## The Seven Sages of Rome

### Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

### Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as sages.html and the header file was located in heads/sages_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 3

Short couplets. 2770 lines. Begins and ends imperfect with about 119 lines lost at the beginning, 1204 at the end and a five-line lacuna on f.89rb by comparison with Brunner's critical text.

Four other manuscripts of the A-redaction:
BL Arundel MS 140. Arundel also has the Speculum Gy de Warewyke in common with Auchinleck.
BL Egerton MS 1995.
CUL MS Ff.2.38 (olim no. 690). Late 15th century. Ff.2.38 also has in common with Auchinleck: A Peniworþ of Witt, Beues of Hamtoun, Guy of Warwick (different redaction) and Sir Degare.
Balliol College Oxford MS 354. 15th-16th century.
B-redaction:
CUL Dd.1.17.
C-redaction:
Bodleian Library MS 14667.
Cotton Galba E.ix.
D-redaction:
Asloan.
Edinburgh U.L. I.481.
Edinburgh U.L. I.521.

Edition:
K. Brunner, The Seven Sages of Rome, EETS OS 191 (London: Humphrey Milford for Oxford University Press, 1933). (Critical edition).

Other editions:
H. W. Weber, Metrical Romances, 3 vols (Edinburgh: Constable, 1810): 3.3-153.
F. J. Furnivall, E. Brock and W. A. Clouston, Originals and Analogues of Some of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Chaucer Society, Second Series, 7, 10, 15, 20, 22 (London: Trübner, 1872-87): 448-450.

Index 3187.

### Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

### The Seven Sages of Rome

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For þe mede of mi seruise [f.85ra] [Image] [120]
Tac me þi sone to loke and lore;
Of mi seruise kep I nammore;
And I þe wille þonke conne,
And al þe clergie vnder sonne
Ich wille into his bodi diȝt,[125]
Boþe bi dai and bi niȝt.’
Dioclician þe maistres herde,
He strok his berd and schok his ȝerde,
And on hem made milde chere
And spak þat hi alle miȝte ihere[130]
‘Þonke I ȝou kan, gode lordingges,
Of ȝoure gentil answerungges
I kan ȝou þonke of ȝoure speche,
Þat ȝe desire mi sone to teche,
ȝoure compaignie is fair and gent,[135]
Nel ich hit departe verraiment.’
He tok his sone bi þe hond anon,
An[d] bitauȝte him to hem euerichon.
Þai vnderfengen him wiȝ cher blithe
And þonged him a þousand sithe.[140]
Þe seuen wise wiȝ gret glorie,
Þat child ladde to consistorie,
Þat is a stede wiȝinne Rome,
Þer men makeȝ wise dome.
Þis seuen wise men in boke[145]
Here conseil þere togider toke
Þat he scholde nowt in Rome bilaue,
For burgeis, maiden, oþer knaue
Miȝte him in som riot sette
Þat al his lore he scholde lette.[150]
Þer þai toke togideres alle
Þai wolde make a riche halle
Wiȝouten Rome in on verger
A mile þennes bi o riuer -
Tiber hit hatte wiȝouten dout[155]
A mile long al about.
Alle tres þerinne were,
Þat ani frut an erthe bere.
Amideward þai founden a space,
An euene and a grene place,[160]
Þerinne þai set an halle anon
Boþe of lim and of ston.
Quaire hit was wiȝ chaumbres seuene,
Was non fairer into heuene. [f.85rb] [Image]
Þe halle was a midewerd[165]
Þe fairest of þis midelerd.
Þerinne was paint of Donet þre pars,
And eke alle þe seuen ars.
Þe firste so was grammarie,
Musike and astronomie,[170]
Geometrie and ars metrike [ metrike: MS reads mutike.]
Rettorike and ek fisike.
Þe segh was in þe halle
Þe ars to bihelden alle.
Whan o maister him let anoþer him tok,[175]
He was euer vpon his bok,
And to his lore tok gret kepe,
But whan he ete oþer he slepe.
Þe ferȝe ȝer, hit was no dout,
Wiȝ his maister he gan to despout,[180]
Þe fifte ȝe[r] he gan argument
Of þe sterre and of þe firmament.
Þei wolde proue in þe sexte ȝer
ȝif he ware wis and wer.
Leues þai tok sextene[185]
Of Juy þat were grene.
Vnder ech stapel of his bed
Þat he niste four þai hid.
Þe child ȝede to bedde aniȝt
And ros arliche amorewen, apliȝt.[190]
Hise maistres him bifore stode,
Open hefd, wiȝouten hode.
Þe child lokede here & tar,
Vp and doun and eueri whar.
Hise maistres askede wat him was.[195]
‘Par fai’ he seide ‘a ferli cas.
Oþer ich am of wine dronke,
Oþer þe firmament is isonke,
Oþer wexen is þe grounde [ wexen: MS reads weren.]
Þe þiknes of four leues rounde.[200]
So muche to niȝt heyer I lai
Certes þanne ȝisterdai.’
Þe maistres þo wel vnderstode
He coude inow of alle gode.
Þe seuende ȝer so tok he on,[205]
He passede his maistres euerichon.
Togider þai made gret solas,
Ac sone hem fil a ferli cas. [f.85va] [Image]
Dioclician þat was in Rome,
A riche man and wis of dome,[210]
Hise barons comen to him on a dai,
And ‘sire, par nostre fai,
ȝe libbeȝ an alenge lif;
ȝe scholde take a gentil wif
Þat ȝou mi[ȝ]t som solas do,[215]
And biȝeten children mo.
Inow ȝe habben of werldes won,
To make hem riche euerichon.’
Þemperour was wel ipaied
Wiȝ þat þe....... had seid, [220] [erasure between þe and had.]
Sone he let him puruai
An emperice of gret noblai.
He went him self and sent his sond
Widewhar into fele lond
Fort þat þai ani founde[225]
A dammeisele of gret mounde.
Þai brouwte here tofore þemperour.
He segh sche was of feir colour,
He wot sche was of hegȝ parage;
Anon þai asked þe mariage.[230]
Þai weren iwedded bi commun dome
Anon in þe gise of Rome,
And louede hem þourg alle þing.
Herkneȝ nou a selli tiding.
Þing ihid ne þing istole,[235]
Ne mai nowt longe be forhole.
Ne þing mai forhole be
But Godes owen priuete.
Som squier or som seriant nice
Had itold þemperice[240]
Al of þemperoures sone,
Hou he wiȝ þe maistres wone.
And hire schildre scolde be bastards
And he schal haue al þe wardes
Vnder hest and vnder hond[245]
Of þempire and al þe lond.
Þan couþe sche boþe qued an[d] god
And sone sche gan to pekke mod,
And þoughte, so stepmoder doþ
Into falsenesse [to] torne soþ[250]
And brew swich a beuerage
Þat scholde Florentin bicache. [f.85vb] [Image]
Ac mani weneȝ oþer to herte
And on hem selue falleȝ al þe smerte.
Þemperour and his wif[255]
Þat he louede als his lif
In chaumbre togidere þai sete.
Gladliche þai dronke and ete;
‘Sire’ ȝhe saide ‘gentil emperour,
I þe loue wiȝ fin amour[260]
And þou nowt me sike[r]li.
Sire, ihc wil telle þe whi.
Seue ȝer hit is þat þou me nome
And made me emperice of Rome,
Þi make at bord and at bedde,[265]
And o þing þou hast fram [me] hedde.
Þou hast a sone to scole itauȝt;
Lat me him se, warn me him nauȝt.
Hit is þi sone and þin air,
A wis child and a fair.[270]
Þi most time þou hast ben kyng
Þou drawest fast to þin e[n]ding.
Fond we, sire, in joie libbe
And haue joie of oure sibbe.
For þi sone I tel mine[275]
Alse wel als tou dost þine.
Parauenture hit mai falle so
Þat neuer eft ne tit vs mo.
ȝif þou me louest ani wiȝt
Let me of him han a siȝt.’[280]
‘Certes, dame’ seide þemperour
‘Hit ne schal nowt be long soiour.
Tomorewe ar vndertide of dai
Þou schalt him sen, par ma fai.’
And sche seide wiȝ chere blithe[285]
‘Graunt merci, sire, a þousend sithe.’ [ þousend: MS reads þounsed.]
Amorewe þemperour gan rise,
And cloþed him in riche gise.
Messagers he clepede to
And quik þai com toforn him bo.[290]
He scharged hem wiȝ his message
And bad hem grete þe seuen sage.
‘And seieȝ hem, wiȝ wordes bonair,
Mi sone þat þai atire fair,
And brenge him hom in faire manere,[295]
For ich wil quik of him here, [f.86ra] [Image]
Hou he had sped þis seue ȝer
Me þinkeȝ longe þat ner er.’
Þe messagers anon forht sprong
I not bi waie ȝif þai song[300]
Til þai come to þat inne
Þer þe maistres woned inne.
And as we finden writen in bok,
Aiþer oþer be þe hond tok
And in þai wente riȝt euene[305]
And founde þe maistres alle seuene
Disputend in hire latyn
Wiȝ þat child Florentyn.
Þe messagers on knes hem sette
And þe seuen wise þai grette[310]
In þemperours bihelue,
And þe child be him selue,
And seide þat emperour het
His sone þat þai bringge him sket
To Rome toun to his presens.[315]
‘ȝour trauail and ȝoure despens
He wil aquite for ech a ȝer
After þat ȝhe worthi wer.’
Þe messagers were welcome,
And bi þe hond quik ynome[320]
And at þe mete tales hem telde
What þe sonne gan to helde.
Hout wente þe maistres seuene
And bihelden vp toward heuene.
Þai seghe þe constillacioun[325]
Þe wisest in þat so was Katoun;
He gan to loke in þe mone,
And seide þat him þoughte sone.
‘Lordinges’ he saide ‘for Godes sond,
To mi telling vnderstond.[330]
Þenperour to ous had sent
To brenge him his sone gent.
ȝif we him bring biforn our lord,
He sterueȝ ate ferste word
Þat he schal in court speke.[335]
Þanne he wil of ous be wreke,
To drawe ous oþer to hongi sone,
Þis I se wel in þe mone.’
Þe oþer saide wiȝouten oþ
Þat Catoun hem saide soht. [f.86rb] [Image] [340]
Schild Florentin was lered in boke
And in a ster he gan to loke
Whiche þat sat next þe mone,
And saide þat him þoughte sone
Þat he wist þourgh alle þing[345]
Of þat sterre þe toknyng.
Þanne saide þe maistres to Florentin
‘What sextou, leue child, þarin?’
He saide ‘maister, I schal wel liuen,
ȝif I mai, þis daies seuen;[350]
Kepe me fram answering,
I mai liue to god ending,
And sauue me to warisoun
And ȝou fram destruccioun.’
Þe maistres han wel devise[355]
Þ[e] childes tale was god and wise.
Þan seide maister Bancillas,
‘Her is now a ferli cas.
Counseil we al her vpon
Hou þat we mai best don.’[360]
Þan saide þe schild ‘saunȝ fail,
Ich ȝou riȝt wil counseil.
Þis seuen daies I nel nowt speke
Nowt o word of mi mowht breke.
And ȝe beȝ maistres gode and wise,[365]
In al þis werld of mest prise.
Litel ȝe conne, par ma fai,
But echon of ȝo mai saue me a dai.
Þe aiȝteden dai ich me selue
So þe ax pelt in þe helue[370]
Þat schal hewe þe wai atwo
Þat had wrout me þis wo.’
Þan saide maister Bancillas
‘So God me helpe and seint Nicholas,
I schal þe waranti o dai.’[375]
‘And I’ quaþ Catoun ‘par ma fai,
Schal þe warant anoþer also.’
Alle þe maistres speken þo;
Þai wald [wiȝ] wit and resoun,
Saue þe child fram destruccioun,[380]
Fram schame and fram vilani.
‘Maistres’ he saide ‘graunt merci.
Certes, hi[t] bihoueȝ so
For I sschal þoli mochel wo [f.86va] [Image]
Gret despit and strong turment,[385]
But ȝe be queinte of argument.
Wiȝ þis word þai ben alle
Departed and comen to halle
And maked at ese þe messagers
Wiȝ god semblant and glade chers.[390]
And whan hit com to time of niȝt,
To riche bed þai were idiȝt,
And Florentin þe schild also
To his bed he gan to go;
And þouȝt al niȝt her and tar,[395]
Hou þat he miȝt be wis and war
To ouercome þe emperice
Þat he nere nowt iholden nice.
Þe niȝt passeȝ, þe dai comen is,
Þe seuen maistres arisen iwis.[400]
Þe maistres and þe messagers
Habbeȝ greiþed here destre[r]s
And þat schild wel fair idiȝt
And went hem forht anonriȝt.
Þai dede hem out of þat gardin,[405]
Þat is icleped þe bois of seint Martin
And here way toke to Rome.
Þe maistres here wai aȝen nome.
Tiding had þemperour
His sone com wiȝ gret honur.[410]
Anon he let a stede diȝt
And rod him aȝen wiȝ mani a kniȝt;
Whan he him seghȝ þan was he bliȝe
And kest him wel mani a siþe.
Kniȝt and erl and mani baroun[415]
Kiste þe emperours soun
And ladde him wiȝ gret noblais
To þemperour palais.
Þe emperice him wil honur,
Do him sende into hire bour;[420]
Scho ladde fram bour to bour
And dede here mene make retour.
ȝe sschette þe dore and set him on benche.
Wil ȝe nou ihere of wommannes wrenche?
Þe emperice was queinte in dede,[425]
And [in] hire wrenche and in hire falshede.
ȝhe and þe schild alone wer þan,
Was wiȝ hem non oþer man. [f.86vb] [Image]
Be his side ȝhe set hire fast,
On him sche gan her egȝen kast[430]
And saide ‘mi leue suete grom,
Swiþe welcome be þou hom.
I haue icast to þe mi loue
Of al worhtlich þing aboue.
Þi louerd þe emperour is old,[435]
Of kinde, of bodi he is cold.
I swere, bi sonne and bi mone,
Wiȝ me ne hadde he neuer to done.
