lyght in at the dores shoon,
KnT 1988 For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon,
KnT 1989 Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
KnT 1990 The dore was al of adamant eterne,
KnT 1991 Yclenched overthwart and endelong
KnT 1992 With iren tough; and for to make it strong,
KnT 1993 Every pyler, the temple to sustene,
KnT 1994 Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
KnT 1995 Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng
KnT 1996 Of Felonye, and al the compassyng;
KnT 1997 The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede;
KnT 1998 The pykepurs, and eek the pale Drede;
KnT 1999 The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
KnT 2000 The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
KnT 2001 The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
KnT 2002 The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
KnT 2003 Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.
KnT 2004 Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
KnT 2005 The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther --
KnT 2006 His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer --
KnT 2007 The nayl ydryven in the shode anyght;
KnT 2008 The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright.
KnT 2009 Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce,
KnT 2010 With disconfort and sory contenaunce.
KnT 2011 Yet saugh I Woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
KnT 2012 Armed Compleint, Outhees, and fiers Outrage;
KnT 2013 The careyne in the busk, with throte ycorve;
KnT 2014 A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm ystorve;
KnT 2015 The tiraunt, with the pray by force yraft;
KnT 2016 The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
KnT 2017 Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
KnT 2018 The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;
KnT 2019 The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
KnT 2020 The cook yscalded, for al his longe ladel.
KnT 2021 Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte.
KnT 2022 The cartere overryden with his carte --
KnT 2023 Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
KnT 2024 Ther were also, of Martes divisioun,
KnT 2025 The barbour, and the bocher, and the smyth,
KnT 2026 That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
KnT 2027 And al above, depeynted in a tour,
KnT 2028 Saugh I Conquest, sittynge in greet honour,
KnT 2029 With the sharpe swerd over his heed
KnT 2030 Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.
KnT 2031 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius,
KnT 2032 Of grete Nero, and of Antonius;
KnT 2033 Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
KnT 2034 Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn
KnT 2035 By manasynge of Mars, right by figure;
KnT 2036 So was it shewed in that portreiture,
KnT 2037 As is depeynted in the sterres above
KnT 2038 Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
KnT 2039 Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde;
KnT 2040 I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde.
KnT 2041 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood
KnT 2042 Armed, and looked grym as he were wood;
KnT 2043 And over his heed ther shynen two figures
KnT 2044 Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
KnT 2045 That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus --
KnT 2046 This god of armes was arrayed thus.
KnT 2047 A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
KnT 2048 With eyen rede, and of a man he eet;
KnT 2049 With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie
KnT 2050 In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie.
KnT 2051 Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste,
KnT 2052 As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste,
KnT 2053 To telle yow al the descripsioun.
KnT 2054 Depeynted been the walles up and doun
KnT 2055 Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
KnT 2056 Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
KnT 2057 Whan that Diane agreved was with here,
KnT 2058 Was turned from a womman til a bere,
KnT 2059 And after was she maad the loode-sterre.
KnT 2060 Thus was it peynted; I kan sey yow no ferre.
KnT 2061 Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
KnT 2062 Ther saugh I Dane, yturned til a tree --
KnT 2063 I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
KnT 2064 But Penneus doghter, which that highte Dane.
KnT 2065 Ther saugh I Attheon an hert ymaked,
KnT 2066 For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked;
KnT 2067 I saugh how that his houndes have hym caught
KnT 2068 And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
KnT 2069 Yet peynted was a litel forther moor
KnT 2070 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor,
KnT 2071 And Meleagre, and many another mo,
KnT 2072 For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
KnT 2073 Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
KnT 2074 The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
KnT 2075 This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet,
KnT 2076 With smale houndes al aboute hir feet,
KnT 2077 And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone --
KnT 2078 Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone.
KnT 2079 In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
KnT 2080 With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas.
KnT 2081 Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun
KnT 2082 Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
KnT 2083 A womman travaillynge was hire biforn;
KnT 2084 But for hir child so longe was unborn,
KnT 2085 Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle
KnT 2086 And seyde, " Help, for thou mayst best of alle! "
KnT 2087 Wel koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte;
KnT 2088 With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
KnT 2089 Now been thise lystes maad, and Theseus,
KnT 2090 That at his grete cost arrayed thus
KnT 2091 The temples and the theatre every deel,
KnT 2092 Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.
KnT 2093 But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,
KnT 2094 And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2095 The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
KnT 2096 That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
KnT 2097 The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
KnT 2098 And til Atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
KnT 2099 Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
KnT 2100 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
KnT 2101 And sikerly ther trowed many a man
KnT 2102 That nevere, sithen that the world bigan,
KnT 2103 As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
KnT 2104 As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
KnT 2105 Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
KnT 2106 For every wight that lovede chivalrye
KnT 2107 And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
KnT 2108 Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
KnT 2109 And wel was hym that therto chosen was,
KnT 2110 For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,
KnT 2111 Ye knowen wel that every lusty knyght
KnT 2112 That loveth paramours and hath his myght,
KnT 2113 Were it in Engelond or elleswhere,
KnT 2114 They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there --
KnT 2115 To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
KnT 2116 It were a lusty sighte for to see.
KnT 2117 And right so ferden they with Palamon.
KnT 2118 With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on;
KnT 2119 Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun,
KnT 2120 And in a brestplate and a light gypoun;
KnT 2121 And som wol have a paire plates large;
KnT 2122 And som wol have a Pruce sheeld or a targe;
KnT 2123 Som wol ben armed on his legges weel,
KnT 2124 And have an ax, and som a mace of steel --
KnT 2125 Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.
KnT 2126 Armed were they, as I have yow told,
KnT 2127 Everych after his opinioun.
KnT 2128 Ther maistow seen, comynge with Palamoun,
KnT 2129 Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace.
KnT 2130 Blak was his berd, and manly was his face;
KnT 2131 The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
KnT 2132 They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed,
KnT 2133 And lik a grifphon looked he aboute,
KnT 2134 With kempe heeris on his browes stoute;
KnT 2135 His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
KnT 2136 His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe;
KnT 2137 And as the gyse was in his contree,
KnT 2138 Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he,
KnT 2139 With foure white boles in the trays.
KnT 2140 In stede of cote-armure over his harnays,
KnT 2141 With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold,
KnT 2142 He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak for old.
KnT 2143 His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak;
KnT 2144 As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak;
KnT 2145 A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
KnT 2146 Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
KnT 2147 Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
KnT 2148 Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz,
KnT 2149 Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
KnT 2150 To hunten at the leoun or the deer,
KnT 2151 And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
KnT 2152 Colered of gold, and tourettes fyled rounde.
KnT 2153 An hundred lordes hadde he in his route,
KnT 2154 Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
KnT 2155 With Arcita, in stories as men fynde,
KnT 2156 The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde,
KnT 2157 Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,
KnT 2158 Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
KnT 2159 Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars.
KnT 2160 His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars
KnT 2161 Couched with perles white and rounde and grete;
KnT 2162 His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete;
KnT 2163 A mantelet upon his shulder hangynge,
KnT 2164 Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge;
KnT 2165 His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne,
KnT 2166 And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
KnT 2167 His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
KnT 2168 His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn;
KnT 2169 A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd,
KnT 2170 Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd;
KnT 2171 And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
KnT 2172 Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
KnT 2173 His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge;
KnT 2174 His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
KnT 2175 Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene
KnT 2176 A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
KnT 2177 Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
KnT 2178 An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
KnT 2179 An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
KnT 2180 Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere,
KnT 2181 Ful richely in alle maner thynges.
KnT 2182 For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
KnT 2183 Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
KnT 2184 For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
KnT 2185 Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part
KnT 2186 Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
KnT 2187 And in this wise thise lordes, alle and some,
KnT 2188 Been on the Sonday to the citee come
KnT 2189 Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
KnT 2190 This Theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,
KnT 2191 Whan he had broght hem into his citee,
KnT 2192 And inned hem, everich at his degree,
KnT 2193 He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
KnT 2194 To esen hem and doon hem al honour
KnT 2195 That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
KnT 2196 Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
KnT 2197 The mynstralcye, the service at the feeste,
KnT 2198 The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,
KnT 2199 The riche array of Theseus paleys,
KnT 2200 Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys,
KnT 2201 What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge,
KnT 2202 Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge,
KnT 2203 Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love;
KnT 2204 What haukes sitten on the perche above,
KnT 2205 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun --
KnT 2206 Of al this make I now no mencioun,
KnT 2207 But al th' effect; that thynketh me the beste.
KnT 2208 Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste.
KnT 2209 The Sonday nyght, er day bigan to sprynge,
KnT 2210 Whan Palamon the larke herde synge
KnT 2211 (Although it nere nat day by houres two,
KnT 2212 Yet song the larke) and Palamon right tho
KnT 2213 With hooly herte and with an heigh corage,
KnT 2214 He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage
KnT 2215 Unto the blisful Citherea benigne --
KnT 2216 I mene Venus, honurable and digne.
KnT 2217 And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
KnT 2218 Unto the lystes ther hire temple was,
KnT 2219 And doun he kneleth, and with humble cheere
KnT 2220 And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere:
KnT 2221 " Faireste of faire, O lady myn, Venus,
KnT 2222 Doughter to Jove and spouse of Vulcanus,
KnT 2223 Thow gladere of the mount of Citheron,
KnT 2224 For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon,
KnT 2225 Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte,
KnT 2226 And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
KnT 2227 Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
KnT 2228 Th' effectes ne the tormentz of myn helle;
KnT 2229 Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
KnT 2230 I am so confus that I kan noght seye
KnT 2231 But `Mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele
KnT 2232 My thought and seest what harmes that I feele!'
KnT 2233 Considere al this and rewe upon my soore,
KnT 2234 As wisly as I shal for everemoore,
KnT 2235 Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be,
KnT 2236 And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
KnT 2237 That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe!
KnT 2238 I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe,
KnT 2239 Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
KnT 2240 Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie
KnT 2241 Of pris of armes blowen up and doun;
KnT 2242 But I wolde have fully possessioun
KnT 2243 Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse.
KnT 2244 Fynd thow the manere hou and in what wyse:
KnT 2245 I recche nat but it may bettre be
KnT 2246 To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
KnT 2247 So that I have my lady in myne armes.
KnT 2248 For though so be that Mars is god of armes,
KnT 2249 Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above
KnT 2250 That if yow list, I shal wel have my love.
KnT 2251 Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo,
KnT 2252 And on thyn auter, where I ride or go,
KnT 2253 I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete.
KnT 2254 And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete,
KnT 2255 Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere
KnT 2256 That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
KnT 2257 Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
KnT 2258 Though that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf.
KnT 2259 This is th' effect and ende of my preyere:
KnT 2260 Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere. "
KnT 2261 Whan the orison was doon of Palamon,
KnT 2262 His sacrifice he dide, and that anon,
KnT 2263 Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
KnT 2264 Al telle I noght as now his observaunces;
KnT 2265 But atte laste the statue of Venus shook,
KnT 2266 And made a signe, wherby that he took
KnT 2267 That his preyere accepted was that day.
KnT 2268 For thogh the signe shewed a delay,
KnT 2269 Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone,
KnT 2270 And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.
KnT 2271 The thridde houre inequal that Palamon
KnT 2272 Bigan to Venus temple for to gon,
KnT 2273 Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye
KnT 2274 And to the temple of Dyane gan hye.
KnT 2275 Hir maydens, that she thider with hire ladde,
KnT 2276 Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
KnT 2277 Th' encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
KnT 2278 That to the sacrifice longen shal;
KnT 2279 The hornes fulle of meeth, as was the gyse --
KnT 2280 Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.
KnT 2281 Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
KnT 2282 This Emelye, with herte debonaire,
KnT 2283 Hir body wessh with water of a welle.
KnT 2284 But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
KnT 2285 But it be any thing in general;
KnT 2286 And yet it were a game to heeren al.
KnT 2287 To hym that meneth wel it were no charge;
KnT 2288 But it is good a man been at his large.
KnT 2289 Hir brighte heer was kembd, untressed al;
KnT 2290 A coroune of a grene ook cerial
KnT 2291 Upon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
KnT 2292 Two fyres on the auter gan she beete,
KnT 2293 And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde
KnT 2294 In Stace of Thebes and thise bookes olde.
KnT 2295 Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
KnT 2296 Unto Dyane she spak as ye may heere:
KnT 2297 " O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
KnT 2298 To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
KnT 2299 Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
KnT 2300 Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe
KnT 2301 Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
KnT 2302 As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
KnT 2303 That Attheon aboughte cruelly.
KnT 2304 Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
KnT 2305 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf,
KnT 2306 Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf.
KnT 2307 I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye,
KnT 2308 A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
KnT 2309 And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
KnT 2310 And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe.
KnT 2311 Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
KnT 2312 Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
KnT 2313 For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
KnT 2314 And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
KnT 2315 And eek Arcite, that loveth me so soore,
KnT 2316 This grace I preye thee withoute moore,
KnT 2317 As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
KnT 2318 And fro me turne awey hir hertes so
KnT 2319 That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
KnT 2320 And al hir bisy torment, and hir fir
KnT 2321 Be queynt, or turned in another place.
KnT 2322 And if so be thou wolt nat do me grace,
KnT 2323 Or if my destynee be shapen so
KnT 2324 That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
KnT 2325 As sende me hym that moost desireth me.
KnT 2326 Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
KnT 2327 The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle.
KnT 2328 Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle,
KnT 2329 My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve,
KnT 2330 And whil I lyve, a mayde I wol thee serve. "
KnT 2331 The fires brenne upon the auter cleere,
KnT 2332 Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere.
KnT 2333 But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
KnT 2334 For right anon oon of the fyres queynte
KnT 2335 And quyked agayn, and after that anon
KnT 2336 That oother fyr was queynt and al agon;
KnT 2337 And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
KnT 2338 As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge,
KnT 2339 And at the brondes ende out ran anon
KnT 2340 As it were blody dropes many oon;
KnT 2341 For which so soore agast was Emelye
KnT 2342 That she was wel ny mad and gan to crye,
KnT 2343 For she ne wiste what it signyfied,
KnT 2344 But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried,
KnT 2345 And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
KnT 2346 And therwithal Dyane gan appeere,
KnT 2347 With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse,
KnT 2348 And seyde, " Doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
KnT 2349 Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
KnT 2350 And by eterne word writen and confermed,
KnT 2351 Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
KnT 2352 That han for thee so muchel care and wo,
KnT 2353 But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
KnT 2354 Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
KnT 2355 The fires which that on myn auter brenne
KnT 2356 Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
KnT 2357 Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas. "
KnT 2358 And with that word, the arwes in the caas
KnT 2359 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
KnT 2360 And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge;
KnT 2361 For which this Emelye astoned was,
KnT 2362 And seyde, " What amounteth this, allas?
KnT 2363 I putte me in thy proteccioun,
KnT 2364 Dyane, and in thy disposicioun. "
KnT 2365 And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye.
KnT 2366 This is th' effect; ther is namoore to seye.
KnT 2367 The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this,
KnT 2368 Arcite unto the temple walked is
KnT 2369 Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise,
KnT 2370 With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.
KnT 2371 With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
KnT 2372 Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:
KnT 2373 " O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
KnT 2374 Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde,
KnT 2375 And hast in every regne and every lond
KnT 2376 Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
KnT 2377 And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse,
KnT 2378 Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.
KnT 2379 If so be that my youthe may deserve,
KnT 2380 And that my myght be worthy for to serve
KnT 2381 Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
KnT 2382 Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne.
KnT 2383 For thilke peyne and thilke hoote fir
KnT 2384 In which thow whilom brendest for desir,
KnT 2385 Whan that thow usedest the beautee
KnT 2386 Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free,
KnT 2387 And haddest hire in armes at thy wille --
KnT 2388 Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille,
KnT 2389 Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las
KnT 2390 And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, allas! --
KnT 2391 For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
KnT 2392 Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte.
KnT 2393 I am yong and unkonnynge, as thow woost,
KnT 2394 And, as I trowe, with love offended moost
KnT 2395 That evere was any lyves creature,
KnT 2396 For she that dooth me al this wo endure
KnT 2397 Ne reccheth nevere wher I synke or fleete.
KnT 2398 And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete,
KnT 2399 I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place,
KnT 2400 And wel I woot, withouten help or grace
KnT 2401 Of thee ne may my strengthe noght availle.
KnT 2402 Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille,
KnT 2403 For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee,
KnT 2404 As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me,
KnT 2405 And do that I tomorwe have victorie.
KnT 2406 Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
KnT 2407 Thy sovereyn temple wol I moost honouren
KnT 2408 Of any place, and alwey moost labouren
KnT 2409 In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
KnT 2410 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge
KnT 2411 And alle the armes of my compaignye,
KnT 2412 And everemo, unto that day I dye,
KnT 2413 Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde.
KnT 2414 And eek to this avow I wol me bynde:
KnT 2415 My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun,
KnT 2416 That nevere yet ne felte offensioun
KnT 2417 Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
KnT 2418 And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve.
KnT 2419 Now, lord, have routhe upon my sorwes soore;
KnT 2420 Yif me [victorie]; I aske thee namoore. "
KnT 2421 The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge,
KnT 2422 The rynges on the temple dore that honge,
KnT 2423 And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
KnT 2424 Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste.
KnT 2425 The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte
KnT 2426 That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
KnT 2427 A sweete smel the ground anon up yaf,
KnT 2428 And Arcita anon his hand up haf,
KnT 2429 And moore encens into the fyr he caste,
KnT 2430 With othere rytes mo; and atte laste
KnT 2431 The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge,
KnT 2432 And with that soun he herde a murmurynge
KnT 2433 Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus, " Victorie! "
KnT 2434 For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
KnT 2435 And thus with joye and hope wel to fare
KnT 2436 Arcite anon unto his in is fare,
KnT 2437 As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
KnT 2438 And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne,
KnT 2439 For thilke grauntyng, in the hevene above,
KnT 2440 Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love,
KnT 2441 And Mars, the stierne god armypotente,
KnT 2442 That Juppiter was bisy it to stente,
KnT 2443 Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
KnT 2444 That knew so manye of aventures olde,
KnT 2445 Foond in his olde experience an art
KnT 2446 That he ful soone hath plesed every part.
KnT 2447 As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet avantage;
KnT 2448 In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
KnT 2449 Men may the olde atrenne and noght atrede.
KnT 2450 Saturne anon, to stynten strif and drede,
KnT 2451 Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
KnT 2452 Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde.
KnT 2453 " My deere doghter Venus, " quod Saturne,
KnT 2454 " My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
KnT 2455 Hath moore power than woot any man.
KnT 2456 Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan;
KnT 2457 Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
KnT 2458 Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte,
KnT 2459 The murmure and the cherles rebellyng,
KnT 2460 The groynynge, and the pryvee empoysonyng;
KnT 2461 I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun,
KnT 2462 Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
KnT 2463 Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles,
KnT 2464 The fallynge of the toures and of the walles
KnT 2465 Upon the mynour or the carpenter.
KnT 2466 I slow Sampsoun, shakynge the piler;
KnT 2467 And myne be the maladyes colde,
KnT 2468 The derke tresons, and the castes olde;
KnT 2469 My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
KnT 2470 Now weep namoore; I shal doon diligence
KnT 2471 That Palamon, that is thyn owene knyght,
KnT 2472 Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
KnT 2473 Though Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees
KnT 2474 Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
KnT 2475 Al be ye noght of o compleccioun,
KnT 2476 That causeth al day swich divisioun.
KnT 2477 I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille;
KnT 2478 Weep now namoore; I wol thy lust fulfille. "
KnT 2479 Now wol I stynten of the goddes above,
KnT 2480 Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 2481 And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
KnT 2482 The grete effect, for which that I bygan.
KnT 2483 Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day,
KnT 2484 And eek the lusty seson of that May
KnT 2485 Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce
KnT 2486 That al that Monday justen they and daunce,
KnT 2487 And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
KnT 2488 But by the cause that they sholde ryse
KnT 2489 Eerly, for to seen the grete fight,
KnT 2490 Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght.
KnT 2491 And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
KnT 2492 Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
KnT 2493 Ther was in hostelryes al aboute,
KnT 2494 And to the paleys rood ther many a route
KnT 2495 Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys.
KnT 2496 Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys
KnT 2497 So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
KnT 2498 Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel;
KnT 2499 The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures,
KnT 2500 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures;
KnT 2501 Lordes in parementz on hir courseres,
KnT 2502 Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres
KnT 2503 Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge;
KnT 2504 Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge --
KnT 2505 There as nede is they weren no thyng ydel;
KnT 2506 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
KnT 2507 Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
KnT 2508 With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
KnT 2509 Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
KnT 2510 With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon;
KnT 2511 Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
KnT 2512 That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
KnT 2513 The paleys ful of peple up and doun,
KnT 2514 Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
KnT 2515 Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two.
KnT 2516 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde " it shal be so " ;
KnT 2517 Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
KnT 2518 Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd;
KnT 2519 Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte:
KnT 2520 " He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. "
KnT 2521 Thus was the halle ful of divynynge,
KnT 2522 Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
KnT 2523 The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked
KnT 2524 With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
KnT 2525 Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche
KnT 2526 Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche
KnT 2527 Honured, were into the paleys fet.
KnT 2528 Duc Theseus was at a wyndow set,
KnT 2529 Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
KnT 2530 The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone
KnT 2531 Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
KnT 2532 And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
KnT 2533 An heraud on a scaffold made an " Oo! "
KnT 2534 Til al the noyse of peple was ydo,
KnT 2535 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille,
KnT 2536 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille:
KnT 2537 " The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
KnT 2538 Considered that it were destruccioun
KnT 2539 To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
KnT 2540 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.
KnT 2541 Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye,
KnT 2542 He wol his firste purpos modifye.
KnT 2543 No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf,
KnT 2544 No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf
KnT 2545 Into the lystes sende or thider brynge;
KnT 2546 Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge,
KnT 2547 No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
KnT 2548 Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
KnT 2549 But o cours with a sharpe ygrounde spere;
KnT 2550 Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were.
KnT 2551 And he that is at meschief shal be take
KnT 2552 And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
KnT 2553 That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
KnT 2554 But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
KnT 2555 And if so falle the chieftayn be take
KnT 2556 On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
KnT 2557 No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
KnT 2558 God spede you! Gooth forth and ley on faste!
KnT 2559 With long swerd and with mace fighteth youre fille.
KnT 2560 Gooth now youre wey; this is the lordes wille. "
KnT 2561 The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
KnT 2562 So loude cride they with murie stevene,
KnT 2563 " God save swich a lord, that is so good
KnT 2564 He wilneth no destruccion of blood! "
KnT 2565 Up goon the trompes and the melodye,
KnT 2566 And to the lystes rit the compaignye,
KnT 2567 By ordinance, thurghout the citee large,
KnT 2568 Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
KnT 2569 Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
KnT 2570 Thise two Thebans upon either syde,
KnT 2571 And after rood the queene and Emelye,
KnT 2572 And after that another compaignye
KnT 2573 Of oon and oother, after hir degree.
KnT 2574 And thus they passen thurghout the citee,
KnT 2575 And to the lystes come they by tyme.
KnT 2576 It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme
KnT 2577 Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
KnT 2578 Ypolita the queene, and Emelye,
KnT 2579 And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
KnT 2580 Unto the seetes preesseth al the route.
KnT 2581 And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
KnT 2582 Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
KnT 2583 With baner reed is entred right anon;
KnT 2584 And in that selve moment Palamon
KnT 2585 Is under Venus, estward in the place,
KnT 2586 With baner whyt and hardy chiere and face.
KnT 2587 In al the world, to seken up and doun,
KnT 2588 So evene, withouten variacioun,
KnT 2589 Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye,
KnT 2590 For ther was noon so wys that koude seye
KnT 2591 That any hadde of oother avauntage
KnT 2592 Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
KnT 2593 So evene were they chosen, for to gesse.
KnT 2594 And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
KnT 2595 Whan that hir names rad were everichon,
KnT 2596 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
KnT 2597 Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude:
KnT 2598 " Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude! "
KnT 2599 The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun;
KnT 2600 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
KnT 2601 Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
KnT 2602 In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest;
KnT 2603 In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
KnT 2604 Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde;
KnT 2605 Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke;
KnT 2606 He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
KnT 2607 Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte;
KnT 2608 Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte;
KnT 2609 The helmes they tohewen and toshrede;
KnT 2610 Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede;
KnT 2611 With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
KnT 2612 He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste;
KnT 2613 Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al,
KnT 2614 He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal;
KnT 2615 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun,
KnT 2616 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun;
KnT 2617 He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake,
KnT 2618 Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake;
KnT 2619 As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
KnT 2620 Another lad is on that oother syde.
KnT 2621 And some tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste,
KnT 2622 Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
KnT 2623 Ful ofte a day han thise Thebanes two
KnT 2624 Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo;
KnT 2625 Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
KnT 2626 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
KnT 2627 Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
KnT 2628 So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite
KnT 2629 For jelous herte upon this Palamon.
KnT 2630 Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
KnT 2631 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
KnT 2632 Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
KnT 2633 As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
KnT 2634 The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte;
KnT 2635 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
KnT 2636 Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede.
KnT 2637 For er the sonne unto the reste wente,
KnT 2638 The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente
KnT 2639 This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
KnT 2640 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte,
KnT 2641 And by the force of twenty is he take
KnT 2642 Unyolden, and ydrawen to the stake.
KnT 2643 And in the rescus of this Palamoun
KnT 2644 The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun,
KnT 2645 And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe,
KnT 2646 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
KnT 2647 So hitte him Palamoun er he were take.
KnT 2648 But al for noght; he was broght to the stake.
KnT 2649 His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught:
KnT 2650 He moste abyde, whan that he was caught,
KnT 2651 By force and eek by composicioun.
KnT 2652 Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
KnT 2653 That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?
KnT 2654 And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
KnT 2655 Unto the folk that foghten thus echon
KnT 2656 He cryde, " Hoo! namoore, for it is doon!
KnT 2657 I wol be trewe juge, and no partie.
KnT 2658 Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelie,
KnT 2659 That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne. "
KnT 2660 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne
KnT 2661 For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle
KnT 2662 It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
KnT 2663 What kan now faire Venus doon above?
KnT 2664 What seith she now? What dooth this queene of love,
KnT 2665 But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille,
KnT 2666 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille?
KnT 2667 She seyde, " I am ashamed, doutelees. "
KnT 2668 Saturnus seyde, " Doghter, hoold thy pees!
KnT 2669 Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone,
KnT 2670 And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone. "
KnT 2671 The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie,
KnT 2672 The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie,
KnT 2673 Been in hire wele for joye of daun Arcite.
KnT 2674 But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
KnT 2675 Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
KnT 2676 This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon,
KnT 2677 And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
KnT 2678 He priketh endelong the large place
KnT 2679 Lokynge upward upon this Emelye;
KnT 2680 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye
KnT 2681 (For wommen, as to speken in comune,
KnT 2682 Thei folwen alle the favour of Fortune)
KnT 2683 And was al his chiere, as in his herte.
KnT 2684 Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
KnT 2685 From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne,
KnT 2686 For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
KnT 2687 And leep aside, and foundred as he leep;
KnT 2688 And er that Arcite may taken keep,
KnT 2689 He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
KnT 2690 That in the place he lay as he were deed,
KnT 2691 His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
KnT 2692 As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
KnT 2693 So was the blood yronnen in his face.
KnT 2694 Anon he was yborn out of the place,
KnT 2695 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys.
KnT 2696 Tho was he korven out of his harneys
KnT 2697 And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve,
KnT 2698 For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
KnT 2699 And alwey criynge after Emelye.
KnT 2700 Duc Theseus, with al his compaignye,
KnT 2701 Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee,
KnT 2702 With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
KnT 2703 Al be it that this aventure was falle,
KnT 2704 He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
KnT 2705 Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye;
KnT 2706 He shal been heeled of his maladye.
KnT 2707 And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
KnT 2708 That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
KnT 2709 Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon,
KnT 2710 That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
KnT 2711 To othere woundes and to broken armes
KnT 2712 Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes;
KnT 2713 Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
KnT 2714 They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
KnT 2715 For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,
KnT 2716 Conforteth and honoureth every man,
KnT 2717 And made revel al the longe nyght
KnT 2718 Unto the straunge lordes, as was right.
KnT 2719 Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
KnT 2720 But as a justes or a tourneiynge;
KnT 2721 For soothly ther was no disconfiture.
KnT 2722 For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
KnT 2723 Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
KnT 2724 Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
KnT 2725 O persone allone, withouten mo,
KnT 2726 And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too,
KnT 2727 And eke his steede dryven forth with staves
KnT 2728 With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves --
KnT 2729 It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
KnT 2730 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.
KnT 2731 For which anon duc Theseus leet crye,
KnT 2732 To stynten alle rancour and envye,
KnT 2733 The gree as wel of o syde as of oother,
KnT 2734 And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother;
KnT 2735 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree,
KnT 2736 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
KnT 2737 And conveyed the kynges worthily
KnT 2738 Out of his toun a journee largely.
KnT 2739 And hoom wente every man the righte way.
KnT 2740 Ther was namoore but " Fare wel, have good day! "
KnT 2741 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
KnT 2742 But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2743 Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
KnT 2744 Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
KnT 2745 The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
KnT 2746 Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft,
KnT 2747 That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge,
KnT 2748 Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge.
KnT 2749 The vertu expulsif, or animal,
KnT 2750 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural
KnT 2751 Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
KnT 2752 The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
KnT 2753 And every lacerte in his brest adoun
KnT 2754 Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
KnT 2755 Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif,
KnT 2756 Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif.
KnT 2757 Al is tobrosten thilke regioun;
KnT 2758 Nature hath now no dominacioun.
KnT 2759 And certeinly, ther Nature wol nat wirche,
KnT 2760 Fare wel phisik! Go ber the man to chirche!
KnT 2761 This al and som, that Arcita moot dye;
KnT 2762 For which he sendeth after Emelye,
KnT 2763 And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
KnT 2764 Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere:
KnT 2765 " Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte
KnT 2766 Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte
KnT 2767 To yow, my lady, that I love moost,
KnT 2768 But I biquethe the servyce of my goost
KnT 2769 To yow aboven every creature,
KnT 2770 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.
KnT 2771 Allas, the wo! Allas, the peynes stronge,
KnT 2772 That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
KnT 2773 Allas, the deeth! Allas, myn Emelye!
KnT 2774 Allas, departynge of oure compaignye!
KnT 2775 Allas, myn hertes queene! Allas, my wyf,
KnT 2776 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
KnT 2777 What is this world? What asketh men to have?
KnT 2778 Now with his love, now in his colde grave
KnT 2779 Allone, withouten any compaignye.
KnT 2780 Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn Emelye!
KnT 2781 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye,
KnT 2782 For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
KnT 2783 " I have heer with my cosyn Palamon
KnT 2784 Had strif and rancour many a day agon
KnT 2785 For love of yow, and for my jalousye.
KnT 2786 And Juppiter so wys my soule gye,
KnT 2787 To speken of a servaunt proprely,
KnT 2788 With alle circumstances trewely --
KnT 2789 That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede,
KnT 2790 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede,
KnT 2791 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art --
KnT 2792 So Juppiter have of my soule part,
KnT 2793 As in this world right now ne knowe I non
KnT 2794 So worthy to ben loved as Palamon,
KnT 2795 That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf.
KnT 2796 And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf,
KnT 2797 Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man. "
KnT 2798 And with that word his speche faille gan,
KnT 2799 For from his feet up to his brest was come
KnT 2800 The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome,
KnT 2801 And yet mooreover, for in his armes two
KnT 2802 The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
KnT 2803 Oonly the intellect, withouten moore,
KnT 2804 That dwelled in his herte syk and soore,
KnT 2805 Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
KnT 2806 Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth,
KnT 2807 But on his lady yet caste he his ye;
KnT 2808 His laste word was, " Mercy, Emelye! "
KnT 2809 His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
KnT 2810 As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
KnT 2811 Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
KnT 2812 Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
KnT 2813 Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
KnT 2814 Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
KnT 2815 Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye!
KnT 2816 Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
KnT 2817 Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
KnT 2818 And Theseus his suster took anon
KnT 2819 Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away.
KnT 2820 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
KnT 2821 To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
KnT 2822 For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
KnT 2823 Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago,
KnT 2824 That for the moore part they sorwen so,
KnT 2825 Or ellis fallen in swich maladye
KnT 2826 That at the laste certeinly they dye.
KnT 2827 Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
KnT 2828 Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeeres
KnT 2829 In al the toun for deeth of this Theban.
KnT 2830 For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
KnT 2831 So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
KnT 2832 Whan Ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn,
KnT 2833 To Troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
KnT 2834 Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer.
KnT 2835 " Why woldestow be deed, " thise wommen crye,
KnT 2836 " And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye? "
KnT 2837 No man myghte gladen Theseus,
KnT 2838 Savynge his olde fader Egeus,
KnT 2839 That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
KnT 2840 As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun,
KnT 2841 Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse,
KnT 2842 And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse.
KnT 2843 " Right as ther dyed nevere man, " quod he,
KnT 2844 " That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree,
KnT 2845 Right so ther lyvede never man, " he seyde,
KnT 2846 " In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
KnT 2847 This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
KnT 2848 And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro.
KnT 2849 Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore. "
KnT 2850 And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore
KnT 2851 To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte
KnT 2852 The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
KnT 2853 Duc Theseus, with al his bisy cure,
KnT 2854 Caste now wher that the sepulture
KnT 2855 Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be,
KnT 2856 And eek moost honurable in his degree.
KnT 2857 And at the laste he took conclusioun
KnT 2858 That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun
KnT 2859 Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
KnT 2860 That in that selve grove, swoote and grene,
KnT 2861 Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires,
KnT 2862 His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires,
KnT 2863 He wolde make a fyr in which the office
KnT 2864 Funeral he myghte al accomplice.
KnT 2865 And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe
KnT 2866 The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
KnT 2867 In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
KnT 2868 His officers with swifte feet they renne
KnT 2869 And ryde anon at his comandement.
KnT 2870 And after this, Theseus hath ysent
KnT 2871 After a beere, and it al overspradde
KnT 2872 With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
KnT 2873 And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite;
KnT 2874 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
KnT 2875 Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene,
KnT 2876 And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
KnT 2877 He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere;
KnT 2878 Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
KnT 2879 And for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
KnT 2880 Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle,
KnT 2881 That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
KnT 2882 Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
KnT 2883 With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres,
KnT 2884 In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres;
KnT 2885 And, passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye,
KnT 2886 The rewefulleste of al the compaignye.
KnT 2887 In as muche as the servyce sholde be
KnT 2888 The moore noble and riche in his degree,
KnT 2889 Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
KnT 2890 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge,
KnT 2891 And covered with the armes of daun Arcite.
KnT 2892 Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white,
KnT 2893 Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
KnT 2894 Another his spere up on his hondes heeld,
KnT 2895 The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys
KnT 2896 (Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys);
KnT 2897 And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere
KnT 2898 Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
KnT 2899 The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
KnT 2900 Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere,
KnT 2901 With slakke paas and eyen rede and wete,
KnT 2902 Thurghout the citee by the maister strete,
KnT 2903 That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
KnT 2904 Right of the same is the strete ywrye.
KnT 2905 Upon the right hond wente olde Egeus,
KnT 2906 And on that oother syde duc Theseus,
KnT 2907 With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
KnT 2908 Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn;
KnT 2909 Eek Palamon, with ful greet compaignye;
KnT 2910 And after that cam woful Emelye,
KnT 2911 With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
KnT 2912 To do the office of funeral servyse.
KnT 2913 Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge
KnT 2914 Was at the service and the fyr-makynge,
KnT 2915 That with his grene top the hevene raughte;
KnT 2916 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte --
KnT 2917 This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode.
KnT 2918 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode.
KnT 2919 But how the fyr was maked upon highte,
KnT 2920 Ne eek the names that the trees highte,
KnT 2921 As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler,
KnT 2922 Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
KnT 2923 Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree --
KnT 2924 How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me;
KnT 2925 Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun,
KnT 2926 Disherited of hire habitacioun,
KnT 2927 In which they woneden in reste and pees,
KnT 2928 Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
KnT 2929 Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
KnT 2930 Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle;
KnT 2931 Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
KnT 2932 That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
KnT 2933 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
KnT 2934 And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre,
KnT 2935 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
KnT 2936 And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye,
KnT 2937 And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour;
KnT 2938 The mirre, th' encens, with al so greet odour;
KnT 2939 Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
KnT 2940 Ne what richesse aboute his body is;
KnT 2941 Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
KnT 2942 Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
KnT 2943 Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
KnT 2944 Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;
KnT 2945 Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste,
KnT 2946 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
KnT 2947 Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
KnT 2948 And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were,
KnT 2949 And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood,
KnT 2950 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood;
KnT 2951 Ne how the Grekes, with an huge route,
KnT 2952 Thries riden al the fyr aboute
KnT 2953 Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
KnT 2954 And thries with hir speres claterynge;
KnT 2955 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;
KnT 2956 And how that lad was homward Emelye;
KnT 2957 Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
KnT 2958 Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde
KnT 2959 Al thilke nyght; ne how the Grekes pleye
KnT 2960 The wake-pleyes; ne kepe I nat to seye
KnT 2961 Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
KnT 2962 Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt.
KnT 2963 I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
KnT 2964 Hoom til Atthenes, whan the pley is doon;
KnT 2965 But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende
KnT 2966 And maken of my longe tale an ende.
KnT 2967 By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
KnT 2968 Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres
KnT 2969 Of Grekes, by oon general assent.
KnT 2970 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement
KnT 2971 At Atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas;
KnT 2972 Among the whiche pointz yspoken was,
KnT 2973 To have with certein contrees alliaunce,
KnT 2974 And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
KnT 2975 For which this noble Theseus anon
KnT 2976 Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
KnT 2977 Unwist of hym what was the cause and why,
KnT 2978 But in his blake clothes sorwefully
KnT 2979 He cam at his comandement in hye.
KnT 2980 Tho sente Theseus for Emelye.
KnT 2981 Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
KnT 2982 And Theseus abiden hadde a space
KnT 2983 Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
KnT 2984 His eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
KnT 2985 And with a sad visage he siked stille,
KnT 2986 And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
KnT 2987 " The Firste Moevere of the cause above,
KnT 2988 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
KnT 2989 Greet was th' effect, and heigh was his entente.
KnT 2990 Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente,
KnT 2991 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
KnT 2992 The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
KnT 2993 In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee.
KnT 2994 That same Prince and that Moevere, " quod he,
KnT 2995 " Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun
KnT 2996 Certeyne dayes and duracioun
KnT 2997 To al that is engendred in this place,
KnT 2998 Over the whiche day they may nat pace,
KnT 2999 Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge.
KnT 3000 Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t' allegge,
KnT 3001 For it is preeved by experience,
KnT 3002 But that me list declaren my sentence.
KnT 3003 Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
KnT 3004 That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne.
KnT 3005 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
KnT 3006 That every part dirryveth from his hool,
KnT 3007 For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
KnT 3008 Of no partie or cantel of a thyng,
KnT 3009 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
KnT 3010 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.
KnT 3011 And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce,
KnT 3012 He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce
KnT 3013 That speces of thynges and progressiouns
KnT 3014 Shullen enduren by successiouns,
KnT 3015 And nat eterne, withouten any lye.
KnT 3016 This maystow understonde and seen at ye.
KnT 3017 " Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge
KnT 3018 From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge,
KnT 3019 And hath so long a lif, as we may see,
KnT 3020 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
KnT 3021 " Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
KnT 3022 Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon,
KnT 3023 Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.
KnT 3024 The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye;
KnT 3025 The grete tounes se we wane and wende.
KnT 3026 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
KnT 3027 " Of man and womman seen we wel also
KnT 3028 That nedes, in oon of thise termes two --
KnT 3029 This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age --
KnT 3030 He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
KnT 3031 Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
KnT 3032 Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
KnT 3033 Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye.
KnT 3034 Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
KnT 3035 " What maketh this but Juppiter, the kyng,
KnT 3036 That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
KnT 3037 Convertynge al unto his propre welle
KnT 3038 From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle?
KnT 3039 And heer-agayns no creature on lyve,
KnT 3040 Of no degree, availleth for to stryve.
KnT 3041 " Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
KnT 3042 To maken vertu of necessitee,
KnT 3043 And take it weel that we may nat eschue,
KnT 3044 And namely that to us alle is due.
KnT 3045 And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye,
KnT 3046 And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
KnT 3047 And certeinly a man hath moost honour
KnT 3048 To dyen in his excellence and flour,
KnT 3049 Whan he is siker of his goode name;
KnT 3050 Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
KnT 3051 And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
KnT 3052 Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
KnT 3053 Than whan his name apalled is for age,
KnT 3054 For al forgeten is his vassellage.
KnT 3055 Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
KnT 3056 To dyen whan that he is best of name.
KnT 3057 " The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
KnT 3058 Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse,
KnT 3059 That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour,
KnT 3060 Departed is with duetee and honour
KnT 3061 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?
KnT 3062 Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
KnT 3063 Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel?
KnT 3064 Kan he hem thank? Nay, God woot, never a deel,
KnT 3065 That both his soule and eek hemself offende,
KnT 3066 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
KnT 3067 " What may I conclude of this longe serye,
KnT 3068 But after wo I rede us to be merye
KnT 3069 And thanken Juppiter of al his grace?
KnT 3070 And er that we departen from this place
KnT 3071 I rede that we make of sorwes two
KnT 3072 O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
KnT 3073 And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne,
KnT 3074 Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
KnT 3075 " Suster, " quod he, " this is my fulle assent,
KnT 3076 With al th' avys heere of my parlement,
KnT 3077 That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght,
KnT 3078 That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
KnT 3079 And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,
KnT 3080 That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe,
KnT 3081 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
KnT 3082 Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
KnT 3083 Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
KnT 3084 He is a kynges brother sone, pardee;
KnT 3085 And though he were a povre bacheler,
KnT 3086 Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
KnT 3087 And had for yow so greet adversitee,
KnT 3088 It moste been considered, leeveth me,
KnT 3089 For gentil mercy oghte to passen right. "
KnT 3090 Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knight:
KnT 3091 " I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
KnT 3092 To make yow assente to this thyng.
KnT 3093 Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond. "
KnT 3094 Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
KnT 3095 That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
KnT 3096 By al the conseil and the baronage.
KnT 3097 And thus with alle blisse and melodye
KnT 3098 Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
KnT 3099 And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
KnT 3100 Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght;
KnT 3101 For now is Palamon in alle wele,
KnT 3102 Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
KnT 3103 And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
KnT 3104 And he hire serveth so gentilly,
KnT 3105 That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene
KnT 3106 Of jalousie or any oother teene.
KnT 3107 Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye;
KnT 3108 And God save al this faire compaignye! Amen.
MilT 3109 Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold,
MilT 3110 In al the route nas ther yong ne oold
MilT 3111 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie
MilT 3112 And worthy for to drawen to memorie,
MilT 3113 And namely the gentils everichon.
MilT 3114 Oure Hooste lough and swoor, " So moot I gon,
MilT 3115 This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male.
MilT 3116 Lat se now who shal telle another tale;
MilT 3117 For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
MilT 3118 Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye konne,
MilT 3119 Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3120 The Millere, that for dronken was al pale,
MilT 3121 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,
MilT 3122 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
MilT 3123 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,
MilT 3124 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,
MilT 3125 And swoor, " By armes, and by blood and bones,
MilT 3126 I kan a noble tale for the nones,
MilT 3127 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3128 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,
MilT 3129 And seyde, " Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother;
MilT 3130 Som bettre man shal telle us first another.
MilT 3131 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily. "
MilT 3132 " By Goddes soule, " quod he, " that wol nat I;
MilT 3133 For I wol speke or elles go my wey. "
MilT 3134 Oure Hoost answerde, " Tel on, a devel wey!
MilT 3135 Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome. "
MilT 3136 " Now herkneth, " quod the Millere, " alle and some!
MilT 3137 But first I make a protestacioun
MilT 3138 That I am dronke; I knowe it by my soun.
MilT 3139 And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye,
MilT 3140 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye.
MilT 3141 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
MilT 3142 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
MilT 3143 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe. "
MilT 3144 The Reve answerde and seyde, " Stynt thy clappe!
MilT 3145 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye.
MilT 3146 It is a synne and eek a greet folye
MilT 3147 To apeyren any man, or hym defame,
MilT 3148 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame.
MilT 3149 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn. "
MilT 3150 This dronke Millere spak ful soone ageyn
MilT 3151 And seyde, " Leve brother Osewold,
MilT 3152 Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
MilT 3153 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon;
MilT 3154 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,
MilT 3155 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde.
MilT 3156 That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.
MilT 3157 Why artow angry with my tale now?
MilT 3158 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow;
MilT 3159 Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh,
MilT 3160 Take upon me moore than ynogh,
MilT 3161 As demen of myself that I were oon;
MilT 3162 I wol bileve wel that I am noon.
MilT 3163 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf
MilT 3164 Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.
MilT 3165 So he may fynde Goddes foyson there,
MilT 3166 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere. "
MilT 3167 What sholde I moore seyn, but this Millere
MilT 3168 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
MilT 3169 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere.
MilT 3170 M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere.
MilT 3171 And therfore every gentil wight I preye,
MilT 3172 For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
MilT 3173 Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce
MilT 3174 Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
MilT 3175 Or elles falsen som of my mateere.
MilT 3176 And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere,
MilT 3177 Turne over the leef and chese another tale;
MilT 3178 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
MilT 3179 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,
MilT 3180 And eek moralitee and hoolynesse.
MilT 3181 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys.
MilT 3182 The Millere is a cherl; ye knowe wel this.
MilT 3183 So was the Reve eek and othere mo,
MilT 3184 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.
MilT 3185 Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame;
MilT 3186 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.
MilT 3187 Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford
MilT 3188 A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
MilT 3189 And of his craft he was a carpenter.
MilT 3190 With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
MilT 3191 Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye
MilT 3192 Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
MilT 3193 And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,
MilT 3194 To demen by interrogaciouns,
MilT 3195 If that men asked hym, in certein houres
MilT 3196 Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,
MilT 3197 Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle
MilT 3198 Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.
MilT 3199 This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.
MilT 3200 Of deerne love he koude and of solas;
MilT 3201 And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,
MilT 3202 And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
MilT 3203 A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
MilT 3204 Allone, withouten any compaignye,
MilT 3205 Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;
MilT 3206 And he hymself as sweete as is the roote
MilT 3207 Of lycorys or any cetewale.
MilT 3208 His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale,
MilT 3209 His astrelabie, longynge for his art,
MilT 3210 His augrym stones layen faire apart,
MilT 3211 On shelves couched at his beddes heed;
MilT 3212 His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;
MilT 3213 And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,
MilT 3214 On which he made a-nyghtes melodie
MilT 3215 So swetely that all the chambre rong;
MilT 3216 And Angelus ad virginem he song;
MilT 3217 And after that he song the Kynges Noote.
MilT 3218 Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.
MilT 3219 And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente
MilT 3220 After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.
MilT 3221 This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,
MilT 3222 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;
MilT 3223 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.
MilT 3224 Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,
MilT 3225 For she was wylde and yong, and he was old
MilT 3226 And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.
MilT 3227 He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,
MilT 3228 That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.
MilT 3229 Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,
MilT 3230 For youthe and elde is often at debaat.
MilT 3231 But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
MilT 3232 He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.
MilT 3233 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
MilT 3234 As any wezele hir body gent and smal.
MilT 3235 A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,
MilT 3236 A barmclooth as whit as morne milk
MilT 3237 Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.
MilT 3238 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore
MilT 3239 And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
MilT 3240 Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.
MilT 3241 The tapes of hir white voluper
MilT 3242 Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
MilT 3243 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.
MilT 3244 And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;
MilT 3245 Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,
MilT 3246 And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.
MilT 3247 She was ful moore blisful on to see
MilT 3248 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,
MilT 3249 And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
MilT 3250 And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,
MilT 3251 Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.
MilT 3252 In al this world, to seken up and doun,
MilT 3253 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche
MilT 3254 So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
MilT 3255 Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
MilT 3256 Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.
MilT 3257 But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
MilT 3258 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.
MilT 3259 Therto she koude skippe and make game,
MilT 3260 As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.
MilT 3261 Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
MilT 3262 Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
MilT 3263 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,
MilT 3264 Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
MilT 3265 A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,
MilT 3266 As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.
MilT 3267 Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
MilT 3268 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,
MilT 3269 For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
MilT 3270 Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
MilT 3271 Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas
MilT 3272 That on a day this hende Nicholas
MilT 3273 Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
MilT 3274 Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye,
MilT 3275 As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
MilT 3276 And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
MilT 3277 And seyde, " Ywis, but if ich have my wille,
MilT 3278 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille. "
MilT 3279 And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
MilT 3280 And seyde, " Lemman, love me al atones,
MilT 3281 Or I wol dyen, also God me save! "
MilT 3282 And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
MilT 3283 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
MilT 3284 And seyde, " I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
MilT 3285 Why, lat be! " quod she. " Lat be, Nicholas,
MilT 3286 Or I wol crie `out, harrow' and `allas'!
MilT 3287 Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye! "
MilT 3288 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
MilT 3289 And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
MilT 3290 That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
MilT 3291 And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent,
MilT 3292 That she wol been at his comandement,
MilT 3293 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
MilT 3294 " Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
MilT 3295 That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
MilT 3296 I woot right wel I nam but deed, " quod she.
MilT 3297 " Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas. "
MilT 3298 " Nay, therof care thee noght, " quod Nicholas.
MilT 3299 " A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
MilT 3300 But if he koude a carpenter bigyle. "
MilT 3301 And thus they been accorded and ysworn
MilT 3302 To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
MilT 3303 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel
MilT 3304 And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
MilT 3305 He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
MilT 3306 And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
MilT 3307 Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,
MilT 3308 Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
MilT 3309 This goode wyf went on an haliday.
MilT 3310 Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,
MilT 3311 So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
MilT 3312 Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
MilT 3313 The which that was ycleped Absolon.
MilT 3314 Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
MilT 3315 And strouted as a fanne large and brode;
MilT 3316 Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
MilT 3317 His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.
MilT 3318 With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos,
MilT 3319 In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
MilT 3320 Yclad he was ful smal and proprely
MilT 3321 Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;
MilT 3322 Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
MilT 3323 And therupon he hadde a gay surplys
MilT 3324 As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
MilT 3325 A myrie child he was, so God me save.
MilT 3326 Wel koude he laten blood, and clippe and shave,
MilT 3327 And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
MilT 3328 In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
MilT 3329 After the scole of Oxenforde tho,
MilT 3330 And with his legges casten to and fro,
MilT 3331 And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;
MilT 3332 Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;
MilT 3333 And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.
MilT 3334 In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
MilT 3335 That he ne visited with his solas,
MilT 3336 Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
MilT 3337 But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous
MilT 3338 Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.
MilT 3339 This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,
MilT 3340 Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,
MilT 3341 Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;
MilT 3342 And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
MilT 3343 And namely on this carpenteris wyf.
MilT 3344 To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,
MilT 3345 She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
MilT 3346 I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,
MilT 3347 And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.
MilT 3348 This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,
MilT 3349 Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge
MilT 3350 That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;
MilT 3351 For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.
MilT 3352 The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
MilT 3353 And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake;
MilT 3354 For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
MilT 3355 And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,
MilT 3356 Til he cam to the carpenteres hous
MilT 3357 A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,
MilT 3358 And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe
MilT 3359 That was upon the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3360 He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,
MilT 3361 " Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,
MilT 3362 I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me, "
MilT 3363 Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.
MilT 3364 This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,
MilT 3365 And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,
MilT 3366 " What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon,
MilT 3367 That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal? "
MilT 3368 And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,
MilT 3369 " Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel. "
MilT 3370 This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?
MilT 3371 Fro day to day this joly Absolon
MilT 3372 So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.
MilT 3373 He waketh al the nyght and al the day;
MilT 3374 He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;
MilT 3375 He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,
MilT 3376 And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;
MilT 3377 He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;
MilT 3378 He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,
MilT 3379 And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;
MilT 3380 And, for she was of town, he profred meede;
MilT 3381 For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
MilT 3382 And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.
MilT 3383 Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
MilT 3384 He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye.
MilT 3385 But what availleth hym as in this cas?
MilT 3386 She loveth so this hende Nicholas
MilT 3387 That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
MilT 3388 He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.
MilT 3389 And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,
MilT 3390 And al his ernest turneth til a jape.
MilT 3391 Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
MilT 3392 Men seyn right thus: " Alwey the nye slye
MilT 3393 Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth. "
MilT 3394 For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
MilT 3395 By cause that he fer was from hire sight,
MilT 3396 This nye Nicholas stood in his light.
MilT 3397 Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,
MilT 3398 For Absolon may waille and synge " allas. "
MilT 3399 And so bifel it on a Saterday,
MilT 3400 This carpenter was goon til Osenay;
MilT 3401 And hende Nicholas and Alisoun
MilT 3402 Acorded been to this conclusioun,
MilT 3403 That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
MilT 3404 This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;
MilT 3405 And if so be the game wente aright,
MilT 3406 She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,
MilT 3407 For this was his desir and hire also.
MilT 3408 And right anon, withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3409 This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
MilT 3410 But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie
MilT 3411 Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,
MilT 3412 And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,
MilT 3413 If that he axed after Nicholas,
MilT 3414 She sholde seye she nyste where he was;
MilT 3415 Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;
MilT 3416 She trowed that he was in maladye,
MilT 3417 For, for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,
MilT 3418 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.
MilT 3419 This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,
MilT 3420 That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,
MilT 3421 And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,
MilT 3422 Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
MilT 3423 This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
MilT 3424 Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,
MilT 3425 And seyde, " I am adrad, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3426 It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.
MilT 3427 God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
MilT 3428 This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.
MilT 3429 I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche
MilT 3430 That now, on Monday last, I saugh hym wirche.
MilT 3431 " Go up, " quod he unto his knave anoon,
MilT 3432 " Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
MilT 3433 Looke how it is, and tel me boldely. "
MilT 3434 This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,
MilT 3435 And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,
MilT 3436 He cride and knokked as that he were wood,
MilT 3437 " What, how! What do ye, maister Nicholay?
MilT 3438 How may ye slepen al the longe day? "
MilT 3439 But al for noght; he herde nat a word.
MilT 3440 An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,
MilT 3441 Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,
MilT 3442 And at that hole he looked in ful depe,
MilT 3443 And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.
MilT 3444 This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,
MilT 3445 As he had kiked on the newe moone.
MilT 3446 Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone
MilT 3447 In what array he saugh this ilke man.
MilT 3448 This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,
MilT 3449 And seyde, " Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde!
MilT 3450 A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.
MilT 3451 This man is falle, with his astromye,
MilT 3452 In some woodnesse or in som agonye.
MilT 3453 I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
MilT 3454 Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3455 Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man
MilT 3456 That noght but oonly his bileve kan!
MilT 3457 So ferde another clerk with astromye;
MilT 3458 He walked in the feeldes for to prye
MilT 3459 Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
MilT 3460 Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;
MilT 3461 He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3462 Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.
MilT 3463 He shal be rated of his studiyng,
MilT 3464 If that I may, by Jhesus, hevene kyng!
MilT 3465 Get me a staf, that I may underspore,
MilT 3466 Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore.
MilT 3467 He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse. "
MilT 3468 And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.
MilT 3469 His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
MilT 3470 And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;
MilT 3471 Into the floor the dore fil anon.
MilT 3472 This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
MilT 3473 And evere caped upward into the eir.
MilT 3474 This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
MilT 3475 And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,
MilT 3476 And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,
MilT 3477 " What! Nicholay! What, how! What, looke adoun!
MilT 3478 Awak, and thenk on Cristes passioun!
MilT 3479 I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes. "
MilT 3480 Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes
MilT 3481 On foure halves of the hous aboute,
MilT 3482 And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute:
MilT 3483 " Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight,
MilT 3484 Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
MilT 3485 For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!
MilT 3486 Where wentestow, Seinte Petres soster? "
MilT 3487 And atte laste this hende Nicholas
MilT 3488 Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, " Allas!
MilT 3489 Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now? "
MilT 3490 This carpenter answerde, " What seystow?
MilT 3491 What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke. "
MilT 3492 This Nicholas answerde, " Fecche me drynke,
MilT 3493 And after wol I speke in pryvetee
MilT 3494 Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.
MilT 3495 I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn. "
MilT 3496 This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,
MilT 3497 And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;
MilT 3498 And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
MilT 3499 This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
MilT 3500 And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.
MilT 3501 He seyde, " John, myn hooste, lief and deere,
MilT 3502 Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
MilT 3503 That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye,
MilT 3504 For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,
MilT 3505 And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
MilT 3506 For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,
MilT 3507 That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood. "
MilT 3508 " Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood! "
MilT 3509 Quod tho this sely man, " I nam no labbe,
MilT 3510 Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.
MilT 3511 Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle
MilT 3512 To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle! "
MilT 3513 " Now John, " quod Nicholas, " I wol nat lye;
MilT 3514 I have yfounde in myn astrologye,
MilT 3515 As I have looked in the moone bright,
MilT 3516 That now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,
MilT 3517 Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood
MilT 3518 That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.
MilT 3519 This world, " he seyde, " in lasse than an hour
MilT 3520 Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.
MilT 3521 Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf. "
MilT 3522 This carpenter answerde, " Allas, my wyf!
MilT 3523 And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun! "
MilT 3524 For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,
MilT 3525 And seyde, " Is ther no remedie in this cas? "
MilT 3526 " Why, yis, for Gode, " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3527 " If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.
MilT 3528 Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;
MilT 3529 For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe:
MilT 3530 `Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.'
MilT 3531 And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
MilT 3532 I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,
MilT 3533 Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.
MilT 3534 Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,
MilT 3535 Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn
MilT 3536 That al the world with water sholde be lorn? "
MilT 3537 " Yis, " quod this Carpenter, " ful yoore ago. "
MilT 3538 " Hastou nat herd, " quod Nicholas, " also
MilT 3539 The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe,
MilT 3540 Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?
MilT 3541 Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake,
MilT 3542 At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake
MilT 3543 That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
MilT 3544 And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?
MilT 3545 This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng
MilT 3546 Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.
MilT 3547 " Anon go gete us faste into this in
MilT 3548 A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,
MilT 3549 For ech of us, but looke that they be large,
MilT 3550 In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,
MilT 3551 And han therinne vitaille suffisant
MilT 3552 But for a day -- fy on the remenant!
MilT 3553 The water shal aslake and goon away
MilT 3554 Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.
MilT 3555 But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,
MilT 3556 Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save;
MilT 3557 Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
MilT 3558 I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3559 Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
MilT 3560 To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.
MilT 3561 Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.
MilT 3562 Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
MilT 3563 " But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,
MilT 3564 Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3565 Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,
MilT 3566 That no man of oure purveiaunce espye.
MilT 3567 And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd,
MilT 3568 And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,
MilT 3569 And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo,
MilT 3570 Whan that the water comth, that we may go
MilT 3571 And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,
MilT 3572 Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,
MilT 3573 That we may frely passen forth oure way,
MilT 3574 Whan that the grete shour is goon away.
MilT 3575 Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,
MilT 3576 As dooth the white doke after hire drake.
MilT 3577 Thanne wol I clepe, `How, Alison! How, John!
MilT 3578 Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.'
MilT 3579 And thou wolt seyn, `Hayl, maister Nicholay!
MilT 3580 Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.'
MilT 3581 And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf
MilT 3582 Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.
MilT 3583 " But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:
MilT 3584 Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght
MilT 3585 That we ben entred into shippes bord,
MilT 3586 That noon of us ne speke nat a word,
MilT 3587 Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;
MilT 3588 For it is Goddes owene heeste deere.
MilT 3589 " Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne,
MilT 3590 For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,
MilT 3591 Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede.
MilT 3592 This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!
MilT 3593 Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,
MilT 3594 Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,
MilT 3595 And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace.
MilT 3596 Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space
MilT 3597 To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
MilT 3598 Men seyn thus, `sende the wise, and sey no thyng.'
MilT 3599 Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.
MilT 3600 Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche. "
MilT 3601 This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
MilT 3602 Ful ofte he seide " Allas and weylawey, "
MilT 3603 And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
MilT 3604 And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
MilT 3605 What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
MilT 3606 But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,
MilT 3607 And seyde, " Allas! go forth thy wey anon,
MilT 3608 Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!
MilT 3609 I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;
MilT 3610 Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf. "
MilT 3611 Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
MilT 3612 Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,
MilT 3613 So depe may impressioun be take.
MilT 3614 This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;
MilT 3615 Hym thynketh verraily that he may see
MilT 3616 Noees flood come walwynge as the see
MilT 3617 To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.
MilT 3618 He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;
MilT 3619 He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;
MilT 3620 He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,
MilT 3621 And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,
MilT 3622 And pryvely he sente hem to his in,
MilT 3623 And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.
MilT 3624 His owene hand he made laddres thre,
MilT 3625 To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
MilT 3626 Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,
MilT 3627 And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
MilT 3628 With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,
MilT 3629 Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
MilT 3630 But er that he hadde maad al this array,
MilT 3631 He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
MilT 3632 Upon his nede to London for to go.
MilT 3633 And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght,
MilT 3634 He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,
MilT 3635 And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
MilT 3636 And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;
MilT 3637 They seten stille wel a furlong way.
MilT 3638 " Now, Pater-noster, clom! " seyde Nicholay,
MilT 3639 And " Clom! " quod John, and " Clom! " seyde Alisoun.
MilT 3640 This carpenter seyde his devocioun,
MilT 3641 And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
MilT 3642 Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.
MilT 3643 The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,
MilT 3644 Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,
MilT 3645 Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;
MilT 3646 For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,
MilT 3647 And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.
MilT 3648 Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,
MilT 3649 And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;
MilT 3650 Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,
MilT 3651 Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.
MilT 3652 Ther was the revel and the melodye;
MilT 3653 And thus lith Alison and Nicholas,
MilT 3654 In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,
MilT 3655 Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,
MilT 3656 And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.
MilT 3657 This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,
MilT 3658 That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
MilT 3659 Upon the Monday was at Oseneye
MilT 3660 With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,
MilT 3661 And axed upon cas a cloisterer
MilT 3662 Ful prively after John the carpenter;
MilT 3663 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,
MilT 3664 And seyde, " I noot; I saugh hym heere nat wirche
MilT 3665 Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went
MilT 3666 For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;
MilT 3667 For he is wont for tymber for to go
MilT 3668 And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
MilT 3669 Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.
MilT 3670 Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn. "
MilT 3671 This Absolon ful joly was and light,
MilT 3672 And thoghte, " Now is tyme to wake al nyght,
MilT 3673 For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge
MilT 3674 Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.
MilT 3675 " So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,
MilT 3676 Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe
MilT 3677 That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.
MilT 3678 To Alison now wol I tellen al
MilT 3679 My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse
MilT 3680 That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.
MilT 3681 Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.
MilT 3682 My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
MilT 3683 That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.
MilT 3684 Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
MilT 3685 Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,
MilT 3686 And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye. "
MilT 3687 Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
MilT 3688 Up rist this joly lovere Absolon,
MilT 3689 And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.
MilT 3690 But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,
MilT 3691 To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.
MilT 3692 Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,
MilT 3693 For therby wende he to ben gracious.
MilT 3694 He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
MilT 3695 And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --
MilT 3696 Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --
MilT 3697 And softe he cougheth with a semy soun:
MilT 3698 " What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,
MilT 3699 My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?
MilT 3700 Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!
MilT 3701 Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,
MilT 3702 That for youre love I swete ther I go.
MilT 3703 No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
MilT 3704 I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
MilT 3705 Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge
MilT 3706 That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.
MilT 3707 I may nat ete na moore than a mayde. "
MilT 3708 " Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool, " she sayde;
MilT 3709 " As help me God, it wol nat be `com pa me.'
MilT 3710 I love another -- and elles I were to blame --
MilT 3711 Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon.
MilT 3712 Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
MilT 3713 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey! "
MilT 3714 " Allas, " quod Absolon, " and weylawey,
MilT 3715 That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!
MilT 3716 Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,
MilT 3717 For Jhesus love, and for the love of me. "
MilT 3718 " Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? " quod she.
MilT 3719 " Ye, certes, lemman, " quod this Absolon.
MilT 3720 " Thanne make thee redy, " quod she, " I come anon. "
MilT 3721 And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,
MilT 3722 " Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille. "
MilT 3723 This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees
MilT 3724 And seyde, " I am a lord at alle degrees;
MilT 3725 For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
MilT 3726 Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore! "
MilT 3727 The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.
MilT 3728 " Have do, " quod she, " com of, and speed the faste,
MilT 3729 Lest that oure neighebores thee espie. "
MilT 3730 This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.
MilT 3731 Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
MilT 3732 And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
MilT 3733 And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
MilT 3734 But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
MilT 3735 Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
MilT 3736 Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
MilT 3737 For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
MilT 3738 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
MilT 3739 And seyde, " Fy! allas! what have I do? "
MilT 3740 " Tehee! " quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,
MilT 3741 And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.
MilT 3742 " A berd! A berd! " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3743 " By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel. "
MilT 3744 This sely Absolon herde every deel,
MilT 3745 And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,
MilT 3746 And to hymself he seyde, " I shal thee quyte. "
MilT 3747 Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
MilT 3748 With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,
MilT 3749 But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, " Allas! "
MilT 3750 " My soule bitake I unto Sathanas,
MilT 3751 But me were levere than al this toun, " quod he,
MilT 3752 " Of this despit awroken for to be.
MilT 3753 Allas, " quod he, " allas, I ne hadde ybleynt! "
MilT 3754 His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;
MilT 3755 For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
MilT 3756 Of paramours he sette nat a kers,
MilT 3757 For he was heeled of his maladie.
MilT 3758 Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,
MilT 3759 And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
MilT 3760 A softe paas he wente over the strete
MilT 3761 Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys,
MilT 3762 That in his forge smythed plough harneys;
MilT 3763 He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.
MilT 3764 This Absolon knokketh al esily,
MilT 3765 And seyde, " Undo, Gerveys, and that anon. "
MilT 3766 " What, who artow? " " It am I, Absolon. "
MilT 3767 " What, Absolon! for Cristes sweete tree,
MilT 3768 Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee!
MilT 3769 What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot,
MilT 3770 Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.
MilT 3771 By Seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene. "
MilT 3772 This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
MilT 3773 Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;
MilT 3774 He hadde moore tow on his distaf
MilT 3775 Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, " Freend so deere,
MilT 3776 That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,
MilT 3777 As lene it me; I have therwith to doone,
MilT 3778 And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone. "
MilT 3779 Gerveys answerde, " Certes, were it gold,
MilT 3780 Or in a poke nobles alle untold,
MilT 3781 Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.
MilT 3782 Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith? "
MilT 3783 " Therof, " quod Absolon, " be as be may.
MilT 3784 I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day " --
MilT 3785 And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.
MilT 3786 Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,
MilT 3787 And wente unto the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3788 He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal
MilT 3789 Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.
MilT 3790 This Alison answerde, " Who is ther
MilT 3791 That knokketh so? I warante it a theef. "
MilT 3792 " Why, nay, " quod he, " God woot, my sweete leef,
MilT 3793 I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.
MilT 3794 Of gold, " quod he, " I have thee broght a ryng.
MilT 3795 My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;
MilT 3796 Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.
MilT 3797 This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse. "
MilT 3798 This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
MilT 3799 And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
MilT 3800 He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
MilT 3801 And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
MilT 3802 And out his ers he putteth pryvely
MilT 3803 Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
MilT 3804 And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,
MilT 3805 " Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art. "
MilT 3806 This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart
MilT 3807 As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
MilT 3808 That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
MilT 3809 And he was redy with his iren hoot,
MilT 3810 And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.
MilT 3811 Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,
MilT 3812 The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
MilT 3813 And for the smert he wende for to dye.
MilT 3814 As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,
MilT 3815 " Help! Water! Water! Help, for Goddes herte! "
MilT 3816 This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,
MilT 3817 And herde oon crien " water! " as he were wood,
MilT 3818 And thoughte, " Allas, now comth Nowelis flood! "
MilT 3819 He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3820 And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,
MilT 3821 And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,
MilT 3822 Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
MilT 3823 Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.
MilT 3824 Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,
MilT 3825 And criden " Out " and " Harrow " in the strete.
MilT 3826 The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
MilT 3827 In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
MilT 3828 That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
MilT 3829 For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
MilT 3830 But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
MilT 3831 For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
MilT 3832 With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
MilT 3833 They tolden every man that he was wood;
MilT 3834 He was agast so of Nowelis flood
MilT 3835 Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee
MilT 3836 He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3837 And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
MilT 3838 And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,
MilT 3839 To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
MilT 3840 The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;
MilT 3841 Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
MilT 3842 And turned al his harm unto a jape.
MilT 3843 For what so that this carpenter answerde,
MilT 3844 It was for noght; no man his reson herde.
MilT 3845 With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
MilT 3846 That he was holde wood in al the toun;
MilT 3847 For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.
MilT 3848 They seyde, " The man is wood, my leeve brother " ;
MilT 3849 And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.
MilT 3850 Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,
MilT 3851 For al his kepyng and his jalousye,
MilT 3852 And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye,
MilT 3853 And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
MilT 3854 This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!
RvT 3855 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas
RvT 3856 Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
RvT 3857 Diverse folk diversely they seyde,
RvT 3858 But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde.
RvT 3859 Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,
RvT 3860 But it were oonly Osewold the Reve.
RvT 3861 By cause he was of carpenteris craft,
RvT 3862 A litel ire is in his herte ylaft;
RvT 3863 He gan to grucche, and blamed it a lite.
RvT 3864 " So theek, " quod he, " ful wel koude I thee quite
RvT 3865 With bleryng of a proud milleres ye,
RvT 3866 If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
RvT 3867 But ik am oold; me list not pley for age;
RvT 3868 Gras tyme is doon; my fodder is now forage;
RvT 3869 This white top writeth myne olde yeris;
RvT 3870 Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris,
RvT 3871 But if I fare as dooth an open-ers --
RvT 3872 That ilke fruyt is ever lenger the wers,
RvT 3873 Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
RvT 3874 We olde men, I drede, so fare we:
RvT 3875 Til we be roten, kan we nat be rype;
RvT 3876 We hoppen alwey whil that the world wol pype.
RvT 3877 For in oure wyl ther stiketh evere a nayl,
RvT 3878 To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
RvT 3879 As hath a leek; for thogh oure myght be goon,
RvT 3880 Oure wyl desireth folie evere in oon.
RvT 3881 For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
RvT 3882 Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke.
RvT 3883 " Foure gleedes han we, which I shal devyse --
RvT 3884 Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise;
RvT 3885 Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde.
RvT 3886 Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde,
RvT 3887 But wyl ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
RvT 3888 And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
RvT 3889 As many a yeer as it is passed henne
RvT 3890 Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne.
RvT 3891 For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
RvT 3892 Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,
RvT 3893 And ever sithe hath so the tappe yronne
RvT 3894 Til that almoost al empty is the tonne.
RvT 3895 The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe.
RvT 3896 The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
RvT 3897 Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore;
RvT 3898 With olde folk, save dotage, is namoore! "
RvT 3899 Whan that oure Hoost hadde herd this sermonyng,
RvT 3900 He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng.
RvT 3901 He seide, " What amounteth al this wit?
RvT 3902 What shul we speke alday of hooly writ?
RvT 3903 The devel made a reve for to preche,
RvT 3904 Or of a soutere a shipman or a leche.
RvT 3905 Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme.
RvT 3906 Lo Depeford, and it is half-wey pryme!
RvT 3907 Lo Grenewych, ther many a shrewe is inne!
RvT 3908 It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne. "
RvT 3909 " Now, sires, " quod this Osewold the Reve,
RvT 3910 " I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve,
RvT 3911 Thogh I answere, and somdeel sette his howve;
RvT 3912 For leveful is with force force of-showve.
RvT 3913 " This dronke Millere hath ytoold us heer
RvT 3914 How that bigyled was a carpenteer,
RvT 3915 Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon.
RvT 3916 And, by youre leve, I shal hym quite anoon;
RvT 3917 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
RvT 3918 I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;
RvT 3919 He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
RvT 3920 But in his owene he kan nat seen a balke. "
MLT 1 Oure Hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne
MLT 2 The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
MLT 3 The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore,
MLT 4 And though he were not depe ystert in loore,
MLT 5 He wiste it was the eightetethe day
MLT 6 Of Aprill, that is messager to May;
MLT 7 And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree
MLT 8 Was in lengthe the same quantitee
MLT 9 That was the body erect that caused it.
MLT 10 And therefore by the shadwe he took his wit
MLT 11 That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
MLT 12 Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte,
MLT 13 And for that day, as in that latitude,
MLT 14 It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
MLT 15 And sodeynly he plighte his horse aboute.
MLT 16 " Lordynges, " quod he, " I warne yow, al this route,
MLT 17 The fourthe party of this day is gon.
MLT 18 Now for the love of God and of Seint John,
MLT 19 Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may.
MLT 20 Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day,
MLT 21 And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge,
MLT 22 And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,
MLT 23 As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn,
MLT 24 Descendynge from the mountaigne into playn.
MLT 25 Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre
MLT 26 Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre;
MLT 27 For `Los of catel may recovered be,
MLT 28 But los of tyme shendeth us,' quod he.
MLT 29 It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede,
MLT 30 Nomoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede,
MLT 31 Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
MLT 32 Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
MLT 33 " Sire Man of Lawe, " quod he, " so have ye blis,
MLT 34 Telle us a tale anon, as forward is.
MLT 35 Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent,
MLT 36 To stonden in this cas at my juggement.
MLT 37 Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste;
MLT 38 Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste. "
MLT 39 " Hooste, " quod he, " depardieux, ich assente;
MLT 40 To breke forward is nat myn entente.
MLT 41 Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn
MLT 42 Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn.
MLT 43 For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight,
MLT 44 He sholde hymselven usen it, by right;
MLT 45 Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn,
MLT 46 I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn
MLT 47 That Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly
MLT 48 On metres and on rymyng craftily,
MLT 49 Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan
MLT 50 Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man;
MLT 51 And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,
MLT 52 In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
MLT 53 For he hath toold of loveris up and doun
MLT 54 Mo than Ovide made of mencioun
MLT 55 In his Episteles, that been ful olde.
MLT 56 What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde?
MLT 57 " In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione,
MLT 58 And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone,
MLT 59 Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.
MLT 60 Whoso that wole his large volume seke,
MLT 61 Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide,
MLT 62 Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
MLT 63 Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tesbee;
MLT 64 The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;
MLT 65 The tree of Phillis for hire Demophon;
MLT 66 The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon,
MLT 67 Of Adriane, and of Isiphilee --
MLT 68 The bareyne yle stondynge in the see --
MLT 69 The dreynte Leandre for his Erro;
MLT 70 The teeris of Eleyne, and eek the wo
MLT 71 Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomya;
MLT 72 The crueltee of the, queene Medea,
MLT 73 Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,
MLT 74 For thy Jason, that was of love so fals!
MLT 75 O Ypermystra, Penelopee, Alceste,
MLT 76 Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste!
MLT 77 " But certeinly no word ne writeth he
MLT 78 Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,
MLT 79 That loved hir owene brother synfully --
MLT 80 Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! --
MLT 81 Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius,
MLT 82 How that the cursed kyng Antiochus
MLT 83 Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
MLT 84 That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
MLT 85 Whan he hir threw upon the pavement.
MLT 86 And therfore he, of ful avysement,
MLT 87 Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons
MLT 88 Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,
MLT 89 Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
MLT 90 " But of my tale how shal I doon this day?
MLT 91 Me were looth be likned, doutelees,
MLT 92 To Muses that men clepe Pierides --
MLT 93 Methamorphosios woot what I mene;
MLT 94 But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
MLT 95 Though I come after hym with hawebake.
MLT 96 I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make. "
MLT 97 And with that word he, with a sobre cheere,
MLT 98 Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 99 O hateful harm, condicion of poverte!
MLT 100 With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid!
MLT 101 To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
MLT 102 If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid
MLT 103 That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
MLT 104 Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
MLT 105 Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!
MLT 106 Thow blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly
MLT 107 He mysdeparteth richesse temporal;
MLT 108 Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully,
MLT 109 And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al.
MLT 110 " Parfay, " seistow, " somtyme he rekene shal,
MLT 111 Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,
MLT 112 For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede. "
MLT 113 Herkne what is the sentence of the wise:
MLT 114 " Bet is to dyen than have indigence " ;
MLT 115 " Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise. "
MLT 116 If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
MLT 117 Yet of the wise man take this sentence:
MLT 118 " Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke. "
MLT 119 Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke!
MLT 120 If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee,
MLT 121 And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas!
MLT 122 O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,
MLT 123 O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
MLT 124 Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,
MLT 125 But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;
MLT 126 At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!
MLT 127 Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges;
MLT 128 As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat
MLT 129 Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges
MLT 130 And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat.
MLT 131 I were right now of tales desolaat,
MLT 132 Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere,
MLT 133 Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.
MLT 134 In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
MLT 135 Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
MLT 136 That wyde-where senten hir spicerye,
MLT 137 Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe.
MLT 138 Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe
MLT 139 That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
MLT 140 With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware.
MLT 141 Now fil it that the maistres of that sort
MLT 142 Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
MLT 143 Were it for chapmanhod or for disport,
MLT 144 Noon oother message wolde they thider sende,
MLT 145 But comen hemself to Rome; this is the ende.
MLT 146 And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage
MLT 147 For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.
MLT 148 Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun
MLT 149 A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.
MLT 150 And so bifel that th' excellent renoun
MLT 151 Of the Emperoures doghter, dame Custance,
MLT 152 Reported was, with every circumstance,
MLT 153 Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse,
MLT 154 Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
MLT 155 This was the commune voys of every man:
MLT 156 " Oure Emperour of Rome -- God hym see! --
MLT 157 A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,
MLT 158 To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,
MLT 159 Nas nevere swich another as is shee.
MLT 160 I prey to God in honour hire susteene,
MLT 161 And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.
MLT 162 " In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,
MLT 163 Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;
MLT 164 To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
MLT 165 Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.
MLT 166 She is mirour of alle curteisye;
MLT 167 Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
MLT 168 Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse. "
MLT 169 And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe.
MLT 170 But now to purpos lat us turne agayn.
MLT 171 Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
MLT 172 And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,
MLT 173 Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn,
MLT 174 And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore,
MLT 175 And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore.
MLT 176 Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace
MLT 177 Of hym that was the Sowdan of Surrye;
MLT 178 For whan they cam from any strange place,
MLT 179 He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
MLT 180 Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye
MLT 181 Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere
MLT 182 The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.
MLT 183 Amonges othere thynges, specially,
MLT 184 Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame Custance
MLT 185 So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously,
MLT 186 That this Sowdan hath caught so greet plesance
MLT 187 To han hir figure in his remembrance,
MLT 188 That al his lust and al his bisy cure
MLT 189 Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.
MLT 190 Paraventure in thilke large book
MLT 191 Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was
MLT 192 With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
MLT 193 That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!
MLT 194 For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
MLT 195 Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,
MLT 196 The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
MLT 197 In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn,
MLT 198 Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,
MLT 199 Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born;
MLT 200 The strif of Thebes; and of Ercules,
MLT 201 Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
MLT 202 The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle
MLT 203 That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.
MLT 204 This Sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
MLT 205 And, shortly of this matiere for to pace,
MLT 206 He hath to hem declared his entente,
MLT 207 And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace
MLT 208 To han Custance withinne a litel space,
MLT 209 He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye
MLT 210 To shapen for his lyf som remedye.
MLT 211 Diverse men diverse thynges seyden;
MLT 212 They argumenten, casten up and doun;
MLT 213 Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden;
MLT 214 They speken of magyk and abusioun.
MLT 215 But finally, as in conclusioun,
MLT 216 They kan nat seen in that noon avantage,
MLT 217 Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage.
MLT 218 Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee
MLT 219 By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
MLT 220 By cause that ther was swich diversitee
MLT 221 Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn
MLT 222 They trowe that no " Cristen prince wolde fayn
MLT 223 Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete
MLT 224 That us was taught by Mahoun, oure prophete. "
MLT 225 And he answerde, " Rather than I lese
MLT 226 Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.
MLT 227 I moot been hires; I may noon oother chese.
MLT 228 I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees;
MLT 229 Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees
MLT 230 To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure,
MLT 231 For in this wo I may nat longe endure. "
MLT 232 What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
MLT 233 I seye, by tretys and embassadrie,
MLT 234 And by the popes mediacioun,
MLT 235 And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie,
MLT 236 That in destruccioun of mawmettrie,
MLT 237 And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere,
MLT 238 They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:
MLT 239 How that the Sowdan and his baronage
MLT 240 And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,
MLT 241 And he shal han Custance in mariage,
MLT 242 And certein gold, I noot what quantitee;
MLT 243 And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.
MLT 244 This same accord was sworn on eyther syde;
MLT 245 Now, faire Custance, almyghty God thee gyde!
MLT 246 Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
MLT 247 That I sholde tellen al the purveiance
MLT 248 That th' Emperour, of his grete noblesse,
MLT 249 Hath shapen for his doghter, dame Custance.
MLT 250 Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance
MLT 251 May no man tellen in a litel clause
MLT 252 As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
MLT 253 Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende,
MLT 254 Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,
MLT 255 And oother folk ynowe; this is th' ende;
MLT 256 And notified is thurghout the toun
MLT 257 That every wight, with greet devocioun,
MLT 258 Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage
MLT 259 Receyve in gree and spede this viage.
MLT 260 The day is comen of hir departynge;
MLT 261 I seye, the woful day fatal is come,
MLT 262 That ther may be no lenger tariynge,
MLT 263 But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.
MLT 264 Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
MLT 265 Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende;
MLT 266 For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.
MLT 267 Allas, what wonder is it thogh she wepte,
MLT 268 That shal be sent to strange nacioun
MLT 269 Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,
MLT 270 And to be bounden under subjeccioun
MLT 271 Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun?
MLT 272 Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore;
MLT 273 That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore.
MLT 274 " Fader, " she seyde, " thy wrecched child Custance,
MLT 275 Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe,
MLT 276 And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance
MLT 277 Over alle thyng, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
MLT 278 Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte
MLT 279 Unto youre grace, for I shal to Surrye,
MLT 280 Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye.
MLT 281 " Allas, unto the Barbre nacioun
MLT 282 I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille;
MLT 283 But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun
MLT 284 So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille!
MLT 285 I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille!
MLT 286 Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
MLT 287 And to been under mannes governance. "
MLT 288 I trowe at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal
MLT 289 Or Ilion brende, at Thebes the citee,
MLT 290 N' at Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanybal
MLT 291 That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre,
MLT 292 Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee
MLT 293 As in the chambre was for hire departynge;
MLT 294 But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge.
MLT 295 O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,
MLT 296 With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
MLT 297 And hurlest al from est til occident
MLT 298 That naturelly wolde holde another way,
MLT 299 Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array
MLT 300 At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage,
MLT 301 That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
MLT 302 Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
MLT 303 Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas,
MLT 304 Out of his angle into the derkeste hous!
MLT 305 O Mars, o atazir, as in this cas!
MLT 306 O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas!
MLT 307 Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved;
MLT 308 Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.
MLT 309 Imprudent Emperour of Rome, allas!
MLT 310 Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?
MLT 311 Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
MLT 312 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
MLT 313 Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?
MLT 314 Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
MLT 315 Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!
MLT 316 To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
MLT 317 Solempnely, with every circumstance.
MLT 318 " Now Jhesu Crist be with yow alle! " she sayde;
MLT 319 Ther nys namoore, but " Farewel, faire Custance! "
MLT 320 She peyneth hire to make good contenance;
MLT 321 And forth I lete hire saille in this manere,
MLT 322 And turne I wole agayn to my matere.
MLT 323 The mooder of the Sowdan, welle of vices,
MLT 324 Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente,
MLT 325 How he wol lete his olde sacrifices;
MLT 326 And right anon she for hir conseil sente,
MLT 327 And they been come to knowe what she mente.
MLT 328 And whan assembled was this folk in-feere,
MLT 329 She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere.
MLT 330 " Lordes, " quod she, " ye knowen everichon,
MLT 331 How that my sone in point is for to lete
MLT 332 The hooly lawes of our Alkaron,
MLT 333 Yeven by Goddes message Makomete.
MLT 334 But oon avow to grete God I heete,
MLT 335 The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte
MLT 336 Or Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
MLT 337 " What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe
MLT 338 But thraldom to oure bodies and penance,
MLT 339 And afterward in helle to be drawe,
MLT 340 For we reneyed Mahoun oure creance?
MLT 341 But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
MLT 342 As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore,
MLT 343 And I shal make us sauf for everemoore? "
MLT 344 They sworen and assenten, every man,
MLT 345 To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde,
MLT 346 And everich, in the beste wise he kan,
MLT 347 To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde;
MLT 348 And she hath this emprise ytake on honde,
MLT 349 Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
MLT 350 And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse:
MLT 351 " We shul first feyne us cristendom to take --
MLT 352 Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite! --
MLT 353 And I shal swich a feeste and revel make
MLT 354 That, as I trowe, I shal the Sowdan quite.
MLT 355 For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white,
MLT 356 She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
MLT 357 Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede. "
MLT 358 O Sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee!
MLT 359 Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde!
MLT 360 O serpent under femynynytee,
MLT 361 Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!
MLT 362 O feyned womman, al that may confounde
MLT 363 Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice,
MLT 364 Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!
MLT 365 O Sathan, envious syn thilke day
MLT 366 That thou were chaced from oure heritage,
MLT 367 Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
MLT 368 Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage;
MLT 369 Thou wolt fordoon this Cristen mariage.
MLT 370 Thyn instrument so -- weylawey the while! --
MLT 371 Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile.
MLT 372 This Sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye,
MLT 373 Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way.
MLT 374 What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?
MLT 375 She rydeth to the Sowdan on a day,
MLT 376 And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay,
MLT 377 And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
MLT 378 Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe,
MLT 379 Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
MLT 380 That she moste han the Cristen folk to feeste --
MLT 381 " To plesen hem I wol do my labour. "
MLT 382 The Sowdan seith, " I wol doon at youre heeste, "
MLT 383 And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.
MLT 384 So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.
MLT 385 She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.
MLT 386 Arryved been this Cristen folk to londe
MLT 387 In Surrye, with a greet solempne route,
MLT 388 And hastifliche this Sowdan sente his sonde
MLT 389 First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute,
MLT 390 And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute,
MLT 391 And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene,
MLT 392 The honour of his regne to susteene.
MLT 393 Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array
MLT 394 Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere;
MLT 395 The mooder of the Sowdan, riche and gay,
MLT 396 Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere
MLT 397 As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere,
MLT 398 And to the nexte citee ther bisyde
MLT 399 A softe paas solempnely they ryde.
MLT 400 Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius,
MLT 401 Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost,
MLT 402 Was roialler ne moore curius
MLT 403 Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost.
MLT 404 But this scorpioun, this wikked goost,
MLT 405 The Sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge,
MLT 406 Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.
MLT 407 The Sowdan comth hymself soone after this
MLT 408 So roially that wonder is to telle,
MLT 409 And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis.
MLT 410 And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle;
MLT 411 The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle.
MLT 412 Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
MLT 413 That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.
MLT 414 The tyme cam, this olde Sowdanesse
MLT 415 Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde,
MLT 416 And to the feeste Cristen folk hem dresse
MLT 417 In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde.
MLT 418 Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde,
MLT 419 And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse;
MLT 420 But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.
MLT 421 O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour
MLT 422 To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse,
MLT 423 The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour!
MLT 424 Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.
MLT 425 Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:
MLT 426 Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde
MLT 427 The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.
MLT 428 For shortly for to tellen, at o word,
MLT 429 The Sowdan and the Cristen everichone
MLT 430 Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord,
MLT 431 But it were oonly dame Custance allone.
MLT 432 This olde Sowdanesse, cursed krone,
MLT 433 Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,
MLT 434 For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.
MLT 435 Ne ther was Surryen noon that was converted,
MLT 436 That of the conseil of the Sowdan woot,
MLT 437 That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.
MLT 438 And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,
MLT 439 And in a ship al steerelees, God woot,
MLT 440 They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille
MLT 441 Out of Surrye agaynward to Ytaille.
MLT 442 A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
MLT 443 And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee
MLT 444 They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
MLT 445 And forth she sailleth in the salte see.
MLT 446 O my Custance, ful of benignytee,
MLT 447 O Emperoures yonge doghter deere,
MLT 448 He that is lord of Fortune be thy steere!
MLT 449 She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys
MLT 450 Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she:
MLT 451 " O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys,
MLT 452 Reed of the Lambes blood ful of pitee,
MLT 453 That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
MLT 454 Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe,
MLT 455 That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.
MLT 456 " Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
MLT 457 That oonly worthy were for to bere
MLT 458 The Kyng of Hevene with his woundes newe,
MLT 459 The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spere,
MLT 460 Flemere of feendes out of hym and here
MLT 461 On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,
MLT 462 Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden. "
MLT 463 Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
MLT 464 Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte
MLT 465 Of Marrok, as it was hire aventure.
MLT 466 On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
MLT 467 After hir deeth ful often may she wayte,
MLT 468 Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve
MLT 469 Unto the place ther she shal arryve.
MLT 470 Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn
MLT 471 Eek at the feeste? Who myghte hir body save?
MLT 472 And I answere to that demande agayn,
MLT 473 Who saved Danyel in the horrible cave
MLT 474 Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
MLT 475 Was with the leon frete er he asterte?
MLT 476 No wight but God that he bar in his herte.
MLT 477 God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle
MLT 478 In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis;
MLT 479 Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
MLT 480 By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis,
MLT 481 Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
MLT 482 To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance
MLT 483 Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.
MLT 484 Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe,
MLT 485 Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?
MLT 486 Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes mawe
MLT 487 Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee?
MLT 488 Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he
MLT 489 That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge,
MLT 490 With drye feet thurghout the see passynge.
MLT 491 Who bad the foure spirites of tempest
MLT 492 That power han t' anoyen lond and see,
MLT 493 Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
MLT 494 " Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree " ?
MLT 495 Soothly, the comandour of that was he
MLT 496 That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
MLT 497 As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.
MLT 498 Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have
MLT 499 Thre yeer and moore? How lasteth hire vitaille?
MLT 500 Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave,
MLT 501 Or in desert? No wight but Crist, sanz faille.
MLT 502 Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille
MLT 503 With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede.
MLT 504 God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.
MLT 505 She dryveth forth into oure occian
MLT 506 Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste
MLT 507 Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan,
MLT 508 Fer in Northhumberlond the wawe hire caste,
MLT 509 And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste
MLT 510 That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde;
MLT 511 The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.
MLT 512 The constable of the castel doun is fare
MLT 513 To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
MLT 514 And foond this wery womman ful of care;
MLT 515 He foond also the tresor that she broghte.
MLT 516 In hir langage mercy she bisoghte,
MLT 517 The lyf out of hir body for to twynne,
MLT 518 Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne.
MLT 519 A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche,
MLT 520 But algates therby was she understonde.
MLT 521 The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche,
MLT 522 This woful womman broghte he to the londe.
MLT 523 She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde;
MLT 524 But what she was she wolde no man seye,
MLT 525 For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye.
MLT 526 She seyde she was so mazed in the see
MLT 527 That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.
MLT 528 The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,
MLT 529 And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.
MLT 530 She was so diligent, withouten slouthe,
MLT 531 To serve and plesen everich in that place
MLT 532 That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.
MLT 533 This constable and dame Hermengyld, his wyf,
MLT 534 Were payens, and that contree everywhere;
MLT 535 But Hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf,
MLT 536 And Custance hath so longe sojourned there,
MLT 537 In orisons, with many a bitter teere,
MLT 538 Til Jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace
MLT 539 Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of that place.
MLT 540 In al that lond no Cristen dorste route;
MLT 541 Alle Cristen folk been fled fro that contree
MLT 542 Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
MLT 543 The plages of the north, by land and see.
MLT 544 To Walys fledde the Cristyanytee
MLT 545 Of olde Britons dwellynge in this ile;
MLT 546 Ther was hir refut for the meene while.
MLT 547 But yet nere Cristene Britons so exiled
MLT 548 That ther nere somme that in hir privetee
MLT 549 Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled,
MLT 550 And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.
MLT 551 That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see,
MLT 552 But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde
MLT 553 With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde.
MLT 554 Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
MLT 555 For which the constable and his wyf also
MLT 556 And Custance han ytake the righte way
MLT 557 Toward the see a furlong wey or two,
MLT 558 To pleyen and to romen to and fro,
MLT 559 And in hir walk this blynde man they mette,
MLT 560 Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette.
MLT 561 " In name of Crist, " cride this blinde Britoun,
MLT 562 " Dame Hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn! "
MLT 563 This lady weex affrayed of the soun,
MLT 564 Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
MLT 565 Wolde hire for Jhesu Cristes love han slayn,
MLT 566 Til Custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche
MLT 567 The wyl of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
MLT 568 The constable weex abasshed of that sight,
MLT 569 And seyde, " What amounteth al this fare? "
MLT 570 Custance answerde, " Sire, it is Cristes myght,
MLT 571 That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare. "
MLT 572 And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare
MLT 573 That she the constable, er that it was eve
MLT 574 Converteth, and on Crist made hym bileve.
MLT 575 This constable was nothyng lord of this place
MLT 576 Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
MLT 577 But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space
MLT 578 Under Alla, kyng of al Northhumbrelond,
MLT 579 That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
MLT 580 Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere;
MLT 581 But turne I wole agayn to my mateere.
MLT 582 Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile,
MLT 583 Saugh of Custance al hire perfeccioun,
MLT 584 And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,
MLT 585 And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun
MLT 586 Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun,
MLT 587 That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,
MLT 588 But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.
MLT 589 He woweth hire, but it availleth noght;
MLT 590 She wolde do no synne, by no weye.
MLT 591 And for despit he compassed in his thoght
MLT 592 To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.
MLT 593 He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
MLT 594 And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte
MLT 595 In Hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte.
MLT 596 Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns,
MLT 597 Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.
MLT 598 This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,
MLT 599 Al softely is to the bed ygo,
MLT 600 And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo,
MLT 601 And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
MLT 602 And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!
MLT 603 Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn,
MLT 604 And eek Alla, that kyng was of that lond,
MLT 605 And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn,
MLT 606 For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,
MLT 607 And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
MLT 608 By Dame Custance. Allas, what myghte she seye?
MLT 609 For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
MLT 610 To kyng Alla was toold al this meschance,
MLT 611 And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise
MLT 612 That in a ship was founden this Custance,
MLT 613 As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
MLT 614 The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,
MLT 615 Whan he saugh so benigne a creature
MLT 616 Falle in disese and in mysaventure.
MLT 617 For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
MLT 618 So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.
MLT 619 This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,
MLT 620 Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng.
MLT 621 But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng
MLT 622 Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
MLT 623 That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse,
MLT 624 For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
MLT 625 And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf.
MLT 626 Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,
MLT 627 Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.
MLT 628 This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
MLT 629 Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
MLT 630 Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.
MLT 631 Allas! Custance, thou hast no champioun,
MLT 632 Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway!
MLT 633 But he that starf for our redempcioun,
MLT 634 And boond Sathan (and yet lith ther he lay),
MLT 635 So be thy stronge champion this day!
MLT 636 For, but if Crist open myracle kithe,
MLT 637 Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
MLT 638 She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde:
MLT 639 " Immortal God, that savedest Susanne
MLT 640 Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,
MLT 641 Marie I meene, doghter to Seint Anne,
MLT 642 Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,
MLT 643 If I be giltlees of this felonye,
MLT 644 My socour be, for ellis shal I dye! "
MLT 645 Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,
MLT 646 Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad
MLT 647 Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace,
MLT 648 And swich a colour in his face hath had
MLT 649 Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad
MLT 650 Amonges alle the faces in that route?
MLT 651 So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute.
MLT 652 O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee,
MLT 653 Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone,
MLT 654 Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee!
MLT 655 An Emperoures doghter stant allone;
MLT 656 She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
MLT 657 O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,
MLT 658 Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede!
MLT 659 This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun,
MLT 660 As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,
MLT 661 That from his eyen ran the water doun.
MLT 662 " Now hastily do fecche a book, " quod he,
MLT 663 " And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
MLT 664 This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse
MLT 665 Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise. "
MLT 666 A Britoun book, written with Evaungiles,
MLT 667 Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
MLT 668 She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
MLT 669 An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon,
MLT 670 That doun he fil atones as a stoon,
MLT 671 And bothe his eyen broste out of his face
MLT 672 In sighte of every body in that place.
MLT 673 A voys was herd in general audience,
MLT 674 And seyde, " Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,
MLT 675 The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence;
MLT 676 Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees! "
MLT 677 Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
MLT 678 As mazed folk they stoden everichone,
MLT 679 For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
MLT 680 Greet was the drede and eek the repentance
MLT 681 Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun
MLT 682 Upon this sely innocent, Custance;
MLT 683 And for this miracle, in conclusioun,
MLT 684 And by Custances mediacioun,
MLT 685 The kyng -- and many another in that place --
MLT 686 Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
MLT 687 This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe
MLT 688 By juggement of Alla hastifly;
MLT 689 And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe.
MLT 690 And after this Jhesus, of his mercy,
MLT 691 Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
MLT 692 This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene;
MLT 693 And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene.
MLT 694 But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 695 Of this weddyng but Donegild, and namo,
MLT 696 The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye?
MLT 697 Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo.
MLT 698 She wolde noght hir sone had do so;
MLT 699 Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
MLT 700 So strange a creature unto his make.
MLT 701 Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree,
MLT 702 Maken so long a tale as of the corn.
MLT 703 What sholde I tellen of the roialtee
MLT 704 At mariage, or which cours goth biforn;
MLT 705 Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn?
MLT 706 The fruyt of every tale is for to seye:
MLT 707 They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye.
MLT 708 They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;
MLT 709 For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges,
MLT 710 They moste take in pacience at nyght
MLT 711 Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges
MLT 712 To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges,
MLT 713 And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside,
MLT 714 As for the tyme -- it may no bet bitide.
MLT 715 On hire he gat a knave child anon,
MLT 716 And to a bisshop, and his constable eke,
MLT 717 He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon
MLT 718 To Scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke.
MLT 719 Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
MLT 720 So longe is goon with childe, til that stille
MLT 721 She halt hire chambre, abidyng Cristes wille.
MLT 722 The tyme is come a knave child she beer;
MLT 723 Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
MLT 724 This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
MLT 725 And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle,
MLT 726 How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
MLT 727 And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
MLT 728 He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.
MLT 729 This messager, to doon his avantage,
MLT 730 Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,
MLT 731 And salueth hire ful faire in his langage:
MLT 732 " Madame, " quod he, " ye may be glad and blithe,
MLT 733 And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe!
MLT 734 My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,
MLT 735 To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.
MLT 736 " Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,
MLT 737 That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
MLT 738 If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,
MLT 739 I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day. "
MLT 740 Donegild answerde, " As now at this tyme, nay;
MLT 741 But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.
MLT 742 To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste. "
MLT 743 This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
MLT 744 And stolen were his lettres pryvely
MLT 745 Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn;
MLT 746 And countrefeted was ful subtilly
MLT 747 Another lettre, wroght ful synfully,
MLT 748 Unto the kyng direct of this mateere
MLT 749 Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 750 The lettre spak the queene delivered was
MLT 751 Of so horrible a feendly creature
MLT 752 That in the castel noon so hardy was
MLT 753 That any while dorste ther endure.
MLT 754 The mooder was an elf, by aventure
MLT 755 Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie,
MLT 756 And every wight hateth hir compaignye.
MLT 757 Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,
MLT 758 But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,
MLT 759 But of his owene hand he wroot agayn,
MLT 760 " Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore
MLT 761 To me that am now lerned in his loore!
MLT 762 Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;
MLT 763 My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.
MLT 764 " Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,
MLT 765 And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge.
MLT 766 Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir
MLT 767 Moore agreable than this to my likynge. "
MLT 768 This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,
MLT 769 Which to the messager was take soone,
MLT 770 And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone.
MLT 771 O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
MLT 772 Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay,
MLT 773 And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
MLT 774 Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay,
MLT 775 Thy face is turned in a newe array.
MLT 776 Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
MLT 777 Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.
MLT 778 O Donegild, I ne have noon Englissh digne
MLT 779 Unto thy malice and thy tirannye!
MLT 780 And therfore to the feend I thee resigne;
MLT 781 Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!
MLT 782 Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by God, I lye --
MLT 783 Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle,
MLT 784 Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle!
MLT 785 This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,
MLT 786 And at the kynges moodres court he lighte,
MLT 787 And she was of this messager ful fayn,
MLT 788 And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.
MLT 789 He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte;
MLT 790 He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse
MLT 791 Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.
MLT 792 Eft were his lettres stolen everychon,
MLT 793 And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:
MLT 794 " The king comandeth his constable anon,
MLT 795 Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse,
MLT 796 That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
MLT 797 Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde
MLT 798 Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde;
MLT 799 " But in the same ship as he hire fond,
MLT 800 Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,
MLT 801 He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond,
MLT 802 And charge hire that she never eft coome theere. "
MLT 803 O my Custance, wel may thy goost have feere,
MLT 804 And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance,
MLT 805 Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance.
MLT 806 This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
MLT 807 Unto the castel halt the nexte way,
MLT 808 And to the constable he the lettre took;
MLT 809 And whan that he this pitous lettre say,
MLT 810 Ful ofte he seyde, " Allas and weylaway! "
MLT 811 " Lord Crist, " quod he, " how may this world endure,
MLT 812 So ful of synne is many a creature?
MLT 813 " O myghty God, if that it be thy wille,
MLT 814 Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be
MLT 815 That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille,
MLT 816 And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
MLT 817 O goode Custance, allas, so wo is me
MLT 818 That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye
MLT 819 On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye. "
MLT 820 Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place
MLT 821 Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,
MLT 822 And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
MLT 823 The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
MLT 824 But nathelees she taketh in good entente
MLT 825 The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde,
MLT 826 She seyde, " Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde!
MLT 827 " He that me kepte fro the false blame
MLT 828 While I was on the lond amonges yow,
MLT 829 He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame
MLT 830 In salte see, althogh I se noght how.
MLT 831 As strong as evere he was, he is yet now.
MLT 832 In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,
MLT 833 That is to me my seyl and eek my steere. "
MLT 834 Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
MLT 835 And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde,
MLT 836 " Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm. "
MLT 837 With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde,
MLT 838 And over his litel eyen she it leyde,
MLT 839 And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
MLT 840 And into hevene hire eyen up she caste.
MLT 841 " Mooder, " quod she, " and mayde bright, Marie,
MLT 842 Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement
MLT 843 Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye,
MLT 844 For which thy child was on a croys yrent.
MLT 845 Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment;
MLT 846 Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
MLT 847 Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
MLT 848 " Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen,
MLT 849 And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay!
MLT 850 Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,
MLT 851 Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,
MLT 852 Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
MLT 853 Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
MLT 854 Rewest on every reweful in distresse.
MLT 855 " O litel child, allas! What is thy gilt,
MLT 856 That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee?
MLT 857 Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
MLT 858 O mercy, deere constable, " quod she,
MLT 859 " As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
MLT 860 And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame,
MLT 861 So kys hym ones in his fadres name! "
MLT 862 Therwith she looked bakward to the londe,
MLT 863 And seyde, " Farewel, housbonde routhelees! "
MLT 864 And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
MLT 865 Toward the ship -- hir folweth al the prees --
MLT 866 And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees;
MLT 867 And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente
MLT 868 She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente.
MLT 869 Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
MLT 870 Habundantly for hire ful longe space,
MLT 871 And othere necessaries that sholde nede
MLT 872 She hadde ynogh -- heryed be Goddes grace!
MLT 873 For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace,
MLT 874 And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye,
MLT 875 But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.
MLT 876 Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this
MLT 877 Unto his castel, of the which I tolde,
MLT 878 And asketh where his wyf and his child is.
MLT 879 The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
MLT 880 And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde
MLT 881 As ye han herd -- I kan telle it no bettre --
MLT 882 And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre,
MLT 883 And seyde, " Lord, as ye comanded me
MLT 884 Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein. "
MLT 885 This messager tormented was til he
MLT 886 Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn,
MLT 887 Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn;
MLT 888 And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge,
MLT 889 Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
MLT 890 The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,
MLT 891 And al the venym of this cursed dede,
MLT 892 But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.
MLT 893 Th' effect is this: that Alla, out of drede,
MLT 894 His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede --
MLT 895 For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.
MLT 896 Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!
MLT 897 The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day
MLT 898 Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also,
MLT 899 Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
MLT 900 But now wol I unto Custance go,
MLT 901 That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
MLT 902 Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde,
MLT 903 Er that hir ship approched unto londe.
MLT 904 Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
MLT 905 Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,
MLT 906 Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste.
MLT 907 Almyghty God, that saveth al mankynde,
MLT 908 Have on Custance and on hir child som mynde,
MLT 909 That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone,
MLT 910 In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.
MLT 911 Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight
MLT 912 To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
MLT 913 But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght,
MLT 914 The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! --
MLT 915 A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance,
MLT 916 Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde
MLT 917 Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
MLT 918 Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon;
MLT 919 Hir child cride, and she cride pitously.
MLT 920 But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon;
MLT 921 For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily
MLT 922 The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,
MLT 923 And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
MLT 924 And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
MLT 925 O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!
MLT 926 Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,
MLT 927 But verraily thou wolt his body shende.
MLT 928 Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde,
MLT 929 Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde
MLT 930 That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente
MLT 931 To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!
MLT 932 How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
MLT 933 Hire to defende agayn this renegat?
MLT 934 O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
MLT 935 Hou myghte David make thee so maat,
MLT 936 So yong and of armure so desolaat?
MLT 937 Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?
MLT 938 Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace.
MLT 939 Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse
MLT 940 To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente,
MLT 941 And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
MLT 942 The peple of God? I seye, for this entente,
MLT 943 That right as God spirit of vigour sente
MLT 944 To hem and saved hem out of meschance,
MLT 945 So sente he myght and vigour to Custance.
MLT 946 Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
MLT 947 Of Jubaltare and Septe, dryvynge ay
MLT 948 Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,
MLT 949 And somtyme est, ful many a wery day,
MLT 950 Til Cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! --
MLT 951 Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
MLT 952 To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
MLT 953 Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe,
MLT 954 And speke we of the Romayn Emperour,
MLT 955 That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe
MLT 956 The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
MLT 957 Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,
MLT 958 I mene the cursed wikked Sowdanesse
MLT 959 That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.
MLT 960 For which this Emperour hath sent anon
MLT 961 His senatour, with roial ordinance,
MLT 962 And othere lordes, God woot, many oon,
MLT 963 On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance.
MLT 964 They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance
MLT 965 Ful many a day; but shortly -- this is th' ende --
MLT 966 Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
MLT 967 This senatour repaireth with victorie
MLT 968 To Rome-ward, saillynge ful roially,
MLT 969 And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie,
MLT 970 In which Custance sit ful pitously.
MLT 971 Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why
MLT 972 She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye
MLT 973 Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
MLT 974 He bryngeth hire to Rome, and to his wyf
MLT 975 He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also;
MLT 976 And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
MLT 977 Thus kan Oure Lady bryngen out of wo
MLT 978 Woful Custance, and many another mo.
MLT 979 And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
MLT 980 In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace.
MLT 981 The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
MLT 982 But for al that she knew hire never the moore.
MLT 983 I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
MLT 984 But to kyng Alla, which I spak of yoore,
MLT 985 That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore,
MLT 986 I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
MLT 987 Under the senatoures governance.
MLT 988 Kyng Alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn,
MLT 989 Upon a day fil in swich repentance
MLT 990 That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,
MLT 991 To Rome he comth to receyven his penance;
MLT 992 And putte hym in the Popes ordinance
MLT 993 In heigh and logh, and Jhesu Crist bisoghte
MLT 994 Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
MLT 995 The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born,
MLT 996 How Alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage,
MLT 997 By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn;
MLT 998 For which the senatour, as was usage,
MLT 999 Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage,
MLT 1000 As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence
MLT 1001 As to doon any kyng a reverence.
MLT 1002 Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
MLT 1003 To kyng Alla, and he to hym also;
MLT 1004 Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour.
MLT 1005 And so bifel that in a day or two
MLT 1006 This senatour is to kyng Alla go
MLT 1007 To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 1008 Custances sone wente in his compaignye.
MLT 1009 Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custance
MLT 1010 This senatour hath lad this child to feeste;
MLT 1011 I may nat tellen every circumstance --
MLT 1012 Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste.
MLT 1013 But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste
MLT 1014 Biforn Alla, durynge the metes space,
MLT 1015 The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face.
MLT 1016 This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder,
MLT 1017 And to the senatour he seyde anon,
MLT 1018 " Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder? "
MLT 1019 " I noot, " quod he, " by God, and by Seint John!
MLT 1020 A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon
MLT 1021 That I of woot " -- and shortly, in a stounde,
MLT 1022 He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
MLT 1023 " But God woot, " quod this senatour also,
MLT 1024 " So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
MLT 1025 Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,
MLT 1026 Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.
MLT 1027 I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
MLT 1028 Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;
MLT 1029 There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke. "
MLT 1030 Now was this child as lyk unto Custance
MLT 1031 As possible is a creature to be.
MLT 1032 This Alla hath the face in remembrance
MLT 1033 Of dame Custance, and ther on mused he
MLT 1034 If that the childes mooder were aught she
MLT 1035 That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte,
MLT 1036 And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
MLT 1037 " Parfay, " thoghte he, " fantome is in myn heed!
MLT 1038 I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,
MLT 1039 That in the salte see my wyf is deed. "
MLT 1040 And afterward he made his argument:
MLT 1041 " What woot I if that Crist have hyder ysent
MLT 1042 My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
MLT 1043 To my contree fro thennes that she wente? "
MLT 1044 And after noon, hoom with the senatour
MLT 1045 Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.
MLT 1046 This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
MLT 1047 And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
MLT 1048 But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce
MLT 1049 Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;
MLT 1050 Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.
MLT 1051 Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,
MLT 1052 And weep that it was routhe for to see;
MLT 1053 For at the firste look he on hire sette
MLT 1054 He knew wel verraily that it was she.
MLT 1055 And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,
MLT 1056 So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,
MLT 1057 Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.
MLT 1058 Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte;
MLT 1059 He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.
MLT 1060 " Now God, " quod he, " and his halwes brighte
MLT 1061 So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
MLT 1062 That of youre harm as giltelees am I
MLT 1063 As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;
MLT 1064 Elles the feend me fecche out of this place! "
MLT 1065 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne,
MLT 1066 Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse;
MLT 1067 Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,
MLT 1068 Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
MLT 1069 I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;
MLT 1070 I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe,
MLT 1071 I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
MLT 1072 But finally, whan that the sothe is wist
MLT 1073 That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
MLT 1074 I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
MLT 1075 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two
MLT 1076 That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,
MLT 1077 Ther is noon lyk that any creature
MLT 1078 Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure.
MLT 1079 Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
MLT 1080 In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne,
MLT 1081 That he wolde preye hir fader specially
MLT 1082 That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
MLT 1083 To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
MLT 1084 She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye
MLT 1085 Unto hir fader no word of hire seye.
MLT 1086 Som men wolde seyn how that the child Maurice
MLT 1087 Dooth this message unto this Emperour;
MLT 1088 But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce
MLT 1089 To hym that was of so sovereyn honour
MLT 1090 As he that is of Cristen folk the flour,
MLT 1091 Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme
MLT 1092 He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.
MLT 1093 This Emperour hath graunted gentilly
MLT 1094 To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte;
MLT 1095 And wel rede I he looked bisily
MLT 1096 Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
MLT 1097 Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte,
MLT 1098 Arrayed for this feste in every wise
MLT 1099 As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.
MLT 1100 The morwe cam, and Alla gan hym dresse,
MLT 1101 And eek his wyf, this Emperour to meete;
MLT 1102 And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse.
MLT 1103 And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
MLT 1104 She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete.
MLT 1105 " Fader, " quod she, " youre yonge child Custance
MLT 1106 Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
MLT 1107 " I am youre doghter Custance, " quod she,
MLT 1108 " That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.
MLT 1109 It am I, fader, that in the salte see
MLT 1110 Was put allone and dampned for to dye.
MLT 1111 Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye!
MLT 1112 Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
MLT 1113 But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse. "
MLT 1114 Who kan the pitous joye tellen al
MLT 1115 Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?
MLT 1116 But of my tale make an ende I shal;
MLT 1117 The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
MLT 1118 This glade folk to dyner they hem sette;
MLT 1119 In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
MLT 1120 A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.
MLT 1121 This child Maurice was sithen Emperour
MLT 1122 Maad by the Pope, and lyved cristenly;
MLT 1123 To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
MLT 1124 But I lete al his storie passen by;
MLT 1125 Of Custance is my tale specially.
MLT 1126 In the olde Romayn geestes may men fynde
MLT 1127 Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde.
MLT 1128 This kyng Alla, whan he his tyme say,
MLT 1129 With his Custance, his hooly wyf so sweete,
MLT 1130 To Engelond been they come the righte way,
MLT 1131 Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete.
MLT 1132 But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete,
MLT 1133 Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
MLT 1134 Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
MLT 1135 Who lyved euere in swich delit o day
MLT 1136 That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
MLT 1137 Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
MLT 1138 Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?
MLT 1139 I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
MLT 1140 That litel while in joye or in plesance
MLT 1141 Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
MLT 1142 For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
MLT 1143 Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,
MLT 1144 Out of this world this kyng Alla he hente,
MLT 1145 For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse.
MLT 1146 Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse!
MLT 1147 And dame Custance, finally to seye,
MLT 1148 Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye.
MLT 1149 To Rome is come this hooly creature,
MLT 1150 And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde;
MLT 1151 Now is she scaped al hire aventure.
MLT 1152 And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde,
MLT 1153 Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
MLT 1154 Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe,
MLT 1155 She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe.
MLT 1156 In vertu and in hooly almus-dede
MLT 1157 They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende;
MLT 1158 Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede.
MLT 1159 And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende.
MLT 1160 Now Jhesu Crist, that of his myght may sende
MLT 1161 Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,
MLT 1162 And kepe us alle that been in this place! Amen
GP 1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
GP 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
GP 3 And bathed every veyne in swich licour
GP 4 Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
GP 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
GP 6 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
GP 7 The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
GP 8 Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne,
GP 9 And smale foweles maken melodye,
GP 10 That slepen al the nyght with open ye
GP 11 (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages),
GP 12 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
GP 13 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
GP 14 To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
GP 15 And specially from every shires ende
GP 16 Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,
GP 17 The hooly blisful martir for to seke,
GP 18 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.
GP 19 Bifil that in that seson on a day,
GP 20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay
GP 21 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
GP 22 To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
GP 23 At nyght was come into that hostelrye
GP 24 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
GP 25 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
GP 26 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
GP 27 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
GP 28 The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
GP 29 And wel we weren esed atte beste.
GP 30 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,
GP 31 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon
GP 32 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon,
GP 33 And made forward erly for to ryse,
GP 34 To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse.
GP 35 But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
GP 36 Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
GP 37 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
GP 38 To telle yow al the condicioun
GP 39 Of ech of hem, so as it semed me,
GP 40 And whiche they weren, and of what degree,
GP 41 And eek in what array that they were inne;
GP 42 And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne.
GP 43 A KNYGHT ther was, and that a worthy man,
GP 44 That fro the tyme that he first bigan
GP 45 To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
GP 46 Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.
GP 47 Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,
GP 48 And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,
GP 49 As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse,
GP 50 And evere honoured for his worthynesse;
GP 51 At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne.
GP 52 Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
GP 53 Aboven alle nacions in Pruce;
GP 54 In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
GP 55 No Cristen man so ofte of his degree.
GP 56 In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
GP 57 Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye.
GP 58 At Lyeys was he and at Satalye,
GP 59 Whan they were wonne, and in the Grete See
GP 60 At many a noble armee hadde he be.
GP 61 At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene,
GP 62 And foughten for oure feith at Tramyssene
GP 63 In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo.
GP 64 This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
GP 65 Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
GP 66 Agayn another hethen in Turkye;
GP 67 And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys.
GP 68 And though that he were worthy, he was wys,
GP 69 And of his port as meeke as is a mayde.
GP 70 He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde
GP 71 In al his lyf unto no maner wight.
GP 72 He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght.
GP 73 But for to tellen yow of his array,
GP 74 His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.
GP 75 Of fustian he wered a gypon
GP 76 Al bismotered with his habergeon,
GP 77 For he was late ycome from his viage,
GP 78 And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
GP 79 With hym ther was his sone, a yong SQUIER,
GP 80 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler,
GP 81 With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse.
GP 82 Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse.
GP 83 Of his stature he was of evene lengthe,
GP 84 And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe.
GP 85 And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie
GP 86 In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Pycardie,
GP 87 And born hym weel, as of so litel space,
GP 88 In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
GP 89 Embrouded was he, as it were a meede
GP 90 Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede.
GP 91 Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day;
GP 92 He was as fressh as is the month of May.
GP 93 Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde.
GP 94 Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
GP 95 He koude songes make and wel endite,
GP 96 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write.
GP 97 So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale
GP 98 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
GP 99 Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable,
GP 100 And carf biforn his fader at the table.
GP 101 A YEMAN hadde he and servantz namo
GP 102 At that tyme, for hym liste ride so,
GP 103 And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
GP 104 A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
GP 105 Under his belt he bar ful thriftily
GP 106 (Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly;
GP 107 His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
GP 108 And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
GP 109 A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage.
GP 110 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage.
GP 111 Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer,
GP 112 And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler,
GP 113 And on that oother syde a gay daggere
GP 114 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere;
GP 115 A Cristopher on his brest of silver sheene.
GP 116 An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene;
GP 117 A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.
GP 118 Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE,
GP 119 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;
GP 120 Hire gretteste ooth was but by Seinte Loy;
GP 121 And she was cleped madame Eglentyne.
GP 122 Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne,
GP 123 Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
GP 124 And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
GP 125 After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
GP 126 For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe.
GP 127 At mete wel ytaught was she with alle;
GP 128 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle,
GP 129 Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe;
GP 130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
GP 131 That no drope ne fille upon hire brest.
GP 132 In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.
GP 133 Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene
GP 134 That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene
GP 135 Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte.
GP 136 Ful semely after hir mete she raughte.
GP 137 And sikerly she was of greet desport,
GP 138 And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port,
GP 139 And peyned hire to countrefete cheere
GP 140 Of court, and to been estatlich of manere,
GP 141 And to ben holden digne of reverence.
GP 142 But for to speken of hire conscience,
GP 143 She was so charitable and so pitous
GP 144 She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous
GP 145 Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.
GP 146 Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
GP 147 With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.
GP 148 But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed,
GP 149 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
GP 150 And al was conscience and tendre herte.
GP 151 Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was,
GP 152 Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas,
GP 153 Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed.
GP 154 But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed;
GP 155 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe;
GP 156 For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe.
GP 157 Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
GP 158 Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
GP 159 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
GP 160 And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
GP 161 On which ther was first write a crowned A,
GP 162 And after Amor vincit omnia.
GP 163 Another NONNE with hire hadde she,
GP 164 That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
GP 165 A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrie,
GP 166 An outridere, that lovede venerie,
GP 167 A manly man, to been an abbot able.
GP 168 Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable,
GP 169 And whan he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
GP 170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd als cleere
GP 171 And eek as loude as dooth the chapel belle
GP 172 Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle.
GP 173 The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit --
GP 174 By cause that it was old and somdel streit
GP 175 This ilke Monk leet olde thynges pace,
GP 176 And heeld after the newe world the space.
GP 177 He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
GP 178 That seith that hunters ben nat hooly men,
GP 179 Ne that a monk, whan he is recchelees,
GP 180 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees --
GP 181 This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloystre.
GP 182 But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre;
GP 183 And I seyde his opinion was good.
GP 184 What sholde he studie and make hymselven wood,
GP 185 Upon a book in cloystre alwey to poure,
GP 186 Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
GP 187 As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?
GP 188 Lat Austyn have his swynk to hym reserved!
GP 189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
GP 190 Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
GP 191 Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
GP 192 Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.
GP 193 I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond
GP 194 With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond;
GP 195 And for to festne his hood under his chyn,
GP 196 He hadde of gold ywroght a ful curious pyn;
GP 197 A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
GP 198 His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas,
GP 199 And eek his face, as he hadde been enoynt.
GP 200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;
GP 201 His eyen stepe, and rollynge in his heed,
GP 202 That stemed as a forneys of a leed;
GP 203 His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
GP 204 Now certeinly he was a fair prelaat;
GP 205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost.
GP 206 A fat swan loved he best of any roost.
GP 207 His palfrey was as broun as is a berye.
GP 208 A FRERE ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
GP 209 A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
GP 210 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan
GP 211 So muchel of daliaunce and fair langage.
GP 212 He hadde maad ful many a mariage
GP 213 Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
GP 214 Unto his ordre he was a noble post.
GP 215 Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
GP 216 With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
GP 217 And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;
GP 218 For he hadde power of confessioun,
GP 219 As seyde hymself, moore than a curat,
GP 220 For of his ordre he was licenciat.
GP 221 Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
GP 222 And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
GP 223 He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
GP 224 Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
GP 225 For unto a povre ordre for to yive
GP 226 Is signe that a man is wel yshryve;
GP 227 For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt,
GP 228 He wiste that a man was repentaunt;
GP 229 For many a man so hard is of his herte,
GP 230 He may nat wepe, althogh hym soore smerte.
GP 231 Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
GP 232 Men moote yeve silver to the povre freres.
GP 233 His typet was ay farsed ful of knyves
GP 234 And pynnes, for to yeven faire wyves.
GP 235 And certeinly he hadde a murye note:
GP 236 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote;
GP 237 Of yeddynges he baar outrely the pris.
GP 238 His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys;
GP 239 Therto he strong was as a champioun.
GP 240 He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
GP 241 And everich hostiler and tappestere
GP 242 Bet than a lazar or a beggestere,
GP 243 For unto swich a worthy man as he
GP 244 Acorded nat, as by his facultee,
GP 245 To have with sike lazars aqueyntaunce.
GP 246 It is nat honest; it may nat avaunce,
GP 247 For to deelen with no swich poraille,
GP 248 But al with riche and selleres of vitaille.
GP 249 And over al, ther as profit sholde arise,
GP 250 Curteis he was and lowely of servyse;
GP 251 Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous.
GP 252 He was the beste beggere in his hous;
GP 252a [And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt;
GP 252b Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;]
GP 253 For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,
GP 254 So plesaunt was his " In principio, "
GP 255 Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he wente.
GP 256 His purchas was wel bettre than his rente.
GP 257 And rage he koude, as it were right a whelp.
GP 258 In love-dayes ther koude he muchel help,
GP 259 For ther he was nat lyk a cloysterer
GP 260 With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler,
GP 261 But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
GP 262 Of double worstede was his semycope,
GP 263 That rounded as a belle out of the presse.
GP 264 Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse,
GP 265 To make his Englissh sweete upon his tonge;
GP 266 And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe,
GP 267 His eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
GP 268 As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.
GP 269 This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
GP 270 A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd,
GP 271 In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat;
GP 272 Upon his heed a Flaundryssh bever hat,
GP 273 His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.
GP 274 His resons he spak ful solempnely,
GP 275 Sownynge alwey th' encrees of his wynnyng.
GP 276 He wolde the see were kept for any thyng
GP 277 Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle.
GP 278 Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle.
GP 279 This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette:
GP 280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette,
GP 281 So estatly was he of his governaunce
GP 282 With his bargaynes and with his chevyssaunce.
GP 283 For sothe he was a worthy man with alle,
GP 284 But, sooth to seyn, I noot how men hym calle.
GP 285 A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also,
GP 286 That unto logyk hadde longe ygo.
GP 287 As leene was his hors as is a rake,
GP 288 And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
GP 289 But looked holwe, and therto sobrely.
GP 290 Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy,
GP 291 For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice,
GP 292 Ne was so worldly for to have office.
GP 293 For hym was levere have at his beddes heed
GP 294 Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,
GP 295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie
GP 296 Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.
GP 297 But al be that he was a philosophre,
GP 298 Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre;
GP 299 But al that he myghte of his freendes hente,
GP 300 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,
GP 301 And bisily gan for the soules preye
GP 302 Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
GP 303 Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede.
GP 304 Noght o word spak he moore than was neede,
GP 305 And that was seyd in forme and reverence,
GP 306 And short and quyk and ful of hy sentence;
GP 307 Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche,
GP 308 And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
GP 309 A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys,
GP 310 That often hadde been at the Parvys,
GP 311 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.
GP 312 Discreet he was and of greet reverence --
GP 313 He semed swich, his wordes weren so wise.
GP 314 Justice he was ful often in assise,
GP 315 By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
GP 316 For his science and for his heigh renoun,
GP 317 Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
GP 318 So greet a purchasour was nowher noon:
GP 319 Al was fee symple to hym in effect;
GP 320 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.
GP 321 Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas,
GP 322 And yet he semed bisier than he was.
GP 323 In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle
GP 324 That from the tyme of kyng William were falle.
GP 325 Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
GP 326 Ther koude no wight pynche at his writyng;
GP 327 And every statut koude he pleyn by rote.
GP 328 He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote,
GP 329 Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale;
GP 330 Of his array telle I no lenger tale.
GP 331 A FRANKELEYN was in his compaignye.
GP 332 Whit was his berd as is the dayesye;
GP 333 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn.
GP 334 Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn;
GP 335 To lyven in delit was evere his wone,
GP 336 For he was Epicurus owene sone,
GP 337 That heeld opinioun that pleyn delit
GP 338 Was verray felicitee parfit.
GP 339 An housholdere, and that a greet, was he;
GP 340 Seint Julian he was in his contree.
GP 341 His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
GP 342 A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
GP 343 Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
GP 344 Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous
GP 345 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke;
GP 346 Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke,
GP 347 After the sondry sesons of the yeer,
GP 348 So chaunged he his mete and his soper.
GP 349 Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe,
GP 350 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.
GP 351 Wo was his cook but if his sauce were
GP 352 Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his geere.
GP 353 His table dormant in his halle alway
GP 354 Stood redy covered al the longe day.
GP 355 At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire;
GP 356 Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
GP 357 An anlaas and a gipser al of silk
GP 358 Heeng at his girdel, whit as morne milk.
GP 359 A shirreve hadde he been, and a contour.
GP 360 Was nowher swich a worthy vavasour.
GP 361 AN HABERDASSHERE and a CARPENTER,
GP 362 A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPYCER --
GP 363 And they were clothed alle in o lyveree
GP 364 Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
GP 365 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was;
GP 366 Hir knyves were chaped noght with bras
GP 367 But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel,
GP 368 Hire girdles and hir pouches everydeel.
GP 369 Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys
GP 370 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
GP 371 Everich, for the wisdom that he kan,
GP 372 Was shaply for to been an alderman.
GP 373 For catel hadde they ynogh and rente,
GP 374 And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente;
GP 375 And elles certeyn were they to blame.
GP 376 It is ful fair to been ycleped " madame, "
GP 377 And goon to vigilies al bifore,
GP 378 And have a mantel roialliche ybore.
GP 379 A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones
GP 380 To boille the chiknes with the marybones,
GP 381 And poudre-marchant tart and galyngale.
GP 382 Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale.
GP 383 He koude rooste, and sethe, and broille, and frye,
GP 384 Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye.
GP 385 But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me,
GP 386 That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
GP 387 For blankmanger, that made he with the beste.
GP 388 A SHIPMAN was ther, wonynge fer by weste;
GP 389 For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
GP 390 He rood upon a rouncy, as he kouthe,
GP 391 In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.
GP 392 A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
GP 393 Aboute his nekke, under his arm adoun.
GP 394 The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al broun;
GP 395 And certeinly he was a good felawe.
GP 396 Ful many a draughte of wyn had he ydrawe
GP 397 Fro Burdeux-ward, whil that the chapman sleep.
GP 398 Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
GP 399 If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
GP 400 By water he sente hem hoom to every lond.
GP 401 But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
GP 402 His stremes, and his daungers hym bisides,
GP 403 His herberwe, and his moone, his lodemenage,
GP 404 Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage.
GP 405 Hardy he was and wys to undertake;
GP 406 With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake.
GP 407 He knew alle the havenes, as they were,
GP 408 Fro Gootlond to the cape of Fynystere,
GP 409 And every cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
GP 410 His barge ycleped was the Maudelayne.
GP 411 With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISIK;
GP 412 In al this world ne was ther noon hym lik,
GP 413 To speke of phisik and of surgerye,
GP 414 For he was grounded in astronomye.
GP 415 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
GP 416 In houres by his magyk natureel.
GP 417 Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
GP 418 Of his ymages for his pacient.
GP 419 He knew the cause of everich maladye,
GP 420 Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
GP 421 And where they engendred, and of what humour.
GP 422 He was a verray, parfit praktisour:
GP 423 The cause yknowe, and of his harm the roote,
GP 424 Anon he yaf the sike man his boote.
GP 425 Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries
GP 426 To sende hym drogges and his letuaries,
GP 427 For ech of hem made oother for to wynne --
GP 428 Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to bigynne.
GP 429 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius,
GP 430 And Deyscorides, and eek Rufus,
GP 431 Olde Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen,
GP 432 Serapion, Razis, and Avycen,
GP 433 Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn,
GP 434 Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn.
GP 435 Of his diete mesurable was he,
GP 436 For it was of no superfluitee,
GP 437 But of greet norissyng and digestible.
GP 438 His studie was but litel on the Bible.
GP 439 In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
GP 440 Lyned with taffata and with sendal.
GP 441 And yet he was but esy of dispence;
GP 442 He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
GP 443 For gold in phisik is a cordial,
GP 444 Therefore he lovede gold in special.
GP 445 A good WIF was ther OF biside BATHE,
GP 446 But she was somdel deef, and that was scathe.
GP 447 Of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt
GP 448 She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt.
GP 449 In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
GP 450 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
GP 451 And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she
GP 452 That she was out of alle charitee.
GP 453 Hir coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground;
GP 454 I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
GP 455 That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed.
GP 456 Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed,
GP 457 Ful streite yteyd, and shoes ful moyste and newe.
GP 458 Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe.
GP 459 She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
GP 460 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
GP 461 Withouten oother compaignye in youthe --
GP 462 But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
GP 463 And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem;
GP 464 She hadde passed many a straunge strem;
GP 465 At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne,
GP 466 In Galice at Seint-Jame, and at Coloigne.
GP 467 She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye.
GP 468 Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye.
GP 469 Upon an amblere esily she sat,
GP 470 Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat
GP 471 As brood as is a bokeler or a targe;
GP 472 A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,
GP 473 And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.
GP 474 In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
GP 475 Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce,
GP 476 For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
GP 477 A good man was ther of religioun,
GP 478 And was a povre PERSOUN OF A TOUN,
GP 479 But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
GP 480 He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
GP 481 That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
GP 482 His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
GP 483 Benygne he was, and wonder diligent,
GP 484 And in adversitee ful pacient,
GP 485 And swich he was ypreved ofte sithes.
GP 486 Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes,
GP 487 But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute,
GP 488 Unto his povre parisshens aboute
GP 489 Of his offryng and eek of his substaunce.
GP 490 He koude in litel thyng have suffisaunce.
GP 491 Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer asonder,
GP 492 But he ne lefte nat, for reyn ne thonder,
GP 493 In siknesse nor in meschief to visite
GP 494 The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite,
GP 495 Upon his feet, and in his hand a staf.
GP 496 This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf,
GP 497 That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
GP 498 Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte,
GP 499 And this figure he added eek therto,
GP 500 That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?
GP 501 For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
GP 502 No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
GP 503 And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
GP 504 A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
GP 505 Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
GP 506 By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
GP 507 He sette nat his benefice to hyre
GP 508 And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
GP 509 And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
GP 510 To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
GP 511 Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
GP 512 But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
GP 513 So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
GP 514 He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
GP 515 And though he hooly were and vertuous,
GP 516 He was to synful men nat despitous,
GP 517 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
GP 518 But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
GP 519 To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
GP 520 By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
GP 521 But it were any persone obstinat,
GP 522 What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
GP 523 Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
GP 524 A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
GP 525 He waited after no pompe and reverence,
GP 526 Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
GP 527 But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
GP 528 He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve.
GP 529 With hym ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother,
GP 530 That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
GP 531 A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
GP 532 Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
GP 533 God loved he best with al his hoole herte
GP 534 At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
GP 535 And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
GP 536 He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
GP 537 For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
GP 538 Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
GP 539 His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
GP 540 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
GP 541 In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
GP 542 Ther was also a REVE, and a MILLERE,
GP 543 A SOMNOUR, and a PARDONER also,
GP 544 A MAUNCIPLE, and myself -- ther were namo.
GP 545 The MILLERE was a stout carl for the nones;
GP 546 Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
GP 547 That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
GP 548 At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
GP 549 He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
GP 550 Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
GP 551 Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
GP 552 His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
GP 553 And therto brood, as though it were a spade.
GP 554 Upon the cop right of his nose he hade
GP 555 A werte, and theron stood a toft of herys,
GP 556 Reed as the brustles of a sowes erys;
GP 557 His nosethirles blake were and wyde.
GP 558 A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde.
GP 559 His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys.
GP 560 He was a janglere and a goliardeys,
GP 561 And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
GP 562 Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries;
GP 563 And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee.
GP 564 A whit cote and a blew hood wered he.
GP 565 A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne,
GP 566 And therwithal he broghte us out of towne.
GP 567 A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple,
GP 568 Of which achatours myghte take exemple
GP 569 For to be wise in byynge of vitaille;
GP 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille,
GP 571 Algate he wayted so in his achaat
GP 572 That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
GP 573 Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace
GP 574 That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
GP 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men?
GP 576 Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten,
GP 577 That weren of lawe expert and curious,
GP 578 Of which ther were a duszeyne in that hous
GP 579 Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
GP 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond,
GP 581 To make hym lyve by his propre good
GP 582 In honour dettelees (but if he were wood),
GP 583 Or lyve as scarsly as hym list desire;
GP 584 And able for to helpen al a shire
GP 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
GP 586 And yet this Manciple sette hir aller cappe.
GP 587 The REVE was a sclendre colerik man.
GP 588 His berd was shave as ny as ever he kan;
GP 589 His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn;
GP 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn.
GP 591 Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,
GP 592 Ylyk a staf; ther was no calf ysene.
GP 593 Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne;
GP 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on him wynne.
GP 595 Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
GP 596 The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
GP 597 His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
GP 598 His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye
GP 599 Was hoolly in this Reves governynge,
GP 600 And by his covenant yaf the rekenynge,
GP 601 Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age.
GP 602 Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
GP 603 Ther nas baillif, ne hierde, nor oother hyne,
GP 604 That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne;
GP 605 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth.
GP 606 His wonyng was ful faire upon an heeth;
GP 607 With grene trees yshadwed was his place.
GP 608 He koude bettre than his lord purchace.
GP 609 Ful riche he was astored pryvely.
GP 610 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly,
GP 611 To yeve and lene hym of his owene good,
GP 612 And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood.
GP 613 In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster:
GP 614 He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
GP 615 This Reve sat upon a ful good stot
GP 616 That was al pomely grey and highte Scot.
GP 617 A long surcote of pers upon he hade,
GP 618 And by his syde he baar a rusty blade.
GP 619 Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle,
GP 620 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle.
GP 621 Tukked he was as is a frere aboute,
GP 622 And evere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
GP 623 A SOMONOUR was ther with us in that place,
GP 624 That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
GP 625 For saucefleem he was, with eyen narwe.
GP 626 As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
GP 627 With scalled browes blake and piled berd.
GP 628 Of his visage children were aferd.
GP 629 Ther nas quyk-silver, lytarge, ne brymstoon,
GP 630 Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon,
GP 631 Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte,
GP 632 That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white,
GP 633 Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.
GP 634 Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes,
GP 635 And for to drynken strong wyn, reed as blood;
GP 636 Thanne wolde he speke and crie as he were wood.
GP 637 And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn,
GP 638 Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.
GP 639 A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
GP 640 That he had lerned out of som decree --
GP 641 No wonder is, he herde it al the day;
GP 642 And eek ye knowen wel how that a jay
GP 643 Kan clepen " Watte " as wel as kan the pope.
GP 644 But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope,
GP 645 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie;
GP 646 Ay " Questio quid iuris " wolde he crie.
GP 647 He was a gentil harlot and a kynde;
GP 648 A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
GP 649 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
GP 650 A good felawe to have his concubyn
GP 651 A twelf month, and excuse hym atte fulle;
GP 652 Ful prively a fynch eek koude he pulle.
GP 653 And if he foond owher a good felawe,
GP 654 He wolde techen him to have noon awe
GP 655 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs,
GP 656 But if a mannes soule were in his purs;
GP 657 For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
GP 658 " Purs is the ercedekenes helle, " seyde he.
GP 659 But wel I woot he lyed right in dede;
GP 660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede,
GP 661 For curs wol slee right as assoillyng savith,
GP 662 And also war hym of a Significavit.
GP 663 In daunger hadde he at his owene gise
GP 664 The yonge girles of the diocise,
GP 665 And knew hir conseil, and was al hir reed.
GP 666 A gerland hadde he set upon his heed,
GP 667 As greet as it were for an ale-stake.
GP 668 A bokeleer hadde he maad hym of a cake.
GP 669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
GP 670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
GP 671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
GP 672 Ful loude he soong " Com hider, love, to me! "
GP 673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
GP 674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
GP 675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
GP 676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
GP 677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
GP 678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
GP 679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
GP 680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
GP 681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
GP 682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
GP 683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
GP 684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
GP 685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
GP 686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
GP 687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
GP 688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
GP 689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
GP 690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
GP 691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
GP 692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware
GP 693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
GP 694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
GP 695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
GP 696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
GP 697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
GP 698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
GP 699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
GP 700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
GP 701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
GP 702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
GP 703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
GP 704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
GP 705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
GP 706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
GP 707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
GP 708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
GP 709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
GP 710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
GP 711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
GP 712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
GP 713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
GP 714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
GP 715 Now have I toold you soothly, in a clause,
GP 716 Th' estaat, th' array, the nombre, and eek the cause
GP 717 Why that assembled was this compaignye
GP 718 In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye
GP 719 That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
GP 720 But now is tyme to yow for to telle
GP 721 How that we baren us that ilke nyght,
GP 722 Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght;
GP 723 And after wol I telle of our viage
GP 724 And al the remenaunt of oure pilgrimage.
GP 725 But first I pray yow, of youre curteisye,
GP 726 That ye n' arette it nat my vileynye,
GP 727 Thogh that I pleynly speke in this mateere,
GP 728 To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere,
GP 729 Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
GP 730 For this ye knowen al so wel as I:
GP 731 Whoso shal telle a tale after a man,
GP 732 He moot reherce as ny as evere he kan
GP 733 Everich a word, if it be in his charge,
GP 734 Al speke he never so rudeliche and large,
GP 735 Or ellis he moot telle his tale untrewe,
GP 736 Or feyne thyng, or fynde wordes newe.
GP 737 He may nat spare, althogh he were his brother;
GP 738 He moot as wel seye o word as another.
GP 739 Crist spak hymself ful brode in hooly writ,
GP 740 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.
GP 741 Eek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede,
GP 742 The wordes moote be cosyn to the dede.
GP 743 Also I prey yow to foryeve it me,
GP 744 Al have I nat set folk in hir degree
GP 745 Heere in this tale, as that they sholde stonde.
GP 746 My wit is short, ye may wel understonde.
GP 747 Greet chiere made oure Hoost us everichon,
GP 748 And to the soper sette he us anon.
GP 749 He served us with vitaille at the beste;
GP 750 Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
GP 751 A semely man OURE HOOSTE was withalle
GP 752 For to been a marchal in an halle.
GP 753 A large man he was with eyen stepe --
GP 754 A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe --
GP 755 Boold of his speche, and wys, and wel ytaught,
GP 756 And of manhod hym lakkede right naught.
GP 757 Eek therto he was right a myrie man;
GP 758 And after soper pleyen he bigan,
GP 759 And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges,
GP 760 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,
GP 761 And seyde thus: " Now, lordynges, trewely,
GP 762 Ye been to me right welcome, hertely;
GP 763 For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye,
GP 764 I saugh nat this yeer so myrie a compaignye
GP 765 Atones in this herberwe as is now.
GP 766 Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe, wiste I how.
GP 767 And of a myrthe I am right now bythoght,
GP 768 To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght.
GP 769 " Ye goon to Caunterbury -- God yow speede,
GP 770 The blisful martir quite yow youre meede!
GP 771 And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye,
GP 772 Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye;
GP 773 For trewely, confort ne myrthe is noon
GP 774 To ride by the weye doumb as a stoon;
GP 775 And therfore wol I maken yow disport,
GP 776 As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
GP 777 And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
GP 778 For to stonden at my juggement,
GP 779 And for to werken as I shal yow seye,
GP 780 Tomorwe, whan ye riden by the weye,
GP 781 Now, by my fader soule that is deed,
GP 782 But ye be myrie, I wol yeve yow myn heed!
GP 783 Hoold up youre hondes, withouten moore speche. "
GP 784 Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
GP 785 Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys,
GP 786 And graunted hym withouten moore avys,
GP 787 And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste.
GP 788 " Lordynges, " quod he, " now herkneth for the beste;
GP 789 But taak it nought, I prey yow, in desdeyn.
GP 790 This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,
GP 791 That ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
GP 792 In this viage shal telle tales tweye
GP 793 To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
GP 794 And homward he shal tellen othere two,
GP 795 Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.
GP 796 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle --
GP 797 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
GP 798 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas --
GP 799 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
GP 800 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
GP 801 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
GP 802 And for to make yow the moore mury,
GP 803 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde,
GP 804 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
GP 805 And whoso wole my juggement withseye
GP 806 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.
GP 807 And if ye vouche sauf that it be so,
GP 808 Tel me anon, withouten wordes mo,
GP 809 And I wol erly shape me therfore. "
GP 810 This thyng was graunted, and oure othes swore
GP 811 With ful glad herte, and preyden hym also
GP 812 That he wolde vouche sauf for to do so,
GP 813 And that he wolde been oure governour,
GP 814 And of oure tales juge and reportour,
GP 815 And sette a soper at a certeyn pris,
GP 816 And we wol reuled been at his devys
GP 817 In heigh and lough; and thus by oon assent
GP 818 We been acorded to his juggement.
GP 819 And therupon the wyn was fet anon;
GP 820 We dronken, and to reste wente echon,
GP 821 Withouten any lenger taryynge.
GP 822 Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge,
GP 823 Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok,
GP 824 And gadrede us togidre alle in a flok,
GP 825 And forth we riden a litel moore than paas
GP 826 Unto the Wateryng of Seint Thomas;
GP 827 And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste
GP 828 And seyde, " Lordynges, herkneth, if yow leste.
GP 829 Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde.
GP 830 If even-song and morwe-song accorde,
GP 831 Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
GP 832 As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
GP 833 Whoso be rebel to my juggement
GP 834 Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
GP 835 Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne;
GP 836 He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
GP 837 Sire Knyght, " quod he, " my mayster and my lord,
GP 838 Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord.
GP 839 Cometh neer, " quod he, " my lady Prioresse.
GP 840 And ye, sire Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse,
GP 841 Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man! "
GP 842 Anon to drawen every wight bigan,
GP 843 And shortly for to tellen as it was,
GP 844 Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas,
GP 845 The sothe is this: the cut fil to the Knyght,
GP 846 Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght,
GP 847 And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun,
GP 848 By foreward and by composicioun,
GP 849 As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo?
GP 850 And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,
GP 851 As he that wys was and obedient
GP 852 To kepe his foreward by his free assent,
GP 853 He seyde, " Syn I shal bigynne the game,
GP 854 What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!
GP 855 Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye. "
GP 856 And with that word we ryden forth oure weye,
GP 857 And he bigan with right a myrie cheere
GP 858 His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere.
KnT 859 Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
KnT 860 Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
KnT 861 Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
KnT 862 And in his tyme swich a conquerour
KnT 863 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
KnT 864 Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
KnT 865 What with his wysdom and his chivalrie,
KnT 866 He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
KnT 867 That whilom was ycleped Scithia,
KnT 868 And weddede the queene Ypolita,
KnT 869 And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree
KnT 870 With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
KnT 871 And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
KnT 872 And thus with victorie and with melodye
KnT 873 Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,
KnT 874 And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
KnT 875 And certes, if it nere to long to heere,
KnT 876 I wolde have toold yow fully the manere
KnT 877 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
KnT 878 By Theseus and by his chivalrye;
KnT 879 And of the grete bataille for the nones
KnT 880 Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones;
KnT 881 And how asseged was Ypolita,
KnT 882 The faire, hardy queene of Scithia;
KnT 883 And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,
KnT 884 And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge;
KnT 885 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
KnT 886 I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
KnT 887 And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
KnT 888 The remenant of the tale is long ynough.
KnT 889 I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
KnT 890 Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute,
KnT 891 And lat se now who shal the soper wynne;
KnT 892 And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne.
KnT 893 This duc, of whom I make mencioun,
KnT 894 Whan he was come almoost unto the toun,
KnT 895 In al his wele and in his mooste pride,
KnT 896 He was war, as he caste his eye aside,
KnT 897 Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye
KnT 898 A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,
KnT 899 Ech after oother clad in clothes blake;
KnT 900 But swich a cry and swich a wo they make
KnT 901 That in this world nys creature lyvynge
KnT 902 That herde swich another waymentynge;
KnT 903 And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten
KnT 904 Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
KnT 905 " What folk been ye, that at myn hom-comynge
KnT 906 Perturben so my feste with criynge? "
KnT 907 Quod Theseus. " Have ye so greet envye
KnT 908 Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye?
KnT 909 Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
KnT 910 And telleth me if it may been amended,
KnT 911 And why that ye been clothed thus in blak. "
KnT 912 The eldeste lady of hem alle spak,
KnT 913 Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere,
KnT 914 That it was routhe for to seen and heere;
KnT 915 She seyde, " Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven
KnT 916 Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven,
KnT 917 Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour,
KnT 918 But we biseken mercy and socour.
KnT 919 Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse!
KnT 920 Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse,
KnT 921 Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle,
KnT 922 For, certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle
KnT 923 That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.
KnT 924 Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
KnT 925 Thanked be Fortune and hire false wheel,
KnT 926 That noon estaat assureth to be weel.
KnT 927 And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence,
KnT 928 Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence
KnT 929 We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
KnT 930 Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy myght.
