Io. Gower de confessione Amantis.
¶Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Thomas Berthelette Printer to the kingis grace, AN. M.D.XXXII.
CVM PRIVILEGIO.
❧EPIGRAMMA AVTORIS IN SVVM LIBRVM.
Torpor, hebes sensus, schola parua, labor minimus
(que)
Causant, quo minus ipse minora canam.
Qua tum Engisti lingua canit insula Bruti,
Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loquar.
Ossibus ergo carens, quae conterit ossa loquelis,
Absit, et interpres stet procul, oro, malus.
¶To the reder.
IN tyme paste whanne this warke was prynted, I can not very well coniecte, what was the cause therof, the prologue before was cleane altered. And by that mene it wold seme, that Gower dydde compyle it at the requeste of the noble duke Henry of Lancastre. And all though the bokes that be wrytten, be contrary, yet I haue folowed therin the prynt copie, for as moche as it may serue both weyes, and bycause most copies of the same warke are in printe: but yet I thought it good to warne the reder, that the writen copies do not agre with the prynted. Therfore syr I haue prynted here those same lynes, that I fynde in the wrytten copies. The whiche alteration ye shall perceyue beganne at the .xxiij. lyne in the prologue, and goth forth on, as ye se here folowynge.
¶In our englysshe I thinke make
A boke for kynge Rychardes sake;
To whom belongeth my ligeance,
with all myn hartes obeysaunce,
In all that euer a lyege man
Vnto his kynge may done or can,
So farforth I me recommaunde
To him, which all me may commaunde;
Preyende vnto the hygh reigne,
whiche causeth eury kynge to reygne,
That his corone longe stonde.
¶ I thynke and haue it vnderstonde
As it befyll vpon a tyde,
As thynge whiche shulde tho betyde,
Vnder the towne of newe Troy,
whiche toke of Brute his fyrste ioye,
In Themse, whan it was flowende,
As I by bote came rowende:
So as fortune hir tyme sette
My lyege lorde perchaunce I mette:
And so befelle as I came nygh,
Out of my bote, whan be me sygh,
He bad me come into his barge.
And whan I was with hym at large,
Amonges other thynges seyde
He hath this charge vpon me leyde,
And bad me do my busynesse
That to his hygh worthynesse
Some newe thinge I shulde boke,
That he hym selfe it myght loke
After the forme of my wrytynge.
And thus vpon his commaundynge
Myn harte is well the more glad
To wryte so as he me bad:
And eke my feare is well the lasse,
That none enuy shall compasse
(without a reasonable wyte)
To feyne and blame that I wryte.
A gentyll harte his tonge stylleth
That it malice none distilleth
But preyseth that is to be preysed:
But he that hath his worde vnpeysed
And handleth out kronge any thynge,
I pray vnto the heuen kynge
Fro suche tonges he me shilde.
And netheles this worlde is wylde
Of suche ianglynge and what befall,
My kynges heste shall not falle;
That I in hope to deserue
His thonke, ne shall his wyll obserue:
And els were I nought excused.
For that thyng may nought be refused
what that a kynge hym selfe byt.
For thy the symplest of my wyt
I thynke (if that it may auayle)
In his seruyse to trauayle,
Though I syckenes haue vpon honde,
And longe haue had, yet woll I fonde
So as I made my beheste,
To make a boke after his heste;
And wryte in suche a maner wyse
whiche may be wysedome to the wyse,
And play to hem that lyst to play.
But in prouerbe I haue herde say,
That who that wel his warke beginneth
The rather a good ende be wynneth.
And thus the prologue of my boke
After the worlde, that whylom toke,
And eke somdele after the newe,
I woll begyn for to newe.
¶ And thus I saye for these .lxx. lynes, [Page] there be as many other printed, that be cleane contrarye vnto these bothe in sentence and in meanyng. And farthermore there were lette out in dyuers places of the warke lynes and columnes, ye and sometyme holle padges; whiche caused, that this mooste pleasunt and easy auctor coude not wel be perceyued: for that and chaungynge of wordes, and misord [...]ynge of sentences, wolde haue mased his mynde in redynge, that had ben very [...] learned: and what can be a greatter [...] [...]he vnto a noble auctour? And [...] p [...]ise worthily vnto you the great [...] of this auctour, I knowe my [...]ght moche vnable; ye shall your [...]we [...]eine, whan ye shall se hym [...] as I can) sette forth in his owne [...]ppe and lykenes. And this the mene [...] I maye be bolde to saye, that if we [...] [...]e [...]er haue sene his counnynge [...] the whiche euen at the full do [...] [...]at a clerke he was, the wor [...] [...] [...]oste famous and excellente [...] [...]er, that he wrote in the [...] m [...]te speciall warke, that is [...] and Creseyde, do suffi [...] [...] the same, where he sayth:
[...] G [...]wer, this boke I directe [...] the philosophical Strode: [...] [...]te, ther nede is, to correcte [...] your be [...]ignites and zeles good.
[...] [...]he whiche noble warke, and many [...] the sayde Chausers, that neuer [...] [...]fore imprinted, & those that very [...]we m [...]n knewe, and fewer hadde them, [...]we of late put forthe to gether in a [...] [...]ume. By the whiche wordes of [...], we may also vnderstonde, that [...] Gower were bothe of one selfe [...] [...]th excellently lerned, both great frendes to gether, and bothe a lyke ende [...]oured them selfe and imployed theyr tyme [...]o wel and so vertuously, that they dyd not onely passe forth their lyfes here [...]yght honourably; but also for their so doynge, so longe (of lykelyhode) as letters shal endure & continue, this noble royalme shall be the better, ouer and besyde theyr honest fame and renowme. And thus whan they hadde gone theyr iourney; the one of them, that is to saye, Iohn̄ Gower prepared for his bones a restynge place in the monastery of saynt Marye Oueres, where somwhat after the olde fasshion he lyeth ryght sumptuously buryed with a garlande on his heed, in token that he in his lyfe dayes flourysshed fresshely in literature and science. And the same moniment, in remembraunce of hym erected, is on the Northe syde of the fore sayde churche, in the chapell of saynte Iohn̄, where he hath of his owne foundation a masse dayly songe. And more ouer he hath an obyte yerely done for hym within the same churche / on fryday after the feaste of the blessed pope saynte Gregory.
Besyde on the wall where as be lyeth there be peynted thre virgins with crownes on theyr beedes / one of the whiche is wrytten Charitie / and she holdethe this diuise in her honde.
En toy qui es fitz de dieu le pere
Sauue soit, que gist souz cest piere.
¶The seconde is wrytten Mercye, whiche holdeth in her hande this diuise:
O bone Iesu fait ta mercy
Al alme, dont le corps gist icy.
¶ The thyrde of them is wrytten Pite, whiche holdeth in her hand this diuise folowynge.
Pur t
[...] Pite Iesu regarde,
Et met cest alme in sauue garde.
¶And there by hongeth a table, wherin appereth that who so euer praith for the soule of Iohn̄ Gower, he shall so oft as he so dothe, haue a thousande and fyue handred dayes of pardon.
The other lyeth huryed in the monasterye of seynt Peters at westmyster in an ile on the south syde of the churche. On whose soules, and all christen, Iesu haue mercy. Amen.
The table.
The contentes of the prologe.
- ❧Howe Iohn̄ Gower in the .xvi. yere of kynge Rycharde the seconde beganne to make this boke. folio .i.
- ¶Of the state of royalmes temporally the same yere. fo. eodem.
- Of the estate of the clergye the tyme of Robert Gylbonense, namynge hym selfe Clement than Antipope. fo. ij.
- ¶Of thestat of the cōmon people. fo. iij.
- ¶Howe some blame fortune, some the influence of the planettes for thynges that chaunce. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the image, that Nabugodonosor lawe in his slepe, whiche hadde a heed of golde, a brest of syluer, a bely of brasse, legges of iron, and fete halfe iron & halfe erthe. fo. iij.
- ¶The interpretation of the same dreme, and howe the worlde was fyrst of golde, and after alway werse and werse. fo. eod.
- ¶The apostols wordes concernyng the ende of the worlde. fo. vi.
- ¶The mutabilite of thinges. fo. eodē.
- ¶Howe man by the matter of his complection is diuided, and of the diuision of the body and soule: and howe Adam diuided from the state of innocence was deiected out of Paradyse fo. eodē.
- ¶How the people through the worlde excepte Noe and his, for diuision were drowned. fo. eodem.
- ¶The diuision of languages, and a token of the worldes ende. fo. vii.
- ¶Of the harper Arion. fo eodem.
Thus endeth the prologue.
¶The contentes of the fyrste boke.
- ¶Fyrst the auctour nameth this warke Confessio Amantis, wherin is descriued not onely the loue humayne, but also of all other lyuynge bestes naturall. fo. vij.
- ¶ Howe Cupyde smote Iohn̄ Gower with a fyry darte, and wounded hym, that Venus commysed hym to Genius her preste to here his confession. fo. viij.
- ¶ Howe the louer knelynge, praith Genius to appose hym in his cōfessiō. fo. eo.
- ¶ The wordes of Genius the preeste vpon the louers confession. fo. ix.
- ¶Howe the louer dothe make his confession principally of two of his fiue wyttes. fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Acteon for lokyng vpon Diane was turned into an harte. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of Phorcus and his thre doughters whiche had but one eye, and howe Perseus slewe them. fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe the serpent, that beareth the Carbūcle, stoppeth his eares, whan he is inchanted. fo. x.
- ¶How Vlixes escaped fro the meri [...] dens by stoppynge of his cares. fo. eo [...].
- ¶ Of the seuen dedly synnes, of whom the fyrst is Pryde, whiche hath diuers spices, the fyrst of them is hipocrisy, the whos properte the cōfes. declareth fo. xi.
- ¶Howe some innocent women are disceyued fraudulentely throughe hypocrysye. fo eodem.
- ¶ Howe a knyghte of Rome named Mundus, whiche by his feyned hipocrisie, and meane of two false preestes, defouled one Pauline the most chast wyfe of Rome. fo. xij.
- ¶Howe by the colour of sacrifyce and feyned hipocrisie Troye was wonne and distroyed by the grekes. fo. xiii.
- Of the seconde spice of pride named inobedience. fo. xiiij.
- ¶Of two vices longynge to inobedience called murmour & cōplaynt. fo. xv.
- ¶How the noble knight Florēce, neuew [Page] to the emperour, by his obedience restored the kynges doughter of Cicile to hir right shappe fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the thyrde spyce of pryde / which is called Surquedrye fo. xviii.
- ¶ Of the presumption, whiche desceyueth the louers, whan they thinke them selfe most sure fo. eodem.
- ¶ How the knyght Campaneus for his surquedrye was brēte by fyre at the siege of Thebes fo. eodem.
- ¶ How the kinge of Hungrye humbled him to pour men, wherof his brother rebuked him, & how the kinge by his great [...]dome chastised his brother. fo. xix.
- ¶ Howe Narcissus ennamored on his [...] beautye spilte him selfe. fo. xx.
- [...] Of the forth spyce of pryde, named [...]tance fo. xxi.
- [...] [...]ge Albine through his folisshe [...] was [...]ayne of his owne wyfe [...] [...]em.
- [...] the fifte spice of pride called Vain [...] fo. xxiii.
- [...] Nabugodonosor for his pryde, [...] he was in his moste glorye, was of [...], & transformed in to a beast [...] [...]y. fo. eodem.
- [...] Howe a prudent kinge demanded .iii. [...] one of his knightes vpō his [...] [...]hich were assoyled by the knygh [...], whom the kynge for hir [...] maryed fo. xxv.
The contentis of the seconde boke.
- ¶ Of the synne of Inuie, and of his spi [...], & [...]t of that that is called Sorowe [...] other mannes welth fo. xxvii.
- ¶ Howe Polyphemus for enuye slewe [...], & howe he wolde haue rauisshed [...]hee, whom Neptunus saued from him fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the seconde spyce of enuye, called Ioye of an other mans sorowe fo. xxviii.
- ¶Of the Couetous and Enuyous man fo. xxix.
- ¶ Of the thirde spice of enuye named Detraction fo. eodem.
- ¶How Constance themperours doughter of Rome was sent to the souden of Surrey, and of her meruailous aduentures there fo. xxxi.
- ¶ How Constance arriued in Englonde, and howe she conuerted Hermegilde to the feyth fo. eodem,
- ¶ Howe a yonge man was amorous on Constans, & of the mischifes dede that he therfore dyd fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe kinge Allee was conuerted to the feyth and wedded Cōstans. fo. xxxii.
- ¶ Howe Constance was delyuered of a fayre son, whom they named Maurice, & of the great treason of the kinges mother fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Constance was ageyne put on the see, and two yere after arryued in Spayne amonge sarasins, and howe at last hir shippe was driuen amonge the Romayne flitte fo. xxxiii.
- ¶Howe kinge Allee toke wreche on his mother for hir treason fo. xxxiiii.
- ¶Howe kinge Allee wente to Rome on pylgremage, where he fonde his wyfe & his chylde fo. eodem.
- ¶ How Constance beknowleged hir to hir fader themperour fo. xxxv.
- ¶ How Maurice was constituted heire of the empire of Rome, & how kinge Alle retorned in to Englonde, wher within .ii. yere after he deyed fo. xxxvi.
- ¶ Of the enuy and detraction betwene Persyus and Demetrius the two sōnes of kinge Philip of Macedon, and howe that one caused that other to be slayne fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the fourth spyce of Enuy, whiche is called dissimulacion fo. xxxviii.
- ¶ Howe Nessus desceyued Hercules & Dianire at a ryuer, & of the sherte that was the deth of Hercules fo. xl.
- ¶ Of the fyfte spice of enuye called Supplantacion fo. eodem
- ¶How Agamemnon supplanted Achilles, and Diomedes Troylus. fol. xli.
- [Page]¶Of Geta & Amphitrion. fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe an emperours sonne of Rome was supplanted by his felowe, of the soudans daughter, by tellynge to hym his counsayle. fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Pope Boniface fraudulentely supplanted Celestine his predecessour, & howe afterwarde he was taken by the frenche kynge and put in pryson, where be endured great hunger and thyrst, and at last dyed most wretchedly. fo. xliij.
- ¶The prophecye of Iochim the abbotte. fo. xliiij.
- ¶Howe Ioab, capiteyne of the booste of Dauid, slewe Abner, and howe Achitofell, for enuy that he hadde, that Cusy was preferred afore hym, benge hym selfe. fo. eodem.
- ¶ The description of enuy. fo. eodē.
- ¶ Howe the vertue of charite is against enuy, and how Constantine themperour was healed of his lepre. fo. xlv.
The contentes of the thirde boke.
- ¶ Of the synne of yre, and of his fyue spyces, of whiche the fyrst is called Melancolye. fo. xlvij.
- ¶How Machareus the sonne of Eolus the kynge, gotte his syster Canace with childe. fo. xlviij.
- ¶How Tyresias was transformed into the shap of a woman. fo. xlix.
- ¶ Of the seconde spyce of yre, named cheste or stryfe, and what harme cometh therof. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of the noble vertue Pacience, with an example of Socrates & his wyfe. fo. l.
- ¶ Howe Tyresias was ordeyned iuge betwene Iupiter and Iuno in a stryfe betwene hem. fo. li.
- ¶Howe the crowe that was whyte became blacke. fo. eodem.
- ¶ why Iupiter cutte of the tonge of Lara. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of hate the thyrde spice of yre. fo. lij.
- ¶How Nauplus reuenged him on the grekes, for that his sonne Palamides was slayne trayterously at the siege of Troye. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of conteke and homicide, whiche be the fourth & fyfte spices of wrath. fo. liij.
- ¶The answere of Diogenes to Alexander. fo. liiij.
- ¶The history of Pyrramus and Thysbe, and howe eche slewe them selfe for loue. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the vengeaunce, that Athamas and Demophon purposed to do in theyr coūtrey, after they returned from Troye and howe by the wysedome of the prudent Nestor, they were pacified. fo. eod.
- ¶Howe Clytemnestra by the counsayle of Egisthus, slew her husbōd kyng Agamemnon, & how his sonne Horestes toke vengeaunce therof. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of the mouers of warre, which not onely do cause homicide, but also desolation of al the worlde. fo. lix.
- ¶Howe the grekes made warre in to euery countrey, that was ryche and fertyle, but bycause Archady was ba [...]ayne and poore, it abode styll in peace. fo. lx.
- ¶Of the aunswere that the see rouer made, whan he was taken and brought before kynge Alexander. fo. eodem.
- ¶An example of kynge Alexander, and of his vnlefull warres whiche n [...]t withstandynge he conquered all the worlde, he was by dethe subdued. fo. lxi.
- ¶Howe lyghte forgyuenes doth cause offence. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the nature of a byrde, the which hath a visage lyke to a man. fo. eodē.
- ¶An example of pite, howe beneficiall it is to mankynde. fo. lxij.
¶The contentes of the fourth boke.
- ¶Of the synne of slouth, and of his spices, of the which the fyrst is called Latchesse. fo. lxiij.
- ¶ Howe Aeneas lefte Dido behynde hym at Carthage, and howe she s [...]ewe hir selfe. fo. eodem.
- [Page]¶ The epistoll that Penelope wrote to Ylixes in blaminge him for his latches and longe taryenge at Troye fo. eodē
- ¶ How the ingenious warke that Gros test was aboute .vii. yere was through laches of a moment all loste fo. lxiiii.
- ¶ Of the latches of the fyne folisshe virgins fo. eodem
- ¶ Of a spyce of Slouth called Pusyllanimite fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of Pigmalion and his ymage that he made in iuorie fo. lxv.
- ¶ Howe the kynge Lygdus doughter was transformed in to a man fo. eodē
- ¶ Of the vyce Foryettylnes fo. lxvi.
- ¶ Of Demophon and Phillis, & howe [...] [...]nge her selfe for loue. fo. lxvii.
- ¶ Of the vice of Negligence fo. lxviii.
- ¶ [...]owe Phaeton lad his fathers carte; [...]we through negligence be set all [...] worlde a fyre. fo. eodem
- [...]we Dedalus and Icharus his son [...] the ayre. fo. eodem.
- ¶ [...] sp [...]ce of Slouthe called ydel [...] [...] fo. xix.
- [...] the kinge of Armenis daughter [...] [...]me a company of the fairy [...] whom rode a lady alone that ca [...] [...] horse haliers fo. lxx.
- [...] auowed to sacrifice to god [...] came to welcom him home [...] was his owne daughter, that [...] bewayle her virginite fo. lxxi.
- [...] for the cause of loue valiant ex [...] of [...]hiualrye shulde not be lefte at [...] tyme. fo. lxxii.
- [...] Achilles for the loue of Polixe [...] [...] to do armes at Troye, fo. eodem
- [...] Vlyxes was taken by the gre [...] to go to Troye, and what wren [...] [...] [...]ought to tary at home with his [...] fo. lxxiii.
- ¶ Howe Pro [...]eselaus settynge his wi [...]yle aparte, had leuer dye ho [...]rably at Troye, than abyde at home [...]ydelnes fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe kinge Saul, not withstandinge that Samuel and the Phytones tolde him he shulde be slayne, preferred chyualry, and wente to batayle fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Chiro a centaure encoraged Achilles in youth to be hardy fo. lxxiiii.
- ¶Howe Hercules for loue of Deianire conquered Achilous fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Penthesilea the quene of Amazons came to Troye for Hectors sake, and there dyd dedes of armes fo. eodem
- ¶ Howe for the fame of chiualry Philimenis came to Troye and gatte to haue thre maydens sent him yerely from the royalme of Amazons fo. lxxv.
- ¶ Howe Aeneas by his conqueste gotte the loue of Lauine, and the realme of Italye fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Gentilnesse is ofte preferred, and what gentilnes is fo. lxxvi.
- ¶ Of the diligence of our predecessours and theyr doctrine fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of the thre stones that the philosophres made, that is to say, Vegeta, Animall, and minerall. fo. lxxvii.
- ¶ Of Sompnolence, whiche is chamberlayne to Slouth fo. lxxviii.
- ¶ Of kinge Leix and Alceon his wyfe, whiche lepte in to the see and dreynte hir selfe for hir husbondes sake fo. lxxix.
- ¶ Howe Lephalus by watchynge gate Aurora his loue fo. lxxx.
- ¶ Howe Io was transformed into a Lowe, and put to the kepinge of Argus by Iuno, and howe Mercurius slewe him fo. lxxxi.
- ¶ Of the laste spyce of Slouthe, called Tristresse which causeth wanhope fo. eo.
- ¶ Howe Iphis the sonne of Theucer loued a mayde, and how whan he coude not get her loue he henge him self at her fathers gate, and howe the goddes therfore turned the mayde in to an harde stone fo. lxxxii.
☞ The contentis of the fyfte boke.
- ¶ Of Louetise & Auarice, which is the rote of al euels, & of his spices fo. lxxxiii.
- [Page]¶Howe Meda the kynge of Frige vndiscretly desyred, that euery thynge the whiche he touched, myght be torned in to golde fo. lxxxiiii.
- ¶ Of the vyce of Ielosie fo. lxxxvi.
- ¶How Vulcanus toke Venus his wyfe a bedde with Mars, whom to se, he called all the goddis, and they for his labour laughed him to scorne fo. lxxxvii.
- ¶Of the false sectes of goddes, & how they firste began by the painims fo. eodē.
- ¶The pistoll sent by the kinge of Brag mans to kynge Alexander fo. xci.
- ¶The fyrste culture or worshippinge of ydols fo. eodem.
- ¶ The seconde that fonde out ymages. fo. xcii.
- ¶The thyrde ymage fo. eodem
- ¶Of the Iewes Synagoge, the which fayled whan the churche of Chryste began fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the Chrysten feyth fo. xciii.
- ¶ Howe Thoas the high preste of the Temple of Mynerue, was corrupted with gold, and how he turned his face a syde wyttyngly, whyle Anthenor toke awey the Palladium. fo. eodem.
- ¶A notable sayenge of saynte Gregory touchinge the increace of the Christen feyth fo. xciiii.
- ¶Of the spice of auarice that is called Couetyse fo. eodem.
- ¶ A great and notable example of the Couetous emperour of Rome calledde Crassus. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of them that serue princes and grutche at theyr rewarde fo. xcvi.
- ¶ Howe themperour Frederike herde two poure men stryue, of which the one sayd, that he may wel be ryche, whome the kinge woll, and the other sayde, he who that god woll, shall be ryche, and howe themperour made a proffe therof fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the kynges stewarde that shamfully folde his wyfe for couetousnesse of money fo. xcviii.
- ¶Of the spices of Auarice called false witnes and periurye fo. xcix.
- ¶Howe Thetis clothed Achilles hir sonne in a maydes clothinge, and sente him to kinge Lychomede, where he lay with his doughter, & got hir with child & bow at last he was perceiued fo. eodē
- ¶Howe Iason wōne the flees of golde, and after falsly forsoke Medea for loue of Creusa fo. ci.
- ¶How Medea by her artemagik made olde Eson that was Iasons father yonge agayne fo. cv.
- ¶Howe the golden flees came fyrste in to the yle of Colchos fo. cvi
- ¶ Of the spyce of auarice, whiche is called vsurye fo. cvii.
- ¶Howe Iuno auenged her vpon Eccho for hir baudrye fo. cviii
- ¶ Of the spice of auarice, that is called Scarsnesse fo. cix.
- ¶ Howe the Romayne nigarde called Babione was deceyued of his fayre loue Viola, by the liberalite and gentilnesse of Croceus. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of that monstrous spyce of auarice, the whiche is called Ingratitude or vnkyndnes fo. cx.
- ¶ How vnkindely Adrian the Senatour of Rome quytte the kindenesse of the poure man called Bardus, which saued his lyfe fo. eodē.
- ¶ Howe vnkyndly and falsly duke Theseus quytte the great kyndenes of the yonge lady Ariadne fo. cxii.
- ¶Of the spice of auarice, the whiche is called Rauyne, the whose mother is called Extorcion fo. cxiii.
- ¶How Thereus rauisshed Philomene, and howe hir syster Prognes and she did reuenge it fo. eodem
- ¶Of the spice of auarice, that is called Thefte fo. cxvi.
- ¶How Neptune wolde haue rauisshed the fayre virgin Cornix, & howe she was preserued from him by Pallas. fo. cxvii.
- ¶ Howe Iupiter transformed him selfe in to the lyknesse of a mayden, and so rauisshed Calisto. fo. eodem.
- [Page]¶what the fayre yonge man Phirinus did, to thende that he wolde kepe his chastyte fo. eodem.
- ¶A comendacion of virginite fo. cxviii.
- ¶Howe the emperour Valentinian reioysed more, that he hadde subdued his flesshe, & kepte him selfe a virgine, than of all his other victories fo. eodem
- ¶Of the spyce of Couetousnes, called secrete thefte fo. cxix.
- ¶ Howe Phebus defouled the mayde Leucothea, and how hir father therfore buryed hir quycke fo. cxx.
- ¶ Howe Hercules chaunged raymente with his loue Iole, & howe therby Fau [...] was dsceyued and came to bedde to Hercules fo. cxxii.
- ¶ Of the spyce of Couetyse called Sa [...]lege fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of thre great Capytaines that com [...] sacrylege fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of the wrytyng that the hand wrote [...] walle in the tyme of Balthasar [...] fo. cxxiii.
- ¶ Of [...]ke in Rome that was called [...] whiche committed sacrylege [...] conscience fo. eodem.
- [...] [...]owe Paris kinge Priamus sonne, [...] [...]ly rauysshed in the temple of [...] [...]ayre Helayne kynge Menalay [...] & howe he ledde hir awaye with [...] fo. cxxiiii.
- ¶ Of the vertue the whiche is called [...], that stondeth betwene Libe [...] and Prodigalyte fo. cxxvi.
The contentis of the syxte boke.
- ¶ Of the synne of Glotonny, and of [...] spyces that longe therto, Dronkeship and Delycacy fo. cxxvii.
- ¶Of Iupiters two tonnes fo. cxxx.
- ¶ Howe Bacchus beinge destitute of drynke for him and his hoste, prayde vnto Iupiter, and howe he was satisfyed to his mynde fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Trystram was of loue dronke on Bell I soulde fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe the dronken Centaures rauisshed the fayre Ipotacia the same daye that Perithous wedded hir fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Galba and Vitellus two gentylmen of Spayne for there riote were iuged to deth, and howe they chees to dye beinge dronken fo. eodem
- ¶ Of that spyce of glotonnye. that is called Delycacy fo. eodem
- ¶The euangelical exemple of Diues & Lazar ageynste the delycate fo. cxxxii.
- ¶The delicate syght in loue fo. cxxxii.
- ¶The delyte of the ear in loue fo. cxxxiii
- ¶The delycate thought in loue fo. eodē
- ¶The delicacy of Nero fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Delicacy and dronkenesse prouocke carnall concupiscence fo. cxxxiiii.
- ¶The names of bokes and authors, that wrote as welle of naturall as cursed magike. fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe Vlisses returninge home from the syge of Troye / arriued in the ile of Cilli, where dwelt the great witche Circes, on whome he begate a sonne that after slewe him fo. cxxxv.
- ¶ Howe Nectanabus by his arte magike deceyued Olimpias king Philippe of Macedones wyfe, whyle be was absent, and on hir gote Alexander the great Conquerour, and howe he was afterwarde of his owne sonne the same Alexander slayne fo. cxxxvii.
- ¶ Howe Zorastes the fyrste fynder of art magyk, laughed at his birth, & howe the king of Surrie slewe him fo. cxl.
☞ The contentis of the .vii. boke.
- ¶ Of the doctryne of Aristotel, whiche he taught Alexander, and how philosophie is deuided into thre partes. fo. eodē
- ¶Of Theoryke the fyrste part of philosohie / the which is departed vpon thre, that is to say Theologie, Phisyke, and [Page] Mathematike, fyrste of Theolog [...]. fo. eo.
- ¶ Of essencia, whiche is th [...] maner wyse f [...]odem.
- ¶ Of the seconde parte of Theorike called phisike fo. eodem
- ¶Of the thirde parte of Theorike called Mathematike whiche conteyneth in it .iiii. sciences, the fyrst of them is Arithmetike. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of Musike the seconde parte of Mathematike fo. eodem
- ¶ The thirde spice of Mathematike, whiche is called Geometrie. fo. eodem
- ¶The creation of the .iiii. elementes, & of theyr propertes fo. cxlii.
- ¶Of the erthe the fyrst element fo. eo.
- ¶Of the water the second elemēt fo. eo
- ¶Of the aire the third element fo. eodē
- ¶Howe the ayre is deuided into thre periferiis fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the first periferi of thaire fo. eodē
- ¶Of the second periferi of thaire. fo. eo
- ¶Of the thirde periferi of thair fo. eod
- ¶Of the fleinge fyres in the ayre by nyght, and of theyr names fo. eodem
- ¶Of the fyre the forth elemēt fo. cxliij.
- ¶Of the foure complexions in man, & fyrste of Melancolie fo. eodem.
- ¶Of fleumatike complexion fo. eodem
- ¶Of sanguine complexion fo. eodem.
- ¶Of Colerike complexion fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the foure mansions that the four complexions haue in mans body fo. eodē
- ¶wherfore the stomake serueth fo. eod
- ¶Howe the erth after Noes floud was deuided in to thre partes fo. cxliiii.
- ¶Of the see called Oceanum fo. eodem
- ¶Of the fyfte elemente, whiche as the phylosopher sayth, conteyneth within his circuite, all thinges vnder heuene, and is called Orbis fo. eodem
- ¶Of the fourth spice of Mathematik called Astronomye, with the whiche as felowe, astrologye is coūted, and of the vii. planettes, fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the Mone the first planet. fo. cxlv.
- ¶ Of the seconde planete called Mercurye. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of Venus the thyrde planet. fo. eod.
- ¶Of the Sonne, whiche reynninge in the myddes of the planettes, is the chiefe of all the sterres fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the Sonnes chare, and the dyuers apparayle therof fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the fyfte planete whiche is called Mars, fo. cxlvi.
- ¶Of the syxte planete, which is called Iupiter, fo. eodem.
- ¶ O [...] the seuenth planette called Saturn, whiche is biher thā the other fo. eo
- ¶Of the .xii. sygnes fo. eodem.
- ¶Of the first signe called Aries fo. eo.
- ¶ Of Taurus the .ij. sygne. fo. eodem.
- ¶Of Gemini the thyrde sygne. fo. eod.
- ¶ Of Cancer the fourth sygne fo. eod.
- ¶Of the fifte signe called Leo fo. eodē
- ¶Of the sixte signe called Virgo fo. eo.
- ¶Of the .vii. signe called Libra fo. eo.
- ¶Of the .viii. sige called Scorpio fo. eo
- ¶Of the .ix. signe called sagittari fo. eo
- ¶Of the .x. signe called Capricorn fo eo
- ¶Of the .xi. signe called Aquarie fo. eo.
- Of the .xii. signe called Pisces fo. cxlviii
- ¶ Of the doctryne that Nectanabus taught Alexander, and of .xv. principall sterres with their stones & Herbes fo. eo.
- ¶The names of the auctors, that compiled bokes of Astronomy. fo. cxl [...].
- ¶Of the seconde parte of philosophye called Rhetoric, and of the two spices therof Grammer and Logic fo. eodem
- ¶The eloquence of Iulius Cesar in Catilins cause. fo. cl.
- ¶Of the thirde parte of philosophye called practike & of the thre spices therof Ethic, Economic, and policy fo. eodem
- ¶ Fyue speciall rules of policy belongynge to a prynce fo. cli.
- ¶ The question of Darius, whether was stronger, a kynge, wine, or a woman fo. eodem
- ¶An example of the force of loue, betwene Cirus king of Perse, and Apemen his concubine fo. clii.
- ¶The great trouth and fidelite of the noble Alcest, wife to king Admete fo. eo.
- [Page]¶ Of the seconde policye belongynge to a kynges maiestye, whiche Aristotel calleth Largesse fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe a kynge shulde flee the vice of prodigalite. fo. eodem.
- ¶ A notable example of Iulius Cesar to encorage a prynce to be lyberall to them that wel deserue it fo. cliii.
- ¶ An example of kinge Antigonus, how a prynce shulde vse discrete moderation in gyftes fo. eodem.
- ¶ How the state of a kynge ought to be supported of his trewe lieges. fo. eodem.
- ¶ How after Arystotel, the prodigalite [...] a prynce causeth commune pouerte fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe flaterers in princis courtes do [...] thre maner wyse fo. eodem.
- ¶ How Aristippus reproued Diogenes, [...] he wolde not dwele in courte, & [...] Diogenes answerde him agayne. fo. cliiii.
- ¶ Howe Dante the poete aunswered a [...]. fo. eodem.
- ¶ A notable example agaynst flatterye, [...] [...]me that the Romayns vsed in [...] [...]mphe of then emperour fo. eodē
- [...] An other custome agaynste flatery, [...] Romayns vsed whan theyr Em [...] intromsed fo. clv.
- [...] some that make them selfe wyse [...] fooles in thende fo. eodem.
- [...] why [...]tterours shulde rather be dry [...] of courte than receyue any re [...] [...] of a prynce fo. eodem.
- ¶ How [...] kinge Achas refused the trewe [...] [...]phesie of Michee, and to his destru [...] [...] credence to the false flateryng [...]phet Zedechias fo. eodem.
- ¶The thyrde policy that most specially [...]geth vnto a kynge is called Iust [...]ce. fo. clvi.
- ¶ Howe a kynges maiestie shulde not only be armed with myght and strength but also with good lawes fo. eodem
- ¶ The great Iustice of Maximine the emperour. fo. clvii.
- ¶The noble sayenge of Caius Fabricius, the which wolde not be corrupted with golde fo. eodem.
- ¶ Of the great Iustice of Conradus the emperour fo. eodem
- ¶Of him that slewe him selfe for the loue of Iustice. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Cambices the kinge of Perse, caused a corrupt iuge to be flayne quicke fo. clviii.
- ¶ what they were, that fyrste inuented and made lawes, and specially of Licurgus, whiche preferred the cōmune welth before his owne. fo. eodem.
- ¶ The fourthe Policie belongynge to a kinge, whiche is called Pite fo. clix.
- ¶ Howe a knyght that was iuged to the deth by Alexander, appeled from the kinges yre vnto his pite. fo. eodem
- ¶ A notable talke of a Iewe that went a fote and a pagane, that rode, through a wyldernes fo. eodem
- ¶Of the great pite of kinge Codrus, whiche to saue his people cheese to be slayne him selfe. fo. clx.
- ¶ How Pompeius after he badde take the kynge of Armenye, he lete hym go quyte, saienge, It is more noble to make a kynge, than to depose a kynge fo. [...]
- ¶ Of the greate cruelte of Leontiu [...] to [...]ustinian fo. clxi.
- ¶ Of the cruell inuention of the bulle of brasse, and how Berillus the inuentor was the fyrst that was turmented therin fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe the tyrannous Denyse, that gaue men to his horses to eate, was him selfe at last deuored of horses. fo. eodem
- ¶Howe the tyraunt Lichaon, for that he made men to eate men was torned in to a wolfe fo. eodem
- ¶The nature of the Lion fo. clxii.
- ¶Howe the cruel kinge of Perse, for that he slewe withoute pite those that he conquered, he was at last cruelly slain him selfe fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe lyke as a prynce ought not to be to cruell, so be shulde not be ouer feynte harted and ferfull fo. clxiii.
- [Page]¶Of the stont stomaked Achilles, and the feynt harted Thersites fo. eodem
- ¶Howe Gedeon, with thre hundred men of warre ouer came fyue kynges, in the whose hoste were .lxxxx. thousande men fo. eodem.
- ¶Howe a kinge is bounde of ryght to slee the aduersaries to iustice fo. clxiiii.
- ¶Howe kynge Dauid at his last ende commanded his sonne Salomon, that he shulde slee Ioab without any remission. fo. eodem
- ¶Howe Salomon desyringe of god to haue wise dome to gouerne his people, opteyned therwith plenty of all thinges folio eodem.
- ¶ Howe Lucius the emperour beinge flatered of his conselours, was tolde the trouth of his foole fo. eodem
- ¶ Howe Roboas by enclyning to yonge counsayle, and refusynge of olde, lost .x. partes of his kyngedome fo. eodem
- ¶ whether were beter a wise prince with yuell counsayle, or a folisshe prince with good counseyle, fo. clxvi.
- ¶ Of Anthonius, whiche by example of Scipio, sayde, he had leauer to saue o [...] his owne people, than slee an .L. of [...] [...]emes fo. eodem
- ¶ Of [...]he fyfte polycie belongynge to a prynce called chastite fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe a prynce to reioyce his mynde ought some tyme to beholde beautyfull women. fo. clxvii.
- ¶ Howe Sardanapaulus became all womanliche, wherby he was subdued, and lost his realme fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe kynge Dauid, for the loue of women lefte not of the exercise of knighthode. fo. eodem.
- ¶How Cirus the kinge of Perse coude not subdue the Lydes, tyll by disceyte be caused them to falle to lykinges of flesshely lustes fo. eodem
- ¶Howe Amoleche by counsayle of Balaam sent feyre women to the hebrewes whiche were cause, that the hebrewes were ouercome and discomfite fo. clxviii.
- ¶Howe Salomon was ouercome with carnall concupiscence, and howe by then ticiment of his concubines, he dyd worshyppe false goddes. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Achias the prophet shewed before vnto Ieroboas the son of Nabal, that after Salomons deth he shulde reigne ouer .x. tribes of Israell fo. eodem
- ¶ Howe Arrous the sonne of Tarquine by a false imagination deceyued and subdued the Gabiens fo. clxix.
- ¶How and vnder what maner Arrous rauished Lucrece fo. eodem
- ¶Howe the worthy knyght Virginius slough his owne doughter, because she shulde not lese her virginite fo. clxxii.
- ¶ A ryght notable example bowe the delite and lust in maryage ought to be moderate, by the seuen husbondes of Sara the doughter of Raguelis, which were slayne the fyrst night of their mariage by a fende called Asmodius, And howe Thoby was preseruedde by the counseile of the angel Raphael fo. eodē
❧ The contentis of the eyght boke.
- ¶ Howe some in loues cause do against nature as in theyr kynred and sy [...]rede both contrary to the lawes of reasone and of the churche fo. clxxiii.
- ¶ Howe Caius Calygula lay by his owne thre sisters, and afterwarde exiled them. And howe Amon also ageynste kinde rauished his owne syster T [...]amar the whiche dede he dere a bought [...]fterwarde fo. clxxiiii.
- ¶ How Loth lay by his owne two doughters and gote on them two sonnes of the which the one was called Moab and the other Amon fo. clxxv.
- ¶A wretched example of a king named Antiochus, whiche defouled his owne doughter, and of the probleme that he put to them, that desyred to haue her [Page] vnto wyfe fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Appolyn of Tyre came to Antioche, and desyred the kinges doughter and howe he assoyled the kynges probleme. fo eodem.
- ¶ what the question was, that the kyng Antiochus put to them that desyred to haue his doughter. fo. clxxvi.
- ¶ Howe Appolyn for feare of the great and cruelle kynge Antiochus, fledde aweye and durste not abyde in his owne propre countrey fo. clxxvii.
- ¶ Howe the kynge Antiochus sente a [...]ht pryuely to Tyre to slee Appolyne [...] poy [...]n. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Appolyn arriued in the hauen of [...]ha [...] and was lodged with Stran [...]. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe one Hilcane a citezen of Tyre [...] [...]o Tharse, and howe he knewe Ap [...] and warned hym of Antiochus [...], and howe Appolyn therfore for [...] [...]rfe, and sayled to Pentapolyn, [...] [...]we he dydde behaue hym selfe [...] fo. clxxvij.
- ¶ Howe the kynges doughter of Pen [...] loued Appolyn and forsoke all [...] [...]r his sake that offered to marye [...] [...]d howe atte laste he maryed [...] fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe Appolinus wyfe trauayled on the [...] and howe she there dyed, and of the great calamites that felle to hym afterwarde. fo. clxxix.
- ¶ How Appolyn delyuered his doughter to nource, and of the wretched chances that she had. fo. clxxx.
- ¶ Of the dole and beuynes that Appol [...] made whā he thought his doughter hadde ben deed, and howe at laste he sonde her. fo. clxxx. iij.
- ¶ Howe Apolyn mette with his wyfe that he for deade before hadde cast in to the see. fo. clxxxiiij.
- ¶ Howe Apolin toke wreche on Strangulio and Dionyse his wyfe for theyr falsheed. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe the louer for a fynal conclusion of his confession, desyred counsayle of his confessor. fo. clxxxv.
- ¶ Howe fynally Genius enioyneth the louer these thynges, that be bolsome for hym. fo. eodem.
- ¶ The controuersye that felle betwen the confessor and the louer in the ende of his confession fo. clxxxvi.
- ¶ The fourme of a supplication that Genius in the louers behalfe delyuered to Venus. fo eodem.
- ¶The aunswere that Venus made to the same supplication, after she hadde resceyued it. fo. clxxxvij.
- ¶Howe Venus scorneth them, which that in theyr olde age sette theyr hartes to be louers. fo. eodem.
- ¶ Howe the mockynge exhortation of Venus had almost slayne the louer for sorowe. fo. eodem.
- ¶The names of the ioly louers bothe yonge and olde that came to comforte this louer in his dedly peyne. fo eodem.
- ¶Howe Cupyde whan he had serched the bowels of the louer, and fonde that he was wetheredde awey by age, drewe out of hym his fyry darte. fo. clxxxix.
- ¶Howe the state of manne is compared to the monthes of the yere. fo. Lxc.
- ¶Here in the ende he maketh a recapitulation on that, that he promysed, touchynge loues cause, in the begynnynge of the boke: for he concludeth, that all delectation of loue out of Charite, is nothynge. fo. Lxci.
¶ Thus endeth the table of this warke entitled Gower de Confessione Amantis.
¶To the moste victorious / and our moste gracious soueraigne lorde kynge Henry the .viii. kynge of Englande and of France / Defender of the feyth / and lorde of Irelande. &c.
PLutarke wryteth / whan Alexander had discō fyte Darius the kynge of Perse / amonge other iewels of the sayde kynges there was founde a curyous lyttell cheste of great value / whiche the noble kynge Alexander beholdynge / sayde: This same shall serue for Homere. whiche is noted for the great loue and fauour / that Alexander had vnto lernynge. But this I thynke veryly / that his loue and fauour therto / was not so great as your gracis: whiche caused me / moost victorious / and most redoubted souerayne lorde / after I had printed this warke / to deuyse with my selfe / whether I myght be so bolde to presente your hyghnesse with one of them / and so in your gracis name putte them forthe. your moste hygh and most princely maieste abasshed and cleane discouraged me so to do / both bicause the present (as concernynge the value) was farre to symple / as me thought / and bycause it was none other wyse my acte / but as I toke some peyne to prynte it more correctly than it was before. And though I shulde saye / that it was not moche greatter peyne to that excellent clerke the morall Iohn̄ Gower to compyle the same noble warke / than it was to me to prynt it / no man wyll beleue it / without conferring both the printis / the olde and myn to gether. And as I stode in this basshement / I remembred your incomparable Clemency / the whiche / as I haue my selfe sometyme sene / moste graciously accepteth the sklender gyftes of small value / whiche your hyghnes perceyued were offred with great and louynge affection / and that not onely of the nobuls and great estates / but also of your meane subiectes: the whiche so moche boldeth me agayne / that though I / of all other / am your mooste humble subiecte and seruaunt / yet my harte gyueth me / that your hyghnes / as ye are accustomed to do / woll of your moste benigne nature consider / that I wold with as good wyl / if it were as wel in my power / gyue vnto your grace the most goodlyest and largest cite of all the worlde. And this more ouer I very wel knowe / that both the nobuls and commons of this your most noble royalme / shall the soner accepte this boke / the gladlyer rede it / and be the more diligent to marke and beare awey the morall doctrines of the same / whanne they shall se hit come forthe vnder your gracis name / whom they with all their very hartes so truely loue & drede / whom they knowe so excellently well lerned / whome they euer fynde so good / so iuste / and so gracious a prince. And who so euer in redynge of this warke / dothe consyder it well / shal fynde / that it is plentifully stuffed and fournysshed with manyfolde eloquent reasons / sharpe and quicke argumentes / and examples of great auctorite / perswadynge vnto vertue / [Page] not onely taken out of the poetes / oratours / historywryters / and philosophers / but also out of the holy scripture. There is to my dome / no man / but that he may bi reding of this warke get right great knowlege / as wel for the vnderstandyng of many & diuers autors / whose resons / sayenges / & histories are translated in to this warke / as for the plenty of englysshe wordes and vulgars / besyde the furtheraunce of the lyfe to vertue. whiche olde englysshe wordes and vulgars no wyse man / bycause of theyr antiquite / wyll throwe asyde. For the wryters of later dayes / the whiche beganne to loth and hate these olde bulgars / whan they them selfe wolde wryte in our englysshe tonge / were constrayned to brynge in / in their writynges / newe termes (as some calle them) whiche they borowed out of latyne frenche / and other langages / whiche caused / that they that vnderstode not those langages / from whens these newe vulgars are fette / coude not perceyue theyr wrytynges. And though our most allowed olde autors dydde otherwhyle vse to borowe of o [...]her langages / eyther bycause of theyr metre / or elles for lacke of a feete englysshe worde / yet that ought not to be a president to vs / to heape them in / where as nedeth not / and where as we haue all redy wordes approued and receyued / of the same effecte and strength. The whiche if any man wante / let hym resorte to this worthy olde wryter Iohn̄ Gower / that shall as a lanterne gyue hym lyghte to wryte counnyngly / and to garnysshe his sentencis in our vulgar tonge. The whiche noble autour / I prostrate at your gracis feete / most lowly present / and beseche your hyghnes / that it may go forthe vnder your gracis fauour. And I shal euer pray: God that is almyghtye preserue your royal maieste in mooste longe continuance of all welthe / honour / glorye / and grace infinite. Amen.
Prologus.
¶ Hic in primis declarat Ioānes Gower quam ob causam presentem fibellū composuit & finaliter compfeuit, An. regni regis Ric. secundi 16.
❧ Of them / that wryten vs to fore
The bokes dwelle: and we therfore
Ben taught of that was written tho /
For thy good is / that we also
In our tyme amonge vs here
Do write of newe some mattere
Ensampled of the olde wyse:
So that it might in suche a wise
(whan we be dede and els where)
Beleaue to the worldes ere
In tyme comminge after this.
And for men seyne (and sothe it is)
"That who that all of wisdome wryte
"It dulleth ofte a mannes wytte
"To hym that shall it all day rede:
For thilke cause (if that ye rede)
I wol go the myddell wey,
And wryte a boke bytwene the twey;
Somwhat of lust / and somwhat of lore:
That of the lasse / or of the more
Some man may lyke of that I wryte.
And for that fewe men endyte
In our englisshe / for to make
A boke for Englondes sake
The yere .xvi. of kynge Richard.
what shall bifalle here afterward
God wote / for nowe vpon this tyde
Men se the worlde on euery syde
In sondry wyse so diuersed,
That it wel nygh stant all reuersed.
Als for to speke of tyme ago.
The cause why it chaungeth so
It nedeth nought to specifye;
The thynge so open is at the eye
That euery man it may beholde.
And netheles by dayes olde
whan that the bokes weren leuer,
"writinge was beloued euer
"Of them that weren vertuous
For here in erthe amonge vs
If no man wryte howe it stode;
The pris of them that were good
Shulde as who sayth a great partye
Be loste: so for to magnifye
The worthy princes / that tho were,
The bokes shewen here and there;
wherof the worlde ensampled is:
And tho that diden then amys
Through tyranny and cruelte,
Ryght as they stonden in degre
So was the wrytinge of the werke.
Thus I whiche am a borell clerke
Purpose for to wryte a boke
After the worlde that why lome toke
Longe tyme in olde dayes passed:
But for men seyn it is nowe lassed
In wers plyght than it was tho
I thynke for to touche also
The worlde / whiche neweth euery daye,
So as I can / so as I may:
Though I sekenesse haue vpon honde
And longe haue had / yet wol I fonde
To wryte / and do my besynesse;
That in some partye (so as I gesse)
The wyse man may be aduysed:
For this prologue is so assised
That it to wisedome all belongeth.
That wyse man that it vndertongeth,
He shall drawe in to remembraunce
"The fortune of the worldes chaunce;
"The whiche no man in his persone
"May knowe but the god allone.
whan the prologue is so dispended
The boke shall afterwarde be ended
"Of loue / whiche dothe many a wondre,
"And many a wise man hath put vnder:
And in this wyse I thynke to treate
Towarde them / that nowe be greate,
Betwene the vertue and the vyce;
whiche longeth vnto this office.
But for my wyttes ben to smale
To telle euery mannes tale;
This boke vpon amendement
To stonde at his commaundement
(with whom myn herte is of acorde)
I sende vnto myn owne lorde
whiche of Lancastre is Henry named:
The hyghe god hath hym proclamed
Full of knyghthode and al grace.
So wolde I nowe this werke embrace
with holle truste and holle beleue.
God graunte I mote it well acheue.
[...]as preteritū praesens fortuna beatum
[...], et antiquas uertit in orbe mas.
[...]
[...]rer
[...]m concors dilectio pacem,
[...]m
[...]cies hominis nuncia mentis erat.
[...] a
[...]olor tunc temporis aura refulsit,
[...] planç cunc
(que) fuere
[...]ae
N
[...]que latens odium
[...]ultū depingit amoris,
[...] sub fi
[...]ta tempus ad arma tegit.
[...]
[...]a
[...]s mutabile cameliontis
[...]
[...]egnis sunt noua iura nouis.
[...]
[...]p
[...]uerant solidissima, sic
(que) per orbem
[...]cantur, n
[...] eo contra quietis habent.
[...] [...]e [...]co [...]e, vt dicunt, secundū tem [...] [...] [...]icet tempore regio Ri [...] [...] secund [...], Anno regni [...] [...]to decimo.
¶ If I shall drawe in to my mynde
[...]
[...]me passed than I fynde
[...]
[...]ide stode in all his welthe
[...] the lyfe of man in helth
[...] pl
[...]nte tho was rychesse
[...] the fortune tho was prowesse
[...] knyghthode in prys by name
[...] the wide worldes fame
[...] Cronycles is yet withholde
[...]
[...]we th
[...] was holde
[...]
[...]ge o
[...] regalye
[...]
[...]d all the Baronye
[...]
[...]pped was in his astate
[...]es knewe no debate
[...] people stode in obeysaunce
[...] the rule of gouernaunce
[...]
[...]s with rightwysnesse keste
[...]
[...]arite tho stode in reste
[...]
[...]nes herte the courage
[...]
[...]wed then in the visage
[...]
[...]de was lyke to the conceyte
[...] semblaunt of deceyte
[...] was there vnenuied loue
[...] was vertue set aboue
A
[...]
[...]ce was put vnder fote
Nowe sta
[...]te the crope vnder the rote
The worlde is chaunged ouerall
And therof moste in speciall
That loue is falle in to discorde
And that I take in to recorde
Of euery londe for his partye
The comen voyce / whiche may not lye
Nought vpon one but vpon all
Is that men nowe clepe and calle
And seyn / that reignes bene deuided
In stede of loue is hate guyded
The werre wol no pees purchace
And lawe hath take her double face
So that Iustice out of the way
with ryghtwysenes is gone away
And thus to loke on euery halue
Men sene the sore without salue
whiche all the worlde hath ouertake
Ther is no reigne of all out take
For euery clymat hath his dele
After the turnynge of the whele
whiche blynde fortune ouerthroweth
wherof the certayne no man knoweth
The heuen wote what is to done
But we that dwelle vnder the mone
Stonde in this worlde vpon a were
And namely but the power
Of them that bene the worldes guides
with good counseylle on all sides
Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse
That hate breke nought thassise
Of loue / whiche is all the chiefe
To kepe a reigne out of mischiefe
For all reason wolde this
That vnto him / whiche the heed is
The membres buxom shall bowe
And he shulde eke their trouth alowe
with all his hert / and make them chere
For good counseyll is good to here
All though a man be wyse hym selue
yet is the wysdome more of twelue
And if they stonde both in one
To hope it were then anone
That god his grace wolde sende
To make of thylke werre an ende
whiche euery day nowe groweth newe
And that is greately for to rewe
In specyall for Christes sake
whiche wolde his owne lyfe forsake
Amonge the men to yeuen pees
But nowe men tellen netheles
That loue is from the worlde departed
So stant the pees yneuen parted
with them that lyuen now a dayes
But for to loke at all assayes
To hym / that wold reson seche
After the comen worldes speche
It is to wonder of thylke werre
In which none wote who hath the wer
For euery lond hym selfe deceyueth
And of dysese his parte receyueth
And yet take men no kepe
But thylke lorde / whiche all may kepe
To whom no counseyll may be hyd
Vpon the worlde / whiche is betide
Amende that / wherof men pleyne
with trewe hertes and with pleyne
And reconsele loue agayne
As he / whiche is kynge souerayne
Of all the worldes gouernaunce
And of his hygh purueyance
Afferme pece bytwene the londes /
And take their cause in to his bondes
So that the world may stande appesed
And his godheede also be plesed
Quas coluit Moses uetꝰ, aut nouus ipse Ioānes,
Hesternas leges uix colit ista dies.
Sic prius Ecclesia bina uirtute polita
Nunc magis inculta pallet u
[...]ta
(que) uia.
Pacificam Petri naginam mucro resumens
Horruit ad Christi uerba cruoris iter.
Nunc tamen assiduo gladiū de sanguine tinctū
Vibrat auaricia lege repente sacra.
Sic lupꝰ est pastor, pat hostis, mors miserator,
Praedo
(que) largitor, pax, et in orbe timor.
¶De statu cferi vt dicunt secundū spūasia, videlicet tempore Roberti Gisbonensi [...] / qui nomen Clementis fortitus est sibi tunc Antipape.
¶To thynke vpon the dayes olde
The lyfe of clerkes to beholde
Men seyn how that they were tho
Ensample / and rewle of all tho
which of wisdome the vertue soughten
Vnto the god fyrste they besoughten
As to the substaunce of their schole
That they ne sholde not befole
Her wytre vpon none erthly werkes
whiche were ayene the astate of clerkes
And that they myghten flee the vyce
whiche Symon hath in his offyce
wherof he taketh golde in bonde
For thylke tyme (I vnderstonde)
The lumbarde made non eschaunge
The bisshopryches for to chaunge
Ne yet a letter for to sende
For dignyte / ne for prouende
Or cured / or without cure
The churche kay in aduenture
Of armes and of brigantaylle
Stode no thynge then vpon bataylle
To fyght or for to make cheste
It thought them then not honeste
But of symplycite and pacyence
They maden then no defence
The courte of worldly regallie
To them was then no bayllie
The vayne honour was nought desired
whiche hath the proude herte fyred
The humylite was tho withholde
And pryde was a vyce holde
Of holy churche the largesse /
yafe then and dyd great almesse
To poure men that had nede
They were eke chast in word and dede
wherof the people ensample toke
Their lust was all vpon the boke
Or for to preche or for to pray
To wysse men the ryght waye
Of suche as stode of trouth vnlered
Lo thus is Peters bargestered
Of them that thylke tyme were
And thus came fyrste to mannes ere
The feyth of Christe and all good
Through them that then were good
And sobre / and chaste / and large & wise
And nowe (men seyn) is other wyfe
Symon the cause hath vndertake
The worldes swerde in hond is take
And that is wounder netheles
whan Christe him selfe hath bode pees
And set it in his testement
How nowe that holy churche is went
Of that their lawe posytife
Hath set to make werre and stryfe
For wordli goodes / which may not last
God wote the cause to the last
Of euery ryght and wronge also
But whyle the lawe is ruled so
That clerkes to the werre intende
[...]o
[...] howe that they shall amende
The wofull worlde in other thynges
To make peace bytwen kynges
After the lawe of charyte
whiche is the propre dewte
Belonged vnto the preesthode
But
[...] it thynketh to manhode.
The heuen is for the worlde is nyghe
And vayne glorye is eke so slygh
whiche couetyse hath nowe withholde
That they none other thynge beholde
But only that they myghten wynne
[...] thus the werres they begynne
[...] the holy churche is taxed
[...]
[...]he poynt as it is axed
[...] goth to the batayle
[...] Christe myght not auayle
[...] them ryght by other waye
[...] sworde the churche kaye
[...] and the holy bede
[...]
[...]rge and euery stede
[...] stonde vpon the feythe
[...] care leythe
[...] the quarele
[...] be the worldes hele
[...] the pestylence
[...]
[...]th
[...]pelled pacience
[...] in speciall
[...] bewed ouerall
[...] whan they be greued
[...]
[...]gorie be beleued
[...] the bokes writte /
[...] somdele for to witte
[...] of thylke prelacye
[...] is nought of companye
[...] w
[...]rke as it is founded
[...]
[...]de or els be confounded
[...] onely for Christes sake
[...]
[...]ure for to take
[...] for pryde of thylke astate
[...] a name of a prelate
He shall by reson do profyte
In holy Churche vpon the plyte
That he hath set his conscyence
But in the worldes reuerence
Th
[...] be of suche many gladde
wha
[...] they to thylke astate be made
Nought for the meryte of the charge
But for they wolde hem selfe discharge
Of pouerte / and become grete /
And thus for pompe and for beycte
The scribe and eke the pharisee
Of Moyses vpon the see
In the chayre on high ben sette
wherof the feyth is ofte lette
whiche is betake them to kepe
In Christes cause all day they slepe
But of the worlde is nought foryete
For well is hym / that nowe may gete
Offyce in court to be honoured
The stronge Coffre hath all deuoured
Vnder the keye of auarice
The tresour of the benefice
wherof the poure shulden clothe
And ete / and drynke / and house bothe
The charite goth all ynknowe
For they no greyne of pite sowe
And slouthe kepethe the librarye
whiche longeth to the seintuarye
To study vpon the worldes lore
Suffiseth nought without more
Delicacie his swete tothe
Hath suffred so that it fordothe
Of abstinence all that ther is
And for to loken ouer this
If Ethna brenne in the clergye
Al openly to mannes eye
At Auignon thexperyence
Therof hath youen an euidence
Of that men seen them so deuided
And yet the cause is nought decided /
But it is saide / and euer shall
Bitwene two stooles is the fall
whan that men wenen best to sytte
In holy churche of suche a slitte
Is for to rewe vnto vs alle
God graunte it mote welle befalle
Towardes him which hath the trouth
But ofte is seen / that moche slouth
whan men ben drunken of the cuppe
Doth moche harme / whā the fire is vp
But if somwho the flame staunche
And so to speke vpon this braunche
which proud enuie hath made to spring
Of scisme causeth for to bringe
This newe secte of lollardye
And also many an beresye
Amonge the clerkes in them selue
It were better dyke and delue
And stonde vpon the ryght feyth
Than knowe all that the bible seyth
And erre / as some clerkes do
Vpon an honde to weare a sho
And set vpon the foote a gloue
Acordeth not to the behoue
Of resonable mannes vse
If men behelden the vertuse
That Christe in erthe taught here
They shulde not in suche manere
Amonge them / that be holde wyse
The papacye so desguyse /
Vpon dyuers electyon
whiche stant after thaffecton
Of sondry londes all aboute
But whan god woll / it shall weare out
For trouthe mote stande at laste
But yet they argumenten faste
Vpon the pope / and his astate
wherof they fallen in great debate
This clerke sayde ye / that other nay
And thus they dryue forthe the daye
And eche of them hym selfe amendeth
Of worldes good: but none entendeth
To that / whiche commen profyte were
They seyen / that god is myghty there
And shall ordeyne / what he wylle
There make they none other skyll
where is the peryll of the feyth /
But euery clerke his herte leyth
To kepe his worlde in specyall
And of the cause generall
whiche vnto holy churche longeth
Is none of them that vnderfongeth
To shapen any resystence /
And thus the ryght hath no defence
But there I loue / there I holde
Lo thus to broke is Christes folde
wherof the flocke without guyde
Deuourd is on euery syde
In lacke of them / that be vnware
Shepherdes / which their wittꝭ beware
Vpon the worlde in other halue
The sharpe prycke in stede of salue
They vsen nowe / wherof the bele
They hurte of that they shulde hele
what shepe / that is full of wulle
Vpon his backe they tose and pulle
whyle ther is any thynge to pylle
And though there be none other skylle
But onely for they wolde wynne
They leaue nought / whan they beginne
Vpon theyr acte to procede
whiche is no good shepeherdes dede
And vpon this / also men seyn
That fro the lese / whiche is pleyne
In to the breres they forcatche
Here of for that they wolden lache
with suche duresse / and so bereue
That shall vpon the thornes leue
Of wolle / whiche the brere hath tore
wherof the shepe ben all to tore
Of that the herdes make them lese
Lo how they feynen chalke for chese
For though they speke and teche w
[...]
They done them selfe therof no dele
For if the wolfe come in the wey
Their gostly staffe is then a weye
wherof they shuld their flocke defende
But if the poure shepe offende
In any thynge / though it be lyte
They ben all redy for to smyte
And thus howe euer that they tale
The strokes falle vpon the smale
And vpon other that bene greate
Them lacketh hert for to beate
So that vnder the clerkes lawe
Men seen the merell all mysdrawe
I woll not saye in generall
For there be somme in speciall
In whome that all vertue dwelleth
And tho bene / as the apostel telleth
Qui vocantur a deo tanquam Aaron
That god of his election
Hath cleped to perfection
In the maner as Aaron was
They be nothynge in thylke cas
Of Symon / whiche the foldes gate
Hath lete / and goth in other gate
But they gone in the ryght weye
¶There bene also somme (as men sey)
That folowen Symon atte heles
[...]hose
[...]r
[...] goth vpon wheles
Of cou
[...]se and worldes pryde
A
[...] holy churche goth besyde
w
[...]che sheweth outwarde a vysage
[...] is nought in the courage
For
[...] men loke in holy churche
[...] the worde / & that they worche
There is a full great difference
[...] p
[...]chen vs in audyence
[...] man shall his soule empeyre
[...] but a chery feyre
[...] worldes good so as they telle
[...] sayen there is an helle
[...] vnto mannys synne is due
[...] vs therfore eschewe
[...] is and do the good
[...] their wordes vnderstode
[...]
[...]th they wolde do the same
[...] betwene ernest and game
[...] to
[...]ueth otherwyse
[...] they deuyse
[...] is thylke dede
[...] to clothe and fede
[...] soke and for to parte
[...] good but they departe
[...]
[...]ought fro that they haue
[...] good is to saue
[...] and with abstynence
[...] the contynence
[...] for to speke of that
[...] thrike body fat
[...] with deynte meates kepe
[...] softe for to slepe
[...] hath elies of is wylle
[...] shall stonde stylle
[...]
[...]les I can not say
[...]
[...]ter that I myssay
[...]
[...]nd of this / how euer it stonde
[...] and wyll nought vnderstonde
[...] therof haue I nought to done
[...] that made fyrst the mone
[...]
[...]ghe god of his goodnes
I
[...] therof cause he it redresse
But what that any man can accuse
This may reson of trouthe excuse
The vyce of them that ben vngood
Is
[...] repreefe vnto the good
[...] euery man his owne werkes
Shall beare / and thus as of the clerkes
The good men ben to commende
And all these other god amende
For they be to the worldes eye
The myrrour of examplarye
To reulen and taken hede
Betwene the men / and the godhede
Vulga
[...] is populus regali lege subactus
Dum iacet ut mitis digna subibit onus:
Si caput extollat, et lex sua frena relaxat,
Vt sibi nelle iubet, tygridis instar habet.
Ignis a
[...]ua dominās duo sunt pietate carentes,
I
[...] a tamen plebis est uiolenta magis.
¶De statu plebis / vt dicunt / secūdum accidentia mutabifia.
NOwe for to speke of the comune
It is to drede of that fortune
whiche hath befalle in sondry londes
But ofte for defaute of bondes
Al sodeinly / er it be wyst
A tunne / whan his lye aryst
To breketh / and ronneth all aboute
whiche elles shulde nought gone out
And eke full ofte a lytell skar
Vpon a banke / er men be ware
Let ī the streme / which with gret peyne
If any man it shall restreyne
where lawe faylleth / errour groweth
He is not wyse / who that ne troweth
For it hath proued oft er this
And thus the common clamour is
In euery londe / where peple dwelleth
And eche in his compleynte telleth
How that the worlde is my swent
And therupon his argument
yeueth euery man in sondry wyse
But what man wolde hym selfe auyse
His conscyence / and nought my suse
He may well at the fyrst excuse
His god / whiche euer stant in one
In hym there is defaute non
So must it stonde vpon vs selue
Nought only vpon ten ne twelue
But plenerly vpon vs alle
For man is cause of that shall falle
¶Nota contra hoc / quod asiqui sortem Fortune / asiqui influentiā planetarū ponūt / per quod [Page 4] (vi dicitur) rerum euentue necessario contingit / sed potius dicendum est / quod ea que nos prosye ra et aduersa in hoc mundo vocamus / secundum merita et demerita hominum / digno dei iudicio proueniunt.
¶ And netbeles yet somme men wryte
And sayn fortune is to wyte /
And some men holde opinion
That it is constellacion /
whiche causeth all that a man dothe
God wote of bothe whiche is sothe /
The worlde / as of his propre kynde
was euer vntrew / and as the blynde
Improperly he demeth fame
He blameth / that is nought to blame
And preyseth / that is nought to preyse
Thus whan he shall the thynges peyse
Ther is deceyt in his balaunce
And all is that the varyaunce
Of vs / that shulde vs beter auyse
For after that we fall and ryse
The worlde ariste / and falleth with all
So that the man is ouer all
His owne cause of wele and wo
That we fortune clepe so
Out of the man hym selfe it groweth
And who that other wyse troweth /
Beholde the people of Israel
For euer / whyle they dydden welle
Fortune was them debonayre
And when they dydden the contrayre
Fortune was contrary ende
So that it proueth wele at ende
why that the worlde is wonderful
And may no whyle stande full /
Though that it seme wele bescyn /
For euery worldes thynge is vayne
And euer goth the whele about /
And euer stant a man in doute /
Fortune stant no whyle stylle
So bath ther no man his wylle
Als far as any man may knowe
There lasteth no thynge but a throwe
Boetius.
O quam duscedo humane vite musta amaritudine aspersa eft.
¶The worlde stante euer vpon debate
So may be syker none astate /
Now here / now there / now to / nowe fro
Now vp / now doun / the world goth so
And euer hath done / and euer shall
wherof I fynde in specyal
A tale wryten in the byble
whiche must nedes be credible
And that as in conclusyon /
Seyth / that vpon diuisyon
Stant / why no worldes thing may laste
Tyl it be dryue to the laste
And fro the fyrst reygne of all
Vnto this daye howe so befall
Of that the reygnes be meuable
The man hym selfe hath be culpable
whiche of his gouernaunce
Fortuneth all the worldes chaunce
Prosper et aduersus obliquo tramite uersus
Immundus mundus decipit omne genus
Mundus in euentu uersatur, ut alea ca
[...]u,
Quam celer in ludis iactat auara manus
Sicut imago uiri uariantur tempora mundi,
Stat
(que) nihil firmum praeter amare deum.
¶Hic in prologo tractat de staiua illa / quā [...]ey Nabugodonosor viderat in fomm [...] / cu [...]a capu [...] aureum / pectus argenteum / vente [...] enens, [...] ferrer / pedum vero quedam pa [...] ferica [...]ch [...] fictifis videbatur: fub qua memororu di [...] [...] secundum Damefis expositionem hu [...]us [...] variatio figurabatur.
¶The high almyghty purucyaunce
In whose eterne remembraunce
From fyrst was euery thynge present
He hath his prophecye sent
In suche a wyse / as thou shalt here
To Daniel of this matere
How that this world shal torne & wēde
Tyll it be falle vnto his ende
wherof the tale tell I shall
In whiche is betokoned all
¶As Nabugodonosor slepte
A sweuen him toke / the whiche he kept
Til on the morowe he was aryse
For therof he was sore agryse
Tyl Daniell his dreme he tolde
And prayed hym fayre / that he wolde
A rede what it token may
And sayde / a bedde where I lay
Me thought I seyghe vpon a stage
where stoode a wonder straunge ymage
His beed with all the necke also
They were of fyne golde bothe two
His breste his shulders / and his armes
were all of syluer / but tharmes
The wombe and all downe to the kne
Of b
[...]as they were vpon to se
His legges they were made all of steele
So were his feete also somdele
And somedele parte to them was take
Of
[...]rthe whiche men pottes make
The
[...]ble mengled was with the strong
So myght it not stande longe
[...] de quodā sapide grādi, qui [...] [...]edatur ab excesso m [...] [...] cortues, in sam quasi [...] penitus contri [...]it.
¶ And tho me thought / that I syghe
[...] from an bylle an highe
[...] of sodeyne auenture
[...] of this figure
[...] stone all to broke was
[...]
[...]er the stele and bras
[...] pouder brought
[...]
[...]ed in to nought
[...] [...]tione sommi, et pri [...] [...] [...]urei.
[...] was the swenen which he had
[...] auo
[...]e a
[...]d
[...] hym that figure straunge
[...]
[...]eth how the world shal chāge
[...]
[...]lasse worth and lasse
[...] to nought all ouer passe
[...] and hede that weren golde
[...] howe that betoken shulde
[...] thy worlde a noble a ryche
To wh
[...]che none after shall be lyche
Depectore argenteo.
¶ Of
[...]er that was ouer forthe
[...] a worlde of la e worthe.
De ventre eneo.
¶ And after that the
[...]ombe of bras
[...]oken of a wers world it was
The whiche steele he sawe afterwarde
A worlde bet
[...]keneth more harde
De tibeis ferreis
¶But yet the werste of euery dele
Is last / that when of erth and steele
He sawe the fete departed so
For that betokeneth moche wo
¶ De significatione pedum, que ex duabus materus discordantibus ad inuseē diuisi extiterunt.
¶ whan that the worlde deuided is
It mot algate fare amys
For erthe / whiche mengled is with stele
To gydre may not laste wele
But if that one that other waste
So mote it nedes falle at the laste
¶ De sapide statuam confringente.
The stone / whiche frō that bylly stage
He sawe downe falle on that ymage
And hath it in to poudre broke
That sweuen hath Daniel vnloke
And sayde / that it is goddes myght
whiche whan men wene moste vpright
To stonde / shall them ouer caste
And that is of this worlde the laste
And than a newe shall begynne
From whiche a man shal neuer twinne
Or all to payne / or all to pees
That worlde shall laste endles.
¶ Hic seribit, quasiter huius seculi regna bariso mutationibus, preut in dicta statua figurabatur, secūdum temporum diftinetiones sensibiliter hactenus duminuuntur.
¶Lo thus expowned Daniel
The kynges sweuen faire and wel
In Babylone the cyte
where that the wysest of Laldee
He couden wytte what it mente
But be tolde all the hoole entente
As in partie it is befalle
Of golde the fyrst regne of all
¶ De seculo aureo, quod in capite statue designatum est a tempore in suis Nabugodonosoria regis Casdee vs (que) in regmi Cyri regis Persaril.
was in that kynges tyme tho
And last many dayes so
There / whiles that the monarchye
Of all the worlde in that partye
To Babylone was subgette
And helde hym styll in suche a plight
Tyll that the worlde began dyuerse
And that was / whā the kynge of Perse
whiche Lyrus hyght / ayen the pees
Forthe with his sonne Lambyses
Of Babylone all that Empyre
Ryght as they wolde them selfe desire
Put vnder in subiection
And toke it in possession
And slayne was Baltasar the kynge
whiche lost his reigne / & all his thynge
¶ De seculo argented / quod in pectore designatum est a tempore ipsius regis Cyri vsque in regnum Alexandri regis Macedonie.
¶ And thus whan they had it wonne
The worlde of syluer was begonne
And that of golde was passed out
And in thus wyse it goth aboute
In to the reigne of Darius
And than it felle to Perse thus
There Alexander put them vnder
which wroght of armes many a wōder
So that the monarchie lefte
with grekes / and their astate vp lefte
And Persiens gone vnder foote
So suffre they / that nedes mote
¶De seculo eneo, quod in vēfte designatum est a tempore ipsius Alexandri vsque in regnū Iulu Romanorum imperatoris.
¶And tho the worlde began of bras
And that of siluer ended was
But for the tyme thus it laste
Tyll it befelle / that at laste
This king / whā that his day was come
with strength of dethe was ouercome
And netheles yet or he dyde
He shope his reigne to deuyde
To knyghtes / whiche hym had serued
And after that they haue deserued
yafe the conquestes / that he wanne
wherof great werre tho beganne
Amonge them / that the reignes had
Through proud enuy / whiche them lad
Tyll it befelle ayene them thus
The noble Lesar Iulius
whiche tho was kynge of Rome londe
with great batayle / and stronge honde
All Grece / Perse / and Chaldee
wan / and put vnder: so that he
Not all only of thorient
But all the marche of thoccident
Gouerneth vnder his Empyre
As he that was holle lorde and syre
And helde through his chyualrye
Of all the worlde the monarchye
And was the fyrste of that honour
whiche taketh name of Emperour
¶De seculo ferreo, quod in tibiis designatū est a tempore Iulu Cesaris vsque in regnum Caro si magni regis Francorum.
¶ where Rome than wolde assayle
There myght no thynge contreuayle
But euery contrey must obeye
Tho goth the reigne of bras aweye
And comen is the worlde of steele
And stode aboue vpon the whele
As steele is hardest in his kynde
Aboue all other / that men fynde
Of metalles / suche was Rome tho
The myghtyest / and laste so
Longe tyme amonge the Romayns
Tyll they become so vylayns
That the emperour Leo
with Constaunce his sonne also
The patrimonye / and the rychesse
whiche to Syluester in pure almesse
The fyrste Constantinus lefte
Fro holy churche they berefte
But Adryan / whiche pope was
And sawe the mischefe of this cas
Gothe in to Fraunce for to playne
And prayeth the great Charlemayne
For Chrystes sake / and soule hele
That he wolde take the quarele
Of holy churche in his defence
And Charles / for the reuerence
Of god / the cause hath vndertake
And with his hoste the waye hath take
Ouer the mountes of Lumbardye
Of Rome / and all the tyrannye
with blody swerde he ouercome
And the cytie with strenght nome
In suche a wyse / and ther he wrought
That holy churche ayene he brought
In to Fraunchyse / and dothe restore
The popes luste and yaf hym more
And thus whā he his god hath serued /
He toke as he hath well deseruyd
The d
[...]ademe and was corouned
Of Rome and thus was abandoned
Thempyre / whiche came neuer agayne
In to the hande of no Romayne
But a longe tyme it stode stylle
Vnder the Frenss he kynges wylle
Tyll that fortune her whele so lad
That afterwarde the Lūbardes it had
[...]t by the sword but by the suffraūce
[...] that tho was kyng of Fraūce
[...] Carle Caluus cleped was
[...] he resygned in this cas
[...] of Rome vnto Lowys
[...] whiche a lumbarde is
[...] laste in to the yere
[...] and of Berenger
[...] [...]m temporibus ad simi [...] [...]pso et diuiso, quod [...] cum imperi [...] Roma [...] [...] peruenerat tem [...] [...]. Nam ab eorū [...] A [...]mam imperatoriū ad [...] [...] so [...]tum quendam [...] Ot [...]nem nomine subli [...].
¶
[...] vpon discencion
[...] and in diuision
[...] them selfe that were greate
[...] they lost the beyete
[...] hip and of worldes pees
[...] prouerbe netheles
[...]
[...]yne full seldome is that welthe
[...] his owne astate in helthe
[...] that was in the lumbardes sene
[...] cōmon stryfe was them bitwene
[...] couetyse / and thorugh enuye
That euery man drough his partye
whiche myght lede any route
within bourgh and eke without
The comon ryght hath no felowe
So that the gouernaunce of lawe
was loste: and for necessyte
Of that they stode in suche degre
All only through diuysyon
Them nedeth in conclusion
Of straunge londes helpe beside
And thus for they them selfe diuyde
And standen out of rewle vneuen
Of Almayne prynces seuen
They chosen in this condicyon
That vpon their electyon
Thempyre of Rome sholde stonde
And thus they left it out of honde
For lacke of grace / and it forsoke
That Almayns vpon them toke
And to confermen their astate
Of that they stoden in debate
They token the possession
After the composicion
Amonge them selfe / and ther vpon
They made an Emperour anon
whos name (the Cronycle telleth)
was Othes / and so forth it dwelleth
Fro thylke daye yet vnto this
Thempyre of Rome hath be and is
To thalmayns / and in this wyse
As to fore ye haue herde deuyse
How Daniel the sweuen expouneth
Of that ymage / on whome he foūdeth
The world / which afterward shold fall
Comen is the last token of all
Vpon the fete of erthe and stele
So stant the worlde nowe euery dele
Departed whiche beganne right tho
whan Rome was deuyded so
And that is for to rewe sore
For alwey syth more and more
The worlde empeyreth euery day
wherof the soth shewe may
At Rome fyrst if we begynne
The walle and all the citie within
Stante in ruyne / and in decayes
The felde is where was the palays
The towne is wast / and ouer that
If we behold thylke astate
whiche whylome was of the Romayns
Of knyghthod / and of cytizens
To peyse nowe with that beforne
The chaffe is take from the corne /
And so to speke of Romes myght
Vnnethes stante ther ought vpryght
Of worship / or of worldes good
As it before tyme stode
And why the worship is away
If that a man the sothe shall say
The cause hath ben deuysyon
whiche moder of confusyon
Is / where she cometh ouerall
Nought only of the temporall
But of the spirituall also
The dede proueth it is so
And hath do many a day er this
Through venim / which that medled is
In holy churche of erthely thynge
For Christ him selfe maketh knowlegig
That no man may to geder serue
God and the worlde / but if he swerue
Frowarde that one / and stonde vnstable
And Christes worde may not be fable
The thynge so open is at the eye
It nedeth nought to specifie
Or speke ought more in this matere
But in this wyse a man may lere
How that the worlde is gone aboute
The whiche wel nygh is wered our
After the forme of that fygure
whiche Daniel in his scripture
Expowned / as to fore is tolde
Of bras / of syluer / and of golde
The worlde is passed / and agone
And nowe vpon his olde tone
It stant of brutel erthe and stele
The whiche acorden neuer a dele
So mote it nedes swerue asyde
As thynge / the whiche men seen diuyde
¶ Hic dicit, secundum apostolum, quod nos sumus, in quos fines seculi deuenerunt.
¶The apostel wryteth vnto vs all
And sayth / that vpon vs is fall
Thend of the worlde / so may we knowe
This ymage is nyghe ouerthrowe
By whiche this worlde was sygnified
That whylome was so magnified
And nowe is olde / and feble / and vyle
Full of mischyefe / and of perylle
And stante diuided eke also
Lyke to the fete / that were so
As I tolde of the statue aboue
And thus men seyne for lacke of loue
where as the londe diuided is
It more algate fare amys.
And nowe to loke on euery syde
A man may se the worlde diuide
The werres bene so generall
Amonge the Christen ouerall
That euery man nowe seketh wreche
And yet these clerkes alday preche
And seyne / good dedes may none be
whiche stante nought vpon charite
I not howe charyte shulde stonde
where dedely werre is taken on honde
But all this wo is cause of man
The whiche that wytte and rese
[...] can
And that in token and in wytnesse
That ilke ymage bare lykenesse
Of man / and of none other beeste
For fyrst vnto the mannes heste
was euery creature ordeyned
But afterwarde it was restreyned
whan that he felle / they fellen eke
whan he wex seke / they wexen seke
For as the man hath passyon /
Of sekenes in comparison
So suffren other creatures
Lo fyrste the heuenly fygures
¶Hic scribit, quod ex diuisionis passione singu [...] creati detrimentum corruptibise pat [...]int [...]r.
¶The sonne and mone eclypsen both
And bene with mannes sinne wroth
The purest eyre for synne alofte /
Hath ben and is corrupted full ofte
Ryght nowe the highe wyndes blowe
And anon after they ben lowe
Now cloudy / and now clere it is
So may it prouen well by this
A mannes sinne is for to hate
whiche maketh the welken to debate
And for to se the properte
Of euery thynge in his degre
Benethe forthe amonge vs here
All stante a like in this matere
The see nowe ebbeth / & nowe it floweth
The lōd now welkith / & now it groweth
Now ben the trees with leues grene
Now they be bare and no thynge sene
Nowe be there lusty somer floures
Nowe be there stormy wynter shoures
Now be the dayes / now be the nyghtes
So
[...]ant there no thynge all vpryghtes
Nowe it is lyght nowe it is derke
And thus stant all the worldes werke
After the disposicion
Of man and his condicion
For thy Gregory in his morall
Sey
[...]h that a man in specyall
The
[...]e worlde is properly
And that he proueth redily
For man of soule resonable
[...]
[...]ngell resemblable
[...] to beste he hath felynge
[...] to tres he hath growynge
[...] ben and so is he
[...] his propre qualyte
[...] as telleth the Clergie)
[...] in his partie
[...] this litell worlde mistorneth
[...] worlde all ouertorneth
[...] the see the fyrmament
[...] all iugement
[...] man and make hym warre
[...] him selfe stant out of harre
[...]
[...]nt stant out of acorde
[...] w
[...]se as I recorde)
[...] is cause of all wo
[...]
[...]lde is diuided so
[...] the gospel sayth)
[...] vpon an other layth
[...] the reigne all ouer throwe
[...] may euery man wel knowe
[...] a
[...]o
[...]en all
[...] which maketh the worlde fal
[...] hath do / syth it began
[...] fyrste proue vpon a man.
¶ [...] [...]ue c [...]m [...]se [...]ionis materia [...] m [...] mortasis existat.
¶The whiche for his complexion
[...] made vpon diuision
Of colde / hote / moyste / and drye
He mo
[...]e by verray kynde dye
For the contrarye of his estate
Stant euermore in suche debate
Tyll that a parte he ouercome
There may no fynall peas be nome
But otherwyse if a man were
Made all togeder of one matere
withoute interrupcion
There shuld no corrupcion
Engendre vpon that vnyte
But for there is diuersite
within him selfe / he may not laste
But in a man yet ouer this
Full great diuision there is
Through which that he is euer in strife
while that hym last any lyfe
¶ Quod homo ex corporis ef anime condicione diuisus, sicut saluacionis, ita damnacionis aptitudinem ingreditur.
¶The body / and the soule also
Amonge them ben diuided so
That what thing that the body hateth
The soule loueth and debateth
But netheles ful ofte is sene
Of werre / whiche is them betwene
The feble hath wonne the victorye
And who so draweth in to memorye
¶Quasiter Adil a statu innocētie diuisus a paradiso voluptatis in terram suboris peccator proiectus est.
what hath befalle of olde and newe
He may that werre sore rewe
whiche fyrst bigan in paradys
For there was proued / what it is
And what disese there it wrought
For thilke werre tho forthe brought
The vice of all dedly sinne
Through whiche diuision came in
¶Quasiter popusi per vniuersum orbem a cultura dei diuisi, Noe cum sua sequesa dum taxat exceptis, dilunio interierūt.
Amonge the men in erthe here
And was the cause and the mattere
why god the great flodes sende
Of all the worlde and made an ende
But Noe / with his felauship
whiche only weren saufe by ship
And ouer that through synne it come
That Nembroth suche price nome
¶Quasiter in edificatione Turris Babisonis, quam in dei contemptum Nembroth erexit singna prius hebraica in varias singuas raefica vindicta diuidebatur.
¶whan the toure Babylon on hight
Lette make, as he that wolde fyght
Ayene the high goddes myght
wherof deuided anon ryght
was the language in suche entent
There wyste none what other ment
So that they might nought procede
And thus it stant of euery dede
where synne taketh the case on bonde
It may vpright not longe stonde
For synne of her condicion
Is mother of diuision.
¶Quasiter mūdus / quin in statu diuisionis quasi cetidianꝰ presenti rēpore vexatur fsagessis a lapide supu [...]mente / id est a diuina potencia vs (que) ad resolucionem omnis carnis subito conteretur.
¶And token whā the world shall faile
For so saith Christe without fayle
That nygh vpon the worldes ende
Peace and accorde away shall wende
And all charitie shall ceasse
Amonge the men, and hate encreasse
And whan these tokens ben befall
All sodeynly the stone shall fall
As Daniell it hath beknowe
which all this worlde shal ouerthrowe
And euery man shall than aryse
To ioye or elles to iuise
where that he shall for euer dwell
Or streight to heuen / or streight to hell.
In heuen is peace and all accorde
But helle is full of suche discorde
That there may be no loue day
For thy good is whyle a man may
Echone to sette peace with other
And louen as his owne brother
So may be wynne worldes welthe
And afterwarde his soule helth.
¶Hic narrat exemplum de concordia et vnitate inter homines prouocanda? Et dicit qualū, quidam Arton nuper citharista ex sui cantus cithare (que) consona mesodiam tante virtutis extiterat, vt ipse no solum virum cum viro / sed etiam feonem cum cerua / lupum cum hagno / canem cū sepore (ipsum audientes) vnanimiter abs (que) vlla discordia ad iniucem pacificauit.
¶ But wolde god that nowe were one
An other suche as Arione
whiche had an harpe of such temprure
And therto of so good measure
He songe, that he the beastes wylde
Made of his note tame and mylde
The hynde in peace with the lyon
The wolfe in peace with the motton
The hare in peace stode with the hoūde.
And euery man vpon this grounde
whiche Arion that tyme herde
As well the lorde as the shepeherde
He brought them all in good accorde
So that the cōmon with the lorde
And lorde with the cōmon also
He sette in loue bothe two
And put aweye melancolye.
That was a lustye melodye
whan euery man with other lough
And if there were suche one nowe
whiche coude harpe as he dyd.
He myght auayle in many a stede
To make peace, where nowe is hate
For whan men thynken to debate
I not what other thynge is good
But wher that wisdome waxeth wood
And reason tourneth in to rage
So that measure vpon outrage
Hath set this worlde, it is to drede
For that bringeth in the common deede
whiche stant at euery mannes dore
But whan the sharpnes of the spore
The hors syde smyteth to sore
It greueth ofte. And nowe no more
As for to speke of this mater
whiche none, but onely god may stere
So were it good at this ryde
That euery man vpon his syde
Besought / and prayed for the peace
whiche is the cause of all incresse
Of worshippe, and of worldes welthe
Of hertes reste / and soules helthe
without peace stonde nothynge good.
For th
[...] to Christ / which shed his bloud
For peace byseketh all men
Amen Amen Amen, Amen.
Explicit prologus.
[...]
[...]mor naturae legibus orbem
[...]
[...]nanimes concitat esse feras.
[...] mūdi princeps amore esse uidetur,
Cuius eger diues pauper et omnis opes.
[...] pares amor et fortuna
(que) c
[...]cas,
[...] insidias
[...]ertit uter
(que) rotas.
[...]
[...]gra salus, uexata quies, pius error,
[...],
[...]ulnus dulce, sna
[...]e malum.
[...] [...]fe go f [...]iatum hactenus ex [...] [...] ne condicionis diuisio chari [...] [...] super [...]uit / intendit et auctor ad [...] libellum [...]cuius nomen Confessio [...] [...]cu [...]tur) componere de illo amore [...] humanum genus sed et cuncta [...] [...]uralite [...] subucumtur. ¶Incipir liber primus.
[...] Maye not stretche vppe to the heuen
Myn hōde ne set al in euen
This worlde, whiche euer is in balaunce
[...] not in my suffisaunce
[...] thinges to compasse
[...] mo
[...]e lette it ouer passe
[...] vpon other thynges
[...] the style of my wrytinges
[...] day forth I thynke chaunge
[...] speake of thynge is not so strange
[...] euery kynde hath vpon honde
[...] whervpon the worlde mote stonde
[...]
[...]th done syth it began
[...]
[...]hall while there is any man
[...]
[...]at is loue of whiche I meane
[...] as after shall be sene
[...]
[...]che there can no man him rule
[...] lawe is out of reule
[...] of to moche or of to lyte
[...]
[...]ygh is euery man to wyte
[...]
[...]theles there is no man
In all this worlde so wyse, that can
Of loue temper the measure
But as it falleth in auenture
For wytte ne strength may not helpe
And whiche els wolde hym yelpe
Is rathest throwen vnder foote
There can no wyghte therof do bote
For yet was neuer suche couyne
That couth ordeyne a medicine
To thyng / whiche god in lawe of kynde
Hath set, for there may no man fynde
The ryght salue for suche a sore
It hath and shall be euermore
That loue is mayster, where he wyll
There can no lyfe make other skylle
For where as him selfe lyste to set
There is no myght, which him may let
But what shall fallen at laste
The soth can no wysedome cast
But as it falleth vpon chaunce
For if there euer was balaunce
whiche of fortune stant gouerned
I may well leue as I am lerned
That loue hath that balance on honde
whiche wyll no reason vnderstande
For loue is blinde, and may not se
For thy may no certeynte
Besette vpon his iudgement
But as the whele about went
He yeueth his graces vndeserued
And fro that mā / whiche hath him serued
Ful ofte he taketh awey his fees
As he that playeth at the dyes
And therupon what shall befall
He not, tyll that the chaunce fall
where he shall lese or he shal wynne
And thus full ofte men begyn
That if they wysten what it ment
They wolde chaunge all their intent.
¶Hic quasi in psona alioril / quos amor assigat / fingens se auctor esse, amantem / varias corum passiones varus huius sibri-distinctionibus per singula scribere proponit.
¶And for to preue it is so
I am my selfe one of tho
whiche to this schole am vnderfonge
For it is sothe go not longe
As for to speake of this matere
I may you telle / if you woll here
A wonder happe, whiche me befelle
That was to me bothe harde and felle
Touchyng of loue and his fortune
The whiche me lyketh to commune
And pleynly for to telle it out
To them that louers be aboute
Fro poynt to poynte I woll declare
And wryten of my wofull care
My wofull day my wofull chaunce
That men mowe take remembraunce
Of that they shall here after rede
For in good feythe this wolde I rede
That euery man ensample take
Of wysedome / whiche is hym betake
And that he wote of good appryse
To teche it forthe / for suche emprise
Is for to preyse: and therfore I
wyll wryte and shewe all openly
Howe loue and I togedre mette
wherof the worlde ensample fette
May after this / whan I am go
Of thylke vnsely iolyfe wo
whose reule stant out of the wey
Nowe gladde / and nowe gladnes awey
And yet it may not be withstonde
For ought that men may vnderstonde
Non ego Sampsonis uires, non Herculis arma
Vinco, sum sed ut hij uictus amore pari,
Vt discant alij docet experiencia facti,
Rebus in ambiguis quae s
[...]t habenda uia,
Deuius ordo ducit temtata pericla sequentem,
Insiruit a tergo me simul ille cadat.
Me quibus ergo Venus casus laqueauit amātē,
Orbis in exemplum scribere tendo palam.
¶Hic declarat materia dicens qualiter Cupido quod dignito iaculo, sui cordis memoriam graui vscere perforauit, quod Venus percipiens ipsum vt dicit, quasi in mortis articuso spasmatum, ad confitendu se Genio sacerdoti super amoris cau sa sic seminiuum speciasiter cōmendauit.
¶ Vpon the poynt that is befalle
Of loue / in whiche that I am falle
I thynke telle my matere
Nowe herken who that woll it here
Of my fortune bowe that it ferde
This endyrday / as I forthe ferde
To walke / as I you telle maye
And that was in the moneth of Maye
whan euery bryd hath chose his make
And thynketh his myrthes for to take
Of loue / that he hath acheued
But so was I nothynge releued
For I was forther fro my loue
Than erthe is frome the heuen aboue
And for to speke of any spede
So wyste I me none other rede
But as it were a man forsake
Vnto the wood my way gan take
Not for to synge with the byrdes
For whan I was the wood amyddes
I fonde a soote grene playne
And there I gan my wo compleyne
wysshynge and wepynge all myn one
For other myrthes made I none
So harde me was that ylke throwe
That ofte sythes ouerthrowe
To grounde I was withoute brethe
And euer I wysshed after dethe
whan I out of my peyne awoke
And caste vp many a pytous loke
Vnto the heuen / and sayde thus
O thou Cupyde / O thou Venus
Thou god of loue / and thou goddesse
where is pyte? where is mekenesse?
Nowe dothe me playnly lyue or dye
For certes suche amalydye
As I now haue / and longe haue hadde
It myght make a wyse man madde
If that it shulde longe endure
O venus quene of loues cure
Thou lyfe / thou lust / thou mannes hele
Beholde my cause / and my quarele
And yeue me some part of thy grace
So that I may fynde in this place
If thou be gracious or none
And with that worde I sawe anone
The kynge of loue / and quene bothe
But he that kynge with eyen wrothe
His chere a weywarde fro me cast
And forthe he passed at the last
But netheles or he forth went
A fyry dart me thought he sent
And threwe it through myn hert rote
In hym fonde I none other bote
For lenger lyst hym note to dwelle
But she / whiche is the source and welle
Of wele and wo / that shall betyde
To them that louen at that tyde
Abode, but for to tellen here,
She cast on me no goodly chere;
Thus netheles to me she sayde
what arte thou sonne: and I abrayde
Ryght as a man doth out of slepe
And therof she toke ryght good kepe
And bad me nothynge be adradde
But for all that I was not gladde
For I ne sawe no cause why
And ofte she asked what was I
I sayde a caytife that lyeth here
what wolde ye my lady dere?
Shall I be hoole / or elles dye?
She sayde / telle me thy maladye
what is thy sore / of which thou pleinest
[...]e hyde it nought / for if thou feynest
I can do the no medicyne
Madame I am a man of thyne
[...] in thy court haue longe serued
[...]d aske that I haue deserued
[...] wele after my longe wo.
And she began to loure tho
And sayde there be many of you
[...]tours: and so may be that thou
[...] ryght suche one / and by feyntise
[...]ste that thou haste me do seruice
[...]nd netheles she wyste wele
[...] worde stode on an other whele
without any feyterye
But
[...]gate of my maladye
The had me tell and saye her trouthe
Madame if ye wolde haue routhe
[...]uod I, then wolde I telle you
[...] forth (quod she) and telle me how
Shewe me thy sekenes euery dele
Madame that can I do wele
Be so my lyfe therto wol laste
with that her loke on me she caste
And sayde in aunter if thou lyue
[...]y wylle is fyrste / that thou be shryue
And netheles howe that it is
I wote my selfe / but for all this
Vnto my preest / whiche cometh anone
I woll thou telle it one and one
Both of thy thought / and al thy werke
O Genius myn owne clerke
Come forth / & here this mannes shryft
(Quod Venus tho) and I vplyfte
My hede with that / and gan beholde
The selfe preest / whiche as she wolde
was redy there / and set hym doune
To here my confessyon
Confessus Genio si sit medicina salutis
Experiar morbis, quos tulit ipsa Venus.
Lesa quidem ferro medicantur membra saluti,
Raro tamen medicum vulnus amoris habet.
¶Hic dicit qualiter Genio pro cōfessore sedenti prouolutus amans ad confitendum se flexis ge nibus incuruatur, supplicās tamen / vt ad fui sensus informationem confessor iffe in dicendis opponere sibi benignus dignaretur.
¶This worthy preest / this holy man
To me spekend thus began
And sayde: Benedicite
My sonne of the felycite
Of loue / and eke of all the wo
Thou shalt be shryue of bothe two
what thou er this for loues sake
Haste felte / let nothynge be forsake
Telle pleynly / as it is befalle
And with that worde I gan downe fal
On knees with good deuocyon
And with full great contrycion
I sayde than: Dominus
Myn holy fader Genius
So as thou haste experyence
Of loue / for whose reuerence
Thou shalt me shryue at this tyme
I pray the lette me not mystyme
My shryfte / for I am destourbed
In all myn herte / and so conturbed
That I ne may my wyttes gete
So shall I moche thynge foryete.
But if thou wolte my synne oppose
Fro poynt to poynte / than I suppose
There shall nothynge be lefte behynde
But nowe my wyttes be so blynde
That I ne can my selfe teche.
Tho he beganne anone to preche
And with his wordes debonayre
He sayde to me softe and fayre
In this place I am set here
Thy shryfte to oppose and here
By Venus the Goddesse aboue
whose preest I am touch end of loue
¶Sermo Genii sacerdotis super confessione ad amantem.
¶But netheles for certayne skyll
I mote algate / and nedes wylle
Nought only make my spekynges
Of loue / but of other thynges
That touchen to the cause of vyce
For that belongeth to thoffyce
Of prestes / whose ordre that I bere
So that I wol nothyng forbere
That I the vyces one and one
Ne shall the shewe euerychone
wherof thou myght take euydence
To rewle with thy conscyence
But of conclusion fynall
Conclude I wolde in speciall
For loue / whose seruaunt I am
And why the cause is that I am
So thynke I to do bothe two
Fyrste that myn ordre longeth to
The vices for to telle on rewe
But nexte aboue all other shewe
Of loue I wol the propretes
Howe that they stonde by degrees
After the disposicion
Of Venus / whose condicion
I must folowe as I am holde
For I with loue am all withholde
So that the lesse I am to wyte
Though I nowe con but a lyte
Of other thynges / that bene wyse
I am not taught in suche a wyse
For it is nought my comyn vse
To speke of vyces / and vertuse
But all of loue / and of his lore
For Venus bokes of nomore
Me techen nether text ne glose
But for as moche as I suppose
It syt a preest to be well thewde
And shame it is / if he be lewde
Of my presthode after the forme
I wol thy shryfte so enforme
That at the laste thou shalte here
The vyces / and to thy matere
Of loue I shal them so remeue
That thou shalt know what they meue
For what a man shall axe or seyne
Touchend of shryfte / it mote be pleyne
It nedeth nought to make it queynt
For trouth his wordes wol not peinte
That I wol axe of the for thy
My sonne it shall be so pleynly
That thou shalt knowe & vnderstonde
The pointꝭ of shrift how that they stōd
Visus et auditus fragiles sunt ostia mentis,
Quae uitiosa manus claudere nulla potest.
Est ibi larga uia, graditur qua cordis ad
[...]ntrū,
Hostis et ingrediens fossa talenta rapit.
Haec mibi confessor Genius primordia profert,
Dum sit in extremis uita remorsa malis.
Nunc tamen ut Poterit faeminina loquela fateri,
Verba per os timide conscia mentis agam.
¶Hic confessio amantis, cui de duobus precipue quinque sensibus, hoc est de visu et auditu confessor pre ceteris opponit.
¶Bytwene the lyfe and dethe I herde
This prestes tale er I answerde
And than I prayed hym for to say
His wyll: and I it wolde obey
After the forme of his apprise
Tho spake he to me in suche wyse
And bad me that I shulde me shryue
As touchende of my wyttes fyue
And shape / that they were amended
Of that I had them my spended
For tho be properly the gates
Through which / as to the hert algates
Cometh all thyng vnto the feyre
whiche may the mannes soule empeyre
And nowe is this matter brought in
My sonne I thynke fyrste begynne
To wytte / how that thyn eie hath stōde
The whiche is (as I vnderstonde)
The moste princypall of all
Through whom that peril may befalle
And for to speke in loues kynde
Full many suche a man may fynde
whiche euer caste aboute theyr eye
To loke / if that they myght aspye
Ful oft thing / which them ne toucheth
But only that their hertes soucheth
In byndringe of a nother wyght
And thus ful many a worthy knyght
And many a lusty lady bothe
Hath be full ofte sythe wrothe
So that an eie is as a thefe
To loue and doth full great meschiefe
And also for his owne part
Ful ofte thilke firy dart
Of loue whiche that euer brenneth
Through hym in to the hert renneth
And thus a mannes eye first
Him selfe greueth alder werst
And many a tyme that he knoweth
Vnto his owne harme it groweth
My sone herken nowe for thy
A tale to be ware therby
Thyn eye for to kepe and warde
So that it passe nought his warde
[...] s [...]t Confessor exemplum de visu ab [...], dicēs, qualiter Acteon Cad [...] The barum nepos, dum in quadam fo [...] [...] causa spaciarit, accidit, vt ipse [...] fontem nemorosa arborum puschritu [...] [...]mentūsupernemens, vidit ibi Dianā [...] nudā in flumine bafneantē, qu [...] [...] [...]ituens [...]uses suos a muliabri nudi [...] euert [...]e volebat / vnde indigna [...] ce [...] figuram transformauit.
¶
[...]de telleth in his boke
[...]ample touchend of misloke
And saith howe whilome ther was one
A worthy lorde whiche Acteon
[...]
[...]hete and he was Cosyn nyghe
[...] h
[...]m that Thebes firste on high
By set whiche kynge Cadme hyght
This Acteon / as he wel myght
A
[...] all other cast his chere
And vsed it from yere to yere
with houndes and with great bornes
Amonge the wodes / and the thornes
To make his huntynge / and his chace
where hym best thought in euery place
To fynde game in his way
There rode he for to hunte and play
So hym befelle vpon a ryde
On his huntynge as he can ryde
In a foreste a lone he was
He sawe vpon the grene gras
The fayre floures fresshe sprynge
He herd amonge the leues synge
The throstel / with the nyghtyngale
Thus (er he wyste) in to a dale
He came / wher was a lytell pleyne
All rounde aboute / well beseyne
with busshes grene / and cedres bye
And there within he caste his eye
A myddes the playne he sawe a welle
So fayre there myght no man telle
In whiche Diana naked stode
To bathe and play her in the flode
with many nimphes / which her serueth
But he his eye awey ne swerueth
From her / whiche was naked all
And she was wonder wroth with all
And hym / as she whiche was goddesse
Fors hope anone / and the likenesse
She made him taken of an herte
whiche was tofore his hoūdes sterte
That rone besily aboute
with many an horne / and many a route
That maden moche noyse and crie
And at the laste vnhappilye
This hert his owne houndes slough
And hym for vengeaunce all to drough
¶ Lo nowe my sone what it is
A man to caste his eye amis
whiche Acteon hath dere abought
Beware for thy / and do it nought
For ofte / who that hede toke
Better is to wynke than to loke
And for to prouen it is so
Ouide the Poete also
A tale (whiche to this matere
Acordeth) sayth / as thou shalt here
¶Hic ponit aliud exēpfū de eodē, vbi dicit, quod quid ā princeps nomine Forcus, tres progenuit filias Gorgones a vulgo nuncupatas, que vno partu exorte, deformitatē monstrorū serpentinā obtinuerunt, quibus cū in etatem peruenerant, talis destinata fuerit natura, quod quicū (que) in eas aspiceret, in lapidē fubito mutabatur, et sic quā plures incaute respicientes, visis illis perierunt, sed Perseus miles clipeo Palladis / gladioque Mercurij munitus, eas extra montē Atlātis cohabitātes aio audaci abs (que) sui periculo interfecit
¶ In Methamor. it telleth thus
How that a lorde / whiche Forcus
was hote / had doughters thre
But vpon their natiuite
Suche was the constellacion
That out of mannes nacion
Fro kynde they be so myswent
That to the lykenes of a serpent
They were bothe / and that one
Of them was cleped Stellybone
That other suster Suryale
The thyrde (as telleth in the tale)
Medusa hyght / and netheles
Of comon name Gorgones
(In euery countrey there about
As monstres / whiche that men doute)
Men clepen them / and but one eye
Amonge them thre in purpartie
They had / of whiche they myght se
Nowe hathe it this / nowe hath it she
After that cause and nede it ladde
By throwes eche of them it hadde
A wonder thyng yet more amys
There was / wherof I telle all this
what man on them his chere caste
And them behelde / he was als faste
Out of man in to a stone
Forshape / and thus full many one
Deceyued were / of that they wolde
Misloke / where they ne shulde
But Perseus / that worthy knyght
whome Pallas / of her great myght
Halpe / and toke hym a shelde therto
And eke the god Mercury also
Lent hym a swerde: he as it fylle
Beyonde Athlans the hyghe hylle
These mōstres sought / & there he fonde
Diuerse men of thylke londe
Through sight of them mistorned were
Standinge as stones here and there
But he (which wysdome and prowesse
Hath of the god and the godesse)
The shelde of Pallas gan embrace
with whiche he couereth saufe his face
And Mercurius swerde out he drough
And so he bare hym / that he slough
These dredfull monstres all thre
Confessor.
¶Lo nowe my sonne auyse the
That thou thy syght not misuse
Cast not thin eye vpon Meduse
That thou be torned in to stone
For so wyse man was neuer none
But yf he woll his eye kepe
And take of foule delyte no kepe
That he with luste nis ofte nome
Through strengthe of loue / & ouercome
Of mislokynge howe it hath ferde
As I haue tolde / nowe hast thou herde
My good sonne take good hede
And ouer this I the rede
That thou beware of thine herynge
whiche to the harte the tydinge
Of many a vanite hath brought
To tarye with a manes thought
And netheles good is to here
Suche thynge / wherof a man may lere
That to vertue is accordaunt
And towarde all the remenaunt
Good is to torne his ere fro
For elles but a man do so
Hym may full ofte mysbefalle
I rede ensample amonges alle
wherof to kepe wel an eare
It ought put a man in feare
¶Hic confessor exemplū narrat / vt non ab auris exauditione fatua animus deceptus inuol [...]atur. Et dicit qualiter ille serpens, qui aspis vocatur, quendā preciosissimū lapidem nomine ca [...] bunculū, in sue frontis medio geftans, cōtra verba incantantis aurem vnā terre affigēdo prema, & aliā sue caude stimulo firmissime obturat.
¶A serpent / whiche that aspidis
Is cleped / of his kynde hath this
That he the stone noblest of all
The whiche that men Carbūcle call
Bereth in his heed aboue on high
For whiche whan that a man by slight
(The stone to wynne / & hym to daunte)
with his carecte hym wolde enchaunte
Anone as he perceyueth that
He leyth downe his one eare all plat
Vnto the grounde / and halt it fast
And eke that tother eare als faste
He stoppeth with his taylle so sore
That he the wordes / lasse or more
Of his enchauntement ne hereth
And in this wyse hym selfe he skyereth
So that he hath the wordes wayued
And thus his eare is nought deceyued
¶Aliud exemplū super eodē qualiter rex Vlix es cū a bello Troiano versus Greciam nauigio [Page] remiaret, et prope issa monstra a maxima, Syrenes micu [...]ata, angefica voce canorans ipsum vē [...]rum aduersitate nauigare oporteret, omnium nautarum suorum aures obturari coegit.
¶In other thyng who that recordeth
Lyke vnto this sample acordeth
whiche in the tale of Troye I fynde
Syrenes of a wonder kynde
Ben monstres / as the bokes tellen
And in the great see they dwellen
Of body bothe and of vysage
Lyke vnto women of yonge age
Vp fro the nauyl on highe they be
And downe benethe (as men may se)
They bere of fysshes the fygure
And ouer this of suche nature
They be
[...] that with so swete a steuen
Lyke to the melodye of heuen
In womens voyce they synge
with notes of so great lykinge
Of suche measure / of suche musyke
wherof the shippes they beswyke
That passen by the costes there
For w
[...]an the shipmen lay an eare
Vnto the voyce in there aduyce
They wene it be a paradise
whiche after is to them an helle
For reson may not with them dwelle
whan they the great lustes here
They can not theyr shippes stere
So
[...]syly vpon the note
They herken and in suche wyse assote
That they their ryght cours and weye
For
[...]ete and to their eare obeye
And saylen / tyll it so befalle
That they in to the perylle falle
where as the shippes ben to drawe
And they be with the monstres slawe
But fro this perylle netheles
with his wysedome kynge Vlyxes
Escapeth and it ouer passeth
For he to fore the hande compasseth
That no man of his companye
Hath power vnto that folye
His care for no luste to caste
For he then stopped als faste
That non of them may here them singe
So whan they come forth saylinge
There was suche gouernaunce on bond
That the monstres haue withstonde
And slough of them a great partye
Thus was he saufe with his nauye
This wyse kynge through gouernaunce
Confessor.
¶Herof my sonne in remembraunce
Thou myght ensample taken here
As I haue tolde / and what thou here
Be well ware / and yeue no credence
But if thou se more euydence
For if thou woldest take kepe
And wysely couthest warde and kepe
Thyne eye and eare / as I haue spoke
Than haddest thou the gates stoke
Fro suche foly / as cometh to wynne
Thyn hertes wytte / whiche is within
wherof that nowe thy loue excedeth
Measure / and many a peyne bredeth
But if thou couthest sette in rewle
Tho two / the thre were ethe to rewle
For thy as of thy wyttes fyue
I woll as nowe no more shryue
But only of these ylke two
Tel me therfore if it be so
Hast thou thyne eye ought mystbrowe
Amans.
¶My fader ye / I am beknowe
I haue them cast vpon Meduse
Therof I may me nought excuse
Myn hert is growen in to stone
So that my lady there vpon
Hath suche a printe of loue graue
That I can nought my selfe saue
Opponit Confessor
¶ what saiste thou sonne / as of thin ere
My fader I am gylty there
For whan I my lady here
My witte with that hath loste his stere
I do nought as Vlyxes dede
But falle anon vpon the stede
where as I se my lady stonde
And there I do you vnderstonde
I am to pulled in my thought
So that of reason leueth nought
wherof that I may me defende.
Confessor.
¶ My good sonne god the amende
For as me thynketh by thy speche
Thy wyttes be ryght far to seche
As of thyn eare / and of thyn eye
I woll no more specifye
But I woll asken ouer this
Of other thynge howe that it is
Celsior est aquila
(que) leone forcior ille,
Quem tumor elati cordis ad alta mouer.
Sunt species quin
(que), quibus est superbia ductrix
Clamat et in multis mundus adheret eis.
Laruando faciem ficto pallore subornat.
Fraudibus hypocrisis mellea uerba suis.
Sic
(que) pios animos
(quam) saepe ruit muliebres
Ex humili uerbo sublatitante dolo.
¶Hic foquitur, quod septem sunt peccata moria fia, quorū caput superbia varias speties habet, & earū prima hypocrisis dicitur, cuius proprietatē secundū vitium Confessor amanti declarat.
¶My sonne / as I shall the enforme
There ben yet of a nother forme
Of dedly vyces seuen applyed
wherof the herte is often plyed
To thyng / which after shal hym greue
The fyrst of them thou shalt beleue
Is pry
[...]
[...]
[...]che is principall
And ha
[...] with hym in speciall
Mynistres fyue full dyuerse
Of whiche as I the shal reherce
The fyrst is sayde hypocrisye
If thou art of his companye
Telle forth my sonne / & shryne the clene
Amans
¶I wote not fadre what ye mene /
But this I wolde you beseche
That ye me by somwey teche
what is to ben an hypocrite
And than if I be for to wyte
I woll beknowen / as it is
Confessor
¶My sonne / an hypocrite is this
A man whiche feyneth conscyence
As though it were all innocence
without / and is not so within
And doth / so for he wolde wynne
Of his desyre the veyne astate
And whan he cometh anone there at
He sheweth than / what he was
The corne is torned in to grasse
That was a Rose / is than a thorne
And he that was a lambe beforne
Is than a wolfe: and thus malyce
Vnder the colour of iustyce
Is had / and as the people telleth
These ordres wyten where he dwelleth
As he that of her counseyll is
And thylke worde / whiche they er this
Forsoken / he draweth in ayene
He clotheth ryches (as men seyne)
Vnder the symplest of pouerte
And doth to seme of great deserte
Thynge / whiche is lytell worthe within
He seyth in open / phy / to synne
And in secrete there is no vyce
Of whiche that he nys a noryce
And euer his chere is sobre and softe
And where he goth he blesseth ofte
wherof the blynde worlde he dretcheth
But yet all onely he ne stretcheth
His rewle vpon relygion
But next to that condicion
In suche as clepe them holy churche
It sheweth eke howe he can worche
Amonge the wyde furred hodes
To gete them the worldes goodes
And them selfe ben thylke same
That setten moste the worlde in blame
But yet in contrarye of their lore
There is nothyn
[...] they louen more
So that femynge of lyght they werke
The dedes / whiche are inwarde derke
And thus this double hypocrisye
with is deuoute apparancye
A vyser set vpon his face.
wherof towarde the worldes grace
He semeth to be ryght wel thewed
And yet his herte is all besbrewed
But netheles he stant beleued
And hath his purpos ofte acheued
Of worship / and of worldes welthe
And taketh it / as who sayth by stelthe
Through couerture of his fallas
And ryght so in semblable cas
This vyce hath eke his offycers
Amonge these other seculers
Of great men / for of the smale
As for to accompt he set no tale
But they that passen the cōmune
with suche hym lyketh to cōmune
And where he sayth / he woll socoure
The people / there he woll deuoure
For nowe a day is many one
whiche speketh of Peter and of Iohn̄
And thynketh Iudas in his hert
There shall no worldes good astert
His hande: and yet he geueth almesse
And fasteth ofte / and hereth messe
with
mea culpa whiche he seyth
Vpon his breste full ofte he leyth
His hande and cast vpwarde his eye
As though Christes face he seie
So that it semeth at syght
As he alone all other myght
Rescue with his holy dede
But yet his herte in other stede
Amonge his beades moste deuoute
Goth in the worldes cause aboute
Howe that he myght his waryson
E
[...]rese and in comparison /
¶ [...] [...]at confessor cū amāte super iffa hypo [...] amoris facie frandufēter satitādo [...] f [...]cticus credusas sepissime dece [...] [...]tia.
¶There ben louers of suche a sorte
That feynen them an humble porte
And all is but hypocrisye
whiche with deceyte and flaterye
Hath many a worthy wyfe begyled
For whan he hath his tonge a fyled
with softe speche / and with lesynge
Forthwith his false pitous lokynge
He wolde make a woman wene
To gone vpon the feyre grene
whan that she fauleth in the myre
For if he may haue his desyre
Howe so falleth of the remenaunt
He holte no worde of couenaunt
But or the tyme that he spede
There is no sleygthe at thylke nede
whiche any loues faytour may
That he ne put it in assay
As hym belongeth for to done
The colour of the reyny Mone
with medicyne vpon his face
He set / and than he asketh grace
As he / whiche hath sykenes feyned
whan his visage is so desteyned
with eye vp caste on her he syketh
And many a contynaunce he piketh
To bryngen her in to beleue
Of thing / which that he wolde acheue
wherof he beareth the pale hewe
And for he wolde seme trewe
He maketh him sicke / whan he is heyle
But whan he bereth lowest seyle
Than is he swyfteste to begyle
The woman / whiche that ylke whyle
Set vpon hym feyth or credence
¶My sonne if thou thy conscience
Entamed haste in suche a wyse
In shryfte thou the myght auyse
And telle it me / if it be so
Amans
¶Myn holy fadre certes no
As for to feyne suche sickenesse
It nedeth nought: for this wytnesse
I take of god / that my courage
Hath ben more sicke than my visage
And eke this may I well auowe
So lowe couthe I neuer bowe
To feyne humilyte withoute
That me ne lyste better loute
with all the thoughtes of myn herte
For that thynge shall me neuer asterte
I speke as to my lady dere
To make her any feyned chere
God wote well there I lye nought
My chere hath bē such as my thought
For in good feithe this leueth wele
My wyll was better a thousande dele
Than any chere that I couthe
But syre if I haue in my yougthe
Done other wyse in other place
I put me therof in your grace
For this excusen I ne shall
That I haue elles ouer all
To loue and to his companye
Be pleyne without hypocrisie
But there is one / the whiche I serue
All though I may no thanke deserue
To whom yet neuer vnto this daye
I sayde only ye or nay
But if it so were in my thought
As touchend other say I nought
That I nam somdele for to wyte
Of that ye clepe an hypocryte
Confessor.
¶My sonne it syt well euery wyght
To kepe his worde in trouth vpright
Towardes loue in all wyse
For who that wolde hym well aduyse
what hath befalle in this mattere
He shulde nought with feyned chere
Deceyue loue in no degre
To loue is euery hert fre
But in deceyte if that thou feyneste
And therupon thy luste atteyneste
That thou haste wonne with thy wyle
Though it the lyke for a whyle
Thou shalt it afterwarde repente
And for to prouen myne entente
I fynde ensample in a Crony
(que)
Of them that loue so biswyke
¶Quod hypocrisia sit in amore periculosa narrat exemplum, qualiter sub regno Tiberij imperatoris quidam miles nomine Mundus, qui Romanorum dux militie tunc prefuit, dominam Paulinam pulcher rimam castitatis (que) famosissunam mediantibus duobus falsis presbiteris in Templo Ifys domini sui se esse fingens sub ficte sanctitatis hipocrisi nocturno tempore vitiauit, vn̄idem dux in exisiū, presbiteri in mortē ob sui criminis enormitatem damnati extiterāt.
¶It befelle by olde dayes thus
whylome the emperour Tiberius
The monarche of Rome ladde
There was a worthy Romayn had
A wyfe, and she Paulina hyght
whiche was to euery mannis syght
Of all the citie the fayreste
And as men sayden eke the beste
It is and hath ben euer yet
That so stronge is no mans wytte
which through beaute ne may be drawe
To loue, and stonde vnder the lawe
Of thylke bore freile kynde
whiche maketh the hertes eyen blynde
where no reason may be communed
And in this wyse stode fortuned
This tale, of whiche I woll mene
This wyfe / whiche in her lustes grene
was fayre and fresshe and tender of age
She may not let the courage
Of hym, that wol on her assote
There was a duke, and he was hotte
Mundus, whiche had in his bayllye
To lede the chaualrye
Of Rome: and was a worthy knyght
But yet he was nought of suche myght
The strengthe of loue to withstonde
That he ne was so brought to honde
That maulgre whether he wol or no
This yonge wyfe he loueth so
That he hath put all his assay
To wynne thynge / whiche he ne may
Gette of her graunt in no maner
By yefte of gold / ne by prayer
And whan he sawe, that by no mede
Toward her loue he myght spede
By sleyght feyned than he wrought
And therupon he hym bethought
Howe that there was in the cytie
A temple of suche auctoritie
To whiche, with great deuocion
The noble women of the towne
Moste comonly a pilgremage
Gone for to pray thylke ymage
whiche the goddesse of chyldynge is
And cleped was by name Isys
And in her temple than were
(To rewle and to mynistre there
After the lawe / whiche was tho)
Abouen all other prestes two
This duke, which thought his loue get
Vpon a day them two to mete
Hath bede: and they come at his heste
where they had a riche feste
And after mete in preuy place
This lorde, which wolde his thāke purchace
To eche of thē yafe thā a gyfte
And spake so by waye of shryfte
He drough them in to his couyne
To helpe and shape howe Paulyne
After his luste deceyue myght
And they their trouthes bothe plyght
That they by nyght her shulde wynne
Into the temple, and be therinne
Shall haue of her all his intent
And thus accorded forth they wente
Now liste through whiche hipocrysie
Ordeyned was the trecherye
wherof this lady was deceyued
These prestes hadden wel conceyued
That she was of great holynesse
And with a counterfeyt symplesse
whiche hyd was in a fals courage
Feyned an heuenly message
They come, and sayde vnto her thus
Paulyne, the God Anubus
Hath sente vs both presente here
And sayth, he wol to the appere
By nyghtes tyme hym selfe alone
For loue he hath to thy persone
And therupon he hath vs bede
That we in Isys Temple a stede
Honestly for the purueye
where thou by nyght as we the seye
Of hym shalt take a visyon
For vpon thy condicyon
The whiche is chaste and full of feythe
Suche pryce (as he vs tolde) he leyth
That he woll stonde of thin accorde
And for to beare herof recorde
He sende vs hyder bothe two
Glad was her innocence tho
Of suche wordes / as she herd
with humble chere, and thus answerde
And sayde, that the goddes wyll
She was all redy to fulfyll
That by her housbondes leue
She wolde in Isys Temple at eue
Vpon her goddes grace abyde
To seruen hym the nyghtes tyde
The prestes tho gon home agayne
And she goth to her souerayne
Of goddes wyll / and as it was
She tolde hym all the playne cas
wherof he was deceyued cke
And badde, that she her shulde meke
All hole vnto the goddes heste
And thus she / whiche was all honeste
To godwarde, after her entent
At nyght vnto the temple went
where that the fals prestes were
And they receyuen her there
with suche a token of holynesse
As though they seen a goddesse
And all within in preuy place
A softe bedde of large space
They hadde made, and encorteyned
where she was afterward engyned
But she, whiche all honour supposeth
The fals prestes than opposeth
And axeth by what obseruaunce
She myght moste / to the plesaunce
Of god / that nyghtes reule kepe
And they her bydden for to slepe
Lyggend vpon the bedde a lofte
For so they sayden / styll and soft
God Anubus her wolde awake
The counseyll in this wyse take
The prestes fro this lady gone
And she that wyste of gyle none
In the maner as it was sayde
To slepe vpon the bedde, is leyde
In hope that she shulde acheue
Thinge, whiche stode than vpon beleue
Fulfylled of all holynesse
But she hath fayled as I gesse
For in a closet faste by
The duke was hyd so priuely
That she hym myght not perceyue
And he that thought to deceyue
Hath suche aray vpon nome
That whan he wolde vnto her come
It shulde semen at her eye
As though she verily se
[...]e
God Anubus / and in suche wyse
This hypocryte / of his queyntyse
Awayteth euer tyll she slept
And than out of his place he crept
So styll, that she nothynge herde
And to the bedde stalkynge he ferde
And sodenly, er she it wyste
Beclypt in armes he her kyste
wherof in womannyss he drede
She woke, and nyste what to rede
But he / with softe wordes mylde
Comforteth her / and sayth / with childe
He wolde her make in suche a kynde
That all the world shall haue in mynde
The worshippe of that ylke sonne
For he shall with the goddes wone
And ben hym selfe a god also
with suche wordes, and with mo
The whiche he fayneth in his speche
This ladyes wytte was all to seche
As she, whiche all trouth weneth
But he, that all vntrouth meneth
with blynde tales so her ladde
That all his wyll of her he hadde
And whan him thought it was inough
Agayne the day he hym withdrough
So pryuely, that she ne wyste
where he become, but as hym lyste
Out of the temple he goth his way
And she beganne to bydde and pray
Vpon the bare grounde knelende
And after that made her offrende
And to the prestes yeftes great
She yafe, and homeward by the strete
The duke her mette, and sayde thus
The myghty god, whiche Anubus
Is hote, he saue the Paulyne
For thou arte of his disciplyne
So holy, that no mannes myght
Maye do, that he hath do to nyght
Of thing, which thou hast euer eschued
But I his grace haue so pursued
That I was made his leutenaunt
For thy by way of couenaunt
From this day forth I am all thyn
And if the lyke to be myne
That stonde vpon thyn one wylle
She herde this tale, and bare it stylle
And home she went as it befyll
Into her chambre, and there she fyll
Vpon her bedde to wepe and crye
And sayde, O derke hypocrisie
Through whose dissimulation
Of false imagynation
I am thus wyckedly deceyued
But that I haue it apperceyued
I thanke vnto the goddes all
For though it ones be befalle
I shall neuer efte while that I lyue
And thylke auowe to god I yeue
And thus wepende she complayneth
Her faire face and all distyneth
with wofull teares her eye
So that vpon this agonye
Her husbonde is in come
And sawe howe she was ouercome
with sorow / & axeth her what her eileth
And she with that her selfe beweileth
well more than she dydde afore
And sayde, alas wyfehode is lore
In me / whiche whylom was honest
I am none other than a beaste
Nowe I defouled am of two
And as she myght speake tho
Ashamed with a pytous onde
She tolde vnto her husbonde
The sothe of all the hole tale
And in her speche, deade and pale
She swouneth well nygh to the last
And he her in his armes faste
Vphelde, and ofte swore his othe
That he with her is nothynge wroth
For wel he wote she may there nought
But netheles within his thought
His herte stode in a sory plyte
And sayde, he wolde of that despyte
Be auenged, howe so euer it falle
And sent vnto his frendes all
And whan they were comen in fere
He tolde them vpon this matere
And asketh them, what was to done
And they auysed were soone
And said: It thought them for the best
To sette fyrste his wyfe in reste
And after playne to the kynge
Vpon the matter of this thynge
Tho was his wofull wyfe comforted
By all wayes, and disported
Tyll that she was somedele amended
And thus they a day or two dispended
The thirde day she goth to playne
with many a worthy citezeine
And he with many a citezeine
whan the emperour it herde seyne
And knewe the falseheed of the vice
He sayde he wolde do Iustyce
And fyrste he lette the prestes take
And for they shulde it not forsake
He put them in to question
But they of the suggestion
Ne coude not a worde refuse
But for they wolde them selfe excuse
The blame vpon the duke they layde
But there ayene the counsayle sayde
That they be nought excused so
For he is one and they be two
And two haue more wytte than one
So thylke excusement was none
And ouer that was sayde them eke
That whan men wolde vertue seke
Men shulde it in the prestes fynde
Their ordre is of so hygh a kynde
That they be diuisers of the wey
Yet thy if any man forswey
Through them, they be not excusable
And thus by lawe reasonable
Amonge the wyse iudges there
And
[...]tes bothe damned were
So that the preuy trechery
[...] vnder false hypocrisie
[...] all openly shewed
[...] a man thē hath beshrewed
[...] the prestes weren deed
[...] of thylke horrible dede
[...]