But for ich herde telle of þi pris,
Þat þou were hende, gentil, and wis.[440]
For to haue wiȝ þe acord,
Ich am iwedded to þi lord.
Kes me, lemman, and loue me,
& I þi soget wil ibe.
So God me helpe, for he hit wot,[445]
To þe ich haue ikept mi mai(n)denhod.’
Sche kest here armes aboute his swere,
Ac he made lourand chere
And drowȝ awai wiȝ al his miȝt;
He wold his lord don non vnriȝt.[450]
Whan þe emperice þat vnderstod,
Al achaunged was hire blod,
And saide to him ‘sweting fre
Whi nel tou nowt speke wiȝ me?’
For no þing þat sche miȝtte do,[455]
O word nolde he speken her to.
Þan þe emperice wex wroþ,
Sche tar hire her and ek here cloþ,
Here kirtel, here pilche of ermine,
Here keuerchefs of silk, here smok o line,[460]
Al togidere, wiȝ boþe fest,
Sche torent bineþen here brest.
Wiȝ boþe honden here ȝaulew here
Out of þe tresses sche hit tere,
And ssche tocragged hire visage,[465]
And gradde ‘harow!’ wiȝ gret rage.
In halle was þemperour,
‘Who had þe don þis desonur?’
‘Bot þis deuel þat her is,
Hadde me ner ihonisscht, iwis.[470]
Hadde ich ben a while stille
Wiȝ me he hadde don his wille. [f.87ra] [Image]
And but ȝe hadde þe raþer icome,
Par force he hadde me forht inome. [ hadde altered from dhadde.]
Lo hou he [h]ad me torent,[475]
Mi bodi & mi face isschent.
He ne was neuere of þi blod;
Lat him binde, for he his wod.
A fend he is in kinde of man;
Binde him, sire, and lede han,[480]
For wod of wit ischal be,
ȝif ich lengere on him see.’
‘He sschal abigge’ saide þemperour,
And cleped forht a turmentour.
Quik he het his sone take,[485]
& spoili him of cloþes nake,
& beten him wiȝ scourges stronge,
& afterward him hegȝe anhonge.
‘Bleþeliche’ þe boies quaþe,
& tok þe schild swithe rathe,[490]
And ladde him forht þourgh þe halle
Among þerles and barons alle.
Euele þai gonnen him bisen,
Gentil ronnen hem bitwen,
And asked anon of þis cas.[495]
Þai saide here lordes heste hit was.
Anon þai ronnen into þe bour,
Biforn here lord þe emperour,
And blamed him he dede þat dede,
Wiȝouten counseil and rede,[500]
And bad him þat þilke sorewe
Most be respit til amorewe,
‘And þanne saue him oþer slen,
Bi conseil of þi gentil men.’
Þe emperour þan spared his sone,[505]
And het him caste in his prisone.
Þe emperice was fol wroȝ,
Þat þe child was spared, for soht,
And wel mochel hit here traid,
Sche þought wel more þanne ȝhe said.[510]
An euen late þe emperour
Was browt to bedde wiȝ honur
Þe emperice his worhtli fere
To him cam wiȝ lourand chere
And þe emperour asked why[515]
ȝhe made semblant so sori. [f.87rb] [Image]
‘O sire’ ȝe saide ‘no wonder nis,
For now to londe icomen is
He þat schal, in þin eld age,
Binime þe þin heritage.’[520]
‘Pais, dame, who sschal þat be?’
‘Þin howen sone, I segge þe.’
‘Min owen sone? dame, nay,
Ne schalt tou neuere se þat dai
Þat he schal haue ani miȝt[525]
Me for to don vnriȝt.’
‘Pais, sire, what halt hit heled
Todai þo hast him fram deþ ispeled,
Ase wel mot hit like þe
Als dede þe pinnote tre[530]
Of his ympe þat he forht browte.’
Þe emperour lai & more þougȝte
And bad hire wiȝ semblaunt fre
Tellen him of þat ilche tre,
And of þe ympe al þe cas.[535]
‘Whilom a riche burgeis was
And woned her in Rome toun,
A riche man of gret renoun.
He hadde bihinden his paleys
A fair gardin of noblays[540]
Ful of appel-tres and (and) of pirie,
Foules songe þerinne murie.
Amideward þat gardyn fre,
So wax a pinnote tre,
Þat hadde fair bowes and frut[545]
Þervnder was al his dedut.
He made þervnder a grene bench
And drank þervnder mani a sscench.
Certes þerinne was al his plaiyng
In time of solas and his resting.[550]
So bifel vpon a dai,
Þe burgeis fram home tok his wai,
He bouȝte marchaundise & his chaffare
And bileued oute al a ȝare.
Also sone so he miȝte[555]
Homward he gan him diȝte.
Whan he was liȝ[t] at his in,
Quik he wente to his gardin,
His fair tre for to sen.
Þanne segȝ he wexe a litel stren, [f.87va] [Image] [560]
A ȝong ympe vt of his rote;
Fair hit him þougȝte and swote.
Ac þat ympe þat so sprong,
Hit was sschort & noþing long.
Þe burgeis cleped his gardiner[565]
“Lo!” he saide “lo, me her.[“]
Seste þou þis ympe of gret mounde?
Kanst þou me telle, gode bounde,
Whi hit is so schort wering?”
“ȝa, sire” he saide “be heuene-king,[570]
Þe grete bouȝ þat ouer him is
So him bisschadeweȝ, iwis,
Þat hit mai haue no þedom.”
“Steȝe vp” he saide “mi gode grom,[“]
& hak awai þe grete bouȝ,[575]
Þat hit ne do min ympe no wouȝ.”
Þe gardiner, as his louerd het,
Hew awai þe bouȝ al swet,
And asked ȝif hit was wel ido.
Anoþer he bad him kit þerto,[580]
“Þan mai, wiȝouten letting,[“]
Min himpe iolifliche spring.”
Nou ben hise bowes awai isschore,
And mochel of his beaute forlore.
Þe ympe had roum and wexeȝ fast.[585]
Þe olde tre his vertu gan acast.
For no wonder hit nis:
Of þe maister rote hit is
Out ispronge & out isshet.
And his bowes awai iket,[590]
Þarfore þat olde tre les his pride,
& asered bi þat o side.
Þe gode burgeis on a dai,
His ympe þriuende he sai,
Fair iwoxe and fair isprad,[595]
But þe olde tre was al abrad.
He clepid his gardener þo
And asked whi þe olde tre verd so.
He answerede, als he wel couþe,
“Sikerliche, ich telle þe nouþe,[600]
Þe ȝonge impe þat wide springes,
Had large roum in alle þingges,
And for þe elde tre is so ihewed,
Hit [is] so wikked and so sschrewed.” [f.87vb] [Image]
Þe burgeis seide “Seþ þe þe elde[605]
Biginneȝ so to vnbelde,
Hewe him to þe grounde doun riȝt,
Lat þe ȝonge tre atire, apliȝt.”
Þous was þe olde tre doun iþrawe,
And þe ȝonge tre forht idrawe.[610]
Gode sire, gent and fre,
Þat olde tre bitokneȝ þe.
Þe ȝonge bitokneȝ þi sone wode,
Þat is ispronge out of þi blode.
He sschal be sone forht idrawe,[615]
And maister, and þou his knaue.
Hit wil wel sone ben ido,
But þou take kep þerto;
And but þou do, þou ne hast no miȝt.
Þat I biseke to oure driȝt,[620]
Þat als hit mote fare bi þe,
As dede bi þe pinnote tre.’
‘Certes dame, þou seist for nowt,
I ne sschal neuere so ben bicauȝt.
Ich þe bihote, sikerliche,[625]
He schal tomorewe erliche,
To deȝ be don, and þat is riȝt.’
And þous passede þe ferste niȝt. [ ferste: r is superscript.]
Amorewe aros þe emperour,
And mani baroun of gret honur.[630]
Men vndede þe gates of þe paleis,
In com goende mani burgeis.
Sone was fild paleys and tour,
In com goind þemperour.
‘Goht’ he seiȝ ‘to þe prisone,[635]
And fechcheȝ forht mine sone,
And quik þat he ware anhonge
On heghe galewes and on stronge.’
Þe boies ȝede anon doun,
And fesched þe child out of prisoun[640]
And ladde him forht þour þe halle,
Among þe erles and barouns alle.
For þat schild þat naked was
Mani bede þemperice euel gras.
Þan com ridend Bancillas,[645]
Þe childes firste maister he was,
And segȝe his deciple harde bistad; [ deciple altered from deciphe.]
Þerfore he was in herte vnglad. [f.88ra] [Image]
He rod to þemperours halle,
And liȝte and passede þe kniȝtes alle,[650]
And fint sone þemperour,
And ‘Sire’ saide ‘Deu vous doint boniour.’
Þemperour saide ‘God þe defende,
Fram god dai and fram god ende.’
¶ Þan seide maister Bancillas,[655]
‘Whi artou wroht, and for what cas?
Wiltou sle þin owen child?
Ne were þou wone be god and mild?’
‘Hit nis no wonder’ saide þemperour
‘Þou sschalt ben anhonged, þou loseniour.[660]
For to þe and þine fere
I bitok mi sone to lere,
For to han itauȝt him god,
And ȝe han imad him wod.
Mi wif he wolde haue forleyn;[665]
Hit nis no wonder þough I haue trayn.
He schal þerfore ben islawe,
And afterward al todrawe.’
Þan seide maister Bancillas,
‘Sire, þat were now a sori cas.[670]
Þei he had iwraththed ȝour wif,
ȝit he had nowt agelt his lif.
Sauue ȝoure grace, wene ich hit nowt,
Hit euere com in his þout.’
Þemperour saide ‘i fond hire torent,[675]
Hire her, and hire face ischent;
And who is founde hond habbing,
Hit nis non nede of witnessing.’
Saide Bancillas ‘hit nis non hale
To leue stepmoderes tale.[680]
ȝif þou him slest bi hire purchas,
On þe falle swich a cas
As fel vpon a gentil kniȝt
And of his graihond þat was so wiȝt.’
‘O maister, for Godes mounde,[685]
Hou bifel þe kniȝt of his grehonde?’
‘Þer while, sire, þat I tolde þis tale,
Þi sone miȝte þolie dethes bale;
Þanne were mi tale forlore.
Ac ofsende þi sone þerfore,[690]
And ȝif him respit of his bale,
And þou sschalt here a foul fair tale.’ [f.88rb] [Image]
Þemperour saide ‘respit I graunt.
Fech him hider a seriaunt.’
Quik ran þe messager[695]
Wiȝ god semblant and glade cher,
He louted his maister þat com him bi,
As he was lad to prisoun sti.
‘Maister’ seide þemperour ‘tel þis cas.’
‘Bleþeliche’ saide sire Bancillas.[700]
Sire, whilom was in þis cite
In a dai of þe trinete
A swiþe noble strong burdis,
Of men þat were of noble pris.
In a mede was þis turney,[705]
Of men þat were of gret noblai.
Þe knyȝt in þe mede hadde o maner,
Al biclosed wiȝ o riuer,
Of chaumbres and of hegȝe halle
Of old werk, forcrased alle.[710]
Þe kniȝt hadde a fair leuedi,
A wel fair child sche hadde him bi.
Hit hadde of þre norices keping:
Þe ferste ȝaf hit soukeȝing,
Þat oþer norice him scholde baþe[715]
Whan hit was time late and raþe,
Þe þridde norice him sscholde wassche;
Þe child was keped tendre an[d] nessche.
Þe kniȝt hadde a graihond,
Þ[er] nas no better in lond ifound.[720]
Alle þe bestes þat ran to
He tok, boþe hert and ro.
He was so hende and wel itauȝt,
He nolde ȝiue him for non auȝt.
Þe kniȝt was lopen on his stede,[725]
And armed wel in iren wede,
Þe sscheld aboute his nekk, þe spere on his hond
And burdised wiȝ þe kniȝtes of þe lond.
Þe leuedi stod in pointt tournis,
For to bihelde þe burdis.[730]
Þe norice went out of þe halle,
& set þe cradel vnder þe walle.
Mani stede þer ran and lep,
To hem men toke gode kep.
An addre was norissched in þe wal[735]
And herde þe riding and þe noise al, [f.88va] [Image]
And pelt out here heued to se þat wonder,
And segh þat schild ligge þervnder.
He crep to grounde quik anon,
In þe cradel þe child to slon.[740]
Þe graihond seghȝ þe adder red,
Grislich, rough, strong, and qued.
Anon he gan hire to asail,
And hente here in his mouþ saun fail.
Þe adder so þe grehound stang,[745]
& he feled þe bite so strang.
Anon he let þe adder gon,
Vpon þe cradel ȝhe fleiȝ anon,
& was aboute þe child to sting,
& þe greihond com ȝerne flingging,[750]
& hente þe adder in strong ger [ strong: g added superscript.]
& flapped here al aboute his er.
Bitwene þe adder and þe grehound
Þe cradel turnd vp so doun on ground.
Vp so doun in hire feghȝting,[755]
Þat þe child lai diueling.
Þe stapeles hit vp held al quert,
Þat þe child nas nowt ihert.
Þaddre so þe greihoun bot,
Bi þe side, god hit wot.[760]
He cried and on þe cradel lep,
& bledde þeron a wel gret hep.
& whan þe smert was al igon,
To þat addre he sterte anon,
And bi þe bodi he him hent[765]
And al to peces here torent.
Þe grehound wolde nowt sessed be
Til þat adder ware toren of þre,
And al þe place þeraboute,
Was wel blodi wiȝouten doute.[770]
Þe burdis toȝede, þe folk gan hom tee,
And þe norices alle þre
Þe cradel and þe child þai found
Vp so doun vpon þe ground;
Þe greihoun[d] criede for his smert.[775]
Þe norice was sori in hert,
& ech of hem vnderstode
Þat þe greihond was wod
And hadde þat faire child islawe;
Awai þai gonne fle and drawe, [f.88vb] [Image] [780]
Als hit were wode wimmen.
Þe leuedi com hom aȝen
And asked hem what hem was.
Anon þai telde here al þe cas.