KnT 931 " I, wrecche, which that wepe and wayle thus,
KnT 932 Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus,
KnT 933 That starf at Thebes -- cursed be that day! --
KnT 934 And alle we that been in this array
KnT 935 And maken al this lamentacioun,
KnT 936 We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun,
KnT 937 Whil that the seege theraboute lay.
KnT 938 And yet now the olde Creon -- weylaway! --
KnT 939 That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
KnT 940 Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,
KnT 941 He, for despit and for his tirannye,
KnT 942 To do the dede bodyes vileynye
KnT 943 Of alle oure lordes whiche that been yslawe,
KnT 944 Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe,
KnT 945 And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,
KnT 946 Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent,
KnT 947 But maketh houndes ete hem in despit. "
KnT 948 And with that word, withouten moore respit,
KnT 949 They fillen gruf and criden pitously,
KnT 950 " Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy,
KnT 951 And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte. "
KnT 952 This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
KnT 953 With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.
KnT 954 Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
KnT 955 Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat,
KnT 956 That whilom weren of so greet estaat;
KnT 957 And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
KnT 958 And hem conforteth in ful good entente,
KnT 959 And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
KnT 960 He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght
KnT 961 Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke
KnT 962 That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
KnT 963 How Creon was of Theseus yserved
KnT 964 As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
KnT 965 And right anoon, withouten moore abood,
KnT 966 His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
KnT 967 To Thebes-ward, and al his hoost biside.
KnT 968 No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
KnT 969 Ne take his ese fully half a day,
KnT 970 But onward on his wey that nyght he lay,
KnT 971 And sente anon Ypolita the queene,
KnT 972 And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
KnT 973 Unto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle,
KnT 974 And forth he rit; ther is namoore to telle.
KnT 975 The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe,
KnT 976 So shyneth in his white baner large
KnT 977 That alle the feeldes glyteren up and doun;
KnT 978 And by his baner born is his penoun
KnT 979 Of gold ful riche, in which ther was ybete
KnT 980 The Mynotaur, which that he wan in Crete.
KnT 981 Thus rit this duc, thus rit this conquerour,
KnT 982 And in his hoost of chivalrie the flour,
KnT 983 Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte
KnT 984 Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte to fighte.
KnT 985 But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
KnT 986 With Creon, which that was of Thebes kyng,
KnT 987 He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght
KnT 988 In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght;
KnT 989 And by assaut he wan the citee after,
KnT 990 And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter;
KnT 991 And to the ladyes he restored agayn
KnT 992 The bones of hir freendes that were slayn,
KnT 993 To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
KnT 994 But it were al to longe for to devyse
KnT 995 The grete clamour and the waymentynge
KnT 996 That the ladyes made at the brennynge
KnT 997 Of the bodies, and the grete honour
KnT 998 That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
KnT 999 Dooth to the ladyes, whan they from hym wente;
KnT 1000 But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
KnT 1001 Whan that this worthy duc, this Theseus,
KnT 1002 Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus,
KnT 1003 Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,
KnT 1004 And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
KnT 1005 To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede,
KnT 1006 Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
KnT 1007 The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
KnT 1008 After the bataille and disconfiture.
KnT 1009 And so bifel that in the taas they founde,
KnT 1010 Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,
KnT 1011 Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
KnT 1012 Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
KnT 1013 Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon,
KnT 1014 And that oother knyght highte Palamon.
KnT 1015 Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were,
KnT 1016 But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere
KnT 1017 The heraudes knewe hem best in special
KnT 1018 As they that weren of the blood roial
KnT 1019 Of Thebes, and of sustren two yborn.
KnT 1020 Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn,
KnT 1021 And han hem caried softe unto the tente
KnT 1022 Of Theseus; and he ful soone hem sente
KnT 1023 To Atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun
KnT 1024 Perpetuelly -- he nolde no raunsoun.
KnT 1025 And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon,
KnT 1026 He took his hoost, and hoom he rit anon
KnT 1027 With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
KnT 1028 And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour
KnT 1029 Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1030 And in a tour, in angwissh and in wo,
KnT 1031 This Palamon and his felawe Arcite
KnT 1032 For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.
KnT 1033 This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
KnT 1034 Till it fil ones, in a morwe of May,
KnT 1035 That Emelye, that fairer was to sene
KnT 1036 Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene,
KnT 1037 And fressher than the May with floures newe --
KnT 1038 For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
KnT 1039 I noot which was the fyner of hem two --
KnT 1040 Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,
KnT 1041 She was arisen and al redy dight,
KnT 1042 For May wole have no slogardie anyght.
KnT 1043 The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
KnT 1044 And maketh it out of his slep to sterte,
KnT 1045 And seith " Arys, and do thyn observaunce. "
KnT 1046 This maked Emelye have remembraunce
KnT 1047 To doon honour to May, and for to ryse.
KnT 1048 Yclothed was she fressh, for to devyse:
KnT 1049 Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
KnT 1050 Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse.
KnT 1051 And in the gardyn, at the sonne upriste,
KnT 1052 She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
KnT 1053 She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
KnT 1054 To make a subtil gerland for hire hede;
KnT 1055 And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong.
KnT 1056 The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong,
KnT 1057 Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun
KnT 1058 (Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun
KnT 1059 Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal),
KnT 1060 Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal
KnT 1061 Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
KnT 1062 Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge,
KnT 1063 And Palamoun, this woful prisoner,
KnT 1064 As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
KnT 1065 Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
KnT 1066 In which he al the noble citee seigh,
KnT 1067 And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene,
KnT 1068 Ther as this fresshe Emelye the shene
KnT 1069 Was in hire walk, and romed up and doun.
KnT 1070 This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun,
KnT 1071 Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro
KnT 1072 And to hymself compleynynge of his wo.
KnT 1073 That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, " allas! "
KnT 1074 And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
KnT 1075 That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
KnT 1076 Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
KnT 1077 He cast his eye upon Emelya,
KnT 1078 And therwithal he bleynte and cride, " A! "
KnT 1079 As though he stongen were unto the herte.
KnT 1080 And with that cry Arcite anon up sterte
KnT 1081 And seyde, " Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee,
KnT 1082 That art so pale and deedly on to see?
KnT 1083 Why cridestow? Who hath thee doon offence?
KnT 1084 For Goddes love, taak al in pacience
KnT 1085 Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
KnT 1086 Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
KnT 1087 Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
KnT 1088 Of Saturne, by som constellacioun,
KnT 1089 Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn;
KnT 1090 So stood the hevene whan that we were born.
KnT 1091 We moste endure it; this is the short and playn. "
KnT 1092 This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn,
KnT 1093 " Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
KnT 1094 Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun.
KnT 1095 This prison caused me nat for to crye,
KnT 1096 But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye
KnT 1097 Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
KnT 1098 The fairnesse of that lady that I see
KnT 1099 Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
KnT 1100 Is cause of al my criyng and my wo.
KnT 1101 I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
KnT 1102 But Venus is it soothly, as I gesse. "
KnT 1103 And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
KnT 1104 And seyde, " Venus, if it be thy wil
KnT 1105 Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
KnT 1106 Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
KnT 1107 Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
KnT 1108 And if so be my destynee be shapen
KnT 1109 By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
KnT 1110 Of oure lynage have som compassioun,
KnT 1111 That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye. "
KnT 1112 And with that word Arcite gan espye
KnT 1113 Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
KnT 1114 And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
KnT 1115 That, if that Palamon was wounded sore,
KnT 1116 Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or moore.
KnT 1117 And with a sigh he seyde pitously,
KnT 1118 " The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
KnT 1119 Of hire that rometh in the yonder place;
KnT 1120 And but I have hir mercy and hir grace,
KnT 1121 That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
KnT 1122 I nam but deed; ther nis namoore to seye. "
KnT 1123 This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
KnT 1124 Dispitously he looked and answerde,
KnT 1125 " Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley? "
KnT 1126 " Nay, " quod Arcite, " in ernest, by my fey!
KnT 1127 God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye. "
KnT 1128 This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.
KnT 1129 " It nere, " quod he, " to thee no greet honour
KnT 1130 For to be fals, ne for to be traitour
KnT 1131 To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother
KnT 1132 Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother,
KnT 1133 That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
KnT 1134 Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
KnT 1135 Neither of us in love to hyndre oother,
KnT 1136 Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother,
KnT 1137 But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
KnT 1138 In every cas, as I shal forthren thee --
KnT 1139 This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
KnT 1140 I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.
KnT 1141 Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute,
KnT 1142 And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
KnT 1143 To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
KnT 1144 And evere shal til that myn herte sterve.
KnT 1145 Nay, certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so.
KnT 1146 I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo
KnT 1147 As to my conseil and my brother sworn
KnT 1148 To forthre me, as I have toold biforn.
KnT 1149 For which thou art ybounden as a knyght
KnT 1150 To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght,
KnT 1151 Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn. "
KnT 1152 This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn:
KnT 1153 " Thow shalt, " quod he, " be rather fals than I;
KnT 1154 And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,
KnT 1155 For paramour I loved hire first er thow.
KnT 1156 What wiltow seyen? Thou woost nat yet now
KnT 1157 Wheither she be a womman or goddesse!
KnT 1158 Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse,
KnT 1159 And myn is love as to a creature;
KnT 1160 For which I tolde thee myn aventure
KnT 1161 As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
KnT 1162 I pose that thow lovedest hire biforn;
KnT 1163 Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
KnT 1164 That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?'
KnT 1165 Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan,
KnT 1166 Than may be yeve to any erthely man;
KnT 1167 And therfore positif lawe and swich decree
KnT 1168 Is broken al day for love in ech degree.
KnT 1169 A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed;
KnT 1170 He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
KnT 1171 Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
KnT 1172 And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
KnT 1173 To stonden in hir grace; namoore shal I;
KnT 1174 For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily,
KnT 1175 That thou and I be dampned to prisoun
KnT 1176 Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
KnT 1177 We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon;
KnT 1178 They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon.
KnT 1179 Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe,
KnT 1180 And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe.
KnT 1181 And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
KnT 1182 Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
KnT 1183 Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shal;
KnT 1184 And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.
KnT 1185 Heere in this prisoun moote we endure,
KnT 1186 And everich of us take his aventure. "
KnT 1187 Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye,
KnT 1188 If that I hadde leyser for to seye;
KnT 1189 But to th' effect. It happed on a day,
KnT 1190 To telle it yow as shortly as I may,
KnT 1191 A worthy duc that highte Perotheus,
KnT 1192 That felawe was unto duc Theseus
KnT 1193 Syn thilke day that they were children lite,
KnT 1194 Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite,
KnT 1195 And for to pleye as he was wont to do;
KnT 1196 For in this world he loved no man so,
KnT 1197 And he loved hym als tendrely agayn.
KnT 1198 So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn,
KnT 1199 That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle,
KnT 1200 His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle --
KnT 1201 But of that storie list me nat to write.
KnT 1202 Duc Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
KnT 1203 And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere,
KnT 1204 And finally at requeste and preyere
KnT 1205 Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun,
KnT 1206 Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun
KnT 1207 Frely to goon wher that hym liste over al,
KnT 1208 In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.
KnT 1209 This was the forward, pleynly for t' endite,
KnT 1210 Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite:
KnT 1211 That if so were that Arcite were yfounde
KnT 1212 Evere in his lif, by day or nyght, oo stounde
KnT 1213 In any contree of this Theseus,
KnT 1214 And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
KnT 1215 That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
KnT 1216 Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;
KnT 1217 But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde.
KnT 1218 Lat hym be war! His nekke lith to wedde.
KnT 1219 How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite!
KnT 1220 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte;
KnT 1221 He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously;
KnT 1222 To sleen hymself he waiteth prively.
KnT 1223 He seyde, " Allas that day that I was born!
KnT 1224 Now is my prisoun worse than biforn;
KnT 1225 Now is me shape eternally to dwelle
KnT 1226 Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
KnT 1227 Allas, that evere knew I Perotheus!
KnT 1228 For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus,
KnT 1229 Yfetered in his prisoun everemo.
KnT 1230 Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo.
KnT 1231 Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve,
KnT 1232 Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve,
KnT 1233 Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
KnT 1234 O deere cosyn Palamon, " quod he,
KnT 1235 " Thyn is the victorie of this aventure.
KnT 1236 Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure --
KnT 1237 In prison? Certes nay, but in paradys!
KnT 1238 Wel hath Fortune yturned thee the dys,
KnT 1239 That hast the sighte of hire, and I th' absence.
KnT 1240 For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence,
KnT 1241 And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
KnT 1242 That by som cas, syn Fortune is chaungeable,
KnT 1243 Thow maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne.
KnT 1244 But I, that am exiled and bareyne
KnT 1245 Of alle grace, and in so greet dispeir
KnT 1246 That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir,
KnT 1247 Ne creature that of hem maked is,
KnT 1248 That may me helpe or doon confort in this,
KnT 1249 Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse.
KnT 1250 Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!
KnT 1251 " Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
KnT 1252 On purveiaunce of God, or of Fortune,
KnT 1253 That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
KnT 1254 Wel bettre than they kan hemself devyse?
KnT 1255 Som man desireth for to han richesse,
KnT 1256 That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse;
KnT 1257 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
KnT 1258 That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
KnT 1259 Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
KnT 1260 We witen nat what thing we preyen heere;
KnT 1261 We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
KnT 1262 A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
KnT 1263 But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
KnT 1264 And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
KnT 1265 And certes, in this world so faren we;
KnT 1266 We seken faste after felicitee,
KnT 1267 But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
KnT 1268 Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
KnT 1269 That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
KnT 1270 That if I myghte escapen from prisoun,
KnT 1271 Thanne hadde I been in joye and parfit heele,
KnT 1272 Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
KnT 1273 Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye,
KnT 1274 I nam but deed; ther nys no remedye. "
KnT 1275 Upon that oother syde Palamon,
KnT 1276 Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
KnT 1277 Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
KnT 1278 Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.
KnT 1279 The pure fettres on his shynes grete
KnT 1280 Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete.
KnT 1281 " Allas, " quod he, " Arcita, cosyn myn,
KnT 1282 Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
KnT 1283 Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,
KnT 1284 And of my wo thow yevest litel charge.
KnT 1285 Thou mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
KnT 1286 Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede,
KnT 1287 And make a werre so sharp on this citee
KnT 1288 That by som aventure or some tretee
KnT 1289 Thow mayst have hire to lady and to wyf
KnT 1290 For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.
KnT 1291 For, as by wey of possibilitee,
KnT 1292 Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
KnT 1293 And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage
KnT 1294 Moore than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
KnT 1295 For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve,
KnT 1296 With al the wo that prison may me yive,
KnT 1297 And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also,
KnT 1298 That doubleth al my torment and my wo. "
KnT 1299 Therwith the fyr of jalousie up sterte
KnT 1300 Withinne his brest, and hente him by the herte
KnT 1301 So woodly that he lyk was to biholde
KnT 1302 The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
KnT 1303 Thanne seyde he, " O crueel goddes that governe
KnT 1304 This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
KnT 1305 And writen in the table of atthamaunt
KnT 1306 Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
KnT 1307 What is mankynde moore unto you holde
KnT 1308 Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde?
KnT 1309 For slayn is man right as another beest,
KnT 1310 And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest,
KnT 1311 And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
KnT 1312 And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee.
KnT 1313 " What governance is in this prescience,
KnT 1314 That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
KnT 1315 And yet encresseth this al my penaunce,
KnT 1316 That man is bounden to his observaunce,
KnT 1317 For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
KnT 1318 Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.
KnT 1319 And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne;
KnT 1320 But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne,
KnT 1321 Though in this world he have care and wo.
KnT 1322 Withouten doute it may stonden so.
KnT 1323 The answere of this lete I to dyvynys,
KnT 1324 But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne ys.
KnT 1325 Allas, I se a serpent or a theef,
KnT 1326 That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
KnT 1327 Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne.
KnT 1328 But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne,
KnT 1329 And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood,
KnT 1330 That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood
KnT 1331 Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde;
KnT 1332 And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde
KnT 1333 For jalousie and fere of hym Arcite. "
KnT 1334 Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite,
KnT 1335 And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle,
KnT 1336 And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
KnT 1337 The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
KnT 1338 Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
KnT 1339 Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
KnT 1340 I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
KnT 1341 For, shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
KnT 1342 Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
KnT 1343 In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
KnT 1344 And Arcite is exiled upon his heed
KnT 1345 For everemo, as out of that contree,
KnT 1346 Ne nevere mo ne shal his lady see.
KnT 1347 Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
KnT 1348 Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
KnT 1349 That oon may seen his lady day by day,
KnT 1350 But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
KnT 1351 That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
KnT 1352 But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1353 Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
KnT 1354 For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
KnT 1355 Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was,
KnT 1356 Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde " Allas! "
KnT 1357 For seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
KnT 1358 And shortly to concluden al his wo,
KnT 1359 So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature
KnT 1360 That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
KnT 1361 His slep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft,
KnT 1362 That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft;
KnT 1363 His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde,
KnT 1364 His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde,
KnT 1365 And solitarie he was and evere allone,
KnT 1366 And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his mone;
KnT 1367 And if he herde song or instrument,
KnT 1368 Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.
KnT 1369 So feble eek were his spiritz, and so lowe,
KnT 1370 And chaunged so, that no man koude knowe
KnT 1371 His speche nor his voys, though men it herde.
KnT 1372 And in his geere for al the world he ferde
KnT 1373 Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye
KnT 1374 Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye,
KnT 1375 Engendred of humour malencolik
KnT 1376 Biforen, in his celle fantastik.
KnT 1377 And shortly, turned was al up so doun
KnT 1378 Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
KnT 1379 Of hym, this woful lovere daun Arcite.
KnT 1380 What sholde I al day of his wo endite?
KnT 1381 Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
KnT 1382 This crueel torment and this peyne and wo,
KnT 1383 At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
KnT 1384 Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde,
KnT 1385 Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie
KnT 1386 Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie.
KnT 1387 His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
KnT 1388 An hat he werede upon his heris brighte.
KnT 1389 Arrayed was this god, as he took keep,
KnT 1390 As he was whan that Argus took his sleep;
KnT 1391 And seyde hym thus: " To Atthenes shaltou wende,
KnT 1392 Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende. "
KnT 1393 And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.
KnT 1394 " Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte, "
KnT 1395 Quod he, " to Atthenes right now wol I fare,
KnT 1396 Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
KnT 1397 To se my lady, that I love and serve.
KnT 1398 In hire presence I recche nat to sterve. "
KnT 1399 And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
KnT 1400 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour,
KnT 1401 And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
KnT 1402 And right anon it ran hym in his mynde,
KnT 1403 That, sith his face was so disfigured
KnT 1404 Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
KnT 1405 He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe,
KnT 1406 Lyve in Atthenes everemoore unknowe,
KnT 1407 And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
KnT 1408 And right anon he chaunged his array,
KnT 1409 And cladde hym as a povre laborer,
KnT 1410 And al allone, save oonly a squier
KnT 1411 That knew his privetee and al his cas,
KnT 1412 Which was disgised povrely as he was,
KnT 1413 To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
KnT 1414 And to the court he wente upon a day,
KnT 1415 And at the gate he profreth his servyse
KnT 1416 To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
KnT 1417 And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
KnT 1418 He fil in office with a chamberleyn
KnT 1419 The which that dwellynge was with Emelye,
KnT 1420 For he was wys and koude soone espye,
KnT 1421 Of every servaunt, which that serveth here.
KnT 1422 Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere,
KnT 1423 For he was yong and myghty for the nones,
KnT 1424 And therto he was long and big of bones
KnT 1425 To doon that any wight kan hym devyse.
KnT 1426 A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
KnT 1427 Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte,
KnT 1428 And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
KnT 1429 But half so wel biloved a man as he
KnT 1430 Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree;
KnT 1431 He was so gentil of condicioun
KnT 1432 That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
KnT 1433 They seyden that it were a charitee
KnT 1434 That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
KnT 1435 And putten hym in worshipful servyse,
KnT 1436 Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
KnT 1437 And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
KnT 1438 Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,
KnT 1439 That Theseus hath taken hym so neer
KnT 1440 That of his chambre he made hym a squier,
KnT 1441 And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
KnT 1442 And eek men broghte hym out of his contree,
KnT 1443 From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely his rente;
KnT 1444 But honestly and slyly he it spente,
KnT 1445 That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
KnT 1446 And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde,
KnT 1447 And bar hym so, in pees and eek in werre,
KnT 1448 Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre.
KnT 1449 And in this blisse lete I now Arcite,
KnT 1450 And speke I wole of Palamon a lite.
KnT 1451 In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
KnT 1452 Thise seven yeer hath seten Palamoun
KnT 1453 Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.
KnT 1454 Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse
KnT 1455 But Palamon, that love destreyneth so
KnT 1456 That wood out of his wit he goth for wo?
KnT 1457 And eek therto he is a prisoner
KnT 1458 Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yer.
KnT 1459 Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely
KnT 1460 His martirdom? For sothe it am nat I;
KnT 1461 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
KnT 1462 It fel that in the seventhe yer, of May
KnT 1463 The thridde nyght (as olde bookes seyn,
KnT 1464 That al this storie tellen moore pleyn),
KnT 1465 Were it by aventure or destynee --
KnT 1466 As, whan a thyng is shapen, it shal be --
KnT 1467 That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun,
KnT 1468 By helpyng of a freend, brak his prisoun
KnT 1469 And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
KnT 1470 For he hadde yeve his gayler drynke so
KnT 1471 Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn,
KnT 1472 With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
KnT 1473 That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake,
KnT 1474 The gayler sleep; he myghte nat awake.
KnT 1475 And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may.
KnT 1476 The nyght was short and faste by the day
KnT 1477 That nedes cost he moot hymselven hyde,
KnT 1478 And til a grove faste ther bisyde
KnT 1479 With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamon.
KnT 1480 For, shortly, this was his opinion:
KnT 1481 That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day,
KnT 1482 And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
KnT 1483 To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
KnT 1484 On Theseus to helpe him to werreye;
KnT 1485 And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif
KnT 1486 Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf.
KnT 1487 This is th' effect and his entente pleyn.
KnT 1488 Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn,
KnT 1489 That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
KnT 1490 Til that Fortune had broght him in the snare.
KnT 1491 The bisy larke, messager of day,
KnT 1492 Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
KnT 1493 And firy Phebus riseth up so bright
KnT 1494 That al the orient laugheth of the light,
KnT 1495 And with his stremes dryeth in the greves
KnT 1496 The silver dropes hangynge on the leves.
KnT 1497 And Arcita, that in the court roial
KnT 1498 With Theseus is squier principal,
KnT 1499 Is risen and looketh on the myrie day.
KnT 1500 And for to doon his observaunce to May,
KnT 1501 Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
KnT 1502 He on a courser, startlynge as the fir,
KnT 1503 Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,
KnT 1504 Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
KnT 1505 And to the grove of which that I yow tolde
KnT 1506 By aventure his wey he gan to holde
KnT 1507 To maken hym a gerland of the greves,
KnT 1508 Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leves,
KnT 1509 And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene:
KnT 1510 " May, with alle thy floures and thy grene,
KnT 1511 Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May,
KnT 1512 In hope that I som grene gete may. "
KnT 1513 And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
KnT 1514 Into the grove ful hastily he sterte,
KnT 1515 And in a path he rometh up and doun,
KnT 1516 Ther as by aventure this Palamoun
KnT 1517 Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se,
KnT 1518 For soore afered of his deeth was he.
KnT 1519 No thyng ne knew he that it was Arcite;
KnT 1520 God woot he wolde have trowed it ful lite.
KnT 1521 But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres,
KnT 1522 That " feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres. "
KnT 1523 It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene,
KnT 1524 For al day meeteth men at unset stevene.
KnT 1525 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe,
KnT 1526 That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
KnT 1527 For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
KnT 1528 Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille,
KnT 1529 And songen al the roundel lustily,
KnT 1530 Into a studie he fil sodeynly,
KnT 1531 As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
KnT 1532 Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
KnT 1533 Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
KnT 1534 Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle,
KnT 1535 Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
KnT 1536 Right so kan geery Venus overcaste
KnT 1537 The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
KnT 1538 Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
KnT 1539 Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike.
KnT 1540 Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to sike
KnT 1541 And sette hym doun withouten any moore.
KnT 1542 " Allas, " quod he, " that day that I was bore!
KnT 1543 How longe, Juno, thurgh thy crueltee,
KnT 1544 Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
KnT 1545 Allas, ybroght is to confusioun
KnT 1546 The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun --
KnT 1547 Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man
KnT 1548 That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan,
KnT 1549 And of the citee first was crouned kyng.
KnT 1550 Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng
KnT 1551 By verray ligne, as of the stok roial,
KnT 1552 And now I am so caytyf and so thral,
KnT 1553 That he that is my mortal enemy,
KnT 1554 I serve hym as his squier povrely.
KnT 1555 And yet dooth Juno me wel moore shame,
KnT 1556 For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name;
KnT 1557 But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite,
KnT 1558 Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte.
KnT 1559 Allas, thou felle Mars! Allas, Juno!
KnT 1560 Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo,
KnT 1561 Save oonly me and wrecched Palamoun,
KnT 1562 That Theseus martireth in prisoun.
KnT 1563 And over al this, to sleen me outrely
KnT 1564 Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly
KnT 1565 Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte
KnT 1566 That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
KnT 1567 Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye!
KnT 1568 Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.
KnT 1569 Of al the remenant of myn oother care
KnT 1570 Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare,
KnT 1571 So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce. "
KnT 1572 And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
KnT 1573 A longe tyme, and after he up sterte.
KnT 1574 This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
KnT 1575 He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde,
KnT 1576 For ire he quook; no lenger wolde he byde.
KnT 1577 And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
KnT 1578 As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
KnT 1579 He stirte hym up out of the buskes thikke
KnT 1580 And seide: " Arcite, false traytour wikke,
KnT 1581 Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
KnT 1582 For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
KnT 1583 And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn,
KnT 1584 As I ful ofte have told thee heerbiforn,
KnT 1585 And hast byjaped heere duc Theseus,
KnT 1586 And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus!
KnT 1587 I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
KnT 1588 Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye,
KnT 1589 But I wol love hire oonly and namo;
KnT 1590 For I am Palamon, thy mortal foo.
KnT 1591 And though that I no wepene have in this place,
KnT 1592 But out of prison am astert by grace,
KnT 1593 I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye,
KnT 1594 Or thow ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
KnT 1595 Chees which thou wolt, or thou shalt nat asterte! "
KnT 1596 This Arcite, with ful despitous herte,
KnT 1597 Whan he hym knew, and hadde his tale herd,
KnT 1598 As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd,
KnT 1599 And seyde thus: " By God that sit above,
KnT 1600 Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love,
KnT 1601 And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
KnT 1602 Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
KnT 1603 That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
KnT 1604 For I defye the seurete and the bond
KnT 1605 Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee.
KnT 1606 What! Verray fool, thynk wel that love is free,
KnT 1607 And I wol love hire maugree al thy myght!
KnT 1608 But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght
KnT 1609 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
KnT 1610 Have heer my trouthe; tomorwe I wol nat faille,
KnT 1611 Withoute wityng of any oother wight,
KnT 1612 That heere I wol be founden as a knyght,
KnT 1613 And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee;
KnT 1614 And ches the beste, and leef the worste for me.
KnT 1615 And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
KnT 1616 Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge.
KnT 1617 And if so be that thou my lady wynne,
KnT 1618 And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
KnT 1619 Thow mayst wel have thy lady as for me. "
KnT 1620 This Palamon answerde, " I graunte it thee. "
KnT 1621 And thus they been departed til amorwe,
KnT 1622 Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
KnT 1623 O Cupide, out of alle charitee!
KnT 1624 O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
KnT 1625 Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe
KnT 1626 Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
KnT 1627 Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun.
KnT 1628 Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
KnT 1629 And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
KnT 1630 Ful prively two harneys hath he dight,
KnT 1631 Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
KnT 1632 The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne;
KnT 1633 And on his hors, allone as he was born,
KnT 1634 He carieth al the harneys hym biforn.
KnT 1635 And in the grove, at tyme and place yset,
KnT 1636 This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
KnT 1637 To chaungen gan the colour in hir face;
KnT 1638 Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
KnT 1639 That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
KnT 1640 Whan hunted is the leon or the bere,
KnT 1641 And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves,
KnT 1642 And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
KnT 1643 And thynketh, " Heere cometh my mortal enemy!
KnT 1644 Withoute faille, he moot be deed, or I,
KnT 1645 For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe,
KnT 1646 Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe. "
KnT 1647 So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
KnT 1648 As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
KnT 1649 Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng,
KnT 1650 But streight, withouten word or rehersyng,
KnT 1651 Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother
KnT 1652 As freendly as he were his owene brother;
KnT 1653 And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
KnT 1654 They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
KnT 1655 Thou myghtest wene that this Palamon
KnT 1656 In his fightyng were a wood leon,
KnT 1657 And as a crueel tigre was Arcite;
KnT 1658 As wilde bores gonne they to smyte,
KnT 1659 That frothen whit as foom for ire wood.
KnT 1660 Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
KnT 1661 And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
KnT 1662 And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle.
KnT 1663 The destinee, ministre general,
KnT 1664 That executeth in the world over al
KnT 1665 The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn,
KnT 1666 So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
KnT 1667 The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
KnT 1668 Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day
KnT 1669 That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
KnT 1670 For certeinly, oure appetites heer,
KnT 1671 Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
KnT 1672 Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
KnT 1673 This mene I now by myghty Theseus,
KnT 1674 That for to hunten is so desirus,
KnT 1675 And namely at the grete hert in May,
KnT 1676 That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
KnT 1677 That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde
KnT 1678 With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.
KnT 1679 For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
KnT 1680 That it is al his joye and appetit
KnT 1681 To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
KnT 1682 For after Mars he serveth now Dyane.
KnT 1683 Cleer was the day, as I have toold er this,
KnT 1684 And Theseus with alle joye and blis,
KnT 1685 With his Ypolita, the faire queene,
KnT 1686 And Emelye, clothed al in grene,
KnT 1687 On huntyng be they riden roially.
KnT 1688 And to the grove that stood ful faste by,
KnT 1689 In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde,
KnT 1690 Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde.
KnT 1691 And to the launde he rideth hym ful right,
KnT 1692 For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
KnT 1693 And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
KnT 1694 This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
KnT 1695 With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
KnT 1696 And whan this duc was come unto the launde,
KnT 1697 Under the sonne he looketh, and anon
KnT 1698 He was war of Arcite and Palamon,
KnT 1699 That foughten breme as it were bores two.
KnT 1700 The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro
KnT 1701 So hidously that with the leeste strook
KnT 1702 It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
KnT 1703 But what they were, no thyng he ne woot.
KnT 1704 This duc his courser with his spores smoot,
KnT 1705 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two,
KnT 1706 And pulled out a swerd and cride, " Hoo!
KnT 1707 Namoore, up peyne of lesynge of youre heed!
KnT 1708 By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed
KnT 1709 That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
KnT 1710 But telleth me what myster men ye been,
KnT 1711 That been so hardy for to fighten heere
KnT 1712 Withouten juge or oother officere,
KnT 1713 As it were in a lystes roially. "
KnT 1714 This Palamon answerde hastily
KnT 1715 And seyde, " Sire, what nedeth wordes mo?
KnT 1716 We have the deeth disserved bothe two.
KnT 1717 Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
KnT 1718 That been encombred of oure owene lyves;
KnT 1719 And as thou art a rightful lord and juge,
KnT 1720 Ne yif us neither mercy ne refuge,
KnT 1721 But sle me first, for seinte charitee!
KnT 1722 But sle my felawe eek as wel as me;
KnT 1723 Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite,
KnT 1724 This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite,
KnT 1725 That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
KnT 1726 For which he hath deserved to be deed.
KnT 1727 For this is he that cam unto thy gate
KnT 1728 And seyde that he highte Philostrate.
KnT 1729 Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer,
KnT 1730 And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier;
KnT 1731 And this is he that loveth Emelye.
KnT 1732 For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
KnT 1733 I make pleynly my confessioun
KnT 1734 That I am thilke woful Palamoun
KnT 1735 That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly.
KnT 1736 I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
KnT 1737 That loveth so hoote Emelye the brighte
KnT 1738 That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
KnT 1739 Wherfore I axe deeth and my juwise;
KnT 1740 But sle my felawe in the same wise,
KnT 1741 For bothe han we deserved to be slayn. "
KnT 1742 This worthy duc answerde anon agayn,
KnT 1743 And seyde, " This is a short conclusioun.
KnT 1744 Youre owene mouth, by youre confessioun,
KnT 1745 Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde;
KnT 1746 It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
KnT 1747 Ye shal be deed, by myghty Mars the rede! "
KnT 1748 The queene anon, for verray wommanhede,
KnT 1749 Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye,
KnT 1750 And alle the ladyes in the compaignye.
KnT 1751 Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
KnT 1752 That evere swich a chaunce sholde falle,
KnT 1753 For gentil men they were of greet estaat,
KnT 1754 And no thyng but for love was this debaat;
KnT 1755 And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore,
KnT 1756 And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore,
KnT 1757 " Have mercy, Lord, upon us wommen alle! "
KnT 1758 And on hir bare knees adoun they falle
KnT 1759 And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood;
KnT 1760 Til at the laste aslaked was his mood,
KnT 1761 For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
KnT 1762 And though he first for ire quook and sterte,
KnT 1763 He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
KnT 1764 The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
KnT 1765 And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
KnT 1766 Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
KnT 1767 As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
KnT 1768 Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
KnT 1769 And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
KnT 1770 And eek his herte hadde compassioun
KnT 1771 Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon,
KnT 1772 And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon,
KnT 1773 And softe unto hymself he seyde, " Fy
KnT 1774 Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
KnT 1775 But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
KnT 1776 To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
KnT 1777 As wel as to a proud despitous man
KnT 1778 That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
KnT 1779 That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
KnT 1780 That in swich cas kan no divisioun
KnT 1781 But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon. "
KnT 1782 And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
KnT 1783 He gan to looken up with eyen lighte
KnT 1784 And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
KnT 1785 " The god of love, a benedicite!
KnT 1786 How myghty and how greet a lord is he!
KnT 1787 Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
KnT 1788 He may be cleped a god for his myracles,
KnT 1789 For he kan maken, at his owene gyse,
KnT 1790 Of everich herte as that hym list divyse.
KnT 1791 Lo heere this Arcite and this Palamoun,
KnT 1792 That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
KnT 1793 And myghte han lyved in Thebes roially,
KnT 1794 And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
KnT 1795 And that hir deth lith in my myght also,
KnT 1796 And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
KnT 1797 Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
KnT 1798 Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?
KnT 1799 Who may been a fool but if he love?
KnT 1800 Bihoold, for Goddes sake that sit above,
KnT 1801 Se how they blede! Be they noght wel arrayed?
KnT 1802 Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, ypayed
KnT 1803 Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
KnT 1804 And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
KnT 1805 That serven love, for aught that may bifalle.
KnT 1806 But this is yet the beste game of alle,
KnT 1807 That she for whom they han this jolitee
KnT 1808 Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.
KnT 1809 She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
KnT 1810 By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare!
KnT 1811 But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
KnT 1812 A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold --
KnT 1813 I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
KnT 1814 For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
KnT 1815 And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne
KnT 1816 And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
KnT 1817 As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
KnT 1818 I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas,
KnT 1819 At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere,
KnT 1820 And eek of Emelye, my suster deere.
KnT 1821 And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere
KnT 1822 That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere,
KnT 1823 Ne make werre upon me nyght ne day,
KnT 1824 But been my freendes in all that ye may.
KnT 1825 I yow foryeve this trespas every deel. "
KnT 1826 And they hym sworen his axyng faire and weel,
KnT 1827 And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
KnT 1828 And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:
KnT 1829 " To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
KnT 1830 Though that she were a queene or a princesse,
KnT 1831 Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees,
KnT 1832 To wedden whan tyme is; but nathelees --
KnT 1833 I speke as for my suster Emelye,
KnT 1834 For whom ye have this strif and jalousye --
KnT 1835 Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
KnT 1836 Atones, though ye fighten everemo,
KnT 1837 That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief,
KnT 1838 He moot go pipen in an yvy leef;
KnT 1839 This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
KnT 1840 Al be ye never so jalouse ne so wrothe.
KnT 1841 And forthy I yow putte in this degree,
KnT 1842 That ech of yow shal have his destynee
KnT 1843 As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse;
KnT 1844 Lo, heere youre ende of that I shal devyse.
KnT 1845 My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun,
KnT 1846 Withouten any repplicacioun --
KnT 1847 If that you liketh, take it for the beste:
KnT 1848 That everich of you shal goon where hym leste
KnT 1849 Frely, withouten raunson or daunger,
KnT 1850 And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner,
KnT 1851 Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
KnT 1852 Armed for lystes up at alle rightes,
KnT 1853 Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
KnT 1854 And this bihote I yow withouten faille,
KnT 1855 Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knyght,
KnT 1856 That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght --
KnT 1857 This is to seyn, that wheither he or thow
KnT 1858 May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
KnT 1859 Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryve,
KnT 1860 Thanne shal I yeve Emelya to wyve
KnT 1861 To whom that Fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
KnT 1862 The lystes shal I maken in this place,
KnT 1863 And God so wisly on my soule rewe
KnT 1864 As I shal evene juge been and trewe.
KnT 1865 Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken,
KnT 1866 That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
KnT 1867 And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd,
KnT 1868 Seyeth youre avys, and holdeth you apayd.
KnT 1869 This is youre ende and youre conclusioun. "
KnT 1870 Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun?
KnT 1871 Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite?
KnT 1872 Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite,
KnT 1873 The joye that is maked in the place
KnT 1874 Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
KnT 1875 But doun on knees wente every maner wight,
KnT 1876 And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght,
KnT 1877 And namely the Thebans often sithe.
KnT 1878 And thus with good hope and with herte blithe
KnT 1879 They taken hir leve, and homward gonne they ride
KnT 1880 To Thebes with his olde walles wyde.
KnT 1881 I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
KnT 1882 If I foryete to tellen the dispence
KnT 1883 Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily
KnT 1884 To maken up the lystes roially,
KnT 1885 That swich a noble theatre as it was
KnT 1886 I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas.
KnT 1887 The circuit a myle was aboute,
KnT 1888 Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute.
KnT 1889 Round was the shap, in manere of compas,
KnT 1890 Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas,
KnT 1891 That whan a man was set on o degree,
KnT 1892 He letted nat his felawe for to see.
KnT 1893 Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,
KnT 1894 Westward right swich another in the opposit.
KnT 1895 And shortly to concluden, swich a place
KnT 1896 Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
KnT 1897 For in the lond ther was no crafty man
KnT 1898 That geometrie or ars-metrike kan,
KnT 1899 Ne portreyour, ne kervere of ymages,
KnT 1900 That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages
KnT 1901 The theatre for to maken and devyse.
KnT 1902 And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise,
KnT 1903 He estward hath, upon the gate above,
KnT 1904 In worshipe of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 1905 Doon make an auter and an oratorie;
KnT 1906 And on the gate westward, in memorie
KnT 1907 Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
KnT 1908 That coste largely of gold a fother.
KnT 1909 And northward, in a touret on the wal,
KnT 1910 Of alabastre whit and reed coral,
KnT 1911 An oratorie, riche for to see,
KnT 1912 In worshipe of Dyane of chastitee,
KnT 1913 Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse.
KnT 1914 But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
KnT 1915 The noble kervyng and the portreitures,
KnT 1916 The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures
KnT 1917 That weren in thise oratories thre.
KnT 1918 First in the temple of Venus maystow se
KnT 1919 Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
KnT 1920 The broken slepes, and the sikes colde,
KnT 1921 The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
KnT 1922 The firy strokes of the desirynge
KnT 1923 That loves servantz in this lyf enduren;
KnT 1924 The othes that hir covenantz assuren;
KnT 1925 Plesaunce and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse,
KnT 1926 Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse,
KnT 1927 Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye,
KnT 1928 Despense, Bisynesse, and Jalousye,
KnT 1929 That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland,
KnT 1930 And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand;
KnT 1931 Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
KnT 1932 Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
KnT 1933 Of love, which that I rekned and rekne shal,
KnT 1934 By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
KnT 1935 And mo than I kan make of mencioun.
KnT 1936 For soothly al the mount of Citheroun,
KnT 1937 Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
KnT 1938 Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
KnT 1939 With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
KnT 1940 Nat was foryeten the porter, Ydelnesse,
KnT 1941 Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
KnT 1942 Ne yet the folye of kyng Salomon,
KnT 1943 Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules --
KnT 1944 Th' enchauntementz of Medea and Circes --
KnT 1945 Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage,
KnT 1946 The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage.
KnT 1947 Thus may ye seen that wysdom ne richesse,
KnT 1948 Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,
KnT 1949 Ne may with Venus holde champartie,
KnT 1950 For as hir list the world than may she gye.
KnT 1951 Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
KnT 1952 Til they for wo ful ofte seyde " allas! "
KnT 1953 Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
KnT 1954 And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
KnT 1955 The statue of Venus, glorious for to se,
KnT 1956 Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
KnT 1957 And fro the navele doun al covered was
KnT 1958 With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
KnT 1959 A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
KnT 1960 And on hir heed, ful semely for to se,
KnT 1961 A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge;
KnT 1962 Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
KnT 1963 Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido;
KnT 1964 Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
KnT 1965 And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
KnT 1966 A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
KnT 1967 Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
KnT 1968 The portreiture that was upon the wal
KnT 1969 Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede?
KnT 1970 Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede,
KnT 1971 Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
KnT 1972 That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
KnT 1973 In thilke colde, frosty regioun
KnT 1974 Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
KnT 1975 First on the wal was peynted a forest,
KnT 1976 In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
KnT 1977 With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,
KnT 1978 Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,
KnT 1979 In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough,
KnT 1980 As though a storm sholde bresten every bough.
KnT 1981 And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
KnT 1982 Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente,
KnT 1983 Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
KnT 1984 Was long and streit, and gastly for to see.
KnT 1985 And therout came a rage and swich a veze
KnT 1986 That it made al the gate for to rese.
KnT 1987 The northren lyght in at the dores shoon,
KnT 1988 For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon,
KnT 1989 Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
KnT 1990 The dore was al of adamant eterne,
KnT 1991 Yclenched overthwart and endelong
KnT 1992 With iren tough; and for to make it strong,
KnT 1993 Every pyler, the temple to sustene,
KnT 1994 Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
KnT 1995 Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng
KnT 1996 Of Felonye, and al the compassyng;
KnT 1997 The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede;
KnT 1998 The pykepurs, and eek the pale Drede;
KnT 1999 The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
KnT 2000 The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
KnT 2001 The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
KnT 2002 The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
KnT 2003 Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.
KnT 2004 Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
KnT 2005 The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther --
KnT 2006 His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer --
KnT 2007 The nayl ydryven in the shode anyght;
KnT 2008 The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright.
KnT 2009 Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce,
KnT 2010 With disconfort and sory contenaunce.
KnT 2011 Yet saugh I Woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
KnT 2012 Armed Compleint, Outhees, and fiers Outrage;
KnT 2013 The careyne in the busk, with throte ycorve;
KnT 2014 A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm ystorve;
KnT 2015 The tiraunt, with the pray by force yraft;
KnT 2016 The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
KnT 2017 Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
KnT 2018 The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;
KnT 2019 The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
KnT 2020 The cook yscalded, for al his longe ladel.
KnT 2021 Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte.
KnT 2022 The cartere overryden with his carte --
KnT 2023 Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
KnT 2024 Ther were also, of Martes divisioun,
KnT 2025 The barbour, and the bocher, and the smyth,
KnT 2026 That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
KnT 2027 And al above, depeynted in a tour,
KnT 2028 Saugh I Conquest, sittynge in greet honour,
KnT 2029 With the sharpe swerd over his heed
KnT 2030 Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.
KnT 2031 Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius,
KnT 2032 Of grete Nero, and of Antonius;
KnT 2033 Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
KnT 2034 Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn
KnT 2035 By manasynge of Mars, right by figure;
KnT 2036 So was it shewed in that portreiture,
KnT 2037 As is depeynted in the sterres above
KnT 2038 Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
KnT 2039 Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde;
KnT 2040 I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde.
KnT 2041 The statue of Mars upon a carte stood
KnT 2042 Armed, and looked grym as he were wood;
KnT 2043 And over his heed ther shynen two figures
KnT 2044 Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
KnT 2045 That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus --
KnT 2046 This god of armes was arrayed thus.
KnT 2047 A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
KnT 2048 With eyen rede, and of a man he eet;
KnT 2049 With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie
KnT 2050 In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie.
KnT 2051 Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste,
KnT 2052 As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste,
KnT 2053 To telle yow al the descripsioun.
KnT 2054 Depeynted been the walles up and doun
KnT 2055 Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
KnT 2056 Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
KnT 2057 Whan that Diane agreved was with here,
KnT 2058 Was turned from a womman til a bere,
KnT 2059 And after was she maad the loode-sterre.
KnT 2060 Thus was it peynted; I kan sey yow no ferre.
KnT 2061 Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
KnT 2062 Ther saugh I Dane, yturned til a tree --
KnT 2063 I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
KnT 2064 But Penneus doghter, which that highte Dane.
KnT 2065 Ther saugh I Attheon an hert ymaked,
KnT 2066 For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked;
KnT 2067 I saugh how that his houndes have hym caught
KnT 2068 And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
KnT 2069 Yet peynted was a litel forther moor
KnT 2070 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor,
KnT 2071 And Meleagre, and many another mo,
KnT 2072 For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
KnT 2073 Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
KnT 2074 The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
KnT 2075 This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet,
KnT 2076 With smale houndes al aboute hir feet,
KnT 2077 And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone --
KnT 2078 Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone.
KnT 2079 In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
KnT 2080 With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas.
KnT 2081 Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun
KnT 2082 Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
KnT 2083 A womman travaillynge was hire biforn;
KnT 2084 But for hir child so longe was unborn,
KnT 2085 Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle
KnT 2086 And seyde, " Help, for thou mayst best of alle! "
KnT 2087 Wel koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte;
KnT 2088 With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
KnT 2089 Now been thise lystes maad, and Theseus,
KnT 2090 That at his grete cost arrayed thus
KnT 2091 The temples and the theatre every deel,
KnT 2092 Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.
KnT 2093 But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,
KnT 2094 And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2095 The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
KnT 2096 That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
KnT 2097 The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
KnT 2098 And til Atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
KnT 2099 Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
KnT 2100 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
KnT 2101 And sikerly ther trowed many a man
KnT 2102 That nevere, sithen that the world bigan,
KnT 2103 As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
KnT 2104 As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
KnT 2105 Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
KnT 2106 For every wight that lovede chivalrye
KnT 2107 And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
KnT 2108 Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
KnT 2109 And wel was hym that therto chosen was,
KnT 2110 For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,
KnT 2111 Ye knowen wel that every lusty knyght
KnT 2112 That loveth paramours and hath his myght,
KnT 2113 Were it in Engelond or elleswhere,
KnT 2114 They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there --
KnT 2115 To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
KnT 2116 It were a lusty sighte for to see.
KnT 2117 And right so ferden they with Palamon.
KnT 2118 With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on;
KnT 2119 Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun,
KnT 2120 And in a brestplate and a light gypoun;
KnT 2121 And som wol have a paire plates large;
KnT 2122 And som wol have a Pruce sheeld or a targe;
KnT 2123 Som wol ben armed on his legges weel,
KnT 2124 And have an ax, and som a mace of steel --
KnT 2125 Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.
KnT 2126 Armed were they, as I have yow told,
KnT 2127 Everych after his opinioun.
KnT 2128 Ther maistow seen, comynge with Palamoun,
KnT 2129 Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace.
KnT 2130 Blak was his berd, and manly was his face;
KnT 2131 The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
KnT 2132 They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed,
KnT 2133 And lik a grifphon looked he aboute,
KnT 2134 With kempe heeris on his browes stoute;
KnT 2135 His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
KnT 2136 His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe;
KnT 2137 And as the gyse was in his contree,
KnT 2138 Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he,
KnT 2139 With foure white boles in the trays.
KnT 2140 In stede of cote-armure over his harnays,
KnT 2141 With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold,
KnT 2142 He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak for old.
KnT 2143 His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak;
KnT 2144 As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak;
KnT 2145 A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
KnT 2146 Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
KnT 2147 Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
KnT 2148 Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz,
KnT 2149 Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
KnT 2150 To hunten at the leoun or the deer,
KnT 2151 And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
KnT 2152 Colered of gold, and tourettes fyled rounde.
KnT 2153 An hundred lordes hadde he in his route,
KnT 2154 Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
KnT 2155 With Arcita, in stories as men fynde,
KnT 2156 The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde,
KnT 2157 Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,
KnT 2158 Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
KnT 2159 Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars.
KnT 2160 His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars
KnT 2161 Couched with perles white and rounde and grete;
KnT 2162 His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete;
KnT 2163 A mantelet upon his shulder hangynge,
KnT 2164 Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge;
KnT 2165 His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne,
KnT 2166 And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
KnT 2167 His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
KnT 2168 His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn;
KnT 2169 A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd,
KnT 2170 Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd;
KnT 2171 And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
KnT 2172 Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
KnT 2173 His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge;
KnT 2174 His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
KnT 2175 Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene
KnT 2176 A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
KnT 2177 Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
KnT 2178 An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
KnT 2179 An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
KnT 2180 Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere,
KnT 2181 Ful richely in alle maner thynges.
KnT 2182 For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
KnT 2183 Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
KnT 2184 For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
KnT 2185 Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part
KnT 2186 Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
KnT 2187 And in this wise thise lordes, alle and some,
KnT 2188 Been on the Sonday to the citee come
KnT 2189 Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
KnT 2190 This Theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,
KnT 2191 Whan he had broght hem into his citee,
KnT 2192 And inned hem, everich at his degree,
KnT 2193 He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
KnT 2194 To esen hem and doon hem al honour
KnT 2195 That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
KnT 2196 Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
KnT 2197 The mynstralcye, the service at the feeste,
KnT 2198 The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,
KnT 2199 The riche array of Theseus paleys,
KnT 2200 Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys,
KnT 2201 What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge,
KnT 2202 Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge,
KnT 2203 Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love;
KnT 2204 What haukes sitten on the perche above,
KnT 2205 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun --
KnT 2206 Of al this make I now no mencioun,
KnT 2207 But al th' effect; that thynketh me the beste.
KnT 2208 Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste.
KnT 2209 The Sonday nyght, er day bigan to sprynge,
KnT 2210 Whan Palamon the larke herde synge
KnT 2211 (Although it nere nat day by houres two,
KnT 2212 Yet song the larke) and Palamon right tho
KnT 2213 With hooly herte and with an heigh corage,
KnT 2214 He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage
KnT 2215 Unto the blisful Citherea benigne --
KnT 2216 I mene Venus, honurable and digne.
KnT 2217 And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
KnT 2218 Unto the lystes ther hire temple was,
KnT 2219 And doun he kneleth, and with humble cheere
KnT 2220 And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere:
KnT 2221 " Faireste of faire, O lady myn, Venus,
KnT 2222 Doughter to Jove and spouse of Vulcanus,
KnT 2223 Thow gladere of the mount of Citheron,
KnT 2224 For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon,
KnT 2225 Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte,
KnT 2226 And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
KnT 2227 Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
KnT 2228 Th' effectes ne the tormentz of myn helle;
KnT 2229 Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
KnT 2230 I am so confus that I kan noght seye
KnT 2231 But `Mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele
KnT 2232 My thought and seest what harmes that I feele!'
KnT 2233 Considere al this and rewe upon my soore,
KnT 2234 As wisly as I shal for everemoore,
KnT 2235 Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be,
KnT 2236 And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
KnT 2237 That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe!
KnT 2238 I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe,
KnT 2239 Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
KnT 2240 Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie
KnT 2241 Of pris of armes blowen up and doun;
KnT 2242 But I wolde have fully possessioun
KnT 2243 Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse.
KnT 2244 Fynd thow the manere hou and in what wyse:
KnT 2245 I recche nat but it may bettre be
KnT 2246 To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
KnT 2247 So that I have my lady in myne armes.
KnT 2248 For though so be that Mars is god of armes,
KnT 2249 Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above
KnT 2250 That if yow list, I shal wel have my love.
KnT 2251 Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo,
KnT 2252 And on thyn auter, where I ride or go,
KnT 2253 I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete.
KnT 2254 And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete,
KnT 2255 Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere
KnT 2256 That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
KnT 2257 Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
KnT 2258 Though that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf.
KnT 2259 This is th' effect and ende of my preyere:
KnT 2260 Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere. "
KnT 2261 Whan the orison was doon of Palamon,
KnT 2262 His sacrifice he dide, and that anon,
KnT 2263 Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
KnT 2264 Al telle I noght as now his observaunces;
KnT 2265 But atte laste the statue of Venus shook,
KnT 2266 And made a signe, wherby that he took
KnT 2267 That his preyere accepted was that day.
KnT 2268 For thogh the signe shewed a delay,
KnT 2269 Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone,
KnT 2270 And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.
KnT 2271 The thridde houre inequal that Palamon
KnT 2272 Bigan to Venus temple for to gon,
KnT 2273 Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye
KnT 2274 And to the temple of Dyane gan hye.
KnT 2275 Hir maydens, that she thider with hire ladde,
KnT 2276 Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
KnT 2277 Th' encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
KnT 2278 That to the sacrifice longen shal;
KnT 2279 The hornes fulle of meeth, as was the gyse --
KnT 2280 Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.
KnT 2281 Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
KnT 2282 This Emelye, with herte debonaire,
KnT 2283 Hir body wessh with water of a welle.
KnT 2284 But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
KnT 2285 But it be any thing in general;
KnT 2286 And yet it were a game to heeren al.
KnT 2287 To hym that meneth wel it were no charge;
KnT 2288 But it is good a man been at his large.
KnT 2289 Hir brighte heer was kembd, untressed al;
KnT 2290 A coroune of a grene ook cerial
KnT 2291 Upon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
KnT 2292 Two fyres on the auter gan she beete,
KnT 2293 And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde
KnT 2294 In Stace of Thebes and thise bookes olde.
KnT 2295 Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
KnT 2296 Unto Dyane she spak as ye may heere:
KnT 2297 " O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
KnT 2298 To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
KnT 2299 Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
KnT 2300 Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe
KnT 2301 Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
KnT 2302 As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
KnT 2303 That Attheon aboughte cruelly.
KnT 2304 Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
KnT 2305 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf,
KnT 2306 Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf.
KnT 2307 I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye,
KnT 2308 A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
KnT 2309 And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
KnT 2310 And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe.
KnT 2311 Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
KnT 2312 Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
KnT 2313 For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
KnT 2314 And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
KnT 2315 And eek Arcite, that loveth me so soore,
KnT 2316 This grace I preye thee withoute moore,
KnT 2317 As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
KnT 2318 And fro me turne awey hir hertes so
KnT 2319 That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
KnT 2320 And al hir bisy torment, and hir fir
KnT 2321 Be queynt, or turned in another place.
KnT 2322 And if so be thou wolt nat do me grace,
KnT 2323 Or if my destynee be shapen so
KnT 2324 That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
KnT 2325 As sende me hym that moost desireth me.
KnT 2326 Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
KnT 2327 The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle.
KnT 2328 Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle,
KnT 2329 My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve,
KnT 2330 And whil I lyve, a mayde I wol thee serve. "
KnT 2331 The fires brenne upon the auter cleere,
KnT 2332 Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere.
KnT 2333 But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
KnT 2334 For right anon oon of the fyres queynte
KnT 2335 And quyked agayn, and after that anon
KnT 2336 That oother fyr was queynt and al agon;
KnT 2337 And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
KnT 2338 As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge,
KnT 2339 And at the brondes ende out ran anon
KnT 2340 As it were blody dropes many oon;
KnT 2341 For which so soore agast was Emelye
KnT 2342 That she was wel ny mad and gan to crye,
KnT 2343 For she ne wiste what it signyfied,
KnT 2344 But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried,
KnT 2345 And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
KnT 2346 And therwithal Dyane gan appeere,
KnT 2347 With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse,
KnT 2348 And seyde, " Doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
KnT 2349 Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
KnT 2350 And by eterne word writen and confermed,
KnT 2351 Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
KnT 2352 That han for thee so muchel care and wo,
KnT 2353 But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
KnT 2354 Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
KnT 2355 The fires which that on myn auter brenne
KnT 2356 Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
KnT 2357 Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas. "
KnT 2358 And with that word, the arwes in the caas
KnT 2359 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
KnT 2360 And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge;
KnT 2361 For which this Emelye astoned was,
KnT 2362 And seyde, " What amounteth this, allas?
KnT 2363 I putte me in thy proteccioun,
KnT 2364 Dyane, and in thy disposicioun. "
KnT 2365 And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye.
KnT 2366 This is th' effect; ther is namoore to seye.
KnT 2367 The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this,
KnT 2368 Arcite unto the temple walked is
KnT 2369 Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise,
KnT 2370 With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.
KnT 2371 With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
KnT 2372 Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:
KnT 2373 " O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
KnT 2374 Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde,
KnT 2375 And hast in every regne and every lond
KnT 2376 Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
KnT 2377 And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse,
KnT 2378 Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.
KnT 2379 If so be that my youthe may deserve,
KnT 2380 And that my myght be worthy for to serve
KnT 2381 Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
KnT 2382 Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne.
KnT 2383 For thilke peyne and thilke hoote fir
KnT 2384 In which thow whilom brendest for desir,
KnT 2385 Whan that thow usedest the beautee
KnT 2386 Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free,
KnT 2387 And haddest hire in armes at thy wille --
KnT 2388 Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille,
KnT 2389 Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las
KnT 2390 And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, allas! --
KnT 2391 For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
KnT 2392 Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte.
KnT 2393 I am yong and unkonnynge, as thow woost,
KnT 2394 And, as I trowe, with love offended moost
KnT 2395 That evere was any lyves creature,
KnT 2396 For she that dooth me al this wo endure
KnT 2397 Ne reccheth nevere wher I synke or fleete.
KnT 2398 And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete,
KnT 2399 I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place,
KnT 2400 And wel I woot, withouten help or grace
KnT 2401 Of thee ne may my strengthe noght availle.
KnT 2402 Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille,
KnT 2403 For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee,
KnT 2404 As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me,
KnT 2405 And do that I tomorwe have victorie.
KnT 2406 Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
KnT 2407 Thy sovereyn temple wol I moost honouren
KnT 2408 Of any place, and alwey moost labouren
KnT 2409 In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
KnT 2410 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge
KnT 2411 And alle the armes of my compaignye,
KnT 2412 And everemo, unto that day I dye,
KnT 2413 Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde.
KnT 2414 And eek to this avow I wol me bynde:
KnT 2415 My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun,
KnT 2416 That nevere yet ne felte offensioun
KnT 2417 Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
KnT 2418 And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve.
KnT 2419 Now, lord, have routhe upon my sorwes soore;
KnT 2420 Yif me [victorie]; I aske thee namoore. "
KnT 2421 The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge,
KnT 2422 The rynges on the temple dore that honge,
KnT 2423 And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
KnT 2424 Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste.
KnT 2425 The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte
KnT 2426 That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
KnT 2427 A sweete smel the ground anon up yaf,
KnT 2428 And Arcita anon his hand up haf,
KnT 2429 And moore encens into the fyr he caste,
KnT 2430 With othere rytes mo; and atte laste
KnT 2431 The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge,
KnT 2432 And with that soun he herde a murmurynge
KnT 2433 Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus, " Victorie! "
KnT 2434 For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
KnT 2435 And thus with joye and hope wel to fare
KnT 2436 Arcite anon unto his in is fare,
KnT 2437 As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
KnT 2438 And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne,
KnT 2439 For thilke grauntyng, in the hevene above,
KnT 2440 Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love,
KnT 2441 And Mars, the stierne god armypotente,
KnT 2442 That Juppiter was bisy it to stente,
KnT 2443 Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
KnT 2444 That knew so manye of aventures olde,
KnT 2445 Foond in his olde experience an art
KnT 2446 That he ful soone hath plesed every part.
KnT 2447 As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet avantage;
KnT 2448 In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
KnT 2449 Men may the olde atrenne and noght atrede.
KnT 2450 Saturne anon, to stynten strif and drede,
KnT 2451 Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
KnT 2452 Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde.
KnT 2453 " My deere doghter Venus, " quod Saturne,
KnT 2454 " My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
KnT 2455 Hath moore power than woot any man.
KnT 2456 Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan;
KnT 2457 Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
KnT 2458 Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte,
KnT 2459 The murmure and the cherles rebellyng,
KnT 2460 The groynynge, and the pryvee empoysonyng;
KnT 2461 I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun,
KnT 2462 Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
KnT 2463 Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles,
KnT 2464 The fallynge of the toures and of the walles
KnT 2465 Upon the mynour or the carpenter.
KnT 2466 I slow Sampsoun, shakynge the piler;
KnT 2467 And myne be the maladyes colde,
KnT 2468 The derke tresons, and the castes olde;
KnT 2469 My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
KnT 2470 Now weep namoore; I shal doon diligence
KnT 2471 That Palamon, that is thyn owene knyght,
KnT 2472 Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
KnT 2473 Though Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees
KnT 2474 Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
KnT 2475 Al be ye noght of o compleccioun,
KnT 2476 That causeth al day swich divisioun.
KnT 2477 I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille;
KnT 2478 Weep now namoore; I wol thy lust fulfille. "
KnT 2479 Now wol I stynten of the goddes above,
KnT 2480 Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love,
KnT 2481 And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
KnT 2482 The grete effect, for which that I bygan.
KnT 2483 Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day,
KnT 2484 And eek the lusty seson of that May
KnT 2485 Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce
KnT 2486 That al that Monday justen they and daunce,
KnT 2487 And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
KnT 2488 But by the cause that they sholde ryse
KnT 2489 Eerly, for to seen the grete fight,
KnT 2490 Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght.
KnT 2491 And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
KnT 2492 Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
KnT 2493 Ther was in hostelryes al aboute,
KnT 2494 And to the paleys rood ther many a route
KnT 2495 Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys.
KnT 2496 Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys
KnT 2497 So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
KnT 2498 Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel;
KnT 2499 The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures,
KnT 2500 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures;
KnT 2501 Lordes in parementz on hir courseres,
KnT 2502 Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres
KnT 2503 Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge;
KnT 2504 Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge --
KnT 2505 There as nede is they weren no thyng ydel;
KnT 2506 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
KnT 2507 Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
KnT 2508 With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
KnT 2509 Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
KnT 2510 With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon;
KnT 2511 Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
KnT 2512 That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
KnT 2513 The paleys ful of peple up and doun,
KnT 2514 Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
KnT 2515 Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two.
KnT 2516 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde " it shal be so " ;
KnT 2517 Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
KnT 2518 Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd;
KnT 2519 Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte:
KnT 2520 " He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. "
KnT 2521 Thus was the halle ful of divynynge,
KnT 2522 Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
KnT 2523 The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked
KnT 2524 With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
KnT 2525 Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche
KnT 2526 Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche
KnT 2527 Honured, were into the paleys fet.
KnT 2528 Duc Theseus was at a wyndow set,
KnT 2529 Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
KnT 2530 The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone
KnT 2531 Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
KnT 2532 And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
KnT 2533 An heraud on a scaffold made an " Oo! "
KnT 2534 Til al the noyse of peple was ydo,
KnT 2535 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille,
KnT 2536 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille:
KnT 2537 " The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
KnT 2538 Considered that it were destruccioun
KnT 2539 To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
KnT 2540 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.
KnT 2541 Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye,
KnT 2542 He wol his firste purpos modifye.
KnT 2543 No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf,
KnT 2544 No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf
KnT 2545 Into the lystes sende or thider brynge;
KnT 2546 Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge,
KnT 2547 No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
KnT 2548 Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
KnT 2549 But o cours with a sharpe ygrounde spere;
KnT 2550 Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were.
KnT 2551 And he that is at meschief shal be take
KnT 2552 And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
KnT 2553 That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
KnT 2554 But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
KnT 2555 And if so falle the chieftayn be take
KnT 2556 On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
KnT 2557 No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
KnT 2558 God spede you! Gooth forth and ley on faste!
KnT 2559 With long swerd and with mace fighteth youre fille.
KnT 2560 Gooth now youre wey; this is the lordes wille. "
KnT 2561 The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
KnT 2562 So loude cride they with murie stevene,
KnT 2563 " God save swich a lord, that is so good
KnT 2564 He wilneth no destruccion of blood! "
KnT 2565 Up goon the trompes and the melodye,
KnT 2566 And to the lystes rit the compaignye,
KnT 2567 By ordinance, thurghout the citee large,
KnT 2568 Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
KnT 2569 Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
KnT 2570 Thise two Thebans upon either syde,
KnT 2571 And after rood the queene and Emelye,
KnT 2572 And after that another compaignye
KnT 2573 Of oon and oother, after hir degree.
KnT 2574 And thus they passen thurghout the citee,
KnT 2575 And to the lystes come they by tyme.
KnT 2576 It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme
KnT 2577 Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
KnT 2578 Ypolita the queene, and Emelye,
KnT 2579 And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
KnT 2580 Unto the seetes preesseth al the route.
KnT 2581 And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
KnT 2582 Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
KnT 2583 With baner reed is entred right anon;
KnT 2584 And in that selve moment Palamon
KnT 2585 Is under Venus, estward in the place,
KnT 2586 With baner whyt and hardy chiere and face.
KnT 2587 In al the world, to seken up and doun,
KnT 2588 So evene, withouten variacioun,
KnT 2589 Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye,
KnT 2590 For ther was noon so wys that koude seye
KnT 2591 That any hadde of oother avauntage
KnT 2592 Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
KnT 2593 So evene were they chosen, for to gesse.
KnT 2594 And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
KnT 2595 Whan that hir names rad were everichon,
KnT 2596 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
KnT 2597 Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude:
KnT 2598 " Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude! "
KnT 2599 The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun;
KnT 2600 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
KnT 2601 Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
KnT 2602 In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest;
KnT 2603 In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
KnT 2604 Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde;
KnT 2605 Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke;
KnT 2606 He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
KnT 2607 Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte;
KnT 2608 Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte;
KnT 2609 The helmes they tohewen and toshrede;
KnT 2610 Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede;
KnT 2611 With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
KnT 2612 He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste;
KnT 2613 Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al,
KnT 2614 He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal;
KnT 2615 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun,
KnT 2616 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun;
KnT 2617 He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake,
KnT 2618 Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake;
KnT 2619 As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
KnT 2620 Another lad is on that oother syde.
KnT 2621 And some tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste,
KnT 2622 Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
KnT 2623 Ful ofte a day han thise Thebanes two
KnT 2624 Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo;
KnT 2625 Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
KnT 2626 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
KnT 2627 Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
KnT 2628 So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite
KnT 2629 For jelous herte upon this Palamon.
KnT 2630 Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
KnT 2631 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
KnT 2632 Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
KnT 2633 As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
KnT 2634 The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte;
KnT 2635 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
KnT 2636 Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede.
KnT 2637 For er the sonne unto the reste wente,
KnT 2638 The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente
KnT 2639 This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
KnT 2640 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte,
KnT 2641 And by the force of twenty is he take
KnT 2642 Unyolden, and ydrawen to the stake.
KnT 2643 And in the rescus of this Palamoun
KnT 2644 The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun,
KnT 2645 And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe,
KnT 2646 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
KnT 2647 So hitte him Palamoun er he were take.
KnT 2648 But al for noght; he was broght to the stake.
KnT 2649 His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught:
KnT 2650 He moste abyde, whan that he was caught,
KnT 2651 By force and eek by composicioun.
KnT 2652 Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
KnT 2653 That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?
KnT 2654 And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
KnT 2655 Unto the folk that foghten thus echon
KnT 2656 He cryde, " Hoo! namoore, for it is doon!
KnT 2657 I wol be trewe juge, and no partie.
KnT 2658 Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelie,
KnT 2659 That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne. "
KnT 2660 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne
KnT 2661 For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle
KnT 2662 It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
KnT 2663 What kan now faire Venus doon above?
KnT 2664 What seith she now? What dooth this queene of love,
KnT 2665 But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille,
KnT 2666 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille?
KnT 2667 She seyde, " I am ashamed, doutelees. "
KnT 2668 Saturnus seyde, " Doghter, hoold thy pees!
KnT 2669 Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone,
KnT 2670 And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone. "
KnT 2671 The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie,
KnT 2672 The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie,
KnT 2673 Been in hire wele for joye of daun Arcite.
KnT 2674 But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
KnT 2675 Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
KnT 2676 This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon,
KnT 2677 And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
KnT 2678 He priketh endelong the large place
KnT 2679 Lokynge upward upon this Emelye;
KnT 2680 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye
KnT 2681 (For wommen, as to speken in comune,
KnT 2682 Thei folwen alle the favour of Fortune)
KnT 2683 And was al his chiere, as in his herte.
KnT 2684 Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
KnT 2685 From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne,
KnT 2686 For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
KnT 2687 And leep aside, and foundred as he leep;
KnT 2688 And er that Arcite may taken keep,
KnT 2689 He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
KnT 2690 That in the place he lay as he were deed,
KnT 2691 His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
KnT 2692 As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
KnT 2693 So was the blood yronnen in his face.
KnT 2694 Anon he was yborn out of the place,
KnT 2695 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys.
KnT 2696 Tho was he korven out of his harneys
KnT 2697 And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve,
KnT 2698 For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
KnT 2699 And alwey criynge after Emelye.
KnT 2700 Duc Theseus, with al his compaignye,
KnT 2701 Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee,
KnT 2702 With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
KnT 2703 Al be it that this aventure was falle,
KnT 2704 He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
KnT 2705 Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye;
KnT 2706 He shal been heeled of his maladye.
KnT 2707 And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
KnT 2708 That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
KnT 2709 Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon,
KnT 2710 That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
KnT 2711 To othere woundes and to broken armes
KnT 2712 Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes;
KnT 2713 Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
KnT 2714 They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
KnT 2715 For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,
KnT 2716 Conforteth and honoureth every man,
KnT 2717 And made revel al the longe nyght
KnT 2718 Unto the straunge lordes, as was right.
KnT 2719 Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
KnT 2720 But as a justes or a tourneiynge;
KnT 2721 For soothly ther was no disconfiture.
KnT 2722 For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
KnT 2723 Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
KnT 2724 Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
KnT 2725 O persone allone, withouten mo,
KnT 2726 And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too,
KnT 2727 And eke his steede dryven forth with staves
KnT 2728 With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves --
KnT 2729 It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
KnT 2730 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.
KnT 2731 For which anon duc Theseus leet crye,
KnT 2732 To stynten alle rancour and envye,
KnT 2733 The gree as wel of o syde as of oother,
KnT 2734 And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother;
KnT 2735 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree,
KnT 2736 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
KnT 2737 And conveyed the kynges worthily
KnT 2738 Out of his toun a journee largely.
KnT 2739 And hoom wente every man the righte way.
KnT 2740 Ther was namoore but " Fare wel, have good day! "
KnT 2741 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
KnT 2742 But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
KnT 2743 Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
KnT 2744 Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
KnT 2745 The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
KnT 2746 Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft,
KnT 2747 That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge,
KnT 2748 Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge.
KnT 2749 The vertu expulsif, or animal,
KnT 2750 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural
KnT 2751 Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
KnT 2752 The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
KnT 2753 And every lacerte in his brest adoun
KnT 2754 Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
KnT 2755 Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif,
KnT 2756 Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif.
KnT 2757 Al is tobrosten thilke regioun;
KnT 2758 Nature hath now no dominacioun.
KnT 2759 And certeinly, ther Nature wol nat wirche,
KnT 2760 Fare wel phisik! Go ber the man to chirche!
KnT 2761 This al and som, that Arcita moot dye;
KnT 2762 For which he sendeth after Emelye,
KnT 2763 And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
KnT 2764 Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere:
KnT 2765 " Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte
KnT 2766 Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte
KnT 2767 To yow, my lady, that I love moost,
KnT 2768 But I biquethe the servyce of my goost
KnT 2769 To yow aboven every creature,
KnT 2770 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.
KnT 2771 Allas, the wo! Allas, the peynes stronge,
KnT 2772 That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
KnT 2773 Allas, the deeth! Allas, myn Emelye!
KnT 2774 Allas, departynge of oure compaignye!
KnT 2775 Allas, myn hertes queene! Allas, my wyf,
KnT 2776 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
KnT 2777 What is this world? What asketh men to have?
KnT 2778 Now with his love, now in his colde grave
KnT 2779 Allone, withouten any compaignye.
KnT 2780 Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn Emelye!
KnT 2781 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye,
KnT 2782 For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
KnT 2783 " I have heer with my cosyn Palamon
KnT 2784 Had strif and rancour many a day agon
KnT 2785 For love of yow, and for my jalousye.
KnT 2786 And Juppiter so wys my soule gye,
KnT 2787 To speken of a servaunt proprely,
KnT 2788 With alle circumstances trewely --
KnT 2789 That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede,
KnT 2790 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede,
KnT 2791 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art --
KnT 2792 So Juppiter have of my soule part,
KnT 2793 As in this world right now ne knowe I non
KnT 2794 So worthy to ben loved as Palamon,
KnT 2795 That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf.
KnT 2796 And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf,
KnT 2797 Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man. "
KnT 2798 And with that word his speche faille gan,
KnT 2799 For from his feet up to his brest was come
KnT 2800 The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome,
KnT 2801 And yet mooreover, for in his armes two
KnT 2802 The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
KnT 2803 Oonly the intellect, withouten moore,
KnT 2804 That dwelled in his herte syk and soore,
KnT 2805 Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
KnT 2806 Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth,
KnT 2807 But on his lady yet caste he his ye;
KnT 2808 His laste word was, " Mercy, Emelye! "
KnT 2809 His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
KnT 2810 As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
KnT 2811 Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
KnT 2812 Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
KnT 2813 Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
KnT 2814 Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
KnT 2815 Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye!
KnT 2816 Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
KnT 2817 Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
KnT 2818 And Theseus his suster took anon
KnT 2819 Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away.
KnT 2820 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
KnT 2821 To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
KnT 2822 For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
KnT 2823 Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago,
KnT 2824 That for the moore part they sorwen so,
KnT 2825 Or ellis fallen in swich maladye
KnT 2826 That at the laste certeinly they dye.
KnT 2827 Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
KnT 2828 Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeeres
KnT 2829 In al the toun for deeth of this Theban.
KnT 2830 For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
KnT 2831 So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
KnT 2832 Whan Ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn,
KnT 2833 To Troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
KnT 2834 Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer.
KnT 2835 " Why woldestow be deed, " thise wommen crye,
KnT 2836 " And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye? "
KnT 2837 No man myghte gladen Theseus,
KnT 2838 Savynge his olde fader Egeus,
KnT 2839 That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
KnT 2840 As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun,
KnT 2841 Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse,
KnT 2842 And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse.
KnT 2843 " Right as ther dyed nevere man, " quod he,
KnT 2844 " That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree,
KnT 2845 Right so ther lyvede never man, " he seyde,
KnT 2846 " In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
KnT 2847 This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
KnT 2848 And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro.
KnT 2849 Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore. "
KnT 2850 And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore
KnT 2851 To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte
KnT 2852 The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
KnT 2853 Duc Theseus, with al his bisy cure,
KnT 2854 Caste now wher that the sepulture
KnT 2855 Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be,
KnT 2856 And eek moost honurable in his degree.
KnT 2857 And at the laste he took conclusioun
KnT 2858 That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun
KnT 2859 Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
KnT 2860 That in that selve grove, swoote and grene,
KnT 2861 Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires,
KnT 2862 His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires,
KnT 2863 He wolde make a fyr in which the office
KnT 2864 Funeral he myghte al accomplice.
KnT 2865 And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe
KnT 2866 The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
KnT 2867 In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
KnT 2868 His officers with swifte feet they renne
KnT 2869 And ryde anon at his comandement.
KnT 2870 And after this, Theseus hath ysent
KnT 2871 After a beere, and it al overspradde
KnT 2872 With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
KnT 2873 And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite;
KnT 2874 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
KnT 2875 Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene,
KnT 2876 And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
KnT 2877 He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere;
KnT 2878 Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
KnT 2879 And for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
KnT 2880 Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle,
KnT 2881 That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
KnT 2882 Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
KnT 2883 With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres,
KnT 2884 In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres;
KnT 2885 And, passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye,
KnT 2886 The rewefulleste of al the compaignye.
KnT 2887 In as muche as the servyce sholde be
KnT 2888 The moore noble and riche in his degree,
KnT 2889 Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
KnT 2890 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge,
KnT 2891 And covered with the armes of daun Arcite.
KnT 2892 Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white,
KnT 2893 Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
KnT 2894 Another his spere up on his hondes heeld,
KnT 2895 The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys
KnT 2896 (Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys);
KnT 2897 And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere
KnT 2898 Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
KnT 2899 The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
KnT 2900 Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere,
KnT 2901 With slakke paas and eyen rede and wete,
KnT 2902 Thurghout the citee by the maister strete,
KnT 2903 That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
KnT 2904 Right of the same is the strete ywrye.
KnT 2905 Upon the right hond wente olde Egeus,
KnT 2906 And on that oother syde duc Theseus,
KnT 2907 With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
KnT 2908 Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn;
KnT 2909 Eek Palamon, with ful greet compaignye;
KnT 2910 And after that cam woful Emelye,
KnT 2911 With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
KnT 2912 To do the office of funeral servyse.
KnT 2913 Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge
KnT 2914 Was at the service and the fyr-makynge,
KnT 2915 That with his grene top the hevene raughte;
KnT 2916 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte --
KnT 2917 This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode.
KnT 2918 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode.
KnT 2919 But how the fyr was maked upon highte,
KnT 2920 Ne eek the names that the trees highte,
KnT 2921 As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler,
KnT 2922 Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
KnT 2923 Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree --
KnT 2924 How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me;
KnT 2925 Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun,
KnT 2926 Disherited of hire habitacioun,
KnT 2927 In which they woneden in reste and pees,
KnT 2928 Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
KnT 2929 Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
KnT 2930 Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle;
KnT 2931 Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
KnT 2932 That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
KnT 2933 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
KnT 2934 And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre,
KnT 2935 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
KnT 2936 And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye,
KnT 2937 And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour;
KnT 2938 The mirre, th' encens, with al so greet odour;
KnT 2939 Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
KnT 2940 Ne what richesse aboute his body is;
KnT 2941 Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
KnT 2942 Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
KnT 2943 Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
KnT 2944 Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;
KnT 2945 Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste,
KnT 2946 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
KnT 2947 Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
KnT 2948 And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were,
KnT 2949 And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood,
KnT 2950 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood;
KnT 2951 Ne how the Grekes, with an huge route,
KnT 2952 Thries riden al the fyr aboute
KnT 2953 Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
KnT 2954 And thries with hir speres claterynge;
KnT 2955 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;
KnT 2956 And how that lad was homward Emelye;
KnT 2957 Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
KnT 2958 Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde
KnT 2959 Al thilke nyght; ne how the Grekes pleye
KnT 2960 The wake-pleyes; ne kepe I nat to seye
KnT 2961 Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
KnT 2962 Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt.
KnT 2963 I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
KnT 2964 Hoom til Atthenes, whan the pley is doon;
KnT 2965 But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende
KnT 2966 And maken of my longe tale an ende.
KnT 2967 By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
KnT 2968 Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres
KnT 2969 Of Grekes, by oon general assent.
KnT 2970 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement
KnT 2971 At Atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas;
KnT 2972 Among the whiche pointz yspoken was,
KnT 2973 To have with certein contrees alliaunce,
KnT 2974 And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
KnT 2975 For which this noble Theseus anon
KnT 2976 Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
KnT 2977 Unwist of hym what was the cause and why,
KnT 2978 But in his blake clothes sorwefully
KnT 2979 He cam at his comandement in hye.
KnT 2980 Tho sente Theseus for Emelye.
KnT 2981 Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
KnT 2982 And Theseus abiden hadde a space
KnT 2983 Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
KnT 2984 His eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
KnT 2985 And with a sad visage he siked stille,
KnT 2986 And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
KnT 2987 " The Firste Moevere of the cause above,
KnT 2988 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
KnT 2989 Greet was th' effect, and heigh was his entente.
KnT 2990 Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente,
KnT 2991 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
KnT 2992 The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
KnT 2993 In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee.
KnT 2994 That same Prince and that Moevere, " quod he,
KnT 2995 " Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun
KnT 2996 Certeyne dayes and duracioun
KnT 2997 To al that is engendred in this place,
KnT 2998 Over the whiche day they may nat pace,
KnT 2999 Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge.
KnT 3000 Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t' allegge,
KnT 3001 For it is preeved by experience,
KnT 3002 But that me list declaren my sentence.
KnT 3003 Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
KnT 3004 That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne.
KnT 3005 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
KnT 3006 That every part dirryveth from his hool,
KnT 3007 For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
KnT 3008 Of no partie or cantel of a thyng,
KnT 3009 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
KnT 3010 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.
KnT 3011 And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce,
KnT 3012 He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce
KnT 3013 That speces of thynges and progressiouns
KnT 3014 Shullen enduren by successiouns,
KnT 3015 And nat eterne, withouten any lye.
KnT 3016 This maystow understonde and seen at ye.
KnT 3017 " Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge
KnT 3018 From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge,
KnT 3019 And hath so long a lif, as we may see,
KnT 3020 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
KnT 3021 " Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
KnT 3022 Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon,
KnT 3023 Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.
KnT 3024 The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye;
KnT 3025 The grete tounes se we wane and wende.
KnT 3026 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
KnT 3027 " Of man and womman seen we wel also
KnT 3028 That nedes, in oon of thise termes two --
KnT 3029 This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age --
KnT 3030 He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
KnT 3031 Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
KnT 3032 Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
KnT 3033 Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye.
KnT 3034 Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
KnT 3035 " What maketh this but Juppiter, the kyng,
KnT 3036 That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
KnT 3037 Convertynge al unto his propre welle
KnT 3038 From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle?
KnT 3039 And heer-agayns no creature on lyve,
KnT 3040 Of no degree, availleth for to stryve.
KnT 3041 " Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
KnT 3042 To maken vertu of necessitee,
KnT 3043 And take it weel that we may nat eschue,
KnT 3044 And namely that to us alle is due.
KnT 3045 And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye,
KnT 3046 And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
KnT 3047 And certeinly a man hath moost honour
KnT 3048 To dyen in his excellence and flour,
KnT 3049 Whan he is siker of his goode name;
KnT 3050 Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
KnT 3051 And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
KnT 3052 Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
KnT 3053 Than whan his name apalled is for age,
KnT 3054 For al forgeten is his vassellage.
KnT 3055 Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
KnT 3056 To dyen whan that he is best of name.
KnT 3057 " The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
KnT 3058 Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse,
KnT 3059 That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour,
KnT 3060 Departed is with duetee and honour
KnT 3061 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?
KnT 3062 Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
KnT 3063 Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel?
KnT 3064 Kan he hem thank? Nay, God woot, never a deel,
KnT 3065 That both his soule and eek hemself offende,
KnT 3066 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
KnT 3067 " What may I conclude of this longe serye,
KnT 3068 But after wo I rede us to be merye
KnT 3069 And thanken Juppiter of al his grace?
KnT 3070 And er that we departen from this place
KnT 3071 I rede that we make of sorwes two
KnT 3072 O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
KnT 3073 And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne,
KnT 3074 Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
KnT 3075 " Suster, " quod he, " this is my fulle assent,
KnT 3076 With al th' avys heere of my parlement,
KnT 3077 That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght,
KnT 3078 That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
KnT 3079 And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,
KnT 3080 That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe,
KnT 3081 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
KnT 3082 Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
KnT 3083 Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
KnT 3084 He is a kynges brother sone, pardee;
KnT 3085 And though he were a povre bacheler,
KnT 3086 Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
KnT 3087 And had for yow so greet adversitee,
KnT 3088 It moste been considered, leeveth me,
KnT 3089 For gentil mercy oghte to passen right. "
KnT 3090 Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knight:
KnT 3091 " I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
KnT 3092 To make yow assente to this thyng.
KnT 3093 Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond. "
KnT 3094 Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
KnT 3095 That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
KnT 3096 By al the conseil and the baronage.
KnT 3097 And thus with alle blisse and melodye
KnT 3098 Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
KnT 3099 And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
KnT 3100 Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght;
KnT 3101 For now is Palamon in alle wele,
KnT 3102 Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
KnT 3103 And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
KnT 3104 And he hire serveth so gentilly,
KnT 3105 That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene
KnT 3106 Of jalousie or any oother teene.
KnT 3107 Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye;
KnT 3108 And God save al this faire compaignye! Amen.
MilT 3109 Whan that the Knyght had thus his tale ytoold,
MilT 3110 In al the route nas ther yong ne oold
MilT 3111 That he ne seyde it was a noble storie
MilT 3112 And worthy for to drawen to memorie,
MilT 3113 And namely the gentils everichon.
MilT 3114 Oure Hooste lough and swoor, " So moot I gon,
MilT 3115 This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male.
MilT 3116 Lat se now who shal telle another tale;
MilT 3117 For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
MilT 3118 Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye konne,
MilT 3119 Somwhat to quite with the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3120 The Millere, that for dronken was al pale,
MilT 3121 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,
MilT 3122 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,
MilT 3123 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,
MilT 3124 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,
MilT 3125 And swoor, " By armes, and by blood and bones,
MilT 3126 I kan a noble tale for the nones,
MilT 3127 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale. "
MilT 3128 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,
MilT 3129 And seyde, " Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother;
MilT 3130 Som bettre man shal telle us first another.
MilT 3131 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily. "
MilT 3132 " By Goddes soule, " quod he, " that wol nat I;
MilT 3133 For I wol speke or elles go my wey. "
MilT 3134 Oure Hoost answerde, " Tel on, a devel wey!
MilT 3135 Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome. "
MilT 3136 " Now herkneth, " quod the Millere, " alle and some!
MilT 3137 But first I make a protestacioun
MilT 3138 That I am dronke; I knowe it by my soun.
MilT 3139 And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye,
MilT 3140 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye.
MilT 3141 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf
MilT 3142 Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
MilT 3143 How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe. "
MilT 3144 The Reve answerde and seyde, " Stynt thy clappe!
MilT 3145 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye.
MilT 3146 It is a synne and eek a greet folye
MilT 3147 To apeyren any man, or hym defame,
MilT 3148 And eek to bryngen wyves in swich fame.
MilT 3149 Thou mayst ynogh of othere thynges seyn. "
MilT 3150 This dronke Millere spak ful soone ageyn
MilT 3151 And seyde, " Leve brother Osewold,
MilT 3152 Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
MilT 3153 But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon;
MilT 3154 Ther been ful goode wyves many oon,
MilT 3155 And evere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde.
MilT 3156 That knowestow wel thyself, but if thou madde.
MilT 3157 Why artow angry with my tale now?
MilT 3158 I have a wyf, pardee, as wel as thow;
MilT 3159 Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh,
MilT 3160 Take upon me moore than ynogh,
MilT 3161 As demen of myself that I were oon;
MilT 3162 I wol bileve wel that I am noon.
MilT 3163 An housbonde shal nat been inquisityf
MilT 3164 Of Goddes pryvetee, nor of his wyf.
MilT 3165 So he may fynde Goddes foyson there,
MilT 3166 Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere. "
MilT 3167 What sholde I moore seyn, but this Millere
MilT 3168 He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
MilT 3169 But tolde his cherles tale in his manere.
MilT 3170 M' athynketh that I shal reherce it heere.
MilT 3171 And therfore every gentil wight I preye,
MilT 3172 For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye
MilT 3173 Of yvel entente, but for I moot reherce
MilT 3174 Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse,
MilT 3175 Or elles falsen som of my mateere.
MilT 3176 And therfore, whoso list it nat yheere,
MilT 3177 Turne over the leef and chese another tale;
MilT 3178 For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
MilT 3179 Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse,
MilT 3180 And eek moralitee and hoolynesse.
MilT 3181 Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys.
MilT 3182 The Millere is a cherl; ye knowe wel this.
MilT 3183 So was the Reve eek and othere mo,
MilT 3184 And harlotrie they tolden bothe two.
MilT 3185 Avyseth yow, and put me out of blame;
MilT 3186 And eek men shal nat maken ernest of game.
MilT 3187 Whilom ther was dwellynge at Oxenford
MilT 3188 A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord,
MilT 3189 And of his craft he was a carpenter.
MilT 3190 With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler,
MilT 3191 Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye
MilT 3192 Was turned for to lerne astrologye,
MilT 3193 And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns,
MilT 3194 To demen by interrogaciouns,
MilT 3195 If that men asked hym, in certein houres
MilT 3196 Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures,
MilT 3197 Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle
MilT 3198 Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.
MilT 3199 This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas.
MilT 3200 Of deerne love he koude and of solas;
MilT 3201 And therto he was sleigh and ful privee,
MilT 3202 And lyk a mayden meke for to see.
MilT 3203 A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye
MilT 3204 Allone, withouten any compaignye,
MilT 3205 Ful fetisly ydight with herbes swoote;
MilT 3206 And he hymself as sweete as is the roote
MilT 3207 Of lycorys or any cetewale.
MilT 3208 His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale,
MilT 3209 His astrelabie, longynge for his art,
MilT 3210 His augrym stones layen faire apart,
MilT 3211 On shelves couched at his beddes heed;
MilT 3212 His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed;
MilT 3213 And al above ther lay a gay sautrie,
MilT 3214 On which he made a-nyghtes melodie
MilT 3215 So swetely that all the chambre rong;
MilT 3216 And Angelus ad virginem he song;
MilT 3217 And after that he song the Kynges Noote.
MilT 3218 Ful often blessed was his myrie throte.
MilT 3219 And thus this sweete clerk his tyme spente
MilT 3220 After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.
MilT 3221 This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,
MilT 3222 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;
MilT 3223 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.
MilT 3224 Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,
MilT 3225 For she was wylde and yong, and he was old
MilT 3226 And demed hymself been lik a cokewold.
MilT 3227 He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,
MilT 3228 That bad man sholde wedde his simylitude.
MilT 3229 Men sholde wedden after hire estaat,
MilT 3230 For youthe and elde is often at debaat.
MilT 3231 But sith that he was fallen in the snare,
MilT 3232 He moste endure, as oother folk, his care.
MilT 3233 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
MilT 3234 As any wezele hir body gent and smal.
MilT 3235 A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk,
MilT 3236 A barmclooth as whit as morne milk
MilT 3237 Upon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.
MilT 3238 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore
MilT 3239 And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute,
MilT 3240 Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute.
MilT 3241 The tapes of hir white voluper
MilT 3242 Were of the same suyte of hir coler;
MilT 3243 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye.
MilT 3244 And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye;
MilT 3245 Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two,
MilT 3246 And tho were bent and blake as any sloo.
MilT 3247 She was ful moore blisful on to see
MilT 3248 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree,
MilT 3249 And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
MilT 3250 And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether,
MilT 3251 Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.
MilT 3252 In al this world, to seken up and doun,
MilT 3253 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche
MilT 3254 So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
MilT 3255 Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
MilT 3256 Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.
MilT 3257 But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne
MilT 3258 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne.
MilT 3259 Therto she koude skippe and make game,
MilT 3260 As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.
MilT 3261 Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth,
MilT 3262 Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
MilT 3263 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt,
MilT 3264 Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.
MilT 3265 A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler,
MilT 3266 As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.
MilT 3267 Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
MilT 3268 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,
MilT 3269 For any lord to leggen in his bedde,
MilT 3270 Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
MilT 3271 Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas
MilT 3272 That on a day this hende Nicholas
MilT 3273 Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
MilT 3274 Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye,
MilT 3275 As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
MilT 3276 And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
MilT 3277 And seyde, " Ywis, but if ich have my wille,
MilT 3278 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille. "
MilT 3279 And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
MilT 3280 And seyde, " Lemman, love me al atones,
MilT 3281 Or I wol dyen, also God me save! "
MilT 3282 And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
MilT 3283 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
MilT 3284 And seyde, " I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
MilT 3285 Why, lat be! " quod she. " Lat be, Nicholas,
MilT 3286 Or I wol crie `out, harrow' and `allas'!
MilT 3287 Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye! "
MilT 3288 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
MilT 3289 And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
MilT 3290 That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
MilT 3291 And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent,
MilT 3292 That she wol been at his comandement,
MilT 3293 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
MilT 3294 " Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
MilT 3295 That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
MilT 3296 I woot right wel I nam but deed, " quod she.
MilT 3297 " Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas. "
MilT 3298 " Nay, therof care thee noght, " quod Nicholas.
MilT 3299 " A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
MilT 3300 But if he koude a carpenter bigyle. "
MilT 3301 And thus they been accorded and ysworn
MilT 3302 To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
MilT 3303 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel
MilT 3304 And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
MilT 3305 He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
MilT 3306 And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
MilT 3307 Thanne fil it thus, that to the paryssh chirche,
MilT 3308 Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
MilT 3309 This goode wyf went on an haliday.
MilT 3310 Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,
MilT 3311 So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.
MilT 3312 Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk,
MilT 3313 The which that was ycleped Absolon.
MilT 3314 Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon,
MilT 3315 And strouted as a fanne large and brode;
MilT 3316 Ful streight and evene lay his joly shode.
MilT 3317 His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos.
MilT 3318 With Poules wyndow corven on his shoos,
MilT 3319 In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
MilT 3320 Yclad he was ful smal and proprely
MilT 3321 Al in a kirtel of a lyght waget;
MilT 3322 Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set.
MilT 3323 And therupon he hadde a gay surplys
MilT 3324 As whit as is the blosme upon the rys.
MilT 3325 A myrie child he was, so God me save.
MilT 3326 Wel koude he laten blood, and clippe and shave,
MilT 3327 And maken a chartre of lond or acquitaunce.
MilT 3328 In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
MilT 3329 After the scole of Oxenforde tho,
MilT 3330 And with his legges casten to and fro,
MilT 3331 And pleyen songes on a smal rubible;
MilT 3332 Therto he song som tyme a loud quynyble;
MilT 3333 And as wel koude he pleye on a giterne.
MilT 3334 In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne
MilT 3335 That he ne visited with his solas,
MilT 3336 Ther any gaylard tappestere was.
MilT 3337 But sooth to seyn, he was somdeel squaymous
MilT 3338 Of fartyng, and of speche daungerous.
MilT 3339 This Absolon, that jolif was and gay,
MilT 3340 Gooth with a sencer on the haliday,
MilT 3341 Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste;
MilT 3342 And many a lovely look on hem he caste,
MilT 3343 And namely on this carpenteris wyf.
MilT 3344 To looke on hire hym thoughte a myrie lyf,
MilT 3345 She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
MilT 3346 I dar wel seyn, if she hadde been a mous,
MilT 3347 And he a cat, he wolde hire hente anon.
MilT 3348 This parissh clerk, this joly Absolon,
MilT 3349 Hath in his herte swich a love-longynge
MilT 3350 That of no wyf took he noon offrynge;
MilT 3351 For curteisie, he seyde, he wolde noon.
MilT 3352 The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
MilT 3353 And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake;
MilT 3354 For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
MilT 3355 And forth he gooth, jolif and amorous,
MilT 3356 Til he cam to the carpenteres hous
MilT 3357 A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe,
MilT 3358 And dressed hym up by a shot-wyndowe
MilT 3359 That was upon the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3360 He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal,
MilT 3361 " Now, deere lady, if thy wille be,
MilT 3362 I praye yow that ye wole rewe on me, "
MilT 3363 Ful wel acordaunt to his gyternynge.
MilT 3364 This carpenter awook, and herde him synge,
MilT 3365 And spak unto his wyf, and seyde anon,
MilT 3366 " What! Alison! Herestow nat Absolon,
MilT 3367 That chaunteth thus under oure boures wal? "
MilT 3368 And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal,
MilT 3369 " Yis, God woot, John, I heere it every deel. "
MilT 3370 This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than weel?
MilT 3371 Fro day to day this joly Absolon
MilT 3372 So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon.
MilT 3373 He waketh al the nyght and al the day;
MilT 3374 He kembeth his lokkes brode, and made hym gay;
MilT 3375 He woweth hire by meenes and brocage,
MilT 3376 And swoor he wolde been hir owene page;
MilT 3377 He syngeth, brokkynge as a nyghtyngale;
MilT 3378 He sente hire pyment, meeth, and spiced ale,
MilT 3379 And wafres, pipyng hoot out of the gleede;
MilT 3380 And, for she was of town, he profred meede;
MilT 3381 For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse,
MilT 3382 And somme for strokes, and somme for gentillesse.
MilT 3383 Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye,
MilT 3384 He pleyeth Herodes upon a scaffold hye.
MilT 3385 But what availleth hym as in this cas?
MilT 3386 She loveth so this hende Nicholas
MilT 3387 That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn;
MilT 3388 He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn.
MilT 3389 And thus she maketh Absolon hire ape,
MilT 3390 And al his ernest turneth til a jape.
MilT 3391 Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye,
MilT 3392 Men seyn right thus: " Alwey the nye slye
MilT 3393 Maketh the ferre leeve to be looth. "
MilT 3394 For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
MilT 3395 By cause that he fer was from hire sight,
MilT 3396 This nye Nicholas stood in his light.
MilT 3397 Now ber thee wel, thou hende Nicholas,
MilT 3398 For Absolon may waille and synge " allas. "
MilT 3399 And so bifel it on a Saterday,
MilT 3400 This carpenter was goon til Osenay;
MilT 3401 And hende Nicholas and Alisoun
MilT 3402 Acorded been to this conclusioun,
MilT 3403 That Nicholas shal shapen hym a wyle
MilT 3404 This sely jalous housbonde to bigyle;
MilT 3405 And if so be the game wente aright,
MilT 3406 She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,
MilT 3407 For this was his desir and hire also.
MilT 3408 And right anon, withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3409 This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie,
MilT 3410 But dooth ful softe unto his chambre carie
MilT 3411 Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye,
MilT 3412 And to hire housbonde bad hire for to seye,
MilT 3413 If that he axed after Nicholas,
MilT 3414 She sholde seye she nyste where he was;
MilT 3415 Of al that day she saugh hym nat with ye;
MilT 3416 She trowed that he was in maladye,
MilT 3417 For, for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle,
MilT 3418 He nolde answere for thyng that myghte falle.
MilT 3419 This passeth forth al thilke Saterday,
MilT 3420 That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,
MilT 3421 And eet and sleep, or dide what hym leste,
MilT 3422 Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste.
MilT 3423 This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle
MilT 3424 Of Nicholas, or what thyng myghte hym eyle,
MilT 3425 And seyde, " I am adrad, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3426 It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.
MilT 3427 God shilde that he deyde sodeynly!
MilT 3428 This world is now ful tikel, sikerly.
MilT 3429 I saugh today a cors yborn to chirche
MilT 3430 That now, on Monday last, I saugh hym wirche.
MilT 3431 " Go up, " quod he unto his knave anoon,
MilT 3432 " Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon.
MilT 3433 Looke how it is, and tel me boldely. "
MilT 3434 This knave gooth hym up ful sturdily,
MilT 3435 And at the chambre dore whil that he stood,
MilT 3436 He cride and knokked as that he were wood,
MilT 3437 " What, how! What do ye, maister Nicholay?
MilT 3438 How may ye slepen al the longe day? "
MilT 3439 But al for noght; he herde nat a word.
MilT 3440 An hole he foond, ful lowe upon a bord,
MilT 3441 Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe,
MilT 3442 And at that hole he looked in ful depe,
MilT 3443 And at the laste he hadde of hym a sight.
MilT 3444 This Nicholas sat evere capyng upright,
MilT 3445 As he had kiked on the newe moone.
MilT 3446 Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister soone
MilT 3447 In what array he saugh this ilke man.
MilT 3448 This carpenter to blessen hym bigan,
MilT 3449 And seyde, " Help us, Seinte Frydeswyde!
MilT 3450 A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.
MilT 3451 This man is falle, with his astromye,
MilT 3452 In some woodnesse or in som agonye.
MilT 3453 I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be!
MilT 3454 Men sholde nat knowe of Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3455 Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man
MilT 3456 That noght but oonly his bileve kan!
MilT 3457 So ferde another clerk with astromye;
MilT 3458 He walked in the feeldes for to prye
MilT 3459 Upon the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle,
MilT 3460 Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle;
MilT 3461 He saugh nat that. But yet, by Seint Thomas,
MilT 3462 Me reweth soore of hende Nicholas.
MilT 3463 He shal be rated of his studiyng,
MilT 3464 If that I may, by Jhesus, hevene kyng!
MilT 3465 Get me a staf, that I may underspore,
MilT 3466 Whil that thou, Robyn, hevest up the dore.
MilT 3467 He shal out of his studiyng, as I gesse. "
MilT 3468 And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse.
MilT 3469 His knave was a strong carl for the nones,
MilT 3470 And by the haspe he haaf it of atones;
MilT 3471 Into the floor the dore fil anon.
MilT 3472 This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon,
MilT 3473 And evere caped upward into the eir.
MilT 3474 This carpenter wende he were in despeir,
MilT 3475 And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily,
MilT 3476 And shook hym harde, and cride spitously,
MilT 3477 " What! Nicholay! What, how! What, looke adoun!
MilT 3478 Awak, and thenk on Cristes passioun!
MilT 3479 I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes. "
MilT 3480 Therwith the nyght-spel seyde he anon-rightes
MilT 3481 On foure halves of the hous aboute,
MilT 3482 And on the thresshfold of the dore withoute:
MilT 3483 " Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight,
MilT 3484 Blesse this hous from every wikked wight,
MilT 3485 For nyghtes verye, the white pater-noster!
MilT 3486 Where wentestow, Seinte Petres soster? "
MilT 3487 And atte laste this hende Nicholas
MilT 3488 Gan for to sik soore, and seyde, " Allas!
MilT 3489 Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now? "
MilT 3490 This carpenter answerde, " What seystow?
MilT 3491 What! Thynk on God, as we doon, men that swynke. "
MilT 3492 This Nicholas answerde, " Fecche me drynke,
MilT 3493 And after wol I speke in pryvetee
MilT 3494 Of certeyn thyng that toucheth me and thee.
MilT 3495 I wol telle it noon oother man, certeyn. "
MilT 3496 This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn,
MilT 3497 And broghte of myghty ale a large quart;
MilT 3498 And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part,
MilT 3499 This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
MilT 3500 And doun the carpenter by hym he sette.
MilT 3501 He seyde, " John, myn hooste, lief and deere,
MilT 3502 Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
MilT 3503 That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye,
MilT 3504 For it is Cristes conseil that I seye,
MilT 3505 And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore;
MilT 3506 For this vengeaunce thou shalt han therfore,
MilT 3507 That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood. "
MilT 3508 " Nay, Crist forbede it, for his hooly blood! "
MilT 3509 Quod tho this sely man, " I nam no labbe,
MilT 3510 Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.
MilT 3511 Sey what thou wolt, I shal it nevere telle
MilT 3512 To child ne wyf, by hym that harwed helle! "
MilT 3513 " Now John, " quod Nicholas, " I wol nat lye;
MilT 3514 I have yfounde in myn astrologye,
MilT 3515 As I have looked in the moone bright,
MilT 3516 That now a Monday next, at quarter nyght,
MilT 3517 Shal falle a reyn, and that so wilde and wood
MilT 3518 That half so greet was nevere Noes flood.
MilT 3519 This world, " he seyde, " in lasse than an hour
MilT 3520 Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.
MilT 3521 Thus shal mankynde drenche, and lese hir lyf. "
MilT 3522 This carpenter answerde, " Allas, my wyf!
MilT 3523 And shal she drenche? Allas, myn Alisoun! "
MilT 3524 For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun,
MilT 3525 And seyde, " Is ther no remedie in this cas? "
MilT 3526 " Why, yis, for Gode, " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3527 " If thou wolt werken after loore and reed.
MilT 3528 Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed;
MilT 3529 For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe:
MilT 3530 `Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.'
MilT 3531 And if thou werken wolt by good conseil,
MilT 3532 I undertake, withouten mast and seyl,
MilT 3533 Yet shal I saven hire and thee and me.
MilT 3534 Hastow nat herd hou saved was Noe,
MilT 3535 Whan that oure Lord hadde warned hym biforn
MilT 3536 That al the world with water sholde be lorn? "
MilT 3537 " Yis, " quod this Carpenter, " ful yoore ago. "
MilT 3538 " Hastou nat herd, " quod Nicholas, " also
MilT 3539 The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe,
MilT 3540 Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?
MilT 3541 Hym hadde be levere, I dar wel undertake,
MilT 3542 At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake
MilT 3543 That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
MilT 3544 And therfore, woostou what is best to doone?
MilT 3545 This asketh haste, and of an hastif thyng
MilT 3546 Men may nat preche or maken tariyng.
MilT 3547 " Anon go gete us faste into this in
MilT 3548 A knedyng trogh, or ellis a kymelyn,
MilT 3549 For ech of us, but looke that they be large,
MilT 3550 In which we mowe swymme as in a barge,
MilT 3551 And han therinne vitaille suffisant
MilT 3552 But for a day -- fy on the remenant!
MilT 3553 The water shal aslake and goon away
MilT 3554 Aboute pryme upon the nexte day.
MilT 3555 But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knave,
MilT 3556 Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save;
MilT 3557 Axe nat why, for though thou aske me,
MilT 3558 I wol nat tellen Goddes pryvetee.
MilT 3559 Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
MilT 3560 To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.
MilT 3561 Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute.
MilT 3562 Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute.
MilT 3563 " But whan thou hast, for hire and thee and me,
MilT 3564 Ygeten us thise knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3565 Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye,
MilT 3566 That no man of oure purveiaunce espye.
MilT 3567 And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd,
MilT 3568 And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd,
MilT 3569 And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo,
MilT 3570 Whan that the water comth, that we may go
MilT 3571 And breke an hole an heigh, upon the gable,
MilT 3572 Unto the gardyn-ward, over the stable,
MilT 3573 That we may frely passen forth oure way,
MilT 3574 Whan that the grete shour is goon away.
MilT 3575 Thanne shaltou swymme as myrie, I undertake,
MilT 3576 As dooth the white doke after hire drake.
MilT 3577 Thanne wol I clepe, `How, Alison! How, John!
MilT 3578 Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.'
MilT 3579 And thou wolt seyn, `Hayl, maister Nicholay!
MilT 3580 Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.'
MilT 3581 And thanne shul we be lordes al oure lyf
MilT 3582 Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.
MilT 3583 " But of o thyng I warne thee ful right:
MilT 3584 Be wel avysed on that ilke nyght
MilT 3585 That we ben entred into shippes bord,
MilT 3586 That noon of us ne speke nat a word,
MilT 3587 Ne clepe, ne crie, but be in his preyere;
MilT 3588 For it is Goddes owene heeste deere.
MilT 3589 " Thy wyf and thou moote hange fer atwynne,
MilT 3590 For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne,
MilT 3591 Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in deede.
MilT 3592 This ordinance is seyd. Go, God thee speede!
MilT 3593 Tomorwe at nyght, whan men ben alle aslepe,
MilT 3594 Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe,
MilT 3595 And sitten there, abidyng Goddes grace.
MilT 3596 Go now thy wey; I have no lenger space
MilT 3597 To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
MilT 3598 Men seyn thus, `sende the wise, and sey no thyng.'
MilT 3599 Thou art so wys, it needeth thee nat teche.
MilT 3600 Go, save oure lyf, and that I the biseche. "
MilT 3601 This sely carpenter goth forth his wey.
MilT 3602 Ful ofte he seide " Allas and weylawey, "
MilT 3603 And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
MilT 3604 And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
MilT 3605 What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
MilT 3606 But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye,
MilT 3607 And seyde, " Allas! go forth thy wey anon,
MilT 3608 Help us to scape, or we been dede echon!
MilT 3609 I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf;
MilT 3610 Go, deere spouse, and help to save oure lyf. "
MilT 3611 Lo, which a greet thyng is affeccioun!
MilT 3612 Men may dyen of ymaginacioun,
MilT 3613 So depe may impressioun be take.
MilT 3614 This sely carpenter bigynneth quake;
MilT 3615 Hym thynketh verraily that he may see
MilT 3616 Noees flood come walwynge as the see
MilT 3617 To drenchen Alisoun, his hony deere.
MilT 3618 He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory cheere;
MilT 3619 He siketh with ful many a sory swogh;
MilT 3620 He gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh,
MilT 3621 And after that a tubbe and a kymelyn,
MilT 3622 And pryvely he sente hem to his in,
MilT 3623 And heng hem in the roof in pryvetee.
MilT 3624 His owene hand he made laddres thre,
MilT 3625 To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
MilT 3626 Unto the tubbes hangynge in the balkes,
MilT 3627 And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe,
MilT 3628 With breed, and chese, and good ale in a jubbe,
MilT 3629 Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
MilT 3630 But er that he hadde maad al this array,
MilT 3631 He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also,
MilT 3632 Upon his nede to London for to go.
MilT 3633 And on the Monday, whan it drow to nyght,
MilT 3634 He shette his dore withoute candel-lyght,
MilT 3635 And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
MilT 3636 And shortly, up they clomben alle thre;
MilT 3637 They seten stille wel a furlong way.
MilT 3638 " Now, Pater-noster, clom! " seyde Nicholay,
MilT 3639 And " Clom! " quod John, and " Clom! " seyde Alisoun.
MilT 3640 This carpenter seyde his devocioun,
MilT 3641 And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere,
MilT 3642 Awaitynge on the reyn, if he it heere.
MilT 3643 The dede sleep, for wery bisynesse,
MilT 3644 Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse,
MilT 3645 Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel moore;
MilT 3646 For travaille of his goost he groneth soore,
MilT 3647 And eft he routeth, for his heed myslay.
MilT 3648 Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay,
MilT 3649 And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde;
MilT 3650 Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde,
MilT 3651 Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.
MilT 3652 Ther was the revel and the melodye;
MilT 3653 And thus lith Alison and Nicholas,
MilT 3654 In bisynesse of myrthe and of solas,
MilT 3655 Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge,
MilT 3656 And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.
MilT 3657 This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,
MilT 3658 That is for love alwey so wo bigon,
MilT 3659 Upon the Monday was at Oseneye
MilT 3660 With compaignye, hym to disporte and pleye,
MilT 3661 And axed upon cas a cloisterer
MilT 3662 Ful prively after John the carpenter;
MilT 3663 And he drough hym apart out of the chirche,
MilT 3664 And seyde, " I noot; I saugh hym heere nat wirche
MilT 3665 Syn Saterday; I trowe that he be went
MilT 3666 For tymber, ther oure abbot hath hym sent;
MilT 3667 For he is wont for tymber for to go
MilT 3668 And dwellen at the grange a day or two;
MilT 3669 Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn.
MilT 3670 Where that he be, I kan nat soothly seyn. "
MilT 3671 This Absolon ful joly was and light,
MilT 3672 And thoghte, " Now is tyme to wake al nyght,
MilT 3673 For sikirly I saugh hym nat stirynge
MilT 3674 Aboute his dore, syn day bigan to sprynge.
MilT 3675 " So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe,
MilT 3676 Ful pryvely knokken at his wyndowe
MilT 3677 That stant ful lowe upon his boures wal.
MilT 3678 To Alison now wol I tellen al
MilT 3679 My love-longynge, for yet I shal nat mysse
MilT 3680 That at the leeste wey I shal hire kisse.
MilT 3681 Som maner confort shal I have, parfay.
MilT 3682 My mouth hath icched al this longe day;
MilT 3683 That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste.
MilT 3684 Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
MilT 3685 Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye,
MilT 3686 And al the nyght thanne wol I wake and pleye. "
MilT 3687 Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon
MilT 3688 Up rist this joly lovere Absolon,
MilT 3689 And hym arraieth gay, at poynt-devys.
MilT 3690 But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys,
MilT 3691 To smellen sweete, er he hadde kembd his heer.
MilT 3692 Under his tonge a trewe-love he beer,
MilT 3693 For therby wende he to ben gracious.
MilT 3694 He rometh to the carpenteres hous,
MilT 3695 And stille he stant under the shot-wyndowe --
MilT 3696 Unto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe --
MilT 3697 And softe he cougheth with a semy soun:
MilT 3698 " What do ye, hony-comb, sweete Alisoun,
MilT 3699 My faire bryd, my sweete cynamome?
MilT 3700 Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me!
MilT 3701 Wel litel thynken ye upon my wo,
MilT 3702 That for youre love I swete ther I go.
MilT 3703 No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete;
MilT 3704 I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
MilT 3705 Ywis, lemman, I have swich love-longynge
MilT 3706 That lik a turtel trewe is my moornynge.
MilT 3707 I may nat ete na moore than a mayde. "
MilT 3708 " Go fro the wyndow, Jakke fool, " she sayde;
MilT 3709 " As help me God, it wol nat be `com pa me.'
MilT 3710 I love another -- and elles I were to blame --
MilT 3711 Wel bet than thee, by Jhesu, Absolon.
MilT 3712 Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston,
MilT 3713 And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey! "
MilT 3714 " Allas, " quod Absolon, " and weylawey,
MilT 3715 That trewe love was evere so yvel biset!
MilT 3716 Thanne kysse me, syn it may be no bet,
MilT 3717 For Jhesus love, and for the love of me. "
MilT 3718 " Wiltow thanne go thy wey therwith? " quod she.
MilT 3719 " Ye, certes, lemman, " quod this Absolon.
MilT 3720 " Thanne make thee redy, " quod she, " I come anon. "
MilT 3721 And unto Nicholas she seyde stille,
MilT 3722 " Now hust, and thou shalt laughen al thy fille. "
MilT 3723 This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees
MilT 3724 And seyde, " I am a lord at alle degrees;
MilT 3725 For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
MilT 3726 Lemman, thy grace, and sweete bryd, thyn oore! "
MilT 3727 The wyndow she undoth, and that in haste.
MilT 3728 " Have do, " quod she, " com of, and speed the faste,
MilT 3729 Lest that oure neighebores thee espie. "
MilT 3730 This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drie.
MilT 3731 Derk was the nyght as pich, or as the cole,
MilT 3732 And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole,
MilT 3733 And Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers,
MilT 3734 But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
MilT 3735 Ful savourly, er he were war of this.
MilT 3736 Abak he stirte, and thoughte it was amys,
MilT 3737 For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
MilT 3738 He felte a thyng al rough and long yherd,
MilT 3739 And seyde, " Fy! allas! what have I do? "
MilT 3740 " Tehee! " quod she, and clapte the wyndow to,
MilT 3741 And Absolon gooth forth a sory pas.
MilT 3742 " A berd! A berd! " quod hende Nicholas,
MilT 3743 " By Goddes corpus, this goth faire and weel. "
MilT 3744 This sely Absolon herde every deel,
MilT 3745 And on his lippe he gan for anger byte,
MilT 3746 And to hymself he seyde, " I shal thee quyte. "
MilT 3747 Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
MilT 3748 With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,
MilT 3749 But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, " Allas! "
MilT 3750 " My soule bitake I unto Sathanas,
MilT 3751 But me were levere than al this toun, " quod he,
MilT 3752 " Of this despit awroken for to be.
MilT 3753 Allas, " quod he, " allas, I ne hadde ybleynt! "
MilT 3754 His hoote love was coold and al yqueynt;
MilT 3755 For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
MilT 3756 Of paramours he sette nat a kers,
MilT 3757 For he was heeled of his maladie.
MilT 3758 Ful ofte paramours he gan deffie,
MilT 3759 And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
MilT 3760 A softe paas he wente over the strete
MilT 3761 Until a smyth men cleped daun Gerveys,
MilT 3762 That in his forge smythed plough harneys;
MilT 3763 He sharpeth shaar and kultour bisily.
MilT 3764 This Absolon knokketh al esily,
MilT 3765 And seyde, " Undo, Gerveys, and that anon. "
MilT 3766 " What, who artow? " " It am I, Absolon. "
MilT 3767 " What, Absolon! for Cristes sweete tree,
MilT 3768 Why rise ye so rathe? Ey, benedicitee!
MilT 3769 What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, God it woot,
MilT 3770 Hath broght yow thus upon the viritoot.
MilT 3771 By Seinte Note, ye woot wel what I mene. "
MilT 3772 This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
MilT 3773 Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf;
MilT 3774 He hadde moore tow on his distaf
MilT 3775 Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, " Freend so deere,
MilT 3776 That hoote kultour in the chymenee heere,
MilT 3777 As lene it me; I have therwith to doone,
MilT 3778 And I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone. "
MilT 3779 Gerveys answerde, " Certes, were it gold,
MilT 3780 Or in a poke nobles alle untold,
MilT 3781 Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smyth.
MilT 3782 Ey, Cristes foo! What wol ye do therwith? "
MilT 3783 " Therof, " quod Absolon, " be as be may.
MilT 3784 I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day " --
MilT 3785 And caughte the kultour by the colde stele.
MilT 3786 Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele,
MilT 3787 And wente unto the carpenteris wal.
MilT 3788 He cogheth first, and knokketh therwithal
MilT 3789 Upon the wyndowe, right as he dide er.
MilT 3790 This Alison answerde, " Who is ther
MilT 3791 That knokketh so? I warante it a theef. "
MilT 3792 " Why, nay, " quod he, " God woot, my sweete leef,
MilT 3793 I am thyn Absolon, my deerelyng.
MilT 3794 Of gold, " quod he, " I have thee broght a ryng.
MilT 3795 My mooder yaf it me, so God me save;
MilT 3796 Ful fyn it is, and therto wel ygrave.
MilT 3797 This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse. "
MilT 3798 This Nicholas was risen for to pisse,
MilT 3799 And thoughte he wolde amenden al the jape;
MilT 3800 He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.
MilT 3801 And up the wyndowe dide he hastily,
MilT 3802 And out his ers he putteth pryvely
MilT 3803 Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon;
MilT 3804 And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon,
MilT 3805 " Spek, sweete bryd, I noot nat where thou art. "
MilT 3806 This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart
MilT 3807 As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,
MilT 3808 That with the strook he was almoost yblent;
MilT 3809 And he was redy with his iren hoot,
MilT 3810 And Nicholas amydde the ers he smoot.
MilT 3811 Of gooth the skyn an hande-brede aboute,
MilT 3812 The hoote kultour brende so his toute,
MilT 3813 And for the smert he wende for to dye.
MilT 3814 As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye,
MilT 3815 " Help! Water! Water! Help, for Goddes herte! "
MilT 3816 This carpenter out of his slomber sterte,
MilT 3817 And herde oon crien " water! " as he were wood,
MilT 3818 And thoughte, " Allas, now comth Nowelis flood! "
MilT 3819 He sit hym up withouten wordes mo,
MilT 3820 And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo,
MilT 3821 And doun gooth al; he foond neither to selle,
MilT 3822 Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle
MilT 3823 Upon the floor, and ther aswowne he lay.
MilT 3824 Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,
MilT 3825 And criden " Out " and " Harrow " in the strete.
MilT 3826 The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
MilT 3827 In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
MilT 3828 That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
MilT 3829 For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
MilT 3830 But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
MilT 3831 For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
MilT 3832 With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
MilT 3833 They tolden every man that he was wood;
MilT 3834 He was agast so of Nowelis flood
MilT 3835 Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee
MilT 3836 He hadde yboght hym knedyng tubbes thre,
MilT 3837 And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
MilT 3838 And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,
MilT 3839 To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
MilT 3840 The folk gan laughen at his fantasye;
MilT 3841 Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
MilT 3842 And turned al his harm unto a jape.
MilT 3843 For what so that this carpenter answerde,
MilT 3844 It was for noght; no man his reson herde.
MilT 3845 With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
MilT 3846 That he was holde wood in al the toun;
MilT 3847 For every clerk anonright heeld with oother.
MilT 3848 They seyde, " The man is wood, my leeve brother " ;
MilT 3849 And every wight gan laughen at this stryf.
MilT 3850 Thus swyved was this carpenteris wyf,
MilT 3851 For al his kepyng and his jalousye,
MilT 3852 And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye,
MilT 3853 And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
MilT 3854 This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!
RvT 3855 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas
RvT 3856 Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
RvT 3857 Diverse folk diversely they seyde,
RvT 3858 But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde.
RvT 3859 Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve,
RvT 3860 But it were oonly Osewold the Reve.
RvT 3861 By cause he was of carpenteris craft,
RvT 3862 A litel ire is in his herte ylaft;
RvT 3863 He gan to grucche, and blamed it a lite.
RvT 3864 " So theek, " quod he, " ful wel koude I thee quite
RvT 3865 With bleryng of a proud milleres ye,
RvT 3866 If that me liste speke of ribaudye.
RvT 3867 But ik am oold; me list not pley for age;
RvT 3868 Gras tyme is doon; my fodder is now forage;
RvT 3869 This white top writeth myne olde yeris;
RvT 3870 Myn herte is also mowled as myne heris,
RvT 3871 But if I fare as dooth an open-ers --
RvT 3872 That ilke fruyt is ever lenger the wers,
RvT 3873 Til it be roten in mullok or in stree.
RvT 3874 We olde men, I drede, so fare we:
RvT 3875 Til we be roten, kan we nat be rype;
RvT 3876 We hoppen alwey whil that the world wol pype.
RvT 3877 For in oure wyl ther stiketh evere a nayl,
RvT 3878 To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl,
RvT 3879 As hath a leek; for thogh oure myght be goon,
RvT 3880 Oure wyl desireth folie evere in oon.
RvT 3881 For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke;
RvT 3882 Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke.
RvT 3883 " Foure gleedes han we, which I shal devyse --
RvT 3884 Avauntyng, liyng, anger, coveitise;
RvT 3885 Thise foure sparkles longen unto eelde.
RvT 3886 Oure olde lemes mowe wel been unweelde,
RvT 3887 But wyl ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth.
RvT 3888 And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
RvT 3889 As many a yeer as it is passed henne
RvT 3890 Syn that my tappe of lif bigan to renne.
RvT 3891 For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon
RvT 3892 Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it gon,
RvT 3893 And ever sithe hath so the tappe yronne
RvT 3894 Til that almoost al empty is the tonne.
RvT 3895 The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe.
RvT 3896 The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
RvT 3897 Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore;
RvT 3898 With olde folk, save dotage, is namoore! "
RvT 3899 Whan that oure Hoost hadde herd this sermonyng,
RvT 3900 He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng.
RvT 3901 He seide, " What amounteth al this wit?
RvT 3902 What shul we speke alday of hooly writ?
RvT 3903 The devel made a reve for to preche,
RvT 3904 Or of a soutere a shipman or a leche.
RvT 3905 Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme.
RvT 3906 Lo Depeford, and it is half-wey pryme!
RvT 3907 Lo Grenewych, ther many a shrewe is inne!
RvT 3908 It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne. "
RvT 3909 " Now, sires, " quod this Osewold the Reve,
RvT 3910 " I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve,
RvT 3911 Thogh I answere, and somdeel sette his howve;
RvT 3912 For leveful is with force force of-showve.
RvT 3913 " This dronke Millere hath ytoold us heer
RvT 3914 How that bigyled was a carpenteer,
RvT 3915 Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon.
RvT 3916 And, by youre leve, I shal hym quite anoon;
RvT 3917 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
RvT 3918 I pray to God his nekke mote to-breke;
RvT 3919 He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
RvT 3920 But in his owene he kan nat seen a balke. "
MLT 1 Oure Hooste saugh wel that the brighte sonne
MLT 2 The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
MLT 3 The ferthe part, and half an houre and moore,
MLT 4 And though he were not depe ystert in loore,
MLT 5 He wiste it was the eightetethe day
MLT 6 Of Aprill, that is messager to May;
MLT 7 And saugh wel that the shadwe of every tree
MLT 8 Was in lengthe the same quantitee
MLT 9 That was the body erect that caused it.
MLT 10 And therefore by the shadwe he took his wit
MLT 11 That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte,
MLT 12 Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte,
MLT 13 And for that day, as in that latitude,
MLT 14 It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude,
MLT 15 And sodeynly he plighte his horse aboute.
MLT 16 " Lordynges, " quod he, " I warne yow, al this route,
MLT 17 The fourthe party of this day is gon.
MLT 18 Now for the love of God and of Seint John,
MLT 19 Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may.
MLT 20 Lordynges, the tyme wasteth nyght and day,
MLT 21 And steleth from us, what pryvely slepynge,
MLT 22 And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,
MLT 23 As dooth the streem that turneth nevere agayn,
MLT 24 Descendynge from the mountaigne into playn.
MLT 25 Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre
MLT 26 Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre;
MLT 27 For `Los of catel may recovered be,
MLT 28 But los of tyme shendeth us,' quod he.
MLT 29 It wol nat come agayn, withouten drede,
MLT 30 Nomoore than wole Malkynes maydenhede,
MLT 31 Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
MLT 32 Lat us nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
MLT 33 " Sire Man of Lawe, " quod he, " so have ye blis,
MLT 34 Telle us a tale anon, as forward is.
MLT 35 Ye been submytted, thurgh youre free assent,
MLT 36 To stonden in this cas at my juggement.
MLT 37 Acquiteth yow now of youre biheeste;
MLT 38 Thanne have ye do youre devoir atte leeste. "
MLT 39 " Hooste, " quod he, " depardieux, ich assente;
MLT 40 To breke forward is nat myn entente.
MLT 41 Biheste is dette, and I wole holde fayn
MLT 42 Al my biheste, I kan no bettre sayn.
MLT 43 For swich lawe as a man yeveth another wight,
MLT 44 He sholde hymselven usen it, by right;
MLT 45 Thus wole oure text. But nathelees, certeyn,
MLT 46 I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn
MLT 47 That Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly
MLT 48 On metres and on rymyng craftily,
MLT 49 Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan
MLT 50 Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man;
MLT 51 And if he have noght seyd hem, leve brother,
MLT 52 In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
MLT 53 For he hath toold of loveris up and doun
MLT 54 Mo than Ovide made of mencioun
MLT 55 In his Episteles, that been ful olde.
MLT 56 What sholde I tellen hem, syn they been tolde?
MLT 57 " In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione,
MLT 58 And sitthen hath he spoken of everichone,
MLT 59 Thise noble wyves and thise loveris eke.
MLT 60 Whoso that wole his large volume seke,
MLT 61 Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide,
MLT 62 Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde
MLT 63 Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tesbee;
MLT 64 The swerd of Dido for the false Enee;
MLT 65 The tree of Phillis for hire Demophon;
MLT 66 The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon,
MLT 67 Of Adriane, and of Isiphilee --
MLT 68 The bareyne yle stondynge in the see --
MLT 69 The dreynte Leandre for his Erro;
MLT 70 The teeris of Eleyne, and eek the wo
MLT 71 Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomya;
MLT 72 The crueltee of the, queene Medea,
MLT 73 Thy litel children hangynge by the hals,
MLT 74 For thy Jason, that was of love so fals!
MLT 75 O Ypermystra, Penelopee, Alceste,
MLT 76 Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste!
MLT 77 " But certeinly no word ne writeth he
MLT 78 Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee,
MLT 79 That loved hir owene brother synfully --
MLT 80 Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy! --
MLT 81 Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius,
MLT 82 How that the cursed kyng Antiochus
MLT 83 Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
MLT 84 That is so horrible a tale for to rede,
MLT 85 Whan he hir threw upon the pavement.
MLT 86 And therfore he, of ful avysement,
MLT 87 Nolde nevere write in none of his sermons
MLT 88 Of swiche unkynde abhomynacions,
MLT 89 Ne I wol noon reherce, if that I may.
MLT 90 " But of my tale how shal I doon this day?
MLT 91 Me were looth be likned, doutelees,
MLT 92 To Muses that men clepe Pierides --
MLT 93 Methamorphosios woot what I mene;
MLT 94 But nathelees, I recche noght a bene
MLT 95 Though I come after hym with hawebake.
MLT 96 I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make. "
MLT 97 And with that word he, with a sobre cheere,
MLT 98 Bigan his tale, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 99 O hateful harm, condicion of poverte!
MLT 100 With thurst, with coold, with hunger so confoundid!
MLT 101 To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte;
MLT 102 If thou noon aske, with nede artow so woundid
MLT 103 That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid!
MLT 104 Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence
MLT 105 Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence!
MLT 106 Thow blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly
MLT 107 He mysdeparteth richesse temporal;
MLT 108 Thy neighebor thou wytest synfully,
MLT 109 And seist thou hast to lite and he hath al.
MLT 110 " Parfay, " seistow, " somtyme he rekene shal,
MLT 111 Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede,
MLT 112 For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir neede. "
MLT 113 Herkne what is the sentence of the wise:
MLT 114 " Bet is to dyen than have indigence " ;
MLT 115 " Thy selve neighebor wol thee despise. "
MLT 116 If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence!
MLT 117 Yet of the wise man take this sentence:
MLT 118 " Alle the dayes of povre men been wikke. "
MLT 119 Be war, therfore, er thou come to that prikke!
MLT 120 If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee,
MLT 121 And alle thy freendes fleen from thee, allas!
MLT 122 O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,
MLT 123 O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
MLT 124 Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,
MLT 125 But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;
MLT 126 At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!
MLT 127 Ye seken lond and see for yowre wynnynges;
MLT 128 As wise folk ye knowen al th' estaat
MLT 129 Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges
MLT 130 And tales, bothe of pees and of debaat.
MLT 131 I were right now of tales desolaat,
MLT 132 Nere that a marchant, goon is many a yeere,
MLT 133 Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal heere.
MLT 134 In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
MLT 135 Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
MLT 136 That wyde-where senten hir spicerye,
MLT 137 Clothes of gold, and satyns riche of hewe.
MLT 138 Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe
MLT 139 That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
MLT 140 With hem, and eek to sellen hem hire ware.
MLT 141 Now fil it that the maistres of that sort
MLT 142 Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende;
MLT 143 Were it for chapmanhod or for disport,
MLT 144 Noon oother message wolde they thider sende,
MLT 145 But comen hemself to Rome; this is the ende.
MLT 146 And in swich place as thoughte hem avantage
MLT 147 For hire entente, they take hir herbergage.
MLT 148 Sojourned han thise merchantz in that toun
MLT 149 A certein tyme, as fil to hire plesance.
MLT 150 And so bifel that th' excellent renoun
MLT 151 Of the Emperoures doghter, dame Custance,
MLT 152 Reported was, with every circumstance,
MLT 153 Unto thise Surryen marchantz in swich wyse,
MLT 154 Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse.
MLT 155 This was the commune voys of every man:
MLT 156 " Oure Emperour of Rome -- God hym see! --
MLT 157 A doghter hath that, syn the world bigan,
MLT 158 To rekene as wel hir goodnesse as beautee,
MLT 159 Nas nevere swich another as is shee.
MLT 160 I prey to God in honour hire susteene,
MLT 161 And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.
MLT 162 " In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,
MLT 163 Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;
MLT 164 To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
MLT 165 Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.
MLT 166 She is mirour of alle curteisye;
MLT 167 Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
MLT 168 Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse. "
MLT 169 And al this voys was sooth, as God is trewe.
MLT 170 But now to purpos lat us turne agayn.
MLT 171 Thise marchantz han doon fraught hir shippes newe,
MLT 172 And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,
MLT 173 Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn,
MLT 174 And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore,
MLT 175 And lyven in wele; I kan sey yow namoore.
MLT 176 Now fil it that thise marchantz stode in grace
MLT 177 Of hym that was the Sowdan of Surrye;
MLT 178 For whan they cam from any strange place,
MLT 179 He wolde, of his benigne curteisye,
MLT 180 Make hem good chiere, and bisily espye
MLT 181 Tidynges of sondry regnes, for to leere
MLT 182 The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.
MLT 183 Amonges othere thynges, specially,
MLT 184 Thise marchantz han hym toold of dame Custance
MLT 185 So greet noblesse in ernest, ceriously,
MLT 186 That this Sowdan hath caught so greet plesance
MLT 187 To han hir figure in his remembrance,
MLT 188 That al his lust and al his bisy cure
MLT 189 Was for to love hire while his lyf may dure.
MLT 190 Paraventure in thilke large book
MLT 191 Which that men clepe the hevene ywriten was
MLT 192 With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
MLT 193 That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!
MLT 194 For in the sterres, clerer than is glas,
MLT 195 Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,
MLT 196 The deeth of every man, withouten drede.
MLT 197 In sterres, many a wynter therbiforn,
MLT 198 Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,
MLT 199 Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born;
MLT 200 The strif of Thebes; and of Ercules,
MLT 201 Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
MLT 202 The deeth; but mennes wittes ben so dulle
MLT 203 That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.
MLT 204 This Sowdan for his privee conseil sente,
MLT 205 And, shortly of this matiere for to pace,
MLT 206 He hath to hem declared his entente,
MLT 207 And seyde hem, certein, but he myghte have grace
MLT 208 To han Custance withinne a litel space,
MLT 209 He nas but deed; and charged hem in hye
MLT 210 To shapen for his lyf som remedye.
MLT 211 Diverse men diverse thynges seyden;
MLT 212 They argumenten, casten up and doun;
MLT 213 Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden;
MLT 214 They speken of magyk and abusioun.
MLT 215 But finally, as in conclusioun,
MLT 216 They kan nat seen in that noon avantage,
MLT 217 Ne in noon oother wey, save mariage.
MLT 218 Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee
MLT 219 By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
MLT 220 By cause that ther was swich diversitee
MLT 221 Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn
MLT 222 They trowe that no " Cristen prince wolde fayn
MLT 223 Wedden his child under oure lawe sweete
MLT 224 That us was taught by Mahoun, oure prophete. "
MLT 225 And he answerde, " Rather than I lese
MLT 226 Custance, I wol be cristned, doutelees.
MLT 227 I moot been hires; I may noon oother chese.
MLT 228 I prey yow hoold youre argumentz in pees;
MLT 229 Saveth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees
MLT 230 To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure,
MLT 231 For in this wo I may nat longe endure. "
MLT 232 What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
MLT 233 I seye, by tretys and embassadrie,
MLT 234 And by the popes mediacioun,
MLT 235 And al the chirche, and al the chivalrie,
MLT 236 That in destruccioun of mawmettrie,
MLT 237 And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere,
MLT 238 They been acorded, so as ye shal heere:
MLT 239 How that the Sowdan and his baronage
MLT 240 And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,
MLT 241 And he shal han Custance in mariage,
MLT 242 And certein gold, I noot what quantitee;
MLT 243 And heer-to founden sufficient suretee.
MLT 244 This same accord was sworn on eyther syde;
MLT 245 Now, faire Custance, almyghty God thee gyde!
MLT 246 Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse,
MLT 247 That I sholde tellen al the purveiance
MLT 248 That th' Emperour, of his grete noblesse,
MLT 249 Hath shapen for his doghter, dame Custance.
MLT 250 Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinance
MLT 251 May no man tellen in a litel clause
MLT 252 As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.
MLT 253 Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende,
MLT 254 Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,
MLT 255 And oother folk ynowe; this is th' ende;
MLT 256 And notified is thurghout the toun
MLT 257 That every wight, with greet devocioun,
MLT 258 Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage
MLT 259 Receyve in gree and spede this viage.
MLT 260 The day is comen of hir departynge;
MLT 261 I seye, the woful day fatal is come,
MLT 262 That ther may be no lenger tariynge,
MLT 263 But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some.
MLT 264 Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome,
MLT 265 Ful pale arist, and dresseth hire to wende;
MLT 266 For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende.
MLT 267 Allas, what wonder is it thogh she wepte,
MLT 268 That shal be sent to strange nacioun
MLT 269 Fro freendes that so tendrely hire kepte,
MLT 270 And to be bounden under subjeccioun
MLT 271 Of oon, she knoweth nat his condicioun?
MLT 272 Housbondes been alle goode, and han ben yoore;
MLT 273 That knowen wyves; I dar sey yow na moore.
MLT 274 " Fader, " she seyde, " thy wrecched child Custance,
MLT 275 Thy yonge doghter fostred up so softe,
MLT 276 And ye, my mooder, my soverayn plesance
MLT 277 Over alle thyng, out-taken Crist on-lofte,
MLT 278 Custance youre child hire recomandeth ofte
MLT 279 Unto youre grace, for I shal to Surrye,
MLT 280 Ne shal I nevere seen yow moore with ye.
MLT 281 " Allas, unto the Barbre nacioun
MLT 282 I moste anoon, syn that it is youre wille;
MLT 283 But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun
MLT 284 So yeve me grace his heestes to fulfille!
MLT 285 I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille!
MLT 286 Wommen are born to thraldom and penance,
MLT 287 And to been under mannes governance. "
MLT 288 I trowe at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal
MLT 289 Or Ilion brende, at Thebes the citee,
MLT 290 N' at Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanybal
MLT 291 That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre,
MLT 292 Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee
MLT 293 As in the chambre was for hire departynge;
MLT 294 But forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or synge.
MLT 295 O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,
MLT 296 With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
MLT 297 And hurlest al from est til occident
MLT 298 That naturelly wolde holde another way,
MLT 299 Thy crowdyng set the hevene in swich array
MLT 300 At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage,
MLT 301 That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
MLT 302 Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
MLT 303 Of which the lord is helplees falle, allas,
MLT 304 Out of his angle into the derkeste hous!
MLT 305 O Mars, o atazir, as in this cas!
MLT 306 O fieble moone, unhappy been thy paas!
MLT 307 Thou knyttest thee ther thou art nat receyved;
MLT 308 Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved.
MLT 309 Imprudent Emperour of Rome, allas!
MLT 310 Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?
MLT 311 Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
MLT 312 Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
MLT 313 Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?
MLT 314 Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
MLT 315 Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!
MLT 316 To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde
MLT 317 Solempnely, with every circumstance.
MLT 318 " Now Jhesu Crist be with yow alle! " she sayde;
MLT 319 Ther nys namoore, but " Farewel, faire Custance! "
MLT 320 She peyneth hire to make good contenance;
MLT 321 And forth I lete hire saille in this manere,
MLT 322 And turne I wole agayn to my matere.
MLT 323 The mooder of the Sowdan, welle of vices,
MLT 324 Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente,
MLT 325 How he wol lete his olde sacrifices;
MLT 326 And right anon she for hir conseil sente,
MLT 327 And they been come to knowe what she mente.
MLT 328 And whan assembled was this folk in-feere,
MLT 329 She sette hire doun, and seyde as ye shal heere.
MLT 330 " Lordes, " quod she, " ye knowen everichon,
MLT 331 How that my sone in point is for to lete
MLT 332 The hooly lawes of our Alkaron,
MLT 333 Yeven by Goddes message Makomete.
MLT 334 But oon avow to grete God I heete,
MLT 335 The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte
MLT 336 Or Makometes lawe out of myn herte!
MLT 337 " What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe
MLT 338 But thraldom to oure bodies and penance,
MLT 339 And afterward in helle to be drawe,
MLT 340 For we reneyed Mahoun oure creance?
MLT 341 But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance,
MLT 342 As I shal seyn, assentynge to my loore,
MLT 343 And I shal make us sauf for everemoore? "
MLT 344 They sworen and assenten, every man,
MLT 345 To lyve with hire and dye, and by hire stonde,
MLT 346 And everich, in the beste wise he kan,
MLT 347 To strengthen hire shal alle his frendes fonde;
MLT 348 And she hath this emprise ytake on honde,
MLT 349 Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse,
MLT 350 And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse:
MLT 351 " We shul first feyne us cristendom to take --
MLT 352 Coold water shal nat greve us but a lite! --
MLT 353 And I shal swich a feeste and revel make
MLT 354 That, as I trowe, I shal the Sowdan quite.
MLT 355 For thogh his wyf be cristned never so white,
MLT 356 She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede,
MLT 357 Thogh she a font-ful water with hire lede. "
MLT 358 O Sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee!
MLT 359 Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde!
MLT 360 O serpent under femynynytee,
MLT 361 Lik to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!
MLT 362 O feyned womman, al that may confounde
MLT 363 Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malice,
MLT 364 Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!
MLT 365 O Sathan, envious syn thilke day
MLT 366 That thou were chaced from oure heritage,
MLT 367 Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way!
MLT 368 Thou madest Eva brynge us in servage;
MLT 369 Thou wolt fordoon this Cristen mariage.
MLT 370 Thyn instrument so -- weylawey the while! --
MLT 371 Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt bigile.
MLT 372 This Sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warye,
MLT 373 Leet prively hire conseil goon hire way.
MLT 374 What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?
MLT 375 She rydeth to the Sowdan on a day,
MLT 376 And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay,
MLT 377 And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
MLT 378 Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe,
MLT 379 Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
MLT 380 That she moste han the Cristen folk to feeste --
MLT 381 " To plesen hem I wol do my labour. "
MLT 382 The Sowdan seith, " I wol doon at youre heeste, "
MLT 383 And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.
MLT 384 So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.
MLT 385 She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye.
MLT 386 Arryved been this Cristen folk to londe
MLT 387 In Surrye, with a greet solempne route,
MLT 388 And hastifliche this Sowdan sente his sonde
MLT 389 First to his mooder, and al the regne aboute,
MLT 390 And seyde his wyf was comen, out of doute,
MLT 391 And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene,
MLT 392 The honour of his regne to susteene.
MLT 393 Greet was the prees, and riche was th' array
MLT 394 Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere;
MLT 395 The mooder of the Sowdan, riche and gay,
MLT 396 Receyveth hire with also glad a cheere
MLT 397 As any mooder myghte hir doghter deere,
MLT 398 And to the nexte citee ther bisyde
MLT 399 A softe paas solempnely they ryde.
MLT 400 Noght trowe I the triumphe of Julius,
MLT 401 Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost,
MLT 402 Was roialler ne moore curius
MLT 403 Than was th' assemblee of this blisful hoost.
MLT 404 But this scorpioun, this wikked goost,
MLT 405 The Sowdanesse, for al hire flaterynge,
MLT 406 Caste under this ful mortally to stynge.
MLT 407 The Sowdan comth hymself soone after this
MLT 408 So roially that wonder is to telle,
MLT 409 And welcometh hire with alle joye and blis.
MLT 410 And thus in murthe and joye I lete hem dwelle;
MLT 411 The fruyt of this matiere is that I telle.
MLT 412 Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
MLT 413 That revel stynte, and men goon to hir reste.
MLT 414 The tyme cam, this olde Sowdanesse
MLT 415 Ordeyned hath this feeste of which I tolde,
MLT 416 And to the feeste Cristen folk hem dresse
MLT 417 In general, ye, bothe yonge and olde.
MLT 418 Heere may men feeste and roialtee biholde,
MLT 419 And deyntees mo than I kan yow devyse;
MLT 420 But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.
MLT 421 O sodeyn wo, that evere art successour
MLT 422 To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse,
MLT 423 The ende of the joye of oure worldly labour!
MLT 424 Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.
MLT 425 Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:
MLT 426 Upon thy glade day have in thy mynde
MLT 427 The unwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.
MLT 428 For shortly for to tellen, at o word,
MLT 429 The Sowdan and the Cristen everichone
MLT 430 Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord,
MLT 431 But it were oonly dame Custance allone.
MLT 432 This olde Sowdanesse, cursed krone,
MLT 433 Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede,
MLT 434 For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.
MLT 435 Ne ther was Surryen noon that was converted,
MLT 436 That of the conseil of the Sowdan woot,
MLT 437 That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.
MLT 438 And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,
MLT 439 And in a ship al steerelees, God woot,
MLT 440 They han hir set, and bidde hire lerne saille
MLT 441 Out of Surrye agaynward to Ytaille.
MLT 442 A certein tresor that she thider ladde,
MLT 443 And, sooth to seyn, vitaille greet plentee
MLT 444 They han hire yeven, and clothes eek she hadde,
MLT 445 And forth she sailleth in the salte see.
MLT 446 O my Custance, ful of benignytee,
MLT 447 O Emperoures yonge doghter deere,
MLT 448 He that is lord of Fortune be thy steere!
MLT 449 She blesseth hire, and with ful pitous voys
MLT 450 Unto the croys of Crist thus seyde she:
MLT 451 " O cleere, o welful auter, hooly croys,
MLT 452 Reed of the Lambes blood ful of pitee,
MLT 453 That wessh the world fro the olde iniquitee,
MLT 454 Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe,
MLT 455 That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.
MLT 456 " Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe,
MLT 457 That oonly worthy were for to bere
MLT 458 The Kyng of Hevene with his woundes newe,
MLT 459 The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spere,
MLT 460 Flemere of feendes out of hym and here
MLT 461 On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,
MLT 462 Me kepe, and yif me myght my lyf t' amenden. "
MLT 463 Yeres and dayes fleet this creature
MLT 464 Thurghout the See of Grece unto the Strayte
MLT 465 Of Marrok, as it was hire aventure.
MLT 466 On many a sory meel now may she bayte;
MLT 467 After hir deeth ful often may she wayte,
MLT 468 Er that the wilde wawes wol hire dryve
MLT 469 Unto the place ther she shal arryve.
MLT 470 Men myghten asken why she was nat slayn
MLT 471 Eek at the feeste? Who myghte hir body save?
MLT 472 And I answere to that demande agayn,
MLT 473 Who saved Danyel in the horrible cave
MLT 474 Ther every wight save he, maister and knave,
MLT 475 Was with the leon frete er he asterte?
MLT 476 No wight but God that he bar in his herte.
MLT 477 God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle
MLT 478 In hire, for we sholde seen his myghty werkis;
MLT 479 Crist, which that is to every harm triacle,
MLT 480 By certeine meenes ofte, as knowen clerkis,
MLT 481 Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
MLT 482 To mannes wit, that for oure ignorance
MLT 483 Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purveiance.
MLT 484 Now sith she was nat at the feeste yslawe,
MLT 485 Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?
MLT 486 Who kepte Jonas in the fisshes mawe
MLT 487 Til he was spouted up at Nynyvee?
MLT 488 Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he
MLT 489 That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge,
MLT 490 With drye feet thurghout the see passynge.
MLT 491 Who bad the foure spirites of tempest
MLT 492 That power han t' anoyen lond and see,
MLT 493 Bothe north and south, and also west and est,
MLT 494 " Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree " ?
MLT 495 Soothly, the comandour of that was he
MLT 496 That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
MLT 497 As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.
MLT 498 Where myghte this womman mete and drynke have
MLT 499 Thre yeer and moore? How lasteth hire vitaille?
MLT 500 Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave,
MLT 501 Or in desert? No wight but Crist, sanz faille.