[...]ghten purge, & thylke image
[...] was the pylgremage
[...] out, and also faste
[...] the Tyber they it cast
[...]
[...]ner it hath defyed
[...] the temple purifyed
[...] of thylke horrible synne
[...]
[...]s that tyme do therin
[...] poynt suche was the diuise
[...] duke was otherwyse
[...] with loue was bestad
[...] was nought so harde ladde
[...] put reasone aweye
[...]
[...]ought se the ryght wey
And o
[...] this cause he was respited
[...] that the death hym was acquited
[...]
[...]ll that he was exyled
Y
[...] he his loue had so begyled
[...]hat he shall neuer come ayene
y
[...] h
[...] that is to trouth vnpleyne
He may not faylen of vengeaunce
And eke to take remembraunce
Of that hypocrisie hath wrought
On other halue men shulden nought
To lyghtly leue all that they here
But than shulde a wyseman stere
The shyp, whan suche wyndes blowe
For fyrst though they begynne lowe
At ende they be nought meuable
But all to broke mast and cable
So that the shyp with sodayne blast
(whan men leste wene) to ouercast
As nowe full often a man may se
And of olde tyme howe it hath be
I fynde a great experyence
wherof to take an euydence
Good is, and to beware also
Of the peryll or hym be woo
¶Hic vsterius ponit exemplum de issa etiam hipocrisia / que inter virum et virum deciptens periculo sissima consistit / Si narrat qualiter G [...]eci in obsidione ciuitatis Troie, cum ipsam vi apprehendere nullatenus potuerut, fallaci animo cum Troianis pacem vt dicunt pro perpetuo statuebant: et super hoc quendam equm mire grassionis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificādum in tempso Minerue confingentes.
Of them that ben so derke within
At Troye also if we begynne
Hypocrisie it hath betrayde
For whan the grekes had all assayed
And fonde that by no batayle
Ne by no syege it myght auayle
The towne to wynne through prowesse
This vice fayned of symplesse
Through sleyght of Cale as & of Cryse
It wanne by suche a maner wyse
An horse of brasse they lette do forge
Of suche entayle, and of suche a forge
That in this worlde was neuer man
That suche an other werke began
The crafty werkeman Epius.
It made, and for to telle thus
The grekes that thoughten to begyle
The kynge of Troye in thylke whyle
with Antenor, and with Ence
That were bothe of the citie
And of the counsell the wysest
The rychest / and the myghtiest
In priue place so they treate
with fayre behestes and yeftes greate
Of golde / that they than haue engined
To gether / and whan they be couined
They feynen for to make peace
And vnder that neuer the lesse
They shopen the destruction
Bothe of the kyng, and of the towne
And thus the fals peace was take
Of them of Grece and vndertake
And thervpon they fonde awey
where strength myght not awey
That sleyght shulde helpe than
And of an ynche a large spanne
By colour of the peace they made
And tolden howe they were gladde
Of that they stonden in accorde
And for it shall ben of recorde
Vnto the kynge the grekes sayden
By way of loue, and thus they prayden
As they that wolde his thanke deserue
A sacrifyce vnto Mynerue
(The peace to kepe in good intent)
They must offre, or that they went.
The kynge counsayled in the case
By Antenor and Eneas
Therto hath youen his assent
So was the playne trouthe blent
Through counterfete hypocrisie
Of that they shulden sacrifye
The grekes vnder the holynes
Anone with all besynesse
Theyr hors of brasse lette faire dight
whiche was to sene a wonder syght
For it was trapped of hym selue
And had of smale wheles twelue
Vpon the whiche men inough
with craft toward the towne it drougb
And goth glystrende ayenst the sonne
Tho was there ioye inough begonne
For Troye in great deuocion
Came also with procession
Ayenst this noble sacrifyce
with great honour, and in this wyse
Vnto the gates they it brought
But of theyr entre whan they soughte
The gates weren all to smale
And therupon was many a tale
But for the worshyppe of Mynerue
To whome they comen for to serue
They of the towne whiche vnderstode
That all this thyng was done for good
For peace, wherof that they be gladde
The gates that Neptunus made.
A thousande wynter ther to fore
They haue anone to broke and tore
The stronge walles downe they bet
So that in to the large strete
This horse with great solemnite
was brought within the citie
And offered with great reuerence
whiche was to Troye an euidence
Of loue and peace for euermo.
The grekes token leaue tho
with all the hole felaushyppe
And forth they wenten in to shyppe
And crossen sayle, and made hem yare
Anone as though they wolden fare
But whan the blacke wynter nyghte
(without mone or sterre lyght)
Bederked hath the water stronde
All priuely they gone to londe
Full armed out of the nauye
Symon, whiche was made their espie
within Troy, as was conspired
whan tyme was a token fyred
And hath with that their waye holden
And comen right as they wolden
There as the gate was to broke
The purpose was full take and spoke
Er any man may take kepe
whyle that the citie was a slepe
They slowen all that was within
And token what they myghten wynne
Of suche good as was suffisaunt
And brenden vp the remenaunt
And thus come out the trechery
whiche vnder false hypocrisie
was hydde, and they that wened peace
Tho myghten fynde no release
Of thilke swerde, whiche al deuoureth
Full ofte and thus the swete soureth
whan it is knowe to the taste
He spylleth many a worde in waste
That shall with suche a people trete
For whan he weneth moste beyete
Than is he shape mooste to lese
And ryghte so if a woman chese
Vpon the wordes, that she hereth
Som man when he most true appereth
Than is be forthest fro the trouth
But yet full ofte, and that is routh
They speden, that be moost vntrue
And louen euery day a newe
wherof the lyfe is after lothe
And loue hath cause to be wrothe
But what man his luste desyreth
Of loue, and thervpon conspireth
with wordes feyned to deceyue
He shall not fayle to receyue
His peyne, as it is ofte sene.
Confessor.
¶ For thy my sonne, as I the mene
It fytte the well to take hede
That thou eschewe of thy manhede
H
[...]pocrisie, and his semblaunt
That thou ne nought be deceyuaunt
To make a woman to beleue
Thynge, whiche is not in thy beleue
[...] suche feynt hypocrisie
O
[...]
[...] is all the trecherye
Through whiche Loue is deceiued ofte
[...] f
[...]ed semblaunt is so softe
[...]
[...]hes loue maye beware
[...] thy sonne, as I well dare
[...]ge the to flee that vyce
[...]at many a woman hath made nyce
[...] loke thou deale not with all.
Amans.
[...] father nomore I shall.
Confessor.
Nowe son kepe, that thou hast swore
[...]or this that thou haste herde before
[...]
[...]yd, the fyrst poynt of pryde
[...] vpon that other syde
[...]
[...]yue and speake ouer this
Touchande of pryde yet there is
The poynte seconde I the behote
whiche Inobedience is hote.
[...] quā frangi melius reputatur, et olle
[...]
[...]ad cacabium pugna
[...]alere nequit.
[...] lex hoim, ne
(que) lex diuina valebit
[...], multotiens corde reflectit amor.
[...] fle
[...]tir amor, nō est flectēdus ab ullo,
[...]rigor
[...]ilius plus elephaute riget.
D
[...]
[...]tur amor, poterit quos scire rebelles,
[...]ibus sortem prestat habere rudem.
Sed qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore,
Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius.
¶H [...]c loquitur de secunda a specie superbie / que In [...]edi [...]ng dicitur. Et primo illins vicii natura simpliciter declarat. Et tractat cōfequēter super iffa inobediētia / que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris cam̄ ex sua ide sillitate sepissime retardat.
¶This vice of inobedience
(Agayne the reule of conscyence)
All that is humble he disaloweth
That he towarde his god ne boweth
After the lawes of his heste
Not as a man, but as a beaste
whiche gothe vpon his lustes wylde
So goth this proude vyce vnmylde
That he disdayneth all lawe
He not what is to be felawe
And serue may be not for pryde
So is he ledde on euery syde
And is that selue / of whom men speake
whiche woll not bowe, or that he breke
I not if loue myght hym plye
For els for to iustifye
His herte, I not what myght auayle
For thy my sonne of suche entayle
If that thyn herte be disposed
Telle out and let it nought be glosed
For if that thou vnbuxome be
To loue, I not in what degre
Thou shalte thy good worde acheue
¶My father ye shall well beleue
The yonge whelpe, whiche is affayted
Hath not his mayster better awayted
To couche / whan he saith go lowe
That I anone / as I may knowe
My lady wyll me bowe more
But other whyle I grutche sore
Of some thynges / that she doth
wherof that I woll tell soth
For of two poyntes I am bethought
That though I wolde I might nought
O beye vnto my ladies best
But I dare make this behest
Saufe only of that ylke two
I am vnburome of no mo.
Confessor
what ben tho two, tell on quod he
My father this is one, that she
Commaundeth me my mouthe to close
And that I shulde her nought appose
In loue, of whiche I ofte preche
And plenarly of suche a speche
Forbere, and suffre her in peace
But that ne myght I netheles
For all this worlde obey I wys
For whan I am there, as she is
Though she my tales mought alowe
Ayene her wyll yet mote I bowe
To seche, if that I myght haue grace
But that thynge may I not embrace
For ought that I can speke or do
And yet full ofte I speake so
That she is wroth, and sayth be stylle
If I that beest shall fulfylle
And therto ben obedyent
Than is my cause fully shent
For specheles may no man spede
So wote I not what is to rede
But certes I may nought obeye
That I ne mote algates saye
Some what, of that I wolde mene
For euer it is a lyche grene
The great loue, whiche I haue
wherof I can not bothe saue
My speche, and this obedience
And thus full ofte my silence
I breke: and is the first poynt
wherof that I am out of point
In this, and yet it is no pride
Nowe then vpon that other syde
To telle my disobeysaunce
Full sore it stant to my greuaunce
And may not synke in to my witte
Full ofte tyme she me bytte
To leuen her, and chese a newe
And saith, if I the sothe knewe
Howe farre I stonde from her grace
I shulde loue in an other place
But therof woll I disobeye
For also well she myght seye
So take the mone, there it sytte
As brynge that into my wytte
For there was neuer roted tree
That stode so faste in his degree
That I ne stande more faste
Vpon her loue / and may not caste
Myn herte awey, all though I wolde
For god wote though I neuer shulde
Sene her with eye after this daye
yet stout it so, that I ne maye
Her loue out of my breast remue
This is a wonder retenue
That maulgre where she woll or none
Myn herte is euermo in one
So that I can none other chese
But whether that I wynne or lese
I mote her louen tyll I deye
And thus I breke as by that wey
Her bestes, and her commaundynges
But truly in none other thynges
For thy my father what is more
Touchande vnto this ylke lore
I you beseche, after the forme
That ye playnly me wolde enforme
So that I may myn herte reule
In loues cause after the rule.
Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus,
Pena quod ex bina sorte purget cum.
O bina fortunae cum spes in amore resistu,
Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans.
¶Hic loquitur de murmure et planctu / qui super omnes afios inobedientie secretiores / vt ministri issi beseruiant.
¶Toward this vice / of which we trete
There ben yet tweye of thilke estrete
Her name is murmure and complaynt,
Ther can no man her chere peynt.
To sette a gladde semblaunt therin
For though fortune make them wynne
yet grutchen they / and if they lese
There is no waye for to chese
wherof they myght stonde appesed
So ben they commonly disesed
There may no welth ne pouerte
Attempren them to the deserte
Of buxomnes by no wyse
For ofte tyme they despise
The good fortune as the badde
As they no mannes reasone hadde
Through pride / wherof they ben blinde
And ryght of suche a maner kynde
Ther be louers, that though they haue
Of loue all that they wolde craue
yet woll they grutchen by some weye
That they wolde not to loue obeye
Vpon the trouth, as they do shulde
And if them lacketh, that they wolde
Anon they falle in suche a peyne
That euer vnbuxomly they pleyne
Vpon fortune, and curse and crye
That they woll not her hertes plye
To suffre, tyll it better falle
For thy if thou amonges all
Hast vsed this condicion
My sonne, in thy confession
Nowe telle me plainly, what thou arte
Amans.
¶My father I beknowe a part
So as ye tolden here aboue
Of murmure / and complaynt of loue
That for I se no spede commende
Agaynst fortune complaynende /
I am as who sayth euermo
And eke full ofte tyme also
whan so as that I se and here
Of heuy worde / or heuy chere
Of my lady, I grutche anone
But wordes dare I speke none
wherof she myght be displesed
But in myn herte I am disesed
with many a murmour / god it wote
Thus drynke I in myn owne swote
And though I make no semblaunt
Myn herte is all disobeisaunt
And in this wyse I me confesse
Of that ye clepe vnbuxomnes
Nowe tell what your counsayle is
Confessor.
¶My sonne as I the rede this
what so befall of other weye
That thou to loues hest obeye
As far as thou it myght suffice
For ofte syth in suche a wyse
Obedience in loue auayleth
where all a mans strength fayleth
wherof if thou liste to wytte
In a cronicle as it is writte
A great ensample thou mayste fynde
whiche nowe cometh to my mynde
¶Hic contra amori inobedientes ad cōmendatienem obediencie confessor super codem exemplū ponit, vbi dicit / quod cum quidam regis Secilie silia in sue inuentucis floribus pulcherrime ex [...]uis Nouerce incantationibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata extitit / Florencius tunc im peratoris Claubii / nepos / miles in armie s [...]rennuissimus amorosis (que) legibus intendens / ex sun obedientia in pulchritudinē priftinā reformami.
¶There was whylom by dayes olde
A worthy knyght, as men tolde
He was neueu to the emperour
And of his courte a courteour
wyfeles he was, Florent he hight
He was a man / that mochel myght
Of armes he was desyrous
Chyualrous and amorous
And for the fame of worldes speche
Straunge auentures wolde he seche
He rode the marches all aboute
And felle a tyme / as he was out
Fortune, whiche may euery threde
To breke and knytte of mans spede
Shope, as this knyght rode in a pase
That he by strength taken was
And to a castel they hym ladde
where that he fewe frendes hadde
For so it felle that ylke stounde
That he hath with a deadly wounde
(Fyghtende) his owne hande slayne
Branchus, whiche to the Capitayne
was sonne and heyre, wherof ben wroth
The father and the mother bothe
That knight Brāchus was of his bōde
The worthyest of all his londe
And fayne they wolde do vengeaunce
Vpon Florent, but remembraunce
That they toke of his worthynes
Of knyghthode, and of gentilnes
And howe he stode of colynage
To themperour, made them assuage
And durste not slayne hym for feare
In great desputeson they were
Amonge them selfe, that was the best
There was a lady (the slyest
Of all that men knewe tho)
So olde) she myght vnnethes go
And was graundame vnto the deed
And she with that began to rede
And she sayde, she wolde bring hym in
That she shal hym to death wynne
All onely of his owne graunte
Through strength of veray couenaunt
without blame of any wyght
Anone she sent for this knyght
And of her sonne she aleyde
The death / and thus to hym she sayde.
Florent howe so thou be to wyte
Of Branchus deathe, men shall respite
As nowe to take auengement
Be so thou stonde in iudgement
Vpon certayne condicion
That thou vnto a question
whiche I shall aske, shalt answere
And ouer this thou shalt eke swere
That if thou of the sothe fayle
There shall none other thynge auayle
That thou ne shalt thy deth receyue
And for men shall the not deceyue
That thou therof myghtest bē aduysed
Thou shalt haue day and tyme assysed
And leue, safely for to wende
Be so that at thy dayes ende
Thou come ageyne with thyn auyse
This knight, which worthi was & wise
This lady prayeth, that he may wytte
And haue it vnder seales wrytte
what questyon it shulde be
For whiche be shall in that degre
Stonde of his lyfe in ieopardye
with that she feynethe companye
And sayth Florent, on loue it hongeth
All that to myn askynge longeth
what all women moste desyre
This woll I aske, and in thempyre
where thou haste moste knowlegynge
Take counseyle of this askynge.
Florent this thynge hath vndertake
The tyme was sette, and daye take
Vnder his seale he wrote his othe
In suche a wyse, and forthe be gothe
Home to his emes courte agayne
To whome his auenture playne
He tolde, of that is hym befalle
And vpon that they were all
The wysest of the londe assent
But netheles of one assent
They myght not accorde plat
One sayde this, an other that
After the disposition
Of naturall complexion
To some woman it is plesaunce
That to another is greuaunce
But suche a thynge in speciall
whiche to them all in generall
Is moste plesaunte, and moste desyred
Aboue all other / and moste conspired
Suche one can they not fynde
By constellation, ne by kynde
And thus Florent with out cure
Muste stonde vpon his auenture
And is all shape vnto the lyere
And as in defaulte of his answere
This knyght hath leauer for to dye
Than breke his trouth and for to lye
In place where he was swore
And shapeth him gone ayene therfore.
¶whan tyme come he toke his leaue
That lenger wolde he not beleue
And prayeth his eme he be not wroth
For that is a point of his othe
He sayth, that no man shal hym wreke
Though afterwarde men here speke
That he perauenture dye
And thus he went forth his weye
Alone / as a knyght auenturous
And in his thought was curyous
To wytte, what was beste to do
And as he rode alone so
And cam nygh there he wolde be
In a forest there vnder a tree
He sawe where satte a creature
A lothly womanniss he fygure
That for to speke of flesshe and bone
So foule yet sawe he neuer none
This knyght behelde her redily
And as he wolde haue passed by
She cleped hym, and bad hym abyde
And he his bors hedde asyde
Tho torned, and to her he rode
And there he houed, and abode
To wytte what she wolde mene
And she began hym to bemene
And sayde: Florent by thy name
Thou haste on honde suche a game
That if thou be not better auysed
Thy deth shapen is, and deuised
That all the worlde ne may the saue
But if that thou my counseyll haue
Florent whan he this tale herde
Vnto this olde wyght answerde
And of her counsayle he her prayde
And she ayene to hym thus sayde
Florent if I for the so shape
That thou through me thy deth escape
And take worshippe of thy dede
what shall I haue to my mede?
what thing (quod he) that thou wolde axe
I byd neuer a better taxe
Quod she, but fyrste or thou be spedde
Thou shalt me leaue suche a wedde
That I woll haue thy trouth on honde
That thou shalt be myn husbonde
Nay (sayde Florent) that may not be
Ryde than forth thy wey, quod she
And if thou go forthe withoute rede
Thou shalt be sykerly deade
Florent behyght her good inough
Of londe, of rent, of parke, of plough
But all that counteth she at nought
Tho fell this knyght in moch thought
Now goth he forth, now cōmeth ayene
He wote not what is beste to seyne
And thought as he rode to and fro
That chose he mote one of the two
Or for to take her to his wyfe
Or elles for to lese his lyfe
And than he caste his auauntage
That she was of so great an age
That she may lyue but a whyle
And thought to put her in an Ile
where that no man her shulde knowe
Tyll she with deth were ouerthrowe
And thus this yonge lusty knyght
Vnto this olde lothely wyght
Tho sayd: If that none other chaunce
May make my delyueraunce
But onely thylke same speche
which as thou seist thou shalt me teche
Haue here min hōde, I shal the wedde
And thus his trouth he leyth to wedde
with that she frounceth vp the browe
This couenaunt woll I alowe
She sayth, if any other thynge
But that thou haste of my teachynge
Fro deth thy body may respyte
I woll the of thy, trouth acquite
And elles by none other weye
Nowe herken me what I shall seye
¶whan thou art come into the place
where nowe they maken great manace
And vpon thy commynge abyde
They woll anone the same tyde
Oppose the of thyne answere
I wote thou wolt no thinge forbere
Of that thou weneste be thy beste
And if thou myghteste so fynde reste
wel is, for than is ther no more
And elles this shall be my lore
That thou shalt saye vpon this molde
That all women leuest wolde
Be souerayne of mannes loue
For what woman is so aboue
She hath as who sayth, all her wyll
And elles may she nought fulfylle
what thinge were her leuest haue
with this answer thou shalt saue
Thy selfe, and other wyse nought
And whan thou hast thy ende wrought
Come here ayene thou shalt me fynde
And let nothynge out of thy mynde.
He goth hym forth with heuy chere
As he that not in what manere
He may this worldes ioy atteyne
For if he dye, he hath a peyne
And if he lyue, he mote hym bynde
To suche one, whiche of all kynde.
Of women is the vnsemlyeste
Thus wote be not, what is the beste
But be hym lyefe, or be hym loth
Vnto the castell forth he goth
His full answere for to yeue
Or for to dye, or for to lyue
Forth with his coūseyle came the lorde
The thynges stoden of recorde
He sent vp for the lady soone
And forth she came that olde mone
In presence of the remenaunt
The strengthe of all the couenaunt
Tho was rehersed openly
And to Florent she bad for thy
That he shall tellen his auyse
As he that wote, what is the pryce
Florent sayth all that euer he couth
But such word cam ther none to mouth
That he for yefte, or for beheste
Myght any wyse his deth areste
And thus he taryeth longe and late
Tyll this lady bad algate
That he shall for the dome fynall
yeue his answere in specyall
Of that she had hym fyrste opposed
And than he hath truly supposed
That he hym may of nothynge yelpe
But if so be tho wordes helpe
which as the woman hath hym taught
wherof he hath an hope caught
That he shall be excused so
And tolde out playne his will tho
And whan that this matron herde
The maner how this knyght answerde
She sayde, ha treson wo the be
That haste thus tolde the priuyte
whiche all woman moste desyre
I wolde that thou were a fyre
But netheles in suche a plyte
Florent of his answere is quyte
And tho bygan his sorowe newe
For he mote gone / or be vntrewe
To her, whiche his trouthe hadde
But he, whiche all shame dradde
Goth forth in stede of his penaunce
And taketh the fortune of his chaunce
As he, that was with trouth affayted.
This olde wyght hym hath awayted
In place, where as he her lefte
Florent his wofull heed vp lyfte,
And sawe this vecke where that she syt
whiche was the lothest wyghte
That euer man caste on his eye
Her nose baas, her browes hye
Her eyen small, and depe sette
Her chekes ben with teres wette
And ryuelyn, as an empty skyn
Hangynge downe vnto the chyn
Her lyppes shronken ben for age
There was no grace in her vysage
Her front was narowe, her lockes hore
She loketh forth, as doth a more
Her necke is short, her shulders courbe
That myght a mannes luste distourbe
Her body great, and no thynge small
And shortly to descryue her all
She hath no lyth without a lacke
But lyke vnto the woll sacke
She profereth her vnto this knyght
And bad hym, as he hath behyght
(So as she hath bene his warrant)
That he her held couenaunt
And by the brydell she hym seseth
But god wot how that she him pleseth
Of suche wordes, as she speketh
Hym thynketh wel ny his hert breketh
For sorow, that he may not fle
But if he wolde vntrewe be.
Loke howe a sycke man, for his hele
Taketh baldemoyn with the cancle
And with the myrre taketh the sugre
Ryght vpon suche a maner lucre
Stant Florent, as in this dyete
He drynketh the bitter with the swete
He medleth sorowe with lykenge
And lyueth so, as who sayeth, deynge
His youth shall be cast awey
Vpon suche one, whiche as the wey
Is olde, and lothely ouerall
But nede he mot, that nede shall
He wolde algate his trouth holde
As euery knyght therto is holde
what hap so euer hym is be fall
Though she be the fouleste of all
yet to honour of womanhed
Hym thought he shulde taken heed
So that for pure gentylnesse
As he her couth best adresse
In ragges, as she was to tore
He set her on his hors tofore
And forth he taketh his wey softe
No wonder though he sygheth ofte
But as an oule fleeth by nyght
Out of all other byrdes syght
Ryght so this knyght on dayes brode
In close hym helde, and shope his rode
On nyghtes tyme, tyll the tyde
That he come there, he wolde abyde
And pryuely, without noyse
He bryngeth this foule great coyse
To his castell, in suche a wyse
That no man myght her shape auyse
Tyll she in to the chamer came
where he his preuy counseylle name
Of suche men as he most truste
And told them, that he nedes muste
This beeste wedde to his wyfe
For elles hadd he loste his lyfe
The pryue women were assent
That shulden ben of his assent
Her ragges they anone of drawe
And as it was that tyme lawe
She hadde bathe, she hadde reste
And was arrayed to the beste
But with no craft of combes brode
They myght her hore lockes shode
And she ne wolde not be shore
For no counsayll, and they therfore
with suche a tyre, as tho was vsed
Ordeynen, that it was excused
And hadde so craftely about
That no man myght seen them out
But whan she was fully arrayed
And her a tyre was all assayed
Tho was she fouler vnto se
But yet it may none other be
They were wedded in the nyght
So wo begone was neuer knyght
As he was than of mariage
And she bygan to playe and rage
Is who sayth, I am well ynough
But he therof nothynge ne lough
For she toke than chere on honde
And clepeth hym her husbonde
And sayth: My lorde go we to bedde
For I to that entent the wedde
That thou shalt be my worldes blesse
And profereth hym with that to kysse
As she a lusty lady were
His body myght well be there
But as of thought, and of memorye
His herte was in purgatory
But yet for strengthe of matrimonye
He myght make non essonye
That he ne mote algates plye
To go to bed of companye
And when they were a bed naked
with oute slepe he was awaked
He torneth on that other syde
For that he wolde his eyen hyde
Fro lokynge of that foull wyght
The chamber was all full of lyght
The courteyns were of sendall thyn
This newe bryde, whiche laye within
Though it be nought with his acorde
In armes she beclept her lorde
And prayd as he was torned fro
He wolde hym torne ayenward tho
For nowe she sayth we be both one
But he lay stylle as any stone
And euer in one she spake and prayede
And bad hym thynke / on that he sayde
when that he toke her by the honde.
He herd, and vnderstode the bonde
Howe he was set to his penaunce
And as it were a man in traunce
He torneth hym all sodenly
And sawe a lady lay hym by
Of eyghtene wynter age
whiche was the fayreste of vysage
That euer in all this worlde he syghe
And as he wolde haue take her nygh
She put her honde, and by his leue
Besought hym, that he wolde leue
And saythe, for to wynne or lese
He mot one of two thynges chese
where he woll haue her suche on nyght
Or elles vpon dayes lyght
For he shall not haue both two
And he bygan to sorowe tho
In many a wyse, and caste his thought
But for all that yet coude he nought
Deuyse hym selfe, whiche was the beste
And she that wolde his hert reste
Prayeth, that he shulde chese algate
Tyll at the laste longe and late
He sayde: O ye my lyues hele
Saye what ye lyste in my quarell
I not what answere I shall yeue
But euer whyll that I may lyue
I woll, that ye be my maystresse
Fo
[...] I can not my selfe gesse
whiche is the beste vnto my choyce
Thus graunte I yow myn holl voyce
Chese for vs both / I yow praye
And what as euer that ye saye
Ryght as ye woll / so woll I.
¶My lorde, she sayde, grant mercy
For of this worde, that ye nowe sayne
That ye haue made me souerayne
My destny is ouerpassed
That neuer here after shall be lassed
My beaute, whiche that I nowe haue
Tyll I be take in to my graue
Both nyght and day, as I am nowe
I shall all wey be suche to you
The kynges doughter of Cecyle
I am, and felle but syth a whyle
As I was with my father late
That my stepmother for an hate
whiche towarde me she hath begonne
Forshope me, tyll I hadde wonne
The loue, and the soueraynte
Of what knyght, that in his degre
All other passeth of good name
And as men sayne ye ben the same
The deed proueth it is so
Thus am I yours for euermo
Tho was plesaunce and ioye inough
Echone with other playd and lough
They lyue longe, and well they ferde
And clerkes, that this chaunce herde
They wryten it in euidence
To teche howe that obedience
May well fortune a man to loue
And sette hym in his luste aboue.
As it befelle vnto this knyght
Confessor
For thy my sonne, if thou do ryght
Thou shalt vnto thy loue obeye
And folowe her wyll by all wey
Myn holy father so I wyll
For ye haue tolde me suche a skylle
Of this ensample nowe tofore
That I shall euermo therfore
Here afterwarde myn obseruaunce
To loue, and to his obeysaunce
The better kepe, and ouer this
Of pryde if there ought elles is
wherof that I me shryue shall
what thynge it is in speciall
My father asketh I you pray.
Confessor.
Nowe liste my sonne, and I shall saye
For yet there is surquedrye
whiche stante with pryde of companye
wherof that thou shalt here anone
To knowe if thou haue gylt or none
Vpon the forme as thou shalt here
Nowe vnderstonde well the matere.
Omnia scire putat, sed se presumpcio nescit,
Nec sibi cousimile quem putat esse parem.
Qui magis astutus reputat se vincere bellum,
In laqueos Veneris forcius ipse cadit.
Sepe (cupido virum,
[...]ibi qui presumit, amantē
Fallit, er in vacuas spes redit ipsa vias.
¶Hic loquitur de tercia specie superbie, que presumpcio dicitur, cuius naturam primo secundum vitium confessor simpliciter declarat.
Surquedrye is thylke vice
Of pryde, whiche the third office
Hath in his court, and will not knowe
The trouth, tyll it ouerthrowe
Vpon his fortune and his grace
Cometh Had I wyste full ofte a place
For he doth all his thynge by gesse
And voydeth all sykernesse
None other coūseyll good hym semeth
But suche as hym selfe demeth
For in suche wyse as he compasseth
His witte alone all other passeth
And is with pryde so through sought
That he all other set at nought
And weneth of hym seluen so
That suche as he is there be no mo
And thus he wolde beare a price
So fayre, so semely, nor so wyse
Abouen all other, and nought for thy
He sayth not ones graunte mercy
To god, whiche all grace sendeth
So that his wittes he despendeth
Vpon hym selfe, as though there were
No god, whiche myght auayle there
But all vpon his owne wytte
He stant / tyll he falle in the pytte
So ferre, that he may not aryse.
¶ Hic tractat confessor cum amante super illa saltem presumptione, ex cuius superbie quem plures fatui amantes, cum maioris certitudinis in amore spem sibi promittunt inexpediti citius destituuntur.
And ryght thus in the same wyse
The vice vpon the cause of loue
So proudely set the hert aboue
And doth hym pleynly for to wene
That he to louen any quene
Hath worthynes, and suffisaunce
And so without purueiaunce
Full ofte he heweth vp so hye
That chyppes fallen in his eye
And eke full ofte he weneth this
There as he nought beloued is
To be beloued all there beste
Nowe sonne telleth what so the lest
Of this, that I haue tolde the here
Amans.
Ha father be nought in a were
I trowe there be no man lesse
Of any maner worthinesse
That halt hym lasse worthy than I
To be beloued, and not for thy
I say in excusynge of me
To all men, that loue is fre
And certes that may no man werne
For loue is of hym selfe so derne
It luteth in a mannes herte
But that ne shall not me asterte
To wene for to be worthy
To loue, but in her mercy
But fyre of that ye wolde mene
That I shulde other wyse wene
To be beloued, than I was
I am beknowe, as in this case
Confessor.
My good sonne telle me howe
Amans.
Nowe liste, and I woll telle you
My good father howe it is
Full ofte it hath befalle or this
Through hope, that was not certeyne
My wenynge hath be set in vayne
To trust in thing, that helpe me nought
But onely of myn owne thought
For as it semeth, that a bell
Lyke to the wordes that men telle
Answerith: ryght so no more ne lesse
To you my father I confesse
Suche wyll my wytte hath ouer sette
That what so hope me behete
Full many a tyme I wene it soth
But fynally no spede it doth
Thus may I tellen, as I can
wenynge begyleth many a man
So hath it me, ryght wel I wote
For if a man wolde in a bote
(whiche is without botome) rowe
He must nedes ouerthrowe
Ryght so wenyng hath farde by me
For whan I wende next haue be
(As I by my wenyng caste)
Than was I fortheste at laste
And as a foole my bowe vnbende
when all was fayled, that I wend
For thy my fader, as of this
That my wenynge hath gone amys
Touchend to Surquedrye
Yeue me my penaunce or I dye
But if ye wolde in any forme
Of this matter a tale enforme
whiche were ayene this vice set
I shulde fare well the bet
¶Hic ponit confessor exemplum contra illos / qui suis viribus presumentes debisiores efficiū tur, Et narrat qualiter ille Campaneus miles in armis probatissimus de sua presumens audacia inuocationē ad superos tempore necessitatis ex vecordia tm̄ et non aliter primitus prouenisse asseruit, vnde in obsidione ciuitatis Thebarum / cum ipse quodam die coram suis hostibus ad debellandum se obtulit / ignis de ceso subito super veniens ipsū armatil totaliter in cineres cōbussit.
My sonne in all maner wyse
Surquedrye is to despyse
wherof I fynde write thus
The proud knyght Cāpaneus
He was of such Surquedrye
That he through his chyualrye
Vpon hym selfe so mochel truste
That to the goddes hym ne luste
In no quarell to beseche
But sayde, it was an ydell speche
whiche cause was of pure drede
For lacke of herte, and for no nede
And vpon suche presumption
He helde this proude opinion
Tyll at the laste vpon a day
About Thebes, where be lay
whan it of syege was beleyne
This knyght, as the Cronyke seyne
In all mannes syght there
whan he was proudest in his gere
And thought nothinge might him dere
Full armed with his shelde and spere
As be the citie wolde assayle
God toke hym selfe the batayle
Ayenst his pride, and fro the sky
A fyry thonder sodeynly
He sende, and hym to poudre smote
And thus the pride, whiche was hote
whan he most in his strength wende
was brent, and lost withouten ende
So that it proueth well therfore
The strength of man is sone lore
But if that he it well gouerne
And ouer this a man may lerne
That eke full ofte tyme it greueth
what that a man hym selfe beleueth
As though it shulde hym well beseme
That he all other men can deme
And hath foryete his owne vice
A tale of them that be so nyce
And feynen them selfe to be so wyse
I shall the telle in suche a wise
wherof thou shalte ensample take
That thou no suche thynge vndertake.
¶Hic loquitur confessor contra illos, qui de sua scientia presumentes aliorum cōdiciones diuidicantes indiscrete redarguunt / Et narrat exemplum de quodam principe regis Hungarie germano / qui cum fratrem suum pauperibus in publico vidit humiliatum / ipsum redarguendo in contrarium edocere presumabat / sed rex omni sapiencia prepollens / ipsum sic incante presumentem ad humilitatis memoriam teribili prouidentia mitius castigauit.
¶I fynde vpon Surquedry
Nowe that whylom of Hungarye
By olde dayes was a kynge
wyse, and honest in all thynge
And so befelle vpon a daye
And that was in the moneth of May
As thylke tyme it was vsaunce
This kynge, with noble purueyaunce
Hath for hym selfe his chare arayed
wherin he wolde ryde amayed
Out of the citie for to playe
with lordes, and with great noblay
Of lusty folke that were yonge
where somme playde, and some songe
And some gone, and some ryde
And some prycke her horse asyde
And brydlen them nowe in nowe out
The kynge his eie cast aboute
Tyll he was at laste ware
And sawe comynge ageyne his chare
Two pylgremes of so great age
That lyke vnto a drye image
That weren pale and fade hewed
And as a busshe, whiche is besnewed
Theyr berdes weren hore and whyte
There was of kynde but a lyte
That they ne semen fully deade
They come to the kynge, and bede
Some of his good pur charite
And he with great humilyte
Out of his chare to grounde lepte
And them in both his armes kepte
And kyst them both foote and honde
Before the lordes of his londe
And yafe them of his good therto
And whan he hath this dede do
He goth into his chare ageyne
Tho was murmour, tho was disdeyne
Tho was complaynt on euery syde
They sayden of their owne pryde
Echone tyll other, what is this?
Our kynge hath do this thinge amysse
So to abesse his royaltie
That euery man it myght se
And humbled hym in suche a wyse
To them that were of none empryse
Thus was it spoken to and fro
Of them, that were with hym tho
All priuely behynde his backe
But to hym selfe no man spake
The kynges brother in presence
was thylke tyme, and great offence
He toke therof, and was the same
Aboue all other, whiche moste blame
Vpon his lyege lorde hath leyde
And hath vnto the lordes seyde
Anone, as be may tyme fynde
There shall nothynge be lefte behynde
That he woll speke vnto the kynge
Now lyste what felle vpon this thyng
They were mery, and fayre ynough
Echone with other playde and lough
And fellen in to tales newe
Nowe that the fresshe floures grewe
And howe the grene leaues spronge
And howe that loue amonge the yonge
Beganne the hertes than wake
And euery byrde hathe chose his make
And thus the Mays day to thende
They lede, and home ayene they wende
The kynge was not so sone come
That whan he had his chambre nome
His brother ne was redye there
And brought a tale vnto his eare
Of that he dyd suche ashame
In hyndrynge of his owne name
whan he hym selfe so wolde dretche
That to so vyle a powre wretche
Hym deyneth shewe suche symplesse
Agaynst the state of his noblesse
And sayth, he shall it no more vse
And that he mote hym selfe excuse
Towarde his lordes euerychone
The kynge stode styll as any stone
And to his tale an eare he layde
And thought more than he sayde
But netheles to that he herde
well curtoysly the kynge aunswerde
And tolde, it shulde ben amended
And thus whan that their tale is ended
All redy was the borde and clothe
The kynge vnto his souper goth
Amonge the lordes, to the halle
And whan they hadden souped all
They token leue, and forth they go
The kynge bethought hym selfe tho
Howe he his brother may chastie
That he through his surquedrye
Toke vpon honde and to dispreyse
Humilite, whiche is to preyse
And thervpon yafe suche counseyle
Towarde his king / whiche was vnheyle
wherof to be the better lered
He thinketh to maken hym afered
It felle so, that in thylke dawe
There was ordeyned by the lawe
A Trompe, with a sterne breath
whiche was cleped the trompe of deth
And in the Court, where the kyng was
A certeyne man, this trompe of brasse
Hath in kepynge, and therof serueth
That whan a lorde his dethe deserueth
He shall this dredefull trompe blowe
Tofore his gate, and make it knowe
Howe that the iugement is yeue
Of deathe, whiche shall not be foryeue
The kynge whan it was nyght anone
This man assent, and bad hym gone
To trompen at his brothers gate
And he, whiche mote done algate
Goth forth, and doth the kynges beste
This lorde, whiche herde of this tempest
That he tofore his gate blewe
Tho wyst he by the lawe and knewe
That he was sekerly deade
And as of helpe he wyst no rede
But sende for his frendes all
And tolde them howe it is befalle
And they hym aske cause why
But he the sothe not for thy
Ne wyst, and there was sorowe tho
For it stode thylke tyme so
This trompe was of suche sentence
That there ayene no resystence
They coude ordeyne by no weye
That he ne mote algate deye
But if so that he may purchace
To gette his lyege lordes grace
Their wyttes thervpon they cast
And ben appoynted at last.
This lorde a worthy lady had
Vnto his wyfe, whiche also drad
Her lordes death, and children fyue
Betwene hem two they had aliue
That weren yonge, and tender of age
And of stature, and of visage
Ryght faire and lusty on to se
Tho casten they, that he and she
Forthe with theyr childre on the morowe
As they that were full of sorowe
All naked but of smocke and sherte
To tendre with the kynges herte
His grace shulde go to seche
And pardon of the deathe beseche
Thus passen they that wofull nyght
And erly whan they sawe it lyght
They gone them forth in suche a wise
As thou tofore hast herde diuyse
All naked, but their shertes one
They wepte, and made moche mone
Their here hanged about their eares
with sobbynge, and with sory teares
This lorde goth then an humble pas
That whilom proude and noble was
wherof the citie sore a flyght
Of them that sawen thylke syght
And nethelesse all openly
with suche wepyng, and with suche cry
Forth with his children / and his wyfe
He goth to praye for his lyfe
Vnto the courte whan they be come
And men therin haue hyed nome
There was no wyght, if he them sye
From water myght kepe his eye
For sorowe, whiche they maden tho.
The kynge supposeth of this wo
And feyneth, as he nought ne wyst
But netheles at his vpryste
Men tolde hym, howe it ferde
And whan that he this wonder herde
In hast he goth in to the halle
And all at ones downe they falle
If any pite may be founde
The king, which seeth thē go to groūde
Hath asked them what is the fere
why they be so dispoyled there
His brother sayde, A lorde mercy
I wote none other cause why
But onely that this night full late
The trompe of deathe was at my gate
In token that I shulde dye
Thus we be come for to preye
That ye my worldes deathe respyte.
Ha foole howe thou art for to wyte
The kynge vnto his brother saide
That thou arte of so lytell frayde
That onely for a trompes sowne
Hath gone dispoiled through the town
Thou, and thy wyfe in suche manere
Forthe with thy children that ben here
In syght of all men aboute
For that thou sayst, thou art in doubt
Of death, whiche stant vnder the lawe
Of man, and man may it withdrawe
So that it may perchaunce fayle
Nowe shalt thou not for thy meruayle
That I downe from my chare alyght
whan I behelde to fore my syght
In them that were of so great age
Myn owne dethe through their ymage
whiche god hath set by lawe of kynde
wherof I may no bote fynde
For well I wote, suche as they be
Ryght suche am I in my degree
Of flesshe, and bloud, and so shall dey
And thus though I that lawe obeye
Of whiche that kynges be put vnder
It ought be well the lesse wonder
Than thou, whiche arte without nede
For lawe of londe in suche a drede
whiche for to accompte is but a iape
As thing, which thou myght ouerscape
For thy my brother after this
I rede that sethen, that so is
That thou canst drede a man so sore
Drede god with all thyn herte more
For all shall dye, and all shall passe
As well a lyon as an asse
As well a begger as a lorde
Towardes deathe in one accorde
They shall stonde, and in this wyse
The kynge with his wordes wyse
His brother taught, and all foryeue
Confessor.
For thy my sonne if thou wolt lyue
In vertue, thou must vice eschewe
And with lowe herte humblesse sewe
So that thou be not surquedous
Amans.
My father I am amorous
wherof I wolde you beseche
That ye me by some waye teache
whiche myght in loues cause stonde
Confessor.
My sonne thou shalte vnderstonde
In loue, and other thynges all
If that surquedry falle
It may to hym not well betyde
whiche vseth thylke vice of pride
whiche tourneth wysedome to wenyng
And sothfastnes into lesynge
Through foule imagination
And for thyn enformation
That thou this vice as I the rede
Eschewe shalte a tale I rede
whiche felle whylom by dayes olde
So as the clerke Ouide tolde.
¶Hic in speciali tractat Confessor cum Amante contra illos / qui de propria formositate presumentes amorem multeris dedignātur, Et narrat exemplum / qualiter cuiusdam principis filius [...] mine Narcissus estino tempore / cum ipse venationis causa quendam ce ruum solus cum suis canibus exagitaret, in grauem sitim incurrens necessitate cōpulsus ad bibendū de quodam fonte [...] inclinquit: vbi ipse faciem suā pulchei rimam in aqua percipiens putabat se per hoc illā N [...]ham / quam poete Echo vocant in flumine [...]am suis oculis conspexisse / de cuius amore [...] laqueatus / vt ipsā ad se de fonte ex [...] [...] pluribus blandicus adulabatur / sed cū [...] n [...]tenus perficere potuit, pre nimio lan [...] deficiens contra lapides ibidem adiacen [...] [...] exuerberans cerebrum effudit.
There was whylom a lordes sonne
whiche of his pryde a vice wonne
Hath caught that worthy to his lyche
As sechen all the worldes ryche
There was no woman for to loue
So hygh he set hym selfe aboue
Of stature, and of beaute bothe
That hym thought all women lothe
[...] was there no comparyson
As towarde his condition
This yonge lorde Narcissus hyght
No strength of loue bowe myght
His herte, whiche is vnafyled
[...] at laste he was begyled
[...] of the goddes purueyaunce
[...] telle hym on a day perchaunce
That he in all his proude fare
Vnto the forest gan to fare
Amonge other, that there were
To hunt, and disporte hym there
And whan he came in to the place
where that he wolde make his chace
The houndes were within a throwe
Vncoupled, and the bornes blowe
The great herte anone was founde
with swyfte feete set on the grounde
And be with spore in horse syde
Hym hasteth faste for to ryde
Tyll all men be lefte bebynde
And as he rode vnder a lynde
Besyde a roche, as I the telle
He sawe where spronge a lusty welle
The day was wondre hote withall
And suche a thurste was on hym fall
That he must other dye or drynke
And downe he lyght, and by the brinke
He tyde his bors vnto a braunche
And layde hym lowe for to staunche
His thurst: And as he cast his loke
Into the welle and hede toke
He sawe the lyke of his visage
And wende there were an ymage
Of suche a nymphe, as tho was fay
wherof that loue his herte assay
Began, as it was after sene
Of his sotye, and made hym wene
It were a woman, that he syghe
The more that he came the welle nygh
The nere came she to hym ageyne
So wyst he neuer what to seyne
For whan he wepte, he sawe her wepe
And whan he cryed, he toke good kepe
The same worde she cryed also
And thus began the newe wo
That whylom was to hym so straunge
Tho made him loue an harde eschange
To set his herte, and to begynne
Thynge, whiche he might neuer wynne
And euer amonge he gan to loute
And prayeth, that she to him come out
And other whyle he goth a ferre
And other whyle he draweth nerre
And euer he fonde her in o place
He wepeth, he crieth, he asketh grace
There as he myght gette none
So that ayene a roche of stone
As he that knewe none other reade
He smote hym selfe tyl he was deade
wherof the Nymphes of the welles
And other that there weren els
Vnto the wodes belongende
The body / whiche was deade lyggende
For pure pyte, that they haue
Vnder graue they begraue
And than out of his sepulture
There spronge anone perauenture
Of floures suche a wonder syght
That men ensample take myght
Vpon the dedes, whiche he dede
And tho was sene in other stede
For in the wynter fresshe and fayre
The floures bene, whiche is contraire
To kynde, and so was the folye
whiche felle of his surquedrye
Thus he, whiche loue had in disdaine
werst of all other was beseyne
And as he set his price most hie
He was lest worthy in loues eye
And most be iaped in his witte
wherof the remembrance is yet
So that thou myght ensample take
And eke all other for h
[...] sake.
Amans
My father as touchende of me
This vice I thynke for to flee
whiche of his wenynge euer troweth
And namelich of thing, which groweth
In loues cause, or well or wo
yet pryded in me neuer so
But wolde god that grace sende
That towarde me my lady wende
As I towardes her wene
My loue shulde so besene
There shulde go no pryde a place
But I am ferre fro thylke grace
And for to speake of tyme nowe
So mote I suffre, I pray you
That ye woll aske on other syde
If there be any poynt of pryde
wherof it nedeth me to be shryne
Confessor.
My sonne god it the foryeue
yf thou haue any thynge mysdo
Touchend of this: but euermo
Ther is another yet of pryde
whiche neuer coude his wordes hyde
That he ne wolde hym selfe auaunt
There may nothinge his tonge daunt
That he ne clappeth as a belle
wherof if thou wolt that I telle
It is behouely for to here
So that thou myght thy tonge stere
Toward the worlde / and stande in grace
whiche lacketh ofte in many a place
To hym that can not sytte stylle
whiche els shulde haue all his wyll
Magniloque propriam minuit iactantie lingue,
Famam quam stabilem firmat honore silens,
Ipse sui laudem meriti non percipit, unde
Se sua per uerba iactat in orbe palam,
Est
(que) uiri culpa iactantia, que rubifactas
In muliere reas causat habere genas.
¶Hic loquitur de quarta specie superbie, que iactantia dicitur / ex cuius natura causatur, vt homo de se ipso testimoniū perhibens / suarū virtutum merita de laude in culpam transfert et suam famam cū extollere vellet, illā ꝓprio ore subuertit. Sed et Venus in amorie causa de isto vicio maculatos a sua curia super omnes alios abhorrens expellit / et eorum multiloquium verecundia detestatur / vnde Confessor Amanti opponens materiam plenius declarat.
¶The vice cleped auauntance
with pride hath take his acqueintance.
So that his owne price he lasseth
whan he suche mesure ouerpasseth
That he his owne heraulde is
That first was wel, is than amysse
That was thanke worthy, is thā blame
And thus the worshyppe of his name
Through pryde of his auauntry
He tourneth into vylonye
I rede, howe that this proude vice
Hath thylke hunt in his offyce
Through which the blastes that he bloweth
The mās same he ouerthroweth
Of vertue whiche shulde els sprynge
Vnto the worldes knowlegynge
But he fordothe it all to sore
And ryght of suche maner lore
There ben louers / for thy if thou
Arte one of hem, tell and say howe
whan thou hast taken any thynge
Of loues yeste or ouche or rynge
Or toke vpon the for the colde
Some goodly word that the was tolde
Of frendly chere, or token, or lettter
wherof thyn herte was the better
Of that she sent the gretynge
Hast thou for pryde of thy lykynge
Made thyn auaunt, where as the lyste?
Amans
I wolde father that ye wyst
My conscyence lyeth not here
yet hadde I neuer suche mattere
wherof myn hert myght amende
Not of so moche as she sende
By mouth, and sayde / Grete hym well
And thus for that there is no dele
wherof to make myn auaunt
It is to reason accordaunt
That I may neuer, but I lye
Of loue make auauntrye
I wote not what I shulde haue do
If that I hadde encheson so
As ye haue sayde here many one
But I fond cause neuer none
But daunger, whiche me welny slough
Therof I couth telle ynough
And of none other auantaunce
Thus nedeth me no repentaunce
Nowe axeth forther of my lyfe
For herof am I not giltyfe
¶ My sonne I am wel payd with all
For wite it wel in speciall
That loue of his veray iustice
Aboue all other ayene this vice
It all
[...]mes most debateth
with all his hert: and most it hateth
And eke in all maner wyse
[...]
[...]trye is to despise
As by ensample thou myght witte
whiche I fynde in the bokes wrytte
¶ [...] confessor exemplum contra illos / [...] sua in a [...]mis probitate / vel de suo in [...] causa desidetio completo se iactant / Et [...] [...]iter Albinus primus rex Longo bat [...] cum ipse quendam alium regem nomine [...] [...]dum in belle morientem triumphasset / [...] capitis defuncti auferens ciphum ex ea [...] [...]t auro circum [...]gatū in sue victorie me [...] [...] [...]ricari constituit / insuper et ipsius Gur [...] Resemundam rapiens / maritali [...] [...]nigem sibi copilauit. Vnde ipso Al [...] [...] [...]ste [...] coram sui regni nobilibus in suo re [...] [...] fedente dicti Gurmundi ciphum in [...] [...] ad se inter epulas affetri iussit / quem sumot [...]m v [...]ori sue regine porrexit dicens. Bibe cum pa [...] tuo / quod et ipsa huiusmodi operis [...]nara fecit. quo facto rex statim super his que [...]prius gesta fuerant cunctis audiētibus per singu [...] se [...]actauit. Regina vero cum talia audiffet animo celato factum abhorēs in mortem dn̄i sui regis circumspecta industria conspirauit. Ipsum (que) auxiliātibus Glodesida et Helmege brem fu [...] secuto tēpore inter fecit / cuins mortem dux rauenensis tam in corpus regine quam suorū fautorum postea vindicauit.
¶Of thē, that we lumbardes now call
Albinus was the fyrste of all
whiche bare crowne of Lumbardy
And was of great chiualrie
In warre ageynst dyuers kynges
So felle amonge other thynges
That he that tyme a warre had
with Gurmund, which the Geptes lad
And was a myghtye kynge also
But netheles it felle hym so
Albinus slough hym in the felde
Ther halpe him nother spere ne shelde
That he ne smote his heed of than
wherof he toke awey the panne
Of whiche he sayde he wolde make
A cuppe, for Gurmundes sake
To kepe and drawe in to memorie
Of his batayle the victorie
And thus when he the felde had wonne
The londe anon was ouerronne
And sesed in his owne honde
where he Gurmundes doughter fonde
whiche mayde Rosamunde hyght
And was in euery mans syght
A fayre fresshe a lusty one
His hert fyll to her anone
And suche a loue on her he cast
That he her wedded at the last
And after that longe tyme in reste
with her he dwelleth, and to the beste
They loue eche other wonder wele
But she, which kepeth the blynd whele
Venus, when they be moste aboue
In all the hottest of her loue
Her whele she torneth, and they felle
In the maner, as I shall telle
This kynge, which stod in all his welth
Of pees, of worship, and of helth
And felt hym on no syde greued
As he that hath his worlde acheued
Tho thought he wolde a fest make
And that was for his wyues sake
That she the lordes of the feste
(That were obeysaunt to his heste)
May knowe: and so forth there vpon
He lette ordayne, and sent anon
By letters, and by messengers
And warned all his offycers
That euery thynge be well araide
The great stedes were assayde
For iustynge, and for tornement
And many a perled garnement
Embrouded was ageyne the day
The lordes in their beste aray
Be comen at the tyme sette
One iusteth well, an other bet
And other whyle they torney
And thus they caste care awey
And token lustes vpon honde
And after thou shalt vnderstonde
To mete into the kynges halle
They comen, as they be hydden all
And whan they were sette and serued
Than after, as it was deserued
To them, that worthy knyghtes were
So as they setten here and there
The price was youen, and spoken out
Amonge the heraudes all about
And thus benethe, and eke aboue
All was of armes and of loue
wherof aboute at bourdes
Men had many sondry wordes
That of the myrthe, whiche they made
The kynge hym selfe bygan to glade
within his hert, and toke a pryde
And sawe the cuppe stonde a syde
whiche made was of Gurmundes hed
As ye haue hard, when he was deed
And was with golde and ryche stones
Beset and bounde for the nones
And stode vpon a fote on hyghte
Of borned golde, and with great slight
Of werkmenshyp it was by graue
Of suche worke, as it shulde haue
And polysshed was eke so clene
That no sygne of the sculle was sene
But as it were a grypes eye
The kyng badde bere his cuppe awey
whiche stode before hym on the borde
And sette thylke, vpon his worde
¶The sculle is fette, and wyne therin
wherof he badde his wyfe begynne
Drynke with thy father, dame he sayd
And she to his byddynge obeyde
And toke the sculle, and what her lyste
She drynketh, as she, which nothynge wist
what cup it was: and than all out
The kynge in audyence about
Hath tolde, it was her fathers sculle
So that the lordes knowe shull
Of his batayle a soth wytnesse
And made auant through what prowes
He hath his wyues loue wonne
whiche of the sculle hath so begonne
Tho was there mochel pride alofte
They speaken all, and she was softe
Thynkende on thylke vnkynde pride
Of that her lorde, so nygh her syde
Auanteth hym, that he hath slayne
And pyked out her fathers brayne
And of the sculle hath made a cuppe
She suffered all tyll they were vppe
And tho she hath sekenesse feyned
And goth to chambre, & hath cōpleined
Vnto a mayde, whiche she trust
So that none other wyghte it wyst
This mayde Glodesyde is hote
To whome this lady hath by hote
Of ladyshyp all that she can
To auengen her vpon this man
whiche dyd her drynke in suche a plite
Amonge them all for despyte
Of her, and of her father bothe
wherof her thoughtes ben so wrothe
She sayth, that she shall not be glad
Tylle that she se hym so be bestad
That he no more make auaunt
And thus they felle in couenaunt
That they acorden at the laste
with suche wyles, as they caste
That they woll gette of their accorde
Some orped knyght to sle this lorde
And with this sleyght they begynne
Howe they Helmege myght wynne
whiche was the kynges botyler
A proude and a lusty bachyler
And Glodesyde he loueth hote
And she to make hym more assote
Her loue graunteth, and by nyght
They shape howe they to geder myght
A bedde mete: and done it was
The same nyght, and in this cas
The quene her selfe, the nyght seconde
went in her stede, and there she fonde
A chaumber derke without lyght
And goth to bedde to this knyght
And be to kepe his obseruaunce
To loue, doth his obeysaunce
And weneth it be Glodesyde
And she than after lay a syde
And axeth hym, what he hath do
And who she was, she tolde hym tho
And sayd Helmege, I am the quene
Nowe shall thy loue well besene
Of that thou haste thy wyll wrought
Or it shall sore ben abought
Or thou shalt worche, as I the saye
And if thou wolt by suche a waye
Do my plesaunce, and holde it stylle
For euer I shall ben at thy wylle
Bothe I, and all myn herytage
¶ Anone the wylde loues rage
In whiche no man hym can gouerne
Made hym, that he can not werne
But felle all holle to her assent
And thus the whele is all myswent
The whiche fortune hath vpon honde
For howe that euer it after stonde
They shope amonge them such a wyle
The kynge was deed within a whyle
So styly came it not aboute
That they ne ben discouered out
So that it thought them for the best
To fle, for there was no reste
And thus the tresour of the kynge
They trusse, and moche other thynge
And with a certayne felauship
They fled, and went awey by ship
And helde their nyght cours from then
Tyll that they comen to Rauenne
where they the dukes helpe sought
And he, so as they hym besought
A place graunteth for to dwell
But after, when he hard telle
Of the maner, howe they haue do
The duke let shape for them so
That of a poyson, whiche they drunke
They hadden that they han beswunke
And all this made auaunt of pryde
Good is therfore a man to hyde
His owne price. for if he speke
He may lyghtelyche his thanke breke
In armes lyeth none auantance
To him, which thinketh his name auāce
And be renomed of his dede
And also who that thynketh to spede
Of loue, he may not hym auaunte
For what man thylke vyce baunte
His purpose shall full ofte faylle
In armes be that woll trauaylle
Or elles loues grace atteyne
His lose tonge he mote restreyne
whiche beryth of his honoure the keye
For thy my sonne in all weye
Take ryght good hede of this mattere
I thanke you my father dere
This schole is of a gentyl lore
And if there be ought elles more
Of pryde, whiche I shall eschewe
Nowe axeth forth, and I woll shewe
what thynge, that ye me woll enforme
Confessor.
My sonne yet in other forme
There is a vyce of prydes lore
whiche lyke an hawke, whā he will sore
Fleeth vp on hygh in his delyces
After the lykynge of his vices
And woll no mans reson knowe
Tyll he doune falle, and ouerthrowe
This vice vaynglorye is hote
wherof my sonne I the by hote
To trete and speke in suche a wyse
That thou the myght better auyse.
Gloria perpetuos pregnat mundana dolores,
Qui tamen est vanus gaudia vana cupit.
Eius amiciciam, quem gloria tollit inanis,
Non sine blandicijs planus habebit homo.
Verbis compositis qui scit strigila re fauellum,
Scandere fallata iura valebit eques.
Sic in amore magis qui blanda subornat in ore
Verba, per hoc brauiū ꝙ nequit, alter habet.
Et tamen ornatos cantus, varios
(que) paratus,
Leta
(que) corda suis legibus optat amor.
¶ Hic loquitur de quinta specie superbie / que Inanis gloria vocatur. Et eiusdem victi naturā [Page 23] primo describene super eodem in amorie causa Confessor amanti consequenter opponit.
The proude vice of vaynglorye
Remembreth nought of purgatorye
His worldes ioyes ben so great
Hym thynketh of beuen no beyete
This lyues pompe is all his pes
yet shall he deye netheles
And therof thynketh he but a lyte
For all his lust is to delite
In newe thynges, proude and vayne
As farforth as he may attayne
I trowe, if that he myght make
His body newe, he wolde take
A newe forme, and leaue his olde
For what thyng, that he may beholde
The whiche to comon vse is straunge
Anone his olde guyse chaunge
He woll, and falle therupon
Lyke vnto the Camelyon
whiche vpon euery sondry hewe
That he beholt, he mote newe
His colour, and thus vnauysed
Ful ofte tyme he stant disguysed
More ioylife than the byrde in maye
He maketh hym euer fresshe and gaye
And doth all his aray disguyse
So that of hym the newe guyse
Of lusty folke all other take
And eke he can carolles make
Roundel, balade, and verelay
And with all this, if that he may
Of loue gete hym auauntage
Anone he waxt of his corage
So ouer gladde, that of his ende
He thynketh there is no deth cōmende
For he hath than at all tyde
Of loue suche maner pryde
Hym thynketh his ioy is endeles.
Confessor.
Now shryue the sonne in goddes pees
And of thy loue telle me playne
yf that thy glorye hath be so vayne
Amans.
My father as touchend of all
I may not well, ne noughten shall
Of vayne glorye excuse me
That I ne haue for loue be
The better adressyd and arayde
And also I haue ofte assayde
Roundel, balades, and vyrelay
For her, on whom myn hert laye
To make, and also for to peynte
Carollys with my wordes queynte
To set my purpose alofte
And thus I sange themforth full ofte
In halle, and eke in chambre aboute
And made mery amonge the route
But yet ne ferde I not the bet
Thus was my glorye in vayne beset
Of all the ioy that I made
For when I wolde with her glade
And of her loue songes make
She sayde, it was not for her sake
And lyste not my songes here
Ne wyten, what the wordes were
So for to speke of myn arraye
yet coude I neuer be so gaye
Ne so well make a songe of loue
wherof I myght ben aboue
And haue encheson to be gladde
But rather I am ofte adradde
For sorowe, that she sayth me nay
And netheles I woll not saye
That I nam gladde on other syde
For fame, that can nothynge hyde
All day woll brynge vnto myn ere
Of that men speken here and there
Howe that my lady beryth the price
Howe she is fayre, howe she is wyse
Howe she is womanlyche of chere
Of all this thynge whan I may here
what wonder is though I be fayne
And eke when I may here sayne
Tydynges of my ladys hele
All though I may not with her dele
yet am I wonder gladde of that
For when I wote her good estate
As for that tyme I dare well swere
None other sorowe may me dere
Thus am I gladed in this wyse
But father of your lores wyse
Of whiche ye be fully taught
Nowe telle me if ye thynke ought
That I therof am to wyte
Of that there is, I the acquite
My sonne, he sayde, and for thy good
I woll that thou vnderstode
For I thynke vpon this mattere
To tell a tale, as thou shalt here
Howe that ageyne this proud vice
The hygh god, of his iustice
Is wrothe, and great vengeaunce doth
Nowe herken a tale, whiche is soth
Though it be nought of loues kynde
A great ensample thou shalt fynde
This vayne glorye for to fle
whiche is so full of vanyte.
Humane generis cum sit tibi gloria maior,
[...]epe sub
[...]sse solet proximis ille polor,
[...] e
[...]a graues descensus sepe subibit
[...] humilis stabile molle
(que) firmat iter.
[...] innumeris nolutat fortuna per orbem,
Cum magis alta petis inferora time.
[...] [...]nfessor exemplum contra vicium [...], narran [...] qualiter Nabugodono [...] [...] [...]asde [...]rum cum ipse in omni sui mages [...] [...] cess [...]or extitiffet, deus eius superbiā [...] ipsum extra formam homine [...] fenum commedentem transmutauit. [...] [...]tenum penitens cum ipse potenci [...] [...] misertus deus ipsū in su [...] regni [...] [...]ta san [...]tate [...]mendatum graciosius [...].
There was a kynge, that moch myght
whiche Nabugodonosor hyght
Of whom that I spake here to fore
Yet in the byble this name is bore
For all the worlde in thoryent
was hole at his commaundement
As than of kynges to his lyche
was none so myghty, ne so ryche
To his empire, and to his lawes
As who sayth, all in thylke dawes
were obeysaunt, and trybute bere
As though he god of erthe were
with strength he put kynges vnder
And wrought of pryde many a wonder
He was so full of vaynglorye
That he ne hadde no memorye
That there was any god but he
For pryde of his prosperyte
Tyll that the hyghe kynge of kynges
whiche seeth and knoweth all thynges
whose eye may nothynge asterte
The pryuytes of mans hert
They speken and sowne in his ere
As though they loude wyndes were
He toke vengeaunce of his pryde
But for he wolde a whyle abyde
To loke, if he wolde hym amende
To hym afore token he sende
And that was in his slepe by nyght
This proude kynge a wonder syght
Hadde in his sweuen, there be lay
Hym thought vpon a mery day
As he behelde the world aboute
A tre full growe be sawe there out
which stode in the world amiddes euen
whos heyght straught vp to the heuen
The leues weren fayre and large
Of frute it bere so rype a charge
That all men it myght fede
He sawe also the bowes sprede
Aboue all erth, in whiche were
The kynde of all byrdes there
And eke hym thought he sawe also
The kynde of all bestes go
Vnder the tre about rounde
And fedden them vpon the grounde
As he this vnderstode and syghe
Hym thought he herde a voys on high
Cryende, and sayde abouen all
Hewe downe this tree, and let it fall
The leues lette defoule in hast
And do the frute destroye and wast
And let of shreden euery braunche
But at rote he let it staunche
whan all his pride is cast to grounde
The rote shall be fast bounde
And shall no mans herte bere
But euery lust he shall forbere
Of man, and lyke an oxe his mete
Of grasse he shall purchace and ete
Tyll at the water of the heuen
Hath wasshen hym by tymes seuen
So that he thorough knowe aryght
what is the heuenlyche myght
And be made humble to the wylle
Of hym, whiche may all saue & spylle
This kyng out of his sweuen abraide
And he vpon the morowe it sayde
Vnto the clerkes, which he hadde
But none of them the foth aradde
was none his sweuen couth vndo
And it stode thylke tyme so
This kynge hadde in subiection
Iude, and of affectyon
Abouen al other one Danyel
He loueth, for be couth well
Dyuyne, that none other couthe
To hym were all thynges couthe
As he it hadde of goddes grace
He was before the kynges face
Assent and boden, that he shulde
Vpon the poynt the kynge of tolde
The fortune of his sweuen expounde
As it shulde afterward be founde
whan Danyel this sweuene herde
He stode longe tyme, or be answerde
And made a wonder heuy chere
The kynge toke hede of his maner
And hadde hym telle that he wyste
As he, to whome he mochel tryste
And sayde, he wolde not be wroth
But Danyel was wonder loth
And sayde vpon thy fo men alle
Syr kynge thy sweuene mote falle
And netheles touchend of this
I woll the tellen, howe it is
And what dysese is to the shape
God wote if thou it shalt escape
The hyghe tre, whiche thou hast sene
with lesse and fruyt so wel besene
The which stode in the world amiddes
So that the bestes and the byrdes
Gouerned were of hym alone
Syr kynge betokeneth thy persone
which stonde aboue all erthely thynges
Thus reignen vnder the the kynges
And all the people vnto the louteth
And all the worlde thy person douteth
So that with vayne honour deceyued
Thou haste the reuerence weyued
From hym, whiche is thy kynge aboue
That thou for drede ne for loue
wolt nothynge knowen of thy god
whiche nowe for the hath made a rod
Thy vayne glorye, and thy folye
with great peynes to chastye
And of the voyce thou herdest speke
whiche badde the bowes for to breke
And hewe and felle downe the tre
That word belongeth vnto the
Thy reigne shall be ouer throwe
And thou dispoyled for a throwe
But that the rote shulde stonde
By that thou shalt wel vnderstonde
There shall abyde of thy regne
A tyme ageyne whan thou shall regne
And eke of that thou herdest saye
To take a mans herte aweye
And set there a bestiall
So that he lyke an oxe shall
Pasture, and that he be byreyned
By tymes seuen, and sore peyned
Till that be knowe his goddis mightes
Than shall he stond agayne vpryghtes
All this betokeneth thyne estate
whiche nowe with god is in debate
Thy mans forme shall be lassed
Tyll seuen yere ben ouer passed
And in the lykenes of a beste
Of gras shall be thy royall feste
The wether shall vpon the rayne
And vnderstonde, that all this payne
whiche thou shalt suffre thylke tyde
Is shape all onely for thy pryde
Of vayne glorye, and of the synne
whiche thou hast longe stonden inne.
So vpon this condicyon,
Thy sweuene hath exposicyon
But er this thynge befalle in dede
Amende the, this wolde I rede
yeue and departe thyn almesse
Do mercy forth with ryghtwysnes
Beseche and praye the hyghe grace
For so thou myght thy pees purchace
with god, and stonden in good accorde
But pryde is loth to lese his lorde
And woll not suffre humylyte
with hym to stonde in no degre
And whan a shyp hath loste his stere
Is none so wyse, that may hym stere
Ageyne the wawes in a rage
This proude kynge in his courage
Humylite hath so forlore
That for no sweuen (he sawe to fore)
Ne yet for all that Danyell
Hym hath counseyled euery dele
He lette it passe out of his mynde
Through vaynglory, and as the blynde
He seeth no weye, er hym be wo
And felle within a tyme so
As he in Babyloyne wente
The vanyte of pryde hym hente
His hert aros of vayne glorye
So that he drough in to memorye
His lordship and his regalye
with wordes of surquedrye
And whā that he him moste auaūteth
That lorde, which vainglorye daunteth
All sodenly, as who sayth treys
where that he stode in his paleys
He toke hym from the mens syght
was none of them so ware, that myght
Set eye, where he bycome
And thus was be from his kyngdome
In to the wylde foreste drawe
where that the myghty goddes lawe
Through his power did him trāsforme
Fro man in to a bestes forme
And lyke an oxe vnder the fote
He graseth as he nedes mote
To getten hym his lyues fode
Tho thought hym cold gras goode
That whilome ete the hote spices
Thus was he torned from delyces
The wyne, which he was wonte drynke
He toke then of the welles brynke
Or of the pyt, or of the slough
It thought hym then good ynough
Instede of chambres well arayed
He was than of a busshe well apayed
The harde grounde he lay vpon
For other pylowes hadde he non
The stormes, and the raynes fall
The wyndes blowe vpon hym all
He was tormented day and nyght
Suche was the hyghe goddes myght
Tyll seuen yere an ende toke
Vpon hym selfe tho gan be loke
In stede of mete, gras and streys
In stede of handes, longe cleys
In stede of man, a beste lyke
He sawe, and than he gan to syke
For cloth of golde and of perrye
whiche hym was wonte to magnyfye
when he beheld his cote of heres
He wepte, and with full wofull teres
Vp to the heuen he caste his chere
wepend, and thought in this manere
Though he no wordes myght wynne
Thus sayd his hert, and spake withyn
O myghty god, that all hast wrought
And all myght bryng agayne to nought
Nowe knowe I, but all of the
This worlde hath no prosperite
In thyn aspecte ben all alyche
The poure man and eke the ryche
withoute the there may no wyght
And thou aboue all other myght
O myghty lorde toward my vice
Thy mercy medle with iustice
And I woll make a couenaunt
That of my lyfe the remenaunt
I shall it by the grace amende
And in thy lawe so dispende
That vayn glory I shall eschewe
And bowe vnto thyn heste, and sewe
Humylite, and that I vowe
And so thynkend he gan downe bowe
And though hym lacke voyce of speche
He gan vp with his fete areche
And waylend in his bestly steuen
He made his playnt vnto the heuen
He kneleth in his wyse, and brayeth
To seche mercy, and assayeth
His god, which made him nothīg strāge
whan that he sawe his pride change
Anone as he was humble and tame
He fonde towarde his god the same
And in a twynkelynge of a loke
His mannes forme ageyne he toke
And was reformed to the reygne
In whiche that he was wonte to reigne
So that the pride of vayne glory
Euer afterwarde out of memorye
He lette it passe, and thus is shewed
what is to ben of pride vnthewed
Ageyne the hygh goddes lawe
To whome no man may be felawe
For thy my sonne take good hede
So for to lede thy manhede
That thou ne be not lyke a beste
But if thy lyfe shall ben honeste
Thou must humblesse take on honde
For than myght thou syker stonde
And for to speke it other wyse
A proude man can no loue assise
For though a woman wolde him plese
His pride can not ben at ease
There may no man to mochel blame
A vice, whiche is for to blame
For thy men shulden nothynge hyde
That myght falle in blame of pride
whiche is the worst vyce of all
wherof, so as it was befalle
The tale I thynke of a cronyke
To telle, if that it may the lyke
So that thou myght humblesse sewe
And eke the vice of pride eschewe
wherof the glorye is false and vayne
whiche god hym selfe hath in disdayne
That though it mount for a throwe
It shall downe falle and ouerthrowe.
Est uirtus humilis, per quam deus altus ad ima
Se tulit, et nosire inscera carnis habet.
Sic humilis supereft, et amor sibi subditur ois,
Cuius habet nulla sorte superbus opem,
Odit cum terra, celum deiecit et ipsum,
Sedibus inferni stat
(que) receptus ibi.
¶Hic narrat confessor exemplum contra super [...]am, Et dicit / (que) nuper quidam rex famose prudencie cuidam misiti suo super fribus questionibus, vt inde certitudinis responsionem daret sub pena capitasis sententie terminum presixit. Primo quid minoris indigentie ab inhabitātibus orbem auxisium mains obtinuit. Secundo quid maioris meriti continens minoris expense reprisas exiguit. Tercio quid omnia bona diminuens ex sin proprietate nihil penitus vasuit. Quarū vero questionum quedam virgo dicti militis sifia nomine patris sofutionē aggrediens tafiter regi respondit. Ad primam dixit / quod terra nullius indiget / quam in adiuuare cotidianis laboribus omnes intendunt. Ad secundam dixit / (que) humilitas omnibus virtutibus preuafet / que tamen nullius prodigalitatis expensis mensuram excedit. Ad terciam dixit / (que) superbia omnia tam corporis quam anime bona deuastans maiorum expensarum excessus inducit.
A Kynge was whylom yonge & wise
The whiche of his wytte set great price
Of depe imaginations
And straunge interpretations
Problemes and demaundes eke
His wysedome was to fynde and seke
wherof he wolde in sondry wyse
Opposen them, that weren wyse
But none of them it myght beare
Vpon his worde to yeue answere
Out taken one, whiche was a knyght
To hym was euery thynge so lyght
That also sone as he them herde
The kynges wordes he answerde
what thynge the kynge hym axe wolde
There anone the trouth he tolde
The kynge somdele had an enuie
And thought he wolde his wittes plye
To set some conclusion
whiche shulde be confusion
Vnto this knyght, so that the name
And of wisedome the hygh fame
Towarde hym selfe he wolde wynne
And thus of all his witte within
This kynge began to studie and muse
what strange matter he myght vse
The knyghtes wittes to confounde
And at last he hath it founde
And for the knyght anon he sent
That he shall tell / what he ment
Vpon the poyntes of the mattere
Of questions as thou shalte here
The firste poynt of all thre
was this: what thinge in his degree
Of all this worlde hath nede lest
And yet men helpe it all theyr mest.
The seconde is: what moste is worth
And of costage is lest put forth
The thyrde is: whiche is of most cost
And lest is worthe, and gothe to lost.
The kynge these thre demaūdes axeth
To the knyght this lawe he taxeth
That he shall gone and come ageyne
The thyrde weke and tell hym pleyne
To euery poynt, what it amounteth
And if so be, that he miscounteth
To make in his answere a fayle
There shall none other thynge auayle
The kynge sayth, but he shall be deade
And lese his goodes, and his heed.
This knyght was sory of this thynge
And wolde excuse hym to the kynge
But he ne wolde hym not forbere
And thus the knyght of his answere
Goth home to take auysement
But after his entendement
The more he caste his wytte about
The more he stant therof in doubte
Tho wyst he well the kynges herte
That he the death ne shulde asterte
And suche a sorowe hath to him take
That gladshyppe he hath all forsake
He thought fyrste vpon his lyfe
And after that vpon his wyfe
Vpon his childre eke also
Of whiche he had doughters two
[...]
[...]gest of them had of age
[...] yere, and of vysage
[...] was ryght fayre, and of stature
[...] to an heuenly fygure
[...] of maner, and of goodly speche
Though men wolde all londes seche
They shulde not haue founde her lyke
[...] her father sorowe and syke
A
[...]d w
[...]st not the cause why
[...] she to hym priuely
[...] was, wher he made his mone
[...] gardeyne all hym one
[...] knees she gan downe falle
[...] humble herte, and to hym calle
[...] sayde: O good father dere
[...] make ye thus heuy chere
[...] I wote nothynge, howe it is
And well ye knowe father this
what auenture that you felle
ye myght it saufly to me telle
yor I haue ofte herde you sayde
That ye suche truste haue on me layde
That to my syster ne to my brother
In all this worlde ne to none other
ye durst telle a pryuete
So well my father as to me
For thy my father I you praye
Ne casteth nought that hert away
For I am she, that wolde kepe
your honour: and with that to wepe
Her eie may not be forbore
She wyssheth for to ben vnbore
Er that her father so mystryst
To tellen her, of that he wyst
And euer amonge mercy she cryed
That he ne shulde his counscile hyde
From her, that so wolde hym good
And was so nygh flesshe and bloud
So that with wepynge at last
His chere vpon his childe he caste
And sorowfully, to that she prayde
He tolde his tale, and thus he sayde
The sorowe doughter, which I make
Is not all onely for my sake
But for the bothe, and for you all
For suche a chaunce is me befalle
That I shall er this thyrde day
Lese all that euer I lese may
My lyfe, and all my good therto
Therfore it is, I sorowe so
what is the cause alas, quod she?
My father, that ye shulden be
Dead, and distroyed in suche a wise
And he began the poyntes deuyse
which as the kyng tolde him by mouth
And sayd her playnly, that he couthe
Answere to no poynt of this
And she, that hereth howe it is
Her counsayle yafe, and sayd tho
My father, syn it is so
That ye can se none other weye
But that ye must nedes deye
I wolde pray you of o thynge
Lette me go with you to the kynge
And ye shall make hym vnderstonde
Howe ye my wyttes for to fonde
Haue layde your answere vpon me
And telleth hym in suche degre
Vpon my worde ye wol abyde
To lyfe or deth what so betyde
For yet perchaunce I may purchace
with some good word the kynges grace
your lyfe and eke your good to saue
For ofte shall a woman haue
Thynge, whiche a man may not areche
The fader herd his doughters speche
And thought there was no reason in
And sawe, his owne lyfe to wynne
He couthe done hym selfe no cure
So better he thought in auenture
To put his lyfe, and all his good
That in the maner as it stode
His lyfe incerteyne for to lese
And thus thynkende he gan to chese
To do the counseyle of this mayde
And toke the purpose, whiche she sayd
The day was come, & forth they gone
Vnto the courte they come anone
where as the kynge in his iugement
was sette, and hath this knyght assent
Arrayed in her beste wyse
This mayden with her wordes wyse
Her father ledde by the honde
In to the place, where he fonde
The kynge, with other which he wolde
And to the kynge knelende he tolde
As he enfourmed was tofore
And prayeth the kyng, that he therfore
His doughters wordes wolde take
And sayth, that he woll vndertake
Vpon her wordes for to stende.
Tho was ther great meruaile on hōde
That he, whiche was so wyse a knyght
His lyfe vpon so yonge a wyght
Besette wolde in ieopardye
And many it helden for folye
But at laste neuertheles
The kynge commaundeth ben in peace
And to this mayde he cast his chere
And sayde, he wolde her tale here
And badde her speke: and she began.
My lyege lorde so as I can
Quod she, the poyntes, which I herde
They shall of reason ben answerde.
The fyrst I vnderstonde is this
what thynge of all the worlde it is
which men most helpe, & hath lest nede
My lyege lorde this wolde I rede
The erthe it is, whiche euermo
with mannes labour is bego
As well in wynter as in Maye
The mannes honde doth what he may
To helpe it forth, and make it ryche
And for thy men it delue and dyche
And eren it with strength of plough
where it hath of hym selfe inough
So that his nede is at leste
For euery man, byrde, and beast
Of floure, and grasse, and rote, & rynde
And euery thynge by wey of kynde
Shall sterue, and erthe it shall become
As it was out of erthe nome
It shall to erthe tourne ageyne
And thus I may by reason seyne
That therthe is most nedeles
And most men helpe it netheles
So that my lorde touchande of this
I haue answerde howe that it is.
¶That other poynt I vnderstode
whiche most is worth, and most is good
And costeth leest a man to kepe
My lorde if ye woll take kepe
I saye it is Humilite
Through whiche the hygh Trinite
As for deserte of pure loue
Vnto Marye from aboue
Of that he knewe her humble entent
His owne sonne adowne he sent
Aboue all other, and her he chese
For that vertu, which that bodeth pes
So that I may by reason calle
Humilite moost worthe of all
And lest it costeth to maynteyne
In all the worlde, as it is seyne.
For who that hath hūblesse on honde
He bryngeth no werres in to londe
For he desyreth for the best
To serten euery man in reste.
¶Thus with your hygh reuerence
Me thynketh that this euydence
As to this poynt, is suffisaunt
And touchende of the remenaunt
whiche is the thyrde of your askynges
what lest is worth of all thynges
And costeth most, I telle it Pryde
whiche may not in the heuen abyde
For Lucifer, with them that felle
Bare Pryde with hym in to helle
There was pryde of to great cost
whan he for pryde hath heuen loste
And after that in Paradyse
Adam for pryde lost his pryce
In myddell erth. And eke also
Pryde is the cause of all wo
That all the worlde ne may suffise
To stanche of pride the reprise
Pryde is the heed of all synne
whiche wasteth all, and may not wynne
Pryde is of euery mysse the prycke
Pryde is the worste of all wycke
And costeth moost, and lest is worth
In place where he hath his forth
Thus haue I sayde that I woll say
Of myn answere, and to you pray
My lyege lorde of your offyce
That ye suche grace, and suche iustice
Ordeyne for my father here
That after this, when men it here
The worlde therof may speake good.
¶The kyng, which reason vnderstode
And hath all herde howe she hath said
was inly gladde, and so well payde
That all his wrath is ouer go
And he beganne to loke tho
Vpon this mayden in the face
In whiche he fonde so mochell grace
That all his price on her he leyde
In audience and thus he sayde
My fayre mayden well ye be
Of thyn answere, and eke of the
Me lyketh well, and as thou wylte
For
[...]eue be thy father gylte
And if thou were of suche lygnage
That thou to me were of parage
And that thy father were a pere
As he is nowe a bachylere
So syker as I haue a lyfe
Thou shuldest than be my wyfe
But this I saye netheles
That I woll shape thyn encrease
what worldes good that thou wolte craue
Axe of mi yeft, & thou shalt haue
And she the kynge with wordes wise
Knelynge thanketh in this wyse
My lyege lorde god mote you quite
My father here hath but a lyte
Of waryson, and that he wende
Had all be lost, but nowe amende
He may well through your noble grace
with that the kynge ryght in his place
Anon forthe in that fresshe hete
An Erledome, whiche than of eschete
was late falle in to his honde
Vnto this knyght, with rent and londe
Hath youe, and with his chartre sesed
And thus was all the noyse appesed.
This maiden, which sate on her knees
Tofore the kynges charitees
Cōmen death, and sayth euermore
My lyege lorde ryght nowe tofore
ye sayde, and it is of recorde
That if my father were a lorde
And pere vnto these other great
ye wolden for nought elles lette
That I ne shulde be your wyfe
And thus wote euery worthy lyfe
A kynges worde mote nede be holde
For thy my lorde, if that ye wolde
So great a charite fulfylle
God wote it were well my wylle
For he, whiche was a bachylere
My father is nowe made a pere
So whense as euer that I cam
An erles doughter nowe I am.
This yonge kynge, whiche peised all
Her beaute, and her wytte withall
As he, whiche was with loue hente
Anone therto yafe his assente
He myght not the place asterte
That she nys lady of his herte
So that he toke her to his wyfe
To holde, whyle that he hath lyfe
And thus the kyng towarde his knight
Accordeth hym, as it is ryght.
And ouer this good is to wyte
In the cronyke as it is wryte
This noble kynge, of whom I tolde
Of spayne by tho dayes olde
The kyngedome had in gouernaunce
And as the boke maketh remembrance
Alphons was his propre name.
The knyght also, if I shall name
Dom Petro hyght, and as men telle
His doughter wyse Petronelle
was cleped, whiche was full of grace
And that was sene in thylke place
where she her father out of tene
Hath brought, & made her selfe a quene
Of that she hath so well disclosed
The poyntes, wherof she was opposed
Confessor.
Lo now my sonne as thou might here
Of all this thinge to my mattere
But one I take, and that is pride
To whom no grace may betyde
In heuen he felle out of his stede
And Paradyse hym was forbede
The good men in erthe hym hate
So that to belle he mote algate
where euery vertue shall be weyued
And euery vice be resceyued
But Humblesse is all other wyse
whiche moost is worth, and no reprise
It taketh ageyn, but softe and fayre
If ony thynge stant in contraire
with humble speche it is redressed
Thus was this yonge mayde blessed
The whiche I spake of nowe tofore
Her fathers lyfe she gatte therfore
And wanne withall the kynges loue
For thy my sonne if thou wolt loue
It sytte the well to leaue pryde
And take Humblesse on thy syde
The more of grace thou shalt gete
Amans.
¶ My father I woll not foryete
Of this that ye haue tolde me here
And if that any suche manere
Of humble porte may loue appaye
Here afterwarde I thynke aslay
But nowe forthe ouer I beseche
That ye more of my shryfte seche
Confessor.
¶My good sonne it shall be do
Nowe herken and lay an eare to
For as touchende of prydes fare
Als ferforth as I can declare
In cause of vice, in cause of loue
That hast thou playnly herde aboue
So that there is no more to saye
Touchende of that, but other wey
Touchende enuye I thynke telle
whiche hath the propre kynde of helle
without cause to mysdo
Towarde hym selfe, and other also
Here afterwarde as vnderstonde
Thou shalte the spices, as they stonde.
Explicit liber primus.
¶Hic in secundo libro tractat de inuidia / et eius speciebus / quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur / cuius conditionem / secundum vitiū Confessor primitus describens amanti, quatenus amorē concernit, suꝑ eodē cōsequenter opponit.
¶Incipit liber Secundus.
Inuidiae culpa magis est attrita dolore.
Nam sua mens nullo tempore laeta manet.
Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus
Est, cui de puro commoda velle facit.
Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnis
Est sibi laetitia sic aliena dolor,
Hoc etenim uitium quam sepe repugnat amāti,
Non sibi, sed reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus.
Est amor ex propria motu fantasticus, & quae
Gaudia fert alijs credit obesse sibi.
NOwe after pride the secōde
There is, whiche many a wofull stounde
Towardes other bearethe aboute
within hym selfe, and not without
For in his thought he brenneth euer
whan that he wote an other leuer
Or more vertuos than he
whiche passeth hym in his degre
Therof he taketh his maladye
That vyce is cleped hotte enuy
For thy my sonne if it be so
Thou arte, or hast ben one of tho
As for to speke in loues cas
If euer yet thyn hert was
Sicke of an other mannes bele?
¶So god auaunce my quarele
My father ye a thousande syth
whan I haue sene another blythe
Of loue, and hadde a goodly chere
Ethna, whiche brenneth yere by yere
was than nought so hote as I
Of thylke sore: for whiche priuely
Myne hertes thought within brenneth
The ship, which on the wawes renneth
And is forstormed and forblowe
Is nat more payned for a throwe
Than I am than, whan I se
Another, whiche that passeth me
In that fortune of loues yefte
But father this I telle in shryfte
That no where but in a place
For who that lese or fynde grace
In other stede, it may nought greue
But thus ye may ryght well beleue
Towarde my lady, that I serue
Though that I weste for to sterue
Myn hert is full of suche foly
That I my selfe may not chasty
whan I the court se of Cupide
Approche vnto my lady syde
Of hem, that lusty ben and fresshe
Though it auayle them not a resshe
But onely that they ben of speche
My sorowe is than not to seche
But whan they rownen in her ere
Than groweth all my moste fere
And namely whan they talen longe
My sorowe than be so stronge
Of that I se them well at ease
I can not telle my disease
But syre as of my lady selue
Though she haue wowers .x. or twelue
For ne mystruste I haue of her
[...] greueth nought: for certes syr
I
[...] in all this worlde to seche
[...] woman, that in dede and speche
[...] cetter auyse her, what she doth
Ne better, for to saye a sothe
[...] her honour at all tyde
[...] yet gette her a thanke besyde
[...]
[...]theles I am beknowe
Thy whan I se at any throwe
[...] if I may it here
That she make any man good chere
Though I therof haue not to done
My thought woll entermete hym sone
For though I be my seluen straunge
Enuye maketh myn hert chaunge
That I am sorowfully be stade
Of that I se another glade
with her, but of other all
Of loue what so may befall
Or that he fayle, or that he spede
Therof take I but lytell hede
Nowe haue I sayde my father all
As of this poynte in speciall
As ferforthly as I haue wyste
Nowe axeth forder what you lyste
¶My sonne er I aske any more
I thynke somdele for thy lore
Tell an example of this mattere
Touchende enuy, as thou shalt here
wryte in Ciuyle this I fynde
Though it be not the houndes kynde
To eate chaffe, yet woll he werne
An oxe, whiche cometh to the berne
Therof to taken any fode
And thus who that it vnderstode
It stant of loue in many a place
who that is out of loues grace
And may hym selfe not auayle
He wolde an other shulde fayle
And if he may put any lette
He doth al that he may to lette
wherof I fynde, as thou shalt wytte
To this purpose a tale wrytte.
¶Hic ponit confessor exemplum contra isto [...] saltem / qui in amoris causa altorum gandiis inuidētes ne quaquam per hoc fibi ipsis proficiūt. Et narrat qualiter quidā inuines miles nomine Acis / quē Galathea Nimpha puscherrima toto corde peramauit / cum ipsi sub quadā rupe iuxta fitus maris colloquium aduinicem habuerunt / Polyphemus gigas concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto proiiciens, ipsū per inuidiam interfecit. Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere voluisset, Neptunus gigante obsistens / ipsā inuiolatā salua custodia preseruanit. Sed et du miserti corpus Acis defucti in fontē aque dulcissime subito trāsmutarūt
¶There ben of suche mo than twelue
That be not able as of them selue
To get loue, and for enuye
Vpon all other they aspye
And for them lacketh, that they wolde
They kepe that none other shulde
Touchend of loue his cause spede
wherof a great ensample I rede
whiche vnto this matter accordeth
As Ouid in his boke recordeth
How Polyphemus, whylom wrought
when that he Galathe besought
Of loue, whiche he may not latche
That made hym for to wayte & watche
By all weyes howe it ferde
Tyll at the laste he knewe and herde
Howe that an other had leue
To loue there, as he mote leue
As for to speake of any spede
So that he knewe none other rede
But for to wayten vpon all
Tyll he may se the chaunce fall
That he her loue myght greue
whiche he hym selfe may not acheue
This Galathe, sayth the poete
Aboue all other was vnmete
Of beaute, that men than knewe
And hadde a lusty loue and trewe
A bachyler in his degre
Ryght suche an other as was she
On whom she hath her hert set
So that it myght nought be let
For yeft ne for no byheste
That she ne was all at his best
This yonge knyght Acis was hote
whiche her ageynwarde also hote
All only loueth, and no mo
Herof was Polyphemus wo
Through pure enuye, and euer aspyde
And wayteth vpon euery syde
when he to geder myght se
This yonge Acis with Galathe
So longe he wayteth to and fro
Tyll at the laste he founde hem two
In pryue place, where they stode
To speke and haue her wordes good
The place, where as he them syghe
It was vnder a banke, nyghe
The greatse, and he aboue
Stode and behelde the lusty loue
whiche eche of them tyll other made
with goodly chere and wordes glade
That all his hert hath sette a fyre
Of pure enuye, and as a vyre
whiche flyeth out of a myghty bowe
Awey he fledde for a throwe
As he that was for loue wode
whan that he sawe howe it stode
This Polypheme a geaunt was
And whan he sawe the soth cas
Howe Galathe hym hath forsake
And Acis to her loue take
His herte may it not forbere
That he ne roreth as a beare
And as it were a wylde beast
In whom no reason myght areste
He ranne Ethna the hylle about
where neuer yet the fyre was out
Fulfylled of sorow and great disease
That he sawe Acis well at ease
Tyll at the last he hym bethoughte
As he, whiche all enuy sought
And tourneth to the banke ageyne
where he with Galathe hath seyne
That Acis, whom he thought greue
Though he hym selfe may not releue
This geaunt with his rude myght
Part of the bake he shofe downe right
The whiche euen vpon Acis fylle
So that with fallynge of this hylle
This Polyphemus Acis slough
wherof she made sorowe inough
And as she fledde from the londe
Neptunus toke her by the honde
And kepte her in so faste a place
Fro Polypheme and his manace
That he with his false enuye
He myght atteyne her company
This Galathe, of whom I speke
That of her selfe maye not be wreke
without any semblaunt feyned
She hath her loues death compleyned
And with her sorowe, and with her wo
She hath the goddes moued so
That they of pitie and of grace
Haue Acis in the same place
There he lay deade, into a welle
Transformed, as the bokes tell
with fresshe stremes, and with clere
As he whylom with lusty chere
was fresshe, his loue for to queme
And with this rude Polypheme
For his enuye and for his hate
They were wroth, and thus algate
My sonne thou myght vnderstonde
That if thou wolte in grace stonde
with loue, thou must leue enuye
And as thou wylte for thy partye
Towarde thy loue stonde fre
So must thou suffer a nother be
what so byfalle vpon thy chaunce
For it is a vnwyse vengeaunce
whiche to none other man is lefe
And is vnto hym selfe grefe.
Amans.
My fader this ensample is good
But howe so euer that it stode
with Polyphemus loue as tho
It shall not stonde with me so
To worchen any felonye
In loue, for no suche enuye
For thy if there ought elles be
Nowe axeth forth, in what degre
It is, and I me shall confesse
with shryfte vnto youre holynesse.
Vita sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor
Dum videt alterius damna doloris agit.
[...]dus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,
[...]s cui proprios craftina fata parent.
[...] amore pari stat sorte iocosus amantes,
Cum vidit illusos inuidus ille quasi.
[...] in uacuum speret tamen ipse leuamen,
A
[...]ius casu lapsus et ipse simul.
¶H [...] segnitur confessor de secunda specie inui [...] [...] g [...]udium afterius doloris dicitur / Et [...] [...]dem vicu materiam tractans amantis [...] [...]am super eodem vsterius inueftigat.
My good sonne yet there is
A vice r
[...]uers vnto this
whiche enuious taketh his gladnes
Of that he seeth the heuynesse
Of other men. For his welfare
[...] whan he wote another care
[...] that an other hath a falle
He thynketh hym selfe aryst with all
Suche is the gladshyppe of enuye
In worldes thyng, and in partye
Full ofte tymes eke also
In loues cause it stan
[...] ryght so
If thou my sonne haste ioye hadde
whan thou an other sawe vngladde
Shryue the therof. My fader yis
I am byknowen vnto you this
Of these louers that louen streyte
And for that poynt, which they coueyte
Be
[...] pursuauntes from yere to yere
In loues court, when I may here
How that they clymbe vpon the whele
And whan they wene all shall be wele
They ben downe throwe at laste
Than am I fed of that faste
And laugh, of that I se them loure
And thus of that they brewe soure
I drynke swete, and am well eased
Of that I wote they ben diseased
But this whiche I you telle here
Is onely for my lady dere
That for none other, that I knowe
Me recheth not who ouerthrowe
Ne who that stonde in loue vpryght
But be he squyer, be he knyght
whiche to my lady warde pursueth
The more he leseth of that he seweth
The more me thynketh that I wynne
And am the more gladde within
Of that I wote hym sorowe endure
For euer vpon suche auenture
It is a comforte as men seyne
To hym, the whiche is wo beseyne
To sene an other in his peyne
So that they bothe may complayne
where I my selfe may not auayle
To sene an other mannes trauayle
I am ryght gladde if he be lette
And though I fare not the bet
His sorowe is to myn herte a game
whan that I knowe it is the same
whiche to my lady stant inclyned
And hath his loue not termyned
I am ryght ioyfull in my thought
If suche enuye greueth ought
As I beknowe me culpable
ye that be wyse and resonable
My fader telleth your aduyse
Confessor.
My sonne enuye in to no pryse
Of suche a forme I vnderstonde
Ne myght by no reason stonde
For this enuye hath suche a kynde
That he woll set hym selfe behynde
To hynder with a nother wyght
And gladly lese his owne ryght
To make another lese his
And for to knowe howe it so is
A tale lyche to his mater
I thynke telle, if thou wylte here
To shewe properly the vyce
Of this enuye, and the malyce
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illum / [Page 29] qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur / Et narrat / quod cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis / vt hominum condiciones exploraret ab excelso in terram misit / contigit / ꝙ ipse angelus duos homines / quorum vnus cupidus et alter inuidus erat, itinet ando spacio quasi vnius diei cōmitabatur. Et cum sero factum esset Angelus eorum noticie se ipsum tunc manifestans dixit / ꝙ quid quid alter eorū ab ipso donari sibi peci erit, illud statim obtinebit / ꝙ et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum. Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia, sperans sibi diuicias carpete duplicatas primo petere recusauit. Quod cum inuidus animi aduerteret naturam sui vicii concernens ita vt socius suus vtro (que) sumine priuare tur, se ipsum monoculum fieri constantur primus ab Angelo postulabat. Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculanit.
Of Iubiter thus I fynde ywrite
How whylom that he wolde wyte
Vpon the pleyntes, whiche he harde
Amonge the men, howe that it ferde
As of her wronge condycion
To do iustifycacyon
And for that cause downe he sent
An Aungell, whiche aboute went
That he the soth knowe may
So it befelle vpon a day
This angell, which hym shuld enforme
was clothed in a mans forme
And ouertoke, I vnderstonde
Two men, that wenten ouer londe
Through whiche he thought to aspye
His cause, and goth in companye
This Aungell with his wordes wyse
Opposeth hem in sondry wyse
Nowe lowde wordes and nowe softe
That made hem to desputen ofte
And eche of hem his reason hadde
And thus with tales be hem ladde
with good examynacyon
Tyll he knewe the condicion
what men they were bothe two
And sawe wel at last tho
That one of hem was coueytous
And his felawe was enuyous
And thus, whan he hath knowlechyng
Anone he feyned departynge
And sayde he mote algate wende
But herken nowe what fell at ende
For than he made hem vnderstonde
That he was there of goddes sonde
And sayd them for the kyndship
That they haue done him felauship
He wolde do some grace agayn
And bad that one of hem shuld sayne
what thynge is hym leuest to craue
And he it shall of yefte haue
And ouer that eke forth with all
He sayth that other haue shall
The double of that his felawe axeth
And thus to them his grace he taxeth
The coueytous was wonder gladde
And to that other man he badde
And seyth, that he fyrste axe shulde
For he supposeth, that he wolde
Make his axinge of worldes good
For than he knewe well, howe it stood
If that hym selfe by double weyght
Shall after take, and thus by sleyght
By cause that he wolde wynne
He badde his felawe fyrste begynne
This enuyous, though it be late
whan that he sawe be mote algate
Make his axinge fyrste, he thought
If he worship or profyte soughte
It shall be double to his fere
That wold he chese in no manere
But than he sheweth what he was
Towarde enuye, and in this cas
Vnto this angel thus he sayde
And for his yefte this be preyde
To make hym blynde on his owne eye
So that his felawe no thynge sye
This worde was not so so ne spoke
That his one eye anone was loke
And his felawe forth with also
was blynde on both his eyen two
Tho was that other gladde inough
That one wept, and that other lough
He set his one eye at no cost
wherof that other two hath lost
Of thylke ensample, whiche fell tho
Men telle nowe full ofte so
The worlde empeyreth comonly
And yet wote none the cause why
For it accordeth nought to kynde
Myn owne harme to seche and fynde
Of that I shall my brother greue
I myght neuer wel acheue
what seyst thou sonne of this foly?
My fader, but I shulde lye
Vpon the poynt, which ye haue sayde
yet was myn hert neuer layde
But in this wyse, as I you tolde
But euermore if that ye wolde
Ought elles to my shryft saye
Touch and enuye, I wolde praye
My sonne that shall well be do
Nowe harken and lay thyn care to.
I
[...]e pars est detractio pessima, pestem
Qu
[...] magis infamem flatibus oris agit.
L
[...]gua venenato sermone repercurit auris,
Sic v
[...]in alterius scandala fama volat.
Mortibus a tergo, quos inficit ipsa fideles,
[...] ignori sepe salute carent.
[...] generosus amor linguam cōseruat, vt cius
[...]
[...]um, quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.
¶ [...] [...]tat Confessor de tercia specie inuidie, [...] [...]tio dicitur, cuius morsus vipereos lesa [...] [...]ma deplangit.
[...]ouchend as of enuyous brood
I
[...]te not one of all good
[...]ut netheles suche as they be
[...] there is one, and that is he
[...]che cleped is Detractyon
[...] to confirme his actyon
[...] hath withholde Malcbouche
[...] tonge nother pill ne crouche
[...] h
[...]re, so that he pronounce
A pley
[...]e good worde without frounce
where behynde a mans backe
[...] though he preise, he fint some lacke
whiche of his tale is ay the laste
That all the price shall ouercaste
And though there be no cause why
yet w
[...]ll be iangle, not for thy
As he whiche hath the herauldye
Of hem, that vsen for to lye
For as the nettle, whiche vp renneth
The fresshe rede rose brenneth
And maketh him fade, and pale of hewe
Ryght so this fals enuyous hewe
In euery place, where he dwelleth
with fals wordes, whiche he telleth
He torneth preysynge in to blame
And worship in to worldes shame
Of suche lesynge, as he compasseth
Is non so good, that he ne passeth
Betwene his tethe: and is backbyted
And through his fals tonge endyted
Lyke to the Sharnebudes kynde
Of whose nature this I fynde
That in the hotest of the day
whan comen is the mery may
He spret his wynge, and vp he fleeth
And vnder all aboute he seeth
The fayre lusty floures sprynge
But therof hath he no lykynge
where he seethe of any beste
The fylthe, there he maketh his feste
And there vpon he woll alyghte
There lyketh hym none other syghte
Ryght so this iangler enuyous
Though he a man se vertuous
And full of good condycion
Therof maketh he no mencyon
But elles be it not so lyte
wherof that he may sette a wyte
There renneth he with open mouth
Behynde a man, and maketh it couth
But all the vertue, whiche he can
That woll he byde of euery man
And openly the vyce telle
As he, which of the schole of helle
Is taught, and fostred vp with enuye
Of housholde, and of companye
where that he hath his propre offyce
To sette on euery man a vice
Howe so his mouth be comely
His worde sytte euermore a wry
And sayth the worste that he may
And in this wyse nowe a daye
In loues court a man may here
Full ofte pleyne of this mater
That many enuyous tale is stered
where that it may not be answered
But yet full ofte it is beleued
And many a worthy loue is greued
Through backbytynge of false enuy
¶ If thou haue made suche ianglary
In loues court my sonne er this
Shryue the therof. My father yis
But wyte ye howe: not openly
But otherwhyle priuely
whan I my dere lady mete
And thynke howe that I am not mete
Vnto her hyghe worthynesse
And eke I se the besynesse
Of all this yonge lusty route
whiche all day preesen her aboute
And eche of them his tyme a wayteth
And eche of them his tale affayteth
All to deceyue an innocent
whiche woll not be of her assent
And for men sayne vnknowe vnkiste
Her thome she holt in her fyfte
So close within her owne honde
That there wynneth no man londe
She loueth not all that she hereth
And thus ful ofte her selfe she skiereth
And is all ware of
HAD I VVIST
But for all that myn hert a ryste
whan I these comon louers see
That wolde not holde hem to thre
But well ny louen ouer al
Myn hert is enuyous with all
And euer I am adradde of gyle
In aunter if with any wyle
They myght her innocence enchaunte
For thy my wordes ofte I haunte
Be hynden hem so as I dare
wherof my lady may beware
I say what euer cometh to mouth
And wers I wolde, if that I couth
[...]or whan I come vnto her speche
And that I may enquere and seche
Of suche deceyte, I telle it all
And ay the worst in speciall
So fayne I wolde that she wyst
Howe lytell they ben for to tryst
And what they wold, & what they mēt
So as they be of double entent
Thus toward hem, that wycke mene
My wycked worde was euer grene
And netheles the soth to telle
In certayne if it so befelle
That alder trewest man ybore
To chose amonge a thosand score
whiche were all fully for to tryst
My lady loued, and I it wyst
yet rather than he shulde spede
I wolde suche tales sprede
To my lady, if that I myght
That I shuld all his loue vnryght
And therto wolde I do my payne
For certes though I shulde feyne
And telle, that was neuer thought
For all this worlde I myght nought
To suffre an other fully wynne
There as I am yet to begynne
For be they good, or be they badde
I wolde none my lady badde
And that me maketh full ofte aspye
And vsen wordes of enuye
And for to make them bere a blame
And that is but of thylke same
The whiche vnto my lady drawe
For euer on them I rounge and gnawe
And hynder hem all that euer I maye
And that is sothly for to saye
But onely to my lady selue
I telle it nought to .x. ne twelue
Therof I woll me well auyse
To speke or iangle in any wyse
That toucheth to my lady name
The whiche in ernest and in game
I wolde sauen to my deth
For me hadde leuer to lacke breth
Than speke of her name amys
Nowe haue ye herd touchend of this
My father in Confession
And therfore of detraction
In loue, that I haue my spoke
Telle howe ye wyll it shall be wroke
I am all redy for to bere
My peyne, and also to forbere
what thynge that ye woll allowe
For who is bounden, he must bowe
So woll I bowe vnto your best
For I dare make this byhest
That I to you haue nothynge hyd
But tolde ryght as it is betyde
And otherwyse of no myspeche
My conscyence for to seche
I can not of enuy fynde
That I my spoke haue, ought behynde
wherof loue ought be myspayde
Nowe haue ye herde, and I haue saide
what woll ye fader, that I do?
¶My sonne do no more so
But euer kepe thy tonge styll
Thou myght the more haue thy wyll
For as thou seyst thy seluen here
My lady is of suche manere
So wyse, so ware in all thynge
It nedeth of no bakbitynge
That thou thy lady mys enforme
For whan she knoweth all the forme
Howe that thy selfe art enuyous
Thou shalt not be so gracyous
As thou parauenture shuldest be elles
There wol no man drinke of tho welles
whiche (as he wote) is poyson ynne
And ofte suche as men begynne
Towardes other, suche they fynde
That set hem ofte fer behynde
when that they wenen be byfore
[...] good sonne and thou therfore
[...], and leue thy wycke speche
[...] hath fallen ofte wreche
[...] many a man before this tyme
[...] so wyll his handes lyme
[...] muste be the more vnclene
[...] a mote shall be sene
[...] well not clene elles there
[...] that shulde euery wyse man fere
[...] who so wyll another blame
[...]
[...]keth ofte his owne shame
[...]
[...]lles myght be ryght styll
[...] if that it be thy wyll
[...] vpon amendement
[...] of greate entendement
[...] telle for thy sake
[...] thou myght ensample take
[...] conf [...]ssor c [...]ntra iftos in amoris [...] suus obloqui [...]s aliena fo [...] [...] et narrat [...]xemplum de Con [...] [...] Rome Imperatoris Filia omnui [...] fam [...]issima / ob [...]us amorem Solda [...] [...], vt eam in vxorem ducere posset, [...] promisit / enius accepta cauci [...] [...] [...]g [...] tunc pape dicta fifta vna cum [...] dinalibus, alus (que) Rome proceribus [...] mari [...]agu causa nauigio honorifice [...] que lamen [...]ōloquentium postea [...] [...]us varus modis abs (que) sui culpa doso [...] fata multiplic [...]ter passa est.
A worthy knyght in Christes lawe
Of great Rome, (as is the sawe)
The ceptre hadde for to ryght
Tybery Constantyn he hyght
whos wyfe was cleped Italye.
But they to geder of progenye
No childre hadde but a mayde.
And she the god so wel apayde,
That al the wyde worldes fame
Spake worship of her good name.
Constance, as the Cronyke sayth
She hyght: and was so full of fayth,
That the greatest of Barbarye
Of hem, whiche vse marchandye
She hath conuerted, as they come
To her vpon a tyme in Rome
To shewen such thing, as they brought.
whiche worthely of hem she bought.
And ouer that in suche a wyse
She hath hem with her wordes wyse
Of Christes feyth so full enformed.
That they therto ben all conformed
So that baptysme they receyuen
And all her fals goddes weyuen.
¶whan they ben of the feyth certayne
They gone to Barbarye ayene
And there the Soudan for hem sent
And axeth hem to what entent
They haue her fyrste feyth forsake.
And they, whiche hadde vndertake
The ryght feyth to kepe and holde
The matter of her tale tolde
with all the hole circumstaunce
And when the Soudan of Constaunce
Vpon the poynt that they answerde
The beaute and the grace herde
As he, whiche than was to wedde
In all hast his cause spedde
To sende for the mariage
And ferthermore with good courage
He sayth, be so he may her haue
That Christe, that came this worlde to saue
He woll byleue, & thus recorded
They ben on either syde accorded
And there vpon to make an ende
The Sowdan his hostage sende
To Rome, of prynces sonnes twelue
wherof the fader in hym selue
was gladde, and with the Pope auysed
Two Cardinalles he hath assised
with other lordes many mo
That with his doughter they shuld go
To se the soudan be conuerted
¶Qualiter adueniente Constantia in Barbariā mater soldani huiusmodi nuptias perturbare volens, filium suum vna cum dicta Constantia / cardinalibus (que) et alus Romanie prima die ad conuinium inuitauit, Et conuescentibus illis in mensa, ipsum soldanum, omnes (que) ibidem preter Constantiam Romanos ab insidus latitantibus subdole detractione interfeci procurauit, ipsam (que) Constantiam in quadā nani abs (que) gubernaculo positam per altum mare ventorū flatibus agitandam in exisium dirigi solum constituit.
But that which neuer was wel herted
Enuye tho beganne to trauayle
In disturbaunce of this spousayle
So priuely that none was ware
The mother, whiche the souldan bare
was than alyue, and thought this
Vnto her selfe: If it so is
My sonne hym wedde in this manere
Than haue I lost my ioyes here
For myn estate shall so be lassed
Thynkend thus she hath compassed
By sleyght howe that she maye begyle
Her sonne, and fylle within a whyle
Betwene hem two whā that they were
She feyned wordes in his eare
And in this wyse gan to saye
My sonne, I am by double way
with all myn herte gladde and blythe
For that my selfe haue ofte sythe
Desyred thou wolte (as men sayth)
Receyue and take a newe feyth
whiche shall be forthrynge of thy lyfe
And eke so worshypfull a wyfe
The doughter of an emperour
To wedde it shall be great honour
For thy my sonne I you beseche
That I suche grace myght areche
whan that my doughter come shall
That I may than in especyall
So as me thynketh honeste
Be thylke, whiche the fyrste feste
Shall make vnto her welcommynge
The Souldan graunteth her askynge
And she therof was gladde inough
For vnder that anone she drough
with false wordes that she spake
Couyn of deathe behynde his backe
And thervpon her ordynaunce
She made so, that whan Constance
was comen forth with the Romaynes
Of clerkes and of citezeins
A ryche feaste she hem made
And moste whan they weren glade
with false couyn, whiche she hadde
Her close enuye tho she sprad
And all tho, that hadden be
Or in apperte or in priue
Of counseyle to the mariage
She slough them in a sodeyne rage
Endelonge the borde as they ben set
So that it myght not be lette
Her owne sonne was not quyte
But dyed vpon the same plyte
But what the hygh god woll spare
It may not for the peryll mysfare
This worthy mayden, which was ther
Stode than, as who sayth, deed for fere
To se the feast, how that it stode
whiche all was tourned in to bloud
The dyss he forth with the cuppe & all
Be bled they weren ouer all
She sawe hem dye on euery syde
No wonder though she wepte & cryde
Makynge many a wofull mone
whan all was slayn but she al onne
This olde fende, this Sarazyn
Let take anone this constantyn
with all the good she theder brought
And hath ordayned as she thought
A naked ship witout stere
In whiche the good, and her in fere
Vytaled full for yeres fyue
where that the wynde it wolde dayue
She put vpon the wawes wylde
¶Qualiter nauis cū Constancia in partes Anglie, que tūc pagana fuit prope Humber sub quo dam Castello regis, qui tunc Allee vocabatur post triennium applicuit, quam quidam miles no mine Elda dicti castelli tunc custos et naui lete suscipiens, vxori sue Hermyngylde in enstodiam honorifice commendauit.
But he, which all thinges may shilde
Thre yere, tyl that she cometh to londe
Her shyppe to stere hath take on honde
And in Northumberlonde arryueth
And happeth than, that she dryueth
Vnder a castell with the floode
whiche vpon Humber banke stode
And was the kynges owne also
The whiche Allee was cleped tho
A Saxon, and a worthy knyght
But he beleueth not aryght
Of this castell was castelleyne
Elda the kynges chamberlayne
A knyghtly man after his lawe
And whan he sawe vpon the wawe
The ship driuend alone so
He hadde anone men shulden go
[...]se, what it be token may
[...]his was vpon a sommer daye
[...]he shyppe was loked and she founde
E
[...]da within a lyttell stounde
I
[...] wyst and with his wyfe anone
[...]warde this yonge lady gone
where that they fonde great ryches
B
[...] she her wolde not confesse
w
[...]n they her asken, what she was
[...] netheles vpon the cas
[...] of the shyp with great worshyp
They toke her in to felaushyp
As they that weren of her glade
B
[...] she no maner ioye made
But soroweth sore, of that she fonde
No christendome in thylke londe
But els she hath all her wylle
And thus with them she dwelleth styll
Dame Hermegyld, which was the wife
Of Elda, lyche her owne lyfe
Constance loueth, and it felle so
Spekende all day betwene hem two
Through grace of goddes purueyance
This mayden taught the creaunce
Vnto this wyfe so perfectly
Vpon a day that faste by
In presence of her husbande
where they go walkende on the stronde
A blynde man, whiche came ther ladde
Vnto this wyfe cryende he badde
with bothe his hondes vp, and prayde
To her, and in this wyse he sayde
O Hermegylde, whiche Christes feith
Enformed, as Constance seyth
Receyued hast: yeue me my sight
Vpon this worde her herte aflyght
Thynkende what was beste to done
But netheles she she herde his bone
And sayde, in trust of Christes lawe
which done was on the crosse and slawe
Thou blynde man beholde and se
with that to god vpon his kne
Thankende he toke his syght anone
wherof they marueyle euery chone
But Elda wondreth most of all
This open thynge whiche is befalle
Concludeth hym by suche awey
That he the feyth moste nedes obey.
¶Qualiter quidam inuenis miles in amorem Constantie exardeseens, pro eo ꝙ ipsa sibi consentire nolint, eam de morte Hermegylde, quam ipse noctanter interfecit, verbis detractorne accufaint / sed angelus domini ipsu sic detrahentem in mayilla subito percutiens / non solum pro mendaci comprobauit, sed [...]etu mortali post ipsine confessionem penitus interfecit.
Nowe lyst what fell vpon this thinge
This Elda forthe vnto the kynge
A morowe toke his wey and rode
And Hermegylde at home abode
Forth with Constance well at ease
Elda, which thought his kyng to plese
As he, that than vnwedded was
Of Constance all the pleyne cas
As goodly as he couth, tolde
The kyng was glad, and sayd he wold
Come thyther in suche a wise
That he hym myght of her auyse
The tyme appoynted forth withall
This Elda truste in speciall
Vpon a knyght whom from childhode
He had vp drawe in to manhode
To hym he tolde all that he thought
wherof that after hym forthought
And netheles at thylke tyde
Vnto his wyfe he had hym ryde
To make redy all thynge
Ageynst the comynge of the kynge
And sayth that he hym selfe tofore
Thinketh for to come, and bod therfore
That he hym kepe, and tolde hym whā
This knyght rode forth his wey than
And soth was, that of tyme passed
He had in all his witte compassed
Howe be Constance myght wynne
But he sawe tho no spede therin
wherof his lust beganne to bate
And that was loue, is than hate
Of her honour he had enuye
So that vpon his trecherye
A lesynge in his herte he cast
Tyl he come home, he hygheth fast
And doth his lady to vnderstonde
The message of her husbonde
And thervpon the longe daye
They setten thynges in arraye
That all was as it shulde be
Of euery thynge in his degre
And whan it came into the nyght
This wyse her hath to bedde dyght
where that this mayden with her lay
This false knyght vpon delaye
Hath taryed tyll they were aslepe
As he that woll tyme kepe
His deadly werkes to fulfylle
And to the bedde he stalketh stylle
where that he wyst was the wyfe
And in his honde a rasour knyfe
He bare, with whiche her throte he cut
And priuely the knyfe he put
Vnder that diere beddes lyde
where that Constance lay besyde
Elda come home the same nyght
And stylle with a preuy lyght
As he that wolde not awake
His wyfe, he hath his weye take
In to the chambre: and there lyggende
He fonde his deade wyfe bledende
where that Constance faste by
was falle aslepe: and sodeynly
He cryed aloude, and she awoke
And forth withall cast a loke
And sawe this lady blede there
wherof swouned deade for feare
She was: and stylle as any stone
She laye, and Elda thervpon
In to the Castell clepeth out
And vp sterte euery man about
In to the chambre forth they went.
But he whiche all vntrouth ment
This false knyght amonge them all
Vpon the thyng, whiche is befall
Seith: that Constāce hath do this dede
And to the bedde with that he yede
After the falseheed of his speche
And made him there for to seche
And fonde the knyfe, where he it layde
And than he cryed, and thus he said
Lo se the knyfe all blody here
what nedeth more in this matere
To aske? and thus her innocence
He sclaundreth there in audience
with false wordes, whiche he feyneth
But yet for al that euer he pleyneth
¶ Elda no full credence toke
And happed that there lay a boke
Vpon the whiche, whan he it syghe
This knight hath swore: & said on highe
That all men myght it wyte
Now by this boke, which is here write
Constance is gyltyfe well I wote
with that the hōde of heuen him smote
In token of that he hath forswore
There he was bothe his eyen lore
Out of his heed the same stounde
They stert, and so they were founde
A voice was herde, whan that they fel
whiche sayde: O damned man to helle
Lo thus hath god thy sclaunder wroke
That thou ageyn Constance hath spoke
Be knowe the sothe er that thou dye
And he tolde out his felonye
And starte forth with his tale anone
In to the grounde, where al gone
This deade lady was begraue
Elda whiche thought his honour saue
All that he may, restreyneth sorowe.