Þai lowen on þat greihond hende;[785]
Hit was pite, so God mamende.
Þe leuedi, when sche herde þis,
Aswone sche fil adoun, iwis.
Þe kniȝt com fram þe iusting fare,
Anon asked hem what hem ware.[790]
“Sire” quadȝ ȝhe “ich wille bi ded,[“]
I nelle neuer ete bred,
For þi greihond þat is so wilde,
Haþ islawe oure faire childe.
& but ȝe willen him slen anon,[795]
Riȝt now ich wille mi lif forgon.” [ Riȝt: t added superscript.]
Þe kniȝt for rage into halle set,
His hende graihond þer he met,
Þat him welcomed wiȝ fot and tail.
Þe kniȝt drowȝ his swerd saunȝ fail,[800]
Þe graihond on þe rigge he hit,
Into þe grounde he him slit.
Þe greihound is ded, þe kniȝt forþ goþ [MS transposes the last two words of line 803.]
Into his halle grim and wroþ.
Of þe adder he fond mani tronsoun[805]
And þe cradel vp so doun.
He turneȝ þe cradel and fint þe child quik,
Hol and sond, and haþ ferlich.
He seghȝ þe adder þe graihound slowȝ,
He hadde slawen his greihond wiȝ wouȝ.[810]
He cride and made mochel sorewe
“Ne be þat man neuere iborewe,[“]
But in euel water adreint
Þat euer leue wimmannes pleint.”
Eft he makeȝ a gret cri,[815]
And he clepeȝ þe leuedi,
& on þe kniȝtes and sweines also,
& pleined him of his mochel wo,
& sschewede his child hol and sound,
& slawen was his gode graihond,[820]
For his prouesse and his god dede,
Al for his fole wiues rede.
“O grehound” he seide “wiȝt and strong,[“]
I schal mi selue abigge þat wrong, [f.89ra] [Image]
And tache oþer kniȝtes saun fail,[825]
To leue here leuedis conseil.”
He set him doun in þat þrawe,
Als quik he dede his sschon of drawe,
And karf hise vaumpes fot-hot,
And wente him forht al barfot,[830]
Wiȝouten leue of wif and child,
And wente into a forest wild,
Into desert fram alle men;
Wolde he neuer come aȝen.
He þolede mani a biter stounde[835]
For þe wrong of his greihonde.
So falle on þe, sire emperour,
Swich arm and sschame & desonur,
ȝif þou do þi sone vnriȝt,
Als to þe greihound dede þe kniȝt.[840]
Þourgȝ þe counseil of hiis wif
He sloughȝ his greihond nowt geltif.’
‘O maister, bi Peter þat ich haue souȝt,
So schal hit bifalle nowt.
Nou bi God þat I schal serue[845]
Todai more ne schal he sterue.’
Þe court wente, þe maister tok leue,
Hit gan sone to wexen eue.
Þemperour com to chaumbre anon,
Þemperice him loured vpon.[850]
Þemperour saide ‘Dame, artou wroȝ?’
‘ȝe, sire’ ȝe saide ‘for soht.’
‘Tel me now, sweting fre.’ [ sweting: g is superscript.]
‘Þou wost wel, so mot ich se,
For I þe warni of þine fon,[855]
And þou ne kanst me þank non.
Þou clepest þi sone, he is þe deuel,
He sschal þe do wel mochel iuel.
But þou me of him wil awreke,
Al folk mot hit wite and speke.[860]
He mot þe bringge to swich ending,
Als hadde þe bor for his cracheing.’
‘Þe bor, dame, tel þat me,
Whi for cracheing deied he?’
‘Sire nou þou wilt wite þat cas,[865]
Ich wille þe telle hou hit was.’
‘Sire’ quaþ þe leuedi ‘here bi west
Þer was a fair riche forest. [f.89rb] [Image]
A bor was norisscht þarinne,
Fram a pig to a swine.[870]
Of þe bor was swich los
To gon þerinne ech man agros.
Ne dorst þer come kniȝt ne swein.
In þe forest was a plein,
And in þe pleyn a tre of hawes[875]
Þat ripe were be þo dawes.
Þe bor hem gan ful sone asmelle,
Ech [dai] he het þerof his felle.
In þat forest woned an herd,
Þat of bestes loked an[d] sterd.[880]
O best him was arauȝt,
Widewar he hit hadde isouȝt.
Be þe hawe tre he gan come
& þouȝte to haue þerof some.
Ful he gaderede his barm,[885]
ȝet ne þouȝt he of non harm.
In his oþer lappe he gaderede some,
Þe felle bor bicam to come.
Þe herde him seghȝ and was ofdrad,
He dorst nowt fle, he was so mad.[890]
Vp to þe hawe tre he steghȝ,
Þe bor him com swiȝe neghȝ.
And he ne findeȝ hawe non,
As he was iwont to don.
He loked vp and segȝ þe herd[895]
He criede and makede rewli rerd.
He wette his tossches and his fet,
Þe erthe wiȝ his snowte he bet.
Þourh þe mouht þe fom was wiȝt,
Þe tussches in þe tre he smit.[900]
Þe tre aresede as hit wold falle,
Þe herde was sori adrad wiȝalle.
{5 lines omitted from Auchinleck text}[905]
And he gan sone on knes to falle.
Þ[o] iseþ ȝ þe herd man
Þat þe bor falle bigan,[910]
He kest þe bor doun hawes anowe
And com him self doun bi a bowe.
Wiȝ þe left hond he heng,
And wiȝ þe riȝt hond on þe bor he feng.
He clew þe bor on þe rigge,[915]
And he bigan adoun to ligge.
He clewe him eft vpon þe wombe, [f.89va] [Image]
He fil adoun als a lombe.
He lek his eghen and gan to slape,
Þe knif drouȝ þe herde knape.[920]
Out he drouȝ scharp an long,
Þe bor to þe herte he stong.
Þe herd þous wiȝ his long knif [ herd: MS reads bor.]
Biraft þe bor of his lif.
He went him forþ and let him ligge.[925]
Lo! sire emperour, I þe sigge,
Þou art þe bor, þi maister þe clawes,
Wiȝ fals resoun and wikkede sawes,
And on þe he whetteȝ his teȝ,
Til þai þe bringge to þi deȝ.[930]
Wiȝ clawing þai sculle þe desceiue,
Til þai þe sle wiȝ deþes glaiue.’
‘Certes, dame, I sigge no,
Hit schal neuere bifalle so.
For soþe he sschal tomorewe dai,[935]
Wiȝouten ani more derai.’
And sche saide ones oþer twiis,
‘Gentil sire, graunt mercys.
God ȝif þe þerto strengþe and miȝt [ strengþe: MS reads strengye ]
To deȝe him do er hit be niȝt.[940]
Þe niȝt passede, þe dai com,
Þe heghe emperour of Rom
Went adoun of his tour,
Wiȝ herte wroþ and gret irour.
Men vnlek gate and halle dore, [945] [ vnlek: MS reads vnkek.]
Barouns entrede in a store.
Sone was filt paleys and tour,
In com gon þemperour,
Biforen hem alle, in grete traye.
He het mani a wikke boie[950]
His son lede toward þe hangging;
Hit was ido wiȝouten letting.
And riȝt amideward þe pres
Com ride maister Ancilles,
Þat þe childes oþer maister was,[955]
And iseȝ þat ferli cas.
Toward þe halle he gan driue,
And highede þider fast and bliue,
And fond sone þat emperour,
And gret him sone wiȝ honur.[960]
Þemperour sikerliche [f.89vb] [Image]
On him loked litherliche,
And to þe maister he saide þore
‘Maugre haue þou for þi lore.
Þou hast iserued wikked mede,[965]
Þou schalt hit haue, so Crist me spede.’
Þ(þ)an saide maister Ancilles[()]
‘For Godes loue, sire, hold þi pes.
Wiltou sle þin owen sone?
To ben milde hit was þi wone.’[970]
‘Hit nis no wonder’ saide þemperour
‘Þou schalt ben anhonged, þou vile loseniour.
Ich tok þe mi sone to lore
For to teche him wisdom more
And ȝe han him bitreid;[975]
His speche is loren, ich am desmaid.
Mi wif he wolde haue forht itake.
To deȝ’ he seide ‘he schal ben don wiȝ wrake.’
Þan seide þe maister ‘hit is non hale
To leue stepmoderes tale,[980]
For here bolt is sone ischote,
More to harm þan to note.
ȝif þou him [sle] bi hire purchas,
On þe falle swich a cas,
Als fil on Ypocras þe gode clerk [985] [ Ypocras: MS has Þpocras. But thorn often overdotted and represents y. Therefore transcribed as y throughout.]
Þat slow his neueu wiȝ fals werk.’
‘Maister’ he saide ‘tel me þat cas
Of þe scoler and of Ypocras.’
Ancilles said als-so tit
‘Þi sone todai mak þou quit,[990]
Til tomorewe hit be dai-liȝt,
And I þe scha[l] telle anonriȝt,
Wiȝ gret felonie and wiȝ wouhȝ
Hou Ypocras his neuen slowȝ.’
‘I schal him respite’ saide þemperour,[995]
And het anon, wiȝouten soiour
Men scholde aȝen fechche his sone
And caste him into presone.
Þe child was brout into þe toun
Wiȝ a fair processioun[1000]
And into presoun pilt he was.
Nou ginneȝ þe tale of Ypocras.
Sire Ypocras was maister here,
Of lechecraft was non his pere.
He hadde wiȝ him his neueu [f.90ra] [Image] [1005]
Þat schild lere of his vertu.
He segh þe child so queinte of lore,
He wolde techen him nammore.
He þouȝte wel, at a score,
He sscholde passi him bifore.[1010]
Þe child aparceiued wel þis
& held hit in his herte, iwis.
His emes werk he gan aspie
Til he couþe al his maistrie.
Þo Ypocras wel he fond[1015]
Bi craft of þe childes hond,
Þat he couþe al his mastrie,
& brast neȝ for onde & vie.
So bifel vpon a time a þing: [ þing: MS reads ȝing.]
Of Hongrie þe riche king[1020]
Hadde swich a sone gent,
To Ypocras anon he sent,
Þat he scholde come his sone to hale,
And habbe gold ful a male.
Ypocras wende ne miȝt[1025]
But cleped his neueu anonriȝt,
And bad him wenden to þat lond,
And þat schild take an hond.
And whan he hadde so ido,
He scholde aȝen comen him to[1030]
Þe schild was set on a palefrai
And forht he tok þe riȝte way.
And whan he com to þat lond
Þe king him tok bi þe hond
And ladde him to his sike childe –[1035]
Now Crist of heuene be ous milde.
Þe ȝonge man seȝ þe childes peyne
And tasted his senewe and his veyne,
He takeȝ an vrinal for to sen.
He ne seȝ nowt of þe kyng, but of þe quen.[1040]
And of þe child, God hit wite,
He seȝ hit was amis biȝete.
He gan þe leuedi aside drawe
“Dame” he saide “be aknawe[“]
What man had biȝete þis child?”[1045]
“What” ȝe saide “artou wild?[“]
Who sschulde him biȝete but þe kyng?”
“Dame” he saide “þat is soht no þing.[“]
Hit nas neuere of kinges stren.” [f.90rb] [Image]
“Let” ȝhe saide “swich wordes ben[1050]
Oþer I schal do bete þe so
Þat þo schalt neuere ride ne go.”
“Dame” he saide “bi swiche tale[“]
Þi sone scha[l] neuere more ben hale.
Ac tel me, dame, al þe cas,[1055]
Hou þe child biȝeten was.”
“Belami” ȝhe saide “so.”[“]
“Par fai, dame” he saide “no”[“]
And schok his heued vpon þe quen.
“Dame” he saide “þai ȝhe wille me slen,[1060]
I ne mai do þi sone no bot,
But ȝif I wite þe sothe rot,
Of what man hit was biȝete.”
“Maister” ȝhe saide “þat mai no man wite.[“]
ȝif mi conseil were vnhele,[1065]
Ich were islawe bi riȝte skele.”
“Dame” he seide “so mot ich þe,[“]
I nelle neuere biwraie þe.”
“O meister” ȝhe seide “so hit bifel,[“]
Þis enderdai in on Aueril,[1070]
Þerl of Nauerne com to þis þede,
Wel atired in riche wede,
Wiȝ mi louerd for to plai,
And so he dede mani a dai.
Þat ich erl I gan to loue[1075]
Al erthliche þing aboue,
And so, par gret druri,
I let þat erl ligge me bi,
And þous hit was on me biȝete.
A, leue maister, let no man wite.”[1080]
“Nai, dame, for sothe, iwis,[“]
But for he was biȝeten amis,
Hit mot boþe drink and ete
Contrarius drink, contrarius mete.”
Beues flesch & drinke þe broþt,[1085]
He ȝaf þe child anon þerof,
Þe child warisscht fair and wel.
Þe kyng ȝaf him mani a juel,
To þe leche, of siluer and goold,
Als mochel als he nime wold.[1090]
He wente hom wiȝ þat eiȝte.
And Ypocras anonriȝt,
He asked ȝif þat þe schild was sound. [f.90va] [Image]
“ȝe sire” he saide “bi seint Simond.”[“]
He asked “What was his medicine?”[1095]
“Bef and broþ gode a[nd] fine.”[“]
“What þan was he an auetrol?”[“]
“Þou seist soht, sire, be mi pol.”[“]
Quaþ Ypocras “bi þe gode dome,
Þou art bicome al to wis a grome.”[1100]
Þer he þouȝte, aȝen resoun,
To don him strong tresoun.
So bifel vpon a dai,
He and his neueu ȝede to plai
In a fair grene gardin,[1105]
Þerin wex mani an herbe fin.
On þei seȝen in þe grounde,
Þat was an herbe of gret mounde.
He tok and schewid hit Ypocras
And he seide a better þer nas [1110] [ nas: MS reads was.]
For he wald his neueu bikeche.
Þe child stoupede swich on to reche,
Þer while Ypocras wiȝ a knif
Binom þat schild his swete lif,
And let him birie sikerliche,[1115]
Als he were storuen sodainliche.
And sone þerafter swiþe ȝerne
He let alle hise bokes berne.