MLT 502 Fyve thousand folk it was as greet mervaille
MLT 503 With loves fyve and fisshes two to feede.
MLT 504 God sente his foyson at hir grete neede.
MLT 505 She dryveth forth into oure occian
MLT 506 Thurghout oure wilde see, til atte laste
MLT 507 Under an hoold that nempnen I ne kan,
MLT 508 Fer in Northhumberlond the wawe hire caste,
MLT 509 And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste
MLT 510 That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde;
MLT 511 The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.
MLT 512 The constable of the castel doun is fare
MLT 513 To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte,
MLT 514 And foond this wery womman ful of care;
MLT 515 He foond also the tresor that she broghte.
MLT 516 In hir langage mercy she bisoghte,
MLT 517 The lyf out of hir body for to twynne,
MLT 518 Hire to delivere of wo that she was inne.
MLT 519 A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche,
MLT 520 But algates therby was she understonde.
MLT 521 The constable, whan hym lyst no longer seche,
MLT 522 This woful womman broghte he to the londe.
MLT 523 She kneleth doun and thanketh Goddes sonde;
MLT 524 But what she was she wolde no man seye,
MLT 525 For foul ne fair, thogh that she sholde deye.
MLT 526 She seyde she was so mazed in the see
MLT 527 That she forgat hir mynde, by hir trouthe.
MLT 528 The constable hath of hire so greet pitee,
MLT 529 And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe.
MLT 530 She was so diligent, withouten slouthe,
MLT 531 To serve and plesen everich in that place
MLT 532 That alle hir loven that looken in hir face.
MLT 533 This constable and dame Hermengyld, his wyf,
MLT 534 Were payens, and that contree everywhere;
MLT 535 But Hermengyld loved hire right as hir lyf,
MLT 536 And Custance hath so longe sojourned there,
MLT 537 In orisons, with many a bitter teere,
MLT 538 Til Jhesu hath converted thurgh his grace
MLT 539 Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of that place.
MLT 540 In al that lond no Cristen dorste route;
MLT 541 Alle Cristen folk been fled fro that contree
MLT 542 Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute
MLT 543 The plages of the north, by land and see.
MLT 544 To Walys fledde the Cristyanytee
MLT 545 Of olde Britons dwellynge in this ile;
MLT 546 Ther was hir refut for the meene while.
MLT 547 But yet nere Cristene Britons so exiled
MLT 548 That ther nere somme that in hir privetee
MLT 549 Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled,
MLT 550 And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three.
MLT 551 That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat see,
MLT 552 But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde
MLT 553 With whiche men seen, after that they ben blynde.
MLT 554 Bright was the sonne as in that someres day,
MLT 555 For which the constable and his wyf also
MLT 556 And Custance han ytake the righte way
MLT 557 Toward the see a furlong wey or two,
MLT 558 To pleyen and to romen to and fro,
MLT 559 And in hir walk this blynde man they mette,
MLT 560 Croked and oold, with eyen faste yshette.
MLT 561 " In name of Crist, " cride this blinde Britoun,
MLT 562 " Dame Hermengyld, yif me my sighte agayn! "
MLT 563 This lady weex affrayed of the soun,
MLT 564 Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
MLT 565 Wolde hire for Jhesu Cristes love han slayn,
MLT 566 Til Custance made hire boold, and bad hire wirche
MLT 567 The wyl of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.
MLT 568 The constable weex abasshed of that sight,
MLT 569 And seyde, " What amounteth al this fare? "
MLT 570 Custance answerde, " Sire, it is Cristes myght,
MLT 571 That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare. "
MLT 572 And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare
MLT 573 That she the constable, er that it was eve
MLT 574 Converteth, and on Crist made hym bileve.
MLT 575 This constable was nothyng lord of this place
MLT 576 Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond,
MLT 577 But kepte it strongly many a wyntres space
MLT 578 Under Alla, kyng of al Northhumbrelond,
MLT 579 That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond
MLT 580 Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere;
MLT 581 But turne I wole agayn to my mateere.
MLT 582 Sathan, that evere us waiteth to bigile,
MLT 583 Saugh of Custance al hire perfeccioun,
MLT 584 And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,
MLT 585 And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun
MLT 586 Love hire so hoote, of foul affeccioun,
MLT 587 That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille,
MLT 588 But he of hire myghte ones have his wille.
MLT 589 He woweth hire, but it availleth noght;
MLT 590 She wolde do no synne, by no weye.
MLT 591 And for despit he compassed in his thoght
MLT 592 To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye.
MLT 593 He wayteth whan the constable was aweye,
MLT 594 And pryvely upon a nyght he crepte
MLT 595 In Hermengyldes chambre, whil she slepte.
MLT 596 Wery, forwaked in hire orisouns,
MLT 597 Slepeth Custance, and Hermengyld also.
MLT 598 This knyght, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns,
MLT 599 Al softely is to the bed ygo,
MLT 600 And kitte the throte of Hermengyld atwo,
MLT 601 And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance,
MLT 602 And wente his wey, ther God yeve hym meschance!
MLT 603 Soone after cometh this constable hoom agayn,
MLT 604 And eek Alla, that kyng was of that lond,
MLT 605 And saugh his wyf despitously yslayn,
MLT 606 For which ful ofte he weep and wroong his hond,
MLT 607 And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
MLT 608 By Dame Custance. Allas, what myghte she seye?
MLT 609 For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.
MLT 610 To kyng Alla was toold al this meschance,
MLT 611 And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wise
MLT 612 That in a ship was founden this Custance,
MLT 613 As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse.
MLT 614 The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse,
MLT 615 Whan he saugh so benigne a creature
MLT 616 Falle in disese and in mysaventure.
MLT 617 For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght,
MLT 618 So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.
MLT 619 This false knyght, that hath this tresoun wroght,
MLT 620 Berth hire on hond that she hath doon thys thyng.
MLT 621 But nathelees, ther was greet moornyng
MLT 622 Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
MLT 623 That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse,
MLT 624 For they han seyn hire evere so vertuous,
MLT 625 And lovynge Hermengyld right as hir lyf.
MLT 626 Of this baar witnesse everich in that hous,
MLT 627 Save he that Hermengyld slow with his knyf.
MLT 628 This gentil kyng hath caught a greet motyf
MLT 629 Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
MLT 630 Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.
MLT 631 Allas! Custance, thou hast no champioun,
MLT 632 Ne fighte kanstow noght, so weylaway!
MLT 633 But he that starf for our redempcioun,
MLT 634 And boond Sathan (and yet lith ther he lay),
MLT 635 So be thy stronge champion this day!
MLT 636 For, but if Crist open myracle kithe,
MLT 637 Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe.
MLT 638 She sette hire doun on knees, and thus she sayde:
MLT 639 " Immortal God, that savedest Susanne
MLT 640 Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde,
MLT 641 Marie I meene, doghter to Seint Anne,
MLT 642 Bifore whos child angeles synge Osanne,
MLT 643 If I be giltlees of this felonye,
MLT 644 My socour be, for ellis shal I dye! "
MLT 645 Have ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,
MLT 646 Among a prees, of hym that hath be lad
MLT 647 Toward his deeth, wher as hym gat no grace,
MLT 648 And swich a colour in his face hath had
MLT 649 Men myghte knowe his face that was bistad
MLT 650 Amonges alle the faces in that route?
MLT 651 So stant Custance, and looketh hire aboute.
MLT 652 O queenes, lyvynge in prosperitee,
MLT 653 Duchesses, and ye ladyes everichone,
MLT 654 Haveth som routhe on hire adversitee!
MLT 655 An Emperoures doghter stant allone;
MLT 656 She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
MLT 657 O blood roial, that stondest in this drede,
MLT 658 Fer been thy freendes at thy grete nede!
MLT 659 This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun,
MLT 660 As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,
MLT 661 That from his eyen ran the water doun.
MLT 662 " Now hastily do fecche a book, " quod he,
MLT 663 " And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
MLT 664 This womman slow, yet wol we us avyse
MLT 665 Whom that we wole that shal been oure justise. "
MLT 666 A Britoun book, written with Evaungiles,
MLT 667 Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon
MLT 668 She gilty was, and in the meene whiles
MLT 669 An hand hym smoot upon the nekke-boon,
MLT 670 That doun he fil atones as a stoon,
MLT 671 And bothe his eyen broste out of his face
MLT 672 In sighte of every body in that place.
MLT 673 A voys was herd in general audience,
MLT 674 And seyde, " Thou hast desclaundred, giltelees,
MLT 675 The doghter of hooly chirche in heigh presence;
MLT 676 Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees! "
MLT 677 Of this mervaille agast was al the prees;
MLT 678 As mazed folk they stoden everichone,
MLT 679 For drede of wreche, save Custance allone.
MLT 680 Greet was the drede and eek the repentance
MLT 681 Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun
MLT 682 Upon this sely innocent, Custance;
MLT 683 And for this miracle, in conclusioun,
MLT 684 And by Custances mediacioun,
MLT 685 The kyng -- and many another in that place --
MLT 686 Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace!
MLT 687 This false knyght was slayn for his untrouthe
MLT 688 By juggement of Alla hastifly;
MLT 689 And yet Custance hadde of his deeth greet routhe.
MLT 690 And after this Jhesus, of his mercy,
MLT 691 Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
MLT 692 This hooly mayden, that is so bright and sheene;
MLT 693 And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene.
MLT 694 But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 695 Of this weddyng but Donegild, and namo,
MLT 696 The kynges mooder, ful of tirannye?
MLT 697 Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo.
MLT 698 She wolde noght hir sone had do so;
MLT 699 Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
MLT 700 So strange a creature unto his make.
MLT 701 Me list nat of the chaf, ne of the stree,
MLT 702 Maken so long a tale as of the corn.
MLT 703 What sholde I tellen of the roialtee
MLT 704 At mariage, or which cours goth biforn;
MLT 705 Who bloweth in a trumpe or in an horn?
MLT 706 The fruyt of every tale is for to seye:
MLT 707 They ete, and drynke, and daunce, and synge, and pleye.
MLT 708 They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right;
MLT 709 For thogh that wyves be ful hooly thynges,
MLT 710 They moste take in pacience at nyght
MLT 711 Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges
MLT 712 To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges,
MLT 713 And leye a lite hir hoolynesse aside,
MLT 714 As for the tyme -- it may no bet bitide.
MLT 715 On hire he gat a knave child anon,
MLT 716 And to a bisshop, and his constable eke,
MLT 717 He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is gon
MLT 718 To Scotlond-ward, his foomen for to seke.
MLT 719 Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke,
MLT 720 So longe is goon with childe, til that stille
MLT 721 She halt hire chambre, abidyng Cristes wille.
MLT 722 The tyme is come a knave child she beer;
MLT 723 Mauricius at the fontstoon they hym calle.
MLT 724 This constable dooth forth come a messageer,
MLT 725 And wroot unto his kyng, that cleped was Alle,
MLT 726 How that this blisful tidyng is bifalle,
MLT 727 And othere tidynges spedeful for to seye.
MLT 728 He taketh the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye.
MLT 729 This messager, to doon his avantage,
MLT 730 Unto the kynges mooder rideth swithe,
MLT 731 And salueth hire ful faire in his langage:
MLT 732 " Madame, " quod he, " ye may be glad and blithe,
MLT 733 And thanketh God an hundred thousand sithe!
MLT 734 My lady queene hath child, withouten doute,
MLT 735 To joye and blisse to al this regne aboute.
MLT 736 " Lo, heere the lettres seled of this thyng,
MLT 737 That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
MLT 738 If ye wol aught unto youre sone the kyng,
MLT 739 I am youre servant, bothe nyght and day. "
MLT 740 Donegild answerde, " As now at this tyme, nay;
MLT 741 But heere al nyght I wol thou take thy reste.
MLT 742 To-morwe wol I seye thee what me leste. "
MLT 743 This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,
MLT 744 And stolen were his lettres pryvely
MLT 745 Out of his box, whil he sleep as a swyn;
MLT 746 And countrefeted was ful subtilly
MLT 747 Another lettre, wroght ful synfully,
MLT 748 Unto the kyng direct of this mateere
MLT 749 Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.
MLT 750 The lettre spak the queene delivered was
MLT 751 Of so horrible a feendly creature
MLT 752 That in the castel noon so hardy was
MLT 753 That any while dorste ther endure.
MLT 754 The mooder was an elf, by aventure
MLT 755 Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerie,
MLT 756 And every wight hateth hir compaignye.
MLT 757 Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had sayn,
MLT 758 But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore,
MLT 759 But of his owene hand he wroot agayn,
MLT 760 " Welcome the sonde of Crist for everemoore
MLT 761 To me that am now lerned in his loore!
MLT 762 Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;
MLT 763 My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.
MLT 764 " Kepeth this child, al be it foul or feir,
MLT 765 And eek my wyf, unto myn hoom-comynge.
MLT 766 Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir
MLT 767 Moore agreable than this to my likynge. "
MLT 768 This lettre he seleth, pryvely wepynge,
MLT 769 Which to the messager was take soone,
MLT 770 And forth he gooth; ther is na moore to doone.
MLT 771 O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
MLT 772 Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay,
MLT 773 And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse.
MLT 774 Thy mynde is lorn, thou janglest as a jay,
MLT 775 Thy face is turned in a newe array.
MLT 776 Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route,
MLT 777 Ther is no conseil hyd, withouten doute.
MLT 778 O Donegild, I ne have noon Englissh digne
MLT 779 Unto thy malice and thy tirannye!
MLT 780 And therfore to the feend I thee resigne;
MLT 781 Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie!
MLT 782 Fy, mannysh, fy! -- o nay, by God, I lye --
MLT 783 Fy, feendlych spirit, for I dar wel telle,
MLT 784 Thogh thou heere walke, thy spirit is in helle!
MLT 785 This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,
MLT 786 And at the kynges moodres court he lighte,
MLT 787 And she was of this messager ful fayn,
MLT 788 And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.
MLT 789 He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte;
MLT 790 He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse
MLT 791 Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.
MLT 792 Eft were his lettres stolen everychon,
MLT 793 And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:
MLT 794 " The king comandeth his constable anon,
MLT 795 Up peyne of hangyng, and on heigh juyse,
MLT 796 That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
MLT 797 Custance in-with his reawme for t' abyde
MLT 798 Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde;
MLT 799 " But in the same ship as he hire fond,
MLT 800 Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,
MLT 801 He sholde putte, and croude hire fro the lond,
MLT 802 And charge hire that she never eft coome theere. "
MLT 803 O my Custance, wel may thy goost have feere,
MLT 804 And, slepynge, in thy dreem been in penance,
MLT 805 Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance.
MLT 806 This messager on morwe, whan he wook,
MLT 807 Unto the castel halt the nexte way,
MLT 808 And to the constable he the lettre took;
MLT 809 And whan that he this pitous lettre say,
MLT 810 Ful ofte he seyde, " Allas and weylaway! "
MLT 811 " Lord Crist, " quod he, " how may this world endure,
MLT 812 So ful of synne is many a creature?
MLT 813 " O myghty God, if that it be thy wille,
MLT 814 Sith thou art rightful juge, how may it be
MLT 815 That thou wolt suffren innocentz to spille,
MLT 816 And wikked folk regne in prosperitee?
MLT 817 O goode Custance, allas, so wo is me
MLT 818 That I moot be thy tormentour, or deye
MLT 819 On shames deeth; ther is noon oother weye. "
MLT 820 Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place
MLT 821 Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente,
MLT 822 And Custance, with a deedly pale face,
MLT 823 The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
MLT 824 But nathelees she taketh in good entente
MLT 825 The wyl of Crist, and knelynge on the stronde,
MLT 826 She seyde, " Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde!
MLT 827 " He that me kepte fro the false blame
MLT 828 While I was on the lond amonges yow,
MLT 829 He kan me kepe from harm and eek fro shame
MLT 830 In salte see, althogh I se noght how.
MLT 831 As strong as evere he was, he is yet now.
MLT 832 In hym triste I, and in his mooder deere,
MLT 833 That is to me my seyl and eek my steere. "
MLT 834 Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm,
MLT 835 And knelynge, pitously to hym she seyde,
MLT 836 " Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm. "
MLT 837 With that hir coverchief of hir heed she breyde,
MLT 838 And over his litel eyen she it leyde,
MLT 839 And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste,
MLT 840 And into hevene hire eyen up she caste.
MLT 841 " Mooder, " quod she, " and mayde bright, Marie,
MLT 842 Sooth is that thurgh wommanes eggement
MLT 843 Mankynde was lorn, and damned ay to dye,
MLT 844 For which thy child was on a croys yrent.
MLT 845 Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment;
MLT 846 Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
MLT 847 Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.
MLT 848 " Thow sawe thy child yslayn bifore thyne yen,
MLT 849 And yet now lyveth my litel child, parfay!
MLT 850 Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,
MLT 851 Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may,
MLT 852 Thow haven of refut, brighte sterre of day,
MLT 853 Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse
MLT 854 Rewest on every reweful in distresse.
MLT 855 " O litel child, allas! What is thy gilt,
MLT 856 That nevere wroghtest synne as yet, pardee?
MLT 857 Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
MLT 858 O mercy, deere constable, " quod she,
MLT 859 " As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee;
MLT 860 And if thou darst nat saven hym, for blame,
MLT 861 So kys hym ones in his fadres name! "
MLT 862 Therwith she looked bakward to the londe,
MLT 863 And seyde, " Farewel, housbonde routhelees! "
MLT 864 And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde
MLT 865 Toward the ship -- hir folweth al the prees --
MLT 866 And evere she preyeth hire child to holde his pees;
MLT 867 And taketh hir leve, and with an hooly entente
MLT 868 She blisseth hire, and into ship she wente.
MLT 869 Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede,
MLT 870 Habundantly for hire ful longe space,
MLT 871 And othere necessaries that sholde nede
MLT 872 She hadde ynogh -- heryed be Goddes grace!
MLT 873 For wynd and weder almyghty God purchace,
MLT 874 And brynge hire hoom! I kan no bettre seye,
MLT 875 But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye.
MLT 876 Alla the kyng comth hoom soone after this
MLT 877 Unto his castel, of the which I tolde,
MLT 878 And asketh where his wyf and his child is.
MLT 879 The constable gan aboute his herte colde,
MLT 880 And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde
MLT 881 As ye han herd -- I kan telle it no bettre --
MLT 882 And sheweth the kyng his seel and eek his lettre,
MLT 883 And seyde, " Lord, as ye comanded me
MLT 884 Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein. "
MLT 885 This messager tormented was til he
MLT 886 Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and pleyn,
MLT 887 Fro nyght to nyght, in what place he had leyn;
MLT 888 And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge,
MLT 889 Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
MLT 890 The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,
MLT 891 And al the venym of this cursed dede,
MLT 892 But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.
MLT 893 Th' effect is this: that Alla, out of drede,
MLT 894 His mooder slow -- that may men pleynly rede --
MLT 895 For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.
MLT 896 Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!
MLT 897 The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day
MLT 898 Maketh for his wyf, and for his child also,
MLT 899 Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
MLT 900 But now wol I unto Custance go,
MLT 901 That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo,
MLT 902 Fyve yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde,
MLT 903 Er that hir ship approched unto londe.
MLT 904 Under an hethen castel, atte laste,
MLT 905 Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,
MLT 906 Custance, and eek hir child, the see up caste.
MLT 907 Almyghty God, that saveth al mankynde,
MLT 908 Have on Custance and on hir child som mynde,
MLT 909 That fallen is in hethen hand eft soone,
MLT 910 In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.
MLT 911 Doun fro the castel comth ther many a wight
MLT 912 To gauren on this ship and on Custance.
MLT 913 But shortly, from the castel, on a nyght,
MLT 914 The lordes styward -- God yeve hym meschance! --
MLT 915 A theef, that hadde reneyed oure creance,
MLT 916 Cam into ship allone, and seyde he sholde
MLT 917 Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde.
MLT 918 Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon;
MLT 919 Hir child cride, and she cride pitously.
MLT 920 But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon;
MLT 921 For with hir struglyng wel and myghtily
MLT 922 The theef fil over bord al sodeynly,
MLT 923 And in the see he dreynte for vengeance;
MLT 924 And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance.
MLT 925 O foule lust of luxurie, lo, thyn ende!
MLT 926 Nat oonly that thou feyntest mannes mynde,
MLT 927 But verraily thou wolt his body shende.
MLT 928 Th' ende of thy werk, or of thy lustes blynde,
MLT 929 Is compleynyng. Hou many oon may men fynde
MLT 930 That noght for werk somtyme, but for th' entente
MLT 931 To doon this synne, been outher slayn or shente!
MLT 932 How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
MLT 933 Hire to defende agayn this renegat?
MLT 934 O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe,
MLT 935 Hou myghte David make thee so maat,
MLT 936 So yong and of armure so desolaat?
MLT 937 Hou dorste he looke upon thy dredful face?
MLT 938 Wel may men seen, it nas but Goddes grace.
MLT 939 Who yaf Judith corage or hardynesse
MLT 940 To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente,
MLT 941 And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse
MLT 942 The peple of God? I seye, for this entente,
MLT 943 That right as God spirit of vigour sente
MLT 944 To hem and saved hem out of meschance,
MLT 945 So sente he myght and vigour to Custance.
MLT 946 Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
MLT 947 Of Jubaltare and Septe, dryvynge ay
MLT 948 Somtyme west, and somtyme north and south,
MLT 949 And somtyme est, ful many a wery day,
MLT 950 Til Cristes mooder -- blessed be she ay! --
MLT 951 Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse,
MLT 952 To make an ende of al hir hevynesse.
MLT 953 Now lat us stynte of Custance but a throwe,
MLT 954 And speke we of the Romayn Emperour,
MLT 955 That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe
MLT 956 The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour
MLT 957 Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,
MLT 958 I mene the cursed wikked Sowdanesse
MLT 959 That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.
MLT 960 For which this Emperour hath sent anon
MLT 961 His senatour, with roial ordinance,
MLT 962 And othere lordes, God woot, many oon,
MLT 963 On Surryens to taken heigh vengeance.
MLT 964 They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschance
MLT 965 Ful many a day; but shortly -- this is th' ende --
MLT 966 Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.
MLT 967 This senatour repaireth with victorie
MLT 968 To Rome-ward, saillynge ful roially,
MLT 969 And mette the ship dryvynge, as seith the storie,
MLT 970 In which Custance sit ful pitously.
MLT 971 Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why
MLT 972 She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye
MLT 973 Of hire estaat, althogh she sholde deye.
MLT 974 He bryngeth hire to Rome, and to his wyf
MLT 975 He yaf hire, and hir yonge sone also;
MLT 976 And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
MLT 977 Thus kan Oure Lady bryngen out of wo
MLT 978 Woful Custance, and many another mo.
MLT 979 And longe tyme dwelled she in that place,
MLT 980 In hooly werkes evere, as was hir grace.
MLT 981 The senatoures wyf hir aunte was,
MLT 982 But for al that she knew hire never the moore.
MLT 983 I wol no lenger tarien in this cas,
MLT 984 But to kyng Alla, which I spak of yoore,
MLT 985 That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore,
MLT 986 I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance
MLT 987 Under the senatoures governance.
MLT 988 Kyng Alla, which that hadde his mooder slayn,
MLT 989 Upon a day fil in swich repentance
MLT 990 That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,
MLT 991 To Rome he comth to receyven his penance;
MLT 992 And putte hym in the Popes ordinance
MLT 993 In heigh and logh, and Jhesu Crist bisoghte
MLT 994 Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte.
MLT 995 The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born,
MLT 996 How Alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage,
MLT 997 By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn;
MLT 998 For which the senatour, as was usage,
MLT 999 Rood hym agayns, and many of his lynage,
MLT 1000 As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence
MLT 1001 As to doon any kyng a reverence.
MLT 1002 Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
MLT 1003 To kyng Alla, and he to hym also;
MLT 1004 Everich of hem dooth oother greet honour.
MLT 1005 And so bifel that in a day or two
MLT 1006 This senatour is to kyng Alla go
MLT 1007 To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye,
MLT 1008 Custances sone wente in his compaignye.
MLT 1009 Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custance
MLT 1010 This senatour hath lad this child to feeste;
MLT 1011 I may nat tellen every circumstance --
MLT 1012 Be as be may, ther was he at the leeste.
MLT 1013 But sooth is this, that at his moodres heeste
MLT 1014 Biforn Alla, durynge the metes space,
MLT 1015 The child stood, lookynge in the kynges face.
MLT 1016 This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder,
MLT 1017 And to the senatour he seyde anon,
MLT 1018 " Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder? "
MLT 1019 " I noot, " quod he, " by God, and by Seint John!
MLT 1020 A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon
MLT 1021 That I of woot " -- and shortly, in a stounde,
MLT 1022 He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.
MLT 1023 " But God woot, " quod this senatour also,
MLT 1024 " So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
MLT 1025 Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,
MLT 1026 Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.
MLT 1027 I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
MLT 1028 Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;
MLT 1029 There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke. "
MLT 1030 Now was this child as lyk unto Custance
MLT 1031 As possible is a creature to be.
MLT 1032 This Alla hath the face in remembrance
MLT 1033 Of dame Custance, and ther on mused he
MLT 1034 If that the childes mooder were aught she
MLT 1035 That is his wyf, and pryvely he sighte,
MLT 1036 And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.
MLT 1037 " Parfay, " thoghte he, " fantome is in myn heed!
MLT 1038 I oghte deme, of skilful juggement,
MLT 1039 That in the salte see my wyf is deed. "
MLT 1040 And afterward he made his argument:
MLT 1041 " What woot I if that Crist have hyder ysent
MLT 1042 My wyf by see, as wel as he hire sente
MLT 1043 To my contree fro thennes that she wente? "
MLT 1044 And after noon, hoom with the senatour
MLT 1045 Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce.
MLT 1046 This senatour dooth Alla greet honour,
MLT 1047 And hastifly he sente after Custaunce.
MLT 1048 But trusteth weel, hire liste nat to daunce
MLT 1049 Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde;
MLT 1050 Unnethe upon hir feet she myghte stonde.
MLT 1051 Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hire grette,
MLT 1052 And weep that it was routhe for to see;
MLT 1053 For at the firste look he on hire sette
MLT 1054 He knew wel verraily that it was she.
MLT 1055 And she, for sorwe, as doumb stant as a tree,
MLT 1056 So was hir herte shet in hir distresse,
MLT 1057 Whan she remembred his unkyndenesse.
MLT 1058 Twyes she swowned in his owene sighte;
MLT 1059 He weep, and hym excuseth pitously.
MLT 1060 " Now God, " quod he, " and his halwes brighte
MLT 1061 So wisly on my soule as have mercy,
MLT 1062 That of youre harm as giltelees am I
MLT 1063 As is Maurice my sone, so lyk youre face;
MLT 1064 Elles the feend me fecche out of this place! "
MLT 1065 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne,
MLT 1066 Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse;
MLT 1067 Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne,
MLT 1068 Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
MLT 1069 I pray yow alle my labour to relesse;
MLT 1070 I may nat telle hir wo until to-morwe,
MLT 1071 I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.
MLT 1072 But finally, whan that the sothe is wist
MLT 1073 That Alla giltelees was of hir wo,
MLT 1074 I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist,
MLT 1075 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two
MLT 1076 That, save the joye that lasteth everemo,
MLT 1077 Ther is noon lyk that any creature
MLT 1078 Hath seyn or shal, whil that the world may dure.
MLT 1079 Tho preyde she hir housbonde mekely,
MLT 1080 In relief of hir longe, pitous pyne,
MLT 1081 That he wolde preye hir fader specially
MLT 1082 That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
MLT 1083 To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
MLT 1084 She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye
MLT 1085 Unto hir fader no word of hire seye.
MLT 1086 Som men wolde seyn how that the child Maurice
MLT 1087 Dooth this message unto this Emperour;
MLT 1088 But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce
MLT 1089 To hym that was of so sovereyn honour
MLT 1090 As he that is of Cristen folk the flour,
MLT 1091 Sente any child, but it is bet to deeme
MLT 1092 He wente hymself, and so it may wel seeme.
MLT 1093 This Emperour hath graunted gentilly
MLT 1094 To come to dyner, as he hym bisoughte;
MLT 1095 And wel rede I he looked bisily
MLT 1096 Upon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
MLT 1097 Alla goth to his in, and as hym oghte,
MLT 1098 Arrayed for this feste in every wise
MLT 1099 As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.
MLT 1100 The morwe cam, and Alla gan hym dresse,
MLT 1101 And eek his wyf, this Emperour to meete;
MLT 1102 And forth they ryde in joye and in gladnesse.
MLT 1103 And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete,
MLT 1104 She lighte doun, and falleth hym to feete.
MLT 1105 " Fader, " quod she, " youre yonge child Custance
MLT 1106 Is now ful clene out of youre remembrance.
MLT 1107 " I am youre doghter Custance, " quod she,
MLT 1108 " That whilom ye han sent unto Surrye.
MLT 1109 It am I, fader, that in the salte see
MLT 1110 Was put allone and dampned for to dye.
MLT 1111 Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye!
MLT 1112 Sende me namoore unto noon hethenesse,
MLT 1113 But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse. "
MLT 1114 Who kan the pitous joye tellen al
MLT 1115 Bitwixe hem thre, syn they been thus ymette?
MLT 1116 But of my tale make an ende I shal;
MLT 1117 The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
MLT 1118 This glade folk to dyner they hem sette;
MLT 1119 In joye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
MLT 1120 A thousand foold wel moore than I kan telle.
MLT 1121 This child Maurice was sithen Emperour
MLT 1122 Maad by the Pope, and lyved cristenly;
MLT 1123 To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
MLT 1124 But I lete al his storie passen by;
MLT 1125 Of Custance is my tale specially.
MLT 1126 In the olde Romayn geestes may men fynde
MLT 1127 Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in mynde.
MLT 1128 This kyng Alla, whan he his tyme say,
MLT 1129 With his Custance, his hooly wyf so sweete,
MLT 1130 To Engelond been they come the righte way,
MLT 1131 Wher as they lyve in joye and in quiete.
MLT 1132 But litel while it lasteth, I yow heete,
MLT 1133 Joye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde;
MLT 1134 Fro day to nyght it changeth as the tyde.
MLT 1135 Who lyved euere in swich delit o day
MLT 1136 That hym ne moeved outher conscience,
MLT 1137 Or ire, or talent, or som kynnes affray,
MLT 1138 Envye, or pride, or passion, or offence?
MLT 1139 I ne seye but for this ende this sentence,
MLT 1140 That litel while in joye or in plesance
MLT 1141 Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance.
MLT 1142 For Deeth, that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
MLT 1143 Whan passed was a yeer, evene as I gesse,
MLT 1144 Out of this world this kyng Alla he hente,
MLT 1145 For whom Custance hath ful greet hevynesse.
MLT 1146 Now lat us prayen God his soule blesse!
MLT 1147 And dame Custance, finally to seye,
MLT 1148 Toward the toun of Rome goth hir weye.
MLT 1149 To Rome is come this hooly creature,
MLT 1150 And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde;
MLT 1151 Now is she scaped al hire aventure.
MLT 1152 And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde,
MLT 1153 Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde;
MLT 1154 Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe,
MLT 1155 She heryeth God an hundred thousand sithe.
MLT 1156 In vertu and in hooly almus-dede
MLT 1157 They lyven alle, and nevere asonder wende;
MLT 1158 Til deeth departeth hem, this lyf they lede.
MLT 1159 And fareth now weel! my tale is at an ende.
MLT 1160 Now Jhesu Crist, that of his myght may sende
MLT 1161 Joye after wo, governe us in his grace,
MLT 1162 And kepe us alle that been in this place! Amen
MLT 1163 [Owre Hoost upon his stiropes stood anon,
MLT 1164 And seyde, " Goode men, herkeneth everych on!
MLT 1165 This was a thrifty tale for the nones!
MLT 1166 Sir Parisshe Prest, " quod he, " for Goddes bones,
MLT 1167 Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore.
MLT 1168 I se wel that ye lerned men in lore
MLT 1169 Can moche good, by Goddes dignitee! "
MLT 1170 The Parson him answerde, " Benedicite!
MLT 1171 What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere? "
MLT 1172 Oure Host answerde, " O Jankin, be ye there?
MLT 1173 I smelle a Lollere in the wynd, " quod he.
MLT 1174 " Now! goode men, " quod oure Hoste, " herkeneth me;
MLT 1175 Abydeth, for Goddes digne passioun,
MLT 1176 For we schal han a predicacioun;
MLT 1177 This Lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat. "
MLT 1178 " Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat! "
MLT 1179 Seyde the Shipman, " Heer schal he nat preche;
MLT 1180 He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche.
MLT 1181 We leven alle in the grete God, " quod he;
MLT 1182 " He wolde sowen som difficulte,
MLT 1183 Or springen cokkel in our clene corn.
MLT 1184 And therfore, Hoost, I warne thee biforn,
MLT 1185 My joly body schal a tale telle,
MLT 1186 And I schal clynken you so mery a belle,
MLT 1187 That I schal waken al this compaignie.
MLT 1188 But it schal not ben of philosophie,
MLT 1189 Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe.
MLT 1190 Ther is but litel Latyn in my mawe! " ]
WBT 1 " Experience, though noon auctoritee
WBT 2 Were in this world, is right ynogh for me
WBT 3 To speke of wo that is in mariage;
WBT 4 For, lordynges, sith I twelve yeer was of age,
WBT 5 Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve,
WBT 6 Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve --
WBT 7 If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee --
WBT 8 And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
WBT 9 But me was toold, certeyn, nat longe agoon is,
WBT 10 That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis
WBT 11 To weddyng, in the Cane of Galilee,
WBT 12 That by the same ensample taughte he me
WBT 13 That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
WBT 14 Herkne eek, lo, which a sharp word for the nones,
WBT 15 Biside a welle, Jhesus, God and man,
WBT 16 Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan:
WBT 17 `Thou hast yhad fyve housbondes,' quod he,
WBT 18 `And that ilke man that now hath thee
WBT 19 Is noght thyn housbonde,' thus seyde he certeyn.
WBT 20 What that he mente therby, I kan nat seyn;
WBT 21 But that I axe, why that the fifthe man
WBT 22 Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan?
WBT 23 How manye myghte she have in mariage?
WBT 24 Yet herde I nevere tellen in myn age
WBT 25 Upon this nombre diffinicioun.
WBT 26 Men may devyne and glosen, up and doun,
WBT 27 But wel I woot, expres, withoute lye,
WBT 28 God bad us for to wexe and multiplye;
WBT 29 That gentil text kan I wel understonde.
WBT 30 Eek wel I woot, he seyde myn housbonde
WBT 31 Sholde lete fader and mooder and take to me.
WBT 32 But of no nombre mencion made he,
WBT 33 Of bigamye, or of octogamye;
WBT 34 Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye?
WBT 35 Lo, heere the wise kyng, daun Salomon;
WBT 36 I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon.
WBT 37 As wolde God it leveful were unto me
WBT 38 To be refresshed half so ofte as he!
WBT 39 Which yifte of God hadde he for alle his wyvys!
WBT 40 No man hath swich that in this world alyve is.
WBT 41 God woot, this noble kyng, as to my wit,
WBT 42 The firste nyght had many a myrie fit
WBT 43 With ech of hem, so wel was hym on lyve.
WBT 44 Yblessed be God that I have wedded fyve!
WBT 44a [Of whiche I have pyked out the beste,
WBT 44b Bothe of here nether purs and of here cheste.
WBT 44c Diverse scoles maken parfyt clerkes,
WBT 44d And diverse practyk in many sondry werkes
WBT 44e Maketh the werkman parfyt sekirly;
WBT 44f Of fyve husbondes scoleiyng am I.]
WBT 45 Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shal.
WBT 46 For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chaast in al.
WBT 47 Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon,
WBT 48 Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon,
WBT 49 For thanne th' apostle seith that I am free
WBT 50 To wedde, a Goddes half, where it liketh me.
WBT 51 He seith that to be wedded is no synne;
WBT 52 Bet is to be wedded than to brynne.
WBT 53 What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileynye
WBT 54 Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
WBT 55 I woot wel Abraham was an hooly man,
WBT 56 And Jacob eek, as ferforth as I kan;
WBT 57 And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two,
WBT 58 And many another holy man also.
WBT 59 Wher can ye seye, in any manere age,
WBT 60 That hye God defended mariage
WBT 61 By expres word? I pray yow, telleth me.
WBT 62 Or where comanded he virginitee?
WBT 63 I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
WBT 64 Th' apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede,
WBT 65 He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.
WBT 66 Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
WBT 67 But conseillyng is no comandement.
WBT 68 He putte it in oure owene juggement;
WBT 69 For hadde God comanded maydenhede,
WBT 70 Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede.
WBT 71 And certes, if ther were no seed ysowe,
WBT 72 Virginitee, thanne wherof sholde it growe?
WBT 73 Poul dorste nat comanden, atte leeste,
WBT 74 A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste.
WBT 75 The dart is set up for virginitee;
WBT 76 Cacche whoso may, who renneth best lat see.
WBT 77 But this word is nat taken of every wight,
WBT 78 But ther as God lust gyve it of his myght.
WBT 79 I woot wel that th' apostel was a mayde;
WBT 80 But nathelees, thogh that he wroot and sayde
WBT 81 He wolde that every wight were swich as he,
WBT 82 Al nys but conseil to virginitee.
WBT 83 And for to been a wyf he yaf me leve
WBT 84 Of indulgence; so nys it no repreve
WBT 85 To wedde me, if that my make dye,
WBT 86 Withouten excepcion of bigamye.
WBT 87 Al were it good no womman for to touche --
WBT 88 He mente as in his bed or in his couche,
WBT 89 For peril is bothe fyr and tow t' assemble;
WBT 90 Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble.
WBT 91 This is al and som: he heeld virginitee
WBT 92 Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee.
WBT 93 Freletee clepe I, but if that he and she
WBT 94 Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
WBT 95 I graunte it wel; I have noon envie,
WBT 96 Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye.
WBT 97 It liketh hem to be clene, body and goost;
WBT 98 Of myn estaat I nyl nat make no boost,
WBT 99 For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold,
WBT 100 He nath nat every vessel al of gold;
WBT 101 Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse.
WBT 102 God clepeth folk to hym in sondry wyse,
WBT 103 And everich hath of God a propre yifte --
WBT 104 Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte.
WBT 105 Virginitee is greet perfeccion,
WBT 106 And continence eek with devocion,
WBT 107 But Crist, that of perfeccion is welle,
WBT 108 Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle
WBT 109 Al that he hadde, and gyve it to the poore,
WBT 110 And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore.
WBT 111 He spak to hem that wolde lyve parfitly;
WBT 112 And lordynges, by youre leve, that am nat I.
WBT 113 I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
WBT 114 In the actes and in fruyt of mariage.
WBT 115 Telle me also, to what conclusion
WBT 116 Were membres maad of generacion,
WBT 117 And of so parfit wys a [wright] ywroght?
WBT 118 Trusteth right wel, they were nat maad for noght.
WBT 119 Glose whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun
WBT 120 That they were maked for purgacioun
WBT 121 Of uryne, and oure bothe thynges smale
WBT 122 Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
WBT 123 And for noon oother cause -- say ye no?
WBT 124 The experience woot wel it is noght so.
WBT 125 So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe,
WBT 126 I sey this: that they maked ben for bothe;
WBT 127 That is to seye, for office and for ese
WBT 128 Of engendrure, ther we nat God displese.
WBT 129 Why sholde men elles in hir bookes sette
WBT 130 That man shal yelde to his wyf hire dette?
WBT 131 Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement,
WBT 132 If he ne used his sely instrument?
WBT 133 Thanne were they maad upon a creature
WBT 134 To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure.
WBT 135 But I seye noght that every wight is holde,
WBT 136 That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde,
WBT 137 To goon and usen hem in engendrure.
WBT 138 Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
WBT 139 Crist was a mayde and shapen as a man,
WBT 140 And many a seint, sith that the world bigan;
WBT 141 Yet lyved they evere in parfit chastitee.
WBT 142 I nyl envye no virginitee.
WBT 143 Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
WBT 144 And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed;
WBT 145 And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle kan,
WBT 146 Oure Lord Jhesu refresshed many a man.
WBT 147 In swich estaat as God hath cleped us
WBT 148 I wol persevere; I nam nat precius.
WBT 149 In wyfhod I wol use myn instrument
WBT 150 As frely as my Makere hath it sent.
WBT 151 If I be daungerous, God yeve me sorwe!
WBT 152 Myn housbonde shal it have bothe eve and morwe,
WBT 153 Whan that hym list come forth and paye his dette.
WBT 154 An housbonde I wol have -- I wol nat lette --
WBT 155 Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral,
WBT 156 And have his tribulacion withal
WBT 157 Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf.
WBT 158 I have the power durynge al my lyf
WBT 159 Upon his propre body, and noght he.
WBT 160 Right thus the Apostel tolde it unto me,
WBT 161 And bad oure housbondes for to love us weel.
WBT 162 Al this sentence me liketh every deel " --
WBT 163 Up stirte the Pardoner, and that anon;
WBT 164 " Now, dame, " quod he, " by God and by Seint John!
WBT 165 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas.
WBT 166 I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas!
WBT 167 What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere?
WBT 168 Yet hadde I levere wedde no wyf to-yeere! "
WBT 169 " Abyde! " quod she, " my tale is nat bigonne.
WBT 170 Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,
WBT 171 Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale.
WBT 172 And whan that I have toold thee forth my tale
WBT 173 Of tribulacion in mariage,
WBT 174 Of which I am expert in al myn age --
WBT 175 This is to seyn, myself have been the whippe --
WBT 176 Than maystow chese wheither thou wolt sippe
WBT 177 Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
WBT 178 Be war of it, er thou to ny approche;
WBT 179 For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
WBT 180 `Whoso that nyl be war by othere men,
WBT 181 By hym shul othere men corrected be.'
WBT 182 The same wordes writeth Ptholomee;
WBT 183 Rede in his Almageste, and take it there. "
WBT 184 " Dame, I wolde praye yow, if youre wyl it were, "
WBT 185 Seyde this Pardoner, " as ye bigan,
WBT 186 Telle forth youre tale, spareth for no man,
WBT 187 And teche us yonge men of youre praktike. "
WBT 188 " Gladly, " quod she, " sith it may yow like;
WBT 189 But yet I praye to al this compaignye,
WBT 190 If that I speke after my fantasye,
WBT 191 As taketh not agrief of that I seye,
WBT 192 For myn entente nys but for to pleye.
WBT 193 Now, sire, now wol I telle forth my tale.
WBT 194 As evere moote I drynken wyn or ale,
WBT 195 I shal seye sooth; tho housbondes that I hadde,
WBT 196 As thre of hem were goode, and two were badde.
WBT 197 The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde;
WBT 198 Unnethe myghte they the statut holde
WBT 199 In which that they were bounden unto me.
WBT 200 Ye woot wel what I meene of this, pardee!
WBT 201 As help me God, I laughe whan I thynke
WBT 202 How pitously a-nyght I made hem swynke!
WBT 203 And, by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor.
WBT 204 They had me yeven hir lond and hir tresoor;
WBT 205 Me neded nat do lenger diligence
WBT 206 To wynne hir love, or doon hem reverence.
WBT 207 They loved me so wel, by God above,
WBT 208 That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love!
WBT 209 A wys womman wol bisye hire evere in oon
WBT 210 To gete hire love, ye, ther as she hath noon.
WBT 211 But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond,
WBT 212 And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond,
WBT 213 What sholde I taken keep hem for to plese,
WBT 214 But it were for my profit and myn ese?
WBT 215 I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey,
WBT 216 That many a nyght they songen `Weilawey!'
WBT 217 The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
WBT 218 That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe.
WBT 219 I governed hem so wel, after my lawe,
WBT 220 That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe
WBT 221 To brynge me gaye thynges fro the fayre.
WBT 222 They were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire,
WBT 223 For, God it woot, I chidde hem spitously.
WBT 224 Now herkneth hou I baar me proprely,
WBT 225 Ye wise wyves, that kan understonde.
WBT 226 Thus shulde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde,
WBT 227 For half so boldely kan ther no man
WBT 228 Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.
WBT 229 I sey nat this by wyves that been wyse,
WBT 230 But if it be whan they hem mysavyse.
WBT 231 A wys wyf, if that she kan hir good,
WBT 232 Shal beren hym on honde the cow is wood,
WBT 233 And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
WBT 234 Of hir assent. But herkneth how I sayde:
WBT 235 `Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array?
WBT 236 Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?
WBT 237 She is honoured overal ther she gooth;
WBT 238 I sitte at hoom; I have no thrifty clooth.
WBT 239 What dostow at my neighebores hous?
WBT 240 Is she so fair? Artow so amorous?
WBT 241 What rowne ye with oure mayde? Benedicite!
WBT 242 Sire olde lecchour, lat thy japes be!
WBT 243 And if I have a gossib or a freend,
WBT 244 Withouten gilt, thou chidest as a feend,
WBT 245 If that I walke or pleye unto his hous!
WBT 246 Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous,
WBT 247 And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef!
WBT 248 Thou seist to me it is a greet meschief
WBT 249 To wedde a povre womman, for costage;
WBT 250 And if that she be riche, of heigh parage,
WBT 251 Thanne seistow that it is a tormentrie
WBT 252 To soffre hire pride and hire malencolie.
WBT 253 And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
WBT 254 Thou seyst that every holour wol hire have;
WBT 255 She may no while in chastitee abyde,
WBT 256 That is assailled upon ech a syde.
WBT 257 Thou seyst som folk desiren us for richesse,
WBT 258 Somme for oure shap, and somme for oure fairnesse,
WBT 259 And som for she kan outher synge or daunce,
WBT 260 And som for gentillesse and daliaunce;
WBT 261 Som for hir handes and hir armes smale;
WBT 262 Thus goth al to the devel, by thy tale.
WBT 263 Thou seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal,
WBT 264 It may so longe assailled been overal.
WBT 265 And if that she be foul, thou seist that she
WBT 266 Coveiteth every man that she may se,
WBT 267 For as a spanyel she wol on hym lepe,
WBT 268 Til that she fynde som man hire to chepe.
WBT 269 Ne noon so grey goos gooth ther in the lake
WBT 270 As, seistow, wol been withoute make.
WBT 271 And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde
WBT 272 A thyng that no man wole, his thankes, helde.
WBT 273 Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde,
WBT 274 And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde,
WBT 275 Ne no man that entendeth unto hevene.
WBT 276 With wilde thonder-dynt and firy levene
WBT 277 Moote thy welked nekke be tobroke!
WBT 278 Thow seyst that droppyng houses, and eek smoke,
WBT 279 And chidyng wyves maken men to flee
WBT 280 Out of hir owene houses; a, benedicitee!
WBT 281 What eyleth swich an old man for to chide?
WBT 282 Thow seyst we wyves wol oure vices hide
WBT 283 Til we be fast, and thanne we wol hem shewe --
WBT 284 Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe!
WBT 285 Thou seist that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes,
WBT 286 They been assayed at diverse stoundes;
WBT 287 Bacyns, lavours, er that men hem bye,
WBT 288 Spoones and stooles, and al swich housbondrye,
WBT 289 And so been pottes, clothes, and array;
WBT 290 But folk of wyves maken noon assay,
WBT 291 Til they be wedded -- olde dotard shrewe! --
WBT 292 And thanne, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe.
WBT 293 Thou seist also that it displeseth me
WBT 294 But if that thou wolt preyse my beautee,
WBT 295 And but thou poure alwey upon my face,
WBT 296 And clepe me " faire dame " in every place.
WBT 297 And but thou make a feeste on thilke day
WBT 298 That I was born, and make me fressh and gay;
WBT 299 And but thou do to my norice honour,
WBT 300 And to my chamberere withinne my bour,
WBT 301 And to my fadres folk and his allyes --
WBT 302 Thus seistow, olde barel-ful of lyes!
WBT 303 And yet of oure apprentice Janekyn,
WBT 304 For his crispe heer, shynynge as gold so fyn,
WBT 305 And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun,
WBT 306 Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun.
WBT 307 I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed tomorwe!
WBT 308 But tel me this: why hydestow, with sorwe,
WBT 309 The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
WBT 310 It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee!
WBT 311 What, wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame?
WBT 312 Now by that lord that called is Seint Jame,
WBT 313 Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood,
WBT 314 Be maister of my body and of my good;
WBT 315 That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yen.
WBT 316 What helpith it of me to enquere or spyen?
WBT 317 I trowe thou woldest loke me in thy chiste!
WBT 318 Thou sholdest seye, " Wyf, go wher thee liste;
WBT 319 Taak youre disport; I wol nat leve no talys.
WBT 320 I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alys. "
WBT 321 We love no man that taketh kep or charge
WBT 322 Wher that we goon; we wol ben at oure large.
WBT 323 Of alle men yblessed moot he be,
WBT 324 The wise astrologien, Daun Ptholome,
WBT 325 That seith this proverbe in his Almageste:
WBT 326 " Of alle men his wysdom is the hyeste
WBT 327 That rekketh nevere who hath the world in honde. "
WBT 328 By this proverbe thou shalt understonde,
WBT 329 Have thou ynogh, what thar thee recche or care
WBT 330 How myrily that othere folkes fare?
WBT 331 For, certeyn, olde dotard, by youre leve,
WBT 332 Ye shul have queynte right ynogh at eve.
WBT 333 He is to greet a nygard that wolde werne
WBT 334 A man to lighte a candle at his lanterne;
WBT 335 He shal have never the lasse light, pardee.
WBT 336 Have thou ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
WBT 337 Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay
WBT 338 With clothyng, and with precious array,
WBT 339 That it is peril of oure chastitee;
WBT 340 And yet -- with sorwe! -- thou most enforce thee,
WBT 341 And seye thise wordes in the Apostles name:
WBT 342 " In habit maad with chastitee and shame
WBT 343 Ye wommen shul apparaille yow, " quod he,
WBT 344 " And noght in tressed heer and gay perree,
WBT 345 As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche. "
WBT 346 After thy text, ne after thy rubriche,
WBT 347 I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat.
WBT 348 Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat;
WBT 349 For whoso wolde senge a cattes skyn,
WBT 350 Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in;
WBT 351 And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay,
WBT 352 She wol nat dwelle in house half a day,
WBT 353 But forth she wole, er any day be dawed,
WBT 354 To shewe hir skyn and goon a-caterwawed.
WBT 355 This is to seye, if I be gay, sire shrewe,
WBT 356 I wol renne out my borel for to shewe.
WBT 357 Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen?
WBT 358 Thogh thou preye Argus with his hundred yen
WBT 359 To be my warde-cors, as he kan best,
WBT 360 In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest;
WBT 361 Yet koude I make his berd, so moot I thee!
WBT 362 Thou seydest eek that ther been thynges thre,
WBT 363 The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe,
WBT 364 And that no wight may endure the ferthe.
WBT 365 O leeve sire shrewe, Jhesu shorte thy lyf!
WBT 366 Yet prechestow and seyst an hateful wyf
WBT 367 Yrekened is for oon of thise meschances.
WBT 368 Been ther none othere maner resemblances
WBT 369 That ye may likne youre parables to,
WBT 370 But if a sely wyf be oon of tho?
WBT 371 Thou liknest eek wommenes love to helle,
WBT 372 To bareyne lond, ther water may nat dwelle.
WBT 373 Thou liknest it also to wilde fyr;
WBT 374 The moore it brenneth, the moore it hath desir
WBT 375 To consume every thyng that brent wole be.
WBT 376 Thou seyest, right as wormes shende a tree,
WBT 377 Right so a wyf destroyeth hire housbonde;
WBT 378 This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.'
WBT 379 Lordynges, right thus, as ye have understonde,
WBT 380 Baar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde
WBT 381 That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse;
WBT 382 And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
WBT 383 On Janekyn, and on my nece also.
WBT 384 O Lord! The peyne I dide hem and the wo,
WBT 385 Ful giltelees, by Goddes sweete pyne!
WBT 386 For as an hors I koude byte and whyne.
WBT 387 I koude pleyne, and yit was in the gilt,
WBT 388 Or elles often tyme hadde I been spilt.
WBT 389 Whoso that first to mille comth, first grynt;
WBT 390 I pleyned first, so was oure werre ystynt.
WBT 391 They were ful glade to excuse hem blyve
WBT 392 Of thyng of which they nevere agilte hir lyve.
WBT 393 Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde,
WBT 394 Whan that for syk unnethes myghte they stonde.
WBT 395 Yet tikled I his herte, for that he
WBT 396 Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee!
WBT 397 I swoor that al my walkynge out by nyghte
WBT 398 Was for t' espye wenches that he dighte;
WBT 399 Under that colour hadde I many a myrthe.
WBT 400 For al swich wit is yeven us in oure byrthe;
WBT 401 Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng God hath yive
WBT 402 To wommen kyndely, whil that they may lyve.
WBT 403 And thus of o thyng I avaunte me:
WBT 404 Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree,
WBT 405 By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thyng,
WBT 406 As by continueel murmur or grucchyng.
WBT 407 Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce:
WBT 408 Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce;
WBT 409 I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde,
WBT 410 If that I felte his arm over my syde,
WBT 411 Til he had maad his raunson unto me;
WBT 412 Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee.
WBT 413 And therfore every man this tale I telle,
WBT 414 Wynne whoso may, for al is for to selle;
WBT 415 With empty hand men may none haukes lure.
WBT 416 For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure,
WBT 417 And make me a feyned appetit;
WBT 418 And yet in bacon hadde I nevere delit.
WBT 419 That made me that evere I wolde hem chide,
WBT 420 For thogh the pope hadde seten hem biside,
WBT 421 I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord,
WBT 422 For, by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word.
WBT 423 As helpe me verray God omnipotent,
WBT 424 Though I right now sholde make my testament,
WBT 425 I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quit.
WBT 426 I broghte it so aboute by my wit
WBT 427 That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste,
WBT 428 Or elles hadde we nevere been in reste;
WBT 429 For thogh he looked as a wood leon,
WBT 430 Yet sholde he faille of his conclusion.
WBT 431 Thanne wolde I seye, `Goode lief, taak keep
WBT 432 How mekely looketh Wilkyn, oure sheep!
WBT 433 Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!
WBT 434 Ye sholde been al pacient and meke,
WBT 435 And han a sweete spiced conscience,
WBT 436 Sith ye so preche of Jobes pacience.
WBT 437 Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche;
WBT 438 And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche
WBT 439 That it is fair to have a wyf in pees.
WBT 440 Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees,
WBT 441 And sith a man is moore resonable
WBT 442 Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable.
WBT 443 What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
WBT 444 Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone?
WBT 445 Wy, taak it al! Lo, have it every deel!
WBT 446 Peter! I shrewe yow, but ye love it weel;
WBT 447 For if I wolde selle my bele chose,
WBT 448 I koude walke as fressh as is a rose;
WBT 449 But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth.
WBT 450 Ye be to blame, by God! I sey yow sooth.'
WBT 451 Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde.
WBT 452 Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde.
WBT 453 My fourthe housbonde was a revelour --
WBT 454 This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour --
WBT 455 And I was yong and ful of ragerye,
WBT 456 Stibourn and strong, and joly as a pye.
WBT 457 How koude I daunce to an harpe smale,
WBT 458 And synge, ywis, as any nyghtyngale,
WBT 459 Whan I had dronke a draughte of sweete wyn!
WBT 460 Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn,
WBT 461 That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf,
WBT 462 For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf,
WBT 463 He sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke!
WBT 464 And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke,
WBT 465 For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl,
WBT 466 A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
WBT 467 In wommen vinolent is no defence --
WBT 468 This knowen lecchours by experience.
WBT 469 But -- Lord Crist! -- whan that it remembreth me
WBT 470 Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee,
WBT 471 It tikleth me aboute myn herte roote.
WBT 472 Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote
WBT 473 That I have had my world as in my tyme.
WBT 474 But age, allas, that al wole envenyme,
WBT 475 Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith.
WBT 476 Lat go. Farewel! The devel go therwith!
WBT 477 The flour is goon; ther is namoore to telle;
WBT 478 The bren, as I best kan, now moste I selle;
WBT 479 But yet to be right myrie wol I fonde.
WBT 480 Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde.
WBT 481 I seye, I hadde in herte greet despit
WBT 482 That he of any oother had delit.
WBT 483 But he was quit, by God and by Seint Joce!
WBT 484 I made hym of the same wode a croce;
WBT 485 Nat of my body, in no foul manere,
WBT 486 But certeinly, I made folk swich cheere
WBT 487 That in his owene grece I made hym frye
WBT 488 For angre, and for verray jalousye.
WBT 489 By God, in erthe I was his purgatorie,
WBT 490 For which I hope his soule be in glorie.
WBT 491 For, God it woot, he sat ful ofte and song,
WBT 492 Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong.
WBT 493 Ther was no wight, save God and he, that wiste,
WBT 494 In many wise, how soore I hym twiste.
WBT 495 He deyde whan I cam fro Jerusalem,
WBT 496 And lith ygrave under the roode beem,
WBT 497 Al is his tombe noght so curyus
WBT 498 As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus,
WBT 499 Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly;
WBT 500 It nys but wast to burye hym preciously.
WBT 501 Lat hym fare wel; God yeve his soule reste!
WBT 502 He is now in his grave and in his cheste.
WBT 503 Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle.
WBT 504 God lete his soule nevere come in helle!
WBT 505 And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe;
WBT 506 That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe,
WBT 507 And evere shal unto myn endyng day.
WBT 508 But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay,
WBT 509 And therwithal so wel koude he me glose,
WBT 510 Whan that he wolde han my bele chose;
WBT 511 That thogh he hadde me bete on every bon,
WBT 512 He koude wynne agayn my love anon.
WBT 513 I trowe I loved hym best, for that he
WBT 514 Was of his love daungerous to me.
WBT 515 We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye,
WBT 516 In this matere a queynte fantasye:
WBT 517 Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly have,
WBT 518 Therafter wol we crie al day and crave.
WBT 519 Forbede us thyng, and that desiren we;
WBT 520 Preesse on us faste, and thanne wol we fle.
WBT 521 With daunger oute we al oure chaffare;
WBT 522 Greet prees at market maketh deere ware,
WBT 523 And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys:
WBT 524 This knoweth every womman that is wys.
WBT 525 My fifthe housbonde -- God his soule blesse! --
WBT 526 Which that I took for love, and no richesse,
WBT 527 He som tyme was a clerk of Oxenford,
WBT 528 And hadde left scole, and wente at hom to bord
WBT 529 With my gossib, dwellynge in oure toun;
WBT 530 God have hir soule! Hir name was Alisoun.
WBT 531 She knew myn herte, and eek my privetee,
WBT 532 Bet than oure parisshe preest, so moot I thee!
WBT 533 To hire biwreyed I my conseil al.
WBT 534 For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal,
WBT 535 Or doon a thyng that sholde han cost his lyf,
WBT 536 To hire, and to another worthy wyf,
WBT 537 And to my nece, which that I loved weel,
WBT 538 I wolde han toold his conseil every deel.
WBT 539 And so I dide ful often, God it woot,
WBT 540 That made his face often reed and hoot
WBT 541 For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he
WBT 542 Had toold to me so greet a pryvetee.
WBT 543 And so bifel that ones in a Lente --
WBT 544 So often tymes I to my gossyb wente,
WBT 545 For evere yet I loved to be gay,
WBT 546 And for to walke in March, Averill, and May,
WBT 547 Fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys --
WBT 548 That Jankyn clerk, and my gossyb dame Alys,
WBT 549 And I myself, into the feeldes wente.
WBT 550 Myn housbonde was at Londoun al that Lente;
WBT 551 I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye,
WBT 552 And for to se, and eek for to be seye
WBT 553 Of lusty folk. What wiste I wher my grace
WBT 554 Was shapen for to be, or in what place?
WBT 555 Therfore I made my visitaciouns
WBT 556 To vigilies and to processiouns,
WBT 557 To prechyng eek, and to thise pilgrimages,
WBT 558 To pleyes of myracles, and to mariages,
WBT 559 And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes.
WBT 560 Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes,
WBT 561 Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel;
WBT 562 And wostow why? For they were used weel.
WBT 563 Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
WBT 564 I seye that in the feeldes walked we,
WBT 565 Til trewely we hadde swich daliance,
WBT 566 This clerk and I, that of my purveiance
WBT 567 I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he,
WBT 568 If I were wydwe, sholde wedde me.
WBT 569 For certeinly -- I sey for no bobance --
WBT 570 Yet was I nevere withouten purveiance
WBT 571 Of mariage, n' of othere thynges eek.
WBT 572 I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek
WBT 573 That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
WBT 574 And if that faille, thanne is al ydo.
WBT 575 I bar hym on honde he hadde enchanted me --
WBT 576 My dame taughte me that soutiltee --
WBT 577 And eek I seyde I mette of hym al nyght,
WBT 578 He wolde han slayn me as I lay upright,
WBT 579 And al my bed was ful of verray blood;
WBT 580 `But yet I hope that ye shal do me good,
WBT 581 For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught.'
WBT 582 And al was fals; I dremed of it right naught,
WBT 583 But as I folwed ay my dames loore,
WBT 584 As wel of this as of othere thynges moore.
WBT 585 But now, sire, lat me se what I shal seyn.
WBT 586 A ha! By God, I have my tale ageyn.
WBT 587 Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere,
WBT 588 I weep algate, and made sory cheere,
WBT 589 As wyves mooten, for it is usage,
WBT 590 And with my coverchief covered my visage,
WBT 591 But for that I was purveyed of a make,
WBT 592 I wepte but smal, and that I undertake.
WBT 593 To chirche was myn housbonde born a-morwe
WBT 594 With neighebores, that for hym maden sorwe;
WBT 595 And Jankyn, oure clerk, was oon of tho.
WBT 596 As help me God, whan that I saugh hym go
WBT 597 After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire
WBT 598 Of legges and of feet so clene and faire
WBT 599 That al myn herte I yaf unto his hoold.
WBT 600 He was, I trowe, twenty wynter oold,
WBT 601 And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth;
WBT 602 But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
WBT 603 Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel;
WBT 604 I hadde the prente of seinte Venus seel.
WBT 605 As help me God, I was a lusty oon,
WBT 606 And faire, and riche, and yong, and wel bigon,
WBT 607 And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me,
WBT 608 I hadde the beste quoniam myghte be.
WBT 609 For certes, I am al Venerien
WBT 610 In feelynge, and myn herte is Marcien.
WBT 611 Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,
WBT 612 And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse;
WBT 613 Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars therinne.
WBT 614 Allas, allas! That evere love was synne!
WBT 615 I folwed ay myn inclinacioun
WBT 616 By vertu of my constellacioun;
WBT 617 That made me I koude noght withdrawe
WBT 618 My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.
WBT 619 Yet have I Martes mark upon my face,
WBT 620 And also in another privee place.
WBT 621 For God so wys be my savacioun,
WBT 622 I ne loved nevere by no discrecioun,
WBT 623 But evere folwede myn appetit,
WBT 624 Al were he short, or long, or blak, or whit;
WBT 625 I took no kep, so that he liked me,
WBT 626 How poore he was, ne eek of what degree.
WBT 627 What sholde I seye but, at the monthes ende,
WBT 628 This joly clerk, Jankyn, that was so hende,
WBT 629 Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee,
WBT 630 And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee
WBT 631 That evere was me yeven therbifoore.
WBT 632 But afterward repented me ful soore;
WBT 633 He nolde suffre nothyng of my list.
WBT 634 By God, he smoot me ones on the lyst,
WBT 635 For that I rente out of his book a leef,
WBT 636 That of the strook myn ere wax al deef.
WBT 637 Stibourn I was as is a leonesse,
WBT 638 And of my tonge a verray jangleresse,
WBT 639 And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,
WBT 640 From hous to hous, although he had it sworn;
WBT 641 For which he often tymes wolde preche,
WBT 642 And me of olde Romayn geestes teche;
WBT 643 How he Symplicius Gallus lefte his wyf,
WBT 644 And hire forsook for terme of al his lyf,
WBT 645 Noght but for open-heveded he hir say
WBT 646 Lookynge out at his dore upon a day.
WBT 647 Another Romayn tolde he me by name,
WBT 648 That, for his wyf was at a someres game
WBT 649 Withouten his wityng, he forsook hire eke.
WBT 650 And thanne wolde he upon his Bible seke
WBT 651 That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste
WBT 652 Where he comandeth and forbedeth faste
WBT 653 Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute.
WBT 654 Thanne wolde he seye right thus, withouten doute:
WBT 655 `Whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes,
WBT 656 And priketh his blynde hors over the falwes,
WBT 657 And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes,
WBT 658 Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!'
WBT 659 But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe
WBT 660 Of his proverbes n' of his olde sawe,
WBT 661 Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be.
WBT 662 I hate hym that my vices telleth me,
WBT 663 And so doo mo, God woot, of us than I.
WBT 664 This made hym with me wood al outrely;
WBT 665 I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas.
WBT 666 Now wol I seye yow sooth, by Seint Thomas,
WBT 667 Why that I rente out of his book a leef,
WBT 668 For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
WBT 669 He hadde a book that gladly, nyght and day,
WBT 670 For his desport he wolde rede alway;
WBT 671 He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste,
WBT 672 At which book he lough alwey ful faste.
WBT 673 And eek ther was somtyme a clerk at Rome,
WBT 674 A cardinal, that highte Seint Jerome,
WBT 675 That made a book agayn Jovinian;
WBT 676 In which book eek ther was Tertulan,
WBT 677 Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys,
WBT 678 That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys,
WBT 679 And eek the Parables of Salomon,
WBT 680 Ovides Art, and bookes many on,
WBT 681 And alle thise were bounden in o volume.
WBT 682 And every nyght and day was his custume,
WBT 683 Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun
WBT 684 From oother worldly occupacioun,
WBT 685 To reden on this book of wikked wyves.
WBT 686 He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves
WBT 687 Than been of goode wyves in the Bible.
WBT 688 For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
WBT 689 That any clerk wol speke good of wyves,
WBT 690 But if it be of hooly seintes lyves,
WBT 691 Ne of noon oother womman never the mo.
WBT 692 Who peyntede the leon, tel me who?
WBT 693 By God, if wommen hadde writen stories,
WBT 694 As clerkes han withinne hire oratories,
WBT 695 They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse
WBT 696 Than al the mark of Adam may redresse.
WBT 697 The children of Mercurie and of Venus
WBT 698 Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius;
WBT 699 Mercurie loveth wysdam and science,
WBT 700 And Venus loveth ryot and dispence.
WBT 701 And, for hire diverse disposicioun,
WBT 702 Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun.
WBT 703 And thus, God woot, Mercurie is desolat
WBT 704 In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat,
WBT 705 And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed.
WBT 706 Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
WBT 707 The clerk, whan he is oold, and may noght do
WBT 708 Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
WBT 709 Thanne sit he doun, and writ in his dotage
WBT 710 That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage!
WBT 711 But now to purpos, why I tolde thee
WBT 712 That I was beten for a book, pardee!
WBT 713 Upon a nyght Jankyn, that was oure sire,
WBT 714 Redde on his book, as he sat by the fire,
WBT 715 Of Eva first, that for hir wikkednesse
WBT 716 Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse,
WBT 717 For which that Jhesu Crist hymself was slayn,
WBT 718 That boghte us with his herte blood agayn.
WBT 719 Lo, heere expres of womman may ye fynde
WBT 720 That womman was the los of al mankynde.
WBT 721 Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres:
WBT 722 Slepynge, his lemman kitte it with hir sheres;
WBT 723 Thurgh which treson loste he bothe his yen.
WBT 724 Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
WBT 725 Of Hercules and of his Dianyre,
WBT 726 That caused hym to sette hymself afyre.
WBT 727 No thyng forgat he the care and the wo
WBT 728 That Socrates hadde with his wyves two,
WBT 729 How Xantippa caste pisse upon his heed.
WBT 730 This sely man sat stille as he were deed;
WBT 731 He wiped his heed, namoore dorste he seyn,
WBT 732 But `Er that thonder stynte, comth a reyn!'
WBT 733 Of Phasipha, that was the queene of Crete,
WBT 734 For shrewednesse, hym thoughte the tale swete;
WBT 735 Fy! Spek namoore -- it is a grisly thyng --
WBT 736 Of hire horrible lust and hir likyng.
WBT 737 Of Clitermystra, for hire lecherye,
WBT 738 That falsly made hire housbonde for to dye,
WBT 739 He redde it with ful good devocioun.
WBT 740 He tolde me eek for what occasioun
WBT 741 Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf.
WBT 742 Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf,
WBT 743 Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold
WBT 744 Hath prively unto the Grekes told
WBT 745 Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place,
WBT 746 For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.
WBT 747 Of Lyvia tolde he me, and of Lucye:
WBT 748 They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye,
WBT 749 That oon for love, that oother was for hate.
WBT 750 Lyvia hir housbonde, on an even late,
WBT 751 Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo;
WBT 752 Lucia, likerous, loved hire housbonde so
WBT 753 That, for he sholde alwey upon hire thynke,
WBT 754 She yaf hym swich a manere love-drynke
WBT 755 That he was deed er it were by the morwe;
WBT 756 And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.
WBT 757 Thanne tolde he me how oon Latumyus
WBT 758 Compleyned unto his felawe Arrius
WBT 759 That in his gardyn growed swich a tree
WBT 760 On which he seyde how that his wyves thre
WBT 761 Hanged hemself for herte despitus.
WBT 762 `O leeve brother,' quod this Arrius,
WBT 763 `Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree,
WBT 764 And in my gardyn planted shal it bee.'
WBT 765 Of latter date, of wyves hath he red
WBT 766 That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed,
WBT 767 And lete hir lecchour dighte hire al the nyght,
WBT 768 Whan that the corps lay in the floor upright.
WBT 769 And somme han dryve nayles in hir brayn,
WBT 770 Whil that they slepte, and thus they had hem slayn.
WBT 771 Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hire drynke.
WBT 772 He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke,
WBT 773 And therwithal he knew of mo proverbes
WBT 774 Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
WBT 775 `Bet is,' quod he, `thyn habitacioun
WBT 776 Be with a leon or a foul dragoun,
WBT 777 Than with a womman usynge for to chyde.
WBT 778 Bet is,' quod he, `hye in the roof abyde,
WBT 779 Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous;
WBT 780 They been so wikked and contrarious,
WBT 781 They haten that hir housbondes loven ay.'
WBT 782 He seyde, `A womman cast hir shame away,
WBT 783 Whan she cast of hir smok'; and forthermo,
WBT 784 `A fair womman, but she be chaast also,
WBT 785 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose.'
WBT 786 Who wolde wene, or who wolde suppose,
WBT 787 The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
WBT 788 And whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne
WBT 789 To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
WBT 790 Al sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
WBT 791 Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke
WBT 792 I with my fest so took hym on the cheke
WBT 793 That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun.
WBT 794 And he up stirte as dooth a wood leoun,
WBT 795 And with his fest he smoot me on the heed
WBT 796 That in the floor I lay as I were deed.
WBT 797 And whan he saugh how stille that I lay,
WBT 798 He was agast and wolde han fled his way,
WBT 799 Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde.
WBT 800 `O! hastow slayn me, false theef?' I seyde,
WBT 801 `And for my land thus hastow mordred me?
WBT 802 Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.'
WBT 803 And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun,
WBT 804 And seyde, `Deere suster Alisoun,
WBT 805 As help me God, I shal thee nevere smyte!
WBT 806 That I have doon, it is thyself to wyte.
WBT 807 Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke!'
WBT 808 And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke,
WBT 809 And seyde, `Theef, thus muchel am I wreke;
WBT 810 Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.'
WBT 811 But atte laste, with muchel care and wo,
WBT 812 We fille acorded by us selven two.
WBT 813 He yaf me al the bridel in myn hond,
WBT 814 To han the governance of hous and lond,
WBT 815 And of his tonge, and of his hond also;
WBT 816 And made hym brenne his book anon right tho.
WBT 817 And whan that I hadde geten unto me,
WBT 818 By maistrie, al the soveraynetee,
WBT 819 And that he seyde, `Myn owene trewe wyf,
WBT 820 Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf;
WBT 821 Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat' --
WBT 822 After that day we hadden never debaat.
WBT 823 God helpe me so, I was to hym as kynde
WBT 824 As any wyf from Denmark unto Ynde,
WBT 825 And also trewe, and so was he to me.
WBT 826 I prey to God, that sit in magestee,
WBT 827 So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
WBT 828 Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol heere. "
WBT 829 The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this;
WBT 830 " Now dame, " quod he, " so have I joye or blis,
WBT 831 This is a long preamble of a tale! "
WBT 832 And whan the Somonour herde the Frere gale,
WBT 833 " Lo, " quod the Somonour, " Goddes armes two!
WBT 834 A frere wol entremette hym everemo.
WBT 835 Lo, goode men, a flye and eek a frere
WBT 836 Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere.
WBT 837 What spekestow of preambulacioun?
WBT 838 What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun!
WBT 839 Thou lettest oure disport in this manere. "
WBT 840 " Ye, woltow so, sire Somonour? " quod the Frere;
WBT 841 " Now, by my feith I shal, er that I go,
WBT 842 Telle of a somonour swich a tale or two
WBT 843 That alle the folk shal laughen in this place. "
WBT 844 " Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy face, "
WBT 845 Quod this Somonour, " and I bishrewe me,
WBT 846 But if I telle tales two or thre
WBT 847 Of freres er I come to Sidyngborne
WBT 848 That I shal make thyn herte for to morne,
WBT 849 For wel I woot thy pacience is gon. "
WBT 850 Oure Hooste cride " Pees! And that anon! "
WBT 851 And seyde, " Lat the womman telle hire tale.
WBT 852 Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale.
WBT 853 Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best. "
WBT 854 " Al redy, sire, " quod she, " right as yow lest,
WBT 855 If I have licence of this worthy Frere. "
WBT 856 " Yis, dame, " quod he, " tel forth, and I wol heere. "
WBT 857 In th' olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour,
WBT 858 Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
WBT 859 Al was this land fulfild of fayerye.
WBT 860 The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
WBT 861 Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.
WBT 862 This was the olde opinion, as I rede;
WBT 863 I speke of manye hundred yeres ago.
WBT 864 But now kan no man se none elves mo,
WBT 865 For now the grete charitee and prayeres
WBT 866 Of lymytours and othere hooly freres,
WBT 867 That serchen every lond and every streem,
WBT 868 As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
WBT 869 Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
WBT 870 Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures,
WBT 871 Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes --
WBT 872 This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes.
WBT 873 For ther as wont to walken was an elf
WBT 874 Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself
WBT 875 In undermeles and in morwenynges,
WBT 876 And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges
WBT 877 As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
WBT 878 Wommen may go saufly up and doun.
WBT 879 In every bussh or under every tree
WBT 880 Ther is noon oother incubus but he,
WBT 881 And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
WBT 882 And so bifel that this kyng Arthour
WBT 883 Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
WBT 884 That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver,
WBT 885 And happed that, allone as he was born,
WBT 886 He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,
WBT 887 Of which mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
WBT 888 By verray force, he rafte hire maydenhed;
WBT 889 For which oppressioun was swich clamour
WBT 890 And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour
WBT 891 That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
WBT 892 By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed --
WBT 893 Paraventure swich was the statut tho --
WBT 894 But that the queene and other ladyes mo
WBT 895 So longe preyeden the kyng of grace
WBT 896 Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
WBT 897 And yaf hym to the queene, al at hir wille,
WBT 898 To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille.
WBT 899 The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
WBT 900 And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
WBT 901 Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:
WBT 902 " Thou standest yet, " quod she, " in swich array
WBT 903 That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
WBT 904 I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
WBT 905 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
WBT 906 Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!
WBT 907 And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,
WBT 908 Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon
WBT 909 A twelf-month and a day, to seche and leere
WBT 910 An answere suffisant in this mateere;
WBT 911 And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
WBT 912 Thy body for to yelden in this place. "
WBT 913 Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;
WBT 914 But what! He may nat do al as hym liketh.
WBT 915 And at the laste he chees hym for to wende
WBT 916 And come agayn, right at the yeres ende,
WBT 917 With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye;
WBT 918 And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
WBT 919 He seketh every hous and every place
WBT 920 Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace
WBT 921 To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost,
WBT 922 But he ne koude arryven in no coost
WBT 923 Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
WBT 924 Two creatures accordynge in-feere.
WBT 925 Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
WBT 926 Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
WBT 927 Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
WBT 928 And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.
WBT 929 Somme seyde that oure hertes been moost esed
WBT 930 Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed.
WBT 931 He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye.
WBT 932 A man shal wynne us best with flaterye,
WBT 933 And with attendance and with bisynesse
WBT 934 Been we ylymed, bothe moore and lesse.
WBT 935 And somme seyen that we loven best
WBT 936 For to be free and do right as us lest,
WBT 937 And that no man repreve us of oure vice,
WBT 938 But seye that we be wise and no thyng nyce.
WBT 939 For trewely ther is noon of us alle,
WBT 940 If any wight wol clawe us on the galle,
WBT 941 That we nel kike, for he seith us sooth.
WBT 942 Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth;
WBT 943 For, be we never so vicious withinne,
WBT 944 We wol been holden wise and clene of synne.
WBT 945 And somme seyn that greet delit han we
WBT 946 For to been holden stable, and eek secree,
WBT 947 And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
WBT 948 And nat biwreye thyng that men us telle.
WBT 949 But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
WBT 950 Pardee, we wommen konne no thyng hele;
WBT 951 Witnesse on Myda -- wol ye heere the tale?
WBT 952 Ovyde, amonges othere thynges smale,
WBT 953 Seyde Myda hadde, under his longe heres,
WBT 954 Growynge upon his heed two asses eres,
WBT 955 The whiche vice he hydde as he best myghte
WBT 956 Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte,
WBT 957 That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it namo.
WBT 958 He loved hire moost, and trusted hire also;
WBT 959 He preyede hire that to no creature
WBT 960 She sholde tellen of his disfigure.
WBT 961 She swoor him, " Nay " ; for al this world to wynne,
WBT 962 She nolde do that vileynye or synne,
WBT 963 To make hir housbonde han so foul a name.
WBT 964 She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.
WBT 965 But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde
WBT 966 That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde;
WBT 967 Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte
WBT 968 That nedely som word hire moste asterte;
WBT 969 And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
WBT 970 Doun to a mareys faste by she ran --
WBT 971 Til she cam there hir herte was afyre --
WBT 972 And as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
WBT 973 She leyde hir mouth unto the water doun:
WBT 974 " Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun, "
WBT 975 Quod she; " to thee I telle it and namo;
WBT 976 Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two!
WBT 977 Now is myn herte al hool; now is it oute.
WBT 978 I myghte no lenger kepe it, out of doute. "
WBT 979 Heere may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
WBT 980 Yet out it moot; we kan no conseil hyde.
WBT 981 The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere,
WBT 982 Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it leere.
WBT 983 This knyght, of which my tale is specially,
WBT 984 Whan that he saugh he myghte nat come therby --
WBT 985 This is to seye, what wommen love moost --
WBT 986 Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.
WBT 987 But hoom he gooth; he myghte nat sojourne;
WBT 988 The day was come that homward moste he tourne.
WBT 989 And in his wey it happed hym to ryde,
WBT 990 In al this care, under a forest syde,
WBT 991 Wher as he saugh upon a daunce go
WBT 992 Of ladyes foure and twenty, and yet mo;
WBT 993 Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne,
WBT 994 In hope that som wysdom sholde he lerne.
WBT 995 But certeinly, er he cam fully there,
WBT 996 Vanysshed was this daunce, he nyste where.
WBT 997 No creature saugh he that bar lyf,
WBT 998 Save on the grene he saugh sittynge a wyf --
WBT 999 A fouler wight ther may no man devyse.
WBT 1000 Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse,
WBT 1001 And seyde, " Sire knyght, heer forth ne lith no wey.
WBT 1002 Tel me what that ye seken, by youre fey!
WBT 1003 Paraventure it may the bettre be;
WBT 1004 Thise olde folk kan muchel thyng, " quod she.
WBT 1005 " My leeve mooder, " quod this knyght, " certeyn
WBT 1006 I nam but deed but if that I kan seyn
WBT 1007 What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
WBT 1008 Koude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quite youre hire. "
WBT 1009 " Plight me thy trouthe heere in myn hand, " quod she,
WBT 1010 " The nexte thyng that I requere thee,
WBT 1011 Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght,
WBT 1012 And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght. "
WBT 1013 " Have heer my trouthe, " quod the knyght, " I grante. "
WBT 1014 " Thanne, " quod she, " I dar me wel avante
WBT 1015 Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby;
WBT 1016 Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I.
WBT 1017 Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle
WBT 1018 That wereth on a coverchief or a calle
WBT 1019 That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche.
WBT 1020 Lat us go forth withouten lenger speche. "
WBT 1021 Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere,
WBT 1022 And bad hym to be glad and have no fere.
WBT 1023 Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
WBT 1024 Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight,
WBT 1025 And redy was his answere, as he sayde.
WBT 1026 Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde,
WBT 1027 And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
WBT 1028 The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,
WBT 1029 Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
WBT 1030 And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.
WBT 1031 To every wight comanded was silence,
WBT 1032 And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
WBT 1033 What thyng that worldly wommen loven best.
WBT 1034 This knyght ne stood nat stille as doth a best,
WBT 1035 But to his questioun anon answerde
WBT 1036 With manly voys, that al the court it herde:
WBT 1037 " My lige lady, generally, " quod he,
WBT 1038 " Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee
WBT 1039 As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
WBT 1040 And for to been in maistrie hym above.
WBT 1041 This is youre mooste desir, thogh ye me kille.
WBT 1042 Dooth as yow list; I am heer at youre wille. "
WBT 1043 In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne mayde,
WBT 1044 Ne wydwe that contraried that he sayde,
WBT 1045 But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
WBT 1046 And with that word up stirte the olde wyf,
WBT 1047 Which that the knyght saugh sittynge on the grene:
WBT 1048 " Mercy, " quod she, " my sovereyn lady queene!
WBT 1049 Er that youre court departe, do me right.
WBT 1050 I taughte this answere unto the knyght;
WBT 1051 For which he plighte me his trouthe there,
WBT 1052 The firste thyng that I wolde hym requere
WBT 1053 He wolde it do, if it lay in his myghte.
WBT 1054 Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sir knyght, "
WBT 1055 Quod she, " that thou me take unto thy wyf,
WBT 1056 For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf.
WBT 1057 If I seye fals, sey nay, upon thy fey! "
WBT 1058 This knyght answerde, " Allas and weylawey!
WBT 1059 I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
WBT 1060 For Goddes love, as chees a newe requeste!
WBT 1061 Taak al my good and lat my body go. "
WBT 1062 " Nay, thanne, " quod she, " I shrewe us bothe two!
WBT 1063 For thogh that I be foul, and oold, and poore
WBT 1064 I nolde for al the metal, ne for oore
WBT 1065 That under erthe is grave or lith above,
WBT 1066 But if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love. "
WBT 1067 " My love? " quod he, " nay, my dampnacioun!
WBT 1068 Allas, that any of my nacioun
WBT 1069 Sholde evere so foule disparaged be! "
WBT 1070 But al for noght; the ende is this, that he
WBT 1071 Constreyned was; he nedes moste hire wedde,
WBT 1072 And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde.
WBT 1073 Now wolden som men seye, paraventure,
WBT 1074 That for my necligence I do no cure
WBT 1075 To tellen yow the joye and al th' array
WBT 1076 That at the feeste was that ilke day.
WBT 1077 To which thyng shortly answeren I shal:
WBT 1078 I seye ther nas no joye ne feeste at al;
WBT 1079 Ther nas but hevynesse and muche sorwe.
WBT 1080 For prively he wedded hire on morwe,
WBT 1081 And al day after hidde hym as an owle,
WBT 1082 So wo was hym, his wyf looked so foule.
WBT 1083 Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght,
WBT 1084 Whan he was with his wyf abedde ybroght;
WBT 1085 He walweth and he turneth to and fro.
WBT 1086 His olde wyf lay smylynge everemo,
WBT 1087 And seyde, " O deere housbonde, benedicitee!
WBT 1088 Fareth every knyght thus with his wyf as ye?
WBT 1089 Is this the lawe of kyng Arthures hous?
WBT 1090 Is every knyght of his so dangerous?
WBT 1091 I am youre owene love and youre wyf;
WBT 1092 I am she which that saved hath youre lyf,
WBT 1093 And, certes, yet ne dide I yow nevere unright;
WBT 1094 Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght?
WBT 1095 Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit.
WBT 1096 What is my gilt? For Goddes love, tel it,
WBT 1097 And it shal been amended, if I may. "
WBT 1098 " Amended? " quod this knyght, " Allas, nay, nay!
WBT 1099 It wol nat been amended nevere mo.
WBT 1100 Thou art so loothly, and so oold also,
WBT 1101 And therto comen of so lough a kynde,
WBT 1102 That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
WBT 1103 So wolde God myn herte wolde breste! "
WBT 1104 " Is this, " quod she, " the cause of youre unreste? "
WBT 1105 " Ye, certeinly, " quod he, " no wonder is. "
WBT 1106 " Now, sire, " quod she, " I koude amende al this,
WBT 1107 If that me liste, er it were dayes thre,
WBT 1108 So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me.
WBT 1109 " But, for ye speken of swich gentillesse
WBT 1110 As is descended out of old richesse,
WBT 1111 That therfore sholden ye be gentil men,
WBT 1112 Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
WBT 1113 Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
WBT 1114 Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
WBT 1115 To do the gentil dedes that he kan;
WBT 1116 Taak hym for the grettest gentil man.
WBT 1117 Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse,
WBT 1118 Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse.
WBT 1119 For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage,
WBT 1120 For which we clayme to been of heigh parage,
WBT 1121 Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng
WBT 1122 To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng,
WBT 1123 That made hem gentil men ycalled be,
WBT 1124 And bad us folwen hem in swich degree.
WBT 1125 " Wel kan the wise poete of Florence,
WBT 1126 That highte Dant, speken in this sentence.
WBT 1127 Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:
WBT 1128 `Ful selde up riseth by his branches smale
WBT 1129 Prowesse of man, for God, of his goodnesse,
WBT 1130 Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse';
WBT 1131 For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme
WBT 1132 But temporel thyng, that man may hurte and mayme.
WBT 1133 " Eek every wight woot this as wel as I,
WBT 1134 If gentillesse were planted natureelly
WBT 1135 Unto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne,
WBT 1136 Pryvee and apert thanne wolde they nevere fyne
WBT 1137 To doon of gentillesse the faire office;
WBT 1138 They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
WBT 1139 " Taak fyr and ber it in the derkeste hous
WBT 1140 Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous,
WBT 1141 And lat men shette the dores and go thenne;
WBT 1142 Yet wole the fyr as faire lye and brenne
WBT 1143 As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde;
WBT 1144 His office natureel ay wol it holde,
WBT 1145 Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye.
WBT 1146 " Heere may ye se wel how that genterye
WBT 1147 Is nat annexed to possessioun,
WBT 1148 Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun
WBT 1149 Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo, in his kynde.
WBT 1150 For, God it woot, men may wel often fynde
WBT 1151 A lordes sone do shame and vileynye;
WBT 1152 And he that wole han pris of his gentrye,
WBT 1153 For he was boren of a gentil hous
WBT 1154 And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous,
WBT 1155 And nel hymselven do no gentil dedis
WBT 1156 Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,
WBT 1157 He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl,
WBT 1158 For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.
WBT 1159 For gentillesse nys but renomee
WBT 1160 Of thyne auncestres, for hire heigh bountee,
WBT 1161 Which is a strange thyng to thy persone.
WBT 1162 Thy gentillesse cometh fro God allone.
WBT 1163 Thanne comth oure verray gentillesse of grace;
WBT 1164 It was no thyng biquethe us with oure place.
WBT 1165 " Thenketh hou noble, as seith Valerius,
WBT 1166 Was thilke Tullius Hostillius,
WBT 1167 That out of poverte roos to heigh noblesse.
WBT 1168 Reedeth Senek, and redeth eek Boece;
WBT 1169 Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is
WBT 1170 That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.
WBT 1171 And therfore, leeve housbonde, I thus conclude:
WBT 1172 Al were it that myne auncestres were rude,
WBT 1173 Yet may the hye God, and so hope I,
WBT 1174 Grante me grace to lyven vertuously.
WBT 1175 Thanne am I gentil, whan that I bigynne
WBT 1176 To lyven vertuously and weyve synne.
WBT 1177 " And ther as ye of poverte me repreeve,
WBT 1178 The hye God, on whom that we bileeve,
WBT 1179 In wilful poverte chees to lyve his lyf.
WBT 1180 And certes every man, mayden, or wyf
WBT 1181 May understonde that Jhesus, hevene kyng,
WBT 1182 Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyvyng.
WBT 1183 Glad poverte is an honest thyng, certeyn;
WBT 1184 This wole Senec and othere clerkes seyn.
WBT 1185 Whoso that halt hym payd of his poverte,
WBT 1186 I holde hym riche, al hadde he nat a sherte.
WBT 1187 He that coveiteth is a povre wight,
WBT 1188 For he wolde han that is nat in his myght;
WBT 1189 But he that noght hath, ne coveiteth have,
WBT 1190 Is riche, although ye holde hym but a knave.
WBT 1191 Verray poverte, it syngeth proprely;
WBT 1192 Juvenal seith of poverte myrily:
WBT 1193 `The povre man, whan he goth by the weye,
WBT 1194 Bifore the theves he may synge and pleye.'
WBT 1195 Poverte is hateful good and, as I gesse,
WBT 1196 A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse;
WBT 1197 A greet amendere eek of sapience
WBT 1198 To hym that taketh it in pacience.
WBT 1199 Poverte is this, although it seme alenge:
WBT 1200 Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge.
WBT 1201 Poverte ful ofte, whan a man is lowe,
WBT 1202 Maketh his God and eek hymself to knowe.
WBT 1203 Poverte a spectacle is, as thynketh me,
WBT 1204 Thurgh which he may his verray freendes see.
WBT 1205 And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greve,
WBT 1206 Of my poverte namoore ye me repreve.
WBT 1207 " Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me;
WBT 1208 And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
WBT 1209 Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
WBT 1210 Seyn that men sholde an oold wight doon favour
WBT 1211 And clepe hym fader, for youre gentillesse;
WBT 1212 And auctours shal I fynden, as I gesse.
WBT 1213 " Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old,
WBT 1214 Than drede you noght to been a cokewold;
WBT 1215 For filthe and eelde, also moot I thee,
WBT 1216 Been grete wardeyns upon chastitee.
WBT 1217 But nathelees, syn I knowe youre delit,
WBT 1218 I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
WBT 1219 " Chese now, " quod she, " oon of thise thynges tweye:
WBT 1220 To han me foul and old til that I deye,
WBT 1221 And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf,
WBT 1222 And nevere yow displese in al my lyf,
WBT 1223 Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair,
WBT 1224 And take youre aventure of the repair
WBT 1225 That shal be to youre hous by cause of me,
WBT 1226 Or in som oother place, may wel be.
WBT 1227 Now chese yourselven, wheither that yow liketh. "
WBT 1228 This knyght avyseth hym and sore siketh,
WBT 1229 But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
WBT 1230 " My lady and my love, and wyf so deere,
WBT 1231 I put me in youre wise governance;
WBT 1232 Cheseth youreself which may be moost plesance
WBT 1233 And moost honour to yow and me also.
WBT 1234 I do no fors the wheither of the two,
WBT 1235 For as yow liketh, it suffiseth me. "
WBT 1236 " Thanne have I gete of yow maistrie, " quod she,
WBT 1237 " Syn I may chese and governe as me lest? "
WBT 1238 " Ye, certes, wyf, " quod he, " I holde it best. "
WBT 1239 " Kys me, " quod she, " we be no lenger wrothe,
WBT 1240 For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe --
WBT 1241 This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good.
WBT 1242 I prey to God that I moote sterven wood,
WBT 1243 But I to yow be also good and trewe
WBT 1244 As evere was wyf, syn that the world was newe.
WBT 1245 And but I be to-morn as fair to seene
WBT 1246 As any lady, emperice, or queene,
WBT 1247 That is bitwixe the est and eke the west,
WBT 1248 Dooth with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.
WBT 1249 Cast up the curtyn, looke how that it is. "
WBT 1250 And whan the knyght saugh verraily al this,
WBT 1251 That she so fair was, and so yong therto,
WBT 1252 For joye he hente hire in his armes two.
WBT 1253 His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.
WBT 1254 A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hire kisse,
WBT 1255 And she obeyed hym in every thyng
WBT 1256 That myghte doon hym plesance or likyng.
WBT 1257 And thus they lyve unto hir lyves ende
WBT 1258 In parfit joye; and Jhesu Crist us sende
WBT 1259 Housbondes meeke, yonge, and fressh abedde,
WBT 1260 And grace t' overbyde hem that we wedde;
WBT 1261 And eek I praye Jhesu shorte hir lyves
WBT 1262 That noght wol be governed by hir wyves;
WBT 1263 And olde and angry nygardes of dispence,
WBT 1264 God sende hem soone verray pestilence!
FrT 1265 This worthy lymytour, this noble Frere,
FrT 1266 He made alwey a maner louryng chiere
FrT 1267 Upon the Somonour, but for honestee
FrT 1268 No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he.
FrT 1269 But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf,
FrT 1270 " Dame, " quod he, " God yeve yow right good lyf!
FrT 1271 Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee,
FrT 1272 In scole-matere greet difficultee.
FrT 1273 Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye;
FrT 1274 But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye,
FrT 1275 Us nedeth nat to speken but of game,
FrT 1276 And lete auctoritees, on Goddes name,
FrT 1277 To prechyng and to scoles of clergye.
FrT 1278 But if it lyke to this compaignye,
FrT 1279 I wol yow of a somonour telle a game.
FrT 1280 Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name
FrT 1281 That of a somonour may no good be sayd;
FrT 1282 I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd.
FrT 1283 A somonour is a rennere up and doun
FrT 1284 With mandementz for fornicacioun,
FrT 1285 And is ybet at every townes ende. "
FrT 1286 Oure Hoost tho spak, " A, sire, ye sholde be hende
FrT 1287 And curteys, as a man of youre estaat;
FrT 1288 In compaignye we wol have no debaat.
FrT 1289 Telleth youre tale, and lat the Somonour be. "
FrT 1290 " Nay, " quod the Somonour, " lat hym seye to me
FrT 1291 What so hym list; whan it comth to my lot,
FrT 1292 By God, I shal hym quiten every grot.
FrT 1293 I shal hym tellen which a greet honour
FrT 1294 It is to be a flaterynge lymytour,
FrT 1295 And of many another manere cryme
FrT 1296 Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme;
FrT 1297 And his office I shal hym telle, ywis. "
FrT 1298 Oure Hoost answerde, " Pees, namoore of this! "
FrT 1299 And after this he seyde unto the Frere,
FrT 1300 " Tel forth youre tale, leeve maister deere. "
FrT 1301 Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree
FrT 1302 An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree,
FrT 1303 That boldely dide execucioun
FrT 1304 In punysshynge of fornicacioun,
FrT 1305 Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye,
FrT 1306 Of diffamacioun, and avowtrye,
FrT 1307 Of chirche reves, and of testamentz,
FrT 1308 Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz,
FrT 1309 Of usure, and of symonye also.
FrT 1310 But certes, lecchours dide he grettest wo;
FrT 1311 They sholde syngen if that they were hent;
FrT 1312 And smale tytheres weren foule yshent,
FrT 1313 If any persoun wolde upon hem pleyne.
FrT 1314 Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunyal peyne.
FrT 1315 For smale tithes and for smal offrynge
FrT 1316 He made the peple pitously to synge,
FrT 1317 For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook,
FrT 1318 They weren in the erchedeknes book.
FrT 1319 Thanne hadde he, thurgh his jurisdiccioun,
FrT 1320 Power to doon on hem correccioun.
FrT 1321 He hadde a somonour redy to his hond;
FrT 1322 A slyer boye nas noon in Engelond;
FrT 1323 For subtilly he hadde his espiaille,
FrT 1324 That taughte hym wel wher that hym myghte availle.
FrT 1325 He koude spare of lecchours oon or two,
FrT 1326 To techen hym to foure and twenty mo.
FrT 1327 For thogh this Somonour wood were as an hare,
FrT 1328 To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare;
FrT 1329 For we been out of his correccioun.
FrT 1330 They han of us no jurisdiccioun,
FrT 1331 Ne nevere shullen, terme of alle hir lyves.
FrT 1332 " Peter! so been wommen of the styves, "
FrT 1333 Quod the Somonour, " yput out of oure cure! "
FrT 1334 " Pees! with myschance and with mysaventure! "
FrT 1335 Thus seyde oure Hoost, " and lat hym telle his tale.
FrT 1336 Now telleth forth, thogh that the Somonour gale;
FrT 1337 Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister deere. "
FrT 1338 This false theef, this somonour, quod the Frere,
FrT 1339 Hadde alwey bawdes redy to his hond,
FrT 1340 As any hauk to lure in Engelond,
FrT 1341 That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe,
FrT 1342 For hire acqueyntance was nat come of newe.
FrT 1343 They weren his approwours prively.
FrT 1344 He took hymself a greet profit therby;
FrT 1345 His maister knew nat alwey what he wan.
FrT 1346 Withouten mandement a lewed man
FrT 1347 He koude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs,
FrT 1348 And they were glade for to fille his purs
FrT 1349 And make hym grete feestes atte nale.
FrT 1350 And right as Judas hadde purses smale,
FrT 1351 And was a theef, right swich a theef was he;
FrT 1352 His maister hadde but half his duetee.
FrT 1353 He was, if I shal yeven hym his laude,
FrT 1354 A theef, and eek a somnour, and a baude.
FrT 1355 He hadde eek wenches at his retenue,
FrT 1356 That, wheither that sir Robert or sir Huwe,
FrT 1357 Or Jakke, or Rauf, or whoso that it were
FrT 1358 That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere.
FrT 1359 Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent,
FrT 1360 And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement,
FrT 1361 And somne hem to chapitre bothe two,
FrT 1362 And pile the man, and lete the wenche go.
FrT 1363 Thanne wolde he seye, " Freend, I shal for thy sake
FrT 1364 Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake;
FrT 1365 Thee thar namoore as in this cas travaille.
FrT 1366 I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle. "
FrT 1367 Certeyn he knew of briberyes mo
FrT 1368 Than possible is to telle in yeres two.
FrT 1369 For in this world nys dogge for the bowe
FrT 1370 That kan an hurt deer from an hool yknowe
FrT 1371 Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour,
FrT 1372 Or an avowtier, or a paramour.
FrT 1373 And for that was the fruyt of al his rente,
FrT 1374 Therfore on it he sette al his entente.
FrT 1375 And so bifel that ones on a day
FrT 1376 This somnour, evere waityng on his pray,
FrT 1377 Rood for to somne an old wydwe, a ribibe,
FrT 1378 Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe.
FrT 1379 And happed that he saugh bifore hym ryde
FrT 1380 A gay yeman, under a forest syde.
FrT 1381 A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene;
FrT 1382 He hadde upon a courtepy of grene,
FrT 1383 An hat upon his heed with frenges blake.
FrT 1384 " Sire, " quod this somnour, " hayl, and wel atake! "
FrT 1385 " Welcome, " quod he, " and every good felawe!
FrT 1386 Wher rydestow, under this grene-wode shawe? "
FrT 1387 Seyde this yeman, " Wiltow fer to day? "
FrT 1388 This somnour hym answerde and seyde, " Nay;
FrT 1389 Heere faste by, " quod he, " is myn entente
FrT 1390 To ryden, for to reysen up a rente
FrT 1391 That longeth to my lordes duetee. "
FrT 1392 " Artow thanne a bailly? " " Ye, " quod he.
FrT 1393 He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame
FrT 1394 Seye that he was a somonour, for the name.
FrT 1395 " Depardieux, " quod this yeman, " deere broother,
FrT 1396 Thou art a bailly, and I am another.
FrT 1397 I am unknowen as in this contree;
FrT 1398 Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee,
FrT 1399 And eek of bretherhede, if that yow leste.
FrT 1400 I have gold and silver in my cheste;
FrT 1401 If that thee happe to comen in oure shire,
FrT 1402 Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desire. "
FrT 1403 " Grant mercy, " quod this somonour, " by my feith! "
FrT 1404 Everych in ootheres hand his trouthe leith,
FrT 1405 For to be sworne bretheren til they deye.
FrT 1406 In daliance they ryden forth and pleye.
FrT 1407 This somonour, which that was as ful of jangles
FrT 1408 As ful of venym been thise waryangles
FrT 1409 And evere enqueryng upon every thyng,
FrT 1410 " Brother, " quod he, " where is now youre dwellyng
FrT 1411 Another day if that I sholde yow seche? "
FrT 1412 This yeman hym answerde in softe speche,
FrT 1413 " Brother, " quod he, " fer in the north contree,
FrT 1414 Whereas I hope som tyme I shal thee see.
FrT 1415 Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse
FrT 1416 That of myn hous ne shaltow nevere mysse. "
FrT 1417 " Now, brother, " quod this somonour, " I yow preye,
FrT 1418 Teche me, whil that we ryden by the weye,
FrT 1419 Syn that ye been a baillif as am I,
FrT 1420 Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully
FrT 1421 In myn office how that I may moost wynne;
FrT 1422 And spareth nat for conscience ne synne,
FrT 1423 But as my brother tel me, how do ye. "
FrT 1424 " Now, by my trouthe, brother deere, " seyde he,
FrT 1425 " As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale,
FrT 1426 My wages been ful streite and ful smale.
FrT 1427 My lord is hard to me and daungerous,
FrT 1428 And myn office is ful laborous,
FrT 1429 And therfore by extorcions I lyve.
FrT 1430 For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive.
FrT 1431 Algate, by sleyghte or by violence,
FrT 1432 Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence.
FrT 1433 I kan no bettre telle, feithfully. "
FrT 1434 " Now certes, " quod this Somonour, " so fare I.
FrT 1435 I spare nat to taken, God it woot,
FrT 1436 But if it be to hevy or to hoot.
FrT 1437 What I may gete in conseil prively,
FrT 1438 No maner conscience of that have I.
FrT 1439 Nere myn extorcioun, I myghte nat lyven,
FrT 1440 Ne of swiche japes wol I nat be shryven.
FrT 1441 Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon;
FrT 1442 I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everychoon.
FrT 1443 Wel be we met, by God and by Seint Jame!
FrT 1444 But, leeve brother, tel me thanne thy name, "
FrT 1445 Quod this somonour. In this meene while
FrT 1446 This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.
FrT 1447 " Brother, " quod he, " wiltow that I thee telle?
FrT 1448 I am a feend; my dwellyng is in helle,
FrT 1449 And heere I ryde aboute my purchasyng,
FrT 1450 To wite wher men wol yeve me any thyng.
FrT 1451 My purchas is th' effect of al my rente.
FrT 1452 Looke how thou rydest for the same entente,
FrT 1453 To wynne good, thou rekkest nevere how;
FrT 1454 Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now
FrT 1455 Unto the worldes ende for a preye. "
FrT 1456 " A! " quod this somonour, " benedicite! What sey ye?
FrT 1457 I wende ye were a yeman trewely.
FrT 1458 Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I;
FrT 1459 Han ye a figure thanne determinat
FrT 1460 In helle, ther ye been in youre estat? "
FrT 1461 " Nay, certeinly, " quod he, " ther have we noon;
FrT 1462 But whan us liketh we kan take us oon,
FrT 1463 Or elles make yow seme we been shape;
FrT 1464 Somtyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape,
FrT 1465 Or lyk an angel kan I ryde or go.
FrT 1466 It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so;
FrT 1467 A lowsy jogelour kan deceyve thee,
FrT 1468 And pardee, yet kan I moore craft than he. "
FrT 1469 " Why, " quod this somonour, " ryde ye thanne or goon
FrT 1470 In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon? "
FrT 1471 " For we, " quod he, " wol us swiche formes make
FrT 1472 As moost able is oure preyes for to take. "
FrT 1473 " What maketh yow to han al this labour? "
FrT 1474 " Ful many a cause, leeve sire somonour, "
FrT 1475 Seyde this feend, " but alle thyng hath tyme.
FrT 1476 The day is short, and it is passed pryme,
FrT 1477 And yet ne wan I nothyng in this day.
FrT 1478 I wol entende to wynnyng, if I may,
FrT 1479 And nat entende oure wittes to declare.
FrT 1480 For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare
FrT 1481 To understonde, althogh I tolde hem thee.
FrT 1482 But, for thou axest why labouren we --
FrT 1483 For somtyme we been Goddes instrumentz
FrT 1484 And meenes to doon his comandementz,
FrT 1485 Whan that hym list, upon his creatures,
FrT 1486 In divers art and in diverse figures.
FrT 1487 Withouten hym we have no myght, certayn,
FrT 1488 If that hym list to stonden ther-agayn.
FrT 1489 And somtyme, at oure prayere, han we leve
FrT 1490 Oonly the body and nat the soule greve;
FrT 1491 Witnesse on Job, whom that we diden wo.
FrT 1492 And somtyme han we myght of bothe two --
FrT 1493 This is to seyn, of soule and body eke.
FrT 1494 And somtyme be we suffred for to seke
FrT 1495 Upon a man and doon his soule unreste
FrT 1496 And nat his body, and al is for the beste.
FrT 1497 Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun,
FrT 1498 It is a cause of his savacioun,
FrT 1499 Al be it that it was nat oure entente
FrT 1500 He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde hym hente.
FrT 1501 And somtyme be we servant unto man,
FrT 1502 As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan,
FrT 1503 And to the apostles servant eek was I. "
FrT 1504 " Yet tel me, " quod the somonour, " feithfully,
FrT 1505 Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway
FrT 1506 Of elementz? " The feend answerde, " Nay.
FrT 1507 Somtyme we feyne, and somtyme we aryse
FrT 1508 With dede bodyes, in ful sondry wyse,
FrT 1509 And speke as renably and faire and wel
FrT 1510 As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel.
FrT 1511 (And yet wol som men seye it was nat he;
FrT 1512 I do no fors of youre dyvynytee.)
FrT 1513 But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat jape:
FrT 1514 Thou wolt algates wite how we been shape;
FrT 1515 Thou shalt herafterward, my brother deere,
FrT 1516 Come there thee nedeth nat of me to leere,
FrT 1517 For thou shalt, by thyn owene experience,
FrT 1518 Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence
FrT 1519 Bet than Virgile, while he was on lyve,
FrT 1520 Or Dant also. Now lat us ryde blyve,
FrT 1521 For I wole holde compaignye with thee
FrT 1522 Til it be so that thou forsake me. "
FrT 1523 " Nay, " quod this somonour, " that shal nat bityde!
FrT 1524 I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde;
FrT 1525 My trouthe wol I holde, as in this cas.
FrT 1526 For though thou were the devel Sathanas,
FrT 1527 My trouthe wol I holde to my brother,
FrT 1528 As I am sworn, and ech of us til oother,
FrT 1529 For to be trewe brother in this cas;
FrT 1530 And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas.
FrT 1531 Taak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive,
FrT 1532 And I shal myn; thus may we bothe lyve.
FrT 1533 And if that any of us have moore than oother,
FrT 1534 Lat hym be trewe and parte it with his brother. "
FrT 1535 " I graunte, " quod the devel, " by my fey. "
FrT 1536 And with that word they ryden forth hir wey.
FrT 1537 And right at the entryng of the townes ende,
FrT 1538 To which this somonour shoop hym for to wende,
FrT 1539 They saugh a cart that charged was with hey,
FrT 1540 Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey.
FrT 1541 Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood.
FrT 1542 The cartere smoot and cryde as he were wood,
FrT 1543 " Hayt, Brok! Hayt, Scot! What spare ye for the stones?
FrT 1544 The feend, " quod he, " yow fecche, body and bones,
FrT 1545 As ferforthly as evere were ye foled,
FrT 1546 So muche wo as I have with yow tholed!
FrT 1547 The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey! "
FrT 1548 This somonour seyde, " Heere shal we have a pley. "
FrT 1549 And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were,
FrT 1550 Ful prively, and rowned in his ere:
FrT 1551 " Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith!
FrT 1552 Herestow nat how that the cartere seith?
FrT 1553 Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee,
FrT 1554 Bothe hey and cart, and eek his caples thre. "
FrT 1555 " Nay, " quod the devel, " God woot, never a deel!
FrT 1556 It is nat his entente, trust me weel.
FrT 1557 Axe hym thyself, if thou nat trowest me;
FrT 1558 Or elles stynt a while, and thou shalt see. "
FrT 1559 This cartere thakketh his hors upon the croupe,
FrT 1560 And they bigonne to drawen and to stoupe.
FrT 1561 " Heyt! Now, " quod he, " ther Jhesu Crist yow blesse,
FrT 1562 And al his handwerk, bothe moore and lesse!
FrT 1563 That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy.
FrT 1564 I pray God save thee, and Seinte Loy!
FrT 1565 Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee! "
FrT 1566 " Lo, brother, " quod the feend, " what tolde I thee?
FrT 1567 Heere may ye se, myn owene deere brother,
FrT 1568 The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another.
FrT 1569 Lat us go forth abouten oure viage;
FrT 1570 Heere wynne I nothyng upon cariage. "
FrT 1571 Whan that they coomen somwhat out of towne,
FrT 1572 This somonour to his brother gan to rowne:
FrT 1573 " Brother, " quod he, " heere woneth an old rebekke
FrT 1574 That hadde almoost as lief to lese hire nekke
FrT 1575 As for to yeve a peny of hir good.
FrT 1576 I wole han twelf pens, though that she be wood,
FrT 1577 Or I wol sompne hire unto oure office;
FrT 1578 And yet, God woot, of hire knowe I no vice.
FrT 1579 But for thou kanst nat, as in this contree,
FrT 1580 Wynne thy cost, taak heer ensample of me. "
FrT 1581 This somonour clappeth at the wydwes gate.
FrT 1582 " Com out, " quod he, " thou olde virytrate!
FrT 1583 I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee. "
FrT 1584 " Who clappeth? " seyde this wyf, " benedicitee!
FrT 1585 God save you, sire, what is youre sweete wille? "
FrT 1586 " I have, " quod he, " of somonce here a bille;
FrT 1587 Up peyne of cursyng, looke that thou be
FrT 1588 Tomorn bifore the erchedeknes knee
FrT 1589 T' answere to the court of certeyn thynges. "
FrT 1590 " Now, Lord, " quod she, " Crist Jhesu, kyng of kynges,
FrT 1591 So wisly helpe me, as I ne may.
FrT 1592 I have been syk, and that ful many a day.
FrT 1593 I may nat go so fer, " quod she, " ne ryde,
FrT 1594 But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde.
FrT 1595 May I nat axe a libel, sire somonour,
FrT 1596 And answere there by my procuratour
FrT 1597 To swich thyng as men wole opposen me? "
FrT 1598 " Yis, " quod this somonour, " pay anon -- lat se --
FrT 1599 Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquite.
FrT 1600 I shal no profit han therby but lite;
FrT 1601 My maister hath the profit and nat I.
FrT 1602 Com of, and lat me ryden hastily;
FrT 1603 Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarye. "
FrT 1604 " Twelf pens! " quod she, " Now, lady Seinte Marie
FrT 1605 So wisly help me out of care and synne,
FrT 1606 This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne,
FrT 1607 Ne have I nat twelf pens withinne myn hoold.
FrT 1608 Ye knowen wel that I am povre and oold;
FrT 1609 Kithe youre almesse on me, povre wrecche. "
FrT 1610 " Nay thanne, " quod he, " the foule feend me fecche
FrT 1611 If I th' excuse, though thou shul be spilt! "
FrT 1612 " Allas! " quod she, " God woot, I have no gilt. "
FrT 1613 " Pay me, " quod he, " or by the sweete Seinte Anne,
FrT 1614 As I wol bere awey thy newe panne
FrT 1615 For dette which thou owest me of old.
FrT 1616 Whan that thou madest thyn housbonde cokewold,
FrT 1617 I payde at hoom for thy correccioun. "
FrT 1618 " Thou lixt! " quod she, " by my savacioun,
FrT 1619 Ne was I nevere er now, wydwe ne wyf,
FrT 1620 Somoned unto youre court in al my lyf;
FrT 1621 Ne nevere I nas but of my body trewe!
FrT 1622 Unto the devel blak and rough of hewe
FrT 1623 Yeve I thy body and my panne also! "
FrT 1624 And whan the devel herde hire cursen so
FrT 1625 Upon hir knees, he seyde in this manere,
FrT 1626 " Now, Mabely, myn owene mooder deere,
FrT 1627 Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye? "
FrT 1628 " The devel, " quod she, " so fecche hym er he deye,
FrT 1629 And panne and al, but he wol hym repente! "
FrT 1630 " Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente, "
FrT 1631 Quod this somonour, " for to repente me
FrT 1632 For any thyng that I have had of thee.
FrT 1633 I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth! "
FrT 1634 " Now, brother, " quod the devel, " be nat wrooth;
FrT 1635 Thy body and this panne been myne by right.
FrT 1636 Thou shalt with me to helle yet tonyght,
FrT 1637 Where thou shalt knowen of oure privetee
FrT 1638 Moore than a maister of dyvynytee. "
FrT 1639 And with that word this foule feend hym hente;
FrT 1640 Body and soule he with the devel wente
FrT 1641 Where as that somonours han hir heritage.
FrT 1642 And God, that maked after his ymage
FrT 1643 Mankynde, save and gyde us, alle and some,
FrT 1644 And leve thise somonours goode men bicome!
FrT 1645 Lordynges, I koude han toold yow, quod this Frere,
FrT 1646 Hadde I had leyser for this Somnour heere,
FrT 1647 After the text of Crist, Poul, and John,
FrT 1648 And of oure othere doctours many oon,
FrT 1649 Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse,
FrT 1650 Al be it so no tonge may it devyse,
FrT 1651 Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle
FrT 1652 The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle.
FrT 1653 But for to kepe us fro that cursed place,
FrT 1654 Waketh and preyeth Jhesu for his grace
FrT 1655 So kepe us fro the temptour Sathanas.
FrT 1656 Herketh this word! Beth war, as in this cas:
FrT 1657 " The leoun sit in his awayt alway
FrT 1658 To sle the innocent, if that he may. "
FrT 1659 Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde
FrT 1660 The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde.
FrT 1661 He may nat tempte yow over youre myght,
FrT 1662 For Crist wol be youre champion and knyght.
FrT 1663 And prayeth that thise somonours hem repente
FrT 1664 Of hir mysdedes, er that the feend hem hente!
SumT 1665 This Somonour in his styropes hye stood;
SumT 1666 Upon this Frere his herte was so wood
SumT 1667 That lyk an aspen leef he quook for ire.
SumT 1668 " Lordynges, " quod he, " but o thyng I desire;
SumT 1669 I yow biseke that, of youre curteisye,
SumT 1670 Syn ye han herd this false Frere lye,
SumT 1671 As suffreth me I may my tale telle.
SumT 1672 This Frere bosteth that he knoweth helle,
SumT 1673 And God it woot, that it is litel wonder;
SumT 1674 Freres and feendes been but lyte asonder.
SumT 1675 For, pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle
SumT 1676 How that a frere ravysshed was to helle
SumT 1677 In spirit ones by a visioun;
SumT 1678 And as an angel ladde hym up and doun,
SumT 1679 To shewen hym the peynes that ther were,
SumT 1680 In al the place saugh he nat a frere;
SumT 1681 Of oother folk he saugh ynowe in wo.
SumT 1682 Unto this angel spak the frere tho:
SumT 1683 `Now, sire,' quod he, `han freres swich a grace
SumT 1684 That noon of hem shal come to this place?'
SumT 1685 `Yis' quod this angel, `many a millioun!'
SumT 1686 And unto Sathanas he ladde hym doun.
SumT 1687 `And now hath Sathanas,' seith he, `a tayl
SumT 1688 Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl.
SumT 1689 Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas!' quod he;
SumT 1690 `Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere se
SumT 1691 Where is the nest of freres in this place!'
SumT 1692 And er that half a furlong wey of space,
SumT 1693 Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve,
SumT 1694 Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve
SumT 1695 Twenty thousand freres on a route,
SumT 1696 And thurghout helle swarmed al aboute,
SumT 1697 And comen agayn as faste as they may gon,
SumT 1698 And in his ers they crepten everychon.
SumT 1699 He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille.
SumT 1700 This frere, whan he looked hadde his fille
SumT 1701 Upon the tormentz of this sory place,
SumT 1702 His spirit God restored, of his grace,
SumT 1703 Unto his body agayn, and he awook.
SumT 1704 But natheles, for fere yet he quook,
SumT 1705 So was the develes ers ay in his mynde,
SumT 1706 That is his heritage of verray kynde.
SumT 1707 God save yow alle, save this cursed Frere!
SumT 1708 My prologe wol I ende in this manere. "
SumT 1709 Lordynges, ther is in Yorkshire, as I gesse,
SumT 1710 A mersshy contree called Holdernesse,
SumT 1711 In which ther wente a lymytour aboute
SumT 1712 To preche, and eek to begge, it is no doute.
SumT 1713 And so bifel that on a day this frere
SumT 1714 Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere,
SumT 1715 And specially, aboven every thyng,
SumT 1716 Excited he the peple in his prechyng
SumT 1717 To trentals, and to yeve, for Goddes sake,
SumT 1718 Wherwith men myghte hooly houses make,
SumT 1719 Ther as divine servyce is honoured,
SumT 1720 Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured,
SumT 1721 Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive,
SumT 1722 As to possessioners, that mowen lyve,
SumT 1723 Thanked be God, in wele and habundaunce.
SumT 1724 " Trentals, " seyde he, " deliveren fro penaunce
SumT 1725 Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge --
SumT 1726 Ye, whan that they been hastily ysonge,
SumT 1727 Nat for to holde a preest joly and gay --
SumT 1728 He syngeth nat but o masse in a day.
SumT 1729 Delivereth out, " quod he, " anon the soules!
SumT 1730 Ful hard it is with flesshhook or with oules
SumT 1731 To been yclawed, or to brenne or bake.
SumT 1732 Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake! "
SumT 1733 And whan this frere had seyd al his entente,
SumT 1734 With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente.
SumT 1735 Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste,
SumT 1736 He wente his wey; no lenger wolde he reste.
SumT 1737 With scrippe and tipped staf, ytukked hye,
SumT 1738 In every hous he gan to poure and prye,
SumT 1739 And beggeth mele and chese, or elles corn.
SumT 1740 His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn,
SumT 1741 A peyre of tables al of yvory,
SumT 1742 And a poyntel polysshed fetisly,
SumT 1743 And wroot the names alwey, as he stood,
SumT 1744 Of alle folk that yaf hym any good,
SumT 1745 Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye.
SumT 1746 " Yif us a busshel whete, malt, or reye,
SumT 1747 A Goddes kechyl, or a trype of chese,
SumT 1748 Or elles what yow lyst, we may nat cheese;
SumT 1749 A Goddes halfpeny, or a masse peny,
SumT 1750 Or yif us of youre brawn, if ye have eny;
SumT 1751 A dagon of youre blanket, leeve dame,
SumT 1752 Oure suster deere -- lo! Heere I write youre name --
SumT 1753 Bacon or beef, or swich thyng as ye fynde. "
SumT 1754 A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde,
SumT 1755 That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak,
SumT 1756 And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak.
SumT 1757 And whan that he was out at dore, anon
SumT 1758 He planed awey the names everichon
SumT 1759 That he biforn had writen in his tables;
SumT 1760 He served hem with nyfles and with fables.
SumT 1761 " Nay, ther thou lixt, thou Somonour! " quod the Frere.
SumT 1762 " Pees, " quod oure Hoost, " for Cristes mooder deere!
SumT 1763 Tel forth thy tale, and spare it nat at al. "
SumT 1764 " So thryve I, " quod this Somonour, " so I shal! "
SumT 1765 So longe he wente, hous by hous, til he
SumT 1766 Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be
SumT 1767 Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis.
SumT 1768 Syk lay the goode man whos that the place is;
SumT 1769 Bedrede upon a couche lowe he lay.
SumT 1770 " Deus hic! " quod he, " O Thomas, freend, good day! "
SumT 1771 Seyde this frere, curteisly and softe.
SumT 1772 " Thomas, " quod he, " God yelde yow! Ful ofte
SumT 1773 Have I upon this bench faren ful weel;
SumT 1774 Heere have I eten many a myrie meel. "
SumT 1775 And fro the bench he droof awey the cat,
SumT 1776 And leyde adoun his potente and his hat,
SumT 1777 And eek his scrippe, and sette hym softe adoun.
SumT 1778 His felawe was go walked into toun
SumT 1779 Forth with his knave, into that hostelrye
SumT 1780 Where as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye.
SumT 1781 " O deere maister, " quod this sike man,
SumT 1782 " How han ye fare sith that March bigan?
SumT 1783 I saugh yow noght this fourtenyght or moore. "
SumT 1784 " God woot, " quod he, " laboured I have ful soore,
SumT 1785 And specially for thy savacion
SumT 1786 Have I seyd many a precious orison,
SumT 1787 And for oure othere freendes, God hem blesse!
SumT 1788 I have to day been at youre chirche at messe,
SumT 1789 And seyd a sermon after my symple wit --
SumT 1790 Nat al after the text of hooly writ,
SumT 1791 For it is hard to yow, as I suppose,
SumT 1792 And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose.
SumT 1793 Glosynge is a glorious thyng, certeyn,
SumT 1794 For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn --
SumT 1795 There have I taught hem to be charitable,
SumT 1796 And spende hir good ther it is resonable;
SumT 1797 And there I saugh oure dame -- A! Where is she? "
SumT 1798 " Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be, "
SumT 1799 Seyde this man, " and she wol come anon. "
SumT 1800 " Ey, maister, welcome be ye, by Seint John! "
SumT 1801 Seyde this wyf, " How fare ye, hertely? "
SumT 1802 The frere ariseth up ful curteisly,
SumT 1803 And hire embraceth in his armes narwe,
SumT 1804 And kiste hire sweete, and chirketh as a sparwe
SumT 1805 With his lyppes: " Dame, " quod he, " right weel,
SumT 1806 As he that is youre servant every deel,
SumT 1807 Thanked be God, that yow yaf soule and lyf!
SumT 1808 Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf
SumT 1809 In al the chirche, God so save me! "
SumT 1810 " Ye, God amende defautes, sire, " quod she.
SumT 1811 " Algates, welcome be ye, by my fey! "
SumT 1812 " Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey.
SumT 1813 But of youre grete goodnesse, by youre leve,
SumT 1814 I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve,
SumT 1815 I wole with Thomas speke a litel throwe.
SumT 1816 Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe
SumT 1817 To grope tendrely a conscience
SumT 1818 In shrift; in prechyng is my diligence,
SumT 1819 And studie in Petres wordes and in Poules.
SumT 1820 I walke and fisshe Cristen mennes soules
SumT 1821 To yelden Jhesu Crist his propre rente;
SumT 1822 To sprede his word is set al myn entente. "
SumT 1823 " Now, by youre leve, o deere sire, " quod she,
SumT 1824 " Chideth him weel, for seinte Trinitee!
SumT 1825 He is as angry as a pissemyre,
SumT 1826 Though that he have al that he kan desire;
SumT 1827 Though I hym wrye a-nyght and make hym warm,
SumT 1828 And over hym leye my leg outher myn arm,
SumT 1829 He groneth lyk oure boor, lith in oure sty.
SumT 1830 Oother desport right noon of hym have I;
SumT 1831 I may nat plese hym in no maner cas. "
SumT 1832 " O Thomas, je vous dy, Thomas! Thomas!
SumT 1833 This maketh the feend; this moste ben amended.
SumT 1834 Ire is a thyng that hye God defended,
SumT 1835 And therof wol I speke a word or two. "
SumT 1836 " Now, maister, " quod the wyf, " er that I go,
SumT 1837 What wol ye dyne? I wol go theraboute. "
SumT 1838 " Now, dame, " quod he, " now je vous dy sanz doute,
SumT 1839 Have I nat of a capon but the lyvere,
SumT 1840 And of youre softe breed nat but a shyvere,
SumT 1841 And after that a rosted pigges heed --
SumT 1842 But that I nolde no beest for me were deed --
SumT 1843 Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce.
SumT 1844 I am a man of litel sustenaunce;
SumT 1845 My spirit hath his fostryng in the Bible.
SumT 1846 The body is ay so redy and penyble
SumT 1847 To wake, that my stomak is destroyed.
SumT 1848 I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed,
SumT 1849 Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe.
SumT 1850 By God! I wolde nat telle it but a fewe. "
SumT 1851 " Now, sire, " quod she, " but o word er I go.
SumT 1852 My child is deed withinne thise wykes two,
SumT 1853 Soone after that ye wente out of this toun. "
SumT 1854 " His deeth saugh I by revelacioun, "
SumT 1855 Seide this frere, " at hoom in oure dortour.
SumT 1856 I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour
SumT 1857 After his deeth, I saugh hym born to blisse
SumT 1858 In myn avision, so God me wisse!
SumT 1859 So dide oure sexteyn and oure fermerer,
SumT 1860 That han been trewe freres fifty yeer;
SumT 1861 They may now -- God be thanked of his loone! --
SumT 1862 Maken hir jubilee and walke allone.
SumT 1863 And up I roos, and al oure covent eke,
SumT 1864 With many a teere trillyng on my cheke,
SumT 1865 Withouten noyse or claterynge of belles;
SumT 1866 Te Deum was oure song, and nothyng elles,
SumT 1867 Save that to Crist I seyde an orison,
SumT 1868 Thankynge hym of his revelacion.
SumT 1869 For, sire and dame, trusteth me right weel,
SumT 1870 Oure orisons been moore effectueel,
SumT 1871 And moore we seen of Cristes secree thynges,
SumT 1872 Than burel folk, although they weren kynges.
SumT 1873 We lyve in poverte and in abstinence,
SumT 1874 And burell folk in richesse and despence
SumT 1875 Of mete and drynke, and in hir foul delit.
SumT 1876 We han this worldes lust al in despit.
SumT 1877 Lazar and Dives lyveden diversly,
SumT 1878 And divers gerdon hadden they therby.
SumT 1879 Whoso wol preye, he moot faste and be clene,
SumT 1880 And fatte his soule, and make his body lene.
SumT 1881 We fare as seith th' apostle; clooth and foode
SumT 1882 Suffisen us, though they be nat ful goode.
SumT 1883 The clennesse and the fastynge of us freres
SumT 1884 Maketh that Crist accepteth oure preyeres.
SumT 1885 " Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght
SumT 1886 Fasted, er that the heighe God of myght
SumT 1887 Spak with hym in the mountayne of Synay.
SumT 1888 With empty wombe, fastynge many a day,
SumT 1889 Receyved he the lawe that was writen
SumT 1890 With Goddes fynger; and Elye, wel ye witen,
SumT 1891 In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche
SumT 1892 With hye God, that is oure lyves leche,
SumT 1893 He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce.
SumT 1894 " Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce,
SumT 1895 And eek the othere preestes everichon,
SumT 1896 Into the temple whan they sholde gon
SumT 1897 To preye for the peple and do servyse,
SumT 1898 They nolden drynken in no maner wyse
SumT 1899 No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make,
SumT 1900 But there in abstinence preye and wake,
SumT 1901 Lest that they deyden. Taak heede what I seye!
SumT 1902 But they be sobre that for the peple preye,
SumT 1903 War that -- I seye namoore, for it suffiseth.
SumT 1904 " Oure Lord Jhesu, as hooly writ devyseth,
SumT 1905 Yaf us ensample of fastynge and preyeres.
SumT 1906 Therfore we mendynantz, we sely freres,
SumT 1907 Been wedded to poverte and continence,
SumT 1908 To charite, humblesse, and abstinence,
SumT 1909 To persecucioun for rightwisnesse,
SumT 1910 To wepynge, misericorde, and clennesse.
SumT 1911 And therfore may ye se that oure preyeres --
SumT 1912 I speke of us, we mendynantz, we freres --
SumT 1913 Been to the hye God moore acceptable
SumT 1914 Than youres, with youre feestes at the table.
SumT 1915 Fro Paradys first, if I shal nat lye,
SumT 1916 Was man out chaced for his glotonye;
SumT 1917 And chaast was man in Paradys, certeyn.
SumT 1918 " But herkne now, Thomas, what I shal seyn.
SumT 1919 I ne have no text of it, as I suppose,
SumT 1920 But I shal fynde it in a maner glose,
SumT 1921 That specially oure sweete Lord Jhesus
SumT 1922 Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus:
SumT 1923 `Blessed be they that povere in spirit been.'
SumT 1924 And so forth al the gospel may ye seen,
SumT 1925 Wher it be likker oure professioun,
SumT 1926 Or hirs that swymmen in possessioun.
SumT 1927 Fy on hire pompe and on hire glotonye!
SumT 1928 And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye.
SumT 1929 " Me thynketh they been lyk Jovinyan,
SumT 1930 Fat as a whale, and walkynge as a swan,
SumT 1931 Al vinolent as botel in the spence.
SumT 1932 Hir preyere is of ful greet reverence,
SumT 1933 Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Davit:
SumT 1934 Lo, `buf!' they seye, `cor meum eructavit!'
SumT 1935 Who folweth Cristes gospel and his foore,
SumT 1936 But we that humble been, and chaast, and poore,
SumT 1937 Werkeris of Goddes word, nat auditours?
SumT 1938 Therfore, right as an hauk up at a sours
SumT 1939 Up springeth into th' eir, right so prayeres
SumT 1940 Of charitable and chaste bisy freres
SumT 1941 Maken hir sours to Goddes eres two.
SumT 1942 Thomas, Thomas! So moote I ryde or go,
SumT 1943 And by that lord that clepid is Seint Yve,
SumT 1944 Nere thou oure brother, sholdestou nat thryve.
SumT 1945 In our chapitre praye we day and nyght
SumT 1946 To Crist, that he thee sende heele and myght
SumT 1947 Thy body for to weelden hastily. "
SumT 1948 " God woot, " quod he, " no thyng therof feele I!
SumT 1949 As help me Crist, as I in fewe yeres,
SumT 1950 Have spent upon diverse manere freres
SumT 1951 Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet.
SumT 1952 Certeyn, my good have I almoost biset.
SumT 1953 Farwel, my gold, for it is al ago! "
SumT 1954 The frere answerde, " O Thomas, dostow so?
SumT 1955 What nedeth yow diverse freres seche?
SumT 1956 What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche
SumT 1957 To sechen othere leches in the toun?
SumT 1958 Youre inconstance is youre confusioun.
SumT 1959 Holde ye thanne me, or elles oure covent,
SumT 1960 To praye for yow been insufficient?
SumT 1961 Thomas, that jape nys nat worth a myte.
SumT 1962 Youre maladye is for we han to lyte.
SumT 1963 A, yif that covent half a quarter otes!
SumT 1964 A, yif that covent foure and twenty grotes!
SumT 1965 A, yif that frere a peny, and lat hym go!
SumT 1966 Nay, nay, Thomas, it may no thyng be so!
SumT 1967 What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelve?
SumT 1968 Lo, ech thyng that is oned in himselve
SumT 1969 Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered.
SumT 1970 Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been yflatered;
SumT 1971 Thou woldest han oure labour al for noght.
SumT 1972 The hye God, that al this world hath wroght,
SumT 1973 Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre.
SumT 1974 Thomas, noght of youre tresor I desire
SumT 1975 As for myself, but that al oure covent
SumT 1976 To preye for yow is ay so diligent,
SumT 1977 And for to buylden Cristes owene chirche.
SumT 1978 Thomas, if ye wol lernen for to wirche,
SumT 1979 Of buyldynge up of chirches may ye fynde
SumT 1980 If it be good in Thomas lyf of Inde.
SumT 1981 Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire,
SumT 1982 With which the devel set youre herte afyre,
SumT 1983 And chiden heere the sely innocent,
SumT 1984 Youre wyf, that is so meke and pacient.
SumT 1985 And therfore, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste,
SumT 1986 Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste;
SumT 1987 And ber this word awey now, by thy feith;
SumT 1988 Touchynge swich thyng, lo, what the wise seith:
SumT 1989 `Withinne thyn hous ne be thou no leon;
SumT 1990 To thy subgitz do noon oppression,
SumT 1991 Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee.'
SumT 1992 And, Thomas, yet eft-soones I charge thee,
SumT 1993 Be war from Ire that in thy bosom slepeth;
SumT 1994 War fro the serpent that so slily crepeth
SumT 1995 Under the gras and styngeth subtilly.
SumT 1996 Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently
SumT 1997 That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves
SumT 1998 For stryvyng with hir lemmans and hir wyves.
SumT 1999 Now sith ye han so hooly meke a wyf,
SumT 2000 What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf?
SumT 2001 Ther nys, ywys, no serpent so cruel,
SumT 2002 Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel,
SumT 2003 As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire;
SumT 2004 Vengeance is thanne al that they desire.
SumT 2005 Ire is a synne, oon of the grete of sevene,
SumT 2006 Abhomynable unto the God of hevene;
SumT 2007 And to hymself it is destruccion.
SumT 2008 This every lewed viker or person
SumT 2009 Kan seye, how ire engendreth homycide.
SumT 2010 Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde.
SumT 2011 I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe,
SumT 2012 My tale sholde laste til to-morwe.
SumT 2013 And therfore preye I God bothe day and nyght
SumT 2014 An irous man, God sende hym litel myght!
SumT 2015 It is greet harm and certes greet pitee
SumT 2016 To sette an irous man in heigh degree.
SumT 2017 " Whilom ther was an irous potestat,
SumT 2018 As seith Senek, that, durynge his estaat,
SumT 2019 Upon a day out ryden knyghtes two,
SumT 2020 And as Fortune wolde that it were so,
SumT 2021 That oon of hem cam hoom, that oother noght.
SumT 2022 Anon the knyght bifore the juge is broght,
SumT 2023 That seyde thus, `Thou hast thy felawe slayn,
SumT 2024 For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn.'
SumT 2025 And to another knyght comanded he,
SumT 2026 `Go lede hym to the deeth, I charge thee.'
SumT 2027 And happed, as they wente by the weye
SumT 2028 Toward the place ther he sholde deye,
SumT 2029 The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed.
SumT 2030 Thanne thoughte they it were the beste reed
SumT 2031 To lede hem bothe to the juge agayn.
SumT 2032 They seiden, `Lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn
SumT 2033 His felawe; heere he standeth hool alyve.'
SumT 2034 `Ye shul be deed,' quod he, `so moot I thryve!
SumT 2035 That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and thre!'
SumT 2036 And to the firste knyght right thus spak he,
SumT 2037 `I dampned thee; thou most algate be deed.
SumT 2038 And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed,
SumT 2039 For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.'
SumT 2040 And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith,
SumT 2041 `Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.'
SumT 2042 And thus he dide doon sleen hem alle thre.
SumT 2043 " Irous Cambises was eek dronkelewe,
SumT 2044 And ay delited hym to been a shrewe.
SumT 2045 And so bifel, a lord of his meynee
SumT 2046 That loved vertuous moralitee
SumT 2047 Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus:
SumT 2048 " `A lord is lost, if he be vicius;
SumT 2049 And dronkenesse is eek a foul record
SumT 2050 Of any man, and namely in a lord.
SumT 2051 Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere
SumT 2052 Awaityng on a lord, and he noot where.
SumT 2053 For Goddes love, drynk moore attemprely!
SumT 2054 Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly
SumT 2055 His mynde and eek his lymes everichon.'
SumT 2056 " `The revers shaltou se,' quod he, `anon,
SumT 2057 And preve it by thyn owene experience,
SumT 2058 That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence.
SumT 2059 Ther is no wyn bireveth me my myght
SumT 2060 Of hand ne foot, ne of myne eyen sight.'
SumT 2061 And for despit he drank ful muchel moore,
SumT 2062 An hondred part, than he hadde don bifoore;
SumT 2063 And right anon this irous, cursed wrecche
SumT 2064 Leet this knyghtes sone bifore hym fecche,
SumT 2065 Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde.
SumT 2066 And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde,
SumT 2067 And up the streng he pulled to his ere,
SumT 2068 And with an arwe he slow the child right there.
SumT 2069 `Now wheither have I a siker hand or noon?'
SumT 2070 Quod he; `Is al my myght and mynde agon?
SumT 2071 Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?'
SumT 2072 What sholde I telle th' answere of the knyght?
SumT 2073 His sone was slayn; ther is namoore to seye.
SumT 2074 Beth war, therfore, with lordes how ye pleye.
SumT 2075 Syngeth Placebo and `I shal, if I kan,'
SumT 2076 But if it be unto a povre man.
SumT 2077 To a povre man men sholde his vices telle,
SumT 2078 But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle.
SumT 2079 " Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien,
SumT 2080 How he destroyed the ryver of Gysen,
SumT 2081 For that an hors of his was dreynt therinne,
SumT 2082 Whan that he wente Babiloigne to wynne.
SumT 2083 He made that the ryver was so smal
SumT 2084 That wommen myghte wade it over al.
SumT 2085 Lo, what seyde he that so wel teche kan?
SumT 2086 `Ne be no felawe to an irous man,
SumT 2087 Ne with no wood man walke by the weye,
SumT 2088 Lest thee repente;' I wol no ferther seye.
SumT 2089 " Now, Thomas, leeve brother, lef thyn ire;
SumT 2090 Thou shalt me fynde as just as is a squyre.
SumT 2091 Hoold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte --
SumT 2092 Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte --
SumT 2093 But shewe to me al thy confessioun. "
SumT 2094 " Nay, " quod the sike man, " by Seint Symoun!
SumT 2095 I have be shryven this day at my curat.
SumT 2096 I have hym toold hoolly al myn estat;
SumT 2097 Nedeth namoore to speken of it, " seith he,
SumT 2098 " But if me list, of myn humylitee. "
SumT 2099 " Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make oure cloystre, "
SumT 2100 Quod he, " for many a muscle and many an oystre,
SumT 2101 Whan othere men han ben ful wel at eyse,
SumT 2102 Hath been oure foode, our cloystre for to reyse.
SumT 2103 And yet, God woot, unnethe the fundement
SumT 2104 Parfourned is, ne of our pavement
SumT 2105 Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones.
SumT 2106 By God, we owen fourty pound for stones.
SumT 2107 " Now help, Thomas, for hym that harwed helle!
SumT 2108 For elles moste we oure bookes selle.
SumT 2109 And if yow lakke oure predicacioun,
SumT 2110 Thanne goth the world al to destruccioun.
SumT 2111 For whoso wolde us fro this world bireve,
SumT 2112 So God me save, Thomas, by youre leve,
SumT 2113 He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne.
SumT 2114 For who kan teche and werchen as we konne?
SumT 2115 And that is nat of litel tyme, " quod he,
SumT 2116 " But syn Elye was, or Elise,
SumT 2117 Han freres been -- that fynde I of record --
SumT 2118 In charitee, ythanked be oure Lord!
SumT 2119 Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee! "
SumT 2120 And doun anon he sette hym on his knee.
SumT 2121 This sike man wax wel ny wood for ire;
SumT 2122 He wolde that the frere had been on-fire
SumT 2123 With his false dissymulacioun.
SumT 2124 " Swich thyng as is in my possessioun, "
SumT 2125 Quod he, " that may I yeve, and noon oother.
SumT 2126 Ye sey me thus, how that I am youre brother? "
SumT 2127 " Ye, certes, " quod the frere, " trusteth weel.
SumT 2128 I took oure dame oure lettre with oure seel. "
SumT 2129 " Now wel, " quod he, " and somwhat shal I yive
SumT 2130 Unto youre hooly covent whil I lyve;
SumT 2131 And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anon,
SumT 2132 On this condicion, and oother noon,
SumT 2133 That thou departe it so, my deere brother,
SumT 2134 That every frere have also muche as oother.
SumT 2135 This shaltou swere on thy professioun,
SumT 2136 Withouten fraude or cavillacioun. "
SumT 2137 " I swere it, " quod this frere, " by my feith! "
SumT 2138 And therwithal his hand in his he leith,
SumT 2139 " Lo, heer my feith; in me shal be no lak. "
SumT 2140 " Now thanne, put in thyn hand doun by my bak, "
SumT 2141 Seyde this man, " and grope wel bihynde.
SumT 2142 Bynethe my buttok there shaltow fynde
SumT 2143 A thyng that I have hyd in pryvetee. "
SumT 2144 " A! " thoghte this frere, " That shal go with me! "
SumT 2145 And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte
SumT 2146 In hope for to fynde there a yifte.
SumT 2147 And whan this sike man felte this frere
SumT 2148 Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere,
SumT 2149 Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart;
SumT 2150 Ther nys no capul, drawynge in a cart,
SumT 2151 That myghte have lete a fart of swich a soun.
SumT 2152 The frere up stirte as dooth a wood leoun --
SumT 2153 " A, false cherl, " quod he, " for Goddes bones!
SumT 2154 This hastow for despit doon for the nones.
SumT 2155 Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may! "
SumT 2156 His meynee, whiche that herden this affray,
SumT 2157 Cam lepynge in and chaced out the frere;
SumT 2158 And forth he gooth, with a ful angry cheere,
SumT 2159 And fette his felawe, ther as lay his stoor.
SumT 2160 He looked as it were a wilde boor;
SumT 2161 He grynte with his teeth, so was he wrooth.
SumT 2162 A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth,
SumT 2163 Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour,
SumT 2164 To whom that he was alwey confessour.
SumT 2165 This worthy man was lord of that village.
SumT 2166 This frere cam as he were in a rage,
SumT 2167 Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord;
SumT 2168 Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word,
SumT 2169 Til atte laste he seyde, " God yow see! "
SumT 2170 This lord gan looke, and seide, " Benedicitee!
SumT 2171 What, frere John, what maner world is this?
SumT 2172 I se wel that som thyng ther is amys;
SumT 2173 Ye looken as the wode were ful of thevys.
SumT 2174 Sit doun anon, and tel me what youre grief is,
SumT 2175 And it shal been amended, if I may. "
SumT 2176 " I have, " quod he, " had a despit this day,
SumT 2177 God yelde yow, adoun in youre village,
SumT 2178 That in this world is noon so povre a page
SumT 2179 That he nolde have abhomynacioun
SumT 2180 Of that I have receyved in youre toun.
SumT 2181 And yet ne greveth me nothyng so soore,
SumT 2182 As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore
SumT 2183 Blasphemed hath oure hooly covent eke. "
SumT 2184 " Now, maister, " quod this lord, " I yow biseke -- "
SumT 2185 " No maister, sire, " quod he, " but servitour,
SumT 2186 Thogh I have had in scole that honour.
SumT 2187 God liketh nat that `Raby' men us calle,
SumT 2188 Neither in market ne in youre large halle. "
SumT 2189 " No fors, " quod he, " but tel me al youre grief. "
SumT 2190 " Sire, " quod this frere, " an odious meschief
SumT 2191 This day bityd is to myn ordre and me,
SumT 2192 And so, per consequens, to ech degree
SumT 2193 Of hooly chirche -- God amende it soone! "
SumT 2194 " Sire, " quod the lord, " ye woot what is to doone.
SumT 2195 Distempre yow noght; ye be my confessour;
SumT 2196 Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour.
SumT 2197 For Goddes love, youre pacience ye holde!
SumT 2198 Tel me youre grief. " And he anon hym tolde,
SumT 2199 As ye han herd biforn -- ye woot wel what.
SumT 2200 The lady of the hous ay stille sat
SumT 2201 Til she had herd what the frere sayde.
SumT 2202 " Ey, Goddes mooder, " quod she, " Blisful mayde!
SumT 2203 Is ther oght elles? Telle me feithfully. "
SumT 2204 " Madame, " quod he, " how thynke ye herby? "
SumT 2205 " How that me thynketh? " quod she. " So God me speede,
SumT 2206 I seye a cherl hath doon a cherles dede.
SumT 2207 What shold I seye? God lat hym nevere thee!
SumT 2208 His sike heed is ful of vanytee;
SumT 2209 I holde hym in a manere frenesye. "
SumT 2210 " Madame, " quod he, " by God, I shal nat lye,
SumT 2211 But I on oother wyse may be wreke,
SumT 2212 I shal disclaundre hym over al ther I speke,
SumT 2213 This false blasphemour that charged me
SumT 2214 To parte that wol nat departed be
SumT 2215 To every man yliche, with meschaunce! "
SumT 2216 The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce,
SumT 2217 And in his herte he rolled up and doun,
SumT 2218 " How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun
SumT 2219 To shewe swich a probleme to the frere?
SumT 2220 Nevere erst er now herde I of swich mateere.
SumT 2221 I trowe the devel putte it in his mynde.
SumT 2222 In ars-metrike shal ther no man fynde,
SumT 2223 Biforn this day, of swich a question.
SumT 2224 Who sholde make a demonstracion
SumT 2225 That every man sholde have yliche his part
SumT 2226 As of the soun or savour of a fart?
SumT 2227 O nyce, proude cherl, I shrewe his face!
SumT 2228 Lo, sires, " quod the lord, " with harde grace!
SumT 2229 Who evere herde of swich a thyng er now?
SumT 2230 To every man ylike? Tel me how.
SumT 2231 It is an inpossible; it may nat be.
SumT 2232 Ey, nyce cherl, God lete him nevere thee!
SumT 2233 The rumblynge of a fart, and every soun,
SumT 2234 Nis but of eir reverberacioun,
SumT 2235 And evere it wasteth litel and litel awey.
SumT 2236 Ther is no man kan deemen, by my fey,
SumT 2237 If that it were departed equally.
SumT 2238 What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly
SumT 2239 Unto my confessour to-day he spak!
SumT 2240 I holde hym certeyn a demonyak!