¶Qualiter rex Allee ad fidem Christi conuersus baptismum recepit: et Constantiam super hoc leto animo despēsauit que til qualis vel vnde fuit alicui nullo modo falebatur, Et cum infra breue postea a domino fuo inpregnata fuisset, ipse ad debellandū cum feotis iter arripuit, et ibidē super guerras aliquandiu permansit.
¶ For he the seconde day at morowe
The kyng came, as they were accorded
And whan it was to hym recorded
what god hath wrought vpō this chāce
He toke it in to remembraunce
And thought more than he sayde
For all his hole herte he layde
Vpon Constance: and sayde he shulde
For loue of her, if that she wolde
Baptysme take, and Christes feyth
Beleue: and ouer that he sayth
He wolde her wedde: and vpon this
Assured eche to other is
And for to make shorte tales
There came a bysshop out of wales
Fro Bangor: and Lucye he hyght
whiche throughe the grace of god almight
The king, with many other mo
He christned: and betwene hem two
He hath fulfylled the mariage
But for no lust, ne for no rage
She tolde hym neuer what she was.
And netheles vpon this cas
[...]he kynge was gladde, howe so it stode
Y
[...] well he wyst and vnderstode
[...]he was a noble creature
The hygh maker of nature
H
[...] hath visited in a throwe
That it was openlyche knowe
She was with childe by the kynge
[...]herof abouen all other thynge
[...]
[...]hanked god, and was right glad
And fell that tyme he was bestadde
Vpon a werre, and must ryde
[...] while he shuld there abyde
[...] lefte at home to kepe his wyfe
S
[...]he as he knewe of holy lyfe
[...]da forth with the bysshop eke
And he with power go to seke
Ayene the Scottes for to fonde
The werre, whiche he toke on honde.
¶ [...] [...]egia Constantin infantem masculit [...] [...]tismo Mauritium vocant, rege ab [...] [...] eft, Sed in [...]da mater regis Do [...] [...] super [...]sio fo [...]to condolens, mendacibus re [...] ce [...]tifica [...]t, [...] [...]or su [...] demoniaci & nō huma [...] gener [...] [...]uo [...]a monsiruosum fantasma foco geniture ad [...] produ [...]it, huiusmodi (que) detracto ribus aduersus Constantiam procurauit, (que) ipsa in nauem, qua prius venerat / iterum ad exisium vno cum suo partu remissa desolabatur.
¶The tyme sette of kynde is come
This lady hath her chambre nome
And of a sonne borne fulle
wherof that she was ioyfull
She was delyuered saufe and sone
The bysshop, as it was to done
yafe hym baptisme, and Moris calleth
And thervpon as it befalleth
with letters wryten of recorde
They sent vnto her lyege lorde
That kepers weren of the quene
And he, that shulde go betwene
The messanger to Knaresburgh
whiche towne he shulde passe through
Rydende came the fyrst daye
The kynges mother there lay
whose ryght name was Domylde
whiche after all the cause spylde
For he, whiche thanke deserue wolde
Vnto this lady gothe and tolde
Of his message, howe it ferde
And she with feyned ioye it herde
And yafe hym yeftes largely
But in the nyght al priuely
She toke the letters, whiche he had
Fro poynt to poynt and ouer rad
As she, that was through out vntrue
And let do wryte other newe
In stede of hem: and thus they speke.
¶Prima fitsera in commendacionem Constancie ab episcopo Regi missa per Domisdam in contrarium fassata.
¶That thou with vs be not wroth
Though we suche thyng, as is the loth
Vpon our trouth certifye
Thy wyfe, whiche is of fairie
Of suche a childe delyuered is
Fro kynde, whiche stant all amys
But for it shulde not be saye
we haue it kepte out of the waye
For drede of pure worldes shame
A poore childe, and in the name
Of thylke, whiche is so mysbore
we toke, and therto we be swore
That none, but onely thou and we
Shall knowe of this priuete
Morys it hatte, and thus men wene
That it was borne of the quene
And of thyne owne bodye gete
But this thynge may not be foryete
That thou ne sende vs worde anone
what is thy wyll thervpon.
¶This letter, as thou hast herde deuise
was counterfete in suche a wyse
That no man shulde it apperceyue
And she, whiche thought to deceyue
It leyth, where she that other toke
This messanger, whan he awoke
And wyst nothynge howe it was
Arose and rode the great pas
And toke his letters to the kynge
And whan he sawe this wondre thynge
He maketh the messanger no chere
But netheles in wyse manere
He wrote agayne, and yafe hym charge
That they ne suffre not at large
His wyfe to go but kepe her styll
Tyll they haue herde more of his wyll
¶This messanger was yeftles
But with his letter netheles
Or be hym lefe or be hym lothe
In all haste ageyne he gothe
By Knaresburgh, and as he went
Vnto the mother his entent
Of that he fonde towarde the kynge
He tolde, and she vpon this thynge
Seyth, that he shulde abyde all nyght
And made hym feaste and chere aright
Feined as though she coude him thoke
But he with strōge wine which he drōke
Forth with the trauayle of the daye
was dronke: aslepe and whyle he lay
She hath his letters ouersaye
And formed in an otherway
Therewas a newe letter wryte.
¶Secunda fetiera per regem episcopo remissa a Domisda iterum fassata.
¶whiche he saith: I do you for to wite
That through the counsaile of you two
I stonde in poynt to be vndo
As he, whiche is a kynge deposed
For euery man it hath supposed
How that my wyfe Constance is fay
And if that I feyne any delay
To put her out of company
The worshyppe of my regalye
Is lore: and ouer this they telle
Her childe shal not amonge hem dwell
To claymen any herytage
So can I se none auauntage
But all is lost, if she abyde
For thy to loke on euery syde
Towarde the myschefe as it is
I charge you, and byd this
That ye the same shyppe vittayle
In whiche, that she toke arryuayle
Therin and putteth bothe two
Her selfe forth with her childe also
And so forth brought in to the depe
Betaketh her the see to kepe
Of foure dayes tyme I sette
That ye this thynge no lenger lette
So that your lyfe be not forfete.
¶ And thus this letter counterfete
The messanger, whiche was vnware
Vpon the kynges halue bare
And where he shulde it hath betake
But whan that they haue hede take
And rad, that written is within
So great a sorowe they begynne
As they her owne mother
[...]eyen
Brenne in a fyre before theyr eyen
There was wepynge and there was wo
But fynally the thynge is do
Vpon the see they haue her brought
But she the cause wyst nought
And thus vpon the floode they wonne
This lady with her yonge sonne
And than her handes to the heuen
She straught: and with a mylde steuen
Knelende vpon her bare kne
She sayde: O hygh maieste
whiche seest the poynt of euery trouth
Take of thy wofull woman routh
And of this childe, whiche I shal kepe
And with that word she began to wepe
Swouned as deade, and there she lay
But he, whiche all thynges may
Comforteth her, and at laste
She loketh, and her eyen caste
Vpon her chylde, and sayd this
Of me no maner charge it is
what sorowe I suffre, but of the
Me thynketh it is great pitie
For if I sterue thou must deye
So mote I nedes by that weye
For motherheed, and for tendernes
with all myn hole besynes
Ordeyne me for thylke office
As she, whiche shall be thy noryce
Thus was she strengthed for to stonde
And tho she toke her childe in honde
And yafe it souke, and euer amonge
She wepte, and otherwhyle songe
Lo rocke with her chylde aslepe
And thus her owne childe to kepe
She hath vnder the goddes cure.
[...] Constancie post biennium in [...] sup [...]ris inter Sarazeno [...] [...] mani [...]us dens ipsam con [...] [...] [...]era [...]t.
¶ And so fell vpon auenture
[...] thy
[...]ke yere hath made his ende
[...], so as it moste wende
[...] of wynde which god hath yeue
[...] was into Spayn driue
[...] vnder a castel walle
[...] it an hethen admyralle
[...] and he a stewarde badde
[...] whiche al was badde
[...] and a renegate
[...] to toke, in what estate
[...] was comen: and there he fōde
[...] with a childe vpon her honde
[...] lady, where she was a one
[...] take good hede of the person
[...] the was a worthy wyght
[...]
[...]ght he wolde vpon the nyght
[...] her at his owne wylle
[...] the ship he kepte her stylle
That no man sawe her that day.
A
[...] goddes wylle and thus she lay
Vnknowe, what her shall betyde
And tell to that by nyghtes tyde
This knyght without felaushyp
Hath take a boote, and came to shyppe
And thought of her his lust to take
And swore, if she hym daunger make
That certaynly she shulde deye
She sawe there was none other wey
And sayde he shulde her well comforte
That he fyrst loke out at porte
That no man were nygh the stede
whiche myght knowe, what they dede
And than he may do what he wolde
He was ryght glad, that she so tolde
And to the port anone be ferde.
She prayeth god, and he her herde
And sodeinly he was out throwe
And dreynt, and tho began to blowe
wynde meuable fro the londe
And thus the myghty goddes honde
Her hath conueyed, and defended
And whan thre yere ben full dispended.
¶Qualiter Nauicula Constan [...]ie quodam die ꝑ altum mare vagans inter copiosam namū multudinem dilapsa est. quarum Arcennius Romanorum conful, dux, et capitaneus ipsam ignotam suscipiens vs (que) ad Romam fecum perduxit, vbi equalemvxori sue Elene permansurā reuerenter affociauit, nec non et eiusdem filjum Mauricium in omni habundantia quasi proprium educauit.
¶Her ship was driue vpon a daye
where that a great nauye laye
Of shippes, all the worlde at ones
And as god wolde for the nones
Her ship goth in amonge hem all
And stynt not, er it be by fall
And hath that vessell vnder gete
whiche mayster was of all the flete
But there it resteth and abode
This great shyp on anker rode
The lord come forth, and when he sygh
That other ligge on borde so nyghe
He wondreth, what it myght be
And badde men to go in and se
This lady tho was crope a syde
As she that wolde her seluen hyde
For she newyst, what they were
They sought about, and fond her there
And broughten vp her chylde and her
And therupon this lorde to sper
Began, fro whens that she came
And what she was: Quod she, I am
A woman wofully bestadde
I hadde a lorde, and thus he badde
That I sorth with my lytell sonne
Vpon the wawes shulde wonne
But why the cause wote I nought
But he whiche all thynges wrought
yet ay I thanke hym of his myght
My childe and me so kepte vpryght
That we be saufe bothe two
This lorde her asketh euermo
Howe she beleueth, and she seyth
I leue and trust in Christes feyth
whiche dyed vpon the roode tre
what is thy name tho quod he?
My name is Coust she hym sayde
But furthermore for nought he prayde
Of her astate to knowe playne
She wolde hym nothynge els sayne
But of her name, whiche she fayned
All other thynges she restrayned
That o worde more she ne tolde
This lorde than asketh if she wolde
with hym abyde in companye
And sayde, he came from Barbarye
To Rome warde, and home he went
Tho she supposeth what it ment
And sayth she wolde with hym wende
And dwelle vnto her lyues ende
Be so it be to his pleasaunce
And thus vpon her acqueyntaunce
He tolde her playnly as it stode
Of Rome howe that the gentill blode
In Barbarye was betrayed
And therupon he hath assayed
By warre, and take suche vengeaunce
That none of thylke allyaunce
By whome the treson was compassed
Is from the swerde alyue passed
But of Constaunce howe it was
That couthe he knowe by no cas
where she bycame, so as be sayd
Her ere vnto his worde she leyde
But forther made she no chere
And netheles in this mattere
It happed that ylke tyme so
This lord, with whome she shulde go
Of Rome was the senatour
And of her father the emperour
His brother doughter hath to wyfe
whiche hath her father eke on lyue
And was Salustes cleped tho
His wyfe Eleyne hyght also
To whome Constaunce was cosyne.
Thus to the seke a medicine
Hath god ordeyned of his grace
That forthe in the same place
This senatour his trouth plyght
For euer, whyle he lyue myght
To kepe her in worshyp, and in welth
Be so that god woll gyue her helth
This lady, whiche fortune hym sende
And thus by shyppe forth say lende
Her & her childe to Rome be broughte
And to his wyfe tho he besought
To take her in to companye
And she, whiche couth of curtosye
All that a good wyfe shulde conne
was inly gladde, that she hath wonne
The felowshyp of so good one
This emperours doughter Custe
Forth with the doughter of Saluste
was kept, but no man redely
Knewe, what she was: and not for thy
They thoughten well she hadde be
In her estate of hyghe degre
And euery lyfe her loueth wele
¶Qualiter rex Alle ini [...]a pace cum Sco [...] a guerris rediens, et non inuenta vxore sua causam exilu diligencius perscrutans, cum matrem suam Domildam inde culpubilem sciniffet, ipsam in igne proiciens conburi fecit.
¶Nowe herke thylke vnstable whele
whiche euer torneth, wente aboute
The kynge Alle, while he was out
(As thou to fore hast herde the cas)
Deceyued through his modre was
But whan that he come home agayne
He axeth of his chamberlayne
And of the bysshop eke also
where they the quene had do
And they answerde: there he badde
And haue hym thylke letter rad
whiche he them sent for warrant
And tolde hym playnly as it stante
And sayne, it thought hem great pyte
To se a worthy one as she
with suche a childe, as there was bore
So sodenly to be forlore
He asketh hem, what child it wer
And they hym sayde, that no where
In all the world, though men it sought
was neuer woman, that forth brought
A fayrer childe, than it was one
And than he axeth hem anone
why they ne hadden wryten so
They tolden, so they hadden do
He sayde nay. They sayden yis
The letter shewed, radde it is
whiche they forsoken euery dele
Tho was it vnderstonde wele
That there is treson in the thynge
The messenger tofore the kynge
was brought, and sodenly opposede
[...] thynge hath yet supposede
[...] wel
[...] began to saye
[...] no where vpon the waye
[...] but onely in a stede
[...] why that he so dede
[...] he went to and fro
[...]
[...]esburgh by nyghtes two
[...]
[...]ges moder made hym dwelle
[...] the kynge it herd telle
[...] his hert he wy
[...]e als faste
[...] whiche his mother caste
[...]
[...]hought he wolde not abyde
[...] ryght in the same tyde
[...] and rode anone
[...] in there ryde many one
[...]
[...]burgh, and forth they wente
[...] the fyre, which thonder hente
[...] a rage, as feyth the boke
His mother sodeneche he toke
And sayde vnto her in this wyse
O
[...] of helle in what gyse
[...] deseruede for to deye
That haste so falsely put a weye
with treson of thy backbitynge
The trewest, at my knolechynge
Of wyues, and the most honest?
But I wol make this by hest
It shall be vengede or I go
And lete a fyre do make tho
And badde men for to caste her ynne
But fyrste she tolde out all the synne
And byd hem all for to wyte
Howe she the letters hadde wryte
Fro poynt to poynt, as it was wrought
And tho she was to deth brought
And brent tofore her sonnes eye
wherof these other, whiche it sye
And herden howe the cause stode
Seyne, that the iudgement is good
Of that her sonne her hath so serued
For she it hadde wele deserued
Through treson of her false tonge
which through the lond was after sōge
Constance and euery wyght cōpleineth
But he, whom all wo dystreyneth
This sorowfull kynge was so bestadde
That he shall neuer more be gladde
He seyth eftsones for to wedde
Tyll that he wyste how that she spedde
whiche hadde ben his fyrste wyfe
And thus his yonge vnlusty lyfe
He dryueth forth to as he may.
¶ Qualiter post sapsum .xii. annorū rex Assee absoluciouis causa Romam proficiens, vxor [...]m suam constanciam vna cum filio suo diuina proindencia ibidem setus inuenit.
¶ Tyll it besel vpon a day
whan he his werres hadde acheuede
And thought he wolde be releuede
Of soule hele vpon the feyth
whiche he hath take, than he seyth
That he to Rome in pylgremage
wolde go, where Pope was Pel
[...]ge
To take his absolucyon
And vpon this condicion
He made Edwyn his leutenaunt
whiche beyre was apparaunt
That he the lond in his absence
Shall rewle, and thus by prouydence
Of all thynges well by gonne
He toke his leue, and forth is gone
¶Elda, which tho was with hem ther
Er they fullyche at Rome were
was sent tofore to purucye
And he his guyde vpon the weye
In helpe to ben his herbegeour
Hath axed, who was Senatour
That he his name myght kenne
To hem goth Elda tho forth ryght
And tolde hym of his lorde tydinge
And prayd, that for his comynge
He wolde assygne hym herbergage
And be so dyd of good courage.
¶ whan all is do, that was to done
The kynge hym selfe cam after sone
This Senatour whan that be come
To Luste, and to his wyfe at home
Hath tolde, bowe suche a kynge Alle
[...]
Of great array to the Lyte
was come, and Luste vpon his tale
with hert close, and colour pale
A swoune felle, and he meruaylleth
So sodenly what thynge her eyleth
And caught her vpand whan she woke
She fygheth with a pytous loke
And feyneth sekenesse of the see
But it was for the kynge Allee
For ioye, whiche was in her thought
That god hym hath to towne brought
This kynge hath spoke with the pope
And tolde all that he couthe grope
what greueth in his conscyence
And than he thought in reuerence
Of his estate, er that he went
To make a feest, and thus he sente
Vnto the Senatour, to come
Vpon the morowe, and other some
To sytte with hym at mete
This tale hath Luste not foryete
But to Morys, her sonne tolde
That be vpon the morowe shulde
In all that euer he couth and myght
Be present in the kynges syght
So that the kynge hym ofte sye
Morys tofore the kynges eye
Vpon the morowe, where he sat
Full ofte stode, and vpon that
The kynge his chere vpon hym caste
And in his face hym thought als faste
He sawe his owne wyfe Lonstance
For nature, as in resemblaunce
Of face, hym lyketh so to clothe
That they were of a suyte both
The kyng was moued in his thought
Of that be seeth, & knoweth it nought
This childe be loueth kyndely
And yet he wote no cause why
But wel he sygh and vnderstode
That be towarde Arcenne stode
And axeth hym anone ryght there
yf that this chylde his sonne were
He sayde ye, so I hym calle
And wolde it were so by falle
But it is all in other wyse
And tho began be to deuyse
Howe he the chyldes mother fonde
Vpon the see from euery londe
within a shyp was sterles
And how this lady helpeles
Forth withe her chylde he hathe forth drawe
The kynge hath vnderstonde his sawe
The childes name and axeth tho
And what the mother hyght also
That he hym wolde telle he prayde
Morys this childe is hote he sayd
His mother hat Luste, and this
I not what maner name it is
But Allee wyst wel inough
wherof somdele smylend he lough
For Luste in Saxon is to sayne
Coustance vpon the worde Romayn
But who that couthe specyfye
what tho fell in his fantasye
And how his wytte aboute renneth
Vpon the loue, in whiche he brenneth
It ware a wonder for to here
For he was neyther there ne here
But clene out of hym selfe awey
That he not what to thynke or fey
So fayne he wolde it were she
wherof his hertes pryuete
Bygan the warre of ye and nay
The whiche in suche balaunce lay
That contenaunce for a throwe
He loste, tyll he myght knowe
The soth: but in his memorye
The man, whiche lyeth in purgatorye
Desyreth not the heuen more
That he ne longeth also sore
To wytte, what hym shall betyde
And when the bordes were asyde
And euery man was ryse aboute
The kynge hath weyued all the route
And with the Senatour alone
He spake, and prayd hym of a bone
To se this Custe where she dwelleth
At home with hym, so as he telleth
The Senatour was wel apayde
This thynge no lenger was delayd
To see this Luste goth the kynge
And she was warned of the thynge
And with Eleyne forth she came
[...]ycne the kynge, and he tho name
Good hede, and whan he sigh his wyfe
[...]none with all his hertes lyfe
He caught her in his armes, and kyste
was neuer wyght that syghe ne wyste
A man that more ioye made
wherof they weren all gladde
whiche herd telle of this chaunce
[...] kyng tho with his wife Cōstance
[...] had a great part of his wylle
[...] for a tyme stylle
[...] and made hym well at case
[...]
[...]ou
[...]h he neuer please
[...] wyfe that she wolde hym seyne
[...] estate the trouthe pleyne
[...] countre that she was bore
[...] what she was, and yet therfore
[...] all his wyt he hath done seke
[...] as they lay in bedde, and speke
[...] prayth hym, and counscileth both
[...] for the worship of hem both
[...] thought it were honeste
[...] an honourable feste
[...] he went) in that Cyte
where the Emperour hym selfe shall be
He graunted all that she hym prayde
But as men in that tyme sayde
Thy
[...] Emperour from that day
That fyrste his doughter went a way
He was than after neuer gladde
But what that any man hym badde
[...] grace, for his doughter sake
That grace wolde he nought forsake
And thus ful great almeste he dede
wherof he hadde many a bede
¶ [...] Constancia, que antea per fofum [...] su [...]pences omnes incognitam se ce [...] [...]unt [...]mum pa [...]suo imperatori se ipsam [...] manifesta [...]i, Quod cum rex A [...]ee sciuisset, vna cum vniuersa Romanorum multitudine inestimabi [...]i gaudio admirantes cunctipotentem landarunt.
¶ This Emperour out of the towne
within a ten myle enuyroune
where as it thought hym for the beste
Hath sondry places for to reste
And as fortune wolde tho
He was dwellend at one of tho
The kynge Allee forth with thassent
Of Custe his wife hath thyder sent
Morice his sonne, as he was taught
To Themperour, and he goth straught
And in his father halue he sought
As he whiche his lordship sought
That of his hygh worthynes
He wolde do so great mekenes
His owne towne to come and se
And y
[...]ue a tyme in the cyte
So that his fader might hym gete
That he wolde ones with hym ete
This lorde hath graunted his requeste
And whan the day was of the feste
In worship of the Emperour
The kynge, and eke the Senatour
Forth with her wynes bothe two
with many a lorde and lady mo
On hors ryden hym ageyne
Tyll it befell vpon a playne
They sygh, where he was comend
with that Constaunce anone preyend
Spake to her lorde, that he abyde
So that I may tofore ryde
To ben vpon his bien venu
The fyrste, whiche shall hym salu
And thus after her lordes graunt
Vpon a mule white amblaunt
Forth with a fewe rode this quene
They wondred, what she wolde mene
And ryden after a softe pas
But whan this lady comen was
To themperour, in his presence
She sayde aloude in audience
My lorde my father wel you be
And of this tyme that I se
your honour, and your good bele
whiche is the helpe of my quarele
I thanke vnto the goddes myght
For ioye his hert was aflyght
Of that she tolde in remembraunce
And when he wyste, it was Constaunce
was neuer father halfe so blythe
wepend be kyste her ofte sythe
So was his hert all ouercome
For though his mother were come
Fro deth to lyfe out of the graue
He myght no more wonder haue
Than he hath, whan that he her syghe
with that her owne lorde come nyghe
And is to themperour obeyed
And when the fortune is bewreyed
Howe that Constaunce is come aboute
So harde an hert was none oute
That he for pyte tho ne wepte
Arcenius, which her fonde and kepte
was than gladde of that is falle
So that with ioye amonge hem all
They ryden in at Rome gate
This Emperour thought all to late
Tyll that the pope were come
And of tho lordes sende some
To pray hym, that he woll haste
And he cam forth in all haste
And whan that be this tale herde
How wonderly this chaunce ferde
He thanked god of his myracle
To whose myght may be none abstable
The kyng a noble feste hem made
And thus they were all gladde
A perlement or that they went
They setten vnto this entent
To put Rome in full espeyre
That Moris was apparent heyre
And shulde abyde with hem stylle
For suche was all the londes wylle
¶ Qualiter Mauricius cum imperatore, v [...] heres imperu remansit, et rex Affee et Constantia in Angliam regressi sunt.
¶ whan euery thynge was fully spoke
Of sorowe & queynt was all the smoke
Tho toke his leue Alle the kynye
And with full many a ryche thynge
whiche thmperour hym badde yeue
He hath a gladde lyfe for to lyue
For be constance hath in his honde
whiche was the comfort of his londe
For whan that he come home ageyne
There is no tonge that myght seyne
what ioye was that ylke stounde
Of that he hath his quene founde
whiche fyrst was sent of goddes sonde
whan she was dryuen vpon the stronde
By whome the mysbileue of synne
was lefte, and Chrystes feyth came inne
To hem that whilome were blynde
But he, whiche hyndreth euery kynde
¶ Quafiter rex Alle in Anglia post biennium humane carnis resofucionem subiens nature debitum persofuit, post cuius obitum Constancia cum patre suo Rome se transtulit moraturam.
¶ And for no gold may be forbought
The deth comend er he besought
Toke with this kynge such acqueyntāce
That he with all his retenaunce
Ne myhht not defende his lyfe
And thus he parteth from his wyfe
whiche than made sorowe ynoughe
And therupon her hert droughe
To leue Englond for euer
And go where she hadde leuer
To Rome, whens that she came
And thus of all the londe she nam
Her leue, and goth to Rome ageyne
And after that the bokes seyne
She was not there but a throwe
whan deth of kynde hath ouerthrowe
Her worthy father, whiche men sayde
That betwene her armes deyde
And afterward the yere suende
The god of her hath made an ende
And fro this worldes fayrye
Hath take her in to companye
¶ Morys her sonne was coroned
whiche so ferforth was abandoned
To Christes feyth, that men hym calle
Morys the chrystnest of all
And thus the whele menynge of loue
was at last set aboue
And so, as thou haste herd tofore
The fals tunges were lore
whiche vpon loue wolde lye
For thy touchend of this enuye
whiche longeth vnto bakbitynge
Be ware thou make no lesynge
In hvndrynge of another wyght
And if thou wolde be taught aryght
what mischyfe bakbitynge doth
By other weye a tale soth
Nowe myght thou here next sewend
whiche to this vyce is acordend
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos detractores, qui in alterius vitupertum mendatia confingentes dissamacionem fieri procurant. Et narrat qualiter Perseus, Philippi regis Macedonu filius Demetrio fratri suo ob euis probitatem inuidens / composito detractionis mendacio ipsum apud patrem suum mortaliter accusauit. dicens ipse non solum patrem / sed et totum Macedonii regnum Romanis hostibus pro ditorie vendidisset, quem super hoc in iudicium producens [...]testions (que) indicibus auro suborna [...], quamvis falsissime morte condempnatum [...] quo defuncto eciam et pater infra breue [...] [...]ortuus est. Et sic Perseo successiue regna [...]te deus huiusmodi detractionis inuidiam ab [...]s [...] sum cum vniuersa suorum pugnatorū [...] extra Danubii fluuium ab Aemilo [...] [...]norum Consule, enentu bellico inter [...] [...]. Ita quod ab illo die Macedonii [...] penitus destructa Romano Imperio [...] deseruiuit / et eins detractio / quam [...] a [...]ium conspiranerat / in sui ipsius diffama [...] pre [...]erpetno dinulgata consistit.
¶ In a Cronyke, as thou shalt wytte
A great ensample I fynde wrytte
whiche I shall telle vpon this thynge
Philyp of Macedony the kynge
Two sonnes hadde by his wyfe
whose fame yet in Grece is ryfe
Demetrius the fyrste brother
was hote, and Perseus that other
Demetrius men sayden tho
The better knyght was of the two
To whom the londe was attendant
As he whiche heyre was apparaunt
To regne after his fathers day
But that thyng, whiche no water may
Quenche in this world, but euer brenneth
In to his broders hert it renneth
The proud enuye of that he syghe
His brother shulde clyme on hyghe
And he to hym mote than obeye
That may he suffer by no weye
with strength durst he no thynge fonde
So toke he lesynge vpon honde
whan he sygh tyme, and spake therto
For it befelle that tyme so
His father great warres hadde
with Rome, whiche he streyte ladde
Through myghty honde of his māhod
As he which hath ynough knyghthod
And ofte hem hadde sore greued
But er the werre were acheued
As he was vpon ordynaunce
At home in Grece, it felle par chaunce
Demetrius, whiche ofte aboute
Rydend was, stode that tyme out
So that this Perse in his absence
whiche bare the tonge of pestylence
with fals wordes, whiche he feyneth
Vpon his owne brother pleyneth
In priuete behynde his bake
And to his father thus he spake
¶ My dere father I am holde
By wey of kynde, as reson wolde
That I fro you shall nothynge hyde
whiche myght torne in any syde
Of youre estate into greuaunce
For thy myn hertes obeysaunce
Toward you I thynke kepe
For it is good ye take kepe
Vpon a thynge, whiche is me tolde
My brother hath vs all solde
To hem of Rome: and you also
For than they be hote hym so
That he with them shall regne in pes
Thus hath he caste for his encres
That your estate shall go to nought
And thus to proue shall be brought
So ferforth, that I vndertake
It shall not wel mow be forsake
¶The kynge vpon his tale answerde
And said: If this thing, which he herd
Be soth, and may be brought to proue:
It shall not be to his behoue
whiche so hath shapen vs the werste
For he hym selfe shall be the ferste
That shall be dede, if that I may
Thus afterwarde vpon a day
whan that Demetrius was come
Anone his father hath hym nome
And badde to his brother Perse
That he his tale shall reherse
Of thylke treason, whiche he tolde
And he whiche all vntrouth wolde
Counseyleth, that so hygh a nede
Be treted, where as it may spede
In common place of iudgement
The kynge therto yafe his assent
¶Demetrius was put in holde
wherof that Perseus was bolde
Thus stode the trouth vnder the charge
And the falseheed goth at large
which through behest hath ouercome
The greattest of the lordes some
That priuelyche of his accorde
They stonde, as wytnesse of recorde
The iudge was made fauourable
Thus was the lawe deceyuable
So ferforth that the trouth fonde
Rescous none: and thus the londe
Forth with the kynge deceyued were
The gylteles was dampned there
And deyde vpon accusement
But suche a false conspirement
Though it be priue for a throwe
God wolde not it were vnknowe
And this was afterwarde well proued
In hym, which hath the deth cōtroued
Of that his brother was so slayne
This Perseus was wondre fayne
As he, that was heyre apparaunt
Vpon the reygne expectaunt
wherof he waxe so proude and veyne
That he his father in disdeyne
Hath take: and sette at none accompte
As he, which thought hym to surmoūt
That where he was fyrst debonayre
He was tho rebelle and contrayre
And not as heyre, but as a kynge
He toke vpon hym in all thynge
Of malyce and of tyrrannye
In contempte of Regalye
Lyuende his father: and so wrought
That whan the father hym bethought
And syghe to whether syde it drough
Anone he wyste well inough
Howe Perse after his false tonge
Hath so thenuyous belles ronge
That he hath slayne his owne brother
wherof as than he knewe none other
But sodeynly the iudge he nome
whiche corrupte satte vpon the dome
In suche a wyse, and hath hym pressed
That he the soth hym hath confessed
Of all that hath be spoke and do
More sory, than the kynge was tho
was neuer man vpon this molde
And thought in certayne, that he wold
Vengeaunce take vpon this wronge
But the other partie was so stronge
That for the lawe of no statute
There may no ryght be execute
And vpon this diuision
The londe was tourned vp so downe
wherof his herte is so distraught
That he for pure sorowe hath caughte
The maladye, of whiche nature
Is queynt in euery creature
¶And whā this kyng was passed thus
This false tonged Perseus
The regyment hath vnderfonge
But there may nothynge stonde longe
whiche is not vpon trouth grounded
For god, whiche al thyng hath boūded
And syghe the falseheed of his gyle
Hath set hym but a lytell whyle
That he shall reigne vpon depose
For sodeynly ryght as the rose
So sodeynly downe he felle.
¶ In thylke tyme so it befelle
This newe kynge, of newe pryde
with strength shope hym for to ryde
And sayde he wolde to Rome fast
wherof he made a besye haste
And hath assembled hym an hooste
In all that euer he myght moost
what man that myght wepen bere
Of all he wolde none forbere
So that it myght not be nombred
The folke which after were encombred
Throughe hym, that god wolde ouerthrow
Anon it was at Rome knowe
The pompe, whiche that Perse lad
And the Romaynes that tyme had
A consull, whiche was cleped thus
By name, Paulus Emilius
A noble, a worthy knyght withall
And he, whiche chefe was of hem all
This werre on honde hath vndertake
And whan he shulde his leue take
Of a yonge doughter, whiche was his
She wepte: and he what cause it is
Her asketh: and she hym answerde
That Perseus is deade: and he it herde
And wondreth what she meane wolde
And she vpon childehode hym tolde
That Perse her lytell hounde is deade.
with that he pulleth vp his heed
And made ryght a gladde vysage
And sayd, howe that was a presage
Touchende to that other Perse
Of that fortune hym shulde aduerse
He sayth for suche a prenostyke
Mooste of an hounde was to hym lyke
For as it is an boundes kynde
To berke vpon a man behynde
Ryghte so behynde his brothers backe
(with false wordes, whiche he spake)
He hath do slayne, and that is routh
But he, whiche hateth all vntrouthe
The hygh god it shall redresse
[...]or so my doughter prophetesse
Y
[...]h with her lytell houndes dothe
[...]keneth: and thus forth he geth
Comforted of this euydence
with the Romaynes in his defence
Ageyne the Grekes that ben comende
This Perseus as nought seende
This myschefe whiche that him abode
with all his multitude rode
And prided hym vpon this thynge
Of that he was become a kynge
And howe he had his reygne gete
That he hath all the ryght foryete
whiche longeth vnto gouernaunce
wherof through goddes ordynaunce
It felle vpon the wynter tyde
That with his hoste he shulde ryde
Ouer Danubye thylke floode
whiche all be frossen than stode
So harde, that he wende wele
To passe, but the blynde whele
whiche tourneth ofte, er men be ware
Thilke ice, which that the horsmē bare
To brake, so that a great partie
was dreynt of the chiualrie
The rerewarde it toke aweye
Came none of hem to londe drey
¶ Paulus this worthy knight romayn
By his aspye it herde sayne
And hasteth hym all that he may
So that vpon that other day
He came, where he this hoost behelde
And that was in a large felde
where the baners ben displayed
He hath anone his men arrayde
And whan that he was enbatayled
He goth, and hath the felde assayled
And slough, and toke all that he fonde
wherof the Macedonye londe
which through king Alisander honored
Longe tyme stode: was tho deuoured
To Perse and all that infortune
They wyte, so that the comune
Of all the londe his heyre exile
And he dispeyred for the whyle
Disguysed in a poore wede
To Rome goth: and there for nede
The crafte, whiche thylke tyme was
To worken in latoū, and in bras
He lerneth for his sustenaunce
Suche was the sonnes purueyaunce
And of his father it is sayde
In stronge prison that he was leyde
In Albe, where that he was deade
For honger and defaulte of breade
The hounde was token and prophecie
That lyche an hounde he shulde dye
whiche lyche was of condition
whan he with his detraction
Barke on his brother so behynde
Confessor.
To what profyte a man may fynde
whiche hyndre woll an other wyght
For thy with all thyn hole myght
My sonne, eschewe thylke vice
Amans.
My father elles were I nyce
For ye therfore so well haue spoke
That it is in myn herte loke
And euer shall: but of enuye
If there be more in his bailye
Towardes loue, say me what
¶My sonne as gyle vnder the hat
with sleyghtes of a Tregetour
Is hyd, enuye of suche colour
Hath yet the fourthe deceyuaunt
The whiche is cleped fals Semblaunt
wherof the mater, and the forme
Nowe herken, and I the shall enforme
Nil bilinguis aget, nisi duplo concinat ore,
Dum
(que) diem loquitur nox sua vota tegit.
Vultus habet lucē tenebias mens, sermo salutē
Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem.
Pax tibi quā spōdet, magis est prenostica guerre
Commoda si dederit, disce subesse dolum.
Quod pater esse fides in eo fraus est
(que) politi
Principium pacti finis habere negat,
O quem condicio talis de
[...]ormat amantem
Qui magis apparens est in amore nihil.
¶ Hic tractat Conffessor super quarta specie in [...]e / que Dissimulacio dicitur, cuius vustus quanto maioris amicicie apparenciam oftendit / [...]te subtisioris dosi fallacias ad decipiendum m [...]n [...] maginatur.
¶ Of fals Semblaunt if I shall tell
Aboue all other it is the welle
Out of the whiche deceyt floweth
There is no man so wyse, that knoweth
Of thylke flode, whiche is the tyde
He howe he shulde hym selfen guyde
To take saufe passage there
And yet the wynde to mans ere
Is softe, and as it semeth oute
It maketh clere weder all aboute
But thought it seme, it is not so
For fals S
[...]mblaunt hath euer mo
Of his counsayll in companye
The derke vntrewe hipocrysye
whose worde discordeth to his thought
For thy they ben to gyder brought
Of one couyne, of one hous holde
As it shall after this be tolde
Of fals Semblaunt it nedeth nought
To telle of olde ensamples ought
For all day in experyence
A man may see thylke euydence
Of fayre wordes, whiche he hereth
But yet the barge enuye stereth
And halt it euer fro the londe
which fals Semblaūt with ore in hond
It roweth, and woll not arryue
But let it on the wawes dryue
In great tempest, and great debate
wherof that loue and his estate
Empeyreth: And therfore I rede
My sonne that thou fle and drede
This vyce: and what that other seyn
Let thy semblaunt be trewe and pleyn
For fals Semblaunt is thylke vice
whiche neuer was without office
where that enuye thynketh to gyle
He shall be for that ylke whyle
Of pryue counsayll messagere
For whan his semblaunt is moste clere
Than is he moste derke in his thought
Thought men hym se they knowe hym nought
But as it sheweth in the glas
Thynge whiche therin neuer was
So sheweth it in his vysage
That neuer was in his courage
Thus doth he all his thing by sleyghte
¶ Nowe lay thy conseyence in weyght
My good sonne, and shryue the here
If thou were euer customere
To fals Semblaunt in any wyse.
¶ For ought I can me yet auyse
My good father certes no
If I for loue haue don so
Nowe asketh, I wolde pray yowe
For elles I wot neuer howe
Of fals semblaunt that I haue gylt
¶ My sonne and sethin that thou wylt
That I shall aske, gab nought
But telle, if euer was thy thought
with fals Semblaunt and Couerture
To wytte of any creature
Howe that he was with loue ladde
So were he sory, were he gladde
whan that thou wystyst howe it were
All that he rouneth in thyn ere
Thou toldest forth in other place
To setten hym fro loues grace
Of what woman that the best lyste
There as no man his counseyll wyst
But thou, by whome he was deceyued
Of loue, and from his purpose weyued
And thoughtest that his disturbaunce
Thyn owne cause shulde auaunce
As who sayth, I am so selce
There may no mannes priuete
Ben heled halue so well as myn
Arte thou my sonne of suche engyn
Telle on? My good father nay
As for the more parte I saye
But of somedele I am beknowe
That I may stonde in thylke rowe
Amonge hem, that slaundres vse
I woll not me therof excuse
That I with suche colour ne steyne
whan I my best semblant feyne
To my felowe tyll that I wote
All his counseylle bothe colde and hote
For by that cause I make hym chere
[...]ll I his loue knowe, and here
And if so be myn hert soucheth
[...] ought vnto my lady toucheth
[...] that he woll me telle
[...] I renne vnto the welle
[...] water in the fyre
[...] his carre amyd the myre
[...] I haue his counsayle knowe
[...] syth I ouerthrowe
[...] he weneth best to stonde
[...] this I do you vnderstonde
[...] man loue elles where
[...] my lady be nought there
[...] tell, I wyll it hyde
[...] no worde escape asyde
[...] disceyte of no semblaunt
[...] b
[...]cke I no couenaunt
[...]
[...]keth
[...]at in other place
[...] no man of his grace
[...] to be inquisitife
[...]
[...]we an other mans lyfe
where that he loue, or loue nought
That toucheth nothing to my thought
[...] it passeth through myn care
[...] as a thynge that neuer were
[...] foryete, and layde besyde
[...] if it touche on any syde
My lady, as I haue er spoken
My ne
[...]es ben nought than loken
For certes whan that betyt
My wyll myn herte, and all my wytte
Ben fully sette to herken and spere
[...]hat any man woll speke of her
Thus haue I feyned company
Full ofte, for I wolde aspye
what thynge it is, that any man
Telle of my worthy lady can
And for two causes I do this
The fyrste cause wherof is
If that I myght herken and seke
That any man of her mysspeke
I woll excuse her so fully
That whan she wyst it inderly
Myn hope shulde be the more
To haue her thanke for euermore
That other cause, I you assure
Is, why that I by couerture
Haue feyned semblaunt ofte tyme
To them that passen all day byme
And ben louers as well as I
For this I wene truely
That there is of hem all none
That they ne louen euery chone
My lady. For sothelyche I leue
And durst setten it in preue
Is none so wyse that shulde asterte
But he were lustles in his herte
For why, and he my lady sye
Her vysage, and her goodly eye
But he her loued, er he went
And for that suche is myn entent
That is the cause of myn aspye
why that I feyne company
And make felowe ouer all
For gladly wolde I knowen all
And holde me couerte alwaye
That I fulle ofte ye or naye
Ne lyst answere in any wyse
But feynynge semblaunt as the wyse
And herken tales tyll I knowe
My ladyes louers all arowe
And whan I here, howe they wrought
I fare as though I herde nought
And as I no worde vnderstode
But that is nothynge for her good
For leueth well, and soth is this
That whan I knowe all howe it is
I woll but forthren hem alyte
But all the werste I can endyte
I tell it vnto my lady plat
For fortherynge of myn owne estate
And hyndre them all that euer I maye
But for all that yet dare I saye
I fynde vnto my selfe no bote
All though myn herte nedes mote
Through strength of loue al that I here
Discouer vnto my lady dere
For in good feyth I haue no myght
To hele fro that swete wyght
If that it toucheth her any thynge
But this wote well the heuen kynge
That sythen fyrst the worlde began
Vnto none other straunge man
Ne feyned I semblaunt ne chere
To wyte or aske of his matere
Though that he loueth .x. or twelue
whan it was nought my ladyes selue
But if he wolde aske any rede
Alonlyche of his owne hede
Howe he with other loues ferde
His tales with myn eares I herde
But to myn herte came it nought
Ne sanke no depper in my thought
But helde counsayle, as I was bede
And tolde it neuer in other stede
But let it passen, as it come
Nowe father say, what is thy dome
And howe thou wolt, that I be peyned
For suche semblaunt as I haue feyned.
¶My sonne if reason be well peysed
There may no vertue be vnpreysed
Ne vyce none be sette in pryse
For thy my sonne, if thou be wyse
Do no viser vpon thy face
whiche as woll not thyn herte embrace
For if thou do, within a throwe
To other men it shall be knowe
So myght thou lyghtly falle in blame
And lese a great parte of thy name
And netheles in this degre
Full ofte tyme thou myght se
Of suche men, as nowe a day
This vice setten in assaye
I speke it for no mannes blame
But for to warne the, the same
My sonne as I may here talke
In euery place where I walke
I not, if it be so or none
But it is many dayes gone
That I fyrst herde telle this
Howe false Semblaunt hath be, and is
Most comonly from yere to yere
with them that dwelle amonge vs here
Of suche as we Lumbardes calle
For they ben the slyest of all
So as men sayne in towne about
To feyne and shewe thynge without
whiche is reuers to that within
wherof that they full ofte wynne
whan they by reason shulde lese
They ben the last, and yet they chese
And we the fyrste, and yet behynde
we gone, there as we shulden fynde
The profyte of our owne londe
Thus gone they free without bonde
To done her profyte all at large
And other men beare all the charge
Of Lumbardes vnto this couyne
(whiche all londes conne engyne)
May false Semblaunt in especiall
Be lykened: for they ouer all
where that they thynke for to dwelle
Amonge them selfe, so as they telle
Fyrste ben enformed for to lere
A crafte, whiche cleped is Facrere
For if Facrere come about
Than afterwarde hem stant no doubte
To voyde with a subtile honde
The best goodes of the londe
And brynge chaffe, and take corne
where as Facrere goth beforne
In all his weye he fynt no lette
That dore can none vssher shette
In whiche he lyst to take entre
And thus the counsayle most secre
Of euery thynge Facrere knoweth
whiche in to straunge place he bloweth
where as he wote it may moste greue
And thus Facrere maketh beleue
So that full ofte he hath deceyued
Er that he may ben apperceyued
Thus is this vyce for to drede
Fr who these olde bokes rede
Of suche ensamples as we are
Hym ought be the more ware
Of all tho that feyne chere
wherof thou shalte a tale here
¶ Hic p [...]nit Confessor exemplum contra iftos, [...]ui suō diffimulate beniuosentie specuso alios in amore defrandant, Et narrat quafiter Hercules cum ipse quoddam flunium enius vada non nonit cū D [...]nyra transmeaie proposuit / supueniens [...]essus g [...]gas ob amicitiam Hercusis, vt dixit [...]nyram [...]n vsnas suas suscipiens, trās ripam [...] ver duxit. Et statim cū ad litus peruenisset qu [...] ci [...]o currete potuit, ipsā tanquā propriam in prei [...]ud [...]im Herculis asportare fugiens cona [...]t [...]r. Pe [...] quod nō sosum ipsi sed etiam Hercusi [...]rt [...]e euentum fortuna postmodum causauit.
¶Of fals semblant, whiche is beleued
Ful many a worthy wyght is greued
And was longe tyme or we was bore
To the my sonne I wyll therfore
A tale tell, of fals Semblaunt
whiche falseth many a couenaunt
And many a fraude of fals counsaylle
There be hongend vpon his seyle
And that aboughten gylteles
Bothe De
[...]anyre, and Hercules
[...] whiche in greate disese fell
Through fals Semblaūt, as I shall tell
¶ whan Hercules within a throwe
[...] hath his hert throwe
Vpon this fayre De
[...]anyre
It tell hym on a day desyre
Vpon a ryuer as be stode
That passe he wolde ouer the floode
[...]ithout bote, and with hym lede
His loue, but he was in drede
[...] tendresse of that swete wight
[...] he knewe not the forde aryght
There was a geaunt than nygh
whiche Nessus hyght: & whan he sygh
This Hercules and De
[...]anire
within his herte he gan conspire
As he whiche through his trechery
Hath Hercules in great enuye
[...]iche he bare in his herte loke
And than he thought it shall be wroke
But he ne durste netheles
[...]ne this worthye Hercules
[...]all
[...] in debate, as for to feyght
But f
[...]yned Semblaunt all by sleyght
Of frendship, and of all good
And cometh, where as they both stode
And maketh hem all the chere be can
And sayth, that as her owne man
He is all redy for to do
what thynge be may: and it fel so
That they vpon his Semblaunte tryste
And asken hym, if that he wyste
what thynge hem were beste to done
So that they myghten saufe and sone
The water passe, he and she.
And whan Nessus the priuete
Knewe of her herte, what it ment
As he, that was of double entent
He made hem ryght a gladde visage
And whan he herde of the passage
Of hym and her, he thought gyle
And feyneth Semblant for a while
To done hem plesaunce and seruyse
But he thought all an other wyse
¶This Nessus with his wordes slye
yafe suche counseyle tofore her eye
whiche semed outwarde profytable
And was within deceyuable
He had hem of the stremes depe
That they beware, and take kepe
So as they knowe not the passe
But for to helpe in suche a cas
He sayth hym selfe, that for her ease
He wolde, if that it myghte hem please
The passage of the water take
And for this lady vndertake
To beare her to that other stronde
And saufe to sette her vp a londe
And Hercules may than also
The weye knowe, howe he shall go
¶And therto they accorden all
But what as after shall befall
well payd was Hercules of this
And this Geaunt also gladde is
And toke this lady vp alofte
And set her on his shulder softe
And in the flode began to wade
As he, whiche no grutchynge made
And bare her ouer saufe and sounde
But whan be stode on drye ground
And Hercules was ferre behynde
He set his trouth all oute of mynde
who so therof be lefe or loth
with Deianyre forth he goth
As he that thought to disseuer
The companye of hem for euer
whan Hercules therof toke hede
As faste as euer he myght hym spede
He hyeth after in a throwe
And hapneth that he hadde a bowe
The whiche in all hast he bende
As he that wolde an arowe sende
whiche he tofore had enuenymed
He hath so well his shotte tymed
That he hym through the body smette
And thus the false wyght he lette
But liste nowe, suche a felony
whan Nessus wyst he shulde dye
He toke to Deianyre his sherte
whiche with the bloud was of his hert
Through out disteyned ouer all
And tolde howe she it kepe shall
And priuely to this entent
That if her lorde his herte went
To loue in any other place
This shert be sayth hath suche a grace
That if she may so mochel make
That he the sherte vpon hym take
He shall all other lette in veyne
And tourne vnto her loue ageyne
¶who was tho gladde but Deianyre?
Her thought her herte was on a fyre
Tyll it was in her cofer loke
So that no worde therof was spoke.
¶The dayes gone the yeres passe
The hertes waxen lasse and lasse
Of hem, that be to loue vntrewe
This Hercules with hert newe
His loue hath set on Eolen
And therof spoken all men
This Eolen, this fayre mayde
was (as men thylke tyme sayde)
The kynges doughter of Euryce
And she made Hercules so nyce
Vpon her loue, and so assote
That he hym clotheth in her cote
And she in his was cladde full ofte
And thus feblesse is set alofte
And strengthe was put vnder fote
There can no man therof do bote
whan Deianyre hath herd this speche
There was no sorowe for to seche
Of other helpe wote she none
But goth vnto her coufer anone
with wepend eye, and wofull herte
She toke oute thylke vnhappy sherte
As she that wend wel to do
And brought her werke about so
That Hercules this shert on dede
To suche entent, and as she was bede
Of Nessus, so as I sayde er
But therof was she nought the ner
As no fortune may be weyued
with false Semblant she was deceyued
Than whā she wende best haue wonne
She lost all that she hath begonne
For thylke sherte vnto the bone
His body sette a fyre anone
And cleueth so, it may not twynne
For the venym, that was therin
And he than as a wylde man
Vnto the hygh wodde he ranne
And as the clerke Ouyde telleth
The great trees to grounde he felleth
with strength of his owne myght
And made an hughe fyre vpryght
And lepte hym selfe therin at ones
And brēt him selfe both flesshe & bones
which thing cam through false sēblant
That fals Nessus the Geant
Made vnto hym, and to his wyfe
wherof that he hath loste his lyfe
And she sory for euermo.
¶For thy my sonne er the be wo
I rede, be wel ware therfore
For whan so great a man was lore
It ought to yeue a great conceyte
To warne all other of suche deceyte
Graunt mercy father, I am ware
So fer, that I no more dare
Of fals Semblaunt take acqueintaunce
But rather I wol do penaunce
That I haue feyned chereer this
Nowe asketh forth, what so there is
Of that belongeth to my shryfte
My sonne yet there is the fyfte
whiche is conceyued of enuye
And clepend is Supplantarye
Through whose compassement and gile
Ful many hath loste his while
In loue, as wel as other wyse
Here after as I shall deuyse
Inuidus alterius est supplantator honoris
Et tua quo vertat culmina subtus arat.
Est opus occultū, q̄si quae latet anguis in herba,
Quod fac
[...]t, et subita sorte nociuus adest.
Sic tubtilis amans alium supplantat amantem.
Et capit occulte, quod nequit ipse palam
Sepe
(que) supplantans in plantam plantat amoris,
Quod putat in propriis alter habere bonis.
¶Hic fractat Conffessor de quinta specie Inuidie, que surplantacio dicitur, cuius cultor priusonam ve [...]cipiatur aliene dignitatis et officii mult [...]ne intrusor existens.
¶ The vyce of Supplantacyon
with many a fals collacyon
whiche he conspireth all vnknowe
Full ofte tyme hath ouerthrowe
The worship of another man
So wel no lyfe awayte can
Ayene his sleyght for to caste
That he his purpose at the laste
He hath, er that it be withset
But me
[...]te of all his hert is set
In court, vpon these great offices
Or dignytes and benifyces
Th
[...]s goth he with his sleyghte about
To hynder, and shoue another out
A
[...]tenden with his slyghe compas
Instede there another was
And so to set hym selfe ynne
He recheth not be so he wynne
Of that another man shall lese
A
[...]d thus full ofte chalke for chese
He chaungeth with full lytell coste
wherof another hath the loste
And be the profyte shall receyue
For his fortune is to deceyue
A
[...]d for to chaunge vpon the whele
His wo with other mens wele
Of that another man aualeth
His owne astate thus he vp haleth
And taketh the byrde to his beyete
where other men the bussbes bete
My sonne and in the same wyse
There be louers of suche empryse
That shapen hem to be relyeued
where it is wronge, to be acheued
For it is other mans ryght
whiche he hath take day and nyght
To kepe for his owne store
Toward hym selfe for euermore
And is his proper by the lawe
whiche thynge that asketh no felawe
If loue holde his conuenaunt
But they that worchen by supplant
yet wolden suche a man supplant
And take a part of thylke plant
whiche he hath for hym selfe set
And so ful ofte is all vnknet
That some man weneth be ryght faste
For Supplaunt with his sly cast
Full ofte happeneth for to mowe
Thyng, which another man hath sowe
And maketh common of propyrte
with sleyght, and with subtylte
As men may sen from yere to yere
Thus cleymeth he the bote to stere
Of whiche another mayster is
¶ For thy my sonne if thou er this
Haste ben of suche profession
Dyscouer thy Confession
Hast thou supplanted any man?
¶ For ought that I you telle can
Myn holy father as of dede
I am withouten any drede
And gilteles: but of my thought
My conscience excuse I nought
For were it wronge or wer it ryght
Me lyketh no thynge but myght
That I ne wolde longe er this
Of other mans loue Iwys
By wey of supplantatyon
Haue madde appropryacyon
And holde that I neuer nought
Thoughe it another man forthought
And all this speke I but of one
For whome I lete all other gone
But her I may not ouerpasse
That I ne mote alwey compasse
We rought not by what queyntyse
So that I myght in any wyse
Fro suche, that my lady serue
Her hert make for to swerue
without any parte of loue
For by the goddes all aboue
I wolde it myght so befalle
That I alone shuld hem all
Supplant, and welde her at my wylle
And that thynge may I nought fulfylle
But if I shulde strength make
And that dare I nought vndertake
Though I were as was Alysander
For therof myght ryse a sklander
And certes that shall I do neuer
For in good feyth yet hadde I leuer
In my symplesse for to dye
Than worche suche supplantarye
Of other wyse I woll not say
That if I fonde a syker way
I wolde as for conclusyon
worche after supplantation
So hyghe a loue for to wynne
Nowe father, if that this be synne
I am redy to redresse
The gylt, of whiche I me confesse.
¶My good sonne as of supplant
The dare not drede tant ne quant
As for no thynge that I haue herde
But onely that thou haste misferde
Thynkend: and that me lyketh nought
For god beholt a mans thought
And if thou vnderstode in soth
In loues cause what it doth
A man to ben a supplantour
Thou woldest for thyn owne honour
By double way take kepe
Fyrste for thyn owne estate to keke
To be thy selfe so well be thought
That thou supplanted were nought
And eke for worship of thy name
Towardes other do the same
And suffer euery man haue his
But netheles it was and is
That in awayte at all assayes
Supplant of loue in our wayes
The leef full ofte for the leuer
Forsaketh, and so it hath done euer
Ensample I fynde therupon
¶Qualiter Agamemnon de amore Breffeide Achillem, et Diomedes de amore Criseide Troilum supplantauit.
¶At Troye howe that Agamemnon
Supplanted the worthy knyght
Achilles, for that swete wyghte
whiche named was Brisseida
And also of Cryseyda
whome Troylus to loue ches
Supplanted hath Diomedes
¶Qualiter Amphitrium socium suum Getam qui Alemenam peramauit, seipsum loco alterius cautelo sa supplantacione substituit.
¶ Of Geta and Amphitryone
That whilom were both as one
Of frendship and of companye
I rede howe that Supplantarye
In loue, as it betyd tho
Begyled hath one of hem two
For this Geta, that I of mene
To whom the lusty fayre Alemene
Assured was by wey of loue
whan he beste wende haue ben aboue
And sykerest of that he hadde
Cupido so the cause ladde
That whyle he was oute of the weye
Amphitrion her loue aweye
Hath take, & in this forme he wrought
By nyght vnto the chambre he sought
where that she lay: and with a wyle
He counterfeteth for the whyle
The voys of Geet, in suche a wyle
That made her of her bedde aryse
wenende, that it were he
And lete hym in: and whan they be
To gyder a bedde in armes faste
This Geta cam than at laste
Vnto the dore, and sayde vndo
And she answered, and badde hym go
And sayde, howe that a bed all warme
Her lyefe lay naked in her arme
She wende, that it were soth
Lo what supplant of loue doth
This Geta forth beiaped went
And yet ne wyst he, what it ment
Amphitrion hym hath supplanted
with sleyght of loue, and her enchaūted
And thus put euery man oute other
The ship of loue hath lost his rother
So that he can no resone stere
And for to speke of this mattere
Touchende loue, and his supplaunt
A tale, whiche is accordaunt
Vnto thyn care I thynke enforme
Nowe herken, for this is the forme.
¶ [...] amoris causa contra fraudē detractio [...] [...] Confessor exemplum / Et narrat de [...] Romani imperatoris filio / qui probitates [...] [...]um super omnia exercere affectans, nescien [...] [...] [...]ita mare in partes Persie ad defer [...]dum Sosdan [...] super guerras cil solo misite [...] suo ignotus se transtulit, Et cum [...] fama super altes ibidem celsior [...] contigit vt in quodam bello contra [...] Egipti [...], sosdanus a sagitia mor [...] [...] priusquam moreretur quendā [...] su [...] [...]tetissimi [...]to nobili Romano [...] qualiter filia sua sub paterne [...] vinculo aduirata est. ꝙ quicum (que) [...] e [...] afferret, ipsum in coningē pre [...] [...] Defuncto autem Soldan [...] [...] [...]ayre dicitur, itinerantes [...] suo [...]uius misteru [...] n [...]tanter a bursa demini [...] que audiuit vsui [...] appsiciuit [...] sic ser [...] Soldani filta, [...].
¶ Of thylke citie chiefe of all
w
[...]
[...]e men the noble Rome call
[...] set to Christes fayth
[...], as the cronyke sayth
[...]
[...]rour, the whiche it ladde
[...] that he no werres hadde
[...] thynge disobeysaunt
[...] to Rome appertenaunt
[...] was tourned in to reste
[...] it thought hem for the best
[...] it thought nothynge so
And that was onely vnto tho
[...] herte stode vpon knyghthode
[...] most of all his manhode
[...] worthy sonne of the emperour
[...] wolde ben a werriour
[...] that was chyualrous
Of worldes fame and desyrous
Began his father to beseche
That he the werres myght seche
In straunge marches for to ryde
His father sayde he shulde abyde
And wolde graunt hym no leue
But he whiche wolde nought beleue
A knyght of his, to whom he tryst
Ryght euen as he thought and lyst
He toke and tolde hym his courage
That he purposeth a vyage
If that fortune with hym stonde
He sayde, that he wolde fonde
The great see to passe vnknowe
And there abyde for a throwe
Vpon the werres to trauayle
And to this poynt without fayle
This knyghte whan he hath herde his lorde
Is swore, & stant of his accorde
And they that bothe yonge were
So that in preuy counsayle there
They ben assented for to wende
And thervpon to make an ende
Treasure inough with hem they token
And whan the tyme is best they loken
That sodenlyche in a galeye
Fro Rome londe they wente their wey
And londed vpon that other syde
The worlde selle so that ylke tyde
whiche euer his happes hath diuerse
The great Soldan than of Perse
Ayene the Calyphe of Egypte
A werre, whiche that hym beclypte
Hath in a marche costeaunt
And he whiche was a pursyuaunt
worshyppe of armes to atteyne
This Romayne an one let ordeyne
That he was redye euery dele
And whan he was arrayed wele
Of euery thyng, whiche hym belōgeth
Straught vnto Rayre his weye he tongeth
wher he the soudan than londe
And asketh, that within his londe
He myght hym for the werre serue
As he whiche woll his thanke deserue
The soldan was ryght glad withall
And well the more in speciall
whan that he wyst he was Romayne
But what he was elles incertayne
That myght he wyte by no waye
And thus the knyght of whom I say
Towarde the Souldan is belefte
And in the marches nowe and efte
where that the dedely werres were
He wrought suche knyghthode there
That euery man spake of hym good
And thylke tyme so it stode
This myghty Soldan by his wyfe
A doughter hath, that in this lyfe
Men sayde there was none so feyre
She shulde ben her fathers beyre
And was of yeres rype ynough
Her beaute many an hert drough
To bowe to that ylke lawe
Fro whiche no lyfe may be withdrawe
And that is loue, whose nature
Set lyfe and deth in a venture
Of hem, that knyghthode vndertake
This lusty peyne hath ouertake
The hert of this Romayn so sore
That to knyghthode more and more
Prowesse auaunteth his courage
Lyche to the lyon in his rage
Fro whom that all bestes flee
Suche was this knyght in his degre
where he was armed in the felde
Ther durst none abyde his shelde
Great pryce vpon the werres he hadde
But she, whiche all the chaunce ladde
Fortune shope the marches so
That by thassent of bothe two
The Soldan and the Calyphe eke
Batayll vpon a day they seke
whiche was in suche a wyse set
That lenger shulde it not be let
They made hem stronge on euery syde
Tnd whan it drough towarde the tyde
That the batayll shulde be
The Soldan in great pryuete
A golde rynge of his doughter toke
And made her swere vpon a boke
And eke vpon the goddes all
That if fortune so befall
In the bataylle that he deye
That she shall thylke man obeye
And take hym to her housbonde
whiche thylke same rynge to honde
Her shulde brynge after his deth
This hath she swore, & forth he geth
with all the power of his londe
Vnto the marche, where he fonde
His enemy fulle enbatayled
¶The Soldan hath the felde assayled
They that ben hardy sone assemblen
wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen
That one slecth, and that other sterueth
But abouen all his pryce deserueth
This knightly Romayn, where he rode
His dedely swerde no man abode
Ayene the whiche was no defence
Egypte fledde in his presence
And they of Perse vpon the chace
Pursuen, but I not what grace
Befell, an arowe out of a bowe
All sodenly within a throwe
The Soldan smote, and there he lay
The chas is left for thylke day
And he was bore in to a tent
¶The Soldan sighe how that it went
And that he shulde algates dye
And to this knyht of Romanye
As vnto hym whome he moste tryste
His doughters ringe that none it wyste
He toke, and tolde hym all the cas
Vpon her othe what token it was
Of that she shulde ben his wyfe
whan this was sayde, the hertes lyfe
Of this Soldan departeth sone
And therupon, as was to done
The dede body well and fayre
They cary tyll they come at Kayre
There he was worthelyche begraue
The lordes, whiche as wolden saue
The regne, whiche was desolate
To brynge it in to good astate
A parlement they set anone
Nowe herken what fell therupon
This yonge lorde this worthy knyght
Of Rome, vpon the same nyght
That they a morowe trete sholde
Vnto his bachyler he tolde
His coūseyll, and the ringe with al
He sheweth, through whiche he shall
He seyth, the kynges doughter wedde
For so the rynge was leyde to wedde
He tolde, in to her fathers honde
That with what man that she it fonde
She shulde hym take vnto her lorde
And thus, he seyth, stant of recorde
But no man wote who hath this rynge
This bachylere vpon this thynge
His ere and his entent leyde
And thought more, than he sayd
And feyneth with a fals vysage
That he was gladde: but his courage
was all set in a nother wyse
These olde phylosophres wyse
They writen vpon thylke whyle
That he may best a man begyle
In whom the man hath most credence
And this befell in euidence
Toward this yonge lord of Rome
His bachiler, whiche hadde tome
whan that his lorde by nyght slepte
This ringe, the whiche his maister kepte
Out of his purs aweye be dede
And put another in the stede
A morow whan the court is set
The yonge lady was forth fet
To whome the lordes done homage
And after that of maryage
They treten, and asken of her wylle
But she whiche thought to fulfylle
[...]
[...]aders best in this matter
[...] openly, that men may here
The charge whiche her fader badde
Tho was this lorde of Rome gladde
And drough toward his purs anone
But all for nought, it was a gone
His bachilor it hath forth drawe
And
[...]keth therupon the lawe
[...] hym holde couenaunt
Th
[...] t
[...]ken was so suffysaunt
[...]at it ne myght be forsake
And netheles his lorde hath take
Quarelle ayene his owne man
But for no thynge that euer he can
He myght as than nought be herde
So that his clayme his vnanswerde
And he hath of his purpos fayled
This bachiler was tho counsayled
And wedded, and of thylke empyre
He was crouned lord and fyre
And all the lond hym hath receyued
wherof his lorde, which was deceyued
Ascknes,
[...]r the thyrd morowe
Conceyued hath of dedely sorowe
And as he lay vpon his deth
There while him lasteth speche & breth
He send for the worthyest
Of all the londe, and eke the best
And tolde hem all the soth tho
That he was sonne and heyre also
Of themperour of great Rome
And howe that they to gyder come
This knyght, and he ryght as it was
He tolde hem all the playne cas
And for that he his counseyll tolde
That other hath all that he wolde
And he hath fayled of his mede
As for the good he taketh none hede
He sayth, but onely of the loue
Of whiche he wend haue be aboue
And therupon by letter wryte
He doth his fader for to wyte
Of all the matter bowe it stode
And than with an bertely mode
Vnto the lordes he besought
To telle his lady howe he bought
Her loue, of whiche another gladdeth
And with that worde his hewe fadeth
And sayde, a dieu my lady swete
The lyfe hath loste his kyndely bete
And he lay styll as any stone
wherof was sory many one
But none of all so as she
¶ This fals knyght in his degre
Arested was, and put in holde
For openly whan it was tolde
Of the treason, whiche is befalle
Throughout the londe they saiden alle
If it be soth, that men suppose
His owne vntrouth hym shall depose
And for to seche an euydence
with honour, and great reuerence
wherof they myghten knowe an ende
To themperour anon they sende
The letter, whiche his sonne wrote
And whan that he the soth wote
To tell his sorowe is endeles
But yet in haste netheles
Vpon the tale, whiche he berde
His steward in to Perse ferde
with many a worthy Romayne eke
His lyege traytor for to seke
And whan they thyder come were
This knyght hym hath confessid there
Howe falsely that he hath hym bore
wherof his worthy lorde was lore
Tho sayden som, be shuld deye
But yet they founden suche a weye
That he shall not be dede in Perse
And thus the skylles ben dyuerse
By cause that he was coroned
Of that the londe was habandoned
To hym, all though it were vnryght
There is no peyne for hym dyght
But to this poynt and to this ende
They graūten wel, that he shall wende
with the Romayns to Rome ageyne
And thus acorded full and pleyne
They quycke body with the dede
with leue take, forth they lede
where that Supplaunt hath his Iuyse
wherof that thou the myght auyse
Vpon this informacion
Touchend of supplantacion
That thou my sonne do not so
And for to take hede also
what supplaunt doth in other halue
There is no man can fynde a salue
Pleynly to belen suche a sore
It hath and shall ben euermore
whan pryde is with enuye Ioynt
He suffreth no man in good poynt
where that he may his honoure let
And therupon if I shall set
Ensample in holy churche I fynde
Howe that supplaunt is not behynde
God wote if that it nowe be so
For in Cronycke of tyme a go
I fynde a tale concordable
Of Supplaunt, whiche that is no fable
In the maner as I shall telle
So as whylom the thynges felle
¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos in causa dignitatis adquirende supplantatores. Et narrat qualiter papa Bonifacins predecessorem suum Cefestinum a papatu contractata circumuencione fraudufenter supplantauit / Sed qui potentes a fede deponit hunismo di supplanta cionis fraudem non sustinens, ipsum sic in sublime exaltatum postea in profundi carcerie mise ilam proici / fame (que) siti cruciari, nec non et ab h [...]me bite gaduiis deforosa morte supplantari permifit.
At Rome as it hath ofte salle
The vyker generall of all
Of hem that leuen Cristes feyth
His laste daye, whiche none with seyth
Hath shette, as to the worldes eye
whos name, if I shall specyfye
He hyght Pope Nycholas
And thus whan that he passed was
The Cardynals, that wolden saue
The forme of lawe in the conclaue
Gon for to chese a newe pope
And after that they couthe grope
Hath eche of hem sayde his entent
Tyl at laste they assent
Vpon an holy clerke recluse
whiche full was of gostely vertuse
His pacyence, and his symplesse
Hath set hym in to hyghe noblesse
Thus was he pope canonysed
with great honour, and intronysed
And vpon chaunce, as it is falle
His name Celestyn men calle
whiche notifyed was by bulle
To holy churche: and to the full
In all londes magnyfyed
But euery worship is enuyed
And that was thylke tyme sene
For whan this pope, of whome I mene
was chose, and other set be syde
A Cardinal was thylke tyde
whiche the papate hath longe desyred
And therupon gretely conspired
But whan be sygh fortune is fayled
For which long time he hath trauailed
That ylke fyre, whiche Ethna brenneth
Through out his wofull hert renneth
whiche is resembled to enuye
wherof Supplaunt and trecherye
Engendred is. And netheles
He feyneth loue, he feyneth pes
Outwarde he doth the reuerence
But all within his conscyence
Through fals ymaginacyon
He thought Supplantacion
And therupon a wonder wyle
He wrought. For at thylke whyle
It fel so, that of his lynage
He hadde a Clergon yonge of age
whom he hath in his chamber affaited
This Cardynal his tyme hath waited
And with his wordes sly and queynt
The whiche he couth wisely peynt
He shope this clerke, of whiche I telle
Toward the Pope for to dwelle
So that within his chamber a nyght
He lay: and was a preuy wyght
Toward the Pope on nyghtes tyde
May no man fle, that shall be tyde
This Cardynall, whiche thought gyle
Vpon a day, whan he hath whyle
This yonge clerke vnto hym toke
And made hym swere vpon aboke
And tolde hym what his wylle was
And forth with al a Trompe of bras
He hath hym take, and bad hym this
Thou shalt he sayde, whan tyme is
Away to, and take ryght good kepe
whan that the Pope is fast a slepe
[...] that none other man be nye
And than that thou be so flye
[...]gh out the Trompe in to his ere
[...] as though a voys it were
[...]
[...]wne of suche p
[...]olacyon
[...] he his meditacion
[...] may make, and vnderstonde
A though it were of goddes soude
[...] this wyse thou shalt seye
[...] do thylke estate aweye
[...] of whiche he stant honoured
[...] had his sowle be socoured
[...] th
[...]lke worship at the last
[...], whiche shall euer last
¶
[...]is clerke, whan he hath herd the form
[...] he the pope shuld enform
[...] of the Cardinal his leue
[...]
[...]oth hym home, tyll it was eue
[...] p
[...]yuely the trompe he hedde
[...] that the pope was a bedde
A
[...]d at the mydnight, whan he knewe
The Pope slepte, than he blewe
within his Trompe through the wal
And tolde, in what maner he shall
His papacye leue, and take
His fyrste estate. And thus awake
This holy Pope he made thryes
wherof dyuers fantasyes
Vpon his great holynesse
within his hert he gan impresse
The pope full of Innocence
Conceyueth in his conscyence
That it is goddes wyl, he cese
But in what wyse he may relese
His hye estate, that wote he nought
And thus within him selfe he thought
He bare it stylle in his memorye
Tyll he cam to the Consystorye
And there in presence of hem all
He axeth: if it so befalle
That any Pope cesse wolde
Howe that the lawe it suffer shulde
They setten all stylle, and herde
was none, which to the poynt answerde
For to what purpos that it ment
There was no man knewe his entent
But onely he, whiche shop the gyle
This Cardynal the same whyle
All openly with wordes playne
Seyth: if the Pope woll ordeyne
That there be suche a lawe wrought
Than myght he cesse, and elles nought
And as he sayde, done it was
The pope anone vpon the cas
Of his papall auctorite
Hath made and yone the decre
And whan the lawe was confermed
In due forme, and all affermed
This innocent, whiche was deceyued
His papacye anone hath weyued
Renounced and resygned eke
That other was no thynge to seke
But vndreneth suche a iape
He hath so for hymselfe shape
That howe as euer it hym beseme
The myter, with the dyademe
He hath through supplentacyon
And in his confyrmacion
Vpon the fortune of his grace
His name was cleped Boniface
Vnder the vyser of enuye
Lo thus was hyd the trecherye
whiche hath begyled many one
But suche coūsayll there may be none
which treason, whan it is conspyred
That it his lyke the sparke fyred
Vp in the roofe, whiche for a throwe
Lyeth hyd, tyl whan the windes blowe
It blaseth out on euery syde
This Boniface, whiche can nought hyde
The trecherie of his supplaunt
Hath openly made his auaunt
Howe he the papacye hath wonne
But thing which is with wrong begōne
May neuer stonde wel at ende
where pryde shall the bowe bende
He sheteth ful ofte out of the weye
And thus the pope, of whome I seye
whan that he stode on highe the whele
He can not suffer hym selfe be wele
Enuye, whiche is loueles
And pryde, whiche is laweles
with suche tempestes made hym erre
That charite goth out of herre
So that vpon mysgouernaunce
Agaynst Lewys the kynge of Fraunce
He toke quarell of his oultrage
And sayde, he shuld done homage
Vnto the churche bodely
But he that wyst no thynge why
He shulde do so great seruyce
After the worlde in suche a wyse
withstood the wronge of that demaūd
For nought the Pope may commaund
The kynge woll not the pope obeye
This pope tho by all weye
That he may worche of vyolence
Hath sent the bulle of his sentence
with cursynge, and enterdyte
The kynge vpon this wrongfull plyte
To kepe his reigne from seruage
Counsayled was of his baronage
That myght with myght shall be with stōd
Thus was the cause tak on hōd
And sayden, that the papacye
They wolde honoure and magnyfye
In all that euer is spyrituall
But the ilke pryde temporall
Of Boniface in his persone
Ayene that ylke wronge alone
They wolden stonde in debate
And thus the man, and nought the state
The frenss he shopen by her myght
To greue: And fel there was a knyght
Syre Guillam de Langaret
whiche was vpon this cause set
And therupon he toke a route
Of men of armes, and rode oute
So longe, and in a w
[...]yte he laye
That he aspyed vpon a daye
The pope was at Auygnon
And shulde ryde out of the towne
Vnto Poursorge, the whiche is
A castell in Prouynce of his
Vpon the weye and as he rode
This knyght, whiche houed and abod
Embuisshed vpon horsbake
All sodenlyche vpon hym brake
And hath hym by the brydell sesed
And sayd: O thou, which hast dysesed
The courte of France by thy wronge
Thou shalt synge a new songe
Thyn enterdyte, and thy sentence
Ayen thyn owne conscyence
Here after thou shalt fele and grope
we playne nought ageyne the pope
For thylke name is honourable
But thou, whiche haste be deceyuable
And trecherous in all thy werke
Thou Boniface, thou proude clerke
My sleder of the papacye
Thy fals body shall abye
And suffer, that it hath deserued
¶ Lo thus this supplantor was serued
For they hym ladde in to Fraunce
And setten hym to his penaunce
withyn a toure in harde bondes
where he for honger both his hondes
Eate of: And dyed, god wote howe
Of whome the wrytynge is yet nowe
Regystred as a man maye here
whiche speketh and sayth in this maner
¶Thy entre lyke a fox was slygh
Thy reigne also with pryde on hygh
was lyche the lyon in his rage
But at the laste of thy passage
Thy deth was to the houndes lyke
Suche is the letter of his Cronyke
Proclaimed in the court of Rome
wherof the wyse ensample nome
And yet as ferforth as I dare
I rede all other men beware
And that they loke well algate
That none his owne estate translate
Of holy churche in no degre
By fraude ne subtylyte
For thilke honour whiche Aaron toke
Shall none receyue, as seyth the boke
But he beeleped, as he was
what shall I thynken in this cas
Of that I here nowe a day?
I not: but he whiche can and may
By reason both and by nature
The helpe of euery mans cure
He kepe Symon fro the folde.
¶Nota de prophecia Ioachim abbatis.
¶ For Ioachim, thylke abbot tolde
Howe suche dayes shulden falle
That comonlyche in places all
[...]
[...]hapmen of suche mercery
[...]to fraude, and with supplantary
So many shulden by and selle
[...] he ne may for shame telle
[...]
[...]oule a synne in mans ere
B
[...]t god forbede, that it were
[...] our dayes, that he seyth
[...] if the clerke be ware his fayth
[...]
[...]pin anhode at suche a feyre
[...]menaunt mote nedes empeyre
[...] that to the worlde belongeth
[...] whan that holy churche wrongeth
[...] what other thynge shall ryght
[...]
[...]etheles at manes syght
[...] for to be preferred
[...] conseyence so dyfferred
That no man loketh to the vyce
whiche is the moder of malyce
A
[...]d that is thylke fals enuye
[...]hiche causeth many a trecherye
[...] where he may another se
That is more gracious than he
It shall not stonden in his myght
But if he hinder suche a wyght
And that is well nyghe ouer all
This vyce is nowe so generall
¶ Qualiter Ioab priceps milicie Dauid inuidie [...] Abner subdole interfecit. Et qualiter etiā Achi [...]fell ob hoc, quod Cusi in Cōsilio Absolon [...] catu [...], accēsus inuidia laqueo se suspēdit.
¶ Enuye thylke vn hap in drough
whan Ioab by deceypt slough
Abner, for drede he shulde be
with kynge Dauid suche as was he
And through enuye also it felle
Of thylke fals Achitofelle
For his counseylle was not acheued
But that he sawe Cusy beleued
with Absolon, and hym forsake
He hynge hym selfe vpon a stake
¶ Senecke wytnesseth openly
Howe that enuye properly
Is of the court the comon wenche
And halt tauerne for to schence
That drynke, whiche maketh the hert brēne
And doth the wit about rēne
By euery wey to compasse
Howe that he myght all other passe
As he whiche through vnkyndshyp
Enuyeth euery felauship
So that thou myght well knowe & se
There is no vyce suche as he
Fyrste toward god abhominable
And to mankynde vnprofytable
And that by wordes but a fewe
I shall by reason proue and shewe.
Inuidie stimulus sine causa ledit abortus,
Nam sine temptante crimine crimen habet.
Non est huius opus temptare Cupidims archū,
Dum
(que) facies Veneris Ethnica flāma vo
[...]a
[...],
Abs
(que) rubore gene pallor quas fuscus obūb
[...]at,
Frigida naturae cetera membra docent.
¶Hic deseribit Confessor naturam inuidie iam in amore quā aliter secundum proprietatē vicū.
Gnuye if that I shall descryue
He is not shapely for to wyue
In erth amonge the women here
For there is in hym no mattere
wherof he myght do plesaunce
Fyrst for his heuy contenaunce
Of that he semeth euer vngladde
He is not able to be badde
And eke he brenneth so withyn
That kynde may no profyte wynne
wherof he shulde his loue please
For thylke blod, which shuld haue case
To regne amonge the moyste veynes
Is drye of thylke vnkyndely peynes
Through whiche enuye is fyred ay
And this by reason proue I may
That toward loue Enuy eis nought
And other wyse if it besought
Vpon what syde as euer it falle
It is the werst vyce of alle
whiche of hym selfe hath most malyce
For vnderstonde that euery vyce
Som cause hath, wherof it groweth
But of enuye no man knoweth
Fro whens he cam, but out of helle
For thus the wyse clerkes telle
That no spryte but of malyce
By wey of kynde vpon a vyce
Is tempted, and by suche a way
Enuye hath kynde put a waye
And of malyce hath his sturrynge
wherof he maketh his bakbytinge
And is hym selfe therof dyseased
So may there be no kynde pleased
For ay the more that he enuyeth
The more ayene hym selfe he plyeth
Thus stant Enuye in good espeyre
To ben hym selfe the dyuels heyre
As he whiche is the next lyche
And forthest from the heuen ryche
For there may he neuer wonne
¶ For thy my good dere sonne
If thou wolt fynde a syker weye
To loue: put enuye aweye
¶ Myn holy fader reason wolde
That I this vice eschewe shulde
But yet to strength my courage
If that ye wolde in auauntage
Therof set a recouere
It were to me a great desyre
That I this vice myght flee
¶ Nowe vnderstond my sonne, & see
There is physyke for the seke
And vertues for the vices eke
who that the vyces wolde eschewe
He mot by reason than sewe
The vertues. For by thylke weye
He may the vyces done aweye
For they to geder may not dwelle
For as the water of the welle
Of fyre abateth the malyce
Ryght so vertu fordoth the vyce
Ayene Enuye is Charyte
whiche is the moder of pyte
That maketh a mans hert tender
That it may no malyce engender
In hym, that is inclined therto
For his courage is tempred so
That though he might him selfe releue
yet wolde he not another greue
But rather for to do plesaunce
He bereth hym selfe the greuaunce
So fayne he wolde another ease
wherof my sonne for thyn ease
Nowe herken a tale, whiche I rede
And vnderstonde it well I rede.
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplū de vertute Chatitatis contra Inuidiam / Et narrat de Constantino Esene filio, qui cum Imperu Romani dignitaiem obtenue rat, a morb o lepre infectus medici pro sanitate recuperanda ipsum in sanguine puerororum masculo rum balneare proposuer [...]t, sed cum innumera multitudo matrum cum fu [...]e huiusmodi medicina causa in circuitu palac [...]i affuisset / Imperator (que) eorum gemitus & elamores percepisset, charitate motus ingemiscens sic a [...] O vere eft ipse dominus, qui se facit seruum pietatis. Et his dictis statum suum cunctipote [...]s medele committens, sui ipsius mordum [...]acius quam infancium mortem benignius elegit, vnde ipse qui antea paganus et leprosus extiterat, ex vnda baptismatis tenatus utrinus (que) materie tant corporis quam anime diuino miraculo consecutus est salutem.
AMonge the bokes of latyn
I fynde it wryt of Constantyne
The worthy emperour of Rome
Suche infortunes to hym come
whan he was in his lusty age
The leper caught in his vysage
And so forth ouer all aboute
That he ne myght ryden out
So left he both shelde and spere
As he that myght hym not bestere
And helde hym in his chamber close
Through all the worlde the fame arose
The great clerkes were assent
And com at his commaundement
To tret vpon this lordes hele
So longe they to geder dele
That they vpon this medicine
Appoynten hem, and determyne
That in the maner as it stode
They wolde hym bath in childes blod
within seuen wynter age
For as they sayen, that shulde assuage
The lepre, and all the violence
whiche that they knowe of accidence
And not by wey of kynde is falle
And therto they acorden alle
As for fynall conclusyon
And tolden her opinion
To themperour: And he an one
His counsayll toke, and therupon
with letters, and with seales out
They send in euery londe about
The yonge chyldren for to seche
whose blode, they sayd, shulde be leche
For themperours maladye
There was ynough to wepe and crye
Amonge the moders, whan they herde
Howe wofully this cause ferd
But netheles they mot howe
And thus women there come ynowe
with chyldren soukend on the tete
Th
[...] were many teres lete
But were hem lyefe, or were hem loth
The women and the thyldren both
Into the paleys forth he brought
with many a sory hertes thought
[...] hem whiche of her body bore
The chyldren hadde: and so forlore
[...] a while shulde se
[...] moders wepe in her degre
And many of hem a swoune falle
The yonge babyes cryeden alle
This noyse arose, this lorde it herde
And loked out, and how it ferde
He sawe: and as who sayde abrayde
O
[...]e of his slepe, and thus he sayde.
O thou dyuyne purueaunce
whiche euery man in the balaunce
Of kynde hast formed to be lyche
The pore is bore as is the ryche
And dieth in the same wyse
Vpon the fole vpon the wyse
Sekenesse and bele enter comune
May none eschewe that fortune
whiche kynde hath in her lawe sette
Her strengthe and beaute ben besette
To euery man a lyche free
That she preferreth no degree
As in the disposition
Of bodely complection
And eke of soule reasonable
The poore childe is bore as able
To vertue, as the kynges sonne
For euery man his owne wonne
After the lustes of his assaye
The vice or vertue chese maye
Thus stande all men fraunchysed
But in estate they ben deuysed
To somme worshyp and rychesse
To some pouerte and distresse
One lordeth, an other serueth
But yet as euery man deserueth
The worlde yeueth not his yeftes here
But certes he hath great matere
To be of good condicion
whiche hath in his subiection
The men, that ben of his semblaunce
And eke he toke his remembraunce
Howe he that made lawe of kynde
wolde euery man to lawe bynde
And badde a man, suche as he wolde
Toward hym selfe, ryght such he shuld
Towarde an other done also
¶And thus this worthy lorde as tho
Set in balaunce his owne estate
And with hym selfe stode in debate
And thought howe it was not good
To se so mochell mannes bloudde
Be spylte, by cause of hym alone
He sawe also the great mone
Of that the mother were vngladde
And of the wo the children made
wherof that his herte tendreth
And suche pitie within engendreth
That hym was leuer for to chese
His owne body for to lese
Than se so great a mourdre wrought
Vpon the bloud, which gilteth nought
This for the pyte, whiche he toke
All other leches he forsoke
And put hym out of auenture
Allonly to goddes cure
And sayth, who that woll mayster be
He mote be seruaunt to pite
So ferforth he was ouercome
with charite, that he hath nome
His counsayle, and his offycers
And badde vnto his treasourers
That they his treasour all about
Departe amonge the poore route
Of women, and of chyldren both
wherof they might hem fede and cloth
And saufely tournen home ageyne
without losse of any greyne
Through charite thus he dispendeth
His good, wherof he amendeth
The poore people, and countreuayleth
The harme, that he hem so trauayleth
And thus the wofull nyghtes sorowe
To ioye is torned on the morowe
All was thankynge, all was blyssynge
whiche erst was wepynge and cursynge
These women gone home glad inough
Echone for ioye on other lough
And prayde for this lordes hele
whiche hath released the quarele
And hath his owne wyll forsake
In charite for goddes sake
But nowe hereafter thou shalte here
what god hath wrought in this matere
As he that dothe all equyte
To hym that wrought charite
He was ayenewarde charitous
And to pite he was pytous
For it was neuer knowe yet
That charite gothe vnaquyt
The nyght whan he was layde to slepe
The hygh god, whiche wold hym kepe
Saynt Peter & saynt Poule hym sende
By whom he wolde his lepre amende
They two to hym slepende appere
Fro god, and sayd in this manere:
O Constantyn for thou hast serued
Pyte, thou hast pite deserued
For thy thou shalte suche pite haue
That god through pite woll the saue
Thou shalte so double hele fynde
Fyrste for thy bodelyche kynde
And for thy wofull soule also
Thou shalt be hole of both two
And for thou shalte not the despeyre
Thy lepre shall no more empeyre
Tyll thou wylte sende thervpon
Vnto the mount of Celyon
where Syluester and his clergye
To gyder dwellen in company
For drede of the, whiche many a day
Hast ben a so to Christes lay
And hast destroyed, to mochel shame
The prechours of his holy name
But now thou hast somdele appesed
Thy god, and with good dede plesed
That thou thy pyte hast bywaryd
Vpon the blod, which thou hast spared
For thy to thy saluacyon
Thou shalt haue Informacyon
Suche as Syluester shall the teche
The nedeth of none other leche
This Emperour, whiche all this herde
Graunt mercy lorde he answerde
I woll do so as ye me say
But of one thynge I wold pray
what shall I telle vnto Syluester
Of your name or of your ester?
And they hym tolde what they hyght
And forth with all out of his syght
They passen vp in to the heuen
And be awoke out of his sweuen
And clepeth, and men come anone
And tolde his dreme: and therupon
In suche a wyse as he hem telleth
The mount, where Syluester dwelleth
They haue in all haste sought
And foundē he was, & with hē brought
To themperour, whiche to hym tolde
His sweuen, and elles what he wolde
And whā Siluester hath herd the king
He was ryght ioyfull of this thyng
And hym began with all his witte
To techen vpon holy wrytte
Fyrst howe mankynde was forlore
And howe the hygh god therfore
His sonne send from aboue
whiche borne was for mans loue
And after of his owne choys
He toke his deth vpon the croys
And how in graue he was beloke
And howe that he hath helle broke
And toke hem out, that were hym leue
And for to make vs full beleue
That he was very goddes sonne
Ayene the kynde of mans wonne
Frodeth he rose the thyrde day
And whan he wolde, as he well may
He styghe vp to his father euen
with flesshe and bloudin to the heuen
And ryght so in the same forme
In flesshe and bloud he shall reforme
whan tyme cometh, the quycke & dede
At thylke wofull day of drede
where euery man shall take his dome
As well the mayster as the grome
The myghty kynges retenue
That day may stande of no value
with worldly strength to defende
For euery man mote than entende
To stande vpon his owne dedes
And
[...]ue all other mennes nedes
That day may no counsayle auayle
The pi
[...]dour and the plee shall fayle
[...]
[...]entence of that ylke daye
[...] none appele sette in delay
[...]ere may no golde the iudge plye
[...]at bene shall the soth trie
[...] setten euery man vpryght
As well the plowe man as the knyghte
The l
[...]nde man, the great clerke
Shall stonde vpon his owne werke
[...] suche as he is founde tho
S
[...]che shall he be for euermo
There may no peyne be released
There may no ioye ben encreased
[...] endeles as they haue do
He shall receyue one of two
¶ Thus Syluestre with his sawe
The grounde of all the newe lawe
with great deuocion he preacheth
F
[...] poynt to point and plainly techeth
Vnto this heathen emperour
And sayth: the hygh creatour
Hath vndersonge his charite
Of that he wrought suche pite
whan he the chyldren had on honde
Thus whan this lord hath vnderstōd
Of all this thynge howe that it ferde
Vnto Syluestre he than answerde
with all his holle herte, and seyth
That he is redy to the feyth
And so the vessell, whiche for bloud
was made, Syluestre, there it stode
with cleane water of the welle
In all haste he lette do felle
And sette Constantyne therinne
All naked vp to the chynne
And in the whyle it was begonne
A lyght, as though it were a sonne
Fro heuen in to the place come
where that he toke his christendome
And euer amonge the holy tales
Lyke as they weren fysshes scales
They fellen from hym nowe and efte
Tyll that there was nothynge belefte
Of all this great maladye
For he that wolde hym purifye
The hygh god hath made hym clene
So that there lefte nothynge sene
He hath hym clensed bothe two
The body and the soule also
Tho knewe this emperour in dede
That Christes feyth was for to drede
And sende anone his letters out
And lette do cryen all aboute
Vpon peyne of deth, that no mā weyue
That he baptysme ne receyue
After his mother quene Eleyne
He sende, and so betwene hem tweyne
They treaten, that the citie all
was christned, and she forth with all
This emperour, which hele hath foūd
within Rome anone lette founde
Two churches, whiche he dyd make
For Peter and for Poules sake
Of whome he hadde a vysion
And yafe therto possessyon
Of lordeshyppe, and of worldes good
But howe so that his wylle was good
Towarde the Pope and his fraunchyse
yet hath it proued otherwyse
To se the worchynge of the dede
For in cronyke thus I rede
Anone as he hath made the yefte
A voycee was herde on hygh the lefte
Of whiche all Rome was adradde
And sayd, this day venym is shadde
In holy churche of temporall
whiche medleth with the spirituall
And howe it stant of that degre
yet maye a man the sothe se
God may amende it, whan he wylle
I can therto none other skylle
But for to go there I began
Howe charite may helpe a man
To bothe worldes, I haue sayde
And if thou haue an eare layde
My sonne thou myght vnderstonde
If charitie be take on honde
There foloweth after mochel grace
For thy if that thou wylt purchace
Howe that thou myght enuy flee
Acqueynt the with charite
whiche is the vertue souerayne
¶ My father I shall do my peyne
For this ensample whiche ye tolde
with all myn herte I haue witholde
So that I shall for euermore
Eschewe enuye well the more
And that I haue or this mysdo
yeue me my penaunce or I go
And ouer that to my matere
Of shryfte, whyle ye sytten here
In priuete betwene vs tweye
Nowe aske, what there is I prey
Confessor.
¶ My good sonne, and for thy lore
I woll the telle, what is more
So that thou shalte the vices knowe
For whan they be to the full knowe
Thou might hem wel the better eschue
And for this cause I thynke fewe
The forme bothe and the matere
As nowe sewende thou shalte here
whiche vice stant nexte after this
And whan thou wost, howe that it is
As thou shalt bere my deuyse
Thou myght thy selfe better auyse.
Explicit liber secundus.
¶ Hic in tercio libro tractat super quin (que) speciebus ire, quarum prima melancolia dicitur / cuinvitium Confessor primo describens amati / super codem consequenter opponit.
¶ Incipit liber tertius.
Ira suis paribus est par furijs Acherontis,
Quo furor ad tempus nil pietatis haber,
Ira melancolicos animos perturbat, ut équo
Iure sui pondus nulla s
[...]atéra tenet.
Omnibus in causis grauat ira inter amantes
Illa magis facili sorte grauamen agit.
Est vbi uir discors leuiter
(que) repugnat amori,
Saepe loco ludi fletus ad ora uenit.
IF thou the vyces lyste to knowe
My sonne it hathe not be vnknowe
Fro fyrste that men theyr swerdes grounde
That there nis none vpon this grounde
A vyce forreyne fro the lawe
wherof that many a good felawe
Hath be distraught by sodeyne chaunce
And yet to kynde no pleasaunce
It dothe: but where he most acheueth
His purpose moste to kynde he greueth
As he, whiche out of conscience
Is ennemy vnto pacyence
And is by name one of the seuen
whiche ofte hath set the worlde vneuen
And cleped is the cruell ire
whose herte is euermore on fyre
To speke amysse, and to do bothe
For his seruauntes ben euer wrothe
¶ My good father telle me this
what thynge is ire? Sonne it is
That in our englysshe wrath is hote
whiche hath his wordes ay so hote
That all a mannes pacyence
Is fyred of the vyolence
For he with hym hath euer fyue
Seruauntes, that helpen hym to stryue
The fyrst of hem melancoly
Is cleped, whiche in company
An honderde tymes in an houre
woll as an angry beast soure
And no man wote the cause why
My sonne shryue the nowe for thy
Hast thou be melancholyen?
¶ My father ye by seynt Iulyen
But I vntrewe wordes vse
I may me not therof excuse
And all maketh loue well I wote
Of whiche myn herte is euer hote
So that I brenne as doth a glede
For wrath, that I may not spede
And thus full ofte a day for nought
(Saufe onlyche of myn owne thought)
I am so with my seluen wroth
That howe so that the game goth
with other men I am not gladde
But I am well the more vngladde
For that is other mens game
It tourneth me to pure grame
Thus am I with my selfe oppressed
Of thought, whiche I haue impressed
That all wakynge I dreme and mete
That I alone with her mete
And pray her of some good answere
But for she wolde not gladly swere
She sayth me naye withouten othe
And thus waxe I within wroth
That outwarde I am all affrayed
And so distempered, and so esmayed
A thousande tymes on a daye
There sowneth in myn eares nay
The whiche she sayde me tofore
Thus be my wyttes all forlore
[...]
[...]nely whan I begynne
[...]cken with my selfe withinne
Howe many yeres ben agone
[...] I haue truely loued one
And neuer toke of her other hede
And euer a lyche for to spede
[...] the more I with her deale
[...] that my hap, and all my heale
[...] thinketh is ay the lenger the ferre
[...]
[...]ngeth my gladship out of erre
[...] of my wyttes ben empeyred
And I, as who sayth, all dispcired
For
[...]tly whan that I muse
And thynke, howe she woll me refuse
I am with anger so bestadde
[...] this worlde myght I be gladde
[...] for the while that it lasteth
[...] so downe my ioye it casteth
And by the forther that I be
(whan I ne may my lady se)
The more I am redy to wrathe
That for the touchynge of a lath
Or for the tournynge of a stre
I wode as doth the wylde see
And
[...]m so melancolyous
That there nys seruaunt in myne house
Ne none of tho, that be aboute
That eche of hem ne stant in doubte
And wenen, that I shulde raue
For angre, that they se me haue
And so they wondre more and lasse
That they seen it ouerpasse
But father, if it so betyde
That I approche at any tyde
The place, where my lady is
And than her lyketh ywys
To speke a goodly worde vnto me
For all the golde that is in Rome
Ne couth I after that be wroth
But all myn angre ouer gothe
So gladde I am of the presence
Of her, that I all offence
Foryete, as though it were nought
So ouer glad is my thought
And netheles, the sothe to telle
Ayenewarde if it so befelle
That I at thylke tyme sye
On me, that she my seaste her eye
Or that she lyst not loke
And I therof good hede toke
Anone into my fyrste estate
I tourne, and am with that also mate
That euer it is a lyche wycke
And thus myn honde ayene the prycke
I hurte, and haue done many a day
And go so forth as I go may
Full ofte bytynge on my lyppe
And make vnto my selfe a whyppe
with whiche in many a chele and hete
My wofull herte is so to beate
That all my wyttes ben vnsofte
And I am wrothe, I not how ofte
And all it is melancolye
whiche groweth on the fantasye
Of loue, that me woll not loute
So beare I forthe an angry snoute
Fulle many tymes in a yere
But father nowe ye sytten here
In Loues stede, I you beseche
That some ensample ye me teche
wherof I may my selfe appease
Confessor,
¶My sonne for thyn hertes ease
I shall fulfyll thy prayere
So that thou myght the better lere
what mischiefe that this vice stereth
whiche in his anger nought forbeareth
wherof that after hym forthynketh
whan he is sobre, and that he thynketh
Vpon the foly of his dede
And of this poynt a tale I rede.
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos / qui cum vires amoris non sunt realiter experti contra alios amantes melancolica seueritate ad it acnndiā vindicte prouocantur, Et narrat qualiter rex [...]olus filium nomine Machareum et filiam nomine Canacem habuit / qui cum ab infantia vs (que) pubertaiem inuicem fuerant educati, Cupido tandē cum ignito iaculo amborum cordis desideria amorose penetrauit / ita ꝙ natura Canacis cooperante a fratre suo inpregnata par turit, super quo pater intollerabilem inuentutis concupiscentiam ignorans / nimia (que) furoris melancolia preuentus / dictam filiam cum partu delorisissimo casu interfeci diuidicauit.
¶There was a kynge, whiche Eolus
was hote: and it befell hym thus
That he two children had fayre
The sonne cleped was Machayre
The doughter eke Canace hyght
By day bothe and eke by nyght
whyle they be yonge of cōmon wonne
In chambre they to gether wonne
And as they shulden pleyd hem ofte
Tyll they be growen vp alofte
In the yongthe of lusty age
whan kynde assaileth the courage
with loue, and doth hym for to bowe
That he no reason can allowe
But halte the lawes of nature
For whome that loue hath vnder cure
As he is blynde hym selfe, ryght so
He maketh his clyent blynde also
In suche maner, as I you telle
As they all day to gether dwelle
This brother myght it not asterte
That he with all his hole herte
His loue vpon his syster cast
And so it felle hem at the laste
That this Machayre with Canace
whan they were in a preuy place
Cupyde ba
[...] hem fyrst to kysse
And after she, whiche is maystrysse
In kynde, and teacheth euery lyfe
without lawe positife
Of which she taketh no maner charge
But kepeth her lawes all at large
Nature toke hem in to lore
And taught hem so, that ouermore
She hath hem in suche a wyse daunted
That they were, as who saith, enchāted
And as the blynde an other ledeth
And tyll they falle nothynge dredeth
Ryght so they had none in syght
But as a byrde, whiche woll a lyght
And seeth the meate, and not the nette
whiche in deceyt of hym is sette
These yonge folke no peryll sye
But all was lykynge in her eye
In that they felle vpon the chaunce
where wyt hath lore his remembrance
So longe they to gether assemble
The wombe arose, & she gan to tremble
And helde her in her chambre close
For drede it shulde be disclose
And come vnto her fathers care
wherof the sonne had also fere
And feyneth cause for to ryde
For longe durst he not abyde
In aunter if men woll seyne
That he his syster hath forleyne
For yet she had it not be knowe
whose was the childe at thylke throwe
Machayre goth, Canace abyt
The whiche was not delyuered yet
But ryght sone after that, she was
¶ Nowe list and herken a wofull cas
The soth, whiche may not ben hyd
was at laste knowe and kydde
Vnto the kynge, howe that it stode
And whan that he it vnderstode
Anone into Melancolye
As though it were a frenesye
He felle, as he whiche nothynge couthe
Howe maysterfull Loue is in youthe
And for he was to loue straunge
He wolde not his herte chaunge
To be benigne and fauourable
To Loue, but vnmerciable
Betwene the wawe of wode and wroth
In to his doughters chambre he gothe
And sye the childe was late bore
wherof he hath his othe swore
That she it shall full sore abye
And she beganne mercy to crye
Vpon her bare knees, and prayde
And to her father thus she sayde
Haue mercy father, thynke I am
Thy childe, and of thy bloud I cam
That I mysdede, youth it made
And in the flouddes bad me wade
where that I sawe no peryll tho
But nowe it is befalle so
Mercy my father, do no wreche
And with that worde she loste speche
And felle downe swouned at his fote
As she for sorowe nedes mote
But his horrible crueltie
That myght attempte no pitie
Out of her chambre forth he wente
All full of wrath in his entente
And toke the counsayle in his herte
That she shall not the deth asterte
And he, whiche is melancolyen
Of pacyence hath not lyen
wherof he may his wrath restreyne
And in this wylde wode peyne
whan all his reason was vntame
A kn
[...]ght he cleped by his name
And toke hym, as by wey of sonde
A naked swerde, to beare on honde
And sayde hym, that he shulde go
And telle vnto his doughter so
In the maner as he hym bade
Howe she that sharpe swerdes blade
Receyue shulde, and do withall
So that she wote where to she shall
Forth in message goth this knyght
Vnto this wofull yonge wyght
This sharpe swerde to her he toke
wherof that all her body quoke
For well she wyst what it ment
And that it was to thylke entent
That she her seluen shulde slee
And to the knyght she sayde ye
Nowe that I wote my fathers wyll
That I shall in this wyse spyll
I wyll obeye me therto
And as he woll it shall be do
But now this thing may be none other
I woll a letter vnto my brother
So as my feble hande may wryte
with all my wofull herte endyte
She toke a penne on honde tho
Fro poynt to poynt and all the wo
As ferforth as her selfe it wote
Vnto her deadly frende she wrote
And tolde howe that her fathers grace
She myght for nothynge purchace
And ouer that as thou shalt here
She wrote and sayd in this manere
¶ O thou my sorowe, and my gladnes
O thou my hele, and my syckenes
O thou my wanhope, and my trust
O thou my disese, and all my lust
O thou my wele, O thou my wo
O thou my frende, O thou my fo
O thou my loue, O thou my hate
For the mote I be deade algate
Thylke ende may I not asterte
And yet with all myn holle herte
while that there lasteth me any breath
I woll the loue vnto my death
But of o thynge I shall the preye
If that my lytell sonne deye
Let hym be buryed in my graue
Besyde me, so shalte thou haue
Vpon vs both remembraunce
For thus it stondeth of my greuaunce
Nowe at this tyme, as thou shalt wite
with teares, and with inke wryte
This letter I haue in cares colde
In my right honde my penne I holde
And in my lefte my swerde I kepe
And in my barme there lyeth to wepe
Thy chylde & myn, whiche sobbeth fast
Nowe am I come vnto my last
Fare well: for I shall sone dye
And thynke howe I thy loue abye
The pomell of the swerde to grounde
She set: and with the poynt a wounde
Through out her hert anone she made
And forth with all pale and fade
She felle downe deed fro ther she stode
The childe lay bathende in her bloude
Out rolled from the mother barme
And for the bloud was bote & warme
He basketh hym about therin
Ther was no bote for to wynne
For whiche he can no pyte knowe
The kynge cam in the same throwe
And sawe howe that his doughter died
And howe this baby all blody cryed
But all that myght hym not suffyse
That he ne badde to do Iuyse
Vpon the chylde, and bere hym out
And seche in the forest aboute
Som wylde place that it were
To cast hym out of honde there
So that some beste hym may deuoure
where as no man hym shall socure
All that he badde was done in dede
A who harde euer synge or rede
Of suche a thynge, as tho was do
But he, whiche ladde his wrath so
Hath knowe of loue but a lyte
But for all that he was to wyte
Through his sodeyne melancolye
To do so great a felonye.
¶ For thy my sonne, howe so it stonde
By this cas thou myght vnderstonde
That if thou euer in cause of loue
Shalt deme, and thou be so aboue
That thou myght leade it at thy wylle
Let neuer through thy wrath spylle
whiche euery kinde shulde saue
For it syt euery man to haue
Rewarde to loue and to his myght
Ayenst whos strengthe may no wyght
And sith an hert is so streined
The reddour ought to be restreined
To hym that may bet aweye
whan he mote to nature obeye
For it is sayde thus ouerall
That nedes mote, that nedes shall
Of that a lyfe doth after kynde
wherof he may no bote fynde
what thinge nature hath set in lawe
Ther may no mans myght withdrawe
And who that worcheth there ayene
Full ofte tyme it hath be seyne
There hath befalle great vengeaunce
wherof I fynde a remembraunce.
¶ Hic narrat qualiter Tiresias in quodam mō te duos serppentes inuenit pariter commiscentes quos cum virga percussit, Irati dil ob hoc, & naturam impediuit, ipsum contra naturam a forma virili immuliebrem transmutarunt.
¶ Ouide after the tyme tho
Tolde an ensample, and sayde so
Howe that whylom Tiresyas
As he walkend goth par cas
Vpon an hygh mounteyne, he sygh
Two serpentes in his wey
[...] nyghe
And they so, as nature hem taught
Assembled were, and he tho cought
A yerde, whiche he bare on honde
And thought, that he wolde fonde
To lette hem, and smote hem bothe
wherof the goddes weren wrothe
And for he hath destourbed kynde
And was so to nature vnkynde
Vnkyndelyche he was transformed
That he, which erst a man was formed
In to a woman was forshape
That was to hym an angry iape
But for that he with anger wrought
His anger angerlyche he bought
Confessor.
¶ Lo thus my son Ouide hath wryte
wherof thou myght by reason wyte
More is a man than suche a best
So myght it neuer ben honest
A man to wrathen hym to sore
Of that another doth the lore
Of kynde, in whiche is no malyce
But onely that it is a vyce
And though a man be resonable
yet after kynde he is meuable
To loue, where he woll or none
Thynke thou my sonne therupon
And do melancolye aweye
For loue hath euer his luste to pleye
As he whiche wold no lyfe greue.
Amans.
¶ My fader that I may well leue
All that ye telle, it is skylle
Let euery man loue, as he wylle
Be so it be not my lady
For I shall not be wroth there by
But that I wrath and fare amys
Alone vpon my selfe it is
That I with bothe loue and kynde
I am so bestad, that I can fynde
No wey, howe I it may asterte
whiche stant vpon myn owne hert
And toucheth to none or her lyfe
Sauf onely to that swete wyfe
For whome, but if it be amended
My gladde dayes ben dispended
That I my selfe shall not forbere
The wrathe, whiche I nowe bere
For therof is none other lyche
Nowe asketh forth I yowe beseche
Of wrathe, if there ought elles is
wherof to shryue. Sonne yis
[...] litem, que linguae frena resoluens,
[...] infames currit vbi
(que) vias.
[...] mitrix quos educat ista loquaces,
[...] a latere linquit habere vagos
[...] agens tacit
[...] no qui celet ore,
[...]
[...]ptan carpit amoris iter.
[...] super secunda specie ire [...] ex cuius cōturelus innumerosa [...] tam in amoris causa qūi aliter [...] sepissime exorta est.
OF wrath the second is chest
which hath the wyndes of tēpest
To kepe, and mani a sodeine blast
He bloweth, wherof ben agast
[...]
[...]hat desyren pes and reste
H
[...] is that ylke vngoodly este
[...] many a lusty loue hath twynned
[...] hereth euer his mouth vnpinned
[...]
[...]hat his lyppes ben vnloke
And his courage is all to broke
That euery thynge, whiche he can telle
It springeth vp as doth a welle
w
[...]che may no man of his stremes hide
B
[...] renneth out on euery syde
S
[...] boylen vp the foule sawes
That cheste wote of his felawes
For as a syue kepeth Ale
R
[...]ght so can cheste kepe a tale
All that he wote, he woll dysclose
And speke er any man oppose
As a cyte withoute walle
where men may gon out oueralle
withouten any resystence
So with his croked eloquence
He speketh all, that he wote with ynne
wherof men lese more than wynne
For often tyme of his chydinge
He bryngeth to hous suche tydynge
That maketh werre at beddes bede
He is the leueyn of the brede
whiche soureth all the past about
Men ought well suche one to doute
For euer his bowe is redy bent
And whome he hyt, I tell hym shent
If he may perce hym with his tonge
And eke so loude his belle is ronge
That of the noyse, and of the soune
Men feren hym in all the towne
well more than they done of thonder
For that is cause of more wonder
For with the windes which he bloweth
Full ofte syth he ouer throweth
The Cytees, and the polycye
That I haue herde the people crye
And echone sayde in his degre
Ha wycke tonge wo thou be
For men sayn, that the harde bone
All though hym selfe haue none
A tonge breaketh it all to pyeces
He hath so many sondry spices
Of vyce, that I may not wel
Descriue hem by a thousand dele
But whan that he to cheste falleth
Full many a wonder thynge befalleth
For he ne can no thynge forbere
Nowe telle my sonne thyn answere
If it hath euer so betyde
That thou at any tyme hast chyd
Toward thy loue. Fader naye
Suche cheste yet vnto this daye
Ne made I neuer, god forbede
For er I synge suche a crede
I hadde leuer to be lewed
For than were I all beshrewed
And worthy to be put a backe
with all the sorowe vpon my backe
That any man ordeyne couthe
But I spake neuer yet by mouthe
That vnto chest myght touche
And that I durst ryght wel vouche
Vpon her selfe, as for wytnes
For I wote of her gentilnes
That she me wold wel excuse
That I no suche thynges vse
And if it shulde so betyde
That I algates must chyde
It myght not be to my loue
For so yet neuer was I aboue
For all this wyde worlde to wynne
That I durst any worde begynne
By which she myght haue be amoued
And I of cheste also reproued
But rather if it myght her lyke
The beste wordes wolde I pyke
whiche I couthe in myn hert chese
And serue hem forth in stede of chese
For that is helpelyche to defye
And I wolde so my wordes plye
That myghten wrath and cheste auale
with tellynge of my softe tale
Thus dar I make a forward
That neuer vnto my lady ward
yet spake I word in suche a wyse
wherof that chest shulde aryse
Thus say I not, that I full ofte
Ne haue, whan I spake moste softe
Parcas sayde more than ynough
But so well halt no man the plough
That he ne balketh other whyle
Ne so wel can no man affyle
His tong, that somtyme in rape
Hym may some lyght worde ouerscape
And yet ne meneth he no cheste
But that I haue ayene her best
Full ofte spoke, I am beknowe
And howe my wylle is that ye knowe
For whan my tyme cometh about
That I dar speke, and say all out
My longe loue, of whiche she wot
That euer in one alyche hot
Me greueth: than all my dysese
I telle: and though it her dysplese
I speke it forth, and nought ne leue
And though it be besyde her leue
I hope and trowe netheles
That I do not ayene the pes
For though I telle her all my thought
She wot well, that I chyde nought
Men may the hyghe god beseche
And he wol here a mans speche
And he not wroth of that he seyth
So yeueth it me the more feyth
And maketh me hardy soth to sey
That I dar wel the better prey
My lady, whiche a woman is
For though I telle her that er is
Of loue, whiche me greueth sore
Her ought not be wroth the more
For I without noyse or crye
My playnt make all buxomly
To putten all wrath away
Thus dar I say vnto this day
Of cheste, in ernest or in game
My lady shall me no thynge blame
But ofte tyme it bath betyde
That with my seluen I haue chid
That no man couthe better chyde
And that hath ben at euery tyde
whan I cam to my selue allone
For than I made a preuy mone
And euery tale by and by
whiche as I spake to my lady
I thynke and peyse in my balaunce
And drawe in to my remembraunce
And than, if that I fynde a lacke
Of any worde, that I my spake
whiche was to moche in any wyse
Anone my wyttes I despyse
And make a chyding in myn hert
That any worde me shulde asterte
whiche as I shuld haue holden ynne
And soforth after I begynne
And loke if there was elles ought
To speke, and I ne spake it nought
And than if I may seche and fynde
That any worde be lefte behynde
whiche as I shulde more haue spoke
I wolde vpon my selfe be wroke
And chyde with my selfen so
That all my wyt is ouer go
For no man maye his tyme lore
Recouer: and thus I am therfoe
So ouer wroth in all my thought
That I my selfe chyde all to nought
That for to moche, or for to lyte
Full ofte I am my selfe to wyt
But all that may me not auayle
with cheste though I me trauayle
But oule on stoke, and stoke on oule
The more that a man defoule
Men wote wel whiche hath the werse
And so to me nis worth a kerse
But torneth vnto myn owne hede
Though I telle, that I were dede
wolde euer chyde in suche a wyse
Of loue, as I to you deuyse
¶But fader nowe ye haue all herd
In this maner howe I haue ferd
Of cheste, and of dyssencyon
yeue me your absolucyon
Confessor.
¶My sonne if that thou wystest all
what cheste doth in speciall
To loue, and to his welwyllinge
Thou woldest fleen his knowlegeynge
For who that most can speke fayre
And lerne to be debonayre
Is most acordende vnto loue
Fayre speche hath ofte brought aboue
Full many a man, as it is knowe
whiche elles shuld haue ben right lowe
And fayled mochel of his wylle
For thy holde thy tonge stylle
And lete thy wytte thy wylle reste
So that thou falle not in cheste
which is the sours of great dystaunce
And take in to remembraunce
If thou myght gete Pacyence
whiche is the leche of all offence
As tellen vs the olde wyse
¶ Paciencia est vindicta omnium iniuriarum.
For whan nought elles may suffyse
By strengthe, ne by mans wyt
Than Pacyence it ouer syt
And ouer cometh at laste
But he may neuer longe laste
whiche woll not bowe er that he breke
Take hede sonne of that I speke
Amans.
¶My fader of your goodly speche
And of the wytte, whiche ye me teche
I thanke you with all myn hert
For that word shall me neuer astert
That I ne shall your wordes holde
Of Pacyence, as ye me tolde
Als ferforth as myn hert thynketh
And of my wrath it me forthynketh
But father if ye forth with all
Some good ensample, in specyall
Me wolden teche of some Cronyke
It shulde well myn hert lyke
Of Pacyence for to here
So that I myght in my mater
The more vnto my loue obeye
And putten my disese aweye
¶Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum de paciencia in amore contra lites habenda, Et narrat qualiter Vxor Socratis ipsum quodam die mustie sermonibus litigauit, Sed cum ipse abs (que) vlla responsione omnia probra pacienter sustulit / indignata Vxor quandam ydriam plenam aque / quam in manu tenebat, super caput viri sui subito effudit, dicens: Euigila et loquere / qui respō dens tunc ait. O vere iam scio / et expertus sum, quod post ventorum rabiem sequuntur imbres. Et isto modo litis contumeliam sua paciencia deuicit.
Confessor.
My sonne a man to bye hympes
Behoueth suffer as Socrates
Ensample left, whiche is wryte
And for thou shalt the soth wyte
Of this ensample, what I mene
All though it be nowe lytell sene
Amonge the men thylke euydence
Yet he was vpon pacyence
So set, that he hym selfe assay
In thinge, whiche myght him most mispay
Desyreth, and a wikked wyfe
He weddeth, which in sorow and stryfe
Ageynst his ease was contrayre
But he spake euer softe and fayre
Tyll it befelle, as it is tolde
In wynter, whan the day is colde
This wyfe was fro the welle come
where that a pot with water nome
She hath, and brought it in to howse
And sawe howe that her sely spouse
was set, and loked on a boke
Nygh to the fyre, as he whiche toke
His ease, as for a man of age
And she began the wood rage
And axeth hym, what diuel he thought
And bare on hond, that hym ne rought
what labour that she toke on honde
And sayth, that suche an husbonde
was to a wyfe not worth a stre
He sayd nother nay ne ye
But helde hym stille, and lete her chyde
And she, which may her selfe not hyde
Began within for to swelle
And that she brought in fro the welle
The water pot she hent a lofte
And badde hym speke, and he all softe
Sat stylle, and nought a word answerd
And she was wroth, that he so ferd
And axeth hym, if he be dede
And all the water on his hede
She poured out, and bad hym a wake
But he, whiche woll not forsake
His pacience, than spake
And sayde, howe that he fond no lake
In no thynge whiche she hadde do
For it was wynter tyme tho
And wynter, as by wey of kynde
whiche stormy is, as men it fynde
Fyrste maketh the windes for to blowe
And after that within a throwe
He reyneth, and the water gates
Vndoth, and thus my wyfe algates
whiche is with reason well beseyn
Hath made me bothe wynde and reyn
After the season of the yere
And than he set hym ner the fyre
And as he myght his clothes dryed
That he nomore o worde ne seyd
wherof he gat hym somdele rest
For that hym thought was for the best
¶I not if thylke ensample yet
Acordeth with a mans wyt
To suffer, as Sosacrates dede
And if it fal in any stede
A man to lese so his galle
Hym ought amonge the women alle
In Loues court, by Iugement
The name bere of pacient
To yeue ensample to the good
Of pacience howe that it stode
That other men it myght knowe
Amans.
¶And sonne if thou at any throwe
Be tempted ayenst pacyence
Take hede vpon this euidence
It shall par case the lesse greue
Amans.
¶My fader so as I beleue
Of that shall be no maner nede
For I woll take so good hede
That er I fall in suche assay
I thynke eschewe, if that I may
But if there be ought elles more
wherof I myght take lore
I pray you, so as I dare
Nowe telleth, that I may beware
Some other tale of this matter
Confessor.
¶Sonne it is euer good to lere
wherof thou myght thy word restreyne
Er that thou falle in any peyne
For who that can no counseyl hyde
He may not fayle of wo besyde
whiche shall befalle, er he it wyte
As I fynde in the bokes wryte
¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum quod de alterius lite intromittere cauendum est. Et narrat qualiter Iupiter cum Iunone super quadam que sitione litigabant / videlicet vtrum vir an mulier in amoris concupiscentia feruencius ardebat: super quo Tiresiam eorum Iudicem constituebant Et qui ille contra Iunonem in dicte litis causa sentenciam diffiniuit, irata de ipse deum amborum oculorum lumme claritatis abs (que) remissione priuauit.
Confessor.
¶Yet cam there neuer good of stryfe
To seche in all a mans lyfe
Though it begyn on pure game
Full ofte it torneth in to grame
And doth greuaunce on som syde
wherof the great clerke Ouide
After the lawe, whiche was tho
Of Iupiter and of Iuno
Maketh in his bokes mencion
Howe they felle at dissencyon
In maner as it were a borde
As they began for to worde
Amonge hem selfe in pryuete
And that was vpon this degre
whiche of the two more amorous is
Or man or wyfe, And vpon this
They myght not acorde in one
And toke a Iuge therupon
whiche cleped is Tyresyas
And bad hym demen in this cas
And he withoute auysement
Avene Iuno gafe Iugement
This goddes, vpon his answere
was wrothe, and wolde not forbere
But toke awey for euermo
The lyght frome both his eyen two
whan Iupiter this hurt hath sene
Another benefyte there ayene
He yafe, and suche a grace hym doth
That for he wyste be sayde soth
A
[...]oth sayer he was for euer
But yet that other were leuer
[...]ue hadde the lokynge of his eye
Than of his worde the prophecye
But howe so that the loth went
[...] was the cause, of that he hent
So great a peyne bodyly
¶
[...] sonne be thou ware there by
And holde thy tonge stylle close
For who that hath his worde dysclose
[...] he wyte what he mene
[...] full ofte nyghe his tene
[...] leseth full many tyme grace
[...] that he wold his thank purchace
And ouer this my sonne dere
[...] other men, if thou myght here
[...] priuyte, what they haue wrought
[...] counseyl, and dyscouer it nought
For cheste can no coūseyl hele
Or be it wo or be it wele
And take a tale in to thy mynde
The whiche of olde ensample I fynde.
¶ [...] Confessor exemplum contra illos, [...] causa allterius consilium reuelare [...]. Et narrat, qualiter quedā auis tunc [...] [...]mine Cornus, consilium domine sue [...] denudauit: vnde cōtigit non so [...] [...] Coronidem interfect, sed et Coruum, [...] tanquam nix albus fuit, in piceum co [...]rem pro perpetou transmutari.
Phebus, which maketh the dais light
A loue he had, whiche tho byght
Coronis, whom abouen all.