Ac God almiȝti, heuene-kyng,
He ouerseȝ alle þing.[1120]
He sent Ypocras for his tresoun
Sone þerafter þe menesoun.
Wel wist Ypocras for his qued,
Þat he scholde sone be ded.
For al þat heuer he miȝte do[1125]
His menesoun miȝt nowt staunche þo.
He let ofsende, moche and lite,
Hise neyebours him to visite,
And tolde al riȝt anon,
Hou his deȝ wa[s] comen him on,[1130]
Wiȝ gret riȝt and nowt wiȝ wouȝ,
For his neueu þat he slowȝ.
An empti tonne he let fet
And of water of a pet
He let hit fille to þe mouþe,[1135]
For he walde hise werkes were couþe.
Þe tresoun he gan hem alle reherse.
In a þousand stede he let þe tonne perce, [f.90vb] [Image]
& þo he hadde mad holes so fele,
In ech he pelt a dosele[1140]
And smerede þe holes al aboute,
And euerich doseil he braid oute,
No drope of water vt com þan,
Meruaile hadde mani a man.
“Lo!” he saide “water hi can stop,[1145]
Þat hit ne mai nowt bi bores drop,
Ac I ne mai nowt stop mi menesoun
And þat is al for mi tresoun,
Wiȝ gret riȝt and nowt wiȝ wouȝ
For mi neueu þat I slow.[1150]
Ich him slow sikerliche,
For he was wiser man þan iche.
Ich ne no man vnder sonne
Me ȝif help nou ne conne,
But mi neueu aliue ware.[1155]
Riȝt is þat ich hennes fare.”
‘Lo!’ saide þe maister ‘hou Ypocras
Destrued his lif and solas.
Sire emperour, tak hede and loke,
He slow his neueu and brent his boke,[1160]
Miȝt hit him ani þing profite?’
‘Nai’ saide þemperour ‘moche ne lite.’
‘No’ saide þe maister ‘verraiment.
I biseke God omnipotent,
Þat ȝif þou do þi sone to ded[1165]
And hise maistres, be þi wiues red,
Þat on þe falle swich a cas,
As dede on maister Ypocras.’
Þe maister had so isped,
Þemperour sone was his frend.[1170]
Þe maister was owai inome
Þemperour was to chaumbre icome.
Þer he fond his emperice,
Wiȝ lourand chere and wiȝ nice,
Hond wringging and loude koupe,[1175]
And here visage al biwope.
‘Dame’ he saide ‘pluk vp þi cher,
Oþer tel me whi þou makest swich cher.’
‘Sire’ ȝhe saide ‘hit is wonder non;
Hi se þi honur al igon.[1180]
I se þe wede waxe ouer þe corn,
Allas! allas! þat I was boren,
And þat I schal þis dai ise, [f.91ra] [Image]
Þat we sschulle departed be.’
‘What, dame, is hit comen þerto[1185]
We sscholle be departed so?’
‘ȝe, sire, bi Adam & bi Eue,
For þou nelt nowt me ileue
Of him þat þou clepest þi sone.
Certes he had þe deueles wone.[1190]
He þe procureȝ niȝt and dai,
Al þe sschame þat he mai.
Þine barouns and þine gentil men,
Alle þai holden þe aȝen.
Þai sschal wel sone for nithe an hete,[1195]
Put þe out of þi kinges sete,
And sette him stede inne þine;
Þat ware mi deȝ and mi pine.
Ich hadde leuere to ben anhonge,
Þan þat I scholde liue so longe.’[1200]
A! hou wimmen conne hit make,
Whan þai wil ani man lake.
‘Ac, sire, ȝif hit falle so,
Þat þempire is diȝt him to,
On þe falle swich a cas,[1205]
As dede on him, þat his heued was
Of his sone icast in a gong,
Wiȝ felonie and wiȝ wrong.’
‘O dame, who miȝt þat be
Wolde do his fader swich vilte?[1210]
Tel hit me, for God aboue.’
‘Lat be, sire, for mi loue,
Þou ne louest nowt of mi telling,
Hit schal þe rewe bi heuene-kyng.’
‘ȝis, dame, he saide, lat here þe speke,[1215]
And ich wil sone þe awreke.
Sei on, dame.’ & ssche bigan
To tellen als a fals wimman.
A emperour was in þes toun,
A riche man of gret renoun,[1220]
Octouien was his name,
Wide sprong his riche fame.
Gold and siluer to wille he wan,
And more he hadde þan ani man.
He made Cressent, þat riche tour,[1225]
Þerinne he pult his tresor.
Seue wise men þer were in Rome,
Þe fiue out of londe he nome, [f.91rb] [ he: MS reads ȝhe.] [Image]
And þe twaie left at home,
To kepe Rome wiȝ riȝtful dome.[1230]
Þat on was boþe curteis an hende,
Lef to ȝiue and lef to spende;
And þat oþer lef to pinche,
Boþe he was scars and chinche.
& als we finden writen in boke,[1235]
Þemperour him tauȝt his tresor to loke,
& he hit kept bi al his miȝt,
Boþe bi daies an bi niȝt.
For þe wrecche man, saun fail,
Wende þe erthe sscholde him fail.[1240]
Þe large wise wiste wel
Of þis tresor eche a del.
He saide to his sone “tak a pike,
Toniȝt þou schalt wiȝ me strike.”
“Whider” seide his sone.[1245]
“Þerof haue þou noþing to done.[“]
Arise vp quik, and wiȝ me go,
And do als tou sest me do.”
For[þ] þai went wiȝoute soiour,
To Cressent þat riche tour,[1250]
An hole þai bregen al wiȝ ginne,
And boþe þai wenten þerinne,
& token tresor, I ȝou swere,
Als þe moche als þai miȝt bere,
And beren hit hom wel on hast,[1255]
And maden hem large whiles hit last.
Amorewe aros þat sinatour,
And sithen tobregen his louerdes tour,
And beren was awai þat tresour;
Þerfore he made gret dolour.[1260]
He ne made no pleint to no man,
But stopped þe hole anon aȝen,
For he þouwte wel þat hit left,
Wolde come aȝen eft.
For þef of steling wil nowt blinne,[1265]
Til he honge bi þe chinne.
Niȝ euene bi þe hole,
Þer þe catel was istole,
Þe wise man dede make a dich
Ful of lim and of pich,[1270]
Þat ȝif he aȝen wald come,
Þat þe trattur sscholde bi nome.
Þe stolen catel ispended is, [f.91va] [Image]
Þe wise bicomeȝ a fol, iwis.
He tok his sone, aȝen he went[1275]
To þat tour þat hiȝt Cressent.
An hole þay broken al bistore,
Þe fader lep in bifore,
Into þe limed diche.
Loude he gan to crie and skriche,[1280]
And saide “sone, com her þou nowt,
For ich ham nomen and bicauȝt.”
“Hou so, fader, ich wil fechche help.”[“]
“Nai, sone, mak þerof no ȝelp.[“]
Her ne geȝ help ne red,[1285]
For sikerliche ich am ded.”
“A, leue fader, what sschal I do?”[“]
“Sone, wiȝ þin hond þi swerd tak to[“]
And hastiliche gird of min heued.”
“Nai arst mi lif scholde me bi bireued,[1290]
Ar ich mi fader scholde sle.”
“Sikerliche, sone, hit mot so be,[“]
Oþer ich and tou and alle mine
Beȝ ischent wiȝouten fine. [ ischent: t is superscript.]
Bettere hit is þat ich on passe,[1295]
Þan al mi ken, more and lasse.
Smit of min heued wiȝ þi sword,
Schalt tou neuer here þerof no word.
Hit ginneȝ to dawe, highe þe henne,
Forȝiue I þe al þat sinne.”[1300]
His fader heued he smot of þare,
And awai wiȝ him hit bare.
Ac he ne wiste for non nede,
Whar he miȝte hit best ihede.
But als he com bi a gong[1305]
Amidde þe pit he hit slong,
And wente hom and made wo,
His brethren and his sustren also.
Amorewe aros þat sinatour,
And segh tobroken his louerdes tour, [1310] [ louerdes: MS reads loruedes.]
And seȝ þer stonde an(d) heuedles man;
Knowe him nowt he ne can.
He loked bifore and bihinde,
Knowleching ne couthe he finde.
He let him drawe out of þe pit,[1315]
And his fet (fet) faste iknit,
Wiȝ trais an two stronge hors,
And hete to Rome drawen his cors, [f.91vb] [Image]
& ȝif ani weped oþer cride,
He het him nime þat ilche tide.[1320]
“Quicliche breng him me bifore,[“]
For of þat kyn he was ibore.”
Þe heuedles bodi also skete
Was idrawe þourgh eueri strete.
Fort he come aȝen þe paleis[1325]
Þat auȝte þe ded burgeis.
Þere was cri an[d] wail a wo,
Of broþer and of suster also.
Þe sone þat wiste of al þat dede
Stirt him in in gret drede;[1330]
He braid out his knif on heghȝ
And smot him selue þourȝhout þe þegȝ.
Þe kinges seriaunt faste hide
To nime þat folk þat faste cride.
Þai sschewed iwonded here broþer,[1335]
Þai seide þai wepte for non oþer.
Þai seghen alle þe wonded man,
And leued hem wel and went oȝan.
Lo! sire, swich a foul wille,
Aȝen resoun and riȝt skille;[1340]
Was nowt þe boi of wit bireued
Whan he tok his fader heued,
In a vil gonge slong hit inne?
He miȝ[t] han don a better ginne,
Ibiried hit ower preueliche.’[1345]
‘Þou saist soþ, dame, sikerliche,
An vnkynde boi hit was.’
‘ȝa, on þi heued falle þat cas!
Þi sone, þe deuel him mote anhonge,
But he cast þin heued in a gonge.’[1350]
‘Dame, I schal ȝeme me fram care,
Certes tomorewe he sschal forht fare.’
‘Sire, I leue þe nowt, sikerliche.’
‘ȝis, dame, hardiliche.’
‘Graunt merci’ ȝhe saide ‘sire gent’[1355]
And kist him to acordement, [ And: d is written superscript.]
And let here word swithe sone,
And ȝede to bedde mididone.
Dioclician, þemperour,
Amorewe wente out of his tour,[1360]
And let ofsende his gentil knaue,
No man ne most him saue,
And het him lede forht siker(k)lik [f.92ra] [Image]
And bidelue him also quik
Þat he neuer, for no þing,[1365]
Herde of him more tiding.
He was forht lad wiȝ boies felle.
Þe burgeis and þe dammeisele,
Þai gunne arere swich a cri,
Þat hit schillede into þe ski,[1370]
And saide ‘Wailawai! whi wiȝ wronge
Schal þemperours sone ben anhonge?’
Þan com ridende Lentilioun,
A wis maister and a fair faȝoun.
Þe childes þridde maister hadde iben,[1375]
For reuþe he ne miȝt him nowt isen.
And þemperour wel sone he fond,
He gret him faire, ich vnderstond.
Þemperour saide ‘so God me spede,
Traitour, þe sschal be quit þi mede.[1380]
For mi sones mislerning
ȝhe sschulle habbe euel ending.’
‘O sire emperour of pris,
In dedes þou sscholdest be war and wis.
ȝif þou wilt þi sone sschende,[1385]
Wiȝouten assent of barouns hende,
And dost vs qued for oure godnesse,
On þe falle swich a destresse,
So dede on þe riche gome,
Þat wiȝ his wif was ouercome.’[1390]
‘O tel me, maister, hou ani wimman
Miȝte bigile ani man?’
‘Bleþeliche, sire, so God me amende,
ȝif þou wilt þi sone ofsende,
For ȝif he were þerwiles islawe,[1395]
For nowt I telde þe mi tale.’
Þe riche emperour also sket
His sone aȝen fechche he het.
Þe child was don þe presoun in,
Þe maister his tale he gan agin.[1400]
Þer was a burgeis in þis toun,
A riche man of gret renoun,
Þat wolde spouse no neyhebours schild, [ neyhebours: MS reads neþhebours.]
But wente fram hom as a moppe wild.
He let his negheboures child for o vice,[1405]
And wente fram hem als moppe and nice,
And browȝte hom a dammaisele, [f.92rb] [Image]
Was ful of vices swithe fele.
He seghȝ hire fair and auenaunt,
And wiȝ here fader made couenant[1410]
For to habben hire to wiue
And euere more to riȝte liue.
He spoused hire and ladde hire hom,
Hire forme lemman hire after com,
Þat hire serued mani a stounde,[1415]
Whan on slepe was þe [hus]bounde.
Þan was þe lawe in Rome toun,
Þat wheþer lord or garsoun,
Þat after corfu bi founde rominde
Faste men scholden hem nimen and binde[1420]
And kepen him til þe sonne vprising,
And þan bifore þe folk him bring [ folk: MS reads fokk.]
And þourgh þe toun him villiche driue.
Þe burgeis aparseiued of his wiue
Fele niȝtes was gon him fram,[1425]
And in þe dawiyng aȝen ȝhe cam.
He saide nowt wel longe while
But euer he souchede him of gile.
O niȝt he him ase dronke made
And ȝede to bedde blithe and glade,[1430]
And lai stille als he slepe sone.
Sche stal awai mididone
And wente to here lotebi,
And he hit aparseiued sikerli,
And went him out and segh an[d] herd[1435]
Al togider hou sche misferd,
And wente him in out of þe strete
And schet þe dore swiþe skete,
And spak out ate windowe
And saide “dame, God ȝiue þe howe,[1440]
Þis þou ne miȝt forsake for non nede,
Ich haue inome þe in þis dede
Wiȝ þi lechour, wiȝ him þou go,
Of þe ne kep I neuere mo.”
“A, lat me in, sire, par amour,[1445]
Men sschal sone ringe corfour.”
“Nai, dame, ich þe forsake,[“]
In þe foli þou worst itake.
Al þi ken schal witen and sen,
What mester womman þou hauest iben.”[1450]
“Nai, God almiȝti þat isschilde, [f.92va] [Image] [“]
Ich wille bicome wod and wilde;
But þou me in lete, ich wille telle,
Ich wille me drenchen in þe welle.”