SumT 2241 Now ete youre mete, and lat the cherl go pleye;
SumT 2242 Lat hym go honge hymself a devel weye! "
SumT 2243 Now stood the lordes squier at the bord,
SumT 2244 That karf his mete, and herde word by word
SumT 2245 Of alle thynges whiche I have yow sayd.
SumT 2246 " My lord, " quod he, " be ye nat yvele apayd,
SumT 2247 I koude telle, for a gowne-clooth,
SumT 2248 To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth,
SumT 2249 How that this fart sholde evene deled be
SumT 2250 Among youre covent, if it lyked me. "
SumT 2251 " Tel, " quod the lord, " and thou shalt have anon
SumT 2252 A gowne-clooth, by God and by Seint John! "
SumT 2253 " My lord, " quod he, " whan that the weder is fair,
SumT 2254 Withouten wynd or perturbynge of air,
SumT 2255 Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle;
SumT 2256 But looke that it have his spokes alle --
SumT 2257 Twelve spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
SumT 2258 And bryng me thanne twelve freres. Woot ye why?
SumT 2259 For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse.
SumT 2260 Youre confessour heere, for his worthynesse,
SumT 2261 Shal parfourne up the nombre of his covent.
SumT 2262 Thanne shal they knele doun, by oon assent,
SumT 2263 And to every spokes ende, in this manere,
SumT 2264 Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere.
SumT 2265 Youre noble confessour -- there God hym save! --
SumT 2266 Shal holde his nose upright under the nave.
SumT 2267 Thanne shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght
SumT 2268 As any tabour, hyder been ybroght;
SumT 2269 And sette hym on the wheel right of this cart,
SumT 2270 Upon the nave, and make hym lete a fart.
SumT 2271 And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf,
SumT 2272 By preeve which that is demonstratif,
SumT 2273 That equally the soun of it wol wende,
SumT 2274 And eke the stynk, unto the spokes ende,
SumT 2275 Save that this worthy man, youre confessour,
SumT 2276 By cause he is a man of greet honour,
SumT 2277 Shal have the firste fruyt, as resoun is.
SumT 2278 The noble usage of freres yet is this,
SumT 2279 The worthy men of hem shul first be served;
SumT 2280 And certeinly he hath it weel disserved.
SumT 2281 He hath to-day taught us so muche good
SumT 2282 With prechyng in the pulpit ther he stood,
SumT 2283 That I may vouche sauf, I sey for me,
SumT 2284 He hadde the firste smel of fartes thre;
SumT 2285 And so wolde al his covent hardily,
SumT 2286 He bereth hym so faire and hoolily. "
SumT 2287 The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere,
SumT 2288 Seyde that Jankyn spak, in this matere,
SumT 2289 As wel as Euclide [dide] or Ptholomee.
SumT 2290 Touchynge the cherl, they seyde, subtiltee
SumT 2291 And heigh wit made hym speken as he spak;
SumT 2292 He nys no fool, ne no demonyak.
SumT 2293 And Jankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne --
SumT 2294 My tale is doon; we been almoost at towne.
ClT 1 " Sire Clerk of Oxenford, " oure Hooste sayde,
ClT 2 " Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde
ClT 3 Were newe spoused, sittynge at the bord;
ClT 4 This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word.
ClT 5 I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme;
ClT 6 But Salomon seith `every thyng hath tyme.'
ClT 7 " For Goddes sake, as beth of bettre cheere!
ClT 8 It is no tyme for to studien heere.
ClT 9 Telle us som myrie tale, by youre fey!
ClT 10 For what man that is entred in a pley,
ClT 11 He nedes moot unto the pley assente.
ClT 12 But precheth nat, as freres doon in Lente,
ClT 13 To make us for oure olde synnes wepe,
ClT 14 Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.
ClT 15 " Telle us som murie thyng of aventures.
ClT 16 Youre termes, youre colours, and youre figures,
ClT 17 Keepe hem in stoor til so be ye endite
ClT 18 Heigh style, as whan that men to kynges write.
ClT 19 Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, we yow preye,
ClT 20 That we may understonde what ye seye. "
ClT 21 This worthy clerk benignely answerde:
ClT 22 " Hooste, " quod he, " I am under youre yerde;
ClT 23 Ye han of us as now the governance,
ClT 24 And therfore wol I do yow obeisance,
ClT 25 As fer as resoun axeth, hardily.
ClT 26 I wol yow telle a tale which that I
ClT 27 Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk,
ClT 28 As preved by his wordes and his werk.
ClT 29 He is now deed and nayled in his cheste;
ClT 30 I prey to God so yeve his soule reste!
ClT 31 " Fraunceys Petrak, the lauriat poete,
ClT 32 Highte this clerk, whos rethorike sweete
ClT 33 Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie,
ClT 34 As Lynyan dide of philosophie,
ClT 35 Or lawe, or oother art particuler;
ClT 36 But Deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer,
ClT 37 But as it were a twynklyng of an ye,
ClT 38 Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dye.
ClT 39 " But forth to tellen of this worthy man
ClT 40 That taughte me this tale, as I bigan,
ClT 41 I seye that first with heigh stile he enditeth,
ClT 42 Er he the body of his tale writeth,
ClT 43 A prohemye, in the which discryveth he
ClT 44 Pemond and of Saluces the contree,
ClT 45 And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye,
ClT 46 That been the boundes of West Lumbardye,
ClT 47 And of Mount Vesulus in special,
ClT 48 Where as the Poo out of a welle smal
ClT 49 Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours,
ClT 50 That estward ay encresseth in his cours
ClT 51 To Emele-ward, to Ferrare, and Venyse,
ClT 52 The which a long thyng were to devyse.
ClT 53 And trewely, as to my juggement,
ClT 54 Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent,
ClT 55 Save that he wole conveyen his mateere;
ClT 56 But this his tale, which that ye may heere. "
ClT 57 Ther is, at the west syde of Ytaille,
ClT 58 Doun at the roote of Vesulus the colde,
ClT 59 A lusty playn, habundant of vitaille,
ClT 60 Where many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde,
ClT 61 That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
ClT 62 And many another delitable sighte,
ClT 63 And Saluces this noble contree highte.
ClT 64 A markys whilom lord was of that lond,
ClT 65 As were his worthy eldres hym bifore;
ClT 66 And obeisant, ay redy to his hond,
ClT 67 Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and moore.
ClT 68 Thus in delit he lyveth, and hath doon yoore,
ClT 69 Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of Fortune,
ClT 70 Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.
ClT 71 Therwith he was, to speke as of lynage,
ClT 72 The gentilleste yborn of Lumbardye,
ClT 73 A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
ClT 74 And ful of honour and of curteisye;
ClT 75 Discreet ynogh his contree for to gye,
ClT 76 Save in somme thynges that he was to blame;
ClT 77 And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
ClT 78 I blame hym thus: that he considered noght
ClT 79 In tyme comynge what myghte hym bityde,
ClT 80 But on his lust present was al his thoght,
ClT 81 As for to hauke and hunte on every syde.
ClT 82 Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde,
ClT 83 And eek he nolde -- and that was worst of alle --
ClT 84 Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.
ClT 85 Oonly that point his peple bar so soore
ClT 86 That flokmeele on a day they to hym wente,
ClT 87 And oon of hem, that wisest was of loore --
ClT 88 Or elles that the lord best wolde assente
ClT 89 That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente,
ClT 90 Or elles koude he shewe wel swich mateere --
ClT 91 He to the markys seyde as ye shul heere:
ClT 92 " O noble markys, youre humanitee
ClT 93 Asseureth us and yeveth us hardinesse,
ClT 94 As ofte as tyme is of necessitee,
ClT 95 That we to yow mowe telle oure hevynesse.
ClT 96 Accepteth, lord, now of youre gentillesse
ClT 97 That we with pitous herte unto yow pleyne,
ClT 98 And lat youre eres nat my voys desdeyne.
ClT 99 " Al have I noght to doone in this mateere
ClT 100 Moore than another man hath in this place,
ClT 101 Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so deere,
ClT 102 Han alwey shewed me favour and grace
ClT 103 I dar the bettre aske of yow a space
ClT 104 Of audience to shewen oure requeste,
ClT 105 And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste.
ClT 106 " For certes, lord, so wel us liketh yow
ClT 107 And al youre werk, and evere han doon, that we
ClT 108 Ne koude nat us self devysen how
ClT 109 We myghte lyven in moore felicitee,
ClT 110 Save o thyng, lord, if it youre wille be,
ClT 111 That for to been a wedded man yow leste;
ClT 112 Thanne were youre peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
ClT 113 " Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok
ClT 114 Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
ClT 115 Which that men clepe spousaille or wedlok;
ClT 116 And thenketh, lord, among youre thoghtes wyse
ClT 117 How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse,
ClT 118 For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde,
ClT 119 Ay fleeth the tyme; it nyl no man abyde.
ClT 120 " And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit,
ClT 121 In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon,
ClT 122 And deeth manaceth every age, and smyt
ClT 123 In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon;
ClT 124 And al so certein as we knowe echoon
ClT 125 That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle
ClT 126 Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle.
ClT 127 " Accepteth thanne of us the trewe entente,
ClT 128 That nevere yet refuseden youre heeste,
ClT 129 And we wol, lord, if that ye wole assente,
ClT 130 Chese yow a wyf, in short tyme atte leeste,
ClT 131 Born of the gentilleste and of the meeste
ClT 132 Of al this land, so that it oghte seme
ClT 133 Honour to God and yow, as we kan deeme.
ClT 134 " Delivere us out of al this bisy drede,
ClT 135 And taak a wyf, for hye Goddes sake!
ClT 136 For if it so bifelle, as God forbede,
ClT 137 That thurgh youre deeth youre lyne sholde slake,
ClT 138 And that a straunge successour sholde take
ClT 139 Youre heritage, O wo were us alyve!
ClT 140 Wherfore we pray you hastily to wyve. "
ClT 141 Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheere
ClT 142 Made the markys herte han pitee.
ClT 143 " Ye wol, " quod he, " myn owene peple deere,
ClT 144 To that I nevere erst thoughte streyne me.
ClT 145 I me rejoysed of my liberte,
ClT 146 That seelde tyme is founde in mariage;
ClT 147 Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
ClT 148 " But nathelees I se youre trewe entente,
ClT 149 And truste upon youre wit, and have doon ay;
ClT 150 Wherfore of my free wyl I wole assente
ClT 151 To wedde me, as soone as evere I may.
ClT 152 But ther as ye han profred me to-day
ClT 153 To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
ClT 154 That choys and prey yow of that profre cesse.
ClT 155 " For God it woot, that children ofte been
ClT 156 Unlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore;
ClT 157 Bountee comth al of God, nat of the streen
ClT 158 Of which they been engendred and ybore.
ClT 159 I truste in Goddes bountee, and therfore
ClT 160 My mariage and myn estaat and reste
ClT 161 I hym bitake; he may doon as hym leste.
ClT 162 " Lat me allone in chesynge of my wyf --
ClT 163 That charge upon my bak I wole endure.
ClT 164 But I yow preye, and charge upon youre lyf,
ClT 165 What wyf that I take, ye me assure
ClT 166 To worshipe hire, whil that hir lyf may dure,
ClT 167 In word and werk, bothe heere and everywheere,
ClT 168 As she an emperoures doghter weere.
ClT 169 " And forthermoore, this shal ye swere: that ye
ClT 170 Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve;
ClT 171 For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
ClT 172 At youre requeste, as evere moot I thryve,
ClT 173 Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve;
ClT 174 And but ye wole assente in swich manere,
ClT 175 I prey yow, speketh namoore of this matere. "
ClT 176 With hertely wyl they sworen and assenten
ClT 177 To al this thyng -- ther seyde no wight nay --
ClT 178 Bisekynge hym of grace, er that they wenten,
ClT 179 That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
ClT 180 Of his spousaille, as soone as evere he may;
ClT 181 For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde,
ClT 182 Lest that the markys no wyf wolde wedde.
ClT 183 He graunted hem a day, swich as hym leste,
ClT 184 On which he wolde be wedded sikerly,
ClT 185 And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste.
ClT 186 And they, with humble entente, buxomly,
ClT 187 Knelynge upon hir knees ful reverently,
ClT 188 Hym thonken alle; and thus they han an ende
ClT 189 Of hire entente, and hoom agayn they wende.
ClT 190 And heerupon he to his officeres
ClT 191 Comaundeth for the feste to purveye,
ClT 192 And to his privee knyghtes and squieres
ClT 193 Swich charge yaf as hym liste on hem leye;
ClT 194 And they to his comandement obeye,
ClT 195 And ech of hem dooth al his diligence
ClT 196 To doon unto the feeste reverence.
ClT 197 Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable,
ClT 198 Wher as this markys shoop his mariage,
ClT 199 There stood a throop, of site delitable,
ClT 200 In which that povre folk of that village
ClT 201 Hadden hir beestes and hir herbergage,
ClT 202 And of hire labour tooke hir sustenance,
ClT 203 After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
ClT 204 Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
ClT 205 Which that was holden povrest of hem alle;
ClT 206 But hye God somtyme senden kan
ClT 207 His grace into a litel oxes stalle;
ClT 208 Janicula men of that throop hym calle.
ClT 209 A doghter hadde he, fair ynogh to sighte,
ClT 210 And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte.
ClT 211 But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
ClT 212 Thanne was she oon the faireste under sonne;
ClT 213 For povreliche yfostred up was she,
ClT 214 No likerous lust was thurgh hire herte yronne.
ClT 215 Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne
ClT 216 She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese,
ClT 217 She knew wel labour but noon ydel ese.
ClT 218 But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
ClT 219 Yet in the brest of hire virginitee
ClT 220 Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage;
ClT 221 And in greet reverence and charitee
ClT 222 Hir olde povre fader fostred shee.
ClT 223 A fewe sheep, spynnynge, on feeld she kepte;
ClT 224 She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.
ClT 225 And whan she homward cam, she wolde brynge
ClT 226 Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte,
ClT 227 The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyvynge,
ClT 228 And made hir bed ful hard and nothyng softe;
ClT 229 And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte
ClT 230 With everich obeisaunce and diligence
ClT 231 That child may doon to fadres reverence.
ClT 232 Upon Grisilde, this povre creature,
ClT 233 Ful ofte sithe this markys sette his ye
ClT 234 As he on huntyng rood paraventure;
ClT 235 And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye,
ClT 236 He noght with wantown lookyng of folye
ClT 237 His eyen caste on hire, but in sad wyse
ClT 238 Upon hir chiere he wolde hym ofte avyse,
ClT 239 Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede,
ClT 240 And eek hir vertu, passynge any wight
ClT 241 Of so yong age, as wel in chiere as dede.
ClT 242 For thogh the peple have no greet insight
ClT 243 In vertu, he considered ful right
ClT 244 Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
ClT 245 Wedde hire oonly, if evere he wedde sholde.
ClT 246 The day of weddyng cam, but no wight kan
ClT 247 Telle what womman that it sholde be;
ClT 248 For which merveille wondred many a man,
ClT 249 And seyden, whan they were in privetee,
ClT 250 " Wol nat oure lord yet leve his vanytee?
ClT 251 Wol he nat wedde? Allas! Allas, the while!
ClT 252 Why wole he thus hymself and us bigile? "
ClT 253 But nathelees this markys hath doon make
ClT 254 Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,
ClT 255 Brooches and rynges, for Grisildis sake;
ClT 256 And of hir clothyng took he the mesure
ClT 257 By a mayde lyk to hire stature,
ClT 258 And eek of othere aornementes alle
ClT 259 That unto swich a weddyng sholde falle.
ClT 260 The time of undren of the same day
ClT 261 Approcheth, that this weddyng sholde be,
ClT 262 And al the paleys put was in array,
ClT 263 Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree;
ClT 264 Houses of office stuffed with plentee
ClT 265 Ther maystow seen, of deyntevous vitaille
ClT 266 That may be founde as fer as last Ytaille.
ClT 267 This roial markys, richely arrayed,
ClT 268 Lordes and ladyes in his compaignye,
ClT 269 The whiche that to the feeste weren yprayed,
ClT 270 And of his retenue the bachelrye,
ClT 271 With many a soun of sondry melodye,
ClT 272 Unto the village of the which I tolde
ClT 273 In this array the righte wey han holde.
ClT 274 Grisilde of this, God woot, ful innocent,
ClT 275 That for hire shapen was al this array,
ClT 276 To fecchen water at a welle is went,
ClT 277 And cometh hoom as soone as ever she may;
ClT 278 For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day
ClT 279 The markys sholde wedde, and if she myghte,
ClT 280 She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.
ClT 281 She thoghte, " I wole with othere maydens stonde,
ClT 282 That been my felawes, in oure dore and se
ClT 283 The markysesse, and therfore wol I fonde
ClT 284 To doon at hoom, as soone as it may be,
ClT 285 The labour which that longeth unto me,
ClT 286 And thanne I may at leyser hire biholde,
ClT 287 If she this wey unto the castel holde. "
ClT 288 And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon,
ClT 289 The markys cam and gan hire for to calle;
ClT 290 And she set doun hir water pot anon,
ClT 291 Biside the thresshfold, in an oxes stalle,
ClT 292 And doun upon hir knes she gan to falle,
ClT 293 And with sad contenance kneleth stille,
ClT 294 Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.
ClT 295 This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde
ClT 296 Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere:
ClT 297 " Where is youre fader, O Grisildis? " he sayde.
ClT 298 And she with reverence, in humble cheere,
ClT 299 Answerde, " Lord, he is al redy heere. "
ClT 300 And in she gooth withouten lenger lette,
ClT 301 And to the markys she hir fader fette.
ClT 302 He by the hand thanne took this olde man,
ClT 303 And seyde thus, whan he hym hadde asyde:
ClT 304 " Janicula, I neither may ne kan
ClT 305 Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde.
ClT 306 If that thou vouche sauf, what so bityde,
ClT 307 Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
ClT 308 As for my wyf, unto hir lyves ende.
ClT 309 " Thou lovest me, I woot it wel certeyn,
ClT 310 And art my feithful lige man ybore,
ClT 311 And al that liketh me, I dar wel seyn
ClT 312 It liketh thee, and specially therfore
ClT 313 Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,
ClT 314 If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe,
ClT 315 To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe. "
ClT 316 This sodeyn cas this man astonyed so
ClT 317 That reed he wax; abayst and al quakynge
ClT 318 He stood; unnethes seyde he wordes mo,
ClT 319 But oonly thus: " Lord, " quod he, " my willynge
ClT 320 Is as ye wole, ne ayeynes youre likynge
ClT 321 I wol no thyng, ye be my lord so deere;
ClT 322 Right as yow lust, governeth this mateere. "
ClT 323 " Yet wol I, " quod this markys softely,
ClT 324 " That in thy chambre I and thou and she
ClT 325 Have a collacioun, and wostow why?
ClT 326 For I wol axe if it hire wille be
ClT 327 To be my wyf and reule hire after me.
ClT 328 And al this shal be doon in thy presence;
ClT 329 I wol noght speke out of thyn audience. "
ClT 330 And in the chambre, whil they were aboute
ClT 331 Hir tretys, which as ye shal after heere,
ClT 332 The peple cam unto the hous withoute,
ClT 333 And wondred hem in how honest manere
ClT 334 And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere.
ClT 335 But outrely Grisildis wondre myghte,
ClT 336 For nevere erst ne saugh she swich a sighte.
ClT 337 No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
ClT 338 To seen so greet a gest come in that place;
ClT 339 She nevere was to swiche gestes woned,
ClT 340 For which she looked with ful pale face.
ClT 341 But shortly forth this matere for to chace,
ClT 342 Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde
ClT 343 To this benigne, verray, feithful mayde:
ClT 344 " Grisilde, " he seyde, " ye shal wel understonde
ClT 345 It liketh to youre fader and to me
ClT 346 That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde,
ClT 347 As I suppose, ye wol that it so be.
ClT 348 But thise demandes axe I first, " quod he,
ClT 349 " That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
ClT 350 Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse?
ClT 351 " I seye this: be ye redy with good herte
ClT 352 To al my lust, and that I frely may,
ClT 353 As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
ClT 354 And nevere ye to grucche it, nyght ne day?
ClT 355 And eek whan I sey `ye,' ne sey nat `nay,'
ClT 356 Neither by word ne frownyng contenance?
ClT 357 Swere this, and heere I swere oure alliance. "
ClT 358 Wondrynge upon this word, quakynge for drede,
ClT 359 She seyde, " Lord, undigne and unworthy
ClT 360 Am I to thilke honour that ye me beede,
ClT 361 But as ye wole youreself, right so wol I.
ClT 362 And heere I swere that nevere willyngly,
ClT 363 In werk ne thoght, I nyl yow disobeye,
ClT 364 For to be deed, though me were looth to deye. "
ClT 365 " This is ynogh, Grisilde myn, " quod he.
ClT 366 And forth he gooth with a ful sobre cheere
ClT 367 Out at the dore, and after that cam she,
ClT 368 And to the peple he seyde in this manere:
ClT 369 " This is my wyf, " quod he, " that standeth heere.
ClT 370 Honoureth hire and loveth hire, I preye,
ClT 371 Whoso me loveth; ther is namoore to seye. "
ClT 372 And for that no thyng of hir olde geere
ClT 373 She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad
ClT 374 That wommen sholde dispoillen hire right theere;
ClT 375 Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad
ClT 376 To handle hir clothes, wherinne she was clad.
ClT 377 But nathelees, this mayde bright of hewe
ClT 378 Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.
ClT 379 Hir heris han they kembd, that lay untressed
ClT 380 Ful rudely, and with hir fyngres smale
ClT 381 A corone on hire heed they han ydressed,
ClT 382 And sette hire ful of nowches grete and smale.
ClT 383 Of hire array what sholde I make a tale?
ClT 384 Unnethe the peple hir knew for hire fairnesse
ClT 385 Whan she translated was in swich richesse.
ClT 386 This markys hath hire spoused with a ryng
ClT 387 Broght for the same cause, and thanne hire sette
ClT 388 Upon an hors, snow-whit and wel amblyng,
ClT 389 And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,
ClT 390 With joyful peple that hire ladde and mette,
ClT 391 Conveyed hire; and thus the day they spende
ClT 392 In revel, til the sonne gan descende.
ClT 393 And shortly forth this tale for to chace,
ClT 394 I seye that to this newe markysesse
ClT 395 God hath swich favour sent hire of his grace
ClT 396 That it ne semed nat by liklynesse
ClT 397 That she was born and fed in rudenesse,
ClT 398 As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,
ClT 399 But norissed in an emperoures halle.
ClT 400 To every wight she woxen is so deere
ClT 401 And worshipful that folk ther she was bore,
ClT 402 And from hire birthe knewe hire yeer by yeere,
ClT 403 Unnethe trowed they -- but dorste han swore --
ClT 404 That to Janicle, of which I spak bifore,
ClT 405 She doghter were, for, as by conjecture,
ClT 406 Hem thoughte she was another creature.
ClT 407 For though that evere vertuous was she,
ClT 408 She was encressed in swich excellence
ClT 409 Of thewes goode, yset in heigh bountee,
ClT 410 And so discreet and fair of eloquence,
ClT 411 So benigne and so digne of reverence,
ClT 412 And koude so the peples herte embrace,
ClT 413 That ech hire lovede that looked on hir face.
ClT 414 Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun
ClT 415 Publiced was the bountee of hir name,
ClT 416 But eek biside in many a regioun,
ClT 417 If oon seide wel, another seyde the same;
ClT 418 So spradde of hire heighe bountee the fame
ClT 419 That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde,
ClT 420 Goon to Saluce upon hire to biholde.
ClT 421 Thus Walter lowely -- nay, but roially --
ClT 422 Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
ClT 423 In Goddes pees lyveth ful esily
ClT 424 At hoom, and outward grace ynogh had he;
ClT 425 And for he saugh that under low degree
ClT 426 Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym heelde
ClT 427 A prudent man, and that is seyn ful seelde.
ClT 428 Nat oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
ClT 429 Koude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
ClT 430 But eek, whan that the cas required it,
ClT 431 The commune profit koude she redresse.
ClT 432 Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevynesse
ClT 433 In al that land that she ne koude apese,
ClT 434 And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese.
ClT 435 Though that hire housbonde absent were anon,
ClT 436 If gentil men or othere of hire contree
ClT 437 Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem aton;
ClT 438 So wise and rype wordes hadde she,
ClT 439 And juggementz of so greet equitee,
ClT 440 That she from hevene sent was, as men wende,
ClT 441 Peple to save and every wrong t' amende.
ClT 442 Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
ClT 443 Was wedded, she a doghter hath ybore,
ClT 444 Al had hire levere have born a knave child;
ClT 445 Glad was this markys and the folk therfore,
ClT 446 For though a mayde child coome al bifore,
ClT 447 She may unto a knave child atteyne
ClT 448 By liklihede, syn she nys nat bareyne.
ClT 449 Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
ClT 450 Whan that this child had souked but a throwe,
ClT 451 This markys in his herte longeth so
ClT 452 To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
ClT 453 That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe
ClT 454 This merveillous desir his wyf t' assaye;
ClT 455 Nedelees, God woot, he thoghte hire for t' affraye.
ClT 456 He hadde assayed hire ynogh bifore,
ClT 457 And foond hire evere good; what neded it
ClT 458 Hire for to tempte, and alwey moore and moore,
ClT 459 Though som men preise it for a subtil wit?
ClT 460 But as for me, I seye that yvele it sit
ClT 461 To assaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
ClT 462 And putten hire in angwyssh and in drede.
ClT 463 For which this markys wroghte in this manere:
ClT 464 He cam allone a-nyght, ther as she lay,
ClT 465 With stierne face and with ful trouble cheere,
ClT 466 And seyde thus: " Grisilde, " quod he, " that day
ClT 467 That I yow took out of youre povere array,
ClT 468 And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse --
ClT 469 Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse?
ClT 470 " I seye, Grisilde, this present dignitee,
ClT 471 In which that I have put yow, as I trowe,
ClT 472 Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
ClT 473 That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe,
ClT 474 For any wele ye moot youreselven knowe.
ClT 475 Taak heede of every word that y yow seye;
ClT 476 Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye.
ClT 477 " Ye woot youreself wel how that ye cam heere
ClT 478 Into this hous, it is nat longe ago;
ClT 479 And though to me that ye be lief and deere,
ClT 480 Unto my gentils ye be no thyng so.
ClT 481 They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
ClT 482 For to be subgetz and been in servage
ClT 483 To thee, that born art of a smal village.
ClT 484 " And namely sith thy doghter was ybore
ClT 485 Thise wordes han they spoken, doutelees.
ClT 486 But I desire, as I have doon bifore,
ClT 487 To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees.
ClT 488 I may nat in this caas be recchelees;
ClT 489 I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste,
ClT 490 Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste.
ClT 491 " And yet, God woot, this is ful looth to me;
ClT 492 But nathelees withoute youre wityng
ClT 493 I wol nat doon; but this wol I, " quod he,
ClT 494 " That ye to me assente as in this thyng.
ClT 495 Shewe now youre pacience in youre werkyng,
ClT 496 That ye me highte and swore in youre village
ClT 497 That day that maked was oure mariage. "
ClT 498 Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
ClT 499 Neither in word, or chiere, or contenaunce,
ClT 500 For, as it semed, she was nat agreved.
ClT 501 She seyde, " Lord, al lyth in youre plesaunce.
ClT 502 My child and I, with hertely obeisaunce,
ClT 503 Been youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
ClT 504 Youre owene thyng; werketh after youre wille.
ClT 505 " Ther may no thyng, God so my soule save,
ClT 506 Liken to yow that may displese me;
ClT 507 Ne I desire no thyng for to have,
ClT 508 Ne drede for to leese, save oonly yee.
ClT 509 This wyl is in myn herte, and ay shal be;
ClT 510 No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface,
ClT 511 Ne chaunge my corage to another place. "
ClT 512 Glad was this markys of hire answeryng,
ClT 513 But yet he feyned as he were nat so;
ClT 514 Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng,
ClT 515 Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.
ClT 516 Soone after this, a furlong wey or two,
ClT 517 He prively hath toold al his entente
ClT 518 Unto a man, and to his wyf hym sente.
ClT 519 A maner sergeant was this privee man,
ClT 520 The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde
ClT 521 In thynges grete, and eek swich folk wel kan
ClT 522 Doon execucioun in thynges badde.
ClT 523 The lord knew wel that he hym loved and dradde;
ClT 524 And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille,
ClT 525 Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille.
ClT 526 " Madame, " he seyde, " ye moote foryeve it me,
ClT 527 Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned.
ClT 528 Ye been so wys that ful wel knowe ye
ClT 529 That lordes heestes mowe nat been yfeyned;
ClT 530 They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned,
ClT 531 But men moote nede unto hire lust obeye,
ClT 532 And so wol I; ther is namoore to seye.
ClT 533 " This child I am comanded for to take " --
ClT 534 And spak namoore, but out the child he hente
ClT 535 Despitously, and gan a cheere make
ClT 536 As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
ClT 537 Grisildis moot al suffre and al consente,
ClT 538 And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
ClT 539 And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille.
ClT 540 Suspecious was the diffame of this man,
ClT 541 Suspect his face, suspect his word also;
ClT 542 Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
ClT 543 Allas! Hir doghter that she loved so,
ClT 544 She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.
ClT 545 But nathelees she neither weep ne syked,
ClT 546 Conformynge hire to that the markys lyked.
ClT 547 But atte laste to speken she bigan,
ClT 548 And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
ClT 549 So as he was a worthy gentil man,
ClT 550 That she moste kisse hire child er that it deyde.
ClT 551 And in hir barm this litel child she leyde
ClT 552 With ful sad face, and gan the child to blisse,
ClT 553 And lulled it, and after gan it kisse.
ClT 554 And thus she seyde in hire benigne voys,
ClT 555 " Fareweel my child! I shal thee nevere see.
ClT 556 But sith I thee have marked with the croys
ClT 557 Of thilke Fader -- blessed moote he be! --
ClT 558 That for us deyde upon a croys of tree,
ClT 559 Thy soule, litel child, I hym bitake,
ClT 560 For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake. "
ClT 561 I trowe that to a norice in this cas
ClT 562 It had been hard this reuthe for to se;
ClT 563 Wel myghte a mooder thanne han cryd " allas! "
ClT 564 But nathelees so sad stidefast was she
ClT 565 That she endured al adversitee,
ClT 566 And to the sergeant mekely she sayde,
ClT 567 " Have heer agayn youre litel yonge mayde.
ClT 568 " Gooth now, " quod she, " and dooth my lordes heeste;
ClT 569 But o thyng wol I prey yow of youre grace,
ClT 570 That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leeste
ClT 571 Burieth this litel body in som place
ClT 572 That beestes ne no briddes it torace. "
ClT 573 But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
ClT 574 But took the child and wente upon his weye.
ClT 575 This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn,
ClT 576 And of Grisildis wordes and hire cheere
ClT 577 He tolde hym point for point, in short and pleyn,
ClT 578 And hym presenteth with his doghter deere.
ClT 579 Somwhat this lord hadde routhe in his manere,
ClT 580 But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille,
ClT 581 As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;
ClT 582 And bad this sergeant that he pryvely
ClT 583 Sholde this child softe wynde and wrappe,
ClT 584 With alle circumstances tendrely,
ClT 585 And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe;
ClT 586 But, upon peyne his heed of for to swappe,
ClT 587 That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
ClT 588 Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
ClT 589 But at Boloigne to his suster deere,
ClT 590 That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse,
ClT 591 He sholde it take and shewe hire this mateere,
ClT 592 Bisekynge hire to doon hire bisynesse
ClT 593 This child to fostre in alle gentillesse;
ClT 594 And whos child that it was he bad hire hyde
ClT 595 From every wight, for oght that may bityde.
ClT 596 The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thyng;
ClT 597 But to this markys now retourne we.
ClT 598 For now gooth he ful faste ymaginyng
ClT 599 If by his wyves cheere he myghte se,
ClT 600 Or by hire word aperceyve, that she
ClT 601 Were chaunged; but he nevere hire koude fynde
ClT 602 But evere in oon ylike sad and kynde.
ClT 603 As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
ClT 604 And eek in love, as she was wont to be,
ClT 605 Was she to hym in every maner wyse;
ClT 606 Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she.
ClT 607 Noon accident, for noon adversitee,
ClT 608 Was seyn in hire, ne nevere hir doghter name
ClT 609 Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
ClT 610 In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer
ClT 611 Er she with childe was, but, as God wolde,
ClT 612 A knave child she bar by this Walter,
ClT 613 Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
ClT 614 And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
ClT 615 Nat oonly he but al his contree merye
ClT 616 Was for this child, and God they thanke and herye.
ClT 617 Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest
ClT 618 Departed of his norice, on a day
ClT 619 This markys caughte yet another lest
ClT 620 To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may.
ClT 621 O nedelees was she tempted in assay!
ClT 622 But wedded men ne knowe no mesure,
ClT 623 Whan that they fynde a pacient creature.
ClT 624 " Wyf, " quod this markys, " ye han herd er this
ClT 625 My peple sikly berth oure mariage;
ClT 626 And namely sith my sone yboren is,
ClT 627 Now is it worse than evere in al oure age.
ClT 628 The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage,
ClT 629 For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte
ClT 630 That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte.
ClT 631 " Now sey they thus: `Whan Walter is agon,
ClT 632 Thanne shal the blood of Janicle succede
ClT 633 And been oure lord, for oother have we noon.'
ClT 634 Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede.
ClT 635 Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken heede,
ClT 636 For certeinly I drede swich sentence,
ClT 637 Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.
ClT 638 " I wolde lyve in pees, if that I myghte;
ClT 639 Wherfore I am disposed outrely,
ClT 640 As I his suster servede by nyghte,
ClT 641 Right so thenke I to serve hym pryvely.
ClT 642 This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly
ClT 643 Out of youreself for no wo sholde outreye;
ClT 644 Beth pacient, and therof I yow preye. "
ClT 645 " I have, " quod she, " seyd thus, and evere shal:
ClT 646 I wol no thyng, ne nyl no thyng, certayn,
ClT 647 But as yow list. Naught greveth me at al,
ClT 648 Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn --
ClT 649 At youre comandement, this is to sayn.
ClT 650 I have noght had no part of children tweyne
ClT 651 But first siknesse, and after, wo and peyne.
ClT 652 " Ye been oure lord; dooth with youre owene thyng
ClT 653 Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me.
ClT 654 For as I lefte at hoom al my clothyng,
ClT 655 Whan I first cam to yow, right so, " quod she,
ClT 656 " Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee,
ClT 657 And took youre clothyng; wherfore I yow preye,
ClT 658 Dooth youre plesaunce; I wol youre lust obeye.
ClT 659 " And certes, if I hadde prescience
ClT 660 Youre wyl to knowe, er ye youre lust me tolde,
ClT 661 I wolde it doon withouten necligence;
ClT 662 But now I woot youre lust, and what ye wolde,
ClT 663 Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde;
ClT 664 For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
ClT 665 Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese.
ClT 666 " Deth may noght make no comparisoun
ClT 667 Unto youre love. " And whan this markys say
ClT 668 The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
ClT 669 His eyen two, and wondreth that she may
ClT 670 In pacience suffre al this array;
ClT 671 And forth he goth with drery contenance,
ClT 672 But to his herte it was ful greet plesance.
ClT 673 This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
ClT 674 That he hire doghter caughte, right so he --
ClT 675 Or worse, if men worse kan devyse --
ClT 676 Hath hent hire sone, that ful was of beautee.
ClT 677 And evere in oon so pacient was she
ClT 678 That she no chiere maade of hevynesse,
ClT 679 But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse;
ClT 680 Save this, she preyede hym that, if he myghte,
ClT 681 Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave
ClT 682 His tendre lymes, delicaat to sighte,
ClT 683 Fro foweles and fro beestes for to save.
ClT 684 But she noon answere of hym myghte have.
ClT 685 He wente his wey, as hym no thyng ne roghte,
ClT 686 But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte.
ClT 687 This markys wondred, evere lenger the moore,
ClT 688 Upon hir pacience, and if that he
ClT 689 Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore
ClT 690 That parfitly hir children loved she,
ClT 691 He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
ClT 692 And of malice, or for crueel corage,
ClT 693 That she hadde suffred this with sad visage.
ClT 694 But wel he knew that next hymself, certayn,
ClT 695 She loved hir children best in every wyse.
ClT 696 But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn
ClT 697 If thise assayes myghte nat suffise?
ClT 698 What koude a sturdy housbonde moore devyse
ClT 699 To preeve hir wyfhod and hir stedefastnesse,
ClT 700 And he continuynge evere in sturdinesse?
ClT 701 But ther been folk of swich condicion
ClT 702 That whan they have a certein purpos take,
ClT 703 They kan nat stynte of hire entencion,
ClT 704 But, right as they were bounden to that stake,
ClT 705 They wol nat of that firste purpos slake.
ClT 706 Right so this markys fulliche hath purposed
ClT 707 To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed.
ClT 708 He waiteth if by word or contenance
ClT 709 That she to hym was changed of corage,
ClT 710 But nevere koude he fynde variance.
ClT 711 She was ay oon in herte and in visage,
ClT 712 And ay the forther that she was in age,
ClT 713 The moore trewe, if that it were possible,
ClT 714 She was to hym in love, and moore penyble.
ClT 715 For which it semed thus: that of hem two
ClT 716 Ther nas but o wyl, for as Walter leste,
ClT 717 The same lust was hire plesance also.
ClT 718 And, God be thanked, al fil for the beste.
ClT 719 She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste
ClT 720 A wyf, as of hirself, nothing ne sholde
ClT 721 Wille in effect, but as hir housbonde wolde.
ClT 722 The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,
ClT 723 That of a crueel herte he wikkedly,
ClT 724 For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
ClT 725 Hath mordred bothe his children prively.
ClT 726 Swich murmur was among hem comunly.
ClT 727 No wonder is, for to the peples ere
ClT 728 Ther cam no word but that they mordred were.
ClT 729 For which, where as his peple therbifore
ClT 730 Hadde loved hym wel, the sclaundre of his diffame
ClT 731 Made hem that they hym hatede therfore.
ClT 732 To been a mordrere is an hateful name;
ClT 733 But nathelees, for ernest ne for game,
ClT 734 He of his crueel purpos nolde stente;
ClT 735 To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.
ClT 736 Whan that his doghter twelve yeer was of age,
ClT 737 He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse
ClT 738 Enformed of his wyl, sente his message,
ClT 739 Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to devyse
ClT 740 As to his crueel purpos may suffyse --
ClT 741 How that the pope, as for his peples reste,
ClT 742 Bad hym to wedde another, if hym leste.
ClT 743 I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
ClT 744 The popes bulles, makynge mencion
ClT 745 That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete,
ClT 746 As by the popes dispensacion,
ClT 747 To stynte rancour and dissencion
ClT 748 Bitwixe his peple and hym; thus seyde the bulle,
ClT 749 The which they han publiced atte fulle.
ClT 750 The rude peple, as it no wonder is,
ClT 751 Wenden ful wel that it hadde be right so;
ClT 752 But whan thise tidynges came to Grisildis,
ClT 753 I deeme that hire herte was ful wo.
ClT 754 But she, ylike sad for everemo,
ClT 755 Disposed was, this humble creature,
ClT 756 The adversitee of Fortune al t' endure,
ClT 757 Abidynge evere his lust and his plesance,
ClT 758 To whom that she was yeven herte and al,
ClT 759 As to hire verray worldly suffisance.
ClT 760 But shortly if this storie I tellen shal,
ClT 761 This markys writen hath in special
ClT 762 A lettre, in which he sheweth his entente,
ClT 763 And secreely he to Boloigne it sente.
ClT 764 To the Erl of Panyk, which that hadde tho
ClT 765 Wedded his suster, preyde he specially
ClT 766 To bryngen hoom agayn his children two
ClT 767 In honurable estaat al openly.
ClT 768 But o thyng he hym preyede outrely,
ClT 769 That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere,
ClT 770 Sholde nat telle whos children that they were,
ClT 771 But seye the mayden sholde ywedded be
ClT 772 Unto the Markys of Saluce anon.
ClT 773 And as this erl was preyed, so dide he;
ClT 774 For at day set he on his wey is goon
ClT 775 Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon
ClT 776 In riche array, this mayden for to gyde,
ClT 777 Hir yonge brother ridynge hire bisyde.
ClT 778 Arrayed was toward hir mariage
ClT 779 This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes cleere;
ClT 780 Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age,
ClT 781 Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere.
ClT 782 And thus in greet noblesse and with glad cheere,
ClT 783 Toward Saluces shapynge hir journey,
ClT 784 Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.
ClT 785 Among al this, after his wikke usage,
ClT 786 This markys, yet his wyf to tempte moore
ClT 787 To the outtreste preeve of hir corage,
ClT 788 Fully to han experience and loore
ClT 789 If that she were as stidefast as bifoore,
ClT 790 He on a day in open audience
ClT 791 Ful boistously hath seyd hire this sentence:
ClT 792 " Certes, Grisilde, I hadde ynogh plesance
ClT 793 To han yow to my wyf for youre goodnesse,
ClT 794 As for youre trouthe and for youre obeisance,
ClT 795 Noght for youre lynage, ne for youre richesse;
ClT 796 But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse
ClT 797 That in greet lordshipe, if I wel avyse,
ClT 798 Ther is greet servitute in sondry wyse.
ClT 799 " I may nat doon as every plowman may.
ClT 800 My peple me constreyneth for to take
ClT 801 Another wyf, and crien day by day;
ClT 802 And eek the pope, rancour for to slake,
ClT 803 Consenteth it -- that dar I undertake --
ClT 804 And trewely thus muche I wol yow seye:
ClT 805 My newe wyf is comynge by the weye.
ClT 806 " Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place;
ClT 807 And thilke dowere that ye broghten me,
ClT 808 Taak it agayn; I graunte it of my grace.
ClT 809 Retourneth to youre fadres hous, " quod he;
ClT 810 " No man may alwey han prosperitee.
ClT 811 With evene herte I rede yow t' endure
ClT 812 The strook of Fortune or of aventure. "
ClT 813 And she agayn answerde in pacience:
ClT 814 " My lord, " quod she, " I woot, and wiste alway,
ClT 815 How that bitwixen youre magnificence
ClT 816 And my poverte no wight kan ne may
ClT 817 Maken comparison; it is no nay.
ClT 818 I ne heeld me nevere digne in no manere
ClT 819 To be youre wyf, no, ne youre chamberere.
ClT 820 " And in this hous, ther ye me lady maade --
ClT 821 The heighe God take I for my witnesse,
ClT 822 And also wysly he my soule glaade --
ClT 823 I nevere heeld me lady ne mistresse,
ClT 824 But humble servant to youre worthynesse,
ClT 825 And evere shal, whil that my lyf may dure,
ClT 826 Aboven every worldly creature.
ClT 827 " That ye so longe of youre benignitee
ClT 828 Han holden me in honour and nobleye,
ClT 829 Where as I was noght worthy for to bee,
ClT 830 That thonke I God and yow, to whom I preye
ClT 831 Foryelde it yow; ther is namoore to seye.
ClT 832 Unto my fader gladly wol I wende,
ClT 833 And with hym dwelle unto my lyves ende.
ClT 834 " Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal,
ClT 835 Til I be deed my lyf ther wol I lede,
ClT 836 A wydwe clene in body, herte, and al.
ClT 837 For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede,
ClT 838 And am youre trewe wyf, it is no drede,
ClT 839 God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take
ClT 840 Another man to housbonde or to make!
ClT 841 " And of youre newe wyf God of his grace
ClT 842 So graunte yow wele and prosperitee!
ClT 843 For I wol gladly yelden hire my place,
ClT 844 In which that I was blisful wont to bee.
ClT 845 For sith it liketh yow, my lord, " quod shee,
ClT 846 " That whilom weren al myn hertes reste,
ClT 847 That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste.
ClT 848 " But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire
ClT 849 As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde
ClT 850 It were my wrecched clothes, nothyng faire,
ClT 851 The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde.
ClT 852 O goode God! How gentil and how kynde
ClT 853 Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage
ClT 854 The day that maked was oure mariage!
ClT 855 " But sooth is seyd -- algate I fynde it trewe,
ClT 856 For in effect it preeved is on me --
ClT 857 Love is noght oold as whan that it is newe.
ClT 858 But certes, lord, for noon adversitee,
ClT 859 To dyen in the cas, it shal nat bee
ClT 860 That evere in word or werk I shal repente
ClT 861 That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.
ClT 862 " My lord, ye woot that in my fadres place
ClT 863 Ye dide me streepe out of my povre weede,
ClT 864 And richely me cladden, of youre grace.
ClT 865 To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede,
ClT 866 But feith, and nakednesse, and maydenhede;
ClT 867 And heere agayn your clothyng I restoore,
ClT 868 And eek your weddyng ryng, for everemore.
ClT 869 " The remenant of youre jueles redy be
ClT 870 Inwith youre chambre, dar I saufly sayn.
ClT 871 Naked out of my fadres hous, " quod she,
ClT 872 " I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn.
ClT 873 Al youre plesance wol I folwen fayn;
ClT 874 But yet I hope it be nat youre entente
ClT 875 That I smoklees out of youre paleys wente.
ClT 876 " Ye koude nat doon so dishonest a thyng,
ClT 877 That thilke wombe in which youre children leye
ClT 878 Sholde biforn the peple, in my walkyng,
ClT 879 Be seyn al bare; wherfore I yow preye,
ClT 880 Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye.
ClT 881 Remembre yow, myn owene lord so deere,
ClT 882 I was youre wyf, though I unworthy weere.
ClT 883 " Wherfore, in gerdon of my maydenhede,
ClT 884 Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere,
ClT 885 As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my meede,
ClT 886 But swich a smok as I was wont to were,
ClT 887 That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
ClT 888 That was youre wyf. And heer take I my leeve
ClT 889 Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve. "
ClT 890 " The smok, " quod he, " that thou hast on thy bak,
ClT 891 Lat it be stille, and bere it forth with thee. "
ClT 892 But wel unnethes thilke word he spak,
ClT 893 But wente his wey, for routhe and for pitee.
ClT 894 Biforn the folk hirselven strepeth she,
ClT 895 And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare,
ClT 896 Toward hir fadre hous forth is she fare.
ClT 897 The folk hire folwe, wepynge in hir weye,
ClT 898 And Fortune ay they cursen as they goon;
ClT 899 But she fro wepyng kepte hire eyen dreye,
ClT 900 Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon.
ClT 901 Hir fader, that this tidynge herde anoon,
ClT 902 Curseth the day and tyme that Nature
ClT 903 Shoop hym to been a lyves creature.
ClT 904 For out of doute this olde poure man
ClT 905 Was evere in suspect of hir mariage;
ClT 906 For evere he demed, sith that it bigan,
ClT 907 That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage,
ClT 908 Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage
ClT 909 To his estaat so lowe for t' alighte,
ClT 910 And voyden hire as soone as ever he myghte.
ClT 911 Agayns his doghter hastily goth he,
ClT 912 For he by noyse of folk knew hire comynge,
ClT 913 And with hire olde coote, as it myghte be
ClT 914 He covered hire, ful sorwefully wepynge.
ClT 915 But on hire body myghte he it nat brynge,
ClT 916 For rude was the clooth, and moore of age
ClT 917 By dayes fele than at hire mariage.
ClT 918 Thus with hire fader for a certeyn space
ClT 919 Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience,
ClT 920 That neither by hire wordes ne hire face,
ClT 921 Biforn the folk, ne eek in hire absence,
ClT 922 Ne shewed she that hire was doon offence;
ClT 923 Ne of hire heighe estaat no remembraunce
ClT 924 Ne hadde she, as by hire contenaunce.
ClT 925 No wonder is, for in hire grete estaat
ClT 926 Hire goost was evere in pleyn humylitee;
ClT 927 No tendre mouth, noon herte delicaat,
ClT 928 No pompe, no semblant of roialtee,
ClT 929 But ful of pacient benyngnytee,
ClT 930 Discreet and pridelees, ay honurable,
ClT 931 And to hire housbonde evere meke and stable.
ClT 932 Men speke of Job, and moost for his humblesse,
ClT 933 As clerkes, whan hem list, konne wel endite,
ClT 934 Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse,
ClT 935 Though clerkes preise wommen but a lite,
ClT 936 Ther kan no man in humblesse hym acquite
ClT 937 As womman kan, ne kan been half so trewe
ClT 938 As wommen been, but it be falle of newe.
ClT 939 Fro Boloigne is this Erl of Panyk come,
ClT 940 Of which the fame up sprang to moore and lesse,
ClT 941 And to the peples eres, alle and some,
ClT 942 Was kouth eek that a newe markysesse
ClT 943 He with hym broghte, in swich pompe and richesse
ClT 944 That nevere was ther seyn with mannes ye
ClT 945 So noble array in al West Lumbardye.
ClT 946 The markys, which that shoop and knew al this,
ClT 947 Er that this erl was come, sente his message
ClT 948 For thilke sely povre Grisildis;
ClT 949 And she with humble herte and glad visage,
ClT 950 Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage,
ClT 951 Cam at his heste, and on hire knees hire sette,
ClT 952 And reverently and wisely she hym grette.
ClT 953 " Grisilde, " quod he, " my wyl is outrely
ClT 954 This mayden, that shal wedded been to me,
ClT 955 Received be to-morwe as roially
ClT 956 As it possible is in myn hous to be,
ClT 957 And eek that every wight in his degree
ClT 958 Have his estaat, in sittyng and servyse
ClT 959 And heigh plesaunce, as I kan best devyse.
ClT 960 " I have no wommen suffisaunt, certayn,
ClT 961 The chambres for t' arraye in ordinaunce
ClT 962 After my lust, and therfore wolde I fayn
ClT 963 That thyn were al swich manere governaunce.
ClT 964 Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce;
ClT 965 Thogh thyn array be badde and yvel biseye,
ClT 966 Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye. "
ClT 967 " Nat oonly, lord, that I am glad, " quod she,
ClT 968 " To doon youre lust, but I desire also
ClT 969 Yow for to serve and plese in my degree
ClT 970 Withouten feyntyng, and shal everemo;
ClT 971 Ne nevere, for no wele ne no wo,
ClT 972 Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente
ClT 973 To love yow best with al my trewe entente. "
ClT 974 And with that word she gan the hous to dighte,
ClT 975 And tables for to sette, and beddes make;
ClT 976 And peyned hire to doon al that she myghte,
ClT 977 Preyynge the chambereres, for Goddes sake,
ClT 978 To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake;
ClT 979 And she, the mooste servysable of alle,
ClT 980 Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle.
ClT 981 Abouten undren gan this erl alighte,
ClT 982 That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye,
ClT 983 For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
ClT 984 Of hire array, so richely biseye;
ClT 985 And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye
ClT 986 That Walter was no fool, thogh that hym leste
ClT 987 To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.
ClT 988 For she is fairer, as they deemen alle,
ClT 989 Than is Grisilde, and moore tendre of age,
ClT 990 And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle,
ClT 991 And moore plesant, for hire heigh lynage.
ClT 992 Hir brother eek so fair was of visage
ClT 993 That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce,
ClT 994 Commendynge now the markys governaunce.
ClT 995 " O stormy peple! Unsad and evere untrewe!
ClT 996 Ay undiscreet and chaungynge as a fane!
ClT 997 Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe,
ClT 998 For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane!
ClT 999 Ay ful of clappyng, deere ynogh a jane!
ClT 1000 Youre doom is fals, youre constance yvele preeveth;
ClT 1001 A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth. "
ClT 1002 Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee,
ClT 1003 Whan that the peple gazed up and doun,
ClT 1004 For they were glad, right for the noveltee,
ClT 1005 To han a newe lady of hir toun.
ClT 1006 Namoore of this make I now mencioun,
ClT 1007 But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse,
ClT 1008 And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse.
ClT 1009 Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thyng
ClT 1010 That to the feeste was apertinent.
ClT 1011 Right noght was she abayst of hire clothyng,
ClT 1012 Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent;
ClT 1013 But with glad cheere to the yate is went
ClT 1014 With oother folk to greete the markysesse,
ClT 1015 And after that dooth forth hire bisynesse.
ClT 1016 With so glad chiere his gestes she receyveth,
ClT 1017 And so konnyngly, everich in his degree,
ClT 1018 That no defaute no man aperceyveth,
ClT 1019 But ay they wondren what she myghte bee
ClT 1020 That in so povre array was for to see,
ClT 1021 And koude swich honour and reverence,
ClT 1022 And worthily they preisen hire prudence.
ClT 1023 In al this meene while she ne stente
ClT 1024 This mayde and eek hir brother to commende
ClT 1025 With al hir herte, in ful benyngne entente,
ClT 1026 So wel that no man koude hir pris amende.
ClT 1027 But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende
ClT 1028 To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle
ClT 1029 Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.
ClT 1030 " Grisilde, " quod he, as it were in his pley,
ClT 1031 " How liketh thee my wyf and hire beautee? "
ClT 1032 " Right wel, " quod she, " my lord; for, in good fey,
ClT 1033 A fairer saugh I nevere noon than she.
ClT 1034 I prey to God yeve hire prosperitee;
ClT 1035 And so hope I that he wol to yow sende
ClT 1036 Plesance ynogh unto youre lyves ende.
ClT 1037 " O thyng biseke I yow, and warne also,
ClT 1038 That ye ne prikke with no tormentynge
ClT 1039 This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo;
ClT 1040 For she is fostred in hire norissynge
ClT 1041 Moore tendrely, and, to my supposynge,
ClT 1042 She koude nat adversitee endure
ClT 1043 As koude a povre fostred creature. "
ClT 1044 And whan this Walter saugh hire pacience,
ClT 1045 Hir glade chiere, and no malice at al,
ClT 1046 And he so ofte had doon to hire offence,
ClT 1047 And she ay sad and constant as a wal,
ClT 1048 Continuynge evere hire innocence overal,
ClT 1049 This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse
ClT 1050 To rewen upon hire wyfly stedfastnesse.
ClT 1051 " This is ynogh, Grisilde myn, " quod he;
ClT 1052 " Be now namoore agast ne yvele apayed.
ClT 1053 I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee,
ClT 1054 As wel as evere womman was, assayed,
ClT 1055 In greet estaat and povreliche arrayed.
ClT 1056 Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse " --
ClT 1057 And hire in armes took and gan hire kesse.
ClT 1058 And she for wonder took of it no keep;
ClT 1059 She herde nat what thyng he to hire seyde;
ClT 1060 She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep,
ClT 1061 Til she out of hire mazednesse abreyde.
ClT 1062 " Grisilde, " quod he, " by God, that for us deyde,
ClT 1063 Thou art my wyf, ne noon oother I have,
ClT 1064 Ne nevere hadde, as God my soule save!
ClT 1065 " This is thy doghter, which thou hast supposed
ClT 1066 To be my wyf; that oother feithfully
ClT 1067 Shal be myn heir, as I have ay disposed;
ClT 1068 Thou bare hym in thy body trewely.
ClT 1069 At Boloigne have I kept hem prively;
ClT 1070 Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye
ClT 1071 That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye.
ClT 1072 " And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me,
ClT 1073 I warne hem wel that I have doon this deede
ClT 1074 For no malice, ne for no crueltee,
ClT 1075 But for t' assaye in thee thy wommanheede,
ClT 1076 And nat to sleen my children -- God forbeede! --
ClT 1077 But for to kepe hem pryvely and stille,
ClT 1078 Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille. "
ClT 1079 Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
ClT 1080 For pitous joye, and after hire swownynge
ClT 1081 She bothe hire yonge children to hire calleth,
ClT 1082 And in hire armes, pitously wepynge,
ClT 1083 Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge
ClT 1084 Ful lyk a mooder, with hire salte teeres
ClT 1085 She bathed bothe hire visage and hire heeres.
ClT 1086 O which a pitous thyng it was to se
ClT 1087 Hir swownyng, and hire humble voys to heere!
ClT 1088 " Grauntmercy, lord, God thanke it yow, " quod she,
ClT 1089 " That ye han saved me my children deere!
ClT 1090 Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere;
ClT 1091 Sith I stonde in youre love and in youre grace,
ClT 1092 No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!
ClT 1093 " O tendre, o deere, o yonge children myne!
ClT 1094 Youre woful mooder wende stedfastly
ClT 1095 That crueel houndes or som foul vermyne
ClT 1096 Hadde eten yow; but God of his mercy
ClT 1097 And youre benyngne fader tendrely
ClT 1098 Hath doon yow kept " -- and in that same stounde
ClT 1099 Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.
ClT 1100 And in hire swough so sadly holdeth she
ClT 1101 Hire children two, whan she gan hem t' embrace,
ClT 1102 That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee
ClT 1103 The children from hire arm they gonne arace.
ClT 1104 O many a teere on many a pitous face
ClT 1105 Doun ran of hem that stooden hire bisyde;
ClT 1106 Unnethe abouten hire myghte they abyde.
ClT 1107 Walter hire gladeth and hire sorwe slaketh;
ClT 1108 She riseth up, abaysed, from hire traunce,
ClT 1109 And every wight hire joye and feeste maketh
ClT 1110 Til she hath caught agayn hire contenaunce.
ClT 1111 Walter hire dooth so feithfully plesaunce
ClT 1112 That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere
ClT 1113 Bitwixe hem two, now they been met yfeere.
ClT 1114 Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say,
ClT 1115 Han taken hire and into chambre gon,
ClT 1116 And strepen hire out of hire rude array,
ClT 1117 And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon,
ClT 1118 With a coroune of many a riche stoon
ClT 1119 Upon hire heed, they into halle hire broghte,
ClT 1120 And ther she was honured as hire oghte.
ClT 1121 Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,
ClT 1122 For every man and womman dooth his myght
ClT 1123 This day in murthe and revel to dispende
ClT 1124 Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght.
ClT 1125 For moore solempne in every mannes syght
ClT 1126 This feste was, and gretter of costage,
ClT 1127 Than was the revel of hire mariage.
ClT 1128 Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee
ClT 1129 Lyven thise two in concord and in reste,
ClT 1130 And richely his doghter maryed he
ClT 1131 Unto a lord, oon of the worthieste
ClT 1132 Of al Ytaille; and thanne in pees and reste
ClT 1133 His wyves fader in his court he kepeth,
ClT 1134 Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.
ClT 1135 His sone succedeth in his heritage
ClT 1136 In reste and pees, after his fader day,
ClT 1137 And fortunat was eek in mariage,
ClT 1138 Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay.
ClT 1139 This world is nat so strong, it is no nay,
ClT 1140 As it hath been in olde tymes yoore,
ClT 1141 And herkneth what this auctour seith therfoore.
ClT 1142 This storie is seyd nat for that wyves sholde
ClT 1143 Folwen Grisilde as in humylitee,
ClT 1144 For it were inportable, though they wolde,
ClT 1145 But for that every wight, in his degree,
ClT 1146 Sholde be constant in adversitee
ClT 1147 As was Grisilde; therfore Petrak writeth
ClT 1148 This storie, which with heigh stile he enditeth.
ClT 1149 For sith a womman was so pacient
ClT 1150 Unto a mortal man, wel moore us oghte
ClT 1151 Receyven al in gree that God us sent;
ClT 1152 For greet skile is he preeve that he wroghte.
ClT 1153 But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte,
ClT 1154 As seith Seint Jame, if ye his pistel rede;
ClT 1155 He preeveth folk al day, it is no drede,
ClT 1156 And suffreth us, as for oure excercise,
ClT 1157 With sharpe scourges of adversitee
ClT 1158 Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise;
ClT 1159 Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he,
ClT 1160 Er we were born, knew al oure freletee;
ClT 1161 And for oure beste is al his governaunce.
ClT 1162 Lat us thanne lyve in vertuous suffraunce.
ClT 1163 But o word, lordynges, herkneth er I go:
ClT 1164 It were ful hard to fynde now-a-dayes
ClT 1165 In al a toun Grisildis thre or two;
ClT 1166 For if that they were put to swiche assayes,
ClT 1167 The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes
ClT 1168 With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at ye,
ClT 1169 It wolde rather breste a-two than plye.
ClT 1170 For which heere, for the Wyves love of Bathe --
ClT 1171 Whos lyf and al hire secte God mayntene
ClT 1172 In heigh maistrie, and elles were it scathe --
ClT 1173 I wol with lusty herte, fressh and grene,
ClT 1174 Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene;
ClT 1175 And lat us stynte of ernestful matere.
ClT 1176 Herkneth my song that seith in this manere:
ClT 1177 Grisilde is deed, and eek hire pacience,
ClT 1178 And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille;
ClT 1179 For which I crie in open audience
ClT 1180 No wedded man so hardy be t' assaille
ClT 1181 His wyves pacience in trust to fynde
ClT 1182 Grisildis, for in certein he shal faille.
ClT 1183 O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence,
ClT 1184 Lat noon humylitee youre tonge naille,
ClT 1185 Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence
ClT 1186 To write of yow a storie of swich mervaille
ClT 1187 As of Grisildis pacient and kynde,
ClT 1188 Lest Chichevache yow swelwe in hire entraille!
ClT 1189 Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence,
ClT 1190 But evere answereth at the countretaille.
ClT 1191 Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence,
ClT 1192 But sharply taak on yow the governaille.
ClT 1193 Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde,
ClT 1194 For commune profit sith it may availle.
ClT 1195 Ye archewyves, stondeth at defense,
ClT 1196 Syn ye be strong as is a greet camaille;
ClT 1197 Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense.
ClT 1198 And sklendre wyves, fieble as in bataille,
ClT 1199 Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Ynde;
ClT 1200 Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille.
ClT 1201 Ne dreed hem nat; doth hem no reverence,
ClT 1202 For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille,
ClT 1203 The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
ClT 1204 Shal perce his brest and eek his aventaille.
ClT 1205 In jalousie I rede eek thou hym bynde,
ClT 1206 And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille.
ClT 1207 If thou be fair, ther folk been in presence,
ClT 1208 Shewe thou thy visage and thyn apparaille;
ClT 1209 If thou be foul, be fre of thy dispence;
ClT 1210 To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille;
ClT 1211 Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde,
ClT 1212 And lat hym care, and wepe, and wrynge, and waille!
ClT 1212a [ This worthy Clerk, whan ended was his tale,
ClT 1212b Oure Hooste seyde, and swoor, " By Goddes bones,
ClT 1212c Me were levere than a barel ale
ClT 1212d My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones!
ClT 1212e This is a gentil tale for the nones,
ClT 1212f As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille;
ClT 1212g But thyng that wol nat be, lat it be stille. " ]
MerT 1213 " Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe
MerT 1214 I knowe ynogh, on even and a-morwe, "
MerT 1215 Quod the Marchant, " and so doon other mo
MerT 1216 That wedded been. I trowe that it be so,
MerT 1217 For wel I woot it fareth so with me.
MerT 1218 I have a wyf, the worste that may be;
MerT 1219 For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were,
MerT 1220 She wolde hym overmacche, I dar wel swere.
MerT 1221 What sholde I yow reherce in special
MerT 1222 Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al.
MerT 1223 Ther is a long and large difference
MerT 1224 Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience
MerT 1225 And of my wyf the passyng crueltee.
MerT 1226 Were I unbounden, also moot I thee,
MerT 1227 I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare.
MerT 1228 We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care.
MerT 1229 Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde
MerT 1230 That I seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde,
MerT 1231 As for the moore part -- I sey nat alle.
MerT 1232 God shilde that it sholde so bifalle!
MerT 1233 " A, goode sire Hoost, I have ywedded bee
MerT 1234 Thise monthes two, and moore nat, pardee;
MerT 1235 And yet, I trowe, he that al his lyve
MerT 1236 Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve
MerT 1237 Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere
MerT 1238 Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere
MerT 1239 Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse! "
MerT 1240 " Now, " quod oure Hoost, " Marchaunt, so God yow blesse,
MerT 1241 Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art
MerT 1242 Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part. "
MerT 1243 " Gladly, " quod he, " but of myn owene soore,
MerT 1244 For soory herte, I telle may namoore. "
MerT 1245 Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye
MerT 1246 A worthy knyght, that born was of Pavye,
MerT 1247 In which he lyved in greet prosperitee;
MerT 1248 And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee,
MerT 1249 And folwed ay his bodily delyt
MerT 1250 On wommen, ther as was his appetyt,
MerT 1251 As doon thise fooles that been seculeer.
MerT 1252 And whan that he was passed sixty yeer,
MerT 1253 Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage
MerT 1254 I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage
MerT 1255 Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man
MerT 1256 That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan
MerT 1257 T' espien where he myghte wedded be,
MerT 1258 Preyinge oure Lord to graunten him that he
MerT 1259 Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf
MerT 1260 That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf,
MerT 1261 And for to lyve under that hooly boond
MerT 1262 With which that first God man and womman bond.
MerT 1263 " Noon oother lyf, " seyde he, " is worth a bene,
MerT 1264 For wedlok is so esy and so clene,
MerT 1265 That in this world it is a paradys. "
MerT 1266 Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys.
MerT 1267 And certeinly, as sooth as God is kyng,
MerT 1268 To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng,
MerT 1269 And namely whan a man is oold and hoor;
MerT 1270 Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor.
MerT 1271 Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir,
MerT 1272 On which he myghte engendren hym an heir,
MerT 1273 And lede his lyf in joye and in solas,
MerT 1274 Where as thise bacheleris synge " allas, "
MerT 1275 Whan that they fynden any adversitee
MerT 1276 In love, which nys but childyssh vanytee.
MerT 1277 And trewely it sit wel to be so,
MerT 1278 That bacheleris have often peyne and wo;
MerT 1279 On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse
MerT 1280 They fynde whan they wene sikernesse.
MerT 1281 They lyve but as a bryd or as a beest,
MerT 1282 In libertee and under noon arreest,
MerT 1283 Ther as a wedded man in his estaat
MerT 1284 Lyveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat
MerT 1285 Under this yok of mariage ybounde.
MerT 1286 Wel may his herte in joy and blisse habounde,
MerT 1287 For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?
MerT 1288 Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf
MerT 1289 To kepe hym, syk and hool, as is his make?
MerT 1290 For wele or wo she wole hym nat forsake;
MerT 1291 She nys nat wery hym to love and serve,
MerT 1292 Though that he lye bedrede til he sterve.
MerT 1293 And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so,
MerT 1294 Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho.
MerT 1295 What force though Theofraste liste lye?
MerT 1296 " Ne take no wyf, " quod he, " for housbondrye,
MerT 1297 As for to spare in houshold thy dispence.
MerT 1298 A trewe servant dooth moore diligence
MerT 1299 Thy good to kepe than thyn owene wyf,
MerT 1300 For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf.
MerT 1301 And if thou be syk, so God me save,
MerT 1302 Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave,
MerT 1303 Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay
MerT 1304 After thy good and hath doon many a day.
MerT 1305 And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold
MerT 1306 Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold. "
MerT 1307 This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse,
MerT 1308 Writeth this man, ther God his bones corse!
MerT 1309 But take no kep of al swich vanytee;
MerT 1310 Deffie Theofraste, and herke me.
MerT 1311 A wyf is Goddes yifte verraily;
MerT 1312 Alle othere manere yiftes hardily,
MerT 1313 As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune,
MerT 1314 Or moebles -- alle been yiftes of Fortune
MerT 1315 That passen as a shadwe upon a wal.
MerT 1316 But drede nat, if pleynly speke I shal:
MerT 1317 A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure,
MerT 1318 Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure.
MerT 1319 Mariage is a ful greet sacrement.
MerT 1320 He which that hath no wyf, I holde hym shent;
MerT 1321 He lyveth helplees and al desolat --
MerT 1322 I speke of folk in seculer estaat.
MerT 1323 And herke why -- I sey nat this for noght --
MerT 1324 That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght.
MerT 1325 The hye God, whan he hadde Adam maked,
MerT 1326 And saugh him al allone, bely-naked,
MerT 1327 God of his grete goodnesse seyde than,
MerT 1328 " Lat us now make an helpe unto this man
MerT 1329 Lyk to hymself " ; and thanne he made him Eve.
MerT 1330 Heere may ye se, and heerby may ye preve,
MerT 1331 That wyf is mannes helpe and his confort,
MerT 1332 His paradys terrestre, and his disport.
MerT 1333 So buxom and so vertuous is she,
MerT 1334 They moste nedes lyve in unitee.
MerT 1335 O flessh they been, and o fleesh, as I gesse,
MerT 1336 Hath but oon herte, in wele and in distresse.
MerT 1337 A wyf! a, Seinte Marie, benedicite!
MerT 1338 How myghte a man han any adversitee
MerT 1339 That hath a wyf? Certes, I kan nat seye.
MerT 1340 The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye
MerT 1341 Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke.
MerT 1342 If he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke;
MerT 1343 She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel;
MerT 1344 Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel;
MerT 1345 She seith nat ones " nay, " whan he seith " ye. "
MerT 1346 " Do this, " seith he; " Al redy, sire, " seith she.
MerT 1347 O blisful ordre of wedlok precious,
MerT 1348 Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous,
MerT 1349 And so commended and appreved eek
MerT 1350 That every man that halt hym worth a leek
MerT 1351 Upon his bare knees oughte al his lyf
MerT 1352 Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf,
MerT 1353 Or elles preye to God hym for to sende
MerT 1354 A wyf to laste unto his lyves ende.
MerT 1355 For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse;
MerT 1356 He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse,
MerT 1357 So that he werke after his wyves reed.
MerT 1358 Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed,
MerT 1359 They been so trewe and therwithal so wyse;
MerT 1360 For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse,
MerT 1361 Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.
MerT 1362 Lo, how that Jacob, as thise clerkes rede,
MerT 1363 By good conseil of his mooder Rebekke,
MerT 1364 Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke,
MerT 1365 For which his fadres benyson he wan.
MerT 1366 Lo Judith, as the storie eek telle kan,
MerT 1367 By wys conseil she Goddes peple kepte,
MerT 1368 And slow hym Olofernus, whil he slepte.
MerT 1369 Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she
MerT 1370 Saved hir housbonde Nabal whan that he
MerT 1371 Sholde han be slayn; and looke, Ester also
MerT 1372 By good conseil delyvered out of wo
MerT 1373 The peple of God, and made hym Mardochee
MerT 1374 Of Assuere enhaunced for to be.
MerT 1375 Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf,
MerT 1376 As seith Senek, above an humble wyf.
MerT 1377 Suffre thy wyves tonge, as Catoun bit;
MerT 1378 She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it,
MerT 1379 And yet she wole obeye of curteisye.
MerT 1380 A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye;
MerT 1381 Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe,
MerT 1382 Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe.
MerT 1383 I warne thee, if wisely thou wolt wirche,
MerT 1384 Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loved his chirche.
MerT 1385 If thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf;
MerT 1386 No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf
MerT 1387 He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee
MerT 1388 Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee.
MerT 1389 Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye,
MerT 1390 Of worldly folk holden the siker weye;
MerT 1391 They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde,
MerT 1392 And namely upon the wyves syde.
MerT 1393 For which this Januarie, of whom I tolde,
MerT 1394 Considered hath, inwith his dayes olde,
MerT 1395 The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete,
MerT 1396 That is in mariage hony-sweete,
MerT 1397 And for his freendes on a day he sente,
MerT 1398 To tellen hem th' effect of his entente.
MerT 1399 With face sad his tale he hath hem toold.
MerT 1400 He seyde, " Freendes, I am hoor and oold,
MerT 1401 And almoost, God woot, on my pittes brynke;
MerT 1402 Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke.
MerT 1403 I have my body folily despended;
MerT 1404 Blessed be God that it shal been amended!
MerT 1405 For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man,
MerT 1406 And that anoon in al the haste I kan.
MerT 1407 Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age,
MerT 1408 I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage
MerT 1409 Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde;
MerT 1410 And I wol fonde t' espien, on my syde,
MerT 1411 To whom I may be wedded hastily.
MerT 1412 But forasmuche as ye been mo than I,
MerT 1413 Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen
MerT 1414 Than I, and where me best were to allyen.
MerT 1415 " But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere,
MerT 1416 I wol noon oold wyf han in no manere.
MerT 1417 She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn;
MerT 1418 Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde I have fayn.
MerT 1419 Bet is, " quod he, " a pyk than a pykerel,
MerT 1420 And bet than old boef is the tendre veel.
MerT 1421 I wol no womman thritty yeer of age;
MerT 1422 It is but bene-straw and greet forage.
MerT 1423 And eek thise olde wydwes, God it woot,
MerT 1424 They konne so muchel craft on Wades boot,
MerT 1425 So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste,
MerT 1426 That with hem sholde I nevere lyve in reste.
MerT 1427 For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis;
MerT 1428 Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.
MerT 1429 But certeynly, a yong thyng may men gye,
MerT 1430 Right as men may warm wex with handes plye.
MerT 1431 Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause,
MerT 1432 I wol noon oold wyf han right for this cause.
MerT 1433 For if so were I hadde swich myschaunce
MerT 1434 That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce,
MerT 1435 Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye
MerT 1436 And go streight to the devel whan I dye.
MerT 1437 Ne children sholde I none upon hire geten;
MerT 1438 Yet were me levere houndes had me eten
MerT 1439 Than that myn heritage sholde falle
MerT 1440 In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle.
MerT 1441 I dote nat; I woot the cause why
MerT 1442 Men sholde wedde, and forthermoore woot I
MerT 1443 Ther speketh many a man of mariage
MerT 1444 That woot namoore of it than woot my page
MerT 1445 For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf.
MerT 1446 If he ne may nat lyven chaast his lyf,
MerT 1447 Take hym a wyf with greet devocioun,
MerT 1448 By cause of leveful procreacioun
MerT 1449 Of children to th' onour of God above,
MerT 1450 And nat oonly for paramour or love;
MerT 1451 And for they sholde leccherye eschue,
MerT 1452 And yelde hir dette whan that it is due;
MerT 1453 Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother
MerT 1454 In meschief, as a suster shal the brother,
MerT 1455 And lyve in chastitee ful holily.
MerT 1456 But sires, by youre leve, that am nat I.
MerT 1457 For -- God be thanked! -- I dar make avaunt
MerT 1458 I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt
MerT 1459 To do al that a man bilongeth to;
MerT 1460 I woot myselven best what I may do.
MerT 1461 Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree
MerT 1462 That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen bee;
MerT 1463 And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed.
MerT 1464 I feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed;
MerT 1465 Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene
MerT 1466 As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.
MerT 1467 And syn that ye han herd al myn entente,
MerT 1468 I prey yow to my wyl ye wole assente. "
MerT 1469 Diverse men diversely hym tolde
MerT 1470 Of mariage manye ensamples olde.
MerT 1471 Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn,
MerT 1472 But atte laste, shortly for to seyn,
MerT 1473 As al day falleth altercacioun
MerT 1474 Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun,
MerT 1475 Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two,
MerT 1476 Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo;
MerT 1477 Justinus soothly called was that oother.
MerT 1478 Placebo seyde, " O Januarie, brother,
MerT 1479 Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere,
MerT 1480 Conseil to axe of any that is heere,
MerT 1481 But that ye been so ful of sapience
MerT 1482 That yow ne liketh, for youre heighe prudence,
MerT 1483 To weyven fro the word of Salomon.
MerT 1484 This word seyde he unto us everychon:
MerT 1485 `Wirk alle thyng by conseil,' thus seyde he,
MerT 1486 `And thanne shaltow nat repente thee.'
MerT 1487 But though that Salomon spak swich a word,
MerT 1488 Myn owene deere brother and my lord,
MerT 1489 So wysly God my soule brynge at reste,
MerT 1490 I holde youre owene conseil is the beste.
MerT 1491 For, brother myn, of me taak this motyf:
MerT 1492 I have now been a court-man al my lyf,
MerT 1493 And God it woot, though I unworthy be,
MerT 1494 I have stonden in ful greet degree
MerT 1495 Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat;
MerT 1496 Yet hadde I nevere with noon of hem debaat.
MerT 1497 I nevere hem contraried, trewely;
MerT 1498 I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I.
MerT 1499 What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable;
MerT 1500 I seye the same, or elles thyng semblable.
MerT 1501 A ful greet fool is any conseillour
MerT 1502 That serveth any lord of heigh honour,
MerT 1503 That dar presume, or elles thenken it,
MerT 1504 That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit.
MerT 1505 Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my fay!
MerT 1506 Ye han youreselven shewed heer to-day
MerT 1507 So heigh sentence, so holily and weel,
MerT 1508 That I consente and conferme everydeel
MerT 1509 Youre wordes alle and youre opinioun.
MerT 1510 By God, ther nys no man in al this toun,
MerT 1511 Ne in Ytaille, that koude bet han sayd!
MerT 1512 Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd.
MerT 1513 And trewely, it is an heigh corage
MerT 1514 Of any man that stapen is in age
MerT 1515 To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn,
MerT 1516 Youre herte hangeth on a joly pyn!
MerT 1517 Dooth now in this matiere right as yow leste,
MerT 1518 For finally I holde it for the beste. "
MerT 1519 Justinus, that ay stille sat and herde,
MerT 1520 Right in this wise he to Placebo answerde:
MerT 1521 " Now, brother myn, be pacient, I preye,
MerT 1522 Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye.
MerT 1523 Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse,
MerT 1524 Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse
MerT 1525 To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel.
MerT 1526 And syn I oghte avyse me right wel
MerT 1527 To whom I yeve my good awey fro me,
MerT 1528 Wel muchel moore I oghte avysed be
MerT 1529 To whom I yeve my body for alwey.
MerT 1530 I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley
MerT 1531 To take a wyf withouten avysement.
MerT 1532 Men moste enquere -- this is myn assent --
MerT 1533 Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe,
MerT 1534 Or proud, or elles ootherweys a shrewe,
MerT 1535 A chidestere, or wastour of thy good,
MerT 1536 Or riche, or poore, or elles mannyssh wood.
MerT 1537 Al be it so that no man fynden shal
MerT 1538 Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al,
MerT 1539 Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude devyse;
MerT 1540 But nathelees it oghte ynough suffise
MerT 1541 With any wyf, if so were that she hadde
MerT 1542 Mo goode thewes than hire vices badde;
MerT 1543 And al this axeth leyser for t' enquere.
MerT 1544 For, God it woot, I have wept many a teere
MerT 1545 Ful pryvely, syn I have had a wyf.
MerT 1546 Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf,
MerT 1547 Certein I fynde in it but cost and care
MerT 1548 And observances, of alle blisses bare.
MerT 1549 And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute,
MerT 1550 And namely of wommen many a route,
MerT 1551 Seyn that I have the mooste stedefast wyf,
MerT 1552 And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf;
MerT 1553 But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho.
MerT 1554 Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do;
MerT 1555 Avyseth yow -- ye been a man of age --
MerT 1556 How that ye entren into mariage,
MerT 1557 And namely with a yong wyf and a fair.
MerT 1558 By hym that made water, erthe, and air,
MerT 1559 The yongeste man that is in al this route
MerT 1560 Is bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute
MerT 1561 To han his wyf allone. Trusteth me,
MerT 1562 Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre --
MerT 1563 This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce.
MerT 1564 A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce.
MerT 1565 I prey yow that ye be nat yvele apayd. "
MerT 1566 " Wel, " quod this Januarie, " and hastow ysayd?
MerT 1567 Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes!
MerT 1568 I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes
MerT 1569 Of scole-termes. Wyser men than thow,
MerT 1570 As thou hast herd, assenteden right now
MerT 1571 To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye? "
MerT 1572 " I seye it is a cursed man, " quod he,
MerT 1573 " That letteth matrimoigne, sikerly. "
MerT 1574 And with that word they rysen sodeynly,
MerT 1575 And been assented fully that he sholde
MerT 1576 Be wedded whanne hym liste and where he wolde.
MerT 1577 Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse
MerT 1578 Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse
MerT 1579 Of Januarie aboute his mariage.
MerT 1580 Many fair shap and many a fair visage
MerT 1581 Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght,
MerT 1582 As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght,
MerT 1583 And sette it in a commune market-place,
MerT 1584 Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace
MerT 1585 By his mirour; and in the same wyse
MerT 1586 Gan Januarie inwith his thoght devyse
MerT 1587 Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde.
MerT 1588 He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde.
MerT 1589 For if that oon have beaute in hir face,
MerT 1590 Another stant so in the peples grace
MerT 1591 For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee
MerT 1592 That of the peple grettest voys hath she;
MerT 1593 And somme were riche and hadden badde name.
MerT 1594 But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game,
MerT 1595 He atte laste apoynted hym on oon,
MerT 1596 And leet alle othere from his herte goon,
MerT 1597 And chees hire of his owene auctoritee;
MerT 1598 For love is blynd alday, and may nat see.
MerT 1599 And whan that he was in his bed ybroght,
MerT 1600 He purtreyed in his herte and in his thoght
MerT 1601 Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre,
MerT 1602 Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklendre,
MerT 1603 Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse,
MerT 1604 Hir wommanly berynge, and hire sadnesse.
MerT 1605 And whan that he on hire was condescended,
MerT 1606 Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended.
MerT 1607 For whan that he hymself concluded hadde,
MerT 1608 Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde
MerT 1609 That inpossible it were to repplye
MerT 1610 Agayn his choys; this was his fantasye.
MerT 1611 His freendes sente he to, at his instaunce,
MerT 1612 And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce,
MerT 1613 That hastily they wolden to hym come;
MerT 1614 He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some.
MerT 1615 Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde;
MerT 1616 He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde.
MerT 1617 Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone,
MerT 1618 And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone,
MerT 1619 That noon of hem none argumentes make
MerT 1620 Agayn the purpos which that he hath take,
MerT 1621 Which purpos was plesant to God, seyde he,
MerT 1622 And verray ground of his prosperitee.
MerT 1623 He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun,
MerT 1624 Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun,
MerT 1625 Al were it so she were of smal degree;
MerT 1626 Suffiseth hym hir yowthe and hir beautee.
MerT 1627 Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf,
MerT 1628 To lede in ese and hoolynesse his lyf;
MerT 1629 And thanked God that he myghte han hire al,
MerT 1630 That no wight his blisse parten shal.
MerT 1631 And preyed hem to laboure in this nede,
MerT 1632 And shapen that he faille nat to spede;
MerT 1633 For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese.
MerT 1634 " Thanne is, " quod he, " no thyng may me displese,
MerT 1635 Save o thyng priketh in my conscience,
MerT 1636 The which I wol reherce in youre presence.
MerT 1637 " I have, " quod he, " herd seyd, ful yoore ago,
MerT 1638 Ther may no man han parfite blisses two --
MerT 1639 This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene.
MerT 1640 For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene,
MerT 1641 And eek from every branche of thilke tree,
MerT 1642 Yet is ther so parfit felicitee
MerT 1643 And so greet ese and lust in mariage
MerT 1644 That evere I am agast now in myn age
MerT 1645 That I shal lede now so myrie a lyf,
MerT 1646 So delicat, withouten wo and stryf,
MerT 1647 That I shal have myn hevene in erthe heere.
MerT 1648 For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere
MerT 1649 With tribulacion and greet penaunce,
MerT 1650 How sholde I thanne, that lyve in swich plesaunce
MerT 1651 As alle wedded men doon with hire wyvys,
MerT 1652 Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve ys?
MerT 1653 This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye,
MerT 1654 Assoilleth me this question, I preye. "
MerT 1655 Justinus, which that hated his folye,
MerT 1656 Answerde anon right in his japerye;
MerT 1657 And for he wolde his longe tale abregge,
MerT 1658 He wolde noon auctoritee allegge,
MerT 1659 But seyde, " Sire, so ther be noon obstacle
MerT 1660 Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle
MerT 1661 And of his mercy may so for yow wirche
MerT 1662 That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche,
MerT 1663 Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf,
MerT 1664 In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf.
MerT 1665 And elles, God forbede but he sente
MerT 1666 A wedded man hym grace to repente
MerT 1667 Wel ofte rather than a sengle man!
MerT 1668 And therfore, sire -- the beste reed I kan --
MerT 1669 Dispeire yow noght, but have in youre memorie,
MerT 1670 Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie!
MerT 1671 She may be Goddes meene and Goddes whippe;
MerT 1672 Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe
MerT 1673 Swifter than dooth an arwe out of a bowe.
MerT 1674 I hope to God, herafter shul ye knowe
MerT 1675 That ther nys no so greet felicitee
MerT 1676 In mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee,
MerT 1677 That yow shal lette of youre savacion,
MerT 1678 So that ye use, as skile is and reson,
MerT 1679 The lustes of youre wyf attemprely,
MerT 1680 And that ye plese hire nat to amorously,
MerT 1681 And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne.
MerT 1682 My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne.
MerT 1683 Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere,
MerT 1684 But lat us waden out of this mateere.
MerT 1685 The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde,
MerT 1686 Of mariage, which we have on honde,
MerT 1687 Declared hath ful wel in litel space.
MerT 1688 Fareth now wel. God have yow in his grace. "
MerT 1689 And with this word this Justyn and his brother
MerT 1690 Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother.
MerT 1691 For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be,
MerT 1692 They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee,
MerT 1693 That she, this mayden which that Mayus highte,
MerT 1694 As hastily as evere that she myghte
MerT 1695 Shal wedded be unto this Januarie.
MerT 1696 I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie,
MerT 1697 If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond
MerT 1698 By which that she was feffed in his lond,
MerT 1699 Or for to herknen of hir riche array.
MerT 1700 But finally ycomen is the day
MerT 1701 That to the chirche bothe be they went
MerT 1702 For to receyve the hooly sacrement.
MerT 1703 Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke,
MerT 1704 And bad hire be lyk Sarra and Rebekke
MerT 1705 In wysdom and in trouthe of mariage;
MerT 1706 And seyde his orisons, as is usage,
MerT 1707 And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse,
MerT 1708 And made al siker ynogh with hoolynesse.
MerT 1709 Thus been they wedded with solempnitee,
MerT 1710 And at the feeste sitteth he and she
MerT 1711 With othere worthy folk upon the deys.
MerT 1712 Al ful of joye and blisse is the paleys,
MerT 1713 And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille,
MerT 1714 The mooste deyntevous of al Ytaille.
MerT 1715 Biforn hem stoode instrumentz of swich soun
MerT 1716 That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun,
MerT 1717 Ne maden nevere swich a melodye.
MerT 1718 At every cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye
MerT 1719 That nevere tromped Joab for to heere,
MerT 1720 Nor he Theodomas, yet half so cleere
MerT 1721 At Thebes whan the citee was in doute.
MerT 1722 Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute,
MerT 1723 And Venus laugheth upon every wight,
MerT 1724 For Januarie was bicome hir knyght
MerT 1725 And wolde bothe assayen his corage
MerT 1726 In libertee, and eek in mariage;
MerT 1727 And with hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute
MerT 1728 Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route.
MerT 1729 And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this,
MerT 1730 Ymeneus, that god of weddyng is,
MerT 1731 Saugh nevere his lyf so myrie a wedded man.
MerT 1732 Hoold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian,
MerT 1733 That writest us that ilke weddyng murie
MerT 1734 Of hire Philologie and hym Mercurie,
MerT 1735 And of the songes that the Muses songe!
MerT 1736 To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy tonge,
MerT 1737 For to descryven of this mariage.
MerT 1738 Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age,
MerT 1739 Ther is swich myrthe that it may nat be writen.
MerT 1740 Assayeth it youreself; thanne may ye witen
MerT 1741 If that I lye or noon in this matiere.
MerT 1742 Mayus, that sit with so benyngne a chiere,
MerT 1743 Hire to biholde it semed fayerye.
MerT 1744 Queene Ester looked nevere with swich an ye
MerT 1745 On Assuer, so meke a look hath she.
MerT 1746 I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee.
MerT 1747 But thus muche of hire beautee telle I may,
MerT 1748 That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May,
MerT 1749 Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.
MerT 1750 This Januarie is ravysshed in a traunce
MerT 1751 At every tyme he looked on hir face;
MerT 1752 But in his herte he gan hire to manace
MerT 1753 That he that nyght in armes wolde hire streyne
MerT 1754 Harder than evere Parys dide Eleyne.
MerT 1755 But nathelees yet hadde he greet pitee
MerT 1756 That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he,
MerT 1757 And thoughte, " Allas! O tendre creature,
MerT 1758 Now wolde God ye myghte wel endure
MerT 1759 Al my corage, it is so sharp and keene!
MerT 1760 I am agast ye shul it nat susteene.
MerT 1761 But God forbede that I dide al my myght!
MerT 1762 Now wolde God that it were woxen nyght,
MerT 1763 And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo.
MerT 1764 I wolde that al this peple were ago. "
MerT 1765 And finally he dooth al his labour,
MerT 1766 As he best myghte, savynge his honour,
MerT 1767 To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse.
MerT 1768 The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse;
MerT 1769 And after that men daunce and drynken faste,
MerT 1770 And spices al aboute the hous they caste,
MerT 1771 And ful of joye and blisse is every man --
MerT 1772 Al but a squyer, highte Damyan,
MerT 1773 Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day.
MerT 1774 He was so ravysshed on his lady May
MerT 1775 That for the verray peyne he was ny wood.
MerT 1776 Almoost he swelte and swowned ther he stood,
MerT 1777 So soore hath Venus hurt hym with hire brond,
MerT 1778 As that she bar it daunsynge in hire hond;
MerT 1779 And to his bed he wente hym hastily.
MerT 1780 Namoore of hym at this tyme speke I,
MerT 1781 But there I lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne
MerT 1782 Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne.
MerT 1783 O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth!
MerT 1784 O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth!
MerT 1785 O servant traytour, false hoomly hewe,
MerT 1786 Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe,
MerT 1787 God shilde us alle from youre aqueyntaunce!
MerT 1788 O Januarie, dronken in plesaunce
MerT 1789 In mariage, se how thy Damyan,
MerT 1790 Thyn owene squier and thy borne man,
MerT 1791 Entendeth for to do thee vileynye.
MerT 1792 God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo t' espye!
MerT 1793 For in this world nys worse pestilence
MerT 1794 Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence.
MerT 1795 Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne;
MerT 1796 No lenger may the body of hym sojurne
MerT 1797 On th' orisonte, as in that latitude.
MerT 1798 Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude,
MerT 1799 Gan oversprede the hemysperie aboute;
MerT 1800 For which departed is this lusty route
MerT 1801 Fro Januarie, with thank on every syde.
MerT 1802 Hoom to hir houses lustily they ryde,
MerT 1803 Where as they doon hir thynges as hem leste,
MerT 1804 And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste.
MerT 1805 Soone after that, this hastif Januarie
MerT 1806 Wolde go to bedde; he wolde no lenger tarye.
MerT 1807 He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage
MerT 1808 Of spices hoote t' encreessen his corage;
MerT 1809 And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn,
MerT 1810 Swiche as the cursed monk, daun Constantyn,
MerT 1811 Hath writen in his book De Coitu;
MerT 1812 To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu.
MerT 1813 And to his privee freendes thus seyde he:
MerT 1814 " For Goddes love, as soone as it may be,
MerT 1815 Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse. "
MerT 1816 And they han doon right as he wol devyse.
MerT 1817 Men drynken and the travers drawe anon.
MerT 1818 The bryde was broght abedde as stille as stoon;
MerT 1819 And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed,
MerT 1820 Out of the chambre hath every wight hym dressed,
MerT 1821 And Januarie hath faste in armes take
MerT 1822 His fresshe May, his paradys, his make.
MerT 1823 He lulleth hire; he kisseth hire ful ofte;
MerT 1824 With thikke brustles of his berd unsofte,
MerT 1825 Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere --
MerT 1826 For he was shave al newe in his manere --
MerT 1827 He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face,
MerT 1828 And seyde thus, " Allas! I moot trespace
MerT 1829 To yow, my spouse, and yow greetly offende
MerT 1830 Er tyme come that I wil doun descende.
MerT 1831 But nathelees, considereth this, " quod he,
MerT 1832 " Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be,
MerT 1833 That may bothe werke wel and hastily;
MerT 1834 This wol be doon at leyser parfitly.
MerT 1835 It is no fors how longe that we pleye;
MerT 1836 In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye,
MerT 1837 And blessed be the yok that we been inne,
MerT 1838 For in oure actes we mowe do no synne.
MerT 1839 A man may do no synne with his wyf,
MerT 1840 Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf,
MerT 1841 For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe. "
MerT 1842 Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe;
MerT 1843 And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree,
MerT 1844 And upright in his bed thanne sitteth he,
MerT 1845 And after that he sang ful loude and cleere,
MerT 1846 And kiste his wyf, and made wantown cheere.
MerT 1847 He was al coltissh, ful of ragerye,
MerT 1848 And ful of jargon as a flekked pye.
MerT 1849 The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh
MerT 1850 Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh.
MerT 1851 But God woot what that May thoughte in hir herte,
MerT 1852 Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sherte,
MerT 1853 In his nyght-cappe, and with his nekke lene;
MerT 1854 She preyseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene.
MerT 1855 Thanne seide he thus, " My reste wol I take;
MerT 1856 Now day is come, I may no lenger wake. "
MerT 1857 And doun he leyde his heed and sleep til pryme.
MerT 1858 And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme,
MerT 1859 Up ryseth Januarie; but fresshe May
MerT 1860 Heeld hire chambre unto the fourthe day,
MerT 1861 As usage is of wyves for the beste.
MerT 1862 For every labour somtyme moot han reste,
MerT 1863 Or elles longe may he nat endure;
MerT 1864 This is to seyn, no lyves creature,
MerT 1865 Be it of fyssh, or bryd, or beest, or man.
MerT 1866 Now wol I speke of woful Damyan,
MerT 1867 That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere;
MerT 1868 Therfore I speke to hym in this manere:
MerT 1869 I seye, " O sely Damyan, allas!
MerT 1870 Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas.
MerT 1871 How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe May,
MerT 1872 Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye nay.
MerT 1873 Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye.
MerT 1874 God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye. "
MerT 1875 This sike Damyan in Venus fyr
MerT 1876 So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr,
MerT 1877 For which he putte his lyf in aventure.
MerT 1878 No lenger myghte he in this wise endure,
MerT 1879 But prively a penner gan he borwe,
MerT 1880 And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe,
MerT 1881 In manere of a compleynt or a lay,
MerT 1882 Unto his faire, fresshe lady May;
MerT 1883 And in a purs of sylk heng on his sherte
MerT 1884 He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte.
MerT 1885 The moone, that at noon was thilke day
MerT 1886 That Januarie hath wedded fresshe May
MerT 1887 In two of Tawr, was into Cancre glyden;
MerT 1888 So longe hath Mayus in hir chambre abyden,
MerT 1889 As custume is unto thise nobles alle.
MerT 1890 A bryde shal nat eten in the halle
MerT 1891 Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste,
MerT 1892 Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste.
MerT 1893 The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon,
MerT 1894 Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon,
MerT 1895 In halle sit this Januarie and May,
MerT 1896 As fressh as is the brighte someres day.
MerT 1897 And so bifel how that this goode man
MerT 1898 Remembred hym upon this Damyan,
MerT 1899 And seyde, " Seynte Marie! how may this be,
MerT 1900 That Damyan entendeth nat to me?
MerT 1901 Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde? "
MerT 1902 His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde,
MerT 1903 Excused hym by cause of his siknesse,
MerT 1904 Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse;
MerT 1905 Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye.
MerT 1906 " That me forthynketh, " quod this Januarie,
MerT 1907 " He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe!
MerT 1908 If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe.
MerT 1909 He is as wys, discreet, and as secree
MerT 1910 As any man I woot of his degree,
MerT 1911 And therto manly, and eek servysable,
MerT 1912 And for to been a thrifty man right able.
MerT 1913 But after mete, as soone as evere I may,
MerT 1914 I wol myself visite hym, and eek May,
MerT 1915 To doon hym al the confort that I kan. "
MerT 1916 And for that word hym blessed every man,
MerT 1917 That of his bountee and his gentillesse
MerT 1918 He wolde so conforten in siknesse
MerT 1919 His squier, for it was a gentil dede.
MerT 1920 " Dame, " quod this Januarie, " taak good hede,
MerT 1921 At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle,
MerT 1922 Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle,
MerT 1923 That alle ye go se this Damyan.
MerT 1924 Dooth hym disport -- he is a gentil man;
MerT 1925 And telleth hym that I wol hym visite,
MerT 1926 Have I no thyng but rested me a lite;
MerT 1927 And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde
MerT 1928 Til that ye slepe faste by my syde. "
MerT 1929 And with that word he gan to hym to calle
MerT 1930 A squier, that was marchal of his halle,
MerT 1931 And tolde hym certeyn thynges, what he wolde.
MerT 1932 This fresshe May hath streight hir wey yholde
MerT 1933 With alle hir wommen unto Damyan.
MerT 1934 Doun by his beddes syde sit she than,
MerT 1935 Confortynge hym as goodly as she may.
MerT 1936 This Damyan, whan that his tyme he say,
MerT 1937 In secree wise his purs and eek his bille,
MerT 1938 In which that he ywriten hadde his wille,
MerT 1939 Hath put into hire hand, withouten moore,
MerT 1940 Save that he siketh wonder depe and soore,
MerT 1941 And softely to hire right thus seyde he:
MerT 1942 " Mercy! And that ye nat discovere me,
MerT 1943 For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd. "
MerT 1944 This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd
MerT 1945 And wente hire wey; ye gete namoore of me.
MerT 1946 But unto Januarie ycomen is she,
MerT 1947 That on his beddes syde sit ful softe.
MerT 1948 He taketh hire, and kisseth hire ful ofte,
MerT 1949 And leyde hym doun to slepe, and that anon.
MerT 1950 She feyned hire as that she moste gon
MerT 1951 Ther as ye woot that every wight moot neede;
MerT 1952 And whan she of this bille hath taken heede,
MerT 1953 She rente it al to cloutes atte laste,
MerT 1954 And in the pryvee softely it caste.
MerT 1955 Who studieth now but faire fresshe May?
MerT 1956 Adoun by olde Januarie she lay,
MerT 1957 That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked.
MerT 1958 Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked;
MerT 1959 He wolde of hire, he seyde, han som plesaunce;
MerT 1960 He seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce,
MerT 1961 And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth.
MerT 1962 But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth,
MerT 1963 How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle,
MerT 1964 Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle.
MerT 1965 But heere I lete hem werken in hir wyse
MerT 1966 Til evensong rong and that they moste aryse.
MerT 1967 Were it by destynee or by aventure,
MerT 1968 Were it by influence or by nature,
MerT 1969 Or constellacion, that in swich estaat
MerT 1970 The hevene stood that tyme fortunaat
MerT 1971 Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes --
MerT 1972 For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes --
MerT 1973 To any womman for to gete hire love,
MerT 1974 I kan nat seye; but grete God above,
MerT 1975 That knoweth that noon act is causelees,
MerT 1976 He deme of al, for I wole holde my pees.
MerT 1977 But sooth is this, how that this fresshe May
MerT 1978 Hath take swich impression that day
MerT 1979 Of pitee of this sike Damyan
MerT 1980 That from hire herte she ne dryve kan
MerT 1981 The remembrance for to doon hym ese.
MerT 1982 " Certeyn, " thoghte she, " whom that this thyng displese
MerT 1983 I rekke noght, for heere I hym assure
MerT 1984 To love hym best of any creature,
MerT 1985 Though he namoore hadde than his sherte. "
MerT 1986 Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte!
MerT 1987 Heere may ye se how excellent franchise
MerT 1988 In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse.
MerT 1989 Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon
MerT 1990 That hath an herte as hard as any stoon,
MerT 1991 Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place
MerT 1992 Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace,
MerT 1993 And hem rejoysen in hire crueel pryde,
MerT 1994 And rekke nat to been an homycide.
MerT 1995 This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee,
MerT 1996 Right of hire hand a lettre made she,
MerT 1997 In which she graunteth hym hire verray grace.
MerT 1998 Ther lakketh noght oonly but day and place
MerT 1999 Wher that she myghte unto his lust suffise,
MerT 2000 For it shal be right as he wole devyse.
MerT 2001 And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon a day
MerT 2002 To visite this Damyan gooth May,
MerT 2003 And sotilly this lettre doun she threste
MerT 2004 Under his pilwe; rede it if hym leste.
MerT 2005 She taketh hym by the hand and harde hym twiste
MerT 2006 So secrely that no wight of it wiste,
MerT 2007 And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente
MerT 2008 To Januarie, whan that he for hire sente.
MerT 2009 Up riseth Damyan the nexte morwe;
MerT 2010 Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe.
MerT 2011 He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh,
MerT 2012 He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh,
MerT 2013 And eek to Januarie he gooth as lowe
MerT 2014 As evere dide a dogge for the bowe.
MerT 2015 He is so plesant unto every man
MerT 2016 (For craft is al, whoso that do it kan)
MerT 2017 That every wight is fayn to speke hym good,
MerT 2018 And fully in his lady grace he stood.
MerT 2019 Thus lete I Damyan aboute his nede,
MerT 2020 And in my tale forth I wol procede.
MerT 2021 Somme clerkes holden that felicitee
MerT 2022 Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he,
MerT 2023 This noble Januarie, with al his myght,
MerT 2024 In honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght,
MerT 2025 Shoop hym to lyve ful deliciously.
MerT 2026 His housynge, his array, as honestly
MerT 2027 To his degree was maked as a kynges.
MerT 2028 Amonges othere of his honeste thynges,
MerT 2029 He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon;
MerT 2030 So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon.
MerT 2031 For, out of doute, I verraily suppose
MerT 2032 That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose
MerT 2033 Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse;
MerT 2034 Ne Priapus ne myghte nat suffise,
MerT 2035 Though he be god of gardyns, for to telle
MerT 2036 The beautee of the gardyn and the welle
MerT 2037 That stood under a laurer alwey grene.
MerT 2038 Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene,
MerT 2039 Proserpina, and al hire fayerye,
MerT 2040 Disporten hem and maken melodye
MerT 2041 Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde.
MerT 2042 This noble knyght, this Januarie the olde,
MerT 2043 Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye,
MerT 2044 That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye
MerT 2045 Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket
MerT 2046 He baar alwey of silver a clyket,
MerT 2047 With which, whan that hym leste, he it unshette.
MerT 2048 And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette
MerT 2049 In somer seson, thider wolde he go,
MerT 2050 And May his wyf, and no wight but they two;
MerT 2051 And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde,
MerT 2052 He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde.
MerT 2053 And in this wyse, many a murye day,
MerT 2054 Lyved this Januarie and fresshe May.
MerT 2055 But worldly joye may nat alwey dure
MerT 2056 To Januarie, ne to no creature.
MerT 2057 O sodeyn hap! O thou Fortune unstable!
MerT 2058 Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable,
MerT 2059 That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge;
MerT 2060 Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge.
MerT 2061 O brotil joye! O sweete venym queynte!
MerT 2062 O monstre, that so subtilly kanst peynte
MerT 2063 Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse,
MerT 2064 That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse!
MerT 2065 Why hastow Januarie thus deceyved,
MerT 2066 That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyved?
MerT 2067 And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his yen,
MerT 2068 For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen.
MerT 2069 Allas, this noble Januarie free,
MerT 2070 Amydde his lust and his prosperitee,
MerT 2071 Is woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly.
MerT 2072 He wepeth and he wayleth pitously;
MerT 2073 And therwithal the fyr of jalousie,
MerT 2074 Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye,
MerT 2075 So brente his herte that he wolde fayn
MerT 2076 That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn.
MerT 2077 For neither after his deeth nor in his lyf
MerT 2078 Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf,
MerT 2079 But evere lyve as wydwe in clothes blake,
MerT 2080 Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make.
MerT 2081 But atte laste, after a month or tweye,
MerT 2082 His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye;
MerT 2083 For whan he wiste it may noon oother be,
MerT 2084 He paciently took his adversitee,
MerT 2085 Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon
MerT 2086 That he nas jalous everemoore in oon;
MerT 2087 Which jalousye it was so outrageous
MerT 2088 That neither in halle, n' yn noon oother hous,
MerT 2089 Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo,
MerT 2090 He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go,
MerT 2091 But if that he had hond on hire alway;
MerT 2092 For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May,
MerT 2093 That loveth Damyan so benyngnely
MerT 2094 That she moot outher dyen sodeynly
MerT 2095 Or elles she moot han hym as hir leste.
MerT 2096 She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.
MerT 2097 Upon that oother syde Damyan
MerT 2098 Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man
MerT 2099 That evere was, for neither nyght ne day
MerT 2100 Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May,
MerT 2101 As to his purpos, of no swich mateere,
MerT 2102 But if that Januarie moste it heere,
MerT 2103 That hadde an hand upon hire everemo.
MerT 2104 But nathelees, by writyng to and fro
MerT 2105 And privee signes wiste he what she mente,
MerT 2106 And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.
MerT 2107 O Januarie, what myghte it thee availle,
MerT 2108 Thogh thou myghtest se as fer as shippes saille?
MerT 2109 For as good is blynd deceyved be
MerT 2110 As to be deceyved whan a man may se.
MerT 2111 Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred yen,
MerT 2112 For al that evere he koude poure or pryen,
MerT 2113 Yet was he blent, and, God woot, so been mo
MerT 2114 That wenen wisly that it be nat so.
MerT 2115 Passe over is an ese, I sey namoore.
MerT 2116 This fresshe May, that I spak of so yoore,
MerT 2117 In warm wex hath emprented the clyket
MerT 2118 That Januarie bar of the smale wyket,
MerT 2119 By which into his gardyn ofte he wente;
MerT 2120 And Damyan, that knew al hire entente,
MerT 2121 The cliket countrefeted pryvely.
MerT 2122 Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily
MerT 2123 Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde,
MerT 2124 Which ye shul heeren, if ye wole abyde.
MerT 2125 O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God woot,
MerT 2126 What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot,
MerT 2127 That Love nyl fynde it out in som manere?
MerT 2128 By Piramus and Tesbee may men leere;
MerT 2129 Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal,
MerT 2130 They been accorded, rownynge thurgh a wal,
MerT 2131 Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte.
MerT 2132 But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte
MerT 2133 Were passed [of] the month of [Juyn], bifil
MerT 2134 That Januarie hath caught so greet a wil,
MerT 2135 Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye
MerT 2136 In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye,
MerT 2137 That in a morwe unto his May seith he:
MerT 2138 " Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free!
MerT 2139 The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete;
MerT 2140 The wynter is goon with alle his reynes weete.
MerT 2141 Com forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn!
MerT 2142 How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn!
MerT 2143 The gardyn is enclosed al aboute;
MerT 2144 Com forth, my white spouse! Out of doute
MerT 2145 Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, O wyf!
MerT 2146 No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf.
MerT 2147 Com forth, and lat us taken oure disport;
MerT 2148 I chees thee for my wyf and my confort. "
MerT 2149 Swiche olde lewed wordes used he.
MerT 2150 On Damyan a signe made she,
MerT 2151 That he sholde go biforn with his cliket.
MerT 2152 This Damyan thanne hath opened the wyket,
MerT 2153 And in he stirte, and that in swich manere
MerT 2154 That no wight myghte it se neither yheere,
MerT 2155 And stille he sit under a bussh anon.
MerT 2156 This Januarie, as blynd as is a stoon,
MerT 2157 With Mayus in his hand, and no wight mo,
MerT 2158 Into his fresshe gardyn is ago,
MerT 2159 And clapte to the wyket sodeynly.
MerT 2160 " Now wyf, " quod he, " heere nys but thou and I,
MerT 2161 That art the creature that I best love.
MerT 2162 For by that Lord that sit in hevene above,
MerT 2163 Levere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf
MerT 2164 Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf!
MerT 2165 For Goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees,
MerT 2166 Noght for no coveitise, doutelees,
MerT 2167 But oonly for the love I had to thee.
MerT 2168 And though that I be oold and may nat see,
MerT 2169 Beth to me trewe, and I wol telle yow why.
MerT 2170 Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby:
MerT 2171 First, love of Crist, and to youreself honour,
MerT 2172 And al myn heritage, toun and tour;
MerT 2173 I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste;
MerT 2174 This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste,
MerT 2175 So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse.
MerT 2176 I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse;
MerT 2177 And though that I be jalous, wyte me noght.
MerT 2178 Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght
MerT 2179 That, whan that I considere youre beautee
MerT 2180 And therwithal the unlikly elde of me,
MerT 2181 I may nat, certes, though I sholde dye,
MerT 2182 Forbere to been out of youre compaignye
MerT 2183 For verray love; this is withouten doute.
MerT 2184 Now kys me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute. "
MerT 2185 This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde,
MerT 2186 Benyngnely to Januarie answerde,
MerT 2187 But first and forward she bigan to wepe.
MerT 2188 " I have, " quod she, " a soule for to kepe
MerT 2189 As wel as ye, and also myn honour,
MerT 2190 And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour,
MerT 2191 Which that I have assured in youre hond,
MerT 2192 Whan that the preest to yow my body bond;
MerT 2193 Wherfore I wole answere in this manere,
MerT 2194 By the leve of yow, my lord so deere:
MerT 2195 I prey to God that nevere dawe the day
MerT 2196 That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may,
MerT 2197 If evere I do unto my kyn that shame,
MerT 2198 Or elles I empeyre so my name,
MerT 2199 That I be fals; and if I do that lak,
MerT 2200 Do strepe me and put me in a sak,
MerT 2201 And in the nexte ryver do me drenche.
MerT 2202 I am a gentil womman and no wenche.
MerT 2203 Why speke ye thus? But men been evere untrewe,
MerT 2204 And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe.
MerT 2205 Ye han noon oother contenance, I leeve,
MerT 2206 But speke to us of untrust and repreeve. "
MerT 2207 And with that word she saugh wher Damyan
MerT 2208 Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan,
MerT 2209 And with hir fynger signes made she
MerT 2210 That Damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree
MerT 2211 That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente.
MerT 2212 For verraily he knew al hire entente,
MerT 2213 And every signe that she koude make,
MerT 2214 Wel bet than Januarie, hir owene make,
MerT 2215 For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al
MerT 2216 Of this matere, how he werchen shal.
MerT 2217 And thus I lete hym sitte upon the pyrie,
MerT 2218 And Januarie and May romynge myrie.
MerT 2219 Bright was the day, and blew the firmament;
MerT 2220 Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent
MerT 2221 To gladen every flour with his warmnesse.
MerT 2222 He was that tyme in Geminis, as I gesse,
MerT 2223 But litel fro his declynacion
MerT 2224 Of Cancer, Jovis exaltacion.
MerT 2225 And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde
MerT 2226 That in that gardyn, in the ferther syde,
MerT 2227 Pluto, that is kyng of Fayerye,
MerT 2228 And many a lady in his compaignye,
MerT 2229 Folwynge his wyf, the queene Proserpyna,
MerT 2230 Which that he ravysshed out of [Ethna]
MerT 2231 Whil that she gadered floures in the mede --
MerT 2232 In Claudyan ye may the stories rede,
MerT 2233 How in his grisely carte he hire fette --
MerT 2234 This kyng of Fairye thanne adoun hym sette
MerT 2235 Upon a bench of turves, fressh and grene,
MerT 2236 And right anon thus seyde he to his queene:
MerT 2237 " My wyf, " quod he, " ther may no wight seye nay;
MerT 2238 Th' experience so preveth every day
MerT 2239 The tresons whiche that wommen doon to man.
MerT 2240 Ten hondred thousand [tales] tellen I kan
MerT 2241 Notable of youre untrouthe and brotilnesse.
MerT 2242 O Salomon, wys, and richest of richesse,
MerT 2243 Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie,
MerT 2244 Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie
MerT 2245 To every wight that wit and reson kan.
MerT 2246 Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man:
MerT 2247 `Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon,
MerT 2248 But of wommen alle foond I noon.'
MerT 2249 " Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse.
MerT 2250 And Jhesus, filius Syrak, as I gesse,
MerT 2251 Ne speketh of yow but seelde reverence.
MerT 2252 A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence
MerT 2253 So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght!
MerT 2254 Ne se ye nat this honurable knyght,
MerT 2255 By cause, allas, that he is blynd and old,
MerT 2256 His owene man shal make hym cokewold.
MerT 2257 Lo, where he sit, the lechour, in the tree!
MerT 2258 Now wol I graunten, of my magestee,
MerT 2259 Unto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght
MerT 2260 That he shal have ayen his eyen syght,
MerT 2261 Whan that his wyf wold doon hym vileynye.
MerT 2262 Thanne shal he knowen al hire harlotrye,
MerT 2263 Bothe in repreve of hire and othere mo. "
MerT 2264 " Ye shal? " quod Proserpyne, " wol ye so?
MerT 2265 Now by my moodres sires soule I swere
MerT 2266 That I shal yeven hire suffisant answere,
MerT 2267 And alle wommen after, for hir sake,
MerT 2268 That, though they be in any gilt ytake,
MerT 2269 With face boold they shulle hemself excuse,
MerT 2270 And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse.
MerT 2271 For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen.
MerT 2272 Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his yen,
MerT 2273 Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily,
MerT 2274 And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly,
MerT 2275 So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees.
MerT 2276 " What rekketh me of youre auctoritees?
MerT 2277 I woot wel that this Jew, this Salomon,
MerT 2278 Foond of us wommen fooles many oon.
MerT 2279 But though that he ne foond no good womman,
MerT 2280 Yet hath ther founde many another man
MerT 2281 Wommen ful trewe, ful goode, and vertuous.
MerT 2282 Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous;
MerT 2283 With martirdom they preved hire constance.
MerT 2284 The Romayn geestes eek make remembrance
MerT 2285 Of many a verray, trewe wyf also.
MerT 2286 But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so,
MerT 2287 Though that he seyde he foond no good womman,
MerT 2288 I prey yow take the sentence of the man;
MerT 2289 He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee
MerT 2290 Nis noon but God, but neither he ne she.
MerT 2291 " Ey! for verray God that nys but oon,
MerT 2292 What make ye so muche of Salomon?
MerT 2293 What though he made a temple, Goddes hous?
MerT 2294 What though he were riche and glorious?
MerT 2295 So made he eek a temple of false goddis.
MerT 2296 How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is?
MerT 2297 Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre,
MerT 2298 He was a lecchour and an ydolastre,
MerT 2299 And in his elde he verray God forsook;
MerT 2300 And if God ne hadde, as seith the book,
MerT 2301 Yspared him for his fadres sake, he sholde
MerT 2302 Have lost his regne rather than he wolde.
MerT 2303 I sette right noght, of al the vileynye
MerT 2304 That ye of wommen write, a boterflye!
MerT 2305 I am a womman, nedes moot I speke,
MerT 2306 Or elles swelle til myn herte breke.
MerT 2307 For sithen he seyde that we been jangleresses,
MerT 2308 As evere hool I moote brouke my tresses,
MerT 2309 I shal nat spare, for no curteisye,
MerT 2310 To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye. "
MerT 2311 " Dame, " quod this Pluto, " be no lenger wrooth;
MerT 2312 I yeve it up! But sith I swoor myn ooth
MerT 2313 That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn,
MerT 2314 My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn.
MerT 2315 I am a kyng; it sit me noght to lye. "
MerT 2316 " And I, " quod she, " a queene of Fayerye!
MerT 2317 Hir answere shal she have, I undertake.
MerT 2318 Lat us namoore wordes heerof make;
MerT 2319 For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie. "
MerT 2320 Now lat us turne agayn to Januarie,
MerT 2321 That in the gardyn with his faire May
MerT 2322 Syngeth ful murier than the papejay,
MerT 2323 " Yow love I best, and shal, and oother noon. "
MerT 2324 So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon,
MerT 2325 Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie
MerT 2326 Where as this Damyan sitteth ful myrie
MerT 2327 An heigh among the fresshe leves grene.
MerT 2328 This fresshe May, that is so bright and sheene,
MerT 2329 Gan for to syke, and seyde, " Allas, my syde!
MerT 2330 Now sire, " quod she, " for aught that may bityde,
MerT 2331 I moste han of the peres that I see,
MerT 2332 Or I moot dye, so soore longeth me
MerT 2333 To eten of the smale peres grene.
MerT 2334 Help, for hir love that is of hevene queene!
MerT 2335 I telle yow wel, a womman in my plit
MerT 2336 May han to fruyt so greet an appetit
MerT 2337 That she may dyen but she of it have. "
MerT 2338 " Allas, " quod he, " that I ne had heer a knave
MerT 2339 That koude clymbe! Allas, allas, " quod he,
MerT 2340 " For I am blynd! " " Ye, sire, no fors, " quod she;
MerT 2341 " But wolde ye vouche sauf, for Goddes sake,
MerT 2342 The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take,
MerT 2343 For wel I woot that ye mystruste me,
MerT 2344 Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynogh, " quod she,
MerT 2345 " So I my foot myghte sette upon youre bak. "
MerT 2346 " Certes, " quod he, " theron shal be no lak,
MerT 2347 Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood. "
MerT 2348 He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood,
MerT 2349 And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth --
MerT 2350 Ladyes, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth;
MerT 2351 I kan nat glose, I am a rude man --
MerT 2352 And sodeynly anon this Damyan
MerT 2353 Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng.
MerT 2354 And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong,
MerT 2355 To Januarie he gaf agayn his sighte,
MerT 2356 And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte.
MerT 2357 And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn,
MerT 2358 Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn,
MerT 2359 But on his wyf his thoght was everemo.
MerT 2360 Up to the tree he caste his eyen two,
MerT 2361 And saugh that Damyan his wyf had dressed
MerT 2362 In swich manere it may nat been expressed,
MerT 2363 But if I wolde speke uncurteisly;
MerT 2364 And up he yaf a roryng and a cry,
MerT 2365 As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye:
MerT 2366 " Out! Help! Allas! Harrow! " he gan to crye,
MerT 2367 " O stronge lady stoore, what dostow? "
MerT 2368 And she answerde, " Sire, what eyleth yow?
MerT 2369 Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde.
MerT 2370 I have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde.
MerT 2371 Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen,
MerT 2372 As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen,
MerT 2373 Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see,
MerT 2374 Than strugle with a man upon a tree.
MerT 2375 God woot, I dide it in ful good entente. "
MerT 2376 " Strugle? " quod he, " Ye, algate in it wente!
MerT 2377 God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen!
MerT 2378 He swyved thee; I saugh it with myne yen,
MerT 2379 And elles be I hanged by the hals! "
MerT 2380 " Thanne is, " quod she, " my medicyne fals;
MerT 2381 For certeinly, if that ye myghte se,
MerT 2382 Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me.
MerT 2383 Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte. "
MerT 2384 " I se, " quod he, " as wel as evere I myghte,
MerT 2385 Thonked be God! With bothe myne eyen two,
MerT 2386 And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so. "
MerT 2387 " Ye maze, maze, goode sire, " quod she;
MerT 2388 " This thank have I for I have maad yow see.
MerT 2389 Allas, " quod she, " that evere I was so kynde! "
MerT 2390 " Now, dame, " quod he, " lat al passe out of mynde.
MerT 2391 Com doun, my lief, and if I have myssayd,
MerT 2392 God helpe me so, as I am yvele apayd.
MerT 2393 But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn
MerT 2394 How that this Damyan hadde by thee leyn,
MerT 2395 And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest. "
MerT 2396 " Ye, sire, " quod she, " ye may wene as yow lest.
MerT 2397 But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep,
MerT 2398 He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep
MerT 2399 Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly,
MerT 2400 Til that he be adawed verraily.
MerT 2401 Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe,
MerT 2402 Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse,
MerT 2403 First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn,
MerT 2404 As he that hath a day or two yseyn.
MerT 2405 Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while
MerT 2406 Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile.
MerT 2407 Beth war, I prey yow, for by hevene kyng,
MerT 2408 Ful many a man weneth to seen a thyng,
MerT 2409 And it is al another than it semeth.
MerT 2410 He that mysconceyveth, he mysdemeth. "
MerT 2411 And with that word she leep doun fro the tree.
MerT 2412 This Januarie, who is glad but he?
MerT 2413 He kisseth hire and clippeth hire ful ofte,
MerT 2414 And on hire wombe he stroketh hire ful softe,
MerT 2415 And to his palays hoom he hath hire lad.
MerT 2416 Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad.
MerT 2417 Thus endeth heere my tale of Januarie;
MerT 2418 God blesse us, and his mooder Seinte Marie!
MerT 2419 " Ey! Goddes mercy! " seyde oure Hooste tho,
MerT 2420 " Now swich a wyf I pray God kepe me fro!
MerT 2421 Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees
MerT 2422 In wommen been! For ay as bisy as bees
MerT 2423 Been they, us sely men for to deceyve,
MerT 2424 And from the soothe evere wol they weyve;
MerT 2425 By this Marchauntes tale it preveth weel.
MerT 2426 But doutelees, as trewe as any steel
MerT 2427 I have a wyf, though that she povre be,
MerT 2428 But of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she,
MerT 2429 And yet she hath an heep of vices mo;
MerT 2430 Therof no fors! Lat alle swiche thynges go.
MerT 2431 But wyte ye what? In conseil be it seyd,
MerT 2432 Me reweth soore I am unto hire teyd.
MerT 2433 For and I sholde rekenen every vice
MerT 2434 Which that she hath, ywis I were to nyce.
MerT 2435 And cause why? It sholde reported be
MerT 2436 And toold to hire of somme of this meynee --
MerT 2437 Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare,
MerT 2438 Syn wommen konnen outen swich chaffare;
MerT 2439 And eek my wit suffiseth nat therto
MerT 2440 To tellen al; wherfore my tale is do. "
SqT 1 " Squier, com neer, if it youre wille be,
SqT 2 And sey somwhat of love, for certes ye
SqT 3 Konnen theron as muche as any man. "
SqT 4 " Nay, sire, " quod he, " but I wol seye as I kan
SqT 5 With hertly wyl, for I wol nat rebelle
SqT 6 Agayn youre lust; a tale wol I telle.
SqT 7 Have me excused if I speke amys;
SqT 8 My wyl is good, and lo, my tale is this. "
SqT 9 At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye,
SqT 10 Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye,
SqT 11 Thurgh which ther dyde many a doughty man.
SqT 12 This noble kyng was cleped Cambyuskan,
SqT 13 Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun
SqT 14 That ther was nowher in no regioun
SqT 15 So excellent a lord in alle thyng:
SqT 16 Hym lakked noght that longeth to a kyng.
SqT 17 As of the secte of which that he was born
SqT 18 He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn;
SqT 19 And therto he was hardy, wys, and riche,
SqT 20 And pitous and just, alwey yliche;
SqT 21 Sooth of his word, benigne, and honurable;
SqT 22 Of his corage as any centre stable;
SqT 23 Yong, fressh, and strong, in armes desirous
SqT 24 As any bacheler of al his hous.
SqT 25 A fair persone he was and fortunat,
SqT 26 And kept alwey so wel roial estat
SqT 27 That ther was nowher swich another man.
SqT 28 This noble kyng, this Tartre Cambyuskan,
SqT 29 Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf,
SqT 30 Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf;
SqT 31 That oother sone was cleped Cambalo.
SqT 32 A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also,
SqT 33 That yongest was, and highte Canacee.
SqT 34 But for to telle yow al hir beautee,
SqT 35 It lyth nat in my tonge, n' yn my konnyng;
SqT 36 I dar nat undertake so heigh a thyng.
SqT 37 Myn Englissh eek is insufficient.
SqT 38 It moste been a rethor excellent
SqT 39 That koude his colours longynge for that art,
SqT 40 If he sholde hire discryven every part.
SqT 41 I am noon swich, I moot speke as I kan.
SqT 42 And so bifel that whan this Cambyuskan
SqT 43 Hath twenty wynter born his diademe,
SqT 44 As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme,
SqT 45 He leet the feeste of his nativitee
SqT 46 Doon cryen thurghout Sarray his citee,
SqT 47 The laste Idus of March, after the yeer.
SqT 48 Phebus the sonne ful joly was and cleer,
SqT 49 For he was neigh his exaltacioun
SqT 50 In Martes face and in his mansioun
SqT 51 In Aries, the colerik hoote signe.
SqT 52 Ful lusty was the weder and benigne,
SqT 53 For which the foweles, agayn the sonne sheene,
SqT 54 What for the sesoun and the yonge grene,
SqT 55 Ful loude songen hire affecciouns.
SqT 56 Hem semed han geten hem protecciouns
SqT 57 Agayn the swerd of wynter, keene and coold.
SqT 58 This Cambyuskan, of which I have yow toold,
SqT 59 In roial vestiment sit on his deys,
SqT 60 With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys,
SqT 61 And halt his feeste so solempne and so ryche
SqT 62 That in this world ne was ther noon it lyche;
SqT 63 Of which if I shal tellen al th' array,
SqT 64 Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day,
SqT 65 And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse
SqT 66 At every cours the ordre of hire servyse.
SqT 67 I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes,
SqT 68 Ne of hir swannes, ne of hire heronsewes.
SqT 69 Eek in that lond, as tellen knyghtes olde,
SqT 70 Ther is som mete that is ful deynte holde
SqT 71 That in this lond men recche of it but smal;
SqT 72 Ther nys no man that may reporten al.
SqT 73 I wol nat taryen yow, for it is pryme
SqT 74 And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme;
SqT 75 Unto my firste I wole have my recours.
SqT 76 And so bifel that after the thridde cours,
SqT 77 Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye,
SqT 78 Herknynge his mynstralles hir thynges pleye
SqT 79 Biforn hym at the bord deliciously,
SqT 80 In at the halle dore al sodeynly
SqT 81 Ther cam a knyght upon a steede of bras,
SqT 82 And in his hand a brood mirour of glas.
SqT 83 Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng,
SqT 84 And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng;
SqT 85 And up he rideth to the heighe bord.
SqT 86 In al the halle ne was ther spoken a word
SqT 87 For merveille of this knyght; hym to biholde
SqT 88 Ful bisily they wayten, yonge and olde.
SqT 89 This strange knyght, that cam thus sodeynly,
SqT 90 Al armed, save his heed, ful richely,
SqT 91 Saleweth kyng and queene and lordes alle,
SqT 92 By ordre, as they seten in the halle,
SqT 93 With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce,
SqT 94 As wel in speche as in contenaunce,
SqT 95 That Gawayn, with his olde curteisye,
SqT 96 Though he were comen ayeyn out of Fairye,
SqT 97 Ne koude hym nat amende with a word.
SqT 98 And after this, biforn the heighe bord,
SqT 99 He with a manly voys seide his message,
SqT 100 After the forme used in his langage,
SqT 101 Withouten vice of silable or of lettre;
SqT 102 And for his tale sholde seme the bettre,
SqT 103 Accordant to his wordes was his cheere,
SqT 104 As techeth art of speche hem that it leere.
SqT 105 Al be that I kan nat sowne his stile,
SqT 106 Ne kan nat clymben over so heigh a style,
SqT 107 Yet seye I this, as to commune entente:
SqT 108 Thus muche amounteth al that evere he mente,
SqT 109 If it so be that I have it in mynde.
SqT 110 He seyde, " The kyng of Arabe and of Inde,
SqT 111 My lige lord, on this solempne day
SqT 112 Saleweth yow, as he best kan and may,
SqT 113 And sendeth yow, in honour of youre feeste,
SqT 114 By me, that am al redy at youre heeste,
SqT 115 This steede of bras, that esily and weel
SqT 116 Kan in the space of o day natureel --
SqT 117 This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres --
SqT 118 Wher-so yow lyst, in droghte or elles shoures,
SqT 119 Beren youre body into every place
SqT 120 To which youre herte wilneth for to pace,
SqT 121 Withouten wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair;
SqT 122 Or, if yow lyst to fleen as hye in the air
SqT 123 As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore,
SqT 124 This same steede shal bere yow evere moore,
SqT 125 Withouten harm, til ye be ther yow leste,
SqT 126 Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste,
SqT 127 And turne ayeyn with writhyng of a pyn.
SqT 128 He that it wroghte koude ful many a gyn.
SqT 129 He wayted many a constellacion
SqT 130 Er he had doon this operacion,
SqT 131 And knew ful many a seel and many a bond.
SqT 132 " This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond,
SqT 133 Hath swich a myght that men may in it see
SqT 134 Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee
SqT 135 Unto youre regne or to youreself also,
SqT 136 And openly who is youre freend or foo.
SqT 137 " And over al this, if any lady bright
SqT 138 Hath set hire herte on any maner wight,
SqT 139 If he be fals, she shal his tresoun see,
SqT 140 His newe love, and al his subtiltee,
SqT 141 So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde.
SqT 142 Wherfore, ageyn this lusty someres tyde,
SqT 143 This mirour and this ryng, that ye may see,
SqT 144 He hath sent to my lady Canacee,
SqT 145 Youre excellente doghter that is heere.
SqT 146 " The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere,
SqT 147 Is this: that if hire lust it for to were
SqT 148 Upon hir thombe or in hir purs it bere,
SqT 149 Ther is no fowel that fleeth under the hevene
SqT 150 That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene,
SqT 151 And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn,
SqT 152 And answere hym in his langage ageyn;
SqT 153 And every gras that groweth upon roote
SqT 154 She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do boote,
SqT 155 Al be his woundes never so depe and wyde.
SqT 156 " This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde,
SqT 157 Swich vertu hath that what man so ye smyte
SqT 158 Thurghout his armure it wole kerve and byte,
SqT 159 Were it as thikke as is a branched ook;
SqT 160 And what man that is wounded with the strook
SqT 161 Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace,
SqT 162 To stroke hym with the plat in thilke place
SqT 163 Ther he is hurt; this is as muche to seyn,
SqT 164 Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn
SqT 165 Stroke hym in the wounde, and it wol close.
SqT 166 This is a verray sooth, withouten glose;
SqT 167 It failleth nat whils it is in youre hoold. "
SqT 168 And whan this knyght hath thus his tale toold,
SqT 169 He rideth out of halle and doun he lighte.
SqT 170 His steede, which that shoon as sonne brighte,
SqT 171 Stant in the court, stille as any stoon.
SqT 172 This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon,
SqT 173 And is unarmed, and to mete yset.
SqT 174 The presentes been ful roially yfet --
SqT 175 This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour --
SqT 176 And born anon into the heighe tour
SqT 177 With certeine officers ordeyned therfore;
SqT 178 And unto Canacee this ryng is bore
SqT 179 Solempnely, ther she sit at the table.
SqT 180 But sikerly, withouten any fable,
SqT 181 The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed,
SqT 182 It stant as it were to the ground yglewed.
SqT 183 Ther may no man out of the place it dryve
SqT 184 For noon engyn of wyndas or polyve;
SqT 185 And cause why? For they kan nat the craft.
SqT 186 And therfore in the place they han it laft
SqT 187 Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere
SqT 188 To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere.
SqT 189 Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro
SqT 190 To gauren on this hors that stondeth so,
SqT 191 For it so heigh was, and so brood and long,
SqT 192 So wel proporcioned for to been strong,
SqT 193 Right as it were a steede of Lumbardye;
SqT 194 Therwith so horsly, and so quyk of ye,
SqT 195 As it a gentil Poilleys courser were.
SqT 196 For certes, fro his tayl unto his ere
SqT 197 Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende
SqT 198 In no degree, as al the people wende.
SqT 199 But everemoore hir mooste wonder was
SqT 200 How that it koude gon, and was of bras;
SqT 201 It was a fairye, as the peple semed.
SqT 202 Diverse folk diversely they demed;
SqT 203 As many heddes, as manye wittes ther been.
SqT 204 They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been,
SqT 205 And maden skiles after hir fantasies,
SqT 206 Rehersynge of thise olde poetries,
SqT 207 And seyden it was lyk the Pegasee,
SqT 208 The hors that hadde wynges for to flee;
SqT 209 Or elles it was the Grekes hors Synon,
SqT 210 That broghte Troie to destruccion,
SqT 211 As men in thise olde geestes rede.
SqT 212 " Myn herte, " quod oon, " is everemoore in drede;
SqT 213 I trowe som men of armes been therinne,
SqT 214 That shapen hem this citee for to wynne.
SqT 215 It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe. "
SqT 216 Another rowned to his felawe lowe,
SqT 217 And seyde, " He lyeth, for it is rather lyk
SqT 218 An apparence ymaad by som magyk,
SqT 219 As jogelours pleyen at thise feestes grete. "
SqT 220 Of sondry doutes thus they jangle and trete,
SqT 221 As lewed peple demeth comunly
SqT 222 Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly
SqT 223 Than they kan in hir lewednesse comprehende;
SqT 224 They demen gladly to the badder ende.
SqT 225 And somme of hem wondred on the mirour,
SqT 226 That born was up into the maister-tour,
SqT 227 Hou men myghte in it swiche thynges se.
SqT 228 Another answerde and seyde it myghte wel be
SqT 229 Naturelly, by composiciouns
SqT 230 Of anglis and of slye reflexiouns,
SqT 231 And seyde that in Rome was swich oon.
SqT 232 They speken of Alocen, and Vitulon,
SqT 233 And Aristotle, that writen in hir lyves
SqT 234 Of queynte mirours and of perspectives,
SqT 235 As knowen they that han hir bookes herd.
SqT 236 And oother folk han wondred on the swerd
SqT 237 That wolde percen thurghout every thyng,
SqT 238 And fille in speche of Thelophus the kyng,
SqT 239 And of Achilles with his queynte spere,
SqT 240 For he koude with it bothe heele and dere,
SqT 241 Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd
SqT 242 Of which right now ye han youreselven herd.
SqT 243 They speken of sondry hardyng of metal,
SqT 244 And speke of medicynes therwithal,
SqT 245 And how and whanne it sholde yharded be,
SqT 246 Which is unknowe, algates unto me.
SqT 247 Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng,
SqT 248 And seyden alle that swich a wonder thyng
SqT 249 Of craft of rynges herde they nevere noon,
SqT 250 Save that he Moyses and kyng Salomon
SqT 251 Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art.
SqT 252 Thus seyn the peple and drawen hem apart.
SqT 253 But nathelees somme seiden that it was
SqT 254 Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas,
SqT 255 And yet nys glas nat lyk asshen of fern;
SqT 256 But, for they han yknowen it so fern,
SqT 257 Therfore cesseth hir janglyng and hir wonder.
SqT 258 As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder,
SqT 259 On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on myst,
SqT 260 And alle thyng, til that the cause is wyst.
SqT 261 Thus jangle they, and demen, and devyse
SqT 262 Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse.
SqT 263 Phebus hath laft the angle meridional,
SqT 264 And yet ascendynge was the beest roial,
SqT 265 The gentil Leon, with his Aldiran,
SqT 266 Whan that this Tartre kyng, Cambyuskan,
SqT 267 Roos fro his bord, ther as he sat ful hye.
SqT 268 Toforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye
SqT 269 Til he cam to his chambre of parementz,
SqT 270 Ther as they sownen diverse instrumentz
SqT 271 That it is lyk an hevene for to heere.
SqT 272 Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere,
SqT 273 For in the Fyssh hir lady sat ful hye,
SqT 274 And looketh on hem with a freendly ye.
SqT 275 This noble kyng is set upon his trone.
SqT 276 This strange knyght is fet to hym ful soone,
SqT 277 And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee.
SqT 278 Heere is the revel and the jolitee
SqT 279 That is nat able a dul man to devyse.
SqT 280 He moste han knowen love and his servyse
SqT 281 And been a feestlych man as fressh as May,
SqT 282 That sholde yow devysen swich array.
SqT 283 Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces
SqT 284 So unkouthe, and swiche fresshe contenaunces,
SqT 285 Swich subtil lookyng and dissymulynges
SqT 286 For drede of jalouse mennes aperceyvynges?
SqT 287 No man but Launcelot, and he is deed.
SqT 288 Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed;
SqT 289 I sey namoore, but in this jolynesse
SqT 290 I lete hem til men to the soper dresse.
SqT 291 The styward bit the spices for to hye,
SqT 292 And eek the wyn, in al this melodye.
SqT 293 The usshers and the squiers been ygoon,
SqT 294 The spices and the wyn is come anoon.
SqT 295 They ete and drynke, and whan this hadde an ende,
SqT 296 Unto the temple, as reson was, they wende.
SqT 297 The service doon, they soupen al by day.
SqT 298 What nedeth yow rehercen hire array?
SqT 299 Ech man woot wel that a kynges feeste
SqT 300 Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste,
SqT 301 And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng.
SqT 302 At after-soper gooth this noble kyng
SqT 303 To seen this hors of bras, with al a route
SqT 304 Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute.
SqT 305 Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras
SqT 306 That syn the grete sege of Troie was,
SqT 307 Theras men wondreden on an hors also,
SqT 308 Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho.
SqT 309 But fynally the kyng axeth this knyght
SqT 310 The vertu of this courser and the myght,
SqT 311 And preyde hym to telle his governaunce.
SqT 312 This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce,
SqT 313 Whan that this knyght leyde hand upon his reyne,
SqT 314 And seyde, " Sire, ther is namoore to seyne,
SqT 315 But, whan yow list to ryden anywhere,
SqT 316 Ye mooten trille a pyn, stant in his ere,
SqT 317 Which I shal yow telle bitwix us two.
SqT 318 Ye moote nempne hym to what place also,
SqT 319 Or to what contree, that yow list to ryde.
SqT 320 And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde,
SqT 321 Bidde hym descende, and trille another pyn,
SqT 322 For therin lith th' effect of al the gyn,
SqT 323 And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille,
SqT 324 And in that place he wol abyde stille.
SqT 325 Though al the world the contrarie hadde yswore,
SqT 326 He shal nat thennes been ydrawe ne ybore.
SqT 327 Or, if yow liste bidde hym thennes goon,
SqT 328 Trille this pyn, and he wol vanysshe anoon
SqT 329 Out of the sighte of every maner wight,
SqT 330 And come agayn, be it by day or nyght,
SqT 331 Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn
SqT 332 In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn
SqT 333 Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful soone.
SqT 334 Ride whan yow list; ther is namoore to doone. "
SqT 335 Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght,
SqT 336 And hath conceyved in his wit aright
SqT 337 The manere and the forme of al this thyng,
SqT 338 Ful glad and blithe, this noble doughty kyng
SqT 339 Repeireth to his revel as biforn.
SqT 340 The brydel is unto the tour yborn
SqT 341 And kept among his jueles leeve and deere.
SqT 342 The hors vanysshed, I noot in what manere,
SqT 343 Out of hir sighte; ye gete namoore of me.
SqT 344 But thus I lete in lust and jolitee
SqT 345 This Cambyuskan his lordes festeiynge
SqT 346 Til wel ny the day bigan to sprynge.
SqT 347 The norice of digestioun, the sleep,
SqT 348 Gan on hem wynke and bad hem taken keep
SqT 349 That muchel drynke and labour wolde han reste;
SqT 350 And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste,
SqT 351 And seyde that it was tyme to lye adoun,
SqT 352 For blood was in his domynacioun.
SqT 353 " Cherisseth blood, natures freend, " quod he.
SqT 354 They thanken hym galpynge, by two, by thre,
SqT 355 And every wight gan drawe hym to his reste,
SqT 356 As sleep hem bad; they tooke it for the beste.
SqT 357 Hire dremes shul nat now been toold for me;
SqT 358 Ful were hire heddes of fumositee,
SqT 359 That causeth dreem of which ther nys no charge.
SqT 360 They slepen til that it was pryme large,
SqT 361 The mooste part, but it were Canacee.
SqT 362 She was ful mesurable, as wommen be;
SqT 363 For of hir fader hadde she take leve
SqT 364 To goon to reste soone after it was eve.
SqT 365 Hir liste nat appalled for to be,
SqT 366 Ne on the morwe unfeestlich for to se,
SqT 367 And slepte hire firste sleep, and thanne awook.
SqT 368 For swich a joye she in hir herte took
SqT 369 Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hire mirour,
SqT 370 That twenty tyme she changed hir colour;
SqT 371 And in hire sleep, right for impressioun
SqT 372 Of hire mirour, she hadde a visioun.
SqT 373 Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde,
SqT 374 She cleped on hir maistresse hire bisyde,
SqT 375 And seyde that hire liste for to ryse.
SqT 376 Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse,
SqT 377 As is hire maistresse, answerde hire anon,
SqT 378 And seyde, " Madame, whider wil ye goon
SqT 379 Thus erly, for the folk been alle on reste? "
SqT 380 " I wol, " quod she, " arise, for me leste
SqT 381 Ne lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute. "
SqT 382 Hire maistresse clepeth wommen a greet route,
SqT 383 And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve;
SqT 384 Up riseth fresshe Canacee hireselve,
SqT 385 As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne,
SqT 386 That in the Ram is foure degrees up ronne --
SqT 387 Noon hyer was he whan she redy was --
SqT 388 And forth she walketh esily a pas,
SqT 389 Arrayed after the lusty seson soote
SqT 390 Lightly, for to pleye and walke on foote,
SqT 391 Nat but with fyve or sixe of hir meynee;
SqT 392 And in a trench forth in the park gooth she.
SqT 393 The vapour which that fro the erthe glood
SqT 394 Made the sonne to seme rody and brood;
SqT 395 But nathelees it was so fair a sighte
SqT 396 That it made alle hire hertes for to lighte,
SqT 397 What for the seson and the morwenynge,
SqT 398 And for the foweles that she herde synge.
SqT 399 For right anon she wiste what they mente
SqT 400 Right by hir song, and knew al hire entente.
SqT 401 The knotte why that every tale is toold,
SqT 402 If it be taried til that lust be coold
SqT 403 Of hem that han it after herkned yoore,
SqT 404 The savour passeth ever lenger the moore,
SqT 405 For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee;
SqT 406 And by the same resoun, thynketh me,
SqT 407 I sholde to the knotte condescende,
SqT 408 And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende.
SqT 409 Amydde a tree, for drye as whit as chalk,
SqT 410 As Canacee was pleyyng in hir walk,
SqT 411 Ther sat a faucon over hire heed ful hye,
SqT 412 That with a pitous voys so gan to crye
SqT 413 That all the wode resouned of hire cry.
SqT 414 Ybeten hadde she hirself so pitously
SqT 415 With bothe hir wynges til the rede blood
SqT 416 Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood.
SqT 417 And evere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte,
SqT 418 And with hir beek hirselven so she prighte
SqT 419 That ther nys tygre, ne noon so crueel beest
SqT 420 That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest,
SqT 421 That nolde han wept, if that he wepe koude,
SqT 422 For sorwe of hire, she shrighte alwey so loude.
SqT 423 For ther nas nevere yet no man on lyve,
SqT 424 If that I koude a faucon wel discryve,
SqT 425 That herde of swich another of fairnesse,
SqT 426 As wel of plumage as of gentillesse
SqT 427 Of shap, of al that myghte yrekened be.
SqT 428 A faucon peregryn thanne semed she
SqT 429 Of fremde land; and everemoore, as she stood,
SqT 430 She swowneth now and now for lak of blood,
SqT 431 Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree.
SqT 432 This faire kynges doghter, Canacee,
SqT 433 That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng,
SqT 434 Thurgh which she understood wel every thyng
SqT 435 That any fowel may in his leden seyn,
SqT 436 And koude answeren hym in his ledene ageyn,
SqT 437 Hath understonde what this faucon seyde,
SqT 438 And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde.
SqT 439 And to the tree she gooth ful hastily,
SqT 440 And on this faukon looketh pitously,
SqT 441 And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste
SqT 442 The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste,
SqT 443 Whan that it swowned next, for lak of blood.
SqT 444 A longe whil to wayten hire she stood
SqT 445 Til atte laste she spak in this manere
SqT 446 Unto the hauk, as ye shal after heere:
SqT 447 " What is the cause, if it be for to telle,
SqT 448 That ye be in this furial pyne of helle? "
SqT 449 Quod Canacee unto this hauk above.
SqT 450 " Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love?
SqT 451 For, as I trowe, thise been causes two
SqT 452 That causen moost a gentil herte wo;
SqT 453 Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke.
SqT 454 For ye youreself upon yourself yow wreke,
SqT 455 Which proveth wel that outher ire or drede
SqT 456 Moot been enchesoun of youre cruel dede,
SqT 457 Syn that I see noon oother wight yow chace.
SqT 458 For love of God, as dooth youreselven grace,
SqT 459 Or what may been youre help? For west nor est
SqT 460 Ne saugh I nevere er now no bryd ne beest
SqT 461 That ferde with hymself so pitously.
SqT 462 Ye sle me with youre sorwe verraily,
SqT 463 I have of yow so greet compassioun.
SqT 464 For Goddes love, com fro the tree adoun;
SqT 465 And as I am a kynges doghter trewe,
SqT 466 If that I verraily the cause knewe
SqT 467 Of youre disese, if it lay in my myght,
SqT 468 I wolde amenden it er that it were nyght,
SqT 469 As wisly helpe me grete God of kynde!
SqT 470 And herbes shal I right ynowe yfynde
SqT 471 To heel with youre hurtes hastily. "
SqT 472 Tho shrighte this faucon yet moore pitously
SqT 473 Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anon,
SqT 474 And lith aswowne, deed and lyk a stoon,
SqT 475 Til Canacee hath in hire lappe hire take
SqT 476 Unto the tyme she gan of swough awake.
SqT 477 And after that she of hir swough gan breyde,
SqT 478 Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde:
SqT 479 " That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte,
SqT 480 Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte,
SqT 481 Is preved alday, as men may it see,
SqT 482 As wel by werk as by auctoritee;
SqT 483 For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse.
SqT 484 I se wel that ye han of my distresse
SqT 485 Compassion, my faire Canacee,
SqT 486 Of verray wommanly benignytee
SqT 487 That Nature in youre principles hath set.
SqT 488 But for noon hope for to fare the bet,
SqT 489 But for to obeye unto youre herte free,
SqT 490 And for to maken othere be war by me,
SqT 491 As by the whelp chasted is the leon,
SqT 492 Right for that cause and that conclusion,
SqT 493 Whil that I have a leyser and a space,
SqT 494 Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace. "
SqT 495 And evere, whil that oon hir sorwe tolde,
SqT 496 That oother weep as she to water wolde
SqT 497 Til that the faucon bad hire to be stille,
SqT 498 And, with a syk, right thus she seyde hir wille:
SqT 499 " Ther I was bred -- allas, that ilke day! --
SqT 500 And fostred in a roche of marbul gray
SqT 501 So tendrely that no thyng eyled me,
SqT 502 I nyste nat what was adversitee
SqT 503 Til I koude flee ful hye under the sky.