He pleseth. But what shall befalle
Of loue, there is no man knoweth
But as fortune her happes throweth
So it befell vpon a chaunce
A yong knyght toke her acqueintaunce
And had of her all that he wolde
But a fals byrd, which she hath holde
And kept in chambre of pure youthe
Dyscouerith all that euer he couthe
The byrdes name was as tho
Coruus, the whiche was than also
well more whyte than any swan
And he the shrewe all that he can
Of his lady to Phebus sayde
And he for wrath his swerd out braide
with whiche Coromde anone he slough
But after, hym was wo ynough
And toke full great repentaunce
wherof in token and remembraunce
Of hem, whiche vsen wycke speche
Vpon this byrde he toke his wreche
That there he was snowe whyte tofore
Euer afterwarde cole blake therfore
He was transformed, as it sheweth
And many a man yet hym beshreweth
And clepen hym in to this day
A Rauen, by whome yet men may
Take euydence, whan he crieth
That some my shap it sygnifyeth
Beware therfore, and say the best
If thou wolt be thy selfe in rest
My good sonne, as I the rede
¶Hic soquitur super eodem, Et narrat qualiter Lara Nimpha eo quod Iupiter Iuturnam abulterauit / Iunoni Ionis vxori secretum reuelauit. Qua propter Iupiter ira commotus singua Laris prins abscisa / ipsam postea in profundum Acherontis exulem pro perpetuo mancipauit.
¶Lo in another place I rede
Of thilk Nymphe, which Lara hyght
For she the priuete by nyght
(How Iupiter lay by Iuturne)
Hath told: god made her ouertorne
Her tonge he cut, and in to helle
For euer he sent her for to dwelle
As she that was not worthy here
To ben of loue a chambrere
For she no counsayle couth bele
And suche a dayes be nowe fele
In loues courte, as it is sayde
That lette her tonges gone vnteyde
My sonne be thou none of tho
To iangle, and telle tales so
And namely that thou ne chyde
For cheste can no counsayle hyde
For wrathe sayde neuer wele
¶ My father sothe is euery dele
That ye me teche: and I woll holde
The rule, whiche I am holde
To flee the cheste, as ye me bydde
For well is hym, that neuer chydde
Nowe telle me forth if there be more
As touchynge vnto wrathes lore.
Daemonis est odium, quasi scriba cui dabit ira
Materiam scripti cordis ad antra sui.
Non laxabit amor, odii quem frena restringunt
Nec secreta sui iuris adire sciuit.
¶Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie ire, que odiū dicitur: cuius natura omnes ire inimicitias ad mentem reducens issas vs (que) ad tempus vindic te, vefut scriba demonis in cordis papiro commemorandas inserit.
¶Of wrathe yet there is an other
whiche is to cheste his owne brother
And is by name cleped hate
That suffereth not within his gate
That there come other loue or peace
For he woll make no release
Of no debate whiche is befalle
Nowe speke if thou arte one of all
That with this vice hath he witholde
¶As yet for ought that ye me tolde
My father I not what it is
¶In good fayth sonne I trowe yis
¶My father nay but ye me lere
¶Nowe lyst my son & thou shalt here
Hate is a wrath, not shewende
But of longe tyme gatherende
And dwelleth in the herte loken
Tyll he see tyme to be wroken
And than he sheweth his tempest
More sodeyne than the wylde beast
whiche wote nothynge, what mercy is
My sonne arte thou knowen of this?
¶My good father, as I wene
Nowe wote I somedele what ye mene
But I dare saufely make an othe
My lady was me neuer lothe
I woll not swere netheles
That I of bate am gylteles
For whan I to my lady plye
Fro day to day, and mercy crye
And she no mercy on me leyth
But shorte wordes to me seyth
Though I my lady loue algate
Tho wordes mote I nedes hate
And wolde they were all dispent
Or so ferre out of londe went
That I neuer after shulde hem here
And yet loue I my lady dere
Thus is there hate, as ye may se
Betwene my ladyes worde, and me
The worde I hate, and her I loue
what so shall me betyde of loue
But furthermore I woll me shryue
That I haue hated all my lyue
These ianglers, whiche of her enuye
Ben euer redy for to lye
For with her false compassement
Full often they haue made me shent
And hyndred me full ofte tyme
whan they no cause wyste byme
But onlyche of her owne thought
And thus full ofte haue I bought
The lye, and dronke not of the wyne
I wolde her happe were suche as myne
For howe so that I be nowe shriue
To hem may I nought foryeue
Tylle I se hem at debate
with loue, and with myn estate
They myghten by her owne deme
And loke how wel it shuld hem queme
To hyndre a man, that loueth sore
And thus I hate hem euermore
Tyl loue on hem wold done his wreche
For that shall I alway beseche
Vnto the myghty Cupydo
That he so mochel wolde do
(So as he is of loue a god)
To smyte hem with the same rod
with whiche I am of loue smyten
So that they myght knowe and wyten
Howe byndrynge is a wofull peyne
To hym, that loue wold atteyne
Thus euer on hem I wayte and hope
Tyll I may sene hem lepe a lope
And halten on the same sore
whiche I do nowe for euermore
I wolde than do my myght
So for to stonden in her lyghte
That they ne shulden haue awey
To that, they wolden put awey
I wolde hem put out of the stede
Fro loue, ryght as they me dede
with that they speke of me by mouthe
So wolde I do, if that I couth
Of hem, and thus so god me saue
Is all the hate, that I haue
Towarde the ianglers euery dele
I wolde all other ferde wele
Thus haue I father, sayd my wylle
Say forth nowe for I am stylle
¶My sonne of that thou hast me sayd
I holde me nought fully payde
That thou wolte haten any man
To that accorden I ne can
Though he haue hyndred the tofore
But this I telle the therfore
Thou myght vpon my benyson
well haten the condicion
Of the ianglers, as thou me toldest
But furthermore, of that thou woldest
Hem byndre in any other wyse
Suche hate is euer to despyse
For thy my sonne I wolde the rede
That thou drawe in by frendely hede
That thou ne myght not do by hate
So myght thou gete loue algate
And sette the my sonne in rest
For thou shalte fynde it for the best
And ouer this so as I dare
I rede, that thou be ryght ware
Of other mens hate about
whiche euery wyse man shulde dout
For hate is euer vpon awayte
And as the fyssher on his bayte
Sleeth, whan he seeth the fysshes faste
So whan he seeth tyme at last
That he may worche an other wo
Shall no man tourne hym therfro
That hate nyll his felony
Fulfyll and feyne companye
yet netheles for false semblaunt
Is towarde hym of couenaunt
witholde, so that vnder bothe
The preuy wrath can hym cloth
That he shall seme a great beleue
But ware the well, that thou ne leue
All that thou seest afore thyn eie
Soas the Gregoys whylom sye
The boke of Troye who so rede
There may he fynde ensample in dede
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos / qui cū ire sue odium aperte vindicare non possint, ficta dissimulatione vindictam subdole assequentur. Et narrat, quod cum Palamides princeps Grecorum in obsidione Troie a quibusdam suis emulis proditorie interfectus fuisset / pater (que) suus rex Nauplus in patria sua tunc existens / huiusmodi euentus certitudinem sciuisset: grecos in sui cordis odium super omnia recollegit, vnde contigit, ꝙ cum greci deuicta Troia per altum mare versus Greciam nauigio remeantes obscurrissimo noctis tempore nimia ventorū tempestate iactabantur, rex Nauplus in terra sua contra litus maris / vbi maiora saxorum eminebant pericula super cacumina moncium, grandissimos noctanter fecit ignes / quos greci aspicientes saluum portum ibidem inuenire certissime putabant / Et teri am aproximātes diruptis nauibus magna pars grecorum periclitabatur.
SOnne after the destruction
whan Troy was all beate downe
And slain was priamus the king
The gregoys, whiche of all this thinge
Ben cause, tornen home ageyne
There may no man his hap withseyne
It hath ben sene, and felte full ofte
The harde tyme after the softe
By see as they forth homewarde went
A rage of great tempest hem hent
Iuno let bende her partie bowe
The sky waxe derke, the wind gan blow
The fyry welken began to thonder
As though the world shuld al a sonder
From heuen out of the water gates
The reyny storme felle downe algates
And all her tacle made vnwelde
That no man myght hym selfe bewelde
He that behynde sat to stere
May not the for sterne here
The shyp arose agayne the wawes
The lodesman hath loste his lawes
The see on beate on euery syde
They nysten what fortune abyde
But sett hem well in goddes wyll
where he hem wolde saue or spyll
And it felle thylke tyme thus
There was a kynge, whiche Nauplus
was hote: and be a sonne hadde
At Troye, whiche the gregoys ladde
As he that was made prynce of all
Tyll that fortune let hym falle
His name was Palamydes
But through an hate netheles
Of some of hem, his deathe was caste
And he by treason ouercaste
His father, whan he herde it telle
He swore, if euer his tyme felle
He wolde hym venge if that he myght
And therto his auowe he hyght
And thus this king through priue hate
Abode vpon a wayte algate
For he was not of suche empryse
To auengen hym in open wyse
The fame, whiche goth wyde where
Maketh knowe, howe that the grekes were
Homward with al the felauship
Fro Troy vpon the see by shyp
Nauplus whan he this vnderstode
And knewe the tydes of the flode
And sawe the wynde blow to the londe
A great deceyte anone he fonde
Of preuy bate, as thou shalte here
wherof I telle all this matere
This kynge the wether gan beholde
And wyst well, they moten holde
Her cours endelonge the marche right
And made vpon the derke nyght
Of great shydes and of blockes
Great
[...]e ageyn the great rockes
To shewe vpon the hylles hygh
So that the flete of grece it sygh
And so felle ryght as he thought
This flete, whiche an hauen sought
The bryght fyres sawe a ferre
And they ben drawen ner and ner
And wende well, and vnderstode
Howe all that fyre was made for good
To shewe where men shulde aryue
And thytherwarde they hasten blyue
In semblaunt (as men sayne) is gyle
And that was proued thylke whyle
The ship, which wēd his helpe accroch
Drofe all to peces on the roche
And so there deden tenne or twelue
There myght no man helpe hym selue
For there they wenden death escape
withouten helpe her deathe was shape
Thus they that comen fyrst tofore
Vpon the rockes ben forlore
But through noyse, and their crie
The other were ware therby
And whan the day began to rowe
Tho myghten they the soth knowe
That where they wende frendes fynde
They fonde frendship all behynde
The londe than was sone weyued
where that they hadden be deceyued
And toke hem to the hygh see
Therto they sayden all ye
Fro that day forthe, & where they were
Of that they haue assayed there
Confessor.
¶My sonne wherof thou might auise
Howe fraude stant in many wyse
Amonge hem, that gyle thynke
There is no scriuener with his inke
whiche halfe the fraude wryte can
That stant in suche a maner man
For thy the wyse men ne demen
The thynges after that they semen
But after that they knowe and fynde
The myrrour sheweth in his kynde
As he had all the worlde within
And is in sothe nothynge therin
And so fareth hate for a throwe
Tyll he a man hath ouerthrowe
Shall no man knowe by his chere
whiche is auaunt, and whiche is arere
For thy my sonne thynke on this
¶My father so I woll iwys
And if there more of wrath be
Nowe aske forthe pur charite
As ye by your bokes knowe
And I the sothe shall beknowe.
Qui cohibere manum nequit, et sic spem eius
Naribus hic populo sepe timendas erit
Saepius in luctum Venus et sua gaudia transfert
Cum
(que) suis thalamis talis ami cus adest.
Est amor amplexu non ictibus alliciendus
Frangit amicitias impetuosa manus.
¶Hic tractat Confessor super quarta et quinta specie ire / que impetuositas & homicidium dicuntur: sed primo de impetuositate specialiter tractare intendit, cuius natura spm̄ in naribus gefiādo ad omnes [...]re mociones in vindicta parata pacientiam nullatenus obseruat.
¶My sonne thou shalte vnderstonde
That yet towarde wrath stonde
Of deadly vices other two
And for to telle her names so
It is Contecke and Homicide
That be to gether on euery syde
Contecke, as the bokes sayne
Foolehast hath to his chamberlayne
By whose counsayle all vnauysed
Is Pacyence mooste despysed
Tyll Homicide with hem mete
Fro Mercy they be all vnmete
And thus ben they the worst of all
Of hem, whiche vnto wrath falle
In dede both, and eke in thought
For they accomten their wrath nought
But if there be shedynge of bloud
And thus lyche to a beast wode
They knowen not the god of lyfe
Be so they haue other swerde or knyfe
Her deadly wrath for to wreke
Of pyte lyst hem not to speke
None other reason they ne fonge
But that they ben of myght stronge
But ware hym well in other place
where euery man behoueth grace
But there I trowe it shall hym fayle
To whom no mercy myght auayle
But wroughten vpon tyranny
That no pite n̄e myght hem plye
Now tell me sonne. My father what?
If thou hast be culpable of that
¶My father nay, Christe me forbede
I speake onlyche of the dede
Of whiche I was neuer culpable
without cause reasonable
But this is not to my matere
Of shryfte why we sytten here
For we be sette to shryue of loue
As we begonne fyrst aboue
And netheles I am beknowe
That as touchende of loues throwe
whan I my wyttes ouerwende
Myn hertes contecke hath none ende
But euer stant vpon debate
To great disease of myn estate
As for the tyme that it lasteth
For whan my fortune ouercasteth
Her whele, & is to me so straunge
And that I se she woll not chaunge
Than cast I all the worlde about
And thynke howe I at home in dout
Haue all my tyme in veyne spended
And se not howe to be amended
But rather for to be empeyred
As he that is well nygh despeired
For I ne may nothynge deserue
And euer I loue, and euer I serue
And euer I am a lyche nere
Thus, for I stonde in suche a were
I am, as who sayth, out of herre
And thus vpon my selfe I werre
I brynge, and put out all pees
That I full ofte in suche a rees
Am wery of myn owne lyfe
So that of contecke, and of stryfe
I am beknowe and haue answerde
As ye my father nowe haue herde
Myn herte is wonderly begone
with counsayle, wherof wytte is one
whiche hath reason in company
Agayne the whiche stant partie
wylle, which hath Hope of his accorde
And thus they bryngen vp discorde
wytte and reason counsaylen ofte
That I myn herte shulde softe
And that I shulde
V V Y L remue
And put hym ont of retenue
Or els holde hym vnder fote
For as they seyne, if that he mote
His owne reule haue vpon honde
There shall no wytte ben vnderstonde
Of hope, also to tellen this
That ouer all where that he is
He sette the herte in ieopardy
with wysshynge and with fantasy
And is not trewe of that he sayth
So that in hym there is no feyth
Thus with reason and wytte auysed
Is wylle and hope all daye despysed
Reason sayth, that I shulde leue
To loue, where there is no leue
To spede: and wyll sayth there ageyne
That suche an herte is to vyleyne
whiche dare not loue, tyll that he spede
Let Hope serue at suche a nede
He seyth eke, where an herte sytte
All holle gouerned vpon wytte
He hath this lyues luste forlore
And thus myn herte is all to tore
Of suche a contecke, as they make
But yet I may not
VV Y L forsake
That he nys mayster of my thought
Or that I spede, or spede nought
¶Thou dost my son ageynst the ryght
But loue is of so great a myght
His lawe may no man refuse
So myght thou the better excuse
And netheles thou shalt be lerned
That
VV Y L shulde be gouerned
Of reason more than of kynde
wherof a tale write I fynde.
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum quod omnis impetuosa voluntas sit discretionis moderamine gubernanda. Et narrat qualiter Diogenes / qui motus animi sui rationi subiugauerat, regem Alexandrum sub isto facto sibi opponente plemus informanit.
¶A philosopher of whiche men tolde
There was whylom by dayes olde
And Dyogenes than he hyght
So olde he was, that he ne myghte
The worlde trauayle, and for the best
He shope hym for to take his rest
And dwelle at home in suche a wyse
That nygh his house he lette deuyse
Endelonge vpon an axell tree
To sette a tonne in suche degree
That he it myght tourne aboute
wherof one heed was taken out
For he therin sytte shulde
And tourne hym selfe as he wolde
And take the eyre, and se the heuen
And deme of the planettes seuen
As he, whiche couthe mochell what
And thus full ofte there he sat
To muse in his philosophye
Sole without companye
So that vpon a morowe tyde
A thynge, whiche shulde tho betyde
whan he was sette, there as hym lyst
To loke vpon the sonne aryst
wherof the propertie he syghe
It felle, there cam rydynge nygh
Kynge Alysaunder, with a rout
And as he cast his eie about
He sygh this tonne: and what it ment
He wolde wytte, and thyther sent
A knyght, by whom he myght it know
And he hym selfe that ilke throwe
Abode, and houeth there stylle
This knight, after the kynges wylle
with spore made his horse to gone
And to the tonne he cam anone
where that he fonde a man of age
And he hym tolde the message
Suche as the kynge hym had bede
And asketh why in thylke stede
The tonne stode: and what he was
And he, whiche vnderstode the cas
Sat styll, and spake no worde ageyne
The knyght bad speke: & sayth, Vyleyn
Thou shalt me telle, er that I go
It is thy kynge, whiche asketh so
My kyng, quod he, that were vnright
what is he than, sayth the knyght?
Is he thy man? that say I nought
Quod he, but this I am bethought
My mannes man howe that he is
Thou lyest fals chorle iwys
The knight him said & was right wroth
And to the kynge ayene he goth
And told hym, how this man answerde
The kynge whan he this tale herd
Bad that they shulde all abyde
For he hym selfe wold thyder ryde
And whan he came tofore the Tonne
He hath his tale thus begonne
The kynge, whiche had wordes wyse
His age wolde nought despyse
But sayth: My father I the praye
That thou me wolt the cause saye
How that I am thy mans man
Syre kynge, quod he, that I can
yf thou wylt. yes, seyth the kynge
Quod he, this is the soth thynge
Syth I fyrst reason vnderstode
And knew what thing was euil & goode
The wyl, whiche of my body moueth
whos werkes that the god reproueth
I haue restreyned euer more
Of hym, that stant vnder the lore
Of reason, whos subiect he is
So that he may not done amys
And thus by weye of couenaunt
VVYL is my man, and my seruant
And euer hathe be, and euer shall
And thy wyl is thy pryncipal
And hath the lordship of thy wyt
So that thou couthest neuer yet
Take a day rest of thy laboure
But for to be a Conquerour
Of worldes good, which may not last
Thou hyghest euer a lyche fast
where thou no reason hast to wynne
Thus thy wyll is cause of synne
And is thy lorde to whom thou seruest
wherof thou lytel thonke deseruest
The kyng, of that he thus answerd
was nothyng wroth: but when he herd
The hyghe wisedom whiche he sayde
with goodly wordes thus be prayde
That be hym wold tell his name
I am, quod he that ylke same
whiche men Dyogenes calle
Tho was the king right glad with all
For he had herd oft to fore
what man he was, so that therfore
He sayde: O wyse Diogene
Nowe shall thy great wytte be sene
For thou shalt of my yefte haue
what worldes thynge thou woltecraue
Quod he, thā houe out of my sonne
And lete it shyne in to my Tonne
For thou bynemest me thylke yifte
which lyeth nat in thy myght to shyfte
None other good of the me nedeth
The kyng / whō euery coūtrey dredeth
Lo thus he was enformed there
wherof my sone thou myght lere
How that thy wil shal nought beleued
where it is nought of wyt releued
And thou hast sayd thy self er this
How that thy wyl thy mayster is
Through whiche thyn hertes thought within
Is euer of conteke to beginne
So that it is gretely to drede
That it no bomycyde brede
For loue is of a wondre kynde
And hath his wyttes ofte blynde
That they fro mannes reason fall
But whan that it is so befalle
That wyll shall the courage lede
In loues cause it is to drede
wherof I fynde ensample wryte
whiche is behouefull that thou wyte.
¶ Hic in a moris causa ponit Confessor exemplum contra issos / qui in sua dampna nimis accelerantes ex impetuositate se ipsos muftociens offendunt. Et narrat qualiter Piramus cum ipse Tisbe amicam suam in foco inter eosdem deputa to tempore aduentus sui promptam non inuenit, animo impetuoso se ipsum pre dolore extracto gladio mortaliter transfodit. que postea infra breue beniens cum ipsum sic mortaum inuenisset / eciam et illa in sue ipsius mortem impetuose festmans eiusdem gsadii cuspide sui cordis intima per medium penetrauit.
¶ I rede a tale, and telleth this
The citye whiche Semiramis
Enclosed hath with walle about
Of worthy folke with many a rout
was inhabyted here and there
Amonge the whiche two there were
Abouen all other noble and great
Dwellend tho within a strete
So nyghe to gether as it was sene
There was nothynge hem betwene
But wowe to wowe, and walle to walle
This o lorde hath in specyalle
A sonne, a lustye bachylere
In all the towne was none his pere
That other had a doughter eke
In all the lande for to seke
Men wisten no
[...]e so fayre as she
And fell for as it shulde be
This fayre doughter nye this sonne
As they to geder than wonne
Cupyde hath so thynges shape
That they ne might his handes escape
That he his fyre on hem ne caste
wherof her hartes he ouercaste
To folowe thylke lore and iewe
whiche neuer man yet myght eschewe
And that was loue, as it is happed
whiche hath her bertes so betrapped
That they by all weyes seche
Howe that they might wynne a speche
Her wofull peyne for to lysse
who loueth wel, it maye not mysse
And namely whan thereben two
Of one accord, howe so it go
But if that they some weye finde
For loue is euer of suche a kynde
And hath his folke so wel affayted
That howe so that it be awayted
There may no man the purpos let
And thus betwene hem two they set
An hoole vpon a wal to make
Through whiche they haue her coūseil take
At all times, whan they might
This faire Mayde Tis be hight
And he, whome she loued hote
was Piramus by name hote
So longe her lesson they recorden
Tyl at the laste they acorden
By nyghtes tyme for to wende
Alone out fro the Townes ende
where was a welle vnder a tree
And who cam fyrst or she or he
He shulde stille there abyde
So it befelle the nyghtes tyde
This mayde, whiche desguysed was
All pryuely the softe paas
Goth through the larg town vnknowe
Tyll that she cam within athrowe
where that she lyked for to dwelle
At thylke vnhappy fresshe welle
whiche was also the forest nyghe
where she comend a lyon syghe
In to the felde to take his pray
In haste: and she tho fledde away
(So as fortune shuld falle)
For fere, and lete her wympell falle
Nyghe to the wel vpon therbage
This wylde lyon in his rage
A beste, whiche he founde there out
Hath slayn, and with his blody snowte
(whan he hath eten, what he wolde)
To drynke of thylke stremes colde
Come vnto the welle, where he sonde
The wympill, whiche out of her honde
was falle, and he it hath to drawe,
Be bledde aboute, and all forgnawe
And than he straught him for to drynke
Vpon the fress he welles brynke
And after that out of the playne
He torneth to the wode agayne
And Tisbe durste not remewe
But as a byrde, whiche were en mewe
within a buss he she kepte her close
So styll, that she not arose
Vnto her selfe and playneth ay
And fell, whyle that she there lay
This Piramus cam after sone
Vnto the welle, and by the mone
He fonde her wympyl blody there
Cam neuer yet to mannes ere
Tydynge, ne to mannes syght
Meruaylle, whiche so sore a flyght
A mans herte, as it tho dede
To hym, whiche in the same stede
with many a wofull complaynynge
Bygan his handes for to wrynge
As he, whiche demeth sykerly
That she be dede: and sodeynly
His swerde all naked oute he breyde
In his fool hast, and thus he sayde
I am cause of this felonye
So it is reason, that I dye
And she is dede by cause of me
And with that worde vpon his k
[...]e
He felle, and to the goddes all
Vnto the heuen he gan to call
And prayd, syn it was so
That he may not his loue as tho
Haue in this worlde, that of her grace
He might her haue in other place
For here wolde he not abyde
He sayth: but as it shall betyde
The pomel of his swerd to ground
He set, and through his hert a wound
He made vp to the bare hylte
And in this wyse hym selfe spylte
with his foolhaste, and deth he nam
For she within a whyle cam
where he lay dede vpon his knyfe
So woful yet was neuer lyfe
As Tysbe was, whan she hym sygh
She myght not one worde on hygh
Speke, for her hert shette
That of her lyfe no prys she sette
But dede swonynge downe she felle
Tyll afterward it so befell
That she out of her trauns awoke
with many a wofull pytous loke
Her eye alwey amonge she caste
Vpon her loue, and at the laste
She caught breth, and sayde thus:
O thou which art cleped venus
Goddesse of loue: and thou Cupyde
whiche loues cause haste for to guyde
I wote nowe wel, that ye be blynde
O
[...] thylke vnhap, whiche I now finde
Onely betwene my loue and me
This Piramus whiche here I se
[...]end, what hath he deserued?
Yo
[...] he thyn hest hath kept and serued
And was yonge, and I both also
All is why do ye with vs so?
Ye set our hertes both a fyre
And made vs suche thynge desyre
wherof that we no skyl couthe
But thus our fresshe lusty youthe
without ioy is all despended
whiche thynge may neuer be amended
For as for me this woll I seye
That me is leuer for to deye
Than lyue after this sorowfull daye
And with this worde where as he laye
Her loue in armes she embraseth
Her owne deth and so purchaseth
That nowe she wepte, & nowe she kyste
Tyll at the laste, or she it wyste
So great a sorowe is to her falle
whiche ouergoth her wyttes all
And she, whiche myght not asterte
The swerdes poynte ayenste her hert
She set, and fell downe therupon
wherof that she was dede anone
And thus both on a swerd bledend
They were found dede lyggend.
¶Nowe thou my sonne hast herd this tale
Beware that of thyn owne bale
Thou be not cause in thy foolhaste
And kepe that thou thy wytte ne waste
Vpon thy thought in auenture
wherof thy lyues forfeture
May falle: and if thou haue so thought
Er this, tell on, and hyde it nought
¶My fader vpon loues syde
My conscyence I wol not hyde
Howe that for loue of pure wo
I haue ben ofte be moued so
That with my wysshes, if I myght
A thousand tymes, I yow plyght
I hadde storuen in a day
And therof I me shryue may
Though loue fully me ne slowe
My wyll to deye was ynowe
So am I of my wyl culpable
And yet she is not mercyable
whiche may me yeue lyfe and bele
But that her lyst not with me dele
I wote by whos counsayl it is
And hym wolde I longe tyme er this
(And yet I wolde and euer shall)
Sleen and destroye in especyall
The golde of nyne kynges londes
Ne shulde hym saue fro myn bondes
In my power if that he were
But yet hym stant of me no fere
For nought that euer I can manace
He is the hinderer of my grace
Tyl he be dede I may not spede
So mote I nedes taken bede
And shape howe, that he were awey
If I therto may fynde a weye
¶My sonne telle me nowe for thy
whiche is that mortall enemy
That thou manacest to be dede.
¶My fader it is suche a quede
That where I come, he is tofore
And doth so, that my cause is lore
¶ what is his name? Hit is Daunger
whiche is my ladis counseyler
For I was neuer yet so slygh
To come in any place nygh
where as she was by nyght or day
That Daunger ne was redy ay
with whome for speche ne for mede
yet myght I neuer of loue spede
For euer this fynde I soth
All that my lady sayth or doth
To me, Daunger shall make an ende
And that maketh al mi world miswēde
And euer I aske his helpe: but he
May be wel cleped Sauns pyte
For ay the more I to hym bowe
The lesse be woll my tale allowe
He hath my lady so englewed
She woll not, that he be remewed
For euer he hongeth on her seyl
And is so preuy of counseyll
That euer whan I haue ought bede
I fynde Daunger in her stede
And myn answere of hym I haue
But for no mercy, that I craue
Of mercy neuer a poynt I hadde
I fynd his answere ay badde
That worse myght it neuer be
And thus betwene Daunger and me
Is euer werre tyl he dye
But myght I ben of suche maystrye
That I Daunger hadde ouercome
with that were all my ioy come
Thus wolde I wonde for no synne
Ne yet for all this worlde to wynne
If that I myght fynde a sleyght
To lay all my state in weyght
I wolde hym fro the Courte deseuer
So that he come ayenewarde neuer
Therfore I wysshe, and wolde fayn
That he were in some wyse slayn
For whyle he stant in thylke place
Ne gete I not my ladys grace
Thus hate I dedely thylke vyce
And wolde he stood in none offyce
In place, where my lady is
For if be doo, I wote wel this
That outher he shall dye or I
within a whyle, and not for thy
On my lady full ofte I muse
How that she may herselfe excuse
For if that I dye in suche a plyte
Me thynkethe she myght not be quyte
That she ne were an bomycyde
And if it shulde so betyde
(As god forbede it shulde be)
By double wey it is pyte
For I, whiche all my wyl and wyt
Haue yeue, and serued euer yet
And than I shuld in suche a wyse
In rewardynge of my seruyce
Be dede: Me thynketh it were routh
And ferthermore I telle trouth
She that hath euer be wel named
were worthy than to be blamed
And of reasone to be appeled
whan with o word she myght haue he
[...]
A man: and suffreth hym to deye
A who sawe euer suche a wey?
A who sawe euer suche distresse?
without pyte gentylnesse
withoute mercy womanhede
That woll so quyte a man his mede
whiche euer hath be to loue trewe.
¶My good fader if ye rewe
Vpon my tale, telle me nowe
And I wol stynte and herken yow
¶My sonne attempre thy courage
Fro wrath, and let thyn hert assuage
For who so wol hym vnderfonge
He may his grace abyde longe
Or he of loue be receyned
And eke also but if it be weyued
There myght mochel thynge befalle
That shulde make a man to falle
Fro loue: that neuer afterwarde
Ne durst he loke thyderwarde
In harde weyes men gone softe
And er they clymbe auyse them ofte
And men seen all day, that rape reweth
And who so wycked ale breweth
Full ofte he mote the werse drynke
Better it is to flete than to synke
Better it is vpon the brydell chewe
Than if he fel, and ouerthrewe
The hors, and stykked in the myre
To cast water in the fyre
Better is, than brenne vp al the howes
The man whiche is malycious
And foolhasty: full ofte he falleth
And selden is, whan loue hym calleth
For thy better is suffer a throwe
Than to be wylde, and ouer throwe
Suffraunce hath euer be the best
To wysen hym that secheth rest
And thus if thou wylt loue spede
My sonne suffer, as I the rede
what may the mous ayen the cat?
And for thylke cause I aske that
who may to loue make a werre
That he ne hath hym selfe the werre
Loue asketh pees, and euershall
And who that fyghteth most withall
Shall best conquere of his empryse
For this they tellen that ben wyse
whiche is to stryue, and haue the werse
To hasten, is nought worth a kerse
Thynge, that a man may not acheue
That may not wel be done at eue
It mot abyde tyll the morowe
N
[...] hast not thyne owne sorowe
My sonne, and take this in thy wytte
He hath not loste that wel abitte
Ensample, that it falleth thus
Thou myght well take of Pyramus
whan he in haste his swerd out drough
And on the poynt hym selfe slough
For loue of Tisbe, pitously
For he her wymple fonde blody
And wende a beste hadde her slayn
where as hym ought be ryght fayn
For she was saffe ryght besyde
But for he wolde not abyde
This meschyefe felle. For thy beware
My sonne, as I the warne dare
Do thou no thynge in suche a rees
For suffraunce is the well of pees
Though thou to loues courte pursewe
yet syt it wel, that thou eschewe
That thou the courte not ouerhast
For so thou myght thy tyme wast
But if thyn happe therto be shape
It may not helpe for to rape
Therfore attemper thy courage
Foolhast doth none auauntage
But ofte it set a man behynde
In cause of loue, and I fynde
By olde ensamples as thou shalt here
Touchend of loue in this mater.
¶Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum contra illos qui in amoris causa nimia festinatione concupiscentes tardius expediunt, Et narrat qualiter pro eo quod Phebus quādam virginem pulcher rimam nomine Daphnem nimia amoris acceleratione insequebatur / Iratus Cupido cor Phebi sagitta aurea ignita ardencius vulnerauit, Et econtra cor Daphne quadam sagitta plumbea / que frigidissima fuit / sobrius perforauit / Et sic quanto magis Phebus ardencior in amore Daphnem persecutus est, tanto magis ipsa frigidior Phebi concupiscenciam toto corde fugitina dedignabatur.
¶ A mayden whylom there was one
which Daphnes hight: & such was none
Of beaute than, as it was sayde
Phebus his loue hath on her laide
And therupon to her he sought
In his foolhast, and so besought
That she with hym no reste hadde
For euer vpon her loue he grad
And she sayde euer vnto hym nay
So it beselle vpon a day
Cupyde, whiche hath euery chaunce
Of loue, vnder his gouernaunce
Sygh Phebus hasten hym so sore
And for he shulde hym haste the more
And yet not speden, at laste
A dart throughout his hert he caste
whiche was of golde, and all a fyre
That made hym many folde desyre
Of loue more than he dede
To Daphne eke in the same stede
A dart of leed he caste and smote
which was all colde and no thyng hote
And thus Phebus in loue brenneth
And in hast aboute renneth
To loke, if that he myght wynne
Thus was he euer to begynne
For euer awey fro hym she fled
So that he neuer his loue sped
And for to make hym full beleue
That no foolhast myght acheue
To gete loue in suche degre
This Daphne in to a laurel tre
was torned, whiche is euer grene
In token, as yet it may be sene
That she shall dwelle a mayden stylle
And Phebus faylen of his wylle
By suche ensamples as they stonde
My sonne thou myght vnderstonde
To hasten loue is thynge in veyn
whan that fortune is there ageyne
To take where a man hath leue
Good is: and elles he mote leue
For whan a mannes happes faylen
There is no hast may auaylen
¶My fader graunte mercy of this
But whyle I se my lady is
No tre: but holde her owne forme
There may me no man so enforme
To whedyr part fortune wende
That I vnto my lyues ende
Ne wolde her serue euermo
Confessor
¶My sonne syth it is so
I say no more, but in this cas
Beware, howe it with Phebus was
Nought onely vpon loues chaunce
But vpon euery gouernaunce
whiche falleth vnto mannes dede
Foolhast is euer for to drede
And that a man good counseyl take
Er he his purpose vndertake
For counseyl put foolhast a wey.
¶ Nowe good fader I yow prey
That for to wysse me the more
Some good ensample vpon this lore
ye wolde me telle, of that is wrytte
That I the better myght wytte
Howe I foolhast shulde eschewe
And the wysedome of counseyl sewe
¶My sonne that thou myght enforme
Thy pacience vpon the forme
Of olde ensamples as they felle
Nowe vnderstonde, what I shall telle.
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui nimio furori accensi vindictam Ire sue vlira quam decet cōsequi affectant. Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges, cum ipsi a bello Troiano ad propria remeassent, et asuis ibidem pacifice recepti non fuissent, congregato aliunde pugnatorum exercitu regiones suas non solum incendio vastare sed et omnes in eisdem habitantes a minimo vsque admaiorem in perpetnam vindicte memoriam gladio interficere feruore iracun die proposuerunt: Sed rex Nestor, qui senex et sapiens fuit / tractatus inter ipsos rēges et eorum regna [...]ta pace huiusmodi impetuositatem initius pacificauit.
¶when noble Troye was byleyn
And ouercome, and home ageyne
The gregoys torned from the siege
The kynges fonde her owne lyege
In many place, as men sayde
That hem forsoke and dysobeyde
Amonge the whiche felle this case
To Demephon and Athemas
That were kynges both two
And bothe were serued so
Her lieges wolde not hem receyue
So that they mote algates weiue
To seche londe in other place
For there fonde they no grace
wherof they token hem to rede
And soughten frendes at nede
And eche of hem assureth other
To helpe as to his owne broder
To vengen hem of thylke oultrage
And wynne ayene her herytage
And thus they ryde aboute faste
To getten hem helpe: and at laste
They hadden power suffysaunt
And maden than a couenaunte
That they ne shulde no lyfe saue
Ne prest, ne clerke, ne lorde, ne knaue
Ne wyfe, ne chylde of that they fynde
whiche bereth vysage of mans kynde
So that no lyfe shall be socoured
But with the dedely swerde deuoured
In suche foolhast her ordynaunce
They shapen for to do vengeaunce
whan this purpose was wyst & knowe
Among there host, tho was their blowe
Of wordes many a speche aboute
Of yong men the lusty route
were of this tale gladde ynough
There was no care for the plough
As they that were foolhastyfe
They ben acorded to the stryfe
And seyn, it may not be to great
To vengen hem of suche forfet
Thus sayth the wylde vnwyse tonge
Of hem, that there weren yonge
But Nestor, whiche was olde & bore
The salue sawe tofore the sore
As he that was of counseyle wyse
So that anone by his aduyse
There was a preuy counsayle nome
The lordes ben to gether come
This Demephon and Anthemas
Her purpose tolden, as it was
They setten all styll and herde
was non but Nestor hem answerde
He badde hem, if they wolde wynne
They shulden se, er they begynne
Her ende: and set her fyrst entent
That they hem after ne repent
And asketh hem this question
To what fynall conclusyon
They wolden Regne kynges there
If that no people in londe were?
And seyth, it were a wonder wyerd
To
[...]een a kynge bycomen an hyerd
where no lyfe is but onely beste
vnder the lygeaunce of his heste
For who that is of man no kynge
The remenaunt is as no thynge
He forth eke, if they pourpose bolde
To
[...] the people, as they two wolde
whan they it myght not restore
A
[...]
[...]ce it shulde abidge sore
[...] the wylde beastes wonne
where whylom dwelt mans sonne
An
[...] for that cause he bad hem treate
A d stynt of tho manaces great
Better is to wynne by fayre speche
He seyth, than suche vengeance seche
For whan a man is moost aboue
Hym nedeth most to gette hym loue.
¶ whan Nestor hath this tale sayde
Ayene hym was no worde withsayde
It thought hem all he sayde wele
And thus fortune her deadly whele
Fro werre tourneth in to pees
But forth they went en netheles
And whan the countreys harde seyne
Howe that her kynges be beseyne
Of suche a power as they lad
was none so bolde, that hem ne drad
And for to seche peas and gryth
They sende and prayde anon forthwith
So that the kynges ben appeased
And euery mans herte is eased
All was foryete, and not recorded
And thus they ben to geder acorded
The kynges were ayene receyued
And pees was take, and wrath weyued
And all through counseyl, whiche was good
Of hym that reson vnderstode
¶ By this ensample sonne attempre
Thyn hert, and let no wyl dystempre
Thy wytte: and do no thing by myght
whiche may be do by loue and ryght
Foolhast is cause of mochel wo
For thy my sonne do not so
And as touchend of Homycyde
which toucheth vnto loues syde
Ful ofte it falleth vnauysed
Through
VVYL which is not wel assised
whan wytte and reason ben awey
And that foolhast is in the wey
wherof hath falle great vengeaunce
For thy take in to remebraunce
To loue in suche a maner wyse
That thou deserue no iuyse
For well I wote, thou myght not lette
That thou ne shalt thin hert sette
To loue, where thou wolt or none
But if thy witte be ouergone
So that it torne vnto malyce
There wote no man of thylke vyce
what perylle that there may befalle
wherof a tale amonges alle
whiche is great pyte for to here
I thynke for to tellen here
That thou such murdre micht withstōd
whan thou the tale hast vnderstonde.
¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui ob sue concupiscencie desiderium Homicide efficiuntur. Et narrat qualiter Clytēnestra vxor Regis Agamemnonis cum ipse a bello Troiano domi rediffet consilio Egisti / quem adultera peramauit, sponsum suum in cubili dormientem sub noctis silencio trucidabat. cuius mortem fisius eius Horestes tunc iunioris etatis postea diis admonitus crudelissima seueritate vindicauit.
¶ Of Troye at thylke noble towne
whose same stant yet of renowne
And euer shall to mannes ere
The syege laste longe there
Er that the grekes it myght wynne
whyle Priamus was kynge therin
But of the grekes, that lyen aboute
Agamemnon ladde all the route
This thynge is knowen ouerall
But yet I thynke in specyall
To my matter therupon
Telle in what wyse Agamemnon
Through chance, that may not be weiued
Of loue vntrewe was deceiued
An olde sawe is: who that is slygh
In place were he may be nyghe
He maketh the ferre leef, loth
Of loue and thus ful ofte it goth
There whyle Agamemnon bataylleth
To wynne Troye, and it assaylleth
From home and was longe tyme there
Egystus drough his quene nere
And with the leyser, whiche he hadde
This lady at his wyll he ladde
Clytēnestre was her ryght name
She was therof greatly to blame
To loue there it may not laste
But felle to mischiefe at laste
For whan this noble worthy knyght
Fro Troye came the fyrst nyght
That he at home a bedde laye
Egistus longe er it was daye
As this Clytenestre hym had assent
And weren bothe of one assent
By treason slough hym in his bed
But mourder, whiche may not bē hed
Spronge out to euery mans eare
wherof the londe was full of feare
¶Agamemnon hath by this quene
A sonne, and that was after sene
But yet as than he was of youth
A babe, whiche no reason couth
And as god wolde, it felle hym thus
A worthy knyght Taltibius
This yonge childe hath in kepynge
And whan he herde of this tydynge
Of this treason of this mysdede
He gan within hym selfe to drede
In aunter if this false Egiste
Vpon hym come, er he it wyste
To take and mourther, of his malice
This childe, whiche he hath to noryce
And for that cause in all haste
Out of the londe he gan hym haste
And to the kynge of Crete he straught
And hym this yonge lorde betaught
And prayde hym for his fathers sake
That he this childe wolde vndertake
And kepe hym tyll he be of age
So as he was of his lygnage
And tolde hym ouer all the cas
Howe that his father mourthred was
And howe Egistus, as men sayde
was kynge, to whom the londe obeyde.
¶And whan Idomeneus the kynge
Hath vnderstondynge of this thynge
which that this knyght hym hath told
He made sorowe many folde
And toke the childe vnto his warde
And sayde, he wolde hym kepe & warde
Tyll that he were of suche a myght
To handle a swerde, and be a knyght
To vengen hym at his owne wylle
And thus Horestes dwelleth stylle
Suche was the childes right name
whiche after wrought mochel shame
In vengeaunce of his fathers deth
The tyme of yeres ouergeth
That he was man of brede & length
Of wyt, of manhode, and of strength
A fayre persone amonges all
And he beganne to clepe and call
As he, whiche come was to man,
Vnto the kynge of Crete than
Prayende that he wolde hym make
A knyght, and power with hym take
For lenger wolde he not beleue
He sayth, but prayth the kynge of leue
To gone and cleyme his heritage
And venge hym of thylke oultrage
whiche was vnto his father do
The kynge assenteth well therto
with great honor, & knight him maketh
And great power to hym betaketh
And gan his iourney for to caste
So that Horestes at laste
His leue toke, and forth he goth
As he that was in his herte wroth
His fyrste playnt to be mene
The duke, and tho that weren wyse
They proferen hem to his seruice
And he hem thonketh of theyr proffer
And sayd hym selfe he wolde gone offer
Vnto the goddes for his spede
And all men yeue hym rede
So goth he vnto the temple forth
Of yeftes, that be mochell worth
His sacrifyce, and his offrynge
He made: and after his askynge
He was answerde, if that he wolde
His estate recouer, than he sholde
Vpon his mother do vengeaunce
So cruell, that the remembraunce
Therof myght euermore abyde
A
[...] he that was an homicide
[...]d of her owne lorde mourdrice
H
[...]
[...]stes, whiche of thylke office
[...] nothyng glad, and than he prayde
V
[...]o the goddes there, and sayde
[...] they the iugement deuyse
[...]we he shall take the iuyse
And thervpon he had answere
T
[...]t he her pappes shulde of tere
[...] of her breast, his owne hondes
A
[...] for e
[...]sample of all londes
[...]
[...]o
[...]s she shulde be to drawe
[...] houndes had her bones gnawe
[...]out any sepulture
[...] was a wofull auenture
And whan Horestes hath all herde
[...] that the goddes haue answerde
[...]rth with the strength, whiche he lad
The duke and his power he had
And to a citie forth they gone
The whiche was cleped Cropheone
where as Phoicus was lorde and fire
whiche profereth hym withouten hyre
His helpe, and all that he may do
As he that was right glad therto
[...]o greue his mortall ennemy
And tolde hym certayne cause why
Howe that Egyste in maryage
His doughter whylom of full age
Forlay, and afterwarde forsoke
whan he Horestes mother toke
Men sayne olde synne newe shame
Thus more and more arose the blame
Ayene Egyste on euery syde
Horestes with his hoste to ryde
Began, and Phoicus with hym went
I trowe Egyst shall hym repent
They ryden forth vnto Mycene
There lay Clytemnestre thilke quene
The whiche Horestes mother is
And whan she herde telle of this
The gates were faste shette
And they were of her entre lette
Anone this citie was without
Beleyne, and seged all about
And euer amonge they it assayle
Fro day to nyght, and so trauayle
Tyll at last they it wonne
Tho was there sorowe inough begonne
Horestes dyd his mother calle
Anone tofore the lordes all
And eke tofore the people also
To her and tolde his tale tho
And sayde: O cruell beast vnkynde
Howe mightest thou in thyn hert finde
For any luste of loues draught
That thou accordest to the slaught
Of hym, whiche was thyn owne lorde
Thy treason stant of suche recorde
Thou myght thy werkes not forsake
So mote I for my father sake
Vengeaunce vpon thy body do
As I commaunded am therto
Vnkyndely for thou hast wrought
Vnkyndelyche it shall be bought
The sonne shall the mother slee
For that whylom thou saydest ye
To that thou shuldest nay haue sayd
And he with that his hondes hath laid
Vpon his mother breast anone
And rent out from the bare bone
Her pappes both, and caste away
Amyddes in the cart way
And after toke the deade cors
And lete it be drawe awey with hors
Vnto the hounde, vnto the Rauen
She was none other wyse grauen
Egystus whiche was elles where
Tydynges comen to his eare
Howe that Mycenes was beleyne
But what was more, herd be not sayne
with great manace and mochel boste
He drough power, and made an hoste
And came in the rescous of the towne
But all the sleyght of this treasone
Horestes wyst it by a spye
And of his men a great partie
He made ambusshement abyde
To wayte on hym in suche a tyde
That he ne myght her honde escape
And in this wyse, as he hath shape
The thynge befell, so that Egyst
was take, er he hym selfe it wyst
And was brought forth his hōdes bōde
As whan men haue a traytour fonde
And tho that were with hym take
whiche of treason were ouertake
To gether in one sentence falle
But false Egyste aboue hem alle
was demed to dyuers peyne
The werst that men couthe ordeyne
And so after by the lawe
He was vnto the gybet drawe
where he aboue all other hongeth
As to a traytour it belongeth
The fame with her swyfte wynges
About fleeth, and bare tydynges
And made it couth in all londes
Howe that Horestes, with his hondes
Clytemnestre his owne mother slough
Some seyne, he dyd well inough
And some seyne, he dyd amys
Dyuers opinions there is
That she is dede they speken all
But pleynly howe it is befalle
The matter in so lyttell throwe
In sothe there myght no man knowe
But they that weren at the dede
And commonlyche in euery nede
The werst speche is rathest herde
And leued, tyll it be answerde
The kynges, and the lordes great
Begonne Horestes for to threat
To putten hym out of his reigne
He is not worthy for to reigne
The child, which slough his moder so
They sayde, and thervpon also
The lordes of common assent
The tyme sette of parlement
And to Athenys kynge and lorde
To gether come of one accorde
To knowe howe that the soth was
So that Horestes in this cas
They senden after, and he come
¶ Kynge Menelay the wordes nome
And asketh hym of this matere
And he, that all it myght here
Answerde, and tolde his tale at large
And howe the goddes in his charge
Commaunded hym in suche a wyse
His owne honde to do iuyse
with this tale a duke arose
whiche was a worthy knyght of lose
His name was Menestheus
And sayde vnto the lordes thus
The wreche, whiche Horestes dede
It was thynge of the goddes bede
And nothynge of his crueltie
And if there were of my degre
In all this place suche a knyght
That woll seyne, it was no ryght
I woll it with my body proue
And thervpon he cast his gloue
And eke this noble duke a leyde
Full many an other skyll and seyde
She had well deserued wreche
Fyrst for the cause of spouse breche
And after wrought in suche a wise
That all the worlde it ought agryse
whan that she for so foule a vice
was of her owne lorde mourdrice
They sytten all stylle and herde
But therto was no man answerde
It tought hem all, he sayde skylle
There is no man with say it wylle
whan they vpon the reason musen
Horestes all they excusen
So that with great solempnite
He was vnto his dignite
Receyued, and coroned kynge
And tho befell a wondre thynge
Egyona whan she it wyste
whiche was the doughter of Egyste
And syster on the mother syde
To this Horest, at thylke tyde
whan she herde, how her brother sped
For pure sorowe, whiche herled
That he ne hadde ben exyled
She hath her owne lyfe begyled
Anone, and henge her selfe tho
It hath and shall be euermo
To mourtherwho that woll assente
He may not fayle to repent
This false Egyona was one
whiche to mourther Agamemnon
yaue her accorde, and her assent
So that by goddes iugement
Though none other man it wolde
She toke her iuyse, as she sholde
And as she to an other wrought
Vengeaunce vpon her self she thought
And hath of her vnhappy wytte
A mourther with a mourther quyt
Suche is of mourther the vengeaunce.
¶ For thy my sonne in remembrance
[...]f this
[...]nsample take good hede
For who that thynketh his loue spede
with mourther, be shall with worldes shame
Him selfe & eke his loue shame
¶ My father of this auenture
whiche ye haue tolde, I you assure
My herte is sory for to here
But onely for I wolde lere
what is to done, and what to leue
And ouer this by your leue
That ye me wolde telle I prey
If there be leful any weye
withoute synne a man may slee
¶ My sone in sondry wyse ye
what man that is of Traytorye
Of mordre, or elles Robberye
At teynt, the Iuge shal not let
But he shal fleen of pure det
And doth greate sinne if that he wōde
For who that lawe hath vpon honde
And spareth for to do iustyce
For mercy: doth not his offyce
That he his mercy so bewareth
whā for one shrewe, whiche he spareth
A thousand good men be greueth
with suche mercy who that bileueth
To please god: he is deceyued
Or elles mote reason be weyued
The lawe stode or we were bore
Howe that a kynges swerde is bore
In sygne, that he shall defende
His true people: and make an ende
Of suche, as wolden hem deuour
¶Lo thus my sonne to souccour
The lawe, and common right to wynne
A man may slee without synne
And do therof a great almesse
So for to kepe ryghtwysenes
And ouer this for his countree
In tyme of werre, a man is free
Hymselfe, his house, and eke his londe
Defende with his owne honde
And sleen, if be may no bet
After the lawe, whiche is sette.
¶ Nowe father than I you beseche
Of hem, that deedly werres seche
In worldes cause, and sheden bloode
If suche an homicide is good?
Confessor.
¶ My sonne vpon thy questyon
The trouth of myn opinyon
(Als ferforth as my wyt arecheth
And as the playne lawe teacheth)
I wolde the telle in euydence
To rule with thy conscience
Quod
[...]reat ipse deꝰ, necat hoc homicida creatū
Vltor et humano sanguine spargit humum
Vt pecoris sic est hoīs cruor heu modo fusus
Victa iacet pietas, et furor vrget opus
Angelus in terra pax dixit, et vltima Christi
Verba sonent pacem quā modo guerra fugat.
¶. Hic sequitur contra motoresguerre, que non solum homicidii sed vniuersi mundi desolationis mater existit.
¶ The hygh god of his iustice
The ilke foule horrible vice
Of homicide he hath forbede
By Moyses, as it was bede
whan goddes sonne was also bore
He sent his aungell downe therfore
whom the shepeherdes herden synge
Pees to the men of welwyllynge
In erthe amonge vs here
So for to speke in this matere
After the lawe of charite
There shall no deadly werre be
And eke nature it hath defended
And in her lawe pees commended
whiche is the chiefe of mans welth
Of mans lyfe, of mans helth
But deadly werre hath his couyne
Of pestilence, and of famyne
Of pouerte, and of all wo
wherof this worlde we blamen so
which nowe the werre hath vnderfote
Tyll god him selfe therof do bote
For al thing, which god hath wrought
In erthe, werre it bryngeth to nought
The churche is brent, the prest is slayn
The wyfe, the mayde is eke forlayne
The lawe is lore, and god vnserued
I not what mede he hath deserned
That suche werres ledeth inne
If that he do it for to wynne
Fyrst to accompte his great coste
Forth with the folke that he hath loste
As to the worldes reckenynge
There shall he fynde no wynnynge
And if be do it to purchace
The heuen, mede of suche a grace
I can nought speke netheles
Christ hath commanded loue and pees
And who that worcheth the reuers
I trowe his mede is full dyuers
And sythen than that we fynde
That werres in her owne kynde
Ben toward god of no deserte
And eke they bryngen in pouerte
Of worldes good, it is marueyle
Amonge the men what it may eyle
That they a pees ne connen set
I trowe synne be the lette
And euery mede of synne is deth
So wote I neuer howe it geth
But we, that be of o beleue
Amonge our selfe this wolde I leue
That better it were pees to chese
Than so by double weye lese
¶ I not if that it nowe so stonde
But this a man may vnderstonde
who that these olde bokes redeth
That couetyse is one, whiche ledeth
And brought the fyrst werres inne
At Grece if that I shall begynne
There was it proued howe it stode
To Perse, whiche was full of good
They maden werre in specyall
And so they dydden ouer all
where great rychesse was in londe
So that they lefte nothynge stonde
Vnwerred, but onely Archade.
¶Nota ꝙ greci omnem terram fertilem debellabant, sed tantum Archadiam pro eo ꝙ pauper et sterilis fuit, pacifice dimiserunt.
¶For there they no werres made
Bycause it was bareyne and poure
wherof they myght nought recouer
And thus pouerte was forbore
He that nought had nought hath lore
But yet it is a wonder thynge
whan that a ryche worthy kynge
Or lorde, what so he be
woll aske and clayme propertie
In thynge, to whiche he hath no right
But onely of his great myght
For this may euery man well wyte
That bothe kynde and lawe wryte
Expressely stonden there ageyne
But he mote nedes somewhat seyne
All though there be no reason inne
whiche secheth cause for to wynne
For wyt, that is with wyll oppressed
whan couetyse hym hath adressed
And all reasone putte awaye
He can well fynde suche a wey
To werre, where as euer hym lyketh
wherof that he the worde entriketh
That many a man of hym compleyneth
But yet alway some cause he feyneth
And of his wrongefull herte he demeth
That all is well, what euer him semeth
Be so that he may wynne inough
For as the true man to the plough
Only to the gaynynge entendeth
Right so the werriour dispendeth
His tyme, and hath no conscience
And in this poynt for euidence
Of hem that suche werres make
Thou myght a great ensample take
Howe they her tirrannye excusen
Of that they wrongeful werres vsen
And howe they stonde of one accorde
The soudiour forth with the lorde
The poore man forth with the riche
As of courage they ben lyche
To make werres and to pylle
For lucre: and for none other skylle
wherof a propre tale I rede
As it whylom befelle in dede
¶Hic declar at per exemplum contra istos prin [...]es seu altes quoscil (que) illicite guerre motores / Et narrat de quodam pirata in partibus mari [...]is speliatore notissimo / qui cum captus fuisset, et in iudicium coram rege Alexandro productus et de latricino accusatus dixit / O Alexander vere [...]uia cū paucis socus spoliorum causa naues tantum e [...]pforo / ego latruncusus vocor. in autē quia cum infinita beffatorum muftitudine vniuer fam t [...]rram subiugando spofiafti, Imperator dic [...]t [...]. Ita ꝙ statue tuus a statu meo differt / sed [...]em animo conditionem pa [...]isem habemus. [...] [...]ander vero enis audatiam in responsione. [...] bans ipsum penes se familiarem retinuit. Et [...] [...]lic [...]s [...]s beffatori complacnit.
❧ Of hym whome all this erthe drad
whan he the worlde so ouerladde
Through werre, as it fortuned is
Kynge Alysaunder I rede this
Howe in a marche, where he lay
It felle perchaunce vpon a day
A Rouer of the see was nome
whiche many a man bad ouercome
And slayne, and take her good awaye
This pyller, as the bokes say
A famous man in sondry stede
was of the werkes, whiche he dede
This prisoner afore the kynge
was brought: & thervpon this thynge
In audience he was accused
And he his dede hath nought excused
And praide the kyng to done him right
And sayd. Syre if I were of myght
I haue an herte lyche vnto thyn
For if thy power were myn
My wylle is most in especiall
To ryfle, and gette ouer all
The large worldes good about
But for I leade a poure route
And am, as who sayth, at mischiefe
The name of pyllour and of these
I beare, and thou whiche routes great
Myght leade, and take thy beyete
And doste right, as I wolde do
Thy name is nothynge cleped so
But thou arte named emperour
Our dedes ben of one colour
And in effecte of one deserte
But thy rychesse and my pouerte
They be not taken euen lyche
And netheles he that is ryche
This day, to morowe he may be poorer
And in contrary also recouer
A poore man to grete ryches
Men seyn for thy let ryghtewysenes
Be peysed euen in the balaunce
¶The kynge his hardy contenaunce
Behelde: & his wordes wyse
And sayd vnto hym in this wyse
Thyne answere I haue vnderstonde
wherof my wyl is, that thou stonde
In my seruyce, & stylle abyde
And forth with al the same tyde
He hath hym terme of lyfe withholde
The more & for he shuld ben holde
He made hym knyght, & yafe hym lond
whiche afterwarde was of his honde
An orped knyght in many a stede
And grete prowesse of armes dede
As the Cronykes it recorden
And in this wyse they acorden
The whiche of condicion
Be sette vpon destruction
Suche Capitaine suche retinue
But for to see what yssue
The kynge befalleth at the laste
It is great wonder that men caste
Her herte vpon suche wronge to wynne
where no beyete may ben inne
And doth dysese on euery syde
But when reson is put a syde
And wylle gouerneth the courage
The faucon whiche fleeth ramage
And suffreth no thyng in the weye
wherof that he may take his preye
Is not more set vpon rauyne
Than thilke man, whiche his couyne
Hath set in suche a maner wyse
For all the worlde may nought suffyse
To wyl, whiche is not resonable
☞ Hic secundum gefta Alexandri de guerris illicitis ponit Confessor exemplum / dicens: quod quamuis Alexander sua potentia totius mundi victor, subingarat imperium, ipse tandem mortis victoria subiugatus / cunctipotentis sententiam euadere non potuit.
❧ wherof ensampele concordable
Lyche to this poynte, of which I mene
was vpon Alysander sene
whiche hadde set all his entent
So as fortune with hym went
That reason myght hym not gouerne
But of his wylle he was so sterne
That all the worlde he ouerran
And what hym lyst he toke and wan
In Inde the superyour
whan that he was full conquerour
And hadde his wylfull pourpose wōne
Of all this erth vnder the sonne
This kynge homwarde to Macedoyne
whan that he cam to Babyloyne
And wend moste in his empyre
(As he which was holle lorde and syre)
In honour for to be receyued
Most sodenlyche he was deceyned
And with stronge poyson enuenymed
And as he hath the worlde mystimed
Not as he shulde with his wyt
Not as he wolde, it was acquyt
Thus was he slayn, that whilō slough
And he, whiche ryche was ynough
This day, to morowe hadde nought
And in suche wyse as he hath wrought
In disturbaunce of worldes pees
His werre he fonde than endeles
In whiche for euer discomfyte
He was. Lo nowe for what proufyte
Of werre it helpeth for to ryde
For couetyse and worldes pryde
To slee the worldes men aboute
As bestes, whiche gone there oute
For euery lyfe, whiche reason can
Ought wel to knowe, that a man
Ne shulde through no tyrannye
Lyche to this other bestes dye
Tyl kynde wolde for hym sende
I not how he it myght amend
whiche taketh a weye for euermore
The lyfe, that he may not restore
For thy my sonne in all weye
Be wel auysed I the preye
Bf slaught, er that thou be culpable
withoute cause reasonable
¶My fader vnderstonde it is
That ye haue sayde: but ouer this
I pray you telle me nay or ye
To passe ouer the great see
To warre and sle the Sarasyn
Is that the lawe? Sonne myn
To preche, and suffer for the feyth
That haue I herd, the gospel seyth
But for to sle, that here I nought
Christ with his owne deth hath bought
All other men, and made hem fre
In token of perfyte charite
And after that he taught him selue
whan he was dede these other twelue
Of his aposteles went aboute
The holy feyth to preche oute
wherof the deth in sondry place
They suffer, and so god of his grace
The feyth of Christ hath made aryse
But if they wolde in other wyse
By werre haue brought in the creaunce
It hadde yet stonde in balaunce
And that may prouen in the dede
For what man the Cronyckes rede
Fro first that holi churche hath weiued
To preche, & hath the swerde receyued
wherof the werres ben begōne
A great partye of that was wonne
To Christes feyth, stant nowe myswent
God do therof amendement
So as he wote, what is the best
But sonne if thou wylt lyue in rest
Of conscyence well assysed
Er that thou slee, be wel auysed
For man, as tellen vs the clarkes
Hath god aboue all erthely werkes
Ordeyned to be pryncypall
And eke of soule in specyall
He is made lyche to the godhede
So syt it wel to taken hede
And for to loke on euery syde
Er that thou falle in homycyde
whiche synne is now so generall
That it wel nye stant ouerall
In holy churche, as elles where
But all the whyle it is so there
The world mot nede fare amis
For whan the wel of pyte is
Through couetyse of worldes good
Defoulled with shedinge of blode
The remenaunte of tolke aboute
Vnne the stonden in any dout
To werre eche other, and to slee
So is it all not worth a stre
The charite, wherof we prechen
For we do no thynge as we techen
And this the blynde conscience
Of pes hath lost thylke euidence
whiche Chryst vpon this erth taught
Now may men se morder & manslaught
L
[...]che as it was by dayes olde
whan men the synnes bought and solde
[...] [...]tas venie occasionē prebet delinquēdi.
In Grece afore Christes feythe
I rede as the Cronycke seyth
Touchend of this matter thus
In thylke tyme howe Peleus
His owne broder Phocus slough
But for he hadde golde ynough
[...]o y
[...]ue, his synne was dispensed
with golde, wherof it was compensed
Acastus whiche with Venus was
Her priest, assoylled in that cas
Al were there no repentaunce
And as the boke maketh remēbraunce
It tellyth of Medee also
Of that she slough her sonnes two
Egeus in the same plyte
Hath made her of her synne quyte
The sonne eke of Ampbyoras
whos ryght name Almeus was
His moder slough Eryphele
But Achiloo the prest and he
So as the bokes it recorden
For certayne some of golde acorden
That thylke horable synfull dede
Assoyled was: and thus for mede
Of worldes good it falleth ofte
That homycyde is set alofte
Here in this world, but after this
There shall be knowe, how that it is
Of hem that suche thynges wyrche
And how also that holy churche
Lete suche synnes passe quyte
And how they wolde hem selfe acquyte
Of dedely werres, that they make
For who that wolde ensample take
The lawe, whiche is naturell
By weye of kynde sheweth wel
That homycyde in no degre
(whiche werreth ayene charyte)
Amonge the men shulde not dwelle
For after that the bokes telle
To seche in all the worlde ryche
Men shall not fynde vpon his lych
A best for to take his preye
And sythen kynde hathe suche aweye
Than is it wonder of a man
whiche kynde hath, and reason can
That he woll eyther more or lasse
His kynde and reason ouerpasse
And slee that is to hym semblable
So is the man not reasonable
Ne kynde, and that is not honeste
whan he is worse than a beste
☞ Nota secundum Solinum contra homicidias de natura a cuiusdam auis faciem ad similitudinem humanam habentis / que cum de vreda sua hominē iuxta fluuiū occiderit viderit (que) in aqua similē sibi occisum statim pre dolore moritur.
☞ Among the bokes, which I fynde
Solynus speketh of a wonder kynde
And sayth of foules there is one
whiche hath a face of blode and bone
Lyke to a man in resemblaunce
And if it falle so parchaunce
As he, whiche is a foule of pray
That he a man fynde in his way
He woll hym slee, if that he may
But afterward the same day
whan he hath eten all his felle
And that shall be besyde a welle
In whiche he woll drynke take
Of his visage and the make
That he hath slayn, anone he thynketh
Of his misdede, and it forthynketh
So greatly, that for pure sorowe
He lyueth not tyll on the morowe
By this ensample it may well sewe
That man shall homicide eschewe
For euer is mercy good to take
But if the lawe it hath forsake
And that Iustice is there agayne
Ful ofttyme I haue hard sayne
Amonges hem that werres haden
But they somwhyle her cause ladden
By mercy, whan they myght haue slain
wherof that they were after fayn
And sonne, if that thou wolt recorde
The vertu of Misericorde
Thou syghe neuer thylke place
where it was vsed, lacke grace
For euery lawe, and euery kynde
The mannes wyt to mercy bynde
And namely the worthy knyghtes
whan that they stondē moste vprightes
And ben moste myghty for to greue
They shulden thenne moste releue
Tym, whome they myghten ouerthrow
And by ensample may men knowe
☞ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum de pietate contra homicidium in guerris / habenda, Et narrat qualiter Achilles vna cum filio suo contra regem Mesee, qui tunc Theucer vocabatur / belmolum inierunt, Et cū Achilles dictum regē in bello ꝓstratū occidere voluisset Thelaphꝰ pietate tu [...] ipsum clipeo cooperiens veniam pro rege a patre postulauit pro quo facto, ipse rex adhuc vinens Thephalum regni sui heredem libera vo luntate constituit.
¶He may not faylen of his mede
That hath mercy. For this I rede
In a Cronycke I fynde thus
whan Achilles with Telaphus
His sonne, toward Troye were
It fell hem er they come there
Ayene Theucer the kynge of Mese
To make warre, and for to sese
His londe, as they that wolden reigne
And Theucer put out of his reigne
And thus the marches they assaylle
But Theucer yafe to hem bataille
They foughten on both sydes faste
But so it happneth at laste
This worthy greke this Achilles
The kynge amonge all other ches
As he that was cruel and felle
with swerd in honde on hym he felle
And smote hym with a dethes wounde
That he vnhorced fell to grounde
Achilles vpon hym alyght
And wolde anone, as he wel myght
Haue slayn hym fulliche in the place
But Thephalus his faders grace
For hym besought, and for pyte
Prayth, that he wolde let hym be
And cast his sheld betwene hem two
Achilles asketh hym why so
And Thephalus his cause tolde
And sayth, that he is mochel holde
For whylome Theucer in a stede
Great grace and socour to hym dede
And sayth, that he hym wolde acquyte
And praythe his fader to respyte
Achles tho withdrough his honde
But all the power of the londe
whā that they sawe her kyng thus take
They fled, and hathen the felde forsake
The grekes vnto the chaas falle
And for the moste part all
Of that couutre the lordes great
They toke and wonne a greate beyete
And anone after this victorye
The kynge, whiche hadde memorye
Vpon the great mercy thought
which thelaphus taward him wrought
And in presence of all the londe
he toke hym fayre by the honde
And in this wyse he gan to seye
My sonne I mote by double weye
Loue and desyre thyn encrees
Fyrste for thy fader Achilles
whyl
[...] full many a day er this
whan I shulde haue fare amys
Rescouse dyd in my quarele
And kept all myn estate in hele
How so there falle nowe distaunce
Amonge vs, yet remembraunce
I haue of mercy, whiche he dede
As than: and thou nowe in this stede
Of gentilnes, and of fraunchesse
Hast do mercy the same I gesse
So woll I not, that any tyme
Be loste, of that thou haste do hyme
For how so this fortune falle
yet stant my truste abouen all
For the mercy whiche I nowe fynde
That thou wylt after this be kynde
And for that suche is myn espeyr
And for my sonne and for myn heyre
I the receyue, and all my londe
I yeue and sese in to thyn honde
And in this wyse they accorde
The cause was mysericorde
The lordes do her obeysaunce
To Thelaphus, and purueaunce
was made, so that he was coroned
And thus was mercy reguerdoned
w
[...]c
[...]e he to Theucer did tofore
To this ensample is made therfore
That thou myght take remembraunce
[...], and whan thou seest a chaunce
[...] other mens passion
[...]
[...]te and compassion
And l
[...]t no thinge to the be leef
whiche to another man is greef
And after this if thou desyre
[...]
[...]nde a
[...]en the vice of Ire
[...] the with pacience
[...] take in to thy conscyence
[...] to be thy gouernour
[...]
[...]halt thou fele no rancour
[...] thyn herte shall debate
with homicide, ne with hate
y
[...]t
[...]heste or melancolye
[...]
[...]halt be softe in companye
withoute contecke or foolhast
For
[...]i
[...]es myght thou longe wast
Thy tyme, er that thou haue thy wylle
Of loue, for the wedir stylle
Men preyse, and blame the tempestes
¶ My fader I woll do your hestes
And of this poynt ye haue me taught
Toward my selfe the better saught
I th
[...]nke be, whyle that I lyue
But for as moche as I am shryue
Of wrath, and all his circumstaunce
[...]ne what ye lyste to my penaunce
And aske forther of my lyfe
yf otherwyse I be gyltyf
Of any thynge, that toucheth synne
¶My sonne, er we depart a twynne
I shall behynde no thinge leue
¶My good fader by your leue
Than asketh forth what so you lyfte
For I haue in you suche a tryfte
As ye that be my soule hele
That ye fro me nothynge wol hele
For I shall telle you the trouthe
¶ My son art thou culpable of slouthe
In any poynt, whiche to hym longe h
[...]
¶My fader of thou pointes me longeth
To wyte pleynly, what they mene
So that I maye me shriue clene.
¶Now herke, I shal tho pointes deuise
And vnderstonde well myn appryse
For shryfte stant of no value
To hym, that woll hym nought vertue
To leue of vyces the folye
For worde is wynd, but the maystrye
Is, that a man hym selfe defend
Of thynge, whiche is not to commende
wherof ben fewe nowe a daye
And netheles so as I may
Make vnto thy memorye knowe
The pointes of slouth, thou shalt know
☞ Explicit liber tercius. ❧
☞ Hic in quarto libro loquitur confessor de speciebus Accidie quarum primam tardacionem vocat, cuius condicionem pertractans Amanti, super hoc consequenter opponit.
☞ Incipit liber quartus. ❧
Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum
Torpet et in cuntis tarda
(que) leuta bonis
Que sieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras
Furato
(que) prius hostia claudit equo.
Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido
Sed Venus in celeri ludit amore viti.
VPon the vices to procede
After the cause of mannes dede
The fyrst poynt of slouth I calle
Lachesse, and is the chief of all
And hath this properly of kind
To leuen all thynge behyned
Of that he myght do nowe here
He taryeth all the longe yere
And euermore he sayth, To morowe
And so he woll his tyme borowe
And wyssheth after, God me sende
That whan he weneth to haue an end
Than is he forthest to begyn
Thus bryngeth he many a meschiefe in
Vnware, tyll that he be mescheued
And may not than be releued
And ryght so nother more ne lesse
It stant of loue, and of lachesse
Some tyme he sloutheth on a daye
That he neuer after gete may
Nowe sonne as of this ilke thynge
If thou haue any knowlechynge
That thou to loue hast done er this
¶ Telle on, My good fader yis
As of laches I am beknowe
That I may stonde vpon his rowe
As I that am cladde of his sute
For whan I thought my pursute
To make, and therto set a day
To speke vnto that swete may
Lachesse hadde abyde yet
And bare on honde it was no wyt
Ne tyme, for to speke as tho
Thus with his tales to and fro
My tyme in taryenge he drough
whan there was tyme good ynough
He sayd another tyme is better
Thou shalt nowe senden her a letter
And par caas wryte more pleyn
Than thou by mouth durstest seyn
Thus haue I let tyme slyde
For slouthe, and kept not my tyde
So that laches with his vyce
Full ofte hath made my wyt so nyce
That what I thought to speke or do
with taryenge he held me so
Tyl whan I wolde, and myght nought
I not what thynge was in my thought
Or it was drede, or it was shame
But euer in ernest and in game
I wote there is longe tyme passed
But yet is not the loue lassed
whiche I vnto my lady haue
For though my tonge is slow to craue
At all tyme, as I haue bede
Myn hert stant euer in o stede
And asketh besylyche grace
The whiche I may not yet embrace
And god wote that is maulgre myn
For this I wote ryght wel afyn
My grace cometh so selde aboute
That is the slouthe, whiche I doubte
More than of all the remenaunte
whiche is to loue appartenaunte
And thus as touchende of lachesse
As I haue tolde, I me confesse
To you my fader, I beseche
That ferthermore ye wol me teche
And if there be to my mattere
Some goodly tale for to here
How I may do lachesse awey
That ye it wolde telle, I prey
¶ To wysse the my sonne and rede
Amonge the tales, whiche I red
An olde ensample therupon
Nowe herken, and I wol telle on
☞ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos qui in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt. Et narrat qualiter Dido regina Cartaginis Ened. ab incendus Troie fugitinum in amorem fuum gauisa suscepit / qui cum postea in partes Italie a Cartagine bellaturum se transtulit, nimiam (que) ibidem moram faciens / tempus redditus sui ad Didonē vltra modū tardauit / ipsa intolle [...]abili dolore cōcussa sui cordis intima gladio trāsfodit.
A
[...]ayne lachessein loues caas
I fynde, howe whylome Eneas
Home Anchyses to sonne hadde
with great nauye, whiche he ladde
Fro Troye, arryueth at Cartage
wherfore a whyle his herbergage
He toke, and it betid so
with her, whiche was a quene tho
Of the Cyte, his acqueintaunce
He wan, whos name in remembraunce
Is yet, and Dido she was hote
whiche loueth Eneas so hote
Vpon the wordes, whiche he sayde
That all her herte on hym she layde
And dyd all holy, what he wolde
But after that, as it be shulde
Fro thens he goth toward Itayle
By shyp, and there his arryuayle
Hath take, and shope hym for to ryde
But she, whiche may not longe abyde
The hote payne of loues throwe
Anon within alytel throwe
A letter vnto her knyght hath wryte
And dyd hym pleinly for to wyte
If he made any taryinge
To dretche of his ayen commynge
That she ne myght hym fele and se
She shulde stonde in suche degree
As whylome stode a swan to fore
Of that she hadde her make lore
For sorowe a fether in to her brayne
She sh
[...]of, and hath her selfe slayn
As kynge Menander in a lay
Th
[...] soth hath fonde, where she lay
Spraulend with her wynges twey
As she whiche shulde than deye
For loue of hym, which was her make.
And so shal I do for thy sake
Th
[...]
[...]nene sayde, wel I wote
Lo to Ence thus she wrote
with many a nother word of compleynt
But he which had his thoughtes feynt
Towardes loue, and full of slouth
His tyme let, and that was routhe
For she, whiche loueth hym to fore
Desyreth euer more and more
And whan she sawe hym tary so
Her hert was so full of wo
That compleynend manyfolde
She hath her owne tale tolde
Vnto her selfe, and thus she spake
A who fonde euer suche a lacke
Of slouth in any worthy knyght?
Nowe wote I well my deth is dyght
Through him, which shuld haue be my lyfe
But for to stynten all this stryfe
Thus whan she syghe none other bote
Ryght euen vnto her hert rote
A naked swerd anone she threfte
And thus she gat her selfe reste
In remembraunce of all slowe
wherof my sonne thou myght knowe
Howe tarynge vpon the nede
In loues cause, is for to drede
And that hath Dido sore abought
whose deth shall euer be bethought
And euermore if I shal seche
In this matter another speche
In a Cronycke I fynde wryte
A tale, whiche is good to wyte.
¶Hic loquitur super eodem, qualiter Penolope Vlixem maritum suum in obsidione Troie diucius morantem ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem epistola sua redarguit.
☞ At Troye whan kynge Vlyxes
Vpon the sege amonge the pres
Of hem, that worthy knyghtes were
Abode longe tyme stylle there
In thylke tyme a man may se
Howe goodly that Penelope
whiche was to hym his trewe wyfe
Of his lachesse was pleyntyfe
wherof to Troye she hym sende
Her wylle by letter, thus spekende:
My worthy loue, and lorde also
It is and hath be euer so
That where a woman is alone
It maketh a man in his persone
The more hardy for to wowe
In hope that she wolde bowe
To suche thynge, as his wylle were
whyle that her lorde were els where
And of my selfe I telle this
For it so longe passed is
Syth fyrste that ye frome home went
That welle nygh euery man is went
To there I am, whyle ye be oute
Hadde made and eche of hem aboute
whiche loue can, my loue secheth
with great prayer, and me besecheth
And some maken great manace
That if they myght come in place
where that they myght her wylle haue
There is no thynge me shulde saue
That they ne wolde worch thynges
And some telle me tydynges
That ye ben deed: and some seyne
That certaynly ye ben beseyne
To loue a newe, and leaue me
But howe as euer that it be
I thonke vnto the goddes all
As yet for ought, that is befall
May no man do my chekes rede
But netheles it is to drede
That lachesse in contynuaunce
Fortune myght suche a chaunce
whiche no man after shulde amende
¶'Lo thus this lady compleynende
A letter vnto her lorde hath wryte
And prayde him, that he wolde wyte
And thynke, howe that she was al his
And that he tarye not in this
But that he wolde his loue acquyte
To her ayenewarde, and not wryte
But come hym selfe in all haste
That he none other paper waste
So that he kepe, and holde his trouth
without lette of any slouthe
¶ Vnto her lorde and loue liege
To Troye where the great siege
was leyde, this letter was conueyde
And he whiche wysdome hath purueid
Of all that to reason belongeth
with gentyll herte it vnderfongeth
And whan he hath it ouer rad
In parte, he was right inly glad
And eke in parte he was disesed
But loue his hert hath so through sesed
with pure imaginacyon
That for for none occupacyon
whiche be gan take on other syde
He may not flytte his herte asyde
For that his wyfe hym had enformed
wherof he hath hym selfe conformed
with all the wyll of his courage
To shape and take the viage
Homewarde, what tyme that he may
So that hym thynketh of a day
A thousande yere tyll he may se
The visage of Penelope
whiche he desyreth moost of all
And whan the tyme is so befall
That Troye was distroyed, and brent
He made no delayment
But goth hym home in all hye
where that he fonde tofore his eie
His worthy wyfe in good estate
And thus was sesed the debate
Of loue, and slouth was excused
which doth great harm, wher it is vsed
And hindreth many a cause honest.
¶Nota ad huc de quodam Astrologo super eodem, qui quoddam opus ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennios perducens vnius momenti tardacione omni sui operis diligentiam penitus frustrauit.
¶For of the great clerke Grostest
I rede howe busy that he was
Vpon the clergye an heed of bras
To forge and make it for to telle
Of suche thynges as befelle
And seuen yeres besynesse
He layde, but for the lachesse
Of halfe a mynute of an houre
Fro fyrst he began laboure
He loste all that he hadde do
And other whyle it fareth so
In loues cause, who is slowe
That he without vnder the wowe
By nyght stant full ofte a colde
whiche myght, if that he had wolde
His tyme kepte, haue be within.
¶Nota ad huc contra taidationem de virginibus fatuis, que nimiam moram facientes intrāte sponso ad nupcias / cum ipso non introierunt.
¶But slouth may not profyt wynne
But he may synge in his Carole
Howe late ware came to the dole
where he no good receyue myght
And that was proued well by nyght
[...] of the maydens fyue
[...]
[...]ylke lorde came for to wyue
[...] that her oyle was aweye
To lyght hym lampes in his wey
Her slouth brought it so about
Fro hym that they be shette without
wherof my sonne be thou ware
Als ferforth as I telle dare
For slouthe muste ben awayted
And if thou be not well affayted
In loue, to eschewe flouthe
My some for to telle trouthe
Thou myght not of thy selfe ben able
To wynne loue, or make it stable
All though thou myghtest loue acheue
¶ My father that I may well leue
But me was neuer assygned place
where yet to gette any grace
Ne me was no suche tyme appoynted
For than I wolde I were vnioynted
Of euery lymme that I haue
And I ne shulde kepe and saue
Myn houre bothe, and eke my stede
If my lady it hadde bede
But she is otherwyse auysed
Than graunt suche a tyme assised
And nethelesse of my lachesse
There b
[...]th by no defaulte I gesse
Of tyme loste, in that I myght
But yet her lyketh not alyght
Vpon no lure, whiche I caste
Fo
[...]
[...]y the more I crye faste
The lesse her lyketh for to here
So for to speke of this matere
I seche, that I may not fynde
I haste, and euer I am behynde
And wote not, what it may amount
But father vpon myn accompte
whiche ye ben sette to examyne
Of
[...]hayfte after the discipline
Say what your best counsayle is.
¶ My sonne my counseyle is this
Howe so it stande of tyme ago
Do forthe thy besynes so
That no lachesse in the be founde
For slouthe is myghty to confounde
The spede of euery mans werke
For many a vice, as saith the clerke
There hongen vpon slouthes lappe
Of suche as make a man myshappe
To pleyne and telle of Had I wyst
And thervpon if that the lyste
To knowe of slouthes cause more
In speciall yet ouermore
There is a vicefull greuable
To hym, whiche is therof culpable
And stant of all vertues bare
Here after as I shall declare
Qui nihil attemptat, nihil expedit, ore
(que) mut
[...]
Munus amicitie
[...]ur sibi raro capit
Est modus in uerbis, sed ei qui parcit amori
Verba referre sua nouifauet ullus amor.
¶Hic loquitur Confessor de quadam specie Accidie / que pusillanimitas dicta est / cuius imaginatiua formido ne (que) virtutes aggredi, ne (que) vicia fugere audet / sic (que) vtrius (que) vite tam actiue quam contemplatiue premium non attingit.
❧ Touchende of slouth in his degre
There is yet pusillanimite
whiche is to say in this langage
He that hath lyttell of courage
And dare no mans werke begynne
So may he nought by reason wynne
For who that nought dare vndertake
By right he shall no profyt take
But of this vice the nature
Dare nothynge sette in auenture
Hym lacketh bothe worde and dede
wherof he shulde his cause spede
He woll no manhode vnderstonde
For euer he hath drede vpon honde
All is peryll, that he shall saye
Hym thynketh the wolfe is in the waye
And of imaginacion
He maketh his excusacion
And feyneth cause of pure drede
And euer he fayleth at nede
Tyll all be spylte, that he with dealeth
He hath the sore, which no man heleth
The whiche is cleped Lacke of herte
Though euery grace aboute hym sterte
He woll not ones stere his fote
So that by reason lese he mote
That woll not aunter for to wynne
And so forth sonne, if we begynne
To speke of loue and his seruice
There ben truantes in suche a wyse
That lacken hert, whan best were
They speken of loue, and right for feare
They waxen dombe, and dare not telle
without sowne, as dothe the belle
whiche hath no clapper for to chyme
And ryght so they, as for the tyme
Ben herteles without speche
Of loue, and dare nothynge eseche
And thus they lese, and wynne nought
For thy my sonne if thou arte ought
Culpable, as touchende of this slouthe
Shryue the therof, and telle me trouth.
¶My father I am all beknowe
That I haue ben one of the slowe
As for to telle in loues cas
Myn herte is yet, and euer was
Although the worlde shuld al to breke
So fearful, that I dare not speke
Of what purpose that I haue nome
whan I towarde my lady come
But lette it passe and ouer go
¶My sonne do no more so
For after that a man pursueth
To loue so fortune seweth
Ful ofte, and yeueth her happy chance
To hym, whiche maketh continuance
To preye loue, and to beseche
As by ensample I shall the teche.
☞ Hic in amoris causa loquitur contra pusilla nimes, Et dicit / ꝙ amans, pro timore verbis obtumescere non debet, sed concinnando preces sui amoris expeditionem tutius prosequatur / Et ponit Confessor exemplum, qualiter Pigmalion pro eo ꝙ preces continuauit, quandam imaginem eburneam, cuius pulchritudinis concupiscentia illaqueatus extitit, in carnem et sanguinem ad latus suum tranformatam sentiit.
¶I fynde, how whilom there was one
whose name mas Pigmalyone
whiche was a lusty man of youth
The werkes of entayle he couthe
Aboue all other men as tho
And through fortune it felle hym so
As he, whom loue shall trauayle
He made an image of entayle
Lyche to a woman in semblaunce
Of feature, and of countenaunce
So fayre yet neuer was fygure
Ryght as a lyues creature
She semeth, for of yuor whyte
He hath it wrought of suche delyte
She was rody on the cheke
And redde on her lyppes eke
wherof that he hym selfe begyleth
For with a goodly loke she smyleth
So that through pure impression
Of his imagination
with all the herte of his courage
His loue vpon this fayre image
He set: and her of loue preyde
But she no worde ayenewarde sayd
The longe day what thynge he dede
This image in the same stede
was euer by, that at meate
He wold her serue, and prayde her eate
And put vnto her mouth the cup
And whan the borde was taken vp
He hath her vnto his chaumbre nome
And after whan the nyght was come
He leyde her in bedde all naked
He was forwepte, he was forwaked
He kyste her colde lyppes ofte
And wyssheth, that they were softe
And ofte he rowneth in her eare
And ofte his arme now here now there
He layde, as he her wolde enbrace
And euer amonge he asketh grace
As though she wyst what it ment
And thus hym selfe he gan tourment
with suche disease of loues peyne
That no man myght hym more peyne
But howe it were of his penaunce
He made suche countenaunce
Fro day to nyght, and prayde so longe
That his prayer is vnderfonge
whiche Venus of her grace herde
By night, and whan that he werst ferde
And it lay naked in his arme
The colde image he felte warme
Of flesshe and bone, and full of lyfe
Lo thus he wanne a lusty wyfe
whiche obeisaunt was at his wyll
And if he wolde haue holde hym stylle
And nothing spoke, he shuld haue failed
But for he hath his worde trauayled
And durst speke, his loue he spedde
And bad all that he wolde abedde
For er they wente than a two
A knaue childe betwene hem two
They gate, whiche was after hote
Paphus, of whom yet hath the note
A certayne ile, whiche Paphos
Men clepe, and of his name it rose
By thts ensample thou myght fynde
That worde may worche aboue kynde
For thy my sonne if that thou spare
To speake, loste is all thy fare
For slouthe bryngeth in all wo
And ouer this to loke also
The god of loue is fauourable
To hem, that ben of loue stable
And many a wondre hath befall
wherof to speake amonges all
If that ye lyste to taken hede
Therof a solempne tale I rede
whiche I shall telle in remembraunce
Vpon the sorte of loues chaunce
[...] Hic venit exemplum super eodem qualiter [...] L [...]gdus vxori sue Thelacuse pregnanti mina [...]atur [...]q [...]si filiam pareret / infans occideretur. ou [...] tamen postea cum filiam ediderat, Isis dea part [...]s tunc presens filiā nomine Iphi appellari [...] more masculi educare admonuit, quam [...] filium credens / ipsam in maritagium filie [...] principis etate solita copulanit / Sed cū [...] debitum sui comugu, vnde foluere non ha [...] [...] in sui aduitorium interpellebat, qui su [...] [...] miserti femineum genus in masculinum [...] nature in Iphe per [...]ia transmutarili.
THe kynge Lygdus vpon a stryfe
Spake vnto Thelacuse his wife
which thā was with child great
He swore it shulde nought be lette
That if she haue a doughter bore
That it ne shulde be forlore
And slayne, wherof she sory was
So it befelle vpon this cas
whan she delyuered shulde be
I
[...]s by nyghte in pryuete
[...] whiche of childynge is the goddesse)
Came for to helpe in that distresse
Tyll that this lady was all smalle
And had a doughter forth with all
whiche the goddesse in all weye
Bad kepe, and that they shulde seye
It were a sonne: and thus Iphis
They named hym, and vpon this
The father was made for to wene
And thus in chambre with the quene
This Iphis was forthe drawe tho
And clothed, and arrayed so
Ryght kynges as a sonne sholde
Tyll after, as fortune it wolde
whan it was of a tenne yere age
Hym was betake in mariage
A dukes doughter for to wedde
whiche Iaunte hyght, and ofte a bedde
These chyldren lay, she and he
whiche of one age bothe be
So that within tyme of yeres
Together, as they ben play feres
Lyggende abedde vpon a nyght
Nature, whiche doth euery wyght
Vpon her lawe for to muse
Constreyneth hem, so that they vse
Thyng, which to hem was all vnknow
wherof Cupyde thylke throwe
Toke pite for the great loue
And lette do sette kynde aboue
So that her lawe may ben vsed
And they vpon her luste excused
For loue hateth nothynge more
Than thing, which stant ayenst the lore
Of that nature in kynde hath set
For thy Cupyde hath so besette
Her grace vpon this auenture
That be accordant to nature
whan that he sygh his tyme best
That eche of hem hath other kest
Transformeth Iphe into a man
wherof the kynde loue he wan
Of lusty yongth, Iante his wyfe
And tho they ledde a mery lyfe
whiche was to kynde none offence
And thus to take an euidence
It semeth loue is welwyllende
To hem, that ben contynuende
with besy herte to pursue
Thynge, whiche that is to loue due
wherof my sonne in this matere
Thou might ensample taken here
That with thy great besynesse
Thou myght atteyne the rychesse
Of loue, that there be no slouth
¶I dare well say by my trouth
Als ferre as my wytte can seche
My father, as for lacke of speche
But so as I me shrofe tofore
There is none other tyme lore
wherof there myght be obstacle
To lette loue of his miracle
whiche I beseche day and nyght
But father so as it is ryght
In forme of shryfte to be knowe
what thynge belongeth to the slowe
your fatherhode I woll preye
If there be forther any weye
Touchende vnto this ilke vice
¶My sonne ye, of this office
There serueth one in specyall
whiche lost hath his memoriall
So that he can no wyt witholde
In thynge, whiche he to kepe his holde
wherof fulle ofte hym selfe he greueth
And who that moost vpon hym leueth
whan that his wyttes ben so weyued
He may full lyghtly be deceyued.
Mentibus oblitus alienis labitur ille,
Quem probat accidia non meminisse sui.
Sic amor incautus, qui uō memoratur ad horas
Perdit, et offendit, quod cuperare nequit.
¶Hic tractat Confessor de vitio obliuionis / quā mater eius Accidia ad omnes virtutum memorias, necnon et in amoris causa immemorem se constituit.
¶To serue Accidie in his office
There is of slouth an other vice
whiche is cleped Foryettylnes
That nought may in his herte impresse
Of vertue, whiche reason hath set
So clene his wyttes be foryete
For in tellynge of his tale
No more his herte than his male
Hath remembraunce of thylke fourme
wherof he shulde his wytte enfourme
As than, and yet ne wote why
Thus is his purpose nought for thy
Forlore, of that he wolde abyde
And scarsely if he seeth the thridde
To loue of that he had ment
Thus many a louer hath be shent
Telle on further, hast thou ben one
Of hem, that hath slouth begonne?
¶ye father ofte it hath ben so
That whan I am my lady fro
And thynke vntowarde her drawe
Than cast I many a newe lawe
And all the worlde tourne vp so downe
And so recorde I my lesson
And write in my memoriall
what I to her telle shall
Ryght all the matter of my tale
But all nis worthe a nutte shale
For whan I come there she is
I haue it all foryete iwis
Of that I thought for to telle
I can not than vnnethes spelle
That I wende alther best haue redde
So sore of her I am adredde
For as a man that sodeynly
A goost beholdeth so fare I
So that for feare I can nought gette
My wyt: but I my selfe foryete
That I wote neuer, what I am
Ne whither I shall, ne when I cam
But mufe, as be that were amased
Lyche to the boke, in whiche is rased
The letter, and may nothynge be radde
So ben my wyttes ouerladde
That what as euer I thought haue spoken
It is out of myn herte stoken
And stōde, as who saith, dombe & deefe
That all nys worth an iuye lefe
Of that I wende well haue sayde
And at laste I make abrayde
Last vp myn heed, and loke aboute
Ryght as a man, that were in doute
And wote not, where he shall become
Thus am I ofte all ouercome
There as I wende best to stonde
But after whan I vnderstonde
And am in other place alone
I make many a wofull mone
Vnto my selfe, and speke so
¶A foole, where was thyne herte tho
whan thou thy worthy lady sye
were thou afered of her eie?
For of her bonde there is no drede
So well I knowe her woman hede
That in her is no more oultrage
Than in a childe of thre yere age
why hast thou drede of so good one
whom all vertue hath begone
That in her is no violence
But goodlyhede, and innocence
without spotte of any blame
A nyce herte, fye for shame
A cowarde herte of loue vnlered
wherof arte thou so sore afered?
That thou thy tonge suffrest frese
And wolte thy good wordes lese
whan thou hast fonde tyme and space
Howe sholdest thou deserue grace?
when thou thy selfe darst aske none
But all thou hast foryete anone
And thus dispute in loues lore
But helpe ne fynde I nought the more
But stomble vpon myn owne treyne
And make an ekynge of my peyne
For euer whan I thynke amonge
Howe all is on my selfe alonge
I saye, O foole of all fooles
Thou farest as he betwene two stoles
That wolde sytte, and goth to grounde
It was, ne neuer shall be founde
Betwene Foryettylnes and Drede
That man shulde any cause spede
And thus myn holy father dere
Towarde my selfe, as ye may here
I pleyne of my foryettylnes
But elles all the busynesse
That may be take of mans thought
My hert taketh and is through sought
To thynken euer vpon that swete
without
[...]n slouthe I you byhete
For what so falle or wele or wo
That thought foryete I neuermo
w
[...]e so I laugh, or so I loure
Not halfe a mynute of an houre
Ne myght I lette out of my mynde
But if I thought vpon that hende
Therof me shall no slouth lette
Tyll death out of this worlde me fette
All though I had on suche a rynge
As Moyses, through his enchauntyng
Sometyme in Ethyope made
whan that he Tharbys wedded had
whiche rynge bare of obliuion
The name, and that was by reason
That where on a fynger it sate
Anone his loue he so foryate
As though he had it neuer knowe
And so it felle that ilke throwe
whan Tharbis had it on her honde
No knowlegynge of hym she fonde
But all was cleane out of memorie
As men may rede in his storye
And thus he went quyte awaye
That neuer after thylke day
She thought, that there was suche one
All was foryete, and ouergone
But in good feyth so may not I
For she is euer faste by
So nigh, that she myn herte toucheth
That for no thing that slouth voucheth
I may foryete her lefe ne loth
For ouer all where as she goth
Myn herte foloweth her aboute
Thus may I say withouten doute
For bet, for wers, for ought, for nought
She passeth neuer fro my thought
But whan I am there, as she is
Myn hert, as I you sayde er this
Somtyme of her is sore adradde
And sometyme is ouergladde
All out of reule, and out of space
For whan I se her goodly face
And thynke vpon her hygh prys
As though I were in Paradys
I am so rauysshed of the syght
That speke vnto her I ne myght
As for the tyme, though I wolde
For I ne may my wytte vnfolde
To fynde o worde of that I mene
But it is all foryete cleane
And though I stonde there a myle
All is foryete for the whyle
A tonge I haue / and wordes none
And thus I stonde, and thynke alone
Of thynge, that helpeth ofte nought
But what I had afore thought.
To speake, whan I come there
It is foryete, as nought ne were
And stonde amased, and assoted
That of no thyng, which I haue noted
I can not than a note synge
But all is out of knowlegynge
Thus what for ioy, and what for drede
All is foryeten at nede
So that my father of this slouth
I haue you sayde the playne trouth
ye may it, as ye lyste, redresse
For thus stant my foryetylnesse
And eke my pusyllanymite
Say nowe forth, what ye lyste, to me
For I wol onely do by you
¶My son I haue wel herd, how thou
Hast sayd, and that thou must amende
For loue his grace wol not sende
To that man, which dare aske none
For this we knowen euerychone
A mans thought withoute speche
God wote, and yet that men beseche
His wil is: for withoute bedis
He dothe his grace in fewe stedis
And what man that foyete hym selue
Amonge a thousand be not twelue
That wol hym take in remembraunce
But let hym falle, and take his chaunce
For thy pul vp a besy herte
My sonne, and let no thynge asterte
Of loue fro thy besynesse
For touchynge of foryetylnesse
whiche many a loue hath set behynde
A tale of gret ensample I fynde
wherof it is pyte to wyte
In the maner as it is wryte.
☞ Hic in amoris causa contra obliuiosos ponit Confessor exemplum, qualiter Demophon versus bellum Troianum itinerando a Philli de Rodipea regina non tantum in hospicium / sed etlam in amorem gaudio magno susceptus eft, qui postea ab ipsa Troie descendens rediturum infra certum tempus fidelissime se compromisit sed quia huiusmodi promissiones diem statutum post modum oblitus est, Phillis obliuionem Demephontis lacrimis primo deplangens / tandem cordula collo suo cerculigata se mortuā suspedit.
❧ Kyng Demophō whā he by ship
To troye ward with felauship
Seylend goth vpon his weye
It hapneth hym at Rodepeye
As Eolus hym hadde blowe
To londe, and rested for a throwe
And felle that ylke tyme thus
That the doughter of Lycurgus
whiche quene was of the countre
was soiourned in that Cyte
within a castel nygh the stronde
where Demophon cam vp to londe
Phylles she hyght, and of yong age
And of stature, and of vysage
She hadde all that her best besemeth
Of Demophō ryght wel her quemeth
whā he was come, and made hym chere
And he that was of his manere
A lusty knyght, ne myght asterte
That he ne set on her his herte
So that within a day or two
He thought, howe euer that it go
He wolde assaye the fortune
And gan to comune
with goodly wordes in her ere
And for to put her out of fere
He swore, and hath his trouth plyght
To be for euer her owne knyght
And thus with her he stylle abode
There, whyle his shyp on anker rood
And hadde ynough of tyme and space
To speke of loue, and seke grace
This lady herd all that he sayde
Howe he swore, and howe he prayde
whiche was and an enchauntement
To her, that was as an Innocent
As though it were trouthe and feyth
She leueth all, that euer he feyth
And as her fortune shulde
She graunteth hym, all that he wolde
Thus was he for the tyme in ioye
Tyl that he shuld go to Troye
But tho she made mochel sorowe
And he his trouth leyd to borowe
To come, and if that he lyue may
Ageyne, within a moneth daye
And therupon they kysten bothe
But were hym leef or were hym loth
To shyp he goth, and forth he went
To Troye, as was his fyrst entent
The dayes go the moneth passeth
Her loue encreseth, and his lassethe
For him she lost slepe and mete
And he his tyme hath all foryete
So that this wofull yonge quene
whiche wore not what it myght mene
A letter sent, pnd prayd hym come
And sayth howe she is ouercome
with strengthe of loue, in suche a wyse
That she not longe may suffyse
To lyuen out of his presence
And put vpon his conscience
The trouthe, whiche he hath behote
wherof she loueth hym so hote
She sayth, that if he lenger lette
Of suche a day, as she hym sette
She shulde steruen in his slouthe
whiche ware a shame vnto his trouth
This letter is forth vpon her sonde
wherof somdele comfort on honde
She toke, as she that wolde abyde
And wayteth vpon that ylke tyde
whiche she hath in her letter wryte
But nowe is pyte for to wyte
As he dyd erst, so he forgate
His tyme estsone, and ouer sate
But she, whiche myght not do so
The tyde owayteth euermo
And cast her eye vpon the see
Somtyme nay, somtyme ye
Somtyme he cam, somtyme nought
Thus she disputeth in her thought
And wote not, what she thynke may
But fastend all the longe day
She was, in to the derke nyght
And tho she hath do set vp lyght
In a lanterne on hyghe alofte
Vpon a toure, where she goth ofte
In hope, that in his commynge
He shuld se the lyght brennynge
wherof he myght his weyes ryght
To come, where she was by nyght
But all for nought, she was deceyued
For Venus hath her hope weyued
And shewed her vpon the sky
How that the day was fast by
So that within a lytel throwe
The dayes lyght she myght knowe
Th
[...] she beheld the see at large
And whan she sygh there was no barge
He shyp, als fer as she may kenne
D
[...]ne fro the tour she gan to renne
In to an herber all her owne
where many a wonder wofull mone
She made, that no lyfe it wyst
As she, whiche all her ioy myst
That now she swouneth, now she pleyneth
And all her face she dysteyneth
with teres, whiche as of a welle
The stremes from her eyen felle
So as she myght and euer in one
She cleped vpon Demephoon
And sayd: Allas thou slowe wyght
There was neuer suche a knyght
That so through his vngentilnesse
Of slouthe and of foryetylnesse
Ayenst his trouthe breketh his steuen
And tho her eye vp to the heuen
She cast, and sayde: O thou vnkynde
Here shalt thou through thi slouth find
(If that the lyst to come and see)
A lady dede for loue of the
So as I shall my selue-spylle
whome, if it hadde be thy wylle
Thou myghtest saue well ynough
with that vpon a grene bough
A seynt of sylke, whiche she there had
She knyt: and so her selfe she lad
That she about her whyte swere
Hit dyd, and henge her self there
wherof the goddes were amoued
And Demephon was reproued
That of the goddes prouydence
was shape suche an euidence
Euer afterward ayene the slowe
That Phyllis in the same throwe
was shape in to a nute tre
That all men it myght se
And after Phyllis Phylberd
This tre was cleped in the yerd
And yet for Demophon to shame
In to this daye it bereth the name
This wofull chaunce howe that it ferde
Anone as Demephon it herde
And euery man it hadde in speche
His sorowe was not tho to seche
He gan his slouthe for to banne
But it was all to late thanne
¶ Lo thus my sonne myght thou wyte
Ayene this vice howe it is wryte
For no man may the harmes gesse
That fallen through foryetylnesse
wherof that I thy shryft haue herd
But yet of slouthe how it hath ferd
In other wyse I thynke oppose
If thou haue gylt, as I suppose
Dum plantare licet, cultor qui negligit ortum
Si desint fructus, imputat ipse sibi.
[Page 68]
Preterit ista dies bona, nec valebit illa secunda.
Hoc caret exemplo lentus amore suo.
☞ Her tractat Confessor de viciis negligen cie, cuius condicio Accidiam amplectens omnes aries sciencia tom in amoris causa (que) aliter ignominiosa pretermittens, cum nullum poterit eminete remedium sui ministerii diligenciam ex post facto in vacuum attemptare presumit.
❧ Fulfilled of slouthes exemplair ❧
There is yet one his secretayr
And he is cleped Negligence
whiche woll not loke his euydence
wherof he may beware tofore
But whan he hath his cause lore
Than is he wyse after the honde
whan helpe may no maner bonde
Than at fyrst wold he bynde
Thus euermore he stant behynde
whan he the thynge may not amende
Than is he ware, and sayth at ende
A wolde god I hadde knowe
wherof beiaped with a mowe
He goth, for whan the great stede
Is stole, than he taketh bede
And maketh the stable dore fast
Thus euer he pleyth an after cast
Of all that he shall saye or do
He hath a maner eke also
Hym lyst not lerne to be wyse
For he sette of no vertu pryse
But as hym lyketh for the whyle
So feleth he fulofte gyle
whan that he weneth seker to stonde
And thus thou might wel vnderstond
My sonne, if thou art suche in loue
Thou myght not come at thyn aboue
Of that thou woldest wel acheue.
¶ Myn holy fader as I leue
I may wel with sauf conscyence
Excuse me of neglygence
Towardes loue in all wyse
For though I be none of the wyse
I am so truly amorous
That I am euer curyous
Of hem, that can best enforme
To knowen and wyten all the forme
what falleth vnto loues craft
But yet ne fond I nought the hast
whiche myght vnto the blade acorde
For neuer herd I man recorde
what thynge it is, that myght auayle
To wynne loue, withoute fayle
yet so fer couthe I neuer fynde
Man, that by reason ne by kynde
Me couthe teche suche an arte
That he ne fayled of a parte
And as toward myn owne wytte
Contryue I couthe neuer yet
To fynde any sikernesse
That me myght other more or lesse
Of loue make for to spede
For leueth wel withouten drede
That if there were suche aweye
As certaynly as I shall deye
I hadde it lerned longe a go
But I wote wel there is none so
And netheles it may wel be
I am so rude in my degre
And eke my wyttes ben so dul
That I ne may nought to the full
Attayne vnto so hyghe a lore
But this I dar sey ouermore
All though my wyt ne be not stronge
It is not on my wyl alonge
For that is besy nyght and day
To lerne all that he lerne may
How that I myght loue wynne
But yet I am as to begynne
Of that I wolde make an ende
And for I not, howe it shall wende
That is to me my moste sorowe
But I dare take god to borowe
As after myn entendement
None other wyse neglygent
Than I you saye, haue I not be
For thy pur seynt charyte
Telle me my fader, what you semeth
¶ In good feith sonne wel me quemeth
That thou thy selue hast thus acquyte
Toward this, in whiche no wyght
Abyde may for in an houre
He lest all that he may laboure
The longe yere: so that men seyne
what euer he doth, it is in veyne
For through the slouth of negligence
There was yet neuer suche scyence
Ne vertue whiche was bodely
That nys destroyed, and lost therby
Ensample, that it hath be so
In boke I fynde wryte also.
☞Hic contra vicium negligencie ponit Confessor exemplum. Et narrat / quod cum Phaeton filius Solis currum patris sui per aera regere deliuerat, admo nitus a patre, vt equos ne deui [...]rent equa manu diligencius refrenaret, ipse con filium patris sua negligencia pretiriens, equos cum curru nimis basse errare permisit / vnde non solum incendio orbem inflammauit, sed et ipsum de cu [...]u cadentem in quoddam fluuium demergi a [...] interitum causauit.
❧ Phebus, whiche is the son hote
That shyneth vpon erthe hote
And causeth euery lyues helth
He hadde a sonne in all his welth
whiche Phaeton hyght: & he desyreth
And with his moder he conspyreth
The whiche was cleped Clemene
For helpe and counsayl, so that he
His faders cart lede myght
Vpon the fayre dayes lyght
And for this thynge they both prayde
Vnto the fader: And he sayde
He wolde wel, but forth with all
Thre poyntes he hadde in speciall
Vnto his sonne in all wyse
That he hym shulde wel auyse
And take it as by weye of lore
[...] fyrst was, that he his hors to sore
T
[...]pryke: And ouer that he tolde
[...]at he the reynes fast hold
And also that he be ryght ware
In what maner he ledeth his chare
That he mistake not his gate
But vpon au
[...]sement algat
He shuld bere a syker eye
That he to lowe, ne to hye
His cart dryue, at any throwe
wherof that he myght ouerthrowe
And thus by Phebus ordinaunce
Toke Phaeton in to gouernaunce
The Sonnes cart, which he ladde
But he suche vayn glory hadde
Of that he was set vpon hygh
That he his owne estate ne sygh
Through negligence, and toke none hed
So myght he wel not longe spede
For he the hors withouten lawe
The cart let aboute drawe
where as hym lyketh, wantonly
That at the last sodenly
For he no reason wolde knowe
This fyry cart he droue to lowe
And fyreth all the worlde aboute
wherof they weren all in doute
And to the god for helpe cryden
Of suche vnhappes, as betyden
Phebus whiche sawe the neglygence
Howe Phaeton ayene his defence
His chare hath dryue oute of the weye
Ordeyneth, that he fel aweye
Out of the cart in to the flood
And dreint: lo nowe howe it stood
with hym, that was so negligent
That fro the hyghe fyrmament
For that he wolde go to lowe
He was anone downe ouerthrowe
In hyghe estate it is a vyce
To go to lowe, and in seruyce
It greueth, for to go to hye
wherof a tale in Poesye
☞ Exemplum super eodem de Icharo filio Dedali in carcere Minotauri existente, cui Dedalus, vt inde euolaret alas componens firmiter iniunxit, ne nimis alte propter solus ardorem ascenderet, quod Icharus sua negligencia post ponens cum altius sublimatus fuisset subito ad terram corruens expirauit.
☞ I fynde, how whylom Dedalus
whiche hadde a sonne, and Icharus
He hight, & though him thought loth
In suche pryson they were both
with mynotaurns, that aboute
They myghten no where wenden oute
So they bygonnen for to shape
Howe they the pryson myght escape
This Dedalus, which fro his youthe
was taught, and many craftes couthe
Of fethers, and of other thynges
Hath made to flee dyuers wynges
For hym, and for his sonne also
To whome he yafe in charge tho
And hadde hym thynke therupon
Howe that his winges ben set on
with wax: and if he toke his flyght
To hyghe, all sodenlyche he myght
Make it to melt with the sonne
And thus they haue her flyght begonne
Out of the pryson fayre and softe
And whan they weren both alofte
This Icharus began to mounte
And of the counseyll none acompte
He set, whiche his fader taught
Tyl that the sonne his wynges caught
wherof it melt, and frome the hyght
withoutten helpe of any flyght
He felle to his destruction
And liche to that condition
There fallen oftimes fele
For lacke of gouernaunce in wele
Als wel loue as other weye.
¶ Nowe good fader I you preye
If there be more in this mattere
Of slouth, that I myght here
¶My sonne as for thy dylygence
whiche euery mans conscyence
By reason shulde reule and kepe
If that the lyste to take kepe
I wol the tellen abouen all
In whome no vertu may befall
whiche yeueth vnto the vyces rest
And is of slouthe the slowest.
Abs
(que) labore vagus vir inurilis ocia plectens
Nescio quid presens vita valebit ei.
Non amor in ta
[...] misero viget, imo valoris
Qui faciunt opera clamat habere suos.
☞ Hic loquitur Confessor super illa specie accidie, que Ocium dicitur / cuius condicio in virtutum cultura nullius occupacionis diligenciam admittēs / cuiuscū (que) expedicionē cause nō attigit.
❧Among these other of slouthes kind
whiche al laboure set be hinde
And hateth all besynes
There is yet one, whiche ydelnes
Is cleped: and is the noryce
In mans kynde of euery vyce
whiche secheth cases many folde
In wynter doth he nought for colde
In somer may be nought for hete
So wether that he trese or swete
Or be he in, or be he oute
He woll ben ydel all aboute
But if he pley ought at dies
For who as euer take fees
And thynketh worshyp to deserue
There is no lorde whome he woll serue
As for to dwelle in his seruyce
But if it were in suche a wise
Of that he seeth parauenture
That by lordship and by couerture
He may the more stonde stylle
And vse his Idelnesse at wylle
For he ne woll no trauaylle take
To ryde for his ladis sake
But lyueth all vpon his wysshes
And as a catte wold ete fysshes
without wetynge of his clees
So wolde he do, but netheles
He fayleth ofte of that he wolde
¶My sonne if thou of suche a molde
Art made, now telle me pleine thy shrift
¶Nay fader god I yeue a yift
That toward loue, as by wytte
All ydel was I neuer yette
Ne neuer shall, whyle I may go
¶Now sonne telle me than so
what hast thou done of besyshyp
To loue, and to the ladyship
Of her, whiche thy lady is?
¶My fader euer yet er this
In euery place, in euery stede
what so my lady hath me hede
with all myn hert obedyent
I haue ther to be dylygent
And if so is that she byd nought
what thing that than in to my thought
Cometh fyrst, of that I may suffyse
I bowe, and profer my seruyce
Somtime in chamber, sōtyme in hall
Ryght so as I se the tymes fall
And whan she goth to here masse
That tyme shall nought ouerpasse
That I ne approche her lady hede
In aunter if I may her lede
Vnto the chapel and ageyne
Than is not all my wey in vayne
Somdele I may the better fare
whan I, that may not fele her bare
May lede her clothed in myn arme
But after warde it doth me harme
Of pure imagination
For than this collation
I make vnto my seluen ofte
And say: O lorde howe she is softe
How she is round, how she is small
Now wolde god, I hadde her all
without daunger at my wylle
And than I syke, and sytte stylle
Of that I se my besy thought
Is torned Idel in to nought
But for all that let I ne may
whan I se tyme a nother day
That I ne do my besynes
Vnto my ladyes worthynes
For I therto my wytte affayte
To se the tymes and awayte
what is to done, and what to leue
And so whan tyme is, by her leue
what thynge she byt me don, I do
And where she byt me gon, I go
And whan her lyst to clepe, I come
Thus hath she fullyche ouercome
Myn ydelnesse tyl I sterue
So that I mot her nedes serue
For as men seyn, nede hath no lawe
Thus mot I nedely to her drawe
I serue, I bowe, I loke, I lowte
Myn eye foloweth her aboute
what so she woll, so woll I
whan she woll syt, I knele by
And whan she stout, than woll I stonde
And whā she taketh her werk on honde
Of weuynge, or of embrouderye
Than can I not but muse and prye
Vpon her fyngers longe and smale
And nowe I thynke, and nowe I tale
And nowe I synge, and nowe I syke
And thus my contenaunce I pyke
And if it falle, as for a tyme
Her lyketh nought abyde byme
But busy en her on other thynges
Than make I other taryenges
To dryue forth the longe daye
For me is loth departe awaye
And than I am so symple of port
That for to feyn some disporte
I play with her lytel hounde
Nowe on the bed, nowe on the ground
Nowe with the byrdes in the cage
For there is none so lytel page
Ne yet so symple a chamberere
That I ne make hem all chere
And all for they shuld speke wele
Thus mow ye se my besy whel
That goth not ydelyche aboute
And if her lyst to ryden oute
On pylgremage, or other stede
I come, though I be not bede
And take her in myn arme alofte
And set her in her sadel softe
And so forth lede her by the brydel
For that I wolde not ben ydel
And if her lyst to ryde in chare
And that I may therof beware
Anone I shape me to ryde
Ryght euen by the chares syde
And as I may, I speke amonge
And other whyle I synge a songe
whiche Ouyde in his bokees made
And sayd: O what sorowes gladde
O whiche wolull prosperite
Belongeth to the propirte
Of loue? who so wol hym serue
And there fro may no man swerue
That he ne mote his lawe obeye
And thus I ryde forth my weye
And am ryght besy ouerall
with herte, and with my body all
As I haue sayde you here tofore
My good fader telle therfore
Of ydelnes if I haue gylt
¶My sonne but thou telle wylt
Ought elles, than I may nowe here
Thou shalt haue no penaunce here
And netheles a man may se
Howe nowe a dayes that there be
Full many of suche hertes slowe
That woll not besyen hem to knowe
what thynge loue is: tyl at last
That he with strengthe hem ouercast
That maulgre hem they mote obeye
And done all ydelshyp awey
To serue wel and besyliche
But sonne thou art none of syche
For loue shall the wel excuse
But otherwyse if thou refuse
To loue thou myght so par caas
Ben ydel, as somtyme was
A kynges doughter vnauysed
Tyl that Cupyde her hath chastysed
wherof thou shalt a tale here
Accordaunt vnto this matere
¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos, qui amoris occupationem omittentes / grauioris infortunii casus expectant / Et narrat de quadā Armenie regis filia, que huiusmodi conditionis in principio inuentutis ocio sapersiftens / mirabili postea visione castigata in amoris obsequium pre ceteris efficitur.
¶Of Armenye I rede thus
There was a kynge, whiche Herupus
was hote: and he a lusty mayde
To doughter had, and as men sayde
Her name was Rosiphele
whiche tho was of great renome
For she was bothe wyse and feyre
And shulde be her fathers heyre
But she had one defaut of slouth
Towardes loue, & that was routh
For so well couthe no man seye
whiche myght set her in the weye
Of loues occupacion
Through none imagination
That scole wolde she not knowe
And thus she was one of the slowe
As of suche hertes besynesse
Tyll whan Venus the goddesse
whiche loues courte hath for to reule
Hath brought her in to better rule
Forth with Cupyde, & with his might
For they maruayle of suche a wyght
whiche tho was in her lusty age
Desyreth nouther mariage
Ne yet the loue of peramours
whiche euer hath ben the cōmon cours
Amonge hem, that lusty were
So was it after shewed there
For he that hye hertes loweth
with fyry dart, whiche he throweth
Cupydo, whiche of loue is god
In chastisynge hath made a rod
To dryue away her wantonnesse
So that within a whyle I gesse
She had on suche a chaunce spourned
That all her mode was ouertourned
whiche fyrst she had of slowe manere
For this it felle / as thou shalt here.
whan come was the moneth of maye
She wolde walke vpon a daye
And that was er the sonne aryst
Of women but a fewe it wyst
And forthe she wente pryuely
Vnto the parke was faste by
All softe walkende on the gras
Tyll she came there the launde was
Through which ther ran a great riuere
It thought her fayre: and sayd here
I woll abyde vnder the shawe
And badde her women to withdrawe
And there she stode alone stylle
To thynke what was in her wylle
She sygh the swete floures sprynge
She herde gladde foules synge
She sygh beastes in her kynde
The bucke, the doo, the hert, the hynde
The males go with the femele
And so began there a quarele
Betwene loue and her owne herte
Fro whiche she couthe not asterte
And as she caste her eie aboute
She sygh clad in one sute a route
Of ladyes, where they comen ryde
A longe vnder the wodde syde
On fayre ambulende hors they set
That were all whyte, fayre and great
And euerychone ryde on syde
The sadels were of suche a pryde
with perles and golde so well begone
So ryche sigh she neuer none
In kyrtels and in copes ryche
They were clothed all alyche
Departed euen of whyte and blewe
with all lustes, that she knewe
They were embroudred ouer all
Her bodyes weren longe and small
The beaute of her fayre face
There may none erthly thynge deface
Corownes on their heedes they bere
As eche of hem a quene were
That all the golde of Cresus halle
The leaste coronall of alle
Myghte not haue boughte, after the worth
Thus comē they ridend forth
The kinges doughter, which this sigh
For pure abasshe drewe her adrigh
And helde her close vnder the bough
And let hem styll ryde inough
For as her thought in her auise
To hem that were of suche a price
She was not worthy to aske there
Fro when they come, or what they were
But leuer than this worldes good
She wolde haue wyst howe it stode
And put her heed a lytell out
And as she loked her aboute
She sawe comende vnder the lynde
A woman vpon an hors behynde
The hors, on which she rode was black
All lene, and galled vpon the backe
And halted, as he were encloyed
wherof the woman was annoyed
Thus was the hors in sory plight
And for all that a sterre whyt
Amyddes in her front she hadde
Hir saddell eke was wonder badde
In whiche the wofull woman sat
And netheles there was with that
A ryche brydell for the nones
Of golde, and precious stones
Hir cote was somedele to tore
About her myddell twenty score
Of hors halters, and well mo
There hangen that tyme tho
Thus whan she came the lady nyghe
T
[...] toke she better hede, and syghe
The woman was ryght faire of face
All though her lacked other grace
And so
[...]his lady, there she stode
Bethought her well and vnderstode
That this, whiche came rydende tho
Tydynges couth telle of tho
whiche as she sygh tofore ryde
And put henforth, and prayde abyde
And sayd? A syster lette me here
what ben they, that ryden nowe here
And ben so rychely arrayed?
This woman which come so esmayed
Answerde with full softe speche
And sayd: Madame I shall you teche
These are of tho, that whylom were
Seruauntes to loue, and trouth bere
There as they had their hertes sette
Fare well. For I may not be lette
Madame I go to my seruice
So muste I haste in all wyse
For thy madame yeue me leue
I may not longe with you leue
A good syster yet I preye
Telle me why ye be so beseye
And with these halters thus begone?
¶ Madame, whylom I was one
That to my father hadde a kynge
But I was slowe, and for no thynge
Me lyste not to loue obeye
And that I nowe full sore abeye
For I whylom no loue hadde
My hors is nowe feble and badde
And all to tore is myn arraye
And euery yere this fresshe may
These lusty ladyes ryde aboute
And I must nedes sewe her route
In this maner, as ye nowe se
And trusse her halters forth with me
And am but her horse knaue
None other offyce I ne haue
Hem thynketh I am worthy no more
For I was slowe in loues lore
when I was able for to lere
And wolde not the tales here
Of hem, that couthe loue teche
¶ Nowe telle me than I you beseche
wherfore that ryche brydell serueth
with that away her chere she swerueth
And gan to wepe / and thus she tolde
This brydell, which ye nowe beholde
So ryche vpon myn hors heed
Madame afore er I was dede
when I was in my lusty lyfe
There felle in to myn hert a stryfe
Of loue, whiche me ouercome
So that therof hede I nome
And thought I wolde loue a knyght
That last well a fourtenyght
For it no lenger myght laste
So nygh my lyfe was at laste
But nowe at laste to late ware
That I ne bad hym loued are
For death cam so hast byme
Er I therto had any tyme
That it ne myght ben acheued
But for all that I am releued
Of that my wylle was good therto
That loue suffreth it be so
That I shall suche a brydell were
Nowe haue ye herde all myn answere
To god madame I you betake
And warneth all for my sake
Of loue, that they be nought idell
And byd hem thynke vpon my brydell
And with that worde all sodenly
She passeth, as it were a skye
All cleane out of the ladyes syght
And tho for feare her herte aflyght
And, sayde to her selfe, alas
I am ryght in the same cas
But if I lyue after this daye
I shall amende if I maye
And thus homewarde this lady went
And chaunged all her fyrste entent
within her herte, and gan to swere
That she no halters wolde bere
¶ Lo sonne, here might thou take hede
Howe idelnes is for to drede
Namelyche of loue, as I haue wryte
For thou myght vnderstonde and wite
Amonge the gentyll nacyon
Loue is an occupacyon
whiche for to kepe his lustes saue
Shulde euery gentyll herte haue
For as the lady was chastysed
Ryght so the knyght may be auysed
whiche idell is, and woll not serue
To loue, he may percase deserue
A greatter payne than she hadde
whan she aboute with her ladde
The hors halters, and for thy
Good is to be ware therby
But for to loken abouen alle
These maydens, howe so it falle
They shulde take ensample of this
whiche I haue tolde forsoth it is
My lady Venus, whom I serue
what woman woll her thanke deserue
She may not thylke loue eschewe
Of peramours, but she mote sewe
Cupydes lawe, and netheles
Men sene suche loue selde in pees
That it nys euer vpon aspye
Of tanglynge / and of fals enuye
Full ofte medled with disease
But thylke loue is well at ease
whiche sette is vpon mariage
For that dare shewen the vysage
In alle places openly
A great meruayle it is for thy
Howe that a mayde woll lette
That she her tyme ne besette
To haste vnto thylke feste
wherof the loue is all honeste
Men may recouer losse of good
But so wyse a man yet neuer stode
whiche may recouer tyme ylore
So may a mayden well therfore
Ensample take, of that she straungeth
Her loue, & longe or that she chaungeth
Her herte vpon her lustes grene
To mariage, as it is sene
For thus a yere, two, or thre
She lefte, er that she wedded be
whyle she the charge myght beare
Of children, whiche the worlde forbere
Ne may, but if it shulde fayle
But what mayden that in her spousaile
wolde tarie, whan she take may
She shall perchaunce an other day
Be let, whan that her leuest were
wherof a tale vnto thyn eare
whiche is culpable vpon this dede
I thynke telle of that I rede.