“Drenche þi selue oþer anhonge,[1455]
For here þou hauest liued to longe.”
ȝe tok vp a gret ston
And wente to þe welle anon,
And saide after a wommannes wrenche,
“Her now, sire, I schal me adrenche.”[1460]
ȝe let þe ston falle in þe welle
And sterte vnder þe dore wel snelle.
Þe seli man bigan to grede
“Allas! wat sschal me to rede?”[“]
Anonriȝtes he wente him owt,[1465]
And soughte his wif in þe welle about,
And swiþe loude he bigan to crie,
And ȝhe stert in wel an hiȝe,
And sschitte þe dore swithe fast,
And he gan vp his heued cast,[1470]
“What” he saide “who is þare?”[“]
“Ich” ȝe saide “God ȝiue [þe] kare.[“]
Is hit nou time, bi þi snoute,
For to ben þous longe þeroute?”
“A, dame” he saide “ich was asschreint,[1475]
Iich wende þou haddest ben adreint.
Lat me in, dame, par amour,
Men sschal sone ringe corfour.”
“Þe deuel honge me þanne bi þe toþ,[“]
Þe waites sscholle wel se þe soþ[1480]
Þat þou art an(d) hold lechour
And comest hom after corfour.
Þou schalt suffre kare and howe,
And drinke þat þou hast ibrowe.”
Wiȝ þat þe waites come ride,[1485]
And hi herden hou þai gon schide
And corfour belle ringge gan.
Inomen was þat seli man,
And neuer of him no qued ne herde,
Þai wist ful wel hou hit ferde.[1490]
Þai beden his wif, as ȝe was hende,
Leten him [in] ar corfu ende.
ȝe answere[d] as malicious
“He comeȝ nou fram þe hore hous.[“]
Þous he is wonet me to serue, [f.92vb] [Image] [1495]
On euele deþe mot he sterue.
Ich haue ihid his schame er þis,
I nel nammore nou, iwis.”
Corfour belle no lenger rong,
Þe burgeis was lad forht wiȝ wrong.[1500]
What helpeȝ hit lenger tale,
Þat niȝt he sat wel sore akale,
And his wif lai warme abedde,
And solas of hire lemman fredde.
Amorewe þe burgeis was forþ ifet,[1505]
And his honden biforen him knet,
And þourgh þe toun he was ilad,
Lohtliche driuen and bigrad,
Ase a þef. Þis meschaunce,
Gelteles he suffred þis penaunce.[1510]
Sire, couþe þis woman of gile?’
‘ȝa, sche was a traitour vile,
And wel werse þan an hound.’
‘Sire, mo swiche þer beȝ ifound,
And þi self had on swich.[1515]
ȝe wil þe traie sikerlich,
ȝif þou dost after her red,
Þat þou dost þi sone to ded.
Þat chaunce falle þe iliche,
Þat bifel þe burgeis riche.’[1520]
‘Par fai, maister, þat ware god riȝt,
I nel nowt do bi here toniȝt.’
Þe child bileft stille in prisoun,
Þe maister went out of þe toun
And hadde mani a blessing,[1525]
For his disciple deliuering.
Whan men leke windowe and gate
Þemperour com to chaumbre late.
Þemperice bigan to loure
Lohtliche on þemperoure.[1530]
‘Dame’ he saide ‘what haileþ þe,
Swich semblaunt for to make me?’
‘ȝit sschal hit falle ous so bitwene
Þat mani a man hit sschal hit sene
As bitwene þe leuedi and þe stiward,[1535]
And þe king in o foreward.’
‘What forward was þat? Telle hit me
As þou wilt to me lef be.’
‘Nai, sire’ ȝe saide ‘hit his nowt worþ, [f.93ra] [Image]
Mi tale ne mot nowt forþ;[1540]
Telle ich þe ensaumple neuer so god,
Þou me haldest of wit wod.
Þerfore ich wille holde me stille,
And suffri wel þat man þe spille.’
‘Nai, dame, lat here þe speke,[1545]
And ich þe wille ful wel awreke,
So ich hit finde profitable,
& soþ I seie, wiȝouten fable.’
‘Nou ben sene, sire, and ihere.
A king was whilom of gret powere.[1550]
Al Poile and Calabre lond
Al he held hit in his hond.
Wimmen he louede (he louede) swiþe lite,
& vsede sinne sodomiȝte.
So long he pleiede wiȝ ȝong man,[1555]
A swele in his membres cam þan.
Þe skin miȝt hit nowt helde,
Ne he ne miȝte him selue welde.
He fil sik in Godes wreche,
He let ofsenden him a leche.[1560]
In vrine he segh he miȝte libbe,
He laide a plastre vnder his ribbe.
Barli bred he et for gode,
And barli water þat was isode,
Til he hadde of his membres bote.[1565]
Þan saide þe leche “ar ȝe mote
Haue womman to pleie ariȝt
ȝif ȝe wil be hol, apliȝt.”
“I schal wel” & cleped his stiward,[“]
And he com als a leopard.[1570]
“Lo me her, sire, what wil ȝe?”[“]
“But a lemman fech þou me,[“]
Þat I miȝt toniȝt wiȝ [hire] plai.”
“I ne wot non, sire, in þis contrai,[“]
Þat be þi bodi ligge dar,[1575]
For þi los is boren so far,
Þat þine membres ben to swolle.”
“Bihote hem pans an handfolle.[“]
Bihot twenti mark som leuedi
O niȝt for to ligge me bi.” [1580] [ me: MS reads þe.]
Þanne þout þat stiward coueitous,
Þat siluer schal bileue wiȝ ous.
To his wif he went anon [f.93rb] [Image]
And saide sche most on his arnede gon.
“Bletheliche, sire, ac whide[r]ward?”[1585]
“To þe king” saide þe stiward.[“]
“Þou schalt plaie wiȝ him in derk,[“]
And winne ous gode twenti mark.”
“A, sire” sche saide “fi! fi![“]
Hit is foul man to liggen bi,[1590]
And þat wot euerich womman wel.”
“Þou schalt, bi seint Michel.[“]
Who þat seluer winne nelle,
Lese he mot wiȝ riȝt skille.
Þou sschalt ous þe penies winne,[1595]
Oþer I þe sschal driue out of min inne.
O nedes he sschal, þat nedes mot;
Hit nis nowt mi wille, God hit wot.
But hit is skil, riȝt and lawe,
To do bi me as bi þin awe.”[1600]
To þe kinges chaumbre he went aȝain,
And drof out boþe kniȝt and swayn,
Blewe out þe torches and let in his wif.
To þe king sche wente bilif.
Þe fals stiward to bedde went,[1605]
Þe king þe leuedi in armes hent.
What helpeȝ hit ani more seid?
Þat niȝt he was ful wel apaid.
Þe wrecche stiward ne miȝt nowt slape,
Ac in þe moreweinge he gan v[p]rape.[1610]
To þe kingges chaumbre he went saun fail;
Þe king þat niȝt hadde ben in trauail,
In trewe loue witouten arm,
And slep in þe leuedis arm.
Þe stiward made moche sorewe,[1615]
Til hit were half-wai midmorewe.
He held him self mochel wrechche,
Þous þe king bigan to wechche,
And saide “sire, vp, vp, hit is dai.
Lat þat leuedi wende awai.”[1620]
Þe king saide “i ne haue no rape,
For me lest ȝit ful wel slape,
& pleie twies and ones,
For to hele mine bones.”
“Nai, sire, hit is mi leuedi,[1625]
Þat al niȝt haþ laien þe bi.”
“Belamy” he saide “is hit þi wif?” [f.93va] [Image] [“]
“ȝea, sire” he saide “be mi lif.”[“]
“O traitour fiȝ a puteyn.[“]
Whi had þi wif bi me lain?”[1630]
“Sire, for þe winn[i]ng of þi mone.”[“]
“Þerfore” he saide “yuel mote þou þe.[“]
Þou hast bitraid þi wif and me,
Dwelle þou. Wil ich arisen be,
I schal þi vile false cors[1635]
Do todrawe wiȝ wilde hors.
Out of mi lond I rede þou flee,
Þat I þe neuer eft isee.
For abide þou min vprist,
Þou be honged bi Ihesu Crist.”[1640]
Sire, þous þe stiward les his wif
And fley awai wiȝ mochel strif.
Iwis, he was al forlore,
He com aȝein neuere more.
Þe king aros whan him list[1645]
And kep þe leuedi wiȝ þe best,
And held hire two ȝer oþer þre,
And siþen ȝaf hire, wiȝ riche fe,
To a riche erl of þat lond;
Sche was nowt bicauȝt, ich vnderstond.[1650]
Sire, and so wil hit fare bi ȝou
Whan ȝe han loren ȝoure vertu.
Out of londe þou best idriue
Schal ich þe neuere ise whil I liue. [ whil: MS reads til.]
No forse on me; after an emperour[1655]
Mai me wedde a vauasour.
I mai liue a wel god lif,
Þai I be nowt an emperours wif.
Ac falle chaunce ase hard,
As dede þe couaitous stiward,[1660]
Þat solde his wif for mone,
But þou do als I rede þe.’
‘Par fai, dame, þat is skil,
I wil do bi þe, ȝif God wil.’
‘Sire’ ȝhe saide ‘wiȝouten fail,[1665]
Þou dost bi a god counseil.’
Morewe cam, as ȝhe mowe here,
Þemperour aros wiȝ foule chere,
Into his palais he wente ȝare,
And his barouns he fond þare.[1670]
Biforen hem alle in grete traye [f.93vb] [Image]
He het mani a wikke boye
His sone toward þe deþe bringge.
Hit was ido wiȝouten letting;
Toward deȝ he was ibrout.[1675]
Mani a man hit ofþout.
Þourgh Rome stretes, wide and side,
Þe ferthe maister þer com ride.
Malquidras was his name,
In his herte was no game.[1680]
His disciple louted him to,
Þe maistres hert brast neȝ for wo.
He went into þe halle-flet,
Þemperour wel faire he gret.
Þemperour him missaide þan[1685]
‘Merci, sire’ saide þe wise man.
‘Sire what haue we þe misgelt?
Oure gode dede schal ben iuel iȝelt.’
‘Sire’ quaþ þemperour ‘be min hed,
Worthi art to suffri ded,[1690]
For to þe and þine fere,
I bitok mi sone to lere,
For to han itauȝt him god,
& ȝe han imade him wod.
Mi wif he wolde haue forlai;[1695]
Þerfore ȝe sschulle al dai.’
‘O, sire emperour of pris,
In dedes þou sscholdest ben war and wis.
ȝif þou wilt þi sone slo,
Wiȝouten assent of barons mo, [1700] [ of altered from oþ.]
And for oure godnesse do vs qued,
Swich a cas fal on þin heued,
As hadde þe olde wise of his wiue,
Er þou parte out of þis liue.’
‘O maister þat was wel isaid,[1705]
Hou was þat olde man itraid?’
‘He was nowt bitraid, for he wis was.’
‘A! leue maister, tel me þe cas.’
‘Bleþeliche, wiȝouten strif,
So þou respite þi sones lif,[1710]
Til to morewe þat hit be dai,
Þan I þe schal þe tale sai.’
Þemperour Dioclician
His sone aȝen hiȝt fechche þan,
And into presoun he was icast. [f.94ra] [Image] [1715]
Þe maister ginneȝ his tale in hast.
‘Whilom was a man old [&] wis
And hadde inow of worldes pris.
In his ȝouþe in middel of his liue
He hadde iwedded two iolif wiues.[1720]
He liuede and boþe hem ouerbod
And was longe in his wideuhod.
He liuede so longe þat he hor was,
And hadde of womman no solas.
His seriauntȝ ofte to him come,[1725]
And of alangenes him vndernome,
And [bad] him take a wif iolif,
To solace wiȝ his olde lif.
Bi her rede he tok a ȝong womman,
Ase wone is of old man[1730]
ȝong womman for to spouse
And þanne be wraw and gelouse. [ and: d added superscript.]
Litel þai mai do, wiȝouten gabbe,
Þat ȝong womman wolde habbe.
Also ferde þat olde wise,[1735]
He dede his wif wel smal seruise.
Þe ȝonge wif, vpon a dai,
Com to chirche, par ma fai,
& fond hire moder þare,
& tolde hire al of here kare.[1740]
& saide “moder, I þolie a cas:
Mi louerd doþ me no solas.
Ich moste haue som oþer loue.”
“Nai, dowter, for God aboue.[“]
Old men ben felle and queinte,[1745]
And wikkede wrenches conne ateinte.
Misdo nowt, doughter, but do bi rede.”
“Lat ben, moder, for hit is nede.”[“]
“Doughter, þi louerd haþ o gardin, [ haþ: MS reads had.] [“]
A wel fair ympe is þarin.[1750]
A fair herber hit ouerspredeȝ,
Al his solas þerinne he ledeȝ.
Nou ne bereþ hit lef non,
And whan þi louerd is out igon,
Doughter, tak þi gardiner,[1755]
And lat it hewe to þe fer.
And ȝif he saiȝ to þe ani resoun
Answere him wiȝ þis enchesoun:
Þat þou dest, hit is for þe nones [f.94rb] [Image]
To warme bi his colde bones.”[1760]
“Dame” ȝhe saide “hit sschal ben don.”[“]
Hom sche wente swiþe anon,
& al maugre þe gardiner,
Þe ympe was hewe to þe fer. [ ympe: MS reads þmpe.]
Þe gode burgeis was hom icome,[1765]
And goþ to his gardin, as was his wone,
And fond his ympe vp ihewe [ ympe: MS reads þmpe.]
“O” þouȝte he “her was a sscherewe.”[“”]
ȝhe saide sche dede hit for non arm,
But for he sscholde his bones warm.[1770]
He hit tok on iuel strong,
But he ne monede hit nowt long.
He wentte to bedde and tok solas,
Þat niȝt neuer þe better hir nas.