SqT 504 Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by,
SqT 505 That semed welle of alle gentillesse;
SqT 506 Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse,
SqT 507 It was so wrapped under humble cheere,
SqT 508 And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere,
SqT 509 Under plesance, and under bisy peyne,
SqT 510 That no wight koude han wend he koude feyne,
SqT 511 So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures.
SqT 512 Right as a serpent hit hym under floures
SqT 513 Til he may seen his tyme for to byte,
SqT 514 Right so this god of loves ypocryte
SqT 515 Dooth so his cerymonyes and obeisaunces,
SqT 516 And kepeth in semblaunt alle his observaunces
SqT 517 That sownen into gentillesse of love.
SqT 518 As in a toumbe is al the faire above,
SqT 519 And under is the corps, swich as ye woot,
SqT 520 Swich was this ypocrite, bothe coold and hoot.
SqT 521 And in this wise he served his entente
SqT 522 That, save the feend, noon wiste what he mente,
SqT 523 Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned,
SqT 524 And many a yeer his service to me feyned,
SqT 525 Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce,
SqT 526 Al innocent of his crouned malice,
SqT 527 Forfered of his deeth, as thoughte me,
SqT 528 Upon his othes and his seuretee,
SqT 529 Graunted hym love, upon this condicioun,
SqT 530 That everemoore myn honour and renoun
SqT 531 Were saved, bothe privee and apert;
SqT 532 This is to seyn, that after his desert,
SqT 533 I yaf hym al myn herte and al my thoght --
SqT 534 God woot and he, that ootherwise noght --
SqT 535 And took his herte in chaunge of myn for ay.
SqT 536 But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day,
SqT 537 `A trewe wight and a theef thenken nat oon.'
SqT 538 And whan he saugh the thyng so fer ygoon
SqT 539 That I hadde graunted hym fully my love
SqT 540 In swich a gyse as I have seyd above,
SqT 541 And yeven hym my trewe herte as free
SqT 542 As he swoor he yaf his herte to me,
SqT 543 Anon this tigre, ful of doublenesse,
SqT 544 Fil on his knees with so devout humblesse,
SqT 545 With so heigh reverence, and, as by his cheere,
SqT 546 So lyk a gentil lovere of manere,
SqT 547 So ravysshed, as it semed, for the joye
SqT 548 That nevere Jason ne Parys of Troye --
SqT 549 Jason? certes, ne noon oother man
SqT 550 Syn Lameth was, that alderfirst bigan
SqT 551 To loven two, as writen folk biforn --
SqT 552 Ne nevere, syn the firste man was born,
SqT 553 Ne koude man, by twenty thousand part,
SqT 554 Countrefete the sophymes of his art,
SqT 555 Ne were worthy unbokelen his galoche,
SqT 556 Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche,
SqT 557 Ne so koude thonke a wight as he dide me!
SqT 558 His manere was an hevene for to see
SqT 559 Til any womman, were she never so wys,
SqT 560 So peynted he and kembde at point-devys
SqT 561 As wel his wordes as his contenaunce.
SqT 562 And I so loved hym for his obeisaunce,
SqT 563 And for the trouthe I demed in his herte,
SqT 564 That if so were that any thyng hym smerte,
SqT 565 Al were it never so lite, and I it wiste,
SqT 566 Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste.
SqT 567 And shortly, so ferforth this thyng is went
SqT 568 That my wyl was his willes instrument;
SqT 569 This is to seyn, my wyl obeyed his wyl
SqT 570 In alle thyng, as fer as reson fil,
SqT 571 Kepynge the boundes of my worshipe evere.
SqT 572 Ne nevere hadde I thyng so lief, ne levere,
SqT 573 As hym, God woot, ne nevere shal namo.
SqT 574 " This laste lenger than a yeer or two,
SqT 575 That I supposed of hym noght but good.
SqT 576 But finally, thus atte laste it stood,
SqT 577 That Fortune wolde that he moste twynne
SqT 578 Out of that place which that I was inne.
SqT 579 Wher me was wo, that is no questioun;
SqT 580 I kan nat make of it discripsioun.
SqT 581 For o thyng dar I tellen boldely:
SqT 582 I knowe what is the peyne of deeth therby;
SqT 583 Swich harm I felte for he ne myghte bileve.
SqT 584 So on a day of me he took his leve,
SqT 585 So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily
SqT 586 That he had felt as muche harm as I,
SqT 587 Whan that I herde hym speke and saugh his hewe.
SqT 588 But nathelees, I thoughte he was so trewe,
SqT 589 And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn
SqT 590 Withinne a litel while, sooth to seyn;
SqT 591 And resoun wolde eek that he moste go
SqT 592 For his honour, as ofte it happeth so,
SqT 593 That I made vertu of necessitee,
SqT 594 And took it wel, syn that it moste be.
SqT 595 As I best myghte, I hidde fro hym my sorwe,
SqT 596 And took hym by the hond, Seint John to borwe,
SqT 597 And seyde hym thus: `Lo, I am youres al;
SqT 598 Beth swich as I to yow have been and shal.'
SqT 599 What he answerde, it nedeth noght reherce;
SqT 600 Who kan sey bet than he, who kan do werse?
SqT 601 Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon.
SqT 602 `Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon
SqT 603 That shal ete with a feend,' thus herde I seye.
SqT 604 So atte laste he moste forth his weye,
SqT 605 And forth he fleeth til he cam ther hym leste.
SqT 606 Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste,
SqT 607 I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde,
SqT 608 That `alle thyng, repeirynge to his kynde,
SqT 609 Gladeth hymself;' thus seyn men, as I gesse.
SqT 610 Men loven of propre kynde newefangelnesse,
SqT 611 As briddes doon that men in cages fede.
SqT 612 For though thou nyght and day take of hem hede,
SqT 613 And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk,
SqT 614 And yeve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk,
SqT 615 Yet right anon as that his dore is uppe
SqT 616 He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe,
SqT 617 And to the wode he wole and wormes ete;
SqT 618 So newefangel been they of hire mete,
SqT 619 And loven novelries of propre kynde,
SqT 620 No gentillesse of blood ne may hem bynde.
SqT 621 " So ferde this tercelet, allas the day!
SqT 622 Though he were gentil born, and fressh and gay,
SqT 623 And goodlich for to seen, and humble and free,
SqT 624 He saugh upon a tyme a kyte flee,
SqT 625 And sodeynly he loved this kyte so
SqT 626 That al his love is clene fro me ago,
SqT 627 And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse.
SqT 628 Thus hath the kyte my love in hire servyse,
SqT 629 And I am lorn withouten remedie! "
SqT 630 And with that word this faucon gan to crie
SqT 631 And swowned eft in Canacees barm.
SqT 632 Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm
SqT 633 That Canacee and alle hir wommen made;
SqT 634 They nyste hou they myghte the faucon glade.
SqT 635 But Canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe,
SqT 636 And softely in plastres gan hire wrappe,
SqT 637 Ther as she with hire beek hadde hurt hirselve.
SqT 638 Now kan nat Canacee but herbes delve
SqT 639 Out of the ground, and make salves newe
SqT 640 Of herbes preciouse and fyne of hewe
SqT 641 To heelen with this hauk. Fro day to nyght
SqT 642 She dooth hire bisynesse and al hire myght,
SqT 643 And by hire beddes heed she made a mewe
SqT 644 And covered it with veluettes blewe,
SqT 645 In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene.
SqT 646 And al withoute, the mewe is peynted grene,
SqT 647 In which were peynted alle thise false fowles,
SqT 648 As ben thise tidyves, tercelettes, and owles;
SqT 649 Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde,
SqT 650 Pyes, on hem for to crie and chyde.
SqT 651 Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk kepyng;
SqT 652 I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng
SqT 653 Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn
SqT 654 How that this faucon gat hire love ageyn
SqT 655 Repentant, as the storie telleth us,
SqT 656 By mediacion of Cambalus,
SqT 657 The kynges sone, of which I yow tolde.
SqT 658 But hennesforth I wol my proces holde
SqT 659 To speken of aventures and of batailles
SqT 660 That nevere yet was herd so grete mervailles.
SqT 661 First wol I telle yow of Cambyuskan,
SqT 662 That in his tyme many a citee wan;
SqT 663 And after wol I speke of Algarsif,
SqT 664 How that he wan Theodora to his wif,
SqT 665 For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was,
SqT 666 Ne hadde he ben holpen by the steede of bras;
SqT 667 And after wol I speke of Cambalo,
SqT 668 That faught in lystes with the bretheren two
SqT 669 For Canacee er that he myghte hire wynne.
SqT 670 And ther I lefte I wol ayeyn bigynne.
SqT 671 Appollo whirleth up his chaar so hye
SqT 672 Til that the god Mercurius hous, the slye --
SqT 673 " In feith, Squier, thow hast thee wel yquit
SqT 674 And gentilly. I preise wel thy wit, "
SqT 675 Quod the Frankeleyn, " considerynge thy yowthe,
SqT 676 So feelyngly thou spekest, sire, I allow the!
SqT 677 As to my doom, ther is noon that is heere
SqT 678 Of eloquence that shal be thy peere,
SqT 679 If that thou lyve; God yeve thee good chaunce,
SqT 680 And in vertu sende thee continuaunce,
SqT 681 For of thy speche I have greet deyntee.
SqT 682 I have a sone, and by the Trinitee,
SqT 683 I hadde levere than twenty pound worth lond,
SqT 684 Though it right now were fallen in myn hond,
SqT 685 He were a man of swich discrecioun
SqT 686 As that ye been! Fy on possessioun,
SqT 687 But if a man be vertuous withal!
SqT 688 I have my sone snybbed, and yet shal,
SqT 689 For he to vertu listeth nat entende;
SqT 690 But for to pleye at dees, and to despende
SqT 691 And lese al that he hath is his usage.
SqT 692 And he hath levere talken with a page
SqT 693 Than to comune with any gentil wight
SqT 694 Where he myghte lerne gentillesse aright. "
SqT 695 " Straw for youre gentillesse! " quod oure Hoost.
SqT 696 " What, Frankeleyn! Pardee, sire, wel thou woost
SqT 697 That ech of yow moot tellen atte leste
SqT 698 A tale or two, or breken his biheste. "
SqT 699 " That knowe I wel, sire, " quod the Frankeleyn.
SqT 700 " I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn,
SqT 701 Though to this man I speke a word or two. "
SqT 702 " Telle on thy tale withouten wordes mo. "
SqT 703 " Gladly, sire Hoost, " quod he, " I wole obeye
SqT 704 Unto your wyl; now herkneth what I seye.
SqT 705 I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse
SqT 706 As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse.
SqT 707 I prey to God that it may plesen yow;
SqT 708 Thanne woot I wel that it is good ynow. "
FranT 709 Thise olde gentil Britouns in hir dayes
FranT 710 Of diverse aventures maden layes,
FranT 711 Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge,
FranT 712 Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe
FranT 713 Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;
FranT 714 And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,
FranT 715 Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan.
FranT 716 But, sires, by cause I am a burel man,
FranT 717 At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche,
FranT 718 Have me excused of my rude speche.
FranT 719 I lerned nevere rethorik, certeyn;
FranT 720 Thyng that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn.
FranT 721 I sleep nevere on the Mount of Pernaso,
FranT 722 Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero.
FranT 723 Colours ne knowe I none, withouten drede,
FranT 724 But swiche colours as growen in the mede,
FranT 725 Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte.
FranT 726 Colours of rethoryk been to me queynte;
FranT 727 My spirit feeleth noght of swich mateere.
FranT 728 But if yow list, my tale shul ye heere.
FranT 729 In Armorik, that called is Britayne,
FranT 730 Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne
FranT 731 To serve a lady in his beste wise;
FranT 732 And many a labour, many a greet emprise,
FranT 733 He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne.
FranT 734 For she was oon the faireste under sonne,
FranT 735 And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede
FranT 736 That wel unnethes dorste this knyght, for drede,
FranT 737 Telle hire his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
FranT 738 But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,
FranT 739 And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
FranT 740 Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce
FranT 741 That pryvely she fil of his accord
FranT 742 To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,
FranT 743 Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.
FranT 744 And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,
FranT 745 Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght
FranT 746 That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,
FranT 747 Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie
FranT 748 Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie,
FranT 749 But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al,
FranT 750 As any lovere to his lady shal,
FranT 751 Save that the name of soveraynetee,
FranT 752 That wolde he have for shame of his degree.
FranT 753 She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse
FranT 754 She seyde, " Sire, sith of youre gentillesse
FranT 755 Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,
FranT 756 Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,
FranT 757 As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
FranT 758 Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf --
FranT 759 Have heer my trouthe -- til that myn herte breste. "
FranT 760 Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.
FranT 761 For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye,
FranT 762 That freendes everych oother moot obeye,
FranT 763 If they wol longe holden compaignye.
FranT 764 Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye.
FranT 765 Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon
FranT 766 Beteth his wynges, and farewel, he is gon!
FranT 767 Love is a thyng as any spirit free.
FranT 768 Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee,
FranT 769 And nat to been constreyned as a thral;
FranT 770 And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.
FranT 771 Looke who that is moost pacient in love,
FranT 772 He is at his avantage al above.
FranT 773 Pacience is an heigh vertu, certeyn,
FranT 774 For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn,
FranT 775 Thynges that rigour sholde nevere atteyne.
FranT 776 For every word men may nat chide or pleyne.
FranT 777 Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon,
FranT 778 Ye shul it lerne, wher so ye wole or noon;
FranT 779 For in this world, certein, ther no wight is
FranT 780 That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys.
FranT 781 Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun,
FranT 782 Wyn, wo, or chaungynge of complexioun
FranT 783 Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken.
FranT 784 On every wrong a man may nat be wreken.
FranT 785 After the tyme moste be temperaunce
FranT 786 To every wight that kan on governaunce.
FranT 787 And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght,
FranT 788 To lyve in ese, suffrance hire bihight,
FranT 789 And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere
FranT 790 That nevere sholde ther be defaute in here.
FranT 791 Heere may men seen an humble, wys accord;
FranT 792 Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord --
FranT 793 Servant in love, and lord in mariage.
FranT 794 Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and servage.
FranT 795 Servage? Nay, but in lordshipe above,
FranT 796 Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love;
FranT 797 His lady, certes, and his wyf also,
FranT 798 The which that lawe of love acordeth to.
FranT 799 And whan he was in this prosperitee,
FranT 800 Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree,
FranT 801 Nat fer fro Pedmark, ther his dwellyng was,
FranT 802 Where as he lyveth in blisse and in solas.
FranT 803 Who koude telle, but he hadde wedded be,
FranT 804 The joye, the ese, and the prosperitee
FranT 805 That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf?
FranT 806 A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf,
FranT 807 Til that the knyght of which I speke of thus,
FranT 808 That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus,
FranT 809 Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or tweyne
FranT 810 In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne,
FranT 811 To seke in armes worshipe and honour --
FranT 812 For al his lust he sette in swich labour --
FranT 813 And dwelled there two yeer; the book seith thus.
FranT 814 Now wol I stynten of this Arveragus,
FranT 815 And speken I wole of Dorigen his wyf,
FranT 816 That loveth hire housbonde as hire hertes lyf.
FranT 817 For his absence wepeth she and siketh,
FranT 818 As doon thise noble wyves whan hem liketh.
FranT 819 She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth;
FranT 820 Desir of his presence hire so destreyneth
FranT 821 That al this wyde world she sette at noght.
FranT 822 Hire freendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght,
FranT 823 Conforten hire in al that ever they may.
FranT 824 They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day
FranT 825 That causelees she sleeth hirself, allas!
FranT 826 And every confort possible in this cas
FranT 827 They doon to hire with al hire bisynesse,
FranT 828 Al for to make hire leve hire hevynesse.
FranT 829 By proces, as ye knowen everichoon,
FranT 830 Men may so longe graven in a stoon
FranT 831 Til som figure therinne emprented be.
FranT 832 So longe han they conforted hire til she
FranT 833 Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun,
FranT 834 The emprentyng of hire consolacioun,
FranT 835 Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage;
FranT 836 She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.
FranT 837 And eek Arveragus, in al this care,
FranT 838 Hath sent hire lettres hoom of his welfare,
FranT 839 And that he wol come hastily agayn;
FranT 840 Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn.
FranT 841 Hire freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake
FranT 842 And preyde hire on knees, for Goddes sake,
FranT 843 To come and romen hire in compaignye,
FranT 844 Awey to dryve hire derke fantasye.
FranT 845 And finally she graunted that requeste,
FranT 846 For wel she saugh that it was for the beste.
FranT 847 Now stood hire castel faste by the see,
FranT 848 And often with hire freendes walketh shee
FranT 849 Hire to disporte upon the bank an heigh,
FranT 850 Where as she many a ship and barge seigh
FranT 851 Seillynge hir cours, where as hem liste go.
FranT 852 But thanne was that a parcel of hire wo,
FranT 853 For to hirself ful ofte, " Allas! " seith she,
FranT 854 " Is ther no ship, of so manye as I se,
FranT 855 Wol bryngen hom my lord? Thanne were myn herte
FranT 856 Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte. "
FranT 857 Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thynke,
FranT 858 And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke.
FranT 859 But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake,
FranT 860 For verray feere so wolde hir herte quake
FranT 861 That on hire feet she myghte hire noght sustene.
FranT 862 Thanne wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene,
FranT 863 And pitously into the see biholde,
FranT 864 And seyn right thus, with sorweful sikes colde:
FranT 865 " Eterne God, that thurgh thy purveiaunce
FranT 866 Ledest the world by certein governaunce,
FranT 867 In ydel, as men seyn, ye no thyng make.
FranT 868 But, Lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake,
FranT 869 That semen rather a foul confusion
FranT 870 Of werk than any fair creacion
FranT 871 Of swich a parfit wys God and a stable,
FranT 872 Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable?
FranT 873 For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest,
FranT 874 Ther nys yfostred man, ne bryd, ne beest;
FranT 875 It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth.
FranT 876 Se ye nat, Lord, how mankynde it destroyeth?
FranT 877 An hundred thousand bodyes of mankynde
FranT 878 Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in mynde,
FranT 879 Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk
FranT 880 That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk.
FranT 881 Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee
FranT 882 Toward mankynde; but how thanne may it bee
FranT 883 That ye swiche meenes make it to destroyen,
FranT 884 Whiche meenes do no good, but evere anoyen?
FranT 885 I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste,
FranT 886 By argumentz, that al is for the beste,
FranT 887 Though I ne kan the causes nat yknowe.
FranT 888 But thilke God that made wynd to blowe
FranT 889 As kepe my lord! This my conclusion.
FranT 890 To clerkes lete I al disputison.
FranT 891 But wolde God that alle thise rokkes blake
FranT 892 Were sonken into helle for his sake!
FranT 893 Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere. "
FranT 894 Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous teere.
FranT 895 Hire freendes sawe that it was no disport
FranT 896 To romen by the see, but disconfort,
FranT 897 And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles.
FranT 898 They leden hire by ryveres and by welles,
FranT 899 And eek in othere places delitables;
FranT 900 They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables.
FranT 901 So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde,
FranT 902 Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde,
FranT 903 In which that they hadde maad hir ordinaunce
FranT 904 Of vitaille and of oother purveiaunce,
FranT 905 They goon and pleye hem al the longe day.
FranT 906 And this was on the sixte morwe of May,
FranT 907 Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures
FranT 908 This gardyn ful of leves and of floures;
FranT 909 And craft of mannes hand so curiously
FranT 910 Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely,
FranT 911 That nevere was ther gardyn of swich prys
FranT 912 But if it were the verray paradys.
FranT 913 The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte
FranT 914 Wolde han maked any herte lighte
FranT 915 That evere was born, but if to greet siknesse
FranT 916 Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse,
FranT 917 So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.
FranT 918 At after-dyner gonne they to daunce,
FranT 919 And synge also, save Dorigen allone,
FranT 920 Which made alwey hir compleint and hir moone,
FranT 921 For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go
FranT 922 That was hir housbonde and hir love also.
FranT 923 But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde
FranT 924 And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.
FranT 925 Upon this daunce, amonges othere men,
FranT 926 Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen,
FranT 927 That fressher was and jolyer of array,
FranT 928 As to my doom, than is the month of May.
FranT 929 He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man
FranT 930 That is, or was, sith that the world bigan.
FranT 931 Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve,
FranT 932 Oon of the beste farynge man on lyve;
FranT 933 Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys,
FranT 934 And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys.
FranT 935 And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal,
FranT 936 Unwityng of this Dorigen at al,
FranT 937 This lusty squier, servant to Venus,
FranT 938 Which that ycleped was Aurelius,
FranT 939 Hadde loved hire best of any creature
FranT 940 Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure,
FranT 941 But nevere dorste he tellen hire his grevaunce.
FranT 942 Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce.
FranT 943 He was despeyred; no thyng dorste he seye,
FranT 944 Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye
FranT 945 His wo, as in a general compleynyng;
FranT 946 He seyde he lovede and was biloved no thyng.
FranT 947 Of swich matere made he manye layes,
FranT 948 Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes,
FranT 949 How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle,
FranT 950 But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle;
FranT 951 And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko
FranT 952 For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo.
FranT 953 In oother manere than ye heere me seye,
FranT 954 Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye,
FranT 955 Save that, paraventure, somtyme at daunces,
FranT 956 Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces,
FranT 957 It may wel be he looked on hir face
FranT 958 In swich a wise as man that asketh grace;
FranT 959 But nothyng wiste she of his entente.
FranT 960 Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente,
FranT 961 By cause that he was hire neighebour,
FranT 962 And was a man of worshipe and honour,
FranT 963 And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore,
FranT 964 They fille in speche; and forth, moore and moore,
FranT 965 Unto his purpos drough Aurelius,
FranT 966 And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus:
FranT 967 " Madame, " quod he, " by God that this world made,
FranT 968 So that I wiste it myghte youre herte glade,
FranT 969 I wolde that day that youre Arveragus
FranT 970 Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius,
FranT 971 Hadde went ther nevere I sholde have come agayn.
FranT 972 For wel I woot my servyce is in vayn;
FranT 973 My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte.
FranT 974 Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte;
FranT 975 For with a word ye may me sleen or save.
FranT 976 Heere at youre feet God wolde that I were grave!
FranT 977 I ne have as now no leyser moore to seye;
FranT 978 Have mercy, sweete, or ye wol do me deye! "
FranT 979 She gan to looke upon Aurelius;
FranT 980 " Is this youre wyl, " quod she, " and sey ye thus?
FranT 981 Nevere erst, " quod she, " ne wiste I what ye mente.
FranT 982 But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente,
FranT 983 By thilke God that yaf me soule and lyf,
FranT 984 Ne shal I nevere been untrewe wyf
FranT 985 In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit;
FranT 986 I wol been his to whom that I am knyt.
FranT 987 Taak this for fynal answere as of me. "
FranT 988 But after that in pley thus seyde she:
FranT 989 " Aurelie, " quod she, " by heighe God above,
FranT 990 Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre love,
FranT 991 Syn I yow se so pitously complayne.
FranT 992 Looke what day that endelong Britayne
FranT 993 Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon,
FranT 994 That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon --
FranT 995 I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene
FranT 996 Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene,
FranT 997 Thanne wol I love yow best of any man;
FranT 998 Have heer my trouthe, in al that evere I kan. "
FranT 999 " Is ther noon oother grace in yow? " quod he.
FranT 1000 " No, by that Lord, " quod she, " that maked me!
FranT 1001 For wel I woot that it shal never bityde.
FranT 1002 Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde.
FranT 1003 What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf
FranT 1004 For to go love another mannes wyf,
FranT 1005 That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh? "
FranT 1006 Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh;
FranT 1007 Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde,
FranT 1008 And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde:
FranT 1009 " Madame, " quod he, " this were an inpossible!
FranT 1010 Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible. "
FranT 1011 And with that word he turned hym anon.
FranT 1012 Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon,
FranT 1013 And in the aleyes romeden up and doun,
FranT 1014 And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun,
FranT 1015 But sodeynly bigonne revel newe
FranT 1016 Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe;
FranT 1017 For th' orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght --
FranT 1018 This is as muche to seye as it was nyght --
FranT 1019 And hoom they goon in joye and in solas,
FranT 1020 Save oonly wrecche Aurelius, allas!
FranT 1021 He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte.
FranT 1022 He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte;
FranT 1023 Hym semed that he felte his herte colde.
FranT 1024 Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde,
FranT 1025 And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun,
FranT 1026 And in his ravyng seyde his orisoun.
FranT 1027 For verray wo out of his wit he breyde.
FranT 1028 He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde;
FranT 1029 With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne
FranT 1030 Unto the goddes, and first unto the sonne:
FranT 1031 He seyde, " Appollo, god and governour
FranT 1032 Of every plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour,
FranT 1033 That yevest, after thy declinacion,
FranT 1034 To ech of hem his tyme and his seson,
FranT 1035 As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe,
FranT 1036 Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable eighe
FranT 1037 On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn.
FranT 1038 Lo, lord! My lady hath my deeth ysworn
FranT 1039 Withoute gilt, but thy benignytee
FranT 1040 Upon my dedly herte have som pitee.
FranT 1041 For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest,
FranT 1042 Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best.
FranT 1043 Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse
FranT 1044 How that I may been holpen and in what wyse.
FranT 1045 " Youre blisful suster, Lucina the sheene,
FranT 1046 That of the see is chief goddesse and queene
FranT 1047 (Though Neptunus have deitee in the see,
FranT 1048 Yet emperisse aboven hym is she),
FranT 1049 Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir
FranT 1050 Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fir,
FranT 1051 For which she folweth yow ful bisily,
FranT 1052 Right so the see desireth naturelly
FranT 1053 To folwen hire, as she that is goddesse
FranT 1054 Bothe in the see and ryveres moore and lesse.
FranT 1055 Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste --
FranT 1056 Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste --
FranT 1057 That now next at this opposicion
FranT 1058 Which in the signe shal be of the Leon,
FranT 1059 As preieth hire so greet a flood to brynge
FranT 1060 That fyve fadme at the leeste it oversprynge
FranT 1061 The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne;
FranT 1062 And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne.
FranT 1063 Thanne certes to my lady may I seye,
FranT 1064 `Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.'
FranT 1065 " Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me.
FranT 1066 Preye hire she go no faster cours than ye;
FranT 1067 I seye, preyeth your suster that she go
FranT 1068 No faster cours than ye thise yeres two.
FranT 1069 Thanne shal she been evene atte fulle alway,
FranT 1070 And spryng flood laste bothe nyght and day.
FranT 1071 And but she vouche sauf in swich manere
FranT 1072 To graunte me my sovereyn lady deere,
FranT 1073 Prey hire to synken every rok adoun
FranT 1074 Into hir owene dirke regioun
FranT 1075 Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne,
FranT 1076 Or nevere mo shal I my lady wynne.
FranT 1077 Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke.
FranT 1078 Lord Phebus, se the teeris on my cheke,
FranT 1079 And of my peyne have som compassioun. "
FranT 1080 And with that word in swowne he fil adoun,
FranT 1081 And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce.
FranT 1082 His brother, which that knew of his penaunce,
FranT 1083 Up caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght.
FranT 1084 Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght
FranT 1085 Lete I this woful creature lye;
FranT 1086 Chese he, for me, wheither he wol lyve or dye.
FranT 1087 Arveragus, with heele and greet honour,
FranT 1088 As he that was of chivalrie the flour,
FranT 1089 Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men.
FranT 1090 O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen,
FranT 1091 That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes,
FranT 1092 The fresshe knyght, the worthy man of armes,
FranT 1093 That loveth thee as his owene hertes lyf.
FranT 1094 No thyng list hym to been ymaginatyf,
FranT 1095 If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute,
FranT 1096 To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute.
FranT 1097 He noght entendeth to no swich mateere,
FranT 1098 But daunceth, justeth, maketh hire good cheere;
FranT 1099 And thus in joye and blisse I lete hem dwelle,
FranT 1100 And of the sike Aurelius wol I telle.
FranT 1101 In langour and in torment furyus
FranT 1102 Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelyus,
FranT 1103 Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon;
FranT 1104 Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon,
FranT 1105 Save of his brother, which that was a clerk.
FranT 1106 He knew of al this wo and al this werk,
FranT 1107 For to noon oother creature, certeyn,
FranT 1108 Of this matere he dorste no word seyn.
FranT 1109 Under his brest he baar it moore secree
FranT 1110 Than evere dide Pamphilus for Galathee.
FranT 1111 His brest was hool, withoute for to sene,
FranT 1112 But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.
FranT 1113 And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure
FranT 1114 In surgerye is perilous the cure,
FranT 1115 But men myghte touche the arwe or come therby.
FranT 1116 His brother weep and wayled pryvely,
FranT 1117 Til atte laste hym fil in remembraunce,
FranT 1118 That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce --
FranT 1119 As yonge clerkes that been lykerous
FranT 1120 To reden artes that been curious
FranT 1121 Seken in every halke and every herne
FranT 1122 Particuler sciences for to lerne --
FranT 1123 He hym remembred that, upon a day,
FranT 1124 At Orliens in studie a book he say
FranT 1125 Of magyk natureel, which his felawe,
FranT 1126 That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe,
FranT 1127 Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
FranT 1128 Hadde prively upon his desk ylaft;
FranT 1129 Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns
FranT 1130 Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns
FranT 1131 That longen to the moone, and swich folye
FranT 1132 As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye --
FranT 1133 For hooly chirches feith in oure bileve
FranT 1134 Ne suffreth noon illusioun us to greve.
FranT 1135 And whan this book was in his remembraunce,
FranT 1136 Anon for joye his herte gan to daunce,
FranT 1137 And to hymself he seyde pryvely:
FranT 1138 " My brother shal be warisshed hastily;
FranT 1139 For I am siker that ther be sciences
FranT 1140 By whiche men make diverse apparences,
FranT 1141 Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye.
FranT 1142 For ofte at feestes have I wel herd seye
FranT 1143 That tregetours withinne an halle large
FranT 1144 Have maad come in a water and a barge,
FranT 1145 And in the halle rowen up and doun.
FranT 1146 Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun;
FranT 1147 And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede;
FranT 1148 Somtyme a vyne, and grapes white and rede;
FranT 1149 Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon;
FranT 1150 And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon.
FranT 1151 Thus semed it to every mannes sighte.
FranT 1152 " Now thanne conclude I thus: that if I myghte
FranT 1153 At Orliens som oold felawe yfynde
FranT 1154 That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde,
FranT 1155 Or oother magyk natureel above,
FranT 1156 He sholde wel make my brother han his love.
FranT 1157 For with an apparence a clerk may make,
FranT 1158 To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake
FranT 1159 Of Britaigne weren yvoyded everichon,
FranT 1160 And shippes by the brynke comen and gon,
FranT 1161 And in swich forme enduren a wowke or two.
FranT 1162 Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo;
FranT 1163 Thanne moste she nedes holden hire biheste,
FranT 1164 Or elles he shal shame hire atte leeste. "
FranT 1165 What sholde I make a lenger tale of this?
FranT 1166 Unto his brotheres bed he comen is,
FranT 1167 And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon
FranT 1168 To Orliens that he up stirte anon,
FranT 1169 And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare
FranT 1170 In hope for to been lissed of his care.
FranT 1171 Whan they were come almoost to that citee,
FranT 1172 But if it were a two furlong or thre,
FranT 1173 A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette,
FranT 1174 Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette,
FranT 1175 And after that he seyde a wonder thyng:
FranT 1176 " I knowe, " quod he, " the cause of youre comyng. "
FranT 1177 And er they ferther any foote wente,
FranT 1178 He tolde hem al that was in hire entente.
FranT 1179 This Briton clerk hym asked of felawes
FranT 1180 The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes,
FranT 1181 And he answerde hym that they dede were,
FranT 1182 For which he weep ful ofte many a teere.
FranT 1183 Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon,
FranT 1184 And with this magicien forth is he gon
FranT 1185 Hoom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese.
FranT 1186 Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese.
FranT 1187 So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon
FranT 1188 Aurelius in his lyf saugh nevere noon.
FranT 1189 He shewed hym, er he wente to sopeer,
FranT 1190 Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer;
FranT 1191 Ther saugh he hertes with hir hornes hye,
FranT 1192 The gretteste that evere were seyn with ye.
FranT 1193 He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes,
FranT 1194 And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.
FranT 1195 He saugh, whan voyded were thise wilde deer,
FranT 1196 Thise fauconers upon a fair ryver,
FranT 1197 That with hir haukes han the heron slayn.
FranT 1198 Tho saugh he knyghtes justyng in a playn;
FranT 1199 And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce
FranT 1200 That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce,
FranT 1201 On which hymself he daunced, as hym thoughte.
FranT 1202 And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte
FranT 1203 Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two,
FranT 1204 And farewel! Al oure revel was ago.
FranT 1205 And yet remoeved they nevere out of the hous,
FranT 1206 Whil they saugh al this sighte merveillous,
FranT 1207 But in his studie, ther as his bookes be,
FranT 1208 They seten stille, and no wight but they thre.
FranT 1209 To hym this maister called his squier,
FranT 1210 And seyde hym thus: " Is redy oure soper?
FranT 1211 Almoost an houre it is, I undertake,
FranT 1212 Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make,
FranT 1213 Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me
FranT 1214 Into my studie, ther as my bookes be. "
FranT 1215 " Sire, " quod this squier, " whan it liketh yow,
FranT 1216 It is al redy, though ye wol right now. "
FranT 1217 " Go we thanne soupe, " quod he, " as for the beste.
FranT 1218 Thise amorous folk somtyme moote han hir reste. "
FranT 1219 At after-soper fille they in tretee
FranT 1220 What somme sholde this maistres gerdon be
FranT 1221 To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne,
FranT 1222 And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.
FranT 1223 He made it straunge, and swoor, so God hym save,
FranT 1224 Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have,
FranT 1225 Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon.
FranT 1226 Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon,
FranT 1227 Answerde thus: " Fy on a thousand pound!
FranT 1228 This wyde world, which that men seye is round,
FranT 1229 I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it.
FranT 1230 This bargayn is ful dryve, for we been knyt.
FranT 1231 Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe!
FranT 1232 But looketh now, for no necligence or slouthe
FranT 1233 Ye tarie us heere no lenger than to-morwe. "
FranT 1234 " Nay, " quod this clerk, " have heer my feith to borwe. "
FranT 1235 To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste,
FranT 1236 And wel ny al that nyght he hadde his reste.
FranT 1237 What for his labour and his hope of blisse,
FranT 1238 His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse.
FranT 1239 Upon the morwe, whan that it was day,
FranT 1240 To Britaigne tooke they the righte way,
FranT 1241 Aurelius and this magicien bisyde,
FranT 1242 And been descended ther they wolde abyde.
FranT 1243 And this was, as thise bookes me remembre,
FranT 1244 The colde, frosty seson of Decembre.
FranT 1245 Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk laton,
FranT 1246 That in his hoote declynacion
FranT 1247 Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte;
FranT 1248 But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte,
FranT 1249 Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.
FranT 1250 The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn,
FranT 1251 Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd.
FranT 1252 Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd,
FranT 1253 And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn;
FranT 1254 Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn,
FranT 1255 And " Nowel " crieth every lusty man.
FranT 1256 Aurelius in al that evere he kan
FranT 1257 Dooth to this maister chiere and reverence,
FranT 1258 And preyeth hym to doon his diligence
FranT 1259 To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte,
FranT 1260 Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte.
FranT 1261 This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man
FranT 1262 That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan
FranT 1263 To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun;
FranT 1264 This is to seye, to maken illusioun,
FranT 1265 By swich an apparence or jogelrye --
FranT 1266 I ne kan no termes of astrologye --
FranT 1267 That she and every wight sholde wene and seye
FranT 1268 That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye,
FranT 1269 Or ellis they were sonken under grounde.
FranT 1270 So atte laste he hath his tyme yfounde
FranT 1271 To maken his japes and his wrecchednesse
FranT 1272 Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.
FranT 1273 His tables Tolletanes forth he brought,
FranT 1274 Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked nought,
FranT 1275 Neither his collect ne his expans yeeris,
FranT 1276 Ne his rootes, ne his othere geeris,
FranT 1277 As been his centris and his argumentz
FranT 1278 And his proporcioneles convenientz
FranT 1279 For his equacions in every thyng.
FranT 1280 And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng
FranT 1281 He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove
FranT 1282 Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above,
FranT 1283 That in the ninthe speere considered is;
FranT 1284 Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this.
FranT 1285 Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun,
FranT 1286 He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun,
FranT 1287 And knew the arisyng of his moone weel,
FranT 1288 And in whos face, and terme, and everydeel;
FranT 1289 And knew ful weel the moones mansioun
FranT 1290 Acordaunt to his operacioun,
FranT 1291 And knew also his othere observaunces
FranT 1292 For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces
FranT 1293 As hethen folk useden in thilke dayes.
FranT 1294 For which no lenger maked he delayes,
FranT 1295 But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye,
FranT 1296 It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.
FranT 1297 Aurelius, which that yet despeired is
FranT 1298 Wher he shal han his love or fare amys,
FranT 1299 Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle;
FranT 1300 And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle,
FranT 1301 That voyded were thise rokkes everychon,
FranT 1302 Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon,
FranT 1303 And seyde, " I woful wrecche, Aurelius,
FranT 1304 Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus,
FranT 1305 That me han holpen fro my cares colde. "
FranT 1306 And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde,
FranT 1307 Where as he knew he sholde his lady see.
FranT 1308 And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right hee,
FranT 1309 With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere,
FranT 1310 Salewed hath his sovereyn lady deere:
FranT 1311 " My righte lady, " quod this woful man,
FranT 1312 " Whom I moost drede and love as I best kan,
FranT 1313 And lothest were of al this world displese,
FranT 1314 Nere it that I for yow have swich disese
FranT 1315 That I moste dyen heere at youre foot anon,
FranT 1316 Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon.
FranT 1317 But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne;
FranT 1318 Ye sle me giltelees for verray peyne.
FranT 1319 But of my deeth thogh that ye have no routhe,
FranT 1320 Avyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe.
FranT 1321 Repenteth yow, for thilke God above,
FranT 1322 Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow love.
FranT 1323 For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --
FranT 1324 Nat that I chalange any thyng of right
FranT 1325 Of yow, my sovereyn lady, but youre grace --
FranT 1326 But in a gardyn yond, at swich a place,
FranT 1327 Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me;
FranT 1328 And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye
FranT 1329 To love me best -- God woot, ye seyde so,
FranT 1330 Al be that I unworthy am therto.
FranT 1331 Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow
FranT 1332 Moore than to save myn hertes lyf right now --
FranT 1333 I have do so as ye comanded me;
FranT 1334 And if ye vouche sauf, ye may go see.
FranT 1335 Dooth as yow list; have youre biheste in mynde,
FranT 1336 For, quyk or deed, right there ye shal me fynde.
FranT 1337 In yow lith al to do me lyve or deye --
FranT 1338 But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye. "
FranT 1339 He taketh his leve, and she astoned stood;
FranT 1340 In al hir face nas a drope of blood.
FranT 1341 She wende nevere han come in swich a trappe.
FranT 1342 " Allas, " quod she, " that evere this sholde happe!
FranT 1343 For wende I nevere by possibilitee
FranT 1344 That swich a monstre or merveille myghte be!
FranT 1345 It is agayns the proces of nature. "
FranT 1346 And hoom she goth a sorweful creature;
FranT 1347 For verray feere unnethe may she go.
FranT 1348 She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two,
FranT 1349 And swowneth, that it routhe was to see.
FranT 1350 But why it was to no wight tolde shee,
FranT 1351 For out of towne was goon Arveragus.
FranT 1352 But to hirself she spak, and seyde thus,
FranT 1353 With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere,
FranT 1354 In hire compleynt, as ye shal after heere:
FranT 1355 " Allas, " quod she, " on thee, Fortune, I pleyne,
FranT 1356 That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,
FranT 1357 Fro which t' escape woot I no socour,
FranT 1358 Save oonly deeth or elles dishonour;
FranT 1359 Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese.
FranT 1360 But nathelees, yet have I levere to lese
FranT 1361 My lif than of my body to have a shame,
FranT 1362 Or knowe myselven fals, or lese my name;
FranT 1363 And with my deth I may be quyt, ywis.
FranT 1364 Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this,
FranT 1365 And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas,
FranT 1366 Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
FranT 1367 " Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse:
FranT 1368 Whan thritty tirauntz, ful of cursednesse,
FranT 1369 Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste,
FranT 1370 They comanded his doghtres for t' areste
FranT 1371 And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit,
FranT 1372 Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delit,
FranT 1373 And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce
FranT 1374 Upon the pavement, God yeve hem meschaunce!
FranT 1375 For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede,
FranT 1376 Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede,
FranT 1377 They prively been stirt into a welle
FranT 1378 And dreynte hemselven, as the bookes telle.
FranT 1379 " They of Mecene leete enquere and seke
FranT 1380 Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke,
FranT 1381 On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye.
FranT 1382 But was ther noon of al that compaignye
FranT 1383 That she nas slayn, and with a good entente
FranT 1384 Chees rather for to dye than assente
FranT 1385 To been oppressed of hir maydenhede.
FranT 1386 Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?
FranT 1387 Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides,
FranT 1388 That loved a mayden, heet Stymphalides,
FranT 1389 Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght,
FranT 1390 Unto Dianes temple goth she right,
FranT 1391 And hente the ymage in hir handes two,
FranT 1392 Fro which ymage wolde she nevere go.
FranT 1393 No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace
FranT 1394 Til she was slayn, right in the selve place.
FranT 1395 " Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit
FranT 1396 To been defouled with mannes foul delit,
FranT 1397 Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee
FranT 1398 Than be defouled, as it thynketh me.
FranT 1399 What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf,
FranT 1400 That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf?
FranT 1401 For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun,
FranT 1402 She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun
FranT 1403 Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye
FranT 1404 Than any Romayn dide hire vileynye.
FranT 1405 Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself, allas,
FranT 1406 At Rome, whan that she oppressed was
FranT 1407 Of Tarquyn, for hire thoughte it was a shame
FranT 1408 To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name?
FranT 1409 The sevene maydens of Milesie also
FranT 1410 Han slayn hemself, for verrey drede and wo,
FranT 1411 Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse.
FranT 1412 Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse,
FranT 1413 Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere.
FranT 1414 Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere
FranT 1415 Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde
FranT 1416 In Habradates woundes depe and wyde,
FranT 1417 And seyde, `My body, at the leeste way,
FranT 1418 Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may. "
FranT 1419 " What sholde I mo ensamples heerof sayn,
FranT 1420 Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn
FranT 1421 Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?
FranT 1422 I wol conclude that it is bet for me
FranT 1423 To sleen myself than been defouled thus.
FranT 1424 I wol be trewe unto Arveragus,
FranT 1425 Or rather sleen myself in som manere,
FranT 1426 As dide Demociones doghter deere
FranT 1427 By cause that she wolde nat defouled be.
FranT 1428 O Cedasus, it is ful greet pitee
FranT 1429 To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas,
FranT 1430 That slowe hemself for swich manere cas.
FranT 1431 As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore,
FranT 1432 The Theban mayden that for Nichanore
FranT 1433 Hirselven slow, right for swich manere wo.
FranT 1434 Another Theban mayden dide right so;
FranT 1435 For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed,
FranT 1436 She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed.
FranT 1437 What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf,
FranT 1438 That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf?
FranT 1439 How trewe eek was to Alcebiades
FranT 1440 His love, that rather for to dyen chees
FranT 1441 Than for to suffre his body unburyed be.
FranT 1442 Lo, which a wyf was Alceste, " quod she.
FranT 1443 " What seith Omer of goode Penalopee?
FranT 1444 Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee.
FranT 1445 Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus,
FranT 1446 That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus,
FranT 1447 Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day.
FranT 1448 The same of noble Porcia telle I may;
FranT 1449 Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve,
FranT 1450 To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive.
FranT 1451 The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie
FranT 1452 Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie.
FranT 1453 O Teuta, queene, thy wyfly chastitee
FranT 1454 To alle wyves may a mirour bee.
FranT 1455 The same thyng I seye of Bilyea,
FranT 1456 Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria. "
FranT 1457 Thus pleyned Dorigen a day or tweye,
FranT 1458 Purposynge evere that she wolde deye.
FranT 1459 But nathelees, upon the thridde nyght,
FranT 1460 Hoom cam Arveragus, this worthy knyght,
FranT 1461 And asked hire why that she weep so soore;
FranT 1462 And she gan wepen ever lenger the moore.
FranT 1463 " Allas, " quod she, " that evere was I born!
FranT 1464 Thus have I seyd, " quod she, " thus have I sworn " --
FranT 1465 And toold hym al as ye han herd bifore;
FranT 1466 It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.
FranT 1467 This housbonde, with glad chiere, in freendly wyse
FranT 1468 Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse:
FranT 1469 " Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this? "
FranT 1470 " Nay, nay, " quod she, " God helpe me so as wys!
FranT 1471 This is to muche, and it were Goddes wille. "
FranT 1472 " Ye, wyf, " quod he, " lat slepen that is stille.
FranT 1473 It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.
FranT 1474 Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!
FranT 1475 For God so wisly have mercy upon me,
FranT 1476 I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be
FranT 1477 For verray love which that I to yow have,
FranT 1478 But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.
FranT 1479 Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe " --
FranT 1480 But with that word he brast anon to wepe,
FranT 1481 And seyde, " I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth,
FranT 1482 That nevere, whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth,
FranT 1483 To no wight telle thou of this aventure --
FranT 1484 As I may best, I wol my wo endure --
FranT 1485 Ne make no contenance of hevynesse,
FranT 1486 That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse. "
FranT 1487 And forth he cleped a squier and a mayde:
FranT 1488 " Gooth forth anon with Dorigen, " he sayde,
FranT 1489 " And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon. "
FranT 1490 They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon,
FranT 1491 But they ne wiste why she thider wente.
FranT 1492 He nolde no wight tellen his entente.
FranT 1493 Paraventure an heep of yow, ywis,
FranT 1494 Wol holden hym a lewed man in this
FranT 1495 That he wol putte his wyf in jupartie.
FranT 1496 Herkneth the tale er ye upon hire crie.
FranT 1497 She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth;
FranT 1498 And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth.
FranT 1499 This squier, which that highte Aurelius,
FranT 1500 On Dorigen that was so amorus,
FranT 1501 Of aventure happed hire to meete
FranT 1502 Amydde the toun, right in the quykkest strete,
FranT 1503 As she was bown to goon the wey forth right
FranT 1504 Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight.
FranT 1505 And he was to the gardyn-ward also;
FranT 1506 For wel he spyed whan she wolde go
FranT 1507 Out of hir hous to any maner place.
FranT 1508 But thus they mette, of aventure or grace,
FranT 1509 And he saleweth hire with glad entente,
FranT 1510 And asked of hire whiderward she wente;
FranT 1511 And she answerde, half as she were mad,
FranT 1512 " Unto the gardyn, as myn housbonde bad,
FranT 1513 My trouthe for to holde -- allas, allas! "
FranT 1514 Aurelius gan wondren on this cas,
FranT 1515 And in his herte hadde greet compassioun
FranT 1516 Of hire and of hire lamentacioun,
FranT 1517 And of Arveragus, the worthy knyght,
FranT 1518 That bad hire holden al that she had hight,
FranT 1519 So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe;
FranT 1520 And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe,
FranT 1521 Considerynge the beste on every syde,
FranT 1522 That fro his lust yet were hym levere abyde
FranT 1523 Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse
FranT 1524 Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse;
FranT 1525 For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus:
FranT 1526 " Madame, seyth to youre lord Arveragus
FranT 1527 That sith I se his grete gentillesse
FranT 1528 To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,
FranT 1529 That him were levere han shame (and that were routhe)
FranT 1530 Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe,
FranT 1531 I have wel levere evere to suffre wo
FranT 1532 Than I departe the love bitwix yow two.
FranT 1533 I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond
FranT 1534 Quyt every serement and every bond
FranT 1535 That ye han maad to me as heerbiforn,
FranT 1536 Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.
FranT 1537 My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve
FranT 1538 Of no biheste, and heere I take my leve,
FranT 1539 As of the treweste and the beste wyf
FranT 1540 That evere yet I knew in al my lyf.
FranT 1541 But every wyf be war of hire biheeste!
FranT 1542 On Dorigen remembreth, atte leeste.
FranT 1543 Thus kan a squier doon a gentil dede
FranT 1544 As wel as kan a knyght, withouten drede. "
FranT 1545 She thonketh hym upon hir knees al bare,
FranT 1546 And hoom unto hir housbonde is she fare,
FranT 1547 And tolde hym al, as ye han herd me sayd;
FranT 1548 And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd
FranT 1549 That it were impossible me to wryte.
FranT 1550 What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte?
FranT 1551 Arveragus and Dorigen his wyf
FranT 1552 In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf.
FranT 1553 Nevere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene.
FranT 1554 He cherisseth hire as though she were a queene,
FranT 1555 And she was to hym trewe for everemoore.
FranT 1556 Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore.
FranT 1557 Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn,
FranT 1558 Curseth the tyme that evere he was born:
FranT 1559 " Allas! " quod he. " Allas, that I bihighte
FranT 1560 Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte
FranT 1561 Unto this philosophre! How shal I do?
FranT 1562 I se namoore but that I am fordo.
FranT 1563 Myn heritage moot I nedes selle,
FranT 1564 And been a beggere; heere may I nat dwelle
FranT 1565 And shamen al my kynrede in this place,
FranT 1566 But I of hym may gete bettre grace.
FranT 1567 But nathelees, I wole of hym assaye,
FranT 1568 At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye,
FranT 1569 And thanke hym of his grete curteisye.
FranT 1570 My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye. "
FranT 1571 With herte soor he gooth unto his cofre,
FranT 1572 And broghte gold unto this philosophre,
FranT 1573 The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse,
FranT 1574 And hym bisecheth, of his gentillesse,
FranT 1575 To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt;
FranT 1576 And seyde, " Maister, I dar wel make avaunt,
FranT 1577 I failled nevere of my trouthe as yit.
FranT 1578 For sikerly my dette shal be quyt
FranT 1579 Towardes yow, howevere that I fare
FranT 1580 To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare.
FranT 1581 But wolde ye vouche sauf, upon seuretee,
FranT 1582 Two yeer or thre for to respiten me,
FranT 1583 Thanne were I wel; for elles moot I selle
FranT 1584 Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle. "
FranT 1585 This philosophre sobrely answerde,
FranT 1586 And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde:
FranT 1587 " Have I nat holden covenant unto thee? "
FranT 1588 " Yes, certes, wel and trewely, " quod he.
FranT 1589 " Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh? "
FranT 1590 " No, no, " quod he, and sorwefully he siketh.
FranT 1591 " What was the cause? Tel me if thou kan. "
FranT 1592 Aurelius his tale anon bigan,
FranT 1593 And tolde hym al, as ye han herd bifoore;
FranT 1594 It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore.
FranT 1595 He seide, " Arveragus, of gentillesse,
FranT 1596 Hadde levere dye in sorwe and in distresse
FranT 1597 Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals. "
FranT 1598 The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als;
FranT 1599 How looth hire was to been a wikked wyf,
FranT 1600 And that she levere had lost that day hir lyf,
FranT 1601 And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence,
FranT 1602 She nevere erst hadde herde speke of apparence.
FranT 1603 " That made me han of hire so greet pitee;
FranT 1604 And right as frely as he sente hire me,
FranT 1605 As frely sente I hire to hym ageyn.
FranT 1606 This al and som; ther is namoore to seyn. "
FranT 1607 This philosophre answerde, " Leeve brother,
FranT 1608 Everich of yow dide gentilly til oother.
FranT 1609 Thou art a squier, and he is a knyght;
FranT 1610 But God forbede, for his blisful myght,
FranT 1611 But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede
FranT 1612 As wel as any of yow, it is no drede!
FranT 1613 Sire, I releesse thee thy thousand pound,
FranT 1614 As thou right now were cropen out of the ground,
FranT 1615 Ne nevere er now ne haddest knowen me.
FranT 1616 For, sire, I wol nat taken a peny of thee
FranT 1617 For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille.
FranT 1618 Thou hast ypayed wel for my vitaille.
FranT 1619 It is ynogh, and farewel, have good day! "
FranT 1620 And took his hors, and forth he goth his way.
FranT 1621 Lordynges, this question, thanne, wol I aske now,
FranT 1622 Which was the mooste fre, as thynketh yow?
FranT 1623 Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende.
FranT 1624 I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende.
PhyT 1 Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius,
PhyT 2 A knyght that called was Virginius,
PhyT 3 Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse,
PhyT 4 And strong of freendes, and of greet richesse.
PhyT 5 This knyght a doghter hadde by his wyf;
PhyT 6 No children hadde he mo in al his lyf.
PhyT 7 Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
PhyT 8 Aboven every wight that man may see;
PhyT 9 For Nature hath with sovereyn diligence
PhyT 10 Yformed hire in so greet excellence,
PhyT 11 As though she wolde seyn, " Lo! I, Nature,
PhyT 12 Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature,
PhyT 13 Whan that me list; who kan me countrefete?
PhyT 14 Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete,
PhyT 15 Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn
PhyT 16 Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn
PhyT 17 Outher to grave, or peynte, or forge, or bete,
PhyT 18 If they presumed me to countrefete.
PhyT 19 For He that is the formere principal
PhyT 20 Hath maked me his vicaire general,
PhyT 21 To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
PhyT 22 Right as me list, and ech thyng in my cure is
PhyT 23 Under the moone, that may wane and waxe,
PhyT 24 And for my werk right no thyng wol I axe;
PhyT 25 My lord and I been ful of oon accord.
PhyT 26 I made hire to the worshipe of my lord;
PhyT 27 So do I alle myne othere creatures,
PhyT 28 What colour that they han or what figures. "
PhyT 29 Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye.
PhyT 30 This mayde of age twelve yeer was and tweye,
PhyT 31 In which that Nature hadde swich delit.
PhyT 32 For right as she kan peynte a lilie whit,
PhyT 33 And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
PhyT 34 She peynted hath this noble creature,
PhyT 35 Er she were born, upon hir lymes fre,
PhyT 36 Where as by right swiche colours sholde be;
PhyT 37 And Phebus dyed hath hire tresses grete
PhyT 38 Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete.
PhyT 39 And if that excellent was hire beautee,
PhyT 40 A thousand foold moore vertuous was she.
PhyT 41 In hire ne lakked no condicioun
PhyT 42 That is to preyse, as by discrecioun.
PhyT 43 As wel in goost as body chast was she,
PhyT 44 For which she floured in virginitee
PhyT 45 With alle humylitee and abstinence,
PhyT 46 With alle attemperaunce and pacience,
PhyT 47 With mesure eek of beryng and array.
PhyT 48 Discreet she was in answeryng alway;
PhyT 49 Though she were wis as Pallas, dar I seyn,
PhyT 50 Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn,
PhyT 51 No countrefeted termes hadde she
PhyT 52 To seme wys, but after hir degree
PhyT 53 She spak, and alle hire wordes, moore and lesse,
PhyT 54 Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse.
PhyT 55 Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse,
PhyT 56 Constant in herte, and evere in bisynesse
PhyT 57 To dryve hire out of ydel slogardye.
PhyT 58 Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrie;
PhyT 59 For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse,
PhyT 60 As men in fyr wol casten oille or greesse.
PhyT 61 And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned,
PhyT 62 She hath ful ofte tyme syk hire feyned,
PhyT 63 For that she wolde fleen the compaignye
PhyT 64 Where likly was to treten of folye,
PhyT 65 As is at feestes, revels, and at daunces,
PhyT 66 That been occasions of daliaunces.
PhyT 67 Swich thynges maken children for to be
PhyT 68 To soone rype and boold, as men may se,
PhyT 69 Which is ful perilous and hath been yoore.
PhyT 70 For al to soone may she lerne loore
PhyT 71 Of booldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf.
PhyT 72 And ye maistresses, in youre olde lyf,
PhyT 73 That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
PhyT 74 Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce.
PhyT 75 Thenketh that ye been set in governynges
PhyT 76 Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges:
PhyT 77 Outher for ye han kept youre honestee,
PhyT 78 Or elles ye han falle in freletee,
PhyT 79 And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce,
PhyT 80 And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce
PhyT 81 For everemo; therfore, for Cristes sake,
PhyT 82 To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
PhyT 83 A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft
PhyT 84 His likerousnesse and al his olde craft,
PhyT 85 Kan kepe a forest best of any man.
PhyT 86 Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole, ye kan.
PhyT 87 Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente,
PhyT 88 Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente;
PhyT 89 For whoso dooth, a traitour is, certeyn.
PhyT 90 And taketh kep of that that I shal seyn:
PhyT 91 Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence
PhyT 92 Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
PhyT 93 Ye fadres and ye moodres eek also,
PhyT 94 Though ye han children, be it oon or mo,
PhyT 95 Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce,
PhyT 96 Whil that they been under youre governaunce.
PhyT 97 Beth war, if by ensample of youre lyvynge,
PhyT 98 Or by youre necligence in chastisynge,
PhyT 99 That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye
PhyT 100 If that they doon, ye shul it deere abeye.
PhyT 101 Under a shepherde softe and necligent
PhyT 102 The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb torent.
PhyT 103 Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere,
PhyT 104 For I moot turne agayn to my matere.
PhyT 105 This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse,
PhyT 106 So kepte hirself hir neded no maistresse,
PhyT 107 For in hir lyvyng maydens myghten rede,
PhyT 108 As in a book, every good word or dede
PhyT 109 That longeth to a mayden vertuous,
PhyT 110 She was so prudent and so bountevous.
PhyT 111 For which the fame out sprong on every syde,
PhyT 112 Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde,
PhyT 113 That thurgh that land they preised hire echone
PhyT 114 That loved vertu, save Envye allone,
PhyT 115 That sory is of oother mennes wele
PhyT 116 And glad is of his sorwe and his unheele.
PhyT 117 (The Doctour maketh this descripcioun.)
PhyT 118 This mayde upon a day wente in the toun
PhyT 119 Toward a temple, with hire mooder deere,
PhyT 120 As is of yonge maydens the manere.
PhyT 121 Now was ther thanne a justice in that toun,
PhyT 122 That governour was of that regioun.
PhyT 123 And so bifel this juge his eyen caste
PhyT 124 Upon this mayde, avysynge hym ful faste,
PhyT 125 As she cam forby ther as this juge stood.
PhyT 126 Anon his herte chaunged and his mood,
PhyT 127 So was he caught with beautee of this mayde,
PhyT 128 And to hymself ful pryvely he sayde,
PhyT 129 " This mayde shal be myn, for any man! "
PhyT 130 Anon the feend into his herte ran,
PhyT 131 And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte
PhyT 132 The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
PhyT 133 For certes, by no force ne by no meede,
PhyT 134 Hym thoughte, he was nat able for to speede;
PhyT 135 For she was strong of freendes, and eek she
PhyT 136 Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee
PhyT 137 That wel he wiste he myghte hire nevere wynne
PhyT 138 As for to make hire with hir body synne.
PhyT 139 For which, by greet deliberacioun,
PhyT 140 He sente after a cherl, was in the toun,
PhyT 141 Which that he knew for subtil and for boold.
PhyT 142 This juge unto this cherl his tale hath toold
PhyT 143 In secree wise, and made hym to ensure
PhyT 144 He sholde telle it to no creature,
PhyT 145 And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed.
PhyT 146 Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
PhyT 147 Glad was this juge, and maked him greet cheere,
PhyT 148 And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.
PhyT 149 Whan shapen was al hire conspiracie
PhyT 150 Fro point to point, how that his lecherie
PhyT 151 Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,
PhyT 152 As ye shul heere it after openly,
PhyT 153 Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius.
PhyT 154 This false juge, that highte Apius,
PhyT 155 (So was his name, for this is no fable,
PhyT 156 But knowen for historial thyng notable;
PhyT 157 The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute),
PhyT 158 This false juge gooth now faste aboute
PhyT 159 To hasten his delit al that he may.
PhyT 160 And so bifel soone after, on a day,
PhyT 161 This false juge, as telleth us the storie,
PhyT 162 As he was wont, sat in his consistorie,
PhyT 163 And yaf his doomes upon sondry cas.
PhyT 164 This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas,
PhyT 165 And seyde, " Lord, if that it be youre wille,
PhyT 166 As dooth me right upon this pitous bille,
PhyT 167 In which I pleyne upon Virginius;
PhyT 168 And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
PhyT 169 I wol it preeve, and fynde good witnesse,
PhyT 170 That sooth is that my bille wol expresse. "
PhyT 171 The juge answerde, " Of this, in his absence,
PhyT 172 I may nat yeve diffynytyf sentence.
PhyT 173 Lat do hym calle, and I wol gladly heere;
PhyT 174 Thou shalt have al right, and no wrong heere. "
PhyT 175 Virginius cam to wite the juges wille,
PhyT 176 And right anon was rad this cursed bille;
PhyT 177 The sentence of it was as ye shul heere:
PhyT 178 " To yow, my lord, sire Apius so deere,
PhyT 179 Sheweth youre povre servant Claudius
PhyT 180 How that a knyght, called Virginius,
PhyT 181 Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee,
PhyT 182 Holdeth, expres agayn the wyl of me,
PhyT 183 My servant, which that is my thral by right,
PhyT 184 Which fro myn hous was stole upon a nyght,
PhyT 185 Whil that she was ful yong; this wol I preeve
PhyT 186 By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greeve.
PhyT 187 She nys his doghter nat, what so he seye.
PhyT 188 Wherfore to yow, my lord the juge, I preye,
PhyT 189 Yeld me my thral, if that it be youre wille. "
PhyT 190 Lo, this was al the sentence of his bille.
PhyT 191 Virginius gan upon the cherl biholde,
PhyT 192 But hastily, er he his tale tolde,
PhyT 193 And wolde have preeved it as sholde a knyght,
PhyT 194 And eek by witnessyng of many a wight,
PhyT 195 That al was fals that seyde his adversarie,
PhyT 196 This cursed juge wolde no thyng tarie,
PhyT 197 Ne heere a word moore of Virginius,
PhyT 198 But yaf his juggement, and seyde thus:
PhyT 199 " I deeme anon this cherl his servant have;
PhyT 200 Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save.
PhyT 201 Go bryng hire forth, and put hire in oure warde.
PhyT 202 The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde. "
PhyT 203 And whan this worthy knyght Virginius
PhyT 204 Thurgh sentence of this justice Apius
PhyT 205 Moste by force his deere doghter yiven
PhyT 206 Unto the juge, in lecherie to lyven,
PhyT 207 He gooth hym hoom, and sette him in his halle,
PhyT 208 And leet anon his deere doghter calle,
PhyT 209 And with a face deed as asshen colde
PhyT 210 Upon hir humble face he gan biholde,
PhyT 211 With fadres pitee stikynge thurgh his herte,
PhyT 212 Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte.
PhyT 213 " Doghter, " quod he, " Virginia, by thy name,
PhyT 214 Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
PhyT 215 That thou most suffre; allas, that I was bore!
PhyT 216 For nevere thou deservedest wherfore
PhyT 217 To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
PhyT 218 O deere doghter, endere of my lyf,
PhyT 219 Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce
PhyT 220 That thou were nevere out of my remembraunce!
PhyT 221 O doghter, which that art my laste wo,
PhyT 222 And in my lyf my laste joye also,
PhyT 223 O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
PhyT 224 Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence.
PhyT 225 For love, and nat for hate, thou most be deed;
PhyT 226 My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed.
PhyT 227 Allas, that evere Apius the say!
PhyT 228 Thus hath he falsly jugged the to-day " --
PhyT 229 And tolde hire al the cas, as ye bifore
PhyT 230 Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it moore.
PhyT 231 " O mercy, deere fader! " quod this mayde,
PhyT 232 And with that word she bothe hir armes layde
PhyT 233 Aboute his nekke, as she was wont to do.
PhyT 234 The teeris bruste out of hir eyen two,
PhyT 235 And seyde, " Goode fader, shal I dye?
PhyT 236 Is ther no grace, is ther no remedye? "
PhyT 237 " No, certes, deere doghter myn, " quod he.
PhyT 238 " Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn, " quod she,
PhyT 239 " My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;
PhyT 240 For, pardee, Jepte yaf his doghter grace
PhyT 241 For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!
PhyT 242 And, God it woot, no thyng was hir trespas,
PhyT 243 But for she ran hir fader first to see,
PhyT 244 To welcome hym with greet solempnitee. "
PhyT 245 And with that word she fil aswowne anon,
PhyT 246 And after, whan hir swownyng is agon,
PhyT 247 She riseth up, and to hir fader sayde,
PhyT 248 " Blissed be God that I shal dye a mayde!
PhyT 249 Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
PhyT 250 Dooth with youre child youre wyl, a Goddes name! "
PhyT 251 And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte
PhyT 252 That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe;
PhyT 253 And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
PhyT 254 Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil,
PhyT 255 Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente,
PhyT 256 And to the juge he gan it to presente,
PhyT 257 As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
PhyT 258 And whan the juge it saugh, as seith the storie,
PhyT 259 He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste;
PhyT 260 But right anon a thousand peple in thraste,
PhyT 261 To save the knyght, for routhe and for pitee,
PhyT 262 For knowen was the false iniquitee.
PhyT 263 The peple anon had suspect in this thyng,
PhyT 264 By manere of the cherles chalangyng,
PhyT 265 That it was by the assent of Apius;
PhyT 266 They wisten wel that he was lecherus.
PhyT 267 For which unto this Apius they gon
PhyT 268 And caste hym in a prisoun right anon,
PhyT 269 Ther as he slow hymself; and Claudius,
PhyT 270 That servant was unto this Apius,
PhyT 271 Was demed for to hange upon a tree,
PhyT 272 But that Virginius, of his pitee,
PhyT 273 So preyde for hym that he was exiled;
PhyT 274 And elles, certes, he had been bigyled.
PhyT 275 The remenant were anhanged, moore and lesse,
PhyT 276 That were consentant of this cursednesse.
PhyT 277 Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite.
PhyT 278 Beth war, for no man woot whom God wol smyte
PhyT 279 In no degree, ne in which manere wyse;
PhyT 280 The worm of conscience may agryse
PhyT 281 Of wikked lyf, though it so pryvee be
PhyT 282 That no man woot therof but God and he.
PhyT 283 For be he lewed man, or ellis lered,
PhyT 284 He noot how soone that he shal been afered.
PhyT 285 Therfore I rede yow this conseil take:
PhyT 286 Forsaketh synne, er synne yow forsake.
PardT 287 Oure Hooste gan to swere as he were wood;
PardT 288 " Harrow! " quod he, " by nayles and by blood!
PardT 289 This was a fals cherl and a fals justise.
PardT 290 As shameful deeth as herte may devyse
PardT 291 Come to thise juges and hire advocatz!
PardT 292 Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas!
PardT 293 Allas, to deere boughte she beautee!
PardT 294 Wherfore I seye al day that men may see
PardT 295 That yiftes of Fortune and of Nature
PardT 296 Been cause of deeth to many a creature.
PardT 297 Hire beautee was hire deth, I dar wel sayn.
PardT 298 Allas, so pitously as she was slayn!
PardT 299 Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now
PardT 300 Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow.
PardT 301 But trewely, myn owene maister deere,
PardT 302 This is a pitous tale for to heere.
PardT 303 But nathelees, passe over; is no fors.
PardT 304 I pray to God so save thy gentil cors,
PardT 305 And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdones,
PardT 306 Thyn ypocras, and eek thy galiones,
PardT 307 And every boyste ful of thy letuarie;
PardT 308 God blesse hem, and oure lady Seinte Marie!
PardT 309 So moot I theen, thou art a propre man,
PardT 310 And lyk a prelat, by Seint Ronyan!
PardT 311 Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme;
PardT 312 But wel I woot thou doost myn herte to erme,
PardT 313 That I almoost have caught a cardynacle.
PardT 314 By corpus bones! but I have triacle,
PardT 315 Or elles a draughte of moyste and corny ale,
PardT 316 Or but I heere anon a myrie tale,
PardT 317 Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.
PardT 318 Thou beel amy, thou Pardoner, " he sayde,
PardT 319 " Telle us som myrthe or japes right anon. "
PardT 320 " It shal be doon, " quod he, " by Seint Ronyon!
PardT 321 But first, " quod he, " heere at this alestake
PardT 322 I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake. "
PardT 323 But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye,
PardT 324 " Nay, lat hym telle us of no ribaudye!
PardT 325 Telle us som moral thyng, that we may leere
PardT 326 Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere. "
PardT 327 " I graunte, ywis, " quod he, " but I moot thynke
PardT 328 Upon som honest thyng while that I drynke. "
PardT 329 " Lordynges, " quod he, " in chirches whan I preche,
PardT 330 I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche,
PardT 331 And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle,
PardT 332 For I kan al by rote that I telle.
PardT 333 My theme is alwey oon, and evere was --
PardT 334 Radix malorum est Cupiditas.
PardT 335 " First I pronounce whennes that I come,
PardT 336 And thanne my bulles shewe I, alle and some.
PardT 337 Oure lige lordes seel on my patente,
PardT 338 That shewe I first, my body to warente,
PardT 339 That no man be so boold, ne preest ne clerk,
PardT 340 Me to destourbe of Cristes hooly werk.
PardT 341 And after that thanne telle I forth my tales;
PardT 342 Bulles of popes and of cardynales,
PardT 343 Of patriarkes and bishopes I shewe,
PardT 344 And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe,
PardT 345 To saffron with my predicacioun,
PardT 346 And for to stire hem to devocioun.
PardT 347 Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,
PardT 348 Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones --
PardT 349 Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon.
PardT 350 Thanne have I in latoun a sholder-boon
PardT 351 Which that was of an hooly Jewes sheep.
PardT 352 `Goode men,' I seye, `taak of my wordes keep;
PardT 353 If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
PardT 354 If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle
PardT 355 That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge,
PardT 356 Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge,
PardT 357 And it is hool anon; and forthermoore,
PardT 358 Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every soore
PardT 359 Shal every sheep be hool that of this welle
PardT 360 Drynketh a draughte. Taak kep eek what I telle:
PardT 361 If that the good-man that the beestes oweth
PardT 362 Wol every wyke, er that the cok hym croweth,
PardT 363 Fastynge, drynken of this welle a draughte,
PardT 364 As thilke hooly Jew oure eldres taughte,
PardT 365 His beestes and his stoor shal multiplie.
PardT 366 `And, sires, also it heeleth jalousie;
PardT 367 For though a man be falle in jalous rage,
PardT 368 Lat maken with this water his potage,
PardT 369 And nevere shal he moore his wyf mystriste,
PardT 370 Though he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,
PardT 371 Al had she taken prestes two or thre.
PardT 372 `Heere is a miteyn eek, that ye may se.
PardT 373 He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,
PardT 374 He shal have multipliyng of his grayn,
PardT 375 Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes,
PardT 376 So that he offre pens, or elles grotes.
PardT 377 `Goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow:
PardT 378 If any wight be in this chirche now
PardT 379 That hath doon synne horrible, that he
PardT 380 Dar nat, for shame, of it yshryven be,
PardT 381 Or any womman, be she yong or old,
PardT 382 That hath ymaked hir housbonde cokewold,
PardT 383 Swich folk shal have no power ne no grace
PardT 384 To offren to my relikes in this place.
PardT 385 And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame,
PardT 386 He wol come up and offre a Goddes name,
PardT 387 And I assoille him by the auctoritee
PardT 388 Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.'
PardT 389 " By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer,
PardT 390 An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.
PardT 391 I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet,
PardT 392 And whan the lewed peple is doun yset,
PardT 393 I preche so as ye han herd bifoore
PardT 394 And telle an hundred false japes moore.
PardT 395 Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke,
PardT 396 And est and west upon the peple I bekke,
PardT 397 As dooth a dowve sittynge on a berne.
PardT 398 Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne
PardT 399 That it is joye to se my bisynesse.
PardT 400 Of avarice and of swich cursednesse
PardT 401 Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free
PardT 402 To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me.
PardT 403 For myn entente is nat but for to wynne,
PardT 404 And nothyng for correccioun of synne.
PardT 405 I rekke nevere, whan that they been beryed,
PardT 406 Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberyed!
PardT 407 For certes, many a predicacioun
PardT 408 Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun;
PardT 409 Som for plesance of folk and flaterye,
PardT 410 To been avaunced by ypocrisye,
PardT 411 And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
PardT 412 For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate,
PardT 413 Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte
PardT 414 In prechyng, so that he shal nat asterte
PardT 415 To been defamed falsly, if that he
PardT 416 Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.
PardT 417 For though I telle noght his propre name,
PardT 418 Men shal wel knowe that it is the same,
PardT 419 By signes, and by othere circumstances.
PardT 420 Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances;
PardT 421 Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe
PardT 422 Of hoolynesse, to semen hooly and trewe.
PardT 423 " But shortly myn entente I wol devyse:
PardT 424 I preche of no thyng but for coveityse.
PardT 425 Therfore my theme is yet, and evere was,
PardT 426 Radix malorum est Cupiditas.
PardT 427 Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice
PardT 428 Which that I use, and that is avarice.
PardT 429 But though myself be gilty in that synne,
PardT 430 Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne
PardT 431 From avarice and soore to repente.
PardT 432 But that is nat my principal entente;
PardT 433 I preche nothyng but for coveitise.
PardT 434 Of this mateere it oghte ynogh suffise.
PardT 435 " Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon
PardT 436 Of olde stories longe tyme agoon.
PardT 437 For lewed peple loven tales olde;
PardT 438 Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde.
PardT 439 What, trowe ye, that whiles I may preche,
PardT 440 And wynne gold and silver for I teche,
PardT 441 That I wol lyve in poverte wilfully?
PardT 442 Nay, nay, I thoghte it nevere, trewely!
PardT 443 For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes;
PardT 444 I wol nat do no labour with myne handes,
PardT 445 Ne make baskettes and lyve therby,
PardT 446 By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.
PardT 447 I wol noon of the apostles countrefete;
PardT 448 I wol have moneie, wolle, chese, and whete,
PardT 449 Al were it yeven of the povereste page,
PardT 450 Or of the povereste wydwe in a village,
PardT 451 Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne.
PardT 452 Nay, I wol drynke licour of the vyne
PardT 453 And have a joly wenche in every toun.
PardT 454 But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun:
PardT 455 Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.
PardT 456 Now have I dronke a draughte of corny ale,
PardT 457 By God, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng
PardT 458 That shal by reson been at youre likyng.
PardT 459 For though myself be a ful vicious man,
PardT 460 A moral tale yet I yow telle kan,
PardT 461 Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.
PardT 462 Now hoold youre pees! My tale I wol bigynne. "
PardT 463 In Flaundres whilom was a compaignye
PardT 464 Of yonge folk that haunteden folye,
PardT 465 As riot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes,
PardT 466 Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes,
PardT 467 They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght,
PardT 468 And eten also and drynken over hir myght,
PardT 469 Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise
PardT 470 Withinne that develes temple in cursed wise
PardT 471 By superfluytee abhomynable.
PardT 472 Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable
PardT 473 That it is grisly for to heere hem swere.
PardT 474 Oure blissed Lordes body they totere --
PardT 475 Hem thoughte that Jewes rente hym noght ynough --
PardT 476 And ech of hem at otheres synne lough.
PardT 477 And right anon thanne comen tombesteres
PardT 478 Fetys and smale, and yonge frutesteres,
PardT 479 Syngeres with harpes, baudes, wafereres,
PardT 480 Whiche been the verray develes officeres
PardT 481 To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye,
PardT 482 That is annexed unto glotonye.
PardT 483 The hooly writ take I to my witnesse
PardT 484 That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse.
PardT 485 Lo, how that dronken Looth, unkyndely,
PardT 486 Lay by his doghtres two, unwityngly;
PardT 487 So dronke he was, he nyste what he wroghte.
PardT 488 Herodes, whoso wel the stories soghte,
PardT 489 Whan he of wyn was repleet at his feeste,
PardT 490 Right at his owene table he yaf his heeste
PardT 491 To sleen the Baptist John, ful giltelees.
PardT 492 Senec seith a good word doutelees;
PardT 493 He seith he kan no difference fynde
PardT 494 Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde
PardT 495 And a man which that is dronkelewe,
PardT 496 But that woodnesse, yfallen in a shrewe,
PardT 497 Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse.
PardT 498 O glotonye, ful of cursednesse!
PardT 499 O cause first of oure confusioun!
PardT 500 O original of oure dampnacioun,
PardT 501 Til Crist hadde boght us with his blood agayn!
PardT 502 Lo, how deere, shortly for to sayn,
PardT 503 Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye!
PardT 504 Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.
PardT 505 Adam oure fader, and his wyf also,
PardT 506 Fro Paradys to labour and to wo
PardT 507 Were dryven for that vice, it is no drede.
PardT 508 For whil that Adam fasted, as I rede,
PardT 509 He was in Paradys; and whan that he
PardT 510 Eet of the fruyt deffended on the tree,
PardT 511 Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne.
PardT 512 O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne!
PardT 513 O, wiste a man how manye maladyes
PardT 514 Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes,
PardT 515 He wolde been the moore mesurable
PardT 516 Of his diete, sittynge at his table.
PardT 517 Allas, the shorte throte, the tendre mouth,
PardT 518 Maketh that est and west and north and south,
PardT 519 In erthe, in eir, in water, men to swynke
PardT 520 To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke!
PardT 521 Of this matiere, O Paul, wel kanstow trete:
PardT 522 " Mete unto wombe, and wombe eek unto mete,
PardT 523 Shal God destroyen bothe, " as Paulus seith.
PardT 524 Allas, a foul thyng is it, by my feith,
PardT 525 To seye this word, and fouler is the dede,
PardT 526 Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede
PardT 527 That of his throte he maketh his pryvee
PardT 528 Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee.
PardT 529 The apostel wepyng seith ful pitously,
PardT 530 " Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold have I --
PardT 531 I seye it now wepyng, with pitous voys --
PardT 532 They been enemys of Cristes croys,
PardT 533 Of whiche the ende is deeth; wombe is hir god! "
PardT 534 O wombe! O bely! O stynkyng cod,
PardT 535 Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun!
PardT 536 At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
PardT 537 How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde!
PardT 538 Thise cookes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grynde,
PardT 539 And turnen substaunce into accident
PardT 540 To fulfille al thy likerous talent!
PardT 541 Out of the harde bones knokke they
PardT 542 The mary, for they caste noght awey
PardT 543 That may go thurgh the golet softe and swoote.
PardT 544 Of spicerie of leef, and bark, and roote
PardT 545 Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit,
PardT 546 To make hym yet a newer appetit.
PardT 547 But, certes, he that haunteth swiche delices
PardT 548 Is deed, whil that he lyveth in tho vices.
PardT 549 A lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse
PardT 550 Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse.
PardT 551 O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
PardT 552 Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,
PardT 553 And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun
PardT 554 As though thou seydest ay " Sampsoun, Sampsoun! "
PardT 555 And yet, God woot, Sampsoun drank nevere no wyn.
PardT 556 Thou fallest as it were a styked swyn;
PardT 557 Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honeste cure,
PardT 558 For dronkenesse is verray sepulture
PardT 559 Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
PardT 560 In whom that drynke hath dominacioun
PardT 561 He kan no conseil kepe; it is no drede.
PardT 562 Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede,
PardT 563 And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe
PardT 564 That is to selle in Fysshstrete or in Chepe.
PardT 565 This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly
PardT 566 In othere wynes, growynge faste by,
PardT 567 Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee
PardT 568 That whan a man hath dronken draughtes thre,
PardT 569 And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe,
PardT 570 He is in Spaigne, right at the toune of Lepe --
PardT 571 Nat at the Rochele, ne at Burdeux toun --
PardT 572 And thanne wol he seye " Sampsoun, Sampsoun! "
PardT 573 But herkneth, lordynges, o word, I yow preye,
PardT 574 That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye,
PardT 575 Of victories in the Olde Testament,
PardT 576 Thurgh verray God, that is omnipotent,
PardT 577 Were doon in abstinence and in preyere.
PardT 578 Looketh the Bible, and ther ye may it leere.
PardT 579 Looke, Attilla, the grete conquerour,
PardT 580 Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour,
PardT 581 Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse.
PardT 582 A capitayn sholde lyve in sobrenesse.
PardT 583 And over al this, avyseth yow right wel
PardT 584 What was comaunded unto Lamuel --
PardT 585 Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I;
PardT 586 Redeth the Bible, and fynde it expresly
PardT 587 Of wyn-yevyng to hem that han justise.
PardT 588 Namoore of this, for it may wel suffise.
PardT 589 And now that I have spoken of glotonye,
PardT 590 Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye.
PardT 591 Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges,
PardT 592 And of deceite, and cursed forswerynges,
PardT 593 Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
PardT 594 Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo,
PardT 595 It is repreeve and contrarie of honour
PardT 596 For to ben holde a commune hasardour.
PardT 597 And ever the hyer he is of estaat,
PardT 598 The moore is he yholden desolaat.
PardT 599 If that a prynce useth hasardrye,
PardT 600 In alle governaunce and policye
PardT 601 He is, as by commune opinioun,
PardT 602 Yholde the lasse in reputacioun.
PardT 603 Stilboun, that was a wys embassadour,
PardT 604 Was sent to Corynthe in ful greet honour
PardT 605 Fro Lacidomye to make hire alliaunce.
PardT 606 And whan he cam, hym happede, par chaunce,
PardT 607 That alle the gretteste that were of that lond,
PardT 608 Pleyynge atte hasard he hem fond.
PardT 609 For which, as soone as it myghte be,
PardT 610 He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree,
PardT 611 And seyde, " Ther wol I nat lese my name,
PardT 612 Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame,
PardT 613 Yow for to allie unto none hasardours.
PardT 614 Sendeth othere wise embassadours;
PardT 615 For, by my trouthe, me were levere dye
PardT 616 Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
PardT 617 For ye, that been so glorious in honours,
PardT 618 Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours
PardT 619 As by my wyl, ne as by my tretee. "
PardT 620 This wise philosophre, thus seyde hee.
PardT 621 Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius
PardT 622 The kyng of Parthes, as the book seith us,
PardT 623 Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn,
PardT 624 For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn;
PardT 625 For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun
PardT 626 At no value or reputacioun.
PardT 627 Lordes may fynden oother maner pley
PardT 628 Honest ynough to dryve the day awey.
PardT 629 Now wol I speke of othes false and grete
PardT 630 A word or two, as olde bookes trete.
PardT 631 Gret sweryng is a thyng abhominable,
PardT 632 And fals sweryng is yet moore reprevable.
PardT 633 The heighe God forbad sweryng at al,
PardT 634 Witnesse on Mathew; but in special
PardT 635 Of sweryng seith the hooly Jeremye,
PardT 636 " Thou shalt swere sooth thyne othes, and nat lye,
PardT 637 And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse " ;
PardT 638 But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse.
PardT 639 Bihoold and se that in the firste table
PardT 640 Of heighe Goddes heestes honurable,
PardT 641 Hou that the seconde heeste of hym is this:
PardT 642 " Take nat my name in ydel or amys. "
PardT 643 Lo, rather he forbedeth swich sweryng
PardT 644 Than homycide or many a cursed thyng;
PardT 645 I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth;
PardT 646 This knoweth, that his heestes understondeth,
PardT 647 How that the seconde heeste of God is that.
PardT 648 And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat
PardT 649 That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous
PardT 650 That of his othes is to outrageous.
PardT 651 " By Goddes precious herte, " and " By his nayles, "
PardT 652 And " By the blood of Crist that is in Hayles,
PardT 653 Sevene is my chaunce, and thyn is cynk and treye! "
PardT 654 " By Goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye,
PardT 655 This daggere shal thurghout thyn herte go! " --
PardT 656 This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two,
PardT 657 Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide.
PardT 658 Now, for the love of Crist, that for us dyde,
PardT 659 Lete youre othes, bothe grete and smale.
PardT 660 But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.
PardT 661 Thise riotoures thre of whiche I telle,
PardT 662 Longe erst er prime rong of any belle,
PardT 663 Were set hem in a taverne to drynke,
PardT 664 And as they sat, they herde a belle clynke
PardT 665 Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave.
PardT 666 That oon of hem gan callen to his knave:
PardT 667 " Go bet, " quod he, " and axe redily
PardT 668 What cors is this that passeth heer forby;
PardT 669 And looke that thou reporte his name weel. "
PardT 670 " Sire, " quod this boy, " it nedeth never-a-deel;
PardT 671 It was me toold er ye cam heer two houres.
PardT 672 He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres,
PardT 673 And sodeynly he was yslayn to-nyght,
PardT 674 Fordronke, as he sat on his bench upright.
PardT 675 Ther cam a privee theef men clepeth Deeth,
PardT 676 That in this contree al the peple sleeth,
PardT 677 And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo,
PardT 678 And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.
PardT 679 He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence.
PardT 680 And, maister, er ye come in his presence,
PardT 681 Me thynketh that it were necessarie
PardT 682 For to be war of swich an adversarie.
PardT 683 Beth redy for to meete hym everemoore;
PardT 684 Thus taughte me my dame; I sey namoore. "
PardT 685 " By Seinte Marie! " seyde this taverner,
PardT 686 " The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer,
PardT 687 Henne over a mile, withinne a greet village,
PardT 688 Bothe man and womman, child, and hyne, and page;
PardT 689 I trowe his habitacioun be there.
PardT 690 To been avysed greet wysdom it were,
PardT 691 Er that he dide a man a dishonour. "
PardT 692 " Ye, Goddes armes! " quod this riotour,
PardT 693 " Is it swich peril with hym for to meete?
PardT 694 I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete,
PardT 695 I make avow to Goddes digne bones!
PardT 696 Herkneth, felawes, we thre been al ones;
PardT 697 Lat ech of us holde up his hand til oother,
PardT 698 And ech of us bicomen otheres brother,
PardT 699 And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth.
PardT 700 He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth,
PardT 701 By Goddes dignitee, er it be nyght! "
PardT 702 Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight
PardT 703 To lyve and dyen ech of hem for oother,
PardT 704 As though he were his owene ybore brother.
PardT 705 And up they stirte, al dronken in this rage,
PardT 706 And forth they goon towardes that village
PardT 707 Of which the taverner hadde spoke biforn.
PardT 708 And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn,
PardT 709 And Cristes blessed body they torente --
PardT 710 Deeth shal be deed, if that they may hym hente!
PardT 711 Whan they han goon nat fully half a mile,
PardT 712 Right as they wolde han troden over a stile,
PardT 713 An oold man and a povre with hem mette.
PardT 714 This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
PardT 715 And seyde thus, " Now, lordes, God yow see! "
PardT 716 The proudeste of thise riotoures three
PardT 717 Answerde agayn, " What, carl, with sory grace!
PardT 718 Why artow al forwrapped save thy face?
PardT 719 Why lyvestow so longe in so greet age? "
PardT 720 This olde man gan looke in his visage,
PardT 721 And seyde thus: " For I ne kan nat fynde
PardT 722 A man, though that I walked into Ynde,
PardT 723 Neither in citee ne in no village,
PardT 724 That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age;
PardT 725 And therfore moot I han myn age stille,
PardT 726 As longe tyme as it is Goddes wille.
PardT 727 Ne Deeth, allas, ne wol nat han my lyf.
PardT 728 Thus walke I, lyk a restelees kaityf,
PardT 729 And on the ground, which is my moodres gate,
PardT 730 I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late,
PardT 731 And seye `Leeve mooder, leet me in!
PardT 732 Lo how I vanysshe, flessh, and blood, and skyn!
PardT 733 Allas, whan shul my bones been at reste?
PardT 734 Mooder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste
PardT 735 That in my chambre longe tyme hath be,
PardT 736 Ye, for an heyre clowt to wrappe me!'
PardT 737 But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,
PardT 738 For which ful pale and welked is my face.
PardT 739 " But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye
PardT 740 To speken to an old man vileynye,
PardT 741 But he trespasse in word or elles in dede.
PardT 742 In Hooly Writ ye may yourself wel rede:
PardT 743 `Agayns an oold man, hoor upon his heed,
PardT 744 Ye sholde arise;' wherfore I yeve yow reed,
PardT 745 Ne dooth unto an oold man noon harm now,
PardT 746 Namoore than that ye wolde men did to yow
PardT 747 In age, if that ye so longe abyde.
PardT 748 And God be with yow, where ye go or ryde!
PardT 749 I moot go thider as I have to go. "
PardT 750 " Nay, olde cherl, by God, thou shalt nat so, "
PardT 751 Seyde this oother hasardour anon;
PardT 752 " Thou partest nat so lightly, by Seint John!
PardT 753 Thou spak right now of thilke traytour Deeth.
PardT 754 That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.
PardT 755 Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye,
PardT 756 Telle where he is or thou shalt it abye,
PardT 757 By God and by the hooly sacrement!
PardT 758 For soothly thou art oon of his assent
PardT 759 To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef! "
PardT 760 " Now, sires, " quod he, " if that yow be so leef
PardT 761 To fynde Deeth, turne up this croked wey,
PardT 762 For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey,
PardT 763 Under a tree, and there he wole abyde;
PardT 764 Noght for youre boost he wole him no thyng hyde.
PardT 765 Se ye that ook? Right there ye shal hym fynde.
PardT 766 God save yow, that boghte agayn mankynde,
PardT 767 And yow amende! " Thus seyde this olde man;
PardT 768 And everich of thise riotoures ran
PardT 769 Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
PardT 770 Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde
PardT 771 Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte.
PardT 772 No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,
PardT 773 But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte,
PardT 774 For that the floryns been so faire and brighte,
PardT 775 That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord.
PardT 776 The worste of hem, he spak the firste word.
PardT 777 " Bretheren, " quod he, " taak kep what that I seye;
PardT 778 My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye.
PardT 779 This tresor hath Fortune unto us yiven
PardT 780 In myrthe and joliftee oure lyf to lyven,
PardT 781 And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende.
PardT 782 Ey, Goddes precious dignitee! Who wende
PardT 783 To-day that we sholde han so fair a grace?
PardT 784 But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
PardT 785 Hoom to myn hous, or elles unto youres --
PardT 786 For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures --
PardT 787 Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.
PardT 788 But trewely, by daye it may nat bee.
PardT 789 Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge,
PardT 790 And for oure owene tresor doon us honge.
PardT 791 This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte
PardT 792 As wisely and as slyly as it myghte.
PardT 793 Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle
PardT 794 Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle;
PardT 795 And he that hath the cut with herte blithe
PardT 796 Shal renne to the town, and that ful swithe,
PardT 797 And brynge us breed and wyn ful prively.
PardT 798 And two of us shul kepen subtilly
PardT 799 This tresor wel; and if he wol nat tarie,
PardT 800 Whan it is nyght, we wol this tresor carie,
PardT 801 By oon assent, where as us thynketh best. "
PardT 802 That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest,
PardT 803 And bad hem drawe and looke where it wol falle;
PardT 804 And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle,
PardT 805 And forth toward the toun he wente anon.
PardT 806 And also soone as that he was gon,
PardT 807 That oon of hem spak thus unto that oother:
PardT 808 " Thow knowest wel thou art my sworen brother;
PardT 809 Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
PardT 810 Thou woost wel that oure felawe is agon.
PardT 811 And heere is gold, and that ful greet plentee,
PardT 812 That shal departed been among us thre.
PardT 813 But nathelees, if I kan shape it so
PardT 814 That it departed were among us two,
PardT 815 Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee? "
PardT 816 That oother answerde, " I noot hou that may be.
PardT 817 He woot that the gold is with us tweye;
PardT 818 What shal we doon? What shal we to hym seye? "
PardT 819 " Shal it be conseil? " seyde the firste shrewe,
PardT 820 " And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe
PardT 821 What we shal doon, and brynge it wel aboute. "
PardT 822 " I graunte, " quod that oother, " out of doute,
PardT 823 That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye. "
PardT 824 " Now, " quod the firste, " thou woost wel we be tweye,
PardT 825 And two of us shul strenger be than oon.
PardT 826 Looke whan that he is set, that right anoon
PardT 827 Arys as though thou woldest with hym pleye,
PardT 828 And I shal ryve hym thurgh the sydes tweye
PardT 829 Whil that thou strogelest with hym as in game,
PardT 830 And with thy daggere looke thou do the same;
PardT 831 And thanne shal al this gold departed be,
PardT 832 My deere freend, bitwixen me and thee.
PardT 833 Thanne may we bothe oure lustes all fulfille,
PardT 834 And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille. "
PardT 835 And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye
PardT 836 To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye.
PardT 837 This yongeste, which that wente to the toun,
PardT 838 Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun
PardT 839 The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte.
PardT 840 " O Lord! " quod he, " if so were that I myghte
PardT 841 Have al this tresor to myself allone,
PardT 842 Ther is no man that lyveth under the trone
PardT 843 Of God that sholde lyve so murye as I! "
PardT 844 And atte laste the feend, oure enemy,
PardT 845 Putte in his thought that he sholde poyson beye,
PardT 846 With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye;
PardT 847 For-why the feend foond hym in swich lyvynge
PardT 848 That he hadde leve him to sorwe brynge.
PardT 849 For this was outrely his fulle entente,
PardT 850 To sleen hem bothe and nevere to repente.
PardT 851 And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie,
PardT 852 Into the toun, unto a pothecarie,
PardT 853 And preyde hym that he hym wolde selle
PardT 854 Som poyson, that he myghte his rattes quelle;
PardT 855 And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe,
PardT 856 That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde yslawe,
PardT 857 And fayn he wolde wreke hym, if he myghte,
PardT 858 On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte.
PardT 859 The pothecarie answerde, " And thou shalt have
PardT 860 A thyng that, also God my soule save,
PardT 861 In al this world ther is no creature
PardT 862 That eten or dronken hath of this confiture
PardT 863 Noght but the montance of a corn of whete,
PardT 864 That he ne shal his lif anon forlete;
PardT 865 Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse while
PardT 866 Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a mile,
PardT 867 This poysoun is so strong and violent. "
PardT 868 This cursed man hath in his hond yhent
PardT 869 This poysoun in a box, and sith he ran
PardT 870 Into the nexte strete unto a man,
PardT 871 And borwed [of] hym large botelles thre,
PardT 872 And in the two his poyson poured he;
PardT 873 The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke.
PardT 874 For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke
PardT 875 In cariynge of the gold out of that place.
PardT 876 And whan this riotour, with sory grace,
PardT 877 Hadde filled with wyn his grete botels thre,
PardT 878 To his felawes agayn repaireth he.
PardT 879 What nedeth it to sermone of it moore?
PardT 880 For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifoore,
PardT 881 Right so they han hym slayn, and that anon.
PardT 882 And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon:
PardT 883 " Now lat us sitte and drynke, and make us merie,
PardT 884 And afterward we wol his body berie. "
PardT 885 And with that word it happed hym, par cas,
PardT 886 To take the botel ther the poyson was,
PardT 887 And drank, and yaf his felawe drynke also,
PardT 888 For which anon they storven bothe two.
PardT 889 But certes, I suppose that Avycen
PardT 890 Wroot nevere in no canon, ne in no fen,
PardT 891 Mo wonder signes of empoisonyng
PardT 892 Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir endyng.
PardT 893 Thus ended been thise homycides two,
PardT 894 And eek the false empoysonere also.
PardT 895 O cursed synne of alle cursednesse!
PardT 896 O traytours homycide, O wikkednesse!
PardT 897 O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye!
PardT 898 Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye
PardT 899 And othes grete, of usage and of pride!
PardT 900 Allas, mankynde, how may it bitide
PardT 901 That to thy creatour, which that the wroghte
PardT 902 And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte,
PardT 903 Thou art so fals and so unkynde, allas?
PardT 904 Now, goode men, God foryeve yow youre trespas,
PardT 905 And ware yow fro the synne of avarice!
PardT 906 Myn hooly pardoun may yow alle warice,
PardT 907 So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges,
PardT 908 Or elles silver broches, spoones, rynges.
PardT 909 Boweth youre heed under this hooly bulle!
PardT 910 Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of youre wolle!
PardT 911 Youre names I entre heer in my rolle anon;
PardT 912 Into the blisse of hevene shul ye gon.
PardT 913 I yow assoille, by myn heigh power,
PardT 914 Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer
PardT 915 As ye were born. -- And lo, sires, thus I preche.
PardT 916 And Jhesu Crist, that is oure soules leche,
PardT 917 So graunte yow his pardoun to receyve,
PardT 918 For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve.
PardT 919 But, sires, o word forgat I in my tale:
PardT 920 I have relikes and pardoun in my male,
PardT 921 As faire as any man in Engelond,
PardT 922 Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond.
PardT 923 If any of yow wole, of devocion,
PardT 924 Offren and han myn absolucion,
PardT 925 Com forth anon, and kneleth heere adoun,
PardT 926 And mekely receyveth my pardoun;
PardT 927 Or elles taketh pardoun as ye wende,
PardT 928 Al newe and fressh at every miles ende,
PardT 929 So that ye offren, alwey newe and newe,
PardT 930 Nobles or pens, whiche that be goode and trewe.
PardT 931 It is an honour to everich that is heer
PardT 932 That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
PardT 933 T' assoille yow in contree as ye ryde,
PardT 934 For aventures whiche that may bityde.
PardT 935 Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two
PardT 936 Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo.
PardT 937 Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle
PardT 938 That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle,
PardT 939 That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse,
PardT 940 Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.
PardT 941 I rede that oure Hoost heere shal bigynne,
PardT 942 For he is moost envoluped in synne.
PardT 943 Com forth, sire Hoost, and offre first anon,
PardT 944 And thou shalt kisse the relikes everychon,
PardT 945 Ye, for a grote! Unbokele anon thy purs. "
PardT 946 " Nay, nay! " quod he, " thanne have I Cristes curs!
PardT 947 Lat be, " quod he, " it shal nat be, so theech!
PardT 948 Thou woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech,
PardT 949 And swere it were a relyk of a seint,
PardT 950 Though it were with thy fundement depeint!
PardT 951 But, by the croys which that Seint Eleyne fond,
PardT 952 I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond
PardT 953 In stide of relikes or of seintuarie.
PardT 954 Lat kutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie;
PardT 955 They shul be shryned in an hogges toord! "
PardT 956 This Pardoner answerde nat a word;
PardT 957 So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye.
PardT 958 " Now, " quod oure Hoost, " I wol no lenger pleye
PardT 959 With thee, ne with noon oother angry man. "
PardT 960 But right anon the worthy Knyght bigan,
PardT 961 Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough,
PardT 962 " Namoore of this, for it is right ynough!
PardT 963 Sire Pardoner, be glad and myrie of cheere;
PardT 964 And ye, sire Hoost, that been to me so deere,
PardT 965 I prey yow that ye kisse the Pardoner.
PardT 966 And Pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer,
PardT 967 And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye. "
PardT 968 Anon they kiste, and ryden forth hir weye.
ShipT 1 A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint-Denys,
ShipT 2 That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.
ShipT 3 A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee;
ShipT 4 And compaignable and revelous was she,
ShipT 5 Which is a thyng that causeth more dispence
ShipT 6 Than worth is al the chiere and reverence
ShipT 7 That men hem doon at festes and at daunces.
ShipT 8 Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces
ShipT 9 Passen as dooth a shadwe upon the wal;
ShipT 10 But wo is hym that payen moot for al!
ShipT 11 The sely housbonde, algate he moot paye,
ShipT 12 He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye,
ShipT 13 Al for his owene worshipe richely,
ShipT 14 In which array we daunce jolily.
ShipT 15 And if that he noght may, par aventure,
ShipT 16 Or ellis list no swich dispence endure,
ShipT 17 But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,
ShipT 18 Thanne moot another payen for oure cost,
ShipT 19 Or lene us gold, and that is perilous.
ShipT 20 This noble marchaunt heeld a worthy hous,
ShipT 21 For which he hadde alday so greet repair
ShipT 22 For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair,
ShipT 23 That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale.
ShipT 24 Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale,
ShipT 25 Ther was a monk, a fair man and a boold --
ShipT 26 I trowe a thritty wynter he was oold --
ShipT 27 That evere in oon was drawynge to that place.
ShipT 28 This yonge monk, that was so fair of face,
ShipT 29 Aqueynted was so with the goode man,
ShipT 30 Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan,
ShipT 31 That in his hous as famulier was he
ShipT 32 As it is possible any freend to be.
ShipT 33 And for as muchel as this goode man,
ShipT 34 And eek this monk of which that I bigan,
ShipT 35 Were bothe two yborn in o village,
ShipT 36 The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage,
ShipT 37 And he agayn; he seith nat ones nay,
ShipT 38 But was as glad therof as fowel of day,
ShipT 39 For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce.
ShipT 40 Thus been they knyt with eterne alliaunce,
ShipT 41 And ech of hem gan oother for t' assure
ShipT 42 Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure.
ShipT 43 Free was daun John, and manly of dispence,
ShipT 44 As in that hous, and ful of diligence
ShipT 45 To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage.
ShipT 46 He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page
ShipT 47 In al that hous; but after hir degree,
ShipT 48 He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee,
ShipT 49 Whan that he cam, som manere honest thyng,
ShipT 50 For which they were as glad of his comyng
ShipT 51 As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne up riseth.
ShipT 52 Na moore of this as now, for it suffiseth.
ShipT 53 But so bifel, this marchant on a day
ShipT 54 Shoop hym to make redy his array
ShipT 55 Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare,
ShipT 56 To byen there a porcioun of ware;
ShipT 57 For which he hath to Parys sent anon
ShipT 58 A messager, and preyed hath daun John
ShipT 59 That he sholde come to Seint-Denys to pleye
ShipT 60 With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye,
ShipT 61 Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wise.
ShipT 62 This noble monk, of which I yow devyse,
ShipT 63 Hath of his abbot, as hym list, licence,
ShipT 64 By cause he was a man of heigh prudence
ShipT 65 And eek an officer, out for to ryde,
ShipT 66 To seen hir graunges and hire bernes wyde,
ShipT 67 And unto Seint-Denys he comth anon.
ShipT 68 Who was so welcome as my lord daun John,
ShipT 69 Oure deere cosyn, ful of curteisye?
ShipT 70 With hym broghte he a jubbe of malvesye,
ShipT 71 And eek another ful of fyn vernage,
ShipT 72 And volatyl, as ay was his usage.
ShipT 73 And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye,
ShipT 74 This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
ShipT 75 The thridde day, this marchant up ariseth,
ShipT 76 And on his nedes sadly hym avyseth,
ShipT 77 And up into his countour-hous gooth he
ShipT 78 To rekene with hymself, wel may be,
ShipT 79 Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood,
ShipT 80 And how that he despended hadde his good,
ShipT 81 And if that he encressed were or noon.
ShipT 82 His bookes and his bagges many oon
ShipT 83 He leith biforn hym on his countyng-bord.
ShipT 84 Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
ShipT 85 For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette;
ShipT 86 And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette
ShipT 87 Of his acountes, for the meene tyme;
ShipT 88 And thus he sit til it was passed pryme.
ShipT 89 Daun John was rysen in the morwe also,
ShipT 90 And in the gardyn walketh to and fro,
ShipT 91 And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.
ShipT 92 This goode wyf cam walkynge pryvely
ShipT 93 Into the gardyn, there he walketh softe,
ShipT 94 And hym saleweth, as she hath doon ofte.
ShipT 95 A mayde child cam in hire compaignye,
ShipT 96 Which as hir list she may governe and gye,
ShipT 97 For yet under the yerde was the mayde.
ShipT 98 " O deere cosyn myn, daun John, " she sayde,
ShipT 99 " What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse? "
ShipT 100 " Nece, " quod he, " it oghte ynough suffise
ShipT 101 Fyve houres for to slepe upon a nyght,
ShipT 102 But it were for an old appalled wight,
ShipT 103 As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare
ShipT 104 As in a fourme sit a wery hare,
ShipT 105 Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.
ShipT 106 But deere nece, why be ye so pale?
ShipT 107 I trowe, certes, that oure goode man
ShipT 108 Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan
ShipT 109 That yow were nede to resten hastily. "
ShipT 110 And with that word he lough ful murily,
ShipT 111 And of his owene thought he wax al reed.
ShipT 112 This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed
ShipT 113 And seyde thus, " Ye, God woot al, " quod she.
ShipT 114 " Nay, cosyn myn, it stant nat so with me;
ShipT 115 For, by that God that yaf me soule and lyf,
ShipT 116 In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf
ShipT 117 That lasse lust hath to that sory pley.
ShipT 118 For I may synge `allas and weylawey
ShipT 119 That I was born,' but to no wight, " quod she,
ShipT 120 " Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me.
ShipT 121 Wherfore I thynke out of this land to wende,
ShipT 122 Or elles of myself to make an ende,
ShipT 123 So ful am I of drede and eek of care. "
ShipT 124 This monk bigan upon this wyf to stare,
ShipT 125 And seyde, " Allas, my nece, God forbede
ShipT 126 That ye, for any sorwe or any drede,
ShipT 127 Fordo youreself; but telleth me youre grief.
ShipT 128 Paraventure I may, in youre meschief,
ShipT 129 Conseille or helpe; and therfore telleth me
ShipT 130 Al youre anoy, for it shal been secree.
ShipT 131 For on my portehors I make an ooth
ShipT 132 That nevere in my lyf, for lief ne looth,
ShipT 133 Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye. "
ShipT 134 " The same agayn to yow, " quod she, " I seye.
ShipT 135 By God and by this portehors I swere,
ShipT 136 Though men me wolde al into pieces tere,
ShipT 137 Ne shal I nevere, for to goon to helle,
ShipT 138 Biwreye a word of thyng that ye me telle,
ShipT 139 Nat for no cosynage ne alliance,
ShipT 140 But verraily for love and affiance. "
ShipT 141 Thus been they sworn, and heerupon they kiste,
ShipT 142 And ech of hem tolde oother what hem liste.
ShipT 143 " Cosyn, " quod she, " if that I hadde a space,
ShipT 144 As I have noon, and namely in this place,
ShipT 145 Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf,
ShipT 146 What I have suffred sith I was a wyf
ShipT 147 With myn housbonde, al be he youre cosyn. "
ShipT 148 " Nay, " quod this monk, " by God and Seint Martyn,
ShipT 149 He is na moore cosyn unto me
ShipT 150 Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree!
ShipT 151 I clepe hym so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce,
ShipT 152 To have the moore cause of aqueyntaunce
ShipT 153 Of yow, which I have loved specially
ShipT 154 Aboven alle wommen, sikerly.
ShipT 155 This swere I yow on my professioun.
ShipT 156 Telleth youre grief, lest that he come adoun;
ShipT 157 And hasteth yow, and gooth youre wey anon. "
ShipT 158 " My deere love, " quod she, " O my daun John,
ShipT 159 Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde,
ShipT 160 But out it moot; I may namoore abyde.
ShipT 161 Myn housbonde is to me the worste man
ShipT 162 That evere was sith that the world bigan.
ShipT 163 But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me
ShipT 164 To tellen no wight of oure privetee,
ShipT 165 Neither abedde ne in noon oother place;
ShipT 166 God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace!
ShipT 167 A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
ShipT 168 But al honour, as I kan understonde;
ShipT 169 Save unto yow thus muche I tellen shal:
ShipT 170 As helpe me God, he is noght worth at al
ShipT 171 In no degree the value of a flye.
ShipT 172 But yet me greveth moost his nygardye.
ShipT 173 And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
ShipT 174 Desiren thynges sixe as wel as I:
ShipT 175 They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be
ShipT 176 Hardy and wise, and riche, and therto free,
ShipT 177 And buxom unto his wyf and fressh abedde.
ShipT 178 But by that ilke Lord that for us bledde,
ShipT 179 For his honour, myself for to arraye,
ShipT 180 A Sonday next I moste nedes paye
ShipT 181 An hundred frankes, or ellis I am lorn.
ShipT 182 Yet were me levere that I were unborn
ShipT 183 Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye;
ShipT 184 And if myn housbonde eek it myghte espye,
ShipT 185 I nere but lost; and therfore I yow preye,
ShipT 186 Lene me this somme, or ellis moot I deye.
ShipT 187 Daun John, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes.
ShipT 188 Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes,
ShipT 189 If that yow list to doon that I yow praye.
ShipT 190 For at a certeyn day I wol yow paye,
ShipT 191 And doon to yow what plesance and service
ShipT 192 That I may doon, right as yow list devise.
ShipT 193 And but I do, God take on me vengeance
ShipT 194 As foul as evere hadde Genylon of France. "
ShipT 195 This gentil monk answerde in this manere:
ShipT 196 " Now trewely, myn owene lady deere,
ShipT 197 I have, " quod he, " on yow so greet a routhe
ShipT 198 That I yow swere, and plighte yow my trouthe,
ShipT 199 That whan youre housbonde is to Flaundres fare,
ShipT 200 I wol delyvere yow out of this care;
ShipT 201 For I wol brynge yow an hundred frankes. "
ShipT 202 And with that word he caughte hire by the flankes,
ShipT 203 And hire embraceth harde, and kiste hire ofte.
ShipT 204 " Gooth now youre wey, " quod he, " al stille and softe,
ShipT 205 And lat us dyne as soone as that ye may;
ShipT 206 For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day.
ShipT 207 Gooth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be. "
ShipT 208 " Now elles God forbede, sire, " quod she;
ShipT 209 And forth she gooth as jolif as a pye,
ShipT 210 And bad the cookes that they sholde hem hye,
ShipT 211 So that men myghte dyne, and that anon.
ShipT 212 Up to hir housbonde is this wyf ygon,
ShipT 213 And knokketh at his countour boldely.
ShipT 214 " Quy la? " quod he. " Peter! it am I, "
ShipT 215 Quod she; " What, sire, how longe wol ye faste?
ShipT 216 How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
ShipT 217 Youre sommes, and youre bookes, and youre thynges?
ShipT 218 The devel have part on alle swiche rekenynges!
ShipT 219 Ye have ynough, pardee, of Goddes sonde;
ShipT 220 Com doun to-day, and lat youre bagges stonde.
ShipT 221 Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun John
ShipT 222 Shal fasting al this day alenge goon?
ShipT 223 What, lat us heere a messe, and go we dyne. "
ShipT 224 " Wyf, " quod this man, " litel kanstow devyne
ShipT 225 The curious bisynesse that we have.
ShipT 226 For of us chapmen, also God me save,
ShipT 227 And by that lord that clepid is Seint Yve,
ShipT 228 Scarsly amonges twelve tweye shul thryve
ShipT 229 Continuelly, lastynge unto oure age.
ShipT 230 We may wel make chiere and good visage,
ShipT 231 And dryve forth the world as it may be,
ShipT 232 And kepen oure estaat in pryvetee,
ShipT 233 Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye
ShipT 234 A pilgrymage, or goon out of the weye.
ShipT 235 And therfore have I greet necessitee
ShipT 236 Upon this queynte world t' avyse me,
ShipT 237 For everemoore we moote stonde in drede
ShipT 238 Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede.
ShipT 239 " To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day,
ShipT 240 And come agayn, as soone as evere I may.
ShipT 241 For which, my deere wyf, I thee biseke,
ShipT 242 As be to every wight buxom and meke,
ShipT 243 And for to kepe oure good be curious,
ShipT 244 And honestly governe wel oure hous.
ShipT 245 Thou hast ynough, in every maner wise,
ShipT 246 That to a thrifty houshold may suffise.
ShipT 247 Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille;
ShipT 248 Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille. "
ShipT 249 And with that word his countour-dore he shette,
ShipT 250 And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette.
ShipT 251 But hastily a messe was ther seyd,
ShipT 252 And spedily the tables were yleyd,
ShipT 253 And to the dyner faste they hem spedde,
ShipT 254 And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
ShipT 255 At after-dyner daun John sobrely
ShipT 256 This chapman took apart, and prively
ShipT 257 He seyde hym thus: " Cosyn, it standeth so,
ShipT 258 That wel I se to Brugges wol ye go.
ShipT 259 God and Seint Austyn spede yow and gyde!
ShipT 260 I prey yow, cosyn, wisely that ye ryde.
ShipT 261 Governeth yow also of youre diete
ShipT 262 Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
ShipT 263 Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare;
ShipT 264 Farewel, cosyn; God shilde yow fro care!
ShipT 265 And if that any thyng by day or nyght,
ShipT 266 If it lye in my power and my myght,
ShipT 267 That ye me wol comande in any wyse,
ShipT 268 It shal be doon right as ye wol devyse.
ShipT 269 " O thyng, er that ye goon, if it may be,
ShipT 270 I wolde prey yow: for to lene me
ShipT 271 An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye,
ShipT 272 For certein beestes that I moste beye,
ShipT 273 To stoore with a place that is oures.
ShipT 274 God helpe me so, I wolde it were youres!
ShipT 275 I shal nat faille surely of my day,
ShipT 276 Nat for a thousand frankes, a mile way.
ShipT 277 But lat this thyng be secree, I yow preye,
ShipT 278 For yet to-nyght thise beestes moot I beye.
ShipT 279 And fare now wel, myn owene cosyn deere;
ShipT 280 Graunt mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere. "
ShipT 281 This noble marchant gentilly anon
ShipT 282 Answerde and seyde, " O cosyn myn, daun John,
ShipT 283 Now sikerly this is a smal requeste.
ShipT 284 My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste,
ShipT 285 And nat oonly my gold, but my chaffare.
ShipT 286 Take what yow list; God shilde that ye spare.
ShipT 287 " But o thyng is, ye knowe it wel ynogh
ShipT 288 Of chapmen, that hir moneie is hir plogh.
ShipT 289 We may creaunce whil we have a name,
ShipT 290 But goldlees for to be, it is no game.
ShipT 291 Paye it agayn whan it lith in youre ese;
ShipT 292 After my myght ful fayn wolde I yow plese. "
ShipT 293 Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon,
ShipT 294 And prively he took hem to daun John.
ShipT 295 No wight in al this world wiste of this loone
ShipT 296 Savynge this marchant and daun John allone.
ShipT 297 They drynke, and speke, and rome a while and pleye,
ShipT 298 Til that daun John rideth to his abbeye.
ShipT 299 The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rideth
ShipT 300 To Flaundres-ward; his prentys wel hym gydeth
ShipT 301 Til he came into Brugges murily.
ShipT 302 Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily
ShipT 303 Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth.
ShipT 304 He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth,
ShipT 305 But as a marchaunt, shortly for to telle,
ShipT 306 He let his lyf, and there I lete hym dwelle.
ShipT 307 The Sonday next the marchant was agon,
ShipT 308 To Seint-Denys ycomen is daun John,
ShipT 309 With crowne and berd al fressh and newe yshave.
ShipT 310 In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave,
ShipT 311 Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn
ShipT 312 That my lord daun John was come agayn.
ShipT 313 And shortly to the point right for to gon,
ShipT 314 This faire wyf acorded with daun John
ShipT 315 That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght
ShipT 316 Have hire in his armes bolt upright;
ShipT 317 And this acord parfourned was in dede.
ShipT 318 In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede
ShipT 319 Til it was day, that daun John wente his way,
ShipT 320 And bad the meynee " Farewel, have good day! "
ShipT 321 For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun,
ShipT 322 Hath of daun John right no suspecioun.
ShipT 323 And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye,
ShipT 324 Or where hym list; namoore of hym I seye.
ShipT 325 This marchant, whan that ended was the faire,
ShipT 326 To Seint-Denys he gan for to repaire,
ShipT 327 And with his wyf he maketh feeste and cheere,
ShipT 328 And telleth hire that chaffare is so deere
ShipT 329 That nedes moste he make a chevyssaunce,
ShipT 330 For he was bounden in a reconyssaunce
ShipT 331 To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon.
ShipT 332 For which this marchant is to Parys gon
ShipT 333 To borwe of certeine freendes that he hadde
ShipT 334 A certeyn frankes; and somme with him he ladde.
ShipT 335 And whan that he was come into the toun,
ShipT 336 For greet chiertee and greet affeccioun,
ShipT 337 Unto daun John he first gooth hym to pleye;
ShipT 338 Nat for to axe or borwe of hym moneye,
ShipT 339 But for to wite and seen of his welfare,
ShipT 340 And for to tellen hym of his chaffare,
ShipT 341 As freendes doon whan they been met yfeere.
ShipT 342 Daun John hym maketh feeste and murye cheere,
ShipT 343 And he hym tolde agayn, ful specially,
ShipT 344 How he hadde wel yboght and graciously,
ShipT 345 Thanked be God, al hool his marchandise,
ShipT 346 Save that he moste, in alle maner wise,
ShipT 347 Maken a chevyssaunce, as for his beste,
ShipT 348 And thanne he sholde been in joye and reste.
ShipT 349 Daun John answerde, " Certes, I am fayn
ShipT 350 That ye in heele ar comen hom agayn.
ShipT 351 And if that I were riche, as have I blisse,
ShipT 352 Of twenty thousand sheeld sholde ye nat mysse,
ShipT 353 For ye so kyndely this oother day
ShipT 354 Lente me gold; and as I kan and may,
ShipT 355 I thanke yow, by God and by Seint Jame!
ShipT 356 But nathelees, I took unto oure dame,
ShipT 357 Youre wyf, at hom, the same gold ageyn
ShipT 358 Upon youre bench; she woot it wel, certeyn,
ShipT 359 By certeyn tokenes that I kan hire telle.
ShipT 360 Now, by youre leve, I may no lenger dwelle;
ShipT 361 Oure abbot wole out of this toun anon,
ShipT 362 And in his compaignye moot I goon.
ShipT 363 Grete wel oure dame, myn owene nece sweete,
ShipT 364 And fare wel, deere cosyn, til we meete! "
ShipT 365 This marchant, which that was ful war and wys,
ShipT 366 Creanced hath, and payd eek in Parys
ShipT 367 To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond,
ShipT 368 The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond;
ShipT 369 And hoom he gooth, murie as a papejay,
ShipT 370 For wel he knew he stood in swich array
ShipT 371 That nedes moste he wynne in that viage
ShipT 372 A thousand frankes aboven al his costage.
ShipT 373 His wyf ful redy mette hym atte gate,
ShipT 374 As she was wont of oold usage algate,
ShipT 375 And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette;
ShipT 376 For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
ShipT 377 Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace
ShipT 378 His wyf al newe, and kiste hire on hir face,
ShipT 379 And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough.
ShipT 380 " Namoore, " quod she, " by God, ye have ynough! "
ShipT 381 And wantownly agayn with hym she pleyde
ShipT 382 Til atte laste thus this marchant seyde:
ShipT 383 " By God, " quod he, " I am a litel wrooth
ShipT 384 With yow, my wyf, although it be me looth.
ShipT 385 And woot ye why? By God, as that I gesse
ShipT 386 That ye han maad a manere straungenesse
ShipT 387 Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun John.
ShipT 388 Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon,
ShipT 389 That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed
ShipT 390 By redy token; and heeld hym yvele apayed,
ShipT 391 For that I to hym spak of chevyssaunce;
ShipT 392 Me semed so, as by his contenaunce.
ShipT 393 But nathelees, by God, oure hevene kyng,
ShipT 394 I thoughte nat to axen hym no thyng.
ShipT 395 I prey thee, wyf, ne do namoore so;
ShipT 396 Telle me alwey, er that I fro thee go,
ShipT 397 If any dettour hath in myn absence
ShipT 398 Ypayed thee, lest thurgh thy necligence
ShipT 399 I myghte hym axe a thing that he hath payed. "
ShipT 400 This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed,
ShipT 401 But boldely she seyde, and that anon,
ShipT 402 " Marie, I deffie the false monk, daun John!
ShipT 403 I kepe nat of his tokenes never a deel;
ShipT 404 He took me certeyn gold, that woot I weel --
ShipT 405 What! Yvel thedam on his monkes snowte!
ShipT 406 For, God it woot, I wende, withouten doute,
ShipT 407 That he hadde yeve it me bycause of yow
ShipT 408 To doon therwith myn honour and my prow,
ShipT 409 For cosynage, and eek for beele cheere
ShipT 410 That he hath had ful ofte tymes heere.
ShipT 411 But sith I se I stonde in this disjoynt,
ShipT 412 I wol answere yow shortly to the poynt.
ShipT 413 Ye han mo slakkere dettours than am I!
ShipT 414 For I wol paye yow wel and redily
ShipT 415 Fro day to day, and if so be I faille,
ShipT 416 I am youre wyf; score it upon my taille,
ShipT 417 And I shal paye as soone as ever I may.
ShipT 418 For by my trouthe, I have on myn array,
ShipT 419 And nat on wast, bistowed every deel;
ShipT 420 And for I have bistowed it so weel
ShipT 421 For youre honour, for Goddes sake, I seye,
ShipT 422 As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye.
ShipT 423 Ye shal my joly body have to wedde;
ShipT 424 By God, I wol nat paye yow but abedde!
ShipT 425 Forgyve it me, myn owene spouse deere;
ShipT 426 Turne hiderward, and maketh bettre cheere. "
ShipT 427 This marchant saugh ther was no remedie,
ShipT 428 And for to chide it nere but folie,
ShipT 429 Sith that the thyng may nat amended be.
ShipT 430 " Now wyf, " he seyde, " and I foryeve it thee;
ShipT 431 But, by thy lyf, ne be namoore so large.
ShipT 432 Keep bet thy good, this yeve I thee in charge. "
ShipT 433 Thus endeth my tale, and God us sende
ShipT 434 Taillynge ynough unto oure lyves ende. Amen
ShipT 435 " Wel seyd, by corpus dominus, " quod oure Hoost,
ShipT 436 " Now longe moote thou saille by the cost,
ShipT 437 Sire gentil maister, gentil maryneer!
ShipT 438 God yeve the monk a thousand last quade yeer!
ShipT 439 A ha! Felawes, beth ware of swich a jape!
ShipT 440 The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape,
ShipT 441 And in his wyves eek, by Seint Austyn!
ShipT 442 Draweth no monkes moore unto youre in.
ShipT 443 " But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute,
ShipT 444 Who shal now telle first of al this route
ShipT 445 Another tale; " and with that word he sayde,
ShipT 446 As curteisly as it had been a mayde,
ShipT 447 " My lady Prioresse, by youre leve,
ShipT 448 So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve,
ShipT 449 I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde
ShipT 450 A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.
ShipT 451 Now wol ye vouche sauf, my lady deere? "
ShipT 452 " Gladly, " quod she, and seyde as ye shal heere.
PrT 453 O Lord, oure Lord, thy name how merveillous
PrT 454 Is in this large world ysprad -- quod she --
PrT 455 For noght oonly thy laude precious
PrT 456 Parfourned is by men of dignitee,
PrT 457 But by the mouth of children thy bountee
PrT 458 Parfourned is, for on the brest soukynge
PrT 459 Somtyme shewen they thyn heriynge.
PrT 460 Wherfore in laude, as I best kan or may,
PrT 461 Of thee and of the white lylye flour
PrT 462 Which that the bar, and is a mayde alway,
PrT 463 To telle a storie I wol do my labour;
PrT 464 Nat that I may encressen hir honour,
PrT 465 For she hirself is honour and the roote
PrT 466 Of bountee, next hir Sone, and soules boote.
PrT 467 O mooder Mayde, O mayde Mooder free!
PrT 468 O bussh unbrent, brennynge in Moyses sighte,
PrT 469 That ravyshedest doun fro the Deitee,
PrT 470 Thurgh thyn humblesse, the Goost that in th' alighte,
PrT 471 Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte,
PrT 472 Conceyved was the Fadres sapience,
PrT 473 Help me to telle it in thy reverence!
PrT 474 Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence,
PrT 475 Thy vertu and thy grete humylitee
PrT 476 Ther may no tonge expresse in no science;
PrT 477 For somtyme, Lady, er men praye to thee,
PrT 478 Thou goost biforn of thy benyngnytee,
PrT 479 And getest us the lyght, of thy preyere,
PrT 480 To gyden us unto thy Sone so deere.
PrT 481 My konnyng is so wayk, O blisful Queene,
PrT 482 For to declare thy grete worthynesse
PrT 483 That I ne may the weighte nat susteene;
PrT 484 But as a child of twelf month oold, or lesse,
PrT 485 That kan unnethes any word expresse,
PrT 486 Right so fare I, and therfore I yow preye,
PrT 487 Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye.
PrT 488 Ther was in Asye, in a greet citee,
PrT 489 Amonges Cristene folk a Jewerye,
PrT 490 Sustened by a lord of that contree
PrT 491 For foule usure and lucre of vileynye,
PrT 492 Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye;
PrT 493 And thurgh the strete men myghte ride or wende,
PrT 494 For it was free and open at eyther ende.
PrT 495 A litel scole of Cristen folk ther stood
PrT 496 Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were
PrT 497 Children an heep, ycomen of Cristen blood,
PrT 498 That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
PrT 499 Swich manere doctrine as men used there,
PrT 500 This is to seyn, to syngen and to rede,
PrT 501 As smale children doon in hire childhede.
PrT 502 Among thise children was a wydwes sone,
PrT 503 A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age,
PrT 504 That day by day to scole was his wone,
PrT 505 And eek also, where as he saugh th' ymage
PrT 506 Of Cristes mooder, hadde he in usage,
PrT 507 As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye
PrT 508 His Ave Marie, as he goth by the weye.
PrT 509 Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught
PrT 510 Oure blisful Lady, Cristes mooder deere,
PrT 511 To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught,
PrT 512 For sely child wol alday soone leere.
PrT 513 But ay, whan I remembre on this mateere,
PrT 514 Seint Nicholas stant evere in my presence,
PrT 515 For he so yong to Crist dide reverence.
PrT 516 This litel child, his litel book lernynge,
PrT 517 As he sat in the scole at his prymer,
PrT 518 He Alma redemptoris herde synge,
PrT 519 As children lerned hire antiphoner;
PrT 520 And as he dorste, he drough hym ner and ner,
PrT 521 And herkned ay the wordes and the noote,
PrT 522 Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.
PrT 523 Noght wiste he what this Latyn was to seye,
PrT 524 For he so yong and tendre was of age.
PrT 525 But on a day his felawe gan he preye
PrT 526 T' expounden hym this song in his langage,
PrT 527 Or telle hym why this song was in usage;
PrT 528 This preyde he hym to construe and declare
PrT 529 Ful often tyme upon his knowes bare.
PrT 530 His felawe, which that elder was than he,
PrT 531 Answerde hym thus: " This song, I have herd seye,
PrT 532 Was maked of our blisful Lady free,
PrT 533 Hire to salue, and eek hire for to preye
PrT 534 To been oure help and socour whan we deye.
PrT 535 I kan namoore expounde in this mateere.
PrT 536 I lerne song; I kan but smal grammeere. "
PrT 537 " And is this song maked in reverence
PrT 538 Of Cristes mooder? " seyde this innocent.
PrT 539 " Now, certes, I wol do my diligence
PrT 540 To konne it al er Cristemasse be went.
PrT 541 Though that I for my prymer shal be shent
PrT 542 And shal be beten thries in an houre,
PrT 543 I wol it konne Oure Lady for to honoure! "
PrT 544 His felawe taughte hym homward prively,
PrT 545 Fro day to day, til he koude it by rote,
PrT 546 And thanne he song it wel and boldely,
PrT 547 Fro word to word, acordynge with the note.
PrT 548 Twies a day it passed thurgh his throte,
PrT 549 To scoleward and homward whan he wente;
PrT 550 On Cristes mooder set was his entente.
PrT 551 As I have seyd, thurghout the Juerie
PrT 552 This litel child, as he cam to and fro,
PrT 553 Ful murily than wolde he synge and crie
PrT 554 O Alma redemptoris everemo.
PrT 555 The swetnesse his herte perced so
PrT 556 Of Cristes mooder that, to hire to preye,
PrT 557 He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.
PrT 558 Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas,
PrT 559 That hath in Jues herte his waspes nest,
PrT 560 Up swal, and seide, " O Hebrayk peple, allas!
PrT 561 Is this to yow a thyng that is honest,
PrT 562 That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest
PrT 563 In youre despit, and synge of swich sentence,
PrT 564 Which is agayn youre lawes reverence? "
PrT 565 Fro thennes forth the Jues han conspired
PrT 566 This innocent out of this world to chace.
PrT 567 An homycide therto han they hyred,
PrT 568 That in an aleye hadde a privee place;
PrT 569 And as the child gan forby for to pace,
PrT 570 This cursed Jew hym hente, and heeld hym faste,
PrT 571 And kitte his throte, and in a pit hym caste.
PrT 572 I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe
PrT 573 Where as thise Jewes purgen hire entraille.
PrT 574 O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,
PrT 575 What may youre yvel entente yow availle?
PrT 576 Mordre wol out, certeyn, it wol nat faille,
PrT 577 And namely ther th' onour of God shal sprede;
PrT 578 The blood out crieth on youre cursed dede.
PrT 579 O martir, sowded to virginitee,
PrT 580 Now maystow syngen, folwynge evere in oon
PrT 581 The white Lamb celestial -- quod she --
PrT 582 Of which the grete evaungelist, Seint John,
PrT 583 In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon
PrT 584 Biforn this Lamb and synge a song al newe,
PrT 585 That nevere, flesshly, wommen they ne knewe.
PrT 586 This poure wydwe awaiteth al that nyght
PrT 587 After hir litel child, but he cam noght;
PrT 588 For which, as soone as it was dayes lyght,
PrT 589 With face pale of drede and bisy thoght,
PrT 590 She hath at scole and elleswhere hym soght,
PrT 591 Til finally she gan so fer espie
PrT 592 That he last seyn was in the Juerie.
PrT 593 With moodres pitee in hir brest enclosed,
PrT 594 She gooth, as she were half out of hir mynde,
PrT 595 To every place where she hath supposed
PrT 596 By liklihede hir litel child to fynde;
PrT 597 And evere on Cristes mooder meeke and kynde
PrT 598 She cride, and atte laste thus she wroghte:
PrT 599 Among the cursed Jues she hym soghte.
PrT 600 She frayneth and she preyeth pitously
PrT 601 To every Jew that dwelte in thilke place,
PrT 602 To telle hire if hir child wente oght forby.
PrT 603 They seyde " nay " ; but Jhesu of his grace
PrT 604 Yaf in hir thoght inwith a litel space
PrT 605 That in that place after hir sone she cryde,
PrT 606 Where he was casten in a pit bisyde.
PrT 607 O grete God, that parfournest thy laude
PrT 608 By mouth of innocentz, lo, heere thy myght!
PrT 609 This gemme of chastite, this emeraude,
PrT 610 And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,
PrT 611 Ther he with throte ykorven lay upright,
PrT 612 He Alma redemptoris gan to synge
PrT 613 So loude that al the place gan to rynge.
PrT 614 The Cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente
PrT 615 In coomen for to wondre upon this thyng,
PrT 616 And hastily they for the provost sente;
PrT 617 He cam anon withouten tariyng,
PrT 618 And herieth Crist that is of hevene kyng,
PrT 619 And eek his mooder, honour of mankynde,
PrT 620 And after that the Jewes leet he bynde.
PrT 621 This child with pitous lamentacioun
PrT 622 Up taken was, syngynge his song alway,
PrT 623 And with honour of greet processioun
PrT 624 They carien hym unto the nexte abbay.
PrT 625 His mooder swownynge by his beere lay;
PrT 626 Unnethe myghte the peple that was theere
PrT 627 This newe Rachel brynge fro his beere.
PrT 628 With torment and with shameful deeth echon,
PrT 629 This provost dooth thise Jewes for to sterve
PrT 630 That of this mordre wiste, and that anon.
PrT 631 He nolde no swich cursednesse observe.
PrT 632 " Yvele shal have that yvele wol deserve " ;
PrT 633 Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe,
PrT 634 And after that he heng hem by the lawe.
PrT 635 Upon this beere ay lith this innocent
PrT 636 Biforn the chief auter, whil the masse laste;
PrT 637 And after that, the abbot with his covent
PrT 638 Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste;
PrT 639 And whan they hooly water on hym caste,
PrT 640 Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was hooly water,
PrT 641 And song O Alma redemptoris mater!
PrT 642 This abbot, which that was an hooly man,
PrT 643 As monkes been -- or elles oghte be --
PrT 644 This yonge child to conjure he bigan,
PrT 645 And seyde, " O deere child, I halse thee,
PrT 646 In vertu of the hooly Trinitee,
PrT 647 Tel me what is thy cause for to synge,
PrT 648 Sith that thy throte is kut to my semynge? "
PrT 649 " My throte is kut unto my nekke boon, "
PrT 650 Seyde this child, " and as by wey of kynde
PrT 651 I sholde have dyed, ye, longe tyme agon.
PrT 652 But Jesu Crist, as ye in bookes fynde,
PrT 653 Wil that his glorie laste and be in mynde,
PrT 654 And for the worship of his Mooder deere
PrT 655 Yet may I synge O Alma loude and cleere.
PrT 656 " This welle of mercy, Cristes mooder sweete,
PrT 657 I loved alwey, as after my konnynge;
PrT 658 And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete,
PrT 659 To me she cam, and bad me for to synge
PrT 660 This anthem verraily in my deyynge,
PrT 661 As ye han herd, and whan that I hadde songe,
PrT 662 Me thoughte she leyde a greyn upon my tonge.
PrT 663 " Wherfore I synge, and synge moot certeyn,
PrT 664 In honour of that blisful Mayden free
PrT 665 Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn;
PrT 666 And after that thus seyde she to me:
PrT 667 `My litel child, now wol I fecche thee,
PrT 668 Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake.
PrT 669 Be nat agast; I wol thee nat forsake.' "
PrT 670 This hooly monk, this abbot, hym meene I,
PrT 671 His tonge out caughte, and took awey the greyn,
PrT 672 And he yaf up the goost ful softely.
PrT 673 And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn,
PrT 674 His salte teeris trikled doun as reyn,
PrT 675 And gruf he fil al plat upon the grounde,
PrT 676 And stille he lay as he had ben ybounde.
PrT 677 The covent eek lay on the pavement
PrT 678 Wepynge, and herying Cristes mooder deere,
PrT 679 And after that they ryse, and forth been went,
PrT 680 And tooken awey this martir from his beere;
PrT 681 And in a tombe of marbul stones cleere
PrT 682 Enclosen they his litel body sweete.
PrT 683 Ther he is now, God leve us for to meete!
PrT 684 O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also
PrT 685 With cursed Jewes, as it is notable,
PrT 686 For it is but a litel while ago,
PrT 687 Preye eek for us, we synful folk unstable,
PrT 688 That of his mercy God so merciable
PrT 689 On us his grete mercy multiplie,
PrT 690 For reverence of his mooder Marie. Amen
Thop 691 Whan seyd was al this miracle, every man
Thop 692 As sobre was that wonder was to se,
Thop 693 Til that oure Hooste japen tho bigan,
Thop 694 And thanne at erst he looked upon me,
Thop 695 And seyde thus: " What man artow? " quod he;
Thop 696 " Thou lookest as thou woldest fynde an hare,
Thop 697 For evere upon the ground I se thee stare.
Thop 698 " Approche neer, and looke up murily.
Thop 699 Now war yow, sires, and lat this man have place!
Thop 700 He in the waast is shape as wel as I;
Thop 701 This were a popet in an arm t' enbrace
Thop 702 For any womman, smal and fair of face.
Thop 703 He semeth elvyssh by his contenaunce,
Thop 704 For unto no wight dooth he daliaunce.
Thop 705 " Sey now somwhat, syn oother folk han sayd;
Thop 706 Telle us a tale of myrthe, and that anon. "
Thop 707 " Hooste, " quod I, " ne beth nat yvele apayd,
Thop 708 For oother tale certes kan I noon,
Thop 709 But of a rym I lerned longe agoon. "
Thop 710 " Ye, that is good, " quod he; " now shul we heere
Thop 711 Som deyntee thyng, me thynketh by his cheere. "
Thop 712 Listeth, lordes, in good entent,
Thop 713 And I wol telle verrayment
Thop 714 Of myrthe and of solas,
Thop 715 Al of a knyght was fair and gent
Thop 716 In bataille and in tourneyment;
Thop 717 His name was sire Thopas.
Thop 718 Yborn he was in fer contree,
Thop 719 In Flaundres, al biyonde the see,
Thop 720 At Poperyng, in the place.
Thop 721 His fader was a man ful free,
Thop 722 And lord he was of that contree,
Thop 723 As it was Goddes grace.
Thop 724 Sire Thopas wax a doghty swayn;
Thop 725 Whit was his face as payndemayn,
Thop 726 His lippes rede as rose;
Thop 727 His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn,
Thop 728 And I yow telle in good certayn
Thop 729 He hadde a semely nose.
Thop 730 His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun,
Thop 731 That to his girdel raughte adoun;
Thop 732 His shoon of cordewane.
Thop 733 Of Brugges were his hosen broun,
Thop 734 His robe was of syklatoun,
Thop 735 That coste many a jane.
Thop 736 He koude hunte at wilde deer,
Thop 737 And ride an haukyng for river
Thop 738 With grey goshauk on honde;
Thop 739 Therto he was a good archeer;
Thop 740 Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer,
Thop 741 Ther any ram shal stonde.
Thop 742 Ful many a mayde, bright in bour,
Thop 743 They moorne for hym paramour,
Thop 744 Whan hem were bet to slepe;
Thop 745 But he was chaast and no lechour,
Thop 746 And sweete as is the brembul flour
Thop 747 That bereth the rede hepe.
Thop 748 And so bifel upon a day,
Thop 749 For sothe, as I yow telle may,
Thop 750 Sire Thopas wolde out ride.
Thop 751 He worth upon his steede gray,
Thop 752 And in his hand a launcegay,
Thop 753 A long swerd by his side.
Thop 754 He priketh thurgh a fair forest,
Thop 755 Therinne is many a wilde best,
Thop 756 Ye, bothe bukke and hare;
Thop 757 And as he priketh north and est,
Thop 758 I telle it yow, hym hadde almest
Thop 759 Bitid a sory care.
Thop 760 Ther spryngen herbes grete and smale,
Thop 761 The lycorys and the cetewale,
Thop 762 And many a clowe-gylofre;
Thop 763 And notemuge to putte in ale,
Thop 764 Wheither it be moyste or stale,
Thop 765 Or for to leye in cofre.
Thop 766 The briddes synge, it is no nay,
Thop 767 The sparhauk and the papejay,
Thop 768 That joye it was to heere;
Thop 769 The thrustelcok made eek hir lay,
Thop 770 The wodedowve upon the spray
Thop 771 She sang ful loude and cleere.
Thop 772 Sire Thopas fil in love-longynge,
Thop 773 Al whan he herde the thrustel synge,
Thop 774 And pryked as he were wood.
Thop 775 His faire steede in his prikynge
Thop 776 So swatte that men myghte him wrynge;
Thop 777 His sydes were al blood.
Thop 778 Sire Thopas eek so wery was
Thop 779 For prikyng on the softe gras,
Thop 780 So fiers was his corage,
Thop 781 That doun he leyde him in that plas
Thop 782 To make his steede som solas,
Thop 783 And yaf hym good forage.
Thop 784 " O Seinte Marie, benedicite!
Thop 785 What eyleth this love at me
Thop 786 To bynde me so soore?
Thop 787 Me dremed al this nyght, pardee,
Thop 788 An elf-queene shal my lemman be
Thop 789 And slepe under my goore.
Thop 790 " An elf-queene wol I love, ywis,
Thop 791 For in this world no womman is
Thop 792 Worthy to be my make
Thop 793 In towne;
Thop 794 Alle othere wommen I forsake,
Thop 795 And to an elf-queene I me take
Thop 796 By dale and eek by downe! "
Thop 797 Into his sadel he clamb anon,
Thop 798 And priketh over stile and stoon
Thop 799 An elf-queene for t' espye,
Thop 800 Til he so longe hath riden and goon
Thop 801 That he foond, in a pryve woon,
Thop 802 The contree of Fairye
Thop 803 So wilde;
Thop 804 For in that contree was ther noon
Thop 805 That to him durste ride or goon,
Thop 806 Neither wyf ne childe;
Thop 807 Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
Thop 808 His name was sire Olifaunt,
Thop 809 A perilous man of dede.
Thop 810 He seyde, " Child, by Termagaunt,
Thop 811 But if thou prike out of myn haunt,
Thop 812 Anon I sle thy steede
Thop 813 With mace.
Thop 814 Heere is the queene of Fayerye,
Thop 815 With harpe and pipe and symphonye,
Thop 816 Dwellynge in this place. "
Thop 817 The child seyde, " Also moote I thee,
Thop 818 Tomorwe wol I meete with thee,
Thop 819 Whan I have myn armoure;
Thop 820 And yet I hope, par ma fay,
Thop 821 That thou shalt with this launcegay
Thop 822 Abyen it ful sowre.
Thop 823 Thy mawe
Thop 824 Shal I percen, if I may,
Thop 825 Er it be fully pryme of day,
Thop 826 For heere thow shalt be slawe. "
Thop 827 Sire Thopas drow abak ful faste;
Thop 828 This geant at hym stones caste
Thop 829 Out of a fel staf-slynge.
Thop 830 But faire escapeth child Thopas,
Thop 831 And al it was thurgh Goddes gras,
Thop 832 And thurgh his fair berynge.
Thop 833 Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale
Thop 834 Murier than the nightyngale,
Thop 835 For now I wol yow rowne
Thop 836 How sir Thopas, with sydes smale,
Thop 837 Prikyng over hill and dale,
Thop 838 Is comen agayn to towne.
Thop 839 His myrie men comanded he
Thop 840 To make hym bothe game and glee,
Thop 841 For nedes moste he fighte
Thop 842 With a geaunt with hevedes three,
Thop 843 For paramour and jolitee
Thop 844 Of oon that shoon ful brighte.
Thop 845 " Do come, " he seyde, " my mynstrales,
Thop 846 And geestours for to tellen tales,
Thop 847 Anon in myn armynge,
Thop 848 Of romances that been roiales,
Thop 849 Of popes and of cardinales,
Thop 850 And eek of love-likynge. "
Thop 851 They fette hym first the sweete wyn,
Thop 852 And mede eek in a mazelyn,
Thop 853 And roial spicerye
Thop 854 Of gyngebreed that was ful fyn,
Thop 855 And lycorys, and eek comyn,
Thop 856 With sugre that is trye.
Thop 857 He dide next his white leere
Thop 858 Of cloth of lake fyn and cleere,
Thop 859 A breech and eek a sherte;
Thop 860 And next his sherte an aketoun,
Thop 861 And over that an haubergeoun
Thop 862 For percynge of his herte;
Thop 863 And over that a fyn hawberk,
Thop 864 Was al ywroght of Jewes werk,
Thop 865 Ful strong it was of plate;
Thop 866 And over that his cote-armour
Thop 867 As whit as is a lilye flour,
Thop 868 In which he wol debate.
Thop 869 His sheeld was al of gold so reed,
Thop 870 And therinne was a bores heed,
Thop 871 A charbocle bisyde;
Thop 872 And there he swoor on ale and breed
Thop 873 How that the geaunt shal be deed,
Thop 874 Bityde what bityde!
Thop 875 His jambeux were of quyrboilly,
Thop 876 His swerdes shethe of yvory,
Thop 877 His helm of latoun bright;
Thop 878 His sadel was of rewel boon,
Thop 879 His brydel as the sonne shoon,
Thop 880 Or as the moone light.
Thop 881 His spere was of fyn ciprees,
Thop 882 That bodeth werre, and nothyng pees,
Thop 883 The heed ful sharpe ygrounde;
Thop 884 His steede was al dappull gray,
Thop 885 It gooth an ambil in the way
Thop 886 Ful softely and rounde
Thop 887 In londe.
Thop 888 Loo, lordes myne, heere is a fit!
Thop 889 If ye wol any moore of it,
Thop 890 To telle it wol I fonde.
Thop 891 Now holde youre mouth, par charitee,
Thop 892 Bothe knyght and lady free,
Thop 893 And herkneth to my spelle;
Thop 894 Of bataille and of chivalry,
Thop 895 And of ladyes love-drury
Thop 896 Anon I wol yow telle.
Thop 897 Men speken of romances of prys,
Thop 898 Of Horn child and of Ypotys,
Thop 899 Of Beves and sir Gy,
Thop 900 Of sir Lybeux and Pleyndamour --
Thop 901 But sir Thopas, he bereth the flour
Thop 902 Of roial chivalry!
Thop 903 His goode steede al he bistrood,
Thop 904 And forth upon his wey he glood
Thop 905 As sparcle out of the bronde;
Thop 906 Upon his creest he bar a tour,
Thop 907 And therinne stiked a lilie flour --
Thop 908 God shilde his cors fro shonde!
Thop 909 And for he was a knyght auntrous,
Thop 910 He nolde slepen in noon hous,
Thop 911 But liggen in his hoode;
Thop 912 His brighte helm was his wonger,
Thop 913 And by hym baiteth his dextrer
Thop 914 Of herbes fyne and goode.
Thop 915 Hymself drank water of the well,
Thop 916 As dide the knyght sire Percyvell
Thop 917 So worly under wede,
Thop 918 Til on a day --
Thop 919 " Namoore of this, for Goddes dignitee, "
Thop 920 Quod oure Hooste, " for thou makest me
Thop 921 So wery of thy verray lewednesse
Thop 922 That, also wisly God my soule blesse,
Thop 923 Myne eres aken of thy drasty speche.
Thop 924 Now swich a rym the devel I biteche!
Thop 925 This may wel be rym dogerel, " quod he.
Thop 926 " Why so? " quod I, " why wiltow lette me
Thop 927 Moore of my tale than another man,
Thop 928 Syn that it is the beste rym I kan? "
Thop 929 " By God, " quod he, " for pleynly, at a word,
Thop 930 Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a toord!