☞ Hic ponit exemplum super eodem: Et narrat de filia Iepte / que cum ex sui patris voio in holocaustum deo occidi et offerri deberet, ipsa pro eo / quod virgo fuit, et prolem ad augmentationem populi dei nondum genuisset .xl. dierum spacium, vt cum suis sodalibus virginibus suam defleret virginitatem priusquam moreretur / in exemplum asiorum a patre postulauit.
¶Amonge the iewes, as men tolde
There was whylom by dayes olde
A noble duke, whiche Iepte hyght
And felle, he shulde go to fyght
Agayne Amon the cruell kynge
And for to speke vpon this thynge
within his herte he made a vowe
To god, and sayd: A lorde, if thou
wolte graunt vnto thy man victorie
I shall in token of thy memorie
The fyrste lyfe, that I may se
Of man or woman, where it be
Anone as I come home ageyne
To the, whiche arte god souereyne
Sleen in thy name, and sacrifie
And thus with his chiualrie
He goth hym forth, so as he shulde
And wanne all that he wynne wolde
And ouercame his fomen alle
May no man knowe that shall falle
This duke a lusty doughter had
And fame, whiche the worldes sprad
Hath brought vnto this ladyes eare
Howe that her father hath do there
She wayteth vpon his comynge
with daunsynge, and with carolynge
As she that wolde be tofore
All other, and so she was therfore
In masphat at her fathers gate
The fyrst: and whan he cometh ther at
And sygh his doughter, he to brayde
His clothes, and wepende he sayde
* O myghty god amonge vs here
Nowe wote I that in no manere
This worldes ioy may be playne
I had all that I couth sayne
Ayene my fomen by thy grace
So whan I came towarde this place
There was no gladder man than I
But nowe my lorde all sodeynly
My ioye is tourned in to sorowe
For I my doughter shall to morowe
To hewe and brenne in thy seruice
To louynge of thy sacrifice
Through myn auowe, so as it is
The mayden whan she wyst of this
And sawe the sorowe her fatheer made
So as she may with wordes glade
Comforted hym, and had hym holde
His couenant, as he was beholde
Towardes god, as he behyght
But netheles his herte aflyght
Of that she sawe her deathe comende
And than vnto the grounde knelende
Tofore her father she is falle
And sayth, so as it is falle
Vpon this poynt, that she shall deye
Of one thinge fyrst she wolde hym prey
That forty dayes of respyte
He wolde hir graunt, vpon this plyght
That she the whyle may bewepe
Her maydenhode, whiche she to kepe
So longe hath kept, and not be set
wherof her lusty youth is lette
That she no children hath forth drawe
In mariage after the lawe
So that the people is not encreased
But that it myght be released
That she her tyme hath lore so
She wolde by his leue go
with other maydens to complayne
And afterwarde vnto the payne
Of death, she wolde come ageyne
The father herde his doughter seyne
And thervpon of one assent
The maydens were anone assent
That shulden with this mayden wende
So for to speake vnto this ende
They gone the downes and the dales
with wepynge, and with wofull tales
And euery wyght her maydenhede
Complayneth vpon thilke nede
That she no children hadde bore
wherof she hath her youth lore
whiche neuer she recouer maye
For so felle, that her laste daye
was come, in whiche she shulde take
Her dethe, whiche she may not forsake
Lo thus she deyde a wofull mayde
For thylke cause, whiche I sayde
As thou hast vnderstonde aboue
¶ My father as towarde the loue
Of maydens for to telle trouthe
ye haue thylke vice of slouthe
Me thinketh ryght wōder wel declared
That ye the women haue not spared
Of hem that taryen so behynde
But yet it falleth in my mynde
Towarde the men, howe that ye speke
Of hem that woll no trauayle seke
In cause of loue vpon deserte
To speke in wordes so couerte
I not what trauayle that ye ment
¶ My sonne and after myn entent
I woll the telle, what I thought
Howe whylom men her loues boughte
Through great trauaile in strange lōdes
where that they wrought with her hondes
Of armes many a worthy dede
In sondry places, as men may rede.
Quē, ꝓbat armorū ꝓbitas Venus ap ꝓbat er quē
Torpor habet reprobum, reprobat illa uirū,
Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris,
Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse uenit.
☞ Hic loquitur, quod in amoris causa militie probitas ad armorum laboris exercitium nullatenus torpescat.
¶That euery loue of pure kynde
Is fyrst forth drawe, well I fynde
But nethelesse yet ouer this
Deserte dothe so, that it is
The rather had in many place
For thy who secheth loues grace
where that these worthy women are
He may not than hym selue spare
Vpon his trauayle for to serue
wherof that he may thanke deserue
where as these men of armes be
Sometyme ouer the great see
So that by londe, and eke by ship
He mote trauayle for worshyp
And make many hasty rodes
Somtime in Pruys, somtyme in Rodes
And some tyme in to Tartarye
So that these herauldes on hym crie
Vaylant vaylant, lo where he goth
And than he yeueth hem golde & cloth
So that his fame myght sprynge
And to his ladyes eare brynge
Some tydynge of his worthynesse
So that she myght of his prowesse
Of that she herde men recorde
The better vnto his loue accorde
And daunger put out of her mood
whan all men recorden good
And that she wote well for her sake
That be no trauayle woll forsake
My
[...]ne of this trauayle I mene
Now shryue the: for it shall be sene
If thou arte ydell in this cas
¶My father ye, and euer was
For as me thynketh truely
That euery man doth more than I
As of this poynt, and if so is
That I haue ought done so er this
It is so lyttell of accompte
As who sayth, it may not amount
To wynne of loue his lusty yifte
For this I telle you in shryfte
That me were leuer her loue wynne
Than Raire, and all that is therinne
And for to slee the heathen alle
I not what good there myght falle
So moch blod though ther were shad
This fynde I write howe Christe bad
That no man other shulde slee
what shulde I wynne ouer the see
If I my lady loste at home?
But passe they the salte fome
To whō Christ bad they shuldē preche
To all the worlde, and his feyth teache
But nowe they rucken in her nest
And resten, as hem lyketh beste
In all the swetenes of delyces
Thus they defenden vs the vices
And sytten hem selfe all amydde
To slee and fyght, they vs bydde
Hem whō they shuld, as the boke saith
Conuerten vnto Christes fayth
But herof haue I great meruayle
How that they shulde me byd trauaile
A sarazyn if I slee shall
I slee the soule forth withall
And that was neuer Christes lore
But nowe hoo therof, I say no more
But I woll speke vpon my shrifte
And to Cupyde I make a yefte
That who as euer price deserue
Of armes I wol loue serue
As though I shuld hem bothe kepe
Als well yet wolde I take kepe
when it were tyme to abyde
And for to trauayle, and for to ryde
For howe as euer a man laboure
Cupyde appoynted hath his houre
¶Hic allegat Amās in sui excusatione qualiter Achilles apud Troiam propter amorem Polixene arma sua per aliquod tempus dimisit.
¶For I haue herde telle also
Achilles lefte his armes so
Both of hym selfe, and of his men
At Troye or Polyxen
Vpon her loue when he felle
That for no chaunce that befelle
Amonge the grekes or vpor downe
He wolde nought ayene the towne
Ben armed for the loue of hyr
And so me thynketh leue syr
A man of armes may hym reste
Sometyme in hope for the beste
If he may fynde a werre nerre
what shulde I than go so ferre?
In straunge londes many a myle
To ryde, and lese at home there whyle
My loue, it were a shorte beyete
To wynne chaffe, and lese whete
But if my lady byde wolde
That I for her loue sholde
Trauayle, me thynketh truely
I myght flee through out the sky
And go through out the depe see
For all ne sette I not a stre
what thonke that I myght els gete
what helpeth a man haue mete
where drynke lacketh on the borde
what helpeth any mans worde
To say howe I trauayle faste
where as me fayleth at laste
That thynge, whiche I trauayle fore
O in good tyme were he bore
That myght atteyne suche a mede
But certes if I myght spede
with any maner besynesse
Of worldes trauayle than I gesse
There shulde me none idelshyp
Departe from her ladyshyp
But this I se on dayes nowe
The blynde god I wote not howe
Cupydo, whiche of loue is lorde
He sette the thinges in discorde
That they that lest to loue entende
Full ofte he woll hem yeue and sende
Moost of his grace, and thus I fynde
That he that shulde go behynde
Goth many a tyme ferre to fore
So wote I not ryght well therfore
On whether borde that I shall seyle
Thus can I nought my selfe counsayle
But all I sette on auenture
And am, as who sayth, out of cure
For ought that I can sey or do
For euermo I fynde it so
The more besynesse & laye
The more that I knele and praye
with good wordes, and with softe
The more I am refused ofte
with besynes, and may not wynne
And in good feyth that is great synne
For I may seye of dede and thought
That idell man haue I be nought
For howe as euer that I be deslayde
yet euermore I haue assayde
But though my besynesse laste
All is but ydell at laste
For whan theffecte is ydelnesse
I not what thynge is besynesse
Saye what auayleth all the dede
whiche nothynge helpeth at nede
For the fortune of euery fame
Shall of his ende beare a name
And thus for ought is yet befalle
An idell man I woll me calle
And after myn entendement
But vpon your amendement
Myn holy father, as you semeth
My reason and my cause demeth
¶My son I haue herde of thy matere
Of that thou hast the shryuen here
And for to speake of idell fare
Me semeth that thou tharst not care
But only that thou myght not spede
And therof sonne I woll the rede
Abyde, and haste not to faste
Thy dedes ben euery day to caste
Thou nost, what chaunce shall betyde
Better is to wayte vpon the tyde
Than rowe ayenste the stremes stronge
For though so be the thynke longe
Percase the reuolucion
Of henen, and thy condicyon
Ne be not yet of one accorde
But I dare make this recorde
To Venus, whose prest that I am
That sythen that I hyther cam
To here, as she me badde, thy lyfe
wherof thou els be gyltyfe
Thou myght herof thy conscyence
Excuse, and of great dyligence
whiche thou to loue hast so dyspended
Thou oughtest wel to be commended
But if so be that there ought fayle
Of that thou slouthest to trauaylle
In armes for to ben absent
And for thou makest an argument
Of that thou saydest here aboue
How Achilles through strength of loue
His armes left for a throwe
Thou shalt an other tale knowe
whiche is contrarye, as thou shalt wite
For this a man maye fynde wryte
whan that knyghthode shall be weired
Lust may not than be preferred
The bed mot than be forsake
And shelde and spere on hond take
which thing shall make hem after glad
whan thy be worthy knyghtes made
wherof, so as it cometh to honde
A tale thou shalt vnderstonde
How that a knyght shall armes sewe
And for the whyle his ease eschewe.
❧ Hic dicit ꝙ amoris delectamento postposito miles arma sua preferre debet, Et ponit exemplū de Vlyxe, cum ipse a bello Troiano propter amorem Penelope remanere domi voluisset, Nau plus pater Palamidis cum tantis sermonibus allocutus est, ꝙ Vlixes thoro sue coniugis relicto lobores armorum vna cum afiis Troie magnanimis subibat.
❧ Vpon knyghthode I rede thus
Howe whylome the kynge Nauplus
The fader of Palamydes
Came for to preyen Vlyxes
with other Gregois eke also
That he with hem to Troye go
where that the syege shulde be
Anone vpon Penelope
His wyfe, whome that he loueth hote
Thynkend, wolde hem nought behote
But he shope then a wonder wyle
Howe that he shulde hem best begyle
So
[...] myght dwelle stylle
At ho
[...]e, and weld his loue at wylle
wherof erly the morowe day
Out of his bed, where that he lay
whan he was vp, he gan to fare
In to the felde, and loke and stare
As he whiche feyneth to be wood
He toke a plough, where that it stode
wherin anone in stede of oxes
He let do yoken great Foxes
And with great salt the londe be sewe
But Nauplus, which the cause knewe
Ayene the sleyghte, whiche he feyneth
Another sleyghte anone ordeyneth
And fell that tyme Vlyxes hadde
A chylde to sonne, and Nauplus radde
How men that sonne take shulde
And set hym vpon the molde
where that his fader helde the plough
In thilk forough, which he tho drough
For in such wyse he thought assaye
Howe it Vlyxes shulde paye
If that he were wood or none
The knightes for this child forth gone
Telemachus anone was fette
To fore the plough and euen sette
where that his fader shulde dryue
But whan he sawe his chylde as blyue
He droof the plough out of the weye
And Nauplus tho began to seye
And hath halfe in a
[...]ape cryed
O Vlyxes thou art aspyed
what is all this thou woldest mene?
For openlyche it is nowe sene
That thou hast feyned all this thynge
which is great shame to a kynge
whan that for lust of any slouthe
Thou wylt
[...]n a quarel of trouthe
Of armes thylke honour forsake
And dwelle at home for loues sake
For better it were honour to wynne
Than loue, whiche lykynge is ynne
For thy take worshyp vpon honde
And elles thou shalt vnderstonde
These other worthy kynges all
Of Grece, whiche vnto the calle
Towardes the wol be ryght wroth
And greue the perchans both
whiche shall be to the double shame
Most for the hyndrynge of thy name
That thou for slouthe of any loue
Shalt so thy lustes set aboue
And leue of armes the knyghthode
whiche is the pryce of thy manhode
And ought fyrst to be desyred
But he whiche hadde his herte fyred
Vpon his wyfe, whan he this herd
Nought one word there ayene answerd
But torneth home haluynge ashamed
And hath within hym selfe so tamed
His herte that all the sotye
Of loue for chyualrye
He lefte, and be hym leef or loth
To Troye forth with hem he goth
That he hym myght not excuse
Thus stant it, if a knyght refuse
The lust of armes to trauayle
There may no worldes ease auayle
But if worshyp be with all
And that hath she wed ouerall
For it syt wel in all wyse
A knyght to ben of hyghe empryse
And putten all drede aweye
For in this wyse I haue herd seye.
[...] narrat super [...]odem, qualiter Laodomia [...] v [...]or vo [...]ens ipsum a bello [...] secunt retinere fatatam sibi mortem in [...] Tr [...]e prenunciauit. sed ipse miliciam poci [...] affectans, Troiam adut vbi sue mor [...] [...] perpetue laudis Cronicam ademit.
❧ The worthy knyght Prothesalay
On his passage where he lay
Toward Troye thylke syege
She whiche was all his owne lyege
[...]domye his lusty wyfe
whiche for his loue was pensyf
As he whiche all her hert hadde
Vpon a thynge, wherof she dradde
A letter, for to make hym dwelle
Fro Troye, send hym, thus to telle
Howe she hath asked of the wyse
Touchend of hym in suche a wyse
That they haue done her vnderstond
Toward other howe so it stonde
The destyne it hath so shape
That he shall not the deth escape
In caas that he arryue at Troye
For thy as to hyr worldes ioye
with all her herte she hym preyde
And many another cause alleyde
That he with her at home abyde
But he hath cast her letter a syde
As he whiche tho no maner hede
Toke of her wommanlyche drede
And forth he goth, as nought ne were
To Troye, and was the fyrste there
whiche londeth, and toke arryuayle
For hym was leuer in the bataylle
He seyth, to deyen as a knyght
Than for to lyue in all his myght
And be reproued of his name
Lo thus vpon the worldes fame
Knyghthode hath euer yet beset
whiche with no cowardys is let.
☞ Adhuc super eodem qualiter Rex Saul, n [...] obstante ꝙ Samuelem a Phitonissa fuscitatum et conturatil vesponsum, ꝙ ipse in bello moreretur, accepisset: hostes tamē suos aggrediens milicie famā cūtis huius vit [...] blādemētis preposuit.
❧ Of kynge Saul also I fynde ♣
whan Samuel out of his kynde
Through that the Phitones hath lered
In Samarye, was arered
Longe tyme after that he was dede
The kynge Saul hym asketh rede
If that he shall go fyght or none
And Samuel hym sayd anone
The fyrst day of the batayle
Thou shalte be slayn withoute fayle
And Ionathas thy sonne also
But howe as euer it felle so
This worthy knyght of his courage
Hath vndertake the vyage
And wolde nought his knyghthode let
For no perylle he couth set
wherof that bothe his sonne and he
Vpon the Mount of Gelboe
Assemblen with her enemyes
For they knyghthode of suche a prys
By olde dayes than belden
That they none other thynge behelden
And thus the fader for worshyp
Forth with his sonne of felaushyp
Through lust of armes weren dede
As men may in the byble rede
They whos knyghthode is yet in mynd
And shall be to the worldes ende
❧ Hic loquitur, ꝙ miles in suis primordiis ad audaciam pronocari debet. Et narrat qualiter Chiro Centaurus Achillem, qui secum ab infan cia in montem Peleon educauit, vt audax efficere [Page 74] tur, primitus edocuit, quod cum ipse venacionibus ibidem insifteret, leones, et tigrides, huinsmodi (que) animalia sibi resistentia, et nulla alia fugitiua agitaret, et sic Achilles in inuentute animatus famosissime militie probitatē postmodū ad optanit.
ANd for to loken ouermore
It hath and shall ben euermore
That of knyghthode the prowesse
Is grounded vpon hardynesse
Of hym that dare wel vndertake
And who that wolde ensample take
Vpon the forme of knyghtes lawe
Howe that Achilles was forth drawe
with Chiro, whiche Centaurus hyght
Of many a wonder here he myght
For it stood thylke tyme thus
That this Chiro this Centaurus
within a large wyldernesse
where was lyon and leonesse
The lepard, and the Tygre also
with hert, and hynd, buk, and do
Had his dwellenge, as tho befylle
Of Peleon vpon the hylle
wherof was than mochel speche
There hath Chiro this chyld to teche
what tyme he was of twelue yere age
wherfore to maken his courage
The more hardy by other weye
In the forest to hunt and pleye
whan that Achilles walke wolde
Centaurus badde that he ne shulde
After no best make his chas
whiche wolde fleen out of his place
As buke and do, and herte and hynde
with whiche he may no werre fynde
But tho, that wolden hym withstonde
There shuld be with his dart on honde
Vpon the Tygre and the lyon
Purchace and make his venyson
As to a knyght is acordaunt
And therupon a couenaunt
This Chiro with Achilles set
That euery day withoute lette
He shulde seche a cruel best
Or sle or wounden at the lest
So that he myght a token brynge
Of bloude vpon his home comynge
And thus of that Chiro hym taught
Achilles suche an herte caught
That he no more a lyon drad
whan he his dart on honde had
Than if a lyon were an asse
And that hath made hym for to passe
All other knyghtes of his dede
whan it cam the great nede
As it was afterward wel knowe.
¶ Lo thus my son thou myght knowe
That the courage of hardinesse
Is of knyghthode the prowesse
whiche is to loue suffysaunt
Abouen all the remenaunt
That vnto loues court pursue
But who that wold no slouth eschewe
Vpon knyghthode and not trauayle
I not what loue hym shuld auayle
But euery labour asketh why
Of some reward, wherof that I
Ensamples couth tel ynough
Of hem that towarde loue drough
By olde dayes, as they shulde
¶ My fader therof here I wolde
¶ My sonne it is wyl reasonable
In place, whiche is honourable
If that a man his herte sette
That than he for no slouthe lette
To do what longeth to manhede
For if thou wolt the bokes rede
Of Launcelot, and other mo
There might thou seen, how it was tho
Of armes, for they wold atteyne
To loue, whiche withouten peyne
May not be gette of ydelnesse
And that I take to wytnesse
An olde Cronycke in speciall
The whiche in to memoryall
As wryte for his loues sake
Howe that a knyght shal vndertake.
☞ Hic dicet, ꝙ miles priusqua amoris amplexu dignus efficiatur, euentus bellicos victoriosus amplectere debet / et narrat qualiter Hercules et Achillous propter Deianiram Calidonie regis filiam singulare duellum ad inuicemnierunt / cuins victor Hercules existens armorum meritis amorem virginis laudabiliter conquestauit.
☞ Ther was a kynge, which Oenes
was hote, and he vnder pees
Held Calydonye in his empyre
And hadde a doughter Deyanyre
Men wyst in thylke tyme none
So fayre a wyght, as she was one
And as she was a lusty wyght
Ryght so was than a noble knyght
To whome Mercurye fader was
This knyght the two pylers of bras
The whiche yet a man may fynde
Set vp in the deserte of Inde
That was the worthy Hercules
whos name shall ben endeles
For the meruayles, which he wrought
This Hercules the loue sought
Of Deyanyre, and of this thynge
Vnto her fader, whiche was kynge
He spake touchend of maryage
The kynge knowend his hye lynage
And dead also his myghtes sterne
To hym ne durst his doughter werne
And netheles, this he hym seyde
Howe Achilous, er he, fyrst preyde
To wedden her: and in acorde
They stode, as it was of recorde
But for all that, this he hym graūteth
That which of hem, that other daūteth
In armes, hym she shulde take
And that the kynge hath vndertake
This Achilous was a geaunt
A subtyl man, a deceyuaunt
whiche through Magyke and sorcerye
Couthe all the worlde of recherye
And whan that he this tale herde
Howe vpon that the kynge answerd
with Hercules he must feyght
He trusteth nought vpon his sleyght
Al onely, whan it cometh to nede
But that, whiche voydeth all drede
And euery noble herte stereth
The loue, that no lyfe forbereth
For his lady, whome he desyreth
with hardynesse his herte fyreth
And sente hym worde without fayle
That he woll take the batayle
They setten day, they chosen felde
The knyghtes couered vnder shelde
To gyder come at tyme sette
And eche one is with other mette
It fel they foughten bothe on fote
There was no stone, there was no rote
whiche myght letten hem the weye
But all was voyde and take aweye
They smyten strokes but a fewe
For Hercules, whiche wolde shewe
His great strengthe, as for the nones
He stert vpon hym all at ones
And caught hym in his armes stronge
This geaunt wote, he may not longe
Endure vnder so harde bondes
And thought he wold out of his bōdes
By sleyghte, in some maner, escape
And as he couthe hym selfe forshape
In lykenesse of an adder he slypte
Oute of his honde, and forth he skipte
And ofte, as he that fyght wolle
He torneth hym in to a bolle
And gan to belwe in suche a soune
As though the world shuld al go doune
The grounde he sporneth, & he traūceth
His large hornes he auaunceth
And cast hem here and there aboute
But he, whiche stant of hem no doute
Awayteth wel whan that he came
And hym by bothe bornes nam
And all at ones he hym caste
Vnto the grounde, and helde hym faste
That he ne myght with no sleyght
Out of his honde gete vpon heyghte
Tylle he was ouercome, and yolde
And Hercules hath what he wolde
The kynge hym graunted to fulfylle
His askynge at his owne wylle
And she, for whome he hadde serued
Her thought he hath hir wel deserued
And thus with great desert of armes
He wan hym for to lygge in armes
As he whiche hath it dere abought
For otherwyse shulde he nought
❧ Nota de penthefilea Amazonie regina, que Hectoris amore colligata / contra Pirrum Achillis filium apud Troiam arma ferre eciam personaliter non recusauit.
And ouer this if thou wylte here
Vpon knyghthode of this mattere
How loue and armes ben acqueynted
A man may se bothe wryte and peynted
So ferforth, that Penthesyle
whiche was the quene of Femyne
The loue of Hector for to seke
And for thonour of armes eke
To Troye cam with spere and shelde
And rode her selfe in to the felde
with maydens armed all aroute
In rescus of the Towne a boute
whiche with the grekes was belein.
☞ Nota qualiter Philimenia propter milicie famam a finibus terre in defensionem Troie veniens tres puellas a regno Amazonie quolibet anno percipiendas sibi et heredibus suis imperpetuum ea de causa habere promeruit.
❧ Fro Paphlagonie & as men sein ♣
whiche stant vpon the worldes ende
That tyme it lyked eke to wend
Philimenis, whiche was kynge
To Troye, and came vpon this thynge
In helpe of thylke noble towne
And all was that for the renoune
Of worship and of worldes fame
Of whiche he wolde bere a name
And so he dyd, & forth with all
He wan of loue in specyall
A fayr trybute for euermo
For it felle thylke tyme so
Pyrrus the sonne of Achylles
This worthy quene amonge the pres
with dedely swerd sought oute, & fonde
And slough her with his owne honde
wherof this kynge of Paphlagonye
Penthesyle of Amazonie
where she was quene, with hym ladde
with suche maydens as she hadde
Of hem that were left alyue
Forth in his shyp, tyl they aryue
where that the body was begraue
with worsyp, and the women saue
And for the goodshyp of this dede
They graunten hym a lusty mede
That euery yere, for his truage
To hym and to his herytage
Of maydens fayre he shall haue thre
And in this wyse spedde he
whiche the fortune of armes sought
with his trauayle his ease he bought
For other wyse he shulde haue fayled
If that he hadde nought trauayled
☞ Nota pro eo quod Eneas regem Turnum in bello deuicit non solum amorem Lauine / sed et regnum Italie sibi subiugaium obtinuit.
☞ Eneas eke within Itayle
He had he wonne the bataylle
And done his myght so besyly
Ayene kynge Turne his enemy
He hadde nought Lauine wonne
But for he hath hym ouer ronne
And gat his prys, he gat her loue
By these ensamples here aboue
Lo nowe my sonne, as I haue told
Thou myght wel se, who that is bold
And dar trauayle, and vndertake
The cause of loue, he shall be take
The rather vnto loues grace
For comonlyche in worthy place
The women louen worthynesse
Of manhode and of gentylnesse
For the gentils be most desyred
¶My fader but I were inspired
Through lore of you, I wote no weye
what gentylnesse is for to seye
wherof to telle I you beseche
¶ The grounde my sonne for to seche
Vpon this diffinicyon
The worldes constitucion
Hath set the name of gentylnesse
Vpon the fortune of rychesse
whiche of longe tyme is falle in age
Than is a man of hyghe lynage
After the forme as thou shalt here
But no thynge after the matere
For who that reason vnderstond
Vpon rychesse it may not stonde
For that is thynge, whiche fayleth ofte
For he that stant to day alofte
And all the worlde hath in his wones
To morowe he fallyth all at ones
Oute of ryches in to pouerte
So that therof is no deserte
whiche gentylnesse maketh abyde
And for to loke on other syde
Howe that a gentylman is bore
Adam, whiche was all tofore
with Eue his wyfe, as of hem two
All was alyche gentyll tho
So that of generacyon
To make declaration
There may no gentylnes be
For to the reason if we se
Of mannes byrthe the measure
It is so common to nature
That it yeueth euery man alyche
As well to the poore as to the ryche
For naked they ben bore bothe
The lorde no more hath for to clothe
As of hym that ilke throwe
Than hath the poorest of the rowe
And whan they shull both passe
I not of hem whiche hath the lasse
Of worldes good, but as of charge
The lorde is more for to charge
whan god shall his accompte here
For he hath had his lustes here
But of the body whiche shall deye
All though there be dyuers weye
To deth, yet is there but one ende
To whiche that euery man shall wende
As well the begger as the lorde
Of one nature of one accorde
She whiche our olde mother is
The erthe, bothe that and this
Receyueth, and alyche deuoureth
That she do nouther part fauoureth
So were I nothynge after kynde
where I may gentylles fynde
For lacke of vertue lacketh of grace
wherof Rychesse in many place
whan men best wene for to stonde
All sodeynly goth out of honde
But vertue sette in the courage
There may no worlde be so saluage
whiche myght it take and done away
Tyll when that the body deye
And than he shall be ryched so
That it may fayle neuermo
So may that well be gentyl
[...]se
whiche yeueth so great a sikernes
For after the condicion
Of reasonable intencyon
The whiche out of the soule groweth
And the vertue fro vice knoweth
wherof a man the vice escheweth
without slouth, and vertue seweth
That is a very gentyll man
And nothynge els, whiche he can
Ne whiche he hath, ne whiche he may
But for all that yet nowe a day
In loues courte to taken hede
The poore vertue shall not spede
where that the ryche vice woweth
For selde it is, that loue alloweth
The gentyll man withouten good
Though his condition be good
But if a man of bothe two
Be ryche and vertuous also
Than is he well the more worth
But yet to put hym selfe forth
He must done his besynesse
For nother good, ne gentylnesse
May helpen hem, whiche idel be
But who that woll in his degre
Trauayle so, as it belongeth
It happeth ofte, that he fongeth
worshyppe, and ease bothe two
For euer yet it hath be so
That loue honest in sondry wey
Profyteth: for it dothe aweye
The vice: and as the bokes seyne
It maketh curteys of the vileyne
And to the cowarde hardyesse
It yeueth: so that the very prowesse
Is caused vpon loues reule
To hym that can manhode reule
And eke towarde the womanhede
who that therof woll taken hede
For though the better affayted be
In euery thynge, as men may se
For loue hath euer his lustes grene
In gentyll folke, as it is sene
whiche thynge there may no kind arest
I trowe that there is no beaste
If he with loue shulde acqueynt
That he ne wolde make it queynt
As for the whyle, that it laste
And thus I conclude at last
That they ben ydell, as me semeth
whiche vnto thynge, that loue demeth
For slouthen, that they shulden do
And ouer this my sonne also
After the vertue morail eke
To speke of loue if I shall seke
Amonge the holy bokes wyse
I fynde wrytte in suche a wyse
☞ Nota de amore charitatis vbi dicit qui non diliget / manet in morte.
who loueth not, as here is dede
For loue aboue all other is hede
whiche hath the vertues for to lede
Of all that vnto mannes dede
Belongeth. For of ydelshyp
He hateth all the felaushyp
For slouthe is euer to despyse
whiche in disdeyne hath all appryse
And that acordeth nought to man
For he that wyt and reason can
It syt hym wel, that he trauayle
Vpō such thinge, whiche myght auayle
For ydelshyp is nought comended
But euery lawe it hath defended
And in ensample thereupon
The noble wyse Salomon
whiche hadde of euery thynge insyght
Seyth: As the byrdes to the flyght
Ben made, so the man is bore
To labour, whiche is nought forbore
To hem, that thynken for to thryue
For we, whiche are nowe a lyue
Of hem that besy whylome were
(As wel in schole as elles where)
Nowe euery day ensample take
That if it were nowe to make
Thyng, which that they fyrste founden out
It shuld not be brought aboute
Her lyues than were longe
Her wyttes great, her myghtes strong
Her hertes full of besynesse
wherof the worldes redynesse
In bopy both, and in courage
Stant euer vpon his auauntage
And for to drawe in to memorye
Her names bothe, and her historye
Vpon the vertu of her dede
In sondry bokes thou myght rede
Expedit de manibus labor, vt de coridianis
Actibus ac vita viuere poscit homo,
Sed qui doctrina causa fert meute labores
Praeualet, et merita perpetuata parat.
☞ Hic loquitur contra ociosos quoscum (que), et maxime contra istos, qui excellentis prudencie ingenium habentes abs (que) fructu operum torpescunt. Et ponit exemplum de diligencia predecessorum, qui ad tocius humani generis doctrinam et auxiliū suis cōtinuis laboribus et studus gracia mediante diuina artes et sciencias primitus inuenerūt.
❧ Of euery wysdome the parfyt ♣
The hyghe god of his spyryt
yafe to men in erth here
Vpon the forme and the mater
Of that he wolde make hem wyse
And thus cam in the fyrste apryse
Of bokes, and of all good
Through hem, that whilom vnderstode
The lore, whiche to hem was yeue
wherof these other, that nowe lyue
Ben euery day to lerne newe
But er the tyme that men fewe
And that the labour forth it brought
There was no corn, though men it souȝt
In none of all the feldes oute
And er the wysdome cam aboute
Of hem, that fyrst the bokes wryte
This may wel euery wyse man wyte
There was great labour eke also
Thus was none ydel of the two
That on the plough hath vndertake
with labour, which the hond hath take
That other toke to studye and muse
As he whiche wolde not refuse
The labour of his wyttes all
And in this wyse it is befalle
Of labour, whiche that they begonne
we be now taught, of that we conne
Her besynes is yet to sene
That it stant euer alyche grene
All be it so the body deye
The name of hem shall neuer aweye
In the Cronycke as I fynde
Cham, whos labour is yet in mynde
was he, whiche fyrste the letters fonde
And wrote in hebrewe with his honde
Of naturall philosophye
He fonde fyrst also the clergye
Cadmus the letters of gregoys
Fyrst made vpon his owne chose
Theges of thynge, whiche shal befalle
He was the fyrst angur of all
Claudius, Esdras, and Sulpices
Termegis, Pandulfe, and Frigidilles
Menander Ephiloquorus
Solinus, Pandas, and Iosephus
The fyrste were of enditours
Of olde Cronyke, and eke auctours
And Heredot in his science
Of metre, of ryme, and of cadence
The fyrste was, whiche men note
And of musyke also the note
In mans voyce or softe or sharpe
That fonde Iuball, and of the harpe
The mery sowne, whiche is to lyke
That fonde Paulius forth with phisike
Z
[...]uzis fonde fyrste the portrature
And Promotheus the sculpture
After what forme that hem thought
The resemblance anon they wrought
A
[...]b
[...]ll in yron and in stele
F
[...]nde first the forge, & wrought it wele
And Iadahel, as saith the boke
Fyrste made nette, and fysshes toke
Of huntynge eke be fonde the chace
whiche nowe is knowe in many place
A tent of clothe with corde and stake
He sette vp fyrste, and dyd it make
Herconius of cokerye
Fyrste made the delycacie
The crafte Mynerue of wolle fonde
And made cloth her owne honde
And Delbora made it of lyne
The women were of great engyne
But thing which yeueth mete & drinke
And doth the labour for to swynke
To tylle the londes, and sette the vynes
wherof the corne and the wynes
B
[...]n sustenaunce to mankynde
In olde bokes as I fynde
Saturnus of his owne wyt
Hath founde fyrste: and more yet
Of chapmenhode he fonde the weye
And eke to coygne the money
Of sondry metall, as it is
He was the fyrste man of this
But howe that metall cam a place
Through mans wyt and goddes grace
The route of philosophers wyse
Contreueden by sondry wyse
Fyrst for to gette it out of myne
And after for to trye and fyne
And also with great dilygence
They fonde thylke experience
whiche cleped is Alconomy
wherof the syluer multiplye
They made, and eke the golde also
And for to telle howe it is so
Of bodyes seuen in specyall
with foure spirites ioynt withall
Stant the substance of this matere
The bodyes, whiche I speke of here
Of the planettes ben begonne
The golde is tytled to the sonne
The mone of syluer hath his part
And Iron that stonde vpon Mart
The leed after Saturne groweth
And Iubiter the brasse bestoweth
The copper sette is to Venus
And to his part Mercurius
Hath the quicke siluer, as it falleth
The whiche after the boke it calleth
Is fyrst of thilke foure named
Of spirites, whiche ben proclaymed
And the spirite, whiche is seconde
In Sal Armonyake is founde
The thirde spirite Sulphur is
The fourth sewende after this
Arcēnicum by name is hote
with blowynge and with fyres hote
In these thynges, whiche I saye
They worchen by dyuers waye
For as the philosopher tolde
Of golde and siluer they ben holde
Two principall extremities
To whiche all other by degrees
Of the metalles ben accordaunt
And so through kynde resemblant
That what man couth away take
The rust, of whiche they woxen blacke
And the sauour of the hardnes
They shulden take the lykenes
Of golde or syluer parfectly
But for to worche it sykerly
Betwene the corps and the spirite
Er that the metall be parfyte
In seuen formes it is sette
Of all: and if one be lette
The remenaunt may not auayle
But other wyse it may nought fayle
For they, by whō this art was founde
To euery poynt a certaine bounde
Ordeynen, that a man may fynde
This crafte is wrought by wey of kinde
So that there is no fallace inne
But what man that this werke begyn
He mote awayte at euery tyde
So that nothynge be lefte a syde
Fyrst of the distillacion
Forth with the congellation
Solucyon, Discention
And kepe in his entencyon
The poynt of sublymation ❧
And forth with Calcination
Of very approbation
Do that there be fyxation
with temperate hetes of the fyre
Tyll he the parfyte Elyxer
Of thilke philosophers stone
May gette, of whiche that many one
Of philosophers, whylom wryte
And if thou wolt the names wyte
Of thilke stone with other two
whiche as the clerkes maden tho
So as the bokes it recorden
The kynde of hem I shall recorden.
❧ Nota de tribus lapidibus / quod philosophi composuerunt: quorum primus (que) lapis vegetabilis, qui sanitatem conseruat / Secundus dicitur lapis Animalis, que membra et virtutes sensibiles fortificat, Tertius dicitur lapis mineralls / que omnia metalla purificat / et in suum perfectum naturali potencia deducit.
¶These olde philosophers wyse
By wey of kynde in sondry wyse
Thie stones made through clergie
The fyrste I shall specifie
was cleped Vegetabilis
Of whiche the propre vertue is
To mannes heale for to serue
As for to kepe and to preserue
The body fro sickenes all
Tyll deth of kynde vpon hym fall
The seconde stone I the behote
Is lapis Animalis hote
The whose vertue is propre, and couth
For eare, and eie, nose, and mouth
wherof a man may here and se
And smelle, and taste in his degre
And for to fele, and for to go
It helpeth a man of bothe two
The wyttes fyue he vnderfongeth
To kepe, as it to hym belongeth
The thirde stone in speciall
By name is cleped Mynerall
whiche the metalles of euery myne
Attempreth, tyll that they ben fyne
And pureth hem by suche a wey
That all the vice goth a weye
Of rust, of stynke, and of hardnes
And whan they ben of suche clennes
This mynerall, so as I fynde
Transformeth all the fyrst kynde
And maketh hem able to conceyue
Through his vertue, and receyue
Both in substaunce and in fygure
Of golde and syluer the nature
For they two ben thextremites
To whiche after the properties
Hath euery metall his desire
with helpe and comforte of the fyre
Forth with this stone, as it is sayde
which to the sonne and mone is layde
For to the redde, and to the white
This stone hath power to profyte
It maketh multiplication
Of golde, and the fyxacion
It causeth, and of his habyte
He doth the werke to be parsyte
Of thilke Elyxer whiche men call
Alconomy, as is befalle
To hem, that whylom were wyse
But nowe it stant all otherwyse
They speken fast of thilke stone
But howe to make it, nowe wote none
After the sothe experience
And netheles great diligence
They setten vp thilke dede
And spyllen more than they spede
For alway they fynde a lette
whiche bringeth in pouerte and dette
To hem, that ryche were tofore
The losse is had, the lucre is lore
To get a pounde they spenden fyue
I not how suche a crafte shall thryue
In the maner as it is vsed
It were better be refused
Than for to worchen vpon wene
In thinge, which stant not as they wene
But not for thy who that it knewe
The science of hym selfe is trewe
Vpon the forme, as it was founded
wherof the names yet be grounded
Of hem, that fyrst it founden out
And thus the fame goth all about
To suche as soughten besynes
Of vertue, and of worthynes
Of whom if I the names calle
Hermes was one the fyrst of all
To whom this arte is moste applied
Geber therof was magnified
And Ortolan, and Moryen
Amonge the whiche is Auicen
whiche fonde and wrote a great partie
The practyke of Alconomy
whose bokes pleynly, as they stonde
Vpon this crafte, fewe vnderstonde
But yet to putten hem in assay
There ben full many nowe a day
That knowen lytell what they mene
It is not one to wyte, and wene
Informe of wordes they it trete
But yet they faylen of beyete
For of to moche, or of to lyte
There is algate founde a wyte
So that they folowe not the lyne
Of the partyte medycine
whiche grounded is vpon nature
But they that wryten the scripture
Of Greke, Arabe, and Caldee
They were of suche auctorite
That they fyrst founden out the wey
Of all that thou hast herde me sey
wherof the cronyke of her lore
Shall stonde in price for euermore
But towarde our marches here
Of the Latyns, if thou wolte here
Of hem that whylom vertuous
were, and therto laborious
Carment made of her engyne
The fyrst letters of latyne
Of whiche the tonge romayn came
wherof that Aristarchus nam
Forth with Donat and Dyndymus
The fyrst reule of scole, as thus
Howe that latyne shall be compowned
And in what wyse it shall be sowned
That euery worde in his degre
Shall stonde vpon congruite
And thilke tyme at Rome also
was Tullius Cicero
That writeth vpon Rethorike
How that men shuld her wordes pyke
After the forme of cloquence
whiche is, men seyne, a great prudence
And after that out of hebrewe
Ierome, whiche the langage knewe
The byble, in whiche the lawe is closed
In to latyne he hath transposed
And many an other writer eke
Out of Caldee, Arabe, and Greke
with great labour the bokes wyse
Translateden, and otherwyse
The latyns of hem selfe also
Her study at thylke tyme so
with great trauayle of scole toke
In sondry forme for to loke
That we may take her euidence
Vpon the lore of the science
Of craftes bothe, and of clergie
Amonge the whiche in poesie
To the louers O uyde wrote
And taught, if loue be to hote
In what maner it shulde akele,
¶For thy my sonne if that thou fele
That loue wrynge the to sore
Beholde O uyde, and take his lore
¶My father if they might spede
My loue, I wolde his bokes rede
And if they techen to restreyne
My loue, it were an idell peyne
To lerne a thynge, which may not be
For lyche vnto the grene tre
If that men take his rote awey
Ryght so myn herte shulde deye
If that my loue be withdrawe
wherof touchende vnto this sawe
There is but onely to pursewe
My loue, and idelshyp eschewe.
¶My good sonne soth to seye
If there be siker any weye
To loue, thou hast sayde the best
For who that woll haue all his rest
and do no trauayle at nede
It is no reason that he spede
In loues cause for to wynne
For he, whiche dare nothyng begynne
I not what thynge he shulde acheue
But ouer this thou shalte beleue
So as it syt the well to knowe
That there ben other vices slowe
whiche vnto loue do great lette
If thou thyn herte vpon hem sette.
Perdit homo causam linquens sua iura sopori
Et quasi dimidium pars sua mortis habet
Est in amore uigil Venus, et ꝙ habet uigilanti.
Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis.
☞ HIC loquitur de Sompnolencia / que Accidie Cameraria dicta est / cuins natura semimortua alicuius negotii vigilius obseruari sopori sero torpore recusat, vnde quatenus amorē concernit Confessor Amanti diligētius opponit.
¶Towarde the slowe progeny
There is yet one of companye
And he is cleped Sompnolence
whiche dothe to Slouth his reuerence
As he whiche is his chamberleyn
That many an honderde time hath lein
To slepe, when he shulde wake
He hath with loue truce take
That wake who so wake wyll
If he may couche adowne his byll
He hath all wowed what hym lyst
That ofte he goth to bedde vnkyst
And sayth, that for no druery
He woll not leue his sluggardy
For though that no mā it wold alowe
To slepe leuer than to wowe
Is his maner, and thus on nyghtes
when he seeth the lusty knyghtes
Reuelen, where these women are
Awey be sculketh as an hare
And gothe to bed, and leyth hym softe
And of his slouthe he dremeth ofte
Howe that he stycketh in the myre
And howe he sytteth by the fyre
And claweth on his bare shankes
And howe he clymeth vp the bankes
And falleth in the slades depe
But than who so take kepe
when he is falle in suche a dreme
Ryght as a shyp agaynst the streme
He routeth with a slepy noyse
And brustleth as a monkes froyse
when it is throwe in to the panne
And otherwhile selde whanne
That he may dreme a lusty sweuen
Hym thynketh as thoughe he were in heuē
And as the world were holly his
And than he speaketh of that and this
And maketh his exposition
After his disposition
Of that he wold, & in suche a wyse
He dothe to loue all his seruise
I not what thonke he shall deserue
But sonne if thou wolte loue serue
I rede that thou do not so
¶A good father certes no
I had leauer by my trouth
Er I were sette on suche a slouth
And bere suche a slepy snoute
Bothe eien of my heed were out
For me were better fully dye
Than I of suche sluggardye
Had any name, god me shelde
For whan my mother was with childe
And I lay in her wombe close
I wolde rather Atropos
whiche is goddesse of all death
Anone as I hadde any breath
Me hadde fro my mother cast
But nowe I am nothynge agast
I thanke god: for Lachesis
Ne Cloto, whiche her felawe is
Me shopen no suche destine
whan they at my natiuite
My werdes setten as they wolde
But they me shopen that I shulde
Eschewe of slepe the truandyse
So that I hope in suche a wyse
To loue for to ben excused
That I no sompnolence haue vsed
For certes father Genius
yet vnto nowe it hath be thus
At all tyme if it befelle
So that I myght come and dwelle
In place there my lady were
I was not slowe ne slepy there
For than I dare well vndertake
That whan her lyst on nightes wake
In chambre, as to carole and daunce
Me thynke I may me more auaunce
[...]f I may gone vpon her honde
Than if I wynne a kynges londe
For whan I may her honde beclyp
with suche gladnes I daunce and skyp
Me thynketh I touche not the floore
The Roo, whiche renneth on the moore
Is than nought so lyght as I
So mowe ye wyten all for thy
That for the tyme slepe I hate
And whan it falleth other gate
So that her lyketh not to daunce
But on the dyes to caste a chaunce
O
[...] aske of loue some demaunde
O
[...] els that her lyst commaunde
To rede and here of Troylus
R
[...]ght as she wolde, so or thus
I am all redy to consent
And if so is, that I may hent
Somtyme amonge a good leyser
So as I dare of my desyre
I tes
[...]e a part: but whan I
[...]reye
Anone she byddeth me go my weye
And
[...]ith: it is ferre in the nyght
And I swere, it is euen lyght
But as it falleth at laste
There may no worldes ioye last
So mote I nedes fro her wende
And of my watche make an ende
And if she than hede toke
Howe pytouslyche on her I loke
whan that I shall my leue take
Her ought of mercy for to slake
Her daunger, whiche sayth euer nay
But he seyth often, Haue good day
That lothe is for to take his leue
Therfore whyle I may beleue
I tary forth the nyght alonge
For it is nought on me alonge
To slepe, that I soone go
Tyll that I mote algate so
And than I bydde, god herse
And so downe knelende on my kne
I take leue, and if I shall
I kysse her, and go forth withall
And other while, if that I dore
Er I come fully at dore
I tourne ayene and feyne a thynge
As though I hadde lost a rynge
Or somwhat els, for I wolde
Rysse her eftsone, if I shulde
But selden is, that I so spede
And whan I se, that I mote nede
Departe, I departe, and thanne
with all my herte I curse and banne
That euer slepe was made for eye
For as me thynketh I myght drye
without slepe to waken euer
So that I shulde not disseuer
Fro her, in whom is all my lyght
And than I curse also the nyght
with all the wyll of my courage
And saye, Away thou blacke image
whiche of thy derke cloudy face
Makest all the worldes lyght deface
And causest vnto slepe awaye
By whiche I mote nowe gone away
Out of my ladies companye
O slepy nyght I the defye
And wolde that thou lay in presse
with Proserpyne the goddesse
And with Pluto the belle kynge
For tyll I se the daye sprynge
I sette slepe nought at a rysshe
And with that worde I sygh & wysshe
And say: A why ne were it daye
For yet my lady than I maye
Beholde, though I do no more
And este I thynke forthermore
To some man howe the night doth ease
whā he hath thing, that may him plese
The longe nyght is by his syde
where as I fayle, and go besyde
But slepe, I not wherof it serueth
Of which no man his thanke deserueth
To get hym loue in any place
But is an hyndrer of his grace
And maketh hym deed as for a throwe
Ryght as a stoke were ouerthrowe
And so my fader in this wyse
The slepy nyghtes I despyse
And euer a myddes of my tale
I thynke vpon the nyghtyngale
whiche slepeth not by wey of kynde
For loue, in bokes as I fynde
Thus at last I goo to bedde
And yet myn hert lyeth to wedde
with her, where as I cam fro
Though I departe, he wol not so
There is no locke may shet hym oute
Hym nedeth nought to gone aboute
That perce may the hard wal
Thus is he with her ouerall
That be her leef, or he it loth
In to her bed myn hert goth
And softely taketh her in his arme
And feleth howe that she is warme
And wyssheth that his body were
To fele, that he felyth there
And thus my selfen I torment
Tyl that the deed slepe me hent
But than by a thousand score
wel more than I was tofore
I am tormented in my slepe
But that I dreme is not on shepe
For I ne thynke nought on wull
[...]
But I am dretched to the full
Of loue, that I haue to kepe
That nowe I laugh, and nowe I wepe
And nowe I lese, and nowe I wynne
And nowe I ende, and nowe begynne
And other whyle I dreme, and mete
That I alone with her mete
And that daunger is left behynde
And than in slepe suche ioye I fynde
That I ne bede neuer awake
But after, whan I bede take
And shall aryse vpon the morowe
Than is all torned in to sorowe
Nought for the cause I shall aryse
But for I mette in suche a wyse
And at last I am bethought
That all is vayne and helpeth nought
But yet me thynketh by my wylle
I wold haue ley, and slepe stylle
To meten euer of suche a sweuen
For than I had a slepy heuen
Confessor.
¶ My sonne and for thou tellyst so
A man may fynde of tyme a go
That many a sweuen hath be certeyn
All be it so, that som men seyn
That sweuens ben of no credence
But for to shewe in euydence
That they full ofte soth thynges
Be token, I thynke in my wrytynges
To telle a tale therupon
whiche felle by old dayes gone
¶Hic ponit exemplū qualiter somnia pre [...]stice veritatis quando (que) certitudinem figurant. Et narrat ꝙ cum Ceix rex Troicinie pro reformatione fratris sui Dedalionis in ancipitrem trans mutati peregre proficiscens in mari longins a pa tria dimersus fuerat, Iuno mittens Iridem miciam suam in partes Chimerie ad domum somni iussit, ꝙ ipse Alcione dicti regis vxori huiꝰ rei euentū per somnia certificaret. Quo facto Alciona rem perscrutans corpus mariti sui, vbi super fluctus mortuus iactabatur, inuenit: que pro do fore anguftiata cupiens corpus amplectere, in al tum mare super ipsum prosiliit, vnde du miserti amborum corpora in aues, que adhuc Alciones dicte sunt, subito conuerterunt.
❧ This fynde I wryten in poesye
Ceyx the kynge of Trocenye
Hadde Alceon to his wyfe
whiche as her owne hertes lyfe
Hym loueth, and he had also
A broder, whiche was cleped tho
Dedalion, and he par cas
Fro kynde of man forshape was
In to a goshauke of lykenes
wherof this kynge great heuynesse
Hath take: and thought in his courage
To gone vpon a pylgremage
In a strange Regyon
where he hath his deuocion
To done his sacrifyce, and preye
If that he myght in any weye
Towardes the goddes fynde grace
His broders hele to purchace
So that he myght be reformed
Of that he had ben transformed
To this purpose, and to this ende
This kynge is redy for to wende
As he whiche wold go by shyp
And for to done hym felauship
His wyfe vnto the se hym brought
with all her herte, and hym besought
That he the tyme here wolde seyn
whan that he thought come ageyne
within, he sayth, two monethis day
And thus in all the haste he may
He toke his leue, and forth he sayleth
wepend, and she her selfe bewayleth
And torneth home there she cam fro
But whan the monethes were ago
The whiche he set of his comynge
And that she herd no tydynge
There was no care for to seche
wherof the goddes to beseche
Tho she began in many wyse
And to Iuno her sacryfyce
Aboue all other moste she dede
And for her lorde she hath so hede
To wytte and knowe howe that he ferd
That Iuno the goddes her herde
Anone, and vpon this matere
She hadde Irys her massagyer
To Slepes hous that she shal wende
And byd hym, that he make an ende
By sweuen, and shewen all the cas
Vnto this lady, howe it was
This Irys fro the hyghe stage
(whiche vndertake hath the message)
Her reyny cope dyd vpon
The whiche was wonderly begone
with colours of dyuers hewe
An honderd mo than men it knewe
The heuen lyche vnto a bowe
She bende, and she cam downe lowe
The god of slepe where that she fond
And that was in a straunge londe
whiche marcheth vpon Chimerye
For there, as seyth the poesye
The god of slepe hath made his hous
whiche of entaylle is meruaylous
Vnder an hylle there is a caue
whiche of the sonne may not haue
So that no man may knowe aryght
The poynt betwene the day and nyght
There is no fyre, there is no sparke
There is no dore, whiche may charke
wherof an eye shulde vnshet
So that inward there is no let
And for to speke of that withoute
There stant no grete tre nygh aboute
wheron there myght crowe or pye
A lyght? for to clepe or crye
There is no cocke to crowe day
Ne best none, whiche noyse may
The hylle, but all aboute rounde
There is growend vpon the ground
Popy, whiche bereth the sede of slepe
with other herbes suche an hepe
A stylle water for the nones
Rennend vpon the smal stones
whiche hyght of Lethes the ryuer
Vnder that hylle in suche maner
There is, whiche yeueth great appetyte
To slepe, and thus ful of delyte
Slepe hath his hous, And of his couch
within his chamber if I shall touche
Of Hebenus that slepy tre
The bordes all aboute be
And for he shuld slepe softe
Vpon a fether bed alofte
He lyeth with many a pylowe of doun
The chambre is strowed vp and doun
with sweuenes many a thousand fold
Thus came Iris in to this holde
And to the bed, whiche is all blacke
She goth, and ther with slepe she spake
And in this wyse as she was bede
The massage of Iuno she dede
Full ofte her worde she reherseth
Er she his slepy eres perseth
with mochel wo, but at laste
His slomerend eyen he vpcast
And sayd hyr, that it shal be do
wherof amonge a thousand tho
within his hous, that slepy were
In specyall he chese oute there
Thre, whiche shulden do this dede
The fyrste of hem, so as I rede
was Morpheus, the whose nature
Is for to take the fygure
Of that person that hym lyketh
wherof that he ful ofte entryketh
The lyfe, whiche slepe shal by nyght
And Ithecus that other hyght
whiche hath the voys of euery sonne
The chere, and the condycioun
Of euery lyfe what so it is
The thyrd sewend after this
Is Panthasas, whiche may transforme
Of euery thynge the ryght forme
And chaunge it in another kynde
Vpon hem three, so as I fynde
Of sweuens stant all thapparence
whiche other whyle is euydence
And other whyle but a iape
But netheles it is so shape
That Morpheus by nyght allone
Appereth vntyll Alccone
In lykenesse of her husbonde
Al naked deed vpon the strond
And bow he dreynt in specyall
These other two it shewen all
The tempest of the blacke clowde
The wode see, the wyndes loude
All this she met, and seeth hym dyen
wherof that she began to cryen
Slepend a bedde there she laye
And with that noyse of her affraye
Her women sterten vp aboute
whiche of her lady were in doubte
And asken her, howe that she ferde
And she ryght as she sygh and herde
her sweuen hath tolde hem euery dele
And they it halsen all wele
And seyn, it is a token of good
But tyl she wyst howe that it stood
She hath no comfort in her herte
Vpon the morowe and vp she sterte
And to these (where as she met
The body lay) withoute lete
She drough: & whā that she cam nygh
Starke deed his armes sprade she sigh
Her lorde, fletende vpon the wawe
wherof her wyttes be withdrawe
And she whiche toke of deth no kepe
Anone forth lepte in to the depe
And wold haue caught hym ther arme
This infortune of double harme
The goddes from the heuen aboue
Beheld, and for the trouthe of loue
whiche in this worthy lady stood
They haue vpon the salt flood
Her dreynt lorde and her also
Fro deth to lyfe torned so
That they ben shapen in to bryddes
Swymmend vpon the wawe amyddes
And whan she sawe her lorde lyuend
In lykenesse of a byrde swymende
And she was of the same sorte
So as she myght do disport
Vpon the ioye, whiche she hadde
Her wynges both abrode she spradde
And hym both, so as she may suffyse
Beclypte and kyste in suche a wyse
As she was whylome wont to do
Her wynges for her armes tho
She toke, and for her lyppes softe
Her hard bylle, and so ful ofte
She fondeth in her berdes forme
If that she myght her selfe conforme
To do the plesaunce of a wyfe
As she dyde in that other lyfe
For though she hadde her power lore
Her wylle stode, as it was tofore
And serueth hym so as she may
wherof in to this ylke daye
To geder vpon the see they wone
where many a doughter and sonne
They bryngen forth of byrdes kynde
And for men shulden take in mynde
This Alceon the trewe quene
Her bryddes yet as it is sene
Of Alceon the name bere
¶Lo thus my sonne it may the stere
Of sweuens for to take kepe
For oft tyme a man a slepe
May se, what after shall betyde
For thy it helpeth at some tyde
A man to slepe as it belongeth
But slouthe no lyfe vnderfongeth,
whiche is to loue appertenaunt
¶My fader vpon the couenaunt
I dare wel make this auowe
Of all my lyfe in to nowe
Als ferforth as I can vnderstonde
yet took I neuer slepe on hond
whan it was tyme for to wake
For though myn eye it wolde take
Myn herte is euer there ageyne
But netheles to speke it pleyne
All this that I haue sayde you here
Of my wakynge, as ye may here
[...]t toucheth to my lady swete
For other wyse I you byhete
In straunge place whan I go
Me lyst no thynge to wake so
For whan the women lysten playe
And I her se not in the waye
Of whome I shulde myrthe take
Me lyst not longe for to wake
But if it be for pure shame
Of that I wolde eschewe a name
That they ne shuld haue cause none
To seye, A lo where suche one
That hath forlore his contenaunce
And thus amonge I synge and daunce
And feyne lust, there none is
For ofte syth I fele this
Of thought, which in min herte falleth
whan it is nyght myn hede appallyth
And that is for I se her nought
whiche is the waker of my thought
And thus as tymelyche as I may
F
[...]lo
[...]t
[...] ▪ whan it is brode daye
I
[...] of all these other leue
And go my wey: and they beleue
That seen per cas her loues there
A
[...]d I go forth as nought ne were
V
[...]to my bed, so that alone
I may there lygge, syghe, and grone
[...]d wysshen all the longe nyght
[...] that I se the dayes lyght
I not if that be sompnolence
But vpon your conscience
Myn holy fader demeth ye
¶ My sonne I am well payd with the
Of slepe, that thou the sluggardye
By nyght in loues companye
Eschewe hast, and do thy payne
So, that thy loue dare not pleyne
For loue vpon his lust wakende
Is euer, and wold that none ende
wherof the longe nyght is sette
wherof that thou beware the bette
To telle a tale I am bethought
Howe loue and slepe acorden nought
❧ Hic dicit, ꝙ vigilia in amantibus / et non sompnolencia laudanda est. Et ponit exemplum de Cephalo filio Phebi / qui nocturno silencio auroram amicam suam diligencius amplectene Solem et Lunam interpellabat / videlicet ꝙ sol in circulo ab oriente distantiori currū cū luce sua retardaret, et quod Luna sphera sua longissima orbem circuens, noctem continuaret / ita vt ipsum Cephalam amplexibus Aurore volutū priusquā dies illucesceret suis deliciis adquiescere diutius permittere dignarentur.
❧ For loue who that lyst to wake
By nyght, he may ensample take
Of Cephalus, whan that he lay
with Aurora the swete may
In armes all the longe nyght
But whan it drough towarde the lyght
That he within his herte sye
The day, whiche was the morowe nye
Anone vnto the Sonne he preyde,
For lust of loue: and thus he sayde
O Phebus, whiche the dayes lyght
Gouernest tyl that it be nyght
And gladdest euery creature
After the lawe of thy nature
But netheles there is a thynge
whiche onlyche to thy knowlechynge
Belongeth, as in pryuete
To loue, and to his dute
whiche asketh not to ben a pert
But in sylence, and in couert
Desyreth for to be beshadyd
And thus whan that the lyght is faded
And vesper sheweth hym alofte
And that the nyght is longe and softe
Vnder the clowdes derke and stylle
Than hath this thyng most of his wille
For thy vnto thy myghtes hye
As thou, whiche art the dayes eye
Of loue and myght no counseyl hyde
Vpon this derke nyghtes tyde
with all myn herte I the beseche
That I pleasaunce myght seche
with her, whiche lyeth in myn armes
withdrawe the baner of thyn armes
And lete thy lyghtes ben vnborne
And in the sygne of Capricorne
The hous appropred to Saturne
I preye the, that thou wolt soiourne
where ben the nyghtes derke and longe
For I my loue haue vnderfonge
whiche lyeth here by my syde naked
As she whiche wolde ben awaked
And me lyst no thynge for to slepe
So were it good to take kepe
Nowe at this nede of my prayer
And that the lyke for to stere
Thy fyry
[...]art, and so ordeyne
That thou thy swyft hors restrayne
Lowe vnder erthe in occident
That they toward thoryent
By sercle go the longe weye
And eke to the Dyane I preye
whiche cleped art of thy noblesse
The nyghtes mone, and the Goddesse
That thou to me be gracyous
And in Cancro thyn owne hous
Ayene Phebus in opposite
Stond at this tyme, and of delyte
Beholde Venus with a gladde eye
For than vpon Astronomye
Of due constellacyon
Thou makest prolifycacion
And dost that chyldren ben begete
whiche grace if that I myght gete
with all myn herte I woll serue
By nyght, and thy vygylle obserue
Lo thus this lusty Cephalus
Prayed vnto Phebe, and to Phebus
The nyght in lengthe for to drawe
So that he myght do the lawe
In thylke poynt of loues beste
whiche cleped is the nyghtes feste
with outen slepe of sluggardye
whiche Venus oute of companye
Hath put awey, as thylke same
which lustles fer from game
In chambre doth full ofte wo
A bedd, whean it falleth so
That loue shulde ben awayted
But slouthe, whiche is euyl affayted
with slepe hath made his retenue
That what thinge is to loue due
Of all his dette he payeth none
The wote not howe the nyght is gone
Ne howe the daye is come aboute
But onely for to slepe and route
Tyl hyghe mydday, that he aryse
But Cephalus dyd otherwyse
As thou my sonne hast herd aboue
¶ My fader who that hath his loue
A bedde naked by his syde
And wold than his eyen hyde
with slepe, I not what man is he
But certes as touchend of me
That felle me neuer yet er this
But other whyle whan so is
That I may catche slepe on honde
Lyggend alone, than I fonde
To dreme a mery sweuen or day
And if so falle, that I may
My thought with suche a sweuen plese
Me thynke I am somdele at ese
For I none other comfort haue
So nedeth nought that I shall craue
The Sonnes carte for to tary
Ne yet the Mone, that she carye
Her cours a longe vpon the heuen
For I am nought the more in euen
Towardes loue in no degre
But in my slepe yete than I se
Somwhat in sweuen of that me lyketh
whiche afterward myn herte entryketh
whan that I fynde it other wyse
So wote I not of what seruyce
That slepe to mans case doth
¶ My sonne certes thou sayst soth
But onely that it helpeth kynd
Somtyme in Physyk as I fynde
whan it is take by mesure
But he which can no slepe mesure
Vpon the reule as it belongeth
Fulofte of sodeyne chaunce he fongeth
Suche infortune, that hym greueth
But who these olde bokes leueth
Of sompnolence howe it is wryte
There may aman the sothe wyte
If that he wolde ensample take
That other whyle is good to wake
wherof a tale in Poesye
I thynke for to specyfye
☞ HIC loquitur in amoris causa contra istos, qui sompnolencie dediti, ea que seruare tenentur, amittunt, Et narrat quod cum Io puella pulcherrima a Iunone in vaccant [Page] transformata, et in Argi custodiam sic deposit fuisse superueniens Mercurius Argum dormien tem occidit, vt ipsam vaccam a pastura rapiens, quo voluit / fecum perduxet.
☞ Ouyde telleth in his sawes
Hawe Iupiter by olde dayes
Lay by a mayde, whiche Io
was cleped, wherof that Iuno
His wyfe was wrothe, and the goddesse
Of Io torned the lykenesse
In to a Cowe to go there oute
The large feldes all aboute
And gette her mete vpon the grene
And therupon this hyghe quene
Betoke her Argus for to kepe
For he was seldon wonte to slepe
And yet he had an hondred eyen
And all alyche wel they syen
Now harken how that he was begiled
Mercurye, whiche was all affyled
This Cowe to stele he came desguysed
And had a pype wel deuysed
Vpon the notes of musyke
wherof he myght his eres lyke
And ouer that he had affayted
His lusty tales, and awayted
His tyme: and thus in to the felde
He came, where Argus he beheld
with
[...]o, whiche besyde hym went
with that his pype anon he hent
And g
[...]n to pype in his manere
Thyrge, whiche was slepy for to here
And in his pypynge euer amonge
He tolde hym such a lusty songe
That he the fool hath brought a slepe
There was none eye that myght kepe
His hede, whiche Mercurye of smote
And forth with all anone fote hote
He stale the cowe, whiche Argus kepte
And all this fel for that he slepte
Ensample it was to many mo
That mochel slepe doth ofte wo
whan it is tyme for to wake
For if a man this vyce take
In sompnolence, and hym delyte
Men shuld vpon his dore wryte
His Epytaphe, and on his graue
For he to spylle, and nought to saue
Is shaped, and though he were dede
¶ For thy my sonne hold vp thin hede
And let no slepe thyn eye englue
But whan it is to reason due
¶ My fader as touchend of this
Ryght so as I you tolde, it is
That ofte a bedde, whan I shulde
I may not slepe, though I wolde
For loue is euer faste byme
which taketh none hede of one tyme
For whan I shall myn eyen close
Anone my hert he woll oppose
And hold his schole in suche a wyse
Tylle it be day that I aryse
That selde it is whan that I slepe
And thus fro sompnolence I kepe
Myn eye, and for thy if there be
Ought elles more in this degre
Nowe aske forth. ¶ My sonne yis
For slouth, whiche as moder is
The forth drawer and the Noryce
To man of many a dredful vyce
Hath yet another last of all
whiche many a man hath made to falle
where that he myght neuer aryse
wherof for thou the shalt auyse
Er thou so with thy selfe mysfare
what vyce it is, I woll declare.
Nil fortuna inuat, vbi desperacio ledit.
Quo desiccat humor non viridescit humus
Magnanimus sed amor spē ponit, et inde salutē
Cousequitur, ꝙ ei prospera fata fauent.
☞ Hic loquitur super vltima specie accidie, que Trifticia siue desperacio dicitur, cuius obstinata condicio tocius consolacionis spem deponens ali cuius remedii, quo liberari poterit, fortunam sibi euenire impossibile credit.
☞ whan slouth doth all that he may
To dryue forth the longe day
Tylle he become to the nede
Than at last vpon the dede
He loketh howe his tyme is lore
And is so wo begone therfore
That he within his thought conceiueth
Trystesse, and so hym selfe deceyueth
That he wanhope bryngeth inne
where is no comforte to begynne
But euery ioye hym is delayed
So that within his herte affrayed
A thousande tyme with one breth
wepende he wyssheth after deth
whan he fortune fynt aduerse
For than he woll his hope reherse
As though his worlde were all forlore
And sayth, alas that I was bore
Howe shall I lyue? how shall I do?
For nowe fortune is thus my foo
I wote well god me woll not helpe
what shulde I than of ioye yelpe
where there no bote is of my care
So ouercast is my welfare
That I am shapen all to stryfe
Alas that I nere of this lyfe
Er I be fullyche ouertake
And thus he wyll his sorowe make
As god hym myght not auayle
But yet ne woll he not trauayle
To helpe hym selfe at suche a nede
But sloutheth vnder suche a drede
whiche is affermed in his herte
Ryght as he myght nought asterte
The worldes wo, whiche he is inne
Also whan he is falle in synne
Hym thynketh he is so fer culpable
That god woll not be mercyable
So great a synne to foryeue
And thus he leueth to be shriue
And if a man in thilke throwe
wold hym coūseile, he wolde not knowe
The soth, though a man it fynde
For trystesse is of suche a kynde
That for to mayntene his foly
He hath with hym obstinacy
whiche is within of suche a slouth
That be forsaketh all the trouth
And woll to no reason bowe
And yet he can not alowe
His owne skylle, but of hede
Thus dwyneth he, tyll he be dede
In hyndrynge of his owne estate
For where a man is obstinate
wanhope falleth at laste
whiche may nat longe after laste
Tyll slouth make of hym an ende
But god wote whyther he shall wende
¶My sonne and ryght in suche manere
There be louers of heuy chere
That sorowen more, than is nede
whan they be taried of her spede
And can not them selfe rede
But lesen hope for to spede
And stynten loue to pursewe
And thus they faden hyde and hewe
And lustles in her hertes waxe
Herof it is, that I wolde axe
If thou my sonne arte one of tho
¶A good father it is so
Out take o poynt, I am beknowe
For els I am ouerthrowe
In all that euer ye haue seyde
My sorowe is euermore vnteyde
And secheth ouer all my veynes
But for to counsayle of my peynes
I can no bote do therto
And thus withouten hope I go
So that my wyttes ben empeyred
And I am, as who saith dispeyred
To wynne loue of thilke swete
without whom, I you behete
Myn herte, that is so bestadde
Ryght inly, neuer may be gladde
For by my trouth I shall not lye
Of pure sorowe, whiche I drye
For that she saith she wyll me nought
with dretchynge of myn owne thought
In suche a wanhope I am falle
That I ne can vnethes calle
As for to speke of any grace
My ladyes mercy to purchace
But yet I say nought for this
That all in my defaute it is
That I am neuer yet in stede
whan tyme was, that I me bede
Ne sayde, and as I durst tolde
But neuer fonde I, that she wolde
For ought she knewe of myn entent
To speke a goodly worde assent
And netheles this dare I say
That if a synfull wolde preye
To god of his foryeuenes
with halfe so great a besynesse
As I haue do to my lady
[...]
[...]
In lacke of askynge of mercy
He shulde neuer come in helle
And thus I may you sothly telle
Saufe onely that I crie and bydde
I am in tristesse all amydde
And fulfylled of desperaunce
And therof yeue me my penaunce
Myn holy father, as you lyketh
¶My sonne of that thyn herte syketh
with sorowe myght thou not amende
Tyll loue his grace woll the sende
For thou thyn owne cause empeirest
what tyme as thou thy selfe despeirest
I not what other thinge auayleth
Of hope, whan the herte fayleth
For suche a sore is incurable
And eke the goddes ben vengeable
And that a man may right well frede
These olde bokes who so rede
Of thinge, whiche hath befalle er this
Nowe here, of what ensample it is.
☞ HIC narrat qualiter Iphis / regis Theucer filius eb amorem cuiusdam puelle nomine Ara [...]arathen, quā ne (que) donis aut precibus vin [...] [...]tuit / de [...]perans ante patris ipsius puelle [...] nectanter se suspendit, vnder dii commoti, [...] [...]nellum in lapidem durissimam transmut [...]nt quam rex Theucer vna cū filio suo apud S [...]num in Templo veneris pro perpetua [...] morta sepeliri et locari fecit.
¶whylom by olde dayes fer
Of Mo
[...]e was the kynge Theucer
whiche had a knyghte to sonne Iphis
Of loue and he so maistred is
That he hath set all his courage
As to regarde of his lygnage
Vpon a mayde of lowe estate
But though he were a potestate
Of worldes good, he was subiecte
To loue, and put in suche a plyte
That he excedeth the measure
Of reason, that hym selfe assure
He can nought. For the more he praid
The lasse loue on hym she layde
He was with loue vnwise constreined
And she with reason was restreyned
The lustes of his herte he seweth
And she for drede, shame escheweth
And as she shulde, toke good hede
To saue and kepe her womanhede
And thus the thinge stode in debate
Betwene his lust, and her estate
He yaue, he sende, he spake by mouth
But yet for ought that euer he couthe
Vnto his spede he fonde no weye
So that he cast his hope aweye
within his hert he gan despeyre
Fro day to day, and so empeire
That he hath lost all his delyte
Of lust, of slepe, of appetyte
That he through strēgth of loue lasseth
His wyt, and reason ouerpasseth
As he whiche of his lyfe ne rought
His death vpon hym selfe he sought
So that by nyght his weye he nam
There wyst none, where he becam
The nyghte was derke, there shone no mone
Tofore the gates he cam sone
where that this yonge mayde was
And with this wofull worde, alas
His deadly pleyntes he began
So styll, that there was no man
It herde: and than he sayde thus
O thou Cupyde, O thou Venus
Fortuned by whose ordynaunce
Of loue, is euery mans chaunce
Ye knowen all myn hole hert
That I ne may your hondes astert
On you is euer that I crie
And you deyneth not to plie
Ne towarde me your eare enclyne
Thus for I se no medicine
To make an ende of my quarele
My deth shall be in stede of hele
Ha thou my wofull lady dere
whiche dwellest with thy father here
And slepest in thy bedde at ease
Thou wotest nothynge of my disease
Howe thou, and I be nowe vnmete
A lorde, what sweuen shalt thou mete?
what dremes hast thou now on honde?
Thou slepest there, and I here stonde
Though I no death to the deserue
Here shall I for thy loue sterue
Here shall I a kynges sonne dye
For loue, and for no felonye
whether thou therof haue ioy or sorow
Here shalt thou se me deed to morowe
O harde herte abouen alle
This death, whiche shall to me falle
For that thou wolde not do my grace
It shall be tolde in many place
That I am deed for loue and trouth
In thy defaute, and in thy slouth
Thy daunger shall to many mo
Ensample be for euermo
when they the wofull death recorde
And with that worde he toke a corde
with whiche vpon the gate tre
He henge him selfe, that was pite.
The morowe cam the nyght is gone
Men come out, and sygh anone
where that this yonge lorde was deed
There was an hous without rede
For no man knewe the cause why
There was wepynge, there was cry
This mayden, whan she it herde
And sigh this thinge howe it mysferde
Anone she wyst what it ment
And all the cause howe it went
To all the worlde she tolde it out
And preyeth to hem, that were aboute
To take of her the vengeaunce
For she was cause of thilke chaunce
why that this kynges sonne is spylt
She taketh vpon her selfe the gilt
And is all redy to the peyne
whiche any man her wolde ordeyne
But if any other wolde
She saith, that her selfe she sholde
Do wreche with her owne honde
Through out the worlde in euery lōde
That euery lyfe therof shall speke
Howe she her selfe it shulde wreke
She wepeth, she cryeth, she swouneth ofte
She caste her eien vp alofte
And sayde amonge full pitously
O god, thou wost that it am I
For whom Iphis is thus beseyne
Ordeyne so, that men may seyne
A thousande wynter after this
Howe suche a mayden dyd amys
And as I dydde, do to me
For I ne dydde no pite
To hym, whiche for my loue is lore
Do no pite to me therfore
And with this worde she fell to groūde
A swoune, and there she laye astounde
The goddes, which her pleyntes herd
And sygh howe wofully she ferde
Hir lyfe they toke awey anone
And shopen hir into a stone
After the forme of hir image
Of body both, and of visage
And for the meruayle of this thynge
Vnto the place came the kynge
And eke the quene, and many mo
And whan they wysten it was so
As I haue tolde it here aboue
Howe that Iphis was deade for loue
Of that he had be refused
They helden all men excused
And wondren vpon the vengeaunce
And for to kepe remembraunce
This fayre image mayden lyche
with company noble and ryche
with torches, and great solempnite
To Salamyne the Citie
They leade & carie forth withall
This deade corps, and seyne it shall
Besyde thilke image haue
His sepulture, and be begraue
This corps and this image thus
In to the citie to Venus
where that goddesse her temple had
Together bothe two they ladde
This ilke image as for myracle
was set vpon an hygh pinacle
That all men it myght knowe
And vnder that they maden lowe
A tombe ryche for the nones
Of marble and eke of Iaspre stones
wherin that Iphis was beloken
That euermore it shall be spoken
And for men shall the sothe wyte
They haue her ephitaphe wryte
As thynge, whiche shulde abyde stable
The letters grauen in a table
Of marble were, and sayde this
Here lyeth, whiche sloughe hymselfe, Iphis
For loue of Araxarathen
And in ensample of the women
That suffren men dyen so
Hir forme a man may seen also
Howe it is tourned flesshe and bone
In to the figure of a stone
He was to nesshe, and she to harde
Beware for thy here afterwarde
ye men and women bothe two
Ensampleth you of that was tho.
¶Lo thus my sonne as I the say
It greueth by diuers waye
In dispeire a man to falle
whiche is the last braunche of all
Of slepe, as thou hast herde deuyse
wherof that thou thy selfe auyse
Good is er that thou be deceyued
wher that the grace of hope is weyued
¶My father howe so that it stonde
Nowe haue I pleynly vnderstonde
Of stouthes courte the properte
wherof touchende in my degree
For euer I thynke to beware
But ouer this so as I dare
with all myn hert I you beseche
That ye me wolde enforme and teache
what there is more of your appryse
In loue als well as otherwyse
So that I may me cleane shryue
¶ My sonne whyle thou arte alyue
And hast also thy full mynde
Amonge the vices, whiche I fynde
There is yet one suche of the seuen
whiche all this worlde hath set vneuen
And causeth many a wronge
where he the cause hath vnderfonge
wherof hereafter thou shalte here
The forme bothe, and the matere.
¶ Explicit liber quartus.
¶Hic in quinto libro intendit Confessor tractare de auaritia, que omnium malorum radix esse dicitur, necnon de eiusdem vicii speciebus, et primum ipsuis auaritie naturam describit.
¶Incipit liber quintus.
Of
[...]at auaricia naturae legibus, et quae
Largus amor poscit, strictius illa netat.
Om
[...] quod est nimium, uiciosum dicitur aurū
Ve
[...]ia sicut oues seruat auarus opes.
Non decet, ut soli seruabitur aes, sed amori
Debet homo solam solus habere suam.
FYrste whan the hyghe god beganne
This worlde, and that the kynde of man
was fal into no gret encre
[...]
For worldes good was tho no pres
But all was set to the commune
They speken than of no fortune
Or for to lese or for to wynne
Tyll Auarice brought it in
And that was whē the world was woxe
Of man, of hors, of shepe, of oxe
And that men knewen the money
Tho went pees out of the wey
And werre came on euery syde
whiche all loue leyde asyde
And of common his propre made
So that in stede of shouell and spade
The sharpe swerde was take on honde
And in this wyse it cam to londe
wherof men made dyches depe
And hygh walles for to kepe
The golde, whiche auarice encloseth
But all to lytell hym supposeth
Though he mighte all the worlde purchase
For what thing, that he may enbrace
Of golde, of catell, or of londe
He let it neuer out of his honde
But gette hym more, and halt it fast
As though the worlde shulde euer last
So is he lyche vnto the helle
For as these olde bokes telle
what cometh ther in lasse or more
It shall departe neuermore
Thus whan he hath his cofer loken
It shall not after ben vnstoken
But whan hym lyst to haue a syght
Of golde, howe that it shyneth bright
That he theron may loke and muse
For otherwyse he dare not vse
To take his part or lesse or more
So is he poore, and ouermore
Hym lacketh, that he hath inough
An oxe draweth in the plough
Of that hym selfe hath no profite
A shepe ryght in the same plyte
His wolle beareth, but on a day
An other taketh the flees away
Thus hath he, that he nought ne hath
For he therof his parte ne tath
To seye howe suche a man hathe good
who so that reasone vnderstoode
It is vnproperlyche sayde
That good hath hym, & halt him tayde
That he ne gladdeth nought withall
But is vnto his good a thrall
And a subiecte thus serueth be
where that he shulde mayster be
Suche is the kynde of thauarous
My sonne as thou art amorous
Telle if thou fare of loue so
¶My father as it semeth no
That auarous yet neuer I was
So as ye setten me the cas
For as ye tolden here aboue
In full possession of loue
yet was I neuer here tofore
So that me thynketh well therfore
I may excuse well my dede
But of my wyll withouten drede
If I that treasour myght gete
It shulde neuer be foryete
That I ne wolde it faste holde
Tyll god of loue hym selue wolde
That death vs shulde departe a two
For leueth well, I soue her so
That euen with myn owne lyfe
If I that swete lusty wyfe
Myght ones welden at my wylle
For euer I wold holde hir stille
And in this wyse taketh kepe
If I her had, I wolde her kepe
And yet no fryday wolde I fast
Though I her kepe and helde fast
Fye on the bagges in the
[...]st
I had inough, if I her kyst
For certes if she were myn
I had her leuer than a myn
Of golde: for all this worldes ryche
Ne myght me make so ryche
As she that is so inly good
I set nought of other good
For myght I gette suche a thynge
I had a treasour for a kynge
And though I wolde it fast holde
I were than wel beholde
But I myght pype nowe with lasse
And suffre that it ouer passe
Not with my wyll, for thus I wolde
Ben auorous if that I sholde
But father I herde you sey
Howe the auarous hath yet some wey
wherof he may be glad. For he
May, whan hym lyst, his treasure se
And grope, and fele it all aboute
But I full ofte am shet theroute
There as my worthy tresour is
So is my life liche vnto this
That ye me tolden here to fore
Howe that an oxe his yoke hath bore
For thynge that shulde hym not auaile
And in this wyse I me trauayle
For who that euer hath the welfare
I wote wel that I haue the care
For I am had, and nought ne haue
And am, as who sayth, loues
[...]
Nowe deme in your owne thought
If this be auarice or nought
¶My sonne I haue of the no wonder
Though thou to serue be put vnder
with loue, whiche to kynde accordeth
But so as euery boke recordeth
It is to kynde no pleasaunce
That men aboue his sustenaunce
Vnto the golde shall serue, and bowe
For that may no reason auowe
But auarice netheles
If he may getten his encrees
Of golde, that wolde he serue and kepe
For he taketh of nought els kepe
But for to fylle his bagges large
And all is to hym but a charge
For he ne parteth nought withall
But kepeth it, as seruaunt shall
And thus though that he multiplie
His golde, without treasorye
He is, for man is nought amended
with golde, but if it be dispended
To mans vse, wherof I rede
A tale, and take therof good hede
Of that befelle by olde tyde
As telleth vs the clerke Ouyde.
☞ HIC loquitur contra istos auaros, ef narrai qualiter Mida rex Frigie Cillenū Baccbi sacerdotem, quem rustici vinculis ferreis alligarunt, dissoluit, et in hospiciū suū benignissime recollegit: pro quo Bacchus quodcun (que) munus rex exigere vellei, donari cōcessit. Vnde rex auatitia ductus / vt quicquid tangeret, in aurum conuerteretur, indiscrete petiit.
¶Bacchus, whiche is the god of wine
Accordant vnto his diuine
A prest, the whiche Cillenus hight
He had, and fell so, that by night
This prest was drunke, & goth a strayde
wherof the men were euyll apayde
In Frygelonde, where as he went
But at last a chorle hym hent
with strength of other felaushyp
So that vpon his drunkeshyp
They bounden hym with cheynes faste
And forth they lad hym also faste
Vnto the kynge, whiche hyght Myde
But he that wolde his vice hyde
This curtois kynge toke of hym hede
And bad, that men shulde hym lede
In to a chambre for to kepe
Tyll he of leyser hadde slepe
And thus this prest was sone vnbound
And vpon a couche fro the grounde
To slepe he was leyde softe inough
And whā he woke, the king him drough
To his presence, and dyd hym chere
So that this preest in suche manere
while that him liketh, ther he dwelleth
And al this he to Bacchus telleth
whan that he cam to hym ageyne
And whan that Bacchus hard seyne
Howe Myde hath done his curtesy
Hym thinketh, it were a vilanie
But he rewarde hym for his dede
So as he myght of his godhede
Vnto this kynge this god appereth
And clepeth, and that other hereth
This god to Myde thonketh fayre
Of that he was so debonayre
Towarde his prest, and had hym seye
what thynge it were, he wolde preye
He shulde it haue of worldes good
This kynge was glad, and stylle stode
And was of his askynge in doute
And all the worlde he casteth aboute
what thynge was best for his astate
And with hym selfe stode in debate
Vpon thre poyntes, whiche I fynde
Ben leuest vnto mannes kynde
The fyrst of hem it is delyte
The two ben worshyp and profyte
And than he thought, if that I craue
Delyte, though I delyte may haue
Delyte shall passen in my age
That is no syker auauntage
For euery ioye bodely
Shall ende in wo, delyte for thy
woll I not chese, and if I worshyp
Aske, & of the worlde lordshyp
That is an occupation
Of proude imagination
whiche maketh an herte vayne within
There is no certayne for to wynne
For lorde and knaue is all one wey
whan they be bore, and whan they dey
And if I profyte aske wolde
I
[...] not in what maner I sholde
Of worldes good haue sykernes
For euery these vpon rychesse
Awayteth, for to robbe and stele
Suche good is cause of harmes fele
And also though a man at ones
Of all the worlde within his wones
The treasour myght haue euery dele
yet had he but one mans dele
Towarde hym selfe, so as I thynke
Of clothynge, and of meate and drinke
For more out take vanite
There hath no lorde in his degre
And thus vpon these poyntes diuerse
Dyuersly he gan reherce
what poynt hym thought for the beste
But playnly for to gette hym rest
He can no syker way cast
And netheles yet at laste
He felle vpon the couetyse
Of golde, and than in sondry wyse
He thought, as I haue sayd tofore
How treasour may be soone lore
And hadde an inly great desyre
Touchende of suche recouer
Howe that he myght his cause auayle
To gete hym gold withouten fayle
within his hert and thus he preyseth
The gold, & fayth, how that he peyseth
Abouen all other metall most
The golde, he sayth, may lede an hoost
To make werre ayene the kynge
The golde put vnder all thynge
And set it whan hym lyst aboue
The golde can make of hate loue
And werre of pees: and ryght of wrong
And longe to short, and short to longe
withoute golde may be no fest
Gold is the lorde of man and best
And may hem both bye and selle
So that a man may sothely telle
That all the worlde to golde obeyeth
For thy this kinge to Bacchus preyth
To graunte him golde, but he excedeth
Mesure, more than hym nedeth
Men tellen, that the maladye
whiche cleped is hydropsye
Resembled is vnto this vyce
By waye of kynde of Auaryce
The more hidropsy drynketh
The more hym thrsteth: for him thynketh
That he may neuer drynke his fylle
So that there may no thynge fulfylle
The lustes of his appetyte
And ryght in suche a maner plyte
Stant euer Auaryce, and euer stode
The more he hath of worldes good
The more he wolde it kepe streyte
And euer more and more coueyte
And ryght in suche condycion
withoute good discrecyon
This kynge with Auaryce is smitte
That all the worlde it myght witte
For he to Bacchus than preyd
That therupon his honde he leyd
It shulde through his touche anone
Become gold, and therupon
This god hym graunteth, as he badde
Tho was this kynge of Fryge gladde
And for to put it in assaye
with all the hast that he maye
He toucheth that, he toucheth this
And in his hond all golde it is
The stone, the tre, the leef, the gras
The floure, the fruyte all gold it was
Thus toucheth he, whyle he may laste
To go: but honger at laste
Hym toke so, that he mote nede
By wey of kynde his honger fede
The cloth was leyd, the borde was set
And all was forth tofore hym set
His dyssh, his cup, his drynk, his meet
But whan he wolde or drynke or ete
Anone as it his mouth cam nyghe
It was all golde, and than he syghe
Of Auaryce the folye
And he with that byganne to crye
And preyde Bacchus to foryeue
His gylt, and suffer hym for to lyue
And be suche, as he was tofore
So that he were nought forlore
This god which herd of this greuaunce
Toke routhe wpon his repentaunce
And had hym go forth redyly
Vnto a flood was fast by
whiche Paceole than hyght
In whiche als fast as euer he myght
He shuld hym wasshe ouerall
And sayd hym than that he shall
Recouer his fyrste astate ageyn
This kynge ryght as he herd seyn
In to the flood goth fro the lond
And wesshe hym both fote and hond
And so forth all the remenaunte
As hym was set in couenaunt
And than he sygh meruayles straunge
The flood his colour gan to chaunge
The grauel with the smal stones
To gold they torne both attones
And he was quyte of that he hadde
And thus fortune his chaunce ladde
And whan he sygh his touch awey
He goth hym home the ryght wey
And lyueth forth as he dyd er
And put all auaryce a fer
And the ryches of gold despyseth
And seith, that mete and cloth suffyseth
Thus hath this kynge experyence
Howe fooles done the reuerence
To gold, whiche of his owne kynde
Is lasse worth than is the rynde
To sustenaunce of mars fode
And than he made lawes good
And all his thinge set vpon skylle
He bede his people for to tylle
Her lond, and lyue vnder the lawe
And that they shulde also forth drawe
Bestayl, and seche none encrees
Of gold, whiche is the breche of pees
For this a man may fynde wryte
To fore the tyme, er gold was smyte
In coygne, that men the floren knewe
There was wel nyhe noman vntrewe
Tho was there shelde ne spere
Ne dedely wepen for to here
Tho was the towne withouten walle
whiche nowe is closed ouer alle
Tho was there no brocage in londe
which now taketh euery cause on hond
So may men knowe, howe the florayn
was moder fyrst of malengyn
And brynger in of all werre
wherof this word stant out of herre
Through the counseyl of auaryce
whiche of his owne propre vyce
Is as the helle wonderful
For it may neuermore be full
That what as euer cometh therynne
A wey ne may it neuer wynne
¶ But sonne myn do thou not so
Let all suche auaryce go
And take thy part of that thou hast
I hyd not that thou do wast
But hold largesse in his mesure
And if thou se a creature
whiche through pouert is falle in nede
Yeu
[...] hym somme good: for this I rede
To hym that wol not yeuen here
what peyne he shal haue els where
There is a peyn amonge all
Benethe in helle, whiche men calle
The wofull peyne of Tantaly
Of which I shall the redely
Deuyse howe men therin stonde
In helle thou shalt vnderstonde
There is a flood of thylke offyce
whiche serueth all for auaryce
what man that stond shall therin
He stant vp euen to the chynne
Aboue his hede also there hongeth
A fruyt, whiche to that peyne longeth
And that fruyt toucheth euer in one
His ouerlyppe, and therupon
Suche thirst and honger hym affayleth
That neuer his appetyte ne fayleth
But whan he wolde his honger fede
The fruyt withdraweth hym at nede
And though he heue his hede on hygh
The fruyt is euer alyche nygh
So is the honger wel the more
And also though hym thurst sore
And to the water bowe a doune
The flood in suche condycion
Aualeth, that his drynke areche
He may not, lo nowe whiche a wreche
That mete and drynke is hym so couth
And yet ther cometh none in his mouth
Lyche to the peynes of this flood
Stant Auaryce in worldes good
He hath ynough, and yet hym nedeth
For his scarcenes it hym forbedeth
And euer his honger after more
Trauayleth hym alyche sore
So is he peyned ouerall
For thy thy goodes forth withal
My sonne loke thou dyspende
wherof thou myght thy selfe amende
Both here, and eke in other place
And also if thou wolte purchace
To be beloued, thou must vse
Largesse: for if thou refuse
To yeue for thy loues sake
It is no reason that thou take
Of loue, that thou woldest craue
For thy if thou wolte grace haue
Be gracious and do largesse
Of Auaryce, and the sekenesse
Eschewe aboue all other thynge
And take insample of Myde the kynge
And of the flood of helle also
where is ynough of all wo
And though there were no matere
But onely that we fynden here
Men ought Auaryce eschewe
For what man thylke vyce sewe
He gete hym selfe but lytel rest
For howe so that the body rest
The hert vpon the golde trauayleth
whom many a nyghtes drede assayleth
For though he ligge a bed naked
His herte is euermore awaked
And dremeth, as he lyeth to slepe
Howe besy that he is to kepe
His tresour, that no these it stele
Thus hath he but a wofull wele
And ryght so in the same wyse
If thou thy selfe wolt wele auyse
There be louers of suche inow
That wol vnto reason bowe
If so be they come aboue
whan they ben maysters of her loue
And that they shulden be most gladde
with loue, they ben moste bestadde
So fayn they wolde it holden all
That her herte, her eye is ouerall
And wenen euery man be thefe
To stele awey that hem is lefe
Thus through her owne fantasye
They fallen in to Ielousye
Than hath the shyp to brok his cable
with euery wynde and is meuable
¶My fader for that ye nowe telle
I haue herde ofttyme telle
Of Ielousye, but what it is
yet vnderstod I neuer or this
wherfore I wolde you beseche
That ye me wolde enforme and teche
what maner thyng it myght be.
¶My sonne that is hard to me
But netheles as I haue herd
Now herkē, and thou shalt be āswerd.
❧Nota de Zelotipia, cuius fantastica suspicio amorem quemuis fidelissimum multociens sine causa corruptum imaginatur.
❧ Among the men lack of manhod
In maryage vpon wishode
Maketh that a man him self deceiueth
wherof it is, that he conceyueth
That ylke vnesy maladye
The whiche is cleped Ielousye
Of whiche if I the propyrte
Shall telle, after the nycete
So as it worcheth on a man
A feuer it is cotidian
whiche euery day wol come aboute
where so a man be in or oute
At home if that a man wol wonne
This feuer is than of comon wonne
Moste greuous in a mans eye
For than he maketh hym tote and prye
where so as euer his loue go
She shal not with her lytell to
My steppe, but he seeth it all
His eye is walkend ouerall
where that she synge, or that she daūce
He seeth the lest countenaunce
If she loke on a man a syde
Or with hym rowne at any tyde
Or that she laugh, or that she loure
His eye is there at euery houre
And whan it draweth to the nyght
If she than be withoute lyght
Anone is all the game shente
For than he set his parlyament
To speke it whan he cometh to bed
And sayth: if I were nowe to wed
I wolde neuer haue wyfe
And so he torneth in to stryfe
The luste of loues dute
And al vpon dyuersyte
If she be fresshe, and well arayed
He sayth her baner is dysplayed
To clepe in gestes by the waye
And if she be not wel heseye
And that her lyst not to be gladde
He bereth on honde that she is madde
And loueth not her husbonde
He sayth, he may wel vnderstonde
That if she wolde his companye
She shuld than afore his eye
Shewe all the plesyre, that she myght
So that by day ne by nyght
She not what thynge is for the best
But lyueth oute of all rest
For what as euer hym lyste to seyn
She dare not speke o worde ageyn
But wepeth, and holt her lyppes close
She may wel wryte, Sance repose
The wyfe, which is to such one maried
Of all women be he waryed
For with his feuer of Ielousye
His eche dayes fantasye
Of sorowe is euer alyche grene
So that there is no loue sene
whyle that hym lyst at home abyde
And whan so is he woll oute ryde
Than hath he redy his aspye
Abydynge in her companye
A iangler, an euyl mouthed one
That she ne may no whether gone
Ne speke one worde, ne ones loke
But he ne wol it wende, and croke
And torne after his owne entent
Though she no thyng but honour mēt
whā that the lord cometh hom ageyne
The iangler must somwhat seyn
So what withoute and what withinne
This feuer is euer to begynne
For where he cometh, he can not ende
Tyl deth of hym hath made an ende
For though so be, that he ne here
Ne se, ne wyte in no manere
But all honoure and womanhede
Therof the Ielous taketh none hede
But as a man to loue vnkynde
He cast his stafe and as the blinde
And fynt defaulte, where is none
As who so dremeth on a stone
Howe he is leyde, and groneth ofte
whan he lyeth on his pylowe softe
So is there nought but stryfe and chest
whan loue shuld make his fest
It is great thynge if he her kysse
Thus hath she loste the nyghtes blysse
For at suche tyme he grutcheth euer
And bereth on honde, there is a leuer
That she wolde another were
In stede of hym abedde there
And with tho wordes, and with mo
Of Ielousye, he torneth her fro
And lyeth vpon that other syde
And she with that draweth her asyde
And there she wepeth all the nyght
A to what peyne she is dyght
That in her youth hath so beset
The bond, whiche may not ben vnknet
I wote the tyme is ofte cursed
That euer was the gold vnpursed
The whiche was layd vpon the boke
whan that all other she forsoke
For loue of hym, but all to late
She pleyneth: for as than algate
She mote forbere, and to hym bowe
Though he ne woll it nought allowe
For man is lord of thylke feyre
So may the woman but empeyre
If she speke ought ageyn his wylle
And thus she beryth her peyne stylle
But if this Feuer a woman take
She shall be wel more harde shake
For though she both se and here
And fynde, that there is no mater
She dare but to her selfe pleyne
And thus she suffreth double peyne
¶Lo thus my sonne, as I haue wryte
Thou myght of Ielousye wyte
His feuer, and his condycyon
whiche is full of suspectyon
But wherof that this feuer groweth
who so these olde bokes troweth
There may he fynde howe it is
For they vs teche, and telle this
Howe that this feuer of Ielousye
Somdel it groweth of sotye
Of loue, and somdele of vntrust
For as a sekman lest his lust
And whan he may no sauoure gete
He hateth than his owne mete
Ryght so this feuerous malady
whiche caused is of fantasye
Maketh the Ielous in feble plyte
To lese of loue his appetyte
Through feyned informacyon
Of his ymaginacyon
But fynally to taken hede
Men may wel mak a lykelyhede
Bytwene hym, whiche is auarous
Of golde, and hym that is Ielous
Of loue: in o degre
They stonde both, as semeth me
That one wold haue his bagges styl
And nought departen with his wyll
And dare not for the theues slepe
So fayne he wolde his treasour kepe
That other maye not well be glad
For euermore he is adrad
Of these louers, that gone aboute
In aunter, if they put hym oute
So haue they bothe lytell ioye
As wel of loue, as of moneye
¶Now hast thou son of my techynge
Of Ielousy a knowlechynge
That thou myght vnderstonde this
Fro whance he cometh, and what he is
And eke to whome that he is lyke
Beware for thy thou be not syke
Of thylke feuer, as I haue spoke
For it woll in hym selfe be wroke
For loue hateth no thynge more
As men may fynde by the lore
Of hem, that whylom were wyse
Howe that they speke in many wyse
¶My fader sothe is that ye seyn
But for to loke there ayen
Before this tyme howe it is falle
wherof there myght ensample falle
To suche men as ben Ielous
In what maner it is greuous
Ryght fayn I wolde ensample here
¶My good sonne at thy prayere
Of suche ensamples as I fynde
So as they comen nowe to mynde
Vpon this poynt of tyme agone
I thynke for to tellen one.
❧ HIC ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos maritos, quos Zelotipia maculauit, Et narrat qualiter Vulganus cuius vxor Venus extitit, suspecionē inter ipsā & Martē cōcipiēs eorū gestus diligētins explorabat, Vnde cōtigit, ꝙ cū ipse quadā vice ambos inter se pariter amplexantes in lecto nudos inuenit, et exclamans omnem cetum deorum et dearū ad tantum spectaculum conuocauit / super quo tamen derisum pocius (quam) remedium a tota cohorte consecutus est.
❧ Ouyde wrote of many thynges
Amonge the whiche, in his wrytynges
He told a tale in poesye
whiche toucheth vnto Ielousye
Vpon a certayne cas of loue
Amonge the goddes al aboue
It felle at thylke tyme thus
The god of fyre, whiche Vulganus
Is hote, and hath a crafte forth with
Assygned for to be the smyth
Of Iupiter, and his fygure
Both of vysage and of stature
Is lothly, and malgracyus
But yet he hath within his hous
As for the lykynge of his lyfe
The fayre Venus to his wyfe
But Mars, whiche of bataylles is
The god, an eye had vnto this
As he whiche was chyualrous
It felle him to ben amorous ♣
And thought it was great pyte
To se so lusty one as she
Be coupled with so lourd a wyght
So that his peyne day and nyght
He dyd, if he her wynne myght
And she that had a good insyght
Toward so noble a knyghtly lord
In loue fel of his acorde
There lacketh nought but tyme & place
That he nys sycker of her grace
But whan two hertes fallen in one
So wyse a wayte was neuer none
That at sometyme they ne mete
And thus this fayre lusty swete
with Mars hath ofte companye
But thylke vnkynde Ielousye
whiche euermore the herte opposeth
Maketh Vulcanus, that he supposeth
That it is not wel ouerall
And to hym selfe he sayd, he shall
Aspye better, if that he may
And so it felle vpon a daye
That he this thynge so slyghtly ledde
He fonde hem both two a bedde
All warme, echone with other naked
And he with crafte all redy maked
Of stronge cheynes hath hem bounde
As he togeder hem had founde
And lefte hem both lygge so
And gan to clepe and crye tho
Vnto the godes all aboute
And they assembled in a route
Come all at ones for to se
But none amendes hadde he
But was rebuked here and there
Of hem, that loues frendes were
And sayden that he was to blame
For if there felle hym any shame
It was through his mysgouernaunce
And thus he lost contenaunce
This god, and let his cause falle
And they to scorne hym laughen all
And losen Mars out of his hondes
wherof these erthely husbondes
For euer myght ensample take
If suche a chaunce hem ouertake
For Vulcanus his wyfe bewrayd
The blame vpon hym selfe he layde
wherof his shame was the more
whiche ought for to ben a lore
For euery man, that lyueth here
To reulen hym in this matere
Though suche an happe of loue asterte
yet shuld he not apoynte his herte
with Ielousy of that is wrought
But feyne, as though he wyst it nought
For if he let it ouer passe
The sklaunder shall be wel the lasse
And he the more in ese stonde
For this thou myght well vnderstonde
That where a man shall nedes lese
The lasse harme is for to chese
But Ielousye of his vntryst
Maketh that ful many an harme aryste
whiche ciles shuld not aryse
And if a man wolde hym auyse
Of that befelle to Vulcanus
H
[...]m ougth of reason thynke thus
That syth a god was therof shamed
w
[...] shuld an erthyly man be blamed
T
[...] take vpon hym suche a vyce
For thy my sonne in thyne offyce
Beware, that thou be nought Ielous
whiche oft tyme hath shent the hous
¶ My fader this ensample is hard
Howe suche thynge to the heuenward
Amonge the goddes myght falle
For there is but o god of alle
whiche is the lorde of heuen and helle
But if it lyke you to telle
Howe suche goddes come aplace
y
[...] myght mochel thanke purchace
For I shall be wel taught withall
¶ My sonne it is thus ouerall
with hem, that stonden mysbyleued
That suche goddes ben byleued
In sondry place, in sondry wyse
Amonges hem, whiche be vnwyse
There is bytaken of credence
wherof that I the dyfference
In the maner, as it is wrytte
Shall do the playnly for to wytte.
Mentibus illusis signantur templa deorum
Vnde deos caecos nacio caeca colit.
Nulla creaturi racio facit esse creatum
Equiparans ꝙ ad huc Iura pagana fouent.
¶ Quia secundum poetarum fabulas in huinsmodi lib elli locis quampluribus nomina et gestus deorum falsorum intitulantur / quorum infidelitas, vt Cristianis clarius innotescat / intendit de ipsorum origine secundum varias pagana rum fectas scrib ere consequenter Et primo de fecta Caldeorum tractare proponit.
❧ Er Christe was bore among vs here
Of the byleues, that tho were
In four formes thus it was
They of Chaldee, as in this cas
Had a byleue by hem selue
whiche stode vpon the sygnes twelue
Forth eke with the planites seuen
whiche as they syghen vpon the heuen
Of sondry constellacion
In her ymaginacion
with sondry kerse and portrature
They made of goddes the fygure
In thelementes, and eke also
They hadden a byleue tho
And all was that vnresonable
For the elementes ben seruysable
To man: And ofte of accidence
As men may se the experience
They ben corrupt by sondry weye
So may no mans reason seye
That they ben god in any wyse
And eke of men hem wel auyse
The sonne and moue eclipsen both
That be hem lef, or be hem loth
They suffre, and what thyng is posyble
To ben a god is inpossyble
These elementes ben creatures
So ben these heuenly fygures
wherof may wel be iustyfyed
That they may not be defyed
And who that taketh away the honour
whiche due is to the creatour
And yeueth it to the creature
He dothe to great a forfayture
But of Chald
[...] netheles
Vpon this feyth though it be lesse
They holde affermed the creaunce
So that of helle the penaunce
As folke, whiche stant out of beleue
They shall receyue, as we beleue.
Of the Caldens so in this wyse
Stant the beleue out of assise
But in Egypte worste of alle
The faith is fals, howe so it falle
For they dyuers beastes there
Honour, as though they goddes were
And nethelesse yet forthe withall
Thre goddes moste in specyall
They haue forth with a goddesse
In whome is all her sykernesse
Tho goddes be yet cleped thus
Orus, Typhon, and Isirus
They were brethren all thre
And the goddesse in hir degre
Hir syster was, and Isis hyght
whom Isirus forlay by nyght
And helde her after as his wyfe
So it befelle, that vpon stryfe
Typhon hath Isire his brother slayne
whiche had a childe, to sonne O rayne
And he his fathers dethe to herte
So toke, that it may nought asterte
That he Typhon after ne slough
whan he was rype of age inough
But yet the Egiptiens trowe
For all this errour, which they knowe
That these bretherne ben of myght
To sette and kepe Egypt vpright
And ouerthrowe, if that hem lyke
But Isis, as seith the cronyke
Fro Grece in to Egypte cam
And she than vpon honde nam
To teache hem for to sowe and ere
whiche no man knewe tofore there
And whan the Egyptiens sye
The feldes full afore her eie
And that the londe began to greyne
whiche whylom had be bareyne
For the erthe bare after the kynde
His due charge, this I fynde
That she of herth the goddesse
Is cleped, so that in distresse
The women thervpon childynge
To her clepe, and her offrynge
They beren, whan that they ben lyght
Lo howe Egypt all out of syght
Fro reason stant in mysbeleue
For lacke of lore as I beleue.
☞ De secta Grecorum.
¶ Amonge the grekes out of the weye
As they that reason put aweye
There was, as the cronyke sayth
Of mysbeleue an other fayth
That they her goddes, and goddesses
As who sayth token all to gesses
Of suche as weren full of vice
To whom they made sacrifice
❧ NOTA qualiter Saturnus deorum summus appellatur.
¶ The hygh god, so as they sayde
To whom they worshyp layde
Saturnus hight, and kyng of Crete
He hadde be, But of his sete
He was put downe, as he which stoode
In frenesye, and was so woode
That fro his wyfe, whiche Rea hyght
His owne children he to plight
And ete hem of his commune wonne
But Iupiter, whiche was his sonne
And of full age his father bonde
And kyt of with his owne honde
His genitalles, whiche also faste
In to the depe see he cast
wherof the grekes afferme and seye
Thus, whan they were cast awey
Came Venus forth by weye of kynde
And of Saturne also I fynde
Howe afterwarde in to an yle
This Iupiter hym dydde exile
where that he stode in great mischiefe
Lo whiche a god they maden chiefe
And sythen that suche one was he
whiche stode most hygh in his degre
Amonge the goddes, thou might know
These other, that ben more lowe
Ben lytell worth, as it is founde
Iupiter deus deliciarum.
For Iupiter was the seconde
whiche Iuno had vnto his wyfe
And yet a lechour all his lyfe
He was, and in auoutrie
He wrought many a trecherie
And for he was so full of vices
They cleped hym god of delyces
Of whom if thou wolte more wyte
Ouyde the poete hath wryte
But yet her sterres bothe two
Saturne and Iupyter also
They haue, although they bē to blame
Attytled to her owne name.
¶Mars was an other in that lawe
The whiche in Dace was forthe drawe
Of whom the clerke Vegetius
wrote in his boke, and tolde thus
Howe he in to Italy came
And suche fortune there he nam
That he a mayden hath oppressed
whiche in her ordre was professed
As she, whiche was the prioresse
In Vestes temple the goddesse
So was she well the more to blame
Dame Ilya this lady name
Men clepe, and eke she was also
The kynges doughter, that was tho
whiche Mynitor by name hyght
So that ayene the lawes ryght
Mars thilke tyme vpon hir that
Remus and Romulus begat
whiche after, whan they come in age
Of knyghthode, and of vassellage
Italy all holle they ouercome
And founden the great Rome
In armes and of suche emprise
They weren, that in thilke wyse
Her father Mars for the meruayle
The god is cleped of batayle
They weren his children bothe two
Through hem he toke his name so
There was none other cause why
And yet a sterre vpon the skye
He hath vnto his name applyed
In whiche that he is signified
¶And other god they hadden eke
To whom for counsayle they beseke
The whiche was brother to Venus
Apollo men hym clepe thus
He was an hunt vpon the hylles
There was with hym no vertue elles
wherof that any bokes carpe
But onely that he couth harpe
whiche whan he walked ouer londe
Full ofte tyme he toke on honde
To get hym with his sustenance
For lacke of other purueance
And otherwhile of his falsehede
He feyneth hym to conne a rede
Of thing, which afterward shulde fall
wherof amonge his sleyghtes all
He hath the leude folke deceyued
So that the better he was receyued
Lo nowe through what creacion
He hath deifycacion
And cleped is the god of wyt
To suche as be the fooles yet.
¶An other god, to whom they sought
Mercurie hyght, and hym ne rought
what thyng he stale, ne whom ne slough
Of sorcerye he couthe inough
That whā he wold him selfe trāsforme
Full ofte tyme he toke the forme
Of woman, and his owne lefte
So dyd he well the more thefte
A great speker in all thynges
He was also, and of lesynges
An autor, that men wysten none
An other suche as he was one
And yet they maden of this thefe
A god, whiche was vnto hem lefe
And cleped hym in tho beleues
The god of marchantes, and of theues
But yet a sterre vpon the heuen
He hath of planettes seuen
¶But Vulcanus, of whom I spake
He had a courbe vpon the backe
And therto he was hyppe halte
Of whom thou vnderstonde shalt
He was a shrewe in al his youth
And he none other vertue couth
Of crafte to helpe hym selfe with
But onely that he was smyth
with Iupiter, whiche in his forge
Dyuers thynges made hym forge
So wote I not for what desyre
They clepen hym the god of fyre.
¶Kynge of Cecile Hypolitus
A sonne hadde, and Eolus
He hyght, and of his fathers graunt
He helde by wey of couenaunt
The gouernaunce of euery yle
whiche was longende vnto Sicyle
Of hem that fro the londe foreyn
Lay vpon the wynde all pleyne
And fro thilke iles in to the londe
Full ofte cam the wynde to bonde
And after the name of hym for thy
The wyndes cleped Eoly
They were, & be the god of wynde
Lo nowe howe this beleue is blynde.
¶The kynge of Crete Iupyter
The same, whiche I spake of er
Vnto his brother, whiche Neptune
was hote, it lyst hym to commune
Parte of his good, so that by shyp
He made hym stronge of the lordshyp
Of all the see in tho parties
where that he wrought his tirrannyes
And the straunge yles aboute
He wan, that euery man hath doute
Vpon his marche for to sayle
For he anone hem wolde assayle
And robbe, what thing that they laddē
His saufe conduit, but if they hadden
wherof the commen voice aroos
In euery londe, that suche a loos
He caught, all nere it worth a stre
That he was cleped of the see
The god by name, and yet he is
with hem, that so beleue amys
This Neptune eke, was thilke also
whiche was the fyrst founder tho
Of noble Troy, and he for thy
was well the more lette by
¶The loresman of the shepeherdes
And eke of hem that netherdes
was of Archade, and hyght Pan
Of whom hath spoke many a man
For in the wodde of Nouarigne
Enclosed with the trees of pygne
And on the mount of Parysie
He had of beastes the bailye
And eke beneth the valeye
where thilke ryuer, as men may seye
(whiche Ladon hight) made his cours
He was the chiefe of gouernours
Of hem, that kepten tame beastes
wherof they maken yet the feastes
In the citie of Stymphalydes
And forth withall yet netheles
He taught men the forth drawynge
Of bestayle, and eke the makynge
Of oxen, and of hors the same
Howe men hem shulde ryde & tame
Of foules eke, so as we fynde
Full many a subtyle crafte of kynde
He fonde, whiche no man knewe tofore
Men dyd hym worshyp eke therfore
That be the fyrste in thylke londe
was, whiche the melody fonde
Of reedes, whan they weren rype
with double pypes, for to pype
Therof he yafe the fyrst lore
Tyll afterwarde men couth more
To euery crafte of mannes helpe
He had a redy wytte to helpe
Through naturall experience
And thus the nice reuerence
Of fooles, whan that he was dede
The foote was tourned to the hede
And clepen hym god of nature
For so they maden his fygure
¶An other god, so as they fele
whiche Iupiter vpon Semele
Begatte in his auoutrie
whom for to hyde his lecherie
That none therof shall take kepe
In a mountayne for to kepe
whiche Dyon hight, & was in Iude
He sent, in bokes as I fynde
And he by name Bacchus hyght
which afterwarde, whan that he might
A wastor was, and all his rent
In wyne and bordell he dispent
But yet all were he wonder bad
Amonge the grekes a name be bad
They cleped hym the god of wyne
And thus a glotton was diuine.
¶There was yet Esculapius
A god in thilke tyme as thus
His crafte stode vpon surgerie
But for the luste of lecherie
That he to Daires donghter drough
It fell, that Iupiter hym slough
And yet they made him nought for thy
A god, and wyst no cause why
In Rome, he was longe tyme so
A god amonge the Romaynes tho
For as he sayde of his presence
There was distroyed a pestylence
whan they to the yle of Delphos went
And that Apollo with hym sent
This Esculapius his sonne
Amonge the Romaynes for to wonne
And there he dwelte for a whyle
Tyll afterwarde in to that yle
Fro when he cam, ayene he tourneth
where all his lyfe that he soiourneth
Amonge the grekes, tyll that he deyde
And they vpon hym than leyde
His name, and god of medicyne
He hatte, after that ilke lyne.
¶ An other god of Hercules
They made, whiche was netheles
A man, but that he was so stronge
In al this worlde that brode and longe
So myghty was no man, as he
Meruayles twelue in his degre
As it was couth in sondry londes
He dyd with his owne hondes
[...]geyne geauntes and monsters both
The whiche horrible were and loth
But he with strength hem ouercam
wherof so great a price he nam
That they hym clepe amonges all
The god of strengthe, and to hym calle
And yet there is no reason inne
For he a man was full of synne
which proued was vpon his ende
For in a rage hym selfe he brende
And suche a cruell mans dede
Accordeth nothynge with godhede.
¶ They had of goddes yet an other
whiche Pluto hight, & was the brother
Of Iupiter, and he for youth
with euery worde, which cam to mouth
Of any thinge, when he was wroth
He wolde swere his common othe
By Lethen, and Phlegeton
By Cochetus, and Acheron
The whiche after the bokes telle
Ben the chiefe floodes of helle
By Segne, and Styge be swore also
That ben the depe pyttes two
Of helle, the most principall
Pluto these othes ouer all
Swore, of his common customaunce
Tyll it befelle vpon a chaunce
That he for Iupyters sake
Vnto the goddes lette do make
A sacrifice, and for that dede
One of the pyttes for his mede
In hell, of wiche I spake of er
was graunted hym / and thus be there
Vpon the fortune of this thynge
The name toke of helle kynge
¶Lo these goddes, and well mo
Amonge the grekes they had tho
And of goddesses many one
whose names thou shalt here anone
And in what wyse they deceyuen
The foles, whiche her feith receyuen.
Mater dearum.
¶ So as Saturne is souerayne
Of false goddes, as they sayne
So is Cybele of goddesses
The mother, whom without gesses
The folke preyn, honour, and serue
As they, the whiche her lawe obserue
But for to knowen vpon this
Fro when she cam, and what she is
Berecynthia the countre hyght
where she cam first to mannes syght
And after was Saturnus wyfe
By whom thre children in her lyfe
She bare, and they were cleped tho
Iuno, Neptunus, and Pluto
The whiche of nyce fantasye
The people wolde deifye
And for her children were so
Cybele than was also
Made a goddesse, and they her call
The mother of the goddes all
So was that name bore forth
And yet the cause is lyttell worth
¶A voyce vnto Saturne tolde
How that his owne sonne hym shulde
Out of his reygne put away
And he bycause of thilke wey
That hym was shape suche an hate
Cybele his wyfe began to hate
And eke her progenye bothe
And thus while that they were wrothe
By Philyra vpon a daye
In his auoutrie he laye
On whom he Iupiter begat
And thilke childe, was after that
which wrought al that was prophecied
As it tofore is specified
So whan that Iupyter of Crete
was kynge, a wyfe vnto hym mete
The doughter of Cybele be toke
And that was Iuno, sayth the boke
Of his deifycation
After the false opinion
That haue I tolde, so as they mene
And for this Iuno was the quene
Of Iupiter, and syster eke
The fooles vnto her seke
And seyn, that she is the goddesse
Of reignes bothe, and of rychesse
And eke she, as they vnderstonde
The water Nymphes hath in honde
To leaden at her owne beste
And whan her lyst the sky tempest
The reynbowe is her messagere
Lo whiche a mysbeleue is here
That she goddesse is of the sky
I wote none other cause why
¶An other goddesse is Mynerue
To whom the grekes obey and serue
And she was nygh the great lay.
Of Triton founde, where she lay
A childe for cast, but what she was
There knewe no man the soth cas
But in Affrike she was leyde
In the maner as I haue seyde
And caried from that ilke place
Into an yle farre in Trace
The whiche Pallene than hyght
where a norice hir kepte and dyght
And after for she was so wyse
That she fonde fyrst in her auyse
The cloth makynge of woll and lyne
Men sayden, that she was deuyne
And the goddesse of sapience
They clepen hir in that credence
¶ Of the goddesse / whiche Pallas
Is cleped, sondry speche was
One sayth her father was Pallaunt
whiche in his tyme was a geaunt
A cruell man, a bataylous
An other sayth, how in his hous
She was the cause why he deyde
And of this Pallas some eke sayde
That she Martes wyfe was, and so
Amonge the men that were tho
Of mysbeleue in the ryot
The goddesse of batayle she hote
was, and yet she bereth the name
Nowe loke how they be for to blame.
¶ Saturnus after his exile
Fro Crete cam in great perile
Into the londes of Itayle
And there he dyd great meruayle
wherof his name dwelleth yet
For he fonde of his owne wyt
The fyrst crafte of plough tyllynge
Of earynge, and of corne sowynge
And howe men shulde set vynes
And of the grapes make wines
All this he taught, and it felle so
His wyfe, the which cam with him tho
was cleped Ceres by name
And for she taught also the same
And was his wyfe that ilke throwe
As it was to the people knowe
They made of Ceres a goddesse
In whom her tylthes yet they blesse
And sayen that Triptolemus
Hir sonne goth amonges vs
And makethe the corne good chepe ordere
Ryght as her lyst frō yere to yere
So that this wyfe, bicause of this
Goddesse of corne cleped is.
¶ Kynge Iupiter, whiche his likynge
whylom fulfylled in all thynge
So pryuelyche about he ladde
His lust, that be his wyll hadde
Of Latona, and on hir that
Dyane his doughter he begat
Vnknowen of his wyfe Iuno
But afterwarde she knewe it so
That Latona for drede fled
Into an yle, where she hyd
Hir wombe, whiche of childe aroos
Thylke yle was cleped Deloos
In whiche Dyana was forthe brought
And kepte so, that her lacketh nought
And after whan she was of age
She toke none hede of mariage
But out of mannes company
She toke hir all to venerye
In foreste and in wyldernesse
For there was all her besynesse
By day, and eke by nyghtes tyde
with arowes brode vnder the syde
And bow in honde, of which she slough
And toke, all that hir lyst inough
Of beastes, whiche ben chaceable
wherof the cronyke of this fable
Sayth, that the gentyls most of all
worshyp her, and to her calle
And the goddesse of hygh hylles
Of grene trees, of fresshe welles
They clepen hir, in that beleue
whiche that no reason may acheue.