Þe ȝonge wif anoþer dai[1775]
To chirche tok þe riȝte wai,
And fond eft hire moder þare
And of blisse sche was al bare,
For neiþer be niȝt no be dai
Hire louerd nolde wiȝ hire plai.[1780]
“Ich mot louie” ȝhe saide “dame.”[“]
“O doughter, hit were gret sschame,[“]
ȝif þou sscholdest þi gode kende
Þourgh dede of vilainie sschende.
For ȝif þou dost a folie,[1785]
Þi louerd hit wile sone aspie
And he him wolde fellich awreke.
Herkne doughter what I schal speke:
A grai bichche þi louer[d] ginneȝ louie
Ouer alle oþer bestes aboue;[1790]
And whan ȝe sit bi þe glede
And þe bichche liȝ in þi grede,
Mak þe wroþ and draw þi knif
And binim þe bichche here lif;
And loke þou be þerafter queynt,[1795]
And were þe wiȝ a wiues pleint.”
Þe ȝonge saide hit sscholde be so,
Hom ssche gan hire wai to go.
Was hit nowt longe afterwar[d]
Þe ȝonge leuedi and hire lord[1800]
Sete an euen bi þe fer,
Biforen hem stod here squier.
ȝe hadde on a pilche of pris [f.94va] [Image]
And a chaisel þeron, iwis.
Þe bichche lai in hire barm,[1805]
Sche plaide and hit dede here harm.
Sche drow a knif and (here) smot,
Þe bichche daide, God hit wot,
& pilche and cheisel al bibled.
Þe lord ros and ȝede to bed.[1810]
For al hire wrenche and al here ginne,
Þe more loue sche ne miȝt awinne.
Þe þridde time to scherche sche went
And hire moder þer sche fint
And saide “dame, for al þi lore,[1815]
I finde loue neuer þe more.
Moder, ich mot louie algat.”
“Doughter, ich rede þat þou lat.[“]
Ac, tel me, doughter, for God aboue,
What man hastou ment to loue?”[1820]
“Dame” ȝhe saide “þe prest, bi skil.”[“]
“Nai, doughter, ȝif God wil,[“]
While þou miȝt haue squier or kniȝt.”
“Nai, moder, mi trewþe I pliȝt,[“]
I nelle come in no kniȝtes bedde,[1825]
He hit wile make wide ikedde,
And I þe saie, sikerliche,
Þe prest I mai loue priueliche.”
“Nai, doughter, her a queinte ginne,[“]
Þi louerdes loue hou schalt winne.[1830]
Þi louerd schal sone make a fest
Of riche men and honest.
Þou schalt be bisaie þat ilke dai.
Honge at þi gerdel mani a kai
And sette þe haiest ate bord,[1835]
In a chaier aȝen þi lord.
Þi kai in þe cloþ make þou fast,
After, stirt vp an hast,
Þai þou felle coppe oþer cloþ.
Go forþ and strif nowt þerof.[1840]
And þan þou schalt sone ise
What þerof wil be.”
Þe ȝonge wif to hire moder said
“Hit sschal be don, bi Marie maid,[“]
And wite I sschal, moder, bi þan,[1845]
ȝif he wil plaie, þat olde man.”
Wel sone þerafter, sikerli, [f.94vb] [Image]
Þe olde kniȝt and te leuedi,
A wel fair feste þai made þare,
O[f] frendes þat hem leue ware.[1850]
Sire, what helpeȝ hit longe tale?
Þe wif seruede of bred and ale,
And after set hire adoun sone;
Þe kai made moche to done,
For sche feld boþe cloþ and cop,[1855]
Naþeles þai ware gadered vp.
Swithe sore sche him atraid,
Certes he was wel iuel ipaid.
Whanne þe gestes weren at ais,
Þai wenten hom fram his paleis.[1860]
Morewe com, ac now ihere.
Þe louerd let make a gret fere
And let ofsende a neyghebour,
Ich vnderstonde a god barbour, [ vnderstonde: r written superscript.]
And fet his wif forþ fot-hot[1865]
And hire mis(d)dedes hire atwot,
And saide he moste chasti hire ginne,
For iuel blod was hire wiȝinne.
Hit moste be quik ilaten out,
Þat ssche ne helde hire nowt so stout;[1870]
Wer here lef, were hire loþ,
Of hire he spoiled euerich cloþ.
Þo hire kertel was of idrawe
Þo wende ssche wel to ben islawe,
An[d] saide ȝhe sscholde die also swiþe,[1875]
For ȝhe neuer lat blod in hire liue.
Þerof ne stod him non owe,
He rent hir smok to þe elbowe
And sithen set hire on a stol,
For he ne wolde nowt ssche were a fol.[1880]
And gan to smiten hire on þe veyn [ veyn: MS reads vreyn.]
And sche bledde wiȝ gret meyn,
Grete disschfolles two.
Als swithe here arm was staunched þo,
He dede þat oþer arm forht drawe,[1885]
Þan wende sscho wel to ben islawe
And loude ssche gan to wepe and crie.
“Hit helpeȝ þe nowt, be Seinte Marie.”[“]
Þe barbour in þe veyne hire smot,
Sche bledde wel til ssche was hot[1890]
Þe þridde disscful vpriȝt; [f.95ra] [Image]
Anon ȝhe les colour and miȝt.
Þe louerd hit seghȝ and dede hire staunche,
And in a bed he dede here launche,
And saide “þries þou breddest wod,[1895]
Þerfore þou bleddest þre disschfoul of blod,
And ȝif þou bredest wod ani more,
ȝit I sschal dubble þi sore.”
Sche wende to deghȝe, sche was agast,
And sent after here moder on hast.[1900]
Hire moder com and sche saide,
“A, mercy, moder, for Mari maide.[“]
I schal deghȝe, nou red me red (me red).”
“Doughter, what schal þat ised?[“]
Þou most me telle what is þis.”[1905]
“Mi louerd me haþ neȝ slawen, iwis.[“]
For mine þre vnwrast dede,
Þre disschfol of blod he let me blede,
Þat I ne mai liue, bi Godes ore.”
“Doughter, lest þe loue more?”[1910]
“Nai, moder, bi God almiȝt,[“]
I nelle neiþer louie clerk ne kniȝt.”
“No, doughter, I seide ful wel,[“]
Þat olde men beȝ queynte and fel;
Þai conne more qued biþenche,[1915]
Þan þou kanst do wiȝ ani wrenche.
Hold þe to þine hosebounde,
And þou sschalt haue al þe mounde.”
‘Lo sire’ quad Malquidras,
‘Ne was þis a wonder cas?[1920]
Þries misdede þis womman bald,
And þre vengaunces he hire ȝald.
Þerfore sche hadde elles idon,
Þat had ben werst of euerichon.
Þe prest hi kaste hire loue to,[1925]
Þat noman miȝt haue vndo.
So fareȝ þe quen wiȝ hire resoun,
Wiȝ hire lesinges and fals tresoun
Þi sone to deþ for to bring;
Ac ȝif þou leuest hire lesing,[1930]
Þan þe falle a werse aprise,
As dede to þat elde wise.’
‘Par fai, maister, þat ware lawe,
To dai ne schal he nowt be slawe.’
Þe maister out of toune rit, [f.95rb] [Image] [1935]
Þe child bileft in prisoun pit.
Þe dai is gon, and comen þe niȝt,
Þemperour wente to chaumbre, apliȝt.
His emperice þer he fond,
Sore wepe and wrong hire hond.[1940]
‘Ma dame’ saide þemperour,
Whi makest þou swich scher & foul lour?’
‘Sire, no wonder þouȝ ich am wroȝt,
Þou dost þing þat me is loht.
Þou leuest tales of losengrie[1945]
Of falsnesse and of trecherie.
So dede Cressus þe riche man,
Gold and siluer to wille he wan
Bi losengerie an[d] bi engin,
Ac hit turned him to euel fin.’[1950]
‘Ma dame’ he saide ‘tel þat me,
Of sire Cressus, hou ended he?’
‘Bleþeliche, sire, so mot ich þe,
So þat ȝe wil þe better be.
Uirgil was whilom a clerk[1955]
Þat coude of nigramancie werk.
He made a fair coniuring
Amideward Rome cheping,
Þat no man quenche ne miȝt
Wiȝ no water, I ȝou pliȝt.[1960]
Alle þe poure men of þe lond
Warmed hem þerbi, fot and hond,
And made here mete bi þat fir,
Þat was a þing of gret matir.
And þer biside on [a] donioun[1965]
He kest a man of cler latoun,
And in his hond an arblast heldand
And þerinne a quarel taisand,
And in his foreheued was writen wiȝ blac,
Lettres þat þis word spak:[1970]
“ȝif me smiteȝ ani man,[“]
I sschete him anon oȝan.”
So hit bifel on a dai
A lumbard com wiȝ gret noblai
And seȝ þe merueile, saunȝ dout,[1975]
And saide to þe folk about
“Wil ȝe þat I smite þis man[“]
To loke what he do can?”
And þai saide “ȝa”, and he him smette [f.95va] [Image]
Þe ymage in þe fir sschette. [1980] [ ymage: MS reads þmage.]
Þ[e] fir aqueinte for euere mo.
Sire, was þis wel ido?’
‘Nai, dame’ he saide ‘bi heuene-king,
Þat was no riȝt wis doing.’
‘No sire’ ȝhe saide ‘wiȝouten fail;[1985]
Ac Virgil dede ȝit more meruail.
Vpon þe est ȝate of þe toun
He made a man of fin latoun
And in his hond of gold a bal.
Vpon þe ȝate on þe west wal[1990]
Virgil kest an ymage oþer, [ ymage: MS reads þmage.]
Riȝt als hit were his owen broþer,
Þat al þe folk of Rome said
Wiȝ þat bal togider þai plaid.
Þat on hit hente, þat oþer hit þrew,[1995]
Mani a man þe soþe iknew.
Amideward þe cite on a stage
Virgil made anoþer ymage, [ ymage: MS reads þmage.]
Þat held a mirour in his hond,
And ouersegȝ al þat lond.[2000]
Who wolde pes, who wolde bataille
Quik he warned þe toun, saunȝ faile,
Aboute Rome seuen jurneys;
Þous he warned niȝt and dais,
And þo þat were rebel ifounde,[2005]
Þe Romains gadered hem in a stounde.
Þai wente þider quik anon
And destrued here fon.
Þe kyng of Poile hadde gret enuie
Þat þe Romains made swich maistrie[2010]
For he ne miȝte for non nede
Aȝen Rome in batail spede,
Þat he ne was euer more biwraid,
Ouercomen, venkud and bitraid.
Vpon a dai he send his sond[2015]
After alle þe wise men of his lond,
And tolde hem alle his greuaunce
And saide he wolde hegliche auaunce
Who miȝt þat ymage fel adoun, [ ymage: MS reads þmage. Also subsequent examples.]
He wolde him ȝif his warisoun.[2020]
Twei clerkes, breþer, þat were in Rome
Þat maistri on honde þai nome,
And þe king hem made seur [f.95vb] [Image]
Of warisoun and gret honeur.
Þai dede þe king fille twei forcers[2025]
Of riche gold & of clers
And dede hit lade wiȝ priuete
Into Rome þat riche cite.
Þat o forcer þai doluen nowt late
In Rome ate est ȝate[2030]
Vnder þe ymage þat þe bal held.
Þis was a dede queinte and held.
Þat oþer forcer ful of gold
Þai bidoluen in þe mold
Vnder þe west gate þat noman wist.[2035]
Þis was a dede of queint list.
Amorewen þai sschewed hem in Rome
& biforn Sire Cressus come
An[d] said “Al hail, sir emperour,
It falleȝ to þe tol of tresour.[2040]
We conne to do þe vnderstonde
Of hid tresor in þi londe.
ȝif þou wilt half parte wiȝ ous,
Þou sschalt hit haue, Sire Cressus.”
Þemperour saide “þat I not,[2045]
Ich haue forlorn þat eueri grot,
& þerfore frendes I graunt ȝou,
Þat ȝe mai finde wiȝ ȝoure vertu,
Þe haluendel in alle þingge.
Go we aboute þe findinge.”[2050]
“Nai, certes” saide þe eld(er)er broþer,[“]
“Arst we mote don anoþer,[“]
Ich mot mete a sweuen toniȝt,
& tomorewen, what hit is liȝt,
Sire, þou sschalt haue þine wille.”[2055]
Þous þai were þat niȝt stille.
Sone amorewe wiȝ god entent
Sire Cressus to þe est ȝate went.
Þe clerkes doluen in þe mold
And fond a forcer ful of gold.[2060]
And ȝaf hit vp to þemperour
And he hit feng wiȝ gret honur.
Amorewe þe ȝonger saide wel euen
“Sire toniȝt me mette a sweuen[“]
A richcher forcer þan þat[2065]
We sschulle finde ate west ȝate.”
Quik wente þider þemperour [f.96ra] [Image]
And hise barouns of gret honur
And þer þai doluen in þe gronde,
A riche forcer þer þai founde[2070]
Ful of red gold igraue,
And vp to þemperour þai hit ȝaue [ ȝaue: MS reads haue.]
Þemperour held hem so wise
In al þe werld was hire pris.
Þan swor þe eldere “bi blod and bones [2075] [ and: d is superscript.]
Haue ich toniȝt imet ones,
I schal þe finde tresor, i telle,
Is no richer fram hennes to helle.”
Þai ȝede to bedde and risen amorewe
Þemperour to mochel sorewe.[2080]
Þan saide þe elder to þemperour,
“Vnder þe ymage þat halt þe mirour [ ymage: MS reads þmage.] [“]
In al Poile ne Romanye
Ne is so mochel tresorie.
Moste we delue þervnder,[2085]
Þou sscholdest habbe gold a wonder.”
“Nai,” quaþ þemperour “for eȝte non[“]
Þat ymage wolde ich misdon.”
Þan seide þe ȝonger to þemperour
“Þer is al Virgiles tresour.[2090]
We sschulle þe ymage so vndersette
Þat we ne sschal hit no þing lette,
And whan we han þe gold in þe grounde,
We sscholle hit make as we hit founde,
For we beþ mazouns queinte of cast.”[2095]
Þan saide Cressus “goht an hast.”
Þai bigonne hire werk saunȝ dout
And sette postes al about,
And bigan to mini vnder.