Thop 931 Thou doost noght elles but despendest tyme.
Thop 932 Sire, at o word, thou shalt no lenger ryme.
Thop 933 Lat se wher thou kanst tellen aught in geeste,
Thop 934 Or telle in prose somwhat, at the leeste,
Thop 935 In which ther be som murthe or som doctryne. "
Thop 936 " Gladly, " quod I, " by Goddes sweete pyne!
Thop 937 I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose
Thop 938 That oghte liken yow, as I suppose,
Thop 939 Or elles, certes, ye been to daungerous.
Thop 940 It is a moral tale vertuous,
Thop 941 Al be it told somtyme in sondry wyse
Thop 942 Of sondry folk, as I shal yow devyse.
Thop 943 " As thus: ye woot that every Evaungelist
Thop 944 That telleth us the peyne of Jhesu Crist
Thop 945 Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth;
Thop 946 But nathelees hir sentence is al sooth,
Thop 947 And alle acorden as in hire sentence,
Thop 948 Al be ther in hir tellyng difference.
Thop 949 For somme of hem seyn moore, and somme seyn lesse,
Thop 950 Whan they his pitous passioun expresse --
Thop 951 I meene of Mark, Mathew, Luc, and John --
Thop 952 But doutelees hir sentence is al oon.
Thop 953 Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche,
Thop 954 If that yow thynke I varie as in my speche,
Thop 955 As thus, though that I telle somwhat moore
Thop 956 Of proverbes than ye han herd bifoore
Thop 957 Comprehended in this litel tretys heere,
Thop 958 To enforce with th' effect of my mateere;
Thop 959 And though I nat the same wordes seye
Thop 960 As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye
Thop 961 Blameth me nat; for, as in my sentence,
Thop 962 Shul ye nowher fynden difference
Thop 963 Fro the sentence of this tretys lyte
Thop 964 After the which this murye tale I write.
Thop 965 And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye,
Thop 966 And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye. "
Mel 967 A yong man called Melibeus, myghty and riche, bigat upon his wyf, that called was Prudence,
Mel 967A a doghter which that called was Sophie.
Mel 968 Upon a day bifel that he for his desport is went into the feeldes hym to pleye.
Mel 969 His wyf and eek his doghter hath he left inwith his hous, of which the dores weren faste yshette.
Mel 970 Thre of his olde foes han it espyed, and setten laddres to the walles of his hous,
Mel 970A and by wyndowes been entred,
Mel 971 and betten his wyf, and wounded his doghter with fyve mortal woundes in fyve sondry places --
Mel 972 this is to seyn, in hir feet, in hire handes, in hir erys, in hir nose,
Mel 972A and in hire mouth -- and leften hire for deed, and wenten awey.
Mel 973 Whan Melibeus retourned was into his hous, and saugh al this meschief, he,
Mel 973A lyk a mad man rentynge his clothes, gan to wepe and crie.
Mel 974 Prudence, his wyf, as ferforth as she dorste, bisoghte hym of his wepyng for to stynte,
Mel 975 but nat forthy he gan to crie and wepen evere lenger the moore.
Mel 976 This noble wyf Prudence remembred hire upon the sentence of Ovide, in his book
Mel 976A that cleped is the Remedie of Love, where as he seith,
Mel 977 " He is a fool that destourbeth the mooder to wepen in the deeth of hire child
Mel 977A til she have wept hir fille as for a certein tyme,
Mel 978 and thanne shal man doon his diligence with amyable wordes hire to reconforte,
Mel 978A and preyen hire of hir wepyng for to stynte. "
Mel 979 For which resoun this noble wyf Prudence suffred hir housbonde
Mel 979A for to wepe and crie as for a certein space,
Mel 980 and whan she saugh hir tyme, she seyde hym in this wise:
Mel 980A " Allas, my lord, " quod she, " why make ye youreself for to be lyk a fool?
Mel 981 For sothe it aperteneth nat to a wys man to maken swich a sorwe.
Mel 982 Youre doghter, with the grace of God, shal warisshe and escape.
Mel 983 And, al were it so that she right now were deed,
Mel 983A ye ne oughte nat, as for hir deeth, youreself to destroye.
Mel 984 Senek seith: `The wise man shal nat take to greet disconfort for the deeth of his children,
Mel 985 but, certes, he sholde suffren it in pacience
Mel 985A as wel as he abideth the deeth of his owene propre persone.' "
Mel 986 This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde, " What man, " quod he, " sholde of his wepyng stente
Mel 986A that hath so greet a cause for to wepe?
Mel 987 Jhesu Crist, oure Lord, hymself wepte for the deeth of Lazarus hys freend. "
Mel 988 Prudence answerde: " Certes, wel I woot attempree wepyng is no thyng deffended to hym that sorweful is,
Mel 988A amonges folk in sorwe, but it is rather graunted hym to wepe.
Mel 989 The Apostle Paul unto the Romayns writeth, `Man shal rejoyse
Mel 989A with hem that maken joye and wepen with swich folk as wepen.'
Mel 990 But though attempree wepyng be ygraunted, outrageous wepyng certes is deffended.
Mel 991 Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered after the loore that techeth us Senek:
Mel 992 `Whan that thy frend is deed,' quod he, `lat nat thyne eyen to moyste been of teeris,
Mel 992A ne to muche drye; although the teeris come to thyne eyen, lat hem nat falle;
Mel 993 and whan thou hast forgoon thy freend, do diligence to gete another freend;
Mel 993A and this is moore wysdom than for to wepe for thy freend
Mel 993B which that thou hast lorn, for therinne is no boote.'
Mel 994 And therfore, if ye governe yow by sapience, put awey sorwe out of youre herte.
Mel 995 Remembre yow that Jhesus Syrak seith, `A man that is joyous and glad in herte,
Mel 995A it hym conserveth florissynge in his age; but soothly sorweful herte maketh his bones drye.'
Mel 996 He seith eek thus, that sorwe in herte sleeth ful many a man.
Mel 997 Salomon seith that right as motthes in the shepes flees anoyeth to the clothes,
Mel 997A and the smale wormes to the tree, right so anoyeth sorwe to the herte.
Mel 998 Wherfore us oghte, as wel in the deeth of oure children
Mel 998A as in the los of oure othere goodes temporels, have pacience.
Mel 999 Remembre yow upon the pacient Job. Whan he hadde lost his children and his temporeel substance,
Mel 999A and in his body endured and receyved ful many a grevous tribulacion, yet seyde he thus:
Mel 1000 `Oure Lord hath yeve it me; oure Lord hath biraft it me; right as oure Lord hath wold,
Mel 1000A right so it is doon; blessed be the name of oure Lord!' "
Mel 1001 To thise forseide thynges answerde Melibeus unto his wyf Prudence: " Alle thy wordes, " quod he,
Mel 1001A " been sothe and therto profitable, but trewely myn herte is troubled with this sorwe
Mel 1001B so grevously that I noot what to doone. "
Mel 1002 " Lat calle, " quod Prudence, " thy trewe freendes alle and thy lynage whiche that been wise. Telleth youre cas,
Mel 1002A and herkneth what they seye in conseillyng, and yow governe after hire sentence.
Mel 1003 Salomon seith, `Werk alle thy thynges by conseil, and thou shalt never repente.' "
Mel 1004 Thanne, by the conseil of his wyf Prudence, this Melibeus leet callen a greet congregacion of folk,
Mel 1005 as surgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and yonge, and somme of his olde enemys reconsiled
Mel 1005A as by hir semblaunt to his love and into his grace;
Mel 1006 and therwithal ther coomen somme of his neighebores that diden hym reverence
Mel 1006A moore for drede than for love, as it happeth ofte.
Mel 1007 Ther coomen also ful many subtille flatereres and wise advocatz lerned in the lawe.
Mel 1008 And whan this folk togidre assembled weren, this Melibeus in sorweful wise shewed hem his cas.
Mel 1009 And by the manere of his speche it semed that in herte he baar a crueel ire,
Mel 1009A redy to doon vengeaunce upon his foes, and sodeynly desired that the werre sholde bigynne;
Mel 1010 but nathelees, yet axed he hire conseil upon this matiere.
Mel 1011 A surgien, by licence and assent of swiche as weren wise, up roos
Mel 1011A and to Melibeus seyde as ye may heere:
Mel 1012 " Sire, " quod he, " as to us surgiens aperteneth that we do to every wight the beste that we kan,
Mel 1012A where as we been withholde, and to oure pacientz that we do no damage,
Mel 1013 wherfore it happeth many tyme and ofte that whan twey men han everich wounded oother,
Mel 1013A oon same surgien heeleth hem bothe;
Mel 1014 wherfore unto oure art it is nat pertinent to norice werre ne parties to supporte.
Mel 1015 But certes, as to the warisshynge of youre doghter, al be it so that she perilously be wounded,
Mel 1015A we shullen do so ententif bisynesse fro day to nyght that with the grace of God
Mel 1015B she shal be hool and sound as soone as is possible. "
Mel 1016 Almoost right in the same wise the phisiciens answerden, save that they seyden a fewe woordes moore:
Mel 1017 that right as maladies been cured by hir contraries, right so shul men warisshe werre by vengeaunce.
Mel 1018 His neighebores ful of envye, his feyned freendes that semeden reconsiled, and his flatereres
Mel 1019 maden semblant of wepyng, and empeireden and agreggeden muchel of this matiere
Mel 1019A in preisynge greetly Melibee of myght, of power, of richesse, and of freendes, despisynge the power of his adversaries,
Mel 1020 and seiden outrely that he anon sholde wreken hym on his foes and bigynne werre.
Mel 1021 Up roos thanne an advocat that was wys,
Mel 1021A by leve and by conseil of othere that were wise, and seide:
Mel 1022 " Lordynges, the nede for which we been assembled in this place
Mel 1022A is a ful hevy thyng and an heigh matiere,
Mel 1023 by cause of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon,
Mel 1023A and eek by resoun of the grete damages that in tyme comynge
Mel 1023B been possible to fallen for this same cause,
Mel 1024 and eek by resoun of the grete richesse and power of the parties bothe,
Mel 1025 for the whiche resouns it were a ful greet peril to erren in this matiere.
Mel 1026 Wherfore, Melibeus, this is oure sentence: we conseille yow aboven alle thyng that right anon thou do thy diligence
Mel 1026A in kepynge of thy propre persone in swich a wise
Mel 1026B that thou ne wante noon espie ne wacche thy persone for to save.
Mel 1027 And after that, we conseille that in thyn hous thou sette sufficeant garnisoun
Mel 1027A so that they may as wel thy body as thyn hous defende.
Mel 1028 But certes, for to moeve werre, ne sodeynly for to doon vengeaunce, we may nat demen
Mel 1028A in so litel tyme that it were profitable.
Mel 1029 Wherfore we axen leyser and espace to have deliberacion in this cas to deme.
Mel 1030 For the commune proverbe seith thus: `He that soone deemeth, soone shal repente.'
Mel 1031 And eek men seyn that thilke juge is wys that soone understondeth a matiere and juggeth by leyser;
Mel 1032 for al be it so that alle tariyng be anoyful,
Mel 1032A algates it is nat to repreve in yevynge of juggement ne in vengeance takyng,
Mel 1032B whan it is sufficeant and resonable.
Mel 1033 And that shewed oure Lord Jhesu Crist by ensample, for whan that the womman that was taken in avowtrie
Mel 1033A was broght in his presence to knowen what sholde be doon with hire persone, al be it so that he wiste wel hymself what
Mel 1033B that he wolde answere, yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly,
Mel 1033C but he wolde have deliberacion, and in the ground he wroot twies.
Mel 1034 And by thise causes we axen deliberacioun, and we shal thanne, by the grace of God, conseille thee
Mel 1034A thyng that shal be profitable. "
Mel 1035 Up stirten thanne the yonge folk atones, and the mooste partie of that compaignye han scorned this olde wise
Mel 1035A man, and bigonnen to make noyse, and seyden that
Mel 1036 right so as whil that iren is hoot men sholden smyte,
Mel 1036A right so men sholde wreken hir wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe;
Mel 1036B and with loud voys they criden " Werre! Werre! "
Mel 1037 Up roos tho oon of thise olde wise, and with his hand made contenaunce that
Mel 1037A men sholde holden hem stille and yeven hym audience.
Mel 1038 " Lordynges, " quod he, " ther is ful many a man that crieth `Werre, werre!'
Mel 1038A that woot ful litel what werre amounteth.
Mel 1039 Werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entryng and so large that every wight may entre
Mel 1039A whan hym liketh and lightly fynde werre;
Mel 1040 but certes what ende that shal therof bifalle, it is nat light to knowe.
Mel 1041 For soothly, whan that werre is ones bigonne, ther is ful many a child unborn of his mooder
Mel 1041A that shal sterve yong by cause of thilke werre, or elles lyve in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse.
Mel 1042 And therfore, er that any werre bigynne, men moste have greet conseil and greet deliberacion. "
Mel 1043 And whan this olde man wende to enforcen his tale by resons, wel ny alle atones bigonne they
Mel 1043A to rise for to breken his tale, and beden hym ful ofte his wordes for to abregge.
Mel 1044 For soothly, he that precheth to hem that listen nat heeren his wordes, his sermon hem anoieth.
Mel 1045 For Jhesus Syrak seith that " musik in wepynge is a noyous thyng " ; this is to seyn:
Mel 1045A as muche availleth to speken bifore folk to which his speche anoyeth
Mel 1045B as it is to synge biforn hym that wepeth.
Mel 1046 And whan this wise man saugh that hym wanted audience, al shamefast he sette hym doun agayn.
Mel 1047 For Salomon seith: " Ther as thou ne mayst have noon audience, enforce thee nat to speke. "
Mel 1048 " I see wel, " quod this wise man, " that the commune proverbe is sooth, that
Mel 1048A `good conseil wanteth whan it is moost nede.' "
Mel 1049 Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk that prively in his eere conseilled hym certeyn thyng,
Mel 1049A and conseilled hym the contrarie in general audience.
Mel 1050 Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste partie of his conseil weren accorded that he sholde maken werre,
Mel 1050A anoon he consented to hir conseillyng and fully affermed hire sentence.
Mel 1051 Thanne dame Prudence, whan that she saugh how that hir housbonde shoop hym for to wreken hym on his
Mel 1051A foes and to bigynne werre, she in ful humble wise, whan she saugh hir tyme, seide to hym thise wordes:
Mel 1052 " My lord, " quod she, " I yow biseche, as hertely as I dar and kan,
Mel 1052A ne haste yow nat to faste and, for alle gerdons, as yeveth me audience.
Mel 1053 For Piers Alfonce seith, `Whoso that dooth to thee oother good or harm, haste thee nat to quiten it,
Mel 1053A for in this wise thy freend wole abyde and thyn enemy shal the lenger lyve in drede.'
Mel 1054 The proverbe seith, `He hasteth wel that wisely kan abyde,' and `in wikked haste is no profit.' "
Mel 1055 This Melibee answerde unto his wyf Prudence: " I purpose nat, " quod he, " to werke by thy conseil,
Mel 1055A for many causes and resouns. For certes, every wight wolde holde me thanne a fool;
Mel 1056 this is to seyn, if I, for thy conseillyng, wolde chaungen
Mel 1056A thynges that been ordeyned and affermed by so manye wyse.
Mel 1057 Secoundely, I seye that alle wommen been wikke, and noon good of hem alle.
Mel 1057A For `of a thousand men,' seith Salomon, `I foond o good man, but certes,
Mel 1057B of alle wommen, good womman foond I nevere.'
Mel 1058 And also, certes, if I governed me by thy conseil,
Mel 1058A it sholde seme that I hadde yeve to thee over me the maistrie,
Mel 1058B and God forbede that it so weere!
Mel 1059 For Jhesus Syrak seith that `if the wyf have maistrie, she is contrarious to hir housbonde.'
Mel 1060 And Salomon seith: `Nevere in thy lyf to thy wyf, ne to thy child, ne to thy freend
Mel 1060A ne yeve no power over thyself, for bettre it were that thy children
Mel 1060B aske of thy persone thynges that hem nedeth than thou see thyself
Mel 1060C in the handes of thy children.'
Mel 1061 And also if I wolde werke by thy conseillyng, certes, my conseil moste som tyme be secree,
Mel 1061A til it were tyme that it moste be knowe, and this ne may noght be.
Mel 1064 Whanne dame Prudence, ful debonairly and with greet pacience, hadde herd al that hir housbonde liked for to seye,
Mel 1064A thanne axed she of hym licence for to speke, and seyde in this wise:
Mel 1065 " My lord, " quod she, " as to youre firste resoun, certes it may lightly been answered. For I seye that
Mel 1065A it is no folie to chaunge conseil whan the thyng is chaunged,
Mel 1065B or elles whan the thyng semeth ootherweyes than it was biforn.
Mel 1066 And mooreover, I seye that though ye han sworn and bihight to perfourne youre emprise, and nathelees ye weyve
Mel 1066A to perfourne thilke same emprise by juste cause, men sholde nat seyn therfore that ye were a liere ne forsworn.
Mel 1067 For the book seith that `the wise man maketh no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre.'
Mel 1068 And al be it so that youre emprise be establissed and ordeyned by greet multitude of folk,
Mel 1068A yet thar ye nat accomplice thilke ordinaunce but yow like.
Mel 1069 For the trouthe of thynges and the profit been rather founden in fewe folk that been wise and
Mel 1069A ful of resoun than by greet multitude of folk ther every man crieth and clatereth what that hym liketh.
Mel 1069B Soothly swich multitude is nat honest.
Mel 1070 And as to the seconde resoun, where as ye seyn that alle wommen been wikke;
Mel 1070A save youre grace, certes ye despisen alle wommen in this wyse, and
Mel 1070B `he that al despiseth, al displeseth,' as seith the book.
Mel 1071 And Senec seith that `whoso wole have sapience shal no man dispreyse,
Mel 1071A but he shal gladly techen the science that he kan withouten presumpcion or pride;
Mel 1072 and swiche thynges as he noght ne kan, he shal nat been ashamed to lerne hem,
Mel 1072A and enquere of lasse folk than hymself.'
Mel 1073 And, sire, that ther hath been many a good womman may lightly be preved.
Mel 1074 For certes, sire, oure Lord Jhesu Crist wolde nevere have descended to be born of a womman,
Mel 1074A if alle wommen hadden been wikke.
Mel 1075 And after that, for the grete bountee that is in wommen,
Mel 1075A oure Lord Jhesu Crist, whan he was risen fro deeth to lyve,
Mel 1075B appeered rather to a womman than to his Apostles.
Mel 1076 And though that Salomon seith that he ne foond nevere womman good,
Mel 1076A it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke.
Mel 1077 For though that he ne foond no good womman, certes,
Mel 1077A many another man hath founden many a womman ful good and trewe.
Mel 1078 Or elles, per aventure, the entente of Salomon was this:
Mel 1078A that, as in sovereyn bounte, he foond no womman --
Mel 1079 this is to seyn, that ther is no wight that hath sovereyn bountee save God allone,
Mel 1079A as he hymself recordeth in hys Evaungelie.
Mel 1080 For ther nys no creature so good that hym ne wanteth
Mel 1080A somwhat of the perfeccioun of God, that is his makere.
Mel 1081 Youre thridde reson is this: ye seyn that if ye governe yow by my conseil,
Mel 1081A it sholde seme that ye hadde yeve me the maistrie and the lordshipe over youre persone.
Mel 1082 Sire, save youre grace, it is nat so. For if it so were that no man sholde be conseilled
Mel 1082A but oonly of hem that hadden lordshipe and maistrie of his persone, men wolden nat be conseilled so ofte.
Mel 1083 For soothly thilke man that asketh conseil of a purpos, yet hath he free choys
Mel 1083A wheither he wole werke by that conseil or noon.
Mel 1084 And as to youre fourthe resoun, ther ye seyn that the janglerie of wommen kan hyde thynges that they
Mel 1084A wot noght, as who seith that a womman kan nat hyde that she woot;
Mel 1085 sire, thise wordes been understonde of wommen that been jangleresses and wikked;
Mel 1086 of whiche wommen men seyn that thre thynges dryven a man out of his hous --
Mel 1086A that is to seyn, smoke, droppyng of reyn, and wikked wyves;
Mel 1087 and of swiche wommen seith Salomon that
Mel 1087A `it were bettre dwelle in desert than with a womman that is riotous.'
Mel 1088 And sire, by youre leve, that am nat I,
Mel 1089 for ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence and my grete pacience, and eek how wel that
Mel 1089A I kan hyde and hele thynges that men oghte secreely to hyde.
Mel 1090 And soothly, as to youre fifthe resoun, where as ye seyn that in wikked conseil wommen venquisshe men,
Mel 1090A God woot, thilke resoun stant heere in no stede.
Mel 1091 For understoond now, ye asken conseil to do wikkednesse;
Mel 1092 and if ye wole werken wikkednesse, and youre wif restreyneth thilke wikked purpos,
Mel 1092A and overcometh yow by reson and by good conseil,
Mel 1093 certes youre wyf oghte rather to be preised than yblamed.
Mel 1094 Thus sholde ye understonde the philosophre that seith, `In wikked conseil wommen venquisshen hir housbondes.'
Mel 1095 And ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples that
Mel 1095A many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been, and hir conseils ful hoolsome and profitable.
Mel 1096 Eek som men han seyd that the conseillynge of wommen
Mel 1096A is outher to deere or elles to litel of pris.
Mel 1097 But al be it so that ful many a womman is badde and hir conseil vile and noght worth,
Mel 1097A yet han men founde ful many a good womman, and ful discret and wis in conseillynge.
Mel 1098 Loo, Jacob by good conseil of his mooder Rebekka wan the benysoun of Ysaak his fader
Mel 1098A and the lordshipe over alle his bretheren.
Mel 1099 Judith by hire good conseil delivered the citee of Bethulie, in which she dwelled,
Mel 1099A out of the handes of Olofernus, that hadde it biseged and wolde have al destroyed it.
Mel 1100 Abygail delivered Nabal hir housbonde fro David the kyng, that wolde have slayn hym,
Mel 1100A and apaysed the ire of the kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseillyng.
Mel 1101 Hester by hir good conseil enhaunced greetly the peple of God in the regne of Assuerus the kyng.
Mel 1102 And the same bountee in good conseillyng of many a good womman may men telle.
Mel 1103 And mooreover, whan oure Lord hadde creat Adam, oure forme fader, he seyde in this wise:
Mel 1104 `It is nat good to been a man alloone; make we to hym an helpe semblable to hymself.'
Mel 1105 Heere may ye se that if that wommen were nat goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable,
Mel 1106 oure Lord God of hevene wolde nevere han wroght hem,
Mel 1106A ne called hem help of man, but rather confusioun of man.
Mel 1107 And ther seyde oones a clerk in two vers, `What is bettre than gold? Jaspre.
Mel 1107A What is bettre than jaspre? Wisedoom.
Mel 1108 And what is better than wisedoom? Womman. And what is bettre than a good womman? Nothyng.'
Mel 1109 And, sire, by manye of othre resons may ye seen that
Mel 1109A manye wommen been goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable.
Mel 1110 And therfore, sire, if ye wol triste to my conseil, I shal restoore yow youre doghter hool and sound.
Mel 1111 And eek I wol do to yow so muche that ye shul have honour in this cause. "
Mel 1112 Whan Melibee hadde herd the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he seyde thus:
Mel 1113 " I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth.
Mel 1113A He seith that `wordes that been spoken discreetly by ordinaunce been honycombes,
Mel 1113B for they yeven swetnesse to the soule and hoolsomnesse to the body.'
Mel 1114 And, wyf, by cause of thy sweete wordes, and eek for I have assayed and preved thy grete sapience
Mel 1114A and thy grete trouthe, I wol governe me by thy conseil in alle thyng. "
Mel 1115 " Now, sire, " quod dame Prudence, " and syn ye vouche sauf to been governed by my conseil,
Mel 1115A I wol enforme yow how ye shul governe yourself in chesynge of youre conseillours.
Mel 1116 Ye shul first in alle youre werkes mekely biseken to the heighe God that he wol be youre conseillour;
Mel 1117 and shapeth yow to swich entente that he yeve yow conseil and confort, as taughte Thobie his sone:
Mel 1118 `At alle tymes thou shalt blesse God, and praye hym to dresse thy weyes,
Mel 1118A and looke that alle thy conseils been in hym for everemoore.'
Mel 1119 Seint Jame eek seith: `If any of yow have nede of sapience, axe it of God.'
Mel 1120 And afterward thanne shul ye taken conseil in youreself,
Mel 1120A and examyne wel youre thoghtes of swich thyng as yow thynketh that is best for youre profit.
Mel 1121 And thanne shul ye dryve fro youre herte thre thynges that been contrariouse to good conseil;
Mel 1122 that is to seyn, ire, coveitise, and hastifnesse.
Mel 1123 " First, he that axeth conseil of hymself, certes he moste been withouten ire, for manye causes.
Mel 1124 The firste is this: he that hath greet ire and wratthe in hymself, he weneth alwey that
Mel 1124A he may do thyng that he may nat do.
Mel 1125 And secoundely, he that is irous and wrooth, he ne may nat wel deme;
Mel 1126 and he that may nat wel deme, may nat wel conseille.
Mel 1127 The thridde is this, that he that is irous and wrooth, as seith Senec,
Mel 1127A ne may nat speke but blameful thynges,
Mel 1128 and with his viciouse wordes he stireth oother folk to angre and to ire.
Mel 1129 And eek, sire, ye moste dryve coveitise out of youre herte.
Mel 1130 For the Apostle seith that coveitise is roote of alle harmes.
Mel 1131 And trust wel that a coveitous man ne kan noght deme ne thynke,
Mel 1131A but oonly to fulfille the ende of his coveitise;
Mel 1132 and certes, that ne may nevere been accompliced,
Mel 1132A for evere the moore habundaunce that he hath of richesse, the moore he desireth.
Mel 1133 And, sire, ye moste also dryve out of youre herte hastifnesse; for certes,
Mel 1134 ye ne may nat deeme for the beste by a sodeyn thought that falleth in youre herte,
Mel 1134A but ye moste avyse yow on it ful ofte.
Mel 1135 For, as ye herde her biforn, the commune proverbe is this, that `he that soone deemeth, soone repenteth.'
Mel 1136 Sire, ye ne be nat alwey in lyk disposicioun;
Mel 1137 for certes, somthyng that somtyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do,
Mel 1137A another tyme it semeth to yow the contrarie.
Mel 1138 " Whan ye han taken conseil in youreself and han deemed by good deliberacion swich thyng as you semeth best,
Mel 1139 thanne rede I yow that ye kepe it secree.
Mel 1140 Biwrey nat youre conseil to no persone, but if so be that ye wenen sikerly that
Mel 1140A thurgh youre biwreyyng youre condicioun shal be to yow the moore profitable.
Mel 1141 For Jhesus Syrak seith, `Neither to thy foo ne to thy frend discovere nat thy secree ne thy folie,
Mel 1142 for they wol yeve yow audience and lookynge and supportacioun in thy presence and scorne thee in thyn absence.'
Mel 1143 Another clerk seith that `scarsly shaltou fynden any persone that may kepe conseil secrely.'
Mel 1144 The book seith, `Whil that thou kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thou kepest it in thy prisoun,
Mel 1145 and whan thou biwreyest thy conseil to any wight, he holdeth thee in his snare.'
Mel 1146 And therfore yow is bettre to hyde youre conseil in youre herte than praye him
Mel 1146A to whom ye han biwreyed youre conseil that he wole kepen it cloos and stille.
Mel 1147 For Seneca seith: `If so be that thou ne mayst nat thyn owene conseil hyde,
Mel 1147A how darstou prayen any oother wight thy conseil secrely to kepe?'
Mel 1148 But nathelees, if thou wene sikerly that the biwreiyng of thy conseil to a persone wol make
Mel 1148A thy condicion to stonden in the bettre plyt, thanne shaltou tellen hym thy conseil in this wise.
Mel 1149 First thou shalt make no semblant wheither thee were levere pees or werre, or this or that,
Mel 1149A ne shewe hym nat thy wille and thyn entente.
Mel 1150 For trust wel that comunli thise conseillours been flatereres,
Mel 1151 namely the conseillours of grete lordes,
Mel 1152 for they enforcen hem alwey rather to speken plesante wordes, enclynynge to the lordes lust,
Mel 1152A than wordes that been trewe or profitable.
Mel 1153 And therfore men seyn that the riche man hath seeld good conseil, but if he have it of hymself.
Mel 1154 And after that thou shalt considere thy freendes and thyne enemys.
Mel 1155 And as touchynge thy freendes, thou shalt considere which of hem been
Mel 1155A moost feithful and moost wise and eldest and most approved in conseillyng;
Mel 1156 and of hem shalt thou aske thy conseil, as the caas requireth.
Mel 1157 I seye that first ye shul clepe to youre conseil youre freendes that been trewe.
Mel 1158 For Salomon seith that `right as the herte of a man deliteth in savour that is soote,
Mel 1158A right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeveth swetnesse to the soule.'
Mel 1159 He seith also, `Ther may no thyng be likned to the trewe freend,
Mel 1160 for certes gold ne silver ben nat so muche worth as the goode wyl of a trewe freend.'
Mel 1161 And eek he seith that `a trewe freend is a strong deffense; who so that it fyndeth,
Mel 1161A certes he fyndeth a greet tresour.'
Mel 1162 Thanne shul ye eek considere if that youre trewe freendes been discrete and wise.
Mel 1162A For the book seith, `Axe alwey thy conseil of hem that been wise.'
Mel 1163 And by this same resoun shul ye clepen to youre conseil of youre freendes that been of age,
Mel 1163A swiche as han seyn and been expert in manye thynges and been approved in conseillynges.
Mel 1164 For the book seith that `in olde men is the sapience, and in longe tyme the prudence.'
Mel 1165 And Tullius seith that `grete thynges ne been nat ay accompliced by strengthe, ne by delivernesse of body, but
Mel 1165A by good conseil, by auctoritee of persones, and by science; the whiche thre thynges ne been nat fieble by age,
Mel 1165B but certes they enforcen and encreescen day by day.'
Mel 1166 And thanne shul ye kepe this for a general reule: First shul ye clepen to youre conseil
Mel 1166A a fewe of youre freendes that been especiale;
Mel 1167 for Salomon seith, `Manye freendes have thou, but among a thousand chese thee oon to be thy conseillour.'
Mel 1168 For al be it so that thou first ne telle thy conseil but to a fewe,
Mel 1168A thou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk if it be nede.
Mel 1169 But looke alwey that thy conseillours have thilke thre condiciouns that I have seyd bifore --
Mel 1169A that is to seyn, that they be trewe, wise, and of oold experience.
Mel 1170 And werke nat alwey in every nede by oon counseillour allone;
Mel 1170A for somtyme bihooveth it to been conseilled by manye.
Mel 1171 For Salomon seith, `Salvacion of thynges is where as ther been manye conseillours.'
Mel 1172 " Now, sith that I have toold yow of which folk ye sholde been counseilled, now
Mel 1172A wol I teche yow which conseil ye oghte to eschewe.
Mel 1173 First, ye shul eschue the conseillyng of fooles; for Salomon seith, `Taak no conseil of a fool,
Mel 1173A for he ne kan noght conseille but after his owene lust and his affeccioun.'
Mel 1174 The book seith that `the propretee of a fool is this: he troweth lightly harm of every wight,
Mel 1174A and lightly troweth alle bountee in hymself.'
Mel 1175 Thou shalt eek eschue the conseillyng of alle flatereres, swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise youre persone
Mel 1175A by flaterye than for to telle yow the soothfastnesse of thynges.
Mel 1176 Wherfore Tullius seith, `Amonges alle the pestilences that been in freendshipe the gretteste is flaterie.'
Mel 1176A And therfore is it moore nede that thou eschue and drede flatereres than any oother peple.
Mel 1177 The book seith, `Thou shalt rather drede and flee fro the sweete wordes of flaterynge preiseres
Mel 1177A than fro the egre wordes of thy freend that seith thee thy sothes.'
Mel 1178 Salomon seith that `the wordes of a flaterere is a snare to cacche with innocentz.'
Mel 1179 He seith also that `he that speketh to his freend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce
Mel 1179A setteth a net biforn his feet to cacche hym.'
Mel 1180 And therfore seith Tullius, `Enclyne nat thyne eres to flatereres, ne taak no conseil of the wordes of flaterye.'
Mel 1181 And Caton seith, `Avyse thee wel, and eschue the wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce.'
Mel 1182 And eek thou shalt eschue the conseillyng of thyne olde enemys that been reconsiled.
Mel 1183 The book seith that `no wight retourneth saufly into the grace of his olde enemy.'
Mel 1184 And Isope seith, `Ne trust nat to hem to whiche thou hast had som tyme werre or enemytee,
Mel 1184A ne telle hem nat thy conseil.'
Mel 1185 And Seneca telleth the cause why: `It may nat be,' seith he, `that where greet
Mel 1185A fyr hath longe tyme endured, that ther ne dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse.'
Mel 1186 And therfore seith Salomon, `In thyn olde foo trust nevere.'
Mel 1187 For sikerly, though thyn enemy be reconsiled, and maketh thee chiere of humylitee,
Mel 1187A and lowteth to thee with his heed, ne trust hym nevere.
Mel 1188 For certes he maketh thilke feyned humilitee moore for his profit than for any love of thy persone,
Mel 1188A by cause that he deemeth to have victorie over thy persone by swich feyned contenance,
Mel 1188B the which victorie he myghte nat have by strif or werre.
Mel 1189 And Peter Alfonce seith, `Make no felawshipe with thyne olde enemys, for if thou do hem bountee,
Mel 1189A they wol perverten it into wikkednesse.'
Mel 1190 And eek thou most eschue the conseillyng of hem that been thy servantz and beren thee greet reverence,
Mel 1190A for peraventure they seyn it moore for drede than for love.
Mel 1191 And therfore seith a philosophre in this wise:
Mel 1191A `Ther is no wight parfitly trewe to hym that he to soore dredeth.'
Mel 1192 And Tullius seith, `Ther nys no myght so greet of any emperour that longe may endure,
Mel 1192A but if he have moore love of the peple than drede.'
Mel 1193 Thou shalt also eschue the conseiling of folk that been dronkelewe, for they ne kan no conseil hyde.
Mel 1194 For Salomon seith, `Ther is no privetee ther as regneth dronkenesse.'
Mel 1195 Ye shul also han in suspect the conseillyng of swich folk as
Mel 1195A conseille yow o thyng prively and conseille yow the contrarie openly.
Mel 1196 For Cassidorie seith that `it is a manere sleighte to hyndre,
Mel 1196A whan he sheweth to doon o thyng openly and werketh prively the contrarie.'
Mel 1197 Thou shalt also have in suspect the conseillyng of wikked folk. For the book seith,
Mel 1197A `The conseillyng of wikked folk is alwey ful of fraude.'
Mel 1198 And David seith, `Blisful is that man that hath nat folwed the conseilyng of shrewes.'
Mel 1199 Thou shalt also eschue the conseillyng of yong folk, for hir conseil is nat rype.
Mel 1200 " Now, sire, sith I have shewed yow of which folk ye shul take youre conseil
Mel 1200A and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil,
Mel 1201 now wol I teche yow how ye shal examyne youre conseil, after the doctrine of Tullius.
Mel 1202 In the examynynge thanne of youre conseillour ye shul considere manye thynges.
Mel 1203 Alderfirst thou shalt considere that in thilke thyng that thou purposest, and upon what thyng thou wolt have conseil,
Mel 1203A that verray trouthe be seyd and conserved; this is to seyn, telle trewely thy tale.
Mel 1204 For he that seith fals may nat wel be conseilled in that cas of which he lieth.
Mel 1205 And after this thou shalt considere the thynges that acorden to that thou purposest
Mel 1205A for to do by thy conseillours, if resoun accorde therto,
Mel 1206 and eek if thy myght may atteine therto, and if the moore part
Mel 1206A and the bettre part of thy conseillours acorde therto, or noon.
Mel 1207 Thanne shaltou considere what thyng shal folwe of that conseillyng,
Mel 1207A as hate, pees, werre, grace, profit, or damage, and manye othere thynges.
Mel 1208 And in alle thise thynges thou shalt chese the beste and weyve alle othere thynges.
Mel 1209 Thanne shaltow considere of what roote is engendred the matiere of thy conseil
Mel 1209A and what fruyt it may conceyve and engendre.
Mel 1210 Thou shalt eek considere alle thise causes, fro whennes they been sprongen.
Mel 1211 And whan ye han examyned youre conseil, as I have seyd, and which partie is the bettre
Mel 1211A and moore profitable, and han approved it by manye wise folk and olde,
Mel 1212 thanne shaltou considere if thou mayst parfourne it and maken of it a good ende.
Mel 1213 For certes resoun wol nat that any man sholde bigynne a thyng
Mel 1213A but if he myghte parfourne it as hym oghte;
Mel 1214 ne no wight sholde take upon hym so hevy a charge that he myghte nat bere it.
Mel 1215 For the proverbe seith, `He that to muche embraceth, distreyneth litel.'
Mel 1216 And Catoun seith, `Assay to do swich thyng as thou hast power to doon,
Mel 1216A lest that the charge oppresse thee so soore that
Mel 1216B thee bihoveth to weyve thyng that thou hast bigonne.'
Mel 1217 And if so be that thou be in doute wheither thou mayst parfourne a thing or noon,
Mel 1217A chese rather to suffre than bigynne.
Mel 1218 And Piers Alphonce seith, `If thou hast myght to doon a thyng of which thou most repente,
Mel 1218A it is bettre " nay " than " ye. " '
Mel 1219 This is to seyn, that thee is bettre holde thy tonge stille than for to speke.
Mel 1220 Thanne may ye understonde by strenger resons that if thou hast power to parfourne a werk
Mel 1220A of which thou shalt repente, thanne is it bettre that thou suffre than bigynne.
Mel 1221 Wel seyn they that defenden every wight to assaye a thyng of which he is in doute
Mel 1221A wheither he may parfourne it or noon.
Mel 1222 And after, whan ye han examyned youre conseil, as I have seyd biforn, and knowen wel that
Mel 1222A ye may parfourne youre emprise, conferme it thanne sadly til it be at an ende.
Mel 1223 " Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow whanne and wherfore that
Mel 1223A ye may chaunge youre counseil withouten youre repreve.
Mel 1224 Soothly, a man may chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth,
Mel 1224A or whan a newe caas bitydeth.
Mel 1225 For the lawe seith that `upon thynges that newely bityden bihoveth newe conseil.'
Mel 1226 And Senec seith, `If thy conseil is comen to the eeris of thyn enemy, chaunge thy conseil.'
Mel 1227 Thou mayst also chaunge thy conseil if so be that thou fynde that by errour,
Mel 1227A or by oother cause, harm or damage may bityde.
Mel 1228 Also if thy conseil be dishonest, or ellis cometh of dishonest cause, chaunge thy conseil.
Mel 1229 For the lawes seyn that `alle bihestes that been dishoneste been of no value';
Mel 1230 and eek if so be that it be inpossible, or may nat goodly be parfourned or kept.
Mel 1231 " And take this for a general reule, that every conseil that is affermed so strongly that it may nat
Mel 1231A be chaunged for no condicioun that may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked. "
Mel 1232 This Melibeus, whanne he hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf dame Prudence, answerde in this wyse:
Mel 1233 " Dame, " quod he, " as yet into this tyme ye han wel and covenably taught me as in general how
Mel 1233A I shal governe me in the chesynge and in the withholdynge of my conseillours.
Mel 1234 But now wolde I fayn that ye wolde condescende in especial
Mel 1235 and telle me how liketh yow, or what semeth yow, by oure conseillours
Mel 1235A that we han chosen in oure present nede. "
Mel 1236 " My lord, " quod she, " I biseke yow in al humblesse that ye wol nat wilfully replie agayn my resouns,
Mel 1236A ne distempre youre herte, thogh I speke thyng that yow displese.
Mel 1237 For God woot that, as in myn entente, I speke it for youre beste,
Mel 1237A for youre honour, and for youre profite eke.
Mel 1238 And soothly, I hope that youre benyngnytee wol taken it in pacience.
Mel 1239 Trusteth me wel, " quod she, " that youre conseil as in this caas ne sholde nat, as to speke properly,
Mel 1239A be called a conseillyng, but a mocioun or a moevyng of folye,
Mel 1240 in which conseil ye han erred in many a sondry wise.
Mel 1241 " First and forward, ye han erred in th' assemblynge of youre conseillours.
Mel 1242 For ye sholde first have cleped a fewe folk to youre conseil, and after ye myghte han shewed it
Mel 1242A to mo folk, if it hadde been nede.
Mel 1243 But certes, ye han sodeynly cleped to youre conseil a greet multitude of peple,
Mel 1243A ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to heere.
Mel 1244 Also ye han erred, for theras ye sholden oonly have cleped to youre conseil
Mel 1244A youre trewe frendes olde and wise,
Mel 1245 ye han ycleped straunge folk, yonge folk, false flatereres, and enemys reconsiled,
Mel 1245A and folk that doon yow reverence withouten love.
Mel 1246 And eek also ye have erred, for ye han broght with yow to youre conseil ire, coveitise, and hastifnesse,
Mel 1247 the whiche thre thinges been contrariouse to every conseil honest and profitable;
Mel 1248 the whiche thre thinges ye han nat anientissed or destroyed hem,
Mel 1248A neither in youreself, ne in youre conseillours, as yow oghte.
Mel 1249 Ye han erred also, for ye han shewed to youre conseillours
Mel 1249A youre talent and youre affeccioun to make werre anon and for to do vengeance.
Mel 1250 They han espied by youre wordes to what thyng ye been enclyned;
Mel 1251 and therfore han they rather conseilled yow to youre talent than to youre profit.
Mel 1252 Ye han erred also, for it semeth that yow suffiseth
Mel 1252A to han been conseilled by thise conseillours oonly, and with litel avys,
Mel 1253 whereas in so greet and so heigh a nede it hadde been necessarie mo conseillours
Mel 1253A and moore deliberacion to parfourne youre emprise.
Mel 1254 Ye han erred also, for ye ne han nat examyned youre conseil in the forseyde manere,
Mel 1254A ne in due manere, as the caas requireth.
Mel 1255 Ye han erred also, for ye han maked no division bitwixe youre conseillours -- this is to seyn,
Mel 1255A bitwixen youre trewe freendes and youre feyned conseillours --
Mel 1256 ne ye han nat knowe the wil of youre trewe freendes olde and wise,
Mel 1257 but ye han cast alle hire wordes in an hochepot, and enclyned youre herte to the moore part
Mel 1257A and to the gretter nombre, and there been ye condescended.
Mel 1258 And sith ye woot wel that men shal alwey fynde a gretter nombre of fooles than of wise men,
Mel 1259 and therfore the conseils that been at congregaciouns and multitudes of folk, there as men take moore reward
Mel 1259A to the nombre than to the sapience of persones,
Mel 1260 ye se wel that in swiche conseillynges fooles han the maistrie. "
Mel 1261 Melibeus answerde agayn, and seyde, " I graunte wel that I have erred;
Mel 1262 but there as thou hast toold me heerbiforn
Mel 1262A that he nys nat to blame that chaungeth his conseillours in certein caas and for certeine juste causes,
Mel 1263 I am al redy to chaunge my conseillours right as thow wolt devyse.
Mel 1264 The proverbe seith that `for to do synne is mannyssh,
Mel 1264A but certes for to persevere longe in synne is werk of the devel.' "
Mel 1265 To this sentence answered anon dame Prudence, and seyde,
Mel 1266 " Examineth, " quod she, " youre conseil, and lat us see
Mel 1266A the whiche of hem han spoken most resonably and taught yow best conseil.
Mel 1267 And for as muche as that the examynacion is necessarie, lat us bigynne at the surgiens
Mel 1267A and at the phisiciens, that first speeken in this matiere.
Mel 1268 I sey yow that the surgiens and phisiciens han seyd yow in youre conseil discreetly, as hem oughte,
Mel 1269 and in hir speche seyden ful wisely that to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to every wight
Mel 1269A honour and profit, and no wight for to anoye,
Mel 1270 and after hir craft to doon greet diligence
Mel 1270A unto the cure of hem which that they han in hir governaunce.
Mel 1271 And, sire, right as they han answered wisely and discreetly,
Mel 1272 right so rede I that they been heighly and sovereynly gerdoned for hir noble speche,
Mel 1273 and eek for they sholde do the moore ententif bisynesse in the curacion of youre doghter deere.
Mel 1274 For al be it so that they been youre freendes, therfore shal ye nat suffren
Mel 1274A that they serve yow for noght,
Mel 1275 but ye oghte the rather gerdone hem and shewe hem youre largesse.
Mel 1276 And as touchynge the proposicioun which that the phisiciens encreesceden in this caas -- this is to seyn,
Mel 1277 that in maladies that oon contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie --
Mel 1278 I wolde fayn knowe hou ye understonde thilke text, and what is youre sentence. "
Mel 1279 " Certes, " quod Melibeus, " I understonde it in this wise:
Mel 1280 that right as they han doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I doon hem another.
Mel 1281 For right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong,
Mel 1281A right so shal I venge me upon hem and doon hem wrong;
Mel 1282 and thanne have I cured oon contrarie by another. "
Mel 1283 " Lo, lo, " quod dame Prudence, " how lightly is every man enclined to his owene desir
Mel 1283A and to his owene plesaunce!
Mel 1284 Certes, " quod she, " the wordes of the phisiciens ne sholde nat han been understonden in thys wise.
Mel 1285 For certes, wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse, ne vengeance to vengeaunce,
Mel 1285A ne wrong to wrong, but they been semblable.
Mel 1286 And therfore o vengeaunce is nat warisshed by another vengeaunce, ne o wroong by another wroong,
Mel 1287 but everich of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth oother.
Mel 1288 But certes, the wordes of the phisiciens sholde been understonden in this wise:
Mel 1289 for good and wikkednesse been two contraries, and pees and werre, vengeaunce
Mel 1289A and suffraunce, discord and accord, and manye othere thynges;
Mel 1290 but certes, wikkednesse shal be warisshed by goodnesse, discord by accord, werre by pees,
Mel 1290A and so forth of othere thynges.
Mel 1291 And heerto accordeth Seint Paul the Apostle in manye places.
Mel 1292 He seith, `Ne yeldeth nat harm for harm, ne wikked speche for wikked speche,
Mel 1293 but do wel to hym that dooth thee harm and blesse hym that seith to thee harm.'
Mel 1294 And in manye othere places he amonesteth pees and accord.
Mel 1295 But now wol I speke to yow of the conseil which that was yeven to yow
Mel 1295A by the men of lawe and the wise folk,
Mel 1296 that seyden alle by oon accord, as ye han herd bifore,
Mel 1297 that over alle thynges ye shal doon youre diligence to kepen youre persone and to warnestoore youre hous;
Mel 1298 and seyden also that in this caas yow oghten for to werken ful avysely and with greet deliberacioun.
Mel 1299 And, sire, as to the firste point, that toucheth to the kepyng of youre persone,
Mel 1300 ye shul understonde that he that hath werre shal everemoore mekely and devoutly preyen, biforn alle thynges,
Mel 1301 that Jhesus Crist of his mercy wol han hym in his proteccion
Mel 1301A and been his sovereyn helpyng at his nede.
Mel 1302 For certes, in this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept sufficeantly
Mel 1302A withouten the kepyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist.
Mel 1303 To this sentence accordeth the prophete David, that seith,
Mel 1304 `If God ne kepe the citee, in ydel waketh he that it kepeth.'
Mel 1305 Now, sire, thanne shul ye committe the kepyng of youre persone
Mel 1305A to youre trewe freendes that been approved and yknowe,
Mel 1306 and of hem shul ye axen help youre persone for to kepe. For Catoun seith,
Mel 1306A `If thou hast nede of help, axe it of thy freendes,
Mel 1307 for ther nys noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe freend.'
Mel 1308 And after this thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk, and fro lyeres,
Mel 1308A and have alwey in suspect hire compaignye.
Mel 1309 For Piers Alfonce seith, `Ne taak no compaignye by the weye of a straunge man,
Mel 1309A but if so be that thou have knowe hym of a lenger tyme.
Mel 1310 And if so be that he falle into thy compaignye paraventure, withouten thyn assent,
Mel 1311 enquere thanne as subtilly as thou mayst of his conversacion, and of his lyf bifore, and feyne thy wey;
Mel 1311A seye that [thou] wolt thider as thou wolt nat go;
Mel 1312 and if he bereth a spere, hoold thee on the right syde,
Mel 1312A and if he bere a swerd, hoold thee on the lift syde.'
Mel 1313 And after this thanne shul ye kepe yow wisely from all swich manere peple as I have seyd bifore,
Mel 1313A and hem and hir conseil eschewe.
Mel 1314 And after this thanne shul ye kepe yow in swich manere
Mel 1315 that, for any presumpcion of youre strengthe, that ye ne dispise nat, ne accompte nat the myght
Mel 1315A of youre adversarie so litel that ye lete the kepyng of youre persone for youre presumpcioun,
Mel 1316 for every wys man dredeth his enemy.
Mel 1317 And Salomon seith, `Weleful is he that of alle hath drede,
Mel 1318 for certes, he that thurgh the hardynesse of his herte and thurgh the hardynesse of hymself hath
Mel 1318A to greet presumpcioun, hym shal yvel bityde.'
Mel 1319 Thanne shul ye everemoore contrewayte embusshementz and alle espiaille.
Mel 1320 For Senec seith that `the wise man that dredeth harmes, eschueth harmes,
Mel 1321 ne he ne falleth into perils that perils eschueth.'
Mel 1322 And al be it so that it seme that thou art in siker place,
Mel 1322A yet shaltow alwey do thy diligence in kepynge of thy persone;
Mel 1323 this is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe thy persone
Mel 1323A nat oonly fro thy gretteste enemys but fro thy leeste enemy.
Mel 1324 Senek seith, `A man that is well avysed, he dredeth his leste enemy.'
Mel 1325 Ovyde seith that `the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde hert.'
Mel 1326 And the book seith, `A litel thorn may prikke a kyng ful soore,
Mel 1326A and an hound wol holde the wilde boor.'
Mel 1327 But nathelees, I sey nat thou shalt be so coward that thou doute ther wher as is no drede.
Mel 1328 The book seith that `somme folk han greet lust to deceyve, but yet they dreden hem to be deceyved.'
Mel 1329 Yet shaltou drede to been empoisoned and kepe the from the compaignye of scorneres.
Mel 1330 For the book seith, `With scorneres make no compaignye, but flee hire wordes as venym.'
Mel 1331 " Now, as to the seconde point,
Mel 1331A where as youre wise conseillours conseilled yow to warnestoore youre hous with gret diligence,
Mel 1332 I wolde fayn knowe how that ye understonde thilke wordes and what is youre sentence. "
Mel 1333 Melibeus answerde and seyde, " Certes, I understande it in this wise: That I shal warnestoore myn hous with toures,
Mel 1333A swiche as han castelles and othere manere edifices, and armure, and artelries,
Mel 1334 by whiche thynges I may my persone and myn hous so kepen and deffenden
Mel 1334A that myne enemys shul been in drede myn hous for to approche. "
Mel 1335 To this sentence answerde anon Prudence: " Warnestooryng, " quod she,
Mel 1335A " of heighe toures and of grete edifices apperteyneth somtyme to pryde.
Mel 1336 And eek men make heighe toures, [and grete edifices] with grete costages and with greet travaille,
Mel 1336A and whan that they been accompliced, yet be they nat worth a stree,
Mel 1336B but if they be defended by trewe freendes that been olde and wise.
Mel 1337 And understoond wel that the gretteste and strongeste garnysoun that a riche man may have,
Mel 1337A as wel to kepen his persone as his goodes, is
Mel 1338 that he be biloved with hys subgetz and with his neighebores.
Mel 1339 For thus seith Tullius, that `ther is a manere garnysoun
Mel 1339A that no man may venquysse ne disconfite, and that is
Mel 1340 a lord to be biloved of his citezeins and of his peple.'
Mel 1341 Now, sire, as to the thridde point, where as youre olde
Mel 1341A and wise conseillours seyden that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in this nede,
Mel 1342 but that yow oghte purveyen and apparaillen yow in this caas with greet diligence and greet deliberacioun;
Mel 1343 trewely, I trowe that they seyden right wisely and right sooth.
Mel 1344 For Tullius seith, `In every nede, er thou bigynne it, apparaille thee with greet diligence.'
Mel 1345 Thanne seye I that in vengeance-takyng, in werre, in bataille, and in warnestooryng,
Mel 1346 er thow bigynne, I rede that thou apparaille thee therto, and do it with greet deliberacion.
Mel 1347 For Tullius seith that `longe apparaillyng biforn the bataille maketh short victorie.'
Mel 1348 And Cassidorus seith, `The garnysoun is stronger whan it is longe tyme avysed.'
Mel 1349 But now lat us speken of the conseil that was accorded by youre neighebores,
Mel 1349A swiche as doon yow reverence withouten love,
Mel 1350 youre olde enemys reconsiled, youre flatereres,
Mel 1351 that conseilled yow certeyne thynges prively, and openly conseilleden yow the contrarie;
Mel 1352 the yonge folk also, that conseilleden yow to venge yow and make werre anon.
Mel 1353 And certes, sire, as I have seyd biforn, ye han greetly erred
Mel 1353A to han cleped swich manere folk to youre conseil,
Mel 1354 which conseillours been ynogh repreved by the resouns aforeseyd.
Mel 1355 But nathelees, lat us now descende to the special. Ye shuln first procede after the doctrine of Tullius.
Mel 1356 Certes, the trouthe of this matiere, or of this conseil, nedeth nat diligently enquere,
Mel 1357 for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to yow this trespas and vileynye,
Mel 1358 and how manye trespassours, and in what manere
Mel 1358A they han to yow doon al this wrong and al this vileynye.
Mel 1359 And after this, thanne shul ye examyne the seconde condicion which that the same Tullius addeth in this matiere.
Mel 1360 For Tullius put a thyng which that he clepeth `consentynge'; this is to seyn,
Mel 1361 who been they, and whiche been they and how manye that consenten to thy conseil
Mel 1361A in thy wilfulnesse to doon hastif vengeance.
Mel 1362 And lat us considere also who been they, and how manye been they,
Mel 1362A and whiche been they that consenteden to youre adversaries.
Mel 1363 And certes, as to the firste poynt, it is wel knowen whiche folk been
Mel 1363A they that consenteden to youre hastif wilfulnesse,
Mel 1364 for trewely, alle tho that conseilleden yow to maken sodeyn werre ne been nat youre freendes.
Mel 1365 Lat us now considere whiche been they that ye holde so greetly youre freendes as to youre persone.
Mel 1366 For al be it so that ye be myghty and riche, certes ye ne been but allone,
Mel 1367 for certes ye ne han no child but a doghter,
Mel 1368 ne ye ne han bretheren, ne cosyns germayns, ne noon oother neigh kynrede,
Mel 1369 wherfore that youre enemys for drede sholde stinte to plede with yow or to destroye youre persone.
Mel 1370 Ye knowen also that youre richesses mooten been dispended in diverse parties,
Mel 1371 and whan that every wight hath his part, they ne wollen taken but litel reward to venge thy deeth.
Mel 1372 But thyne enemys been thre, and they han manie children, bretheren, cosyns, and oother ny kynrede.
Mel 1373 And though so were that thou haddest slayn of hem two or three, yet dwellen ther ynowe
Mel 1373A to wreken hir deeth and to sle thy persone.
Mel 1374 And though so be that youre kynrede be moore siker and stedefast than the kyn of youre adversarie,
Mel 1375 yet nathelees youre kynrede nys but a fer kynrede; they been but litel syb to yow,
Mel 1376 and the kyn of youre enemys been ny syb to hem.
Mel 1376A And certes, as in that, hir condicioun is bet than youres.
Mel 1377 Thanne lat us considere also if the conseillyng of hem that conseilleden yow to taken sodeyn vengeaunce,
Mel 1377A wheither it accorde to resoun.
Mel 1378 And certes, ye knowe wel `nay.'
Mel 1379 For, as by right and resoun, ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight
Mel 1379A but the juge that hath the jurisdiccioun of it,
Mel 1380 whan it is graunted hym to take thilke vengeance hastily or attemprely, as the lawe requireth.
Mel 1381 And yet mooreover of thilke word that Tullius clepeth `consentynge,'
Mel 1382 thou shalt considere if thy myght and thy power may consenten
Mel 1382A and suffise to thy wilfulnesse and to thy conseillours.
Mel 1383 And certes thou mayst wel seyn that `nay.'
Mel 1384 For sikerly, as for to speke proprely, we may do no thyng
Mel 1384A but oonly swich thyng as we may doon rightfully.
Mel 1385 And certes rightfully ne mowe ye take no vengeance, as of youre propre auctoritee.
Mel 1386 Thanne mowe ye seen that youre power ne consenteth nat, ne accordeth nat, with youre wilfulnesse.
Mel 1387 " Lat us now examyne the thridde point, that Tullius clepeth `consequent.'
Mel 1388 Thou shalt understonde that the vengeance that thou purposest for to take is the consequent;
Mel 1389 and therof folweth another vengeaunce, peril, and werre, and othere damages withoute nombre,
Mel 1389A of whiche we be nat war, as at this tyme.
Mel 1390 And as touchynge the fourthe point, that Tullius clepeth `engendrynge,'
Mel 1391 thou shalt considere that this wrong which that is doon to thee
Mel 1391A is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys,
Mel 1392 and of the vengeance-takynge upon that wolde engendre another vengeance,
Mel 1392A and muchel sorwe and wastynge of richesses, as I seyde.
Mel 1393 " Now, sire, as to the point that Tullius clepeth `causes,' which that is the laste point,
Mel 1394 thou shalt understonde that the wrong that thou hast receyved hath certeine causes,
Mel 1395 whiche that clerkes clepen Oriens and Efficiens, and Causa longinqua and Causa propinqua;
Mel 1395A this is to seyn, the fer cause and the ny cause.
Mel 1396 The fer cause is almyghty God, that is cause of alle thynges.
Mel 1397 The neer cause is thy thre enemys.
Mel 1398 The cause accidental was hate.
Mel 1399 The cause material been the fyve woundes of thy doghter.
Mel 1400 The cause formal is the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and cloumben in at thy wyndowes.
Mel 1401 The cause final was for to sle thy doghter. It letted nat in as muche as in hem was.
Mel 1402 But for to speken of the fer cause, as to what ende they shul come, or what shal finally
Mel 1402A bityde of hem in this caas, ne kan I nat deeme but by conjectynge and by supposynge.
Mel 1403 For we shul suppose that they shul come to a wikked ende,
Mel 1404 by cause that the Book of Decrees seith, `Seelden, or with greet peyne, been causes ybroght to good ende
Mel 1404A whanne they been baddely bigonne.'
Mel 1405 " Now, sire, if men wolde axe me why that God suffred men to do yow this vileynye,
Mel 1405A certes, I kan nat wel answere, as for no soothfastnesse.
Mel 1406 For th' apostle seith that `the sciences and the juggementz of oure Lord God almyghty been ful depe;
Mel 1407 ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly.'
Mel 1408 Nathelees, by certeyne presumpciouns and conjectynges, I holde and bileeve
Mel 1409 that God, which that is ful of justice and of rightwisnesse, hath suffred this bityde by juste cause resonable.
Mel 1410 " Thy name is Melibee; this is to seyn, `a man that drynketh hony.'
Mel 1411 Thou hast ydronke so muchel hony of sweete temporeel richesses, and delices and honours of this world
Mel 1412 that thou art dronken and hast forgeten Jhesu Crist thy creatour.
Mel 1413 Thou ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour and reverence as thee oughte,
Mel 1414 ne thou ne hast nat wel ytaken kep to the wordes of Ovide, that seith,
Mel 1415 `Under the hony of the goodes of the body is hyd the venym that sleeth the soule.'
Mel 1416 And Salomon seith, `If thou hast founden hony, ete of it that suffiseth,
Mel 1417 for if thou ete of it out of mesure, thou shalt spewe' and be nedy and povre.
Mel 1418 And peraventure Crist hath thee in despit, and
Mel 1418A hath turned awey fro thee his face and his eeris of misericorde,
Mel 1419 and also he hath suffred that thou hast been punysshed in the manere that thow hast ytrespassed.
Mel 1420 Thou hast doon synne agayn oure Lord Crist,
Mel 1421 for certes, the three enemys of mankynde
Mel 1421A -- that is to seyn, the flessh, the feend, and the world --
Mel 1422 thou hast suffred hem entre in to thyn herte wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body,
Mel 1423 and hast nat defended thyself suffisantly agayns hire assautes and hire temptaciouns,
Mel 1423A so that they han wounded thy soule in fyve places;
Mel 1424 this is to seyn, the deedly synnes that been entred into thyn herte by thy fyve wittes.
Mel 1425 And in the same manere oure Lord Crist hath woold and suffred
Mel 1425A that thy three enemys been entred into thyn house by the wyndowes
Mel 1426 and han ywounded thy doghter in the forseyde manere. "
Mel 1427 " Certes, " quod Melibee, " I se wel that ye enforce yow muchel by wordes to overcome me in swich manere
Mel 1427A that I shal nat venge me of myne enemys,
Mel 1428 shewynge me the perils and the yveles that myghten falle of this vengeance.
Mel 1429 But whoso wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and yveles that myghte sewe of vengeance-takynge,
Mel 1430 a man wolde nevere take vengeance, and that were harm;
Mel 1431 for by the vengeance-takynge been the wikked men dissevered fro the goode men,
Mel 1432 and they that han wyl to do wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos,
Mel 1432A whan they seen the punyssynge and chastisynge of the trespassours. "
Mel 1435 And yet seye I moore, that right as a singuler persone synneth in takynge vengeance of another man,
Mel 1436 right so synneth the juge if he do no vengeance of hem that it han disserved.
Mel 1437 For Senec seith thus: `That maister,' he seith, `is good that proveth shrewes.'
Mel 1438 And as Cassidore seith, `A man dredeth to do outrages whan he woot and knoweth
Mel 1438A that it displeseth to the juges and the sovereyns.'
Mel 1439 And another seith, `The juge that dredeth to do right maketh men shrewes.'
Mel 1440 And Seint Paul the Apostle seith in his Epistle, whan he writeth unto the Romayns, that
Mel 1440A `the juges beren nat the spere withouten cause,
Mel 1441 but they beren it to punysse the shrewes and mysdoers and for to defende the goode men.'
Mel 1442 If ye wol thanne take vengeance of youre enemys, ye shul retourne or have youre recours to the juge
Mel 1442A that hath the jurisdiccion upon hem,
Mel 1443 and he shal punysse hem as the lawe axeth and requireth. "
Mel 1444 " A, " quod Melibee, " this vengeance liketh me no thyng.
Mel 1445 I bithenke me now and take heede how Fortune hath norissed me fro my childhede
Mel 1445A and hath holpen me to passe many a stroong paas.
Mel 1446 Now wol I assayen hire, trowynge, with Goddes help, that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge. "
Mel 1447 " Certes, " quod Prudence, " if ye wol werke by my conseil, ye shul nat assaye Fortune by no wey,
Mel 1448 ne ye shul nat lene or bowe unto hire, after the word of Senec,
Mel 1449 for `thynges that been folily doon, and that been in hope of Fortune, shullen nevere come to good ende.'
Mel 1450 And, as the same Senec seith, `The moore cleer and the moore shynyng that Fortune is,
Mel 1450A the moore brotil and the sonner broken she is.'
Mel 1451 Trusteth nat in hire, for she nys nat stidefast ne stable,
Mel 1452 for whan thow trowest to be moost seur or siker of hire help,
Mel 1452A she wol faille thee and deceyve thee.
Mel 1453 And where as ye seyn that Fortune hath norissed yow fro youre childhede,
Mel 1454 I seye that in so muchel shul ye the lasse truste in hire and in hir wit.
Mel 1455 For Senec seith, `What man that is norissed by Fortune, she maketh hym a greet fool.'
Mel 1456 Now thanne, syn ye desire and axe vengeance, and the vengeance that is doon after the lawe
Mel 1456A and bifore the juge ne liketh yow nat,
Mel 1457 and the vengeance that is doon in hope of Fortune is perilous and uncertein,
Mel 1458 thanne have ye noon oother remedie but for to have youre recours
Mel 1458A unto the sovereyn Juge that vengeth alle vileynyes and wronges.
Mel 1459 And he shal venge yow after that hymself witnesseth, where as he seith,
Mel 1460 `Leveth the vengeance to me, and I shal do it.' "
Mel 1461 Melibee answerde, " If I ne venge me nat of the vileynye that men han doon to me,
Mel 1462 I sompne or warne hem that han doon to me that vileynye,
Mel 1462A and alle othere, to do me another vileynye.
Mel 1463 For it is writen, `If thou take no vengeance of an oold vileynye,
Mel 1463A thou sompnest thyne adversaries to do thee a newe vileynye.'
Mel 1464 And also for my suffrance men wolden do me so muchel vileynye that
Mel 1464A I myghte neither bere it ne susteene,
Mel 1465 and so sholde I been put and holden overlowe.
Mel 1466 For men seyn, `In muchel suffrynge shul manye thynges falle unto thee whiche thou shalt nat mowe suffre.' "
Mel 1467 " Certes, " quod Prudence, " I graunte yow that over-muchel suffraunce is nat good.
Mel 1468 But yet ne folweth it nat therof that every persone to whom men doon vileynye take of it vengeance,
Mel 1469 for that aperteneth and longeth al oonly to the juges, for they shul venge the vileynyes and injuries.
Mel 1470 And therfore tho two auctoritees that ye han seyd above been oonly understonden in the juges,
Mel 1471 for whan they suffren over-muchel the wronges and the vileynyes to be doon withouten punysshynge,
Mel 1472 they sompne nat a man al oonly for to do newe wronges, but they comanden it.
Mel 1473 Also a wys man seith that `the juge that correcteth nat the synnere comandeth and biddeth hym do synne.'
Mel 1474 And the juges and sovereyns myghten in hir land so muchel suffre of the shrewes and mysdoeres
Mel 1475 that they sholden, by swich suffrance, by proces of tyme wexen of swich power and myght
Mel 1475A that they sholden putte out the juges and the sovereyns from hir places,
Mel 1476 and atte laste maken hem lesen hire lordshipes.
Mel 1477 " But lat us now putte that ye have leve to venge yow.
Mel 1478 I seye ye been nat of myght and power as now to venge yow,
Mel 1479 for if ye wole maken comparisoun unto the myght of youre adversaries, ye shul fynde in manye thynges that
Mel 1479A I have shewed yow er this that hire condicion is bettre than youres.
Mel 1480 And therfore seye I that it is good as now that ye suffre and be pacient.
Mel 1481 " Forthermoore, ye knowen wel that after the comune sawe, `it is a woodnesse a man to stryve
Mel 1481A with a strenger or a moore myghty man than he is hymself,
Mel 1482 and for to stryve with a man of evene strengthe -- that is to seyn,
Mel 1482A with as strong a man as he is -- it is peril,
Mel 1483 and for to stryve with a weyker man, it is folie.'
Mel 1484 And therfore sholde a man flee stryvynge as muchel as he myghte.
Mel 1485 For Salomon seith, `It is a greet worshipe to a man to kepen hym fro noyse and stryf.'
Mel 1486 And if it so bifalle or happe that a man of gretter myght and strengthe
Mel 1486A than thou art do thee grevaunce,
Mel 1487 studie and bisye thee rather to stille the same grevaunce than for to venge thee.
Mel 1488 For Senec seith that `he putteth hym in greet peril
Mel 1488A that stryveth with a gretter man than he is hymself.'
Mel 1489 And Catoun seith, `If a man of hyer estaat or degree, or moore myghty than thou,
Mel 1489A do thee anoy or grevaunce, suffre hym,
Mel 1490 for he that oones hath greved thee, may another tyme releeve thee and helpe.'
Mel 1491 Yet sette I caas ye have bothe myght and licence for to venge yow,
Mel 1492 I seye that ther be ful manye thynges that shul restreyne yow of vengeance-takynge
Mel 1493 and make yow for to enclyne to suffre, and for to han pacience
Mel 1493A in the wronges that han been doon to yow.
Mel 1494 First and foreward, if ye wole considere the defautes that been in youre owene persone,
Mel 1495 for whiche defautes God hath suffred yow have this tribulacioun, as I have seyd yow heer-biforn.
Mel 1496 For the poete seith that `we oghte paciently taken the tribulacions
Mel 1496A that comen to us, whan we thynken and consideren that we han disserved to have hem.'
Mel 1497 And Seint Gregorie seith that `whan a man considereth wel the nombre of his defautes and of his synnes,
Mel 1498 the peynes and the tribulaciouns that he suffreth semen the lesse unto hym;
Mel 1499 and in as muche as hym thynketh his synnes moore hevy and grevous,
Mel 1500 in so muche semeth his peyne the lighter and the esier unto hym.'
Mel 1501 Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe youre herte
Mel 1501A to take the pacience of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, as seith Seint Peter in his Epistles.
Mel 1502 `Jhesu Crist,' he seith, `hath suffred for us and yeven ensample to every man to folwe and sewe hym,
Mel 1503 for he dide nevere synne, ne nevere cam ther a vileyns word out of his mouth.
Mel 1504 Whan men cursed hym, he cursed hem noght, and whan men betten hym, he manaced hem noght.'
Mel 1505 Also the grete pacience which the seintes that been in Paradys han had in tribulaciouns
Mel 1505A that they han ysuffred, withouten hir desert or gilt,
Mel 1506 oghte muchel stiren yow to pacience.
Mel 1507 Forthermoore ye sholde enforce yow to have pacience,
Mel 1508 considerynge that the tribulaciouns of this world but litel while endure and soone passed been and goon,
Mel 1509 and the joye that a man seketh to have by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable,
Mel 1509A after that the Apostle seith in his epistle.
Mel 1510 `The joye of God,' he seith, `is perdurable' -- that is to seyn, everelastynge.
Mel 1511 Also troweth and bileveth stedefastly that he nys nat wel ynorissed, ne wel ytaught,
Mel 1511A that kan nat have pacience or wol nat receyve pacience.
Mel 1512 For Salomon seith that `the doctrine and the wit of a man is knowen by pacience.'
Mel 1513 And in another place he seith that `he that is pacient governeth hym by greet prudence.'
Mel 1514 And the same Salomon seith, `The angry and wrathful man maketh noyses,
Mel 1514A and the pacient man atempreth hem and stilleth.'
Mel 1515 He seith also, `It is moore worth to be pacient than for to be right strong;
Mel 1516 and he that may have the lordshipe of his owene herte is moore to preyse than he that
Mel 1516A by his force or strengthe taketh grete citees.'
Mel 1517 And therfore seith Seint Jame in his Epistle that `pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun.' "
Mel 1518 " Certes, " quod Melibee, " I graunte yow, dame Prudence, that pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun;
Mel 1519 but every man may nat have the perfeccioun that ye seken;
Mel 1520 ne I nam nat of the nombre of right parfite men,
Mel 1521 for myn herte may nevere been in pees unto the tyme it be venged.
Mel 1522 And al be it so that it was greet peril to myne enemys
Mel 1522A to do me a vileynye in takynge vengeance upon me,
Mel 1523 yet tooken they noon heede of the peril, but fulfilleden hir wikked wyl and hir corage.
Mel 1524 And therfore me thynketh men oghten nat repreve me,
Mel 1524A though I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me,
Mel 1525 and though I do a greet excesse; that is to seyn, that I venge oon outrage by another. "
Mel 1526 " A, " quod dame Prudence, " ye seyn youre wyl and as yow liketh,
Mel 1527 but in no caas of the world a man sholde nat doon outrage ne excesse for to vengen hym.
Mel 1528 For Cassidore seith that `as yvele dooth he that vengeth hym by outrage as he that dooth the outrage.'
Mel 1529 And therfore ye shul venge yow after the ordre of right; that is to seyn, by the lawe
Mel 1529A and noght by excesse ne by outrage.
Mel 1530 And also, if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of youre adversaries
Mel 1530A in oother manere than right comandeth, ye synnen.
Mel 1531 And therfore seith Senec that `a man shal nevere vengen shrewednesse by shrewednesse.'
Mel 1532 And if ye seye that right axeth a man to defenden violence by violence and fightyng by fightyng,
Mel 1533 certes ye seye sooth, whan the defense is doon anon withouten intervalle or withouten tariyng or delay,
Mel 1534 for to deffenden hym and nat for to vengen hym.
Mel 1535 And it bihoveth that a man putte swich attemperance in his deffense
Mel 1536 that men have no cause ne matiere to repreven hym that deffendeth hym of excesse and outrage,
Mel 1536A for ellis were it agayn resoun.
Mel 1537 Pardee, ye knowen wel that ye maken no deffense
Mel 1537A as now for to deffende yow, but for to venge yow;
Mel 1538 and so seweth it that ye han no wyl to do youre dede attemprely.
Mel 1539 And therfore me thynketh that pacience is good. For Salomon seith that
Mel 1539A `he that is nat pacient shal have greet harm.' "
Mel 1540 " Certes, " quod Melibee, " I graunte yow that whan a man is inpacient and wrooth of that
Mel 1540A that toucheth hym noght and that aperteneth nat unto hym, though it harme hym, it is no wonder.
Mel 1541 For the lawe seith that `he is coupable that entremetteth hym
Mel 1541A or medleth with swych thyng as aperteneth nat unto hym.'
Mel 1542 And Salomon seith that `he that entremetteth hym of the noyse or strif of another man
Mel 1542A is lyk to hym that taketh an hound by the eris.'
Mel 1543 For right as he that taketh a straunge hound by the eris is outherwhile biten with the hound,
Mel 1544 right in the same wise is it resoun that he have harm that by his inpacience medleth hym
Mel 1544A of the noyse of another man, wheras it aperteneth nat unto hym.
Mel 1545 But ye knowen wel that this dede -- that is to seyn,
Mel 1545A my grief and my disese -- toucheth me right ny.
Mel 1546 And therfore, though I be wrooth and inpacient, it is no merveille.
Mel 1547 And, savynge youre grace, I kan nat seen that it myghte greetly harme me though I tooke vengeaunce.
Mel 1548 For I am richer and moore myghty than myne enemys been;
Mel 1549 and wel knowen ye that by moneye and by havynge grete possessions
Mel 1549A been alle the thynges of this world governed.
Mel 1550 And Salomon seith that `alle thynges obeyen to moneye.' "
Mel 1551 Whan Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde avanten hym of his richesse
Mel 1551A and of his moneye, dispreisynge the power of his adversaries,
Mel 1551B she spak and seyde in this wise:
Mel 1552 " Certes, deere sire, I graunte yow that ye been riche and myghty
Mel 1553 and that the richesses been goode to hem that han wel ygeten hem and wel konne usen hem.
Mel 1554 For right as the body of a man may nat lyven withoute the soule,
Mel 1554A namoore may it lyve withouten temporeel goodes.
Mel 1555 And by richesses may a man gete hym grete freendes.
Mel 1556 And therfore seith Pamphilles: `If a net-herdes doghter,' seith he, `be riche,
Mel 1556A she may chesen of a thousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde,
Mel 1557 for, of a thousand men, oon wol nat forsaken hire ne refusen hire.'
Mel 1558 And this Pamphilles seith also, `If thow be right happy -- that is to seyn,
Mel 1558A if thou be right riche -- thou shalt fynde a greet nombre of felawes and freendes.
Mel 1559 And if thy fortune change that thou wexe povre, farewel freendshipe and felaweshipe,
Mel 1560 for thou shalt be alloone withouten any compaignye, but if it be the compaignye of povre folk.'
Mel 1561 And yet seith this Pamphilles moreover that `they that been thralle and bonde of lynage
Mel 1561A shullen been maad worthy and noble by the richesses.'
Mel 1562 And right so as by richesses ther comen manye goodes,
Mel 1562A right so by poverte come ther manye harmes and yveles,
Mel 1563 for greet poverte constreyneth a man to do manye yveles.
Mel 1564 And therfore clepeth Cassidore poverte the mooder of ruyne;
Mel 1565 that is to seyn, the mooder of overthrowynge or fallynge doun.
Mel 1566 And therfore seith Piers Alfonce, `Oon of the gretteste adversitees of this world is
Mel 1567 whan a free man by kynde or of burthe is constreyned by poverte
Mel 1567A to eten the almesse of his enemy,'
Mel 1568 and the same seith Innocent in oon of his bookes. He seith that
Mel 1568A `sorweful and myshappy is the condicioun of a povre beggere;
Mel 1569 for if he axe nat his mete, he dyeth for hunger;
Mel 1570 and if he axe, he dyeth for shame; and algates necessitee constreyneth hym to axe.'
Mel 1571 And seith Salomon that `bet it is to dye than for to have swich poverte.'
Mel 1572 And as the same Salomon seith, `Bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth
Mel 1572A than for to lyven in swich wise.'
Mel 1573 By thise resons that I have seid unto yow and by manye othere resons that I koude seye,
Mel 1574 I graunte yow that richesses been goode to hem that geten hem wel
Mel 1574A and to hem that wel usen tho richesses.
Mel 1575 And therfore wol I shewe yow hou ye shul have yow, and how ye shul bere yow
Mel 1575A in gaderynge of richesses, and in what manere ye shul usen hem.
Mel 1576 " First, ye shul geten hem withouten greet desir, by good leyser, sokyngly and nat over-hastily.
Mel 1577 For a man that is to desirynge to gete richesses abaundoneth hym
Mel 1577A first to thefte, and to alle othere yveles;
Mel 1578 and therfore seith Salomon, `He that hasteth hym to bisily to wexe riche shal be noon innocent.'
Mel 1579 He seith also that `the richesse that hastily cometh to a man soone
Mel 1579A and lightly gooth and passeth fro a man,
Mel 1580 but that richesse that cometh litel and litel wexeth alwey and multiplieth.'
Mel 1581 And, sire, ye shul geten richesses by youre wit and by youre travaille unto youre profit,
Mel 1582 and that withouten wrong or harm doynge to any oother persone.
Mel 1583 For the lawe seith that `ther maketh no man himselven riche, if he do harm to another wight.'
Mel 1584 This is to seyn, that nature deffendeth and forbedeth by right that
Mel 1584A no man make hymself riche unto the harm of another persone.
Mel 1585 And Tullius seith that `no sorwe, ne no drede of deeth, ne no thyng
Mel 1585A that may falle unto a man, is so muchel agayns
Mel 1586 nature as a man to encressen his owene profit to the harm of another man.
Mel 1587 And though the grete men and the myghty men geten richesses moore lightly than thou,
Mel 1588 yet shaltou nat been ydel ne slow to do thy profit, for thou shalt in alle wise flee ydelnesse.'
Mel 1589 For Salomon seith that `ydelnesse techeth a man to do manye yveles.'
Mel 1590 And the same Salomon seith that `he that travailleth and bisieth hym to tilien his land shal eten breed,
Mel 1591 but he that is ydel and casteth hym to no bisynesse
Mel 1591A ne occupacioun shal falle into poverte and dye for hunger.'
Mel 1592 And he that is ydel and slow kan nevere fynde covenable tyme for to doon his profit.
Mel 1593 For ther is a versifiour seith that `the ydel man excuseth hym in wynter by cause
Mel 1593A of the grete coold, and in somer by enchesoun of the greete heete.'
Mel 1594 For thise causes seith Caton, `Waketh and enclyneth nat yow over-muchel for to slepe,
Mel 1594A for over-muchel reste norisseth and causeth manye vices.'
Mel 1595 And therfore seith Seint Jerome, `Dooth somme goode dedes that the devel,
Mel 1595A which is oure enemy, ne fynde yow nat unocupied.'
Mel 1596 For the devel ne taketh nat lightly unto his werkynge swiche as he fyndeth occupied in goode werkes.
Mel 1597 " Thanne thus in getynge richesses ye mosten flee ydelnesse.
Mel 1598 And afterward, ye shul use the richesses which ye have geten by youre wit and by youre travaille
Mel 1599 in swich a manere that men holde yow nat to scars, ne to sparynge, ne to fool-large
Mel 1599A -- that is to seyen, over-large a spendere.
Mel 1600 For right as men blamen an avaricious man by cause of his scarsetee and chyncherie,
Mel 1601 in the same wise is he to blame that spendeth over-largely.
Mel 1602 And therfore seith Caton: `Use,' he seith, `thy richesses that thou hast geten
Mel 1603 in swich a manere that men have no matiere ne cause to calle thee neither wrecche ne chynche,
Mel 1604 for it is a greet shame to a man to have a povere herte and a riche purs.'
Mel 1605 He seith also, `The goodes that thou hast ygeten, use hem by mesure;'
Mel 1605A that is to seyn, spende hem mesurably,
Mel 1606 for they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that they han,
Mel 1607 whan they han namoore propre of hir owene, they shapen hem to take the goodes of another man.
Mel 1608 I seye thanne that ye shul fleen avarice,
Mel 1609 usynge youre richesses in swich manere that men seye nat that youre richesses been yburyed
Mel 1610 but that ye have hem in youre myght and in youre weeldynge.
Mel 1611 For a wys man repreveth the avaricious man, and seith thus in two vers:
Mel 1612 `Wherto and why burieth a man his goodes by his grete avarice,
Mel 1612A and knoweth wel that nedes moste he dye?
Mel 1613 For deeth is the ende of every man as in this present lyf.'
Mel 1614 And for what cause or enchesoun joyneth he hym or knytteth he hym so faste unto his goodes
Mel 1615 that alle hise wittes mowen nat disseveren hym or departen hym from his goodes,
Mel 1616 and knoweth wel, or oghte knowe, that whan he is deed
Mel 1616A he shal no thyng bere with hym out of this world?
Mel 1617 And therfore seith Seint Austyn that `the avaricious man is likned unto helle,
Mel 1618 that the moore it swelweth the moore desir it hath to swelwe and devoure.'
Mel 1619 And as wel as ye wolde eschewe to be called an avaricious man or chynche,
Mel 1620 as wel sholde ye kepe yow and governe yow in swich a wise that men calle yow nat fool-large.
Mel 1621 Therfore seith Tullius: `The goodes,' he seith, `of thyn hous ne sholde nat been hyd ne kept so cloos,
Mel 1621A but that they myghte been opened by pitee and debonairetee'
Mel 1622 (that is to seyn, to yeven part to hem that han greet nede),
Mel 1623 `ne thy goodes shullen nat been so opene to been every mannes goodes.'
Mel 1624 Afterward, in getynge of youre richesses and in usynge hem ye shul alwey have thre thynges in youre herte
Mel 1625 (that is to seyn, oure Lord God, conscience, and good name).
Mel 1626 First, ye shul have God in youre herte,
Mel 1627 and for no richesse ye shullen do no thyng which may in any manere displese God,
Mel 1627A that is youre creatour and makere.
Mel 1628 For after the word of Salomon, `It is bettre to have a litel good with the love of God
Mel 1629 than to have muchel good and tresour and lese the love of his Lord God.'
Mel 1630 And the prophete seith that `bettre it is to been a good man and have litel good and tresour
Mel 1631 than to been holden a shrewe and have grete richesses.'
Mel 1632 And yet seye I ferthermoore, that ye sholde alwey doon youre bisynesse to gete yow richesses,
Mel 1633 so that ye gete hem with good conscience.
Mel 1634 And th' Apostle seith that `ther nys thyng in this world of which
Mel 1634A we sholden have so greet joye as whan oure conscience bereth us good witnesse.'
Mel 1635 And the wise man seith, `The substance of a man is ful good,
Mel 1635A whan synne is nat in mannes conscience.'
Mel 1636 Afterward, in getynge of youre richesses and in usynge of hem,
Mel 1637 yow moste have greet bisynesse and greet diligence that youre goode name be alwey kept and conserved.
Mel 1638 For Salomon seith that `bettre it is and moore it availleth a man to have a good name
Mel 1638A than for to have grete richesses.'
Mel 1639 And therfore he seith in another place, `Do greet diligence,' seith Salomon,
Mel 1639A `in kepyng of thy freend and of thy goode name;
Mel 1640 for it shal lenger abide with thee than any tresour, be it never so precious.'
Mel 1641 And certes he sholde nat be called a gentil man that after God and good conscience, alle thynges left,
Mel 1641A ne dooth his diligence and bisynesse to kepen his goode name.
Mel 1642 And Cassidore seith that `it is signe of a gentil herte
Mel 1642A whan a man loveth and desireth to han a good name.'
Mel 1643 And therfore seith Seint Austyn that `ther been two thynges that arn necessarie and nedefulle,
Mel 1644 and that is good conscience and good loos;
Mel 1645 that is to seyn, good conscience to thyn owene persone inward and good loos for thy neighebor outward.'
Mel 1646 And he that trusteth hym so muchel in his goode conscience
Mel 1647 that he displeseth, and setteth at noght his goode name or loos,
Mel 1647A and rekketh noght though he kepe nat his goode name, nys but a crueel cherl.
Mel 1648 " Sire, now have I shewed yow how ye shul do in getynge richesses, and how ye shullen usen hem,
Mel 1649 and I se wel that for the trust that ye han in youre richesses
Mel 1649A ye wole moeve werre and bataille.
Mel 1650 I conseille yow that ye bigynne no werre in trust of youre richesses,
Mel 1650A for they ne suffisen noght werres to mayntene.
Mel 1651 And therfore seith a philosophre, `That man that desireth and wole algates han werre, shal nevere have suffisaunce,
Mel 1652 for the richer that he is, the gretter despenses moste he make, if he wole have worshipe and victorie.'
Mel 1653 And Salomon seith that `the gretter richesses that a man hath, the mo despendours he hath.'
Mel 1654 And, deere sire, al be it so that for youre richesses ye mowe have muchel folk,
Mel 1655 yet bihoveth it nat, ne it is nat good, to bigynne werre whereas ye mowe
Mel 1655A in oother manere have pees unto youre worshipe and profit.
Mel 1656 For the victorie of batailles that been in this world lyth nat in greet nombre or multitude
Mel 1656A of the peple, ne in the vertu of man,
Mel 1657 but it lith in the wyl and in the hand of oure Lord God Almyghty.
Mel 1658 And therfore Judas Machabeus, which was Goddes knyght,
Mel 1659 whan he sholde fighte agayn his adversarie that hadde a gretter nombre
Mel 1659A and a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was this peple of Machabee,
Mel 1660 yet he reconforted his litel compaignye, and seyde right in this wise:
Mel 1661 `Als lightly,' quod he, `may oure Lord God Almyghty yeve victorie to a fewe folk as to many folk,
Mel 1662 for the victorie of a bataile comth nat by the grete nombre of peple,
Mel 1663 but it cometh from oure Lord God of hevene.'
Mel 1664 And, deere sire, for as muchel as ther is no man certein if he be worthy that
Mel 1664A God yeve hym victorie . . . or naught, after that Salomon seith,
Mel 1665 therfore every man sholde greetly drede werres to bigynne.
Mel 1666 And by cause that in batailles fallen manye perils,
Mel 1667 and happeth outher while that as soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man;
Mel 1668 and as it is writen in the seconde Book of Kynges,
Mel 1668A `The dedes of batailles been aventurouse and nothyng certeyne,
Mel 1669 for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another';
Mel 1670 and for ther is gret peril in werre, therfore sholde a man flee and eschue werre,
Mel 1670A in as muchel as a man may goodly.
Mel 1671 For Salomon seith, `He that loveth peril shal falle in peril.' "
Mel 1672 After that Dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibee answerde and seyde,
Mel 1673 " I see wel, dame Prudence, that by youre faire wordes and by youre resouns
Mel 1673A that ye han shewed me, that the werre liketh yow no thyng;
Mel 1674 but I have nat yet herd youre conseil, how I shal do in this nede. "
Mel 1675 " Certes, " quod she, " I conseille yow that ye accorde with youre adversaries and that ye have pees with hem.
Mel 1676 For Seint Jame seith in his Epistles that `by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete,
Mel 1677 and by debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun.'
Mel 1678 And ye knowen wel that oon of the gretteste and moost sovereyn thyng
Mel 1678A that is in this world is unytee and pees.
Mel 1679 And therfore seyde oure Lord Jhesu Crist to his apostles in this wise:
Mel 1680 `Wel happy and blessed been they that loven and purchacen pees, for they been called children of God.' "
Mel 1681 " A, " quod Melibee, " now se I wel that ye loven nat myn honour ne my worshipe.
Mel 1682 Ye knowen wel that myne adversaries han bigonnen this debaat and bryge by hire outrage,
Mel 1683 and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees,
Mel 1683A ne they asken nat to be reconsiled.
Mel 1684 Wol ye thanne that I go and meke me, and obeye me to hem, and crie hem mercy?
Mel 1685 For sothe, that were nat my worshipe.
Mel 1686 For right as men seyn that `over-greet hoomlynesse engendreth dispreisynge,' so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse. "
Mel 1687 Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wratthe and seyde:
Mel 1688 " Certes, sire, sauf youre grace, I love youre honour and youre profit
Mel 1688A as I do myn owene, and evere have doon;
Mel 1689 ne ye, ne noon oother, seyn nevere the contrarie.
Mel 1690 And yit if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees
Mel 1690A and the reconsiliacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mystaken me ne seyd amys.
Mel 1691 For the wise man seith, `The dissensioun bigynneth by another man, and the reconsilyng bygynneth by thyself.'
Mel 1692 And the prophete seith, `Flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse;
Mel 1693 seke pees and folwe it, as muchel as in thee is.'
Mel 1694 Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to youre adversaries for pees than they shuln to yow.
Mel 1695 For I knowe wel that ye been so hard-herted that ye wol do no thyng for me.
Mel 1696 And Salomon seith, `He that hath over-hard an herte, atte laste he shal myshappe and mystyde.' "
Mel 1697 Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence maken semblant of wratthe, he seyde in this wise:
Mel 1698 " Dame, I prey yow that ye be nat displesed of thynges that I seye,
Mel 1699 for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth, and that is no wonder;
Mel 1700 and they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they don ne what they seyn.
Mel 1701 Therfore the prophete seith that `troubled eyen han no cleer sighte.'
Mel 1702 But seyeth and conseileth me as yow liketh, for I am redy to do right as ye wol desire;
Mel 1703 and if ye repreve me of my folye,
Mel 1703A I am the moore holden to love yow and to preyse yow.
Mel 1704 For Salomon seith that `he that repreveth hym that dooth folye,
Mel 1705 he shal fynde gretter grace than he that deceyveth hym by sweete wordes.' "
Mel 1706 Thanne seide dame Prudence, " I make no semblant of wratthe ne anger, but for youre grete profit.
Mel 1707 For Salomon seith, `He is moore worth that repreveth or chideth a fool for his folye,
Mel 1707A shewynge hym semblant of wratthe,
Mel 1708 than he that supporteth hym and preyseth hym in his mysdoynge and laugheth at his folye.'
Mel 1709 And this same Salomon seith afterward that
Mel 1709A `by the sorweful visage of a man'
Mel 1709B (that is to seyn by the sory and hevy contenaunce of a man)
Mel 1710 `the fool correcteth and amendeth hymself.' "
Mel 1711 Thanne seyde Melibee, " I shal nat konne answere to
Mel 1711A so manye faire resouns as ye putten to me and shewen.
Mel 1712 Seyeth shortly youre wyl and youre conseil, and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourne it. "
Mel 1713 Thanne dame Prudence discovered al hir wyl to hym and seyde,
Mel 1714 " I conseille yow, " quod she, " aboven alle thynges, that ye make pees bitwene God and yow,
Mel 1715 and beth reconsiled unto hym and to his grace.
Mel 1716 For, as I have seyd yow heer biforn, God hath suffred yow
Mel 1716A to have this tribulacioun and disese for youre synnes.
Mel 1717 And if ye do as I sey yow, God wol sende youre adversaries unto yow
Mel 1718 and maken hem fallen at youre feet, redy to do youre wyl and youre comandementz.
Mel 1719 For Salomon seith, `Whan the condicioun of man is plesaunt and likynge to God,
Mel 1720 he chaungeth the hertes of the mannes adversaries and constreyneth hem to biseken hym of pees and of grace.'
Mel 1721 And I prey yow lat me speke with youre adversaries in privee place,
Mel 1722 for they shul nat knowe that it be of youre wyl or of youre assent.
Mel 1723 And thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and hire entente, I may conseille yow the moore seurely. "
Mel 1724 " Dame, " quod Melibee, " dooth youre wil and youre likynge;
Mel 1725 for I putte me hoolly in youre disposicioun and ordinaunce. "
Mel 1726 Thanne dame Prudence, whan she saugh the goode wyl of hir housbonde, delibered and took avys in hirself,
Mel 1727 thinkinge how she myghte brynge this nede unto a good conclusioun and to a good ende.
Mel 1728 And whan she saugh hir tyme, she sente for thise adversaries to come unto hire into a pryvee place
Mel 1729 and shewed wisely unto hem the grete goodes that comen of pees
Mel 1730 and the grete harmes and perils that been in werre,
Mel 1731 and seyde to hem in a goodly manere hou that hem oughten have greet repentaunce
Mel 1732 of the injurie and wrong that they hadden doon to Melibee hir lord,
Mel 1732A and unto hire, and to hire doghter.
Mel 1733 And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Prudence,
Mel 1734 they weren so supprised and ravysshed and hadden so greet joye of hire that wonder was to telle.
Mel 1735 " A, lady, " quod they, " ye han shewed unto us the blessynge of swetnesse,
Mel 1735A after the sawe of David the prophete,
Mel 1736 for the reconsilynge which we been nat worthy to have in no manere,
Mel 1737 but we oghte requeren it with greet contricioun and humylitee,
Mel 1738 ye of youre grete goodnesse have presented unto us.
Mel 1739 Now se we wel that the science and the konnynge of Salomon is ful trewe.
Mel 1740 For he seith that `sweete wordes multiplien and encreescen freendes and maken shrewes to be debonaire and meeke.'
Mel 1741 " Certes, " quod they, " we putten oure dede and al oure matere and cause al hoolly in youre goode wyl
Mel 1742 and been redy to obeye to the speche and comandement of my lord Melibee.
Mel 1743 And therfore, deere and benygne lady, we preien yow and biseke yow as mekely as we konne and mowen
Mel 1744 that it lyke unto youre grete goodnesse to fulfillen in dede youre goodliche wordes,
Mel 1745 for we consideren and knowelichen that we han offended and greved my lord Melibee out of mesure,
Mel 1746 so ferforth that we be nat of power to maken his amendes.
Mel 1747 And therfore we oblige and bynden us and oure freendes for to doon al his wyl and his comandementz.
Mel 1748 But peraventure he hath swich hevynesse and swich wratthe to us-ward by cause of oure offense
Mel 1749 that he wole enjoyne us swich a peyne as we mowe nat bere ne susteene.
Mel 1750 And therfore, noble lady, we biseke to youre wommanly pitee
Mel 1751 to taken swich avysement in this nede that
Mel 1751A we ne oure freendes be nat desherited ne destroyed thurgh oure folye. "
Mel 1752 " Certes, " quod Prudence, " it is an hard thyng and right perilous
Mel 1753 that a man putte hym al outrely in the arbitracioun and juggement,
Mel 1753A and in the myght and power of his enemys.
Mel 1754 For Salomon seith, `Leeveth me, and yeveth credence to that I shal seyn: I seye,' quod he,
Mel 1754A `ye peple, folk and governours of hooly chirche,
Mel 1755 to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne to thy broother
Mel 1756 ne yeve thou nevere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil thou lyvest.'
Mel 1757 Now sithen he deffendeth that man sholde nat yeven to his broother
Mel 1757A ne to his freend the myght of his body,
Mel 1758 by a strenger resoun he deffendeth and forbedeth a man to yeven hymself to his enemy.
Mel 1759 And nathelees I conseille you that ye mystruste nat my lord,
Mel 1760 for I woot wel and knowe verraily that he is debonaire and meeke, large, curteys,
Mel 1761 and nothyng desirous ne coveitous of good ne richesse.
Mel 1762 For ther nys nothyng in this world that he desireth, save oonly worshipe and honour.
Mel 1763 Forthermoore I knowe wel and am right seur that he shal nothyng doon in this nede withouten my conseil,
Mel 1764 and I shal so werken in this cause that by the grace of oure Lord God
Mel 1764A ye shul been reconsiled unto us. "
Mel 1765 Thanne seyden they with o voys, " Worshipful lady, we putten us
Mel 1765A and oure goodes al fully in youre wil and disposicioun,
Mel 1766 and been redy to comen, what day that it like unto youre noblesse to lymyte us or assigne us,
Mel 1767 for to maken oure obligacioun and boond as strong as it liketh unto youre goodnesse,
Mel 1768 that we mowe fulfille the wille of yow and of my lord Melibee. "
Mel 1769 Whan dame Prudence hadde herd the answeres of thise men, she bad hem goon agayn prively;
Mel 1770 and she retourned to hir lord Melibee, and tolde hym how she foond his adversaries ful repentant,
Mel 1771 knowelechynge ful lowely hir synnes and trespas, and how they were redy to suffren all peyne,
Mel 1772 requirynge and preiynge hym of mercy and pitee.
Mel 1773 Thanne seyde Melibee: " He is wel worthy to have pardoun
Mel 1773A and foryifnesse of his synne, that excuseth nat his synne
Mel 1774 but knowelecheth it and repenteth hym, axinge indulgence.
Mel 1775 For Senec seith, `Ther is the remissioun and foryifnesse, where as the confessioun is,'
Mel 1776 for confessioun is neighebor to innocence.
Mel 1777 And he seith in another place that `he that hath shame of his synne and knowlecheth
Mel 1777A [it is worthy remissioun].' And therfore I assente and conferme me to have pees;
Mel 1778 but it is good that we do it nat withouten the assent and wyl of oure freendes. "
Mel 1779 Thanne was Prudence right glad and joyeful and seyde:
Mel 1780 " Certes, sire, " quod she, " ye han wel and goodly answered,
Mel 1781 for right as by the conseil, assent, and help of youre freendes
Mel 1781A ye han been stired to venge yow and maken werre,
Mel 1782 right so withouten hire conseil shul ye nat accorden yow ne have pees with youre adversaries.
Mel 1783 For the lawe seith, `Ther nys no thyng so good by wey of kynde as a thyng
Mel 1783A to be unbounde by hym that it was ybounde.' "
Mel 1784 And thanne dame Prudence withouten delay or tariynge sente anon hire messages for hire kyn
Mel 1784A and for hire olde freendes which that were trewe and wyse,
Mel 1785 and tolde hem by ordre in the presence of Melibee al this mateere
Mel 1785A as it is aboven expressed and declared,
Mel 1786 and preyden hem that they wolde yeven hire avys and conseil what best were to doon in this nede.
Mel 1787 And whan Melibees freendes hadde taken hire avys and deliberacioun of the forseide mateere,
Mel 1788 and hadden examyned it by greet bisynesse and greet diligence,
Mel 1789 they yave ful conseil for to have pees and reste,
Mel 1790 and that Melibee sholde receyve with good herte his adversaries to foryifnesse and mercy.
Mel 1791 And whan dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibee, and the conseil of his freendes
Mel 1792 accorde with hire wille and hire entencioun,
Mel 1793 she was wonderly glad in hire herte and seyde:
Mel 1794 " Ther is an old proverbe, " quod she, " seith that `the goodnesse that thou mayst do this day, do it,
Mel 1795 and abide nat ne delaye it nat til tomorwe.'
Mel 1796 And therfore I conseille that ye sende youre messages, swiche as been discrete and wise,
Mel 1797 unto youre adversaries, tellynge hem on youre bihalve
Mel 1798 that if they wole trete of pees and of accord,
Mel 1799 that they shape hem withouten delay or tariyng to comen unto us. "
Mel 1800 Which thyng parfourned was in dede.
Mel 1801 And whanne thise trespassours and repentynge folk of hire folies
Mel 1801A -- that is to seyn, the adversaries of Melibee --
Mel 1802 hadden herd what thise messagers seyden unto hem,
Mel 1803 they weren right glad and joyeful, and answereden ful mekely and benignely,
Mel 1804 yeldynge graces and thankynges to hir lord Melibee and to al his compaignye,
Mel 1805 and shopen hem withouten delay to go with the messagers and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibee.
Mel 1806 And right anon they tooken hire wey to the court of Melibee,
Mel 1807 and tooken with hem somme of hire trewe freendes
Mel 1807A to maken feith for hem and for to been hire borwes.
Mel 1808 And whan they were comen to the presence of Melibee, he seyde hem thise wordes:
Mel 1809 " It standeth thus, " quod Melibee, " and sooth it is, that ye,
Mel 1810 causelees and withouten skile and resoun,
Mel 1811 han doon grete injuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence and to my doghter also.
Mel 1812 For ye han entred into myn hous by violence,
Mel 1813 and have doon swich outrage that alle men knowen wel that ye have disserved the deeth.
Mel 1814 And therfore wol I knowe and wite of yow
Mel 1815 wheither ye wol putte the punyssement and the chastisynge and the vengeance of this outrage in the wyl
Mel 1815A of me and of my wyf Prudence, or ye wol nat? "
Mel 1816 Thanne the wiseste of hem thre answerde for hem alle and seyde,
Mel 1817 " Sire, " quod he, " we knowen wel that we been unworthy to comen unto the court
Mel 1817A of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been.
Mel 1818 For we han so greetly mystaken us, and han offended
Mel 1818A and agilt in swich a wise agayn youre heigh lordshipe
Mel 1819 that trewely we han disserved the deeth.
Mel 1820 But yet, for the grete goodnesse and debonairetee that al the world witnesseth of youre persone,
Mel 1821 we submytten us to the excellence and benignitee of youre gracious lordshipe,
Mel 1822 and been redy to obeie to alle youre comandementz,
Mel 1823 bisekynge yow that of youre merciable pitee ye wol considere oure grete repentaunce and lowe submyssioun
Mel 1824 and graunten us foryevenesse of oure outrageous trespas and offense.
Mel 1825 For wel we knowe that youre liberal grace and mercy
Mel 1825A strecchen hem ferther into goodnesse than doon oure outrageouse giltes and trespas into wikkednesse,
Mel 1826 al be it that cursedly and dampnablely we han agilt agayn youre heigh lordshipe. "
Mel 1827 Thanne Melibee took hem up fro the ground ful benignely,
Mel 1828 and receyved hire obligaciouns and hir boondes by hire othes upon hire plegges and borwes,
Mel 1829 and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne unto his court
Mel 1830 for to accepte and receyve the sentence and juggement that Melibee wolde comande
Mel 1830A to be doon on hem by the causes aforeseyd.
Mel 1831 Whiche thynges ordeyned, every man retourned to his hous.
Mel 1832 And whan that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme, she freyned and axed hir lord Melibee
Mel 1833 what vengeance he thoughte to taken of his adversaries.
Mel 1834 To which Melibee answerde and seyde, " Certes, " quod he, " I thynke and purpose me fully
Mel 1835 to desherite hem of al that evere they han and for to putte hem in exil for evere. "
Mel 1836 " Certes, " quod dame Prudence, " this were a crueel sentence and muchel agayn resoun.
Mel 1837 For ye been riche ynough and han no nede of oother mennes good,
Mel 1838 and ye myghte lightly in this wise gete yow a coveitous name,
Mel 1839 which is a vicious thyng, and oghte been eschued of every good man.
Mel 1840 For after the sawe of the word of the Apostle, `Coveitise is roote of alle harmes.'
Mel 1841 And therfore it were bettre for yow to lese so muchel good of youre owene
Mel 1841A than for to taken of hir good in this manere,
Mel 1842 for bettre it is to lesen good with worshipe than it is to wynne good with vileynye and shame.
Mel 1843 And everi man oghte to doon his diligence and his bisynesse to geten hym a good name.
Mel 1844 And yet shal he nat oonly bisie hym in kepynge of his good name,
Mel 1845 but he shal also enforcen hym alwey to do somthyng by which he may renovelle his good name.
Mel 1846 For it is writen that `the olde good loos or good name of a man is soone goon
Mel 1846A and passed, whan it is nat newed ne renovelled.'
Mel 1847 And as touchynge that ye seyn ye wole exile youre adversaries,
Mel 1848 that thynketh me muchel agayn resoun and out of mesure,
Mel 1849 considered the power that they han yeve yow upon hemself.
Mel 1850 And it is writen that `he is worthy to lesen his privilege that mysuseth
Mel 1850A the myght and the power that is yeven hym.'
Mel 1851 And I sette cas ye myghte enjoyne hem that peyne by right and by lawe,
Mel 1852 which I trowe ye mowe nat do;
Mel 1853 I seye ye mighte nat putten it to execucioun peraventure,
Mel 1854 and thanne were it likly to retourne to the werre as it was biforn.
Mel 1855 And therfore, if ye wole that men do yow obeisance, ye moste deemen moore curteisly;
Mel 1856 this is to seyn, ye moste yeven moore esy sentences and juggementz.
Mel 1857 For it is writen that `he that moost curteisly comandeth, to hym men moost obeyen.'
Mel 1858 And therfore I prey yow that in this necessitee and in this nede
Mel 1858A ye caste yow to overcome youre herte.
Mel 1859 For Senec seith that `he that overcometh his herte overcometh twies.'
Mel 1860 And Tullius seith, `Ther is no thyng so comendable in a greet lord
Mel 1861 as whan he is debonaire and meeke, and appeseth him lightly.'
Mel 1862 And I prey yow that ye wole forbere now to do vengeance,
Mel 1863 in swich a manere that youre goode name may be kept and conserved,
Mel 1864 and that men mowe have cause and mateere to preyse yow of pitee and of mercy,
Mel 1865 and that ye have no cause to repente yow of thyng that ye doon.
Mel 1866 For Senec seith, `He overcometh in an yvel manere that repenteth hym of his victorie.'
Mel 1867 Wherfore I pray yow, lat mercy been in youre herte,
Mel 1868 to th' effect and entente that God Almighty have mercy on yow in his laste juggement.
Mel 1869 For Seint Jame seith in his Epistle: `Juggement withouten mercy shal be doon
Mel 1869A to hym that hath no mercy of another wight.' "
Mel 1870 Whanne Melibee hadde herd the grete skiles and resouns of dame Prudence, and hire wise informaciouns and techynges,
Mel 1871 his herte gan enclyne to the wil of his wif, considerynge hir trewe entente,
Mel 1872 and conformed hym anon and assented fully to werken after hir conseil,
Mel 1873 and thonked God, of whom procedeth al vertu and alle goodnesse,
Mel 1873A that hym sente a wyf of so greet discrecioun.
Mel 1874 And whan the day cam that his adversaries sholde appieren in his presence,
Mel 1875 he spak unto hem ful goodly, and seyde in this wyse:
Mel 1876 " Al be it so that of youre pride and heigh presumpcioun and folie, and of youre necligence and unkonnynge,
Mel 1877 ye have mysborn yow and trespassed unto me,
Mel 1878 yet for as muche as I see and biholde youre grete humylitee
Mel 1879 and that ye been sory and repentant of youre giltes,
Mel 1880 it constreyneth me to doon yow grace and mercy.
Mel 1881 Wherfore I receyve yow to my grace
Mel 1882 and foryeve yow outrely alle the offenses, injuries, and wronges that ye have doon agayn me and myne,
Mel 1883 to this effect and to this ende, that God of his endelees mercy
Mel 1884 wole at the tyme of oure diynge foryeven us oure giltes
Mel 1884A that we han trespassed to hym in this wrecched world.
Mel 1885 For doutelees, if we be sory and repentant of the synnes and giltes which we han trespassed
Mel 1885A in the sighte of oure Lord God,
Mel 1886 he is so free and so merciable
Mel 1887 that he wole foryeven us oure giltes
Mel 1888 and bryngen us to the blisse that nevere hath ende. " Amen.
MkT 1889 Whan ended was my tale of Melibee,
MkT 1890 And of Prudence and hire benignytee,
MkT 1891 Oure Hooste seyde, " As I am feithful man,
MkT 1892 And by that precious corpus Madrian,
MkT 1893 I hadde levere than a barel ale
MkT 1894 That Goodelief, my wyf, hadde herd this tale!
MkT 1895 For she nys no thyng of swich pacience
MkT 1896 As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence.
MkT 1897 By Goddes bones, whan I bete my knaves,
MkT 1898 She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves,
MkT 1899 And crieth, `Slee the dogges everichoon,
MkT 1900 And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon!'
MkT 1901 " And if that any neighebor of myne
MkT 1902 Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne,
MkT 1903 Or be so hardy to hire to trespace,
MkT 1904 Whan she comth hoom she rampeth in my face,
MkT 1905 And crieth, `False coward, wrek thy wyf!
MkT 1906 By corpus bones, I wol have thy knyf,
MkT 1907 And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne!'
MkT 1908 Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne.
MkT 1909 `Allas,' she seith, `that evere I was shape
MkT 1910 To wedden a milksop, or a coward ape,
MkT 1911 That wol been overlad with every wight!
MkT 1912 Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right!'
MkT 1913 " This is my lif, but if that I wol fighte;
MkT 1914 And out at dore anon I moot me dighte,
MkT 1915 Or elles I am but lost, but if that I
MkT 1916 Be lik a wilde leoun, fool-hardy.
MkT 1917 I woot wel she wol do me slee som day
MkT 1918 Som neighebor, and thanne go my way;
MkT 1919 For I am perilous with knyf in honde,
MkT 1920 Al be it that I dar nat hire withstonde,
MkT 1921 For she is byg in armes, by my feith:
MkT 1922 That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith --
MkT 1923 But lat us passe awey fro this mateere.
MkT 1924 " My lord, the Monk, " quod he, " be myrie of cheere,
MkT 1925 For ye shul telle a tale trewely.
MkT 1926 Loo, Rouchestre stant heer faste by!
MkT 1927 Ryde forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game.
MkT 1928 But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat youre name.
MkT 1929 Wher shal I calle yow my lord daun John,
MkT 1930 Or daun Thomas, or elles daun Albon?
MkT 1931 Of what hous be ye, by youre fader kyn?
MkT 1932 I vowe to God, thou hast a ful fair skyn;
MkT 1933 It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost.
MkT 1934 Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost:
MkT 1935 Upon my feith, thou art som officer,
MkT 1936 Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer,
MkT 1937 For by my fader soule, as to my doom,
MkT 1938 Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom;
MkT 1939 No povre cloysterer, ne no novys,
MkT 1940 But a governour, wily and wys,
MkT 1941 And therwithal of brawnes and of bones
MkT 1942 A wel farynge persone for the nones.
MkT 1943 I pray to God, yeve hym confusioun
MkT 1944 That first thee broghte unto religioun!
MkT 1945 Thou woldest han been a tredefowel aright.
MkT 1946 Haddestow as greet a leeve as thou hast myght
MkT 1947 To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,
MkT 1948 Thou haddest bigeten ful many a creature.
MkT 1949 Allas, why werestow so wyd a cope?
MkT 1950 God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were a pope,
MkT 1951 Nat oonly thou, but every myghty man,
MkT 1952 Though he were shorn ful hye upon his pan,
MkT 1953 Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn!
MkT 1954 Religioun hath take up al the corn
MkT 1955 Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.
MkT 1956 Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes.
MkT 1957 This maketh that oure heires been so sklendre
MkT 1958 And feble that they may nat wel engendre.
MkT 1959 This maketh that oure wyves wole assaye
MkT 1960 Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye
MkT 1961 Of Venus paiementz than mowe we;
MkT 1962 God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye!
MkT 1963 But be nat wrooth, my lord, though that I pleye.
MkT 1964 Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye! "
MkT 1965 This worthy Monk took al in pacience,
MkT 1966 And seyde, " I wol doon al my diligence,
MkT 1967 As fer as sowneth into honestee,
MkT 1968 To telle yow a tale, or two, or three.
MkT 1969 And if yow list to herkne hyderward,
MkT 1970 I wol yow seyn the lyf of Seint Edward;
MkT 1971 Or ellis, first, tragedies wol I telle,
MkT 1972 Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle.
MkT 1973 Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie,
MkT 1974 As olde bookes maken us memorie,
MkT 1975 Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee,
MkT 1976 And is yfallen out of heigh degree
MkT 1977 Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly.
MkT 1978 And they ben versified communely
MkT 1979 Of six feet, which men clepen exametron.
MkT 1980 In prose eek been endited many oon,
MkT 1981 And eek in meetre in many a sondry wyse.
MkT 1982 Lo, this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.
MkT 1983 " Now herkneth, if yow liketh for to heere.
MkT 1984 But first I yow biseeke in this mateere,
MkT 1985 Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges,
MkT 1986 Be it of popes, emperours, or kynges,
MkT 1987 After hir ages, as men writen fynde,
MkT 1988 But tellen hem som bifore and som bihynde,
MkT 1989 As it now comth unto my remembraunce,
MkT 1990 Have me excused of myn ignoraunce. "
MkT 1991 I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie
MkT 1992 The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree,
MkT 1993 And fillen so that ther nas no remedie
MkT 1994 To brynge hem out of hir adversitee.
MkT 1995 For certein, whan that Fortune list to flee,
MkT 1996 Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde.
MkT 1997 Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee;
MkT 1998 Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.
MkT 1999 At Lucifer, though he an angel were
MkT 2000 And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne.
MkT 2001 For though Fortune may noon angel dere,
MkT 2002 From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne
MkT 2003 Doun into helle, where he yet is inne.
MkT 2004 O Lucifer, brightest of angels alle,
MkT 2005 Now artow Sathanas, that mayst nat twynne
MkT 2006 Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle.
MkT 2007 Loo Adam, in the feeld of Damyssene
MkT 2008 With Goddes owene fynger wroght was he,
MkT 2009 And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene,
MkT 2010 And welte al paradys savynge o tree.
MkT 2011 Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree
MkT 2012 As Adam, til he for mysgovernaunce
MkT 2013 Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee
MkT 2014 To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce.
MkT 2015 Loo Sampsoun, which that was annunciat
MkT 2016 By th' angel longe er his nativitee,
MkT 2017 And was to God Almyghty consecrat,
MkT 2018 And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see.
MkT 2019 Was nevere swich another as was hee,
MkT 2020 To speke of strengthe, and therwith hardynesse;
MkT 2021 But to his wyves toolde he his secree,
MkT 2022 Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.
MkT 2023 Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun,
MkT 2024 Withouten wepen save his handes tweye,
MkT 2025 He slow and al torente the leoun,
MkT 2026 Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.
MkT 2027 His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye
MkT 2028 Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe,
MkT 2029 Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye,
MkT 2030 And hym forsook, and took another newe.
MkT 2031 Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire,
MkT 2032 And alle hir tayles he togydre bond,
MkT 2033 And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire,
MkT 2034 For he on every tayl had knyt a brond;
MkT 2035 And they brende alle the cornes in that lond,
MkT 2036 And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke.
MkT 2037 A thousand men he slow eek with his hond,
MkT 2038 And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke.
MkT 2039 Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he
MkT 2040 Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye
MkT 2041 That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee
MkT 2042 And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye;
MkT 2043 And of this asses cheke, that was dreye,
MkT 2044 Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle,
MkT 2045 Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye;
MkT 2046 Thus heelp hym God, as Judicum can telle.
MkT 2047 By verray force at Gazan on a nyght,
MkT 2048 Maugree Philistiens of that citee,
MkT 2049 The gates of the toun he hath up plyght,
MkT 2050 And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee
MkT 2051 Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see.
MkT 2052 O noble, almyghty Sampsoun, lief and deere,
MkT 2053 Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree,
MkT 2054 In al this world ne hadde been thy peere!
MkT 2055 This Sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn,
MkT 2056 Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere,
MkT 2057 By precept of the messager divyn,
MkT 2058 For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere.
MkT 2059 And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere,
MkT 2060 He hadde of Israel the governaunce.
MkT 2061 But soone shal he wepe many a teere,
MkT 2062 For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce!
MkT 2063 Unto his lemman Dalida he tolde
MkT 2064 That in his heeris al his strengthe lay,
MkT 2065 And falsly to his foomen she hym solde.
MkT 2066 And slepynge in hir barm upon a day,
MkT 2067 She made to clippe or shere his heres away,
MkT 2068 And made his foomen al his craft espyen;
MkT 2069 And whan that they hym foond in this array,
MkT 2070 They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen.
MkT 2071 But er his heer were clipped or yshave,
MkT 2072 Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde;
MkT 2073 But now is he in prison in a cave,
MkT 2074 Where-as they made hym at the queerne grynde.
MkT 2075 O noble Sampsoun, strongest of mankynde,
MkT 2076 O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse!
MkT 2077 Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde,
MkT 2078 Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.
MkT 2079 The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye.
MkT 2080 His foomen made a feeste upon a day,
MkT 2081 And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye;
MkT 2082 And this was in a temple of greet array.
MkT 2083 But atte laste he made a foul affray,
MkT 2084 For he two pilers shook and made hem falle,
MkT 2085 And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay --
MkT 2086 And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle.
MkT 2087 This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon,
MkT 2088 And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn
MkT 2089 With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon.
MkT 2090 Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn.
MkT 2091 Beth war by this ensample oold and playn
MkT 2092 That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyves
MkT 2093 Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,
MkT 2094 If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves.
MkT 2095 Of Hercules, the sovereyn conquerour,
MkT 2096 Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun;
MkT 2097 For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.
MkT 2098 He slow and rafte the skyn of the leoun;
MkT 2099 He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun;
MkT 2100 He Arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle;
MkT 2101 He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;
MkT 2102 He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle;
MkT 2103 He slow the crueel tyrant Busirus
MkT 2104 And made his hors to frete hym, flessh and boon;
MkT 2105 He slow the firy serpent venymus;
MkT 2106 Of Acheloys two hornes he brak oon;
MkT 2107 And he slow Cacus in a cave of stoon;
MkT 2108 He slow the geant Antheus the stronge;
MkT 2109 He slow the grisly boor, and that anon;
MkT 2110 And bar the hevene on his nekke longe.
MkT 2111 Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan,
MkT 2112 That slow so manye monstres as dide he.
MkT 2113 Thurghout this wyde world his name ran,
MkT 2114 What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee,
MkT 2115 And every reawme wente he for to see.
MkT 2116 He was so stroong that no man myghte hym lette.
MkT 2117 At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee,
MkT 2118 In stide of boundes he a pileer sette.
MkT 2119 A lemman hadde this noble champioun,
MkT 2120 That highte Dianira, fressh as May;
MkT 2121 And as thise clerkes maken mencioun,
MkT 2122 She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay.
MkT 2123 Allas, this sherte -- allas and weylaway! --
MkT 2124 Envenymed was so subtilly withalle
MkT 2125 That er that he had wered it half a day
MkT 2126 It made his flessh al from his bones falle.
MkT 2127 But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen
MkT 2128 By oon that highte Nessus, that it maked.
MkT 2129 Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen;
MkT 2130 But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked
MkT 2131 Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.
MkT 2132 And whan he saugh noon oother remedye,
MkT 2133 In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked,
MkT 2134 For with no venym deigned hym to dye.
MkT 2135 Thus starf this worthy, myghty Hercules.
MkT 2136 Lo, who may truste on Fortune any throwe?
MkT 2137 For hym that folweth al this world of prees
MkT 2138 Er he be war is ofte yleyd ful lowe.
MkT 2139 Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!
MkT 2140 Beth war, for whan that Fortune list to glose,
MkT 2141 Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe
MkT 2142 By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.
MkT 2143 The myghty trone, the precious tresor,
MkT 2144 The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee
MkT 2145 That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor
MkT 2146 With tonge unnethe may discryved bee.
MkT 2147 He twyes wan Jerusalem the citee;
MkT 2148 The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.
MkT 2149 At Babiloigne was his sovereyn see,
MkT 2150 In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.
MkT 2151 The faireste children of the blood roial
MkT 2152 Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon,
MkT 2153 And maked ech of hem to been his thral.
MkT 2154 Amonges othere Daniel was oon,
MkT 2155 That was the wiseste child of everychon,
MkT 2156 For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,
MkT 2157 Whereas in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon
MkT 2158 That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.
MkT 2159 This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold,
MkT 2160 Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede,
MkT 2161 To which ymage bothe yong and oold
MkT 2162 Comanded he to loute, and have in drede,
MkT 2163 Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede,
MkT 2164 He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye.
MkT 2165 But nevere wolde assente to that dede
MkT 2166 Daniel ne his yonge felawes tweye.
MkT 2167 This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat;
MkT 2168 He wende that God, that sit in magestee,
MkT 2169 Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat.
MkT 2170 But sodeynly he loste his dignytee,
MkT 2171 And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee,
MkT 2172 And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute
MkT 2173 In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee
MkT 2174 Til certein tyme was ycome aboute.
MkT 2175 And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres;
MkT 2176 His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere;
MkT 2177 Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres,
MkT 2178 And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere
MkT 2179 He thanked God, and evere his lyf in feere
MkT 2180 Was he to doon amys or moore trespace;
MkT 2181 And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere
MkT 2182 He knew that God was ful of myght and grace.
MkT 2183 His sone, which that highte Balthasar,
MkT 2184 That heeld the regne after his fader day,
MkT 2185 He by his fader koude noght be war,
MkT 2186 For proud he was of herte and of array,
MkT 2187 And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
MkT 2188 His hye estaat assured hym in pryde;
MkT 2189 But Fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay,
MkT 2190 And sodeynly his regne gan divide.
MkT 2191 A feeste he made unto his lordes alle
MkT 2192 Upon a tyme and bad hem blithe bee;
MkT 2193 And thanne his officeres gan he calle:
MkT 2194 " Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles, " quod he,
MkT 2195 " Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee
MkT 2196 Out of the temple of Jerusalem birafte;
MkT 2197 And to oure hye goddes thanke we
MkT 2198 Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte. "
MkT 2199 Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes
MkT 2200 Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste,
MkT 2201 Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.
MkT 2202 And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste
MkT 2203 And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste,
MkT 2204 For feere of which he quook and siked soore.
MkT 2205 This hand that Balthasar so soore agaste
MkT 2206 Wroot Mane, techel, phares, and namoore.
MkT 2207 In all that land magicien was noon
MkT 2208 That koude expoune what this lettre mente;
MkT 2209 But Daniel expowned it anoon,
MkT 2210 And seyde, " Kyng, God to thy fader lente
MkT 2211 Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente;
MkT 2212 And he was proud and nothyng God ne dradde,
MkT 2213 And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente,
MkT 2214 And hym birafte the regne that he hadde.
MkT 2215 " He was out cast of mannes compaignye;
MkT 2216 With asses was his habitacioun,
MkT 2217 And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye
MkT 2218 Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,
MkT 2219 That God of hevene hath domynacioun
MkT 2220 Over every regne and every creature;
MkT 2221 And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun,
MkT 2222 And hym restored his regne and his figure.
MkT 2223 " Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,
MkT 2224 And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,
MkT 2225 And art rebel to God, and art his foo.
MkT 2226 Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;
MkT 2227 Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully
MkT 2228 Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys;
MkT 2229 And heryest false goddes cursedly;
MkT 2230 Therefore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys.
MkT 2231 " This hand was sent from God that on the wal
MkT 2232 Wroot Mane, techel, phares, truste me;
MkT 2233 Thy regne is doon; thou weyest noght at al.
MkT 2234 Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be
MkT 2235 To Medes and to Perses yeven, " quod he.
MkT 2236 And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,
MkT 2237 And Darius occupieth his degree,
MkT 2238 Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.
MkT 2239 Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take
MkT 2240 How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse,
MkT 2241 For whan Fortune wole a man forsake,
MkT 2242 She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,
MkT 2243 And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse.
MkT 2244 For what man that hath freendes thurgh Fortune,
MkT 2245 Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse;
MkT 2246 This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.
MkT 2247 Cenobia, of Palymerie queene,
MkT 2248 As writen Persiens of hir noblesse,
MkT 2249 So worthy was in armes and so keene
MkT 2250 That no wight passed hire in hardynesse,
MkT 2251 Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse.
MkT 2252 Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended.
MkT 2253 I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,
MkT 2254 But of hir shap she myghte nat been amended.
MkT 2255 From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde
MkT 2256 Office of wommen, and to wode she wente,
MkT 2257 And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde
MkT 2258 With arwes brode that she to hem sente.
MkT 2259 She was so swift that she anon hem hente;
MkT 2260 And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille
MkT 2261 Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente,
MkT 2262 And in hir armes weelde hem at hir wille.
MkT 2263 She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,
MkT 2264 And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght,
MkT 2265 And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke
MkT 2266 Wrastlen, by verray force and verray myght,
MkT 2267 With any yong man, were he never so wight.
MkT 2268 Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde.
MkT 2269 She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight;
MkT 2270 To no man deigned hire for to be bonde.
MkT 2271 But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried
MkT 2272 To Odenake, a prynce of that contree,
MkT 2273 Al were it so that she hem longe taried.
MkT 2274 And ye shul understonde how that he
MkT 2275 Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.
MkT 2276 But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere,
MkT 2277 They lyved in joye and in felicitee,
MkT 2278 For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere,
MkT 2279 Save o thyng: that she wolde nevere assente,
MkT 2280 By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye
MkT 2281 But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente
MkT 2282 To have a child, the world to multiplye;
MkT 2283 And also soone as that she myghte espye
MkT 2284 That she was nat with childe with that dede,
MkT 2285 Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye
MkT 2286 Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede.
MkT 2287 And if she were with childe at thilke cast,
MkT 2288 Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game
MkT 2289 Til fully fourty [wikes] weren past;
MkT 2290 Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.
MkT 2291 Al were this Odenake wilde or tame,
MkT 2292 He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde:
MkT 2293 It was to wyves lecherie and shame,
MkT 2294 In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde.
MkT 2295 Two sones by this Odenake hadde she,
MkT 2296 The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure.
MkT 2297 But now unto oure tale turne we.
MkT 2298 I seye, so worshipful a creature,
MkT 2299 And wys therwith, and large with mesure,
MkT 2300 So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke,
MkT 2301 Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure,
MkT 2302 Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke.
MkT 2303 Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told,
MkT 2304 As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng.
MkT 2305 She was al clad in perree and in gold,
MkT 2306 And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng,
MkT 2307 To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng,
MkT 2308 Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende
MkT 2309 To lerne bookes was al hire likyng,
MkT 2310 How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende.
MkT 2311 And shortly of this storie for to trete,
MkT 2312 So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she,
MkT 2313 That they conquered manye regnes grete
MkT 2314 In the orient, with many a fair citee
MkT 2315 Apertenaunt unto the magestee
MkT 2316 Of Rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste,
MkT 2317 Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee,
MkT 2318 Ay whil that Odenakes dayes laste.
MkT 2319 Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede,
MkT 2320 Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo,
MkT 2321 And how that al this proces fil in dede,
MkT 2322 Why she conquered and what title had therto,
MkT 2323 And after, of hir meschief and hire wo,
MkT 2324 How that she was biseged and ytake --
MkT 2325 Lat hym unto my maister Petrak go,
MkT 2326 That writ ynough of this, I undertake.
MkT 2327 Whan Odenake was deed, she myghtily
MkT 2328 The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond
MkT 2329 Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly
MkT 2330 That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond
MkT 2331 That he nas glad, if he that grace fond,
MkT 2332 That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye.
MkT 2333 With hire they maden alliance by bond
MkT 2334 To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye.
MkT 2335 The Emperour of Rome, Claudius
MkT 2336 Ne hym bifore, the Romayn Galien,
MkT 2337 Ne dorste nevere been so corageus,
MkT 2338 Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien,
MkT 2339 Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabyen,
MkT 2340 Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte,
MkT 2341 Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen,
MkT 2342 Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte.
MkT 2343 In kynges habit wente hir sones two,
MkT 2344 As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
MkT 2345 And Hermanno and Thymalao
MkT 2346 Hir names were, as Persiens hem calle.
MkT 2347 But ay Fortune hath in hire hony galle;
MkT 2348 This myghty queene may no while endure.
MkT 2349 Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle
MkT 2350 To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure.
MkT 2351 Aurelian, whan that the governaunce
MkT 2352 Of Rome cam into his handes tweye,
MkT 2353 He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce.
MkT 2354 And with his legions he took his weye
MkT 2355 Toward Cenobie, and shortly for to seye,
MkT 2356 He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente,
MkT 2357 And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye,
MkT 2358 And wan the land, and hoom to Rome he wente.
MkT 2359 Amonges othere thynges that he wan,
MkT 2360 Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree,
MkT 2361 This grete Romayn, this Aurelian,
MkT 2362 Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see.
MkT 2363 Biforen his triumphe walketh shee,
MkT 2364 With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge.
MkT 2365 Coroned was she, as after hir degree,
MkT 2366 And ful of perree charged hire clothynge.
MkT 2367 Allas, Fortune! She that whilom was
MkT 2368 Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,
MkT 2369 Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas!
MkT 2370 And she that helmed was in starke stoures
MkT 2371 And wan by force townes stronge and toures,
MkT 2372 Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
MkT 2373 And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures
MkT 2374 Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte.
MkT 2375 O noble, O worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne,
MkT 2376 Whom Fortune heeld so hye in magestee,
MkT 2377 Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne!
MkT 2378 Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,
MkT 2379 And after, at a seege, by subtiltee,
MkT 2380 Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente,
MkT 2381 Where as he with his owene hand slow thee,
MkT 2382 Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.
MkT 2383 The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne,
MkT 2384 Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede,
MkT 2385 He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.
MkT 2386 The wikked nest was werker of this nede.
MkT 2387 Noght Charles Olyver, that took ay heede
MkT 2388 Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike
MkT 2389 Genylon-Olyver, corrupt for meede,
MkT 2390 Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.
MkT 2391 O worthy Petro, kyng of Cipre, also,
MkT 2392 That Alisandre wan by heigh maistrie,
MkT 2393 Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo,
MkT 2394 Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie,
MkT 2395 And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie
MkT 2396 They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.
MkT 2397 Thus kan Fortune hir wheel governe and gye,
MkT 2398 And out of joye brynge men to sorwe.
MkT 2399 Off Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte,
MkT 2400 God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye,
MkT 2401 Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte,
MkT 2402 Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye?
MkT 2403 Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,
MkT 2404 For he thy nevew was and sone-in-lawe,
MkT 2405 Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye --
MkT 2406 But why ne how noot I that thou were slawe.
MkT 2407 Off the Erl Hugelyn of Pyze the langour
MkT 2408 Ther may no tonge telle for pitee.
MkT 2409 But litel out of Pize stant a tour,
MkT 2410 In which tour in prisoun put was he,
MkT 2411 And with hym been his litel children thre;
MkT 2412 The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age.
MkT 2413 Allas, Fortune, it was greet crueltee
MkT 2414 Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!
MkT 2415 Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,
MkT 2416 For Roger, which that bisshop was of Pize,
MkT 2417 Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun,
MkT 2418 Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise
MkT 2419 And putten hym to prisoun in swich wise
MkT 2420 As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde
MkT 2421 So smal that wel unnethe it may suffise,
MkT 2422 And therwithal it was ful povre and badde.
MkT 2423 And on a day bifil that in that hour
MkT 2424 Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,
MkT 2425 The gayler shette the dores of the tour.
MkT 2426 He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,
MkT 2427 And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght
MkT 2428 That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.
MkT 2429 " Allas! " quod he, " Allas, that I was wroght! "
MkT 2430 Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen.
MkT 2431 His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age,
MkT 2432 Unto hym seyde, " Fader, why do ye wepe?
MkT 2433 Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?
MkT 2434 Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?
MkT 2435 I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.
MkT 2436 Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere!
MkT 2437 Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;
MkT 2438 Ther is no thyng, but breed, that me were levere. "
MkT 2439 Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,
MkT 2440 Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay,
MkT 2441 And seyde, " Farewel, fader, I moot dye! "
MkT 2442 And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day.
MkT 2443 And whan the woful fader deed it say,
MkT 2444 For wo his armes two he gan to byte,
MkT 2445 And seyde, " Allas, Fortune, and weylaway!
MkT 2446 Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte. "
MkT 2447 His children wende that it for hunger was
MkT 2448 That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,
MkT 2449 And seyde, " Fader, do nat so, allas!
MkT 2450 But rather ete the flessh upon us two.
MkT 2451 Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro,
MkT 2452 And ete ynogh " -- right thus they to hym seyde,
MkT 2453 And after that, withinne a day or two,
MkT 2454 They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.
MkT 2455 Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf;
MkT 2456 Thus ended is this myghty Erl of Pize.
MkT 2457 From heigh estaat Fortune awey hym carf.
MkT 2458 Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise;
MkT 2459 Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise,
MkT 2460 Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille
MkT 2461 That highte Dant, for he kan al devyse
MkT 2462 Fro point to point; nat o word wol he faille.
MkT 2463 Although that Nero were as vicius
MkT 2464 As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun,
MkT 2465 Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius,
MkT 2466 This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun,
MkT 2467 Bothe est and west, [south], and septemtrioun.
MkT 2468 Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white
MkT 2469 Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun,
MkT 2470 For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.
MkT 2471 Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array,
MkT 2472 Moore proud was nevere emperour than he;
MkT 2473 That ilke clooth that he hadde wered o day,
MkT 2474 After that tyme he nolde it nevere see.
MkT 2475 Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee
MkT 2476 To fisshe in Tybre, whan hym liste pleye.
MkT 2477 His lustes were al lawe in his decree,
MkT 2478 For Fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye.
MkT 2479 He Rome brende for his delicasie;
MkT 2480 The senatours he slow upon a day
MkT 2481 To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie;
MkT 2482 And slow his brother, and by his suster lay.
MkT 2483 His mooder made he in pitous array,
MkT 2484 For he hire wombe slitte to biholde
MkT 2485 Where he conceyved was -- so weilaway
MkT 2486 That he so litel of his mooder tolde!
MkT 2487 No teere out of his eyen for that sighte
MkT 2488 Ne cam, but seyde, " A fair womman was she! "
MkT 2489 Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte
MkT 2490 Be domesman of hire dede beautee.
MkT 2491 The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he,
MkT 2492 And drank anon -- noon oother wo he made.
MkT 2493 Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee,
MkT 2494 Allas, to depe wol the venym wade!
MkT 2495 In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour
MkT 2496 To teche hym letterure and curteisye,
MkT 2497 For of moralitee he was the flour,
MkT 2498 As in his tyme, but if bookes lye;
MkT 2499 And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye,
MkT 2500 He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple
MkT 2501 That longe tyme it was er tirannye
MkT 2502 Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple.
MkT 2503 This Seneca, of which that I devyse,
MkT 2504 By cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede,
MkT 2505 For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise
MkT 2506 Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede --
MkT 2507 " Sire, " wolde he seyn, " an emperour moot nede
MkT 2508 Be vertuous and hate tirannye -- "
MkT 2509 For which he in a bath made hym to blede
MkT 2510 On bothe his armes, til he moste dye.
MkT 2511 This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce
MkT 2512 In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse,
MkT 2513 Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce;
MkT 2514 Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise.
MkT 2515 But natheless this Seneca the wise
MkT 2516 Chees in a bath to dye in this manere
MkT 2517 Rather than han another tormentise;
MkT 2518 And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere.
MkT 2519 Now fil it so that Fortune liste no lenger
MkT 2520 The hye pryde of Nero to cherice,
MkT 2521 For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger.
MkT 2522 She thoughte thus: " By God! I am to nyce
MkT 2523 To sette a man that is fulfild of vice
MkT 2524 In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle.
MkT 2525 By God, out of his sete I wol hym trice;
MkT 2526 Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle. "
MkT 2527 The peple roos upon hym on a nyght
MkT 2528 For his defaute, and whan he it espied,
MkT 2529 Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight
MkT 2530 Allone, and ther he wende han been allied
MkT 2531 He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried
MkT 2532 The fastere shette they the dores alle.
MkT 2533 Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed,
MkT 2534 And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.
MkT 2535 The peple cried and rombled up and doun,
MkT 2536 That with his erys herde he how they seyde,
MkT 2537 " Where is this false tiraunt, this Neroun? "
MkT 2538 For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde,
MkT 2539 And to his goddes pitously he preyde
MkT 2540 For socour, but it myghte nat bityde.
MkT 2541 For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde,
MkT 2542 And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.
MkT 2543 And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye
MkT 2544 That seten by a fyr, greet and reed.
MkT 2545 And to thise cherles two he gan to preye
MkT 2546 To sleen hym and to girden of his heed,
MkT 2547 That to his body, whan that he were deed,
MkT 2548 Were no despit ydoon for his defame.
MkT 2549 Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed,
MkT 2550 Of which Fortune lough, and hadde a game.
MkT 2551 Was nevere capitayn under a kyng
MkT 2552 That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun,
MkT 2553 Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng,
MkT 2554 As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,
MkT 2555 Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun
MkT 2556 Than Oloferne, which Fortune ay kiste
MkT 2557 So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun
MkT 2558 Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.
MkT 2559 Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe
MkT 2560 For lesynge of richesse or libertee,
MkT 2561 But he made every man reneyen his lawe.
MkT 2562 " Nabugodonosor was god, " seyde hee;
MkT 2563 " Noon oother god sholde adoured bee. "
MkT 2564 Agayns his heeste no wight dorst trespace,
MkT 2565 Save in Bethulia, a strong citee,
MkT 2566 Where Eliachim a preest was of that place.
MkT 2567 But taak kep of the deth of Oloferne:
MkT 2568 Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght,
MkT 2569 Withinne his tente, large as is a berne,
MkT 2570 And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght,
MkT 2571 Judith, a womman, as he lay upright
MkT 2572 Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente
MkT 2573 Ful pryvely she stal from every wight,
MkT 2574 And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.
MkT 2575 What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus
MkT 2576 To telle his hye roial magestee,
MkT 2577 His hye pride, his werkes venymus?
MkT 2578 For swich another was ther noon as he.
MkT 2579 Rede which that he was in Machabee,
MkT 2580 And rede the proude wordes that he seyde,
MkT 2581 And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee,
MkT 2582 And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.
MkT 2583 Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride
MkT 2584 That verraily he wende he myghte attayne
MkT 2585 Unto the sterres upon every syde,
MkT 2586 And in balance weyen ech montayne,
MkT 2587 And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.
MkT 2588 And Goddes peple hadde he moost in hate;
MkT 2589 Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,
MkT 2590 Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate.
MkT 2591 And for that Nichanore and Thymothee
MkT 2592 Of Jewes weren venquysshed myghtily,
MkT 2593 Unto the Jewes swich an hate hadde he
MkT 2594 That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily,
MkT 2595 And swoor, and seyde ful despitously
MkT 2596 Unto Jerusalem he wolde eftsoone
MkT 2597 To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
MkT 2598 But of his purpos he was let ful soone.
MkT 2599 God for his manace hym so soore smoot
MkT 2600 With invisible wounde, ay incurable,
MkT 2601 That in his guttes carf it so and boot
MkT 2602 That his peynes weren importable.
MkT 2603 And certeinly the wreche was resonable,
MkT 2604 For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.
MkT 2605 But from his purpos cursed and dampnable,
MkT 2606 For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne,
MkT 2607 But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;
MkT 2608 And sodeynly, er he was of it war,
MkT 2609 God daunted al his pride and al his boost.
MkT 2610 For he so soore fil out of his char
MkT 2611 That it his limes and his skyn totar,
MkT 2612 So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde,
MkT 2613 But in a chayer men aboute hym bar,
MkT 2614 Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde.
MkT 2615 The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly
MkT 2616 That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,
MkT 2617 And therwithal he stank so horribly
MkT 2618 That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,
MkT 2619 Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte,
MkT 2620 Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure.
MkT 2621 In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte,
MkT 2622 And knew God lord of every creature.
MkT 2623 To al his hoost and to hymself also
MkT 2624 Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne;
MkT 2625 No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.
MkT 2626 And in this stynk and this horrible peyne,
MkT 2627 He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
MkT 2628 Thus hath this robbour and this homycide,
MkT 2629 That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,
MkT 2630 Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde.
MkT 2631 The storie of Alisaundre is so commune
MkT 2632 That every wight that hath discrecioun
MkT 2633 Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
MkT 2634 This wyde world, as in conclusioun,
MkT 2635 He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun
MkT 2636 They weren glad for pees unto hym sende.
MkT 2637 The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun,
MkT 2638 Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende.
MkT 2639 Comparisoun myghte nevere yet been maked
MkT 2640 Bitwixe hym and another conquerour;
MkT 2641 For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked.
MkT 2642 He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour;
MkT 2643 Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour.
MkT 2644 Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage
MkT 2645 His hye entente in armes and labour,
MkT 2646 So was he ful of leonyn corage.
MkT 2647 What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde
MkT 2648 Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo
MkT 2649 Of kynges, princes, dukes, erles bolde
MkT 2650 Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo?
MkT 2651 I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go,
MkT 2652 The world was his -- what sholde I moore devyse?
MkT 2653 For though I write or tolde yow everemo
MkT 2654 Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise.
MkT 2655 Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee.
MkT 2656 Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was,
MkT 2657 That first was kyng in Grece the contree.
MkT 2658 O worthy, gentil Alisandre, allas,
MkT 2659 That evere sholde fallen swich a cas!
MkT 2660 Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere;
MkT 2661 Thy sys Fortune hath turned into aas,
MkT 2662 And for thee ne weep she never a teere.
MkT 2663 Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne
MkT 2664 The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise,
MkT 2665 That al the world weelded in his demeyne,
MkT 2666 And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise?
MkT 2667 So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.
MkT 2668 Allas, who shal me helpe to endite
MkT 2669 False Fortune, and poyson to despise,
MkT 2670 The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?
MkT 2671 By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour,
MkT 2672 From humble bed to roial magestee
MkT 2673 Up roos he Julius, the conquerour,
MkT 2674 That wan al th' occident by land and see,
MkT 2675 By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee,
MkT 2676 And unto Rome made hem tributarie;
MkT 2677 And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he
MkT 2678 Til that Fortune weex his adversarie.
MkT 2679 O myghty Cesar, that in Thessalie
MkT 2680 Agayn Pompeus, fader thyn in lawe,
MkT 2681 That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie
MkT 2682 As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,
MkT 2683 Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe,
MkT 2684 Save fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde,
MkT 2685 Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe.
MkT 2686 Thanke Fortune, that so wel thee spedde!
MkT 2687 But now a litel while I wol biwaille
MkT 2688 This Pompeus, this noble governour
MkT 2689 Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.
MkT 2690 I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour,
MkT 2691 His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour
MkT 2692 Of Julius, and hym the heed he broghte.
MkT 2693 Allas, Pompeye, of th' orient conquerour,
MkT 2694 That Fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!
MkT 2695 To Rome agayn repaireth Julius
MkT 2696 With his triumphe, lauriat ful hye;
MkT 2697 But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
MkT 2698 That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye,
MkT 2699 Ful prively hath maad conspiracye
MkT 2700 Agayns this Julius in subtil wise,
MkT 2701 And caste the place in which he sholde dye
MkT 2702 With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse.
MkT 2703 This Julius to the Capitolie wente
MkT 2704 Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,
MkT 2705 And in the Capitolie anon hym hente
MkT 2706 This false Brutus and his othere foon,
MkT 2707 And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon
MkT 2708 With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye;
MkT 2709 But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon,
MkT 2710 Or elles at two, but if his storie lye.
MkT 2711 So manly was this Julius of herte,
MkT 2712 And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,
MkT 2713 That though his deedly woundes soore smerte,
MkT 2714 His mantel over his hypes caste he,
MkT 2715 For no man sholde seen his privetee;
MkT 2716 And as he lay of diyng in a traunce,
MkT 2717 And wiste verraily that deed was hee,
MkT 2718 Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.
MkT 2719 Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,
MkT 2720 And to Swetoun, and to Valerius also,
MkT 2721 That of this storie writen word and ende,
MkT 2722 How that to thise grete conqueroures two
MkT 2723 Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo.
MkT 2724 No man ne truste upon hire favour longe,
MkT 2725 But have hire in awayt for everemoo;
MkT 2726 Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.
MkT 2727 This riche Cresus, whilom kyng of Lyde,
MkT 2728 Of which Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde,
MkT 2729 Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde,
MkT 2730 And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.
MkT 2731 But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde
MkT 2732 That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape;
MkT 2733 But to be war no grace yet he hadde,
MkT 2734 Til Fortune on the galwes made hym gape.
MkT 2735 Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente
MkT 2736 For to bigynne a newe werre agayn.
MkT 2737 He wende wel, for that Fortune hym sente
MkT 2738 Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn,
MkT 2739 That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn;
MkT 2740 And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette,
MkT 2741 Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn
MkT 2742 That in vengeance he al his herte sette.
MkT 2743 Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte,
MkT 2744 Ther Juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde,
MkT 2745 And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte
MkT 2746 To dryen hym with; and therfore wax his pryde,
MkT 2747 And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde,
MkT 2748 Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,
MkT 2749 He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde,
MkT 2750 And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde:
MkT 2751 " The tree, " quod she, " the galwes is to meene,
MkT 2752 And Juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
MkT 2753 And Phebus, with his towaille so clene,
MkT 2754 Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn.
MkT 2755 Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn;
MkT 2756 Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye. "
MkT 2757 Thus warned hym ful plat and ek ful pleyn
MkT 2758 His doghter, which that called was Phanye.
MkT 2759 Anhanged was Cresus, the proude kyng;
MkT 2760 His roial trone myghte hym nat availle.
MkT 2761 Tragedies noon oother maner thyng
MkT 2762 Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille
MkT 2763 But that Fortune alwey wole assaille
MkT 2764 With unwar strook the regnes that been proude;
MkT 2765 For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille,
MkT 2766 And covere hire brighte face with a clowde.
NPT 2767 " Hoo! " quod the Knyght, " good sire, namoore of this!