¶ Proserpina whiche doughter was
Of Ceres, befelle this cas
whyle she was dwellynge in Cecyle
Her mother in that ilke while
Vpon her blessynge, and her hest
Bad, that she shulde ben honest
And s
[...]re for to weaue and spynne
And dwelle at home, and kepe her inne
But she cast all that lore aweye
And as she went her out to pleye
To gather floures in a playne
And that was vnder the mountayne
Of Ethna, felle the same tyde
Than Pluto cam the way ryde
And sodeynly, er she was ware
He toke her vp into his chare
And as they ryden in the felde
Her great beaute he behelde
whiche was so pleasaunt in his eye
That for to holde in company
He wedded her, and helde her so
To ben his wyfe for euermo
And as thou hast tofore herde telle
Howe he was cleped god of belle
So is she cleped the goddesse
Bycause of hym ne more ne lesse
¶Lo thus my sonne, as I the tolde
The grekes whylom by dayes olde
Her goddes had in sondry wyse
And through the lore of her appryse
The Romaynes helde eke the same
And in worshyp of her name
To euery god in specyall
They made a temple forth withall
And eke of her yeres day
Attytled hadde, and of array
The temples weren than ordeyned
And eke the people was constreyned
To come and done her sacrifyce
The preestes eke in her offyce
Solempne made thylke feastes
And thus the grekes lyke to beastes
That men in stede of god honour
which myght nought hem selfe socour
whyle that they were alyue here
And ouer this as thou shalt here
¶The grekes (fulfylled of fantasy)
Sayne eke, that of the hylles hye
The goddes ben in specyall
But of her name in generall
They hoten alle Satiry
¶There ben of nymphes properly
In the beleue of hem also
O reades they sayden tho
Attytled ben to the montaynes
And for the woddes in demeynes
To kepe, tho ben Dryades
Of fresshe welles Naiades
And of the nymphes of the see
I fynde a tale in properte
Howe Dorus whilom kyng of grece
whiche hadde of infortune a pece
His wyfe forth with his doughter alle
So as the happes shulde falle
with many a gentylwoman there
Dreynt in the salte see they were
wherof the grekes that tyme sayden
And suche a name vpon hem layden
Nereydes that they ben hote
The nymphes which that they note
To reygne vpon the stremes salte
Lo nowe if this beleue halt
But of the nymphes as they telle
In euery place where they dwelle
They ben all redy obeysaunt
[...]s damoyselles attendaunt
To tho goddes, whose seruyse
They mote obey in all wyse
wherof the grekes to hem beseke
with them that ben goddesses eke
And haue in hem a great credence
And yet without experience
Saufe onely of illusyon
whiche was to hem dampnacion
For men also that were deed
They hadden goddes as I rede
And tho by name Manes hyghten
To whō ful great honour they dyghten
So as the grekes lawe sayth
whiche was ayene the right feyth
¶Thus haue I tolde a great partie
But all the holle progenie
Of goddes in that ilke tyme
To longe it were for to ryme
But yet of that, which thou hast herde
Of mysbeleue, howe it hath ferde
There is a great diuersite
¶My father ryght so thinketh me
But yet one thynge I you beseche
whiche stant in all mennes speche
The god, and the goddesse of loue
Of whom ye nothynge here aboue
Haue tolde, ne spoken of her fare
That ye me wolde nowe declare
Howe they fyrst come to that name
¶My sonne I haue lefte it for shame
Bycause I am her owne preest
But for they stonde nygh thy brest
Vpon the shryfte of thy matere
Thou shalt of hem the soth here
And vnderstonde now well the cas
Venus Saturnus doughter was
whiche all daunger put aweye
Of loue, and fonde to lust a weye
So that of her in sondry place
Dyuers men fell in to grace
And suche a lusty lyfe she ladde
That she dyuers children hadde
Nowe one by this, now one by that
Of her it was that Mars begat
A childe, whiche cleped was Armene
Of her also cam Andragene
To whom Mercury father was
Anchyses begatte Eneas
Of her also, and Herycon
Byten begatte, and thervpon
whā that she sigh ther was none other
By Iupiter her owne brother
She lay, and he begat Cupyde
And thylke sonne vpon a tyde
whan he was come vnto his age
He had a wonder fayre visage
And fonde his mother amorous
And he was also lecherous
So whan they were bothe alone
As he whiche eyen had none
To se reson / his mother kyst
And she also that nothyng wyst
But that / whiche vnto his lust belōgeth
To bene her louer hym vnderfongeth
Thus was he blynde / and she vnwys
But neuertheles this cause it is
whiche Cupide is the god of loue
For he his mother durst loue
And she, which thought her lustes fōde
Diuers loues toke on honde
wel more than I the tel here
And for she wolde her selfeshere
She made comon that disporte
And set a lawe of suche a porte
That euery woman myght take
what man her lyste, and nought forsake
To ben as comon as she wolde
She was the fyrst also, whiche tolde
That women shulde her body selle
Semyramys so as men telle
Of Venus kepte thilke appryse
And so dyd in the same wyse
Of Rome faire Neabolye
whiche sold her body to Regoly
She was to euery man felawe
And helde the lust of thilke lawe
whiche Venus of her selfe beganne
wherof that she the name wanne
why men her clepen the goddesse
Of loue, and eke of gentylnesse
Of worldes lust, and of pleasaunce
¶ Se nowe the foule myscreaunce
Of grekes in thilke tyme tho
whan Venus toke her name so
There was no cause vnder the mone
Of the which they haddē tho to done
Of wel or wo where so it was
That they no token in that caas
A god to helpe or a goddesse
wherof to take my wytnesse.
¶ Nota de epistola Dindimi regis Bragmanno [...]um Alexandro magno directa, vbi dicit, ꝙ Greci [...] ad corporis cōseruacionē ꝓ sigulis mēbris singulos deos specialiter appropriari credunt.
¶ The kynge of Bragmās Dyndymus
wrote vnto Alysander thus
In blamynge of the grekes feyth
And of the mysbyleue he sayth
Howe they for euery membre hadden
A sondry god, to whom they spradden
Her armes, and of helpe besoughten
¶ Mynerue for the hede they soughtē
For she was wyse, and of a man
The wytte and reason whiche he can
Is in the celles of the brayn
wherof they made her souerayn
¶ Mercurye, whiche was in his dawes
A great speker of fals lawes
On hym the kepynge of the tonge
They layd, whan they speke or songe
¶ For Bacchus was a gloton eke
H
[...] in for the throte they byseke
That he it wolde wasshen ofte
with foo
[...]e drynkes and with softe
¶ The god of shulders and of armes
was Hercules, for he in armes
The myghtyest was to fyght
To hym the lymmes they behyght
¶ The god whom they clepen Mart
The brest to kepe hath for his part
For with the herte in his ymage
That he addresse to his courage
¶ And of the galle the goddesse
For she was ful of hastynesse
Of wrath, and lyght to greue also
They made, and sayd, it was Iuno
¶Cupyde whiche the brond of fyre
Bare in his hond, he was the syre
Of the stomocke, whiche boyleth euer
wherof the lustes ben the leuer
¶To the goddesse Cereres
whiche of the corne yafe her encrees
Vpon the feyth that tho was take
The wombes cure was betake
¶And Venus through the lechery
For whiche they her deifye
She kept all doune the remenaunt
To thylke office appertinaunt.
¶Nota de prima Idolorum cultura / que ex tribus precipne statuis exorta est / quarum prima fuit illa / quam in filii sui memoriā quidā Princeps nomine Cirophanes a sculptore Promotheo fabricari constituit.
¶Thus was dyspers in sondry wyse
The mysbyleue as I deuyse
with many an ymage of entaylle
Of suche as myght hem not auayle
For thy withoute lyues chere
Vnmyghty be to se, or here
Or speke, or do, or elles fele
And yet the fooles to hem knele
whiche is her owne hande werke
A lord howe this byleue is derke
And fer fro reasonable wytte
And netheles they don it yet
That was this day a raggyd tre
To morowe vpon his maieste
Stant in the Temple wel beseyne
Howe myght a mans reason seyn
That suche a stocke may helpe or greue?
But they, that ben of suche beleue
And vnto suche goddes calle
It shall to hem ryght so befalle
And faylen at most nede
But if the lyst to taken heede
And of the fyrst ymage wyte
Petronius therof hath wryte
And eke Nygargarus also
And they afferme and wryte so
That Promotheus was tofore
And fonde the fyrst craft therfore
And Cyrophanes, as they telle
Through coūsel, which was take in hell
In remēbraūce of his lignage
Let setten vp the fyrst ymage
Of Cyrophanes seyth the booke
That he for sorow, whiche he toke
Of that he sygh his sonne deede
Of comfort knewe none other rede
But lete do make in remembraunce
A fayre ymage of his semblaunce
And set it in the market place
whiche openly to fore his face
Stood euery day, to done hym ease
And they that than wolden please
The fader, shuld it obeye
whan that they comen thylke weye.
¶ Secunda statuta fuit illa / quam ad sui patris Beli culturam, rex Ninus fieri et adorari decreuit, Et sic de nomine Beli postea Bel et Belzebub Idolum accreuit.
¶And of Nynus kynge of Assyre
I rede, howe that in his Empyre
He was next after the second
Of hem, that fyrst ymages founde
For he ryght in semblable caas
Of Belus, whiche his fader was
From Nembroth in the ryght lyne
Lete make of gold and stones fyne
A precyous ymage ryche
After his fader euenlyche
And therupon a lawe he sette
That euery man of pure dette
with sacryfyce, and with truage
Honour shuld thylke ymage
So that within tyme it felle
Of Belus cam the name of Belle
Of Bel cam Belsabub, and so
The mysbyleue went tho.
¶Tercia statuta fuit illa, que ad honorem Apis Regis Grecorū sculpta fuit, cui postea nomē Serapis iuponētes ipsū quasi deū pagani coluerunt.
¶The thyrd ymage next to this
whan the kynge of Grece Apys
was deed, they made a fygure
[...]n resemblaunce of his stature
Of this kynge Apys seyth the booke
That Serapys his nome tooke
In whom through longe contynuance
Of mysbyleue a great creaunce
They hadden, and the reuerence
Of sacryfyce and of encence
To hym they made, and as they telle
Amonge the wonders, that befelle
whan Alexander fro Candace
Cam rydend in a wylde place
Vnder an hylle a caue he fond
And Candalus, whiche in that lond
was bore, and was Candaces sonne
Hym told, howe that of comon wonne
The goddes were in thylke caue
And he that wolde assaye and haue
A knoweleygnge, if it be soth
Lyght of his bors, and in he gothe,
And fond therin, that he sought
For through the fendes sleyght hym thought
Amonge other goddes mo
That Serapys spake to hym tho
whome he sygh there in great araye
And thus the fende from day to daye
The worshyp of ydolatrye
Drough forth vpon the fantasye
Of hem, that were than blynde
And couthen nought the trouth fynde
Thus hast thou herd in what degre
Of Grece, Egypte, and Chaldee
The mysbyleue whylome stood
And howe so they be not good
Ne trewe, yet they sprongen oute
wherof the wyde worlde aboute
His parte of mysbyleue toke
Tyl so befelle, as seyth the boke
That god a people for hym selue
Hath chose, of the lynages twelue
wherof the sothe redyly
As it is wryten in Genesy
I thynke telle in suche a wyse
That it shall be to thyn a pryse.
¶De hebreorum seu Iudeorum secta, quorum Sinogoga, ecclesia Cristi superueniente, defecit.
¶After the flood, fro whiche Noe
was saufe, the worlde in his degree
was made as who seyth newe ageyn
Of flour, of fruit of gras, of greyn
Of beest, of byrd, and of mankynde
whiche euer hath be to god vnkynd
For not withstondinge all the fare
Of that this worlde was made so bare
And afterward it was restored
Amonge the men was nothynge mored
Toward god of good lyuynge
But all was torned to lykynge
After the flesshe, so that foryete
was he, whiche yafe hem lyfe and mete
Of heuen and erth creatour
And thus cam forth the great errour
That they the hyghe god ne knewe
But maden other goddes newe
As thou hast herd me sayd tofore
There was no man that tyme bore
That he ne had after his choys
A god, to whom ye yafe his voys
wherof the mysbeleue cam
In to the tyme of Abraham
But he fonde oute the ryght wey
Howe onely men shuld obeye
The hyghe god, whiche weldeth all
And euer hath done, and euer shall
In heuen, in erth, and eke in helle
There is no tonge his myght may telle
This Patriarche to his lynage
Forbad, that they to none ymage
Enclyne shuld in no wyse
But her offrende and sacryfyse
with all the hole hertes loue
Vnto the myghty god aboue
They shulden yeue, and to no mo
And thus en thylke tyme tho
Began that sect vpon this erthe
whiche of byleues was the ferthe
Of ryghtwysnes it was conceyued
So must it nedes be receyued
Of hym, that all ryght is ynne
The hygh god, whiche wolde wynne
A people vnto his owne feyth
On Abraham the grounde he leyth
And made hym for to multyply
In to so great a progeny
That they Egypte all ouer sprad
But Phaaro with wronge hem lad
In seruytude ayen the pees
Tyl god let send Moyses
To make the delyueraunce
And for his people great vengeaunce
He toke, which is to here a wonder
The kyng was slayn, the lond put vnder
God bad the reed se deuyd
whiche stode vpryght on euery syde
And yafe vnto his people aweye
That they on fote it passed dreye
And gone so forth in to desert
where for to kepe hem in couert
The dayes whan the sonne brent
A large cloude hem ouer went
And for to wyssen hem by nyght
A fyry pyller hem alyght
And whan that they for honger pleyn
The myghty god began to reyne
Manna fro heuen downe to ground
wherof that eche of hem hath funde
His fod, suche ryght as hym lyst
And for they shuld vpon hym tryst
Ryght as who set a tonne a broche
He perced the hard roche
And spronge oute water all at wylle
That man and best hath dronke his fille
And afterward he yafe the lawe
To Moyses, that hem withdrawe
They shuld not fro that he had
And in this wyse they be lad
Tyl they toke in possessyon
The londes of promyssyon
where that Caleph and Iosue
The marches vpon suche degre
Departen after the lynage
That eche of hem as herytage
His pourpartye hath vnderfonge
And thus stode this beleue longe
whiche of prophetes was gouerned
And they had eke the people lerned
Of great honour, that shuld hem falle
But at most nede of all
They fayleden, whan Chryst was bore
But howe that they her feith haue lore
It nedeth nought to tellen all
The mater is so generall
¶whan Lucyfer was best in heuen
And ought moste haue stonde in euen
Towardes god he toke debate
And for that he was obstynate
And wold nought to trouth enclyne
He fel for euer in to ruyne
¶And Adam eke in paradys
whan he stode most in all his prys
After the state of Innocence
Ayen the god brake his defence
And fell out of his place awey
And ryght by suche maner weye
The Iewes in her best plyte
whan that they shuld most parfyte
Haue stonde vpon the prophecye
Tho fellen they to moste folye
And hym, whiche was fro heuen come
And of a mayd his flessh hath nome
And was amonge hem bore and fed
As men that wolden nought be sped
Of goddes sonne, with o voys
They henge and slough vpon the croys
wherof the parfyte of her lawe
Fro then forth hem was withdrawe
So that they stonde of no meryte
But in truage as folke subgect
withoute propyrte of place
They lyuen oute of goddes grace
Dyspers in all londes oute
And thus the feyth is come aboute
That wylome in the Iewes stode
whiche is nought parfytelych good
To speke as it is nowe befalle
There is a feyth abouen alle
In which the trouthe is comprehended
wherof that we ben all amended.
¶De fide Christiana, in qua perfecte legis complementū, summi mistirii sacramentū, nostre (que) sal nacionis fūdamētū ifallibiliter cōsiftere creditur.
¶The hygh almyghty maieste
Of ryghtwysnes, and of pyte
The synne, whiche that Adam wrought
whan he sygh tyme ayene he bought
And send his sonne fro the heuen
whiche mans sowle hath set in euen
And hath his grace reconciled
Fro whiche the man was fyrst exiled
And in hym selfe so sore fall
Vpon the poynt whiche is befall
That he ne myght hym selfe aryse
¶Gregorye sayth in his apryse
It helpeth nought aman be bore
If goddes sonne were vnbore
For than through the fyrst synne
which Adam whylom brought vs ynne
There shulden all men be lost
But Chryst restoreth thylke lost
And bought it with his flesshe and blod
And if we thynken, howe it stood
Of thylke raunson, whiche he payd
As seynt Gregorye it wrote and sayd
All was behouely to the man
For that, wherof his wo began
was after cause of all his welth
whan he, whiche is the welle of helthe
The hyghe creatour of lyfe
Vpon the nede of suche a stryfe
So wold he for his creature
Take on hym selfe the forfeture
And suffer for the mans sake
Thus may no reason wel forsake
That thylke synne orygynal
Ne was the cause in specyall
Of mans worshyp at last
whiche shall withouten end last
For by that cause the godhede
Assembled was with the manhede
In the vyrgyne, where he nome
Oure flesshe, and very man become
Of bodely fraternyte
wherof the man in his degre
Stant more worth, as I haue told
Than he stode erst by many fold
Through baptysme of the newe lawe
Of whiche Chryst lord is and felawe
Through vertu of his myght
whiche in Mary was alyght
To bydge mans sowle ageyne
And this beleue is so certayne
So full of grace and of vertu
That what man clepeth to Iesu
In clene lyfe forth with good dede
He may not faylen of heuen mede
So that it stonte vpon beleue
That euery man may wel acheue
whiche taken hath the ryght feyth
For elles, as the gospel seyth
Saluacion there may be none
And for to preche therupon
Chryst had to his apostles all
The whos power as nowe is falle
On vs, that ben of holy churche
If we the good dedes worch
For feyth, but if there be good dede
Thapostle feyth, is worth no mede
¶Now were it good, that thou for thy
whiche through baptysme propyrly
Art vnto Chrystes feyth professed
Beware that thou be not oppressed
with antichrystes lollardy
For as the Iewes prophecye
was set of god for auauntage
Ryght so this newe tapynage
Of lolardye goth aboute
To sette Chrystes feyth in doute
The sayntes, that were vs tofore
By whome the feyth was fyrst vp bore
That holy churche stode releued
They oughte better be beleued
Than these, whiche that men knowe
Not holy, though they feyne & blowe
Her lollardye in mennes ere
But if thou wylt lyue oute of fere
Suche newe lore I rede eschewe
And hold forth ryght the weye, & sewe
As thyn auncestres dyd er this
So shalt thou nought beleue amys
Chryste wrought fyrst, and after taught
So that his dede the word araught
He
[...]afe ensample in his parsone
And we the wordes haue alone
Lyke to the tre with leues grene
Vpon the whiche no fruyt is sene.
❧ [...]ta ꝙ tum Anibenor palladium Troie a [...] A [...]erue abstulit, Thoas ibidem sum [...] [...] d [...] [...]uro corruptus oculos auertit, et [...] quasi non videns scienter fieri permisit.
❧The prest Thoas, which of Minerue
The temple had for to serue
And the Palladyon of Troye
Kepte vnder keye: for moneye
Of Anthenor, whiche he hath nome
Hath suffred Anthenor to come
And the Palladyon to stele
[...]herof the worshyp and the wele
Of the Troians was ouerthrowe
But Thoas at same throwe
whan Anthenor this Iewele toke
wynkend cast awey his loke
For a deceyte, and for a wyle
As he that shuld hym self begyle
He hyd his eyen fro the syght
And wende wel, that he so myght
Excuse his fals conscyence
I wote not if thylke euydence
Now at this tyme in her estates
Excuse myght the prelates
Knowend how that the feith discresyth
And al moral vertu cesseth
wherof that they the keyes here
But yet hem lyketh not to stere
Her goostly eye for to se
The worlde in his aduersyte
They wol no laboure vndertake
To kepe that hem is betake
Chryste dyed hym selfe for the feyth
But nowe our ferful prelate seyth
The lyfe is swete, and that he kepeth
So that the feyth vnholpe slepyth
And they vnto her ease entenden
And in her lust her lyf dispenden
And euery man do what hym lyst
Thus stant this worlde fulfylled of myst
That no man seeth the ryght weye
The wordes of the churche keye
Through myshandlynge ben miswreint
The worldes wawe hath welnigh dreint
The shyp, whiche Peter hath to stere
The forme is kept, but the matere
Transformed is in other wyse
But if they weren gostly wyse
And that the prestes were good
As they by olde dayes stode
It were than lytel nede
Among the men to taken hede
Of that they heren pseudo telle
whiche nowe is come for to dwelle
To sowe Cockyl with the corn
So that the tylthe is nygh forlorn
whiche Chryst sewe fyrst his own hond
Nowe stant the Cockylle in the lond
where stode whylom the good greyne
For the prelates nowe, as men seyne
For slouthen that they shuld tylle
And that I trowe be the skylle
whan there is lacke in hem aboue
The people is straunged to the loue
Of trouth, in cause of ignoraunce
For where there is no purueaunce
Of lyght, men erren in the darke
But if the prelates wolden werke
Vpon the feyth, whiche they vs teache
Men shulden nought her way seche
without lyght as nowe is vsed
Men se the charge all day, refused
whiche holy churche hath vndertake.
¶Gregorius. Quando Petrus cum Iudea / Andreas cum Achia, Thomas cum India / et Paulus cū gente venient, quid dicemus nos moderni, quorū fossū talentū ꝓ nichilo cōputabitur.
¶But who that wolde ensample take
Gregory vpon his O melye
Ageyne the slouth of Preclacye
Compleyneth hym, and thus he sayth
whan Peter, father of the faith
At Domesday shall with hym brynge
Iudeam, whiche through his preching
He wan, and Andrewe with Achay
Shall come his dette for to pay
And Thomas eke with his beyete
Of Inde, and Poule the routes great
Of sondry londes to present
And we fulfylled of londe & rent
whiche of this worlde we holden here
with voyde hondes shall appere
Touchende our cure spirtuall
whiche is our charge in specyall
I not what thynge it may amount
Vpon thilke ende of our accompte
whiche Christ hym selfe is auditour
which taketh none hede of vein honour
The office of the Chauncellery
Or of the kynges treasory
Ne for to wryte, ne for to tayle
To warrant may not than auayle
The worlde, which now so wel we trow
Shall make vs than but a mowe
So passe we without mede
That we none otherwyse spede
But as we rede, that he spedde
The whiche his lordes besaunt hedde
And thervpon gat none encrees
But at his tyme netheles
what other man his thanke deserue
The worlde so lusty is to serue
That we with hym ben all accorded
And that is wyst and well recorded
Through out this erthe in all londes
Let knyghtes wynne with her bondes
For our tonges shall be stylle
And stande vpon the flesshes wyll
It were a trauayle for to preche
The fayth of Christ, as for to teche
The folke paynem, it woll not be
But euery prelate holde his see
with all suche as he may gette
Of lusty drynke / of lusty meate
wherof the body fatte and full
Is vnto gostely labour dulle
And slough to handle thylke plough
But els we ben swyfte inough
Towarde the worldes auarice
And that is as a sacrifyce
whiche after that thapostle sayth
Is openly ayene the fayth
Vnto the idols youe and graunted
But netheles as it is nowe haunted
And vertue chaunged into vice
So that largesse is auarice
In whose chaptre nowe we trete
¶ My father this matter is bete
So far / that euer whyle I lyue
I shall the better hede yeue
Vnto my selfe by many weye
But ouer this nowe wolde I prey
To wyte what the braunches are
Of auarice, and howe they fare
Als well in loue as otherwyse.
¶ My sonne and I the shall deuyse
In suche a maner as they stonde
So that thou shalt vnderstonde.
A gros iungit agris Cupidus domibꝰ domos
(que)
Possidiat totam sic quasi solus humum
Solus et innumeros mulierum spirat amores
Vt sacra millenis sit sibi culta Venus.
☞ Hic tractat Confessor super illa spetie auaritie, que cupiditas dicitur / quam in amoris causa pertractans amanti super hoc opponit.
¶Dame auarice is nought soleyne
whiche is of golde the capiteyne
But of her courte in sondry wyse
After the schole of her apryse
She hath of seruauntes many one
wherof that couetyse is one
whiche with the large worlde about
To seche thauauntages out
where that he maye the profyte wynne
To auarice and bryngeth it inne
That one halt, & that other draweth
There is no day whiche hem bedaweth
No more the sonne than the mone
whan there is any thynge to done
And namely with couetyse
For he stant out of all assyse
Of reasonable mans fare
where he purposeth hym to fare
Vpon his lucre, and his beyete
The small pathe, the large strete
The furlonge, and the longe myle
All is but one for thilke whyle
And for that he is suche one holde
Dame auarice hym hath with holde
As he whiche is the princypall
Outwarde for he is ouer all
A purue our, and an espye
For ryght as of an hungry py
The storue beastes ben awayted
Ryght so is couetyse affayted
To loke where be may purchace
For by his wyll be wolde enbrace
All that this wyde wolrde beclyppeth
But euer be somwhat ouerhyppeth
That he may nought all fulfylle
The lustes of his gredy wylle
But where it falleth in a londe
That couetyse in myghty honde
Is sette, it is full harde to fede
For than he taketh none other hede
But that he may purchace and gete
His conscience hath all foryete
And not what thynge it may amount
That be shall afterwarde accompte
But as the Luce in his degre
Of tho, that lesse ben than he
The fysshes gredily deuoureth
So that no water hem socoureth
Ryght so no lawe may rescowe
Fro hym, that woll not ryghte allowe
For where that suche one is of myghte
His wyll shall stonde in stede of ryghte
Thus ben the men distroyed full ofte
Tyll that the great god alofte
Ayene so great a couetyse
Redresse it in his owne wyse
And in example of all tho
I fynde a tale written so
The whiche for it is good to lere
Hereafterwarde thou shalt here.
¶Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra magnates cupidos / Et narrat de Crasso Romanor [...] Imperatore qui turrimin qua speculum Virgi [...] Rome fixum extiterat, doloso circumuentus cupiditate euertit, vnde non solum sui ipsius perdicionem sed tocius ciuitatis intollerabilem damnum contingere causauit.
¶whan Rome stode in noble plite
Virgile, whiche was tho parfite
A mirrour made of his clergie
And sette it in the townes eye
Of marbre on a pyller without
That they by thirty myle about
By day and eke also by nyght
In that myrrour beholde myght
Her ennemyes / if any were
with all her ordynaunce there
whiche they ayene the citie cast
So that whyle thilke myrrour last
Ther was no lond, which might acheue
with werre Rome for to greue
wherof was great enuy tho
And it felle that ilke tyme so
That Rome had werres stronge
Ageyne Carthage, and stode longe
The two cities vpon debate
Carthage sygh the stronge astate
Of Rome, in thilke myrrour stonde
And thought all priuely to fonde
To ouerthrowe it by some wyle
And Haniball was thilke whyle
The prince and leader of Carthage
whiche had sette all his courage
Vpon knyghthode in suche a wyse
That he by worthy and by wyse
And by none other, was counsayled
wherof the worlde is yet meruayled
Of the maistries that he wrought
Vpon the marches, whiche he soughte
And felle in thilke tyme also
The kynge of Puyle, whiche was tho
Thought ayene Rome to rebelle
And thus was take the quarelle
Howe to distroy the myrrour
Of Rome tho was emperour
Crassus, which was so couetous
That he was euer desyrous
Of golde to gette the pyllage
wherof that Puyle, and eke Carthage
with philosophers wyse and great
Begynne of this matter to treat
And at last in this degree
There was philosophers thre
To do this thyng whiche vndertoke
And thervpon they with hem toke
A great treasure of golde in cotres
To Rome, & thus these philosophers
To gether in company went
But no man wyst what they ment
whan they to Rome come were
So priuely they dwelt there
As they that thoughten to deceyue
was none, that myght of hem perceiue
Tyll they in sondry stedes haue
Her golde vnder the erthe begraue
In two treasours that to beholde
They shulde seme as they were olde
And so forth than vpon a day
All openly in good araye
To themperour they hem present
And tolden, it was her entent
To dwelle vnder his seruyse
And he hem asketh in what wyse
And they hym told in such a plyte
That eche of hem had a spirite
The whiche slepende a nyght appereth
And hem by sondry dremes lereth
After the worlde that hath betyd
Vnder the grounde if ought be hyd
Of olde treasour at any throwe
They shall it in her sweuen knowe
And vpon this condition
They sein, what golde vnder the towne
Of Rome is hyd, they woll it fynde
There shall nought be lefte behinde
Be so that he the balue dele
Hem graunt, & he assenteth wele
And thus cam sleyght for to dwelle
with couetyse as I the telle
This emperour badde redily
That they be lodged fast by
where he his owne body laye
And whan it was at morowe day
That one of hem saythe, that he mette
where he a golde boorde shall sette
wherof this emperour was glad
And thervpon anone he bad
His mynours for to go, and myne
And he hym selfe of that couyne
Goth forthe withall, and at his honde
The treasour redy there he fonde
where as they sayde it shulde be
And who was than glad but be?
¶Vpon that other day seconde
They haue an other golde horde fonde
whiche the seconde mayster toke
Vpon his sweuen, and vndertoke
And thus the sothe experience
To themperour yafe suche credence
That all his trust, and all his feith
So sykerlyche on hem he layth
Of that he fonde hym so releued
That they be parfitely beleued
As though they were goddes thre
Nowe herken the subtylite.
The thirde mayster shulde mete
whiche as they sayden was vnmete
Aboue hem all, and couth moste
And he without noyse or boste
All priuelyche, so as he wolde
Vpon the morowe his sweuen tolde
To the emperour ryght in his eare
And sayde hym, that he wyst were
A treasour was, so plentious
Of golde / and eke so precious
Of iewelles, and of ryche stones
That it to all his hors at ones
It were a charge suffisaunt
This lorde vpon this couenaunt
was glad, and asketh where it was
The maister sayde vnder the glas
He tolde hym eke as for the myne
He wolde ordeyne suche engyne
That they the werke shulde vndersette
with tymbre, and without lette
Men may the treasour sauely delue
So that the myrrour by hym selue
without empeirement shal stonde
All this the maister vpon honde
Hath vndertake in all weye
This lorde, whiche had his wyt awey
And was with couetyse blent
Anone therto yafe his assent
And thus to myne forth withall
The tymbre sette vp ouer all
wherof the pyller stode vpryght
Tyll it befelle vpon a nyght
These clerkes, when they were ware
Howe that the tymber only bare
The pyller, where the myrrour stode
Her sleyght no man vnderstode
They go by nyght vnto the myne
with pitche, with sulphur, & with rosyne
And when the cite was a slepe
A wylde fyre in to the depe
They cast amonge the tymber werke
And so forth while the night was derke
Desguysed in a poore araye
They passeden the towne or day
And whan they comen vpon an hylle
They syghen howe the myrrour fylle
wherof they made ioye inough
And eche of hem with other lough
And sayde: Lo what couetyse
May do, with hem that he not wyse?
And that was proued afterwarde
For euery londe to Romewarde
whiche had be subiecte tofore
when this myrrour was so forlore
And they the wonder herde seye
Anone begonne disobeye
with werres vpon euery syde
And thus hath Rome lost his pryde
And was defouled ouer all
For this I fynde of Hanyball
That be of Romaynes in a day
whan he hem fonde out of aray
So great a multitude slough
That of gold rynges, which he drough
Of gentyll handes, that ben deade
Busshelles full thre, I rede
He fylled / and made a brydge also
That he myght ouer Tyber go
Vpon the corps that dede were
Of the Romaynes, whiche he slough there
¶But nowe to speke of the iuyse
The whiche after the couetyse
was take vpon this emperour
For he distroyed the myrrour
It is a wonder for to here
The Romaynrs maden a chayer
And sette her emperour therin
And sayden, for he wolde wynne
Of golde the superfluite
Of golde he shulde suche plente
Receyue, tyll he sayde bo
And with golde, which they hadde tho
Boylende hote within a panne
Into his mouth they poure thanne
And thus the thirst of gold was queint
with gold, whiche had ben atteint
¶wherof my sonne thou myght here
whan couetyse hath lost the stere
Of reasonable gouernaunce
There falleth ofte great greuance
For there may he no werse thynge
Than couetyse about a kynge
If it in his persone be
It doth the more aduersite
And if it in his counsayle stonde
It bryngeth all day mischiefe to honde
Of common harme and if it growe
within his court it woll be knowe
For than shall the kyng be pylled
The man, whiche hath his londe tylled
Awayteth nought more redily
The heruest, than they gredily
Ne make than warde and watche
where they the profyt myghten catche
And yet full ofte it falleth so
As men may sene amonge hem tho
That he, whiche most coueyteth fast
Hath leest auauntage at last
For whan fortune is there agayne
Though he coueyte, it is in vayne
The happes ben nought al lyche
One is made poore, an other ryche
The courte to some it dothe profyte
And some ben euer in one plyte
And yet they both alyche sore
Coueyte, but fortune is more
Vnto that one part fanourable
And though it be nought reasonable
This thynge may a man sene al day
wherof that I the telle may
After ensample in remembraunce
Howe euery man may take his chaunce
Or of rychesse, or of pouerte
How so it stande of the deserte
Here is nought euery thynge acquite
For ofte a man may se this yet
That who best doth, lest thōk shal haue
It helpeth nought the worlde to craue
whiche out of reule and of measure
Hath euer stande in auenture
As well in courte, as els where
And howe in olde dayes there
It stode so as the thynges felle
I thynke a tale for to telle.
¶Hic ponit exemplum contra illos, qui in domibus regum sernientes, pro eo ꝙ ipsi secundū eorum cupiditatē promoti non existunt / de regio seruitio (quam)uis ī eorū defectu indiscrete murmurāt.
¶In a cronyke this I rede
About a kynge, as must nede
There was knyghtes and squiers
Great route, and eke offycers
Some of longe tyme hym had serued
And thoughtē, that they haue deserued
Auauncement, and gone without
And some also ben of the route
That comen but a whyle agone
And they auaunced were anone
These olde men vpon this thyng
So as they durst ageyne the kynge
Amonge hem selfe compleynen ofte
But there is nothynge sayde so softe
That it ne cometh out at last
The kynge it wyst, anone als fast
As he whiche was of hygh prudence
He shope therfore an euidence
Of hem that playnen in the cas
To knowe in whose defaute it was
And all within his owne entent
That no man wyst what it ment
Anone be lette two cofres make
Of one semblaunce, of one make
So lyche, that no lyfe thilke throwe
That one may fro that other knowe
They were in to his chaumber brought
But no man wote why they be brought
And netheles the kynge hath bede
That they be sette in preuy stede
As he that was of wysedome slygh
whan he therto his tyme sygh
All priueliche, that none it wyst
His owne bondes that one kyst
Of fyne golde / and of fyne perye
The whiche out of his tresorie
was take, anone he fylde full
That other coffre of strawe and mull
with stones meued he fylde also
Thus be they full bothe two
So that erelyche vpon a day
He had within / there he lay
There shulde to fore his bedde
A bourde vp sette, and fayre spredde
And than he let the cofres fette
Vpon the bourde and did hem set
He knewe the names well of tho
The whiche ayene hym grutched so
Both of his chambre, and of his halle
Anone and sent for hem alll
And sayde to hem in this wyse:
¶There shall no man his hap despyse
I wote well ye haue longe serued
And god wote what ye haue deserued
But if it is alonge on me
Of that ye vnauaunced be
Or els if it belonge on you
The soth shall be preued nowe
To stoppe with your euyll worde
Lo here two cofers on the borde
Chese whiche you lyst of both two
And wyteth well, that one of tho
Is with treasour so full begone
That if ye happe therupon
Ye shal be riche men for euer
Nowe chese & take whiche you is leuer
But be well ware, er that ye take
For of that one I vndertake
There is no maner good therin
wherof ye myght profite wynne
Nowe goth to gether of one assent
And maketh your aduisement
For but I you this day auaunce
It stant vpon your owne chaunce
All onely in default of grace
So shall be shewe in this place
Vpon you all well afyne
That no defaute shall be myn
They knelen all, and with one voys
The kynge they thanken of this choys
And after that they vp aryse
And gon a syde, and hem auyse
And at last they acorde
wherof her tale to recorde
To what yssue they ben falle
A knyght shall speke for hem alle
He kneleth downe to the kynge
And sayth, that they vpon this thynge
Or for to wynne, or for to lese
Ben all auysed for to chese
Tho toke this knyght a yerd on hond
And goth there as the cofers stond
And with thassent of euerychone
He leyd his yard vpon one
And seyth the kynge, howe thylke same
They chese in reguerdon by name
And preith him that they might it haue
The king, which wold his honour saue
whan he hath herd the comon voys
Hath graunted hem her owne choys
And toke hem therupon the keye
But for he wolde it were seye
what good they haue, as they suppose
He had anone the cofer vnclose
whiche was fulfilled with straw & stones
Thus be they serued all at ones
This kynge than in the same stede
Anone that other Cofer vndede
where as they sawen great rychesse
wel more than they couthen gesse
Lo, seyth the kynge, nowe may ye see
That there is no defaute in me
For thy my selfe I wol acquyte
And bereth ye your owne wyte
Of that fortune hath you refused
Thus was this wyse kynge excused
And they lefte of her euyl speche
And mercy of her kynge beseche.
¶ Nota de diuiciarum accidencia / vbi narrat, qualiter Fredericus Romanorū imperator duos [...]anperes andiuit litigantes, quorum vnus dixit Bene potest ditari, quem rex vult ditare. Et alius dixit quem deus vult ditare diues erit / que rex cum ad experimētō postea probata fuiffet, ill equi deum innocabat pastellum auto plinum sortit [...] est, alius vero caponis pastellum sorte preelegit.
❧ Somdele to this mater lyke
I fynde a tale, howe Frederyke
Of Rome that tyme Emperour
Herde, as he wente. a great clamour
Of two beggers vpon the weye
That one of hem began to seye
Halord wel may the man be ryche
whome that a kynge lyst to ryche
That other sayd no thynge soo
But he is ryche, and wel bego
To whome that god wol send wele
And thus they maden wordes fele
wherof this lord hath hede nome
And dyd hem both for to come
To the payleys, where he shall ete
And bad ordeyn for her mete
Two pasteys, whiche he lete do make
A capon in that one was bake
And in that other for to wynne
Of floreyns all that may within
He let do put a great riches
And euen as lyche as man may gesse
Outward they were both two
This begger was commaunded tho
He that whiche held hym to the kynge
That he fyrst chese vpon this thynge
He sawe hem, but he felt hem nought
So that vpon his owne thought
He chese the capon, and forsoke
That other, whiche his felawe toke
But whan he wyst howe that it ferde
He seyth aloude, that men it herde
Nowe haue I certaynly conceyued
That he may lyghtly be deceyued
That trysteth vnto mans helpe
But wel is hym, that god wol helpe
For he stant on the syker syde
whiche elles shulde go besyde
I se my felawe wel recouer
And I mote dwelle still pouer
Thus spake the begger his entent
And powre he cam, and powre he went
Of that he hath rychesse sought
His infortune it wolde nought
So may it shewe in sondry wyse
Betwene fortune and couetyse
The chance is cast vpon a dee
But yet a man may full ofte see
I
[...]owe of suche netheles
whiche euer put hem selfe in pres
To get hem good, and yet they fayle
¶And for to speke of this entayle
Touchende of loue in thy mattere
My good sonne as thou myght here
That ryght as it with tho men stood
Of infortune of worldes good
As thou hast me herde tell aboue
Ryght so full ofte it stant by loue
Though thou coueyte it euermore
Thou shalte haue no dele the more
But only that, whiche is the shape
The remenant is but a iape
And netheles inowe of tho
There ben, that nowe coueite so
That where as they a woman se
ye ten or twelue though there be
The loue is nowe so vnauised
That where the beautie stant assised
The mans herte anone is there
And rouneth tales in her ere
And seyth, howe that he loueth streyte
And thus he sette hym to coueyte
And hondred though he sawe a day
So wolde he more than he may
So for the great couetyse
Of sotye and fool emprise
In eche of hem he fynt somwhat
That pleaseth hym, or this or that
Some one, for she is whyte of skynne
Some one, for she is noble of kynne
Some one, for she hath a rody cheke
Some one, for that she semeth meke
Some one, for she hath eyen greye
Some one, for she can laugh and pleye
Some one, for she is longe and smalle
Some one, for she is lyte and talle
Some one, for she is pale and bleche
Some one, for she is softe of speche
Some one, for that she is camused
Some one, for she hath nat be vsed
Some one, for she can daunce and syng
So that some thyng of his lykyng
He fynt: and though no more he fele
But that she hath a lytell hele
It is inough, that he therfore
Hir loue, and thus an hundred score
whyle they be newe, he wolde he had
whom he forsaketh, she is bad
The blynde man no colour demeth
But all is one ryght as hym semeth
So hath his lust no iugement
whom couetyse of loue blent
Hym thynketh, that to his couetyse
Howe all the worlde ne may suffyse
For by his wylle he wolde haue all
If that it myght so befall
Thus is he comon as the strete
I set nought of his beyete.
My sonne haste thou suche couetyse?
¶ Nay fader suche loue I despyse
And whyle I lyue shal don euer
For in good feyth yet had I leuer
Than to coueyte in suche aweye
To ben for euer tyll I deye
As pouer as Iob, and loueles
Out taken one; for haueles,
His thonkes is no man a lyue.
For than a man shulde all vnthryue
There ought no wyse man coueyte
The lawe was not set so streyte
For thy my selfe with all to saue
Suche one there is I wold haue
And none of all this other mo
¶My sonne of that thou woldest so
I am not wroth, but ouer this
I woll the telle, howe it is
For there be men, whiche other wyse
Ryght onely for the couetyse
Of that they seen a woman ryche
There wol they all her loue affyche
Nought for the beaute of her face
Ne yet for vertu ne for grace
whiche she hath elles ryght ynough
But for the parke and for the plough
And other thingis, which therto lōgeth
For in none other wyse hem longeth
To loue, but if they profyte fynde
And if the profyte be behynde
Her loue is euer lesse and lesse
For after that she hath rychesse
Her loue is of proportion
If thou hast suche condition
My sonne telle ryght as it is
¶ Myn holy fader nay ywys
Condycyon suche haue I none
For truly fader I loue one
So well, with all myn hertes thought
That certes though she had nought
And were as power as Medea
whiche was exyled for Creusa
I wolde her nought the lesse loue
Ne though she were at her aboue
As was the ryche quene Candace
whiche to deserue loue and grace
To Alysander, that was kynge
[...]afe many a worthy ryche thynge
Or elles as Panthasylee
whiche was the quene of Femyne
And great rychesse with her nam
whan she for loue of Hector cam
To Troye, in rescous of the towne
I am of suche condycion
[...]hat though my lady of her selue
were also ryche, as suche twelue
I
[...]nth not, though it were so
No better loue her, than I do
[...]or I loue in so playne a wyse
That for to speke of couetyse
As for pouerte, or for rychesse
Thy loue is nother more ne lesse
Fo
[...] in good feyth I trowe this
So couetous no man there is
For why, and he my lady sye
That he through lokynge of his eye
He shuld haue suche a strocke within
That for no golde he myght wyn
He shuld nought her loue asterte
But if he lefte there his herte
Be so it were suche a man
That couthe skylle of a woman
For there be men so rude some
whan they amonge the women come
They gon vnder protectyon
That loue and his affectyon
Ne shal not take hem by the sleue
For they ben oute of that beleue
Hem lusteth of no lady chere
But euer thynkend there and here
where as the golde is in the cofer
And wol none other loue profre
But who so wote, what loue amoūteth
And by reason trulyche acompteth
Than may he knowe, and taken hede
That all the lust of woman hede
whiche may ben in a ladys face
My lady hath, and eke of grace
If men shuld yeuen her apryse
They may wel seye, howe she is wyse
And sober, and symple of countenance
And all that to good gouernaunce
Belongeth of a worthy wyght
She hath playnly: for thylke nyght
That she was bore, as for the nones
Nature set in her at ones
Beaute with bounte so beseyn
That I may well afferme and seyn
I sawe yet neuer creature
Of comly hede, and of feture
In any kynges regyon
Be lyche her in comparyson
And therto, as I haue you tolde
Yet hath she more a thousand folde
Of bounte, and shortly to telle
She is pure heede and welle
And myrroure, and ensample of good
who so her vertues vnderstood
Me thynketh it ought ynough suffyse
withouten other couetyse
To loue suche one, and to serue
whiche with her chere can deserue
To be beloued better ywys
Than she par cas that rychest is
And hath of golde a mylyon
Suche hath be myn opynyon
And euer shall, But neuertheles
I say nought she is haueles
That she nis ryche, and well at ese
And hath ynough, wherwith to plese
Of worldes good, whome that her lyst
But one thynge I wolde wel ye wyst
That neuer for no worldes good
Myn hert vnto her warde stood
But onely ryght for pure loue
That wote the hygh god aboue
Nowe fader what say ye therto?
¶My sonne I saye it is wel do
For take of this ryght good beleue
what man that wol hym selfe releue
To loue, in any other wyse
He shall wel fynde his couetyse
Shall sore greue hym at laste
For suche a loue may not laste
But nowe men seyn in oure dayes
Men maken but a fewe assayes
But if the cause be rychesse
For thy the loue is well the lesse
And who that wold ensamples telle
By olde dayes as they felle
Than myght a man wel vnderstonde
Suche loue may not longe stonde
Now herken sonne, & thou shalt here
A great ensample of this matere
¶Hic ponit exemplum contra istos / qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia fumunt. Et narrat de quodam regis Apulie Se nescalo / qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorē duxit, sed eciam pecunie commercis vxorem sibi desponsatum vendidit.
¶To trete vpon the cas of loue
So as we to
[...]d here aboue
I fynde wryte a wonder thynge
Of Puyle whylom was a kynge
A man of hygh complexion
And yonge, but his affectyon
After the nature of his age
was yet not falle in his courage
The lust of woman for to knowe
So it betyd vpon a throwe
This lorde felle in to great sekenes
Physyke hath done the besynes
Of sondry cures many one
To make hym holle, and therupon
A worthy mayster, whiche there was
Yafe hym counseyle vhon this cas
That if he wolde haue parfyte hele
He shuld with a woman dele
Atress he, a yonge, a lusty wyght
To don hym companye a nyght
For than he sayde hym redely
That he shal be al hole ther by
And other wyse he knewe no cure
The kyng whiche stode in a venture
Of lyfe and deth for medicine
Assented was and of couyne
His stewarde whom he trusteth well
He toke and tolde hym euery dele
How that this mayster had sayde
And thervpon he hath hym prayde
And charged vpon his lygeaunce
That he do make purueaunce
Of suche one as be couenable
For his pleasaunce, and delitable
And badde hym, how that euer it stode
That he shall spare for no good
For his wyll is ryght well to pay
The stewarde sayde, he wolde assay
¶But now here after thou shalt wyte
As I fynde in the bokes wryte
what couetyse in loue doth
This stewarde, for to telle soth
Amonges all the men on alyue
A lusty lady hath to wyue
whiche netheles for golde he toke
And nought for loue, as sayth the boke
A ryche marchaunt of the londe
Her fader was, and he her fonde
So worthely, and suche rychesse
Of worldes good, and suche largesse
with her he yafe in mariage
That onely for thilke auauntage
Of good, the stewarde hath her take
For lucre, and nought for loues sake
And that was afterwarde wel sene
Nowe herken, what it woll mene
The stewarde in his owne hert
Sigh that his lorde may not asterte
His maladie, but he haue
A lusty woman hym to saue
And though he wolde yeue inough
Of his treasour, wherof he drough
Great couetyse in to his mynde
And set his honour ferre behynde
Thus he whom golde hath ouersette
was trapped in his owne nette
The golde hath made his wyttes lame
So that sechende his owne shame
He ronneth in the kynges eare
And sayd hym, that he wyst where
A gentyll and a lusty one
Tho was, and thyther wolde he gone
But he mote yeue yeftes great
For but it be through great beyete
Of golde, he sayd he shulde not spede
The kynge hym bad vpon the nede
That take an hundrede poūde he shuld
And yeue it, where that he wolde
Be so it were in worthy place
And thus to stonde in loues grace
This kyng his golde hath habandoned
And whan this tale was full rouned
The stewarde toke the gold, and went
within his herte and many a went
Of couetyse than he cast
wherof a purpose at laste
Ayene loue, and ayene his ryght
He toke, and sayde how thilke nyght
His wyfe shall lygge by the kynge
And goth thynkende vpon this thynge
Towarde his inne tyll he cam home
In to the chaumbre, and than he nome
His wyfe, and tolde her al the cas
And she, whiche redde for shame was
with bothe her handes to hym prayde
K
[...]lende and in this wyse sayde
That she to reason, and to skylle
In what thynge that he bydde wyll
Is redy for to done his beste
But this thynge that were not honeste
That he for golde her shulde selle
And he tho with his wordes felle
Forth with his gastely countenaunce
Sayth, that she shall done obeysaunce
And folowe his wylle in euery place
And thus through strength of his manace
Her innocence is ouerladde
wherof she was so sore adradde
That she his wylle mote nede obeye
And thervpon was shape a weye
That he his owne wyfe by nyght
Hath out of all mennes syght
So priuely that none it wyst
Brought to the king, which as hym list
May do with her what he wolde
For whan she was there as she sholde
with hym a bedde vnder the cloth
The stewarde toke his leue, and goth
In to the chambre fast by
But howe he slepte, that wote not I
For he sygh cause of ielousy
¶ But he whiche hath the company
Of suche a lusty one as she
Hym thought that of his degre
There was no man so well at ease
She doth all that she may to please
So that his herte all holle she had
And thus this kynge his ioye lad
Tyll it was nygh vpon the day
The stewarde than where she lay
Cam to the bedde, and in this wyse
Hath bydde she shulde aryse
The kynge sayth nay, she shall not go
The stewarde sayde nothynge so
For she mote gone er it be knowe
And so I swore, at thilke throwe
whan I her fette to you here
The kynge his tale wolde not here
And seith how that he hath her bought
For thy she shall departe nought
Tyll he the bryght day beholde
And caught her in her armes folde
As be whiche lyst for to pleye
And bad his stewarde gone aweye
And so he dyd ayene his wylle
And thus his wyfe a bedde stylle
Lay with the kynge the longe nyght
Tyll that it was hygh sonne lyght
But who she was he knew nothynge
Tho cam the stewarde to the kynge
And prayde hym without shame
In sauynge of her good name
He myght leaden home ayene
This lady, and tolde hym pleyne
Howe that it was his owne wyfe
The kynge his ere vnto this stryfe
Hath leyde: and whan that he it herde
well nyhe out of his wyt he ferde
And sayde: A caytife moste of all
where was it euer or this befall
That any Cokarde in this wyse
Betoke his wyfe for couetyse
Thou hast bothe her and me begyled
And eke thyn owne estate reuyled
wherof that buxome vnto the
Here after shall she neuer be
For this auowe to god I make
After this day / if I the take
Thou shalte be honged and to drawe
Nowe loke anone thou be withdrawe
So that I se the neuer more
This stewarde that drad hym sore
with all the hast that he may
And fled awey the same day
And was exyled oute of lond
¶Lo there a nyce husbond
whiche thus his wyfe hath loste for euer
But netheles she hadde a leuer
The kynge her weddeth and honoureth
wherof her name she socoureth
whiche erst was lost through couetyse
Of hym, that lad her other wyse
And hath hym selfe also forlore
My sonne be thou ware therfore
where thou shalt loue in any place
That thou no couetyse embrace
The whiche is not of loues kynde
But for all that a man may fynde
Nowe in this tyme of thylke rage
Full great dysese in maryage
whan venym medleth with the suger
And maryage is made for lucre
Or for the lust, or for the hele
what man that shall with other dele
He may not fayle to repent.
¶My fader suche is myn entent
But netheles good is to haue
For good may oft tyme saue
The loue, whiche shuld elles spylle
But god, whiche wote my hertes wylle
I dar wel take to wytnesse
yet was I neuer for rychesse
Be set with maryage none
For all myn herte is vpon one
So frely, that in the persone
Stant all my worldes ioye alone
I aske nother parke ne plough
If I her hadde, it were ynough
Her loue shulde me suffyse
withouten other couetyse
Lo nowe my fader, as of this
Touchend of me, ryght as it is
My shryfte I am be knowe pleyn
And if ye wol ought elles seyn
Of couetyse if there be more
In loue, agropeth out the sore
Fallere cum nequeat, ꝓpria vir fraude subornat
Testes sit ꝙ eis uera retorta fides
Sicut agros cupidus dum querie amans mulieres
Vult testes falfos falsus habe
[...] fuos.
Non sine uindicta periurus abibit in eis
Visu qui cordis intima cuncta uidet.
Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam
Gloria sed falso conditionis opus.
☞ HIC tractat super illis auaricie speciebus / que falsum testimonium et periurium nuncupantur, quorum fraudulenta circumuentio tam in cupiditatis (quam) in amoris causa sui desiderit propositū, quā sepe fallaciter attingit.
❧ My sonne thou shalt vnderstonde
Howe couietse hath yet on honde
In specyall two counseylours
That ben also his procurours
The fyrst of hem is fals wytnesse
whiche euer is redy to wytnesse
what thyng his mayster woll hym hote
Periure is the second hote
which spareth nought to swere an othe
Though it be fals, and god be wrothe
That one shall fals wytnes bere
That other shall the thynge forswere
whan he his charged on the boke
So what with hepe, & what with croke
They make her maister ofte winne
And woll nat knowe, what is sinne
For couetise: and thus men seyn
They make many a fals bargeyn
There may no trewe quarel aryse
In thylke queste of thylke assyse
where as they two the people enforme
For they kepe euer o maner forme
That vpon golde her conscience
They founde / and take her euidence
And thus with fals witnes and othes
They winne hem mete, drinke, & clothes
Right so there be, who that hem knew
Of these louers ful many vntrewe
Nowe may a woman fynde ynowe
That eche of hem, whan he shall wowe
Anone he wyl his hande downe leyne
Vpon a boke, and swere and seyne
That he wol feyth
[...]nd trouth bere
And thus he profe
[...]eth hym to swere
To seruen euer tyll be dye
And all is very trechery
For whan the soth hym selfe tryeth
The more he swereth, the more he lyeth
whan he his feyth maketh all thermest
Than may a woman trust hym lest
For tyll he may his wyll acheue
He is no lenger for to leue
Thus is the trothe of loue exyled
And many a good woman beguyled
And eke to speke of fals wytnesse
There ben now suche many I gesse
That lyche vnto the prouysours
They make he her preuy procuratours
To tell howe there is suche a man
whiche is worthy to loue, and can
All that a good man shulde conne
So that with lesynge is begonne
The cause, in whiche they woll procede
And also syker as the crede
They make of that they knowen fals
And thus full ofte about the halfe
Loue is of fals men embraced
But loue, whiche is so purchaced
Come afterwarde to lytell pryse
For thy my sonne, if thou be wyse
Nowe thou hast herde this euidence
Thou myght thyn owne conscience
Oppose, if thou hast be suche one
¶ Nay god wote father I am none
Ne neuer was, for as men sayth
whan that a man shall make his fayth
His hert and tonge must accorde
For if so be that they discorde
Than is he fals, and els nought
And I dare say, as of my thought
In loue, it is not discordable
Vnto my worde, but accordable
And in this wyse father I
May ryght well swere, and saufly
That I my lady loue well
For that accordeth euery dele
It nedeth nought to my soth sawe
That I wytnesse shulde drawe
Into this day, for euer yet
Ne myght it synke in to my wyt
That I my counsayle shulde seye
To any wyght or me hewreye
To sechen helpe in suche manere
But onely for my lady dere
And though a thousande men it wyste
That I her loue, and than hem lyst
with me to swere / and to wytnesse
yet were that no fals wytnesse
For I dare vnto this trouth dwelle
I loue her more, than I can telle
Thus am I father gylteles
As ye haue herde, and netheles
In your dome I put it all
¶My sonne wyte in specyall
It shall not commonlyche fayle
All though it for a tyme fayle
That fals wytnesse his cause spede
Vpon the poynt of his falsheed
It shall well afterwarde be kyd
wherof so as it is betyd
Ensample of such thynges blynde
In a cronyke wryte I fynde.
❧ HIC PONIT exemplum de iffis, qui falsum testificantes, amoris innocentiam circumueniunt / Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum ad o lscentem muliebri vestitum apparatu afferens esse puellam inter regis Lithomedis filias ad educandum produxit, Et sic Achilles decepto rege filie sue Deidamie soci [...] et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit, qui postea mire probitatis miliciam affecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam Polixent Tirrannice vindicauit.
¶The goddesse of the see Thetis
She had a sonne, and his name is
Achilles, whom to kepe and warde
whyle he was yonge, and in to warde
She thought hym saufly to betake
As she, whiche drad for his sake
Of that was sayde of prophecie
That he at Troy sholde dye
whan that the citie was beleyne
For thy so as the bokes seyne
She cast her wyt in sondry wyse
Howe she hym myght so desguyse
That no man shuld his body knowe
And so befelle that ilke throwe
whyle that she thought vpon this dede
There was a kyng, whiche Lychomede
was hote, and he was well begone
with faire doughters many one
And dwelte ferre out in an yle
Nowe shalt thou here a wonder wyle
This quene, whiche the mother was
Of Achilles, vpon this cas
Her sonne, as a mayden were
Let clothen in the same gere
whiche longeth vnto womanhede
And he was yonge, and toke none bede
But suffreth all that she hym dede
wherof she hath her women bede
And chargeth by her othes alle
Howe so it afterward byfalle
That they discouer nought this thynge
But feyne and make a knowlegynge
Vpon the counseyle, whiche was nome
In euery place where they come
To telle and to witnesse this
Howe he hyr ladys doughter is
And ryght in suche a maner wyse
She had they shuld her don seruyse
So that Achilles vnderfongeth
As to a yong lady belongeth
Honoure, seruyce, and reuerence
For Thetys with great dylygence
Hym hath so taught, and so affayted
That howe so that he were awayted
with sobre, and goodly contenaunce
He shuld his womanhede auaunce
That none the soth knowe myght
But that in euery mans syght
He shuld seme a pure mayde
And in suche wyse, as she hym sayde
Achylles, whiche that ylke whyle
was yonge, vpon hym selfe to smyle
Began, whan he was so beseyn
And thus after the bokes seyn
with frette of perle vpon his hede
All fresshe betwene the whyte and rede
As he whiche tho was tender of age
Stode the colour in his visage
That for to loke vpon his cheke
And seen his chyldy maner eke
He was a woman to beholde
And than his moder to hym tolde
That she hym had so begone
By cause that she thought gone
To Lichomede at thylke tyde
where that she sayde, be shulde abyde
Amonge his doughters for to dwelle
Achylles h
[...]d his moder telle
And wyst no
[...]ght the cause why
And netheles full buxomly
He was redy to that she had
wherof his moder was ryght glad
To Lychomede and forth they went
And whan the kyng knewe her entent
And sawe this yonge doughter there
And that it came vnto his ere
Of suche record, of suche wytnesse
He had ryght a great gladnesse
Of that he both sygh and herde
As he that wote not howe it ferde
Vpon the counseyl of the nede
But for all that kynge Lychomede
Hath toward hym his doughter take
And for Thetys his moder sake
He put her in to companye
To dwelle with Deydamye
His owne doughter the eldest
The fayrest, and the comlyest
Of al his doughters, whiche he had
Lo thus Thetys the cause lad
And lefte there Achylles feyned
As be, which hath hym selfe restreyned
In all that euer be may and can
O ute of the maner of a man
And toke his womanysshe chere
wherof vnto his bedfere
Deydamye he hath by nyght
where kynde wolde hym selue ryght
After the Philosophers seyn
There may no wight be there ageyn
And that was thylke tyme sene
The longe nyghtes hem bytwene
Nature, whiche may not forbere
Hath made hem bothe for to stere
They kyssen fyrst, and ouermore
The hyghe wey of loues lore
They gone, and all was done in dede
wherof lost is the may denhede
And that was afterward well knowe
For it befell that ylke throwe
At Troye, where the syege lay
Vpon the cause of Menelay
And of his quene dame Eleyne
The gregoys badden mochel peyne
All day to fyght, and to assayle
But for they myght nought auayle
So noble a cyte for to wynne
A preuy counsayle they begynne
In sondry wysewhere they treat
And at laste amonge the great
They fellen vnto his accorde
That Phorceus of his recorde
whiche was an Astronomyen
And eke a great magicien
Shulde of his calculation
Screbe of constellation
How they the citie myghten gette
And he whiche hadde nought foryete
Of that belongeth to a clerke
His study sette vpon this werke
So longe his wyt about he cast
Tyll that he fonde out at last
But if they hadden Achilles
Her werre shall ben endeles
And ouer that he tolde hem pleyne
In what maner he was beseyne
And in what place he shall be founde
S
[...] to at within a lytell stounde
Vl
[...]es forth with Dyomede
Vpon this poynt to Lychomede
Agamemnon to gether sente
But Vlyxes, er he forth went
whiche was one of the most wyse
Ordeyned hath in suche a wyse
That he the most ryche aray
wherof a woman may be gay
with hym be toke manifolde
And ouermore, as it is tolde
An harnoys as for a lusty knyght
whiche burned was as syluer bryght
O
[...] swerde, of plate, and cke of mayle
As though he shulde do batayle
He toke also with hym by shyp
And thus to gether in felawshyp
Forth gone this Dyomede and be
In hope tyll they myghten se
The place, where Achilles is
The wynde stode than nought amys
But euery topsayle cole it blewe
Tyll Vlyxes the marches knewe
where Lychomede his reygne had
The styresman so well him ladde
That they be comen saufe to londe
where they gone out vpon the stronde
In to the burgh, where that they foūde
The kyng, and he which hath facounde
Vlyxes dyd the message
But the counsayle of his courage
why that he came, he tolde nought
But vnderneth he was bethought
In what maner he myght aspie
Achilles from Deidamye
And fro these other, that there were
Full many a lusty lady there
¶ They plaide hem there a day or two
And as it was fortuned so
It fell that tyme in suche a wyse
To Bacchus that a sacrifice
These yonge ladies shulden make
And for the straunge mennes sake
That comen fro the siege of Troye
They maden well the more ioye
There was reuell, there was daunsynge
And euery lyfe, whiche couth synge
Of lusty women in the route
A fresshe caroll hath songe about
But for all this yet netheles
The grekes vnknowe of Achilles
So weren, that in no degree
They couthen wyte, whiche was he
Ne by his voys, ne by his paas
Vlyxes than vpon the caas
A thing of high prudēce hath wrought
For thilk aray, which he hath brought
To yeue amonge the women there
He lette do fetten all the geare
Forth with a knyghtes harnoys eke
In all the countrey for to seke
Men shulden nought a fayrer se
And euery thynge in his degre
Endelonge vpon a bourde he layde
So Lychomede and than he preyde
That euery lady chese shulde
what thynge of all that she wolde
And take it as by way of yefte
For they hem selfe it shulde sheft
He sayde after her owne wylle.
Achilles than stode nought stylle
whan he the bryght helme behelde
The swerde, the hauberke, & the shelde
His herte felle therto anone
Of all that other wolde he none
The knyghtes gere he vnderfongeth
And thylke array, whiche that belōgeth
Vnto the women he forsoke
And in this wyse, as sayth the boke
They knowen than whiche he was
For he goth forth the grete paas
In to the chambre, where he lay
Anone, and made no delay
He armeth hym in knyghtly wyse
That better can no man deuise
And as fortune shulde falle
He came so forth tofore hem alle
As he, whiche tho was glad inough
But Lychomede nothyng lough
whan that he sigh, howe that it ferde
For than he wyst well and herde
His doughter had be forleyn
But that he was so ouerseyn
The wonder ouergoth his wyt
For in Cronike is written yet
Thing, whiche shall neuer be foryete
Howe that Achilles hath begette
Pytrus vpon Deydame
wherof came out the trecherye
Of fals witnes, when he sayde
Howe that Achilles was a mayde
But that was nothyng sene tho
For he is to the syege go
Forth with Vlyxes and Dyomede
¶ Lo thus was proued in the dede
And fully spoke at thylke whyle
If o woman an other begyle
where is there any sekyrnesse
whā Thetis which was thā the goddesse
Daydamye hath so beiaped
I not howe it shall bene escaped
with tho women, whose innocence
Is nowe al daye through suche credence
Deceyued ofte, as it is sene
with men, that suche vntrouth mene
For they ben slygh in suche a wyse
That they by sleyght and by queyntise
Of fals wytnes bryngyn inne
That doth hem ofte for to wynne
That they be not worthy therto
For thy my sonne do not so
¶ My father as of fals wytnesse
The trouth, and the maner expresse
Touchende of loue, howe it hath ferde
As ye haue tolde, I haue well herde
But for ye sayden other wyse
Howe thylke vice of couetyse
Hath yet periur of his acorde
If that you lyst of some recorde
To telle an other tale also
In loues cause of tyme ago
what thynge it is to be forswore
I wolde preye you therfore
wherof I myght ensamble take.
¶ My good sonne and for thy sake
Touchende of this I shall fulfyll
Thyn axynge, at thyne owne wyll
And the mattere I shall declare
Howe the women deceiued are
whan they so tender hertes bere
Of that they here men so swere
But whan it cometh vnto thassay
They fynde it fals a nother day
As Iason dyd vnto Medee
whiche stante yet of auctoritie
In token, and in memoriall
wherof the tale in speciall
Is in the boke of Troye writte
whiche I shall do the for to wytte
❧ Hic in amoris caufa ponit exemplum contra periuros, Et narrat qualiter Iason prius (quam) ad Insulam Colchos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet, in amorem et coningium Medee regis Othonis filie iuramēto firmius se aftrinxit, sed suo postea completo negotio cil ips [...] secum nauigio in Cretiam perduxisset, vbi illum senectam patris sui Efonis in floridam inuentutē mirabili scientia reformauit, Ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento, aliis (que) beneficiis post positis, dictam Medeam pro quadam Crensa regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit.
¶ In grece whylom was a kynge
Of whom the fame and knowlegyng
By leueth yet, and Peleus
He hyghte: but it felle hym thus
That his fortune hir whele so lad
That he no childe his owne had
To reignen after his decesse
He had a brother netheles
whose ryght name was Eson
And he the worthy knyght Iason
Begatte, the whiche in euery londe
All other passed of his honde
In armes, so that he the best
was named, and the worthyest
He sought worshyp ouer all
Nowe herken, and I the tell shall
An aduenture that he sought
whiche afterwarde full dere he bought.
¶ There was an yle, whiche Colchos
was cleped, and therof aroos
Great speche in euery londe aboute
That suche meruayle was none oute
In all the wyde worlde no where
As tho was in that yle there
There was a shepe, as it was tolde
The whiche his flees bare all of golde
And so the goddes had it sette
That it ne myght away be fette
By power of no worldes wyght
And yet full many a worthy knyght
It had assayed, as they dorst
And euer it fell hem to the worst
But he that wolde it nought forsake
But of his knyghthode vndertake
To do, what thynge therto belongeth
This worthy Iason sore alongeth
To se the straunge regions
And knowe the conditions
Of other marches, where he went
And for that cause his hole entent
He set Colchos for to seche
Cnd therupon he made a speche
To Peleus his eme the kynge
And he wel payde was of that thynge
And shope anone for his passage
Suche as were of his lignage
with other knyghtes, whiche he chees
with hym he toke: and Hercules
whiche full was of chiualrie
with Iason wente in company
And that was in the moneth of may
whan colde stormes were away
The winde was good, the ship was yare
They toke her leue, and forth they fare
Towarde Colchos, but on the weye
what hem byfelle, is longe to seye
Howe Laamedon the kynge of Troy
whiche ought well haue made hem ioye
whan they to rest a whyle hym preyde
Out of his londe he them congeyde
And so befelle the dissention
whiche after was destruction
Of that citie, as men may here
But that is nought to my matere
But thus the worthy folke gregoys
Fro that kynge, whiche was not curtois
And fro his londe with seyl vpdrawe
They went hem forth, and many a sawe
They made, and many a great manace
Tyll at last in to that place
whiche as they sought, they arryue
And stryken seyle, and forth as blyue
They senten vnto the kynge, and tolden
who weren there, and what they wolden
¶O etes whiche was then kynge
whan that he herde this tydynge
Of Iason, whiche was comen there
And of these other, what they were
He thought done hem great worshyp
For they anone come out of shyp
And streyght vnto the kynge they wente
And by the honde Iason he hente
And that was at the paleys gate
So far the kyng came on his gate
Towarde Iason to done hym chere
And he, whom lacketh no manere
whan he the kynge sigh in presence
Yafe hym ageyne suche reuerence
As to a kynges state belongeth
And thus the kynge hym vnderfongeth
And Iason in his arme he caught
And forth in to the halle he straught
And there they sat, and speke of thinges
And Iason tolde hym tho tydynges
why he was come, and faire hym preide
To hast his tyme, & the kyng thus said
Iason thou art a worthy knyght
But it lyeth in no mans myght
To done, that thou arte come fore
There hath bene many a knyght forlore
Of that they wolden it assaye
But Iason wolde nat hym esmaye
And sayde: of euery worldes cure
Fortune stant in auenture
Paranter well, paranter wo
But howe as euer that it go
It shall be with myn bonde assayed
The kyng tho helde hym not wel payd
For he the grekes sore dredde
In aunter if Iason ne spedde
He myght therof beare a blame
For tho was all the worldes fame
In grece, as for to speke of armes
For thy he drad hym of his harmes
And gan to preache, and to preye
But Iason wolde not obeye
But sayde, he wolde his purpos holde
For ought that any man hym tolde
The kynge whan these wordes herde
And sigh how that this knight āswerde
Yet for he wolde make hym glad
After Medea gone he bad
whiche was his doughter: and she cam
And Iason whiche good hede nam
whan he her sigh, ageyn her goth
And she, which was hym nothyng loth
welcomed hym in to that londe
And softe toke hym by the honde
And downe they setten both same
She had herde spoken of his name
And of his great worthynes
For thy she gan her eie impresse
Vpon his face, and his stature
And thought how neuer creature
was so welfarende, as was he
And Iason ryght in suche degree
Ne myght not withholde his loke
But so good hede on her he toke
That hym ne thought vnder the heuen
Of beautie sighe he neuer her euene
with all that telle to womanhede
Thus eche of other token hede
Though there no worde was of recorde
Her hertes both of one accorde
Ben sette to loue, but as tho
There myghten be no wordes mo
The kyng made hym great ioy & feest
To all his men he yafe an hest
So as they wolde his thonke deserue
That they shulde all Iason serue
whyle that he wolde there dwelle
And thus the day, shortely to telle
with many myrthes they dispent
Tyll nyght was come, and tho they wēt
Echone of other toke his leue
whan they no lenger myghten leue
I not howe Iason that nyght slepe
But well I wote, that of the shepe
For whiche he cam in to that ile
He thought but a littell whyle
All was Medea that he thought
So that in many wyse he sought
His wyt wakende / er it was day
Some tyme ye, some tyme nay
Some tyme thus, some tyme so
As he was stered to and fro
Of loue, and eke of his conquest
As he was holde of his behest
And thus he rose vp by the morowe
And toke hym selfe seint Iohn̄ to borow
And sayde he wolde fyrst begynne
At loue, and after for to wynne
The flees of golde, for whiche he come
And thus to hym good herte he nome
¶Medea right in the same wyse
Tyll day cam, that she must aryse
Lay, & bethought her all the nyght
Howe she that noble worthy knyght
By any way myght wedde
And wel she wyst, if he ne spedde
Of thing / which he had vndertake
She myght her selfe no purpose take
For if he deyde of his batayle
She must than algate fayle
To getten hym, whan he were dede
Thus she began to sette rede
And tourne about her wyttes all
To loke howe that it myght fall
That she with hym had a leyser
To speake and telle of hir desyre
And so it felle the same day
That Iason, with that swete may
To geher sette, and hadden space
To speke, and he besought her grace
And she his tale goodly herde
And afterwarde she hym answerde
And sayd: Iason as thou wylt
Thou mighte be saufe, thou myght be spilt
For wyte well, that neuer man
But if he couth, that I can
Ne myghte that fortune acheue
For whiche thou comest: but as I leue
If thou wolt holde couenaunt
To loue of all the remenaunt
I shall thy lyfe and honour saue
That thou the flees of gold shalt haue
He sayd: Al at your owne wylle
Madame I shall truly fulfylle
Your hest, whyle my lyfe may laste
Thus longe he prayd, and at last
She graunteth, and behyght hym this
That whan nyght cometh, & it time is
She wolde hym sende certeynly
Suche one, that shulde him priuely
Alone in to her chamhre brynge
He thanketh her of that tydynge
For of that grace is hym begonne
Hym thynketh al other thinges wonne
¶The day made ende, & loste his sight
And comen was the derke nyght
The whiche all the dayes eie blent
Iason toke leue, & forth he went
And whan he cam out of the prees
He toke to counsayle Hercules
And tolde hym, howe it was betyd
And prayde it shulde well ben hyd
And that he wolde loke about
The whyles that he shulde be out
Thus as he stode, and hede name
A mayden fro Medes came
And to her chambre Iason ledde
where that he fonde redy to bedde
The sayrest, and the wysest eke
And she with symple chere and meke
whan she hym sigh, waxt all asshamed
Tho was her tale newe entamed
For sykernesse of mariage
She fette forth a ryche image
The whiche was the fygure of Iubitere
And Iason swore, and sayd there
That also wys god hym helpe
That if Medea dyd hym helpe
That he his purpose myght wynne
They shulde neuer part a twynne
But euer whyle hym last lyfe
He wolde her holde for his wyfe
And with that word they kystend both
And for they shulde hem vncloth
There come a mayden in her wyse
She dyd hem both full seruyse
Tyll that they were in bed naked
I wote that nyght was well bewaked
They hadden both what they wolde
And than at leyser she hym tolde
And gan fro poynt to poynt enforme
Of this batayle, and all the forme
The whiche that he shulde fynde there
whan he to that yle come were
She sayde, at entre of the pas
Howe Mars, which god of armes was
Hath set two oxen sterne and stoute
That casten fyre and flam aboute
Both at mouth and at nase
So that they setten all on blase
what thynge that passeth hem betwene
And forthermore vpon the grene
There goth the flees of golde to kepe
A serpent whiche may neuer slepe
Thus who that euer it shulde wynne
The fyre to stoppe he mote begyn
The whiche that tho fierse beastes cast
And daunt he mot hem at last
So that he may hem yoke and dryue
And there vpon he als blyue
The serpent with suche strength assayle
That he may sleyn hym by batayle
Of the which he must the teth outdraw
As it belongeth to that lawe
And than he must the oxen yoke
Tyl they haue with a plough to broke
A forow of loud, in which a rowe
The teeth of thadder he must sow
And therof shull aryse knyghtes
well armed at all ryghtes
Of hem is nought to taken hede
For eche of hem in hastibede
Shall other slee with dethes wounde
And thus whā thei be brought to groūd
And go so forth, and take his pray
Than must he to the goddes pray
But if he fayle in any wyse
Of that ye here me deuyse
There may be set non other weye
That he ne mote algates deye
Nowe haue I tolde the perel all
I wyll yow telle forth withall
(Quod Medea to Iason tho)
That ye shall knowen er ye go
Ageyne the venym and the fyre
what shall be the recouere
But syr for it is nygh day
Ariseth vp, so that I may
Delyuer yow, what thynge I haue
That may youre lyfe and honoure saue
They were both loth to ryse
But for they were both wyse
Vp they rysen at last
Iason his clothes on hym cast
And made hym redy ryght anone
And she her shi
[...] dyd vpon
And cast on her a mantell close
withouten more, and than aros
Tho toke she forth a ryche tye
Mad all of golde and of perye
Out of the whiche she toke a rynge
The stone was worth all other thynge
She sayd, whyles he wold it were
There myght no peryll hym dere
In water maye it not be dreynte
where as it cometh the fyre is queynt
It daunteth eke the cruel heste
There may none quad that man arest
where so he be on se or londe
That hath this rynge vpon his honde
And ouer that she gan to seyne
That if a man wyl ben vnsayne
within his honde holde close the stone
And he may inuysyble gone
The rynge to Iason she betaught
And so forth after she hym taught
what sacrifyce he shuld make
And gan out of her cofer take
Hym thought an heuenly fygure
whiche all by charme and by coniure
was wrough, & eke it was through writ
with names, whiche he shuld wyte
As she hym taught tho to rede
And had hym as he wold spede
without rest of any whyle
whan he were londed in that yle
He shuld make his sacryfyce
And rede his carecte en the wyse
As she hym taught on knes doun bent
Thre sythes towerd oryent
For so shuld he the goddes plese
And wyn hym selfe mochel ese
And whan he had it thryse radde
To open a boxe she hym badde
That she there toke hym in present
And was full of suche oignement
That there was fyre ne venym none
That shulde fastenen hym vpon
whan that he were anoynt withall
For thy she taught hym howe he shall
Anoynt his armes all aboute
And for he shulde nothinge doute
She toke him than a maner glue
The whiche was of so great vertue
That where a man it shulde cast
It shulde bynde anone so fast
That no man myght it done away
And that she had by all waye
He shulde into the mouthes throw
Of tho two oxen that fyre blowe
Therof to stoppe the malice
The glue shall serue of that office
And ouer that her oignement
Her rynge, and her enchauntement
Ayene the serpent shulde hym were
Tyll he hym slee with swerde or spere
And than he may saufely inough
His oxen yoke in to the plough
And the teeth sowe in suche wyse
Tyll he the knyghtes se aryse
And eche of other downe be leyde
In suche a maner as I haue sayde
¶Lo thus Medea for Iason
Ordeyneth, and prayeth thervpon
That he nothynge foryete shulde
And eke she prayeth hym that he wold
whan he hath all his armes done
To grounde knele, and thonke anone
The goddes, and so forth by ease
The flees of golde he shulde sese
And whan he had it sesed so
That than he were sone ago
without any taryenge
whan this was sayde into wepynge
She fel, as she that was through nome
with loue, and so porth ouercome
That all her worlde on hym she sette
But whan she sygh there was no lette
That he mote nedes parte her fro
She toke hym in her armes two
An honderde tymes and gan hym kysse
And sayde: O all my worldes blysse
My trust, my luste, my lyfe, myn hele
To ben thyn helpe in this quarele
I pray vnto the goddes all
And with that word she gan downe fall
Of swoune, and he her vp nam
And forthe with that the mayden cam
And they to bedde anone her brought
And than Iason her besought
And to her seyde, in this manere
My worthy lusty lady dere
Comforteth you, for by my trouth
It shall not fallen in my slouth
That I ne woll throughout fulfylle
your hestes, at your owne wylle
And yet I hope to you bringe
within a whyle suche tydynge
The whiche shall make vs bothe game
¶ But for he wolde kepe her name
whan that he wyst it was nygh day
H
[...] sayde, adewe my swete may
And forth with hym he nam his gere
which as she had take hym there
And straught vnto his chambre went
A
[...]d goth to bedde, and slepe hym hent
And lay, that no man hym a woke
For Hercules hede of hym toke
[...] it was vnd
[...]rne high and more
A
[...]d than he gan to sygh sore
And sodeynly he brayde of slepe
[...] they than toke of hym kepe
[...]
[...]hamberleins ben soone there
And maden redy all his gere
And he arose, and to the kynge
He went, and sayde, howe to that thing
For whiche he cam, he wolde go
The kynge therof was full wo
And for he wolde hym fayne withdraw
He tolde hym many a dredefull sawe
But Iason wolde it nought recorde
And at laste they accorde
whan that he wolde nought abyde
A bote was redy at tyde
In which this worthy knyght of grece
Full armed vp at euery pece
To his batayle, whiche belongeth
Toke sore in honde, & sore hym longeth
Tyll he the water passed were
¶ whan he cam to that yle there
He set hym on his knees doun straught
And his carecte, as he was taught
He rad, and made his sacryfyce
And sythe anoynte hym in that wyse
As Medea hym hath bede
And than arose vp fro that stede
And with the glewe the fyre he queynt
And anone after he atteynt
The great serpent, and hym slough
But erst he had sorowe ynough
For that serpent made hym trauayle
So hard and sore of his batayle
That nowe he stood, and nowe he felle
For longe tyme it so befelle
That with his swerd and with his spere
He myght not the serpent dere
He was so sherded all aboute
It hueld all edge tole withoute
He was so rude and hard of skyn
There myght no thynge go there in
Venym and fyre to geder he cast
That he Iason sore a blast
And if it ne were his oyntement
His rynge, and his enchauntement
whiche Medea toke hym before
He had with that worme be lore
But of vertu, whiche therof cam
Iason the dragon ouercam
And he anone the tethe out drough
And set his oxen in his plough
with whiche he brake a pece of lond
And sewe it with his owne hond
Tho myght he great merueyle se
Of euery toth in his degre
Sprong vp a knyght with spere & sheld
Of whiche anone ryght in the feld
Echone slough other, and with that
Iason Medea not forgat
On both his knees he gan downe falle
And gafe thonke to the godddes all
The flees he toke, and gothe to hote
The sonne shyneth bryght and hote
The flees of gold shone forth with all
The water glysterd ouerall
Medea wept / and syghed ofte
And stode vpon a towre alofte
All pryuely within her selfe
There herd it not nen ne twelfe
She prayd, and sayd: O god him spede
The knight, which hath my maidēhede
And aye she loketh toward the yle
But whan she sygh within a whyle
The flees glisterynge ageyn the sonne
She sayd: O lord all is ywonne
My knyght the feld hath ouercomen
Nowe wolde god, he were comen
O lorde god I wolde he were in londe
But I dare take this on honde
If that she had wynges two
She wolde haue flowen to hym tho
Streyght there he was vnto the hote
The day was clere, the sonne hote
The grekes were in great doute
The whyle that her lorde was oute
They wyst not what shuld betyde
But wayted euer vpon the tyde
To se what ende shulde falle
There stoden eke the nobles all
Forth with the comun of the towne
And as they loken vp and doune
They were warē within a throw
where cam the hote, whiche they wel know
And sȳgh how Iason brought his preye
And tho they gauen all seye
And cryden al with o steuen
O where was euer vnder the heuen
So noble a knyght, as Iason is?
And wel nyghe all sayden this
That Iason was a fayre knyght
For it was neuer of mans myght
The flees of golde so for to wynne
And thus tellen they begynne
with that the kynge cam forth anone
And sygh the flees, howe that shone
And whan Iason cam to the londe
The kynge hym selfe toke his honde
And kyssed hym, & great ioye him made
The grekes weren wonder glade
And of that thīg right meri hē thought
And forth with hē the fles they brought
And eche on other gan to lygh
But wel was hym that myght nygh
To se there of the properte
And thus they passen the cyte
And gone vnto the paleis straught
Medea, whiche forgat her naught
was redy there, and sayde anon
welcome, O worthy knyght Iason
She wolde haue kyst hym wonder fayn
But shame tourned her agayne
It was nought the maner as tho
For thy she dorste nought do so
She toke her leue, and Iason went
Into his chambre, and she hym sente
Her mayden, to sene howe he ferde
The whiche whan that he sygh & herde
Howe that he hadde faren out
And that it stode well all about
She tolde her lady what she wyst
And she for ioye, her mayden kyst
The bathes weren than arayed
with herbes tempred and assayed
And Iason was vnarmed soone
And dydde, as it befelle to done
Into his bathe, he went anone
And wyss he hym cleane as any bone
He toke a soppe, and out he cam
And on his best aray he nam
And kempt his heed, whan he was clad
And goth hym forth all mery and glad
Ryght straught in the kinges halle
The kynge cam with his knyghtes alle
And made hym glad welcomynge
And he hem tolde tho tydynge
Of this and that, howe it befelle
whan that he wan the shepes fell
Medea whan she was after sent
Come soone to that parlement
And whan she myght Iason se
was none so glad of all as she
There was no ioye for to seche
Of hym made euery man a speche
Som man sayd one, som said other
But though he were goddes brother
And myght make fyre and thonder
There myght be no more wonder
Than was of hym in that citie
Echone taught other this is he
whiche hath in his power within
That all the worlde ne myght wynne
Lo here the beste of all good
Thus they sayden, that there stode
And eke that walkende vp & downe
Both of the court, and of the towne
The tyme of souper cam anone
They wysshen, and therto they gon
Medea was with Iason sette
Tho was there many a deynte fette
And set tofore hem on the bord
But none so lykynge as the worde
which was there spoke among hem two
So as they dorst speke tho
But though they had lytel space
Yet they acorden in that place
Howe Iason shuld come at nyght
whan euery torche and euery lyght
were oute, and than other thynges
they speke alowde for supposinges
Of hem that stoden there aboute
For loue is euermore in doute
For if it be wysly gouerned
Of hem that ben of loue lerned
whan al was done, that dissh and cup
And cloth, and bord, and all was vp
They wake, whyle hem lyst to wake
And after that they leue take
And gon to bed for to reste
And whan hym thought for the beste
That euery man was fast on slepe
Iason, that wolde his tyme kepe
Both forth stalkynge all pryuely
Vnto the chambre, and redyly
There was a mayd, whiche hym kepte
Medea woke, and no thyng slepte
But netheles she was a bedde
And he with all hast hym spedde
And made hym naked, and all warme
Anone he toke her in his arme
what nede is for to speke of ease
Hem lyst eche other for to plese
So that they had ioy ynowe
And tho they setten, whan and how
That she with hym awey shal stele
with wordes suche and other fele
whan all was treted to an ende
Iason toke leue, and gan forth wend
vnto his owne chamber in pes
There wyst it non but Hercules
¶He slepet, and ros whan it was tyme
And whan it fel towardes pryme
He toke to hym suche as he tryste
In secre, that none other wyst
And tolde hem of his counseyle there
And sayde, that his wyll were
That they to shyp had all thynge
So priuely in the euenynge
That no man myght her dede aspie
But tho that weren of company
For he woll go without leue
And lenger woll he nought beleue
But he ne wolde at thilke throwe
The kynge or quene shulde it knowe
They sayde all this shall well be do
And Iason trust well therto
¶Medea in the meane whyle
whiche thought her father to begyle
The treasour, whiche her father hadde
with her all priuely she ladde
And with Iason at tyme sette
Away she stale, and fonde no lette
And straught she goth her vnto ship
Of grece with that felaushyp
And they anone drough vp the sayle
And all that nyght this was counsayle
But erly whan the sonne shone
Men sygh, that they were agone
And come vnto the kynge, and tolde
And he the soth knowe wolde
And axeth where his doughter was
There was no worde, but out alas
She was a go, the mother wepte
The fa her as a wood man lepte
And gan the tyme for to warye
And swore his othe he wold no ttary
That with Calyphe, and with galeye
The same cours, the same wey
which Iason toke, he wolde take
If that he myght hym ouertake
To this they sayden all ye
Anone as they weren at the see
And all, as who sayth at one worde
They gone within shyppes boorde
The saile goth vp, & forth they straught
But none exploit therof they caught
And so forth they tournen home ayene
For all that labour was in vayne
Iason to grece with his pray
Goth through the see the ryght waye
whan he there come, and men it tolde
They maden ioye yonge and olde
Eson whan that he wyst of this
Howe that his sonne comen is
And hath acheued that he sought
And home with hym Medea brought
In all the wyde worlde was none
So glad a man as he was one
Together bene these louers tho
Tyll that they had sonnes two
wherof they weren bothe glade
And olde Eson great ioy made
To seen the encrees of his lignage
For he was of so great an age
That men awayten euery day
whan that he shulde gone away
Iason, whiche sigh his fader olde
Vpon Medea made hym bolde
Of art magyke, whiche she couth
And praieth her, that his fathers youth
She wolde make ayenewarde newe
And she that was towarde hym trewe
Behyghte hym, that she wolde it do
whan that she tyme sigh therto
But what she dyd in that matere
It is a wonder thynge to here
But yet for the nouelrye
I thynke tellen a great partye
❧ Nota quibus medicamentis Essonem senet tute decrepitum, ad sue inuentutis adolescenciam prudens Medea reduxit.
¶Thus it befell vpon a nyght
whan there was nought but sterre lyght
She was vanisshed, ryght as her lyst
That no wyght, but her selfe wyst
And that was at mydnyght tyde
The worlde was stylle on euery syde
with open heed, and foote all bare
Her here to sprad she gan to fare
Vpon her clothes gyrte she was
All specheles vpon the gras
She glode forth as an adder doth
None other wyse she ne goth
Tyll she came to the fresshe flode
And there a whyle she withstode
Thryes she turned her aboute
And thryes eke she gan downe loute
And in the flode she weet hir here
And thryes on the water there
She gaspeth with a dretchynge onde
And tho she toke her speche on honde
Fyrst she began to clepe and call
Vpwarde vnto the sterres all
To wynde, to ayre, to see, to londe
She preyde, and eke helde vp her honde
To Echates and gan to crie
whiche is the goddesse of Sorcerie
She sayde, helpeth at this nede
And as ye maden me to spede
whan Iason came the flees to seche
So helpe me nowe, I you beseche
with that she loketh, and was ware
Downe fro the skye there came a chare
The whiche dragons aboute drowe
And tho she gan her heed downe bowe
And vp she styghe, and faire and well
She drofe forth by chare and wheel
Aboue in the ayre amonge the skyes
The londe of Crete, in tho parties
She sought, and fast gan her hyghe
And therupon the hulles hyghe
Of Othryn, and Olymphe also
And eke of other hulles moo
She fonde, and gethereth herbes snote
She pulleth vp some by the rote
And many with a knyfe she shereth
And all in to her chaar she bereth
Thus whā she hath the hulles sought
The flodes there foryate she nought
Erydyan, and Amphrysos
Peneyee, and eke Sperceydos
To hem she went, and there she nome
Bothe of the water, and of the fome
The sonde, and eke the small stones
whiche as she chese out for the nones
And of the rede see a parte
That was behouelyche to her art
She toke, and afterwarde that about
She sought sondry sedes out
In feldes, and in many greues
And eke a parte she toke of leues
But thynge, whiche myght her most auayle
She fōde in Crete & in thessaile
In dayes, and nyghtes nyne
To make with this medicine
She was purueyed of euery pece
And torneth homward in to grece
Before the gates of Eson
Her chare she lette away to gone
And toke out fyrst that was therin
For tho she thought to begyn
Suche thynge, as semeth impossible
And made her selfen inuysible
As she that with the aire enclosed
And might of no man be disclosed
She toke vp turues of the londe
without helpe of mans honde
And heled with the grene gras
Of whiche an Aulter made there was
Vnto Echates the goddesse
Of arte magyke and maistresse
And efte an other to inuent
As she whiche dyd her holle intent
Tho toke she feldwodde, and verueyne
Of herbes ben not better tweyne
Of whiche anone without let
These aulters ben about set
Two sondry pyttes fast by
She made, and with that hastely
A wether, which was black she slough
And out therof the bloud she drough
And dyd in to the pyttes two
warme mylke, she put also therto
with hony meynt, and in suche wyse
She gan to make hir sacrifice
And cried and prayde forth withall
To Pluto the god infernal
And to the quene Proserpyne
And so she sought out all the lyne
Of hem that longen to that crafte
Behynde was no name laft
And prayd hem all, as she well couth
To graunt Eson his fyrste youth
This olde Eson brought forth was tho
Away she bad all other go
Vpon peryll, that myght falle
And with that worde they wenten all
And lefte there them two alone
And tho she began to gaspe, and gone
And made signes many one
And sayd her wordes therupon
And with spellynge, and her charmes
She toke Eson in both her armes
And made hym for to slepe fast
And hym vpon her herbes cast
The blacke wether tho she toke
And hewe the flesshe, as doth the cooke
On eyther aulter part she layde
And with the charmes that she sayde
A fyre downe from the sky alyght
And made it for to brenne lyght
And whan Medea sawe it brenne
Anone she gan to sterte and renne
The fyry aulters all about
There was no best, whiche goth oute
More wylde, than she semeth there
Aboute her shulders henge her heere
As though she were oute of her mynde
And torneth in to another kynde
Tho lay there certeyne wodde clefte
Of whiche the peces nowe and efte
She made hem in the pyttes wete
And put hem in the fyry hete
And toke the bronde with all the blase
And thries she began to rase
About Eson, there as he slepte
And efte with water / whiche she kepte
She made a cercle about hym thries
And efte with fyre of sulphur twyes
Full many another thynge she dede
whiche is not wryten in the stede
But she ran vp so and doune
She made many a wonder soune
Somtyme lyche vnto the cocke
Somtyme vnto the lauerocke
Somtyme cacleth as an henne
Somtyme speketh as don the men
And ryght so as her iargon strangeth
In sondry wyse her forme chaungeth
She semeth fayre, and no woman
Forth with the craftes that she can
She was as who saith, a goddesse
And what her lyst more or lesse
She dyd, in bokes as we fynde
That passeth ouer mannes kynde
But who that woll of wonders here
what thyng she wrought in this mater
To make an ende of that she gan
Suche meruayl herd neuer man
¶Apoynted in the newe mone
whan it was tyme for to done
She set a cauldron on the fyre
In whiche was al the hole a tyre
where on the medicine stode
Of Iuse, of water, and of bloude
And lette it boyle in suche a plyte
Tyll that she sygh the spume whyte
And tho she cast in rynde, and rote
And sede, and floure, that was for bote
with many an herbe, and many a stone
wherof she hath there many one
And eke Cimpheius, the serpent
To her hath all her scales lent
Chelidre hir yafe hir adders skyn
and she to boyle cast hem in
And parte eke of the borned oule
The whiche men here on nightes houle
And of a rauen, whiche was tolde
Of nyne hondred wynter olde
She toke the heed, with all the bylle
And as the medycine it wylle
She toke herafter the bowele
Of the se foule, and for the bele
Of Eson with a thousand mo
Of thynges, that she had tho
In that caldron to gyder as blyue
She put, and toke than of olyue
A drye braunche hem with to stere
The whiche anone gan floure and beare
And waxe all fresshe, and grene ageyne
whan she this vertue had seyne
She lette the leeste droppe of all
Vpon the bare floure downe fall
Anone there sprong vp floure and gras
where as the droppe fall was
And waxe anone all medowe grene
So that it myght well be sene
Medea than knewe and wyst
Her medicine is for to tryst
And gothe to Eson there he lay
And toke a swerde was of assay
with whiche a wounde vpon his syde
She made, that there out may slyde
The bloud within, whiche was olde
And seke and trouble, feble, and colde
And tho she toke vnto his vse
Of herbes of all the best Iuse
And poured it in to his wounde
That made his veynes full and sounde
And tho she made his woundes close
And toke his honde and vp he rose
And tho she yafe hym drynke a draught
Of whiche his youth agayne he caught
His heed, his herte, and his visage
Lyche vnto twenty wynter age
His hore heres were away
And lyche vnto the fresshe may
whan passed bene the colde shoures
Ryght so recouereth he his floures.
¶Lo what myght any man deuyse
A woman shewe in any wyse
More hertely loue in any stede
Than Medea to Iason dede
Fyrst she made hym the flees to wyn
And after that frome kyth and kyn
with great treasore with hym she stale
And to his fader forth with all
His elde hath torned in to youthe
which thyng none other woman couth
But howe it was to her a quyt
The remembraunce dwelleth yet
¶Kynge Peleus his eme was deed
Iason bare croune on his heed
Medea hath fulfylled his wyll
But whan he shuld of ryght fulfyll
The trouth, which to her afore
He had in the ile of Colchos swore
Tho was Medea most deceyued
For he an other hath receiued
whiche doughter was to kynge Creon
Creusa she hyght, and thus Iason
As he that was to loue vntrewe
Medea lefte, and toke a newe
But that was afterwarde so a bought
Medea with her art hath wrought
Of cloth of golde a mantell ryche
whiche semeth worthe a kynges ryche
And that was vnto Creusa sent
In name of yefte, and of present
For systerhode hem was betwene
And whan that yonge fresshe quene
That mantyl lapped her aboute
Anon therof the fyre sprange oute
And brent her both fleshe and bone
Tho cam Medea to Iason
with both her sonnes on her honde
And sayd: O thou of euery londe
The moste vntrewe creature
Lo this shall be thy forfayture
with that she both his sonnes slough
Before his eie, and he out drough
His swerde, & wold haue slayne her tho
But farewell she was ago
Vnto Pallas the court aboue
where as she pleyneth vpon loue
As she that was with that goddesse
And he was lefte in great distresse
¶Thus might thou se, what sorowe it doth
To swere ā oth, which is not soth
In loues cause namely
My son be well ware for thy
And kepe, that thou be not forswore
For this, whiche I haue tolde tofore
Ouide telleth euery dele
¶My father I may leue it wele
For I haue herde it ofte saye
Howe Iason toke the flees aweye
Fro Colchos, But yet herde Inought
By whom it was fyrst thyder brought
And for it were good to here
If that you lyst at my prayere
Go telle I wolde you beseche.
¶My sonne, who that woll it seche
In bokes he may fynde it wryte
And netheles, if thou wolt wyte
In the maner as thou hast preyde
I shall the tell, howe it is seyde.
☞ NOTA QVALITERAV [...]m [...]ellus in partes insule Colchos primo de [...]. Athamas rex Neiphylen habuit coningē, [...] Phri [...]um et Hellen genuit, Mortua au [...]m Neiphylen Athamas Innouem regis Cad [...] [...]m postea in vxorem duxit, que more no [...]e dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odiū, (que) ambos in mari proicipenes regem procura [...] ende Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem [...]ndem aureo veftitum vellere ad litus natan t [...]m definanit, super cuiu [...] dorsum pueros ap [...] iu [...]it / quo facio Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Phrixo sibi adhereute, in Colchos [...]sicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum solo [...]ere / prout in aliis canitur cronicis, sub are [...]a custodia collocauit.
¶ The fame of thylke shepes felle
whiche in Colchos, as it befelle
was all of gold, shal neuer deye
wherof I thynke for to seye
Howe it cam fyrst in to that yle
There was a kynge in thylke whyle
Towardes grece, and Athamas
The cronycke of his name was
And had a wyf, which Niphylē hyght
By whom, so as fortune it dight
He had of children yonge two
¶ Frixus the fyrst was of tho
A knaue childe, ryght faire with all
A doughter eke, the whiche men call
Helle, he had by his wyfe
But for there may no mans lyfe
Endure vpon this erth here
This worthy quen, as thou might here
Er that the children were of age
Toke of her ende the passage
with great worshyp and was begraue
what thinge it lyketh god to haue
It is great reason to ben his
For thy this kynge, so as it is
with great suffrance it vnderfongeth
And afterwarde, as hym belongeth
whan it was tyme for to wedde
A newe wyfe he toke to bedde
whiche Ino hight, and was a mayde
And eke the doughter, as men sayde
Of Cadme, whiche a kyng also
was holde in thylke dayes tho.
¶ whan Ino was the kynges make
She cast, how that she myght make
These childre to her father loth
And shope a wyle ayene hem both
whiche to the kynge was all vnknowe
A yere or two she let do sowe
The lond with soden whete aboute
wher of no corne may spryngen oute
And thus by sleyght, and by couyne
Aros the derth, and the famyne
Through out the londe in suche a wyse
So that the kynge a sacrifice
Vpon the poynte of this distresse
To Ceres, whiche is the goddesse
Of corne, hath shape hym for to yeue
To loke, if it may be foryeue
The mischiefe, whiche was in his londe
But she, which knewe tofore the honde
The circumstance of all this thynge
Ageyn the comyng of the kynge
In to the temple, hath shape so
Of her accorde, that all tho
whiche of the temple prestes were
Haue sayde, and full declared there
Vnto the kynge, but if so be
That he delyuer the countre
Of Phryxus, and of Helle bothe
with whom the goddes ben so wrothe
That whyle tho childre be within
Suche tylthe shall no man begyn
wherof to gette hym any corne
Thus was it sayde, thus was it sworne
Of all the prestes, that there are
And she, whiche causeth all this fare
Seyde eke therto, what that she wolde
And euery man than after tolde
So as the quene had hem preyde.
The kynge, whiche hath his ere leyde
And leueth all, that euer he herde
Vnto her tales thus answerde
And seyth, that leuer is hym to chese
His children bothe for to lese
Than hym, and all the remenant
Of hem, whiche are appertenant
Vnto the londe, whiche he shall kepe
And bade his wyfe to take kepe
In what manere is best to done
That they delyuerde were sone
Out of this worlde, and she anone
Two men ordeyneth for to gone
But fyrste she made hem for to swere
That they the chyldren shulde bere
Vnto the see, that none it knowe
And hem therin both throwe
The children to the see ben lad
where in the wyse, as Ino bad
These men be redy for to do
But the goddesse, whiche Iuno
Is bote, appereth in the stede
And hath vnto the men forbede
That they the children nought ne slee
But bad hem loke in to the see
And taken hede of that they syghen
There swam a shepe tofore her eyen
whose flees of burned golde was all
And this goddesse forth with all
Commandeth, that without let
They shulde anone the childre set
Aboue vpon the shepes back
And all was do, ryght as she spak
wherof the men gone home ageyne
And fell so, as the bokes seyne
Helle the yonge mayden tho
whiche of the see was wo bego
For pure drede her hert hath lore
That fro the sheepe, whiche hath her bore
As she that was swounēde feynt
She fell, and hath hir selfe adreynt
with Phrixus & this sheepe forth swam
Tyll be to the yle of Colchos cam
where Iuno the goddesse he fonde
whiche toke the sheepe vnto the londe
And set it there in suche a wyse
As thou tofore hast herde deuise
wherof cam after all the wo
why Iason was forswore so
Vnto Medee, as it is spoke.
¶My father who that hath to broke
His trouth, as ye haue tolde aboue
He is not worthy for to loue
Ne be beloued, as me semeth
But euery newe loue quemeth
To hym, that newefangle is
And netheles nowe after this
If that you lyst to taken hede
Vpon my shryfte to procede
In loues cause ayene the vice
Of couetyse and auaryce
what there is more, I wolde wyte
¶ My sonne this I fynde wryte
There is yet one of thylke brood
whiche only for the worldes good
To make a treasoure of money
Put all conscience aweye
wherof in thy confession
The name and the condition
I shall here afterwarde declare
whiche maketh one riche, an other bare.
Plus capit usura sibi, quam debetur, et illud
Fraude collocata saebe latenter agit.
Sic amor excessus quam saepe suos ut auarus
Spirat et unius tres capit ipse loco.
¶ Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tātum numerata plus quam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauger.
¶Vpon the benche syttende on hye
with Auarice vsure I syghe
Ful clothed of his owne sute
whiche after golde maketh chase & sute
with his brocours, that renne aboute
Lyche vnto ratches in a route
Suche lucre is none aboue grounde
whiche is nat of tho ratches founde
For where they see beyete sterte
That shall hem in no wyse asterte
But they it driue in to the net
Of lucre, whiche Vsure hath set
Vsure with the ryche dwelleth
To all that euer he byeth and selleth
He hath ordeyned of his sleyght
Mesure double, and double weyght
Outwarde he selleth by the lasse
And with the more he maketh his tasse
wherof his hous is full within
He recheth nought be so he wyn
Though that there lese ten or twelue
His loue is all toward hym selue
And to none other but he se
That he may wynne suche thre
For where he shall ought yeue or lene
He woll ayenward take a bene
There he hath lent the smal pese
And ryght so there ben many of these
Louers, that though they loue alyte
That skarsly wolde it weye a myte
yet wolde they haue a pound ageyn
As doth vsure in his bargayne
But certes suche vsure vnlyche
It falleth more vnto the ryche
Als well of loue, as of beyete
Than vnto hem, that ben nought great
And as who saith bē simple and pouere
For selden is, whan they recouere
But if it be through great deserte
And netheles men se pouerte
with pursuite of countenance
Full ofte make a great cheuaunce
And take of loue his auauntage
For with the helpe of his brocage
That maken seme where is nought
And thus full ofte is loue bought
For litel what, and mochell take
with false weightes that thy make
¶Nowe sonne of that I sayde aboue
Thou wotest what vsure is of loue
Tell me for thy what so thou wylt
If thou therof hast any gylte?
¶My father nay for ought I here
For of tho poyntes ye tolden here
I wyll you by my trouth assure
My weyght of loue, and my mesure
Hath be more large / and more terteyne
Than euer I toke of loue ageyne
For so yet couthe I neuer of sleyghte
To take ageyne by double weyghte
Of loue more than I haue yeue
For also wys mote I be shryue
And haue remission of synne
As so yet couth I neuer wynne
Ne yet so mochel soth to seyne
That euer I myght haue halfe ageyne
Of so full loue, as I haue lent
And if myne hap were so well went
That for the hole I myght haue halfe
My thynketh I were a goddesse halfe
For where vsure wolde haue double
My conscience is not so trouble
I byd neuer as to my dele
But of the hole an haluen dele
That is none excesse, as me thynketh
But netheles it me forthynketh
For well I wote, that wol nat be
For euery day the better I see
That howe so euer I yeue or lene
My loue in place that I mene
For ought that euer I axe or craue
I can nothynge ayenewarde haue
But yet for that I wol not lete
what so befalle of my beyete
That I ne shall yeue and lene
My thought and all my loue so clene
That towarde me shall nought beleue
And if she of her good leue
Rewarde wolde me nought ageyne
I wote the last of my bargeyne
Shall stonde vpon so great a lost
That I may neuer more the cost
Recouer in this worlde tyll I dye
So that touchende of this partie
I may me well excuse, and shall
And for to speke forth withall
If ony brocour for me went
That poynt come neuer in myn entent
So that the more me meruayleth
what thynge it is, my lady eyleth
That all myn herte, and all my tyme
She hath, and do ne better hyme
I haue herde sayde, that thought is free
And netheles in priuitie
To you my fader, that bene here
Myn hole shrifte for to bere
I dare myn herte well disclose
Touchende vsurie, as I suppose
whiche, as ye tellen, in loue is vsed
My lady may not bene excused
That for o lokynge of her eie
Myn hole herte tyll I deye
with all that euer I may and can
She hath me wonne to hir man
wherof me thynketh, good reson wolde
That she somdele rewarde shulde
And yeue a parte, there she hath all
I not what falle herafter shall
But in to nowe yet dare I seyne
Hir lyst neuer yeue ageyne
A goodly worde in suche a wyse
wherof myn hope myght aryse
My great loue to recompense
I not howe she hir conscience
Excuse wol of this measure
By large weyght, and great measure
She hath my loue, and I haue nought
Of that, whiche I haue dere abought
And with myn herte I haue it payde
But all this is asyde layde
And I go loueles aboute
Hir ought stonde in full great doute
Tyll she redresse suche a synne
That she wol al my loue wynne
And yeueth me not to lyue by
Nought al so moche, as grant mercy
Hir lyst to seye, of whiche I myght
Some of my great peyne alyght
But of this poynt, lo thus I fare
As he that payeth for his chaffare
And byeth it dere, and yet hath none
So mote he nedes poure gone
Thus bye I dere, and haue no loue
That I ne may nought come aboue
To wynne of loue none encrece
But I me wyl ne the lese
Touchende vsure of loue acquite
And if my lady be to wyte
I pray to god suche grace hir sende
That she by tyme it mote amende
¶ My sonne of that thou hast answerde
Touchende vsure, I haue al herde
Howe thou of loue hast wonnen smale
But that thou tellest in thy tale
And thy lady therof accusyst
Me thiketh these wordes thou misusest
For by thyn owne knowlechyng
Thou sayst, howe she for one lokyng
Thy hole herte fro the she toke
She may be suche, that hir o loke
Is worthe thyne herte many folde
So hast thou well thyn herte solde
whan thou hast that is more worthe
And eke of that thou tellest forthe
Howe that hir weyght of loue vneuen
Is vnto thyne, vnder the heuen
Stonden euer in euen that balance
whiche stont in loues gouernance
Suche is the statute of his lawe
That though thy loue more drawe
And peyse in the balance more
Tho myght not aske ageyn therfore
Of duetie, but all of grace
For loue is lorde in euery place
There may no lawe hym iustifye
By reddour / ne by company
That he ne wol after his wylle
whome that hym lyketh saue or spylle
To loue a man may welle begynne
But whether he shall les or wynne
That wote no man, tyl at last
For thy coueyt not to fast
My sonne, but abyde thyn ende
Percase all may to good wende
But that thou hast me tolde and sayde
Of o thynge I am ryght well payde
That thou by sleyght, ne by gyle
Of no brocour, hast otherwhyle
Engyned loue, of suche dede
Is sore venged as I rede.
¶Hic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos, qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores, ad noue [Page] voluptatis in crementum, alias multeres superf [...]ne lucrari nō verētur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Ecco in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de cōsilio mariti sui Ionis mediatrix exstiterat.
¶ Brokers of loue, that dceyuen
No wonder is though they receyuen
After the wronge, that they deseruen
For whom as euer that they seruen
And do pleasance for a whyle
yet at the last her owne gyle
Vpon her owne heed descendeth
The whiche god of his vēgeāce sendeth
As by ensample of tyme ago
A man may fynde, it hath be so
It selle some tyme, as it was sene
The hygh goddesse and the quene
Iuno tho had in company
A mayden full of trechery
For she was euer in acorde
with Iupiter, that was hir lorde
To get hym other loues newe
Through suche brocage, & was vntrewe
All other wyse than hym nedeth
But she, the whiche no shame dredeth
with queynt wordes, and with slye
Blent in suche a wyse her ladys eye
As she, to whom that Iuno tryst
So that therof she nothyng wyst
But so priuie may be nothyng
That it ne cōmeth to knowlechyng
Thynge done vpon the derke nyght
Is after knowen on dayes lyght
So it befelle, that at last
All that this slygh mayden cast
was ouer cast, and ouerthrowe
For as the sothe mote be knowe
To Iuno it was done vnderstonde
In what manere her husbonde
with fals brocage hath taken vsure
Of loue, more than his mesure
whan he toke other than his wyfe
wherof this mayde was gyltife
whiche had bene of his assent
And thus was all the game shent
She suffred hym, as she mote nede
But the brocour of his misdede
She, whiche hir counseile yafe therto
On hir is the vengeange do
For Iuno with hir wordes hote
This mayden, whiche Eccho was hote
Reproueth, and sayth in this wyse:
O traytresse, of whiche seruice
Hast thou thyn owne lady serued
Thou hast great peyne well deserued
Thy slygh wordes for to peynt
with flaterye, that is so queynt
Towardes me, that am thy quene
wherof thou madest me to wene
That my husbonde trewe were
whan that he loueth els where
All be it so, hym nedeth nought
But vpon the it shall be bought
The whiche art priuie to tho doynges
And me full ofte of thy lesynges
Deceyued hast: nowe is the day
That I thy whyle quite may
And for thou hast to me counceled
That my lorde hath with other dealed
I shall the sette in suche a kynde
That euer vnto the worldes ende
All that thou herest, thou shalte tell
And clappe it out, as doth a belle
And with that worde she was forshape
There may no vice her mouthe escape
what man that in the worlde cryeth
withouten faile Eccho replieth
And what worde / that hym lust to sayn
The same worde she sayth agayn
Thus she, whiche whylome had leue
To dwelle in chamber, mot belyue
In wodes and on bylles both
For suche brocage as wyues loth
whiche doth her lordes hertes chaunge
And loue in other places straunge
For thy if euer it so befalle
That thou my sonne amonges all
Be wedded man, hold that thou hast
For than all other loue is waste
O wyfe shal wel to the suffyse
And than if thou for couetyse
Of loue woldest aske more
Thou shuldest don ayen the lore
Of all hem that trewe be
¶My fader as in this degre
My conscience is nought accused
For I no suche brocage haue vsed
wherof that lust of loue is wonne
For thy speketh forthe, as ye begonne
Of auyryce vpon my shryft
¶My son I shall the braunches shifte
By order as they ben set
On whome no good is wel beset.
Pro uerbis uerba, minius pro munere reddi
Conuenit, ut pondus equa stateta gerat
Propterea Cupido non da
[...] sua dona cupido.
Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla mete
[...].
¶ Hic tractat auctor super illa specie Auaricie, que parcimonia dictiur, cuius natura tengx aliqualem sue substāntie porcionem, aut deo aut hominibus participate nullatenus consentit.
¶Blynd Auaryce of his lygnage
For counceylle, and for cosynage
To be witholde ayen largesse
Hath one, whose name is sayd scarsnesse
The whiche is keper of his hows
And is so throughout auarous
That be no good lete out of honde
Though god hym selfe it wolde fonde
Of yest shuld he no thynge haue
And if a man it wold craue
He must than fayle nede
where god hym selfe may not spede
And thus scarcenes in euery place
By reson may no thonke purchace
And netheles in his degre
Aboue all other most pryue
with auaryce stant be this
For he gouerneth that there is
In eche astate of his offyce
After the reule of thylke vyce
He taketh, he kepeth, he halt, he bynt
That lyghter is to flee the flynt
Than gete of hym in ba
[...]d or neysshe
Only the value of a reysshe
Of good in helpynge of an other
Nought though it were his owne brother
For in the cas of yefte and loue
Stant euery man for hym alone
Hym thynketh of his vnkyndshype
That hym nedeth no felawshyp
By so the bagge and be accorden
Hym rycheth nought what men recordē
Of hym, he it euyll or good
For,
[...]ll his tru
[...]e is on his good
So that alone be falleth ofte
whan he best weneth stonde alofte
Als well in loue as other wyse
For loue is euer of some repryse
To hym that woll his loue holde
For thy my sonne, as thou arte holde
Touchende of this telle me thy shryfte
Hast thou be scarse or large of gyfte
Vnto thy loue to whom thou seruest
For after that thou well deseruest
Of gyftē, thou myght be the bette
For that good holde I well be set
For which thou myght the better fare
Than is no wysedome for to spare
For thus men seyne in euery nede
He was wyse, that fyrst made mede
For where as mede may not spede
I not what helpeth other dede
Full ofte be fayleth of his game
That wyll with ydellbonde reclayme
His hawke / as many a nyce doth
For thy my sonne telle me soth
And sayth the trouth, if thou hast be
Vnto thy loue or scarse, or fre?
¶My father it hath stonde thus
That if the treasour of Cresus
And all the golde of Octauyan
Forth with the rychesse of Indian
Of perles and of ryche stones
were all to gether myn at ones
I sette it at no more account
Than wolde a bare strawe amount
To gyue it her all in a daye
Be so that to that swete may
It myght lyke more or lesse
And thus bycause of my largesse
ye may well vnderstonde and leue
That I shall nought the worse acheue
The purpos, whiche is in my thought
But yet I yafe her neuer nought
Ne therto durst a profre make
For well I wote, she woll nought take
And yeue woll she nought also
She is eschewe of bothe two
And this I trowe be the skylle
Towardes me, for she ne wyll
That I haue any cause of hope
Nought als moche as a drope
But toward other as I may sē
She taketh and yeueth in suche degre
That as by wey of frendelyhede
She can so kepe her womanhede
That euery man speketh of her wele
But she wol take of me no dele
And yet she wote wel, that I wolde
yeue, and do both, what I shulde
To plesen her in all my myght
By reason this wote euery wyght
For that may by no wey asterte
There she is mayster of the herte
She mote pe mayster of the good
For god wo
[...]e wel, that all my mode
And all myn herte, and all my thought
And all my good, whyle I haue ought
Als frely as god hath it gyue
It shall be hers, whyle I lyue
Ryght as her lyst, her selue commande
So that it nedeth no demaunde
To aske of me, if I haue be scarse
To loue, for as to tho parse
I wylle answere, and sey no
¶My sonne that is ryght well do
For often tyme of scarcenesse
It hath be sen, that for the lesse
Is lost the more, as thou shalt here
A tale, lyke to this matere.
¶ HIC LOQVITVR CON [...] [...] / qui [...]uaricia stricti largitatis bene [...]ici [...] [...] amoris causa confundunt. Et ponit exemplum qua [...]it [...] Croceus largus et hilaris Babionem [...]arum et tenacem de amore Viole / que pul [...]herrima fuit / donis largissimis circumuenit.
☞ Scarcenes and loue acord neuer
For euery thynge is wel the leuer
whan that a man hath bought it dere
And for to speke in this matere
For sparynge of a lytell cost
Ful oft tyme a man hath lost
The large cote for the hode
what man that searse is of his good
And wol not gyue, he shall nought take
with gyfte a man may vndertake
The hygh god to plese, and quenie
with gyft a man the worlde may deme
For euery creature bo
[...]e
If thou hym yeue, is glad therfore
And euery gladshyp as I fynde
Is comforte vnto loues kynde
And causeth ofte a man to spede
So was he wyse, that fyrst yafe mede
For mede kepeth loue in hous
But where the men be coueytous
And sparen for to yeue a parte
They knowen nought Cupydes arte
For his fortune, and his appryse
Disdeyneth alle couetyse
And hateth alle nygardye
And for to loke of this partie
A sothe ensample / howe it is so
¶I fynde wryte of Babio
whiche had a loue at his menage
There was no fayrer of hyr age
And hyght Viola by name
whiche full of youth / and full of game
was of her selfe / and large and fre
But suche an other churche as be
Men wysten nought in all the londe
And had affayted to his honde
His seruaunt / the whiche Spodius
was hote: and in this wyse thus
The worldes good of suffisaunce
was had / but lykynge and pleasaunce
Of that belongeth to rychesse
Of loue stode in great distresse
So that this yonge lusty wyght
Of thinge, whiche felle to loues ryght
was euyll serued ouer all
That she was tho bego withall
Tyl that Cupyde and Venus eke
A medicine for the seke
Ordeyne wolden in this cas
So as fortune thanne was
Of loue vpon the destine
It fell ryght, as it shulde be
A fresshe, a free / a frendly man
That nought of auarice can
whiche Croceius by name hyght
Towarde this swete cast his syght
And there she was cam in in presence
She sygh hym large of dispense
And amorous and glad of chere
So that her lyketh well to here
The goodly wordes, whiche he sayde
And thervpon of loue he prayde
Of loue was all that he ment
To loue and for she shulde assent
He gafe her gyftes euer amonge
But for men sayen, that mede is stronge
It was well sene at thilke tyde
For as it shulde of ryght betyde
This Vyola largesse hath take
And the nygarde she hath forsake
Of Babio she wyll no more
For he was grutchende euermore
There was with hym none other fare
But for to pinche, & for to spare
Of worldes mucke, to gette encres
So goth the wretche loueles
Beiaped for his scarsite
And be that large was and fre
And sette his herte to dispende
This Croceius his bowe bende
whiche Venus toke hym for to bolde
And shotte as ofte as euer he wolde
¶Lo thus departeth loue his lawe
That what man woll nought be felawe
To yeue and spende, as I the telle
He is nought worthy for to dwell
In loues courte to be relieued
For thy my sonne, if it be lieued
Thou shalt be large of thy dispense
¶My father in my conscience
If there be any thynge amys
I wolde amende it after this
Towarde my loue namely
¶My sonne well and redily
Thou sayst, so that well payde withall
I am, and further if I shall
Vnto thy shrifte specifie
Of auarice the progenie
what vice sueth after this
Thou shalt haue wonder howe it is
Amonge the folke in any reigne
That suche a vice myght reigne
whiche is comune at all assayes
As men may fynde now a dayes.
Cuncta creatura deus, et qui cuncta creauit
Damnant ingrati dicta
(que) facta uiri.
Non dolor a longe stat, quo sibi talis amicam
Traxit, et in sine deserit esse suam.
¶ Hic loquitur supra illa aborta specie auaricie, que ingratitudo dicta est cuius condicioni non solum creator, sed etiā cuncte creature abhominabilem detestantur.
¶ The vice lyke vnto the fende
whiche neuer yet was mans frende
And cleped is vnkyndeshyp
Of Couyne, and of felaushyp
with auarice he is witholde
Hym thīketh he shuld nought ben hold
Vnto the mother, whiche hym bare
Of hym may neuer man beware
He wol not knowe the meryte
For that he wolde it not aquite
whiche in this worlde is mochel vsed
And fewe ben therof excused
To tell of hym is endeles
And thus I say netheles
where as this vice cometh to londe
There taketh no mā his thonke on bōde
Though he with all his myght serue
He shall of hym no thonke deserue
He taketh what any man wyl yeue
But whyle he hath o day to lyue
He wol nothyng rewarde ageyne
He grutcheth for to gyue a greyne
where he hath take a berne fulle
That maketh a kynde herte dulle
To sette his trust in suche frendeshyp
There as he fynt no kyndeshyp
And for to speke wordes pleyne
Thus here I many a man compleyne
That nowe on dayes thou shalte fynde
At nede, fewe frendes kynde
what thou hast done for hem tofore
It is forgetten, as it were lore
The bokes speken of this vice
And tellen, howe that god of his Iustice
By way of kynde and eke nature
And euery lyuis creature
The lawe also, who that it can
They dampne an vnkynde man
¶It is all one, to sey vnkynde
As thinge, whiche done is agayne kynde
For it with kynde neuer stode
A man to yelde euyll for good
For who that wolde taken hede
A beest is glad of a good dede
And loueth thylke creature
After the lawe of his nature
And whiche doth hym ease, & for to se
Of this matere auctoritie
Full oft tyme it hath befalle
wherof a tale amonge vs all
whiche is of olde ensamplarie
I thynke for to specifie.
¶Hic narrat quod bestie in fuis beneficiis hominem ingratum naturaliter precellunt. Et ponit Exemplum de Adriano Rom̄ senatore, qui in qua dam foresta venationibus infistens, dum predā [...]sequeretur in cifternam profundam nescia fa [...] corruit, vbi super perueniēs quidā pauper [...]mine Bardus inmissa cordula putans hominem extravi [...]e, primo Simeam extraxit, Secundo s [...]entem, Certio Adrianum, qui pauperem des [...]ens aliquid ei pro benefacto reddere recusa [...]. Sed tam serpens quam simea gratuita be [...]entia ipsum singulis donis remunerauerunt.