Herkneȝ now a selkouȝ wonder.[2100]
Þai torent ston fram ston,
Þe fondement tobrast anon.
Al dai þai mined doun riȝt
Til hit come to þe niȝt.
On þe morewe þai saide to Cressus stille,[2105]
“Of gold þou sschalt haue þi wille.”[“]
Þemperour wente to his palais,
Clerkes also and mani burgeis,
Ech man wente to his inne,
Þe clerkes þoughte anoþer ginne.[2110]
Whanne ech man slepen, grete and smale, [f.96rb] [Image]
Þe clerkes to þe stage stale,
And bet a fir strong and sterk.
Þe fir fleghȝ vp into þe werk,
& falsed þe siment and þe ston,[2115]
Þe ymage ouerþrew anon.
And þo þe clerkes seghȝen þis,
Awai þai flowen for sothe iwis.
Amorewe þemperour aros,
Of þis dede him sore agros;[2120]
In his herte was kare and howe,
Awai he wolde han iflowe.
Þe smale and þe poeple of Rome
To sire Cressus þai nome sone
& tolde him for coueitise[2125]
He hadde iloren Romes prise.
Þai ladde forþ in þat stounde
& to a table fast him bounde,
& red gold quik þai melte
& nose and mouht ful þai helte[2130]
& eren and eȝen also,
Þer whiles a drope wolde in go,
And saide “sire, for Godes loue,
Þou hast mad þral þat was aboue.
Nou artou ful, nou make þe heit,[2135]
Nou wiltou nammore coueit.”
Nou is he ded wiȝ mochel schame.’
‘O, þou seist soþ’ he saide ‘dame.’
‘ȝa, sire, for his lesingges
Þat he leued twaie false gadelinges[2140]
He turned to wel iuel fin.
Sire, swich sschal be ending þin.’
‘Nai, dame’ he saide ‘ȝif God wile.’
‘ȝis, sire’ sche saide ‘bi riȝt skile,
For þou leuest wel flaterie,[2145]
Þat þe maistres conne to þe lie,
& desire to make þin air,
He þat sschal þe schende vair,
For he is þe fendes chike,
Þer whiles he liueȝ þou mai sike.’[2150]
‘Dame, I sschal kepe me fram kare,
Riȝt tomorewe he sschal forþfare.’
‘Sire’ sche saide ‘bi seint Michel,
Þanne dost þou wisliche and wel.’
Morewe com, as ȝe mowe here, [f.96va] [Image] [2155]
Þemperour aros wiȝ wroþ chere,
And to his paleys he gan wende,
Riȝt biforen his barouns hende.
He let brenge forht his owen sone,
And whan he com out of prisoun[2160]
Amideward Rome toun,
Þan com riden maister Catoun.
Þe folk of Rome on him gan crie
And saide ‘Catoun, kiþe þi maistrie,
Help þi disciple in þis nede.’[2165]
Catoun liȝt adoun of his stede
And grette þemperour on his kne,
And vneþe he wold him se;
He seide to him ‘Maister Catoun,
Þou hast me don wel gret traisoun[2170]
For to þe and þine fere
I bitok mi sone to lere.
ȝe tauȝte him to nimen forþ min emperice.’
‘Sire’ quaþ Catoun ‘swich wordes beȝ nice.’
‘And his speche is forlore.’[2175]
‘Nai, sire, and he finde ȝoure grace bifore.
Þi wif wolde he forlain haue nowt,
ȝif þou hit leuest, þou art bicouȝt.
Ac ȝif þou do þi sone duresse,
On þe falle swich a destresse[2180]
And swich a maner vileynie,
As hadde þe burgeis for his pie.’
‘O maister’ he saide ‘what, what?
I þe praie, tel me þat.’
‘Sire’ he saide ‘what helpeȝ hit mi sawe,[2185]
ȝif þi sone þer whiles beþ islawe?
Ac let him fechche quik aȝain
And I þe sschal mi tale sain.’
Þe emperour of Rome, Dioclician,
His sone he het fechche anon.[2190]
Nou euerich man þat loueȝ his hale,
Lestne wel Catones tale:
A burgeis was in Rome toun,
A riche man of gret renoun.
Marchaunt he was of gret auoir[2195]
& had a wif was queint and fair.
But sche was fikel vnder hir lok,
And hadde a parti of Eue smok.
And manie ben ȝit of hire kinne, [f.96vb] [Image]
Þat ben al bilapped þerinne.[2200]
Þe burgeis hadde a pie in his halle,
Þat couþe telle tales alle
Apertlich, in Freinch langage,
And heng in a fair cage
And seþ lemmans comen and gon,[2205]
And teld hire louerd sone anon.
And for þat þe pie hadde isaid,
Þe wif was ofte iuel ipaid.
And þe burgeis louede his pie,
For he wiste he couþe nowt lie.[2210]
So hit bifil vpon a dai,
Þ[e] burgeis fram home tok his wai,
And wente aboute his marchaundise,
Þe wif waited anon hire prise,
And sente here copiner fore;[2215]
& whanne he com to þe halle dore,
He no dorste nowt in hie
For þe wreiing of þe pie.
Þe wif him bi þe hond hent,
And into chaumbre anon þai went.[2220]
Þe pie bigan to grede anon,
“ȝa, now mi louerd is out igon,[“]
Þou comest hider for no gode,
I schal ȝou wraie bi þe rode.”
Þe wif þouȝt schent ȝe was,[2225]
A wrenche ȝhe þouȝte naþelas,
And clepede a maide to make here bed,
And after, bi hir boþer red,
A laddre þai sette þe halle to,
And vndede a tile or two.[2230]
Ouer þe pie þai gan handel
A cler bacyn and a candel.
A pot ful of water cler
Þai sschadde vpon þe pies swer.
Wiȝ bacyn beting and kandel liȝt[2235]
Þa[i] bobbed þe pie bi niȝt
And water on him gan schenche –
Þis was on of wommannes wrenche.
Þo þe dai dawen gan,
Awai stal þe ȝonge man.[2240]
Men vnlek dore and windowe,
Þe pie him sschok wiȝ mochel howe,
For ssche was fain þat hit was dai, [f.97ra] [Image]
Þe copiner was went his wai.
Þe gode burgeis was him icome[2245]
Into þe halle þe wai he nome.
Þe pie saide “bi God almiȝt
Þe copiner was her toniȝt
And haþ idon þe mochel sschame,
Imad an hore of oure dame.[2250]
And ȝit hit had ben toniȝt
Gret rain & þonder briȝt.
Sehthen ich was brid in mi nest
I ne hadde neuere so iuel rest.”
Þe wif haþ þe tale iherd[2255]
And þouȝte wel to ben amered,
And saide “sire þou hast outrage
To leue a pie in a kage.
Toniȝt was þe weder fair and cler
And þe firmament wel fair,[2260]
And sche saiþ hit haþ ben þonder.
Sche haþ ilowe mani a wonder
But ich be awreke of here swiþe,
Ne schal I neuer ben womman bliþe.”
Þe godeman askede his neȝebours[2265]
Of þat niȝt and of þe ours
And þai saide þat al þat niȝt
Was þe weder cler and briȝt.
Þe burgeis saide þe pie
Ne scholde him nammore lie.[2270]
Nammo wordes he þar spak,
But also swiþe hir nekke tobrak. [ hir: MS reads his.]
And whanne he seȝ his pie ded
For sorewe coude he no red.
He seȝgh hir....... and his cage[2275]
He þouȝte of gile and of outrage.
He wente him out, þe ladder he segȝ
And vp to þe halle rof he stegȝ.
Þe pot wiȝ þe water he fond,
Þat he brak wiȝ his hond,[2280]
& manie oþer trecherie
Þat was idon to his pie.
He went him doun wiȝouten oþ
In his herte grim and wroþ.
And wiȝ a god staf ful sket[2285]
His wif ate dore he bet,
And bad hir go þat ilche dai [f.97rb] [Image]
On alder twenti deuel wai.
Lo sire’ he saide ‘for a foles red,
Þe pie þat saide soht, was ded.[2290]
Hadde he taken god conseil
His pie hadde ben hol and hail.
And also fareȝ þin emperice
Þourȝ here resoun sscherewed and nice.
Sche goþ aboute, dai and niȝt,[2295]
Þi sone to deþe for to diȝt.
And he be ded, verraiment,
Ne worþ þer non amendement.
Bi here rede ne do þou nout;
ȝif þou do, þou art bicouȝt.[2300]
Al þe werld þe [sschal de]spise,
ȝif þou do bi here and lete þe wise.’
Anon þemperour saide þan,
‘Catoun, bi him þat made man,
Don ich wille after þi sawe,[2305]
Todai ne sschal he nowt be slawe.’
Þe schild bileft in prisoun,
Vpon his palefrai lep Catoun,
And hadde mani a blessing,
For his desciples deliuering.[2310]
Þe niȝt is comen, þe dai is gon,
Þemperour wente to chaumbre anon.
His quen þanne aȝen him nam,
Wiȝ semblant ase a wroþ wimman.
‘Dame’ he saide ‘pluk vp þi cher,[2315]
Oþer tel me whi þou makest swich cher?’
‘Hit nis no wonder, sire, bi heuene,
Þe sschulle sschende þi maistres seuene
Þat makeȝ þe to loue þi fo,
Forþi ich wille nou fram þe go.[2320]
Ac ȝif þou dost more bi hire leuing,
Falle on þe ase dede on Herowde þe king
Þat les his siȝt in wonder wise;
Þerfore þou miȝt sore agrise.’
‘Dame’ he saide ‘on ech manere,[2325]
Þat ilche tale ich moste here.’
‘Bleþeliche sire, so mot ich þe,
So þat ȝhe wolde þe better be.
An emperour was in Rome,
Þe richest man of Cristendome,[2330]
Herowdes was his riȝte name, [f.97va] [Image]
Wide isprongge his riche fame.
He hadde wiȝ him seuen wise,
Als ȝe han, of grete prise.
Al þat þemperour dede or þout,[2335]
Bi here conseil al he hit wrout.
So her was arered in þis toun,
Bi here rede and bi hire costom,
Þat who þat mette a sweuen aniȝt,
He scholde come amorewe, apliȝt,[2340]
And brenge a besaund to offring,
And of his sweuen haue vndoing.
So longe þai vsed þis errour
Þai were richcher þan þemperour.
So hit bifel vpon a dai,[2345]
Als he went vpon his plai,
& whan he com to Rome ȝate,
& wolde wenden out þerate,
He bicam blind so ston.
His maistres he ofsente anon,[2350]
And asked whi he miȝt nowt se,
Whan he sscholde out of Rome te?
Þai asked respit a fourten niȝt, [ fourten: r is superscript.]
Bi þan þai trowede þat þai miȝt
In hire bokes finde resoun[2355]
And answeren him wiȝ riȝt enchesoun.
Respit þai hadde of þemperour;
He wente him hom to his tour,
And þe maistres hom went,
And hire bokes went and trent,[2360]
Ac þai ne couþe nowt ifinde,
Whi þemperour was blinde.
Þai souȝte conseil fer & neȝ,
Ase man þat is queinte.
So on a dai after þan,[2365]
Þai mette wiȝ an hold man,
And tolde him al hire conseil,
And he answered saunȝ fail,
“In al þe werld nis man liuiind[“]
Þat couþe ȝou þat sothe find,[2370]
But ȝif hit ware child on,
Þat neuer hadde fader non.
For he can telle soþes alle,
Þat ben don in bour and halle.
ȝif ȝhe þat schild finde mowe [f.97vb] [Image] [2375]
He schal ȝou telle, ich wille auowe.”
Þe maistres wolde no leng abide,
To seche þe schild þai gonne ride.
On a dai þai com þer Merlin pleid,
And on of his felawes him traid,[2380]
And he was wroþ, and maked a res,
And cleped him sschrewe faderles,
And saide he was of þe fendes kinde,
Hise felawes euer misdoinde.
“Daþeit haue þou” quaþ child Merlin,[2385]
“Al to loude þou spak þi Latin.[“]
Seue maistres I se her come,
Þat han me souȝt al fram Rome,
Þai han wiȝ me mochel to done,
Ich wil hem helpe swiþe sone.”[2390]
Wiȝ þat com a man of þat lond,
And brouȝt a besaund in his hond,
To whom þat Merlin saide þous:
“Man, þou art ful merueilous,[“]
Þou woldest haue vndoing[2395]
Of þi toniȝtes meting.
Forþi þou woldest þat o besaund offer;
Bere hit hom into þi coffer,
And I sschal telle and nowt ne lie,
What þi meting signefie.[2400]
Þou mettest toniȝt in þi donghel
Sprong a water out of a wel,
Þat was of swiþe god sauour,
And seruede þe and þi neyȝebour.
I wil þe saie þe sothe word,[2405]
Þe welle bitokneȝ a gold hord.
Go delue anon in þi donghel,
Þou sschalt hit finde swiþe snel.”
Þanne he dalf þerinne anon,
And fond of gold ful god won.[2410]
He ȝaf þe maistres of þe gold,
Ase moche ase þai nime wold
And also his neȝhebour,
He made him riche of þat tresour.
But Merlin saide, bi heuene-king,[2415]
He wolde þerof no þing.
Þe maistres out of toune nome,
And ladden Merlyn toward Rome,
And asked him wiȝ milde mouþe [f.98ra] [Image]
ȝif he þe sothe telle couþe[2420]
Whi þemperour miȝt nowt se
Whanne he sscholde out of Rome te.
“ȝa” saide Merlin “sikerli,[“”]
Ich kan telle him ful wel whi.”
Þe maistres were glad of þis[2425]
And to Rome þai went iwis.
Þe dai was comen þat hem was set,
Anon wiȝ þemperour þai met
And saide “Þe dai is comen of answeriing.”
Quaþ Herowdes “Þat is soþ þing.[2430]
Tel me hastilich and sket
Þing þat ȝhe me bihet.”
“Lo! sire we han a schild ibrowt[“]
Þat schal þe telle al þi þowt.
Lo her, sire, a litel page,[2435]
Þat schal sai þe þi corage.”