NPT 2768 That ye han seyd is right ynough, ywis,
NPT 2769 And muchel moore; for litel hevynesse
NPT 2770 Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse.
NPT 2771 I seye for me, it is a greet disese,
NPT 2772 Whereas men han been in greet welthe and ese,
NPT 2773 To heeren of hire sodeyn fal, allas!
NPT 2774 And the contrarie is joye and greet solas,
NPT 2775 As whan a man hath been in povre estaat,
NPT 2776 And clymbeth up and wexeth fortunat,
NPT 2777 And there abideth in prosperitee.
NPT 2778 Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me,
NPT 2779 And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle. "
NPT 2780 " Ye, " quod oure Hooste, " by Seint Poules belle!
NPT 2781 Ye seye right sooth; this Monk he clappeth lowde.
NPT 2782 He spak how Fortune covered with a clowde
NPT 2783 I noot nevere what; and als of a tragedie
NPT 2784 Right now ye herde, and pardee, no remedie
NPT 2785 It is for to biwaille ne compleyne
NPT 2786 That that is doon, and als it is a peyne,
NPT 2787 As ye han seyd, to heere of hevynesse.
NPT 2788 " Sire Monk, namoore of this, so God yow blesse!
NPT 2789 Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye.
NPT 2790 Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye,
NPT 2791 For therinne is ther no desport ne game.
NPT 2792 Wherfore, sire Monk, daun Piers by youre name,
NPT 2793 I pray yow hertely telle us somwhat elles;
NPT 2794 For sikerly, nere clynkyng of youre belles
NPT 2795 That on youre bridel hange on every syde,
NPT 2796 By hevene kyng that for us alle dyde,
NPT 2797 I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleep,
NPT 2798 Althogh the slough had never been so deep;
NPT 2799 Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn.
NPT 2800 For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn,
NPT 2801 Whereas a man may have noon audience,
NPT 2802 Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
NPT 2803 " And wel I woot the substance is in me,
NPT 2804 If any thyng shal wel reported be.
NPT 2805 Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye. "
NPT 2806 " Nay, " quod this Monk, " I have no lust to pleye.
NPT 2807 Now lat another telle, as I have toold. "
NPT 2808 Thanne spak oure Hoost with rude speche and boold,
NPT 2809 And seyde unto the Nonnes Preest anon,
NPT 2810 " Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou sir John!
NPT 2811 Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade.
NPT 2812 Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade.
NPT 2813 What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene?
NPT 2814 If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene.
NPT 2815 Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo. "
NPT 2816 " Yis, sir, " quod he, " yis, Hoost, so moot I go,
NPT 2817 But I be myrie, ywis I wol be blamed. "
NPT 2818 And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
NPT 2819 And thus he seyde unto us everichon,
NPT 2820 This sweete preest, this goodly man sir John.
NPT 2821 A povre wydwe, somdeel stape in age,
NPT 2822 Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage,
NPT 2823 Biside a grove, stondynge in a dale.
NPT 2824 This wydwe, of which I telle yow my tale,
NPT 2825 Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf
NPT 2826 In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
NPT 2827 For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
NPT 2828 By housbondrie of swich as God hire sente
NPT 2829 She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two.
NPT 2830 Thre large sowes hadde she, and namo,
NPT 2831 Three keen, and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
NPT 2832 Ful sooty was hire bour and eek hir halle,
NPT 2833 In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel.
NPT 2834 Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel.
NPT 2835 No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte;
NPT 2836 Hir diete was accordant to hir cote.
NPT 2837 Repleccioun ne made hire nevere sik;
NPT 2838 Attempree diete was al hir phisik,
NPT 2839 And exercise, and hertes suffisaunce.
NPT 2840 The goute lette hire nothyng for to daunce,
NPT 2841 N' apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
NPT 2842 No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed;
NPT 2843 Hir bord was served moost with whit and blak --
NPT 2844 Milk and broun breed, in which she foond no lak,
NPT 2845 Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye,
NPT 2846 For she was, as it were, a maner deye.
NPT 2847 A yeerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute
NPT 2848 With stikkes, and a drye dych withoute,
NPT 2849 In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer.
NPT 2850 In al the land, of crowyng nas his peer.
NPT 2851 His voys was murier than the murie orgon
NPT 2852 On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon.
NPT 2853 Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge
NPT 2854 Than is a clokke or an abbey orlogge.
NPT 2855 By nature he knew ech ascencioun
NPT 2856 Of the equynoxial in thilke toun;
NPT 2857 For whan degrees fiftene weren ascended,
NPT 2858 Thanne crew he that it myghte nat been amended.
NPT 2859 His coomb was redder than the fyn coral,
NPT 2860 And batailled as it were a castel wal;
NPT 2861 His byle was blak, and as the jeet it shoon;
NPT 2862 Lyk asure were his legges and his toon;
NPT 2863 His nayles whitter than the lylye flour,
NPT 2864 And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
NPT 2865 This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce
NPT 2866 Sevene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
NPT 2867 Whiche were his sustres and his paramours,
NPT 2868 And wonder lyk to hym, as of colours;
NPT 2869 Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte
NPT 2870 Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote.
NPT 2871 Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire,
NPT 2872 And compaignable, and bar hyrself so faire
NPT 2873 Syn thilke day that she was seven nyght oold
NPT 2874 That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
NPT 2875 Of Chauntecleer, loken in every lith;
NPT 2876 He loved hire so that wel was hym therwith.
NPT 2877 But swich a joye was it to here hem synge,
NPT 2878 Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,
NPT 2879 In sweete accord, " My lief is faren in londe! " --
NPT 2880 For thilke tyme, as I have understonde,
NPT 2881 Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge.
NPT 2882 And so bifel that in a dawenynge,
NPT 2883 As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle
NPT 2884 Sat on his perche, that was in the halle,
NPT 2885 And next hym sat this faire Pertelote,
NPT 2886 This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte,
NPT 2887 As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
NPT 2888 And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym roore,
NPT 2889 She was agast and seyde, " Herte deere,
NPT 2890 What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere?
NPT 2891 Ye been a verray sleper; fy, for shame! "
NPT 2892 And he answerde, and seyde thus: " Madame,
NPT 2893 I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief.
NPT 2894 By God, me mette I was in swich meschief
NPT 2895 Right now that yet myn herte is soore afright.
NPT 2896 Now God, " quod he, " my swevene recche aright,
NPT 2897 And kepe my body out of foul prisoun!
NPT 2898 Me mette how that I romed up and doun
NPT 2899 Withinne our yeerd, wheer as I saugh a beest
NPT 2900 Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
NPT 2901 Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.
NPT 2902 His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed,
NPT 2903 And tipped was his tayl and bothe his eeris
NPT 2904 With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heeris;
NPT 2905 His snowte smal, with glowynge eyen tweye.
NPT 2906 Yet of his look for feere almoost I deye;
NPT 2907 This caused me my gronyng, doutelees. "
NPT 2908 " Avoy! " quod she, " fy on yow, hertelees!
NPT 2909 Allas, " quod she, " for, by that God above,
NPT 2910 Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love!
NPT 2911 I kan nat love a coward, by my feith!
NPT 2912 For certes, what so any womman seith,
NPT 2913 We alle desiren, if it myghte bee,
NPT 2914 To han housbondes hardy, wise, and free,
NPT 2915 And secree -- and no nygard, ne no fool,
NPT 2916 Ne hym that is agast of every tool,
NPT 2917 Ne noon avauntour, by that God above!
NPT 2918 How dorste ye seyn, for shame, unto youre love
NPT 2919 That any thyng myghte make yow aferd?
NPT 2920 Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd?
NPT 2921 Allas! And konne ye been agast of swevenys?
NPT 2922 Nothyng, God woot, but vanitee in sweven is.
NPT 2923 Swevenes engendren of replecciouns,
NPT 2924 And ofte of fume and of complecciouns,
NPT 2925 Whan humours been to habundant in a wight.
NPT 2926 Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-nyght,
NPT 2927 Cometh of the greete superfluytee
NPT 2928 Of youre rede colera, pardee,
NPT 2929 Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
NPT 2930 Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes,
NPT 2931 Of rede beestes, that they wol hem byte,
NPT 2932 Of contek, and of whelpes, grete and lyte;
NPT 2933 Right as the humour of malencolie
NPT 2934 Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
NPT 2935 For feere of blake beres, or boles blake,
NPT 2936 Or elles blake develes wole hem take.
NPT 2937 Of othere humours koude I telle also
NPT 2938 That werken many a man sleep ful wo;
NPT 2939 But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
NPT 2940 " Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man,
NPT 2941 Seyde he nat thus, `Ne do no fors of dremes'?
NPT 2942 " Now sire, " quod she, " whan we flee fro the bemes,
NPT 2943 For Goddes love, as taak som laxatyf.
NPT 2944 Up peril of my soule and of my lyf,
NPT 2945 I conseille yow the beste -- I wol nat lye --
NPT 2946 That bothe of colere and of malencolye
NPT 2947 Ye purge yow; and for ye shal nat tarie,
NPT 2948 Though in this toun is noon apothecarie,
NPT 2949 I shal myself to herbes techen yow
NPT 2950 That shul been for youre hele and for youre prow;
NPT 2951 And in oure yeerd tho herbes shal I fynde
NPT 2952 The whiche han of hire propretee by kynde
NPT 2953 To purge yow bynethe and eek above.
NPT 2954 Foryet nat this, for Goddes owene love!
NPT 2955 Ye been ful coleryk of compleccioun;
NPT 2956 Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
NPT 2957 Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hoote.
NPT 2958 And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote,
NPT 2959 That ye shul have a fevere terciane,
NPT 2960 Or an agu that may be youre bane.
NPT 2961 A day or two ye shul have digestyves
NPT 2962 Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyves
NPT 2963 Of lawriol, centaure, and fumetere,
NPT 2964 Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there,
NPT 2965 Of katapuce, or of gaitrys beryis,
NPT 2966 Of herbe yve, growyng in oure yeerd, ther mery is;
NPT 2967 Pekke hem up right as they growe and ete hem yn.
NPT 2968 Be myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn!
NPT 2969 Dredeth no dreem; I kan sey yow namoore. "
NPT 2970 " Madame, " quod he, " graunt mercy of youre loore.
NPT 2971 But nathelees, as touchyng daun Catoun,
NPT 2972 That hath of wysdom swich a greet renoun,
NPT 2973 Though that he bad no dremes for to drede,
NPT 2974 By God, men may in olde bookes rede
NPT 2975 Of many a man moore of auctorite
NPT 2976 Than evere Caton was, so moot I thee,
NPT 2977 That al the revers seyn of this sentence,
NPT 2978 And han wel founden by experience
NPT 2979 That dremes been significaciouns
NPT 2980 As wel of joye as of tribulaciouns
NPT 2981 That folk enduren in this lif present.
NPT 2982 Ther nedeth make of this noon argument;
NPT 2983 The verray preeve sheweth it in dede.
NPT 2984 " Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede
NPT 2985 Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
NPT 2986 On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente,
NPT 2987 And happed so, they coomen in a toun
NPT 2988 Wher as ther was swich congregacioun
NPT 2989 Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage,
NPT 2990 That they ne founde as muche as o cotage
NPT 2991 In which they bothe myghte ylogged bee.
NPT 2992 Wherfore they mosten of necessitee,
NPT 2993 As for that nyght, departen compaignye;
NPT 2994 And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye,
NPT 2995 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
NPT 2996 That oon of hem was logged in a stalle,
NPT 2997 Fer in a yeerd, with oxen of the plough;
NPT 2998 That oother man was logged wel ynough,
NPT 2999 As was his aventure or his fortune,
NPT 3000 That us governeth alle as in commune.
NPT 3001 " And so bifel that, longe er it were day,
NPT 3002 This man mette in his bed, ther as he lay,
NPT 3003 How that his felawe gan upon hym calle,
NPT 3004 And seyde, `Allas, for in an oxes stalle
NPT 3005 This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye!
NPT 3006 Now help me, deere brother, or I dye.
NPT 3007 In alle haste com to me!' he sayde.
NPT 3008 This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde;
NPT 3009 But whan that he was wakened of his sleep,
NPT 3010 He turned hym and took of this no keep.
NPT 3011 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee.
NPT 3012 Thus twies in his slepyng dremed hee;
NPT 3013 And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
NPT 3014 Cam, as hym thoughte, and seide, `I am now slawe.
NPT 3015 Bihoold my bloody woundes depe and wyde!
NPT 3016 Arys up erly in the morwe tyde,
NPT 3017 And at the west gate of the toun,' quod he,
NPT 3018 `A carte ful of dong ther shaltow se,
NPT 3019 In which my body is hid ful prively;
NPT 3020 Do thilke carte arresten boldely.
NPT 3021 My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn,'
NPT 3022 And tolde hym every point how he was slayn,
NPT 3023 With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe.
NPT 3024 And truste wel, his dreem he foond ful trewe,
NPT 3025 For on the morwe, as soone as it was day,
NPT 3026 To his felawes in he took the way;
NPT 3027 And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle,
NPT 3028 After his felawe he bigan to calle.
NPT 3029 " The hostiler answerede hym anon,
NPT 3030 And seyde, `Sire, your felawe is agon.
NPT 3031 As soone as day he wente out of the toun.'
NPT 3032 " This man gan fallen in suspecioun,
NPT 3033 Remembrynge on his dremes that he mette,
NPT 3034 And forth he gooth -- no lenger wolde he lette --
NPT 3035 Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond
NPT 3036 A dong-carte, wente as it were to donge lond,
NPT 3037 That was arrayed in that same wise
NPT 3038 As ye han herd the dede man devyse.
NPT 3039 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
NPT 3040 Vengeance and justice of this felonye:
NPT 3041 `My felawe mordred is this same nyght,
NPT 3042 And in this carte he lith gapyng upright.
NPT 3043 I crye out on the ministres,' quod he,
NPT 3044 `That sholden kepe and reulen this citee.
NPT 3045 Harrow! Allas! Heere lith my felawe slayn!'
NPT 3046 What sholde I moore unto this tale sayn?
NPT 3047 The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde,
NPT 3048 And in the myddel of the dong they founde
NPT 3049 The dede man, that mordred was al newe.
NPT 3050 " O blisful God, that art so just and trewe,
NPT 3051 Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway!
NPT 3052 Mordre wol out; that se we day by day.
NPT 3053 Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable
NPT 3054 To God, that is so just and resonable,
NPT 3055 That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be,
NPT 3056 Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or thre.
NPT 3057 Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun.
NPT 3058 And right anon, ministres of that toun
NPT 3059 Han hent the carter and so soore hym pyned,
NPT 3060 And eek the hostiler so soore engyned,
NPT 3061 That they biknewe hire wikkednesse anon,
NPT 3062 And were anhanged by the nekke-bon.
NPT 3063 " Heere may men seen that dremes been to drede.
NPT 3064 And certes in the same book I rede,
NPT 3065 Right in the nexte chapitre after this --
NPT 3066 I gabbe nat, so have I joye or blis --
NPT 3067 Two men that wolde han passed over see,
NPT 3068 For certeyn cause, into a fer contree,
NPT 3069 If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarie,
NPT 3070 That made hem in a citee for to tarie
NPT 3071 That stood ful myrie upon an haven-syde;
NPT 3072 But on a day, agayn the even-tyde,
NPT 3073 The wynd gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste.
NPT 3074 Jolif and glad they wente unto hir reste,
NPT 3075 And casten hem ful erly for to saille.
NPT 3076 But herkneth! To that o man fil a greet mervaille:
NPT 3077 That oon of hem, in slepyng as he lay,
NPT 3078 Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.
NPT 3079 Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde,
NPT 3080 And hym comanded that he sholde abyde,
NPT 3081 And seyde hym thus: `If thou tomorwe wende,
NPT 3082 Thow shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.'
NPT 3083 He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette,
NPT 3084 And preyde hym his viage for to lette;
NPT 3085 As for that day, he preyde hym to byde.
NPT 3086 His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde,
NPT 3087 Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste.
NPT 3088 `No dreem,' quod he, `may so myn herte agaste
NPT 3089 That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
NPT 3090 I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges,
NPT 3091 For swevenes been but vanytees and japes.
NPT 3092 Men dreme alday of owles and of apes,
NPT 3093 And of many a maze therwithal;
NPT 3094 Men dreme of thyng that nevere was ne shal.
NPT 3095 But sith I see that thou wolt heere abyde,
NPT 3096 And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
NPT 3097 God woot, it reweth me; and have good day!'
NPT 3098 And thus he took his leve, and wente his way.
NPT 3099 But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
NPT 3100 Noot I nat why, ne what myschaunce it eyled,
NPT 3101 But casuelly the shippes botme rente,
NPT 3102 And ship and man under the water wente
NPT 3103 In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde,
NPT 3104 That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
NPT 3105 And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere,
NPT 3106 By swiche ensamples olde maistow leere
NPT 3107 That no man sholde been to recchelees
NPT 3108 Of dremes; for I seye thee, doutelees,
NPT 3109 That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.
NPT 3110 " Lo, in the lyf of Seint Kenelm I rede,
NPT 3111 That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng
NPT 3112 Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thyng.
NPT 3113 A lite er he was mordred, on a day,
NPT 3114 His mordre in his avysioun he say.
NPT 3115 His norice hym expowned every deel
NPT 3116 His sweven, and bad hym for to kepe hym weel
NPT 3117 For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer oold,
NPT 3118 And therfore litel tale hath he toold
NPT 3119 Of any dreem, so hooly was his herte.
NPT 3120 By God! I hadde levere than my sherte
NPT 3121 That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.
NPT 3122 " Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely,
NPT 3123 Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun
NPT 3124 In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
NPT 3125 Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been
NPT 3126 Warnynge of thynges that men after seen.
NPT 3127 And forthermoore, I pray yow, looketh wel
NPT 3128 In the olde testament, of Daniel,
NPT 3129 If he heeld dremes any vanitee.
NPT 3130 Reed eek of Joseph, and ther shul ye see
NPT 3131 Wher dremes be somtyme -- I sey nat alle --
NPT 3132 Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
NPT 3133 Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao,
NPT 3134 His bakere and his butiller also,
NPT 3135 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
NPT 3136 Whoso wol seken actes of sondry remes
NPT 3137 May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.
NPT 3138 Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde kyng,
NPT 3139 Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree,
NPT 3140 Which signified he sholde anhanged bee?
NPT 3141 Lo heere Andromacha, Ectores wyf,
NPT 3142 That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf,
NPT 3143 She dremed on the same nyght biforn
NPT 3144 How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn,
NPT 3145 If thilke day he wente into bataille.
NPT 3146 She warned hym, but it myghte nat availle;
NPT 3147 He wente for to fighte natheles,
NPT 3148 But he was slayn anon of Achilles.
NPT 3149 But thilke tale is al to longe to telle,
NPT 3150 And eek it is ny day; I may nat dwelle.
NPT 3151 Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun,
NPT 3152 That I shal han of this avisioun
NPT 3153 Adversitee; and I seye forthermoor
NPT 3154 That I ne telle of laxatyves no stoor,
NPT 3155 For they been venymes, I woot it weel;
NPT 3156 I hem diffye, I love hem never a deel!
NPT 3157 " Now let us speke of myrthe, and stynte al this.
NPT 3158 Madame Pertelote, so have I blis,
NPT 3159 Of o thyng God hath sent me large grace;
NPT 3160 For whan I se the beautee of youre face,
NPT 3161 Ye been so scarlet reed aboute youre yen,
NPT 3162 It maketh al my drede for to dyen;
NPT 3163 For al so siker as In principio,
NPT 3164 Mulier est hominis confusio --
NPT 3165 Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is,
NPT 3166 `Womman is mannes joye and al his blis.'
NPT 3167 For whan I feele a-nyght your softe syde --
NPT 3168 Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde,
NPT 3169 For that oure perche is maad so narwe, allas --
NPT 3170 I am so ful of joye and of solas,
NPT 3171 That I diffye bothe sweven and dreem. "
NPT 3172 And with that word he fley doun fro the beem,
NPT 3173 For it was day, and eke his hennes alle,
NPT 3174 And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle,
NPT 3175 For he hadde founde a corn, lay in the yerd.
NPT 3176 Real he was, he was namoore aferd.
NPT 3177 He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme,
NPT 3178 And trad hire eke as ofte, er it was pryme.
NPT 3179 He looketh as it were a grym leoun,
NPT 3180 And on his toos he rometh up and doun;
NPT 3181 Hym deigned nat to sette his foot to grounde.
NPT 3182 He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde,
NPT 3183 And to hym rennen thanne his wyves alle.
NPT 3184 Thus roial, as a prince is in his halle,
NPT 3185 Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture,
NPT 3186 And after wol I telle his aventure.
NPT 3187 Whan that the month in which the world bigan,
NPT 3188 That highte March, whan God first maked man,
NPT 3189 Was compleet, and passed were also,
NPT 3190 Syn March [was gon], thritty dayes and two,
NPT 3191 Bifel that Chauntecleer in al his pryde,
NPT 3192 His sevene wyves walkynge by his syde,
NPT 3193 Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne,
NPT 3194 That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne
NPT 3195 Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat moore,
NPT 3196 And knew by kynde, and by noon oother loore,
NPT 3197 That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene.
NPT 3198 " The sonne, " he seyde, " is clomben up on hevene
NPT 3199 Fourty degrees and oon, and moore ywis.
NPT 3200 Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis,
NPT 3201 Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge,
NPT 3202 And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge;
NPT 3203 Ful is myn herte of revel and solas! "
NPT 3204 But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
NPT 3205 For evere the latter ende of joye is wo.
NPT 3206 God woot that worldly joye is soone ago;
NPT 3207 And if a rethor koude faire endite,
NPT 3208 He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write
NPT 3209 As for a sovereyn notabilitee.
NPT 3210 Now every wys man, lat him herkne me;
NPT 3211 This storie is also trewe, I undertake,
NPT 3212 As is the book of Launcelot de Lake,
NPT 3213 That wommen holde in ful greet reverence.
NPT 3214 Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
NPT 3215 A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee,
NPT 3216 That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
NPT 3217 By heigh ymaginacioun forncast,
NPT 3218 The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast
NPT 3219 Into the yerd ther Chauntecleer the faire
NPT 3220 Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire;
NPT 3221 And in a bed of wortes stille he lay
NPT 3222 Til it was passed undren of the day,
NPT 3223 Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle,
NPT 3224 As gladly doon thise homycides alle
NPT 3225 That in await liggen to mordre men.
NPT 3226 O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den!
NPT 3227 O newe Scariot, newe Genylon,
NPT 3228 False dissymulour, o Greek Synon,
NPT 3229 That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe!
NPT 3230 O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe
NPT 3231 That thou into that yerd flaugh fro the bemes!
NPT 3232 Thou were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes
NPT 3233 That thilke day was perilous to thee;
NPT 3234 But what that God forwoot moot nedes bee,
NPT 3235 After the opinioun of certein clerkis.
NPT 3236 Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is,
NPT 3237 That in scole is greet altercacioun
NPT 3238 In this mateere, and greet disputisoun,
NPT 3239 And hath been of an hundred thousand men.
NPT 3240 But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren
NPT 3241 As kan the hooly doctour Augustyn,
NPT 3242 Or Boece, or the Bisshop Bradwardyn,
NPT 3243 Wheither that Goddes worthy forwityng
NPT 3244 Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng --
NPT 3245 " Nedely " clepe I symple necessitee --
NPT 3246 Or elles, if free choys be graunted me
NPT 3247 To do that same thyng, or do it noght,
NPT 3248 Though God forwoot it er that I was wroght;
NPT 3249 Or if his wityng streyneth never a deel
NPT 3250 But by necessitee condicioneel.
NPT 3251 I wol nat han to do of swich mateere;
NPT 3252 My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
NPT 3253 That tok his conseil of his wyf, with sorwe,
NPT 3254 To walken in the yerd upon that morwe
NPT 3255 That he hadde met that dreem that I yow tolde.
NPT 3256 Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde;
NPT 3257 Wommannes conseil broghte us first to wo
NPT 3258 And made Adam fro Paradys to go,
NPT 3259 Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
NPT 3260 But for I noot to whom it myght displese,
NPT 3261 If I conseil of wommen wolde blame,
NPT 3262 Passe over, for I seyde it in my game.
NPT 3263 Rede auctours, where they trete of swich mateere,
NPT 3264 And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere.
NPT 3265 Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne;
NPT 3266 I kan noon harm of no womman divyne.
NPT 3267 Faire in the soond, to bathe hire myrily,
NPT 3268 Lith Pertelote, and alle hire sustres by,
NPT 3269 Agayn the sonne, and Chauntecleer so free
NPT 3270 Soong murier than the mermayde in the see
NPT 3271 (For Phisiologus seith sikerly
NPT 3272 How that they syngen wel and myrily).
NPT 3273 And so bifel that, as he caste his ye
NPT 3274 Among the wortes on a boterflye,
NPT 3275 He was war of this fox, that lay ful lowe.
NPT 3276 Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
NPT 3277 But cride anon, " Cok! cok! " and up he sterte
NPT 3278 As man that was affrayed in his herte.
NPT 3279 For natureelly a beest desireth flee
NPT 3280 Fro his contrarie, if he may it see,
NPT 3281 Though he never erst hadde seyn it with his ye.
NPT 3282 This Chauntecleer, whan he gan hym espye,
NPT 3283 He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon
NPT 3284 Seyde, " Gentil sire, allas, wher wol ye gon?
NPT 3285 Be ye affrayed of me that am youre freend?
NPT 3286 Now, certes, I were worse than a feend,
NPT 3287 If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye!
NPT 3288 I am nat come youre conseil for t' espye,
NPT 3289 But trewely, the cause of my comynge
NPT 3290 Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge.
NPT 3291 For trewely, ye have as myrie a stevene
NPT 3292 As any aungel hath that is in hevene.
NPT 3293 Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
NPT 3294 Than hadde Boece, or any that kan synge.
NPT 3295 My lord youre fader -- God his soule blesse! --
NPT 3296 And eek youre mooder, of hire gentillesse,
NPT 3297 Han in myn hous ybeen to my greet ese;
NPT 3298 And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
NPT 3299 But, for men speke of syngyng, I wol seye --
NPT 3300 So moote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye --
NPT 3301 Save yow, I herde nevere man so synge
NPT 3302 As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
NPT 3303 Certes, it was of herte, al that he song.
NPT 3304 And for to make his voys the moore strong,
NPT 3305 He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe his yen
NPT 3306 He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen,
NPT 3307 And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal,
NPT 3308 And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
NPT 3309 And eek he was of swich discrecioun
NPT 3310 That ther nas no man in no regioun
NPT 3311 That hym in song or wisedom myghte passe.
NPT 3312 I have wel rad in `Daun Burnel the Asse,'
NPT 3313 Among his vers, how that ther was a cok,
NPT 3314 For that a preestes sone yaf hym a knok
NPT 3315 Upon his leg whil he was yong and nyce,
NPT 3316 He made hym for to lese his benefice.
NPT 3317 But certeyn, ther nys no comparisoun
NPT 3318 Bitwixe the wisedom and discrecioun
NPT 3319 Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
NPT 3320 Now syngeth, sire, for seinte charitee;
NPT 3321 Lat se; konne ye youre fader countrefete? "
NPT 3322 This Chauntecleer his wynges gan to bete,
NPT 3323 As man that koude his traysoun nat espie,
NPT 3324 So was he ravysshed with his flaterie.
NPT 3325 Allas, ye lordes, many a fals flatour
NPT 3326 Is in youre courtes, and many a losengeour,
NPT 3327 That plesen yow wel moore, by my feith,
NPT 3328 Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith.
NPT 3329 Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye;
NPT 3330 Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.
NPT 3331 This Chauntecleer stood hye upon his toos,
NPT 3332 Strecchynge his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos,
NPT 3333 And gan to crowe loude for the nones.
NPT 3334 And daun Russell the fox stirte up atones,
NPT 3335 And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer,
NPT 3336 And on his bak toward the wode hym beer,
NPT 3337 For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
NPT 3338 O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed!
NPT 3339 Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes!
NPT 3340 Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes!
NPT 3341 And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce.
NPT 3342 O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce,
NPT 3343 Syn that thy servant was this Chauntecleer,
NPT 3344 And in thy servyce dide al his poweer,
NPT 3345 Moore for delit than world to multiplye,
NPT 3346 Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?
NPT 3347 O Gaufred, deere maister soverayn,
NPT 3348 That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn
NPT 3349 With shot, compleynedest his deeth so soore,
NPT 3350 Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore,
NPT 3351 The Friday for to chide, as diden ye?
NPT 3352 For on a Friday, soothly, slayn was he.
NPT 3353 Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne
NPT 3354 For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne.
NPT 3355 Certes, swich cry ne lamentacion
NPT 3356 Was nevere of ladyes maad whan Ylion
NPT 3357 Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd,
NPT 3358 Whan he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd,
NPT 3359 And slayn hym, as seith us Eneydos,
NPT 3360 As maden alle the hennes in the clos,
NPT 3361 Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte.
NPT 3362 But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte
NPT 3363 Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf,
NPT 3364 Whan that hir housbonde hadde lost his lyf
NPT 3365 And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage.
NPT 3366 She was so ful of torment and of rage
NPT 3367 That wilfully into the fyr she sterte
NPT 3368 And brende hirselven with a stedefast herte.
NPT 3369 O woful hennes, right so criden ye
NPT 3370 As whan that Nero brende the citee
NPT 3371 Of Rome cryden senatoures wyves
NPT 3372 For that hir husbondes losten alle hir lyves --
NPT 3373 Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
NPT 3374 Now wole I turne to my tale agayn.
NPT 3375 This sely wydwe and eek hir doghtres two
NPT 3376 Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo,
NPT 3377 And out at dores stirten they anon,
NPT 3378 And syen the fox toward the grove gon,
NPT 3379 And bar upon his bak the cok away,
NPT 3380 And cryden, " Out! Harrow and weylaway!
NPT 3381 Ha, ha! The fox! " and after hym they ran,
NPT 3382 And eek with staves many another man.
NPT 3383 Ran Colle oure dogge, and Talbot and Gerland,
NPT 3384 And Malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand;
NPT 3385 Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges,
NPT 3386 So fered for the berkyng of the dogges
NPT 3387 And shoutyng of the men and wommen eeke
NPT 3388 They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breeke.
NPT 3389 They yolleden as feendes doon in helle;
NPT 3390 The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle;
NPT 3391 The gees for feere flowen over the trees;
NPT 3392 Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees.
NPT 3393 So hydous was the noyse -- a, benedicitee! --
NPT 3394 Certes, he Jakke Straw and his meynee
NPT 3395 Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille
NPT 3396 Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille,
NPT 3397 As thilke day was maad upon the fox.
NPT 3398 Of bras they broghten bemes, and of box,
NPT 3399 Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped,
NPT 3400 And therwithal they skriked and they howped.
NPT 3401 It semed as that hevene sholde falle.
NPT 3402 Now, goode men, I prey yow herkneth alle:
NPT 3403 Lo, how Fortune turneth sodeynly
NPT 3404 The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy!
NPT 3405 This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak,
NPT 3406 In al his drede unto the fox he spak,
NPT 3407 And seyde, " Sire, if that I were as ye,
NPT 3408 Yet sholde I seyn, as wys God helpe me,
NPT 3409 `Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle!
NPT 3410 A verray pestilence upon yow falle!
NPT 3411 Now I am come unto the wodes syde;
NPT 3412 Maugree youre heed, the cok shal heere abyde.
NPT 3413 I wol hym ete, in feith, and that anon!' "
NPT 3414 The fox answerde, " In feith, it shal be don. "
NPT 3415 And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
NPT 3416 This cok brak from his mouth delyverly,
NPT 3417 And heighe upon a tree he fleigh anon.
NPT 3418 And whan the fox saugh that the cok was gon,
NPT 3419 " Allas! " quod he, " O Chauntecleer, allas!
NPT 3420 I have to yow, " quod he, " ydoon trespas,
NPT 3421 In as muche as I maked yow aferd
NPT 3422 Whan I yow hente and broghte out of the yerd.
NPT 3423 But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente.
NPT 3424 Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente;
NPT 3425 I shal seye sooth to yow, God help me so! "
NPT 3426 " Nay thanne, " quod he, " I shrewe us bothe two.
NPT 3427 And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones,
NPT 3428 If thou bigyle me ofter than ones.
NPT 3429 Thou shalt namoore thurgh thy flaterye
NPT 3430 Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye;
NPT 3431 For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see,
NPT 3432 Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee! "
NPT 3433 " Nay, " quod the fox, " but God yeve hym meschaunce,
NPT 3434 That is so undiscreet of governaunce
NPT 3435 That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees. "
NPT 3436 Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees
NPT 3437 And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
NPT 3438 But ye that holden this tale a folye,
NPT 3439 As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,
NPT 3440 Taketh the moralite, goode men.
NPT 3441 For Seint Paul seith that al that writen is,
NPT 3442 To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis;
NPT 3443 Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.
NPT 3444 Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille,
NPT 3445 As seith my lord, so make us alle goode men,
NPT 3446 And brynge us to his heighe blisse! Amen.
NPT 3447 [ " Sire Nonnes Preest, " oure Hooste seide anoon,
NPT 3448 " I-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon!
NPT 3449 This was a murie tale of Chauntecleer.
NPT 3450 But by my trouthe, if thou were seculer,
NPT 3451 Thou woldest ben a trede-foul aright.
NPT 3452 For if thou have corage as thou hast myght,
NPT 3453 Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene,
NPT 3454 Ya, moo than seven tymes seventene.
NPT 3455 See, whiche braunes hath this gentil preest,
NPT 3456 So gret a nekke, and swich a large breest!
NPT 3457 He loketh as a sperhauk with his yen;
NPT 3458 Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen
NPT 3459 With brasile ne with greyn of Portyngale.
NPT 3460 Now, sire, faire falle yow for youre tale! "
NPT 3461 And after that he, with ful merie chere,
NPT 3462 Seide unto another, as ye shuln heere.]
SNT 1 The ministre and the norice unto vices,
SNT 2 Which that men clepe in Englissh Ydelnesse,
SNT 3 That porter of the gate is of delices,
SNT 4 To eschue, and by hire contrarie hire oppresse --
SNT 5 That is to seyn, by leveful bisynesse --
SNT 6 Wel oghten we to doon al oure entente,
SNT 7 Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.
SNT 8 For he that with his thousand cordes slye
SNT 9 Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,
SNT 10 Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,
SNT 11 He kan so lightly cache hym in his trappe,
SNT 12 Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,
SNT 13 He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.
SNT 14 Wel oghte us werche and ydelnesse withstonde.
SNT 15 And though men dradden nevere for to dye,
SNT 16 Yet seen men wel by resoun, doutelees,
SNT 17 That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,
SNT 18 Of which ther nevere comth no good n' encrees;
SNT 19 And syn that slouthe hire holdeth in a lees
SNT 20 Oonly to slepe, and for to ete and drynke,
SNT 21 And to devouren al that othere swynke,
SNT 22 And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,
SNT 23 That cause is of so greet confusioun,
SNT 24 I have heer doon my feithful bisynesse
SNT 25 After the legende in translacioun
SNT 26 Right of thy glorious lif and passioun,
SNT 27 Thou with thy gerland wroght with rose and lilie --
SNT 28 Thee meene I, mayde and martyr, Seint Cecilie.
SNT 29 And thow that flour of virgines art alle,
SNT 30 Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write,
SNT 31 To thee at my bigynnyng first I calle;
SNT 32 Thou confort of us wrecches, do me endite
SNT 33 Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hire merite
SNT 34 The eterneel lyf and of the feend victorie,
SNT 35 As man may after reden in hire storie.
SNT 36 Thow Mayde and Mooder, doghter of thy Sone,
SNT 37 Thow welle of mercy, synful soules cure,
SNT 38 In whom that God for bountee chees to wone,
SNT 39 Thow humble, and heigh over every creature,
SNT 40 Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature,
SNT 41 That no desdeyn the Makere hadde of kynde
SNT 42 His Sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde.
SNT 43 Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis
SNT 44 Took mannes shap the eterneel love and pees,
SNT 45 That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is,
SNT 46 Whom erthe and see and hevene out of relees
SNT 47 Ay heryen; and thou, Virgine wemmelees,
SNT 48 Baar of thy body -- and dweltest mayden pure --
SNT 49 The Creatour of every creature.
SNT 50 Assembled is in thee magnificence
SNT 51 With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee
SNT 52 That thou, that art the sonne of excellence
SNT 53 Nat oonly helpest hem that preyen thee,
SNT 54 But often tyme of thy benygnytee
SNT 55 Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche,
SNT 56 Thou goost biforn and art hir lyves leche.
SNT 57 Now help, thow meeke and blisful faire mayde,
SNT 58 Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;
SNT 59 Thynk on the womman Cananee, that sayde
SNT 60 That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle
SNT 61 That from hir lordes table been yfalle;
SNT 62 And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve,
SNT 63 Be synful, yet accepte my bileve.
SNT 64 And, for that feith is deed withouten werkis,
SNT 65 So for to werken yif me wit and space,
SNT 66 That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!
SNT 67 O thou, that art so fair and ful of grace,
SNT 68 Be myn advocat in that heighe place
SNT 69 Theras withouten ende is songe " Osanne, "
SNT 70 Thow Cristes mooder, doghter deere of Anne!
SNT 71 And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,
SNT 72 That troubled is by the contagioun
SNT 73 Of my body, and also by the wighte
SNT 74 Of erthely lust and fals affeccioun;
SNT 75 O havene of refut, O salvacioun
SNT 76 Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
SNT 77 Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.
SNT 78 Yet preye I yow that reden that I write,
SNT 79 Foryeve me that I do no diligence
SNT 80 This ilke storie subtilly to endite,
SNT 81 For bothe have I the wordes and sentence
SNT 82 Of hym that at the seintes reverence
SNT 83 The storie wroot, and folwen hire legende,
SNT 84 And pray yow that ye wole my werk amende.
SNT 85 First wolde I yow the name of Seint Cecilie
SNT 86 Expowne, as men may in hir storie see.
SNT 87 It is to seye in Englissh " hevenes lilie, "
SNT 88 For pure chaastnesse of virginitee;
SNT 89 Or, for she whitnesse hadde of honestee,
SNT 90 And grene of conscience, and of good fame
SNT 91 The soote savour, " lilie " was hir name.
SNT 92 Or Cecilie is to seye " the wey to blynde, "
SNT 93 For she ensample was by good techynge;
SNT 94 Or elles Cecile, as I writen fynde,
SNT 95 Is joyned, by a manere conjoynynge
SNT 96 Of " hevene " and " Lia " ; and heere, in figurynge,
SNT 97 The " hevene " is set for thoght of hoolynesse,
SNT 98 And " Lia " for hire lastynge bisynesse.
SNT 99 Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,
SNT 100 " Wantynge of blyndnesse, " for hir grete light
SNT 101 Of sapience and for hire thewes cleere;
SNT 102 Or elles, loo, this maydens name bright
SNT 103 Of " hevene " and " leos " comth, for which by right
SNT 104 Men myghte hire wel " the hevene of peple " calle,
SNT 105 Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle.
SNT 106 For " leos " " peple " in Englissh is to seye,
SNT 107 And right as men may in the hevene see
SNT 108 The sonne and moone and sterres every weye,
SNT 109 Right so men goostly in this mayden free
SNT 110 Seyen of feith the magnanymytee,
SNT 111 And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,
SNT 112 And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.
SNT 113 And right so as thise philosophres write
SNT 114 That hevene is swift and round and eek brennynge,
SNT 115 Right so was faire Cecilie the white
SNT 116 Ful swift and bisy evere in good werkynge,
SNT 117 And round and hool in good perseverynge,
SNT 118 And brennynge evere in charite ful brighte.
SNT 119 Now have I yow declared what she highte.
SNT 120 This mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lif seith,
SNT 121 Was comen of Romayns and of noble kynde,
SNT 122 And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith
SNT 123 Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir mynde.
SNT 124 She nevere cessed, as I writen fynde,
SNT 125 Of hir preyere and God to love and drede,
SNT 126 Bisekynge hym to kepe hir maydenhede.
SNT 127 And whan this mayden sholde unto a man
SNT 128 Ywedded be, that was ful yong of age,
SNT 129 Which that ycleped was Valerian,
SNT 130 And day was comen of hir marriage,
SNT 131 She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
SNT 132 Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful faire,
SNT 133 Hadde next hire flessh yclad hire in an haire.
SNT 134 And whil the organs maden melodie,
SNT 135 To God allone in herte thus sang she:
SNT 136 " O Lord, my soule and eek my body gye
SNT 137 Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be. "
SNT 138 And for his love that dyde upon a tree
SNT 139 Every seconde and thridde day she faste,
SNT 140 Ay biddynge in hire orisons ful faste.
SNT 141 The nyght cam, and to bedde moste she gon
SNT 142 With hire housbonde, as ofte is the manere,
SNT 143 And pryvely to hym she seyde anon,
SNT 144 " O sweete and wel biloved spouse deere,
SNT 145 Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it heere,
SNT 146 Which that right fayn I wolde unto yow seye,
SNT 147 So that ye swere ye shul it nat biwreye. "
SNT 148 Valerian gan faste unto hire swere
SNT 149 That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be,
SNT 150 He sholde nevere mo biwreyen here;
SNT 151 And thanne at erst to hym thus seyde she:
SNT 152 " I have an aungel which that loveth me,
SNT 153 That with greet love, wher so I wake or sleepe,
SNT 154 Is redy ay my body for to kepe.
SNT 155 " And if that he may feelen, out of drede,
SNT 156 That ye me touche, or love in vileynye,
SNT 157 He right anon wol sle yow with the dede,
SNT 158 And in youre yowthe thus ye shullen dye;
SNT 159 And if that ye in clene love me gye,
SNT 160 He wol yow loven as me, for youre clennesse,
SNT 161 And shewen yow his joye and his brightnesse. "
SNT 162 Valerian, corrected as God wolde,
SNT 163 Answerde agayn, " If I shal trusten thee,
SNT 164 Lat me that aungel se and hym biholde;
SNT 165 And if that it a verray angel bee,
SNT 166 Thanne wol I doon as thou hast prayed me;
SNT 167 And if thou love another man, for sothe
SNT 168 Right with this swerd thanne wol I sle yow bothe. "
SNT 169 Cecile answerde anon-right in this wise:
SNT 170 " If that yow list, the angel shul ye see,
SNT 171 So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptize.
SNT 172 Gooth forth to Via Apia, " quod shee,
SNT 173 " That fro this toun ne stant but miles three,
SNT 174 And to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,
SNT 175 Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle.
SNT 176 " Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente
SNT 177 To shewen yow the goode Urban the olde,
SNT 178 For secree nedes and for good entente.
SNT 179 And whan that ye Seint Urban han biholde,
SNT 180 Telle hym the wordes whiche I to yow tolde;
SNT 181 And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne,
SNT 182 Thanne shul ye se that angel, er ye twynne. "
SNT 183 Valerian is to the place ygon,
SNT 184 And right as hym was taught by his lernynge,
SNT 185 He foond this hooly olde Urban anon
SNT 186 Among the seintes buryeles lotynge.
SNT 187 And he anon withouten tariynge
SNT 188 Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,
SNT 189 Urban for joye his handes gan up holde.
SNT 190 The teeris from his eyen leet he falle.
SNT 191 " Almyghty Lord, O Jhesu Crist, " quod he,
SNT 192 " Sower of chaast conseil, hierde of us alle,
SNT 193 The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee
SNT 194 That thou hast sowe in Cecile, taak to thee!
SNT 195 Lo, lyk a bisy bee, withouten gile,
SNT 196 Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile.
SNT 197 " For thilke spouse that she took but now
SNT 198 Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth heere,
SNT 199 As meke as evere was any lomb, to yow! "
SNT 200 And with that word anon ther gan appeere
SNT 201 An oold man, clad in white clothes cleere,
SNT 202 That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde,
SNT 203 And gan bifore Valerian to stonde.
SNT 204 Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
SNT 205 Whan he hym saugh, and he up hente hym tho,
SNT 206 And on his book right thus he gan to rede:
SNT 207 " O Lord, o feith, o God, withouten mo,
SNT 208 O Cristendom, and Fader of alle also,
SNT 209 Aboven alle and over alle everywhere. "
SNT 210 Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were.
SNT 211 Whan this was rad, thanne seyde this olde man,
SNT 212 " Leevestow this thyng or no? Sey ye or nay. "
SNT 213 " I leeve al this thyng, " quod Valerian,
SNT 214 " For sother thyng than this, I dar wel say,
SNT 215 Under the hevene no wight thynke may. "
SNT 216 Tho vanysshed this olde man, he nyste where,
SNT 217 And Pope Urban hym cristned right there.
SNT 218 Valerian gooth hoom and fynt Cecilie
SNT 219 Withinne his chambre with an angel stonde.
SNT 220 This angel hadde of roses and of lilie
SNT 221 Corones two, the which he bar in honde;
SNT 222 And first to Cecile, as I understonde,
SNT 223 He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
SNT 224 That oother to Valerian, hir make.
SNT 225 " With body clene and with unwemmed thoght
SNT 226 Kepeth ay wel thise corones, " quod he;
SNT 227 " Fro paradys to yow have I hem broght,
SNT 228 Ne nevere mo ne shal they roten bee,
SNT 229 Ne lese hir soote savour, trusteth me;
SNT 230 Ne nevere wight shal seen hem with his ye,
SNT 231 But he be chaast and hate vileynye.
SNT 232 " And thow, Valerian, for thow so soone
SNT 233 Assentedest to good conseil also,
SNT 234 Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy boone. "
SNT 235 " I have a brother, " quod Valerian tho,
SNT 236 " That in this world I love no man so.
SNT 237 I pray yow that my brother may han grace
SNT 238 To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place. "
SNT 239 The angel seyde, " God liketh thy requeste,
SNT 240 And bothe with the palm of martirdom
SNT 241 Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste. "
SNT 242 And with that word Tiburce his brother coom.
SNT 243 And whan that he the savour undernoom,
SNT 244 Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
SNT 245 Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste,
SNT 246 And seyde, " I wondre, this tyme of the yeer,
SNT 247 Whennes that soote savour cometh so
SNT 248 Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.
SNT 249 For though I hadde hem in myne handes two,
SNT 250 The savour myghte in me no depper go.
SNT 251 The sweete smel that in myn herte I fynde
SNT 252 Hath chaunged me al in another kynde. "
SNT 253 Valerian seyde: " Two corones han we,
SNT 254 Snow white and rose reed, that shynen cleere,
SNT 255 Whiche that thyne eyen han no myght to see;
SNT 256 And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,
SNT 257 So shaltow seen hem, leeve brother deere,
SNT 258 If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
SNT 259 Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe. "
SNT 260 Tiburce answerde, " Seistow this to me
SNT 261 In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this? "
SNT 262 " In dremes, " quod Valerian, " han we be
SNT 263 Unto this tyme, brother myn, ywis.
SNT 264 But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is. "
SNT 265 " How woostow this? " quod Tiburce, " and in what wyse? "
SNT 266 Quod Valerian, " That shal I thee devyse.
SNT 267 " The aungel of God hath me the trouthe ytaught
SNT 268 Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
SNT 269 The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught. "
SNT 270 And of the myracle of thise corones tweye
SNT 271 Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;
SNT 272 Solempnely this noble doctour deere
SNT 273 Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:
SNT 274 " The palm of martirdom for to receyve,
SNT 275 Seinte Cecile, fulfild of Goddes yifte,
SNT 276 The world and eek hire chambre gan she weyve;
SNT 277 Witnesse Tyburces and [Valerians] shrifte,
SNT 278 To whiche God of his bountee wolde shifte
SNT 279 Corones two of floures wel smellynge,
SNT 280 And made his angel hem the corones brynge.
SNT 281 " The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;
SNT 282 The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,
SNT 283 Devocioun of chastitee to love. "
SNT 284 Tho shewed hym Cecile al open and pleyn
SNT 285 That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn,
SNT 286 For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,
SNT 287 And charged hym his ydoles for to leve.
SNT 288 " Whoso that troweth nat this, a beest he is, "
SNT 289 Quod tho Tiburce, " if that I shal nat lye. "
SNT 290 And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this,
SNT 291 And was ful glad he koude trouthe espye.
SNT 292 " This day I take thee for myn allye, "
SNT 293 Seyde this blisful faire mayde deere,
SNT 294 And after that she seyde as ye may heere:
SNT 295 " Lo, right so as the love of Crist, " quod she,
SNT 296 " Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wise
SNT 297 Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,
SNT 298 Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise.
SNT 299 Go with thy brother now, and thee baptise,
SNT 300 And make thee clene, so that thou mowe biholde
SNT 301 The angels face of which thy brother tolde. "
SNT 302 Tiburce answerde and seyde, " Brother deere,
SNT 303 First tel me whider I shal, and to what man? "
SNT 304 " To whom? " quod he, " com forth with right good cheere,
SNT 305 I wol thee lede unto the Pope Urban. "
SNT 306 " Til Urban? Brother myn Valerian, "
SNT 307 Quod tho Tiburce, " woltow me thider lede?
SNT 308 Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede.
SNT 309 " Ne menestow nat Urban, " quod he tho,
SNT 310 " That is so ofte dampned to be deed,
SNT 311 And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
SNT 312 And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
SNT 313 Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed
SNT 314 If he were founde, or that men myghte hym spye,
SNT 315 And we also, to bere hym compaignye;
SNT 316 " And whil we seken thilke divinitee
SNT 317 That is yhid in hevene pryvely,
SNT 318 Algate ybrend in this world shul we be! "
SNT 319 To whom Cecile answerde boldely,
SNT 320 " Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully
SNT 321 This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother,
SNT 322 If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother.
SNT 323 " But ther is bettre lif in oother place,
SNT 324 That nevere shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
SNT 325 Which Goddes Sone us tolde thurgh his grace.
SNT 326 That Fadres Sone hath alle thyng ywroght,
SNT 327 And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght;
SNT 328 The Goost, that fro the Fader gan procede,
SNT 329 Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
SNT 330 " By word and by myracle heigh Goddes Sone,
SNT 331 Whan he was in this world, declared heere
SNT 332 That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone. "
SNT 333 To whom answerde Tiburce, " O suster deere,
SNT 334 Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
SNT 335 Ther nys but o God, lord in soothfastnesse?
SNT 336 And now of three how maystow bere witnesse? "
SNT 337 " That shal I telle, " quod she, " er I go.
SNT 338 Right as a man hath sapiences three --
SNT 339 Memorie, engyn, and intellect also --
SNT 340 So in o beynge of divinitee,
SNT 341 Thre persones may ther right wel bee. "
SNT 342 Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche
SNT 343 Of Cristes come, and of his peynes teche,
SNT 344 And manye pointes of his passioun;
SNT 345 How Goddes Sone in this world was withholde
SNT 346 To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun,
SNT 347 That was ybounde in synne and cares colde;
SNT 348 Al this thyng she unto Tiburce tolde.
SNT 349 And after this Tiburce in good entente
SNT 350 With Valerian to Pope Urban he wente,
SNT 351 That thanked God, and with glad herte and light
SNT 352 He cristned hym and made hym in that place
SNT 353 Parfit in his lernynge, Goddes knyght.
SNT 354 And after this Tiburce gat swich grace
SNT 355 That every day he saugh in tyme and space
SNT 356 The aungel of God; and every maner boone
SNT 357 That he God axed, it was sped ful soone.
SNT 358 It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
SNT 359 How manye wondres Jhesus for hem wroghte;
SNT 360 But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn,
SNT 361 The sergeantz of the toun of Rome hem soghte,
SNT 362 And hem biforn Almache, the prefect, broghte,
SNT 363 Which hem apposed, and knew al hire entente,
SNT 364 And to the ymage of Juppiter hem sente,
SNT 365 And seyde, " Whoso wol nat sacrifise,
SNT 366 Swape of his heed; this my sentence heer. "
SNT 367 Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,
SNT 368 Oon Maximus, that was an officer
SNT 369 Of the prefectes, and his corniculer,
SNT 370 Hem hente, and whan he forth the seintes ladde,
SNT 371 Hymself he weep for pitee that he hadde.
SNT 372 Whan Maximus had herd the seintes loore,
SNT 373 He gat hym of the tormentoures leve,
SNT 374 And ladde hem to his hous withoute moore,
SNT 375 And with hir prechyng, er that it were eve,
SNT 376 They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,
SNT 377 And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone,
SNT 378 The false feith, to trowe in God allone.
SNT 379 Cecile cam, whan it was woxen nyght,
SNT 380 With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere;
SNT 381 And afterward, whan day was woxen light,
SNT 382 Cecile hem seyde with a ful stedefast cheere,
SNT 383 " Now, Cristes owene knyghtes leeve and deere,
SNT 384 Cast alle awey the werkes of derknesse,
SNT 385 And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.
SNT 386 " Ye han for sothe ydoon a greet bataille,
SNT 387 Youre cours is doon, youre feith han ye conserved.
SNT 388 Gooth to the corone of lif that may nat faille;
SNT 389 The rightful Juge, which that ye han served,
SNT 390 Shal yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved. "
SNT 391 And whan this thyng was seyd as I devyse,
SNT 392 Men ledde hem forth to doon the sacrefise.
SNT 393 But whan they weren to the place broght
SNT 394 To tellen shortly the conclusioun,
SNT 395 They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght,
SNT 396 But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
SNT 397 With humble herte and sad devocioun,
SNT 398 And losten bothe hir hevedes in the place.
SNT 399 Hir soules wenten to the Kyng of grace.
SNT 400 This Maximus, that saugh this thyng bityde,
SNT 401 With pitous teeris tolde it anonright,
SNT 402 That he hir soules saugh to hevene glyde
SNT 403 With aungels ful of cleernesse and of light,
SNT 404 And with his word converted many a wight;
SNT 405 For which Almachius dide hym so bete
SNT 406 With whippe of leed til he his lif gan lete.
SNT 407 Cecile hym took and buryed hym anon
SNT 408 By Tiburce and Valerian softely
SNT 409 Withinne hire buriyng place, under the stoon;
SNT 410 And after this, Almachius hastily
SNT 411 Bad his ministres fecchen openly
SNT 412 Cecile, so that she myghte in his presence
SNT 413 Doon sacrifice and Juppiter encense.
SNT 414 But they, converted at hir wise loore,
SNT 415 Wepten ful soore, and yaven ful credence
SNT 416 Unto hire word, and cryden moore and moore,
SNT 417 " Crist, Goddes Sone, withouten difference,
SNT 418 Is verray God -- this is al oure sentence --
SNT 419 That hath so good a servant hym to serve.
SNT 420 This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve! "
SNT 421 Almachius, that herde of this doynge,
SNT 422 Bad fecchen Cecile, that he myghte hire see,
SNT 423 And alderfirst, lo, this was his axynge.
SNT 424 " What maner womman artow? " tho quod he.
SNT 425 " I am a gentil womman born, " quod she.
SNT 426 " I axe thee, " quod he, " though it thee greeve,
SNT 427 Of thy religioun and of thy bileeve. "
SNT 428 " Ye han bigonne youre questioun folily, "
SNT 429 Quod she, " that wolden two answeres conclude
SNT 430 In o demande; ye axed lewedly. "
SNT 431 Almache answerde unto that similitude,
SNT 432 " Of whennes comth thyn answeryng so rude? "
SNT 433 " Of whennes? " quod she, whan that she was freyned,
SNT 434 " Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned. "
SNT 435 Almachius seyde, " Ne takestow noon heede
SNT 436 Of my power? " And she answerde hym this:
SNT 437 " Youre myght, " quod she, " ful litel is to dreede,
SNT 438 For every mortal mannes power nys
SNT 439 But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd, ywys.
SNT 440 For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe,
SNT 441 May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe. "
SNT 442 " Ful wrongfully bigonne thow, " quod he,
SNT 443 " And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce.
SNT 444 Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free
SNT 445 Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce
SNT 446 That every Cristen wight shal han penaunce
SNT 447 But if that he his Cristendom withseye,
SNT 448 And goon al quit, if he wole it reneye? "
SNT 449 " Yowre princes erren, as youre nobleye dooth, "
SNT 450 Quod tho Cecile, " and with a wood sentence
SNT 451 Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth.
SNT 452 For ye, that knowen wel oure innocence,
SNT 453 For as muche as we doon a reverence
SNT 454 To Crist, and for we bere a Cristen name,
SNT 455 Ye putte on us a cryme and eek a blame.
SNT 456 " But we that knowen thilke name so
SNT 457 For vertuous, we may it nat withseye. "
SNT 458 Almache answerde, " Chees oon of thise two:
SNT 459 Do sacrifice, or Cristendom reneye,
SNT 460 That thou mowe now escapen by that weye. "
SNT 461 At which the hooly blisful faire mayde
SNT 462 Gan for to laughe, and to the juge sayde:
SNT 463 " O juge, confus in thy nycetee,
SNT 464 Woltow that I reneye innocence,
SNT 465 To make me a wikked wight? " quod shee.
SNT 466 " Lo, he dissymuleth heere in audience;
SNT 467 He stareth, and woodeth in his advertence! "
SNT 468 To whom Almachius, " Unsely wrecche,
SNT 469 Ne woostow nat how fer my myght may strecche?
SNT 470 " Han noght oure myghty princes to me yiven,
SNT 471 Ye, bothe power and auctoritee
SNT 472 To maken folk to dyen or to lyven?
SNT 473 Why spekestow so proudly thanne to me? "
SNT 474 " I speke noght but stedfastly, " quod she;
SNT 475 " Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde,
SNT 476 We haten deedly thilke vice of pryde.
SNT 477 " And if thou drede nat a sooth to heere,
SNT 478 Thanne wol I shewe al openly, by right,
SNT 479 That thou hast maad a ful gret lesyng heere.
SNT 480 Thou seyst thy princes han thee yeven myght
SNT 481 Bothe for to sleen and for to quyken a wight;
SNT 482 Thou, that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireve,
SNT 483 Thou hast noon oother power ne no leve.
SNT 484 " But thou mayst seyn thy princes han thee maked
SNT 485 Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo,
SNT 486 Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked. "
SNT 487 " Do wey thy booldnesse, " seyde Almachius tho,
SNT 488 " And sacrifice to oure goddes er thou go!
SNT 489 I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
SNT 490 For I kan suffre it as a philosophre;
SNT 491 " But thilke wronges may I nat endure
SNT 492 That thou spekest of oure goddes heere, " quod he.
SNT 493 Cecile answerde, " O nyce creature!
SNT 494 Thou seydest no word syn thou spak to me
SNT 495 That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee
SNT 496 And that thou were in every maner wise
SNT 497 A lewed officer and a veyn justise.
SNT 498 " Ther lakketh no thyng to thyne outter yen
SNT 499 That thou n' art blynd; for thyng that we seen alle
SNT 500 That it is stoon -- that men may wel espyen --
SNT 501 That ilke stoon a god thow wolt it calle.
SNT 502 I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle
SNT 503 And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it fynde,
SNT 504 Syn that thou seest nat with thyne eyen blynde.
SNT 505 " It is a shame that the peple shal
SNT 506 So scorne thee and laughe at thy folye,
SNT 507 For communly men woot it wel overal
SNT 508 That myghty God is in his hevenes hye;
SNT 509 And thise ymages, wel thou mayst espye,
SNT 510 To thee ne to hemself mowen noght profite,
SNT 511 For in effect they been nat worth a myte. "
SNT 512 Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,
SNT 513 And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede
SNT 514 Hom til hir hous, and " In hire hous, " quod he,
SNT 515 " Brenne hire right in a bath of flambes rede. "
SNT 516 And as he bad, right so was doon the dede;
SNT 517 For in a bath they gonne hire faste shetten,
SNT 518 And nyght and day greet fyr they under betten.
SNT 519 The longe nyght, and eek a day also,
SNT 520 For al the fyr and eek the bathes heete
SNT 521 She sat al coold and feelede no wo.
SNT 522 It made hire nat a drope for to sweete.
SNT 523 But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete,
SNT 524 For he Almachius, with ful wikke entente,
SNT 525 To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sente.
SNT 526 Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hire tho,
SNT 527 The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
SNT 528 He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo;
SNT 529 And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce
SNT 530 That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce
SNT 531 The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or soore,
SNT 532 This tormentour ne dorste do namoore,
SNT 533 But half deed, with hir nekke ycorven there,
SNT 534 He lefte hir lye, and on his wey he went.
SNT 535 The Cristen folk, which that aboute hire were,
SNT 536 With sheetes han the blood ful faire yhent.
SNT 537 Thre dayes lyved she in this torment,
SNT 538 And nevere cessed hem the feith to teche
SNT 539 That she hadde fostred; hem she gan to preche,
SNT 540 And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thyng,
SNT 541 And to the Pope Urban bitook hem tho,
SNT 542 And seyde, " I axed this of hevene kyng,
SNT 543 To han respit thre dayes and namo
SNT 544 To recomende to yow, er that I go,
SNT 545 Thise soules, lo, and that I myghte do werche
SNT 546 Heere of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche. "
SNT 547 Seint Urban with his deknes prively
SNT 548 The body fette and buryed it by nyghte
SNT 549 Among his othere seintes honestly.
SNT 550 Hir hous the chirche of Seint Cecilie highte;
SNT 551 Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel myghte;
SNT 552 In which, into this day, in noble wyse,
SNT 553 Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse.
CYT 554 Whan ended was the lyf of Seinte Cecile,
CYT 555 Er we hadde riden fully fyve mile,
CYT 556 At Boghtoun under Blee us gan atake
CYT 557 A man that clothed was in clothes blake,
CYT 558 And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
CYT 559 His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,
CYT 560 So swatte that it wonder was to see;
CYT 561 It semed as he had priked miles three.
CYT 562 The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
CYT 563 So swatte that unnethe myghte it gon.
CYT 564 Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye;
CYT 565 He was of foom al flekked as a pye.
CYT 566 A male tweyfoold on his croper lay;
CYT 567 It semed that he caried lite array.
CYT 568 Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
CYT 569 And in myn herte wondren I bigan
CYT 570 What that he was til that I understood
CYT 571 How that his cloke was sowed to his hood,
CYT 572 For which, whan I hadde longe avysed me,
CYT 573 I demed hym som chanoun for to be.
CYT 574 His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas,
CYT 575 For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas;
CYT 576 He hadde ay priked lik as he were wood.
CYT 577 A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
CYT 578 For swoot and for to keep his heed from heete.
CYT 579 But it was joye for to seen hym swete!
CYT 580 His forheed dropped as a stillatorie
CYT 581 Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie.
CYT 582 And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,
CYT 583 " God save, " quod he, " this joly compaignye!
CYT 584 Faste have I priked, " quod he, " for youre sake,
CYT 585 By cause that I wolde yow atake,
CYT 586 To riden in this myrie compaignye. "
CYT 587 His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
CYT 588 And seyde, " Sires, now in the morwe-tyde
CYT 589 Out of youre hostelrie I saugh yow ryde,
CYT 590 And warned heer my lord and my soverayn,
CYT 591 Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn
CYT 592 For his desport; he loveth daliaunce. "
CYT 593 " Freend, for thy warnyng God yeve thee good chaunce, "
CYT 594 Thanne seyde oure Hoost, " for certein it wolde seme
CYT 595 Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme.
CYT 596 He is ful jocunde also, dar I leye!
CYT 597 Can he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye,
CYT 598 With which he glade may this compaignye? "
CYT 599 " Who, sire? My lord? Ye, ye, withouten lye,
CYT 600 He kan of murthe and eek of jolitee
CYT 601 Nat but ynough; also, sire, trusteth me,
CYT 602 And ye hym knewe as wel as do I,
CYT 603 Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily
CYT 604 He koude werke, and that in sondry wise.
CYT 605 He hath take on hym many a greet emprise,
CYT 606 Which were ful hard for any that is heere
CYT 607 To brynge aboute, but they of hym it leere.
CYT 608 As hoomly as he rit amonges yow,
CYT 609 If ye hym knewe, it wolde be for youre prow.
CYT 610 Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce
CYT 611 For muchel good, I dar leye in balaunce
CYT 612 Al that I have in my possessioun.
CYT 613 He is a man of heigh discrecioun;
CYT 614 I warne yow wel, he is a passyng man. "
CYT 615 " Wel, " quod oure Hoost, " I pray thee, tel me than,
CYT 616 Is he a clerk, or noon? Telle what he is. "
CYT 617 " Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, ywis, "
CYT 618 Seyde this Yeman, " and in wordes fewe,
CYT 619 Hoost, of his craft somwhat I wol yow shewe.
CYT 620 " I seye, my lord kan swich subtilitee --
CYT 621 But al his craft ye may nat wite at me,
CYT 622 And somwhat helpe I yet to his wirkyng --
CYT 623 That al this ground on which we been ridyng,
CYT 624 Til that we come to Caunterbury toun,
CYT 625 He koude al clene turnen up-so-doun,
CYT 626 And pave it al of silver and of gold. "
CYT 627 And whan this Yeman hadde this tale ytold
CYT 628 Unto oure Hoost, he seyde, " Benedicitee!
CYT 629 This thyng is wonder merveillous to me,
CYT 630 Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence,
CYT 631 By cause of which men sholde hym reverence,
CYT 632 That of his worshipe rekketh he so lite.
CYT 633 His overslope nys nat worth a myte,
CYT 634 As in effect, to hym, so moot I go,
CYT 635 It is al baudy and totore also.
CYT 636 Why is thy lord so sluttissh, I the preye,
CYT 637 And is of power bettre clooth to beye,
CYT 638 If that his dede accorde with thy speche?
CYT 639 Telle me that, and that I thee biseche. "
CYT 640 " Why? " quod this Yeman, " wherto axe ye me?
CYT 641 God help me so, for he shal nevere thee!
CYT 642 (But I wol nat avowe that I seye,
CYT 643 And therfore keepe it secree, I yow preye.)
CYT 644 He is to wys, in feith, as I bileeve.
CYT 645 That that is overdoon, it wol nat preeve
CYT 646 Aright, as clerkes seyn; it is a vice.
CYT 647 Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce.
CYT 648 For whan a man hath over-greet a wit,
CYT 649 Ful oft hym happeth to mysusen it.
CYT 650 So dooth my lord, and that me greveth soore;
CYT 651 God it amende! I kan sey yow namoore. "
CYT 652 " Ther-of no fors, good Yeman, " quod oure Hoost;
CYT 653 " Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost,
CYT 654 Telle how he dooth, I pray thee hertely,
CYT 655 Syn that he is so crafty and so sly.
CYT 656 Where dwelle ye, if it to telle be? "
CYT 657 " In the suburbes of a toun, " quod he,
CYT 658 " Lurkynge in hernes and in lanes blynde,
CYT 659 Whereas thise robbours and thise theves by kynde
CYT 660 Holden hir pryvee fereful residence,
CYT 661 As they that dar nat shewen hir presence;
CYT 662 So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe. "
CYT 663 " Now, " quod oure Hoost, " yit lat me talke to the.
CYT 664 Why artow so discoloured of thy face? "
CYT 665 " Peter! " quod he, " God yeve it harde grace,
CYT 666 I am so used in the fyr to blowe
CYT 667 That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe.
CYT 668 I am nat wont in no mirour to prie,
CYT 669 But swynke soore and lerne multiplie.
CYT 670 We blondren evere and pouren in the fir,
CYT 671 And for al that we faille of oure desir,
CYT 672 For evere we lakken oure conclusioun.
CYT 673 To muchel folk we doon illusioun,
CYT 674 And borwe gold, be it a pound or two,
CYT 675 Or ten, or twelve, or manye sommes mo,
CYT 676 And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye,
CYT 677 That of a pound we koude make tweye.
CYT 678 Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope
CYT 679 It for to doon, and after it we grope.
CYT 680 But that science is so fer us biforn,
CYT 681 We mowen nat, although we hadden it sworn,
CYT 682 It overtake, it slit awey so faste.
CYT 683 It wole us maken beggers atte laste. "
CYT 684 Whil this Yeman was thus in his talkyng,
CYT 685 This Chanoun drough hym neer and herde al thyng
CYT 686 Which this Yeman spak, for suspecioun
CYT 687 Of mennes speche evere hadde this Chanoun.
CYT 688 For Catoun seith that he that gilty is
CYT 689 Demeth alle thyng be spoke of hym, ywis.
CYT 690 That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe
CYT 691 To his Yeman, to herknen al his sawe.
CYT 692 And thus he seyde unto his Yeman tho:
CYT 693 " Hoold thou thy pees and spek no wordes mo,
CYT 694 For if thou do, thou shalt it deere abye.
CYT 695 Thou sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye,
CYT 696 And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde. "
CYT 697 " Ye, " quod oure Hoost, " telle on, what so bityde.
CYT 698 Of al his thretyng rekke nat a myte! "
CYT 699 " In feith, " quod he, " namoore I do but lyte. "
CYT 700 And whan this Chanon saugh it wolde nat bee,
CYT 701 But his Yeman wolde telle his pryvetee,
CYT 702 He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame.
CYT 703 " A! " quod the Yeman, " heere shal arise game;
CYT 704 Al that I kan anon now wol I telle.
CYT 705 Syn he is goon, the foule feend hym quelle!
CYT 706 For nevere heerafter wol I with hym meete
CYT 707 For peny ne for pound, I yow biheete.
CYT 708 He that me broghte first unto that game,
CYT 709 Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame!
CYT 710 For it is ernest to me, by my feith;
CYT 711 That feele I wel, what so any man seith.
CYT 712 And yet, for al my smert and al my grief,
CYT 713 For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief,
CYT 714 I koude nevere leve it in no wise.
CYT 715 Now wolde God my wit myghte suffise
CYT 716 To tellen al that longeth to that art!
CYT 717 But nathelees yow wol I tellen part.
CYT 718 Syn that my lord is goon, I wol nat spare;
CYT 719 Swich thyng as that I knowe, I wol declare.
CYT 720 With this Chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer,
CYT 721 And of his science am I never the neer.
CYT 722 Al that I hadde I have lost therby,
CYT 723 And, God woot, so hath many mo than I.
CYT 724 Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay
CYT 725 Of clothyng and of oother good array,
CYT 726 Now may I were an hose upon myn heed;
CYT 727 And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed,
CYT 728 Now is it wan and of a leden hewe --
CYT 729 Whoso it useth, soore shal he rewe! --
CYT 730 And of my swynk yet blered is myn ye.
CYT 731 Lo, which avantage is to multiplie!
CYT 732 That slidynge science hath me maad so bare
CYT 733 That I have no good, wher that evere I fare;
CYT 734 And yet I am endetted so therby
CYT 735 Of gold that I have borwed, trewely,
CYT 736 That whil I lyve I shal it quite nevere.
CYT 737 Lat every man be war by me for evere!
CYT 738 What maner man that casteth hym therto,
CYT 739 If he continue, I holde his thrift ydo.
CYT 740 For so helpe me God, therby shal he nat wynne,
CYT 741 But empte his purs and make his wittes thynne.
CYT 742 And whan he thurgh his madnesse and folye
CYT 743 Hath lost his owene good thurgh jupartye,
CYT 744 Thanne he exciteth oother folk therto,
CYT 745 To lesen hir good as he hymself hath do.
CYT 746 For unto shrewes joye it is and ese
CYT 747 To have hir felawes in peyne and disese.
CYT 748 Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk.
CYT 749 Of that no charge; I wol speke of oure werk.
CYT 750 Whan we been there as we shul exercise
CYT 751 Oure elvysshe craft, we semen wonder wise,
CYT 752 Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte.
CYT 753 I blowe the fir til that myn herte feynte.
CYT 754 What sholde I tellen ech proporcion
CYT 755 Of thynges whiche that we werche upon --
CYT 756 As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be,
CYT 757 Of silver, or som oother quantitee --
CYT 758 And bisye me to telle yow the names
CYT 759 Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames,
CYT 760 That into poudre grounden been ful smal;
CYT 761 And in an erthen pot how put is al,
CYT 762 And salt yput in, and also papeer,
CYT 763 Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer;
CYT 764 And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas;
CYT 765 And of muche oother thyng which that ther was;
CYT 766 And of the pot and glasses enlutyng
CYT 767 That of the eyr myghte passe out nothyng;
CYT 768 And of the esy fir, and smart also,
CYT 769 Which that was maad, and of the care and wo
CYT 770 That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng,
CYT 771 And in amalgamyng and calcenyng
CYT 772 Of quyksilver, yclept mercurie crude?
CYT 773 For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude.
CYT 774 Oure orpyment and sublymed mercurie,
CYT 775 Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie,
CYT 776 Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn --
CYT 777 Noght helpeth us; oure labour is in veyn.
CYT 778 Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun,
CYT 779 Ne oure materes that lyen al fix adoun,
CYT 780 Mowe in oure werkyng no thyng us availle,
CYT 781 For lost is al oure labour and travaille;
CYT 782 And al the cost, a twenty devel waye,
CYT 783 Is lost also, which we upon it laye.
CYT 784 Ther is also ful many another thyng
CYT 785 That is unto oure craft apertenyng.
CYT 786 Though I by ordre hem nat reherce kan,
CYT 787 By cause that I am a lewed man,
CYT 788 Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde,
CYT 789 Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde:
CYT 790 As boole armonyak, verdegrees, boras,
CYT 791 And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas,
CYT 792 Oure urynales and oure descensories,
CYT 793 Violes, crosletz, and sublymatories,
CYT 794 Cucurbites and alambikes eek,
CYT 795 And othere swiche, deere ynough a leek --
CYT 796 Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle --
CYT 797 Watres rubifiyng, and boles galle,
CYT 798 Arsenyk, sal armonyak, and brymstoon;
CYT 799 And herbes koude I telle eek many oon,
CYT 800 As egremoyne, valerian, and lunarie,
CYT 801 And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie;
CYT 802 Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day,
CYT 803 To brynge aboute oure purpos, if we may;
CYT 804 Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun,
CYT 805 And of watres albificacioun;
CYT 806 Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey,
CYT 807 Poudres diverse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley,
CYT 808 Cered pokkets, sal peter, vitriole,
CYT 809 And diverse fires maad of wode and cole;
CYT 810 Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat,
CYT 811 And combust materes and coagulat;
CYT 812 Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oille
CYT 813 Of tartre, alum glas, berme, wort, and argoille,
CYT 814 Resalgar, and oure materes enbibyng,
CYT 815 And eek of oure materes encorporyng,
CYT 816 And of oure silver citrinacioun,
CYT 817 Oure cementyng and fermentacioun,
CYT 818 Oure yngottes, testes, and many mo.
CYT 819 I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,
CYT 820 The foure spirites and the bodies sevene,
CYT 821 By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene.
CYT 822 The firste spirit quyksilver called is,
CYT 823 The seconde orpyment, the thridde, ywis,
CYT 824 Sal armonyak, and the ferthe brymstoon.
CYT 825 The bodyes sevene eek, lo, hem heere anoon:
CYT 826 Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe,
CYT 827 Mars iren, Mercurie quyksilver we clepe,
CYT 828 Saturnus leed, and Juppiter is tyn,
CYT 829 And Venus coper, by my fader kyn!
CYT 830 This cursed craft whoso wole excercise,
CYT 831 He shal no good han that hym may suffise,
CYT 832 For al the good he spendeth theraboute
CYT 833 He lese shal; therof have I no doute.
CYT 834 Whoso that listeth outen his folie,
CYT 835 Lat hym come forth and lerne multiplie;
CYT 836 And every man that oght hath in his cofre,
CYT 837 Lat hym appiere and wexe a philosophre.
CYT 838 Ascaunce that craft is so light to leere?
CYT 839 Nay, nay, God woot, al be he monk or frere,
CYT 840 Preest or chanoun, or any oother wyght,
CYT 841 Though he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght
CYT 842 In lernyng of this elvysshe nyce loore,
CYT 843 Al is in veyn, and parde, muchel moore.
CYT 844 To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee --
CYT 845 Fy! Spek nat therof, for it wol nat bee.
CYT 846 And konne he letterure or konne he noon,
CYT 847 As in effect, he shal fynde it al oon.
CYT 848 For bothe two, by my savacioun,
CYT 849 Concluden in multiplicacioun
CYT 850 Ylike wel, whan they han al ydo;
CYT 851 This is to seyn, they faillen bothe two.
CYT 852 Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille
CYT 853 Of watres corosif, and of lymaille,
CYT 854 And of bodies mollificacioun,
CYT 855 And also of hire induracioun;
CYT 856 Oilles, ablucions, and metal fusible --
CYT 857 To tellen al wolde passen any bible
CYT 858 That owher is; wherfore, as for the beste,
CYT 859 Of alle thise names now wol I me reste,
CYT 860 For, as I trowe, I have yow toold ynowe
CYT 861 To reyse a feend, al looke he never so rowe.
CYT 862 A! Nay! Lat be; the philosophres stoon,
CYT 863 Elixer clept, we sechen faste echoon;
CYT 864 For hadde we hym, thanne were we siker ynow.
CYT 865 But unto God of hevene I make avow,
CYT 866 For al oure craft, whan we han al ydo,
CYT 867 And al oure sleighte, he wol nat come us to.
CYT 868 He hath ymaad us spenden muchel good,
CYT 869 For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood,
CYT 870 But that good hope crepeth in oure herte,
CYT 871 Supposynge evere, though we sore smerte,
CYT 872 To be releeved by hym afterward.
CYT 873 Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard;
CYT 874 I warne yow wel, it is to seken evere.
CYT 875 That futur temps hath maad men to dissevere,
CYT 876 In trust therof, from al that evere they hadde.
CYT 877 Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde,
CYT 878 For unto hem it is a bitter sweete --
CYT 879 So semeth it -- for nadde they but a sheete
CYT 880 Which that they myghte wrappe hem inne a-nyght,
CYT 881 And a brat to walken inne by daylyght,
CYT 882 They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft.
CYT 883 They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft.
CYT 884 And everemoore, where that evere they goon,
CYT 885 Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon.
CYT 886 For al the world they stynken as a goot;
CYT 887 Hir savour is so rammyssh and so hoot
CYT 888 That though a man from hem a mile be,
CYT 889 The savour wole infecte hym, trusteth me.
CYT 890 Lo, thus by smellyng and threedbare array,
CYT 891 If that men liste, this folk they knowe may.
CYT 892 And if a man wole aske hem pryvely
CYT 893 Why they been clothed so unthriftily,
CYT 894 They right anon wol rownen in his ere,
CYT 895 And seyn that if that they espied were,
CYT 896 Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science.
CYT 897 Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence!
CYT 898 Passe over this; I go my tale unto.
CYT 899 Er that the pot be on the fir ydo,
CYT 900 Of metals with a certeyn quantitee,
CYT 901 My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he --
CYT 902 Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely --
CYT 903 For, as men seyn, he kan doon craftily.
CYT 904 Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name;
CYT 905 And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame.
CYT 906 And wite ye how? Ful ofte it happeth so
CYT 907 The pot tobreketh, and farewel, al is go!
CYT 908 Thise metals been of so greet violence
CYT 909 Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence,
CYT 910 But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon;
CYT 911 They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon.
CYT 912 And somme of hem synken into the ground --
CYT 913 Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound --
CYT 914 And somme are scatered al the floor aboute;
CYT 915 Somme lepe into the roof. Withouten doute,
CYT 916 Though that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe,
CYT 917 I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe!
CYT 918 In helle, where that he is lord and sire,
CYT 919 Nis ther moore wo, ne moore rancour ne ire.
CYT 920 Whan that oure pot is broke, as I have sayd,
CYT 921 Every man chit and halt hym yvele apayd.
CYT 922 Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng;
CYT 923 Somme seyde nay, it was on the blowyng --
CYT 924 Thanne was I fered, for that was myn office.
CYT 925 " Straw! " quod the thridde, " ye been lewed and nyce.
CYT 926 It was nat tempred as it oghte be. "
CYT 927 " Nay, " quod the fourthe, " stynt and herkne me.
CYT 928 By cause oure fir ne was nat maad of beech,
CYT 929 That is the cause and oother noon, so thee 'ch! "
CYT 930 I kan nat telle wheron it was long,
CYT 931 But wel I woot greet strif is us among.
CYT 932 " What, " quod my lord, " ther is namoore to doone;
CYT 933 Of thise perils I wol be war eftsoone.
CYT 934 I am right siker that the pot was crased.
CYT 935 Be as be may, be ye no thyng amased;
CYT 936 As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swithe,
CYT 937 Plukke up youre hertes and beeth glad and blithe. "
CYT 938 The mullok on an heep ysweped was,
CYT 939 And on the floor ycast a canevas,
CYT 940 And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe,
CYT 941 And sifted, and ypiked many a throwe.
CYT 942 " Pardee, " quod oon, " somwhat of oure metal
CYT 943 Yet is ther heere, though that we han nat al.
CYT 944 And though this thyng myshapped have as now,
CYT 945 Another tyme it may be well ynow.
CYT 946 Us moste putte oure good in aventure.
CYT 947 A marchant, pardee, may nat ay endure,
CYT 948 Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee.
CYT 949 Somtyme his good is drowned in the see,
CYT 950 And somtyme comth it sauf unto the londe. "
CYT 951 " Pees! " quod my lord, " the nexte tyme I wol fonde
CYT 952 To bryngen oure craft al in another plite,
CYT 953 And but I do, sires, lat me han the wite.
CYT 954 Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I woot. "
CYT 955 Another seyde the fir was over-hoot --
CYT 956 But, be it hoot or coold, I dar seye this,
CYT 957 That we concluden everemoore amys.
CYT 958 We faille of that which that we wolden have,
CYT 959 And in oure madnesse everemoore we rave.
CYT 960 And whan we been togidres everichoon,
CYT 961 Every man semeth a Salomon.
CYT 962 But al thyng which that shineth as the gold
CYT 963 Nis nat gold, as that I have herd told;
CYT 964 Ne every appul that is fair at eye
CYT 965 Ne is nat good, what so men clappe or crye.
CYT 966 Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us:
CYT 967 He that semeth the wiseste, by Jhesus,
CYT 968 Is moost fool, whan it cometh to the preef;
CYT 969 And he that semeth trewest is a theef.
CYT 970 That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende,
CYT 971 By that I of my tale have maad an ende.
CYT 972 Ther is a chanoun of religioun
CYT 973 Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun,
CYT 974 Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyvee,
CYT 975 Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three.
CYT 976 His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse
CYT 977 Ther koude no man writen, as I gesse,
CYT 978 Though that he myghte lyve a thousand yeer.
CYT 979 In al this world of falshede nis his peer,
CYT 980 For in his termes he wol hym so wynde,
CYT 981 And speke his wordes in so sly a kynde,
CYT 982 Whanne he commune shal with any wight,
CYT 983 That he wol make hym doten anonright,
CYT 984 But it a feend be, as hymselven is.
CYT 985 Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this,
CYT 986 And wole, if that he lyve may a while;
CYT 987 And yet men ride and goon ful many a mile
CYT 988 Hym for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce,
CYT 989 Noght knowynge of his false governaunce.
CYT 990 And if yow list to yeve me audience,
CYT 991 I wol it tellen heere in youre presence.
CYT 992 But worshipful chanons religious,
CYT 993 Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous,
CYT 994 Although that my tale of a chanoun bee.
CYT 995 Of every ordre som shrewe is, pardee,
CYT 996 And God forbede that al a compaignye
CYT 997 Sholde rewe o singuleer mannes folye.
CYT 998 To sclaundre yow is no thyng myn entente,
CYT 999 But to correcten that is mys I mente.
CYT 1000 This tale was nat oonly toold for yow,
CYT 1001 But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how
CYT 1002 That among Cristes apostelles twelve
CYT 1003 Ther nas no traytour but Judas hymselve.
CYT 1004 Thanne why sholde al the remenant have a blame
CYT 1005 That giltlees were? By yow I seye the same,
CYT 1006 Save oonly this, if ye wol herkne me:
CYT 1007 If any Judas in youre covent be,
CYT 1008 Remoeveth hym bitymes, I yow rede,
CYT 1009 If shame or los may causen any drede.
CYT 1010 And beeth no thyng displesed, I yow preye,
CYT 1011 But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye.
CYT 1012 In Londoun was a preest, an annueleer,
CYT 1013 That therinne dwelled hadde many a yeer,
CYT 1014 Which was so plesaunt and so servysable
CYT 1015 Unto the wyf, where as he was at table,
CYT 1016 That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye
CYT 1017 For bord ne clothyng, wente he never so gaye,
CYT 1018 And spendyng silver hadde he right ynow.
CYT 1019 Therof no fors; I wol procede as now,
CYT 1020 And telle forth my tale of the chanoun
CYT 1021 That broghte this preest to confusioun.
CYT 1022 This false chanon cam upon a day
CYT 1023 Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay,
CYT 1024 Bisechynge hym to lene hym a certeyn
CYT 1025 Of gold, and he wolde quite it hym ageyn.
CYT 1026 " Leene me a marc, " quod he, " but dayes three,
CYT 1027 And at my day I wol it quiten thee.
CYT 1028 And if so be that thow me fynde fals,
CYT 1029 Another day do hange me by the hals! "
CYT 1030 This preest hym took a marc, and that as swithe,
CYT 1031 And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe,
CYT 1032 And took his leve, and wente forth his weye,
CYT 1033 And at the thridde day broghte his moneye,
CYT 1034 And to the preest he took his gold agayn,
CYT 1035 Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn.
CYT 1036 " Certes, " quod he, " no thyng anoyeth me
CYT 1037 To lene a man a noble, or two, or thre,
CYT 1038 Or what thyng were in my possessioun,
CYT 1039 Whan he so trewe is of condicioun
CYT 1040 That in no wise he breke wole his day;
CYT 1041 To swich a man I kan never seye nay. "
CYT 1042 " What! " quod this chanoun, " sholde I be untrewe?
CYT 1043 Nay, that were thyng yfallen al of newe.
CYT 1044 Trouthe is a thyng that I wol evere kepe
CYT 1045 Unto that day in which that I shal crepe
CYT 1046 Into my grave, and ellis God forbede.
CYT 1047 Bileveth this as siker as your Crede.
CYT 1048 God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd,
CYT 1049 That ther was nevere man yet yvele apayd
CYT 1050 For gold ne silver that he to me lente,
CYT 1051 Ne nevere falshede in myn herte I mente.
CYT 1052 And sire, " quod he, " now of my pryvetee,
CYT 1053 Syn ye so goodlich han been unto me,
CYT 1054 And kithed to me so greet gentillesse,
CYT 1055 Somwhat to quyte with youre kyndenesse
CYT 1056 I wol yow shewe, and if yow list to leere,
CYT 1057 I wol yow teche pleynly the manere
CYT 1058 How I kan werken in philosophie.
CYT 1059 Taketh good heede; ye shul wel seen at ye
CYT 1060 That I wol doon a maistrie er I go. "
CYT 1061 " Ye, " quod the preest, " ye, sire, and wol ye so?
CYT 1062 Marie, therof I pray yow hertely. "
CYT 1063 " At youre comandement, sire, trewely, "
CYT 1064 Quod the chanoun, " and ellis God forbeede! "
CYT 1065 Loo, how this theef koude his service beede!
CYT 1066 Ful sooth it is that swich profred servyse
CYT 1067 Stynketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse,
CYT 1068 And that ful soone I wol it verifie
CYT 1069 In this chanoun, roote of al trecherie,
CYT 1070 That everemoore delit hath and gladnesse --
CYT 1071 Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse --
CYT 1072 How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge.
CYT 1073 God kepe us from his false dissymulynge!
CYT 1074 Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte,
CYT 1075 Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte.
CYT 1076 O sely preest! O sely innocent!
CYT 1077 With coveitise anon thou shalt be blent!
CYT 1078 O gracelees, ful blynd is thy conceite,
CYT 1079 No thyng ne artow war of the deceite
CYT 1080 Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee!
CYT 1081 His wily wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee.
CYT 1082 Wherfore, to go to the conclusion,
CYT 1083 That refereth to thy confusion,
CYT 1084 Unhappy man, anon I wol me hye
CYT 1085 To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye,
CYT 1086 And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche,
CYT 1087 As ferforth as that my konnyng wol strecche.
CYT 1088 This chanon was my lord, ye wolden weene?
CYT 1089 Sire hoost, in feith, and by the hevenes queene,
CYT 1090 It was another chanoun, and nat hee,
CYT 1091 That kan an hundred foold moore subtiltee.
CYT 1092 He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme;
CYT 1093 Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme.
CYT 1094 Evere whan that I speke of his falshede,
CYT 1095 For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede.
CYT 1096 Algates they bigynnen for to glowe,
CYT 1097 For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe,
CYT 1098 In my visage; for fumes diverse
CYT 1099 Of metals, whiche ye han herd me reherce,
CYT 1100 Consumed and wasted han my reednesse.
CYT 1101 Now taak heede of this chanons cursednesse!
CYT 1102 " Sire, " quod he to the preest, " lat youre man gon
CYT 1103 For quyksilver, that we it hadde anon;
CYT 1104 And lat hym bryngen ounces two or three;
CYT 1105 And whan he comth, as faste shal ye see
CYT 1106 A wonder thyng, which ye saugh nevere er this. "
CYT 1107 " Sire, " quod the preest, " it shal be doon, ywis. "
CYT 1108 He bad his servant fecchen hym this thyng,
CYT 1109 And he al redy was at his biddyng,
CYT 1110 And wente hym forth, and cam anon agayn
CYT 1111 With this quyksilver, shortly for to sayn,
CYT 1112 And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun;
CYT 1113 And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun,
CYT 1114 And bad the servant coles for to brynge,
CYT 1115 That he anon myghte go to his werkynge.
CYT 1116 The coles right anon weren yfet,
CYT 1117 And this chanoun took out a crosselet
CYT 1118 Of his bosom, and shewed it to the preest.
CYT 1119 " This instrument, " quod he, " which that thou seest,
CYT 1120 Taak in thyn hand, and put thyself therinne
CYT 1121 Of this quyksilver an ounce, and heer bigynne,
CYT 1122 In name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre.
CYT 1123 Ther been ful fewe to whiche I wolde profre
CYT 1124 To shewen hem thus muche of my science.
CYT 1125 For ye shul seen heer, by experience,
CYT 1126 That this quyksilver I wol mortifye
CYT 1127 Right in youre sighte anon, withouten lye,
CYT 1128 And make it as good silver and as fyn
CYT 1129 As ther is any in youre purs or myn,
CYT 1130 Or elleswhere, and make it malliable;
CYT 1131 And elles holdeth me fals and unable
CYT 1132 Amonges folk for evere to appeere.
CYT 1133 I have a poudre heer, that coste me deere,
CYT 1134 Shal make al good, for it is cause of al
CYT 1135 My konnyng, which that I yow shewen shal.
CYT 1136 Voyde youre man, and lat hym be theroute,
CYT 1137 And shette the dore, whils we been aboute
CYT 1138 Oure pryvetee, that no man us espie,
CYT 1139 Whils that we werke in this philosophie. "
CYT 1140 Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede.
CYT 1141 This ilke servant anonright out yede,
CYT 1142 And his maister shette the dore anon,
CYT 1143 And to hire labour spedily they gon.
CYT 1144 This preest, at this cursed chanons biddyng,
CYT 1145 Upon the fir anon sette this thyng,
CYT 1146 And blew the fir, and bisyed hym ful faste.
CYT 1147 And this chanoun into the crosselet caste
CYT 1148 A poudre, noot I wherof that it was
CYT 1149 Ymaad, outher of chalk, outher of glas,
CYT 1150 Or somwhat elles, was nat worth a flye,
CYT 1151 To blynde with this preest; and bad hym hye
CYT 1152 The coles for to couchen al above
CYT 1153 The crosselet. " For in tokenyng I thee love, "
CYT 1154 Quod this chanoun, " thyne owene handes two
CYT 1155 Shul werche al thyng which that shal heer be do. "
CYT 1156 " Graunt mercy, " quod the preest, and was ful glad,
CYT 1157 And couched coles as the chanoun bad.
CYT 1158 And while he bisy was, this feendly wrecche,
CYT 1159 This false chanoun -- the foule feend hym fecche! --
CYT 1160 Out of his bosom took a bechen cole,
CYT 1161 In which ful subtilly was maad an hole,
CYT 1162 And therinne put was of silver lemaille
CYT 1163 An ounce, and stopped was, withouten faille,
CYT 1164 This hole with wex, to kepe the lemaille in.
CYT 1165 And understondeth that this false gyn
CYT 1166 Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore;
CYT 1167 And othere thynges I shal tellen moore
CYT 1168 Herafterward, whiche that he with hym broghte.
CYT 1169 Er he cam there, hym to bigile he thoghte,
CYT 1170 And so he dide, er that they wente atwynne;
CYT 1171 Til he had terved hym, koude he nat blynne.
CYT 1172 It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke.
CYT 1173 On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke,
CYT 1174 If I wiste how, but he is heere and there;
CYT 1175 He is so variaunt, he abit nowhere.
CYT 1176 But taketh heede now, sires, for Goddes love!
CYT 1177 He took his cole of which I spak above,
CYT 1178 And in his hand he baar it pryvely.
CYT 1179 And whiles the preest couched bisily
CYT 1180 The coles, as I tolde yow er this,
CYT 1181 This chanoun seyde, " Freend, ye doon amys.
CYT 1182 This is nat couched as it oghte be;
CYT 1183 But soone I shal amenden it, " quod he.
CYT 1184 " Now lat me medle therwith but a while,
CYT 1185 For of yow have I pitee, by Seint Gile!
CYT 1186 Ye been right hoot; I se wel how ye swete.
CYT 1187 Have heere a clooth, and wipe awey the wete. "
CYT 1188 And whiles that the preest wiped his face,
CYT 1189 This chanoun took his cole -- with sory grace! --
CYT 1190 And leyde it above upon the myddeward
CYT 1191 Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward
CYT 1192 Til that the coles gonne faste brenne.
CYT 1193 " Now yeve us drynke, " quod the chanoun thenne;
CYT 1194 " As swithe al shal be wel, I undertake.
CYT 1195 Sitte we doun, and lat us myrie make. "
CYT 1196 And whan that this chanounes bechen cole
CYT 1197 Was brent, al the lemaille out of the hole
CYT 1198 Into the crosselet fil anon adoun;
CYT 1199 And so it moste nedes, by resoun,
CYT 1200 Syn it so evene above couched was.
CYT 1201 But therof wiste the preest nothyng, alas!
CYT 1202 He demed alle the coles yliche good,
CYT 1203 For of that sleighte he nothyng understood.
CYT 1204 And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme,
CYT 1205 " Ris up, " quod he, " sire preest, and stondeth by me;
CYT 1206 And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon,
CYT 1207 Gooth, walketh forth, and bryngeth a chalk stoon;
CYT 1208 For I wol make it of the same shap
CYT 1209 That is an ingot, if I may han hap.
CYT 1210 And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne
CYT 1211 Ful of water, and ye shul se wel thanne
CYT 1212 How that oure bisynesse shal thryve and preeve.
CYT 1213 And yet, for ye shul han no mysbileeve
CYT 1214 Ne wrong conceite of me in youre absence,
CYT 1215 I ne wol nat been out of youre presence,
CYT 1216 But go with yow and come with yow ageyn. "
CYT 1217 The chambre dore, shortly for to seyn,
CYT 1218 They opened and shette, and wente hir weye.
CYT 1219 And forth with hem they carieden the keye,
CYT 1220 And coome agayn withouten any delay.
CYT 1221 What sholde I tarien al the longe day?
CYT 1222 He took the chalk and shoop it in the wise
CYT 1223 Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse.
CYT 1224 I seye, he took out of his owene sleeve
CYT 1225 A teyne of silver -- yvele moot he cheeve! --
CYT 1226 Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte.
CYT 1227 And taaketh heede now of his cursed sleighte!
CYT 1228 He shoop his ingot in lengthe and in breede
CYT 1229 Of this teyne, withouten any drede,
CYT 1230 So slyly that the preest it nat espide,
CYT 1231 And in his sleve agayn he gan it hide,
CYT 1232 And fro the fir he took up his mateere,
CYT 1233 And in th' yngot putte it with myrie cheere,
CYT 1234 And in the water-vessel he it caste,
CYT 1235 Whan that hym luste, and bad the preest as faste,
CYT 1236 " Loke what ther is; put in thyn hand and grope.
CYT 1237 Thow fynde shalt ther silver, as I hope. "
CYT 1238 What, devel of helle, sholde it elles be?
CYT 1239 Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!
CYT 1240 He putte his hand in and took up a teyne
CYT 1241 Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne
CYT 1242 Was this preest, whan he saugh it was so.
CYT 1243 " Goddes blessyng, and his moodres also,
CYT 1244 And alle halwes, have ye, sire chanoun, "
CYT 1245 Seyde the preest, " and I hir malisoun,
CYT 1246 But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me
CYT 1247 This noble craft and this subtilitee,
CYT 1248 I wol be youre in al that evere I may. "
CYT 1249 Quod the chanoun, " Yet wol I make assay
CYT 1250 The seconde tyme, that ye may taken heede
CYT 1251 And been expert of this, and in youre neede
CYT 1252 Another day assaye in myn absence
CYT 1253 This disciplyne and this crafty science.
CYT 1254 Lat take another ounce, " quod he tho,
CYT 1255 " Of quyksilver, withouten wordes mo,
CYT 1256 And do therwith as ye han doon er this
CYT 1257 With that oother, which that now silver is. "
CYT 1258 This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan
CYT 1259 To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man,
CYT 1260 Comanded hym, and faste blew the fir,
CYT 1261 For to come to th' effect of his desir.
CYT 1262 And this chanon, right in the meene while,
CYT 1263 Al redy was this preest eft to bigile,
CYT 1264 And for a contenaunce in his hand he bar
CYT 1265 An holwe stikke -- taak kep and be war! --
CYT 1266 In the ende of which an ounce, and namoore,
CYT 1267 Of silver lemaille put was, as bifore
CYT 1268 Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel
CYT 1269 For to kepe in his lemaille every deel.
CYT 1270 And whil this preest was in his bisynesse,
CYT 1271 This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse
CYT 1272 To hym anon, and his poudre caste in
CYT 1273 As he dide er -- the devel out of his skyn
CYT 1274 Hym terve, I pray to God, for his falshede!
CYT 1275 For he was evere fals in thoght and dede --
CYT 1276 And with this stikke, above the crosselet,
CYT 1277 That was ordeyned with that false jet,
CYT 1278 He stired the coles til relente gan
CYT 1279 The wex agayn the fir, as every man,
CYT 1280 But it a fool be, woot wel it moot nede,
CYT 1281 And al that in the stikke was out yede,
CYT 1282 And in the crosselet hastily it fel.
CYT 1283 Now, good sires, what wol ye bet than wel?
CYT 1284 Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn,
CYT 1285 Supposynge noght but treuthe, sooth to seyn,
CYT 1286 He was so glad that I kan nat expresse
CYT 1287 In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse;
CYT 1288 And to the chanoun he profred eftsoone
CYT 1289 Body and good. " Ye, " quod the chanoun soone,
CYT 1290 " Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me fynde.
CYT 1291 I warne thee, yet is ther moore bihynde.
CYT 1292 Is ther any coper herinne? " seyde he.
CYT 1293 " Ye, " quod the preest, " sire, I trowe wel ther be. "
CYT 1294 " Elles go bye us som, and that as swithe;
CYT 1295 Now, goode sire, go forth thy wey and hy the. "
CYT 1296 He wente his wey, and with the coper cam,
CYT 1297 And this chanon it in his handes nam,
CYT 1298 And of that coper weyed out but an ounce.
CYT 1299 Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce,
CYT 1300 As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse
CYT 1301 Of this chanoun, roote of alle cursednesse!
CYT 1302 He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght,
CYT 1303 But he was feendly bothe in werk and thoght.
CYT 1304 It weerieth me to telle of his falsnesse,
CYT 1305 And nathelees yet wol I it expresse,
CYT 1306 To th' entente that men may be war therby,
CYT 1307 And for noon oother cause, trewely.
CYT 1308 He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet,
CYT 1309 And on the fir as swithe he hath it set,
CYT 1310 And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe,
CYT 1311 And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe,
CYT 1312 As he dide er -- and al nas but a jape;
CYT 1313 Right as hym liste, the preest he made his ape!
CYT 1314 And afterward in the ingot he it caste,
CYT 1315 And in the panne putte it at the laste
CYT 1316 Of water, and in he putte his owene hand,
CYT 1317 And in his sleve (as ye biforen-hand
CYT 1318 Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne.
CYT 1319 He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne,
CYT 1320 Unwityng this preest of his false craft,
CYT 1321 And in the pannes botme he hath it laft;
CYT 1322 And in the water rombled to and fro,
CYT 1323 And wonder pryvely took up also
CYT 1324 The coper teyne, noght knowynge this preest,
CYT 1325 And hidde it, and hym hente by the breest,
CYT 1326 And to hym spak, and thus seyde in his game:
CYT 1327 " Stoupeth adoun. By God, ye be to blame!
CYT 1328 Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whileer;
CYT 1329 Putte in youre hand, and looketh what is theer. "
CYT 1330 This preest took up this silver teyne anon,
CYT 1331 And thanne seyde the chanoun, " Lat us gon
CYT 1332 With thise thre teynes, whiche that we han wroght,
CYT 1333 To som goldsmyth and wite if they been oght,
CYT 1334 For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood,
CYT 1335 But if that they were silver fyn and good,
CYT 1336 And that as swithe preeved it shal bee. "
CYT 1337 Unto the goldsmyth with thise teynes three
CYT 1338 They wente and putte thise teynes in assay
CYT 1339 To fir and hamer; myghte no man seye nay,
CYT 1340 But that they weren as hem oghte be.
CYT 1341 This sotted preest, who was gladder than he?
CYT 1342 Was nevere brid gladder agayn the day,
CYT 1343 Ne nyghtyngale, in the sesoun of May,
CYT 1344 Was nevere noon that luste bet to synge;
CYT 1345 Ne lady lustier in carolynge,
CYT 1346 Or for to speke of love and wommanhede,
CYT 1347 Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede,
CYT 1348 To stonden in grace of his lady deere,
CYT 1349 Than hadde this preest this soory craft to leere.
CYT 1350 And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde:
CYT 1351 " For love of God, that for us alle deyde,
CYT 1352 And as I may deserve it unto yow,
CYT 1353 What shal this receite coste? Telleth now! "
CYT 1354 " By oure Lady, " quod this chanon, " it is deere,
CYT 1355 I warne yow wel; for save I and a frere,
CYT 1356 In Engelond ther kan no man it make. "
CYT 1357 " No fors, " quod he, " now, sire, for Goddes sake,
CYT 1358 What shal I paye? Telleth me, I preye. "
CYT 1359 " Ywis, " quod he, " it is ful deere, I seye.
CYT 1360 Sire, at o word, if that thee list it have,
CYT 1361 Ye shul paye fourty pound, so God me save!
CYT 1362 And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this
CYT 1363 To me, ye sholde paye moore, ywis. "
CYT 1364 This preest the somme of fourty pound anon
CYT 1365 Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon
CYT 1366 To this chanoun for this ilke receite.
CYT 1367 Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceite.
CYT 1368 " Sire preest, " he seyde, " I kepe han no loos
CYT 1369 Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos;
CYT 1370 And, as ye love me, kepeth it secree.
CYT 1371 For, and men knewen al my soutiltee,
CYT 1372 By God, they wolden han so greet envye
CYT 1373 To me by cause of my philosophye
CYT 1374 I sholde be deed; ther were noon oother weye. "
CYT 1375 " God it forbeede, " quod the preest, " what sey ye?
CYT 1376 Yet hadde I levere spenden al the good
CYT 1377 Which that I have, and elles wexe I wood,
CYT 1378 Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef. "
CYT 1379 " For youre good wyl, sire, have ye right good preef, "
CYT 1380 Quod the chanoun, " and farwel, grant mercy! "
CYT 1381 He wente his wey, and never the preest hym sy
CYT 1382 After that day; and whan that this preest shoolde
CYT 1383 Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde,
CYT 1384 Of this receit, farwel! It wolde nat be.
CYT 1385 Lo, thus byjaped and bigiled was he!
CYT 1386 Thus maketh he his introduccioun,
CYT 1387 To brynge folk to hir destruccioun.
CYT 1388 Considereth, sires, how that, in ech estaat,
CYT 1389 Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat
CYT 1390 So ferforth that unnethes is ther noon.
CYT 1391 This multiplying blent so many oon
CYT 1392 That in good feith I trowe that it bee
CYT 1393 The cause grettest of swich scarsetee.
CYT 1394 Philosophres speken so mystily
CYT 1395 In this craft that men kan nat come therby,
CYT 1396 For any wit that men han now-a-dayes.
CYT 1397 They mowe wel chiteren as doon jayes,
CYT 1398 And in hir termes sette hir lust and peyne,
CYT 1399 But to hir purpos shul they nevere atteyne.
CYT 1400 A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught,
CYT 1401 To multiplie, and brynge his good to naught!
CYT 1402 Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game,
CYT 1403 A mannes myrthe it wol turne unto grame,
CYT 1404 And empten also grete and hevye purses,
CYT 1405 And maken folk for to purchacen curses
CYT 1406 Of hem that han hir good therto ylent.
CYT 1407 O, fy, for shame! They that han been brent,
CYT 1408 Allas, kan they nat flee the fires heete?
CYT 1409 Ye that it use, I rede ye it leete,
CYT 1410 Lest ye lese al; for bet than nevere is late.
CYT 1411 Nevere to thryve were to long a date.
CYT 1412 Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it nevere fynde.
CYT 1413 Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde,
CYT 1414 That blondreth forth and peril casteth noon.
CYT 1415 He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon
CYT 1416 As for to goon bisides in the weye.
CYT 1417 So faren ye that multiplie, I seye.
CYT 1418 If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright,
CYT 1419 Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight.
CYT 1420 For though ye looken never so brode and stare,
CYT 1421 Ye shul nothyng wynne on that chaffare,
CYT 1422 But wasten al that ye may rape and renne.
CYT 1423 Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne;
CYT 1424 Medleth namoore with that art, I mene,
CYT 1425 For if ye doon, youre thrift is goon ful clene.
CYT 1426 And right as swithe I wol yow tellen heere
CYT 1427 What philosophres seyn in this mateere.
CYT 1428 Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun,
CYT 1429 As his Rosarie maketh mencioun;
CYT 1430 He seith right thus, withouten any lye:
CYT 1431 " Ther may no man mercurie mortifie
CYT 1432 But it be with his brother knowlechyng " ;
CYT 1433 How [be] that he which that first seyde this thyng
CYT 1434 Of philosophres fader was, Hermes;
CYT 1435 He seith how that the dragon, doutelees,
CYT 1436 Ne dyeth nat but if that he be slayn
CYT 1437 With his brother; and that is for to sayn,
CYT 1438 By the dragon, Mercurie, and noon oother
CYT 1439 He understood, and brymstoon by his brother,
CYT 1440 That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe.
CYT 1441 " And therfore, " seyde he -- taak heede to my sawe --
CYT 1442 " Lat no man bisye hym this art for to seche,
CYT 1443 But if that he th' entencioun and speche
CYT 1444 Of philosophres understonde kan;
CYT 1445 And if he do, he is a lewed man.
CYT 1446 For this science and this konnyng, " quod he,
CYT 1447 " Is of the secree of the secretes, pardee. "
CYT 1448 Also ther was a disciple of Plato,
CYT 1449 That on a tyme seyde his maister to,
CYT 1450 As his book Senior wol bere witnesse,
CYT 1451 And this was his demande in soothfastnesse:
CYT 1452 " Telle me the name of the privee stoon. "
CYT 1453 And Plato answerde unto hym anoon,
CYT 1454 " Take the stoon that Titanos men name. "
CYT 1455 " Which is that? " quod he. " Magnasia is the same, "
CYT 1456 Seyde Plato. " Ye, sire, and is it thus?
CYT 1457 This is ignotum per ignocius.
CYT 1458 What is Magnasia, good sire, I yow preye? "
CYT 1459 " It is a water that is maad, I seye,
CYT 1460 Of elementes foure, " quod Plato.
CYT 1461 " Telle me the roote, good sire, " quod he tho,
CYT 1462 " Of that water, if it be youre wil. "
CYT 1463 " Nay, nay, " quod Plato, " certein, that I nyl.
CYT 1464 The philosophres sworn were everychoon
CYT 1465 That they sholden discovere it unto noon,
CYT 1466 Ne in no book it write in no manere.
CYT 1467 For unto Crist it is so lief and deere
CYT 1468 That he wol nat that it discovered bee,
CYT 1469 But where it liketh to his deitee
CYT 1470 Men for t' enspire, and eek for to deffende
CYT 1471 Whom that hym liketh; lo, this is the ende. "
CYT 1472 Thanne conclude I thus, sith that God of hevene
CYT 1473 Ne wil nat that the philosophres nevene
CYT 1474 How that a man shal come unto this stoon,
CYT 1475 I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon.
CYT 1476 For whoso maketh God his adversarie,
CYT 1477 As for to werken any thyng in contrarie
CYT 1478 Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve,
CYT 1479 Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyve.
CYT 1480 And there a poynt, for ended is my tale.
CYT 1481 God sende every trewe man boote of his bale!
MancT 1 Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun
MancT 2 Which that ycleped is Bobbe-up-and-doun,
MancT 3 Under the Blee, in Caunterbury Weye?
MancT 4 Ther gan oure Hooste for to jape and pleye,
MancT 5 And seyde, " Sires, what! Dun is in the myre!
MancT 6 Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre,
MancT 7 That wole awake oure felawe al bihynde?
MancT 8 A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde.
MancT 9 See how he nappeth! See how, for cokkes bones,
MancT 10 That he wol falle fro his hors atones!
MancT 11 Is that a cook of Londoun, with meschaunce?
MancT 12 Do hym come forth, he knoweth his penaunce;
MancT 13 For he shal telle a tale, by my fey,
MancT 14 Although it be nat worth a botel hey.
MancT 15 Awake, thou Cook, " quod he, " God yeve thee sorwe!
MancT 16 What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?
MancT 17 Hastow had fleen al nyght, or artow dronke?
MancT 18 Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke,
MancT 19 So that thow mayst nat holden up thyn heed? "
MancT 20 This Cook, that was ful pale and no thyng reed,
MancT 21 Seyde to oure Hoost, " So God my soule blesse,
MancT 22 As ther is falle on me swich hevynesse,
MancT 23 Noot I nat why, that me were levere slepe
MancT 24 Than the beste galon wyn in Chepe. "
MancT 25 " Wel, " quod the Maunciple, " if it may doon ese
MancT 26 To thee, sire Cook, and to no wight displese,
MancT 27 Which that heere rideth in this compaignye,
MancT 28 And that oure Hoost wole, of his curteisye,
MancT 29 I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale.
MancT 30 For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale,
MancT 31 Thyne eyen daswen eek, as that me thynketh,
MancT 32 And, wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure stynketh:
MancT 33 That sheweth wel thou art nat wel disposed.
MancT 34 Of me, certeyn, thou shalt nat been yglosed.
MancT 35 See how he ganeth, lo, this dronken wight,
MancT 36 As though he wolde swolwe us anonright.
MancT 37 Hoold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kyn!
MancT 38 The devel of helle sette his foot therin!
MancT 39 Thy cursed breeth infecte wole us alle.
MancT 40 Fy, stynkyng swyn! Fy, foule moote thee falle!
MancT 41 A, taketh heede, sires, of this lusty man.
MancT 42 Now, sweete sire, wol ye justen atte fan?
MancT 43 Therto me thynketh ye been wel yshape!
MancT 44 I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape,
MancT 45 And that is whan men pleyen with a straw. "
MancT 46 And with this speche the Cook wax wrooth and wraw,
MancT 47 And on the Manciple he gan nodde faste
MancT 48 For lakke of speche, and doun the hors hym caste,
MancT 49 Where as he lay, til that men hym up took.
MancT 50 This was a fair chyvachee of a cook!
MancT 51 Allas, he nadde holde hym by his ladel!
MancT 52 And er that he agayn were in his sadel,
MancT 53 Ther was greet showvyng bothe to and fro
MancT 54 To lifte hym up, and muchel care and wo,
MancT 55 So unweeldy was this sory palled goost.
MancT 56 And to the Manciple thanne spak oure Hoost:
MancT 57 " By cause drynke hath dominacioun
MancT 58 Upon this man, by my savacioun,
MancT 59 I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale.
MancT 60 For, were it wyn or oold or moysty ale
MancT 61 That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose,
MancT 62 And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the pose.
MancT 63 " He hath also to do moore than ynough
MancT 64 To kepen hym and his capul out of the slough;
MancT 65 And if he falle from his capul eftsoone,
MancT 66 Thanne shal we alle have ynogh to doone
MancT 67 In liftyng up his hevy dronken cors.
MancT 68 Telle on thy tale; of hym make I no fors.
MancT 69 " But yet, Manciple, in feith thou art to nyce,
MancT 70 Thus openly repreve hym of his vice.
MancT 71 Another day he wole, peraventure,
MancT 72 Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure;
MancT 73 I meene, he speke wole of smale thynges,
MancT 74 As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges,
MancT 75 That were nat honest, if it cam to preef. "
MancT 76 " No, " quod the Manciple, " that were a greet mescheef!
MancT 77 So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare.
MancT 78 Yet hadde I levere payen for the mare
MancT 79 Which he rit on, than he sholde with me stryve.
MancT 80 I wol nat wratthen hym, also moot I thryve!
MancT 81 That that I spak, I seyde it in my bourde.
MancT 82 And wite ye what? I have heer in a gourde
MancT 83 A draghte of wyn, ye, of a ripe grape,
MancT 84 And right anon ye shul seen a good jape.
MancT 85 This Cook shal drynke therof, if I may.
MancT 86 Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me nay. "
MancT 87 And certeynly, to tellen as it was,
MancT 88 Of this vessel the Cook drank faste, allas!
MancT 89 What neded hym? He drank ynough biforn.
MancT 90 And whan he hadde pouped in this horn,
MancT 91 To the Manciple he took the gourde agayn;
MancT 92 And of that drynke the Cook was wonder fayn,
MancT 93 And thanked hym in swich wise as he koude.
MancT 94 Thanne gan oure Hoost to laughen wonder loude,
MancT 95 And seyde, " I se wel it is necessarie,
MancT 96 Where that we goon, good drynke with us carie;
MancT 97 For that wol turne rancour and disese
MancT 98 T' acord and love, and many a wrong apese.
MancT 99 " O Bacus, yblessed be thy name,
MancT 100 That so kanst turnen ernest into game!
MancT 101 Worshipe and thank be to thy deitee!
MancT 102 Of that mateere ye gete namoore of me.
MancT 103 Telle on thy tale, Manciple, I thee preye. "
MancT 104 " Wel, sire, " quod he, " now herkneth what I seye. "
MancT 105 Whan Phebus dwelled heere in this erthe adoun,
MancT 106 As olde bookes maken mencioun,
MancT 107 He was the mooste lusty bachiler
MancT 108 In al this world, and eek the beste archer.
MancT 109 He slow Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay
MancT 110 Slepynge agayn the sonne upon a day;
MancT 111 And many another noble worthy dede
MancT 112 He with his bowe wroghte, as men may rede.
MancT 113 Pleyen he koude on every mynstralcie,
MancT 114 And syngen that it was a melodie
MancT 115 To heeren of his cleere voys the soun.
MancT 116 Certes the kyng of Thebes, Amphioun,
MancT 117 That with his syngyng walled that citee,
MancT 118 Koude nevere syngen half so wel as hee.
MancT 119 Therto he was the semelieste man
MancT 120 That is or was sith that the world bigan.
MancT 121 What nedeth it his fetures to discryve?
MancT 122 For in this world was noon so faire on-lyve.
MancT 123 He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse,
MancT 124 Of honour, and of parfit worthynesse.
MancT 125 This Phebus, that was flour of bachilrie,
MancT 126 As wel in fredom as in chivalrie,
MancT 127 For his desport, in signe eek of victorie
MancT 128 Of Phitoun, so as telleth us the storie,
MancT 129 Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.
MancT 130 Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe
MancT 131 Which in a cage he fostred many a day,
MancT 132 And taughte it speken, as men teche a jay.
MancT 133 Whit was this crowe as is a snow-whit swan,
MancT 134 And countrefete the speche of every man
MancT 135 He koude, whan he sholde telle a tale.
MancT 136 Therwith in al this world no nyghtyngale
MancT 137 Ne koude, by an hondred thousand deel,
MancT 138 Syngen so wonder myrily and weel.
MancT 139 Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf
MancT 140 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf,
MancT 141 And nyght and day dide evere his diligence
MancT 142 Hir for to plese and doon hire reverence,
MancT 143 Save oonly, if the sothe that I shal sayn,
MancT 144 Jalous he was, and wolde have kept hire fayn.
MancT 145 For hym were looth byjaped for to be,
MancT 146 And so is every wight in swich degree;
MancT 147 But al in ydel, for it availleth noght.
MancT 148 A good wyf, that is clene of werk and thoght,
MancT 149 Sholde nat been kept in noon awayt, certayn;
MancT 150 And trewely the labour is in vayn
MancT 151 To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat bee.
MancT 152 This holde I for a verray nycetee,
MancT 153 To spille labour for to kepe wyves:
MancT 154 Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves.
MancT 155 But now to purpos, as I first bigan:
MancT 156 This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan
MancT 157 To plesen hire, wenynge for swich plesaunce,
MancT 158 And for his manhede and his governaunce,
MancT 159 That no man sholde han put hym from hir grace.
MancT 160 But God it woot, ther may no man embrace
MancT 161 As to destreyne a thyng which that nature
MancT 162 Hath natureelly set in a creature.
MancT 163 Taak any bryd, and put it in a cage,
MancT 164 And do al thyn entente and thy corage
MancT 165 To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke
MancT 166 Of alle deyntees that thou kanst bithynke,
MancT 167 And keep it al so clenly as thou may,
MancT 168 Although his cage of gold be never so gay,
MancT 169 Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand foold,
MancT 170 Levere in a forest that is rude and coold
MancT 171 Goon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
MancT 172 For evere this brid wol doon his bisynesse
MancT 173 To escape out of his cage, yif he may.
MancT 174 His libertee this brid desireth ay.
MancT 175 Lat take a cat, and fostre hym wel with milk
MancT 176 And tendre flessh, and make his couche of silk,
MancT 177 And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal,
MancT 178 Anon he weyveth milk and flessh and al,
MancT 179 And every deyntee that is in that hous,
MancT 180 Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.
MancT 181 Lo, heere hath lust his dominacioun,
MancT 182 And appetit fleemeth discrecioun.
MancT 183 A she-wolf hath also a vileyns kynde.
MancT 184 The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde,
MancT 185 Or leest of reputacioun, wol she take,
MancT 186 In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.
MancT 187 Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men
MancT 188 That been untrewe, and nothyng by wommen.
MancT 189 For men han evere a likerous appetit
MancT 190 On lower thyng to parfourne hire delit
MancT 191 Than on hire wyves, be they never so faire,
MancT 192 Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire.
MancT 193 Flessh is so newefangel, with meschaunce,
MancT 194 That we ne konne in nothyng han plesaunce
MancT 195 That sowneth into vertu any while.
MancT 196 This Phebus, which that thoghte upon no gile,
MancT 197 Deceyved was, for al his jolitee.
MancT 198 For under hym another hadde shee,
MancT 199 A man of litel reputacioun,
MancT 200 Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun.
MancT 201 The moore harm is, it happeth ofte so,
MancT 202 Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.
MancT 203 And so bifel, whan Phebus was absent,
MancT 204 His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent.
MancT 205 Hir lemman? Certes, this is a knavyssh speche!
MancT 206 Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche.
MancT 207 The wise Plato seith, as ye may rede,
MancT 208 The word moot nede accorde with the dede.
MancT 209 If men shal telle proprely a thyng,
MancT 210 The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng.
MancT 211 I am a boystous man, right thus seye I:
MancT 212 Ther nys no difference, trewely,
MancT 213 Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree,
MancT 214 If of hir body dishonest she bee,
MancT 215 And a povre wenche, oother than this --
MancT 216 If it so be they werke bothe amys --
MancT 217 But that the gentile, in estaat above,
MancT 218 She shal be cleped his lady, as in love;
MancT 219 And for that oother is a povre womman,
MancT 220 She shal be cleped his wenche or his lemman.
MancT 221 And, God it woot, myn owene deere brother,
MancT 222 Men leyn that oon as lowe as lith that oother.
MancT 223 Right so bitwixe a titlelees tiraunt
MancT 224 And an outlawe or a theef erraunt,
MancT 225 The same I seye: ther is no difference.
MancT 226 To Alisaundre was toold this sentence,
MancT 227 That, for the tirant is of gretter myght
MancT 228 By force of meynee for to sleen dounright,
MancT 229 And brennen hous and hoom, and make al playn,
MancT 230 Lo, therfore is he cleped a capitayn;
MancT 231 And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee,
MancT 232 And may nat doon so greet an harm as he,
MancT 233 Ne brynge a contree to so greet mescheef,
MancT 234 Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef.
MancT 235 But for I am a man noght textueel,
MancT 236 I wol noght telle of textes never a deel;
MancT 237 I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.
MancT 238 Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman,
MancT 239 Anon they wroghten al hire lust volage.
MancT 240 The white crowe, that heeng ay in the cage,
MancT 241 Biheeld hire werk, and seyde never a word.
MancT 242 And whan that hoom was come Phebus, the lord,
MancT 243 This crowe sang " Cokkow! Cokkow! Cokkow! "
MancT 244 " What, bryd? " quod Phebus. " What song syngestow?
MancT 245 Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge
MancT 246 That to myn herte it was a rejoysynge
MancT 247 To heere thy voys? Allas, what song is this? "
MancT 248 " By God, " quod he, " I synge nat amys.
MancT 249 Phebus, " quod he, " for al thy worthynesse,
MancT 250 For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse,
MancT 251 For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye,
MancT 252 For al thy waityng, blered is thyn ye
MancT 253 With oon of litel reputacioun,
MancT 254 Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun,
MancT 255 The montance of a gnat, so moote I thryve!
MancT 256 For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh hym swyve. "
MancT 257 What wol ye moore? The crowe anon hym tolde,
MancT 258 By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde,
MancT 259 How that his wyf had doon hire lecherye,
MancT 260 Hym to greet shame and to greet vileynye,
MancT 261 And tolde hym ofte he saugh it with his yen.
MancT 262 This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen,
MancT 263 And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo.
MancT 264 His bowe he bente, and sette therinne a flo,
MancT 265 And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn.
MancT 266 This is th' effect; ther is namoore to sayn;
MancT 267 For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcie,
MancT 268 Bothe harpe, and lute, and gyterne, and sautrie;
MancT 269 And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe,
MancT 270 And after that thus spak he to the crowe:
MancT 271 " Traitour, " quod he, " with tonge of scorpioun,
MancT 272 Thou hast me broght to my confusioun;
MancT 273 Allas, that I was wroght! Why nere I deed?
MancT 274 O deere wyf! O gemme of lustiheed!
MancT 275 That were to me so sad and eek so trewe,
MancT 276 Now listow deed, with face pale of hewe,
MancT 277 Ful giltelees, that dorste I swere, ywys!
MancT 278 O rakel hand, to doon so foule amys!
MancT 279 O trouble wit, O ire recchelees,
MancT 280 That unavysed smyteth gilteles!
MancT 281 O wantrust, ful of fals suspecion,
MancT 282 Where was thy wit and thy discrecion?
MancT 283 O every man, be war of rakelnesse!
MancT 284 Ne trowe no thyng withouten strong witnesse.
MancT 285 Smyt nat to soone, er that ye witen why,
MancT 286 And beeth avysed wel and sobrely
MancT 287 Er ye doon any execucion
MancT 288 Upon youre ire for suspecion.
MancT 289 Allas, a thousand folk hath rakel ire
MancT 290 Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the mire.
MancT 291 Allas! For sorwe I wol myselven slee! "
MancT 292 And to the crowe, " O false theef! " seyde he,
MancT 293 " I wol thee quite anon thy false tale.
MancT 294 Thou songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale;
MancT 295 Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon,
MancT 296 And eek thy white fetheres everichon,
MancT 297 Ne nevere in al thy lif ne shaltou speke.
MancT 298 Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke;
MancT 299 Thou and thyn ofspryng evere shul be blake,
MancT 300 Ne nevere sweete noyse shul ye make,
MancT 301 But evere crie agayn tempest and rayn,
MancT 302 In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn. "
MancT 303 And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon,
MancT 304 And pulled his white fetheres everychon,
MancT 305 And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song,
MancT 306 And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong
MancT 307 Unto the devel, which I hym bitake;
MancT 308 And for this caas been alle crowes blake.
MancT 309 Lordynges, by this ensample I yow preye,
MancT 310 Beth war, and taketh kep what that ye seye:
MancT 311 Ne telleth nevere no man in youre lyf
MancT 312 How that another man hath dight his wyf;
MancT 313 He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn.
MancT 314 Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn,
MancT 315 Techeth a man to kepen his tonge weel.
MancT 316 But, as I seyde, I am noght textueel.
MancT 317 But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame:
MancT 318 " My sone, thenk on the crowe, a Goddes name!
MancT 319 My sone, keep wel thy tonge, and keep thy freend.
MancT 320 A wikked tonge is worse than a feend;
MancT 321 My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse.
MancT 322 My sone, God of his endelees goodnesse
MancT 323 Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke,
MancT 324 For man sholde hym avyse what he speeke.
MancT 325 My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche
MancT 326 Hath many a man been spilt, as clerkes teche,
MancT 327 But for litel speche avysely
MancT 328 Is no man shent, to speke generally.
MancT 329 My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne
MancT 330 At alle tymes, but whan thou doost thy peyne
MancT 331 To speke of God, in honour and preyere.
MancT 332 The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt leere,
MancT 333 Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge;
MancT 334 Thus lerne children whan that they been yonge.
MancT 335 My sone, of muchel spekyng yvele avysed,
MancT 336 Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynough suffised,
MancT 337 Comth muchel harm; thus was me toold and taught.
MancT 338 In muchel speche synne wanteth naught.
MancT 339 Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serveth?
MancT 340 Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerveth
MancT 341 An arm a-two, my deere sone, right so
MancT 342 A tonge kutteth freendshipe al a-two.
MancT 343 A jangler is to God abhomynable.
MancT 344 Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable;
MancT 345 Reed David in his psalmes; reed Senekke.
MancT 346 My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke.
MancT 347 Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou heere
MancT 348 A janglere speke of perilous mateere.
MancT 349 The Flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste,
MancT 350 That litel janglyng causeth muchel reste.
MancT 351 My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd,
MancT 352 Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd;
MancT 353 But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn,
MancT 354 He may by no wey clepe his word agayn.
MancT 355 Thyng that is seyd is seyd, and forth it gooth,
MancT 356 Though hym repente, or be hym nevere so looth.
MancT 357 He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd
MancT 358 A tale of which he is now yvele apayd.
MancT 359 My sone, be war, and be noon auctour newe
MancT 360 Of tidynges, wheither they been false or trewe.
MancT 361 Whereso thou come, amonges hye or lowe,
MancT 362 Kepe wel thy tonge and thenk upon the crowe.
ParsT 1 By that the Maunciple hadde his tale al ended,
ParsT 2 The sonne fro the south lyne was descended
ParsT 3 So lowe that he nas nat, to my sighte,
ParsT 4 Degrees nyne and twenty as in highte.
ParsT 5 Foure of the clokke it was tho, as I gesse,
ParsT 6 For ellevene foot, or litel moore or lesse,
ParsT 7 My shadwe was at thilke tyme, as there
ParsT 8 Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted were
ParsT 9 In sixe feet equal of proporcioun.
ParsT 10 Therwith the moones exaltacioun --
ParsT 11 I meene Libra -- alwey gan ascende
ParsT 12 As we were entryng at a thropes ende;
ParsT 13 For which oure Hoost, as he was wont to gye,
ParsT 14 As in this caas, oure joly compaignye,
ParsT 15 Seyde in this wise: " Lordynges everichoon,
ParsT 16 Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon.
ParsT 17 Fulfilled is my sentence and my decree;
ParsT 18 I trowe that we han herd of ech degree;
ParsT 19 Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce.
ParsT 20 I pray to God, so yeve hym right good chaunce,
ParsT 21 That telleth this tale to us lustily.
ParsT 22 " Sire preest, " quod he, " artow a vicary?
ParsT 23 Or arte a person? Sey sooth, by thy fey!
ParsT 24 Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat oure pley;
ParsT 25 For every man, save thou, hath toold his tale.
ParsT 26 Unbokele and shewe us what is in thy male;
ParsT 27 For trewely, me thynketh by thy cheere
ParsT 28 Thou sholdest knytte up wel a greet mateere.
ParsT 29 Telle us a fable anon, for cokkes bones! "
ParsT 30 This Persoun answerde, al atones,
ParsT 31 " Thou getest fable noon ytoold for me,
ParsT 32 For Paul, that writeth unto Thymothee,
ParsT 33 Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse
ParsT 34 And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
ParsT 35 Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest,
ParsT 36 Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest?
ParsT 37 For which I seye, if that yow list to heere
ParsT 38 Moralitee and vertuous mateere,
ParsT 39 And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience,
ParsT 40 I wol ful fayn, at Cristes reverence,
ParsT 41 Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I kan.
ParsT 42 But trusteth wel, I am a Southren man;
ParsT 43 I kan nat geeste `rum, ram, ruf,' by lettre,
ParsT 44 Ne, God woot, rym holde I but litel bettre;
ParsT 45 And therfore, if yow list -- I wol nat glose --
ParsT 46 I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose
ParsT 47 To knytte up al this feeste and make an ende.
ParsT 48 And Jhesu, for his grace, wit me sende
ParsT 49 To shewe yow the wey, in this viage,
ParsT 50 Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrymage
ParsT 51 That highte Jerusalem celestial.
ParsT 52 And if ye vouche sauf, anon I shal
ParsT 53 Bigynne upon my tale, for which I preye
ParsT 54 Telle youre avys; I kan no bettre seye.
ParsT 55 " But nathelees, this meditacioun
ParsT 56 I putte it ay under correccioun
ParsT 57 Of clerkes, for I am nat textueel;
ParsT 58 I take but the sentence, trusteth weel.
ParsT 59 Therfore I make protestacioun
ParsT 60 That I wol stonde to correccioun. "
ParsT 61 Upon this word we han assented soone,
ParsT 62 For, as it seemed, it was for to doone --
ParsT 63 To enden in som vertuous sentence,
ParsT 64 And for to yeve hym space and audience,
ParsT 65 And bade oure Hoost he sholde to hym seye
ParsT 66 That alle we to telle his tale hym preye.
ParsT 67 Oure Hoost hadde the wordes for us alle;
ParsT 68 " Sire preest, " quod he, " now faire yow bifalle!
ParsT 69 Telleth, " quod he, " youre meditacioun.
ParsT 70 But hasteth yow; the sonne wole adoun;
ParsT 71 Beth fructuous, and that in litel space,
ParsT 72 And to do wel God sende yow his grace!
ParsT 73 Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly heere. "
ParsT 74 And with that word he seyde in this manere.
ParsT 75 Oure sweete Lord God of hevene, that no man wole perisse but wole that
ParsT 75A we comen alle to the knoweleche of hym and to the blisful lif that is perdurable,
ParsT 76 amonesteth us by the prophete Jeremie, that seith in thys wyse:
ParsT 77 " Stondeth upon the weyes, and seeth and axeth of olde pathes (that is to seyn, of olde sentences) which is the goode wey,
ParsT 78 and walketh in that wey, and ye shal fynde refresshynge for youre soules, etc. "
ParsT 79 Manye been the weyes espirituels that leden folk to oure Lord Jhesu Crist and to the regne of glorie.
ParsT 80 Of whiche weyes ther is a ful noble wey and a ful covenable, which may nat fayle to man ne to womman
ParsT 80A that thurgh synne hath mysgoon fro the righte wey of Jerusalem celestial;
ParsT 81 and this wey is cleped Penitence, of which man sholde gladly herknen and enquere with al his herte
ParsT 82 to wyten what is Penitence, and whennes it is cleped Penitence, and in how manye maneres been the acciouns or werkynges of Penitence,
ParsT 83 and how manye speces ther been of Penitence, and whiche thynges apertenen and bihoven to Penitence, and whiche thynges destourben Penitence.
ParsT 84 Seint Ambrose seith that Penitence is the pleynynge of man for the gilt that he hath doon,
ParsT 84A and namoore to do any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne.
ParsT 85 And som doctour seith, " Penitence is the waymentynge of man that sorweth for his synne and pyneth hymself for he hath mysdoon. "
ParsT 86 Penitence, with certeyne circumstances, is verray repentance of a man that halt hymself in sorwe and oother peyne for his giltes.
ParsT 87 And for he shal be verray penitent, he shal first biwaylen the synnes that he hath doon,
ParsT 87A and stidefastly purposen in his herte to have shrift of mouthe, and to doon satisfaccioun,
ParsT 88 and nevere to doon thyng for which hym oghte moore to biwayle
ParsT 88A or to compleyne, and to continue in goode werkes, or elles his repentance may nat availle.
ParsT 89 For, as seith Seint Ysidre,
ParsT 89A " He is a japere and a gabbere and no verray repentant that eftsoone dooth thyng for which hym oghte repente. "
ParsT 90 Wepynge, and nat for to stynte to do synne, may nat avayle.
ParsT 91 But nathelees, men shal hope that every tyme that man falleth, be it never so ofte,
ParsT 91A that he may arise thurgh Penitence, if he have grace; but certeinly it is greet doute.
ParsT 92 For, as seith Seint Gregorie, " Unnethe ariseth he out of his synne, that is charged with the charge of yvel usage. "
ParsT 93 And therfore repentant folk, that stynte for to synne and forlete synne er that synne forlete hem,
ParsT 93A hooly chirche holdeth hem siker of hire savacioun.
ParsT 94 And he that synneth and verraily repenteth hym in his laste, hooly chirche yet hopeth his savacioun,
ParsT 94A by the grete mercy of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, for his repentaunce; but taak the siker wey.
ParsT 95 And now, sith I have declared yow what thyng is Penitence, now shul ye understonde that ther been three acciouns of Penitence.
ParsT 96 The firste is that if a man be baptized after that he hath synned.
ParsT 97 Seint Augustyn seith, " But he be penytent for his olde synful lyf, he may nat bigynne the newe clene lif. "
ParsT 98 For, certes, if he be baptized withouten penitence of his olde gilt, he receyveth the mark of baptesme
ParsT 98A but nat the grace ne the remission of his synnes, til he have repentance verray.
ParsT 99 Another defaute is this: that men doon deedly synne after that they han receyved baptesme.
ParsT 100 The thridde defaute is that men fallen in venial synnes after hir baptesme fro day to day.
ParsT 101 Therof seith Seint Augustyn that penitence of goode and humble folk is the penitence of every day.
ParsT 102 The speces of Penitence been three. That oon of hem is solempne, another is commune, and the thridde is privee.
ParsT 103 Thilke penance that is solempne is in two maneres;
ParsT 103A as to be put out of hooly chirche in Lente for slaughtre of children, and swich maner thyng.
ParsT 104 Another is, whan a man hath synned openly, of which synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree,
ParsT 104A and thanne hooly chirche by juggement destreyneth hym for to do open penaunce.
ParsT 105 Commune penaunce is that preestes enjoynen men communly in certeyn caas, as for to goon peraventure naked in pilgrimages, or barefoot.
ParsT 106 Pryvee penaunce is thilke that men doon alday for privee synnes, of whiche we shryve us prively and receyve privee penaunce.
ParsT 107 Now shaltow understande what is bihovely and necessarie to verray parfit Penitence. And this stant on three thynges:
ParsT 108 Contricioun of Herte, Confessioun of Mouth, and Satisfaccioun.
ParsT 109 For which seith Seint John Crisostom, " Penitence destreyneth a man to accepte benygnely every peyne that hym is enjoyned,
ParsT 109A with contricioun of herte, and shrift of mouth, with satisfaccioun, and in werkynge of alle manere humylitee. "
ParsT 110 And this is fruytful penitence agayn three thynges in which we wratthe oure Lord Jhesu Crist;
ParsT 111 this is to seyn, by delit in thynkynge, by reccheleesnesse in spekynge, and by wikked synful werkynge.
ParsT 112 And agayns thise wikkede giltes is Penitence, that may be likned unto a tree.
ParsT 113 The roote of this tree is Contricioun, that hideth hym in the herte of hym that is verray repentaunt,
ParsT 113A right as the roote of a tree hydeth hym in the erthe.
ParsT 114 Of the roote of Contricioun spryngeth a stalke that bereth braunches and leves of Confessioun, and fruyt of Satisfaccioun.
ParsT 115 For which Crist seith in his gospel, " Dooth digne fruyt of Penitence " ; for by this fruyt may men knowe this tree,
ParsT 115A and nat by the roote that is hyd in the herte of man, ne by the braunches, ne by the leves of Confessioun.
ParsT 116 And therfore oure Lord Jhesu Crist seith thus: " By the fruyt of hem shul ye knowen hem. "
ParsT 117 Of this roote eek spryngeth a seed of grace, the which seed is mooder of sikernesse, and this seed is egre and hoot.
ParsT 118 The grace of this seed spryngeth of God thurgh remembrance of the day of doom and on the peynes of helle.
ParsT 119 Of this matere seith Salomon that in the drede of God man forleteth his synne.
ParsT 120 The heete of this seed is the love of God and the desiryng of the joye perdurable.
ParsT 121 This heete draweth the herte of a man to God and dooth hym haten his synne.
ParsT 122 For soothly ther is nothyng that savoureth so wel to a child as the milk of his norice,
ParsT 122A ne nothyng is to hym moore abhomynable than thilke milk whan it is medled with oother mete.
ParsT 123 Right so the synful man that loveth his synne, hym semeth that it is to him moost sweete of any thyng;
ParsT 124 but fro that tyme that he loveth sadly oure Lord Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 124A and desireth the lif perdurable, ther nys to him no thyng moore abhomynable.
ParsT 125 For soothly the lawe of God is the love of God; for which David the prophete seith.
ParsT 125A " I have loved thy lawe and hated wikkednesse and hate " ; he that loveth God kepeth his lawe and his word.
ParsT 126 This tree saugh the prophete Daniel in spirit, upon the avysioun of the kyng Nabugodonosor, whan he conseiled hym to do penitence.
ParsT 127 Penaunce is the tree of lyf to hem that it receyven,
ParsT 127A and he that holdeth hym in verray penitence is blessed, after the sentence of Salomon.
ParsT 128 In this Penitence or Contricioun man shal understonde foure thynges; that is to seyn, what is Contricioun,
ParsT 128A and whiche been the causes that moeven a man to Contricioun, and how he sholde be contrit, and what Contricioun availleth to the soule.
ParsT 129 Thanne is it thus: that Contricioun is the verray sorwe that a man receyveth in his herte for his synnes,
ParsT 129A with sad purpos to shryve hym, and to do penaunce, and neveremoore to do synne.
ParsT 130 And this sorwe shal been in this manere, as seith Seint Bernard:
ParsT 130A " It shal been hevy and grevous, and ful sharp and poynaunt in herte. "
ParsT 131 First, for man hath agilt his Lord and his Creatour; and moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath agilt hys Fader celestial;
ParsT 132 and yet moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath wrathed and agilt hym that boghte hym, that with his precious blood hath delivered us
ParsT 132A fro the bondes of synne, and fro the crueltee of the devel, and fro the peynes of helle.
ParsT 133 The causes that oghte moeve a man to Contricioun been sixe. First a man shal remembre hym of his synnes;
ParsT 134 but looke he that thilke remembraunce ne be to hym no delit by no wey, but greet shame and sorwe for his gilt.
ParsT 134A For Job seith, " Synful men doon werkes worthy of confusioun. "
ParsT 135 And therfore seith Ezechie, " I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn herte. "
ParsT 136 And God seith in the Apocalipse, " Remembreth yow fro whennes that ye been falle " ;
ParsT 136A for biforn that tyme that ye synned, ye were the children of God and lymes of the regne of God;
ParsT 137 but for youre synne ye been woxen thral, and foul, and membres of the feend, hate of aungels, sclaundre of hooly chirche,
ParsT 137A and foode of the false serpent, perpetueel matere of the fir of helle;
ParsT 138 and yet moore foul and abhomynable, for ye trespassen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that retourneth to eten his spewyng.
ParsT 139 And yet be ye fouler for youre longe continuyng in synne and youre synful usage,
ParsT 139A for which ye be roten in youre synne, as a beest in his dong.
ParsT 140 Swiche manere of thoghtes maken a man to have shame of his synne, and no delit, as God seith by the prophete Ezechiel,
ParsT 141 " Ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes, and they shuln displese yow. " Soothly synnes been the weyes that leden folk to helle.
ParsT 142 The seconde cause that oghte make a man to have desdeyn of synne is this:
ParsT 142A that, as seith Seint Peter, " whoso that dooth synne is thral of synne " ; and synne put a man in greet thraldom.
ParsT 143 And therfore seith the prophete Ezechiel: " I wente sorweful in desdayn of myself. "
ParsT 143A Certes, wel oghte a man have desdayn of synne and withdrawe hym from that thraldom and vileynye.
ParsT 144 And lo, what seith Seneca in this matere? He seith thus: " Though I wiste that neither God ne man ne sholde nevere knowe it,
ParsT 144A yet wolde I have desdayn for to do synne. "
ParsT 145 And the same Seneca also seith, " I am born to gretter thynges than to be thral to my body,
ParsT 145A or than for to maken of my body a thral. "
ParsT 146 Ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman maken of his body than for to yeven his body to synne.
ParsT 147 Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste womman that lyveth, and leest of value,
ParsT 147A yet is he thanne moore foul and moore in servitute.
ParsT 148 Evere fro the hyer degree that man falleth, the moore is he thral, and moore to God and to the world vile and abhomynable.
ParsT 149 O goode God, wel oghte man have desdayn of synne, sith that thurgh synne ther he was free now is he maked bonde.
ParsT 150 And therfore seyth Seint Augustyn: " If thou hast desdayn of thy servant,
ParsT 150A if he agilte or synne, have thou thanne desdayn that thou thyself sholdest do synne. "
ParsT 151 Tak reward of thy value, that thou ne be to foul to thyself.
ParsT 152 Allas, wel oghten they thanne have desdayn to been servauntz and thralles to synne, and soore been ashamed of hemself
ParsT 153 that God of his endelees goodnesse hath set hem in heigh estaat, or yeven hem wit, strengthe of body, heele, beautee, prosperitee,
ParsT 154 and boghte hem fro the deeth with his herte-blood,
ParsT 154A that they so unkyndely, agayns his gentilesse, quiten hym so vileynsly to slaughtre of hir owene soules.
ParsT 155 O goode God, ye wommen that been of so greet beautee, remembreth yow of the proverbe of Salomon. He seith,
ParsT 156 " Likneth a fair womman that is a fool of hire body
ParsT 156A lyk to a ryng of gold that were in the groyn of a soughe. "
ParsT 157 For right as a soughe wroteth in everich ordure, so wroteth she hire beautee in the stynkynge ordure of synne.
ParsT 158 The thridde cause that oghte moeve a man to Contricioun is drede of the day of doom and of the horrible peynes of helle.
ParsT 159 For as Seint Jerome seith, " At every tyme that me remembreth of the day of doom I quake;
ParsT 160 for whan I ete or drynke, or what so that I do, evere semeth me that the trompe sowneth in myn ere:
ParsT 161 `Riseth up, ye that been dede, and cometh to the juggement.' "
ParsT 162 O goode God, muchel oghte a man to drede swich a juggement, " ther as we shullen been alle, "
ParsT 162A as Seint Poul seith, " biforn the seete of oure Lord Jhesu Crist " ;
ParsT 163 whereas he shal make a general congregacioun, whereas no man may been absent.
ParsT 164 For certes there availleth noon essoyne ne excusacioun.
ParsT 165 And nat oonly that oure defautes shullen be jugged, but eek that alle oure werkes shullen openly be knowe.
ParsT 166 And, as seith Seint Bernard, " Ther ne shal no pledynge availle, ne no sleighte; we shullen yeven rekenynge of everich ydel word. "
ParsT 167 Ther shul we han a juge that may nat been deceyved ne corrupt. And why?
ParsT 167A For, certes, alle oure thoghtes been discovered as to hym, ne for preyere ne for meede he shal nat been corrupt.
ParsT 168 And therfore seith Salomon, " The wratthe of God ne wol nat spare no wight, for preyere ne for yifte " ;
ParsT 168A and therfore, at the day of doom ther nys noon hope to escape.
ParsT 169 Wherfore, as seith Seint Anselm, " Ful greet angwyssh shul the synful folk have at that tyme;
ParsT 170 ther shal the stierne and wrothe juge sitte above, and under hym the horrible pit of helle open to destroyen hym
ParsT 170A that moot biknowen his synnes, whiche synnes openly been shewed biforn God and biforn every creature;
ParsT 171 and in the left syde mo develes than herte may bithynke, for to harye and drawe the synful soules to the peyne of helle;
ParsT 172 and withinne the hertes of folk shal be the bitynge conscience, and withouteforth shal be the world al brennynge.
ParsT 173 Whider shal thanne the wrecched synful man flee to hiden hym? Certes, he may nat hyden hym; he moste come forth and shewen hym. "
ParsT 174 For certes, as seith Seint Jerome, " the erthe shal casten hym out of hym, and the see also,
ParsT 174A and the eyr also, that shal be ful of thonder-clappes and lightnynges. "
ParsT 175 Now soothly, whoso wel remembreth hym of thise thynges, I gesse that his synne shal nat turne hym into delit,
ParsT 175A but to greet sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle.