¶To speke of an vnkynde man
I fynde, howe whylome Adryan
Of Rome, whiche a great lorde was
Vpon a day as he par cas
To wode in his huntyng went
[...]t hapneth at a sodein wente
After the chase as he pursueth
Through hap, whiche no mā escheweth
He felle vnware in to a pyt
where that it myght not be let
The pyt was depe, and he felle lowe
That of his men none myght knowe
where he became, for none was nygh
whiche of his fall the mischiefe sygh
And thus alone there he lay
Clepende, and criende all the day
For socoure and deliuerance
Tyll ageyne eue it fell par chaunce
A whyle or it began to nyght
A poure man, whiche Bardus hyght
Come forth walkende with his asse
And had gethered hym a tasse
Of grene styckes and of drye
To selle, whom that wolde hem bye
As he, whiche had no lyuelode
But whan he myght suche a lode
To towne with his asse carye
And as it felle hym for to tarye
That ylke tyme nyghe the pytte
And hath the trusse fast knytte
He herde a voyce, whiche cried dymme
And he his ere to the brymme
Hath leyde, and herde it was a man
whiche sayde: O helpe here Adrian
And I wyll yeuen halfe my good
The poure man this vnderstod
As he that wolde gladly wyn
And to this lorde, whiche was within
He spake and sayde: if I the saue
what sikernes shall I haue
Of couenant, that afterwarde
Thou wolt me gyue suche rewarde
As thou behyghtest nowe before?
That other hath his othes swore
By heuen, and by the goddes all
If that it myght so befalle
That he out of the pyt hym brought
Of all the goodes, whiche he ought
He shall haue euen haluen dele
This Bardus seyde, he wolde wele
And with this worde his asse anone
He let vntrusse / and therupon
Downe goth the corde in to the pyt
To whiche he hath at ende knyt
A staffe, wherby he sayde, he wolde
That Adryan hym shulde holde
But it was tho per chance fallen
In to that pyt was also fallen
An ape, whiche at thylke trowe
whā that the corde cam downe lowe
And sodenly therto he skypte
And it in both his armes clypte
And Bardus with his asse anone
Hym hath vp draw, and he is gon
But whan he sygh it was an ape
He wend all had ben a iape
Of fayery, and sore hym dradde
And Adryan eft soone gradde
For help, and cryde and preyde faste
And he eft sone his corde caste
But whan it cam vnto the grounde
A great serpent it hath by wounde
The whiche Bardus anone vp drough
And than hym thought welynough
It was fantasyne that be herd
The voys, and he therto answerd
what wyght art thou in goddes name
I am (quod Adryan) the same
whose good thou shalte haue euen halfe
Quod Bardus than a gods halfe
The thyrde tyme assay I shall
And cast his corde forth withall
In to the pyt, and whan it came
To hym, this lorde of Rome it name
And therupon hym hath adressed
And with his honde ful ofte blessed
And than he had to Bardus hale
And he, whiche vnderstode his tale
Betwene hym and his asse all softe
Hath drawen, and set hym vp a lofte
without harme all easely
He sayth nat ones grant mercy
But straught hym forth in to the cyte
And let this poure Bardus be
And netheles this symple man
His couenant, so as he can
Hath asked, and that other sayde
If it so be that he vpbrayde
Of ought, that hath be spoke or do
It shall be venged of hym so
That hym were better to be dede
And he can tho no other rede
But on his asse agayne he cast
His trusse, and hyeth homewarde faste
And whan that he came home to bed
He tolde his wyfe, howe that he sped
But fynally to speke ought more
Vnto this lorde, he dradde hym sore
So that one worde he durst ne sayne
And thus vpon the morowe agayne
In the maner, as I recorde
Forth with his asse, and with his corde
To gader wode, as he dyd er
He goth, and whan that he cam ner
Vnto the place, where he wolde
He gan his ape anone beholde
whiche had gadred al aboute
Of styckes here and there a route
And leyde hem redy to his honde
wherof he made his trusse and bonde
Fro day to day. and in this wyse
This ape profreth his seruise
So that he had of wode ynough
Vpon a tyme and as he drough
Towarde the woode, he sigh besyde
The great gastly serpent glyde
Tyll that she cam in his presence
And in hir kynde a reuerence
She hath hym do, & forth withall
A stone more bryght than a Christall
Out of her mouth to fore his way
She let downe fall, and went away
For that he shall not be adrad
Tho was this poure Bardus glad
Thankende god, and to the stone
He goth, and taketh it vp anone
And hath great wonder in his wytte
Howe that the beest hym hath a quitte
where that the mans son hath fayled
For whom he had most trauayled
But all he put in goddes honde
And torneth home, and what he fonde
Vnto his wyfe he hath it shewde
And they that were bothe lewde
Acorden, that he shulde it selle
And he no lenger wolde dwelle
But forth anone vpon the tale
The stone he profreth to the sale
And ryght as he hym selfe it sette
The ieweller anone forth fette
The golde, and made his payment
Therof was no delayement
Thus whā this stone was bought & sold
Homward with ioy many folde
This Bardus goth, and whan he cam
Hom to his hows, and that he nam
His gold out of his pours within
He fonde his stone also therin
wherof for ioye his herte playde
Vnto his wyfe and thus he sayde
¶ Lo here my golde, lo here my stone
His wyfe hath wonder thervpon
And asketh hym howe that may be
Nowe by my trouth I not quod be
But I dare swere vpon a boke
Vnto my marchaunt I it toke
And he it had, whan I went
So knowe I nought to what entent
It is nowe here, but it be goddes grace
For thy to morowe in other place
I wylle it fonde for to selle
And if it woll not with hym dwelle
But crepe in to my purse ageyne
Than dare I sauely swere and seyne
It is the vertue of the stone
The morowe came, and he is gone
To seche aboute in other stede
His stone to selle, and so he dede
And lefte it with his chapman there
But whan that he came els where
In presence of his wyfe at home
Out of his purs and that he nome
His golde fonde, his stone withal
And thus it felle hym oueral
where he it solde in sondry place
Suche was the fortune and the grace
But so well may nothynge be hyd
That it his at last kyd
This fame goth aboute Rome
So ferforth that the wordes come
[...]o the emperour Iustynyan
And he let sende for the man
And asked hym, howe that it was
And Bardus tolde all the cas
Howe that the worme, and eke the beste
Al though they made no biheste
His trauayle hadden well aquyt
But he, whiche had mans wyt
And made his couenant by mouth
And swore therto all that he couth
To parte and gyue halfe his good
Hath nowe foryete howe that it stood
As he, whiche wol no trouth holde
This emperour al that he tolde
Hath herde, and thylke vnkyndnesse
He sayde, he wolde hym selfe redresse
And thus in courte of iugement
This Adryan was than assent
And the quarell in audience
Declared was in the presence
Of the emperour and many moo
wherof was mochel speche tho
And great wondrynge amonge the prese
But at last nethelese
For the partie, whiche hath pleyned
The lawe hath demed, and ordeyned
By hem, that were auised wele
That he shal haue the haluen dele
Throughout of Adryans good
And thus of thylke vnkynde blode
Stant the memory vnto this day
where that euery wyse man may
Ensamplen hym, and take in mynde
what shame it is, to ben vnkynde
Ageyne the whiche, reason debateth
And euery creature it hateth
For thy my sonne in thy offyce
I rede flee that ylke vyce
For ryght as the cronycle seyth
Of Adryan howe he his feyth
Foryate for worldes couetyse
Ful oft in suche a maner wyse
Of louers nowe a man may se
Ful many that vnkynde be
For wel byhote, and euel last
That is her lyfe, for at last
whan that they haue her wylle do
Her loue is after soone ago
what sayst thou sonne to this cas
¶ My fader I wyl saye allas
That euer suche a man was bore
whiche whan he hath his trouth swore
And hath of loue what he wolde
That he at any tyme shulde
Euer after in his hert fynde
To sen fal and to ben vnkynde
But fader as touchend of me
I may not stond in that degree
For I toke neuer of loue why
That I ne may go therby
And do my profyte els where
For any spede I fynde there
I dare wel thynken all aboute
But I ne dare not speke it oute
And if I dorst, I wold pleyne
That she, for whom I suffer peyne
And loue her euer a lyche hote
That nother yeue ne byhote
In rewardynge of my seruyce
Hit lyst her in no maner wyse
I wylle not sey, that she is kynde
And for to sey, she is vnkynde
That dare I not by god aboue
whiche demeth euery herte of loue
He wote, that on myn owne syde
Shall none vnkyndenes abyde
If it shall with my lady dwelle
Therof dare I no more telle
Nowe good father as it is
Tell me, what thynketh you of this
¶ My sonne of that vnkyndshyp
The whiche towarde thy ladysshyp
Thou pleynest / for she woll the nought
Thou art to blamen of thy thought
For it may be, that thy desyre
Though it brenne euer / as doth the fyre
Percase to her honour mysset
O rels tyme come nought yet
whiche stant vpon thy destine
For thy my sonne, I rede the
Thynke well, what euer the befall
For no man hath his lustes all
But as thou toldest me before
That thou to loue art nought forswore
And hast done no vnkyndnesse
Thou myght therof thy grace blesse
And leue nought that continuance
That there may be none suche greuance
To loue, as is vnkyndshyppe
wherof to kepe thy worshyp
So as these olde bokes tale
I shall the telle, a redy tale
Now herken, and be well ware therby
For I wyll telle it openly.
¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra viros amori ingratos. Et narrat qualiter Theseus Aegei filius consilio fultus Adriane regis Minos filie in domo, que Laborinthus dicitur, Minotaurum vicit, vnde Theseus Adriane sponsalie certissime promittens / ipsā vna cum Phedra sorore sua a Creta secū nauigio duxit Sed statim postea oblito gratitudinis beneficio Adriadnam ipsum saluantem in insula Chion spretam post tergū re fiquit. Et Phedram Athenis sibi sponsatam ingratus coronauit.
¶ Minos, as tellen the poete
The which whylom was kyng of Crete
A sonne hadde, and Androchee
He hyght, and so befelle that be
Vnto Athenes for to lere
was sente, and so he bare him there
For that he was of high lignage
Suche pride he toke in his corage
That he foryeten hath the scholes
And in ryot amonge the foles
He dyd many thynges wronge
And vsed thylke lyfe so longe
Tyl at last of that he wrought
He fonde the mischiefe, which he sought
wherof it fell, that he was slayne
His fader, whiche it herde sayne
was wrothe, and all that euer he myght
Of men of armes he hym dyght
A stronge power, and forth he went
Vnto Athenis, where he brent
The playne countre al aboute
The cities stode of hym in doute
As they that no defence hadde
Ageyne the power, whiche he ladde
Egeus, whiche was there kynge
His counsell toke vpon this thynge
For he was than in the citie
So that of pees in to trete
Bitwene Mynos and Egeus
They fell, and bene accorded thus
That kynge Mynos fro yere to yere
Receyue shal as thou shalt here
Out of Athenys for truage
Of men, that were of myghty age
Parsons nyne: of whiche he shall
His wyl don in speciall
For vengeaunce of his sonnes deth
None other grace there ne geth
But for to take the Iuyse
And that was don in suche a wyse
Vpon whiche stode a wonder cas
For that tyme so it was
wherof that men yet rede and synge
Kynge Mynos had in his kepynge
A cruell monster, as seyth the iest
For he was halfe man and halfe best
And Mynotaurus he was hote
which was begotten in a ryote
Vpon Pasyphae his owne wyfe
whyles he was out vpon the stryfe
Of that great syege of Troye
But she, whiche lost hath all ioye
whan that she syghe this monstre bore
Bad men ordeyne anon therfore
And felle that ilke tyme thus
There was a clerke, one Dedalus
whiche had ben of hir assent
Of that her lorde, was so myswent
And he made of his owne wyt
wherof the remembraunce is yet
For Mynotaure suche a hous
That was so stronge, and meruaylous
That what man that within went
There was so many a sondry went
That he ne shulde nought come out
But gone amased all aboute
And in this house to locke and warde
was Mynotaurus put in warde
That what lyfe, that therin cam
Or man or beest be ouercam
And slough, and fedde hym thervpon
And in this wyse many one
Out of Athenis for truage
Deuouted weren in that rage
For euery yere they shopen hem so
They of Athenis er they go
Towarde that ilke wofull chaunce
As it was sette in ordynaunce
Vpon fortune her lotte they cast
Tyll that Theseus at laste
whiche was the kynges sonne there
Amonges other that there were
In thilke yere, as it befelle
The lotte vpon his chaunce felle
He was a worthy knyght withall
And whan he sygh his chaunce falle
H
[...]
[...]erde as though he toke none hede
But all that euer he myght spede
with hym / and with his felaushyp
Forth in to Crete he goth by shyp
where that the kyng Mynos he sought
And profereth all that he hym oughte
Vpon the poynt of her accorde
This sterne kynge, this cruell lorde
Toke euery day one of the nyne
And put hym in to the discipline
Of Mynotaure to be deuoured
But Theseus was so fauoured
That he was kepte tyll at laste
And the meane whyle he cast
what thynge hym were best to do
And felle / that Ariadne tho
whiche was the doughter of Mynos
And had herde the worthy los
Of Theseus, and of his myght
And sygh he was a lusty knyght
Her holle herte on hym she layde
And he also of loue her prayd
So ferforth, that they were alone
And she ordeneth, that anone
In what maner she shuld hym saue
And shope so, that she dyd hym haue
A clewe of threde, of whiche within
Fyrst at dore he shall begynne
with hym to take that one ende
Than whan he wold ageynward wende
He myght go the same weye
And ouer this so as I seye
Of pytche she toke hym a pelote
The whiche he shuld in to the throte
Of Mynotaure cast ryght
Suche wepen also for hym she dyght
That he by reason may not fayle
To make an ende of his bataile
For she hym taught in sondry wyse
Tylle he was knowe of thylke empryse
Howe he this best shuld quelle
And thus shortely for to telle
So as this mayden hym had taught
Theseus with his monster faught
And smote of his hede, the whiche be nam
And by the thred, so as he cam
He goth ageyne, tyl he were oute
So was great wonder all aboute
Mynos the tribute hath releced
And so was all the werre seced
Betwene Athenys and hem of Crete
But nowe to speke of that swete
The whose beaute was withoute wan
This fayre mayden Adryan
whan that she sygh Theseus sounde
was neuer yet vpon this grounde
A gladder wyght than she was tho
Theseus dwelt a day or two
where that Mynos great chere him did
Theseus in a preue sted
Hath with this maiden spoke & rowned
That she to hym was abandouned
In al that euer she couth
So that her lusty youth
All pryuely bytwene hem twey
The fyrste floure he toke awey
For he so fayre tho behyght
That euer whyle he lyue myght
He shuld her take for his wyfe
And as his owne bertes lyfe
He wolde her loue, and trouth here
And she whiche myght not forbere
So sore loueth hym ageyne
That what as euer he wold seyne
with all her hert she it leueth
And thus his purpose he acheuyth
So that assured of his trouth
with hym she went, & that was routh
Phedra her yonge suster eke
A lusty mayd, a sobre, a meke
Fulfylled of all curtosye
For susterhode and companye
Of loue, whiche was hem betwene
To se her suster be made a quene
Her fader lefte, and forth she went
with hym, whiche all his fyrst entent
Forgat within a lytel throwe
So that it was all ouer throwe
whan she best wend it shuld stonde
The shyp was blowen fro the londe
wherin that they sailend were
This Ariadne had mochel fere
Of that the wynde so lowde blewe
As she whiche of these ne knewe
And praid for to reste a whyle
And so felle, that vpon an yle
whiche Chio hyght, they ben dreue
where he to her leue hath yeue
That she shall lond and take her rest
But that was nothynge for her best
For whan she was to lond brought
She which that tyme thought nought
But all trouth, and toke no kepe
Hath layd her soft for to slepe
As she whiche longe hath ben forwatched
But certes she was euil matched
And fer from all loues kynde
For more than the best vnkynde
Theseus, whiche no trouth kept
whyle that this yonge lady slept
Fulfylled of all vnkyndshyp
Hath all forgeten the goodshyp
whiche Ariadne hym had do
And had vnto the shypmen tho
Hale vp the sayle, and nought abyde
And forth he gothe the same tyde
Toward Athenis, and her on londe
He left, whiche lay nygh the stronde
Slepend, tyl that she awoke
But whan that she cast vp her loke
Towarde the stronde, & sygh no wyght
Her herte was so sore aflyght
That she ne wyst what to thynke
But drough her to the water brinke
where she behelde the see at large
She sigh no shyp, she sigh no barge
Als ferforth as she myght kenne
Ha lorde, she sayd, which a senne
As all the worlde shall after here
Vpon this wofull woman here
This worthye knyghte hath done and wrought
I wēd I had his loue bought
And so deserued at nede
whan that he stode vpon his drede
And eke the loue, he me behyght
It is great wonder, howe he might
Towardes me nowe ben vnkynde
And so to lette out of his mynde
Thyng, which he sayd his owne mouth
But after this, whan it is couth
And drawe to the worldes fame
It shall ben hyndrynge of his name
For well he wote, and so wote I
He yafe his trouthe bodely
That he myn honour shulde kepe
And with that worde she gan wepe
And soroweth more than inough
Hyr faire tresses she to drough
And with her selfe she toke such a strife
That she betwene the deth and life
Swounende lay full ofte amonge
And all was this on hym alonge
whiche was to loue vnkynde so
wherof the wronge shall euermo
Stonde in cronyke of remembrance
And eke it asketh a vengeance
To ben vnkynde in loues cas
So as Theseus than was
All though he were a noble knyght
For he the lawe of loues ryght
Forfayted hath in all waye
That Ariadne he put away
whiche was a great vnkynde dede
And after that, so as I rede
Phedra, the whiche his syster is
He toke in stede of hir, and this
Fell afterwarde to mekell tene
For thilke vyce, of whiche I mene
Vnkyndshyp where it falleth
The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth
That he can no good dede acquyte
So may be stonde of no meryte
Towardes god, and eke also
Men calle hym the worldes fo
For he no more than the fende
Vnto none other man is frende
But all toward hym selfe alone
For thy my sonne in thy persone
This vyce aboue all other flee
¶ My fader as ye teche me
I thynke to do in this matere
But ouer this I wolde fayn here
wherof I shall me shryue more
¶My good sonne as for thy lore
After the reule of couetyse
I shall the propyrte deuyse
Of euery vyce by and by
Nowe herken, and be wel ware therby.
[...] ex
[...]lara res tollit luce rapina
Floribus et iuncta virgine mella capit.
¶ H [...]c tractat super illa specia cupida que rapina [...] [...]atur, cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad des [...] [...]ndū magnatū curiis specialius cōmēdauit.
¶In the lygnage of auaryce
My sonne yet there is a vyce
His ryght name it is rauyne
whiche hath a route of his couyne
Rauyne amonge the maysters dwelleth
And with his seruauntes as men telleth
Extorcion is nowe witholde
Rauyne of other mennes folde
Maketh his lardyr, and payeth nought
For where as euer it may be sought
In his hous there shall no thynge lacke
And that fulofte abyeth the packe
Of powre men that dwelle a boute
Thus stant the cōmune people in doute
which can do none amendement
For whan hym fayleth paiement
Rauyne maketh non other skylle
But taketh by strength al that he wille
So ben there in the same wyse
Louers, as I the shall deuyse
That whan nought elles may auayle
Anone with strength they assayle
And gette of loue the sesyne
when they se tyme by rauyne
For thy my sonne shryue the here
If thou hast ben a Rauynere
Of loue. ¶ Certes father no
For I my lady loue so
For though I were as was Pompey
That all the worlde me wolde obey
Or els suche as Alisaundre
I wolde nought do suche a sclaunder
It is no good man whiche so doth
¶ In good feyth sonne thou sayst sothe
For he that woll of purueance
By suche a wey his luste auaunce
He shall it after sore abye
But if these olde ensamples lye
¶ Nowe good father telle me one
So as ye connen many one
Touchende of loue in this matere
¶ Now lyst my son & thou shalte here
So as it hath be befall er this
In loues cause howe that it is
A man to take by rauyne
The preye whiche is feminyne.
¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores, Et narrat qualiter Pandyon tex Athen .ii. filias vez Prognē & Philomenā habuit: Progne autem regi Tracie Therreo desponsata contigit, quod cum Tereus ad instantiam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athen in Traciam sororie visitationis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscentiam Philomene tanta seneritate in Itinere dilapsus est, quod ipse non solum sue violentia rapine virginitatem eius oppressit, sed et ipsius linguam, ne factum detegeret forcipe mitula nit, vnde imperpetue memorie ceonicam tanti raptoris austeritatem miro ordine dii postea vindicarunt.
¶ There was a ryall noble kynge
A ryche of all worldes thynge
whiche of his propre enheritance
Athenis had in gouernance
And who so thynketh therupon
His name was kynge Pandyon
Two doughters had he by his wyfe
The whiche he loued as his lyfe
The fyrst doughter Progne hyght
And the seconde, as she well myght
was cleped faire Philomene
To whom fell after mochel tene
The father of his purueaunce
His doughter Progne wolde auarice
And ga
[...]e hir vnto mariage
A worthy kyng of high lignage
A noble knyght eke of his honde
So was he kyd in euery londe
Of Trace he hyght Thereus
The clerke Ouide telleth thus
This Thereus his wyfe home lad
A lusty lyfe with her he had
Tyll it befelle vpon a tyde
This Progne, as she lay hym besyde
Bethought hir, howe that it myght be
That she hir suster myght se
And to hir lorde hir wyll she sayde
with goodly wordes and hym preyde
That she to hir myght go
And if it lyked hym not so
That than he wolde hym selfe wende
Or els by some other sende
whiche myght hir dere suster grete
And shap
[...]
[...] that they myght mete
Hir lord
[...] anone to that he herde
yafe his accorde, and thus answerde
I wyll (saide he) for thy sake
The wey after thy syster take
My selfe, and brynge hir, if I may
And she with that, there as she lay
Bigan hym in hir armes clyppe
And kyst
[...] with hir softe lyppe
And sayde▪ syre graunt mercy
And he loue after was redy
And toke his leue for to go
In sory tyme dyd he so
This Thereus goth forth to shyppe
And with hym his felaushyppe
By see the ryght cours he nam
Vnto the countrey tyll he cam
where Philomene was dwellynge
And of hir suster the tydynge
He rolde, and tho they weren gladde
And mochel ioye of hym they made
The father and the mother bothe
To leue her doughter were lothe
But if they were in presence
And netheles at reuerence
Of hym that wolde hym selfe trauayle
They wolde nought he shulde fayle
And that they prayde, gyue her leue
And she that wolde not beleue
In all hast made her iare
Towarde hir suster for to fare
with Thereus, and forth she went
And he with his hole entent
whan she was fro her frendes go
Assottith of her loue so
That his eie myght he not witholde
That he ne must on hir beholde
And with the syght gan desyre
And set his owne herte a fyre
And fire, whan it to towe approcheth
To hym anone the strength accrocheth
Tyll with his hete it be deuoured
The towe ne may not be souccoured
And so the tyrant rauener
whan that she was in his power
And he therto sawe tyme and place
As he that lost hath all grace
Forgate, he was a wedded man
And in a rage on hir he ran
Ryght as a wolfe, that taketh his pray
And she began to crye and pray
O father, o mother dere
Nowe helpe. but they ne myght it here
And she was of to lytell myght
Defence ageyne so rude a knyght
To make, whan he was so woode
That he no reason vnderstode
But helde her vnder in suche wyse
That she ne myght not aryse
But lay oppressed and disesed
As if a Gous hauke had feysed
A byrde, whiche durst not for fere
Remue, and thus this tyraunt there
By cast hir suche thynge, as men seyne
May neuer more be yolden ageyne
And that was the virginite
Of suche rauyn it was pyte
But whan she to hir selfe come
And of hir mischiefe hede nome
And knewe, how that she was no maide
with wofull herte thus she sayde
O thou of all men the werst
where was there euer man that derst
Do suche a dede, as thou hast do
That day shall falle, I hope so
That I shall tell out all my fylle
And with my speche I shall fulfylle
The wyde worlde in brede and length
That thou hast done to me by strength
If that I amonge the people dwelle
Vnto the people I shall it telle
And if I be within walle
Of stones closed, than I shalle
Vnto the stones clepe and crie
And tell hem thy felonye
And if I to the wodes wende
There shall I tell all and ende
And crye it to the byrdes out
That they shall here it all aboute
For I so lowde it shall reherse
That my voyce shall the heuen perce
That it shall sowne in goddes ere
A fals man, where is thy fere?
O more cruel than ony beest
Howe hast thou holden thy behest?
whiche thou vnto my suster madest
O thou, whiche all loue vngladest
And art ensample of all vntrewe
Nowe wolde god my suster knewe
Of thyn vntrouthe, howe that it stode
And he than as a lyon wode
with his vnhappy bondes stronge
He caught hir by the tresses longe
with the which he bōde both hir armes
That was a feble dede of armes
And to the grounde anone hir cast
And out he clyppeth also fast
Hir tonge with a payre of sheres
So what with blode & what with teres
Out of hir eyen, and out of hir mouthe
He made hir fayre face vncouth
She lay swownynge vnto the dethe
There was vnneth ony brethe
But yet whan he hir tonge refte
A lytell parte therof be lefte
But she withall no worde may sowne
But chitre, and as a byrde iargowne
And neuertheles that wode hounde
Hir body bent vp fro the grounde
And sent hir there, as by his wyll
She shulde abyde in prisone styll
For euer mo, but nowe take hede
what after felle of this mysdede
whan all this mischiefe was befall
This Thereus, that foule hym falle
Vnto his countrey home he tigh
And whan he come his palais nigh
His wyfe alredy there hym kepte
whan he hir sigh anone he wept
And that he dyd for deceyte
For she began to aske hym streyte
where is my suster: and he sayde
That she was dede, and Progne abraide
As she that was a wofull wyfe
And stode betwene her deth and lyfe
Bicause she herde suche tydynge
But for she sygh her lord wepynge
She wende nought but all trouth
And had wel the more routh
The perles were tho forsake
To her, and blacke clothes take
As she that was gentill and kynde
In worshyp of her susters mynde
She made a ryche enterement
For she fonde none amendement
To syghen or to sob more
So was there gyle vnder the gore
Nowe leue we this kynge and quene
And torne ayene to Phylomene
As I beganne to tell erste
whan she cam in to prison ferst
It thought a kynges doughter straunge
To make so sodeyne a chaunge
Fro welth / vnto so great a wo
And she began to thynke tho
Though she by mouth nothyng praide
within her herte thus she sayde
O thou almyghty Iubyter
That hye syttest / and lokest ferre
Thou suffrest many a wrongfull doynge
And yet it is not thy wyllynge
To the there may nothynge ben hyd
Thou wost / howe it is betyde
I wolde I had not be bore
For than had I nought forlore
My speche and my virginite
But good lorde all is in the
whan thou therof wolte do vengeaunce
And shape my delyueraunce
And euer amonge this lady wepte
And thought that she neuer kepte
To be a worldes woman more
And that she wyssheth euermore
But ofte vnto her syster dere
Her herte speketh in this manere
And saide: O syster if ye knewe
Of myn estate, ye wolde rewe
I trowe, and my delyueraunce
ye wold shape and do vengeaunce
On hym / that is so fals a man
And netheles, so as I can
I wyll you sende some tokenynge
wherof ye shall haue knowlegynge
Of thynge I wote that shall you lothe
The whiche you toucheth, and me both
And tho within a whyle as tyte
She wafe a cloth of sylke all whyte
with letters and imagery
In whiche was all the felony
whiche Thereus to her hath do
And lapped it to gether tho
And sette hir signet thervpon
And sent it vnto Progne anon
The messager, whiche forth it bare
what it amounted is nought ware
And netheles to Progne he goth
And priuely taketh her the cloth
And went agayn ryght as be cam
The courte of hym none bede name
¶ whan Progne of Philomene herde
She wolde knowe how that it ferde
And openeth that the mā hath brought
And wot therby, what hath be wrought
And what mischiefe there is befall
In swoune tho she gan downe fall
And efte arose, and gan to stonde
And efte she taketh the clothe on honde
Behelde the letters and thymages
But at last, of suche outrages
She sayde wepynge is nought the bote
And swereth, if that she leue mote
It shall be venged other wyse
And with that she gan her auyse
How fyrst she myght vnto hir wyn
Her suster, that no man within
But onely they, that were swore
It shulde knowe, and shope therfore
That Thereus nothynge it wyst
And yet ryght as her seluen lyste
Her syster was delyuered sone
Out of prison, & by the mone
To Progne she was brought by nyghte
whan eche of other had a syght
In chambre there they were alone
They maden many a pytous mone
But Progne most of sorow made
whiche sigh her syster pale and fade
And specheles, and dishonoured
Of that she had be defloured
And eke vpon hir lorde she thought
Of that he so vntruely wrought
And had his espousayle broke
She maketh auowe it shall be wroke
And with that word she kneleth downe
wepynge in great deuocion
Vnto Cupyde and to Venus
She prayd, and sayd than thus
O ye, to whome no thynge astert
Of loue may, for euery herte
ye knowe, as ye that ben aboue
The god and the goddesse of loue
ye wyten well, that euer yet
withal my wylle, and all my wyt
Syth fyrst ye shope me to wedde
That I lay with my lorde a bedde
I haue ben trewe in my degre
And euer thought for to be
And neuer loue in other place
But all onely the kynge of Trace
whiche is my lorde, and I his wyfe
But nowe allas this wofull stryfe
That I hym thus ageynward fynde
The most vntrewe, and most vnkynde
That euer in ladys armes lay
And wel I wote that he ne may
Amend his wronge, it is so great
For to lytell of me he lete
whan he myn owne suster toke
And me that am his wyfe forsoke
Lo thus to Venus and Cupyde
She prayd, and ferthermore she cryde
Vnto Apollo the hyghest
And sayd: O myghty god of rest
Thou do vengeaunce of this debate
My suster and all her estate
Thou wost, & how she hath forlore
Her maydenhede, and I therfore
In all the worlde shall beare a blame
Of that my suster hath ashame
That Thereus to hir I sente
And well thou wost / that myn entent
was all for worshyp and for good
O lorde that gyuest the lyues fode
To euery wyght, I pray the here
These wofull systers, that ben here
And let vs nought to the ben loth
we ben thyn owne women both
Thus plaineth Progne / & axeth wreche
And though her sister lacke speche
To hym that all thynges wote
Her sorowe is not the lesse hote
But he / that than herd them two
Hym ought haue sorowed euermo
For sorowe, which was hem betwene
with signes playneth Philomene
And Progne saith / it shal be wreke
That all the worlde therof shall speake
And Progne tho syckenes feyned
wherof vnto her lorde she pleyned
And preith, she mote her chambre kepe
And as her lyketh wake & slepe
And he her graunteth to be so
And thus to gether ben they two
That wolde hym but a lytell good
Nowe herken hereafter / how it stode
Of wofull auntres that befelle
These susters, that ben both felle
And that was not on hem alonge
But onely on the great wronge
whiche Thereus had hem do
They shopen for to venge hem tho
This Thereus by Progne his wyfe
A sonne hath, whiche as his lyfe
He loueth, and I this he hyght
His mother wyst well she myght
Do Thereus no more greue
Than slee his childe, whiche was so leue
Thus she that was as who saith madde
Of wo, whiche hath her ouerladde
without insyght of motherheed
Forgate pyte, and lost drede
And in hir chambre priuely
This childe without noyse or crye
She slough, and hewe hym all to peces
And after with dyuers spieses
The flesshe, whan it was so to hewe
She taketh, and maketh therof a sewe
with whiche the fader at his mete
was serued, tyll he had hym ete
That he ne wyst, howe that it stode
But thus his owne flesshe and blode
Hym selfe deuoureth ageyne kynde
As he that was to fore vnkynde
And than er that he were aryse
For that he shulde bene agryse
To shewen hym the childe was dede
This Philomene toke the hede
Betwene two dysshes / and all wrothe
Tho came forthe the susters bothe
And setten it vpon the borde
And Progne than began the worde
And seyde: O werst of all wykke
Of conscience whom no prykke
May stere, lo what thou hast do
Lo here ben nowe we systers two
O rauener lo here thy preye
with whom so falsely on the weye
Thou hast thy tyranny wrought
Lo nowe it is som dele abought
And better it shall: for of thy dede
The worlde shall euer synge and rede
In remembraunce of thy defame
For thou to loue hast done suche shame
That it shall neuer be forgete
with that he sterte vp fro the mete
And shoue the borde in to the flore
And caught a sworde anone, and swore
That they shulde of his hondes dye
And they vnto the goddes crye
Began, with so loude a steuene
That they were herde vnto heuene
And in the twynkelyng of an eye
The goddes, that the myschiefe seye
Her formes chaunged all thre
Eche of hem in his degree
was turned in to a bryddes kynde
Dyuerselyche as men may fynde
After the state that they were ynne
Her formes were set a twynne
And as it telleth in the tale
The fyrst in to a nyghtyngale
was shape, and that was Philomene
whiche in the wynter is not sene
For than be the leues falle
And naked ben the busshes alle
For after that she was a brydde
Her wylle was euer to be hyd
And for to dwelle in pryue place
That noman shuld se hir face
For shame, whiche may not be lassid
Of thynge that was tofore passid
whan that she lost her maydenhed
Foreuer vpon her womanhede
(Though that the gods wold her chāg)
She thynketh, and is the more straunge
And holt her clos the wynter day
But whan the wynter goth away
And that nature the goddesse
wyll of her owne fre largesse
with herbes, and with flours both
The feldes, and the medowes clothe
And eke the woodes, and the greues
Ben bylled all with grene leues
So that a brydde her hyde may
Betwene March, Apryl, and May
She that the winter held her clos
For pure shame and nought aros
whan that she sygh the bowes thycke
And that there is no bare stycke
But all his hyd with leues grene
To wode cometh this Philomene
And maketh hir fyrst yers flyght
where as she syngeth day and nyght
And in her songe all openly
She maketh her plaint & saith: O why
why ne were I yet a mayde?
For so this olde wyse sayd
whiche vnderstood, what she ment
Her notes ben of suche entent
And eke they sayd, how in her songe
She maketh great ioye & mirthe amōge
And s
[...]yth: ba nowe I am a brydde
He nowe my face may ben hyd
Though I bene lost my maydenhede
Shall no man se my chekes rede
Thus medleth she with ioye wo
And with her sorowe myrth also
So that of loues maladye
She maketh dyuers melodie
And sayth: loue is a wofull blysse
A wysedome, whiche can no man wysse
A lusty feuer, a wounde softe
This note she reherseth ofte
To hem / whiche vnderstonde hir tale
Nowe haue I of this nyghtyngale
whiche erst was cleped Philomene
Tolde all that euer wolde mene
Both of her forme, and of her note
wherof men may the storye note
And of her suster Progne I fynde
How she was tourned out of kynde
In to a swalowe swyfte of wynge
whiche eke in wynter lyeth swownynge
There as she may no thynge be sene
But whan the wodde is woxen grene
And
[...]omen is the sommer tyde
Tha fleeth she forth, & ginneth to chyde
And chetereth out in her langage
what falsehede is in maryage
And telleth in a maner speche
Of Thereus the spouse breche
She wol not in the woddes dwelle
For she wolde openlych telle
And eke for that she was a spouse
Amonge the folke she cometh to house
To do these wyues vnderstonde
The falshode of her husbonde
That they of hem beware also
For there be many vntrewe of tho
Thus ben the susters bryddes bothe
And ben towarde the men so lothe
That they ne wyll for pure shame
To no mans honde be tame
For euer it dwelleth in her mynde
Of that they fonde a man vnkynde
And that was fals Thereus
If suche one be amonge vs
I note but his condition
Men say in euery region
within towne and eke without
Nowe reigneth comonly aboute
And natheles in remembraunce
I wyll declare / what vengeance
The goddes hadden hym ordeyned
Of that the susters hadden pleyned
For anone after he was chaunged
And from his owne kynde straunged
A lapwynke made he was
And thus he hoppeth on the gras
And on his heed there stont vp ryght
A crest, in token of a knyght
And yet vnto this day, men seyth
A lapynke hath lost his feyth
And is the byrde falsest of all
Beware my sonne er the so fall
For if thou be of suche couyne
To get of loue by rauyne
Thy lust: it may the falle thus
As it befelle to Thereus
¶ My father god forbede
Me were leuer be fortrede
with wylde horses / and to drawe
Er I ageyne loue and his lawe
Dyd ony thynge, or loude or styll
whiche were not my ladies wyll
Men sayen, that euery loue hath drede
So foloweth it, that I hir drede
For I hir loue, and who so dredeth
To plese his loue and serue hym nedeth
Thus may ye knowe by this skyll
That no rauyne done I wyll
Ageyne hir wyll, by suche a wey
But whyle I lyue, I wyll obeye
Abydynge on hir courtesye
If any mercy wolde hir plye
For thy my father, as of this
I wote nought I haue do amysse
But farthermore I you beseche
Some other poynte that ye me teche
And asketh forthe if there be ought
That I may be the better taught.
[...] ut ex spoliis grandi quam saepe tumultu
Quo graditur, populus latro perurget iter:
M
[...] amor ex casu poterit quo capere praedam
Sil
[...]cus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.
¶ Hic loquitur super illa cupiditatis specie, quam lurtum vocant, cuius ministri alienius legis offen sam non meiuentes tam in amoris causa quam aliter suam quam sepe conscientiam offendunt.
¶ whan Couetyse in poure estate
Stont with hym selfe vpon debate
Through lacke of his mysgouernaunce
That he vnto his sustenaunce
Ne can no nother way fynde
To get hym good: than as the blynde
which seeth nought, what shal after fall
That ylke vice, whiche men call
Of Robbery, he taketh on honde
wherof by water and by londe
Of thyng, whiche other men beswynke
He getteth hym clothe, mete, and drinke
Hym retcheth nought, what he begyn
Through thefte, so that he may wyn
For thy to make his purchaas
He lyeth awaytende on the paas
And what thyng that he seeth ther passe
He taketh his parte, or more or lasse
If it be worthy to be take
He can the pakkes well ransake
So priuely bereth none aboute
His golde, that he ne fynt it oute
Or other iewell what it be
He taketh it as his proprete
In wodes, and in feldes eke
Thus robbery goth to seke
where as he may his purchas fynde
And ryght so in the same kynde
My good sone as thou myght here
To speke of loue in the mattere
And make a very resemblance
Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesance
And robbeth mens goodes aboute
In wode and felde, where he goth oute
So bene there of these louers somme
In wylde stedes where they come
And fynden there a woman able
And therto place couenable
withouten leue er that they fare
They take a parte of that chaffare
Ye though she were a shepeherdesse
Yet woll the lorde of wantonnesse
Assay, all though she be vnmete
For other mennes good is swete
But therof wote nothynge the wyfe
At home, whiche loueth as her lyfe
Her lorde, and syt all day wysshynge
After her lordes home comynge
But whan that he comethe home at e
[...]e
Anone he maketh his wyfe beleue
For she nought els shulde knowe
He telleth her, how his hunt hath blow
And howe his boundes haue well ronne
And howe there shone a mery sonne
And howe his hawkes flowen wele
But he wol telle her neuer a dele
Howe he to loue vntrewe was
Of that he robbed in the pas
And toke his lust vnder the shawe
Ageyne loue, an ageyne his lawe
The which thing my son I the forbede
For it is an vngoodly dede
For who that taketh by robberye
His loue, he may not iustifye
His cause: and so fuloft sythe
For ones that he hath ben blythe
He shall ben after sory thryes
Examples for suche robberyes
I fynde wryten as thou shalt here
Acordende vnto this matere.
¶ HIC LOQVITVR CONtra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur, Et narrat, quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.
☞ I rede how whilom was a maide
The fayrest, as Ouyd sayde
whiche was in her tyme tho
And she was of the chamber also
Of Pallas, whiche is the goddesse
And wyfe to Mars, of whome prowesse
Is youe to these worthy knyghtes
For he is of so great myghtes
That he gouerneth the batayle
withouten hym may nought auayle
The stronge bonde, but he it helpe
There may no knyght of armes yelpe
But he fyght vnder his banere
But nowe to speke of my matere
This fayre fresshe lusty may
Alone as she went on a day
Vpon the stronde for to play
There came Neptunus in the way
whiche hath these in gouernaunce
And in his herte suche plesaunce
He toke, whan he this mayden sygh
That all his hert aros on hygh
For he so sodenlyche vnware
Beheld the beaute, that she bare
And cast anone within his hert
That she hym shall no way astert
But if be take in auauntage
Fro thilke mayde somme pyllage
Nought of the broches ne the rynges
But of some other smale thynges
He thought parte, er that he went
And her in bothe his armes bent
And put his honde towarde the cofre
where to robbe he made a profre
That lusty treasour for to steale
whiche passeth other goodes fele
And cleped is the maydenheed
whiche is the floure of womanheed
This mayde, whiche Cornyr by name
was hote, dredynge all shame
Sigh, that she myght nought debate
And well she wyst, he wolde algate
Fulfylle his luste of robbreie
Anone began to wepe and crye
And sayde: O Pallas noble quene
Shewe nowe thy myght, & let be sene
To kepe and saue myn honour
Helpe that I lese nought my floure
which nowe vnder thy key is loke
That worde was not so soone spoke
whan Pallas shope recouyre
After the wylle and the desyre
Of hir, whiche a mayde was
And sodeinly vpon this cas
Out of her womanlyche kynde
In to a bryddes lykenes I fynde
She was transformed forth withall
So that Neptunus nothynge stall
Of such thinge that he wolde haue stole
with fethers blacke as any cole
Out of his armes in a throwe
She flegh before his eien a crowe
whiche was to her a more delyte
To kepe her maydenheed whyte
Vnder the wede of fethers blacke
In perles whyte than forsake
That no lyfe may restore agayne
But this Neptune his herte in vayne
Hath vpon robberye sette
The bryd is iflowe, and he was let
The fayre mayde is hym escaped
wherof for euer he was beiaped
And scorned of that he hath lore
¶ My sonne be thou ware therfore
That thou no maydenheed stele
wherof men se diseses fele
So as I shall the yet deuyse
Another tale thervpon
whiche felle by olde dayes gone.
¶ HIC ponit exemplum contra istos in causa [...]ginitatis lese predones, et narrat quod cum Calisto regis Lichaonis mire pulchritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima v [...]nisset, Et in siluam / que Tegea dicitur, inte [...] [...]us ibidem nymphas moraturā se transtu [...]et, Iupiter virginis castitatē subtili furto sur [...]us, quendam filium, qui postea Archas no [...]natus est, ex ea genuit, vnde Iuno in Cafistonā [...]ns eius pulchritudinem in vrse turpissime [...]mitatem subito transfigurauit.
¶ Kynge Lichaon vpon his wyfe
A doughter hadde, a goodly lyfe
And cleue mayden of worthy fame
Calistona whose ryght name
was cleped, and of many a lorde
She was besought, but her accorde
To loue might no man wynne
As she / whiche hath no lust therinne
But swore within her herte, and sayde
That she woll euer ben a mayde
wherfore to kepe her selfe in pees
with suche as Amadriades
were cleped woodmaydens tho
And with the nymphes eke also
Vpon the sprynge of fresshe welles
She shope to dwelle, and no where elles
And thus came this Calistona
Into the wodde of Tegea
where she virginite behight
Vnto Diane, and therto plight
Her trouth vpon the bowes grene
To kepe her maydenheed clene
whiche afterwarde vpon a day
was priuelyche stole away
For Iupiter through his queintyse
From her it toke in suche a wyse
That sodenlyche forth withall
Her wombe arose / and she to swall
So that it myght not be hydde
And therupon it is betydde
That Dyane, whiche it herde tell
In priue place vnto a welle
with Nymphes al a company
was come, and in a ragery
She sayde, that she hathe wolde
And had that euery mayden shulde
with hir all naked hathe also
And tho began the priuie wo
Calistona wex rede for shame
But they that knewe not the game
To whom no suche thynge was befalle
Anone they made hem naked all
As they nothynge wolde hyde
But she withdrewe hir euer asyde
And netheles in the flode
where that Dyana hir selfe stode
She thought to come vnperceyued
But therof she was all deceyued
For whan she came a lytell nyghe
And that Dyana her wombe syghe
She sayd: away thou foule beest
For thyne astate is not honest
This chaft water for to touche
For thou hast take suche a touche
whiche neuer may ben hole ageyne
And thus goth she, whiche was forleine
with shame, and the Nymphes fledde
Tyll whan that nature hir spedde
That of a sonne, whiche Archas
was named, she delyuered was
And tho Iuno, whiche was the wyfe
Of Iupiter (wrothe and hastyfe
In purpose for to do vengeaunce)
Came forthe vpon thylke chaunce
And to Calistona she spake
And set vpon her many a lacke
And sayd: a nowe thou arte take
That thou thy werke might not forsake
A thou vngoodly hypocryte
Thou art greatly for to wyte
But nowe thou shalt full sore abye
That ylke stelthe of mycherye
That thou hast both take and do
wherof thy fader Lychao
Shall not be glad, whan he it wote
Of that his doughter was so hote
That she hath broken her chast vowe
But I the shall chastyse nowe
Thy great beaute shall be torned
Through whiche that thou hast be mestorned
Thy large frōte, thy eyen gray
I shall hem chaunge in other way
And all the feture of thy face
In suche a wyse I shall deface
That euery man the shall forbere
with that the likenes of a bere
She toke, and was forshapen anone
within a tyme and therupon
Befelle, that with a bowe in bonde
To hunte and game for to fonde
In to that woode goth to playe
Her sonne Archas, and in his waye
It happeth that this here came
And whan that he good hede name
where that be stode vnder the bough
She knewe hym well, & to hym drough
For though she had her forme lore
The loue was nought lost therfore
whiche kynde hath set vnder his lawe
whan she vnder the woode shawe
Her chylde beheld, she was so glad
That she with both her armes sprade
As though she were in womanhed
Toward hym come, and toke none hede
Of that he bare a bowe bente
And he with that an arowe hath bent
And gan to teyse it in his bowe
As he that can none other knowe
But that it was a beste wylde
But Iupiter, which wolde shylde
The moder, and the sonne also
Ordeyneth for hem both two
That they for euer were saue
But thus my sonne thou myght haue
Ensample, howe that it is to flee
To robbe the virginite
Of a yonge innocent aweye
And ouer this by other weye
In olde bokes as I rede
Suche roberye is for to drede
And namlyche of thylke good
whiche euery woman that is good
Desyreth for to kepe and holde
As whylome was by dayes olde
For if thou here my tale wele
Of that was tho / thou myght somdele
Of olde ensamples taken hede
Howe that the floure of maydenhede
was thylke tyme holde in pris
And so it was, and so it is
And so it shall for euer stonde
And for thou shalte it vnderstonde
Nowe herken a tale nexte sewende
Howe may denbede is to commende.
¶ Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendatione, vbi dicit, quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant in via.
¶Of Rome amonge the gestes olde
I fynde, howe that Valery tolde
That what man was tho emperour
Of Rome, he shulde done honour
To the virgyn, and in the weye
where he hir mete, he shulde obeye
In worshyp of virginitie
whiche was tho a great dignitie
Nought onelyche of the women tho
But of the chaste men also
It was commended ouerall
And for to speke in speciall
Touchend of men ensample I fynde
¶ Hic loquitur qualiter Phirinus inuenū Rome pulcherimus / vt illesam sud virginitate conserna ret, ambos oculos ernens vultus sui decorē abho minabilem constituit.
¶ Phirinus whiche was of mans kinde
Aboue all other the fayreste
Of Rome, and eke the comlyest
That well was her which hym myght
Beholde / and haue of hym a syght
Thus was be tempted ofte sore
But for he wolde be no more
Amonge the women so coueyted
The beaute of his face streyted
He hath, and put out bothe his eyen
That all women / whiche it seyne
That afterwarde of hym ne rought
And thus his maydenheed he bought
So may I proue wel for thy
Aboue all other vnder the sky
That maydenheed is for to preyse
who that the vertues wolde peyse
whiche, as the apocalipsis recordeth
To Christe in heuen best accordeth
So may it shewe well therfore
As I haue tolde it here to fore
In heuen, and eke in erth also
It is excepte to bothe two
Out of his flesshe a man to lyue
Gregory hath this ensample yeue
And sayth: it shall rather be tolde
Lyche to an angell many folde
Than to the lyfe of mans kynde
There is no reason for to fynde
But only through the grace aboue
In flesshe without flesshely loue
A man to lyue chaste here
And netheles a man may here
Of suche / that haue bene er this
And yet there bene, but for it is
A vertue, whiche is selden wonne
Nowe I this matter haue begonne
I thynke tellen ouer more
whiche is my sonne for thy lore
If that the lyste to taken hede
To trete vpon the maydenheed
Vt
[...]osa de spinis spineto preualet orta
Et
[...]ilii flores cespite plura ualent:
Sic sibi uirginitas carnis sponsalia uincit
Aeternos flaetus quae fine labe parit.
The boke seyth, that a mans lyfe
Vpon knyghthode in warre and stryfe
Is set amonge his ennemyes
The freyle flesshe, whose nature is
Ay redy for to spurne and fall
The fyrst foman is of all
For thylke warre is redy ay
It warreth nyght, it warreth day
So that a man hath neuer rest
For thy is thylke knyght the best
Through myght & grace of gods sonde
whiche that batayle may withstonde
wherof yet dwelleth the memorie
Of hem, that some tyme the victorie
Of thylke deedly warre hadden
The hygh prowesse, whiche they ladden
wherof the soule stode amended
Vpon this erthe it is commended
¶Hic loquitur, qualiter Valētinianus imperator eū ipse octo genarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger sub iugauit, dixit se super omnia magic gandere de eo / quod contra sue carn [...] concupiscentiam victoriam optinuisset / nam et ipse virgo oibu [...] diebus vite sue castissimus ꝑmansū.
¶An emperour by olde dayes
There was, and he at all assayes
A worthy knyght was of his honde
There was none suche in all the londe
But yet for all his vassellage
He stode vnwedded all his age
And in cronyke as it is tolde
He was an hundred wynter olde
But whan men wolde his dedes peyse
And his knyghthode of armes preyse
Of that he dyd with his hondes
whan he the kynges of the londes
To his subiection put vnder
Of all that preise hath he no wonder
For he it set of none accounte
And sayd, all that may not amounte
Ayens a poynt whiche he hath nome
That he his flesshe hath ouercome
He was a virgyne / as he sayde
On that batayle his prys he layd
¶Lo nowe my sonne auyse the
¶Ye fader all this may well be
But if all other dede so
The worlde of men were sone a go
And in the lawe a man may fynde
Howe god to man by wey of kynde
Hath set the worlde to multyplye
And who that woll hym iustify
It is ynough to do the lawe
And netheles your good sawe
Is good to kepe, who so may
I wol nought there ayen say nay
¶ My sonne take it as I say
If maydenheed be take away
without lawes ordinaunce
It may not fayle of vengeaunce
And if thou wolte the soth wyten
Beholde a tale, the which is wryten
Howe that the kynge Agamemnon
whan he the citie of Lesbon
Hath wonne, a mayden there he fonde
whiche was the fayrest of the londe
In thylke tyme, that men wyst
He toke of her what hym lyst
Of thynge whiche was most precious
wherof that she was daungerous
This fayre mayde cleped is
Chryseys the doughter of Chrisys
whiche was that tyme in speciall
Of thylke temple pryncipall
where Phebus had his sacryfyce
So was it well the more vyce
Agamemnon was than in way
To Troywarde, and toke a wey
This mayden, whiche he with hym lad
So great lust in hyr he had
But Phebus, whiche hath great dysdein
Of that his maidē was forlein
Anone as he to Troy came
Vengeaunce vpon this dede he name
And sent a comune pestylence
They soughten than her euydence
And maden calculacion
To knowe in what condycion
This deth cam in so sodenly
And at laste redyly
The cause and eke the man they fonde
And forth with al the same stounde
Agamēnon opposed was
whiche hath knowen all the cas
Of the foly whiche he hath wrought
And therupon mercy they sought
Toward the god in sondry wyse
with prayer and with sacrifyce
The mayden home ayene they send
And yafe her good ynough to spende
For euer whyles she wolde lyue
And thus the synne was forgyue
And all the pestylence seced
Lo what it is to ben encrecid
Of loue / whiche is ylle wonne
It were better nought begonne
Than take a thynge withoute leue
whiche thou most after nedes leue
And yet haue m
[...]gre forth with all
For thy to robben ouerall
In loues cause if thou begynne
I not what ease thou shalt wynne
¶My sonne be well ware of this
For thus of robbery it is
¶My father your examplarie
In loues cause of robberie
I haue it ryght well vnderstonde
But ouer this howe so it stonde
yet wol I wyte of your apprise
what thynge is more of couetyse
Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et lioram
Fur quibus occulto tempore furta parat:
Sic amor insidiis vacat et sub tegmine ludos
Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente quear.
¶ Hîc tractat super illa cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur / citius natura cusio die rerum nesciente ea que cupit / tam per diem quam per noctē abs (que) strepitu claneulo furatur.
☞ with couetyse yet I fynde
A seruaunt of the same kynde
whiche stelth is hote / and mycherie
with hym is euer in company
Of whom if I shall telle sothe
He stalketh as a pecocke dothe
And taketh his preye so couerte
That no man wote it in aperte
For whan he wote the lorde from home
Than woll he stalke about and come
And what thynge he fynt in his wey
whan that he seeth the men awey
He stealeth it and goth forth withall
That therof no man knowe shall
And eke full ofte he goth a nyght
without mone or sterre lyght
And with his crafte the dore vnpiketh
And taketh therin what hym lyketh
And if the dore be so shette
That he be of his entre lette
He wyll in at the wyndowe crepe
And whyle the lorde is fast a slepe
He steleth, what thynge hym best lyst
And goth his wey er it be wyst
Full ofte also by lyght of daye
Yet woll he steale, and make assay
Vnder the cote his honde he put
Tyll he the mans pure haue cut
And ryfely that he fynt therin
And thus he auntreth hym to wyn
And hereth an horn & nought ne bloweth
For no man of his counsayle knoweth
what he may gette of his mychynge
It is all bylle vnder the wynge
And as an hounde that goth to folde
And hath there take what he wolde
His mouth vpon the gras be wypeth
And so with feyned chere hym slypeth
That what as euer of shepe be strangle
There is no man therof shall iangle
And for to knowe who it dede
Ryght so dothe stelthe in euery stede
where as hym lyst his preye take
He can so well his cause make
And so well feyne and so well glose
That there ne shall no man suppose
But that he were an innocent
And thus a mans eie he blent
So that this crafte & may remeue
withouten helpe of any meue
There be louers of that degre
whiche all her lust in priuete
As who sayth getten all by stelth
And ofte atteynen to great welth
And for the tyme that it lasteth
For loue awayteth euer / and casteth
Howe he may stele, and catche his pray
whan he therto may fynde a way
For be it nyght, or be it day
He taketh his parte, whan that he may
And if he may no more do
yet woll he stele a cusse or two
¶My sonne what sayst thou therto
Telle if thou dyddest euer so
My father how? ¶ My sonne thus
If thou hast stole any cusse
Or other thynge / whiche therto lōgeth
For no man suche theues bongeth
Telle on for thy, and saith the trouth
¶ My father nay / and that is routh
For by my wylle, I am a thefe
But she, that is to me most lefe
yet durst I neuer in priuete
Nought ones take her by the kne
To steale of hir, or this, or that
And if I durst I wote well what
And netheles but if I lye
By stelth ne by robberie
Of loue, whiche fell in my thought
To hir dyd I neuer nought
But as men seyne, where herte is fayled
There shall no castell be assayled
But though I had hertes ten
And were as stronge as all men
If I be nat myn owne man
And dare not vsen, that I can
I may my selfe not recouere
Though I be man neuer so pouere
I bere an herte, and hire it is
So that me fayleth wyt in this
Howe that I shulde of myne accorde
The seruant lede ayenst the lorde
For if my foote wolde awhere go
Or that my honde wolde els do
what that my herte is there ayeyne
The remenant is all in veyne
And thus me lacketh all welle
And yet ne dare I nothyng steele
Of thynge, whiche longeth vnto loue
And eke it is so high aboue
I may not well therto areche
But if so be a tyme of speche
Full selde, if than I stele may
A worde or two, and go my way
Betwixte hir high estate and me
Comparyson there may none be
So that I fele, and well I wote
All is to heuy and to hote
To set on honde without leue
And thus I mot algate leue
To stele that I may not take
And in this wyse I mote forsake
To ben a thefe ayen my wylle
Of thyng, whiche I may not fulfylle
For that serpent, whiche neuer slept
The flees of golde so well ne kepte
In Colchos, as the tale is tolde
That my lady a thousand folde
Nys better ȝemed, and bewaked
where she be clothed / or be naked
To kepe her body nyght and day
She hath awardeyn redy ay
whiche is so wounderfull a wyght
That hym ne may no mans myght
with swerd ne with no wepon daunte
Ne with no sleyght of charme enchant
wherof be myght be made tame
And Danger is his ryght name
whiche vnder locke, and vnder key
That no man may it stele awey
Hath al the tresour ynder fonge
That vnto loue may belonge
The lest lokynge of her eye
May not be stole, if he it sey
And who so grutcheth for so lyt
He wold soone set a wyte
On hym, that wolde stele more
And that me greueth wonder sore
For this prouerbe is euer newe
That stronge lockes maken trewe
Of hem that wolden stele and pyke
For so wel can there no man slyke
By hym ne by no other mene
To whome Daunger wol yeue or lene
Of that tresour he hath to kepe
So though I wold stalke and crepe
And wayte on eue, and eke on morowe
Of Daunger shal I nothynge borowe
And stele wel ne may I nought
And thus I am ryght wel bethought
whyle Daunger stont in his offyce
Of stelth, whiche ye clepe a vyce
I shall be gylty neuer mo
Therfore I wold he were ago
So fer, that I neuer of hym herde
Howe so that afterward it ferde
For than I myght yet percas
Of loue make some purchas
By stelth, or by some other way
That nowe fro me stont fer away
But fader as ye tolde aboue
who stelth goth a nyght for loue
I may not wel that poynte forsake
That oft tymes I ne wake
On nyghtes, whan that other slepe
But howe, I pray you take kepe
whan I am lodged in suche a wyse
That I by nyght may aryse
At some wyndowe and loken oute
And se the howsynge al aboute
So that I may the chamber knowe
In whiche my lady, as I trowe
Lyeth in her bed, and slepeth softe
Than is myn hert a thefe ful ofte
For there I stonde and behold
The longe nyghtes / that ben cold
And thynke on hir, that lyeth there
And than I wisshe, that I were
Als wyse as was Nectauabus
Or elles as was Protheus
That couthen both of Nigronance
In what lykenesse in what semblaunce
Ryght as him lyst hym selfe transforme
For if I were of suche a forme
I sey than I wolde flee
In to her chamber for to se
If any grace wold falle
So that I myght vnder the palle
Some thynge of loue pyke and stele
And thus I thynke thoughtes fele
And though there of no thynge be soth
yet ese as for a tyme it doth
But at last whan I fynde
That I am fall in to my mynde
And se / that I haue stonde longe
And haue no profyte vnderfonge
Than stalke I to my bedde within
And this is all that euer I wynne
Of loue, whan I walke on nyght
My wyll is good, but of my myght
Me lacketh both / and of my grace
For who so that my thought embrace
yet haue I nought the better ferde
My father Lo, nowe haue ye herde
what I by stelth of loue haue do
And howe my wylle hath be therto
If I be worthy to penaunce
I put it to your ordynaunce
¶ My sonne of stelth I the behete
Though it be for a tyme swete
At ende it doth but lytell good
As by ensample howe that it stood
whylome, I may the tell nowe
¶I pray you father tell me howe
¶ My sonne of him, which goth dy day
By wey of stelthe to assay
In loues cause, and taketh his pray
Ouide saide, as I shall say
And in his Methamor he tolde
A tale, whiche is good to holde.
¶Hic in amoris causa super isto latrocinio, quod de nocte contingit / ponit exemplum. Et narrat, quod cum Leucothea Orcami filia in cameris sub arcta matris custodia virgo presernabatur, Phebus eius pulchritudinem concupiscens in conclaue [Page] bomus elata luce subintrās, virginis pudiciciam matre obsente deflorauit, vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum vinam effodit, ex cuius tumulo florem quem solsequium vocant, dicūt tunc cōsequēter primitus accreuisse.
¶ The poet, vpon this matere
Of stelth, wrote in this manere
Venus, whiche hath the lawe in honde
Of thyng, whiche may not be withstōde
As she, whiche the tresoure to warde
Of loue, hath within hir warde
Phebus to loue hath so constreyned
That he without rest is peyned
with all his heete to coueyte
A mayden / whiche was warded streyte
within chambre, and kepte so cloos
That selden was / whan she discloos
Goth with hir mother for to play
Leuchothea, so as men say
[...]his mayden hyght, and Orchamus
Hir father was: and befelle thus
This doughter, that was kept so dere
And had be fro yere to yere
Vnder hir mothers discipline
A clene mayde, and a virgine
Vpon the wose natiuitie
Of comely heed, and of beautie
Nature hath set all that she may
That lyche vnto the fress he may
whiche other monethes of the yere
Sourmounteth: so without pere
was of this mayden the feyture
wherof Phebus out of measure
Hir loueth, and on euery syde
Awayteth, if so may betyde
That he through any sleyght myght
Hir lusty maydenheed vnryght
The whiche were all his worldes welth
And thus lurkynge vpon his stelth
In his awayte so longe he lay
Tyll it befell vpon a day
That he through out hir chambre wall
Came in all sodeynlych, and stall
That thynge, that was to hym so liefe
But woo the whyle, he was a thefe
For Venus, whiche was enemy
Of thylke loues mychery
Discouerith all the pleyne caas
To Clymene, whiche than was
Towarde Phebus his concubyne
And she to let the couyne
Of thylke loue, dedely wrothe
To pleyn vpon this mayde she goth
And tolde hir father howe it stode
wherof for sorowe well nyghe wode
Vnto hir mother thus he sayde:
Lo what it is to kepe a mayde?
To Phebus dare I nothyng speke
But vpon hir it shall be wreke
So that these maydens after this
Mowe take ensample, what it is
To suffre hir maydenhede be stole
wherof that she the deth shall thole
And bad with that, to make a pytte
wherin he hath his doughter sette
As he that woll no pyte haue
So that she was all quyke begraue
And deide anone in his presence
But Phebus, for the reuerence
Of that she had ben his loue
Hath wrought, through his power aboue
That she spronge vp out of the molde
In to a floure, was named golde
whiche stonte gouerned of the sonne
And thus whan loue is euyll wonne
Full ofte it comethe to repentayle
¶ My fader that is no meruayle
whan that the counceyll is bewreyed
But oft tyme loue hath pleyed
And stolle many a pryue game
whiche neuer yet cam in to blame
what that the thynges weren hydde
But in youre tale as it betydde
Venus discouereth all the cas
And eke also brode day it was
whan Phebus suche a stelthe wrought
wherof the mayde in blame he brought
That afterward he was so lore
But for ye sayden nowe to fore
Howe stelth of loue goth by nyght
And doth his thynges oute of syght
Therof me lust also to here
A tale lyche to the matere
wherof I myght ensample take
¶ My good sonne for thy sake
So as it befelle by dayes olde
And so as the poet it tolde
Vpon the nyghtes mycherye
Nowe herken a tale of poesye
¶ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM super eodem, quod de nocte contingit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Iole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Tmolo, vbi silua Batchi est, [...]ospicio pernoctarūt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim iacentes dormierūt, cōtigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Iole, [...]ectum (que) Iole pelle le onis, qua Hercules induebatur, operari: super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Iole sue concupiscentie voluptatem, nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Iolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur: quem senciēs Hercules manibus apprehēsum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, vt impotēs sui corporis effectꝰ vs (que) mane ibidem requieuit, Vbi Saba cum Nym phis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat.
¶The myghtiest of all men
whan Hercules with Iolen
whiche was the loue of his courage
To gether vpon a pylgremage
Towarde Rome shulden go
It fell hem by the way so
That they vpon a day a caue
within a roche founden haue
whiche was ryall and glorious
And of entayle curious
By name, and Thophis it was hote
The sonne shone tho wonder hote
As it was in the somer tyde
This Hercules, whiche by his syde
Hath Iolen his loue there
whan they at thylke caue were
He seyd, he thought it for the best
That she hir for the bete rest
All thylke day, and thylke nyght
And she that was a lusty wyght
It lyketh hir all that he seyde
And thus they dwell yet and pleyde
The longe day, and so befyll
This caue was vnder the hyll
Of Tmolus, whiche was begrowe
with vynes, and at thylke throwe
Faunus with Saba the goddesse
By whom the large wyldernesse
In thylke tyme stode gouerned
were in a place, as I am lerned
Nyghe by, whiche Bachus wode hight
This Faunus toke a great insyght
Of Iolen, that was nowe nyghe
For whan that he hir beautie syghe
Out of his wyt he was assoted
And in his herte it hath so noted
That he forsoke the Nymphes all
And sayde, he wolde, howe so it fall
Assay an other for to wynne
So that his herte thought within
He set, and cast, howe that it myght
Of loue pyke away by nyght
That he by day in other wyse
To stele myght not suffyce
And therupon his tyme he awayteth
Now take good hede how loue affaireth
Hym, whiche with al is ouercome
Faire Iolen whan she was come
with Hercules in to the caue
She sayde hym, that she wolde haue
His clothes of, & hirs bothe
And eche of hem shulde other cloth
And all was do right as she bad
He hath hir in his clothes clad
And cast on her his golion
whiche of the skyn of a lyon
was made, as he vpon the weye
It slough, and ouer this to pleye
She toke his great mace also
And knyt it at her gyrdell tho
So was she lyche the man arrayed
And Hercules than hath assayed
To clothen hem in her array
And thus they iape forth the day
Tylle that her souper redy were
And whan they hadden souped there
They shopen hem to go to rest
And as it thought hem for the best
They bad, as for thylke nyght
Two sondry heddes shuld be dyght
For they togeder lygge nolde
By cause that they offer wolde
Vpon the morowe her sacryfyce
The seruantes dydden her offyce
And sondry beddes made anone
wherin that they to rest gone
Eche by hem selfe in sondry place
Fayre Iolen hath sette the mace
Besydes her beddes heed aboue
And with the clothes of her loue
She hylled all her bedde aboute
And he, whiche nothynge had in doute
Hir wymple wonde about his cheke
Her kyrtell, and her mantell eke
Abrode vpon his bedde he spredde
And thus they slepen bothe a bedde
what of trauayle, what of wyne
The seruauntes lyke to dronken swyne
Began for to route faste
This Faunus, whiche his stelth cast
was than comen to the caue
And fonde they were all saue
without noyse, and in he went
The derke night his syght blent
And yet it happed hym to go
where Iolen a bedde tho
was layde alone for to slepe
But for he wolde take kepe
whose bedde it was, he made assay
And of a lyon, where he lay
The cote he founde, and eke he feleth
The mace, and than his herte keleth
That there durst he not abyde
But stalketh vpon euery syde
And sought about with his honde
That other bedde tyll that he fonde
where lay bewympled a vysage
Tho was he glad in his courage
For he her kyrtell fonde also
And eke her mantell bothe two
Bespredde vpon the bedde alofte
He made hym naked than, and softe
Into the bedde vnware he crepte
where Hercules that tyme slepte
And wende well it were she
And thus in stede of Iole
Anone he profreth hym to loue
But he, whiche felte a man aboue
This Hercules hym threwe to grounde
So sore, that they haue hym founde
Lyggende there vpon the morowe
And tho was nought a lytell sorowe
That Faunus of hym selfe made
But els they were all glade
And lough hym to scorne aboute
Saba with Nymphes all a route
Came downe to loke, howe that it ferde
And whan that they the soth herde
He was beiaped ouerall
¶My sonne be thou ware with all
To seche suche mycheryes
But if thou haue the better aspyes
In aunter if the so betyde
As Faunus dyd thylke tyde
wherof thou myght be shamed so
¶Myn holy fader certes no
But if I had ryght good leue
Suche mycherye I thynke leue
My faynt herte woll not serue
For maugre wolde I not deserue
In thylke place, where I loue
But for ye tolden here aboue
Of couetyse and his pyllage
If there be more of that lygnage
whiche toucheth to my shryfte I pray
That ye therof me wolde say
So that I may the vyce eschewe
¶Sonne if I by order shewe
The vyces as they stonde a rowe
Of couetyse, thou shalt knowe
There is yet one, whiche is the last
In whome there may no vertue last
For he with god hym selfe debateth
wherof that all the heuen hym hateth
Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat
Vt sibi sint agri, fic domus alma dei,
Nec locus est, in quo nō temptat amans, ꝙ amat
Si quae posse nequit, carpere velle capit.
¶ Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que sacrilegium dicitur, cuius furum ea (que) altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.
¶The hygh god, whiche all good
Purueyed hath for mans fode
Of clothes and of mete and drynke
Bade Adam, that he shuld swynke
To getten hym his sustenaunce
And eke he set an ordynaunce
Vpon a lawe of Moyses
That though a man be haueles
yet shall be not by theft stele
But nowe a dayes there ben fele
That woll no labour vndertake
But what they may by stelth take
They holde it sykerlyche wonne
And thus the lawe is ouerronne
whiche god hath set, and namely
with hem that so vntruly
The goodes robbe of holy churche
The theft, whiche they than wyrche
By name is cleped Sacrylege
Ayen the whome I thinke allege
Vpon the poyntes as we ben taught
Stont Sacrylege, and elles nought
The fyrste poynt is for to say
whan that a thefe shall stele away
The holy thynge frome holy place
The seconde is if he purchace
By way of theft vnholy thinge
whiche he vpon his knowleyginge
Fro holy place away toke
The thyrde poynt, as sayth the boke
Is suche, as where as euer it be
In wodde, in felde, or in cyte
Shall no man stele by no wyse
That halowed is to the seruyse
Of god, whiche all thynges wotte
But there is nother cold ne hotte
whiche he for god or man woll spare
So that the body may wel fare
And that he may the world escape
The heuen hym thynketh is but a iape
And thus the soth for to telle
He riseleth both boke and belle
So forth with all the remenaunt
To goddes hows appertinaunte
where that he shulde bydde his bede
He doth his theft in holy stede
And taketh what thynge he fynt therin
For whan be seeth, that he may wyn
He wondeth for no cursidnesse
That bene breketh the holynesse
And doth to god no reuerence
For be hath lost his conscience
That though the preste therfore corse
He seyth, he fareth not the worse
And for to speke it other wyse
what man that lasseth the fraunchyse
And taketh of holy churche his pray
I not what bedes he shall praye
whan he fro god, whiche hath yiue all
The purpartie in speciall
whiche vnto Christ hym selfe is due
By nemeth, he may not wel eschue
The peyne comynge afterwarde
For he hath made his forewarde
with sacrilege for to dwelle
whiche hath his heritage in helle
¶Hic tractat precipue de tribus sacrilegis, quorum vnus fuit Antiochus, alter Nabuzardan, tertius Nabugodonosor.
¶And if we rede of tholde lawe
I fynde wryte in thylke lawe
Of princes, howe there weren thre
Culpable sore in this degre
That one of hem was cleped thus
The proude kynge Antiochus
That other Nabuzardan hyght
whiche of his cruelte behyght
The temple to distroye and waste
And so he dyd in all haste
The thrydde, which was after shamed
was Nabugodonosor named
And he Hierusalem put vnder
Of sacrilege and many a wonder
There in the holy temple he wrought
whiche Balthasar his heyre abought.
☞ Nota de scripta in pariete tempore regis Balthasar que fuit, Mane Techel Phares.
¶whan Mane Techel Phares wryte
was on the walle, as thou myght wyte
So as the bible it hath declared
But for al that it is nought spared
yet nowe a day, that men ne pylle
And maken argument and skylle
To sacrilege as it belongeth
For what man that there after longeth
He taketh none hede what he doth
And if a man shall tell soth
Of gyle, and of subtyltie
Is none so slygh in his degree
To feyne a thynge for his beyete
As is this vice of whiche I trete
He can so priuiliche pyke
He can so well his wordes slyke
To put away suspecion
That in his excusation
There shall no man defaute fynde
And thus full ofte men be blynde
That stonden of his worde deceyued
Er his queintise be perceyued
But netheles yet other whyle
For all his stelth, and all his gyle
Of that he wolde his werke forsake
He is atteynt, and ouertake
wherof thou shalte a tale rede.
☞ HIC LOQVITVR DE [...] [...]ni laruata conscientia sacrilegium sibi licere [...]nt. Et narrat, quod cum quidam Lucius [...]cus famosus et imperatori notus deum [...] Aro [...]mem in Templo Rome de anulo suo, [...] et barba aurea spoliasset / ipse tandem [...]ebensus, ei coram imperatore accusatus, [...]ter se excusando eit: Anulum a deo recepi, [...] [...]se digito protenso ex sua largitate anu [...]m l [...]nc gratiose mihi obtulit, pallium ex lamine a reo constructum tuli: quia aurum maxime [...]eresum et frigidum naturaliter consistit. [...] nec in estate, propter, pondus nec in hyeme [...] te [...] frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit: barbam a [...] Qui ipsū patri suo assimulare volui. [...] et Apollo stetit abs (que) barba / innenis appa [...]t. Et [...]ic ea que gessi non ex furto sed ex hone [...]ate processisse manifeste declaram.
¶ Er Rome came to the creance
Of Christis feyth it fell perchance
Cesar, whiche tho was emperour
Hym lyst for to done honour
Vnto the temple Apollinis
And made an ymage vpon this
The whiche was cleped Apollo
was none so ryche in Rome tho
Of plate of golde a herde he had
The whiche his brest all ouer spradde
Of golde also without fayle
His mantell was of large entayle
Be sette with perrey all aboute
Forth ryght he straught his fynger out
Vpon the whiche he had a rynge
To seen it was a ryche thyng
A fyne carbuncle for the nones
Moste precious of all stones
And fell that tyme in Rome thus
There was a clerke one Lucius
A courtier, a famous man
Of euery wytte somwhat he can
Out take that hym lacketh reule
His owne estate to guyde and rule
Howe so it stode of his spekynge
He was not wyse in his doynge
But euery ryote at last
Mote nedes falle, and may not laste
After the nede of his deserte
So felle this clerke in pouerte
And wyst not howe for to ryse
wherof in many a sondry wyse
He cast his wyttes here and ther
He loketh nygh, he loketh ferre
Tyll on a tyme that he come
Into the temple, and hede nome
where that the god Apollo stode
He sygh the ryches, and the good
And thought he wolde by some wey
The treasure pycke and stele away
And thervpon so sleyghly wrought
That his purpose about he brought
And went awey vnaperceued
Thus hath the man his god deceyued
His rynge, his mantell, and his berd
As he whiche nothynge was aferd
All priuely with hym he bare
And whan the wardeyns were ware
Of that her god despoiled was
Hem thought it was a wonder cas
Howe that a man for any wele
Durste in so holy place stele
And namely so great a thynge
This tale came vnto the kynge
And was through spoken ouerall
But for to knowe in speciall
what maner man hath do the dede
They soughten helpe vpon the nede
And maden calculacion
wherof by demonstracion
The man was founde with the good
In iugement and whan he stode
The kynge hath asked of hym
My lorde if I the cause allege
Quod he ayene, me thynketh this
That I haue do nothynge amis
Thre pointes ther ben, which I haue do
wherof the fyrste poynt stant so
That I the rynge haue take away
Vnto that poynt this woll I say
whan I the god behelde about
I sygh / howe he his honde straught out
And profred me the rynge to yeue
And I, whiche wolde gladly lyue
Out of pouerte, through his largesse
It vnderfange, so that I gesse
And therof am I nought to wyte
And ouermore I woll me quyte
Of golde that I the mantell toke
Golde in his kynde, as saythe the boke
Is heuy both and colde also
And for that it was heuy so
Me thought it was no garnement
Vnto the god conuenient
To clothen hym the sommer tyde
I thought vpon that other syde
Howe gold is colde, and suche a clothe
By reason ought to be lothe
In wynter tyme for the chele
And thus thynkende thoughtes fele
As I myn eie aboute caste
His large berde than at laste
I sygh, and thought anone therfore
Howe that his father hym before
whiche stode vpon the same place
was berdles, with a yongly face
And in suche wise, as ye haue herde
I toke away the sonnes berde
For that his father had none
To make hem lyche, and here vpon
I aske for to ben excused
¶Lo thus where sacrilege is vsed
A man can feyne his conscience
And ryght vpon suche euidence
In loues cause if I shall trete
There ben of such small and great
If they no leyser fynde elles
They wol not wonde for the belles
Ne though they se the preest at masse
That wol they leten ouerpasse
If that they fynde her loue there
They stande and telle in her ere
And aske of god none other grace
whyle they ben in that holy place
But er they gon some auauntage
There wyll they haue, and som pyllage
Of goodly wordes, or of beheste
Or elles they take at leste
Out of her honde a rynge or gloue
So nygh the weder they wyll houe
As who sayth she shall not foryet
Nowe I this token of her haue gete
Thus halowe they the hye feste
Suche thefte may no churche areste
For all is lefull that hem lyketh
To whome that elles it myslyketh
And eke ryght in the selfe kynde
In great cytees men may fynde
This lusty folke, that make hem gay
And wayte vpon the holy day
In churches, and in mynstres eke
They gon the women for to seke
And where that suche one goth about
To fore the fayrest of the route
where as they sytten all a rewe
There wylle he moste his body shewe
His croked kempt, and therupon set
An ouche, with a chapelet
Or elles one of grene leues
whiche late come oute of the greues
All for he shulde seme fressh
And thus he loketh on his flesshe
Ryght as an hauke, which hath a syght
Vpon the fowle, there he shall lyght
And as he were a fayrye
He sheweth hym to for her eye
In holy place where they sytte
Al for to make her hertes flytte
His eye no where woll abyde
But loke and pry on euery syde
On her and her, as hym best lyketh
And other whyle a monge he syketh
Thynketh one of hem that was for me
And so there thynken two or thre
And yet he loueth none of all
But where as euer his schaunce falle
And netheles to sey a soth
The cause why that he so doth
Is for to stele an herte or two
Out of the churche er that he go
And as I sayd it here aboue
All is that sacrylege of loue
For well may be that he steleth awey
That he neuer after yeld may
Telle me for thy my sonne anone
Hast thou do sacrylege or none
As I haue sayd in this manere
¶My fader as of this matere
I wyll you telle redyly
what I haue do, but truly
I may excuse myn entent
That I neuer yet to churche went
In suche maner as ye me shryue
For no woman that is on lyue
The cause why I haue it last
May be, for I vnto that crafte
Am nothynge able for so stele
Though there be women not so fele
But yet wylle I not sey this
whan I am there my lady is
In whom lyeth holy my quarele
And she to churche / or to chappele
woll go to matens or to messe
That tyme I wayte welle and gesse
[...]o churche I come, and there I stonde
A
[...] though I take a boke on honde
[...] countenaunce is on the boke
[...] toward her is all my loke
[...] is falle, that I pray
Vnto my god, an somwhat say
Of pater noster, or of crede
[...] is for that I wolde spede
So that my bede in holy churche
There myght som myracle wirche
[...]y ladys herte for to chaunge
whiche euer hath he to me so straunge
So that all my deuocion
And all my contemplacion
with all myn herte and my corage
Is onely set on her ymage
And euer I wayte vpon the tyde
If she loke any thynge asyde
That I me may of her auyse
Anone I am with couetyse
So smyte, that me were lefe
To be in holy churche a thefe
But not to stele a vestement
For that is nothyng my talent
But I wolde stele, if that I myght
A glad worde, or a goodly syght
And euer my seruice I profere
And namely whan she woll gone offre
For than I lede hir, if I may
For somwhat wolde I stele away
whan I beclyppe hir on the wast
Yet at lest I stele a tast
And other whyle grant mercy
She saith and so wynne I therby
A lusty touche, a good worde eke
But all the remenant to seke
Is fro my purpos wonder ferre
So may I say, as I sayde erre
In holy churche if that I wowe
My conscience I wolde allowe
Be so that vp amendement
I myght gete assygnement
where, for to spede in other place
Suche sacrilege I holde a grace
And thus my father soth to say
In churche ryght as in the way
If I myght ought of loue take
Suche hansell haue I nought forsake
But fynally I me confesse
There is in me no holynesse
whyle I hir se in holy stede
And yet for ought that euer I dede
No sacrilege of hir I toke
But if it were of worde or loke
Or els if that I her frede
whan I towarde offrynge hir lede
Take therof what I take may
For els bere I nought away
For though I wolde ought els haue
All other thynges bene so saue
And kepte with suche a priuilege
That I may do no sacrilege
God wote my wyl netheles
Though I must nedes kepe pees
And maugre myn so let it passe
My wyll therto is not the lasse
If I myght other wyse away
For thy my father I you pray
Tell what you thynketh therupon
[...] I therof haue gylte or none
¶Thy wyll my sonne is for to blame
The remenant is but a game
That I haue the tolde as yet
[...]ut take this lore in to thy wyt
That all thynge hath tyme and stede
The churche serueth for the bede
The chambre is of an other speche
But if thou wystest of the wreche
Howe sacrilege it hath abought
Thou woldest bettre be bithought
And for thou shalte the more amende
A tale I wyll on the dispende
¶Hic in amoris causa super istius vicii articulo ponit exemplum, Et narrat pro eo quod Parys Priami regis filius Helenam Menelai vxorem in quadam Grecie Insula a templo Veneris sacriligus abduxit, illa Troie famosiffima obsidia ꝑ vniuersa orbis climita diuulgata precipue cansabat, ita quod huiusmodi sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius regis Pitami, omnium (que) fuorum interitum / sed ad perpetuam vrbis desolacionem vindicte fomitem ministrabat.
¶To all men, as who sayth, knowe
It is, and in the worlde through blowe
Howe that of Troye Lamedon
To Hercules, and to Iason
whan toward Colchos out of Grece
By se seylend vpon a pece
Of londe of Troye reste preyde
But he wrothfully comeyde
And for they found hym soo vylleyne
whan they came into grece ageyne
with power, that they get myght
Towardes Troye they hem dyght
And there they toke suche vengeaunce
wherof stant yet the remembraunce
For they destroyed kynge and all
And leften but the brent walle
The grekes of Troyens many slowe
And prisoners they toke inowe
Amonge the whiche there was one
The kynges doughter Lamedon
Essiona the faire thynge
whiche vnto Thelamon the kynge
By Hercules, and by thassent
Of all the holle parliament
was at his wylle yeue & graunted
And thus hath Grece Troy daunted
And home they tourne in suche manere
But after this, nowe shalt thou here
The cause why this tale I telle
Vpon the chaunces that befelle
¶Kynge Lamedon, whiche deide thus
He had a sonne one Priamus
which was nought thilke tyme at home
But whan he herde of this he come
And fonde howe the citie was falle
whiche he began anon to walle
And made there a citie newe
That they, whiche other londes knewe
Tho seyden that of lyme and stone
In all the worlde so faire was none
And on that o syde of the towne
The kynge lette make Ilion
That hygh toure, that stronge place
whiche was adrad of no manace
Of quarcle, nor of none engyne
And though men wolden make a myne
No mans crafte it myght approche
For it was sette vpon a roche
The walles of the towne about
Hem stode of all the worlde no dout
And after the proportion
Sixe gates were there of the towne
Of suche a forme, of suche entayle
That hem to se was great meruayle
The dyches weren brode & depe
A fewe meirit myght kepe
From all the worlde, as semeth tho
But if the goddes weren fo
Great prees vnto that citie drough
So that there was of people inough
Of burgeys that therin dwellen
There may no mans tunge tellen
Howe that citie was ryche and good.
¶whan all was made, & all well stode
Kynge Priamus tho hym bethought
what they of grece whilom wrought
And what was of her sworde deuoured
And howe his suster deshonoured
with Thelamon away was lad
And tho thynkende he waxte vnglad
And sette anone a parliment
To whiche the lordes were assent
In many a wyse there was spoke
Howe that they myghten bene a wroke
But at the last netheles
They saiden all, accorde and pees
To setten euery parte in rest
It thought hem than for the best
with reasonable amendement
And thus was Anthenor forth sent
To aske Esyona ageyne
And witten what they wolde seyne
So passeth he the see by barge
To grece, for to sey his charge
The whiche he sayde redyly
Vnto the lordes by and by
But where he spake in grece aboute
He herde not but wordes stoute
And namelyche of Thelamon
The mayden wolde he not forgone
He sayde for no maner thynge
And had hym gone home to his kynge
For there gate he none amende
For ought he couth do or sende
This Anthenor ayene goth home
Vnto his kynge, and whan he come
He tolde, in grece of that be herde
And howe that Thelamon answerde
And howe they were at her aboue
That they wol neither pees ne loue
But euery man shall done his best
But for men seyen, that nyght hath rest
The kyng bithought him all that nyght
And erely whan the day was lyght
He toke his councell of this matere
And they accorde in this manere
That he withouten any let
A certeyne tyme shulde set
A parlement to ben auysed
And in this wyse it was auysed
Of parlement he set a day
And that was in the moneth of May
This Priamus had in his yght
A wyfe, and Hecuba she byght
By whom that tyme eke had he
Sonnes fyue, and doughters thre
Besyden hem and thyrty mo
And weren knyghtes also tho
But not vpon his wyfe begete
But els where he myght hem gete
Of women, whiche he had knowe
Suche was the worlde that
[...]ilke th
[...]
So that he was of children ryche
So therof was no man hym lyche
Of parlement the day was come
There bene lordes all and some
Tho was pronounced and purposed
And all the cause was hem disclosed
Howe Anthenor in grece ferde
They sytten all styll and herde
And tho spake euery man aboute
There was alledged many a doute
And many a proude worde spoke also
But for the moste parte as tho
They wysten, not what was the beste
Or for to warre, or for to reste
But he that was without fere
Hector amonge the lordes there
His tale tolde in suche a wyse
And sayde: Lordes ye ben wyse
Ye knowen this / as well as I
Aboue all other most worthy
Stant nowe in grece the manhod
Of worthynes and of knyghthod
For who so wyll it wel agrope
To hem belongeth all Europe
whiche is the thyrd parte euen
Of all the worlde vnder the heuen
And we be but of folke a fewe
So were it reson for to eschewe
The perel, er we fall therin
Better is to leue than begyn
Thyng, which as may not ben acheued
He is not wyse / that fynde hym greued
And doth so, that his greue be more
For who that loketh all tofore
And woll not se, what is behynde
He may full ofte his harmes fynde
wycke is to stryue, and haue the worse
we haue encheson for to corse
This wote I well, and for to hate
The grekes, but er that we debate
with hem, that ben of suche a myght
It is full good, that euery wyght
Be of hym selfe ryght well bethought
But as for me thus say I nought
For whyle that my lyfe woll stonde
If that ye take werre in honde
Falle it to the best, or to the werst
I shall my seluen be the ferst
To greuen hem, what euer I may
I wolle not ones say nay
To thinge, whiche that your coūceil demeth
For vnto me welle more it quemeth
The werre certes than the pees
But this I saye netheles
As me belongeth for to say
Nowe shape ye the beste way
¶whan Hector hath sayde his auyse
Next after hym tho spake Paris
whiche was his brother, and aleyed
what hym best thought, thus he sayde
Stronge thynge it is to suffer wronge
And suffer shame is more stronge
But we haue suffred both two
And for all that yet haue we do
what so we myght to reforme
The pees, whan we in suche a forme
Sent Anthenor, as ye wel knowe
And they her gret wordes blowe
Vpon her wrongfull dedes eke
And who that woll not hym selfe meke
To pees, and lyst no reason take
Men seyn reason wyl hym forsake
For in the multitude of men
Is not the strengthe, for with ten
It hath be sene in trewe quarele
Ayene an bonderd false, dele
And had the better of goddes grace
Thus hath befalle in many place
And if it lyke vnto you all
I wylle assay howe so it falle
Our enemys if I may greue
For I haue caught a gret beleue
Vpon a poynt I wol declare
This ender day as I gan fare
To hunte vnto the great herte
whiche was tofore myn houndes sterte
And euery man went on his syde
Hym to pursewe, and I to ryde
Began to chase, and sooth to say
within a whyle oute of my way
I rode, and nyst where I was
And slepe me caught, and on the grasse
Besyde a welle I leyd me downe
To slepe, and in a vysyon
To me the god Mercurye came
Goddesses thre with hym he nam
Minerue, Venus, and Iuno
And in his honde an apple tho
He helde of golde, with letters wryte
And this he dyd me to wyte
Howe that they put hem vpon me
That to the fayrest of hem thre
Of golde that apple shulde I yeue
with eche of hem, tho was I shryue
And eche one faire me behyght
But Venus sayde, if that she myght
That apple of my yefte gette
She wolde it neuermore foryete
And sayde, howe that in grece londe
She wolde brynge in to myn honde
Of all this erth the fayrest
So that me thought it for the best
To hir and yafe the apple tho
Thus hope I well, if that I go
That she for me woll so ordeyne
That they matere for to pleyne
Shull haue, or that I come ayene
Nowe haue ye herde, that I woll seyne
Say ye, what stant in your auys
And euery man tho sayde his
And sondry causes they recorde
But at last they accorde
That Parys shall to grece wende
And thus the parliament toke ende,
¶Cassandra whan she herde of this
The whiche to Parys syster is
Anone she gan to wepe and weyle
And sayde alas, what may vs eyle
Fortune with her blynde whele
Ne woll nought let vs stonde wele
For this I dare well vndertake
That if Parys his way take
As it is sayde, that he shall do
we ben for euer than vndo
The whiche Cassandra than hyght
In all the worlde as it beareth syght
In bokes, as men fynde write
Is that Sibille, of whom ye wyte
That all men yet clepen sage
whan that she wyst of this viage
How Paris shall to grece fare
No woman myght worse fare
Ne sorowe more than she dyd
And ryght so in the same stede
Ferde Helenus, whiche was hir brother
Of prophecy and suche another
And all was holde but a iape
So that the purpose, whiche was shape
Or were hem lefe, or were hem lothe
was holde: and in to Grece goth
This Paris, with his retenance
And as it fell vpon his chaunce
Of Grece he londeth in an yle
And hym was tolde, the same whyle
Of folke / whiche he began to freyne
Tho was in thyle quene Heleyne
And eke of countrees there aboute
Of ladies many a lusty route
with mochel worthy people also
And why they comen theder tho
The cause stode in suche a wyse
For worshyp and for sacrifyce
That they to Venus wolden make
As they to fore had vndertake
Some of good wyll, and some of bihest
For than was hir by he fest
within a temple, whiche was there
whan Parys wyst, what they were
Anone he shope his ordinance
To gone to done his obeysance
[...]o Venus, on hir holy day
A
[...]d dyd vpon his best aray
with great richesse he hym behongeth
[...] to suche a lorde belongeth
He was nought armed netheles
B
[...]t as it were in londe of pees
And thus he goth forth out of shyp
A
[...]d taketh with hym his felaushyp
[...] suche manere, as I you say
Vnto the temple he helde his way
¶ Tydyng / whiche goth ouerall
To great and small forthe withall
Come to the quenes ere, and tolde
Howe Parys came, and that he wolde
Do sacrifice to Venus
And whan she herde tell thus
She thought / howe that it euer be
That she wyll hym abyde and se
Forth cometh Parys with glad visage
In to the temple on pilgremage
where vnto Venus the goddesse
He yeueth, and offreth great rychesse
And prayeth hir, that he pray wolde
And than asyde he gan beholde
And se, where that this lady stode
And he forthe in his fresshe mode
Goth there she was, & made hir chere
As he well couth in his manere
That of his wordes suche plesance
She toke, that all hir aqueyntance
Als ferforth as the herte lay
He stale / er that he went away
So goth he forthe, and toke his leue
And thought anone, as it was eue
He wolde done his sacrilege
That many a man shulde it abedge
whan he to shyp ayene was come
To hym he hath his counsayle nome
And all deuysed the matiere
In suche a wyse, as thou shalt here
within nyght all priuely
His men he warneth by and by
That they be redy armed sone
For certeyne thynge, whiche is to done
And they anone ben redy all
And echone other gan to call
And went hem out vpon the stronde
And toke a purpose there a londe
Of what thynge that they wolden do
Towarde the temple and forth they go
So felle it of deuocion
Heleyne in contemplacion
with many an other worthy wyght
was in the temple and woke all nyght
To bydde and praye vnto thymage
Of Venus, as was than vsage
So that Parys ryght as hym lyst
In to the temple er they it wyst
Came with his men all sodenly
And all at ones set askry
In hem, whiche in the temple were
For tho was moche peple there
But of defence was no boote
So suffren they, that suffre mote
Paris vnto the quene wente
And her in both his armes bente
with hym, and with his felaushyp
And forth they here her vnto shyp
Vp goth the sayle, and forth they wente
And suche a wynde fortune hem sent
Tyll they the hauen of Troy caught
where out of shyp anone they straught
And gone hem forth towarde the towne
The whiche came with processyon
Ayene Paris, to sene his pray
And euery man began to say
To Parys, and to his felaushyp
All that they couthen of worshyp
was none so lyttell man in Troye
That he ne made myrthe and ioye
Of that Parys had wonnen Heleyne
But all that myrthe is sorowe and peyne
To Helenus, and to Cassandre
For they it tolden shame and sklaundre
And losse of all the comon grace
That Parys out of holy place
By stelth hath take a mans wyfe
wherof he shall lese his lyfe
And many a worthy man therto
And all the citie be for do
whiche neuer shall be made ayene
And so it fell, ryght as they seyne
The sacrilege, whiche he wrought
was cause, why the grekes sought
Vnto the towne, and it belay
And wolden neuer parte away
Tyll what by sleight, & what by strength
They had it wonnen in brede and length
And brente / and slayne, that was within
Nowe se my sonne suche a synne
Is sacrilege in holy stede
Beware therfore, and byd thy bede
And do nothyng in holy churche
But that thou myght by reason worche
And eke take bede of Achilles
whan be vnto his loue chees
Polixena, that was also
In holy temple of Apollo
whiche was the cause why he dyede
And all his lust was leyde asyde
And Troylus vpon Crescyde
Also his fyrst loue leyde
In holy place, and howe it ferde
As who seyth, all the worlde it herde
Forsake he was for Dyomede
Suche was of loue his last mede
For thy my sonne I wolde rede
By this emsample as thou myght rede
Seche els where thou wylte thy grace
And ware the well in holy place
what thou to loue do or speke
In aunter if it so be wreke
As thou hast herde me tell to fore
And take good hede also therfore
Vpon the forme of auaryce
More than of ony other vyce
I haue deuyded in partyes
The braunches, whiche of companyes
Through out the worlde in generall
Be nowe the leders ouer all
Of couetyse, and of periurie
Of fals brocage, and of vsurie
Of scarcenes, and of vnkyndeshyp
which neuer drough to felaushyp
Of robberye and of pryue stelth
whiche due is for the worldes welth
Of rauyne and of sacrylege
which maketh the conscyence agrege
All though it may ryches atteyne
It floureth but it shall not greyne
Vnto the fruyt of ryghtwysnes
But who that wolde do largesse
Vpon the reule, as it is yeu
So myght a man in trouth lyue
Toward his god, and eke also
Toward the worlde for both two
Largesse awayteth as bylongeth
To neyther part, that he ne wrongeth
He kepeth him self, he kepeth his frēdes
So stant he saufe to both his endes
That he excedeth no measure
So well he can hym selfe measure
wherof my sonne thou shalt wyte
So as the philosophe hath wryte.
Prodigus et parcus duo sunt extrema
(que) largus
Est horum medius plebis in ore bonus.
¶Nota hic de virtute largitatis que ad oppositū auaricie inter duo extrema videlicet percimoniā et prodigalitem specialiter consistit.
¶Betwyx the two extremities
Of vice, stont the properties
Of vertue, and to preue it so
Take auarice, and take also
The vice of prodigalite
Betwyx hem liberalite
(whiche is the vertue of largesse)
Stant, and gouerneth his noblesse
For tho two vices in discorde
Stonde euer, as I fynde of recorde
So that betwene her two debate
Largesse ruleth his astate
For in suche wyse as auarice
As I tofore haue tolde the vice
Through streit holding, & through scarsnesse
Stant contrary to largesse
Ryght so stant prodigalite
Reuers, but nought in suche degre
For so as auarice spareth
And for to kepe his treasour careth
That other all his owne and more
Ayene the wyse mannes lore
yeueth and dispendeth here and there
So that hym recheth neuer where
whyle he may borowe, he woll dispende
Tyll at last he saith, I wende
But that is spoken all to late
For than is pouerte at gate
And taketh hym euen by the sleue
For erst woll he no wysedome leue
And ryght as auarice is synne
That wolde his treasour kepe & wynne
Ryght so is prodigalite
But of largesse in his degre
whiche euen stant betwene the two
The hygh god and man also
The vertue eche of hem commendeth
For he hym seluen fyrst amendeth
That ouer all his name spredeth
And to all other, where it nedeth
He yeueth his good in suche a wyse
That he maketh many a man aryse
whiche els shulde falle lowe
Largesse may not ben vnknowe
For what londe that he reigneth inne
It may not fayle for to wynne
Through his desert loue and grace
where it shall fayle in other place
And thus betwene to moche and lyte
Largesse, which is nought to wyte
Holt euer forth the myddel way
But who that wol torne away
Fro that, to prodigalyte
Anone he leueth the propyrte
Of vertu, and goth to the vyce
For in suche wyse as Auaryce
Leueth for scarsenes his good name
Ryght so that other is to blame
which through his wast mesur excedeth
For no man wote what harm it bredeth
whyle that a man hath good to yeue
with great rowtes he may leue
And hath his frendes ouerall
And eueryche of hym telle shall
The whyle he hath his ful packe
They say: a good felawe is Iacke
whan it fayleth at last
Anone his pryce they ouercast
For than is there none other lawe
But Iacke was a good felawe
whan they hym poure and nedy see
They let hym passe, and fayre well he
Al that he wend of companye
Is than torned to folye
But nowe to speke in other kinde
Of loue, a man may suche fynde
That where they come in euery rowte
They cast and wast her loue aboute
Tylle all her tyme is ouergone
And than haue they loue none
For who that loueth ouerall
It is no reason, that he shall
Of loue haue any propyrte
For thy my sonne auyse the
If thou of loue hast be to large
For suche a man is not to charge
And if it so be, that thou hast
Dyspended al thy tyme in wast
And set thy loue in sondry place
Though thou the substance of thy grace
Lese at the last it is on wonder
For he that put hym seluen vnder
As who sayth, comyn ouer all
He leseth the loue speciall
Of euery one, if she be wyse
For loue shall noughe bere his prise
By reason / whan it passeth one
So haue I sen full many one
That were of loue wele at ese
whiche after felle in great dysese
Through wast of loue, that they spent
In sondry places where they went.
Ryght so my sonne I aske of the
If thou with prodigalite
Hast here and there thy loue wasted?
¶My father nay, but I haue tasted
In many a place, as I haue go
And yet loue I neuer one of tho
But for to dryue forth the day
For leueth well, my herte is ay
withouten mo for euermore
All vpon one, for I no more
Desyre, but hir loue alone
So make I many a priue mone
For well I fele I haue dispended
My longe loue, and not amended
My spede: for ought I fynde yet
If this be wast vnto your wytte
Of loue and prodigalite
Nowe good father demeth ye
But of o thynge I wyll me shryue
That I shall for no loue thryue
But if hir selfe wyll me releue.
¶My sonne that I may well leue
And netheles me semeth so
For ought that thou hast yet mysdo
Of tyme, whiche thou hast spended
It may with grace ben amended
For thyng which may be worth the cost
Perchaunce is nother wast ne lost
For what thyng stant on auenture
That can no worldes creature
Tell in certayne, howe it shall wende
Tyll he therof may sene an ende
So that I note as yet therfore
If thou my sonne hast wonne or lore
For ofte tyme, as it is sene
whan sommer hath lost all his grene
And is with wynter wast and bare
That hym is lefte nothynge to spare
All is recouered in a throwe
The colde wyndes ouerblowe
And stylled ben the sharpe shoures
And sodeinlyche ayene his floures
The sommer happeneth, and is ryche
And so percase thy grace is lyche.
My sonne though thou be now pouer
Of loue: yet thou might recouer
¶My fader certes graunt mercy
ye haue me taught so redyly
That euer whyle I lyue shall
The better I may be ware with all
Of thynge, which ye haue sayd er this
But euermore how that it is
Toward my shryfte, as it belongeth
To wyt of other poyntes me longeth
wherof that ye me wolden teche
with all my herte I you byseche.
Explicit liber quintus.
☞ HIG IN SEXTO LIBRO tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio, quod gula dicitur, nec non et eiusdem duabus solummodo speciebus, videlicet ebrietate et delicacia / ex quibus humane concupiscencie oblectamentum habund anciue augmentatur.
¶Incipit liber Sextus.
Est gula, que nostrum maculauit prima parentū
Ex verito pomo quo dol et omnis homo,
Haec agit, vt corpus animae contraria spi
[...]
Quo caro fit crassa, spiritus at
(que) macer.
Intus et exterius si quae virtutis habentur
Potibus ebrietas conuiciata ruit.
Mersa sapore labis, q̄ Bacchus inebriat hospes,
Indignata Venus oscula raro premit.
THe great synne originall
whiche euery man in general
Vpon his birth hath enuennomed
In paradys it was mystimed
whan Adame of thylke appel bote
His swete morcell was to hote
whiche dedly made the mankynde
And in the bokes as I fynde
This vyce, whiche so oute of rule
Hath set vs all, is cleped Gule
Of whiche the braunches ben so greate
That of hem all I wol not treate
But onlyche as touchende of two
I thynke to speke and of no mo
wherof the fyrste is dronkeshyp
whiche bereth the cuppe felaushyp
Ful many a wonder doth that vyce
He can make of a wysman nyce
And of a foole, that hym shall seme
That he can all the lawe deme
And yeue euery iugement
whiche longeth to the fyrmament
Both of the sterre, and of the mone
And thus he maketh a great clerke sone
Of hym, that is a lewde man
There is no thynge, whiche he ne can
whyle he hath dronkeshyp on honde
He knowethe the see, he knowethe the strōde
He is a noble man of armes
And yet no strength is in his armes
There he was stronge inowe tofore
with dronkeshyp it is forlore
And all is chaunged his estate
And wexeth anone so feble and mate
That he may neither go ne come
But all to gether he is benome
The power both of honde & fote
So that algate abyde he mote
And all his wyttes he foryete
The whiche is to hym suche a lete
That he wote neuer, what he doth
He whiche is fals, ne whiche is soth
Ne whiche is day, ne whiche is nyght
That the tyme he knoweth no wyghte
That he ne wote so moche as this
what maner thynge hym seluen is
Or he be man, or he be beast
That holde I ryght a sory feaste
whan he, that reason vnderstode
So sodeinlyche is wexe wode
Or elles lyche the deade man
whiche nother go ne speke can
Thus ofte he is to bedde brought
But yet woteth he wher he lieth nought
Tyll he aryse vpon the morowe
And than he saith: O whiche a sorowe
It is for to be drynkeles
So that halfe dronke in suche a rees
with drye mouth be sterte hym vp
And saith: bayles sa the cuppe
That made hym lese his wyt at eue
Is than a morowe all his beleue
The cuppe is all that euer hym pleaseth
And also that hym most diseseth
It is the cuppe whom he serueth
whiche all cares from hym kerneth
And all bales to hym bryngeth
In ioye he wepeth, in sorowe he syngeth
For dronkenshyp is so dyuers
It may no whyle stonde inuers
He drynketh the wyne, but at last
The wyne drynketh him, & bynt him fast
And leyth hym dronke by the walle
As hym, whiche is his bonde thralle
And all in his subiection
And lyche to suche condicion
As for to speke it otherwyse
It falleth that the most wyse
Ben other whyle of loue adoted
And so biwhapped and assoted
Of dronken men, that neuer yet
was none, whiche halfe so lost his wytte
Of drynke, as they of suche thynges do
whiche cleped is the iolyfe wo
And wexen of her owne thought
So dronke, that they knowe nought
what reason is, or more or lesse
Suche is the kynde of that syknesse
And that is not for lacke of brayne
But loue is of so great a mayne
That where he taketh a herte on honde
There may nothig his might withstōde
The wyse Salomon was nome
And stronge Sampson ouercome
The knyghtly Dauid him ne might
Rescue, that he with the syght
Of Bersabe ne was bestade
Virgile also was ouerlade
And Aristotle was put vnder
¶ For thy my sonne it is no wonder
yf thou be dronke of loue amonge
whiche is aboue all other stronge
And if so is, that thou so be
Telle me thy shryfte in pryuyte
It is no shame of suche a thewe
Of yonge man to be dronkelewe
Of suche phisike as I can a parte
And as me semeth by that arte
Thou shuldest by phisonomye
Be shapen to that maladye
Of loue dronke, and that is routhe
¶ A holy fader all is trouthe
That ye me telle, I am be knowe
That I with loue am so bethrowe
And al my herte is so through sonke
That I am verylyche dronke
And yet I may both speke and go
But I am ouercome so
And torned fro my selfe so clene
That ofte I wote not what I mene
So that excusen I ne may
My herte fro the fyrst day
That I cam to my lady kythe
I was neuer yet sobre syth
where I her se, or se her nought
with musynge of myn owne thought
Of loue, whiche my herte assayleth
So dronke I am, that my wytte fayleth
And all my brayne is ouertorned
And my maner so mystorned
That I foryete all that I can
And stonde lyke a mased man
That ofte whan I shulde play
It maketh me drawe oute of the way
In soleyn place by my selfe
As doth a laborer to delfe
whiche can no gentylmans chere
Or elles as a lewde frere
whan he is put to his penaunce
Ryght so lese I my contenaunce
And if it nedes so betyde
That I in company abyde
There as I must daunce and synge
The houe daunce and carolynge
Or for to go the newe fote
I may not wel heue vp my fote
If that she be not in the way
For than is all my myrth away
And wexe anone of thought so full
wherof my lymmes ben so dulle
I may vnnethes gon the pas
For thus it is, and euer it was
whan I on suche thoughtes muse
The lust and myrth, that men vse
whan I se not my lady byme
All is foryete for the tyme
So ferforth, that my wyttes chaunge
And all lustes fro me straungen
That they seyn all truly
And swere, that it am not I
For as the man, which ofte drynketh
The wyne, that in his stomake synketh
waxeth dronke, and wytles for a throwe
Right so my lust is ouerthrowe
And of myn owne thought so mate
I waxe, that to myn astate
There is no lymme wyll me serue
But as a dronken man I swerue
And suffre suche a passyon
That men haue great compassyon
And eueryche by hym selfe meruayleth
what thynge it is, that me so eyleth
Suche is the maner of my wo
whiche tyme that I am hir fro
Tyll efte ayene that I hir se
But than it were a nycete
To tell you howe that I fare
For whan I may vpon hir stare
Her womanheed, her gentylnesse
Myn hert is full of suche gladnesse
That ouerpasseth so my wyt
That I wote neuer where it syt
But am so drunken of that syght
Me thinketh, that for the time I might
Ryght sterte through the holle walle
And than I may well, if I shall
Both synge and daunce, and lepe about
And holde forthe the lusty route
But netheles it falleth so
Full ofte that I fro her go
Ne may, but as it were a stake
I stonde / auysement to take
And loke vpon her faire face
That for the whyle out of the place
For all the worlde ne might I wende
Suche luste comth than into my mynde
So that withoute mete and drynke
Of lusty thoughtes, whiche I thynke
Me thynketh I myght stonden euer
And so it were to me leuer
Than suche a syght for to leue
If that she wolde yeue me leue
To haue so mochel of my wylle
And thus thinkende I stonde styll
withoute blenchinge of myn eye
Ryght as me thought that I seye
Of paradys the most ioye
And so there whyle I me reioy
Vnto myn herte a great desyre
The whiche is hoter than the fire
All sodenlyche vpon me renneth
That all my thought within brenneth
And am so ferforth ouercome
That I note where I am become
So that amonge tho hertes stronge
In stede of drynke I vnderfonge
A thought so swete in my courage
That neuer pyement ne vernage
was halfe so swete for to drynke
For as I wolde, than I thynke
As though I were at myn aboue
For so through dronke I am of loue
That all that my soty demeth
Is soth, as than it to me semeth
And whyle I may tho thoughtes kepe
Me thynketh as though I were a slepe
And that I were in goddes barme
But whan I se myn owne harme
And that I sodenlyche awake
Oute of my though, and hede take
Howe that the sothe stant in dede
Than is my sykernesse in drede
And ioye torneth in to wo
So that the hete is all ago
Of suche soty, as I was inne
And than ayenwarde I begynne
To take of loue a newe thurst
whiche me greueth all there worst
For than cometh the blanche Feuer
with chele, and maketh me so to cheuer
And so it coldeth at myn herte
That wonder is, howe I asterte
In suche a poynte that I ne deye
For certes there was neuer keye
Ne frosen is vpon the walle
More inly cold, than I am all
And thus suffer I the hote chele
whiche passeth other peynes fele,
In colde I brenne, and frese in hete
And than I drynke a better-swete
with dry lippe, ang eyen wete
Lo thus I temper my dyete
And take a draught of suche relees
That all my wyt is herteles
And all my hert there it sytte
Is, as who sayth witoute wytte
So that I preue it by reason
In makynge of comparyson
There may no difference be
Betwyx a dronkē man and me
But all the werst of euerychone
Is euer, that I thurst in one
The more that my herte drynketh
The more I may, so that me thynketh
My thurst shall neuer be acqu
[...]ynt
God shelde, that I be not dreynt
Of suche a superfluite
For wele I fele in my degre
That all my wytte is ouercast
wherof I am the more agast
That in defaute of ladyshyp
Perchaunce in suche a dronkeshyp
I may be dead, er I beware
For certes father this I dare
Beknowe, and in my shryfte telle
But I a draught haue of that welle
In whiche my deth is and my lyfe
My ioye is tourned in to stryfe
That sobre shall I neuer worthe
But as a dronken man for worthe
So that in londe, where I fare
The lust is lore of my welfare
As he that may no bote fynde
But this me thynketh a wonder kynde
As I am drunke of that I drynke
Of these thoughtes that I thynke
Of whiche I fynde no relees
But if I myght netheles
Of suche a drynke as I coueyte
So as me lust haue o receyte
I shulde assobre and fare wele
But so fortune vpon her whele
On hygh me deyneth not to sette
For euermore I fynde a lette
The botiler is not my frende
whiche hath the key by the bende
I may well wysshe, and that is waste
For well I wote so fresshe a taste
(But if my grace be the more)
I shall assay neuermore
Thus am I dronke of that I se
For tastynge is defended me
And I can not my seluen staunche
So that my father of this braunche
I am gylyfe, to telle trouth.
¶My sonne that me thynketh routh
For loue dronke is the mischyefe
Aboue all other the moste chyef
If he lusty thought assy
whiche may his sory thurst alay
As for the tyme yet it lesseth
To hym, whiche other ioye mysseth
For thy my sonne aboue all
Thynke well, how so it the befall
And kepe thy wyttes that thou hast
And let hem not be dronke in wast
But netheles there is no wyght
That may withstonde loues myght
But why the cause is, as I fynde
But that there is dyuerse kynde
Of loue dronke why men pleyneth
After the courte, whiche all ordeyneth
I wyll the telle the manere
Now lyst my sonne, and thou shalt here
¶Hic narrat secundum poetam, qualiter in suo cellario duo dolia Iupiter habet, quorum primū figuoris dulcissimi / secundum amarissimi plenum ronsistit, ita quod ille / cui fatata est prosperitas de dulci potabit, Alter vero cui aduersabitur poculum gustabit amarum.
¶For the fortune of euery chaunce
After the goddes purueaunce
To man it groweth frome aboue
So that the spede of euery loue
Is shape there, er it befalle
For Iupiter abouen all
whiche is of goddes souerayne
Hath in his seller, as men fayne
Two tonnes full of loue drynke
That maketh many a herte synke
And many an herte also to flete
Or of the sowre, or of the swete
That one is full of suche pyement
whiche passeth all entendement
Of mans wyt, if he it taste
And maketh a ioylyfe herte in hast
That other bytter as the galle
whiche maketh a mans hert palle
whose dronkeship is a sykenesse
Through felynge of the bytternesse
Cupyde is botyler of bothe
whiche to the leefe, and to the lothe
yeueth of the swete, and of the soure
That som laugh, and some loure
But for so moche as he blynde is
Full oft tyme he goth amys
And taketh the badde for the good
whiche hyndreth many a mans fode
withoute cause, and forthereth eke
So ben there som of loue seke
whiche ought of reason to ben bole
And som comen to the dole
In happe, and as hem selfe lest
Drynke, vndeserued of the best
And thus this blynde botiler
yeueth of the trouble in stede of chere
And eke chere in stede of trouble
Lo howe he can the hertes trouble
And maketh men dronke al vpon chaūce
withoute lawe of gouernance
If he drawe of the swete tonne
Than is the sorowe all ouer ronne
Of loue dronke, & shall nought greuen
So to be drunke euery euen
For all is than but a game
But whan it is nought of the same
And be the better tonne draweth
Suche dronkeshyp an herte gnaweth
And febleth all a mannes thought
That better him were haue drōk nought
And all his bree haue eaten drye
For than he leseth his lusty weye
with dronkeship, and wote not whyther
To go, the wayes bene so slydre
In whiche he may percas so fall
That he shall breke his wittes all
And in this wyse men ben drunke
After the drynke they haue drunke
But all drynken not ylyke
For some shall synge, & some shal sike
So that it me nothynge merauyleth
My sonne of loue that the ayleth
For I wel knowe by thy tale
That thou hast dronken of the dwale
which bytter is, tyll god the sende
Suche grace, that thou myght amende
But sonne thou shalt bydde and pray
In such a wyse, as I shall say
That thou the lust well atteyne
Thy wofull thurstes to restreyne
Of loue, and taste the swetenes
As Bacchus dyd in his distres
whan bodelyche thurste hym hent
In straunge londes, where he went.
¶Nota hic qualiter potus aliquando sicienti precibus adquiritur, Et narrat exemplum / quod cū Bacchus de quodam bello ab Oriente repatriās in quibusdam Lybie partibus alicuius generis potum non inuenit / fusis ad Ionem precibus / apparuit / ei aries, qui terra pede percussit / statim (que) fons emanauit / et sic potum petenti peticio preualuit.
¶This Bacchus sonne of Iupiter
was hote, and as he went ferre
By his fathers assignement
To make a werre in Orient
And great power with hym he ladde
So that the hygher honde he hadde
And victory of his ennemyes
And tourneth homwarde with his prise
In suche a countrey whiche was drey
A meschiefe fell vpon the weye
As he rode with his company
Nygh to the strondes of Lybie
There myght they no drynke fynde
Of water, nor of other kynde
So that hym selfe, and all his hoste
were for defaut of drynke almoste
Distroyed: and than Bacchus prayde
To Iupiter, and thus he sayde
O hygh father, that seest all
To whom is reason, that I shall
Beseche, and pray in euery nede
Beholde my father, and take hede
This full thurst, that we be inne
To staunche, and graunt vs for to wynne
And saufe vnto the countrey fare
where that our lusty loues are
waytende vpon our home comynge
And with the voyce of his prayenge
whiche herde was to the goddes hye
He sygh anone tofore his eye
A wether, which the groūde hath spurned
And where he hath it ouerturned
There spronge a welle fresshe and clere
wherof his owne botylere
After the lustes of his wylle
Yaue euery man to drynke his fylle
And for this ilke great grace
Bacchus vpon the same place
A ryche temple let arere
whiche euer shulde stonde there
To thrusty men in remembrance
For thy my sonne after this chaunce
It sytte the well to taken hede
So for to prey vpon thy nede
As Bacchus preyde for the well
And thinke, as thou hast herde me tell
Howe grace he gradde, & grace he had
He was no foole, that fyrst so rad
For selden get a dombe man londe
Take that prouerbe, and vnderstonde
That wordes ben of vertue grette
For thy to speke thou ne lette
And aske, and preye erely and late
Thy thurst to quēche, and thynke algate
The botiller / whiche bereth the keye
Is blynde, as thou hast herde me seye
And if it myght so betyde
That he vpon the blynde syde
Parcas the swete tonne a raught
Than shalte thou haue a lustye draught
And waxe of loue dronke sobre
And thus I rede thou assobre
Thyn herte, in hope of suche a grace
For dronkeshyp in euery place
To whether syde that it turne
Doth harme, & maketh a man to spurne
And ofte falle in suche a wyse
where he percas may nought aryse
¶Hic de amoris ebrietate ponit exemplū, qualiter Tristrans ob potū, quē Brangweyn in vani ei porrexit de amore belle Isolde inebriatꝰ extitit.
¶And for to loke in euidence
Vpon the sothe experience
So that it hath befall er this
In euery mans mouth it is
Howe Trystram was of loue dronke
with bele I solde whan they dronke
The drinke, which Brangweine hem betok
Er that king Mark his eme hir toke
To wyfe, as it was after knowe
And eke my sonne, if thou wylte knowe
As it hath fallen ouer more
In loues cause, and what is more
Of dronkeshyp for to drede
As it whylome befell in dede
wherof thou myght the better eschewe
Of dronken men that thou ne sewe
The company in no manere
A great ensample thou shalt here
¶Hic de periculis ebrietatis causa in amore contingentibus narrat / quod cum Perithous illam pulcherrimam Ipotatiam in vxorem duceret / quosdam qui Lentauri vocabantur / inter alios vicinos ad nupcias inuitanit, qui vino imbuti / none nupte formocitatem aspicientes, duplici ebrietate a mensa Ipotaciam a Peritho marioto suo impetu rapuerunt.
¶This fynde I wryte in poesye
Of thylke fayre Ipotasye
Of whose beaute there as she was
Spake euery man, and felle per cas
That Perythous so hym sped
That he to wyfe her shulde wed
wherof that he great ioye made
And for he wolde his loue gladde
Ageyne the day of mariage
By mouthe bothe, and by message
His frendes to the fest be prayd
with great worshyp and as men sayd
He hath this yonge lady spoused
And whan that they were all housed
And set and serued at mete
There was no wyn, whiche may begete
That there ne was plenty ynoughe
But Bacchus thylke tonne drough
wherof by way of dronkeshyp
The greatest of the felaushyp
were oute of reason ouer take
And Venus, whiche also hath take
The cause most in speciall
Hath yeue hym drynke forth with all
Of thylke cuppe, whiche exciteth
The lust, wheren a man deliteth
And thus by double wey dronke
Of lust that ylke fyry fonke
Hath made bē, as who seith, half wode
That they no reason vnderstode
Ne to none other thynge they seyen
But hir, whiche to fore her eyen
was wedded thylke same day
That fresshe wyfe, that lusty may
Of her it was all that they thoughten
And so farforth her lustes saughten
That they, whiche named were
Centauri at the feste there
Of one assent, of one accorde
This yonge wyfe maugre hir lorde
In suche a rage away forth ladden
As they, whiche none insyght hadden
But onely to her drunken fare
whiche many a man hath made misfare
In loue, als wel as other weye
wherof, if I shall more seye
Vpon the nature of this vice
Of custome, and of exercise
The mans grace, howe it fordoth
A tale, whiche was whylom soth
Of fooles, that so dronken were
I shall reherce vnto thyne ere
¶Hic loquitur specialiter contra vicium illorū / qui nimia potacione ex consuetudine ebriosi efficiuntur, Et narrat exemplum de Galba et Vitello qui potentes in Hispania principes fuerunt, sed ipse cotidiane ebrietatis potibus assuetii, tanta vicinis intulerunt enormia / quod tandem toto cō clamante populo, pena sententie capitalis in eos iudicialiter diffinita est, qui prinsquā morerētur vt penā mortis alleuiarēt, spontanea vim ebrietate sopiti, quasi porci semimortui gladio interierunt.
¶I rede in a cronicle thus
Of Galba, and of Vitellus
The whiche of Spayne both were
The greattest of all other there
And bothe of o condition
After the disposition
Of glotony, and dronkshyp
That was a sory felaushyp
For this thou myght wel vnderstonde
That man may welle not longe stonde
whiche is wine dronke of co men vse
For he hath lore the vertues
wherof reason shuld hym doth
And that was sen vpon hem both
Men seyn, there his no euydence
wherof to knowe a difference
Betwene the dronken and the wode
For they be neuer nother good
For where that wyne doth wyt a weye
wysdome hath lost the ryght weye
That he no maner vyce dredeth
No more than a blynd man thredeth
His nedel, by the sonne lyght
No more is reason than of myght
whan be with dronkeshyp is blent
And in this poynt they weren shent
This Galba both and eke Vytelle
Vpon the cause, as I shall tell
wherof good is to take hede
For they two through her dronkenhede
Of witles excitation
Oppressed all the nacion
Of Spayne: for all foule vsaunce
whiche done was of continuaunce
Of hem, whiche all day dronke were
There was no wyfe ne mayden there
what so they were, or fayre or foule
whom they ne taken to defoule
wherof the londe was often wo
And eke in other thynges mo
They wroughten many a sondry wrōge
But howe so that the day be longe
The derke nyght cometh at last
God wolde nought, they shulden last
And shope the lawe in suche a wyse
That they through dome to the Iuyse
B
[...] damned for to be forlore
But they, that had be tofore
E
[...]lyned to all dronkenesse
Her ende than bare wytnesse
For they in hope to asswage
The peyne of dethe vpon the rage
That they lasse shulden fele
Of wyne let fyll full a meele
And dronken tyll so was befell
That they her strengthes losen all
withouten wyt of ony brayne
And thus they ben halfe deed slayne
That hem ne greueth but a lite
¶My sonne if thou be for to wite
In ony poynt, whiche I haue sayde
wherof thy wyttes bene vnteyde
I rede clepe hem home ageyne
¶I shall do father as ye seyne
Als ferforth as I may suffise
But well I wote, that in no wyse
The dronkeshyp of loue aweye
I may remue by no weye
It stant nought vpon my fortune
But if you lyst to cōmune
Of the seconde glotonye
whiche cleped is delicacye
wherof ye spake here to fore
Beseche I wolde you therfore
¶My sonne as of that ylke vice
whiche of all other is the noryce
And stant vpon the retenue
Of Venus, so as it is due
The properte howe that it fareth
The boke herafter nowe declareth
Deliciae cum diuiciis sunt iura potentum.