Quaþ þemperour of lime and lond,
“Wil ȝe his tale take an hond?”[“]
“ȝa, on al þat we haue or haue mowe,[“]
Þe childes tale we wil auowe.”[2440]
“Tel me” he saide “child Merlin.”[“]
“Sir, lad me arst to chaumbre þin.”[“]
Þemperour him ladde anon
Into chaumbre of lim and ston,
And whanne þai were þerinne ischet,[2445]
Merlin his tonge wiȝ wit whet,
And spak to þemperour
“Þou hast” he saiþ “her in þi bour[“]
Fer vnder þi bed adoun,
A gret boiland cauderoun[2450]
Wiȝ seuen walmes boiland;
Þe walmes han þe abland
And þer whiles þai boilland be
Sire, þou ne schalt neuer ise,
And ȝif þai mai ben queint ariȝt,[2455]
Þou miȝt wel (wel) haue þi siȝt.”
Þemperour had wonder of þis,
And let remue his bed, iwis,
And tok ten men oþer twelue,
And het hem in þe grounde delue.[2460]
Þai deden ase here louerd hem het,
And doluen alle þere ful sket.
Þai ne hadde doluen but a stounde, [f.98rb] [Image]
Þat þe caundroun was ifounde,
Þat hadde riȝt walmes seuen.[2465]
Þo was ileued þe schildes steuen.
Quad þemp[er]our “forsothe iwis,
Bi þe I wil don after þis.
Ac telle me, child, som resouns,
What bitokneȝ þis boilouns?”[2470]
“Sire, do out þi folk ichon,[“]
And ich wil þe telle swiþe anon.”
Þemperour anonriȝt
Drof out boþe clerk and kniȝt.
Þanne beginneȝ þe child Merlin[2475]
To telle þemperour swich Latin:
“Sire” he said “bi God in heuen,[“]
Þise boilouns þat boilen seuen,
Bitoknen þine seuen wise,
Þat han iwrowt aȝen þe assise.[2480]
Þai han arrered custumes newe,
Þat þe mai wel sore rewe.
Be hit oþer clerk or kniȝt,
And him mete a sweuene aniȝt,
He comeȝ amorewe, ich vnderstonde,[2485]
And brengeȝ a besaund in his honde
And to þe maistres hire sweuene telle.
Þai hit vndo after her wille.
Þai respounde ase hem likeȝ,
Þous þai mani man biswikeȝ.[2490]
And for þat ilche senne, I finde,
Þat þou art bicome blinde.”
“Nou tel me child þin entent,[“]
What mai me to amendement?”
“Leue sire, for mi loue,[2495]
Bi on of hem mi tale proue.
Leue sire, takeȝ þemprise,
And takeȝ þe eldest of þe wise,
Lat smite atwo his nekke bon,
Þe grettest walm schal quenche anon.”[2500]
Þemperour dede be þe schildes lore,
be eldest maister was slein þerfore.
His heued was into þe caundroun cast,
Þe greste walm queynte on hast.
Þo þemperour wiste þis,[2505]
He let sle alle seuene, iwis.
Þe water bicom faire and liþe, [f.98va] [Image]
Þemperour þerof was bliþe.
Anon he wichss þerof his hond,
And ouerseȝ al þe lond.[2510]
And sire, so fare maistres þine,
Þai schul þe bringe to mochele pine.
Þai han so iblent þe,
Þat þou miȝt nowt þat soþe ise.
Ac ȝif þou dost more bi here rede,[2515]
To swiche blendnesse mote þai þe lede,
As hadde Herowdes þe king,
Þat was neȝ browt to iuel ending.’
‘Nai, dame’ he saide ‘þou art wilde,
Fram swiche schame God me schilde.[2520]
For hem I schal me ful wel kepe,
Of hem ne ȝiue I nowt an hepe.’
‘Sire’ sche saide ‘þou hast god riȝt;
Þai ben about, dai and niȝt,
Þe to bigile an[d] bitraie.’[2525]
Cokkes crewe and hit was daie.
Þemperour aros anon,
And wente to his halle of ston,
And ase þemperour, verraiment,
Hadde ȝiuen his sone juggement,[2530]
Þe sexte maister com into þe halle,
& hendeliche he grette hem alle,
And saide ‘Sire, þou art wel nice,
To leue so mochel þin emperice.
Whanne þou leuest hire so,[2535]
Þat þou wilt þi sone slo,
Þanne mot hit so fare bi þe,
As bi a sschereue of þis countre,
Þa[t] hirt his wif wiȝ a knif
In þe wombe; ȝe les hir lif.’[2540]
Quaþ þemperour ‘in alle maner,
Þat ilche tale ich moste her.’
‘Leue sire, what helpeȝ mi tale,
ȝif þi sone þolieȝ deþes bale?
ȝif him todai longes rest,[2545]
Iich schal þe telle a newe gest;
Swich a tale I þe telle can,
Ne schaltou neuer leue wimman.’
Þemperour hete him let
And his sone aȝen fet.[2550]
Þe child was pult in presoun, [f.98vb] [Image]
Þe maister ginneȝ his resoun.
‘Sire’ he saide ‘þou miȝt me leue,
Hit was a kniȝt, a riche sscherreue,
And [had a] ȝong jolif wif[2555]
Þat he louede [hire] has his lif,
And ssche him bi vnderstonding,
Louede him wel in alle þing.
So on a dai him and his wif
Was iȝouen a newe knif.[2560]
Fair hit was and of egge scharp,
And þai on gamen gonne carp.
Þe kniȝt his wif in þe wombe carf,
For doel þerof amorewe starf.
He dede gret foli, cert,[2565]
Or to tendre was his hert. [ his: MS reads hir.]
Sone amorewe erliche
He was biwaked richeliche [ He: MS reads ȝhe.]
And wel faire browt on erthe
After þat he was werthe. [2570] [ he: MS reads sche.]
Þe leuedi saide for no wenne
Sche ne wolde neuer wende þenne
But as hir louerd for hir daide [ hir: MS reads him.]
Sche wolde be ded an[d] bi him laide.
Here frendes segȝen al þat cas[2575]
& comen to hire to make solas
& saiden “Dame, gent and fre,
Of þi selue haue pite,
For þou art fair and ȝong, saunȝ fail,
And maist þe werld mochel auail.[2580]
Some kniȝt þe wedde of noblai
And haue wiȝ him moche to plai,
Gode children biȝeten and faire.
Gentil dame, debonaire,
Lete awai þi mourning,[2585]
& tak þe to som conforting.”
“Þat wil I do for no wele,[“]
Ac die ich wille on his beriele.”
ȝhe saide “allas and wailawo!
Nel ich hennes neuere go,[2590]
Ne confor[t] take neuer mo.”
Here frendes were sori þo,
A logge þai made vpon his graue,
For sche wolde þer bilaue,
And maked hire a ful fair fer, [f.99ra] [Image] [2595]
And fond hire þat niȝt stouer,
And left here alone,
And sche made reuli mone.
Þat ich dai þai were inome,
Þe þre þeues, bi commun dome.[2600]
Þe þre þeues were kniȝtes
Þat were ihonged anonriȝtes,
For þai hadde þe countre anuwed,
& wiȝ robberie destrwed,
Anhonged were alle þre.[2605]
A kniȝt of þe countre held his fe
For to loke þe þre kniȝttes
Vpon þe galewes þre niȝtes.
He com to þe galewes armed wel
Boþe in iren and in stel[2610]
For to make þe ferst niȝt ward;
Þe weder was cold and froward.
He was forcold and lokede aboute,
And was war wiȝouten doute
Of þe fir in þe chirche hawe[2615]
And þiderward he gan to drawe
For to haue som warmyng,
And fond þe leuedi doel makyng,
And bad ȝhe sscholde late him in.
ȝhe saide ȝhe nolde “bi seint Johain.”[2620]
“A ȝis” he seide “leue dame,[“]
I nelle þe do harm ne sschame.”
He swor as he was gentil kniȝt,
Sche let him in anonriȝt.
He sat and warmed him bi þe fer,[2625]
He biheld þe leuedis cher,
And seȝ swich semblant ȝe made
And saide “dame, þou art a gade,
Þat þou mournest for þe ded
Þat mai þe do noþer god ne qued.[2630]
Confort þi self, pluk vp þin herte,
Swich mourning þan wil þe smerte.
Of þis mourning þou hast vnriȝt,
Þou scholdest louye som gentil kniȝt,
Þat þat þe miȝt do sum solas.”[2635]
And sche saide “allas! allas!
He was so smal and so gent,
I ne mai loue non oþer, verraiment.”
Ne hadde he seten þer but a while [f.99rb] [Image]
He þouȝte men miȝte don him gile.[2640]
He priked to þe galewes wiȝ his fole,
& fond þat a þef was istole.
Þo was him wo, veraiment,
He scholde lese his auauncement,
But he miȝte finde þe þridde,[2645]
Þe þef þat heng þe twaie amidde.
He [þouȝt] þat wimmen couþe red
To help men at her ned.
ȝhe ne was nowt fer, but somdel neȝ,
He telde hire þe sorewe þat he dreȝ,[2650]
And bisoughte hire of god conseiling
For þat he was in gret mourning.
ȝhe saide “sire, ich wille helpen þe,
So þat þou wille spousi me.”
“ȝis, dame” he saide “preciouse,[2655]
ȝif þou me helpe, ich wille þe spouse.”
ȝe let here sorewe awai gon,
And saide “Help, lemman, anon,
Help delf vp mi lord þat was,
He schal vs helpen in þis cas,[2660]
And honge we him in his entaile.”
Here red was don, saunȝ faille,
Hit ne mai nowt ben forhole,
Þai baren him forþ for him was stole.
Þanne saide þe kniȝt to þe leuedi,[2665]
“Who mai þis kniȝt hongi?[“]
I þe segge, bi heuene-king,
I nolde him honge for no þing.
For ȝif ich hadde ihonged a kniȝt,
I schol be coward icleped wiȝ riȝt.”[2670]
“Sire” ȝhe saide “ich wil fol fawe[“]
Heghe him honge and vpdrawe.”
Þe leuedi dede in wode gere,
A rop aboute hire lordes swere,
And drow him vp and heng him fast;[2675]
Þe kniȝt of hire dedes was agast,
And saide “dame, be gode mounde,
Þe stolen kniȝt hadde a wonde
In his heued þat was biknawe,
Whar bi him knewe heghe and lowe.[2680]
And but þi louerd swich on haue,
I þe sai, so God me saue,
Sone wiȝinne litel while [f.99va] [Image]
Worht iparceiued oure gile.”
“Sire” sche saide “tak þi swerd[2685]
& in þe heued smit mi louerd;
Þanne schal hit ben non vnderstonding,
But it was he þat er þar hing.”
“Nai, dame, for moche ne lite,[“]
Þe dede kniȝt wolde I nowt smite.”[2690]
“No, sire” sche saide “þi swerd me reche[“]
And ich him schal, wiȝ min hond, teche
Hou Godes grame com to toune,
Riȝt amideward his croune.”
Þe leuedi tok and smot wiȝ mayn,[2695]
Al amideward þe brayn.
Þanne þe kniȝt wel vnderstod,
Þat fals and fikel was hire blod,
And saide “ȝit vnliche he beȝ. [ he: MS reads ȝhe.]
Broken were his fore teȝ.”[2700]
“Sire” sche saide “smit hem out.”[“]
“Nai, dame” he saide “wiȝouten dout.”[“]
“Þan wil ich” ȝhe saide, and tok a ston[“]
And smot hem out euerichon.
Whan þis dede was ido,[2705]
Þe leuedi saide þe kniȝt to
“Sire, now ich haue iwonne þi loue.”[“]
“Nai, dame” he saide “bi God aboue,[“]
For gold no siluer, lond ne house,
Þi false bodi ne wolde I spouse.[2710]
For also woldestou serue me,
Hase þou hast don þi louerd so fre.
Þou hast itawt me a newe ran,
Þat I schal neuer leue wimman.
For þere þai make semblant fairest,[2715]
Þai wil bigile þe alþerformest.”
Sire and on þe falle swich a strif
Als dede þe sscherreue of his wif,
ȝif þou for þin emperice wild
Wolle sle þin owen child.[2720]
Ac, sire, abid til anoþer morewe,
On hire sschal falle alle þe sorewe.
And whanne þou herest þi sone speke,
Riȝtfulliche þou him awreke.’
Þemperour saide ‘so ich schal.’[2725]
And þanne departed þe curt al,
Some to castel, and some to tour, [f.99vb] [Image]
Þemperour wente to his bour.
Þemperice made semblant ille,
For sche ne hadde nowt hire wille.[2730]
His owen men naþelas,
Made wel god solas.
Þemperour was browt abedde,
Wiȝ riche baudekines ispredde,
Þemperice him com to,[2735]
Als sche was ar iwont to do,
‘Sire, hastou owt herd þe geste,
Whi men made folen feste?’
‘Nai, dame’ he saide ‘gent and fre,
I þe praie þanne telle hit me.’[2740]
‘Sire’ ȝhe saide ‘wiȝouten dout
Whilom was Rome bilayn about
Wiȝ seuen soudans biset,
Wal and gate and castelet,
Þe honur of Rome for to abate[2745]
And for to strwe seinte Petres sate,
Þat is to seie, Cristendom to felle,
And Cristen men to aquelle.
Þe folk hem ful wel held,
Wise of speche, of dede beld.[2750]
“To vii wise men toke we þis toun,[“]
To kep hit fram destructioun.”
Bi his rede hit was itake,
To vij wise men to biwake.
A moneþ þai kept hit,[2755]
Ase we findeȝ in þe writ.
Whan hit com to þe moneȝ ende,
Þai ne miȝt hit no lenger defende,
But ase þai dide a fair queintise,
Herkneȝ now in what wise.[2760]
A man þer was, so seiȝ þe rime,
Þat hit Gemes in þat time.
He was on of þe seuen wise,
Þer he dede a fair queintise.
He let him make a garnement,[2765]
Ase blak ase ani arnement,
And heng þeron squirel tail,
A þousand and mo, wiȝouten fail.
A viser ȝit he made more,
Two faces bihinde & two bifore.[2770]