ParsT 176 And therfore seith Job to God, " Suffre, Lord, that I may a while biwaille and wepe,
ParsT 176A er I go withoute returnyng to the derke lond, covered with the derknesse of deeth,
ParsT 177 to the lond of mysese and of derknesse, whereas is the shadwe of deeth,
ParsT 177A whereas ther is noon ordre or ordinaunce but grisly drede that evere shal laste. "
ParsT 178 Loo, heere may ye seen that Job preyde respit a while to biwepe and waille his trespas,
ParsT 178A for soothly oo day of respit is bettre than al the tresor of this world.
ParsT 179 And forasmuche as a man may acquiten hymself biforn God by penitence in this world, and nat by tresor,
ParsT 179A therfore sholde he preye to God to yeve hym respit a while to biwepe and biwaillen his trespas.
ParsT 180 For certes, al the sorwe that a man myghte make fro the bigynnyng of the world
ParsT 180A nys but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle.
ParsT 181 The cause why that Job clepeth helle the " lond of derkness. " :
ParsT 182 understondeth that he clepeth it " lond " or erthe, for it is stable and nevere shal faille; " derk, "
ParsT 182A for he that is in helle hath defaute of light material.
ParsT 183 For certes, the derke light that shal come out of the fyr that evere shal brenne
ParsT 183A shal turne hym al to peyne that is in helle for it sheweth him to the horrible develes that hym tormenten.
ParsT 184 " Covered with the derknesse of deeth " -- that is to seyn, that
ParsT 184A he that is in helle shal have defaute of the sighte of God, for certes the sighte of God is the lyf perdurable.
ParsT 185 " The derknesse of deeth " been the synnes that the wrecched man hath doon, whiche that destourben hym to see the face of God,
ParsT 185A right as dooth a derk clowde bitwixe us and the sonne.
ParsT 186 " Lond of misese, " by cause that ther been three maneres of defautes,
ParsT 186A agayn three thynges that folk of this world han in this present lyf; that is to seyn, honours, delices, and richesses.
ParsT 187 Agayns honour, have they in helle shame and confusioun.
ParsT 188 For wel ye woot that men clepen honour the reverence that man doth to man, but in helle is noon honour ne reverence.
ParsT 188A For certes, namoore reverence shal be doon there to a kyng than to a knave.
ParsT 189 For which God seith by the prophete Jeremye, " Thilke folk that me despisen shul been in despit. "
ParsT 190 Honour is eek cleped greet lordshipe; ther shal no wight serven other, but of harm
ParsT 190A and torment. Honour is eek cleped greet dignytee and heighnesse, but in helle shul they been al fortroden of develes.
ParsT 191 And God seith, " The horrible develes shulle goon and comen upon the hevedes of the dampned folk. " And this is for as muche as
ParsT 191A the hyer that they were in this present lyf, the moore shulle they been abated and defouled in helle.
ParsT 192 Agayns the richesse of this world shul they han mysese of poverte, and this poverte shal been in foure thynges:
ParsT 193 In defaute of tresor, of which that David seith, " The riche folk, that embraceden and oneden al hire herte to tresor of this world,
ParsT 193A shul slepe in the slepynge of deeth; and nothyng ne shal they fynden in hir handes of al hir tresor. "
ParsT 194 And mooreover the myseyse of helle shal been in defaute of mete and drinke.
ParsT 195 For God seith thus by Moyses: " They shul been wasted with hunger, and the briddes of helle shul devouren hem with bitter deeth,
ParsT 195A and the galle of the dragon shal been hire drynke, and the venym of the dragon hire morsels. "
ParsT 196 And forther over, hire myseyse shal been in defaute of clothyng, for they shulle be naked in body as of clothyng,
ParsT 196A save the fyr in which they brenne, and othere filthes;
ParsT 197 and naked shul they been of soule, as of alle manere vertues, which that is the clothyng of the soule.
ParsT 197A Where been thanne the gaye robes, and the softe shetes, and the smale shertes?
ParsT 198 Loo, what seith God of hem by the prophete Ysaye: that
ParsT 198A " under hem shul been strawed motthes, and hire covertures shulle been of wormes of helle. "
ParsT 199 And forther over, hir myseyse shal been in defaute of freendes.
ParsT 199A For he nys nat povre that hath goode freendes; but there is no frend,
ParsT 200 for neither God ne no creature shal been freend to hem, and everich of hem shal haten oother with deedly hate.
ParsT 201 " The sones and the doghtren shullen rebellen agayns fader and mooder, and kynrede agayns kynrede, and chiden
ParsT 201A and despisen everich of hem oother bothe day and nyght, " as God seith by the prophete Michias.
ParsT 202 And the lovynge children, that whilom loveden so flesshly everich oother, wolden everich of hem eten oother if they myghte.
ParsT 203 For how sholden they love hem togidre in the peyne of helle,
ParsT 203A whan they hated everich of hem oother in the prosperitee of this lyf?
ParsT 204 For truste wel, hir flesshly love was deedly hate, as seith the prophete David: " Whoso that loveth wikkednesse, he hateth his soule. "
ParsT 205 And whoso hateth his owene soule, certes, he may love noon oother wight in no manere.
ParsT 206 And therfore, in helle is no solas ne no freendshipe, but evere the moore flesshly kynredes that been in helle,
ParsT 206A the moore cursynges, the more chidynges, and the moore deedly hate ther is among hem.
ParsT 207 And forther over, they shul have defaute of alle manere delices.
ParsT 207A For certes, delices been after the appetites of the fyve wittes, as sighte, herynge, smellynge, savorynge, and touchynge.
ParsT 208 But in helle hir sighte shal be ful of derknesse and of smoke,
ParsT 208A and therfore ful of teeres; and hir herynge ful of waymentynge and of gryntynge of teeth, as seith Jhesu Crist.
ParsT 209 Hir nose-thirles shullen be ful of stynkynge stynk; and, as seith Ysaye the prophete, " hir savoryng shal be ful of bitter galle " ;
ParsT 210 and touchynge of al hir body ycovered with " fir
ParsT 210A that nevere shal quenche and with wormes that nevere shul dyen, "
ParsT 210B as God seith by the mouth of Ysaye.
ParsT 211 And for as muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne, and by hir deeth flee fro peyne,
ParsT 211A that may they understonden by the word of Job, that seith, " ther as is the shadwe of deeth. "
ParsT 212 Certes, a shadwe hath the liknesse of the thyng of which it is shadwe,
ParsT 212A but shadwe is nat the same thyng of which it is shadwe.
ParsT 213 Right so fareth the peyne of helle; it is lyk deeth for the horrible angwissh, and why?
ParsT 213A For it peyneth hem evere, as though they sholde dye anon; but certes, they shal nat dye.
ParsT 214 For, as seith Seint Gregorie, " To wrecche caytyves shal be deeth withoute deeth, and ende withouten ende, and defaute withoute failynge.
ParsT 215 For hir deeth shal alwey lyven, and hir ende shal everemo bigynne, and hir defaute shal nat faille. "
ParsT 216 And therfore seith Seint John the Evaungelist, " They shullen folwe deeth,
ParsT 216A and they shul nat fynde hym; and they shul desiren to dye, and deeth shal flee fro hem. "
ParsT 217 And eek Job seith that in helle is noon ordre of rule.
ParsT 218 And al be it so that God hath creat alle thynges in right ordre, and no thyng withouten ordre,
ParsT 218A but alle thynges been ordeyned and nombred; yet, nathelees, they that been dampned been nothyng in ordre, ne holden noon ordre,
ParsT 219 for the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruyt.
ParsT 220 For, as the prophete David seith, " God shal destroie the fruyt of the erthe as fro hem;
ParsT 220A ne water ne shal yeve hem no moisture, ne the eyr no refresshyng, ne fyr no light. "
ParsT 221 For, as seith Seint Basilie, " The brennynge of the fyr of this world shal God yeven in helle to hem that been dampned,
ParsT 222 but the light and the cleernesse shal be yeven in hevene to his children, "
ParsT 222A right as the goode man yeveth flessh to his children and bones to his houndes.
ParsT 223 And for they shullen have noon hope to escape, seith Seint Job atte laste that " ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwellen withouten ende. "
ParsT 224 Horrour is alwey drede of harm that is to come, and this drede shal evere dwelle in the hertes of hem that been dampned.
ParsT 224A And therfore han they lorn al hire hope, for sevene causes.
ParsT 225 First, for God, that is hir juge, shal be withouten mercy to hem; and they may nat plese hym ne noon of his halwes;
ParsT 225A ne they ne may yeve no thyng for hir raunsoun;
ParsT 226 ne they have no voys to speke to hym; ne they may nat fle fro peyne;
ParsT 226A ne they have no goodnesse in hem, that they mowe shewe to delivere hem fro peyne.
ParsT 227 And therfore seith Salomon: " The wikked man dyeth, and whan he is deed, he shal have noon hope to escape fro peyne. "
ParsT 228 Whoso thanne wolde wel understande thise peynes and bithynke hym weel that he hath deserved thilke peynes for his synnes,
ParsT 228A certes, he sholde have moore talent to siken and to wepe than for to syngen and to pleye.
ParsT 229 For, as that seith Salomon, " Whoso that hadde the science to knowe the peynes
ParsT 229A that been establissed and ordeyned for synne, he wolde make sorwe. "
ParsT 230 " Thilke science, " as seith Seint Augustyn, " maketh a man to waymenten in his herte. "
ParsT 231 The fourthe point that oghte maken a man to have contricion is the sorweful remembraunce of the good
ParsT 231A that he hath left to doon heere in erthe, and eek the good that he hath lorn.
ParsT 232 Soothly, the goode werkes that he hath lost, outher they been the goode werkes that he wroghte er he fel into deedly synne
ParsT 232A or elles the goode werkes that he wroghte while he lay in synne.
ParsT 233 Soothly, the goode werkes that he dide biforn that he fil in synne been al mortefied and astoned and dulled by the ofte synnyng.
ParsT 234 The othere goode werkes, that he wroghte whil he lay in deedly synne,
ParsT 234A thei been outrely dede, as to the lyf perdurable in hevene.
ParsT 235 Thanne thilke goode werkes that been mortefied by ofte synnyng,
ParsT 235A whiche goode werkes he dide whil he was in charitee, ne mowe nevere quyken agayn withouten verray penitence.
ParsT 236 And therof seith God by the mouth of Ezechiel, that
ParsT 236A " if the rightful man returne agayn from his rightwisnesse and werke wikkednesse, shal he lyve? "
ParsT 237 Nay, for alle the goode werkes that he hath wroght ne shul nevere been in remembraunce, for he shal dyen in his synne.
ParsT 238 And upon thilke chapitre seith Seint Gregorie thus: that " we shulle understonde this principally;
ParsT 239 that whan we doon deedly synne,
ParsT 239A it is for noght thanne to rehercen or drawen into memorie the goode werkes that we han wroght biforn. "
ParsT 240 For certes, in the werkynge of the deedly synne, ther is no trust to no good werk that we han doon biforn;
ParsT 240A that is to seyn, as for to have therby the lyf perdurable in hevene.
ParsT 241 But nathelees, the goode werkes quyken agayn, and comen agayn, and helpen,
ParsT 241A and availlen to have the lyf perdurable in hevene, whan we han contricioun.
ParsT 242 But soothly, the goode werkes that men doon whil they been in deedly synne,
ParsT 242A for as muche as they were doon in deedly synne, they may nevere quyke agayn.
ParsT 243 For certes, thyng that nevere hadde lyf may nevere quykene; and nathelees, al be it that they ne availle noght to han the lyf perdurable,
ParsT 243A yet availlen they to abregge of the peyne of helle, or elles to geten temporal richesse,
ParsT 244 or elles that God wole the rather enlumyne and lightne the herte of the synful man to have repentaunce;
ParsT 245 and eek they availlen for to usen a man to doon goode werkes, that the feend have the lasse power of his soule.
ParsT 246 And thus the curteis Lord Jhesu Crist ne wole that no good werk be lost, for in somwhat it shal availle.
ParsT 247 But, for as muche as the goode werkes that men doon whil they been in good lyf been al mortefied by synne folwynge,
ParsT 247A and eek sith that alle the goode werkes that men doon whil they been in deedly synne been outrely dede
ParsT 247B as for to have the lyf perdurable,
ParsT 248 wel may that man that no good werk ne dooth synge thilke newe Frenshe song, " Jay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour. "
ParsT 249 For certes, synne bireveth a man bothe goodnesse of nature and eek the goodnesse of grace.
ParsT 250 For soothly, the grace of the Hooly Goost fareth lyk fyr, that may nat been ydel;
ParsT 250A for fyr fayleth anoon as it forleteth his wirkynge, and right so grace fayleth anoon as it forleteth his werkynge.
ParsT 251 Then leseth the synful man the goodnesse of glorie, that oonly is bihight to goode men that labouren and werken.
ParsT 252 Wel may he be sory thanne, that oweth al his lif to God as longe as he hath lyved, and eek as longe
ParsT 252A as he shal lyve, that no goodnesse ne hath to paye with his dette to God to whom he oweth al his lyf.
ParsT 253 For trust wel, " He shal yeven acountes, " as seith Seint Bernard,
ParsT 253A " of alle the goodes that han be yeven hym in this present lyf, and how he hath hem despended,
ParsT 254 [in] so muche that ther shal nat perisse an heer of his heed, ne a moment of an houre
ParsT 254A ne shal nat perisse of his tyme, that he ne shal yeve of it a rekenyng. "
ParsT 255 The fifthe thyng that oghte moeve a man to contricioun
ParsT 255A is remembrance of the passioun that oure Lord Jhesu Crist suffred for oure synnes.
ParsT 256 For, as seith Seint Bernard, " Whil that I lyve I shal have remembrance of the travailles that oure Lord Crist suffred in prechyng:
ParsT 257 his werynesse in travaillyng, his temptaciouns whan he fasted, his longe wakynges
ParsT 257A whan he preyde, hise teeres whan that he weep for pitee of good peple,
ParsT 258 the wo and the shame and the filthe that men seyden to hym, of the foule spittyng that men spitte in his face,
ParsT 258A of the buffettes that men yaven hym, of the foule mowes, and of the repreves that men to hym seyden,
ParsT 259 of the nayles with whiche he was nayled to the croys,
ParsT 259A and of al the remenant of his passioun that he suffred for my synnes, and no thyng for his gilt. "
ParsT 260 And ye shul understonde that in mannes synne is every manere of ordre or ordinaunce turned up-so-doun.
ParsT 261 For it is sooth that God, and resoun, and sensualitee, and the body of man been so ordeyned
ParsT 261A that everich of thise foure thynges sholde have lordshipe over that oother,
ParsT 262 as thus: God sholde have lordshipe over resoun, and resoun over sensualitee, and sensualitee over the body of man.
ParsT 263 But soothly, whan man synneth, al this ordre or ordinaunce is turned up-so-doun.
ParsT 264 And therfore thanne, for as muche as the resoun of man ne wol nat be subget ne obeisant to God, that is
ParsT 264A his lord by right, therfore leseth it the lordshipe that it sholde have over sensualitee, and eek over the body of man.
ParsT 265 And why? For sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns resoun, and by that way leseth resoun the lordshipe over sensualitee and over the body.
ParsT 266 For right as resoun is rebel to God, right so is bothe sensualitee rebel to resoun and the body also.
ParsT 267 And certes this disordinaunce and this rebellioun oure Lord Jhesu Crist aboghte upon his precious body ful deere, and herkneth in which wise.
ParsT 268 For as muche thanne as resoun is rebel to God, therfore is man worthy to have sorwe and to be deed.
ParsT 269 This suffred oure Lord Jhesu Crist for man, after that he hadde be bitraysed of his disciple, and distreyned and bounde
ParsT 269A so that his blood brast out at every nayl of his handes, as seith Seint Augustyn.
ParsT 270 And forther over, for as muchel as resoun of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee whan it may,
ParsT 270A therfore is man worthy to have shame; and this suffred oure Lord Jhesu Crist for man, whan they spetten in his visage.
ParsT 271 And forther over, for as muchel thanne as the caytyf body of man is rebel bothe to resoun and to sensualitee,
ParsT 271A therfore is it worthy the deeth.
ParsT 272 And this suffred oure Lord Jhesu Crist for man upon the croys,
ParsT 272A where as ther was no part of his body free withouten greet peyne and bitter passioun.
ParsT 273 And al this suffred Jhesu Crist, that nevere forfeted. And therfore resonably may be seyd of Jhesu in this manere:
ParsT 273A " To muchel am I peyned for the thynges that I nevere deserved, and to muche defouled for shendshipe that man is worthy to have. "
ParsT 274 And therfore may the synful man wel seye, as seith Seint Bernard,
ParsT 274A " Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne, for which ther moste be suffred so muchel bitternesse. "
ParsT 275 For certes, after the diverse [disordinaunces] of oure wikkednesses was the passioun of Jhesu Crist ordeyned in diverse thynges.
ParsT 276 As thus: Certes, synful mannes soule is bitraysed of the devel by coveitise of temporeel prosperitee, and scorned by deceite
ParsT 276A whan he cheseth flesshly delices; and yet is it tormented by inpacience of adversitee and bispet by servage and subjeccioun of synne;
ParsT 276B and atte laste it is slayn fynally.
ParsT 277 For this disordinaunce of synful man was Jhesu Crist first bitraysed,
ParsT 277A and after that was he bounde, that cam for to unbynden us of synne and peyne.
ParsT 278 Thanne was he byscorned, that oonly sholde han been honoured in alle thynges and of alle thynges.
ParsT 279 Thanne was his visage, that oghte be desired to be seyn of al mankynde, in which visage aungels desiren to looke, vileynsly bispet.
ParsT 280 Thanne was he scourged, that no thyng hadde agilt; and finally, thanne was he crucified and slayn.
ParsT 281 Thanne was acompliced the word of Ysaye, " He was wounded for oure mysdedes and defouled for oure felonies. "
ParsT 282 Now sith that Jhesu Crist took upon hymself the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses, muchel oghte synful man wepen and biwayle,
ParsT 282A that for his synnes Goddes sone of hevene sholde al this peyne endure.
ParsT 283 The sixte thyng that oghte moeve a man to contricioun is the hope of three thynges; that is to seyn, foryifnesse of synne,
ParsT 283A and the yifte of grace wel for to do, and the glorie of hevene, with which God shal gerdone man for his goode dedes.
ParsT 284 And for as muche as Jhesu Crist yeveth us thise yiftes of his largesse and of his sovereyn bountee,
ParsT 284A therfore is he cleped Jhesus Nazarenus rex Judeorum.
ParsT 285 Jhesus is to seyn " saveour " or " salvacioun, " on whom men shul hope to have foryifnesse of synnes, which that is proprely salvacioun of synnes.
ParsT 286 And therfore seyde the aungel to Joseph, " Thou shalt clepen his name Jhesus, that shal saven his peple of hir synnes. "
ParsT 287 And heerof seith Seint Peter: " Ther is noon oother name under hevene
ParsT 287A that is yeve to any man, by which a man may be saved, but oonly Jhesus. "
ParsT 288 Nazarenus is as muche for to seye as " florisshynge, " in which a man shal hope that
ParsT 288A he that yeveth hym remissioun of synnes shal yeve hym eek grace wel for to do.
ParsT 288B For in the flour is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge, and in foryifnesse of synnes hope of grace wel for to do.
ParsT 289 " I was atte dore of thyn herte, " seith Jhesus, " and cleped for to entre. He that openeth to me shal have foryifnesse of synne.
ParsT 290 I wol entre into hym by my grace and soupe with hym, " by the goode werkes that he shal doon,
ParsT 290A whiche werkes been the foode of God; " and he shal soupe with me " by the grete joye that I shal yeven hym.
ParsT 291 Thus shal man hope, for his werkes of penaunce that God shal yeven hym his regne, as he bihooteth hym in the gospel.
ParsT 292 Now shal a man understonde in which manere shal been his contricioun. I seye that it shal been universal and total.
ParsT 292A This is to seyn, a man shal be verray repentaunt for alle his synnes that he hath doon
ParsT 292B in delit of his thoght, for delit is ful perilous.
ParsT 293 For ther been two manere of consentynges: that oon of hem is cleped consentynge of affeccioun,
ParsT 293A whan a man is moeved to do synne, and deliteth hym longe for to thynke on that synne;
ParsT 294 and his reson aperceyveth it wel that it is synne agayns the lawe of God,
ParsT 294A and yet his resoun refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent, though he se wel apertly that it is agayns the reverence of God.
ParsT 294B Although his resoun ne consente noght to doon that synne in dede,
ParsT 295 yet seyn somme doctours that swich delit that dwelleth longe, it is ful perilous, al be it nevere so lite.
ParsT 296 And also a man sholde sorwe namely for al that evere he hath desired agayn the lawe of God
ParsT 296A with parfit consentynge of his resoun, for therof is no doute, that it is deedly synne in consentynge.
ParsT 297 For certes, ther is no deedly synne that it nas first in mannes thought
ParsT 297A and after that in his delit, and so forth into consentynge and into dede.
ParsT 298 Wherfore I seye that many men ne repenten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes and delites,
ParsT 298A ne nevere shryven hem of it, but oonly of the dede of grete synnes outward.
ParsT 299 Wherfore I seye that swiche wikked delites and wikked thoghtes been subtile bigileres of hem that shullen be dampned.
ParsT 300 Mooreover, man oghte to sorwe for his wikkede wordes as wel as for his wikkede dedes.
ParsT 300A For certes, the repentaunce of a synguler synne, and nat repente of alle his othere synnes,
ParsT 300B or elles repenten hym of alle his othere synnes and nat of a synguler synne, may nat availle.
ParsT 301 For certes, God almyghty is al good, and therfore he foryeveth al or elles right noght.
ParsT 302 And heerof seith Seint Augustyn,
ParsT 303 " I wot certeynly that God is enemy to everich synnere. " And how thanne?
ParsT 303A He that observeth o synne, shal he have foryifnesse of the remenaunt of his othere synnes? Nay.
ParsT 304 And forther over, contricioun sholde be wonder sorweful and angwissous; and therfore yeveth hym God pleynly his mercy;
ParsT 304A and therfore, whan my soule was angwissous withinne me, I hadde remembrance of God that my preyere myghte come to hym.
ParsT 305 Forther over, contricioun moste be continueel, and that man have stedefast purpos to shriven hym, and for to amenden hym of his lyf.
ParsT 306 For soothly, whil contricioun lasteth, man may evere have hope of foryifnesse;
ParsT 306A and of this comth hate of synne, that destroyeth synne, bothe in himself and eek in oother folk at his power.
ParsT 307 For which seith David: " Ye that loven God, hateth wikkednesse. "
ParsT 307A For trusteth wel, to love God is for to love that he loveth, and hate that he hateth.
ParsT 308 The laste thyng that men shal understonde in contricioun is this:
ParsT 308A wherof avayleth contricioun. I seye that somtyme contricioun delivereth a man fro synne;
ParsT 309 of which that David seith, " I seye, " quod David (that is to seyn,
ParsT 309A I purposed fermely) " to shryve me, and thow, Lord, relessedest my synne. "
ParsT 310 And right so as contricion availleth noght withouten sad purpos of shrifte,
ParsT 310A if man have oportunitee, right so litel worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun withouten contricioun.
ParsT 311 And mooreover contricion destroyeth the prisoun of helle, and maketh wayk and fieble alle the strengthes of the develes,
ParsT 311A and restoreth the yiftes of the Hooly Goost and of alle goode vertues;
ParsT 312 and it clenseth the soule of synne, and delivereth the soule fro the peyne of helle, and fro the compaignye of the devel,
ParsT 312A and fro the servage of synne, and restoreth it to alle goodes espirituels, and to the compaignye and communyoun of hooly chirche.
ParsT 313 And forther over, it maketh hym that whilom was sone of ire to be sone of grace;
ParsT 313A and alle thise thynges been preved by hooly writ.
ParsT 314 And therfore, he that wolde sette his entente to thise thynges, he were ful wys;
ParsT 314A for soothly he ne sholde nat thanne in al his lyf have corage to synne,
ParsT 314B but yeven his body and al his herte to the service of Jhesu Crist, and therof doon hym hommage.
ParsT 315 For soothly oure sweete Lord Jhesu Crist hath spared us so debonairly in oure folies that
ParsT 315A if he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule, a sory song we myghten alle synge.
ParsT 316 The seconde partie of Penitence is Confessioun, that is signe of contricioun.
ParsT 317 Now shul ye understonde what is Confessioun,
ParsT 317A and wheither it oghte nedes be doon or noon, and whiche thynges been covenable to verray Confessioun.
ParsT 318 First shaltow understonde that Confessioun is verray shewynge of synnes to the preest.
ParsT 319 This is to seyn " verray, " for he moste confessen hym of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his synne, as ferforth as he kan.
ParsT 320 Al moot be seyd, and no thyng excused ne hyd ne forwrapped, and noght avaunte thee of thy goode werkes.
ParsT 321 And forther over, it is necessarie to understonde whennes that synnes spryngen, and how they encreessen, and whiche they been.
ParsT 322 Of the spryngynge of synnes seith Seint Paul in this wise: that " Right as by a man synne entred first into this world,
ParsT 322A and thurgh that synne deeth, right so thilke deeth entred into alle men that synneden. "
ParsT 323 And this man was Adam, by whom synne entred into this world, whan he brak the comaundementz of God.
ParsT 324 And therfore, he that first was so myghty that he sholde nat have dyed, bicam swich oon that he moste nedes dye,
ParsT 324A wheither he wolde or noon, and al his progenye in this world, that in thilke man synneden.
ParsT 325 Looke that in th' estaat of innocence, whan Adam and Eve naked weren in Paradys, and nothyng ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse,
ParsT 326 how that the serpent, that was moost wily of alle othere beestes that God hadde maked, seyde to the womman,
ParsT 326A " Why comaunded God to yow ye sholde nat eten of every tree in Paradys? "
ParsT 327 The womman answerde: " Of the fruyt, " quod she, " of the trees in Paradys we feden us,
ParsT 327A but soothly, of the fruyt of the tree that is in the myddel of Paradys, God forbad us for to ete,
ParsT 327B ne nat touchen it, lest per aventure we sholde dyen. "
ParsT 328 The serpent seyde to the womman, " Nay, nay, ye shul nat dyen of deeth; for sothe, God woot that
ParsT 328A what day that ye eten therof, youre eyen shul opene and ye shul been as goddes, knowynge good and harm. "
ParsT 329 The womman thanne saugh that the tree was good to feedyng, and fair to the eyen, and delitable to the sighte.
ParsT 329A She took of the fruyt of the tree, and eet it, and yaf to hire housbonde,
ParsT 329B and he eet, and anoon the eyen of hem bothe openeden.
ParsT 330 And whan that they knewe that they were naked, they sowed of fige leves a maner of breches to hiden hire membres.
ParsT 331 There may ye seen that deedly synne hath, first, suggestion of the feend, as sheweth heere by the naddre;
ParsT 331A and afterward, the delit of the flessh, as sheweth heere by Eve; and after that, the consentynge of resoun, as sheweth heere by Adam.
ParsT 332 For trust wel, though so were that the feend tempted Eve -- that is to seyn, the flessh --
ParsT 332A and the flessh hadde delit in the beautee of the fruyt defended, yet certes, til that resoun -- that is to seyn, Adam --
ParsT 332B consented to the etynge of the fruyt, yet stood he in th' estaat of innocence.
ParsT 333 Of thilke Adam tooke we thilke synne original,
ParsT 333A for of hym flesshly descended be we alle, and engendred of vile and corrupt mateere.
ParsT 334 And whan the soule is put in oure body, right anon is contract original synne;
ParsT 334A and that that was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence is afterward bothe peyne and synne.
ParsT 335 And therfore be we alle born sones of wratthe and of dampnacioun perdurable, if it nere baptesme that we receyven,
ParsT 335A which bynymeth us the culpe. But for sothe, the peyne dwelleth with us, as to temptacioun, which peyne highte concupiscence.
ParsT 336 And this concupiscence, whan it is wrongfully disposed or ordeyned in man, it maketh hym coveite, by coveitise of flessh,
ParsT 336A flesshly synne, by sighte of his eyen as to erthely thynges, and eek coveitise of hynesse by pride of herte.
ParsT 337 Now, as for to speken of the firste coveitise, that is concupiscence, after the lawe of oure membres
ParsT 337A that weren lawefulliche ymaked and by rightful juggement of God,
ParsT 338 I seye, forasmuche as man is nat obeisaunt to God, that is his lord,
ParsT 338A therfore is the flessh to hym disobeisaunt thurgh concupiscence, which yet is cleped norrissynge of synne and occasioun of synne.
ParsT 339 Therfore, al the while that a man hath in hym the peyne of concupiscence,
ParsT 339A it is impossible but he be tempted somtime and moeved in his flessh to synne.
ParsT 340 And this thyng may nat faille as longe as he lyveth.
ParsT 340A it may wel wexe fieble and faille by vertu of baptesme and by the grace of God thurgh penitence,
ParsT 341 but fully ne shal it nevere quenche, that he ne shal som tyme be moeved in hymself,
ParsT 341A but if he were al refreyded by siknesse, or by malefice of sorcerie, or colde drynkes.
ParsT 342 For lo, what seith Seint Paul: " The flessh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and the spirit agayn the flessh;
ParsT 342A they been so contrarie and so stryven that a man may nat alway doon as he wolde. "
ParsT 343 The same Seint Paul, after his grete penaunce in water and in lond --
ParsT 343B in water by nyght and by day in greet peril and in greet peyne;
ParsT 343C in lond, in famyne and thurst, in coold and cloothlees, and ones stoned almoost to the deeth
ParsT 344 -- yet seyde he, " Allas, I caytyf man! Who shal delivere me fro the prisoun of my caytyf body? "
ParsT 345 And Seint Jerome, whan he longe tyme hadde woned in desert, where as he hadde no compaignye but of wilde beestes,
ParsT 345A where as he ne hadde no mete but herbes, and water to his drynke, ne no bed but the naked erthe,
ParsT 345B for which his flessh was blak as an Ethiopeen for heete, and ny destroyed for coold,
ParsT 346 yet seyde he that " the brennynge of lecherie boyled in al his body. "
ParsT 347 Wherfore I woot wel sykerly that they been deceyved that seyn that they ne be nat tempted in hir body.
ParsT 348 Witnesse on Seint Jame the Apostel, that seith that " every wight is tempted in his owene concupiscence " ; that is to seyn,
ParsT 348A that everich of us hath matere and occasioun to be tempted of the norissynge of synne that is in his body.
ParsT 349 And therfore seith Seint John the Evaungelist, " If that we seyn that we be withoute synne,
ParsT 349A we deceyve us selve, and trouthe is nat in us. "
ParsT 350 Now shal ye understonde in what manere that synne wexeth or encreesseth in man.
ParsT 350A The firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne of which I spak biforn, thilke flesshly concupiscence.
ParsT 351 And after that comth the subjeccioun of the devel --
ParsT 351A this is to seyn, the develes bely, with which he bloweth in man the fir of flesshly concupiscence.
ParsT 352 And after that, a man bithynketh hym wheither he wol doon or no thilke thing to which he is tempted.
ParsT 353 And thanne, if that a man withstonde and weyve the firste entisynge of his flessh and of the feend,
ParsT 353A thanne is it no synne; and if it so be that he do nat so, thanne feeleth he anoon a flambe of delit.
ParsT 354 And thanne is it good to be war and kepen hym wel,
ParsT 354A or elles he wol falle anon into consentynge of synne; and thanne wol he do it, if he may have tyme and place.
ParsT 355 And of this matere seith Moyses by the devel in this manere: " The feend seith,
ParsT 355A `I wole chace and pursue the man by wikked suggestioun, and I wole hente hym by moevynge or stirynge of synne.
ParsT 355B And I wol departe my prise or my praye by deliberacioun, and my lust shal been acompliced in delit.
ParsT 355C I wol drawe my swerd in consentyng.' " --
ParsT 356 for certes, right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces, right so consentynge departeth God fro man --
ParsT 356A " `and thanne wol I sleen hym with myn hand in dede of synne'; thus seith the feend. "
ParsT 357 For certes, thanne is a man al deed in soule.
ParsT 357A And thus is synne acompliced by temptacioun, by delit, and by consentynge; and thanne is the synne cleped actueel.
ParsT 358 For sothe, synne is in two maneres; outher it is venial or deedly synne.
ParsT 358A Soothly, whan man loveth any creature moore than Jhesu Crist oure Creatour, thanne is it deedly synne.
ParsT 358B And venial synne is it, if man love Jhesu Crist lasse than hym oghte.
ParsT 359 For sothe, the dede of this venial synne is ful perilous,
ParsT 359A for it amenuseth the love that men sholde han to God moore and moore.
ParsT 360 And therfore, if a man charge hymself with manye swiche venial synnes,
ParsT 360A certes, but if so be that he somtyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte,
ParsT 360B they mowe ful lightly amenuse in hym al the love that he hath to Jhesu Crist;
ParsT 361 and in this wise skippeth venial into deedly synne. For certes, the moore that a man chargeth his soule with venial synnes,
ParsT 361A the moore is he enclyned to fallen into deedly synne.
ParsT 362 And therfore lat us nat be necligent to deschargen us of venial synnes. For the proverbe seith that " Manye smale maken a greet. "
ParsT 363 And herkne this ensample. A greet wawe of the see comth som tyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship.
ParsT 363A And the same harm doon som tyme the smale dropes of water, that entren thurgh a litel crevace into the thurrok,
ParsT 363B and in the botme of the ship, if men be so necligent that they ne descharge hem nat by tyme.
ParsT 364 And therfore, although ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge, algates the ship is dreynt.
ParsT 365 Right so fareth it somtyme of deedly synne, and of anoyouse veniale synnes,
ParsT 365A whan they multiplie in a man so greetly that [the love of] thilke worldly thynges that he loveth,
ParsT 365B thurgh whiche he synneth venyally, is as greet in his herte as the love of God, or moore.
ParsT 366 And therfore, the love of every thyng that is nat biset in God, ne doon principally for Goddes sake,
ParsT 366A although that a man love it lasse than God, yet is it venial synne;
ParsT 367 and deedly synne whan the love of any thyng weyeth in the herte of man as muchel as the love of God, or moore.
ParsT 368 " Deedly synne, " as seith Seint Augustyn, " is whan a man turneth his herte fro God,
ParsT 368A which that is verray sovereyn bountee, that may nat chaunge, and yeveth his herte to thyng that may chaunge and flitte. "
ParsT 369 And certes, that is every thyng save God of hevene.
ParsT 369A For sooth is that if a man yeve his love, the which that he oweth al to God with al his herte, unto a creature,
ParsT 369B certes, as muche of his love as he yeveth to thilke creature, so muche he bireveth fro God;
ParsT 370 and therfore dooth he synne. For he that is dettour to God ne yeldeth nat to God al his dette;
ParsT 370A that is to seyn, al the love of his herte.
ParsT 371 Now sith man understondeth generally which is venial synne, thanne is it covenable to tellen specially of synnes whiche that many
ParsT 371A a man peraventure ne demeth hem nat synnes, and ne shryveth him nat of the same thynges, and yet natheless they been synnes
ParsT 372 soothly, as thise clerkes writen; this is to seyn, that at every tyme that a man eteth or drynketh
ParsT 372A moore than suffiseth to the sustenaunce of his body, in certein he dooth synne.
ParsT 373 And eek whan he speketh moore than it nedeth, it is synne. Eke whan he herkneth nat benignely the compleint of the povre;
ParsT 374 eke whan he is in heele of body and wol nat faste whan other folk faste, withouten cause resonable;
ParsT 374A eke whan he slepeth moore than nedeth, or whan he comth by thilke enchesoun to late to chirche, or to othere werkes of charite;
ParsT 375 eke whan he useth his wyf withouten sovereyn desir of engendrure to the honour of God
ParsT 375A or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body;
ParsT 376 eke whan he wol nat visite the sike and the prisoner, if he may;
ParsT 376A eke if he love wyf or child, or oother worldly thyng, moore than resoun requireth.
ParsT 376B eke if he flatere or blandise moore than hym oghte for any necessitee;
ParsT 377 eke if he amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the povre;
ParsT 377A eke if he apparailleth his mete moore deliciously than nede is, or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse;
ParsT 378 eke if he tale vanytees at chirche or at Goddes service, or that he be a talker
ParsT 378A of ydel wordes of folye or of vileynye, for he shal yelden acountes of it at the day of doom;
ParsT 379 eke whan he biheteth or assureth to do thynges that he may nat parfourne;
ParsT 379A eke whan that he by lightnesse or folie mysseyeth or scorneth his neighebor;
ParsT 380 eke whan he hath any wikked suspecioun of thyng ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse:
ParsT 381 thise thynges, and mo withoute nombre, been synnes, as seith Seint Augustyn.
ParsT 382 Now shal men understonde that, al be it so that noon erthely man may eschue alle venial synnes,
ParsT 382A yet may he refreyne hym by the brennynge love that he hath to oure Lord Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 382B and by preyeres and confessioun and othere goode werkes, so that it shal but litel greve.
ParsT 383 For, as seith Seint Augustyn, " If a man love God in swich manere that al that evere he dooth
ParsT 383B is in the love of God and for the love of God verraily, for he brenneth in the love of God,
ParsT 384 looke how muche that a drope of water that falleth in a fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth
ParsT 384A or greveth, so muche anoyeth a venial synne unto a man that is parfit in the love of Jhesu Crist. "
ParsT 385 Men may also refreyne venial synne by receyvynge worthily of the precious body of Jhesu Crist;
ParsT 386 by receyvynge eek of hooly water, by almesdede, by general confessioun of Confiteor at masse and at complyn,
ParsT 386A and by blessynge of bisshopes and of preestes, and by oothere goode werkes.
ParsT 387 Now is it bihovely thyng to telle whiche been the sevene deedly synnes,
ParsT 387A this is to seyn, chieftaynes of synnes. Alle they renne in o lees, but in diverse manneres.
ParsT 387B Now been they cleped chieftaynes, for as muche as they been chief and spryng of alle othere synnes.
ParsT 388 Of the roote of thise sevene synnes, thanne, is Pride the general roote of alle harmes.
ParsT 388B For of this roote spryngen certein braunches, as Ire, Envye, Accidie or Slewthe, Avarice or Coveitise (to commune understondynge), Glotonye, and Lecherye.
ParsT 389 And everich of thise chief synnes hath his braunches and his twigges, as shal be declared in hire chapitres folwynge.
ParsT 390 And thogh so be that no man kan outrely telle the nombre of the twigges and of the harmes that cometh of Pride,
ParsT 390A yet wol I shewe a partie of hem, as ye shul understonde.
ParsT 391 Ther is inobedience, avauntynge, ypocrisie, despit, arrogance, inpudence, swellynge of herte, insolence, elacioun, inpacience, strif, contumacie, presumpcioun, irreverence, pertinacie, veyneglorie,
ParsT 391A and many another twig that I kan nat declare.
ParsT 392 Inobedient is he that disobeyeth for despit to the comandementz of God, and to his sovereyns, and to his goostly fader.
ParsT 393 Avauntour is he that bosteth of the harm or of the bountee that he hath doon.
ParsT 394 Ypocrite is he that hideth to shewe hym swich as he is and sheweth hym swich as he noght is.
ParsT 395 Despitous is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebor --
ParsT 395A that is to seyn, of his evene-Cristene -- or hath despit to doon that hym oghte to do.
ParsT 396 Arrogant is he that thynketh that he hath thilke bountees in hym that he hath noght,
ParsT 396A or weneth that he sholde have hem by his desertes, or elles he demeth that he be that he nys nat.
ParsT 397 Inpudent is he that for his pride hath no shame of his synnes.
ParsT 398 Swellynge of herte is whan a man rejoyseth hym of harm that he hath doon.
ParsT 399 Insolent is he that despiseth in his juggement alle othere folk,
ParsT 399A as to regard of his value, and of his konnyng, and of his spekyng, and of his beryng.
ParsT 400 Elacioun is whan he ne may neither suffre to have maister ne felawe.
ParsT 401 Inpacient is he that wol nat been ytaught ne undernome of his vice, and by strif werreieth trouthe wityngly, and deffendeth his folye.
ParsT 402 Contumax is he that thurgh his indignacioun is agayns everich auctoritee or power of hem that been his sovereyns.
ParsT 403 Presumpcioun is whan a man undertaketh an emprise that hym oghte nat do, or elles that he may nat do;
ParsT 403A and this is called surquidrie. Irreverence is whan men do nat honour there as hem oghte to doon, and waiten to be reverenced.
ParsT 404 Pertinacie is whan man deffendeth his folie and trusteth to muchel to his owene wit.
ParsT 405 Veyneglorie is for to have pompe and delit in his temporeel hynesse, and glorifie hym in this worldly estaat.
ParsT 406 Janglynge is whan a man speketh to muche biforn folk, and clappeth as a mille, and taketh no keep what he seith.
ParsT 407 And yet is ther a privee spece of Pride that waiteth first to be salewed
ParsT 407A er he wole salewe, al be he lasse worth than that oother is, peraventure;
ParsT 407B and eek he waiteth or desireth to sitte, or elles to goon above hym in the wey,
ParsT 407C or kisse pax, or been encensed, or goon to offryng biforn his neighebor,
ParsT 408 and swiche semblable thynges, agayns his duetee, peraventure, but that he hath his herte
ParsT 408A and his entente in swich a proud desir to be magnified and honoured biforn the peple.
ParsT 409 Now been ther two maneres of Pride: that oon of hem is withinne the herte of man, and that oother is withoute.
ParsT 410 Of whiche, soothly, thise forseyde thynges, and mo than I have seyd, apertenen to Pride that is in the herte of man;
ParsT 410A and that othere speces of Pride been withoute.
ParsT 411 But natheles that oon of thise speces of Pride is signe of that oother,
ParsT 411A right as the gaye leefsel atte taverne is signe of the wyn that is in the celer.
ParsT 412 And this is in manye thynges: as in speche and contenaunce, and in outrageous array of clothyng.
ParsT 413 For certes, if ther ne hadde be no synne in clothyng,
ParsT 413A Crist wolde nat so soone have noted and spoken of the clothyng of thilke riche man in the gospel.
ParsT 414 And, as seith Seint Gregorie, that " precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it, and for his softenesse,
ParsT 414A and for his strangenesse and degisynesse, and for the superfluitee, or for the inordinat scantnesse of it. "
ParsT 415 Allas, may man nat seen, as in oure dayes, the synful costlewe array of clothynge,
ParsT 415A and namely in to muche superfluite, or elles in to desordinat scantnesse?
ParsT 416 As to the first synne, that is in superfluitee of clothynge, which that maketh it so deere, to harm of the peple;
ParsT 417 nat oonly the cost of embrowdynge, the degise endentynge or barrynge, owndynge, palynge, wyndynge or bendynge, and semblable wast of clooth in vanitee,
ParsT 418 but ther is also costlewe furrynge in hir gownes, so muche pownsonynge of chisels to maken holes, so muche daggynge of sheres;
ParsT 419 forth-with the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseide gownes, trailynge in the dong and in the mire, on horse and eek on foote,
ParsT 419A as wel of man as of womman, that al thilke trailyng is verraily as in effect wasted, consumed, thredbare, and roten with donge,
ParsT 419B rather than it is yeven to the povre, to greet damage of the forseyde povre folk.
ParsT 420 And that in sondry wise; this is to seyn that the moore that clooth is wasted,
ParsT 420A the moore moot it coste to the peple for the scarsnesse.
ParsT 421 And forther over, if so be that they wolde yeven swich pownsoned and dagged clothyng to the povre folk,
ParsT 421A it is nat convenient to were for hire estaat, ne suffisant to beete hire necessitee, to kepe hem fro the distemperance of the firmament.
ParsT 422 Upon that oother side, to speken of the horrible disordinat scantnesse of clothyng, as been thise kutted sloppes, or haynselyns,
ParsT 422A that thurgh hire shortnesse ne covere nat the shameful membres of man, to wikked entente.
ParsT 423 Allas, somme of hem shewen the boce of hir shap, and the horrible swollen membres,
ParsT 423A that semeth lik the maladie of hirnia, in the wrappynge of hir hoses;
ParsT 424 and eek the buttokes of hem faren as it were the hyndre part of a she-ape in the fulle of the moone.
ParsT 425 And mooreover, the wrecched swollen membres that they shewe thurgh disgisynge,
ParsT 425A in departynge of hire hoses in whit and reed, semeth that half hir shameful privee membres weren flayne.
ParsT 426 And if so be that they departen hire hoses in othere colours,
ParsT 426A as is whit and blak, or whit and blew, or blak and reed, and so forth,
ParsT 427 thanne semeth it, as by variaunce of colour, that half the partie of hire privee membres were corrupt
ParsT 427A by the fir of Seint Antony, or by cancre, or by oother swich meschaunce.
ParsT 428 Of the hyndre part of hir buttokes, it is ful horrible for to see.
ParsT 428A For certes, in that partie of hir body ther as they purgen hir stynkynge ordure,
ParsT 429 that foule partie shewe they to the peple prowdly in despit of honestitee,
ParsT 429A which honestitee that Jhesu Crist and his freendes observede to shewen in hir lyve.
ParsT 430 Now, as of the outrageous array of wommen, God woot that though the visages of somme of hem seme ful chaast and debonaire,
ParsT 430A yet notifie they in hire array of atyr likerousnesse and pride.
ParsT 431 I sey nat that honestitee in clothynge of man or womman is uncovenable, but certes the superfluitee or disordinat scantitee of clothynge is reprevable.
ParsT 432 Also the synne of aornement or of apparaille is in thynges that apertenen to ridynge,
ParsT 432A as in to manye delicat horses that been hoolden for delit, that been so faire, fatte, and costlewe;
ParsT 433 and also in many a vicious knave that is sustened by cause of hem; and in to curious harneys,
ParsT 433A as in sadeles, in crouperes, peytrels, and bridles covered with precious clothyng, and riche barres and plates of gold and of silver.
ParsT 434 For which God seith by Zakarie the prophete, " I wol confounde the rideres of swiche horses. "
ParsT 435 This folk taken litel reward of the ridynge of Goddes sone of hevene, and of his harneys whan he rood upon the asse,
ParsT 435A and ne hadde noon oother harneys but the povre clothes of his disciples;
ParsT 435B ne we ne rede nat that evere he rood on oother beest.
ParsT 436 I speke this for the synne of superfluitee, and nat for resonable honestitee, whan reson it requireth.
ParsT 437 And forther over, certes, pride is greetly notified in holdynge of greet meynee, whan they be of litel profit or of right no profit,
ParsT 438 and namely whan that meynee is felonous and damageous to the peple by hardynesse of heigh lordshipe or by wey of offices.
ParsT 439 For certes, swiche lordes sellen thanne hir lordshipe to the devel of helle, whanne they sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meynee.
ParsT 440 Or elles, whan this folk of lowe degree, as thilke that holden hostelries, sustenen the thefte of hire hostilers,
ParsT 440A and that is in many manere of deceites.
ParsT 441 Thilke manere of folk been the flyes that folwen the hony,
ParsT 441A or elles the houndes that folwen the careyne. Swich forseyde folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes;
ParsT 442 for which thus seith David the prophete:
ParsT 442A " Wikked deeth moote come upon thilke lordshipes, and God yeve that they moote descenden into helle al doun,
ParsT 442B for in hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses and nat God of hevene. "
ParsT 443 And certes, but if they doon amendement, right as God yaf his benysoun to [Laban] by the service of Jacob,
ParsT 443A and to [Pharao] by the service of Joseph, right so God wol yeve his malisoun
ParsT 443B to swiche lordshipes as sustenen the wikkednesse of hir servauntz, but they come to amendement.
ParsT 444 Pride of the table appeereth eek ful ofte; for certes, riche men been cleped to festes, and povre folk been put awey and rebuked.
ParsT 445 Also in excesse of diverse metes and drynkes, and namely swich manere bake-metes and dissh-metes, brennynge of wilde fir
ParsT 445A and peynted and castelled with papir, and semblable wast, so that it is abusioun for to thynke.
ParsT 446 And eek in to greet preciousnesse of vessel and curiositee of mynstralcie, by whiche a man is stired the moore to delices of luxurie,
ParsT 447 if so be that he sette his herte the lasse upon oure Lord Jhesu Crist, certeyn it is a synne;
ParsT 447A and certeinly the delices myghte been so grete in this caas that man myghte lightly falle by hem into deedly synne.
ParsT 448 The especes that sourden of Pride, soothly whan they sourden of malice ymagined, avised, and forncast,
ParsT 448A or elles of usage, been deedly synnes, it is no doute.
ParsT 449 And whan they sourden by freletee unavysed, and sodeynly withdrawen
ParsT 449A ayeyn, al been they grevouse synnes, I gesse that they ne been nat deedly.
ParsT 450 Now myghte men axe wherof that Pride sourdeth and spryngeth, and I seye,
ParsT 450A somtyme it spryngeth of the goodes of nature, and somtyme of the goodes of fortune, and somtyme of the goodes of grace.
ParsT 451 Certes, the goodes of nature stonden outher in goodes of body or in goodes of soule.
ParsT 452 Certes, goodes of body been heele of body, strengthe, delivernesse, beautee, gentrice, franchise.
ParsT 453 Goodes of nature of the soule been good wit, sharp understondynge, subtil engyn, vertu natureel, good memorie.
ParsT 454 Goodes of fortune been richesse, hyghe degrees of lordshipes, preisynges of the peple.
ParsT 455 Goodes of grace been science, power to suffre spiritueel travaille, benignitee, vertuous contemplacioun, withstondynge of temptacioun, and semblable thynges.
ParsT 456 Of whiche forseyde goodes, certes it is a ful greet folye a man to priden hym in any of hem alle.
ParsT 457 Now as for to speken of goodes of nature,
ParsT 457A God woot that somtyme we han hem in nature as muche to oure damage as to oure profit.
ParsT 458 As for to speken of heele of body, certes it passeth ful lightly,
ParsT 458A and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun of the siknesse of oure soule.
ParsT 458B For, God woot, the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the soule,
ParsT 458C and therfore, the moore that the body is hool, the moore be we in peril to falle.
ParsT 459 Eke for to pride hym in his strengthe of body, it is an heigh folye.
ParsT 459A For certes, the flessh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and ay the moore strong that the flessh is, the sorier may the soule be.
ParsT 460 And over al this, strengthe of body and worldly hardynesse causeth ful ofte many a man to peril and meschaunce.
ParsT 461 Eek for to pride hym of his gentrie is ful greet folie; for
ParsT 461A ofte tyme the gentrie of the body binymeth the gentrie of the soule;
ParsT 461B and eek we ben alle of o fader and of o mooder;
ParsT 461C and alle we been of o nature, roten and corrupt, bothe riche and povre.
ParsT 462 For sothe, o manere gentrie is for to preise, that apparailleth mannes corage with vertues and moralitees, and maketh hym Cristes child.
ParsT 463 For truste wel that over what man that synne hath maistrie, he is a verray cherl to synne.
ParsT 464 Now been ther generale signes of gentillesse, as eschewynge of vice and ribaudye and servage of synne, in word, in werk, and contenaunce,
ParsT 465 and usynge vertu, curteisye, and clennesse, and to be liberal --
ParsT 465A that is to seyn, large by mesure, for thilke that passeth mesure is folie and synne.
ParsT 466 Another is to remembre hym of bountee that he of oother folk hath receyved.
ParsT 467 Another is to be benigne to his goode subgetis; wherfore seith Senek,
ParsT 467A " Ther is no thing moore covenable to a man of heigh estaat than debonairetee and pitee.
ParsT 468 And therfore thise flyes that men clepen bees, whan they maken hir kyng,
ParsT 468A they chesen oon that hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge. "
ParsT 469 Another is, a man to have a noble herte and a diligent to attayne to heighe vertuouse thynges.
ParsT 470 Now certes, a man to pride hym in the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folie, for thilke
ParsT 470A yifte of grace that sholde have turned hym to goodnesse and to medicine, turneth hym to venym and to confusioun, as seith Seint Gregorie.
ParsT 471 Certes also, whoso prideth hym in the goodes of fortune, he is a ful greet fool;
ParsT 471A for somtyme is a man a greet lord by the morwe, that is a caytyf and a wrecche er it be nyght;
ParsT 472 and somtyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deth;
ParsT 472A somtyme the delices of a man ben cause of the grevous maladye thurgh which he dyeth.
ParsT 473 Certes, the commendacioun of the peple is somtyme ful fals and ful brotel for to triste; this day they preyse, tomorwe they blame.
ParsT 474 God woot, desir to have commendacioun eek of the peple hath caused deeth to many a bisy man.
ParsT 475 Now sith that so is that ye han understonde what is Pride,
ParsT 475A and whiche been the speces of it, and whennes Pride sourdeth and spryngeth,
ParsT 476 now shul ye understonde which is the remedie agayns the synne of Pride; and that is humylitee, or mekenesse.
ParsT 477 That is a vertu thurgh which a man hath verray knoweleche of hymself, and holdeth of hymself no pris ne deyntee,
ParsT 477A as in regard of his desertes, considerynge evere his freletee.
ParsT 478 Now been ther three maneres of humylitee: as humylitee in herte; another humylitee is in his mouth; the thridde in his werkes.
ParsT 479 The humilitee in herte is in foure maneres. That oon is whan a man holdeth hymself as noght worth biforn God of hevene.
ParsT 479A Another is whan he ne despiseth noon oother man.
ParsT 480 The thridde is whan he rekketh nat, though men holde hym noght worth. The ferthe is whan he nys nat sory of his humiliacioun.
ParsT 481 Also the humilitee of mouth is in foure thynges:
ParsT 481A in attempree speche, and in humblesse of speche, and whan he biknoweth with his owene mouth
ParsT 481B that he is swich as hym thynketh that he is in his herte.
ParsT 481C Another is whan he preiseth the bountee of another man, and nothyng therof amenuseth.
ParsT 482 Humilitee eek in werkes is in foure maneres. The firste is whan he putteth othere men biforn hym.
ParsT 482A The seconde is to chese the loweste place over al. The thridde is gladly to assente to good conseil.
ParsT 483 The ferthe is to stonde gladly to the award of his sovereyns,
ParsT 483A or of hym that is in hyer degree. Certein, this is a greet werk of humylitee.
ParsT 484 After Pride wol I speken of the foule synne of Envye, which that is, as by the word of the Philosophre,
ParsT 484A " sorwe of oother mannes prosperitee " ; and after the word of Seint Augustyn, it is " Sorwe
ParsT 484B of oother mennes wele, and joye of othere mennes harm. "
ParsT 485 This foule synne is platly agayns the Hooly Goost. Al be it so that every synne is agayns the Hooly Goost,
ParsT 485A yet nathelees, for as muche as bountee aperteneth proprely to the Hooly Goost, and Envye comth proprely of malice,
ParsT 485B therfore it is proprely agayn the bountee of the Hooly Goost.
ParsT 486 Now hath malice two speces; that is to seyn, hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse,
ParsT 486A or elles the flessh of man is so blynd that he considereth nat that he is in synne
ParsT 486B or rekketh nat that he is in synne, which is the hardnesse of the devel.
ParsT 487 That oother spece of malice is whan a man werreyeth trouthe, whan he woot that it is trouthe;
ParsT 487A and eek whan he werreyeth the grace that God hath yeve to his neighebor; and al this is by Envye.
ParsT 488 Certes, thanne is Envye the worste synne that is. For soothly, alle othere synnes been somtyme oonly agayns o special vertu,
ParsT 489 but certes Envye is agayns alle vertues and agayns alle goodnesses.
ParsT 489A For it is sory of alle the bountees of his neighebor, and in this manere it is divers from alle othere synnes.
ParsT 490 For wel unnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath som delit in itself,
ParsT 490A save oonly Envye, that evere hath in itself angwissh and sorwe.
ParsT 491 The speces of Envye been thise. Ther is first, sorwe of oother mannes goodnesse and of his prosperitee;
ParsT 491A and prosperitee is kyndely matere of joye; thanne is Envye a synne agayns kynde.
ParsT 492 The seconde spece of Envye is joye of oother mannes harm,
ParsT 492A and that is proprely lyk to the devel, that evere rejoyseth hym of mannes harm.
ParsT 493 Of thise two speces comth bakbityng; and this synne of bakbityng or detraccion hath certeine speces, as thus:
ParsT 493A Som man preiseth his neighebor by a wikked entente,
ParsT 494 for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste ende. Alwey he maketh a " but " atte laste ende,
ParsT 494A that is digne of moore blame than worth is al the preisynge.
ParsT 495 The seconde spece is that if a man be good and dooth or seith a thing to good entente,
ParsT 495A the bakbitere wol turne al thilke goodnesse up-so-doun to his shrewed entente.
ParsT 496 The thridde is to amenuse the bountee of his neighebor.
ParsT 497 The fourthe spece of bakbityng is this: that if men speke goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbitere seyn,
ParsT 497A " Parfey, swich a man is yet bet than he, " in dispreisynge of hym that men preise.
ParsT 498 The fifte spece is this: for to consente gladly and herkne gladly to the harm that men speke of oother folk.
ParsT 498A This synne is ful greet and ay encreesseth after the wikked entente of the bakbitere.
ParsT 499 After bakbityng cometh gruchchyng or murmuracioun; and somtyme it spryngeth of inpacience agayns God, and somtyme agayns man.
ParsT 500 Agayn God it is whan a man gruccheth agayn the peyne of helle, or agayns poverte, or los of catel,
ParsT 500A or agayn reyn or tempest; or elles gruccheth that shrewes han prosperitee, or elles for that goode men han adversitee.
ParsT 501 And alle thise thynges sholde man suffre paciently, for they comen by the rightful juggement and ordinaunce of God.
ParsT 502 Somtyme comth grucching of avarice;
ParsT 502A as Judas grucched agayns the Magdaleyne whan she enoynted the heved of oure Lord Jhesu Crist with hir precious oynement.
ParsT 503 This manere murmure is swich as whan man gruccheth of goodnesse that hymself dooth, or that oother folk doon of hir owene catel.
ParsT 504 Somtyme comth murmure of Pride, as whan Simon the Pharisee gruchched agayn the Magdaleyne
ParsT 504A whan she approched to Jhesu Crist and weep at his feet for hire synnes.
ParsT 505 And somtyme grucchyng sourdeth of Envye, whan men discovereth a mannes harm that was pryvee or
ParsT 505A bereth hym on hond thyng that is fals.
ParsT 506 Murmure eek is ofte amonges servauntz that grucchen whan hir sovereyns bidden hem doon leveful thynges;
ParsT 507 and forasmuche as they dar nat openly withseye the comaundementz of hir sovereyns,
ParsT 507A yet wol they seyn harm, and grucche, and murmure prively for verray despit;
ParsT 508 whiche wordes men clepen the develes Pater noster, though so be that the devel ne hadde nevere Pater noster,
ParsT 508A but that lewed folk yeven it swich a name.
ParsT 509 Somtyme it comth of Ire or prive hate that norisseth rancour in herte, as afterward I shal declare.
ParsT 510 Thanne cometh eek bitternesse of herte, thurgh which bitternesse every good dede of his neighebor semeth to hym bitter and unsavory.
ParsT 511 Thanne cometh discord that unbyndeth alle manere of freendshipe. Thanne comth scornynge of his neighebor, al do he never so weel.
ParsT 512 Thanne comth accusynge, as whan man seketh occasioun to anoyen his neighebor,
ParsT 512A which that is lyk the craft of the devel, that waiteth bothe nyght and day to accusen us alle.
ParsT 513 Thanne comth malignitee, thurgh which a man anoyeth his neighebor prively, if he may;
ParsT 514 and if he noght may, algate his wikked wil ne shal nat wante,
ParsT 514A as for to brennen his hous pryvely, or empoysone or sleen his beestes, and semblable thynges.
ParsT 515 Now wol I speke of remedie agayns this foule synne of Envye. First is the love of God principal
ParsT 515A and lovyng of his neighebor as hymself, for soothly that oon ne may nat been withoute that oother.
ParsT 516 And truste wel that in the name of thy neighebor thou shalt understonde the name of thy brother;
ParsT 516A for certes alle we have o fader flesshly and o mooder -- that is to seyn, Adam and Eve --
ParsT 516B and eek o fader espiritueel, and that is God of hevene.
ParsT 517 Thy neighebor artow holden for to love and wilne hym alle goodnesse; and therfore seith God,
ParsT 517A " Love thy neighebor as thyselve " -- that is to seyn, to salvacioun bothe of lyf and of soule.
ParsT 518 And mooreover thou shalt love hym in word, and in benigne amonestynge and chastisynge,
ParsT 518A and conforten hym in his anoyes, and preye for hym with al thyn herte.
ParsT 519 And in dede thou shalt love hym in swich wise that thou shalt doon to hym in charitee
ParsT 519A as thou woldest that it were doon to thyn owene persone.
ParsT 520 And therfore thou ne shalt doon hym no damage in wikked word, ne harm in his body,
ParsT 520A ne in his catel, ne in his soule, by entissyng of wikked ensample.
ParsT 521 Thou shalt nat desiren his wyf ne none of his thynges. Understoond eek that in the name of neighebor is comprehended his enemy.
ParsT 522 Certes, man shal loven his enemy, by the comandement of God; and soothly thy freend shaltow love in God.
ParsT 523 I seye, thyn enemy shaltow love for Goddes sake, by his commandement.
ParsT 523A For if it were reson that man sholde haten his enemy,
ParsT 523B for sothe God nolde nat receyven us to his love that been his enemys.
ParsT 524 Agayns three manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym, he shal doon three thynges, as thus:
ParsT 525 Agayns hate and rancour of herte, he shal love hym in herte.
ParsT 525A Agayns chidyng and wikkede wordes, he shal preye for his enemy. Agayns the wikked dede of his enemy, he shal doon hym bountee.
ParsT 526 For Crist seith, " Loveth youre enemys, and preyeth for hem that speke yow harm, and eek for hem that yow chacen and pursewen,
ParsT 526A and dooth bountee to hem that yow haten. " Loo, thus comaundeth us oure Lord Jhesu Crist to do to oure enemys.
ParsT 527 For soothly, nature dryveth us to loven oure freendes, and parfey, oure enemys han moore nede to love than oure freendes;
ParsT 527A and they that moore nede have, certes to hem shal men doon goodnesse;
ParsT 528 and certes, in thilke dede have we remembraunce of the love of Jhesu Crist that deyde for his enemys.
ParsT 529 And in as muche as thilke love is the moore grevous to parfourne, so muche is the moore gret the merite;
ParsT 529A and therfore the lovynge of oure enemy hath confounded the venym of the devel.
ParsT 530 For right as the devel is disconfited by humylitee, right so is he wounded to the deeth by love of oure enemy.
ParsT 531 Certes, thanne is love the medicine that casteth out the venym of Envye fro mannes herte.
ParsT 532 The speces of this paas shullen be moore largely declared in hir chapitres folwynge.
ParsT 533 After Envye wol I discryven the synne of Ire. For soothly, whoso hath envye upon his neighebor,
ParsT 533A anon he wole comunly fynde hym a matere of wratthe, in word or in dede, agayns hym to whom he hath envye.
ParsT 534 And as wel comth Ire of Pride as of Envye, for soothly he that is proud or envyous is lightly wrooth.
ParsT 535 This synne of Ire, after the discryvyng of Seint Augustyn, is wikked wil to been avenged by word or by dede.
ParsT 536 Ire, after the Philosophre, is the fervent blood of man yquyked in his herte,
ParsT 536A thurgh which he wole harm to hym that he hateth.
ParsT 537 For certes, the herte of man, by eschawfynge and moevynge of his blood, wexeth
ParsT 537A so trouble that he is out of alle juggement of resoun.
ParsT 538 But ye shal understonde that Ire is in two maneres; that oon of hem is good, and that oother is wikked.
ParsT 539 The goode Ire is by jalousie of goodnesse,
ParsT 539A thurgh which a man is wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns wikkednesse; and therfore seith a wys man that Ire is bet than pley.
ParsT 540 This Ire is with debonairetee, and it is wrooth withouten bitternesse; nat wrooth agayns the man,
ParsT 540A but wrooth with the mysdede of the man, as seith the prophete David, " Irascimini et nolite peccare. "
ParsT 541 Now understondeth that wikked Ire is in two maneres;
ParsT 541A that is to seyn, sodeyn Ire or hastif Ire, withouten avisement and consentynge of resoun.
ParsT 542 The menyng and the sens of this is that the resoun of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn Ire,
ParsT 542A and thanne is it venial.
ParsT 543 Another Ire is ful wikked, that comth of felonie of herte avysed and cast biforn, with wikked wil to do vengeance,
ParsT 543A and therto his resoun consenteth. and soothly this is deedly synne.
ParsT 544 This Ire is so displesant to God that it troubleth his hous and chaceth the Hooly Goost out of mannes soule,
ParsT 544A and wasteth and destroyeth the liknesse of God -- that is to seyn, the vertu that is in mannes soule --
ParsT 545 and put in hym the liknesse of the devel, and bynymeth the man fro God, that is his rightful lord.
ParsT 546 This Ire is a ful greet plesaunce to the devel,
ParsT 546A for it is the develes fourneys, that is eschawfed with the fir of helle.
ParsT 547 For certes, right so as fir is moore mighty to destroyen erthely thynges than any oother element,
ParsT 547A right so Ire is myghty to destroyen alle spiritueel thynges.
ParsT 548 Looke how that fir of smale gleedes that been almost dede under asshen wollen quike agayn whan they been touched with brymstoon;
ParsT 548A right so Ire wol everemo quyken agayn whan it is touched by the pride that is covered in mannes herte.
ParsT 549 For certes, fir ne may nat comen out of no thyng, but if it were first in the same thyng natureelly,
ParsT 549A as fir is drawen out of flyntes with steel.
ParsT 550 And right so as pride is ofte tyme matere of Ire, right so is rancour norice and kepere of Ire.
ParsT 551 Ther is a maner tree, as seith Seint Ysidre, that whan men maken fir of thilke tree
ParsT 551A and covere the coles of it with asshen, soothly the fir of it wol lasten al a yeer or moore.
ParsT 552 And right so fareth it of rancour; whan it is ones conceyved in the hertes of som men,
ParsT 552A certein, it wol lasten peraventure from oon Estre day unto another Estre day, and moore.
ParsT 553 But certes, thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of God al thilke while.
ParsT 554 In this forseyde develes fourneys ther forgen three shrewes: Pride, that ay bloweth and encreesseth the fir by chidynge and wikked wordes;
ParsT 555 thanne stant Envye and holdeth the hoote iren upon the herte of man with a peire of longe toonges of long rancour;
ParsT 556 and thanne stant the synne of Contumelie, or strif and cheeste, and batereth and forgeth by vileyns reprevynges.
ParsT 557 Certes, this cursed synne anoyeth bothe to the man hymself and eek to his neighebor.
ParsT 557A For soothly, almoost al the harm that any man dooth to his neighebor comth of wratthe.
ParsT 558 For certes, outrageous wratthe dooth al that evere the devel hym comaundeth, for he ne spareth neither Crist ne his sweete Mooder.
ParsT 559 And in his outrageous anger and ire -- allas, allas! --
ParsT 559A ful many oon at that tyme feeleth in his herte ful wikkedly, bothe of Crist and eek of alle his halwes.
ParsT 560 Is nat this a cursed vice? Yis, certes. Allas! It bynymeth from man his wit and his resoun,
ParsT 560A and al his debonaire lif espiritueel that sholde kepen his soule.
ParsT 561 Certes, it bynymeth eek Goddes due lordshipe, and that is mannes soule and the love of his neighebores.
ParsT 561A It stryveth eek alday agayn trouthe. It reveth hym the quiete of his herte and subverteth his soule.
ParsT 562 Of Ire comen thise stynkynge engendrures: First, hate, that is oold wratthe;
ParsT 562A discord, thurgh which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he hath loved ful longe;
ParsT 563 and thanne cometh werre and every manere of wrong that man dooth to his neighebor, in body or in catel.
ParsT 564 Of this cursed synne of Ire cometh eek manslaughtre. And understonde wel that homycide, that is manslaughtre, is in diverse wise.
ParsT 564A Som manere of homycide is spiritueel, and som is bodily.
ParsT 565 Spiritueel manslaughtre is in sixe thynges. First by hate, as seith Seint John: " He that hateth his brother is an homycide. "
ParsT 566 Homycide is eek by bakbitynge, of whiche bakbiteres seith Salomon that " they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hire neighebores. "
ParsT 566A For soothly, as wikke is to bynyme his good name as his lyf.
ParsT 567 Homycide is eek in yevynge of wikked conseil by fraude, as for to yeven conseil to areysen wrongful custumes and taillages.
ParsT 568 Of whiche seith Salomon, " Leon rorynge and bere hongry been like to the cruel lordshipes " in withholdynge or abreggynge of the shepe
ParsT 568A (or the hyre), or of the wages of servauntz, or elles in usure, or in withdrawynge of the almesse of povre folk.
ParsT 569 For which the wise man seith, " Fedeth hym that almoost dyeth for honger " ; for soothly, but if thow feede hym, thou sleest hym;
ParsT 569A and alle thise been deedly synnes.
ParsT 570 Bodily manslaughtre is, whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in oother manere,
ParsT 570A as whan thou comandest to sleen a man or elles yevest hym conseil to sleen a man.
ParsT 571 Manslaughtre in dede is in foure maneres.
ParsT 571A That oon is by lawe, right as a justice dampneth hym that is coupable to the deeth.
ParsT 571B But lat the justice be war that he do it rightfully, and
ParsT 571C that he do it nat for delit to spille blood but for kepynge of rightwisnesse.
ParsT 572 Another homycide is that is doon for necessitee, as whan o man sleeth another in his defendaunt
ParsT 572A and that he ne may noon ootherwise escape from his owene deeth.
ParsT 573 But certeinly if he may escape withouten slaughtre of his adversarie, and sleeth hym,
ParsT 573A he dooth synne and he shal bere penance as for deedly synne.
ParsT 574 Eek if a man, by caas or aventure, shete an arwe,
ParsT 574A or caste a stoon with which he sleeth a man, he is homycide.
ParsT 575 Eek if a womman by necligence overlyeth hire child in hir slepyng, it is homycide and deedly synne.
ParsT 576 Eek whan man destourbeth concepcioun of a child, and maketh a womman outher bareyne
ParsT 576A by drynkynge venenouse herbes thurgh which she may nat conceyve,
ParsT 576B or sleeth a child by drynkes wilfully, or elles putteth certeine material thynges in hire secree places to slee the child,
ParsT 577 or elles dooth unkyndely synne, by which man or womman shedeth hire nature in manere or in place
ParsT 577A ther as a child may nat be conceived, or elles if a woman have conceyved,
ParsT 577B and hurt hirself and sleeth the child, yet is it homycide.
ParsT 578 What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for drede of worldly shame? Certes, an horrible homicide.
ParsT 579 Homycide is eek if a man approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherie, thurgh which the child is perissed,
ParsT 579A or elles smyteth a womman wityngly, thurgh which she leseth hir child. Alle thise been homycides and horrible deedly synnes.
ParsT 580 Yet comen ther of Ire manye mo synnes, as wel in word as in thoght and in dede;
ParsT 580A as he that arretteth upon God, or blameth God of thyng of which he is hymself gilty,
ParsT 580B or despiseth God and alle his halwes, as doon thise cursede hasardours in diverse contrees.
ParsT 581 This cursed synne doon they, whan they feelen in hir herte ful wikkedly of God and of his halwes.
ParsT 582 Also whan they treten unreverently the sacrement of the auter, thilke synne is so greet that unnethe may it been releessed,
ParsT 582A but that the mercy of God passeth alle his werkes; it is so greet, and he so benigne.
ParsT 583 Thanne comth of Ire attry angre. Whan a man is sharply amonested in his shrifte to forleten his synne,
ParsT 584 thanne wole he be angry, and answeren hokerly and angrily, and deffenden or excusen his synne by unstedefastnesse of his flessh;
ParsT 584A or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with his felawes; or elles, he seith, the feend enticed hym;
ParsT 585 or elles he dide it for his youthe; or elles his compleccioun is so corageous that he may nat forbere;
ParsT 585A or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, unto a certein
ParsT 585B age; or elles, he seith, it cometh hym of gentillesse of his auncestres; and semblable thynges.
ParsT 586 Alle thise manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir synnes that they ne wol nat delivere hemself.
ParsT 586A For soothly, no wight that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne
ParsT 586B may nat been delivered of his synne til that he mekely biknoweth his synne.
ParsT 587 After this, thanne cometh sweryng, that is expres agayn the comandement of God; and this bifalleth ofte of anger and of Ire.
ParsT 588 God seith, " Thow shalt nat take the name of thy Lord God in veyn or in ydel. "
ParsT 588A Also oure Lord Jhesu Crist seith, by the word of Seint Mathew,
ParsT 589 " Ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere; neither by hevene, for it is Goddes trone;
ParsT 589A ne by erthe, for it is the bench of his feet; ne by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng;
ParsT 589B ne by thyn heed, for thou mayst nat make an heer whit ne blak.
ParsT 590 But seyeth by youre word `ye, ye,' and `nay, nay'; and what that is moore, it is of yvel " -- thus seith Crist.
ParsT 591 For Cristes sake, ne swereth nat so synfully in dismembrynge of Crist by soule, herte, bones, and body.
ParsT 591A For certes, it semeth that ye thynke that the cursede Jewes ne dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of Crist,
ParsT 591B but ye dismembre hym moore.
ParsT 592 And if so be that the lawe compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow after the lawe of God in youre swerying,
ParsT 592A as seith Jeremye, quarto capitulo: Thou shalt kepe three condicions: thou shalt swere " in trouthe, in doom, and in rightwisnesse. "
ParsT 593 This is to seyn, thou shalt swere sooth, for every lesynge is agayns Crist;
ParsT 593A for Crist is verray trouthe. And thynk wel this: that " every greet swerere, nat compelled lawefully to
ParsT 593B swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous " whil he useth swich unleveful swerying.
ParsT 594 Thou shalt sweren eek in doom, whan thou art constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe.
ParsT 595 Eek thow shalt nat swere for envye, ne for favour, ne for meede, but for rightwisnesse, for declaracioun of it,
ParsT 595A to the worshipe of God and helpyng of thyne evene-Cristene.
ParsT 596 And therfore every man that taketh Goddes name in ydel, or falsly swereth with his mouth,
ParsT 596A or elles taketh on hym the name of Crist, to be called a Cristen man
ParsT 596B and lyveth agayns Cristes lyvynge and his techynge, alle they taken Goddes name in ydel.
ParsT 597 Looke eek what Seint Peter seith, Actuum quarto, Non est aliud nomen sub celo, etc., " Ther nys noon oother name, " seith Seint Peter,
ParsT 597A " under hevene yeven to men, in which they mowe be saved " ; that is to seyn, but the name of Jhesu Crist.
ParsT 598 Take kep eek how precious is the name of Crist, as seith Seint Paul, ad Philipenses secundo, In nomine Jhesu, etc.,
ParsT 598A " That in the name of Jhesu every knee of hevenely creatures, or erthely, or of helle sholde
ParsT 598B bowe, " for it is so heigh and so worshipful that the cursede feend in helle sholde tremblen to heeren it ynempned.
ParsT 599 Thanne semeth it that men that sweren so horribly by his blessed name,
ParsT 599A that they despise it moore booldely than dide the cursede Jewes or elles the devel, that trembleth whan he heereth his name.
ParsT 600 Now certes, sith that sweryng, but if it be lawefully doon, is so heighly deffended, muche worse is forsweryng falsly, and yet nedelees.
ParsT 601 What seye we eek of hem that deliten hem in sweryng,
ParsT 601A and holden it a gentrie or a manly dede to swere grete othes?
ParsT 601B And what of hem that of verray usage ne cesse nat to swere grete othes, al be the cause nat worth a straw?
ParsT 601C Certes, this is horrible synne.
ParsT 602 Swerynge sodeynly withoute avysement is eek a synne.
ParsT 603 But lat us go now to thilke horrible sweryng of adjuracioun and conjuracioun,
ParsT 603A as doon thise false enchauntours or nigromanciens in bacyns ful of water,
ParsT 603B or in a bright swerd, in a cercle, or in a fir, or in a shulder-boon of a sheep.
ParsT 604 I kan nat seye but that they doon cursedly and dampnably agayns Crist and al the feith of hooly chirche.
ParsT 605 What seye we of hem that bileeven on divynailes, as by flight or by noyse of briddes, or of beestes,
ParsT 605A or by sort, by nigromancie, by dremes, by chirkynge of dores or crakkynge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes, and swich manere wrecchednesse?
ParsT 606 Certes, al this thyng is deffended by God and by hooly chirche.
ParsT 606A For which they been acursed, til they come to amendement, that on swich filthe setten hire bileeve.
ParsT 607 Charmes for woundes or maladie of men or of beestes, if they taken any effect,
ParsT 607A it may be peraventure that God suffreth it, for folk sholden yeve the moore feith and reverence to his name.
ParsT 608 Now wol I speken of lesynges, which generally is fals signyficaunce of word, in entente to deceyven his evene-Cristene.
ParsT 609 Som lesynge is of which ther comth noon avantage to no wight;
ParsT 609A and som lesynge turneth to the ese and profit of o man, and to disese and damage of another man.
ParsT 610 Another lesynge is for to saven his lyf or his catel. Another
ParsT 610A lesynge comth of delit for to lye, in which delit they wol forge a long tale
ParsT 610B and peynten it with alle circumstaunces, where al the ground of the tale is fals.
ParsT 611 Som lesynge comth for he wole sustene his word; and som lesynge comth of reccheleesnesse withouten avisement; and semblable thynges.
ParsT 612 Lat us now touche the vice of flaterynge, which ne comth nat gladly but for drede or for coveitise.
ParsT 613 Flaterye is generally wrongful preisynge. Flatereres been the develes norices, that norissen his children with milk of losengerie.
ParsT 614 For sothe, Salomon seith that " Flaterie is wors than detraccioun. " For somtyme detraccion maketh an hauteyn man be the moore humble,
ParsT 614A for he dredeth detraccion; but certes flaterye, that maketh a man to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce.
ParsT 615 Flatereres been the develes enchauntours; for they make a man to wene of hymself be lyk that he nys nat lyk.
ParsT 616 They been lyk to Judas that bitraysen a man to sellen hym to his enemy; that is to the devel.
ParsT 617 Flatereres been the develes chapelleyns, that syngen evere Placebo.
ParsT 618 I rekene flaterie in the vices of Ire,
ParsT 618A for ofte tyme if o man be wrooth with another, thanne wole he flatere som wight to sustene hym in his querele.
ParsT 619 Speke we now of swich cursynge as comth of irous herte. Malisoun generally may be seyd every maner power of harm.
ParsT 619A Swich cursynge bireveth man fro the regne of God, as seith Seint Paul.
ParsT 620 And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth, as a bryd that retorneth agayn to his owene nest.
ParsT 621 And over alle thyng men oghten eschewe to cursen hire children, and yeven to the devel hire engendrure,
ParsT 621A as ferforth as in hem is. Certes, it is greet peril and greet synne.
ParsT 622 Lat us thanne speken of chidynge and reproche, whiche been ful grete woundes in mannes herte,
ParsT 622A for they unsowen the semes of freendshipe in mannes herte.
ParsT 623 For certes, unnethes may a man pleynly been accorded with hym that hath hym openly revyled and repreved and disclaundred.
ParsT 623A This is a ful grisly synne, as Crist seith in the gospel.
ParsT 624 And taak kep now, that he that repreveth his neighebor, outher he repreveth hym by som harm of peyne
ParsT 624A that he hath on his body, as " mesel, " " croked harlot, " or by som synne that he dooth.
ParsT 625 Now if he repreve hym by harm of peyne, thanne turneth the repreve to Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 625A for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of God, and by his suffrance, be it meselrie, or maheym, or maladie.
ParsT 626 And if he repreve hym uncharitably of synne, as " thou holour, " " thou dronkelewe harlot, " and so forth,
ParsT 626A thanne aperteneth that to the rejoysynge of the devel, that evere hath joye that men doon synne.
ParsT 627 And certes, chidynge may nat come but out of a vileyns herte.
ParsT 627A For after the habundance of the herte speketh the mouth ful ofte.
ParsT 628 And ye shul understonde that looke, by any wey,
ParsT 628A whan any man shal chastise another, that he be war from chidynge or reprevynge.
ParsT 628B For trewely, but he be war, he may ful lightly quyken the fir of angre and of wratthe,
ParsT 628C which that he sholde quenche, and peraventure sleeth hym which that he myghte chastise with benignitee.
ParsT 629 For as seith Salomon, " The amyable tonge is the tree of lyf " -- that is to seyn, of lyf espiritueel --
ParsT 629A and soothly, a deslavee tonge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreveth and eek of hym that is repreved.
ParsT 630 Loo, what seith Seint Augustyn: " Ther is nothyng so lyk the develes child as he that ofte chideth. "
ParsT 630A Seint Paul seith eek, " The servant of God bihoveth nat to chide. "
ParsT 631 And how that chidynge be a vileyns thyng bitwixe alle manere folk,
ParsT 631A yet is it certes moost uncovenable bitwixe a man and his wyf,
ParsT 631B for there is nevere reste. And therfore seith Salomon, " An
ParsT 631C hous that is uncovered and droppynge and a chidynge wyf been lyke. "
ParsT 632 A man that is in a droppynge hous in manye places,
ParsT 632A though he eschewe the droppynge in o place, it droppeth on hym in another place.
ParsT 632B So fareth it by a chydynge wyf; but she chide hym in o place, she wol chide hym in another.
ParsT 633 And therfore, " Bettre is a morsel of breed with joye than an hous ful of delices with chidynge, " seith Salomon.
ParsT 634 Seint Paul seith, " O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre housbondes as bihoveth in God,
ParsT 634A and ye men loveth youre wyves. " Ad Colossenses tertio.
ParsT 635 Afterward speke we of scornynge, which is a wikked synne, and namely whan he scorneth a man for his goode werkes.
ParsT 636 For certes, swiche scorneres faren lyk the foule
ParsT 636A tode, that may nat endure to smelle the soote savour of the vyne whanne it florissheth.
ParsT 637 Thise scorneres been partyng felawes with the devel; for they han joye whan the devel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth.
ParsT 638 They been adversaries of Jhesu Crist, for they haten that he loveth -- that is to seyn, salvacioun of soule.
ParsT 639 Speke we now of wikked conseil, for he that wikked conseil yeveth is a traytour.
ParsT 639A For he deceyveth hym that trusteth in hym, ut Achitofel ad Absolonem. But nathelees, yet is his wikked conseil first agayn hymself.
ParsT 640 For, as seith the wise man, " Every fals lyvynge hath this propertee in hymself, that
ParsT 640A he that wole anoye another man, he anoyeth first hymself. "
ParsT 641 And men shul understonde that man shal nat taken his conseil of fals folk, ne of angry folk, or grevous folk,
ParsT 641A ne of folk that loven specially to muchel hir owene profit, ne to muche worldly folk, namely in conseilynge of soules.
ParsT 642 Now comth the synne of hem that sowen and maken discord amonges folk, which is a synne that Crist hateth outrely.
ParsT 642A And no wonder is, for he deyde for to make concord.
ParsT 643 And moore shame do they to Crist than dide they that hym crucifiede,
ParsT 643A for God loveth bettre that freendshipe be amonges folk, than he dide his owene body,
ParsT 643B the which that he yaf for unitee. Therfore been they likned to the devel, that evere is aboute to maken discord.
ParsT 644 Now comth the synne of double tonge, swiche as speken faire byforn folk and wikkedly bihynde, or elles they maken semblant
ParsT 644A as though they speeke of good entencioun, or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of wikked entente.
ParsT 645 Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed; certes, unnethe may he restoore the damage.
ParsT 646 Now comth manace, that is an open folye, for he that ofte manaceth, he threteth moore than he may parfourne ful ofte tyme.
ParsT 647 Now cometh ydel wordes, that is withouten profit of hym that speketh tho wordes,
ParsT 647A and eek of hym that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been tho that been nedelees or withouten entente of natureel profit.
ParsT 648 And al be it that ydel wordes been somtyme venial synne,
ParsT 648A yet sholde men douten hem, for we shul yeve rekenynge of hem bifore God.
ParsT 649 Now comth janglynge, that may nat been withoute synne. And, as seith Salomon, " It is a sygne of apert folye. "
ParsT 650 And therfore a philosophre seyde, whan men axed hym how that men sholde plese the peple,
ParsT 650A and he answerde, " Do manye goode werkes, and spek fewe jangles. "
ParsT 651 After this comth the synne of japeres, that been the develes apes,
ParsT 651A for they maken folk to laughe at hire japerie as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape.
ParsT 651B Swiche japeres deffendeth Seint Paul.
ParsT 652 Looke how that vertuouse wordes and hooly conforten hem that travaillen in the service of Crist,
ParsT 652A right so conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of japeris hem that travaillen in the service of the devel.
ParsT 653 Thise been the synnes that comen of the tonge, that comen of Ire and of othere synnes mo.
ParsT 654 The remedie agayns Ire is a vertu that men clepen mansuetude, that is debonairetee;
ParsT 654A and eek another vertu, that men callen pacience or suffrance.
ParsT 655 Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the stirynges and the moevynges of mannes corage in his herte,
ParsT 655A in swich manere that they ne skippe nat out by angre ne by ire.
ParsT 656 Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the anoyaunces and the wronges that men doon to man outward.
ParsT 657 Seint Jerome seith thus of debonairetee, that " it dooth noon harm to no wight ne seith.
ParsT 657A ne for noon harm that men doon or seyn, he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his resoun. "
ParsT 658 This vertu somtyme comth of nature, for, as seith the Philosophre,
ParsT 658A " A man is a quyk thyng, by nature debonaire and tretable to goodnesse;
ParsT 658B but whan debonairetee is enformed of grace, thanne is it the moore worth. "
ParsT 659 Pacience, that is another remedie agayns Ire, is a vertu that suffreth swetely every mannes goodnesse,
ParsT 659A and is nat wrooth for noon harm that is doon to hym.
ParsT 660 The Philosophre seith that pacience is thilke vertu that suffreth debonairely alle the outrages of adversitee and every wikked word.
ParsT 661 This vertu maketh a man lyk to God, and maketh hym Goddes owene deere child, as seith Crist.
ParsT 661A This vertu disconfiteth thyn enemy. And therfore seith the wise man, " If thow wolt venquysse thyn enemy, lerne to suffre. "
ParsT 662 And thou shalt understonde that man suffreth foure manere of grevances in outward thynges,
ParsT 662A agayns the whiche foure he moot have foure manere of paciences.
ParsT 663 The firste grevance is of wikkede wordes. Thilke suffrede Jhesu Crist withouten grucchyng, ful paciently,
ParsT 663A whan the Jewes despised and repreved hym ful ofte.
ParsT 664 Suffre thou therfore paciently; for the wise man seith, " If thou stryve with a fool,
ParsT 664A though the fool be wrooth or though he laughe, algate thou shalt have no reste. "
ParsT 665 That oother grevance outward is to have damage of thy catel. Theragayns suffred Crist ful paciently, whan
ParsT 665A he was despoyled of al that he hadde in this lyf, and that nas but his clothes.
ParsT 666 The thridde grevance is a man to have harm in his body. That suffred Crist ful paciently in al his passioun.
ParsT 667 The fourthe grevance is in outrageous labour in werkes.
ParsT 667A Wherfore I seye that folk that maken hir servantz to travaillen to grevously or out of tyme, as on haly dayes,
ParsT 667B soothly they do greet synne.
ParsT 668 Heer-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently and taughte us pacience, whan he baar upon his blissed shulder
ParsT 668A the croys upon which he sholde suffren despitous deeth.
ParsT 669 Heere may men lerne to be pacient, for certes noght oonly Cristen men been pacient for love of Jhesu Crist
ParsT 669A and for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is perdurable, but
ParsT 669B certes, the olde payens that nevere were Cristene commendeden and useden the vertu of pacience.
ParsT 670 A philosophre upon a tyme, that wolde have beten his disciple for his grete trespas,
ParsT 670A for which he was greetly amoeved, and broghte a yerde to scoure with the child;
ParsT 671 and whan this child saugh the yerde, he seyde to his maister,
ParsT 671A " What thenke ye do? " " I wol bete thee, " quod the maister, " for thy correccioun. "
ParsT 672 " For sothe, " quod the child, " ye oghten first correcte youreself,
ParsT 672A that han lost al youre pacience for the gilt of a child. "
ParsT 673 " For sothe, " quod the maister al wepynge, " thow seyst sooth. Have thow the yerde, my deere sone, and correcte me for myn inpacience. "
ParsT 674 Of pacience comth obedience, thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist and to alle hem
ParsT 674A to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist.
ParsT 675 And understond wel that obedience is parfit
ParsT 675A whan that a man dooth gladly and hastily, with good herte entierly, al that he sholde do.
ParsT 676 Obedience generally is to parfourne the doctrine of God and of his sovereyns, to whiche hym oghte to ben obeisaunt in alle rightwisnesse.
ParsT 677 After the synne of Envye and of Ire, now wol I speken of the synne of Accidie.
ParsT 677A For Envye blyndeth the herte of a man, and Ire troubleth a man, and Accidie maketh hym hevy, thoghtful, and wraw.
ParsT 678 Envye and Ire maken bitternesse in herte, which bitternesse is mooder of Accidie, and bynymeth hym the love of alle goodnesse.
ParsT 678A Thanne is Accidie the angwissh of troubled herte; and Seint Augustyn seith, " It is anoy of goodnesse and joye of harm. "
ParsT 679 Certes, this is a dampnable synne, for it dooth wrong to Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 679B in as muche as it bynymeth the service that men oghte doon to Crist with alle diligence, as seith Salomon.
ParsT 680 But Accidie dooth no swich diligence. He dooth alle thyng with anoy, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, and excusacioun, and with ydelnesse, and unlust;
ParsT 680A for which the book seith, " Acursed be he that dooth the service of God necligently. "
ParsT 681 Thanne is Accidie enemy to everich estaat of man, for certes the estaat of man is in three maneres.
ParsT 682 Outher it is th' estaat of innocence, as was th' estaat of Adam biforn that he fil into synne,
ParsT 682A in which estaat he was holden to wirche as in heriynge and adowrynge of God.
ParsT 683 Another estaat is the estaat of synful men, in which estaat men been holden to laboure in preiynge to God
ParsT 683A for amendement of hire synnes, and that he wole graunte hem to arysen out of hir synnes.
ParsT 684 Another estaat is th' estaat of grace, in which estaat he is holden to werkes of penitence.
ParsT 684A And certes, to alle thise thynges is Accidie enemy and contrarie, for he loveth no bisynesse at al.
ParsT 685 Now certes this foule synne Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the liflode of the body,
ParsT 685A for it ne hath no purveaunce agayn temporeel necessitee, for it forsleweth and forsluggeth and destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by reccheleesnesse.
ParsT 686 The fourthe thyng is that Accidie is lyk hem that been in the peyne of helle, by cause of hir slouthe
ParsT 686A and of hire hevynesse, for they that been dampned been so bounde that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thynke.
ParsT 687 Of Accidie comth first that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon any goodnesse,
ParsT 687A and maketh that God hath abhomynacion of swich Accidie, as seith Seint John.
ParsT 688 Now comth Slouthe, that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce. For soothly, Slouthe is so tendre and so delicaat,
ParsT 688A as seith Salomon, that he wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce, and therfore he shendeth al that he dooth.
ParsT 689 Agayns this roten-herted synne of Accidie and Slouthe sholde men exercise hemself to doon goode werkes, and manly
ParsT 689A and vertuously cacchen corage wel to doon, thynkynge that oure Lord Jhesu Crist quiteth every good dede, be it never so lite.
ParsT 690 Usage of labour is a greet thyng, for it maketh, as seith Seint Bernard, the laborer to have stronge armes and harde synwes;
ParsT 690A and slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre.
ParsT 691 Thanne comth drede to bigynne to werke anye goode werkes. For certes, he that is enclyned to synne,
ParsT 691A hym thynketh it is so greet an emprise for to undertake to doon werkes of goodnesse,
ParsT 692 and casteth in his herte that the circumstaunces of goodnesse been so grevouse
ParsT 692A and so chargeaunt for to suffre, that he dar nat undertake to do werkes of goodnesse, as seith Seint Gregorie.
ParsT 693 Now comth wanhope, that is despeir of the mercy of God, that comth somtyme of to muche outrageous sorwe,
ParsT 693A and somtyme of to muche drede, ymaginynge that he hath doon so muche synne that it wol nat availlen hym,
ParsT 693B though he wolde repenten hym and forsake synne,
ParsT 694 thurgh which despeir or drede he abaundoneth al his herte to every maner synne, as seith Seint Augustin.
ParsT 695 Which dampnable synne, if that it continue unto his ende, it is cleped synnyng in the Hooly Goost.
ParsT 696 This horrible synne is so perilous that he that is despeired,
ParsT 696A ther nys no felonye ne no synne that he douteth for to do, as shewed wel by Judas.
ParsT 697 Certes, aboven alle synnes thanne is this synne moost displesant to Crist, and moost adversarie.
ParsT 698 Soothly, he that despeireth hym is lyk the coward champioun recreant, that seith " creant " withoute nede.
ParsT 698A Allas, allas, nedeles is he recreant and nedelees despeired.
ParsT 699 Certes, the mercy of God is evere redy to the penitent, and is aboven alle his werkes.
ParsT 700 Allas, kan a man nat bithynke hym on the gospel of Seint Luc, 15,
ParsT 700A where as Crist seith that " as wel shal ther be joye in hevene upon a synful man that dooth penitence,
ParsT 700B as upon nynty and nyne rightful men that neden no penitence. "
ParsT 701 Looke forther, in the same gospel, the joye and the feeste of the goode man that hadde lost his sone,
ParsT 701A whan his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader.
ParsT 702 Kan they nat remembren hem eek that, as seith Seint Luc, 23, how that the theef that was hanged bisyde Jhesu Crist seyde,
ParsT 702A " Lord, remembre of me, whan thow comest into thy regn. " ?
ParsT 703 " For sothe, " seyde Crist, " I seye to thee, to-day shaltow been with me in paradys. "
ParsT 704 Certes, ther is noon so horrible synne of man
ParsT 704A that it ne may in his lyf be destroyed by penitence, thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth of Crist.
ParsT 705 Allas, what nedeth man thanne to been despeired, sith that his mercy so redy is and large? Axe and have.
ParsT 706 Thanne cometh sompnolence, that is sloggy slombrynge, which maketh a man be hevy and dul in body and in soule,
ParsT 706A and this synne comth of Slouthe.
ParsT 707 And certes, the tyme that, by wey of resoun, men sholde nat slepe, that is by the morwe,
ParsT 707A but if ther were cause resonable.
ParsT 708 For soothly, the morwe tyde is moost covenable a man to seye his preyeres, and for to thynken on God,
ParsT 708A and for to honoure God, and to yeven almesse to the povre that first cometh in the name of Crist.
ParsT 709 Lo, what seith Salomon: " Whoso wolde by the morwe awaken and seke me, he shal fynde. "
ParsT 710 Thanne cometh necligence, or reccheleesnesse, that rekketh of no thyng.
ParsT 710A And how that ignoraunce be mooder of alle harm, certes, necligence is the norice.
ParsT 711 Necligence ne dooth no fors, whan he shal doon a thyng, wheither he do it weel or baddely.
ParsT 712 Of the remedie of thise two synnes, as seith the wise man,
ParsT 712A that " He that dredeth God, he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon. "
ParsT 713 And he that loveth God, he wol doon diligence to plese God by his werkes
ParsT 713A and abaundone hymself, with al his myght, wel for to doon.
ParsT 714 Thanne comth ydelnesse, that is the yate of alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk to a place that hath no walles;
ParsT 714A the develes may entre on every syde, or sheten at hym at discovert, by temptacion on every syde.
ParsT 715 This ydelnesse is the thurrok of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes, and of alle jangles, trufles, and of alle ordure.
ParsT 716 Certes, the hevene is yeven to hem that wol labouren, and nat to ydel folk. Eek David seith that
ParsT 716A " they ne been nat in the labour of men, ne they shul nat been whipped with men "
ParsT 716B -- that is to seyn, in purgatorie.
ParsT 717 Certes, thanne semeth it they shul be tormented with the devel in helle, but if they doon penitence.
ParsT 718 Thanne comth the synne that men clepen tarditas, as whan a man is to laterede or tariynge er he wole turne to God,
ParsT 718A and certes that is a greet folie. He is lyk to hym that falleth in the dych and wol nat arise.
ParsT 719 And this vice comth of a fals hope, that he thynketh that he shal lyve longe; but that hope faileth ful ofte.
ParsT 720 Thanne comth lachesse; that is he that whan he biginneth any good werk
ParsT 720A anon he shal forleten it and stynten, as doon they that han any wight to governe
ParsT 720B and ne taken of hym namoore kep anon as they fynden any contrarie or any anoy.
ParsT 721 Thise been the newe sheepherdes that leten hir sheep wityngly go renne
ParsT 721A to the wolf that is in the breres, or do no fors of hir owene governaunce.
ParsT 722 Of this comth poverte and destruccioun, bothe of spiritueel and temporeel thynges.
ParsT 722A Thanne comth a manere cooldnesse, that freseth al the herte of a man.
ParsT 723 Thanne comth undevocioun, thurgh which a man is so blent, as seith Seint Bernard,
ParsT 723A and hath swich langour in soule that he may neither rede ne singe in hooly chirche, ne heere ne thynke of no devocioun,
ParsT 723B ne travaille with his handes in no good werk, that it nys hym unsavory and al apalled.
ParsT 724 Thanne wexeth he slough and slombry, and soone wol be wrooth, and soone is enclyned to hate and to envye.
ParsT 725 Thanne comth the synne of worldly sorwe, swich as is cleped tristicia, that sleeth man, as seith Seint Paul.
ParsT 726 For certes, swich sorwe werketh to the deeth of the soule and of the body also;
ParsT 726A for therof comth that a man is anoyed of his owene lif.
ParsT 727 Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif of man, er that his tyme be come by wey of kynde.
ParsT 728 Agayns this horrible synne of Accidie, and the branches of the same, ther is a vertu that is called fortitudo or strengthe,
ParsT 728A that is an affeccioun thurgh which a man despiseth anoyouse thinges.
ParsT 729 This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous that it dar withstonde myghtily and wisely kepen hymself fro perils that been wikked,
ParsT 729A and wrastle agayn the assautes of the devel.
ParsT 730 For it enhaunceth and enforceth the soule, right as Accidie abateth it and maketh it fieble.
ParsT 730A For this fortitudo may endure by long suffraunce the travailles that been covenable.
ParsT 731 This vertu hath manye speces; and the firste is cleped magnanimitee, that is to seyn, greet corage.
ParsT 731A For certes, ther bihoveth greet corage agains Accidie,
ParsT 731B lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the synne of sorwe, or destroye it by wanhope.
ParsT 732 This vertu maketh folk to undertake harde thynges and grevouse thynges, by hir owene wil, wisely and resonably.
ParsT 733 And for as muchel as the devel fighteth agayns a man moore by queyntise and by sleighte than by strengthe,
ParsT 733A therfore men shal withstonden hym by wit and by resoun and by discrecioun.
ParsT 734 Thanne arn ther the vertues of feith and hope in God and in his seintes
ParsT 734A to acheve and acomplice the goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth fermely to continue.
ParsT 735 Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse, and that is
ParsT 735A whan a man ne douteth no travaille in tyme comynge of the goode werkes that a man hath bigonne.
ParsT 736 Thanne comth magnificence; that is to seyn, whan a man dooth and parfourneth grete werkes of goodnesse; and that is the ende
ParsT 736A why that men sholde do goode werkes, for in the acomplissynge of grete goode werkes lith the grete gerdoun.
ParsT 737 Thanne is ther constaunce, that is stablenesse of corage, and this sholde been in herte by stedefast feith,
ParsT 737A and in mouth, and in berynge, and in chiere, and in dede.
ParsT 738 Eke ther been mo speciale remedies against Accidie in diverse werkes, and
ParsT 738A in consideracioun of the peynes of helle and of the joyes of hevene,
ParsT 738B and in the trust of the grace of the Holy Goost, that wole yeve hym myght to parfourne his goode entente.
ParsT 739 After Accidie wol I speke of Avarice and of Coveitise, of which synne seith
ParsT 739A Seint Paul that " the roote of alle harmes is Coveitise. " Ad Thimotheum Sexto.
ParsT 740 For soothly, whan the herte of a man is confounded in itself and troubled, and that
ParsT 740A the soule hath lost the confort of God, thanne seketh he an ydel solas of worldly thynges.
ParsT 741 Avarice, after the descripcioun of Seint Augustyn, is a likerousnesse in herte to have erthely thynges.
ParsT 742 Som oother folk seyn that Avarice is for to purchacen manye erthely thynges and no thyng yeve to hem that han nede.
ParsT 743 And understoond that Avarice ne stant nat oonly in lond ne catel,
ParsT 743A but somtyme in science and in glorie, and in every manere of outrageous thyng is Avarice and Coveitise.
ParsT 744 And the difference bitwixe Avarice and Coveitise is this: Coveitise is for to coveite swiche thynges as thou hast nat;
ParsT 744A and Avarice is for to withholde and kepe swiche thynges as thou hast, withoute rightful nede.
ParsT 745 Soothly, this Avarice is a synne that is ful dampnable, for al hooly writ curseth it and speketh agayns that vice,
ParsT 745A for it dooth wrong to Jhesu Crist.
ParsT 746 For it bireveth hym the love that men to hym owen, and turneth it bakward agayns alle resoun,
ParsT 747 and maketh that the avaricious man hath moore hope in his catel than in Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 747A and dooth moore observance in kepynge of his tresor than he dooth to the service of Jhesu Crist.
ParsT 748 And therfore seith Seint Paul Ad Ephesios quinto, that an avaricious man is the thraldom of ydolatrie.
ParsT 749 What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an avaricious man, but that an ydolastre, per aventure, ne hath but o mawmet or two,
ParsT 749A and the avaricious man hath manye? For certes, every floryn in his cofre is his mawmet.
ParsT 750 And certes, the synne of mawmettrie is the firste thyng
ParsT 750A that God deffended in the ten comaundementz, as bereth witnesse in Exodi capitulo vicesimo:
ParsT 751 " Thou shalt have no false goddes bifore me, ne thou shalt make to thee no grave thyng. "
ParsT 751A Thus is an avaricious man, that loveth his tresor biforn God, an ydolastre,
ParsT 752 thurgh this cursed synne of avarice. Of Coveitise comen thise harde lordshipes,
ParsT 752A thurgh whiche men been distreyned by taylages, custumes, and cariages, moore than hire duetee or resoun is.
ParsT 752B And eek taken they of hire bonde-men amercimentz, whiche myghten moore resonably ben cleped extorcions than amercimentz.
ParsT 753 Of whiche amercimentz and raunsonynge of boonde-men somme lordes stywardes seyn that it is rightful,
ParsT 753A for as muche as a cherl hath no temporeel thyng that it ne is his lordes, as they seyn.
ParsT 754 But certes, thise lord-shipes doon wrong
ParsT 754A that bireven hire bonde-folk thynges that they nevere yave hem. Augustinus, De Civitate libro nono.
ParsT 755 " Sooth is that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste cause of thraldom is for synne. Genesis nono.
ParsT 756 Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserveth thraldom, but nat nature. "
ParsT 757 Wherfore thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifien hem in hir lordshipes,
ParsT 757A sith that by natureel condicion they been nat lordes over thralles, but that thraldom comth first by the desert of synne.
ParsT 758 And forther over, ther as the lawe seith that temporeel goodes of boonde-folk been the goodes of hir lordshipes, ye,
ParsT 758A that is for to understonde, the goodes of the emperour, to deffenden hem in hir right,
ParsT 758B but nat for to robben hem ne reven hem.
ParsT 759 And therfore seith Seneca, " Thy prudence sholde lyve benignely with thy thralles. "
ParsT 760 Thilke that thou clepest thy thralles been Goddes peple, for humble folk been Cristes freendes; they been contubernyal with the Lord.
ParsT 761 Thynk eek that of swich seed as cherles spryngen, of swich seed spryngen lordes.
ParsT 761A As wel may the cherl be saved as the lord.
ParsT 762 The same deeth that taketh the cherl, swich deeth taketh the lord.
ParsT 762A Wherfore I rede, do right so with thy cherl, as thou woldest that thy lord dide with thee,
ParsT 762B if thou were in his plit.
ParsT 763 Every synful man is a cherl to synne. I rede thee, certes, that thou, lord,
ParsT 763A werke in swich wise with thy cherles that they rather love thee than drede.
ParsT 764 I woot wel ther is degree above degree, as reson is,
ParsT 764A and skile is that men do hir devoir ther as it is due,
ParsT 764B but certes, extorcions and despit of youre underlynges is dampnable.
ParsT 765 And forther over, understoond wel that thise conquerours or tirauntz maken ful ofte thralles
ParsT 765A of hem that been born of as roial blood as been they that hem conqueren.
ParsT 766 This name of thraldom was nevere erst kowth til
ParsT 766A that Noe seyde that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to his bretheren for his synne.
ParsT 767 What seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon extorcions to hooly chirche?
ParsT 767A Certes, the swerd that men yeven first to a knyght, whan he is newe dubbed, signifieth that he sholde deffenden hooly chirche,
ParsT 767B and nat robben it ne pilen it; and whoso dooth is traitour to Crist.
ParsT 768 And, as seith Seint Augustyn, " They been the develes wolves that stranglen the sheep of Jhesu Crist, " and doon worse than wolves.
ParsT 769 For soothly, whan the wolf hath ful his wombe, he stynteth to strangle sheep.
ParsT 769A But soothly, the pilours and destroyours of the godes of hooly chirche ne do nat so, for they ne stynte nevere to pile.
ParsT 770 Now as I have seyd, sith so is that synne was first cause of thraldom, thanne is it thus:
ParsT 770A that thilke tyme that al this world was in synne, thanne was al this world in thraldom and subjeccioun.
ParsT 771 But certes, sith the time of grace cam, God ordeyned that som folk sholde be moore heigh in estaat and in degree,
ParsT 771A and som folk moore lough, and that everich sholde be served in his estaat and in his degree.
ParsT 772 And therfore in somme contrees, ther they byen thralles, whan they han turned hem to the feith,
ParsT 772A they maken hire thralles free out of thraldom. And therfore,
ParsT 772B certes, the lord oweth to his man that the man oweth to his lord.
ParsT 773 The Pope calleth hymself servant of the servantz of God; but
ParsT 773A for as muche as the estaat of hooly chirche ne myghte nat han be, ne the commune profit myghte nat han be kept,
ParsT 773B ne pees and rest in erthe, but if God hadde ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower,
ParsT 774 therfore was sovereyntee ordeyned, to kepe and mayntene and deffenden hire underlynges or hire subgetz in resoun,
ParsT 774A as ferforth as it lith in hire power, and nat to destroyen hem ne confounde.
ParsT 775 Wherfore I seye that thilke lordes that been lyk wolves,
ParsT 775A that devouren the possessiouns or the catel of povre folk wrongfully, withouten mercy or mesure,
ParsT 776 they shul receyven by the same mesure that they han mesured to povre folk the
ParsT 776A mercy of Jhesu Crist, but if it be amended.
ParsT 777 Now comth deceite bitwixe marchaunt and marchant. And thow shalt understonde that marchandise is in manye maneres;
ParsT 777A that oon is bodily, and that oother is goostly; that oon is honest and leveful, and that oother is deshonest and unleveful.
ParsT 778 Of thilke bodily marchandise that is leveful and honest is this:
ParsT 778A that, there as God hath ordeyned that a regne or a contree is suffisaunt to hymself,
ParsT 778B thanne is it honest and leveful that of habundaunce of this contree, that men helpe another contree that is moore nedy.
ParsT 779 And therfore ther moote been marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree to that oother hire marchandises.
ParsT 780 That oother marchandise, that men haunten with fraude and trecherie and deceite, with lesynges and false othes, is cursed and dampnable.
ParsT 781 Espiritueel marchandise is proprely symonye, that is ententif desir to byen thyng espiritueel;
ParsT 781A that is, thyng that aperteneth to the seintuarie of God and to cure of the soule.
ParsT 782 This desir, if so be that a man do his diligence to parfournen it,
ParsT 782A al be it that his desir ne take noon effect, yet is it to hym a deedly synne;
ParsT 782B and if he be ordred, he is irreguleer.
ParsT 783 Certes symonye is cleped of Simon Magus, that wolde han boght for temporeel catel
ParsT 783A the yifte that God hadde yeven by the Hooly Goost to Seint Peter and to the apostles.
ParsT 784 And therfore understoond that bothe he that selleth and he that beyeth thynges espirituels been cleped symonyals,
ParsT 784A be it by catel, be it by procurynge, or by flesshly preyere of his freendes, flesshly freendes or espiritueel freendes:
ParsT 785 Flesshly in two maneres; as by kynrede, or othere freendes. Soothly, if they praye for hym that is nat worthy and able,
ParsT 785A it is symonye, if he take the benefice; and if he be worthy and able, ther nys noon.
ParsT 786 That oother manere is whan men or wommen preyen for folk to avauncen hem,
ParsT 786A oonly for wikked flesshly affeccioun that they han unto the persone, and that is foul symonye.
ParsT 787 But certes, in service, for which men yeven thynges espirituels unto hir servantz, it moot been understonde that
ParsT 787A the service moot been honest and elles nat; and eek that it be withouten bargaynynge, and that the persone be able.
ParsT 788 For, as seith Seint Damasie, " Alle the synnes of the world, at regard of this synne, arn as thyng of noght. "
ParsT 788A For it is the gretteste synne that may be, after the synne of Lucifer and Antecrist.
ParsT 789 For by this synne God forleseth the chirche and the soule that he boghte with his precious blood,
ParsT 789A by hem that yeven chirches to hem that been nat digne.
ParsT 790 For they putten in theves that stelen the soules of Jhesu Crist and destroyen his patrimoyne.
ParsT 791 By swiche undigne preestes and curates han lewed men the lasse reverence of the sacramentz of hooly chirche,
ParsT 791A and swiche yeveres of chirches putten out the children of Crist and putten into the chirche the develes owene sone.
ParsT 792 They sellen the soules that lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that strangleth hem.
ParsT 792A And therfore shul they nevere han part of the pasture of lambes, that is the blisse of hevene.
ParsT 793 Now comth hasardrie with his apurtenaunces, as tables and rafles, of which comth deceite, false othes, chidynges, and alle ravynes,
ParsT 793A blasphemynge and reneiynge of God, and hate of his neighebores, wast of goodes, mysspendynge of tyme, and somtyme manslaughtre.
ParsT 794 Certes, hasardours ne mowe nat been withouten greet synne whiles they haunte that craft.
ParsT 795 Of Avarice comen eek lesynges, thefte, fals witnesse, and false othes.
ParsT 795A And ye shul understonde that thise been grete synnes and expres agayn the comaundementz of God, as I have seyd.
ParsT 796 Fals witnesse is in word and eek in dede. In word, as for to bireve thy neighebores goode name by thy fals witnessyng,
ParsT 796A or bireven hym his catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessyng, whan thou for ire, or for meede,
ParsT 796B or for envye, berest fals witnesse, or accusest hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse, or elles excusest thyself falsly.
ParsT 797 Ware yow, questemongeres and notaries! Certes, for fals witnessyng was Susanna in ful gret sorwe and peyne, and many another mo.
ParsT 798 The synne of thefte is eek expres agayns Goddes heeste, and that in two maneres, corporeel or spiritueel.
ParsT 799 Corporeel, as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl,
ParsT 799A be it by force or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure;
ParsT 800 by stelyng eek of false enditementz upon hym, and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel,
ParsT 800A in entente nevere to payen it agayn, and semblable thynges.
ParsT 801 Espiritueel thefte is sacrilege; that is to seyn, hurtynge of hooly thynges, or of thynges sacred to Crist, in two maneres:
ParsT 801A by reson of the hooly place, as chirches or chirche-hawes,
ParsT 802 for which every vileyns synne that men doon in swiche places may be cleped sacrilege, or every violence in the semblable places;
ParsT 802A also, they that withdrawen falsly the rightes that longen to hooly chirche.
ParsT 803 And pleynly and generally, sacrilege is to reven hooly thyng fro hooly place,
ParsT 803A or unhooly thyng out of hooly place, or hooly thing out of unhooly place.
ParsT 804 Now shul ye understonde that the releevynge of Avarice is misericorde, and pitee largely taken.
ParsT 804A And men myghten axe why that misericorde and pitee is releevynge of Avarice.
ParsT 805 Certes, the avricious man sheweth no pitee ne misericorde to the nedeful man, for he deliteth hym
ParsT 805A in the kepynge of his tresor, and nat in the rescowynge ne releevynge of his evene-Cristen. And therfore speke I first of misericorde.
ParsT 806 Thanne is misericorde, as seith the Philosophre, a vertu
ParsT 806A by which the corage of a man is stired by the mysese of hym that is mysesed.
ParsT 807 Upon which misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge of charitable werkes of misericorde.
ParsT 808 And certes, thise thynges moeven a man to the misericorde of Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 808A that he yaf hymself for oure gilt, and suffred deeth for misericorde, and forgaf us oure originale synnes,
ParsT 809 and therby relessed us fro the peynes of helle, and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by penitence,
ParsT 809A and yeveth grace wel to do, and atte laste the blisse of hevene.
ParsT 810 The speces of misericorde been, as for to lene and for to yeve, and to foryeven and relesse,
ParsT 810A and for to han pitee in herte and compassioun of the meschief of his evene-Cristene, and eek to chastise, there as nede is.
ParsT 811 Another manere of remedie agayns avarice is resonable largesse; but soothly, heere bihoveth the consideracioun of the grace of Jhesu Crist,
ParsT 811A and of his temporeel goodes, and eek of the goodes perdurables that Crist yaf to us;
ParsT 812 and to han remembrance of the deeth that he shal receyve, he noot whanne, where, ne how;
ParsT 812A and eek that he shal forgon al that he hath, save oonly that he hath despended in goode werkes.
ParsT 813 But for as muche as som folk been unmesurable, men oghten eschue fool-largesse, that men clepen wast.
ParsT 814 Certes, he that is fool-large ne yeveth nat his catel, but he leseth his catel.
ParsT 814A Soothly, what thyng that he yeveth for veyne glorie, as to mynstrals and to folk for to beren his renoun
ParsT 814B in the world, he hath synne therof and noon almesse.
ParsT 815 Certes, he leseth foule his good that ne seketh with the yifte of his good nothyng but synne.
ParsT 816 He is lyk to an hors that seketh
ParsT 816A rather to drynken drovy or trouble water than for to drynken water of the clere welle.
ParsT 817 And for as muchel as they yeven ther as they sholde nat yeven, to hem aperteneth
ParsT 817A thilke malisoun that Crist shal yeven at the day of doom to hem that shullen been dampned.
ParsT 818 After Avarice comth Glotonye, which is expres eek agayn the comandement of God. Glotonye is unmesurable appetit to ete or to drynke,
ParsT 818A or elles to doon ynogh to the unmesurable appetit and desordeynee coveitise to eten or to drynke.
ParsT 819 This synne corrumped al this world, as is wel shewed in the synne of Adam and of Eve.
ParsT 819A Looke eek what seith Seint Paul of Glotonye:
ParsT 820 " Manye, " seith Saint Paul, " goon, of whiche I have ofte seyd to yow,
ParsT 820A and now I seye it wepynge, that been the enemys of the croys of Crist; of whiche the ende is deeth,
ParsT 820B and of whiche hire wombe is hire god, and hire glorie in confusioun of hem that so savouren erthely thynges. "
ParsT 821 He that is usaunt to this synne of glotonye, he ne may no synne withstonde.
ParsT 821A He moot been in servage of alle vices, for it is the develes hoord ther he hideth hym and resteth.
ParsT 822 This synne hath manye speces. The firste is dronkenesse, that is the horrible sepulture of mannes resoun;
ParsT 822A and therfore, whan a man is dronken, he hath lost his resoun; and this is deedly synne.
ParsT 823 But soothly, whan that a man is nat wont to strong drynke, and peraventure ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the drynke,
ParsT 823A or hath feblesse in his heed, or hath travailed, thurgh which he drynketh the moore, al be he sodeynly caught with drynke,
ParsT 823B it is no deedly synne, but venyal.
ParsT 824 The seconde spece of glotonye is that the spirit of a man wexeth al trouble,
ParsT 824A for dronkenesse bireveth hym the discrecioun of his wit.
ParsT 825 The thridde spece of glotonye is whan a man devoureth his mete and hath no rightful manere of etynge.
ParsT 826 The fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete, the humours in his body been distempred.
ParsT 827 The fifthe is foryetelnesse by to muchel drynkynge, for which somtyme
ParsT 827A a man foryeteth er the morwe what he dide at even, or on the nyght biforn.
ParsT 828 In oother manere been distinct the speces of Glotonye, after Seint Gregorie. The firste is for to ete biforn tyme to ete.
ParsT 828A The seconde is whan a man get hym to delicaat mete or drynke.
ParsT 829 The thridde is whan men taken to muche over mesure. The fourthe is curiositee, with greet entente to maken and apparaillen his mete.
ParsT 829A The fifthe is for to eten to gredily.
ParsT 830 Thise been the fyve fyngres of the develes hand, by whiche he draweth folk to synne.
ParsT 831 Agayns Glotonye is the remedie abstinence, as seith Galien; but that holde I nat meritorie,
ParsT 831A if he do it oonly for the heele of his body. Seint Augustyn wole that abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience.
ParsT 832 " Abstinence, " he seith, " is litel worth but if a man have good wil therto,
ParsT 832A and but it be enforced by pacience and by charitee, and that men doon it for Godes sake,
ParsT 832B and in hope to have the blisse of hevene. "
ParsT 833 The felawes of abstinence been attemperaunce, that holdeth the meene in alle thynges; eek shame, that eschueth alle deshonestee;
ParsT 833A suffisance, that seketh no riche metes ne drynkes, ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparailynge of mete;
ParsT 834 mesure also, that restreyneth by resoun the deslavee appetit of etynge; sobrenesse also, that restreyneth the outrage of drynke;
ParsT 835 sparynge also, that restreyneth the delicaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softely,
ParsT 835A wherfore some folk stonden of hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser.
ParsT 836 After Glotonye thanne comth Lecherie, for thise two synnes been so ny cosyns that ofte tyme they wol nat departe.
ParsT 837 God woot, this synne is ful displesaunt thyng to God, for he seyde hymself,
ParsT 837A " Do no lecherie. " And therfore he putte grete peynes agayns this synne in the olde lawe.
ParsT 838 If womman thral were taken in this synne, she sholde be beten with staves to the deeth;
ParsT 838A and if she were a gentil womman, she sholde be slayn with
ParsT 838B stones; and if she were a bisshoppes doghter, she sholde been brent, by Goddes comandement.
ParsT 839 Forther over, by the synne of lecherie God dreynte al the world at the diluge.
ParsT 839A And after that he brente fyve citees with thonder-leyt, and sank hem into helle.
ParsT 840 Now lat us speke thanne of thilke stynkynge synne of Lecherie that men clepe avowtrie of wedded folk;
ParsT 840A that is to seyn, if that oon of hem be wedded, or elles bothe.
ParsT 841 Seint John seith that avowtiers shullen been in helle, in a stank brennynge of fyr and of brymston
ParsT 841A -- in fyr for hire lecherye, in brymston for the stynk of hire ordure.
ParsT 842 Certes, the brekynge of this sacrement is an horrible thyng.
ParsT 842A It was maked of God hymself in paradys, and confermed by Jhesu Crist, as witnesseth Seint Mathew in the gospel:
ParsT 842B " A man shal lete fader and mooder and taken hym to his wif, and they shullen be two in o flessh. "
ParsT 843 This sacrement bitokneth the knyttynge togidre of Crist and of hooly chirche.
ParsT 844 And nat oonly that God forbad avowtrie in dede, but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coveite thy neighebores wyf.
ParsT 845 " In this heeste, " seith Seint Augustyn, " is forboden alle manere coveitise to doon lecherie. " Lo, what seith Seint Mathew in the gospel, that
ParsT 845A " whoso seeth a womman to coveitise of his lust, he hath doon lecherie with hire in his herte. "
ParsT 846 Heere may ye seen that nat oonly the dede of this synne is forboden, but eek the desir to doon that synne.
ParsT 847 This cursed synne anoyeth grevousliche hem that it haunten. And first to hire soule,
ParsT 847A for he obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth that is perdurable.
ParsT 848 Unto the body anoyeth it grevously also, for it dreyeth hym, and wasteth him, and shent hym, and of his blood
ParsT 848A he maketh sacrifice to the feend of helle. It wasteth eek his catel and his substaunce.
ParsT 849 And certes, if it be a foul thyng a man to waste his catel on wommen,
ParsT 849A yet is it a fouler thyng whan that, for swich ordure, wommen dispenden upon men hir catel and substaunce.
ParsT 850 This synne, as seith the prophete, bireveth man and womman hir goode fame and al hire honour,
ParsT 850A and it is ful plesaunt to the devel, for therby wynneth he the mooste partie of this world.
ParsT 851 And right as a marchant deliteth hym moost in chaffare that he hath moost avantage of,
ParsT 851A right so deliteth the fend in this ordure.
ParsT 852 This is that oother hand of the devel with fyve fyngres to cacche the peple to his vileynye.
ParsT 853 The firste fynger is the fool lookynge of the fool womman and of the fool man; that sleeth, right
ParsT 853A as the basilicok sleeth folk by the venym of his sighte, for the coveitise of eyen folweth the coveitise of the herte.
ParsT 854 The seconde fynger is the vileyns touchynge in wikkede manere.
ParsT 854A And therfore seith Salomon that " whoso toucheth and handleth a womman, he fareth lyk
ParsT 854B hym that handleth the scorpioun that styngeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his envenymynge " ; as whoso toucheth warm pych, it shent his fyngres.
ParsT 855 The thridde is foule wordes, that fareth lyk fyr, that right anon brenneth the herte.
ParsT 856 The fourthe fynger is the kissynge; and trewely he were a greet fool
ParsT 856A that wolde kisse the mouth of a brennynge oven or of a fourneys.
ParsT 857 And moore fooles been they that kissen in vileynye, for that mouth is the mouth of helle;
ParsT 857A and namely thise olde dotardes holours, yet wol they kisse, though they may nat do, and smatre hem.
ParsT 858 Certes, they been lyk to houndes; for an hound, whan he comth by the roser or by othere [bushes],
ParsT 858A though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heve up his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse.
ParsT 859 And for that many man weneth that he may nat synne for no likerousnesse that he dooth with his wyf,
ParsT 859A certes, that opinion is fals. God woot, a man may sleen hymself with his owene knyf,
ParsT 859B and make hymselve dronken of his owene tonne.
ParsT 860 Certes, be it wyf, be it child,
ParsT 860A or any worldly thyng that he loveth biforn God, it is his mawmet, and he is an ydolastre.
ParsT 861 Man sholde loven hys wyf by discrecioun, paciently and atemprely, and thanne is she as though it were his suster.
ParsT 862 The fifthe fynger of the develes hand is the stynkynge dede of Leccherie.
ParsT 863 Certes, the fyve fyngres of Glotonie the feend put in the wombe of a man,
ParsT 863A and with his fyve fingres of Lecherie he gripeth hym by the reynes for to throwen hym into the fourneys of helle,
ParsT 864 ther as they shul han the fyr and the wormes that evere shul lasten, and wepynge and wailynge, sharp hunger and thurst,
ParsT 864A [and] grymnesse of develes, that shullen al totrede hem withouten respit and withouten ende.
ParsT 865 Of Leccherie, as I seyde, sourden diverse speces, as fornicacioun, that is bitwixe man and womman that been nat maried,
ParsT 865A and this is deedly synne and agayns nature.
ParsT 866 Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns nature.
ParsT 867 Parfay, the resoun of a man telleth eek hym wel that it is deedly synne, for as muche as God forbad leccherie.
ParsT 867A And Seint Paul yeveth hem the regne that nys dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly synne.
ParsT 868 Another synne of Leccherie is to bireve a mayden of hir maydenhede, for he that so dooth,
ParsT 868A certes, he casteth a mayden out of the hyeste degree that is in this present lif
ParsT 869 and bireveth hire thilke precious fruyt that the book clepeth the hundred fruyt.
ParsT 869A I ne kan seye it noon ootherweyes in Englissh, but in Latyn it highte Centesimus fructus.
ParsT 870 Certes, he that so dooth is cause of manye damages and vileynyes, mo than any man kan rekene;
ParsT 870A right as he somtyme is cause of alle damages that beestes don in the feeld, that breketh the hegge or the closure,
ParsT 870B thurgh which he destroyeth that may nat been restoored.
ParsT 871 For certes, namoore may maydenhede be restoored than an arm that is smyten fro the body may retourne agayn to wexe.
ParsT 872 She may have mercy, this woot I wel, if she do penitence; but nevere shal it be that she nas corrupt.
ParsT 873 And al be it so that I have spoken somwhat of avowtrie,
ParsT 873A it is good to shewen mo perils that longen to avowtrie, for to eschue that foule synne.
ParsT 874 Avowtrie in Latyn is for to seyn approchynge of oother mannes bed,
ParsT 874A thurgh which tho that whilom weren o flessh abawndone hir bodyes to othere persones.
ParsT 875 Of this synne, as seith the wise man, folwen manye harmes.
ParsT 875A First, brekynge of feith, and certes in feith is the keye of Cristendom.
ParsT 876 And whan that feith is broken and lorn, soothly Cristendom stant veyn and withouten fruyt.
ParsT 877 This synne is eek a thefte, for thefte generally is for to reve a wight his thyng agayns his wille.
ParsT 878 Certes, this is the fouleste thefte that may be, whan a womman steleth hir body from hir housbonde
ParsT 878A and yeveth it to hire holour to defoulen hire, and steleth hir soule fro Crist and yeveth it to the devel.
ParsT 879 This is a fouler thefte than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice,
ParsT 879A for thise avowtiers breken the temple of God spiritually, and stelen the vessel of grace, that is the body and the soule,
ParsT 879B for which Crist shal destroyen hem, as seith Seint Paul.
ParsT 880 Soothly, of this thefte douted gretly Joseph, whan that his lordes wyf preyed hym of vileynye, whan he seyde,
ParsT 880A " Lo, my lady, how my lord hath take to me under my warde al that he hath in this world,
ParsT 880B ne no thyng of his thynges is out of my power, but oonly ye, that been his wyf.
ParsT 881 And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse, and synne so horribly agayns God and agayns my lord?
ParsT 881A God it forbeede! " Allas, al to litel is swich trouthe now yfounde.
ParsT 882 The thridde harm is the filthe thurgh which they breken the comandement of God, and defoulen the auctour of matrimoyne, that is Crist.
ParsT 883 For certes, in so muche as the sacrement of mariage is so noble and so digne, so muche is it gretter synne
ParsT 883A for to breken it, for God made mariage in paradys, in the estaat of innocence, to multiplye mankynde to the service of God.
ParsT 884 And therfore is the brekynge therof the moore grevous; of which brekynge comen false heires ofte tyme, that wrongfully ocupien folkes heritages.
ParsT 884A And therfore wol Crist putte hem out of the regne of hevene, that is heritage to goode folk.
ParsT 885 Of this brekynge comth eek ofte tyme that folk unwar wedden or synnen with hire owene kynrede, and namely thilke harlotes that haunten
ParsT 885A bordels of thise fool wommen, that mowe be likned to a commune gong, where as men purgen hire ordure.
ParsT 886 What seye we eek of putours that lyven by the horrible synne of putrie, and constreyne wommen to yelden hem a certeyn rente
ParsT 886A of hire bodily puterie, ye, somtyme of his owene wyf or his child, as doon thise bawdes? Certes, thise been cursede synnes.
ParsT 887 Understoond eek that Avowtrie is set gladly in the ten comandementz bitwixe thefte and manslaughtre;
ParsT 887A for it is the gretteste thefte that may be, for it is thefte of body and of soule.
ParsT 888 And it is lyk to homycide, for it kerveth atwo and breketh atwo hem that first were maked o flessh.
ParsT 888A And therfore, by the olde lawe of God, they sholde be slayn.
ParsT 889 But nathelees, by the lawe of Jhesu Crist, that is lawe of pitee, whan he seyde to the womman
ParsT 889A that was founden in avowtrie, and sholde han been slayn with stones, after the wyl of the Jewes, as was hir lawe,
ParsT 889B " Go, " quod Jhesu Crist, " and have namoore wyl to synne, " or, " wille namoore to do synne. "
ParsT 890 Soothly the vengeaunce of Avowtrie is awarded to the peynes of helle, but if so be that it be destourbed by penitence.
ParsT 891 Yet been ther mo speces of this cursed synne; as whan that oon of hem is religious, or elles bothe;
ParsT 891A or of folk that been entred into ordre, as subdekne, or dekne, or preest, or hospitaliers.
ParsT 891B And evere the hyer that he is in ordre, the gretter is the synne.
ParsT 892 The thynges that gretly agreggen hire synne is the brekynge of hire avow of chastitee, whan they receyved the ordre.
ParsT 893 And forther over, sooth is that hooly ordre is chief of al the tresorie of God
ParsT 893A and his especial signe and mark of chastitee to shewe that they been joyned to chastitee,
ParsT 893B which that is the moost precious lyf that is.
ParsT 894 And thise ordred folk been specially titled to God, and of the special meignee of God,
ParsT 894A for which, whan they doon deedly synne, they been the special traytours of God and of his peple;
ParsT 894B for they lyven of the peple, to preye for the peple,
ParsT 894C and while they ben suche traitours, here preyer avayleth nat to the peple.
ParsT 895 Preestes been aungels, as by the dignitee of hir mysterye;
ParsT 895A but for sothe, Seint Paul seith that Sathanas transformeth hym in an aungel of light.
ParsT 896 Soothly, the preest that haunteth deedly synne, he may be likned to the aungel of derknesse transformed in the aungel of light.
ParsT 896A He semeth aungel of light, but for sothe he is aungel of derknesse.
ParsT 897 Swiche preestes been the sones of Helie,
ParsT 897A as sheweth in the Book of Kynges, that they weren the sones of Belial -- that is, the devel.
ParsT 898 Belial is to seyn, " withouten juge. " And so faren they; hem thynketh they been free and han no juge,
ParsT 898A namoore than hath a free bole that taketh which cow that hym liketh in the town.
ParsT 899 So faren they by wommen. For right as a free bole is ynough for al a toun,
ParsT 899A right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun ynough for al a parisshe, or for al a contree.
ParsT 900 Thise preestes, as seith the book, ne konne nat the mysterie of preesthod to the peple, ne God ne knowe they nat.
ParsT 900A They ne helde hem nat apayd, as seith the book, of soden flessh that was to hem offred,
ParsT 900B but they tooke by force the flessh that is rawe.
ParsT 901 Certes, so thise shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh,
ParsT 901A with which the peple feden hem in greet reverence, but they wole have raw flessh of folkes wyves and hir doghtres.
ParsT 902 And certes, thise wommen that consenten to hire harlotrie doon greet wrong to Crist,
ParsT 902A and to hooly chirche, and alle halwes, and to alle soules;
ParsT 902B for they bireven alle thise hym that sholde worshipe Crist and hooly chirche and preye for Cristene soules.
ParsT 903 And therfore han swiche preestes, and hire lemmanes eek that consenten to hir leccherie,
ParsT 903A the malisoun of al the court Cristien, til they come to amendement.
ParsT 904 The thridde spece of avowtrie is somtyme bitwixe a man and his wyf, and that is
ParsT 904A whan they take no reward in hire assemblynge but oonly to hire flesshly delit, as seith Seint Jerome,
ParsT 905 and ne rekken of nothyng but that they been assembled;
ParsT 905A by cause that they been maried, al is good ynough, as thynketh to hem.
ParsT 906 But in swich folk hath the devel power, as seyde the aungel Raphael to Thobie,
ParsT 906A for in hire assemblynge they putten Jhesu Crist out of hire herte and yeven hemself to alle ordure.
ParsT 907 The fourthe spece is the assemblee of hem that been of hire kynrede, or of hem that been of oon affynytee,
ParsT 907A or elles with hem with whiche hir fadres or hir kynrede han deled in the synne of lecherie.
ParsT 907B This synne maketh hem lyk to houndes, that taken no kep to kynrede.
ParsT 908 And certes, parentele is in two maneres, outher goostly or flesshly; goostly, as for to deelen with his godsibbes.
ParsT 909 For right so as he that engendreth a child is his flesshly fader, right so is his godfader his fader espiritueel.
ParsT 909A For which a womman may in no lasse synne assemblen with hire godsib than with hire owene flesshly brother.
ParsT 910 The fifthe spece is thilke abhomynable synne, of which that no man unnethe oghte speke ne write;
ParsT 910A nathelees it is openly reherced in holy writ.
ParsT 911 This cursednesse doon men and wommen in diverse entente and in diverse manere; but though that hooly writ speke of horrible synne,
ParsT 911A certes hooly writ may nat been defouled, namoore than the sonne that shyneth on the mixne.
ParsT 912 Another synne aperteneth to leccherie, that comth in slepynge, and this synne cometh ofte to hem that been maydenes,
ParsT 912A and eek to hem that been corrupt; and this synne men clepen polucioun, that comth in foure maneres.
ParsT 913 Somtyme of langwissynge of body, for the humours been to ranke and to habundaunt in the body of man;
ParsT 913A somtyme of infermetee, for the fieblesse of the vertu retentif, as phisik maketh mencion; somtyme for surfeet of mete and drynke;
ParsT 914 and somtyme of vileyns thoghtes that been enclosed in mannes mynde whan he gooth to slepe, which may nat been withoute synne;
ParsT 914A for which men moste kepen hem wisely, or elles may men synnen ful grevously.
ParsT 915 Now comth the remedie agayns Leccherie, and that is generally chastitee and continence,
ParsT 915A that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moevynges that comen of flesshly talentes.
ParsT 916 And evere the gretter merite shal he han that moost restreyneth the wikkede eschawfynges of the [ardour] of this synne.
ParsT 916A And this is in two maneres -- that is to seyn, chastitee in mariage, and chastitee of widwehod.
ParsT 917 Now shaltow understonde that matrimoyne is leefful assemblynge of man and of womman that receyven by vertu of the sacrement the boond
ParsT 917A thurgh which they may nat be departed in al hir lyf -- that is to seyn, whil that they lyven bothe.
ParsT 918 This, as seith the book, is a ful greet sacrement.
ParsT 918A God maked it, as I have seyd, in paradys, and wolde hymself be born in mariage.
ParsT 919 And for to halwen mariage he was at a weddynge, where as he turned water into wyn,
ParsT 919A which was the firste miracle that he wroghte in erthe biforn his disciples.
ParsT 920 Trewe effect of mariage clenseth fornicacioun and replenysseth hooly chirche of good lynage, for that is the ende of mariage;
ParsT 920A and it chaungeth deedly synne into venial synne bitwixe hem that been ywedded,
ParsT 920B and maketh the hertes al oon of hem that been ywedded, as wel as the bodies.
ParsT 921 This is verray mariage, that was establissed by God, er that synne bigan, whan natureel lawe was in his right poynt in paradys;
ParsT 921A and it was ordeyned that o man sholde have but o womman, and o womman but o man,
ParsT 921B as seith Seint Augustyn, by manye resouns.
ParsT 922 First, for mariage is figured bitwixe Crist and holy chirche. And that oother is for a man is heved of a womman;
ParsT 922A algate, by ordinaunce it sholde be so.
ParsT 923 For if a womman hadde mo men than oon, thanne sholde she have moo hevedes than oon, and
ParsT 923A that were an horrible thyng biforn God; and eek a womman ne myghte nat plese to many folk at oones.
ParsT 923B And also ther ne sholde nevere be pees ne reste amonges hem, for everich wolde axen his owene thyng.
ParsT 924 And forther over, no man ne sholde knowe his owene engendrure, ne who sholde have his heritage;
ParsT 924A and the womman sholde been the lasse biloved fro the tyme that she were conjoynt to many men.
ParsT 925 Now comth how that a man sholde bere hym with his wif, and namely in two thynges;
ParsT 925A that is to seyn, in suffraunce and reverence, as shewed Crist whan he made first womman.
ParsT 926 For he ne made hire nat of the heved of Adam, for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe.
ParsT 927 For ther as the womman hath the maistrie, she maketh to muche desray.
ParsT 927A Ther neden none ensamples of this; the experience of day by day oghte suffise.
ParsT 928 Also, certes, God ne made nat womman of the foot of Adam, for she ne sholde nat been holden to lowe;
ParsT 928A for she kan nat paciently suffre. But God made womman of the ryb of Adam, for womman sholde be felawe unto man.
ParsT 929 Man sholde bere hym to his wyf in feith, in trouthe, and in love,
ParsT 929A as seith Seint Paul, that a man sholde loven his wyf as Crist loved hooly chirche,
ParsT 929B that loved it so wel that he deyde for it. So sholde a man for his wyf, if it were nede.
ParsT 930 Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hire housbonde, that telleth Seint Peter. First, in obedience.
ParsT 931 And eek, as seith the decree, a womman that is wyf, as longe as she is a wyf,
ParsT 931A she hath noon auctoritee to swere ne to bere witnesse withoute leve of hir housbonde,
ParsT 931B that is hire lord; algate, he sholde be so by resoun.
ParsT 932 She sholde eek serven hym in alle honestee, and been attempree of hire array.
ParsT 932A I woot wel that they sholde setten hire entente to plesen hir housbondes, but nat by hire queyntise of array.
ParsT 933 Seint Jerome seith that " wyves that been apparailled in silk and in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen hem in Jhesu Crist. "
ParsT 933A Loke what seith Seint John eek in thys matere?
ParsT 934 Seint Gregorie eek seith that " No wight seketh precious array but oonly for veyne glorie, to been honoured the moore biforn the peple. "
ParsT 935 It is a greet folye, a womman to have a fair array outward and in hirself be foul inward.
ParsT 936 A wyf sholde eek be mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge, and discreet in alle hire wordes and hire dedes.
ParsT 937 And aboven alle worldly thyng she sholde loven hire housbonde with al hire herte, and to hym be trewe of hir body.
ParsT 938 So sholde an housbonde eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body is the housbondes,
ParsT 938A so sholde hire herte been, or elles ther is bitwixe hem two, as in that, no parfit mariage.
ParsT 939 Thanne shal men understonde that for thre thynges a man and his wyf flesshly mowen assemble.
ParsT 939A The firste is in entente of engendrure of children to the service of God, for certes that is the cause final of matrimoyne.
ParsT 940 Another cause is to yelden everich of hem to oother the dette of hire bodies,
ParsT 940A for neither of hem hath power of his owene body. The thridde is for to eschewe leccherye and vileynye.
ParsT 940B The ferthe is for sothe deedly synne.
ParsT 941 As to the firste, it is meritorie; the seconde also, for, as seith the decree, that
ParsT 941A she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to hire housbonde the dette of hir body,
ParsT 941B ye, though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust of hire herte.
ParsT 942 The thridde manere is venyal synne; and, trewely, scarsly may ther any of thise be withoute venial synne,
ParsT 942A for the corrupcion and for the delit.
ParsT 943 The fourthe manere is for to understonde, as if they assemble oonly for amorous love and for noon of the foreseyde causes,
ParsT 943A but for to accomplice thilke brennynge delit, they rekke nevere how ofte.
ParsT 943B Soothly it is deedly synne; and yet, with sorwe, somme folk wol peynen hem moore to doon than to hire appetit suffiseth.
ParsT 944 The seconde manere of chastitee is for to been a clene wydewe,
ParsT 944A and eschue the embracynges of man, and desiren the embracynge of Jhesu Crist.
ParsT 945 Thise been tho that han been wyves and han forgoon hire housbondes,
ParsT 945A and eek wommen that han doon leccherie and been releeved by penitence.
ParsT 946 And certes, if that a wyf koude kepen hire al chaast by licence of hir housbonde,
ParsT 946A so that she yeve nevere noon occasion that he agilte, it were to hire a greet merite.
ParsT 947 Thise manere wommen that observen chastitee moste be clene in herte as wel as in body and in thought,
ParsT 947A and mesurable in clothynge and in contenaunce, and been abstinent in etynge and drynkynge, in spekynge, and in dede.
ParsT 947B They been the vessel or the boyste of the blissed Magdelene, that fulfilleth hooly chirche of good odour.
ParsT 948 The thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee, and it bihoveth that she be hooly in herte and clene of body.
ParsT 948A Thanne is she spouse to Jhesu Crist, and she is the lyf of angeles.
ParsT 949 She is the preisynge of this world, and she is as thise martirs in egalitee;
ParsT 949A she hath in hire that tonge may nat telle ne herte thynke.
ParsT 950 Virginitee baar oure Lord Jhesu Crist, and virgine was hymselve.
ParsT 951 Another remedie agayns Leccherie is specially to withdrawen swiche thynges as yeve occasion to thilke vileynye, as ese, etynge, and drynkynge.
ParsT 951A For certes, whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to withdrawe the fyr.
ParsT 952 Slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to Leccherie.
ParsT 953 Another remedie agayns Leccherie is that a man or a womman eschue the compaignye of hem
ParsT 953A by whiche he douteth to be tempted, for al be it so that the dede be withstonden, yet is ther greet temptacioun.
ParsT 954 Soothly, a whit wal, although it ne brenne noght fully by stikynge of a candele, yet is the wal blak of the leyt.
ParsT 955 Ful ofte tyme I rede that no man truste in his owene perfeccioun,
ParsT 955A but he be stronger than Sampson, and hoolier than David, and wiser than Salomon.
ParsT 956 Now after that I have declared yow, as I kan, the sevene deedly synnes,
ParsT 956A and somme of hire braunches and hire remedies, soothly, if I koude, I wolde telle yow the ten comandementz.
ParsT 957 But so heigh a doctrine I lete to divines. Nathelees, I hope to God,
ParsT 957A they been touched in this tretice, everich of hem alle.
ParsT 958 Now for as muche as the seconde partie of Penitence stant in confessioun of mouth,
ParsT 958A as I bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye, Seint Augustyn seith,
ParsT 959 " Synne is every word and every dede, and al that men coveiten, agayn the lawe of Jhesu Crist;
ParsT 959A and this is for to synne in herte, in mouth, and in dede, by thy fyve wittes,
ParsT 959B that been sighte, herynge, smellynge, tastynge or savourynge, and feelynge. "
ParsT 960 Now is it good to understonde the circumstances that agreggen muchel every synne.
ParsT 961 Thou shalt considere what thow art that doost the synne,
ParsT 961A wheither thou be male or femele, yong or oold, gentil or thral,
ParsT 961B free or servant, hool or syk, wedded or sengle, ordred or unordred, wys or fool, clerk or seculeer;
ParsT 962 if she be of thy kynrede, bodily or goostly, or noon;
ParsT 962A if any of thy kynrede have synned with hire, or noon; and manye mo thinges.
ParsT 963 Another circumstaunce is this: wheither it be doon in fornicacioun or in avowtrie or noon, incest or noon, mayden or noon,
ParsT 963A in manere of homicide or noon, horrible grete synnes or smale, and how longe thou hast continued in synne.
ParsT 964 The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thou hast do synne, wheither in oother mennes hous or in thyn owene,
ParsT 964A in feeld or in chirche or in chirchehawe, in chirche dedicaat or noon.
ParsT 965 For if the chirche be halwed, and man or womman
ParsT 965A spille his kynde inwith that place by wey of synne or by wikked temptacioun,
ParsT 965B the chirche is entredited til it be reconsiled by the bysshop.
ParsT 966 And the preest sholde be enterdited that dide swich a vileynye; to terme of al his lif he sholde namoore synge masse,
ParsT 966A and if he dide, he sholde doon deedly synne at every time that he so songe masse.
ParsT 967 The fourthe circumstaunce is by whiche mediatours, or by whiche messagers, as for enticement, or for consentement to bere compaignye with felaweshipe;
ParsT 967A for many a wrecche, for to bere compaignye, wol go to the devel of helle.
ParsT 968 Wherfore they that eggen or consenten to the synne been parteners of the synne, and of the dampnacioun of the synnere.
ParsT 969 The fifthe circumstaunce is how manye tymes that he hath synned,
ParsT 969A if it be in his mynde, and how ofte that he hath falle.
ParsT 970 For he that ofte falleth in synne, he despiseth the mercy of God, and encreesseth hys synne, and is unkynde to Crist;
ParsT 970A and he wexeth the moore fieble to withstonde synne, and synneth the moore lightly,
ParsT 971 and the latter ariseth, and is the moore eschew for to shryven hym, and namely, to hym that is his confessour.
ParsT 972 For which that folk, whan they falle agayn in hir olde folies, outher they forleten hir olde confessours al outrely
ParsT 972A or elles they departen hir shrift in diverse places; but soothly, swich departed shrift deserveth no mercy of God of his synnes.
ParsT 973 The sixte circumstaunce is why that a man synneth, as by which temptacioun, and if hymself procure thilke temptacioun,
ParsT 973A or by the excitynge of oother folk; or if he synne with a womman by force, or by hire owene assent;
ParsT 974 or if the womman, maugree hir hed, hath been afforced, or noon. This shal she telle:
ParsT 974A for coveitise, or for poverte, and if it was hire procurynge, or noon; and swich manere harneys.
ParsT 975 The seventhe circumstaunce is in what man