In quibus orta Venus excitat ora gulae
Non sunt deliciae tales, que corpora pascunt,
Ex quibus impletus gaudia uenter agit.
Qui completus amor maiori munere gaudet.
Cum data deliciis mens in aman te fatur.
☞ HIC tractat super illa specie gule que delicatia nuncupatur, cuius mollicies volupiuose carni personis precipue potentibus que (que) compla centia corporaliter ministrat.
¶Of this chapter, in whiche we trete
There is yet one of suche dyete
To whiche no pore may attayne
For all is past as payndemayne
And sondry wyne and sondry drynke
wherof that he woll eate and drynke
His cookes ben for hym affayted
So that his body is awayted
That hym shall lacke no delyte
Als ferforth as his appetite
Suffyseth to the meates hote
wherof the lusty vice is hote
Of Gule the delycacye
whiche all the holle progenye
Of lusty folke hath vndertake
To fede, whyle that he may take
Rychesse, wherof to be founde
Of abstinence he wote no bounde
To what profyte it shulde serue
And yet phisyke of his conserue
Maketh many a restrauracion
Vnto his recreacion
whiche wolde be to Venus lefe
Thus for the poynt of his relefe
The cooke, whiche shal his meate aray
But he the better his mouth assay
His lordes thonke shall ofte lese
Er he be serued to the chese
For there may lacke not so lyte
That he ne fyut anone a wyte
But his lust be fully serued
There hath no wight his thonke desued
And yet for mans sustenaunce
To kepe and holde in gouernance
To hym that woll his hele gete
Is none so good, as comon mete
For who that loketh on the bokes
It seyth, confection of Cookes
A man hym shulde well auyse
Howe he it toke, and in what wyse
For who that vseth, that he knoweth
Full selden sikenes on hym groweth
And who that vseth metes straunge
Though his nature empayre & chaunge
It is no wonder lyefe sonne
whan that he doth ayene his wonne
For in sikenes this I fynde
Vsage is the seconde kynde
In loue, als well as other wey
For as these holy bokes sey
The bodely delyces all
In euery poynt howe so they fall
Vnto the soule done greuance
And for to take in remembrance
A tale accordant vnto this
whiche of great vnderstanding is
To mans soule reasonable
I thynke tell, and is no fable
¶ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM contra iftos delicatos, et narrat de diuite et Lazaro, quorum gefta in euangelio Lucas euidentius describit.
¶ Of Christis worde, who wol it rede
Howe that this vice is for to drede
In theuangile it telleth pleyne
whiche mote algate be certeyne
For Christe hym selfe it bereth wytnesse
And though the clerke, and the clergesse
In laten tonge, it rede and synge
yet for the more knowlechynge
Of trouthe, whiche is good to wite
I shal declare, as it is wriie
In englyshe, for thus it began
¶Christe seith, there was a ryche man
A myghty lorde of great astate
And he was eke so delycate
Of his clothynge, that euery day
Of purpre and bysse he made hym gay
And ete and dranke therto his fyll
After the lustes of his wyll
And he, whiche all stode in delice
And toke none hede of thilke vice
And as it shulde so betyde
A poure lazer vpon a tyde
Came to the gate, and axed mete
But there myght he nothyng gete
His deedly hungre for to staunche
For he, whiche had his full paunche
Of all lustes at borde
Ne deyneth not to speke a worde
Onlyche a Cromme for to yeue
wherof this poure myght leue
Vpon the yefte of his almesse
Thus lay this poure in great distresse
A colde and hongred at the gate
For whiche he myght go no gate
So was he wofully besene
And as these holy bokes seyn
The houndes comen fro the haile
where that this sycke man was falle
And as he lay there for to deye
The woundes of his maladye
They lycken, for to done hym ese
But he was full of suche dysese
That he may not the deth escape
But as it was that tyme shape
The sowle fro the body passeth
And he, whom nothynge ouerpasseth
The hygh god vp to the heuen
Hym toke, where he hath set hym euen
In Abrahams barme on hyghe
where he the heuens ioye syghe
And had all that he haue wold
And fell as it befall shulde
This ryche man the same throwe
with sodeyn deth was ouerthrowe
And forth withouten ony went
Vnto the bell straught he went
The fende in to the fyre hym drough
where that he had peyne ynough
Of flame, whiche that euer brenneth
And as his eie about renneth
Towarde the heuen he cast his loke
where that he sygh, and hede toke
Howe lazar set was in his see
Als farre as euer he myght see
with Abraham, and than he prayde
Vnto the patriarche, and sayd
Sende lazar downe fro thylke sete
And do, that he his fynger wete
In water, so that he may droppe
Vpon my tonge for to stoppe
The great hete, in whiche I brenne
But Abraham answerde then
And sayde to hym in this wyse
Salomon. Qui obturat aures suas ad clamorē [...]rum, ipse clamabit, et non exaudictur.
¶ My sonne, thou the myght auise
And take in to thy remembrance
Howe lazar had great penance
whyle he was in that other lyfe
But thou in all thy lust iolyfe
The bodely delices soughtest
For thy so as thou than wroughtest
Nowe shalte thou take thy rewarde
Of deedly peyne here afterwarde
In hell, whiche shall euer last
And this lazar nowe at last
This worldes peyne is ouerronne
In heuen and hath his lyfe begonne
Of ioye, whiche is endeles
But that thou preydest netheles
That I shall lazar to the sende
with water on his fynger ende
Thyne hote tonge for to kele
Thou shalte no suche graces fele
For to that foule place of synne
For euer, in whiche thou shalte be inne
Cometh none out of this place thyder
Ne none of you may comen hyder
Thus be ye parted nowe a two
The ryche ayeneward cryde tho
O Abraham, sythe it so is
That lazar may nought do me this
whiche I haue axed in this place
I wolde pray an other grace
For I haue yet bretherne fyue
That with my father bene a lyue
To gether dwellende in one hous
To whom, as thou arte gracious
I pray that thou woldest sende
Lazar, so that he myght wende
To warne hem, how the worlde is went
That afterward they be not shent
Of suche peynes as they drye
Lo this I praye, and this I crye
Howe I may not my selfe amende
The patriarke anone sewende
To this prayer answerde Nay
And sayde hym, howe that euery day
His bretherne myght knowe and here
Of Moyses on erthe here
And of prophettes other mo
what hem was best: and he sayth no
But if there myght a man aryse
From deth to lyfe in suche a wyse
To tellen hem, howe that it were
He sayde than of pure fere
They shulden well beware therby
Quod Abraham, nay sikerly
For if they nowe wyll not obey
To suche, as teche hem the wey
And all day teache, and all day telle
Howe that it stant of heuen and helle
They wyll not than taken hede
Though it befelle so in dede
That any deade man were arered
To ben of hym no better lered
Than of an other man on lyue
¶If thou my sonne canst descriue
This tale, as Christe hym selfe it tolde
Thou shalt haue cause to beholde
To se so great an euidence
wherof the sothe experience
Hath shewed openlyche at eye
That bodely delicacye
Of hym, whiche yeueth none almesse
Shall after falle in great distresse
And that was sene vpon the ryche
For he ne wolde vnto his lyche
A cromme yeuen of his brede
Than afterwarde whan he was dede
A droppe of water hym was werned
Thus may a mans wyt be lerned
Of hem, that so delytes taken
whan they with deth ben ouertaken
That erst was swete is, than sowre
But he that is a gouernour
Of worldes ioye, if he be wyse
within his herte he set no prise
Of all the worlde, and yet he vseth
The good, that he nothyng refuseth
As he, whiche lorde is of the thynges
The ouches, and the ryche rynges
The cloth of golde, and the perrye
He taketh, and yet the delicacye
He leueth, though he were all this
The best mete, that there is
He eateth, and drynketh the best drynke
But howe that euer he eate or drynke
Delicacie he put aweye
As he, whiche goth the ryght weye
Nought only for to fede and clothe
His body, but his soule bothe
But they that taken other wyse
Her lustes, bene none of the wyse
But nowe a day a man may se
The worlde so full of vanite
That no man taketh of reason hede
Or for to clothe, or for to fede
But all is set vnto the vice
To newe and changen his delice
And ryght so chaungeth his astate
He that of loue is delicate
For though he had to his honde
The best wyfe of all the londe
Or the fayrest loue of all
yet wolde his herte on other fall
And thynke hem more delicious
Than he hath in his owne hous
Men seyne it is nowe ofte so
Auyse hem well, they that so do
And for to speke in other waye
Full ofte tyme I haue herde saye
That he, whiche hath no loue acheued
Hym thynketh that he is not relieued
Though that his lady make hym chere
So as she may in good manere
Hir honour, and hir name saue
But he the surplus myght haue
Nothynge withstandynge hir astate
Of loue more delicate
He set hir chere at no delyte
But if he haue all his appetyte
My sonne if it with the be so
Tell me? ¶Myn holy father no
For delycate in suche a wyse
Of loue, as ye to me deuise
Ne was I neuer yet gyltyfe
For if I had suche a wyfe
As ye speke of, what shulde I more
For than I wolde neuer more
For lust of any womanhede
My herte vpon none other fede
And if I dyd, it were a waste
But all without suche repaste
Of lust, as ye me tolde aboue
Of wyfe, or yet of other loue
I faste, and may no fode gete
So that for lacke of deintie mete
Of whiche an herte may be fedde
I go fastynge to my bedde
But myght I getten as ye tolde
So mochel, that my lady wolde
Me fede with her gladde semblaunte
Though me lacke all the remenaunt
yet shulde I somdele ben abeched
And for the time wel refreshed
But certes fader she ne doth
For in good feyth to tellen soth
I trowe, though I shulde sterue
She wolde not her eye swerue
My herte with one goodly loke
To fede, and thus for suche a coke
I may go fastinge euermo
But if so is, that any wo
May fede a mans herte wele
Therof I haue at euery mele
Of plente more that ynough
But that is of hym selfe so tough
My stomake may it not defye
Lo suche is the delycacye
Of loue, whiche my herte fedeth
Thus haue I lacke of that me nedeth
But for all this yet netheles
I say not, I am gylteles
That I somdele am delycate
For els were I fully mate
But if that I some lusty stounde
Of comforte and of ease founde
To take of loue some repast
For though I with full taste
The lust of loue may not fele
Myn honger otherwyse I kele
Of smale lustes, whiche I pyke
And for a tyme yet they lyke
If that ye wysten, what I mene
¶Nowe good sonne shryue the clene
Of suche deynties as ben good
wherof thou takest thyn herte foode
¶My father I shall you reherse
Howe that my fodes ben diuerse
So as they fallen in degree
One fedynge is of that I se
An other is, of that I here
The thyrde, as I shall tellen here
[...]t groweth of myne owne thought
And els shulde I lyue nought
For whom that fayleth foode of herte
He may nought well the dethe asterte.
Nota qualiter visus in amore se continet delicatꝰ.
¶Of syght is all my fyrst foode
Through whiche myne eye of all goode
Hath that to hym is accordant
A lusty foode suffisant
whan that I go towarde the place
where I shall se my ladies face
Myn eye, whiche is lothe to faste
Begynneth anone to hungre so faste
That hym thynketh of an houre thre
Tyll I there come, and he hir se
And than after his appetite
He taketh a fode of suche delite
That hym none other deyntie nedeth
Of sondry sightes he hym fedeth
He seeth hir face of suche coloure
That fressher is than any floure
He seeth hir front is large and pleyne
without frounce of any greyne
He seeth hir eyen lyche an heuen
And seeth hir nose streyte and euen
He seeth hir rudde vpon the cheke
And seeth hir redde lyppes eke
Hir chynne accordeth to the face
All that he seeth is full of grace
He seeth hir necke rounde and clene
Therin may no bone be sene
He seeth hir handes faire and whyte
For all this thynge without wyte
He may se naked at lest
So is it well the more feste
And well the more delicacie
Vnto the fedyng of the eye
He seeth hir shap forth with all
Hir body rounde, hir myddell small
So well begone with good array
whiche passeth all the lust of may
whan he is moste with softe showres
Full clothed in his lusty flowres
with suche sightes by and by
Myn eye is fedde, but fynally
whan he the porte and the manere
Seeth of hir womannysshe chere
Than hath he suche delite on honde
Hym thynketh he myght styll stonde
And that he hath full suffisance
Of lyuelode, and of sustenaunce
As to his parte for euermo
And if it thought all other so
Fro then wolde he neuer wende
But there vnto the worldes ende
He wolde abyde, if that he myght
And feden hym vpon the syght.
For though I myght stonden aye
In to the tyme of domes daye
And loke vpon her euer in one
yet whan I shulde fro her gone
Myne eye wolde, as though he faste
Ben honger storuen also faste
Tylle efte ayen that he her sey
Suche is the nature of myn eye.
There is no lust so deyntefull
Of whlche a man shulde not be full
Of that the stomake vnderfongeth
But euer in one myn herte lōgeth
For loke, howe that a goshauke tyreth
Ryght so dothe he / whan that he pyreth
And tooteth on her womanhede
For he may neuer fully fede
His lust, but euer a lyche sore
Hym hongreth, so that he the more
Desyreth to be fedde algate
And thus myn eie is made the gate
Through which the deinties of my thought
Of lust ben to min herte brought
Ryght as myn eye with his loke
Is to myn herte a lusty cooke
Of loues foode delycate
¶Qualiter auris in amore delectatur.
¶Ryght so myn eare in his state
where as myn eie may not serue
Can well myn hertes thonke deserue
And feden hym fro day to day
with suche deintes, as he may
For thus it is, that ouer all
where as I come in speciall
I may here of my lady price
I here one say, that she is wyse
An other sayth, that she is good
And some men seyne, of worthy blood
That she is come, and is also
So fayre, that no where is none so
And some men preyse her goodly chere
Thus euery thynge, that I may here
whiche sowneth to my lady good
Is to myn eare a lusty foode.
And eke myn eare hath ouer this
A deynty feaste, whan so is
That I may here her seluen speke
For than anone my faste I breke
On suche wordes, as she sayth
That full of trouth, & full of feyth
They ben, and of so good disporte
That to myn eare great comforte
They done, as they that ben delices
For all the meates and the spices
That any Lumbarde couth make
Ne ben so lusty for to take
Ne so farforth restauratyfe
I sey as for myn owne lyfe
As ben the wordes of her mouth.
For as the wyndes of the south
Ben moste of all debonaire
So when hir lust to speke faire
The vertue of her goodly speche
Is verily myn hertes leche.
And if it so befalle amonge
That she carole vpon a songe
whan I it here, I am so fedde
That I am fro my selfe so ledde
As though I were in Paradys
For certes as to myn auys
whan I here of her voyce the steuen
Me thynkth it is a blysse of heuen
And eke in otherwyse also
Ful oft tyme it falleth so
Myn ere with a good pitaunce
Is fed, of redinge of romaunce
Of ydoyne, and of Amadas
That whylome were in my cas
And eke of other many a score
That loueden longe, er I was bore
For whan I of her loues rede
Myn ere with the tale I fede
And with the lust of her histoire
Somtime I drewe in to memoire
Howe sorowe may not euer last
And so hope cometh in at last
whan I none other fode knowe
And that endureth but a throwe
Right as it were a chery feste
But for to counten at lest
As for the whyle yet it eseth
And somdele of my hert appeseth
For what thinge to my ere spredeth
whiche is plesaunt, somdele it eseth
with wordes suche as he may gete
My lust in stede of other mete.
Lo thus my fader as I you sey
Of lust, the whiche myn eye hath seye
And eke of that my ere hath herde
Full ofte I haue the better ferde
And tho two bryngen in the thrydde
The whiche hath in myn herte amydde
His place take, to aray
The lusty thoughtes, whiche assay
I mote, and namelyche on nyghtes
whan that me lacketh all sightes
And that min heringe is awey
Than is he redy in the wey
My rere souper for to make
Of whiche my hertes fode I take.
Qualiter cogitatus impressiones leticie imaginatiuas cordibus inferit amantum.
¶This lusty cookes name is hote
Thought, whiche hath euer his pottes hote
Of loue boylend on the fire
with fantasye, and with desire
Of whiche er this full ofte be fedde
Myn herte, whan I was a bedde
And than he set vpon my borde
Bothe euery syght, and euery worde
Of lust, whiche I haue herd or seyne
But yet is not my fest all pleyn
But all of woldes, and of wysshes
Therof haue I my full disshes
But as of felynge, and of taste
Yet myght I neuer haue o repaste.
And as I haue sayd to forne
I lycke hony of the thorne
And, as who seith, vpon the brydell
I chewe, so that all is ydell
As in effecte the fode I haue
But as a man, that wolde him saue
whan he is syke, by medycyne
Ryght so of loue the famyne
I fonde in all that euer I may
To fede and dryue forth the day
Tylle I may haue the great fest
whiche all my honger might areste.
Lo suche ben my lustes thre
Of that I thynke, and here, and se
I take of loue my fedinge
with oute tastinge or felynge
And as the plouer doth of the heyre
I liue, and am in good espeyre
That for none suche delycacye
I trowe I do no gloteny
And netheles to your auys
Myn holy fader, that ben wys
I recommande myn estate
Of that I haue ben delicate.
¶ My sonne I vnderstonde wele
That thou hast tolde here, euery dele
And as me thinketh by thy tale
It ben delytes wonder smale
wherof thou takest thy loues fode
But sonne if that thou vnderstode
what is to ben delicious
Thou woldest not be curious
Vpon the lust of thyn astate
To ben to hote or delycate
wherof that thou reason excede
For in the bokes thou might rede
If mans wysdom shall be sewed
It ought wel to ben eschewed
As wel by reason as b
[...] kynde
Of olde ensamples as men fynde.
¶ Hic loquitur de delicacia Neronis, qui corpora libus delicus magis adherens, spiritualia gandia minus obtinuit.
¶ That man that wolde hym well auise
Delycacye is to dispyse
whan kynde accordeth not withall
wherof ensample in specyall
Of Nero whylom may be tolde
whiche ayens kynde manyfolde
His lustes toke, tyll at last
That god hym wolde all ouercaste
Of whome the cronyke is so pleyne
Me lust no more of hym to seyne
And netheles for glotony
Of bodely delycacy
To knowe his stomake how it ferde
Of that no man tofore herde
which he within hym selfe bethought
A wonder subtyle thyng he wrought
Thre men vpon election
Of age, and of complection
Lyche to hym selfe by all way
He toke towardes hym to playe
And eate and dranke as well as he
Therof was no diuersite
For euery day whan that they ete
To fore his owne bourde they sete
And of suche meate as he was serued
All though they had it not deserued
They token seruice of the same
But afterwarde all thilke game
was into wofull ernest tourned
For whan they were thus soiourned
within a tyme at after mete
Nero, whiche had not foryete
The lustes of his freel astate
As he whiche all was delycate
To knowe thylke experience
The men let come in his presence
And to that one the same tyde
A courser, that he sholde ryde
Into the felde, anone he hadde
wherof this man was wonder gladde
And goth to prycke and praunce aboute
That other, while that he was out
He layde vpon his bedde to slepe
The thyrde, whiche he wolde kepe
within his chambre fayre and softe
He gothe nowe vp nowe downe ful ofte
walkynge a pace, that he ne slepte
Tyll be whiche on the courser lepte
was comen fro the felde ageyne.
Nero than as bokes seyne
These men dyd done take all thre
And slough hem, for he wolde se
The whose stomacke was best defyed.
And whan he hath the sothe tryed
He founde, that he, whiche goth the pas
Defyed beste of all was
whiche afterwarde he vsed aye
And thus what thynge vnto his paye
was most pleasant, he lefte none
with ony lust he was begone
wherof the body myght glade
For he no abstynence made
But most of all erthely thynges
Of women vnto the lykinges
Nero set all his hole herte
For that lust hym shulde not asterte
whā that the thurst of loue him caught
where that hym lyst he toke a draught
He spareth nether wyfe ne mayde
That suche a nother, as men sayde
In all this worlde was neuer yet
He was so dronke in all his wit
Through sondry lustes, whiche he toke
That euer, whyle there is a boke
Of Nero men shall rede and synge
Vnto the worldes knowlechynge.
My good sonne as thou hast herde
For euer yet it hath so ferde
Delycacy in loues cas
without reason is and was.
For where that loue is herte sette
Hym thynketh, it myght be no bet
All though it be not fully mete.
The luste of loue is euer swete.
Lo thus to gether of felaushyp
Delycacy and dronkshyp
(wherof reason stant out of herre)
Haue made many a man erre
In loues cause moste of all
For than howe so that euer it fall
wytte can no reason vnderstonde
But let the gouernaunce stonde
To wylle, whiche than wexeth so wylde
That he can not hym selfe shylde
Fro the perylle, but oute of fere
The way he secheth here and there
Hym retcheth not vpon what syde
For oft tyme he goth besyde
And doth such thynge withoute drede
wherof hym ought wel to drede
But whan that loue assoteth sore
It passeth all mens lore.
what lust it is, that he ordeyneth
There is no mans myght restreyneth.
And of god taketh he none hede
But lawles withouten drede
His purpos for he wolde acheue
Ayenst the poyntes of the beleue
He tempteth heuen, erthe, and helle
Here afterward as I shall telle.
Dū stimulai amor, quic quid iubet orta voluptas
Auder, et aggreditur nulla timenda timens
Omne quod astra queunt lierbarū siue potestas,
Seu vigor inferni singula temptat amaus.
Quod nequid ipse, deo mediante, parare sinistrū,
Daemonis hoc magica credulus arte parat.
Sic sibi non curat ad opus quae retia tendit.
Dūmodo nudatam prendere posset anem.
¶ Hic tractat, qualiter ebrietas et delicacia omnis pudicicie contrarium infligantes inter alia ad carnalis concupiscencie promocionem sortilegio magicam requirunt.
who dare do thinge, which loue ne dare?
To loue is euery lawe vnware
But to the lawes of his best
The fysshe, the fowle, the man, the beest
Of all the worldes kynde lowteth
For loue is he, which nothyng douteth
In mannes herte where it sytte
He counteth nought toward his wytte
The wo, no more than the wele
No more the hete, than the chele
No more the wete, than the drye
No more to lyue, than to dye
So that to fore ne behynde
He seeth no thynge, but as the blynde
withoute insyght of his courage
He doth meruayles in his rage
To what thynge that he wol him drawe
There is no god, there is no lawe
Of whome that he taketh any hede
But as baiarde the blynde stede
Tyll he falle in the dytche a mydde
He gothe there no man wyll hym bydde
He stant so ferforthe out of rewle
There is no wytte, that may hym reule
And thus to tell of hym in sothe
Full many a wonder thynge he dothe
That were better to be lafte
Amonge the whiche is witche crafte
That somme men clepen sorcerie
whiche for to wynne his drewry
with many a circumstance he vseth
There is no poynt, whiche he refuseth.
¶Nota de autorum nec non et librorum tam nat [...] alis (quam) execrabilis magice nominibus.
¶The crafte, whiche that Saturnus founde
To make pykes in the sounde
That Geomance cleped is
Ful ofte he vseth it amys
And of the floode his ydromance
And of the fyre the pyromance
with questions eche one of tho
He tempteth ofte. and eke also
Aeromance in iugement
To loue be bryngeth of his assent
For these craftes as I fynde
A man may do by way of kynde
Be so, it be to good entent
But he goth all another went
For rather er he shulde fayle
with
[...]y gromance he wolde assayle
To make his incantacion
with bote subfumygacion
Thylke arte, whiche spatula is hote
And vsed is of comon rote
Amonge paines, whiche that crafte eke
Of whiche is auctor Thosez the greke
He wercheth one and one by rowe
Razel is not to hym vnknowe
The Salamones Candarye
His Ideac, his Eutonye
The fygure of the boke withall
Of Balamuz, and of Ghenball
The seale, and therupon thymage
Of Thebith, for his auantage
He taketh: and some what of Gybere
whiche helpliche is to this matere
Babylla to her sonnes seuen
whiche hath renounced to the heuen
with Cernes bothe square and rounde
He traceth ofte vpon the grounde
Makynge his inuocation
And for full information
The schole, whiche Honorius
wrote, he pursueth, and lo thus
Magyke he vseth for to wynne
His loue, and spareth for no synne.
And ouer that of his soty
Ryght as he secheth sorcery
Of hem that bene magycyens
Ryght so of the naturyens
Vpon the sterres from aboue
His wey he secheth vnto loue
Als ferre as he hem vnderstondeth
In many a sondry wyse he fondeth
He maketh ymage, he maketh sculpture
He maketh wrytynge, he maketh fygure
He maketh his calculacions
He maketh his demonstrations
His hours of astronomy
He kepeth, as for that partye
whiche longeth to the inspection
Of loue, and his affection
He wolde in to the helle seche
The deuell hym selfe to beseche
If that he wyst for to spede
To gete of loue his lusty mede
where that he hath his herte set
He bydde neuer fare bet
Ne wytte of other heuen more
My sonne if thou of suche a lore
Hast ben er this, I rede the leue.
¶Myn holy father by your leue
Of all that ye haue spoken here
whiche toucheth vnto this matere
To telle soth right as I wene
I wote not o worde, what ye mene
I woll not say, if that I couth
That I nolde in my lusty youth
Beneth in helle and eke aboue
To wyn with my ladyes loue
Done al that euer that I myght.
For therof haue I none insyght
where afterwarde that I am become
So that I wonne and ouercome
Hir loue, whiche I moste coueyte.
¶My sonne that gothe wonder streyte
For this I may well tell sothe
There is no man, whiche so dothe
For all the crafte that he can caste
That he ne byeth it at laste
For often he that wyll begyle
Is guyled with the same guyle
And thus the guyler is beguyled
As I fynde in a boke compyled
To this matere an olde histoire
The whiche comth now to my memoire
And is of great ensamplarye
Ayene the vice of sorcerye
wherof none ende may be good
But howe whylome therof it stood
A tale, whiche is good to knowe
To the my sonne I shall biknowe.
¶Nota contra istos ob amoris causam sortilegos, vbi narrat in exemplum, quod cum Vlixes a subuersione Troie repatriare nauigio voluisset, ipsum in Insula Cilli, vbi illa expertissima maga nomine Cyrces regnauit, cōtigit applicuisse, quem vt in sui amoris concupiscentiam exardesceret, Circes omnibus suis incantationibus vincere conabatur: Vlixes tamen Magica potentior ipsam in amore subegit, Ex qua filium nomine Telegonum genuit, qui postea patrem suum interfecit, et sic contra fidei naturam genitus cōtra generationis naturam patricidium operatus est.
¶Amonge hem, whiche at Troy were
Vlixes at the syege there
was one by name in speciall
Of whom yet the memoriall
Abydeth, for while there is a mouthe
For euer his name shall be couthe
He was a worthy knyght and a kynge
And clerke knowende of euery thynge
He was a great Rethorien
He was a great magicien
Of Tullius the Rethoryke
Of kynge Zorastes the magyke
Of Ptolome thastronomye
Of Plato the philosophye
Of Daniel the slepy dremes
Of Neptune eke the water stremes
Of Salomon and the prouerbes
Of Macer all the strength of herbes
And the phisyke of hipocras
And lyche vnto Pythagoras
Of surgery he knewe the cures
But some what of his auentures
whiche shall to my matter accorde
To the my sonne I wyll recorde.
This king, of which thou hast herd sein
From Troy as he goth home ageyne
By shyp, he founde the see dyuerse
with many a wyndy storme reuerse
But he through wisdom, which he shapeth
Ful many a great peryl escapeth
Of whiche I thynke tellen one
Howe that maugre the nedell and stone
wynde dryue he was all sodeynly
Vpon the strondes of Cylly
where that he must abyde a whyle
Tway quenes weren in that yle
Calipso named and Cyrces
And whan they herde, how Vlyxes
Is londed there vpon the Ryue
For hym they senden also blyue.
with hym suche as he wolde he nam
And to the courte to hem he cam
These quenes were as two goddesses
Of arte magyke sorceresses
That what lorde cometh to that ryuage
They make hym loue in such a rage
And vpon hem assote so
That they woll haue, er that he go
All that he hath of worldes good
Vlyxes well this vnderstode
They couth moche, he couthe more
They shape and cast ayenst hym sore
And wrought many a subtyle wyle
But yet they myght hym not begyle
But of the men of his nauye
They two forshope a great partie
May none of hem withstonde her hestes
Some parte they shopen in to bestes
Some parte they shopen in to foules
To beres, tygres, apes, oules
Or els by some other wey
Ther myght nothynge bem disobey
Suche crafte they had aboue kynde
But that arte couth they not fynde
Of whiche Vlyxes was deceyued
That he ne hath hem all weyued
And brought hem in to suche a rote
That vpon hym they bothe assote
And through the science of his arte
He toke of hem so well his parte
That he begat Circes with childe
He kepte hym sobre, & made hem wylde
He set hym selue so aboue
That with her good, and with her loue
who that therof beliefe or lothe
All quite in to his shyp he gothe.
Circes to swolle bothe sydes
He lefte, and wayteth on the tydes
And straught throughout the salte fome
He taketh his cours, & comth him home
where as he founde Penelope
A better wyfe there may none be
And yet there bene ynowe of good
But who that hir goodship vnderstood
[...]o fyrst that she wyfehode toke
[...]we many loues she forsoke
And howe she bare hir all aboute
There whyles that hir lorde was oute
He myght make a great auant
Amonge all the remenant
That she, one of all the best
well myght he set his herte in rest
This kynge whan he hir fonde in hele
For as he couthe in wysedome dele
[...]e couthe she in woman bede
And whan she sygh withouten drede
[...]
[...]rde vpon his owne grounde
That he was come safe and sounde
In all this worlde ne myght be
A gladder woman than was she
¶The fame, which may nought be hyd
Throughout the londe is sone kyd
Her kynge is comen home ayene
There may no man the full seyne
Howe that they weren all glade
So mochel ioye of hym they made
The presentes euery daye bene newed
He was with yeftes all bisnewed
The people was of hym so glad
That though none other man hem bad
T
[...]llage vpon hem selfe they sette
And as it were of pure dette
They yeue her goodes to the kynge
This was a glad home welcomynge
Thus hath Vlyxes what he wolde
His wyfe was such as she be shulde
His people was to hym subiecte
Hym lacketh nothynge of delyte
¶ Horatius, Omnia sunt hominum tenni pendentia filo.
¶ But fortune is of suche a fleyght
That whan a man is most on heyght
She maketh hym rathest for to falle
There wote no man what shall befalle
The happes ouer mannes hede
Ben honged with a tender threde
That proued was on Vlyxes
For whan he was most in his pees
Fortune gan to make hym werre
And set his welthe oute of herre
Vpon a day as he was mery
As though there myght hym no thinge derye
whan night was come, he goth to bedde
with slepe and both his eyen fedde
And whyle he slepte, he met a sweuen
Hym thought he sygh a statu euen
whiche bryghter than the sonne shone
A man it semed was it none
But yet it was a fygure
Most lyche to mannyssh creature
But as of beaute heuenlych
It was most to an aungell lyche
And thus betwene aungell and man
Beholden it this kynge began
And suche a lust toke of the syght
That fayne he wolde, if that he myght
The forme of that fygure embrace
And goth hym forth toward that place
where he sygh that ymage tho
And takth it in his armes two
And it embraceth hym ageyne
And to the kynge thus gan it seyne.
Vlyxes vnderstond wel this
The token of oure acqueyntaunce is
Here afterward to mochel tene
The loue that is vs betwene.
Of that we nowe suche ioy make
That one of vs the deth shall take
whan tyme cometh of destyne
It may none otherwyse be.
Vlixes the began to praye
That this fygure wolde hym say
what wyght he is, that sayth hym so.
This wyght vpon a speare tho
A pensell, whiche was well begone
Embroudred, sheweth hym anone
Thre fysshes all of o colour
In maner as it were a toure
Vpon the pensell were wrought.
Vlyxes knewe this token nought
And prayth to wyte in some partie
what thynge it myght signifie
A sygne it is, the wyght answerde.
Of an empire, and forth he ferde
All sodeynly, whan he that sayd.
Vlyxes out of slepe abrayde
And that was ryght ayene the day
That lenger slepen he ne maye.
Men say, a man hath knowlegynge
Saue of hym selfe, of all thynge.
His owne chaunce no man knoweth
But as fortune it on hym throweth.
was neuer yet so wyse a clerke
whiche myght knowe all goddes werke
Ne the secrete, whiche god hath sette
Ayene a man, may not be lette.
Vlyxes though that he be wyse
with all his wytte in his auyse
The more that he his sweuen accoūteth
The lesse he wote, what it amounteth
For all his calculation
He seeth no demonstration
As pleynly for to knowe an ende
But netheles howe so it wende
He drad hym of his owne sonne
That maketh hym well the more astone
And shope therfore anone withall
So that within castell walle
Thelemachus his sonne he shette
And on hym stronge warde he sette
The sothe farther he ne knewe
Tyll that fortune hym ouerthrewe
But netheles for sykernesse
where that he myght wyt & gesse
A place strengest in his londe
There let he make of lyme and sonde
A strength, where he wolde dwell
was neuer man yet herde tell
Of suche an other, as it was
And for to strength hym in that cas
Of all his londe the sykerest
Of seruantes, and the worthyest
To kepen hym within warde
He set his body for to warde
And made suche an ordinance
For loue, ne for aqueintance
That were it erely, were it late
They shulde let in at yate
No maner man, what so betyd
But if so were hym selfe it byd
¶But all that myghte hym not auayle
For whom fortune wol assayle
There may be no suche resistence
whiche myght make a man defence
All that shall be mote fall algate.
This Cyrces, whiche I spake of late
On whom Vlyxes hath begete
A childe, though he it haue foryete
whan tyme came, as it was wonne
She was delyuerde of a sonne
whiche cleped is Telegonus
This childe whan he was borne thus
About his mother to full age
That he can reason and langage
In good estate was drawe forth
And whan he was so mochell worth
To stonden in a mannes stede
Circes his mother hath hym bede
That he shall to his father go
And tolde hym all to geder tho
what man he was, that hym begate
And whan Thelegonus of that
was ware, and hath full knowlechynge
Howe that his fader was a kynge
He prayth his moder fayre this
To go, where that his fader is
And she hym graunteth, that he shall.
And made hym redy forth with all
It was that tyme suche vsance
That euery man the cogysaunce
Of his contre bare in his honde
whan he went in to straunge londe.
And thus was euery man therfore
wel knowe, where that he was bore
For espyall and mystrowynges
They dyd than suche thynges
That euery man myght other knowe.
So it be felle in that throwe
Telegonus as in this cas
Of his contre the sygne was
Thre fisshes, whiche he shulde here
Vpon the pynon of a spere
And whan that he was thus arrayde
And hath his barneys all assayde
That he was redy euerydele
His moder bad him, fare wele
And sayde hym, that he shulde swythe
His fader griete a thousand syth.
Telegonus his moder kist
And toke his leue, and where he wist
His fader was, the way name
Tyll he vnto Nachaie came
whiche of that londe the chyefe cyte
was cleped, and there asketh he
where was the kynge, & howe he ferde
And whan that he the soth herde
where that the kynge Vlixes was
Alone vpon his hors great pas
He roode him forth, and in his honde
He bare the sygnall of his londe
with fisshes thre, as I haue tolde
And thus he went vnto that holde
where that his owne fader dwelleth
The cause why he came, he telleth
Vnto the kepars of the gate
And wolde haue comen in there ate
But shortely they hym sayde nay
And he als fayre as euer he may
Besought, and told hem of this
Howe that the kynge his fader is
But they with proude wordes great
Began to manace and threte
But he go fro the gate fast
They wolden hym take and set fast
Fro wordes vnto strokes thus
They felle, and so Telegonus
was sore hurte, and well nyghe dede
But with his sharpe speres hede:
He maketh defence, howe so it falle
And wan the yate vpon hem all
And hath slayn of the best fyue
And they ascryden als blyue
Through oute the castel all aboute
On euery syde men come oute
wherof the kynges herte afflight
And he with all the hast he myght
Aspere caught, and forthe he gothe
As he that was right woode for wrothe
He sighe the gates full of bloode
Telegonus, and where he stoode
He sighe also, but he ne knewe
what man it was, but to hym threwe
His spere, and he sterte out a syde
But destine, whiche shall betyde
Befell that ylke tyme so
Telegonus knewe nothynge tho
what man it was, that to hym caste
And whyle his owne spere laste
with all the sygne therupon
He cast vnto the kynge anon
And smote hym with a dedly wounde.
Vlixes felle anone to grounde
Tho euery man, the kynge the kynge
Be gan to crye, and of this thynge
Telegonus whiche sigh the caas
On knes he felle, and sayde alas
I haue myn owne fader slayne
Nowe wolde I deye wonder fayne
Nowe sle me, who that euer wylle
For certes it is ryght and skyll.
He crieth, he wepeth, he seyth therfore
Alas that euer was I bore
That this vnhappy destine
So wofully comth in by me
This kyng, which yet hath life ynough
His herte ayen vnto hym drough
And to that voyce an eare he layde
And vnderstode all that he sayde
And gan to speke, and sayde on hygh
Brynge me this man: & whan he sigh
Telegonus, his thought he sette
Vpon the sweuen, whiche he mette
And asketh, that he myght se
His spere, on whiche the fysshes thre
He sigh vpon the pensell wrought
Tho wyst he well, it fayleth nought
And bad hym, that he telle sholde
Fro whens he came, and what he wolde
Telegonus in sorowe and wo
So as he myght, told tho
Vnto Vlyxes all the cas
Howe that Cyrces his mother was
And so forth sayde hym euery dele
Howe that his moder griete hym wele
And in what wyse she hym sent.
Tho wyst Vlyxes what it ment
And toke hym in his armes softe
And all bledend kyst hym ofte
And sayd: Sonne whyle I lyue
This infortune I the foryeue
After his other sonne in hast
He sente, and he began hym hast
And cam vnto his fader tyte.
But whan he sygh hym in suche plyte
He wolde haue ronne vpon that other
Anone, and slayne his owne brother
Ne had ben that Vlyxes
Betwene hem made a corde and pees
And to his heyre Thelemachus
He bad, that he Telegonus
with all his power shuld kepe
Tyll he were of his woundes depe
All hole, and than he shulde hym yeue
Londe, where vpon he myght lyue.
Thelemachus whan he this herde
Vnto his fader he answerd
And seyde: he wolde done his wylle.
So dwelle they to geder stylle
These bretherne, and the fader sterueth
Lo wherof sorcery serueth
Through sorcerye his lust he wan
Through sorcery his wo began
Through sorcerye his loue he chese
Through sorcery his lyfe he lese
The chylde was gete in sorcerye
The whiche dyd all his felony
Thing which was ayen kynde wrought
Vnkyndlyche it was a bought
The chylde his owne fader slough
That was vnkyndshyp ynough.
For thy take hede howe that it is
So for to wynne loue amys
whiche endeth all his ioye in wo
For of this arte I fynde so
That hath be do for loues sake
wherof thou might insample take
A great cronycke Emperiall
whiche euer in to memoryall
Amonge the men, howe so it wende
Shall dwelle / to the worldes ende
☞ HIC narrat exemplum super eobem, qualiter Nectanabus de Egipto in Macedoniam fugitiuus Olimpiadem Philippi regis ibidē tūc absentis vxorem arte magyca decipiens, cum ipsa concubuit / magnum (que) ex ea Alexandrum sortelegus genuit, qui naius postea cum ad erudiendit sub custodia. Nectanabi cōmendatus fuisset, ipsum Nectanabum patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam precipiens inter fecit, Et sic sortilegus pro suo sortilegio infortunii sortem sortitus est.
¶The hygh creatour of thynges
whiche is the kynge of all kynges
Full many wonder worldes chaunce
Let slyde vnder his sufferaunce
There wote no man the cause why
But he, the whiche is almyghty
And that was proued whylom thus
whan that the kynge Nectanabus
whiche had Egypte for to lede
But for he sygh tofore the dede
Through magike of his sorcerie
wherof he couth a great partie
His ennemies to hym comende
From whom he might him not defende
Out of his owne londe he fledde
And in the wyse, as he hym dredde
It felle, for all his wytchecrafte
So that Egypte hym was berafte
And he desguysed fledde away
Byshyp, and helde the ryght way
To Macedoyne, where that he
Arryueth at the chiefe citie.
Thre yomen of his chambre there
All only for to serue hym were
The whiche he trusteth wonder wele
For they were trewe as ony stele
And hapneth, that they with hym ladde
Parte of the best good he hadde
They take lodgynge in the towne
After the disposition
where as hym thought best to dwell
He axeth than, and herde telle
Howe that the kynge was out go
Vpon a werre he had tho
But in that citie than was
The quene, whiche Olympias
was hote, and with solempnite
The feste of her natiuite
As it befell, was than holde
And for her lust to be behold
And preysed of the people aboute
She shope her for to ryden out
At after meate all openly
Anone all men were redy
And that was in the moneth of May.
This lusty quene in good aray
was sette vpon a mule whyte
To sene it was a great delyte
The ioye that the citie made.
with fresshe thynges, and with glade
The noble towne was all behonged
And euery wyght was sore alonged
To se this lusty lady ryde.
There was great myrth on all syde
where as she passeth by the strete
There was ful many a tymbre bete
And many a mayde carolende.
And thus through out the town plaiend
This quene vnto the pleyne rode
where that she houed and abode
[...] se dyuers games play
[...]he lusty folke iust and iourney
And so forth euery other man
whiche pley couth, his pley began
[...] plese with this noble quene.
Nectanabus came to the grene
Amonges other, & drough hym nigh
[...] whan that he this lady sygh
[...]nd of her beaute hede toke
[...]e couth not withholde his loke
[...]o s
[...] nought els in the felde
But stode, and only her behelde.
Of his clothynge, and of his gere
He was vnlyche all other there
So that it happeneth at laste
The quene vpon hym her eie cast
And knewe, that he was straunge, anone
But he behelde her euer in one
without blenchynge of his chere.
She toke good hede of his manere
And wondreth, why he dyd so
And bad men shulde for hym go.
He came, and dyd her reuerence.
And she hym asketh in sylence
From whens he cam, and what he wold
And he with sobre wordes tolde.
He sayth: Madame a clerke I am
To you and in message I cam
The whiche I may not tellen here
But if it liketh you to here
It mote be sayde so priuely
where none shall be, but ye and I.
Thus for the tyme he toke his leue.
The day gothe forthe tyll it was eue
That euery man mote leue his werke
And she thought euer vpon this clerke
what thynge it is, that he wolde mene
And in this wyse abode the quene
And ouerpasseth thylke nyght
Tyll it was on the morowe lyght
She sende for hym, and he came
with hym his Astrolabe he name
with poyntes and cercles merueylous.
whiche was of fyne golde precious
And eke the heuenly fygures
wrought in a boke full of peyntures
He toke this lady for to shewe
And tolde of eche of hem by rewe
The cours and the condition.
And she with great affection
Sate styll and herde what he wolde.
And thus whan he seeth tyme, he tolde
And feyneth with his wordes wyse
A tale, and seyth in suche a wyse.
Madame but a whyle a go
where I was in Egypte tho
And radde in schole of this science
It fell in to my conscience
That I vnto the temple went
And there with all my holle entent
As I my sacrifice dede
One of the goddes hath me bede
That I you warne priuely
So that ye make you redy
And that ye be nothynge agast
For he suche loue hath to you cast
That ye shall bene his owne dere
And he shall be your bedfere
Tyll ye conceyue and be with childe.
And with that worde she wex all mylde,
And somdele redde bicame for shame,
And asketh hym the goddes name
whiche so woll done her company.
And he seide Amos of Luby /
And she saith, that may I not leue
But if I se a better preue.
Madame, quod Nectanabus
In token that it shall be thus
This nyght for enformation
ye shall haue a vision
That Amos shall to you appere
To shewe and teche in what manere
The thynge shall afterwarde befall
ye oughten well abouen all
To make ioye of suche a lorde.
For whan ye be of one accorde
He shall a sonne of you begete
whiche with his swerde shall win & gete
The wyde worlde in length and brede.
All erthely kynges shall hym drede
And in suche wyse I you behote
The god of erthe he shall be hote.
If this be sothe, tho quod the quene
This nyght (thou seyest) it shall be sene
And if it falle in to my grace
Of god Amos that I purchace
To take of hym so great worshyp
I wol do the suche ladyshyp
wherof thou shalte for euermo
Be ryche, And he hir thanketh tho
And toke his leue, and forthe he wente.
She wyst lytell, what he ment
For it was gyle and sorcerye
All that she toke for prophecye.
Nactanabus through out the day
whan he cam home, where as he lay
His chambre he hym selfe bitoke
And ouertorneth many a boke
And through the crafte of artemage
Of wexe he forged an ymage
He loketh his equacions
And eke the constellacions
He loketh the coniunctions
He loketh the receptions
His sygne, his houre, his ascendent
And draweth fortune of his assent
The name of quene Olympias
In thylke ymage written was
A myddes in the front aboue.
And thus to wynne his lust of loue
Nectanabus this werke hath dyght
And whan it came within nyght
That euery wyght is fall a slepe
He thought he wolde his tyme kepe
As he, whiche hath his houre apointed.
And than fyrste he hath anoynted
with sondry herbes that fygure
And therupon he gan coniure
So that through his enchantement
This lady, whiche was innocent
And wyste nothynge of this guyle
Mette, as she slepte thylke whyle
Howe fro the heuen came a lyght
whiche all hir chambre made lyght
And as she loketh to and fro
She sigh, hir thought, a dragon tho
whose scherdes shynen as the sonne
And hath his softe pas begonne
with all the chere that he may
Towarde the bedde there as she lay
Tyll he came to the beddes syde
And she lay styll, and nothynge cryde
For he dyd all his thynges fayre
And was courteis, and debonayre
And as he stode hir fast by
His forme he chaungeth sodeynly
And the fygure of man he nome
To her and in to bedde he come
And such thing ther of loue he wrought
wherof, so as hir than thought
Through lykenes of this god Amos
with childe anone her wombe aros
And she was wonder glad withall.
Nectanabus, whiche causeth all
Of this metred the substaunce
whan he seeth tyme his nygromance
He stynt, and nothynge more seyde
Of his carecte, & she abreyde
Out of her slepe, and leueth wele
That it is soth than euery dele
Of that this clerke hir had tolde
And was the glader many folde
In hope of suche a glad metrede
which after shall befalle in dede
She longeth sore after the day
That she her sweuen telle may
To this gilour in priuete
whiche knewe it also well as she
And netheles on morowe sone
She lefte al other thinge to done
And for him sent: and all the cas
She tolde hym pleynely, as it was
And sayde: howe than well she wyst
That she his wordes myght tryst
For she fonde hir auision
Ryght after the condition
whiche he hir had tolde to fore
And praide hym hertely therfore
That he hir holde couenant
So forth of all the remenant
That she may through his ordinance
Towardes god do suche plesance
That she wakende myght hym kepe
In suche wyse, as she met a slepe.
And he that couthe of guyle ynough
whan be this herde, for ioye he lough
And seyth: Madame it shall be do
But this I warne you therto
This night, whan that he comth to play
That there be no lyfe in the way
But I, that shall at his lykynge
Ordeine so for his comynge
That ye ne shall not of hym fayle.
For this madame I you counsayle
That ye it kepe so priue
That no wyght els, but we thre
Haue knowlechynge, howe that it is
For els myght it fare amys
If ye dyd ought, that shulde him greue.
And thus he makth hir to beleue
And fayneth vnder guyle feyth
But netheles all that he seyth
She troweth: and ayene the nyght
She hath within hir chambre dyght
where as this guyler fast by
Vpon this god shall priuely
Awayte, as he makth hir to wene.
And thus this noble gentyll quene
whan she most trysted, was deceyued.
¶The night cam, & the chābre is weiued
Nectanabus hath take his place
And whan he sigh tyme and space
Through the disceite of his magyke
He put hym out of mans lyke
And of a dragon toke the forme
As he, whiche wolde hym all conforme
To that she sawe in sweuener this.
And thus to chambre come he is
The quene lay a bed, and syghe
And hopeth euer, as he cam nyghe
That he god of Luby were
So hath she well the lesse fere
But for he wolde hir more assure
yet efte he changeth his fygure
And of a wether the lykenesse
He toke in sygne of his noblesse
with large hornes for the nones
Of fyne golde and ryche stones.
A crowne on his heed he bare
And sodeinlyche, er she was ware
As he, whiche all guyle can
His forme he torneth in to man
And came to bedde, and she lay styll
where as she suffreth all his wyll
As she, whiche wende not mysdo.
But netheles it hapneth so
All though she were in parte deceiued
yet for all that she hath conceiued
The worthiest of all kithe
whiche euer was tofore or sith
Of conquest, and of chyualrye
So that through gyle and sorcery
There was that noble knight begonne
whiche all the worlde hath after wonne
Thus fell the thing, whiche fall shuld
Nectanabus hath that he wolde
with gyle he hath his loue sped
with gyle he came in to the bed
with gyle he gothe hym oute ayene
He was a shrewed chamberleyne
So to begyle a worthy quene
And that on hym was after sene.
But netheles the thynge is do
This fals god was sone go
with his deceyte, & helde hym close
Tyll morow cam, that he arose
And tho, whan tyme and leyser was
The quene tolde hym all the cas
As she, that gyle none supposeth
And of two poyntes she hym apposeth.
One was, if that this god no more
wyll come ayene: and ouermore
How she shall stonden in accorde
with kynge Philip her owne lorde
when he comth home, & seeth her grone
¶Madame, he seyth, let me alone
As for the god I vndertake
That whan it lyketh you to take
His company at any throwe
If I a day to fore it knowe
He shall be with you on the nyght
And he is welle of suche a might
To kepe you frome al blame.
For thy comforte you madame
There shall none other cause be.
Thus tooke he leue, and forth goth he.
And tho began be for to muse
Howe he the quene might excuse
Towarde the kinge, of that is falle
And founde a crafte amonges alle
Through which he hath a se foule dāted
with his magike, and so enchaunted
That he flewe forth, whan it was night
Vnto the kinges tent right
where that he lay amidde his hoste.
And whan he was a slepe moste
with that the se foull to him brought
An other charme, whiche he wrought
At home within his chamber stylle.
The kinge he torneth at his wylle
And makth him for to dreme and se
The dragon and the priuete
which was betwene him and the quene.
And ouer that he made him wene
In sweuen, howe that the god Amos
whan he vp fro the quene aros
Toke forth a rynge, wherin a stone
was set and graue therupon
A sonne, in whiche whan he cam nighe
A lyon with a swerde he sigh.
And with that prente, as he so mette
Vpon the quenes wombe he sette
A seale, and goth him forth his way
with that the sweuen went a waye.
And tho began the kinge a wake
And sighe for his wyues sake
where as he lay within his tent
And hath great wonder, what it mente.
with that he hasted him to ryse
Anone and sent after the wyse.
Amonge the whiche there was one
A Clerke, his name is Amphyon
whan he the kinges sweuen herd
what it betokneth he answerde
And saith, as sekerly as the lyfe
A god hath layne by thy wyfe
And gotte a sonne, whiche shall wynne
The worlde, and all that is withinne.
As the lyon is kynge of beastes
So shall the worlde obeye his bestes
which with his swerde shal al be wonne
Als ferre as shyneth any sonne.
The kynge was doutife of this dome
But netheles whan that be come
Ageyne into his owne londe
His wyfe with childe great be founde
He myght not hym selfen stere
That he ne made her heuy chere.
But he whiche couth of all sorowe
Nectanabus vpon the morowe
Through the deceyte of Nygromaunce
Toke of a dragon the semblaunce
And where the kynge sat in his halle
Cam in rampende amonge hem all
with suche a noyse and suche a rore
That they agast were all so sore
As though they shulde dye anone
And netheles he greueth none
But goth towarde the deyse on bye
And whan he cam the quene nye
He stynt his noyse, and in his wyse
To her he profreth his seruice
And layth his heed vpon hir barme
And she with goodly chere hir arme
About his necke ayenewarde layde
And thus the quene with hym playde
In sight of all men about
And at last be gan to loute
And obeysaunce vnto her make
As he that wolde his leue take.
And sodeynly his lothely forme
In to an egle be gan transforme
And flewe, and set hym on a rayle
wherof the kynge had great meruayle
For there he pruneth hym and pyketh
As doth an hauke, whan him wel lyketh
And after that him selfe he shoke
wherof that all the halle quoke
As it a terremote were.
They seyden all, god was there
In suche a rees and forth he flygh.
¶The kyng, which all this wōder sygh
whan he cam to his chambre alone
Vnto the quene made his mone
And of foryeues he hir praide.
For than he knewe well, as he sayde
She was with childe with a god.
Thus was the kynge without rod
Chastised, and the quene excused
Of that she had ben accused.
And for the greatter euidence
yet after that in the presence
Of kynge Philip, and other mo
whan they yode in the fyldes tho
A fesaunt came before her eye
The whiche anone, as they hir seye
Fleende, let an neye downe falle
And it to brake tofore hem alle.
And as they token therof kepe
They sigh out of the shelle crepe
A l
[...]tell serpent on the grounde
whiche rampeth all aboute rounde
And in ayene he woll haue wonne
But for the brennyng of the sonne
It myght not, and so be deide.
And therupon the clerkes seyde
As the serpent, when it was out
went enuyron the shelle aboute
And myght not torne in ayene
So shall it fall in certeyne
This childe the worlde shall enuirone
And aboue all, the corone
Hym shall befall, and in his yonge age
He shall desire in his corage
whan all the worlde is in his honde
To turne ayene vnto the londe
where he was bore, and in his weye
Homewarde he shall with poyson deye.
The kynge, whiche al this sigh & herde
Fro that day forth, howe so it ferde
His ielousye hath all foryete
But he, whiche hath the childe begete
Nectanabus in priuite
The tyme of his natiuite
Vpon the constellation
Awayteth, and relation
Maketh to the quene, howe she had do
And euery houre appointeth so
That no mynute therof was lore.
So that in due tyme is bore
This childe: and forthwith therupon
There fell wonders many one
Of teremote vniuersele.
The sonne toke colloure of stele
And lost his lyght, the windes blewe
And many strengthes ouerthrewe
These his propre kynde chaungeth
And all the worlde his forme strangeth
The thonder with his fyry leuen
So cruel was vpon the heuen
That euery erthely creature
Tho thought his lyfe in auenture.
The tempest at last sesseth
The childe is kepte, his age encreceth:
And Alisaunder his name is hote
To whome Calystre and Arystote
To techen him philosophye
Entenden: and Astronomye
(with other thinges, whiche he couth
Also to teche him in his youth)
Nectanabus toke vpon honde
But euery man may vnderstonde
Of sorcery, howe that it wende
It wolle him selfe proue at ende
And namely for to begyle
A lady / whiche withoute gyle
Supposeth trouthe all that she hereth
But often he, that euyll stereth
His ship is dreint therin a mydde
And in this cas right so betydde
Nectanabus vpon a nyght
whan it was fayre and sterre lyght
This yonge lorde lad vpon highe
A boue a towre, where as he syghe
The sterres suche as he acounteth
And saith, what eche of hem amounteth
As though he knewe of all thinge
yet hath he no knowlechinge
what shal vnto him selfe befall
whan he hath tolde his wordes all
This yonge lorde than him apposeth
And asketh, if that he supposeth
what deth he shule him selfe deye.
He seith, or fortune is aweye
And euery sterre hath lost his wonne
Or els of myn owne sonne
I shall be slayn, I may not fle
Thought Alysaunder in priuete
Herof this olde dotarde lyeth.
Ander that other ought aspyeth
All sodeinlyche his olde bones
He shofe ouer the walle at ones
And saith hym: Lye downe there a part
wherof nowe serueth all thyn art?
Thou knewe all other mens chaunce
And of thy selfe hast ignoraunce
That thou hast sayd amonges all,
Of thy persone is not befall.
¶Nectanabus whiche hath his death
yet whyles hym lasteth lyfe and brethe
To Alysaunder he spake, and seyd:
That he with wrong blame on him leid.
Fro poynt to poynt and all the cas
He tolde, howe he his sonne was.
Tho be, whiche sory was inough
Out of the dyche his father drough
And tolde his mother, howe it ferde
In counsayle, and when she it herde
And knewe the tokens, whiche he tolde
She nyst what she say shulde
But stode abasshed, as for the whyle
Of this magike, and all the gyle.
She thought, how that she was deceyued
That she hath of a mā conceiued
And wende a god it had he.
But netheles in suche degree
So as she myght her honour saue
She shope the body was begraue.
And thus Nectanabus abought
The sorcery, whiche he wrought
Though he vpon the creatures
Through his caretes and fygures
The maystry and the power had
His creatour to nought hym lad
Ageyne whose lawe his crafte he vseth
when he for lust his god refuseth
And toke hym to the deuyls crafte
Lo what profyte is hym belafte?
That thing through which he wēd haue stonde
First him exiled out of londe
which was his owne, and from a kynge
Made hym to be an vnderlynge
And sythen to deceyue a quene
That torneth hym to mochel tene
Through lust of loue he gat hym hate
That ende couth he nought abate
His olde sleyghtes, whiche he cast
yonge Alisandre hym ouercast.
His father, whiche hym mysbegat
He sloughe, a great myshappe was that
But for omys, an other mys
was yolde, and so full ofte it is.
Nectanabus his crafte myswent
And so it mysfell hym, er he went
I not what helpeth that clergy
whiche maketh a man to do foly
And namelyche of Nygromance
whiche stont vpon the myscreance.
¶ Nota qualiter rex Zorastes statim cum ab vtero matris sue nasceretur gaud [...]o magno risit, in quo pronosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur. Nam et ipse detestabilis artis magice primus fuit inuentor, quē postea rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit, et sic opus operariū cōsumpsit.
¶And for to se more euidence
Zorastes, whiche thexperience
Of art magike ferst forth drough
Anone as he was bore he lough
whiche token was of wo suinge.
For of his owne controuinge
He fond magik, and taught it forth
But all that was him lytel worth
For of Surry a worthy kynge
Him slewe, and that was his endinge.
But yet through him this crafte is vsed
And he through all the worlde excused
For it shall neuer well acheue
That stont not ryght with the beleue
But liche to wolle is euil sponne
who leseth him selfe hath litell wonne
And ende proueth euery thyng.
¶Saul, whiche was of iewes kynge
Vp peyne of deth forbad this arte
And yet he toke therof his parte.
The phitonysse in Samary
yafe hym counsayle by sorcery
whiche after felle to moche sorowe
For he was slayne vpon the morowe.
To conne mochell thynge it helpeth
But of to moche no man yelpeth.
So for to loke on euery syde
Magyke may not well betyde.
For thy my sonne I woll the rede
That thou of these ensamples drede
That for no lust of erthly loue
Thou seche so to come aboue
wherof as in the worldes wonder
Thou shalt for euer be put vnder.
¶ My good fader graunt mercy
For euer I shall beware therby
Of loue what me so befalle
Suche sorcery abouen all
Fro this day forth I shall eschewe
That so ne wylle I not pursewe
My lust of loue for to seche.
But this I wolde you beseche
Beside that me stant of loue
As I you herd speke aboue
Howe Alysandre was betaught
Of Arystotle, and so well taught
Of all that to a kynge belongeth
wherof my herte sore longeth
To wyte what it wolde mene.
For by reason I wolde wene
But if I herde of thinges straunge
Yet for a tyme it shulde chaunge
My peyne, and lisse me somdele.
¶ My good sonne thou sayest wele
For wisdome howe that euer it stonde
To him that can it vnderstonde
Doth great profite in sondry wyse
But touchend of so hyghe a pryse
whiche is not vnto Venus knowe
[...] may it not my selfe knowe
whiche of her courte am all forth drawe
And can no thinge but of her lawe.
But netheles to knowe more
As wel as thou, me longeth sore
And for it helpeth to commune
All be they nought to me cōmune
The scholes of philosophye
Yet thinke I for to specyfye
In bokes as it is comprehended
wherof thou mightest ben amended.
For though I be not all counninge
Vpon the forme of this wrytinge
Some part therof yet I haue herde
In this mater howe it hath ferd.
☞ Explicit liber sextus.
❧ QVIA OMNIS DOCTRIna bona humano regimini salutē confert / In hoc septimo libro ad instantiam amantis languidi intendit Genius illam, ex qua philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinam regem Alexandrum imbuerunt secundum aliquid declarare. Diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes / quarum prima Theorica / secunda Rhetorica, tertia Practica nuncupata est, de quarum condicionibus subsequenter per singula tractabit.
☞ Incipit liber Septimus ❧
Omnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutem
Consequitur, nec habet quis nisi docttus opē.
Naturam superat doctrina uiro quod et ortus
Ingenij docilis nō dedit, ipsa dabit.
Non ita discretus hominum per climata regnat
Quin magis ut sapiat, indiget ipse scholae.
I Genius the preest of loue
My son as thou hast praid aboue
That I the schole shall declare
Of Aristotle, and eke the fare
Of Alysaunder, bowe he was taught
I am somdele therof distraught
For it is not the matere
Of loue, why we sytten here
To shryue so as Venus badde
But netheles for it is gladde
So as thou sayst for thyn appryse
To here of suche thynges wyse
wherof thou myght thy tyme lysse
So as I can, I shall the wysse
For wysedome is at euery throwe
Aboue all other thynge to knowe
In loues cause and els where
For thy my sonne vnto thyn eare
Though it be not in the registre
Of Venus, yet of that calistre
And Aristotle whylom wryte
To Alysaunder, thou shalt wyte
But for the lores ben dyuers
I thynke fyrst to the reherce
The matter of philosophy
whiche Aristotle of his clergie
wyse and experte in the science
Declared thilke intelligence
As of the poyntes principalle
wherof the fyrst in specialle
Is Theoryke, whiche is grounded
On him, which al the worlde hath foūded
which cōprehended al the lore.
And for to loken ouermore
Next of science the seconde
Is Rhetoric, whose facounde
Aboue all other is eloquent.
To telle a tale in iugement
So well can no man speke as he.
The last science of the thre
It is practyke, whose office
The vertu trieth fro the vice
And techeth vpon good thewes
To fle the company of shrewes
whiche stant in disposicion
Of mannes fre election.
Practyke enformeth eke the rewle
Howe that a worthy kynge shall rule
His realme, both in werre and pees.
Lo thus dane Aristoteles
These thre sciences hath deuided
And in nature also decyded
wherof that eche of hem shall serue.
The first whiche is the conserue
And keper of the remenaunte
As that, whiche is most suffisaunt
And chiefe of the philosophye.
If I therof shall speciphye
So as the philosopher tolde
Nowe barke, & kepe that thou it holde.
Prima creatorem dat scire scientia summum.
Qui capit, agnoscit, sufficit illud ei.
Plura viros quando
(que) iuuat nescire, sed illud,
Quod vidit ex pediens sobrius ille sapit.
¶ HIC TRACTAT DE PRIma parte philosophie, que theorica dicitur / cuius natura triplici dotata est sciencia / scilicet Theologia, Phisica, et Mathematica, Sed primo illam partem Theologice declarabit.
¶Of Theoryk principalle
The philosopher in specialle
The propirtes hath determined
As thilke whiche is enlumined
Of wisdome, and of hygh prudence
Aboue all other in his scyence
And stant departed vpon thre
The i frst of whiche in his degre
Is cleped in philosophye
The science of Theology
That other named is phisike
The thyrde is seide Mathematike.
Theologie is that science
whiche vnto man yeueth euidence
Of thynge, whiche is not bodely
wherof men knowe redely
The high almyghty trinite
whiche is o god in vnite
withouten ende and begynnynge
And creature of all thynge
Of heuen, of erthe, and of hell
wherof as olde bokes tell
The philosopher in his reason
wrote vpon this conclusion
And of his writynge in a clause
He clepeth god the fyrste cause
whiche of hym selfe is thylke good
withouten whom nothynge is good
Of whiche that euery creature
Hath his beynge, and his nature.
After the beynge of the thynges
There ben thre formes of beynges
¶Nota quod triplex dicitur assencia. Prima tē poranea, que incipit & definit: Secunda perpetua, que incipit / et non definit / Tercia sempiterna / que nec incipit, nec definit.
¶Thynge whiche began, and ende shal
That thynge is cleped temporall
There is also by other way
Thynge, whiche began & shall not dey
As soules, that ben spirituell
Her beynge is perpetuell.
But there is one aboue the sonne
whose tyme neuer was bigonne
And endles shall euer be
That is the god, whose mageste
All other thinges shall gouerne
And his beinge is sempiterne.
The god, to whome all honoure
Belongeth, he is creatoure.
And other ben his creatures,
He commaundeth the natures
That they to him obeien all.
withouten him, what so befalle
Her might is none, and he may all
The god was euer and euer shall
And they begonne of his assente.
The times al ben present
To god, and to hem all vnknowe
But what him lyketh, that they knowe
Thus both an angel and a man
The whiche of all, that god began
Ben chief, obeien goddes might
And he stont endeles vp right.
To this science ben pryue
The clerkes of diuinite
The whiche vnto the people preche
The feythe of holy churche and teche
whiche in one
[...]as vpon beleue
Stant more than they can preue
By wey of argument sensyble
But netheles it is credible
And doth a man great mede haue
To him that thynkth him selfe to saue
Theology in suche a wyse
Of highe science and highe aprise
[...]oue all other stant vnlyke
And is the fyrst of theorike.
¶ [...] de secunda parte Theorice, que Phisica [...].
¶Phisike is after the seconde
Through whiche the philosophre hath fōde
To teche sondry knowlechynges
Vpon the bodelyche thinges
Of man, of beest, of herbe, of stone
Of f
[...]he, of fowle, of euerichone
That ben of bodely substaunce
The nature and the circumstaunce.
Through this science it is full sought
Which vaileth & which vaileth nought.
[...] tercia parte Theorice / que Mathe [...] [...], [...]uius condicio quaruor in se conti [...] [...] [...]gencias, scilicet Arithmeticam, Musicā [...]me [...]m / et Astronomiam, Sed primo de [...] natura dicere intendit.
¶The thrid point of Theoryk
whiche cleped is Mathematyk
Deuided is in sondry wyse
And
[...]rant vpon diuers apprise
The ferst of whiche is Arthmetik
And the second is said Musik
The therd is eke Geomatry
Also the forth Astronomye.
¶ Of Arthmetyk the matere
As that of whiche a man may lere
what Algorysme in nombre amounteth
whan that the wyse man accounteth
After the formel proprete
Of Algorismes a, b, c.
By whiche multiplication
Is made, and diminution
Of sommes by thexperience
Of this arte, and of this science.
¶ Nota de musica, que secunda par [...] artis mathematice dicitur.
¶The seconde of mathematike
whiche is the science of musike
That teacheth vpon armony
A man to maken melody
By voice and soune of instrument
Thrugh notes of accordement
The whiche men pronounce alofte
Nowe sharpe notes, and nowe softe
Nowe hye notes, and nowe lowe
As by Gam vt, a man may knowe
whiche techeth the prolacion
Of note, and the condition.
¶Nota de tertia specie artis Mathematice / qud Geometriam vocant.
¶Mathematyke of his science
Hath yet the thyrde intelligence
Full of wysedome and of clergie
And cleped is Geometrie
Through which a man hath the sleight
Of length, of brede, of depth, of heyght
To knowe the proporcion
By very calculacion
Of this science: and in this wyse
These olde philosophres wise
Of all this worldes erth rounde
Howe large, how thick was the groūde
Contriued by the experience
The Cercle, and the circomference
Of euery thynge vnto the heuen
They setten point and mesure euen.
Mathemetike aboue the erth
Of high science aboue the ferth
whiche speketh vpon Astronomy
And techeth of the sterres bye
Begynnynge vpwarde fro the mone
But fyrst, as it was for to done
This Aristotle in other thynge
Vnto this worthy yonge kynge
The kynde of euery element
whiche stant vnder the firmament
Howe it is made, and in what wyse
Fro poynt to poynt be gan deuise.
Quatuor omnipotens elementa creauit origo:
Quatuor et uenti partibus ora dabat.
Nostra
(que) quadruplici complectio sorte creatur.
Corpore sic
(que) suo stat uariatus homo.
¶Hic traciat de creatione quatuor elementorum scilicet terre, aque, aeris, et ignis, Nec non et de eorum naturis nam et singulis ꝓprietates singula attribituntur.
¶Tofore the creation
Of ony worldes station
Of heuen, of erthe, or eke of hell
So as these olde bokes tell
As soune to fore the songe is set
And yet they ben to gether knet:
Ryght so the high purueance
Tho had vnder his ordenance
A great substance, a great mattere
Of whiche he wolde in his manere
These other thynges make and forme
For yet withouten any forme
was that matere vniuersall
whiche hight Ilem in speciall.
Of Ilem as I am enformed
These elementes ben made and formed.
Of Ilem clementes they hote
After the schole of Aristote
Of whiche if more I shall reherse
Foure elementes there ben diuerse.
☞ Nota de terra, quod est primum elementum.
¶The fyrst of hem, men erthe call
whiche is the lowest of hem all:
And in his forme is shape rounde
Substanciall, stronge, sad, and sounde
As that, whiche made is suffisant
To beare vp all the remenant.
For as the poynt in a compas
Stant euen amyddes, ryght so was
This erthe set, and shall abyde
That it may swerue to no syde.
And hath his centre after the lawe
Of kynde: and to that Centre drawe
Desyreth euery worldes thynge:
If there ne were no lettynge.
¶Nota de aqua, quod est secundum elementum.
¶Aboue the erthe kepeth his bounde
The water, whiche is the seconde
Of elementes: and all without
It enuyronneth therthe about.
But as it sheweth nought for thy
The subtyle water myghtily
Though it be of hym selfe softe
The strength of the erth passeth ofte.
For ryght as veynes ben of bloud
In man, ryght so the water floud
Therth of his cours makth ful of veines
Als well the hylles as the pleines:
And that a man may seen at eye.
For wher the hylles ben most hye
There may men wel stremes fynde.
So preueth it by way of kynde
The water hygher than the londe.
And ouer this nowe vnderstonde
¶Nota de aera, quod est tertium elementum.
Ayer is the thyrde of elementes
Of whose kynde his aspirementes
Taketh euery lyuysshe creature
The whiche shall vpon erth endure.
For as the fysshe if it be drye
Mote in defaute of water dye
Ryght so without ayer on lyue
No man, ne beest, myght thryue
The whiche is made of flesshe and bone
There is out take of all none.
¶Nota quod aer in tribus periferiss diuiditur.
¶This ayer in periferis thre
Deuyded is of suche degree:
Beneth is one, and one amydde
To whiche aboue is the thrydde.
And vpon the deuysions
There ben dyuers oppressions
Of moyst, and eke of drye also
whiche of the sonne both two
Ben drawe, and haled vpon bye
And maken cloudes in the skye
And shewed is at mans sight
wherof by day, and eke by nyght
After the tymes of the yere
Amonge vs vpon erth here
In sondry wyse thynges falle
¶Nota de prima aeris periferia.
¶The fyrste periferye of all
Engendreth myst, and ouermore
The dewes, and the frostes bore
After thilke interstition
In whiche they take impression.
☞ Nota de secunda aeris periferia.
¶ Fro the seconde, as bokes seyne
The moyst droppes of the reyne
Descenden in to the myddel erthe
And tempreth it to sede and erth
And doth to sprynge gras and floure
And ofte also the great shoure
Out of suche place it may be take
That it the forme shall forsake
Of reyne, and in to snowe be torned
And eke it may be so soiourned
In sondry places vp alofte
That in to hayle it tourneth ofte.
¶Nota de tertia aeris periferia.
¶The thirde of ayer, after the lawe
Through suche matere as is vp drawe
Of drye thynge, as it is ofte
Amonge the cloudes vpon lofte
And is so close, it may not out:
Than is it chased sore about
Tyll it to fyre and leyte falle
And than it breketh the cloudes all
The whiche of so great noyse craken
That they the fearefull thonder maken.
The thonder stroke smyt, er it leyte
And yet men sene the fire and leyte
The thonder stroke er that men here.
So may it well be proued here
In thynge, whiche shewed is fro ferre
A mans eye is there nerre
Than is the sounde to mans eare
And netheles it is great feare
Both of the stroke, and of the fire
Of whiche is no recouerire
In place where that they discende
But if god wolde his grace sende.
¶ Nota qualiter ignes, quos motantur in ae [...]e discurrere videmus secundum varias apparentie formas varia gesta ni nomina, quorum primus Assub, Secondus Capra saliens, tertius Eges, Et quarius Daali in libris philosophorum nuncupa [...]ns est.
¶And for to speaken ouer this
In this parte of the aire it is
That men full ofte sene by nyght
The fyre in sondry forme alyght:
Somtyme the fyre drake it semeth
And so the lewde people it demeth.
Somtyme it semeth as it were
A sterre, whiche that glydeth there.
But it is nether of the two
The philosophre telleth so,
And seith: that of impressions
Through diuers exaltations
Vpon the cause and the matere
Men sene diuerse forme appere
Of fyre, the whiche hat
[...] bondry name.
Assub, he sayth, is thylke same
The whiche in sondry place is founde
whan it is fall downe to grounde
So as the fyre it hath aneled
Lyke vnto slyme, whiche is congeled.
Of exaltation I fynde
Fyre kengled of the same kynde
But it is of an other forme
wherof, if that I shall conforme
The figure vnto that it is
These olde clerkes tellen this:
That it is lyke a gote skyppende
And for that it is suche semende
It is hote Capra saliens.
And eke these Astronomyens
An other fyre also by nyght
whiche sheweth hym to mans syght
They clepen Eges, the whiche brenneth
Lyke to the currant fyre, that renneth
Vpon a corde, as thou haste sene
when it with poudre is so besene
Of sulphur, and other thynges mo.
There is a nother fyre also
whiche semeth to a mans eye
By nyghtes tyme, as though there flye
A
[...]ragon brennynge in the skye
And that is cleped proprely
Da
[...]li, wherof men say full ofte:
Lo where the fyrye drake a lofte
Fleeth vp in thaire: and so they de
[...]en.
But why the fyres suche semen
Of sondry forme to beholde
The wyse philosophre tolde
So as to fore it hath bene herde.
Lo thus my sonne it hath ferde
Of ayre, the due proprete
In sondry wyse thou myght se.
And howe vnder the firmament
It is eke the thyrde element
whiche enuyroneth bothe two
The water and the lande also.
☞ Nota de igne, quod est quartum elementum.
¶And for to tell ouer this
Of elementes, whiche the forthe is
That is the Fire in his degre
whiche enuironeth thother thre
And is without moyste all drye.
But lyst nowe, what seyth the clergie.
For vpon hem, that I haue sayde
The creatour hath set and leyde
The kynde and the complexion
Of all mennes nacion.
Foure elementes sondry there be
Lyche vnto whiche of that degre
Amonge the men there bene also
Complections foure, and no mo:
wherof the philosophre treteth
That he nothyng behynde leteth
And seyth, howe that they bene diuerse
So as I shall to the reherce.
❧ Nota hic qualiter secundum naturam quatuor elementorū, quatuor in humano corpore complexiones scilicet Melācolia, Flengma, Sāguis, et Colera naturaliter constituuntur, vnde primo de Melancolia dicendum est.
❧ He whiche naturith euery kynde
The myghty god, so as I fynde
Of man, whiche is his creature
Hath so deuyded the nature:
That none tyll other well accordeth.
And by the cause it so discordeth
The lyfe, whiche feleth the sykenesse
May stonde vpon no likernesse.
¶Of therthe, whiche is colde and dry
The kynde of man Melancolye
Is cleped, and that is the fyrste
The moste vngoodlyche, and the werste.
For vnto loues werke on nyght
Hym lacketh both wyll and myght.
No wondre is in lusty place
Of loue though he lese grace.
what man hath that complexion
Full of imagination
Of dedes, and of wrathfull thoughte
He freteth hym seluen all to noughte.
☞ De complexione fleugmatis.
¶ The water, whiche is moyste & colde
Maketh fleme, whiche is manyfolde
Foryetel, slowe, and wery sone
Of euery thynge, whiche is to done.
He is of kinde suffisaunt
To holde loue his couenaunt:
But that him lacketh appetyte
whiche longeth vnto suche delyte.
❧ De complexione sanguinis.
what man that takth his kind of thaier
He shall be lyght, he shall be fayre.
For his complexion is bloode
Of all there is none so good
For he hath both wyll and might
To please and pay loue his right
where as he hath loue vndertake
wronge is, if that he forsake.
☞ De complexione colere.
¶The first of his condicion
Appropreth the complexion
whose properties ben drye and hote
whiche in a man is coler hote
It maketh a man ben engynous
And swyfte of fote, and eke yrous.
Of conteke, and foole hastynesse
He hath a ryght great besynesse
To thynke on loue and lytell may
Though he be hote well a day
On nyght whan that he woll assay
He may full euyll his dettes paye
❧ Nota qualiter quatuor complexiones quatuor in homine habitationes diuisim possident.
☞ After the kynde of thelement
Thus stant a mans kinde went
As touchend his complexion
Vpon sondry diuision
Of drye, of moyst, of chele, of bete
And eche of hem his owne sete
Appropred hath within a man.
And first to telle as I began
☞ Splen domus melancolie.
The splen is to Melancolye
Assigned for berbyrgery. ❧
☞ Pulmo domus flengmatis.
¶The moyst fleume, with the colde
Hath in the longes for his holde
Ordeined him a propre stede
To dwell there as he is bede.
❧ Epar domus sanguinis. ❧
¶To the sanguine complexion
Nature of his inspection
A propre bous hath in the lyuer
For his dwellinge made delyuer.
☞ Fel domus colere. ❧
¶ The drye coler, with his bete
By wey of kynde his propre sete
Hath in the galle, where be dwelleth
So as the philosophre telleth
☞ Nota de stomacho, qui vna cum aliis cordi s [...]ec [...]alius deseruit.
¶Nowe ouer this is for to wyte
As it is in phisike wryte
Of lyuer, of longe, of galle, of splene
They all vnto the herte bene
Seruauntes, and eche in his offyce
Entenden to don him seruice
As he whiche is chiefe lorde aboue.
The lyuer makth him for to loue
The longe gyueth him wey of speche
The galle serueth to do wreche
The splen doth him to laugh and pl
[...]y
whan all vnclennes is a way.
Lo thus hath eche of hem his dede
To susteynen hem and fede.
In tyme of recreation
Nature hath increation
The stomake for a comune koke
Ordeined so, as sayth the boke.
The stomake cooke is for the ball
And boyleth mete for hem all
To make hem myghty for to serue
The herte, that he shall nought sterue.
For as a kynge in his empire
Aboue all other is lorde and syre:
So is the herte principall
To whom reason in speciall
Is yeue, as for the gouernance.
¶And thus nature his purueance
Hath made for man to lyuen here.
But god, whiche hath the soule dere
Hath formed it in other wyse,
That can no man pleynely deuise.
But as the clerkes vs enforme
That lyche to god it hath a forme.
Through which figure, & which likenesse
The soule hath many an high noblesse
Appropried to his owne kynde.
But of hir wyttes ben made blynde
Al onelyche of this ylke poynte
That hir abydyng is conioynte
Forth with the body for to dwelle.
That one desireth towarde belle
That other vpwarde to the heuen
So shall they neuer stonde in euen.
But if the flesshe be ouercome
And that the soule haue holly nome
The gouernance: and that is selde
whyle that the flesshe him may bewelde
All erthely thynge, whiche god began
was only made to serue man.
But he the soule all onely made
Hym seluen for to serue and glade.
All other bestes that men fynde
They seruen vnto her owne kynde.
But to reason the soule serueth
wherof the man his thonke deserueth
And get hym with his workes goode
The perdurable lyues foode.
☞Hic laquitur vlterin [...] de diuisione terre: que post diluuium tribus filiis Noe in tres partes scilicet Asiam, Affricam / et Europam diuidevatur.
¶ Of what matere it shall be tolde
A tale lyketh many folde
The better, if that it be spoke pleyne
Thus thynke I for to tourne ageyne
And telle plenerly therfore
Of the erthe, wherof nowe tofore
I spake, and of the water eke
So as these olde bokes speke
And sette properly the bounde
After the forme of Mappamounde
Through which the grounde by purparties
Departed is in thre parties
That is Asye, Affrike, Europe
The whiche vnder the heuen cope
Begrypeth all this erthe rounde
As ferre as stretcheth any ground.
But after that the high wreche
The water weyes let out seche
And ouergo the hylles bye
whiche euery kynde made dye
That vpon myddell erth stode
Out take Noe, and his bloode
His sonnes, and his doughters thre
They were saue, and so was he.
Her names, who that rede ryght
Sem, Cam, Iaphet, the brethern hyght
And whan thylke almighty bonde
withdrough the water fro the londe
And all the rage was away:
And erth was the mans waye:
The sonnes thre, of whiche I tolde
Ryght after that hem selfe wolde
This worlde departe they begonne.
Asia, whiche lay to the sonne
Vpon the marche of Oryent
was graunted by commune assent
To Sem, whiche was the sonne eldest
For that partie was the best
And double, as moche as other two.
And was that tyme bounded so
wher as the floud, whiche men Nile calleth
Departed fro his cours, and falleth
In to the see Alexandryne
There taketh Asye first sesyne
Towardeth weste, and ouer this
Of Canabim, where the flode is
In to the great see rennende
Fro that in to the worldes ende
Estwarde Asye it is algates
Tyll that men comen to the gates
Of paradys, and there ho.
And shortely for to speake it so
Of Orient in generall
within his bounde Asye hath all.
¶De Affrica et Europa.
¶ And than vpon that other syde
westwarde, as it fell thylke tyde
The brother, whiche was hote Cam
Vnto his parte Affryke nam.
Iaphet Europe tho toke he
Thus parten they the worlde on thre.
But yet there ben of londes fele
In Occident, as for the chele
In oriente as for the hete
whiche of the people be forlete
As londe deserte, that is vnable
For it may not ben habitable.
¶ Nota de mare, quod magnū Oceanū dicitur.
¶ The water eke hath sondry bounde
After the londe, where it is founde
And takth his name of thylke londes
where that it renneth on the strondes.
But thilke se, whiche hath no wane.
Is cleped the great Ocean:
Out of whiche aryse and come
The hye flouddes all and some.
Is none so lytell well sprynge
whiche there ne takth his begynnynge
And lyche a man that lacketh brethe
By wey of kynde, so it gethe
Out of the see, and in ageyne
The water as the bokes seyne.
¶ Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto elemento, quod omnia sub celo creata infra suum ambitum continet, cui nomen orbis specialiter appropriatum est.
¶Of elementes the properties
How that they stonden by degrees
As I haue tolde, nowe myght thou here
My good sonne all the matere
Of erthe, of water, ayre, and fyre.
And for thou sayst, that thy desyre
Is for to weten ouermore
The forme of Aristotles lore.
He sayth in his entendement
That yet there is an element
Aboue the foure, and is the fyfte
Set of the highe goddes yefte:
The whiche that Orbis cleped is.
And therupon he telleth this
That as the shelle bole and sounde
Encloseth all aboute rounde
what thynge within a neye belongeth:
Ryght so this Orbis vnderfongeth
These elementes euerychone
whiche I haue spoke of one and one.
But ouer this nowe take good hede
My sonne: for I wol procede
To speake vpon Mathematyke
whiche grounded is on Theoryke.
The science of Astronomye
I thynke for to specifye
without whiche to tell playne
All other science is in vayne
Towarde the schole of erthly thynges.
For as an egle with his wynges
Fleeth aboue all that men fynde
So doth this science in his kynde.
Lege planetarum magis inferiora reguntur
[...]
[...]ed interdum regula fallit opus.
[...]
[...]d
[...]ante deo, sapiens dominabitur astris,
[...] nec immerito quod nouitatis agunt.
☞ Hic soquitur de artis Mathematice quarta [...], que astronomia nuncupatur, cui eciam Asti [...]ogia socia connumeratur, Sed primo de se [...]em planetis, que inter astra potenciores existūt, I [...] piendo a luna seorsum tractare intendit.
¶ Bynethe vpon this erthe here
Of all thynges the matere
As tellen vs they, that ben lerned
Of thynge aboue it stont gouerned
That is to seyne of the planetes
The cheles bothe, and eke the hetes.
The chaunces of the worlde also
That we fortune clepen so
Amonge the mennes nacion
All is through constellacion
wherof that some man hath the wele:
And some men haue diseses fele
In loue as well as other thynges.
The state of realmes, and of kynges
In tyme of pees, in tyme of werre
It is conceiued of the sterre.
And thus seyth the naturien
whiche is an Astonomyen.
But the diuine saith other wyse
That if men were good and wyse
And plesant vnto the godhede
They shulde not the sterres drede.
For one man, if hym well befalle
Is more worthe than be they all
Towardes hym, that weldeth all.
But yet the lawe originall
whiche he hath set in the natures
Mot worchen in the creatures
That therof may be none obstacle
But if it stonde vpon miracle
Through praier of som holy man.
And for thy so as I began
To speke vpon astronomye
As it is write in the clergie
To telle howe the planetes fare
Some parte I thynke to delare
My sonne vnto thin audience.
Astronomy is the science
Of wisdom and of high coninnge
whiche makth a man haue knowleching
Of sterres in the fermament
Figure, circle, and mouement
Of eche of hem in sondry place:
And what betwene hem is of space
Howe so they moue or stonde fast
All this it telleth to the last.
Assembled with astronomy
Is eke that ilke astrology
The whiche in iugement accounteth
Theffecte, what euery sterre amounteth.
And howe they causen many a wonder
To the clymates, that stond hem vnder.
And for to telle it more pleyne
These olde philosophers seyne
That Orbis, whiche I spake of er
Is that, whiche fro therthe a ferre
Beholde, and firmament it calle
In whiche the sterres stonden all.
Amonge the whiche in speciall
Planettes seuen principalle
There ben, that mannes syght demeth:
By thorizont, as to vs semeth.
And also there ben signes twelue
whiche haue her cercles by hem selue
Compassed in the Zodiake:
In whiche they haue her places take.
And as they stonden in degre
Her cercles more or lesse be
Made after the proportion
Of the erthe, whose condicion
Is sette, to be fundament
To susteyne vp the firmament.
And by this skylle a man may knowe
The more that they stonden lowe
The more ben the cercles lasse
That causeth why that some passe
Her due cours tofore an other.
But nowe my lieue dere brother
As thou desyrest for to wyte
what I fynde in the bokes wryte
To telle of the planettes seuen
How that they stonde vpon the heuen:
And in what point that they ben in
Take hede: for I woll begyn:
So as the philosopher taught
To Alysaunder and it be taught
wherof that he was fully taught
Of wysdom, which was him betaught.
¶ Nota hic de prima planeta / que aliis inferior luna dicitur.
¶ Benethe all other stont the Mone
The whiche hath with the see to done
Of floodes hygh, & ebbes lowe
Vpon his chaunge it shall be knowe.
And euery fysshe, whiche hath a shelle
Mote in his gouernaunce dwelle
To wexe and wane in his degre
As by the mone a man may se
And all that stont vpon the grounde
Of his moysture, it mote be founde.
All other sterres, as men fynde
Ben shynende of her owne kynde
Out take only the mone lyght
whiche is not of hym selfe bryght
But as he takth it of the sonne.
And yet he hath nought all full wonne
His light, that he nis somdell derke
But what the lette is of that werke
In Almagest it telleth this.
The mones cercle so lowe is
wherof the sonne oute of his stage
Ne seth him not with full visage
For he is with the grounde beshaded
So that the mone is somdele faded
And may not fully shine clere.
But what man vnder his powere
Is bore, he shall his place chaunge
And seche many londes straunge.
And as of this condicion
The mones disposicion
Vpon the londe of Alemayne
Is set, and eke vpon Britayne
whiche nowe is cleped Englonde
For they trauayle in euery londe.
☞ De secunda planeta, que Mercurine dicitur.
¶ Of the planetes the seconde.
Aboue the mone hath take his bonde
Mercurye: and his nature is this
That vnder him who that borne is
In boke he shall be studious
And in writinge curious
And slowe and lustles to trauayle
In thinge, whiche els might auayle
He loueth ese, he loueth rest
So is be not the worthiest.
But yet with somdele besinesse
His hert is set vpon rychesse.
And as in this condicion
Theffecte and disposicion
Of this planete, and of his chaunce
Is moste in Borgoyne, and in Fraunce.
☞ De tercia planeta / que Venus dicitur.
¶ Next to Mercurye as wolle befalle
Stont that planet, whiche men call
Venus: whose constellacion
Gouerneth all the nacion
Of louers, where they spede or none.
Of whiche I trowe thou be one.
But whetherward thin happes wende
Shall this planete shewe at ende
As it hath do to many mo.
To some wel, to some wo.
And netheles of this planete
The moste party is softe and swete.
For who that therof takth his byrth
He shall desire ioy and myrthe
Gentyl curtoys and debonayre
To speke his wordes softe and fayre
Suche shal he be by wey of kinde.
And ouerall where he may fynde
Plesaunce of loue, his herte boweth
with all his might and ther he woweth.
He is so forforth amorous
He not what thinge is vicious.
Touchend loue for that lawe
There may no maner man withdrawe
The whiche Veneryen is bore
By wey of kinde, And therfore
Venus of loue the goddesse
Is cleped, but of wantōnesse
The climate of her lecherye
Is most comune in lumbardye.
¶ [...] de sole, qui medio planetarum residens, [...]rum principatum obtinet.
❧ Next vnto this planete of loue
The bright sonne stont aboue
whiche is the hind
[...]rer of the night
And fortherer of the dayes light:
As he whiche is the worldes eye
Through whome the lusty companye
Of fowles by the morowe singe:
The fresshe floures sprede and springe
The hygh tre the grounde beshadeth
And euery mans hert gladdeth
And for it is the hede planete
Howe that he sitteth in his sete
Of what richesse, of what nobleye
These bokes telle: and thus they seye.
❧ Nota de curru solis, necnon de v [...]rio eiusdem apparatu,
¶Of golde glistrende spoke and whele
The sonne his carte hath faire and wele
In whiche he sitte, and is coroned
with bright stones enuyroned:
Of whiche if that I speke shall
There be tofore in speciall
Set in the front of his corone
Thre stones, whiche no persone
Hath vpon erth, and the first is
By name cleped Licuchis.
That other two cleped thus
Astrices and Ceraunus
In his corone, and also behynde
By olde bokes as I fynde
There ben of worthy stones thre
Set eche of hem in his degre
wherof a Christall is that one
whiche that corone is sette vpon.
The seconde is an adamant.
The thirde is noble and auenaunt
whiche cleped is Idriades
And ouer this yet netheles
Vpon the sydes of the werke
After the wrytynge of the clerke.
There sytten fyue stones mo
The Smaragdine is one of tho
Iaspis and Elitropius
And Vendides and Iacinctus.
Lo thus the corone is beset
wherof it shyneth well the bet
And in suche wyse his lyght to sprede
Syt with his Diademe on heed
The sonne shynende in his carte
And for to lede hym swithe and smarte
After the bryght dayes lawe
There ben ordeyned for to drawe
Four hors his chare, and hym withall
wherof the na
[...] telle I shall.
Eritheus the first is hote
The whiche is redde and shyneth hote
The seconde Acteos the bryght
Lampes the thirde courser hight
And Philogeus is the ferth
That bringen lyght vnto this erth
And gone so swifte vpon the heuen
In foure and twenty houres euen
The carte with the bryght sonne
They drawe, so that ouer ronne
They haue vnder the cercles bye
All mydde erthe in suche an bye.
And thus the sonne is ouer all
The chefe planet imperiall
Aboue hym and beneth hym thre
And thus betwene hem renneth he
As he that hath the middel place
Amonge the seuen: and of his face
Ben glad all erthely creatures
And taken after the natures
Her ease and recreacion.
And in his constellacion
who that is bore in speciall
Of good wille and of liberall
He shall be founde in all place
And also stonden in mochel grace
Toward the lordes for to serue
And great profyte and thonke deserue.
And ouer that it causeth yet
A man to be subtyl of witte
To worch in golde, and to be wise
In euery thinge, whiche is of prise.
But for to speken in what cost
Of all this erth he regneth most
As for wisdom it is in grece
where is appropred thilke spece.
☞ Nota de quinta planeta / que Mars dicitur.
☞ Mars the planete bataillous
Next to the sonne glorious
Aboue stant, and doth meruailles
Vpon the fortune of batayles.
The Conquerours by dayes olde
were vnto this planete holde.
But who that his natyuite
Hath take vpon the propirte
Of Martis disposicion
By wey of constellacion
He shall be fers and full hastyfe
And desirous of werre and strife.
But for to tellen ridily
In what climate most commonly
That this planete hath his effecte.
Saide is, that he hath his aspecte
Vpon the holy londe so caste
That there is no pees stedfaste.
☞ Nota de sexta planeta / que Iupiter dicitur.
¶Aboue Mars vpon the heuen
The sixte planete of the seuen
Stant Iupiter the delicate
whiche causeth pees, and no debate.
For he is cleped the planete
whiche of his kynde softe and swete
Attempreth all that to hym longeth.
And whom this planette vnderfongeth
To stonde vpon his regiment
He shall be meke and pacient
And fortunate to marchandye
And lusty to delicacie
In euery thynge, whiche he shall do.
This Iupiter is cause also
Of the science of lyght werkes
And in this wyse tellen clerkes
He is the planette of delyces.
But in Egypte of his offices
He reygneth moste in speciall
For there ben lustes ouer all
Of all that to this lyfe befalleth.
For there no stormy weder falleth
whiche myght greue man or beest
And eke the londe is so honest
That it is plentuous and playne
There is no ydell grounde in vayne
And vpon suche felicite
Stant Iupiter in his degre.
¶De septima planeta, que reliquis celcior Saturnus dictus est.
¶The hyest, and abouen all
Stant that planet, whiche men call
Saturnus, whose complection
Is colde, and his condicion
Causeth malice and cruelte
To hym, whose natiuite
Is set vnder his gouernaunce.
For all his werkes ben greuaunce
And ennemye to mans hele
In what degre that he shall dele.
His clymate is in oryent
where that he is most violent.
¶Of the planettes by and by
Howe that they stonde vpon the sky
Fro poynt to poynt as thou myght here
was Alysander made to lere.
But ouer this touchende his lore
Of thyng, that they him taughten more
Vpon the scholes of clergy
Nowe herken the philosophy.
☞ POST QVAM DICTVM est de septē planetis, quibus sigule septimane dies [Page] singulariter attitulantur dicendum est iam de duo decim signis, per que .xij. menses anni variis temporibus effectus varios assequūtur.
¶ He whiche departeth daye fro nyght
That one derke, and that other bryght
Of seuen dayes made a weke
A monthe of foure wekes eke
He hath ordeyned in his lawe.
Of mouthes twelue, and eke forthdraw
He hath also the longe yere.
And as he sette of his powere
Accordaunt to the dayes seuen
Planettes seuen vpon the heuen
As thou tofore hast herde deuyse
To speke ryght in suche a wyse
To euery monthe by hym selue
Vpon the heuen, of sygnes twelue
[...] hath after his ordinall
A
[...]igned one in speciall
wherof so as I shall rehersen
[...] tydes of the yere diuersen.
But pleynly for to make it knowe
Now that the signes syt a rowe
[...] after other by degre
In substaunce and in properte
The Zodiake comprehendeth
[...] his cercle, and it appendeth.
[...] [...]IA HIC de primo signo, quod aries [...] mensis specialiter Marc [...] appropria [...]. [...] in primo produxit adesse creata.
¶And as it seith in almageste
Of sterres twelue vpon this beest
[...]en sette, wherof in his degre
The wōbe hath two, the heed hath thre
The tayle hath seuen, and in this wyse
As thou myght here me deuyse
Stant Aries, whiche hote and drye
Is of hym selfe, and in partie
He is the recepte and the hous
Of myghty Mars the bataylous.
And ouermore eke as I fynde
The creature of all kynde
Vpon this signe firste began
The worlde, whan that hem de man
And of this constellacion
The very operacion
Auaileth, if a man therin
The purpose of his werke begin.
For than he hath of properte
Good spede and great felicite.
The twelue monethes of the yere
Attitled vnder the powere
Of these twelue signes stonde
wherof that thou shalt vnderstonde
This Aries oute of the twelue
Hath Marche attitled for him selue
whan euery byrd shall chese his make
And euery adder, and euery snake
And euery reptyle, whiche may moue
His might assaieth for to proue
To crepen oute ayeine the sonne
whan vere his season hath begonne.
☞ Secundum signu dicitur Taurus, cuius men sis est Aprilis. Quo prius occultas inuenit herba vias.
¶Taurus the seconde after this
Of signes, whiche fygured is
Vnto a boolle drye and colde
And as it is in bokes tolde
He is the hows appertinaunt
To Venus somdele discordaunt.
This boolle is eke with sterres set
Through whiche he hath his hornes knet
Vnto the tayle of Aries
So is he not there sterreles.
Vpon his brest eke eyghten
He hath, and eke as it is sene
Vpon his taile stande other two
His month assigned eke also
Is Aueryl, whiche of showres
Ministreth wey vnto the floures.
☞Tercium signum dicitur Gemini, cuius mensis Maius est. Quo volucrū cantus gaudet de floribus ortis,
¶The thyrde signe is Gemini
whiche is figured redily
Liche to two twinnes of man kinde
That naked stonde: And as I finde
They ben with sterres wel bigo
The hede hath parte of thilke t
[...]o
That sh
[...] vpon the boolles tayle
So be
[...] they both of a parayle.
But of the wo
[...]e of Gemini
Ben fyue sterres not for thy.
And eke vpon the
[...]ete bentwey
So as these olde
[...] feye
That wyse Ptholomeus wrote
His propremonthe wel I wote
Assigned is the lusty May
wha
[...] euery brydde vpon his laye
Emonge the grene leues s
[...]geth
And loue of his poynture stingeth
After the lawes of nature
The yongthe of euery creature.
☞ Quarium signum Cancer dicitur / cuius men sis Iumus est. Quo falcat pratis pabula tonsor equis.
❧Cancer after the rule and space
Of signes halt the forth place.
Lyke to the crabbe he hath semblaunce
And hath vnto his retimaunce
Xvi. sterres, wherof ten
So as these olde wyse men
Discriue, he hereth on him tofore
And in the middel two before
And .iiii. he hath vpon his ende
Thus goeth he sterred in his kende.
And of him selfe is moyste and colde
And he is the propre hous and holde
whiche apperteyneth to the mone
And doeth what longeth him to done.
The month of Iune vnto this signe
Thou shalte after the rule assygne.
❧ Quintum signum Leo dicitur / cuius mensis Inlius est. Quo magis ad terras expandit Lucifer ignis.
¶The fyfthe signe is Leo hote
whos kynbe is shape drye and hote
In whome the sonne hath herbergage
And the semblaunce of his ymage
Is a lyon, whiche in bayllye
Of sterres hath his purpartye
The foure, whiche as Cancer hath
Vpon his ende Leo tath.
Vpon his heed and than neste
He hath eke foure vpon his breste.
And
[...] vpon his tayle behynde
In
[...] bokes as I fynde.
His propre mouth is Iule by name:
In whiche men played ma
[...] a game.
¶Septum signum Virgo dicitur, cuius mensis Augustus est. Quo nacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis.
¶After Leo, Virgo the nexte
Of signes cleped is the sexte:
wherof the fygure is a mayde
And as the philosopher sayde
She is the welth, and the rysynge
The lust, the ioy, and the lykynge
Vnto Mercury: and sothe to saye
She is with sterres well be saye
wherof Leo hath lent her one
whiche sette on hye her heed vpon
Her wombe hath .v. her
[...]ete also
Haue other fyue: and euer mo
Touchende as of complexion
By kyndley disposition
Of drye and colde this mayden is.
And for to tellen ouer this
Her mouth, thou shalte vnderstonde
whan euery felde hath corne in honde
And many a man his backe hath plyed
Vnto to this sygne is August applyed.
¶Septimum signum Libra dicitur, cuius mensis September est. Vinea quo Bacchum pressa liquore colit.
¶After Virgo to reken in euen
Libra syt in the nombre of seuen
whiche hath figure and resemblaunce
Vnto a man, whiche a balaunce
Bereth in his honde, as for to weye
In boke and as it may be seye:
Dyuers sterres to hym longeth
wherof o
[...] heed he vnderfongeth
First thre, and eke his wombe hath two,
And downe beneth .viii. other mo.
This signe is hote and moyst both
The whiche thynges be not loth
Vnto Venus, so that alofte
She resteth in his hous full ofte
And eke Saturne often hyed
Is in the sygne and magnifyed.
His propre month is sayd Septembre
whiche yeueth men cause to remembre
If any sore be lefte behynde
Of thinge, whiche greue may to kynde.
☞ De [...]aū signū Scorpio dicitur / cuius mēsi [...] Octobris eft. Floribus exclusis hyems qui ianitor extat.
¶Amonge the sygnes vpon heyght
The signe, whiche is nombred eyght
Is Scorpio, whiche as selon
Fygured is a Scorpion.
But for all that yet nethelesse
Is Scorpio not sterlesse.
For Libra graunteth him his ende
Of .viii. sterres, where he wende
The whiche vpon his hede assysed
He bereth, and eke there ben deuised
Vpon his wombe sterres thre
And .viii. vpon his taile hath he.
whiche of his kinde is moyste and colde
And vnbehouely many folde.
He harmeth Venus and empeyreth
But Mars vnto his hows repeyreth
But ware whan they togider dwellen.
His propre monthe is, as men tellen
Octobre, whiche bringeth the kalende
Of winter, that cometh nexte suende.
❧Nonum signum sagittarius dicitur / cuius mē s [...] s [...] nembris eft. Quo multum bibulo linquit sua nomina vino.
¶The .ix. signe in Nouembre also
whiche foloweth after Scorpio
Is cleped Sagittarius
The whos figure is marked thus.
A monstre with a bowe on honde
On whome that sondry sterres stonde
Thilke .viii. of whiche I spake tofore
The whiche vpon the taile ben lore
Of Scorpio the hede all fayre
Be spreden of the sagittaire
And .viii. of other stonden euen
Vpon his wombe, and other seuen
There stonden vpon his taile behinde
And he is hote and drye of kinde.
To Iupiter his hows is fre
But to Mercurye in his degre
(For they be not of one assent)
He worcheth great empeirement.
This signe hath of his properte
A month, whiche of dewte
After the seson that befalleth
The plough oxe in winter stalleth.
And fyre in to the halle he bringeth
And thylke drinke, of which men singeth
He torneth must in to the wine
Than is the larder of the swyne
That is Nouembre whiche I mene
whan that the leef hath lost his grene.
❧ Decimum signum Capricornius dicitur / cuius mensis decembris est. Ipse diem nauo noctem (que) giganti figurat.
¶The tenthe signe drye and colde
The whiche is Capricornus tolde
Vnto a gote hath resemblance
For whose loue, and whose aqueintance
within his house to soiourne
It lyketh well vnto Saturne.
But to the Mone it lyketh nought
For no profyt is there wrought
This sygne as of his proprete
Vpon his heed hath sterres thre
And eke vpon his wombe two
And twey vpon his tayle also.
Decembre after the yeres formes
So as the bokes vs enformes
with dayes shorte and nyghtes longe
This ylke sygne hath vnderfonge.
¶ Vndecimum signum Aquarius dicitur cuius mensis Ianuarius eft. Quo lanus vultum duplū conuertit in annum.
¶Of tho that sytten vpon the heuen
Of signes in the nombre enleuen
Aquarius hath take his place
And stant well in Saturnus grace:
whiche dwelleth in his herbergage
But to the sonne he doth outrage.
This sygne is verayly resembled
Lyche to a man, whiche halte assembled
In eyther honde a water spout
wherof the stremes rennen out.
He is of kynde moyst and hote
And he that of the sterres wote
Saith, that he hath of
[...]terres two
Vpon his heed, and haue of tho
That Capricorne hath on his ende.
And as the bokes maken mynde
That Ptholomeus made hym selue
He hathe he on his wombe twelue:
And two vpon his ende stonde.
Thou shalte also this vnderstonde
The frosty colde Ianiuere
whan comen is the newe yere
That Ianus with double face
In his thayre hath take his place
And loketh vpon bothe sydes
Some dele towarde the wynter tydes
Some dele towarde the yere suende
That is the monthe belongende
Vnto this sygne, and of his dole
He yeueth the fyrste primrole.
¶Duodecimum signum Piscis dicitur, cuius men sic Februarius eft. Quo plunie torrens [...]parum concitat amnes.
¶The .xij. whiche is last of all
Of signes, Piscis men it call,
The whiche, as telleth the scripture
Bereth of two fysshes the fygure.
So is he colde and moyst of kynde.
And eke with sterres as I fynde
Be set in sondry wyse, as thus
Two of his ende Aquarius
Hath lent, vnto his heed, and two
This signe hath of his owne also
Vpon his wombe: and ouer this
Vpon his ende also there is
A nombre of twenty sterres bryght
whiche is to sene a wonder syght
Towarde this signe in to his hous
Comth Iupiter the glorious
And Venus eke with hym acordeth
To dwellen, as the boke recordeth.
The monthe vnto this signe ordeigned
Is Februar, whiche is bereigned.
And with londflodes in his rage
At fordes letteth the passage.
¶Nowe hast thou herde the proprete
Of signes, but in his degre
Albumazare yet ouer this
Saithe, so as the erthe parted is
In foure: ryght so ben deuysed
The sygnes twelue, and stonde assise
[...]
That eche of hem in his partie
Hath hi
[...] clymate to iustifye
wherof the fyrst regiment
Towarde the parte of Oryent
From Antioche, and that countre
Gouerned is of sygnes thre:
That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo.
And towarde thoccident also
From Armeny, as I am lerned
Of Capricorne it stant gouerned
Of Piscis and Aquarius.
And after hem I fynde thus
Southwarde fro Alysander forthe
Tho signes, whiche most ben worth
In gouernaunce of that Doaire
Libra they ben and Sagittaire
with Scorpio, whiche is conioynt
with hem to stonde vpon that poynt
Of Constantynople the cite
(So as these bokes tellen me)
The last of this diuision
Stant vntowarde septemtrion
where as by wey of porueance
Aries hath the gouernaunce
Forth with Taurus and Gemini
Thus ben the signes properly
Deuided, as it is rehersed
wherof the londes ben diuersed.
Lo thus my son, as thou myght here
was Alysaunder made to lere
Of hem, that weren for his lore.
But nowe to loken ouermore
Of other sterres howe they fare
I thynke hereafter to declare
So as kynge Alysaunder in youth
Of hym that suche sygnes couth
Enformed was tofore his eye
By nyght vpon the sterres sye.
☞ HIC tractat super doctrina Nectanabi dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit de illis precipue quindecim stellis / vna cum carum sapidibus et herbis, que ad artis Magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.
¶Vpon sondry creacion
Stant sondry operacion
Som worcheth this, som worcheth that
The fire is hote in his estate
And brenneth what he may atteyne.
The water may the fyre restreyne
The whiche is colde and moyst also
Of other thynge it fareth ryght so
Vpon the erthe amonge vs here
And for to speke in this manere
Vpon the heuen as men may fynde
The sterres ben of sondry kynde
And worchen many sondry thynges
To vs, that bene her vnderlynges.
Amonge the whiche forth withall
Nectanabus in speciall
whiche was an Astronomyen
And eke a great magycyen
And vndertake hath thylke emprise
To Alisandre in his apprise
As of magyke naturele
To knowe, enformeth hym somdele
Of certeyne sterres what they mene
Of whiche he seyth there ben fyftene.
And sondrily to euerychone
A gras belongeth and a stone:
wherof men worchen many a wonder
To set thynge bothe vp and vnder.
❧ [...]ma stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius la [...] Ca [...]nne [...]lus, et herba anabulla est.
¶ To tell ryght as he began
The fyrst sterre Aldeboran
The clerest and the moste of all
By ryght name men it call
whiche lyche is of condition
To Mars, and of complexion
To Venus, and hath therupon
Carbunculum his propre stone.
His herbe is annabulla named
whiche is of great vertue proclamed.
¶ Secunda stella vocatur Clota, feu Pliades, c [...]s lapis Christallum, et herba feniculus est.
¶The seconde is not vertules
Clota, or els Plyades
It hate, and of the mones kynde
He is: and also this I fynde
He taketh of Mars complexion
And lyche to suche condition.
His stone appropred is Christall.
And eke his herbe in speciall
The vertuous yenel it is.
¶Tertia stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis D [...] mans, et herba heleborum nigtum est.
¶The thyrde, whiche comth after this
Is hote Algos the clere rede
whiche of Saturne as I may rede
His kynde taketh, and eke of Ioue
Complexion to his behone.
His propre stone is Diamant
whiche is to hym moste acordant.
His herbe, whiche is hym betake
Is hote Eleborum the blake.
Quarta stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus, et herba Marrubium est.
¶So as it falleth vpon lotte
The fourth sterre is Alhaiotte
whiche in the wise as I saide er
Of Saturne and of Iupiter
Hath take his kinde and there vpon
The Saphir is his propre stone
Marrubium his herbe also
The whiche acorden both two.
☞ Quinta stella vocatur Canis maior / cuius lapis Berillus / et herba sauina est,
¶And Canis maior in his like
The fifthe sterre is of magike
The whose kynde is venerien
As saith this astronomien.
His propre stone is sayde Berille
But for to worche and to fulfille
Thynge, whiche to this science falleth
There is an herbe, which men calleth
Saueyne, and that behoueth nede
To hym, that woll his purpose spede.
¶ Sexta stella vocatur canis minor, cuius lapis Achatis, et herba primula est.
¶The sixte sewende after this
By name canis minor is.
The whiche sterre is Mercuriall
By wey of kynde, and forth withall
As it is wry ten in the carte
Complexion he taketh of Marte
His stone and herbe as seyth the schole
Ben Achates and Primerole
¶Septima stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis g [...] gonza, et herba celidonia est.
¶The seuenth sterre in speciall
Of this science is Ariall
whiche sondry nature vnderfongeth.
The stone, whiche ꝓpre vnto him lōgeth
Gorgonza properly it hight.
His herbe also, whiche he shall ryght
Vpon the worchynge as I mene
Is Celidone fresshe and grene.
¶ Octaua stella vocatur Ala corui, cuius lapis honochinus, et herba lappacia est,
¶Sterre Ala corui vpon heyght
Hath take his place in nombre of eyght
whiche of his kynde mote performe
The wyll of Marte and of Saturne.
To whom Lappacia the gret
Is herbe, but of no beyete.
His stone is Honochinus hote
Through which mē worchē great riote.
¶ Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus, et herba salgea est.
¶The nynthe sterre fayre and wele
By name is hote Alaezele
whiche taketh his propre kynde thus
Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.
His stone is the grene Emeraude
To whom is gyuen many a laude.
Saulge is his herbe appertynant
Abouen all the remenant.
¶ Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis, et herba plantago est.
¶The tenthe sterre is Almareth
whiche vpon lyfe and vpon deth
Through kynde of Iupiter and Marte
He doth what longeth to his parte.
His stone is Iaspe, and of plantayne
He hath his herbe souerayne.
¶Vndecima stella vocatur venenas, cuius lapis Adamas, et herba cicorea est.
¶The sterre enleuenth is Venenas
The whose nature is, as it was
Take of Venus, and of the Mone
In thynge, whiche he hath for to done
Of Adamaunt is that perrye
In whiche he worcheth his maistrye.
Thylke herbe also, which hym befalleth
Cicorea the boke hym calleth.
¶Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuiꝰ lapis Topasion, et herba rosameri.
¶Alpheta in the nombre set
And is the twelfte sterre yet
Of Scorpio, whiche is gouerned
And takth his kynde as I am lerned
And hath his vertue in the stone
whiche cleped is Topasione.
His herbe propre is rosemaryne
whiche shapen is for his couyne.
¶ Tertiadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Serdis, et herba Astrologia est.
☞ Of these sterres, which I mene
Cor Scorpionis is threttene
The whos nature Mart and Ioue
Haue youen vnto his bihoue.
His herbe is astrologye
which foloweth his astronomye
The stone which that this sterre allowth
Is Sardis, whiche vnto him bowth.
¶Quartadecima stella vocatur botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus, et herba saturea est.
¶The sterre whiche stant next the last
Nature of him this name cast
And clepen him Botercadent
whiche of his kind obedient
Is to Mercurye and to Venus.
His stone is called Crisolitus.
His herbe is cleped Satureye
So as these olde bokes seye.
¶ Quintadecima stella vocatur cauda scorpionis, cuiꝰ lapis Calcidonis, et herba maiorana est.
¶But nowe the laste sterre of all
The tayle of Scorpio men calle
whiche to Mercury and to Saturne
By wey of kynde more returne
After the preparation
Of due constellation.
The calcidone vnto hym longeth
whiche for his stone he vnderfongeth
Of maioran his herbe is grounded.
Thus haue I said how they ben foūded
Of euery sterre in speciall
whiche hath his herbe and stone withall
As Hermes in his bokes olde
witnesse bereth, of that I tolde.
¶ Nota hic de auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scientiam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus cōposuerūt.
¶The science of Astronomye
whiche principall is of clergye
To deme betwene wo and wele
In thynges that bene naturele
They had a great trauayle on bonde
That made it fyrste ben vnderstonde
And they also, whiche ouermore
Her study set vpon this lore
They weren gracious and wyse
And worthy for to bere a prise.
And whom it lyketh for to wete
[...]f hem that this science wryte.
One of the fyrst, whiche it wrote
Alter Noe, it was Nembrote
To his disciple Ichonyton
And made a boke forth therupon,
The whiche Megastre cleped was.
An other auctor in this cas
[...]s
[...]hel, the whiche men note
His boke is Abbateneyth bote.
D
[...]e Ptolome is not the leest
whiche maketh the boke of Almagest.
And Altraganus doth the same
whose boke is Cathenus by name.
Gebus and Alpetragus eke
Of palmestry, whiche men seke
The bokes made, And ouer this
Full many a worthy clerke there is
That wryten vpon this clergy
The bokes of Altemetry.
Planemetry and eke also,
whiche as belongeth bothe two
So as they bene naturiens
Vnto these astronomyens
Men seyne that Abraham was one.
But whether that be wrote or none
That fynde I not, and Moyses
Eke was an other: but Hermes
Aboue all other in his science
He had a great experience.
Through hym was many a sterre assised
whose bokes yet ben auctorised.
I may not knowen all tho
That wryten in the tyme tho
Of this science, but I fynde
Of iugement by way of kynde
That in one poynt they all accorden
Of sterres, whiche they recorden
That men may se vpon the heuen.
There ben a thousande sterres euen
And two and twenty to the syght
whiche ben of hem selfe so bryght
That men may deme what they be
The nature and the proprete.
Nowe hast thou hard in suche awise
These noble philosophers wise
Enformden this yonge kinge
And made him haue a knowelechinge
Of thinge whiche first to the partie
Belongeth of philosophy
whiche Theorike cleped is
As thou tofore hast herde er this.
But nowe to speke of the seconde
whiche Aristotle hath also founde
And techeth howe to speke faire
whiche is a thinge full necessayre
To counterpaise the balaunce
where lacketh other suffisance.
Compositi pulcra sermones verba placere.
Principio poterunt vera ꝙ fine placent
Herba lapis, sermo, tria sunt uirtute repleta.
Vis tū ex verbi pondere pulcra facit.
¶Hic tractat de secunda parte philosophie, cuius nomen Rhetorica facūdos efficit. Loquitur etiam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grāmatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rhethor sua verba perornat.
¶Aboue al erthly creatures
The high maker of natures
The worde to man hath youe alone
So that the speche of his persone
Or for to lese, or for to wynne
The hertes thought, which is withinne
May shewe, what it wolde mene
And that is no where els sene
Of kynde with none other beest.
So shulde he be the more honest
To whom god yafe so worthy a yifte
And loke well that he ne shyfte
His wordes to none wicked vse.
For worde, the teacher of vertuse
Is cleped in philosophy.
wherof thouchende this party
Is Rhetoric the science
Appropred to the reuerence
Of wordes, that ben reasonable.
And for this arte shall be vaylable
with goodly wordes for to lyke
It hath Grammer, it hath Logyke
That seruen both vnto the speche.
Grammer fyrst hath for to teche
To speake vpon congruyte.
Logyke hath eke in his degre
Betwene the trouthe and the falshede
The pleyne wordes for to shede:
So that nothynge shall go besyde
That he the ryght ne shall decyde
wherof full many a great debate
Reformed is to good astate
And peace susteyned vp alofte
with easy wordes and with softe
where strengthe shulde let it falle.
The philosophre amonges alle
For thy commendeth this science
whiche hath the reule of eloquence.
In stone and gras vertue there is
But yet the bokes tellen this
That worde aboue all erthly thynges
Is vertuous in his doinges
where so it be to yuell or good.
For it the wordes semen good
And bene well spoke at mans ere.
whan that there is no trouthe there
They done full ofte full great deceyte.
For whan the worde to the conceyte
Discordeth in so double a wyse
Suche Rhetoric is to dispise
In euery place, and for to drede.
For of Vlixes thus I rede
As in the boke of Troye is founde
His eloquence, and his faconde
Of goodly wordes, whiche he tolde
Hath made, that Anthenor him solde
The towne, whiche he with treson wan.
worde hath begyled many a man.
with worde the wylde beest is daunted.
with worde the serpent is enchaunted.
Of wordes amonge the men of armes
Ben woundes heled with the charmes.
where lacketh other medycyne
worde hath vnder his discipline
Of sorsery the carectes.
The wordes ben of sondry sectes
Of euyll, and eke of good also.
The wordes maken of frende fo
And fo of frende, and peace of werre
And werre of peace, and out of herre
The worde the worldes cause entryketh
And reconcileth who on hym lyketh.
The worde vnder the cope of heuen
Set euery thynge or odde or euen.
with worde the hygh god is pleased.
with worde the wordes ben appesed.
The softe worde the loude stylleth
where lacketh good the worde fulfylleth
To make amendes for the wronge.
whan wordes medlen with the songe
It doth plesaunce well the more.
But for to loke vpon this lore
Howe Tullius his Rhetorike
Compouneth, there a man may pyke
How that he shall his wordes set.
How he shall lose, how he shall knet
And in what wyse he shall pronounce
His tale pleyne without frounce
wherof ensample if thou wilt seche
Take hede and rede whilom the speche.
¶Nota de eloquentia Iulii in causa Catilme cō tra Syllanum, et alios tunc vrbis Romane continentes.
¶Of Iulius, and Cicero
whiche consul was of Rome tho
Of Cato eke, and Syllene
Beholde the wordes hem betwene.
whan the treason of Catiline
Discouered was, and the couine
Of hem, that were of his assent
was knowe and spoke in parliment
And asked howe, and in what wise
Men shulde done him to Iuwyse
Syllanus first his tale tolde
To trouth and as he was beholde
The comon profyt for to saue
He sayde howe treason shulde haue
A cruel dethe. And thus they speake.
The Consul both and Cato eke
And saiden, that for suche a wronge
There may no peyne be to stronge.
But Iulius with wordes wyse
His tale tolde all other wyse
As be whiche wolde his dethe respite
And foundeth howe he myght excyte
The iuges through his eloquence
Fro dethe to torne the sentence
And set her hertes to pyte.
Nowe tolden they, nowe tolde he
They speaken pleyne after the lawe,
But he the wordes of his sawe
Coloureth in an other wey
Spekende and thus betwene the twey
To trete vpon this iugement
Made eche of hem his argument.
wherof the tales for to here
There may a man the schole lere
Of Rhetoric the eloquence
whiche is the seconde of science
Touchende to philosophie
wherof a man shall iustifie
His wordes in disputeson
And knytte vpon conclusion
His argument in suche a forme
whiche may the pleyne trouthe enforme
And the subtile cautele abate
whiche euery trewe man shall debate.
Practica quecun
(que) statū pars terria philosophie,
Ad regimen recte ducit in orbe uiae,
Sed quanto maior rex est, tanto magis ipsum
Ex schola concernit, quo sua regna regit.
¶Hic tractat de tertia parte philosophie, que practica vocatur: cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Et [...]ica, Economia, et Politica, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificentiam per singula dirigitur.
¶The firste, whiche is theoryke
And the seconde Rhetoryke
Sciences of philosophy
I haue hem tolde as in party
So as the philosopher it tolde,
To Alysandre: and nowe I wolde
Tell of the thyrde, what it is
The whiche practyke cleped is.
Practyke stont vpon thre thynges
Towarde the gouernance of kynges:
wherof the fyrste Etyke is named
The whose science stant proclamed
To teche of vertue thylke rule
Howe that a kynge hym selfe shall rule
Of his moral condition
with worthy disposition.
Of good lyuyng in his persone
whiche is the chiefe of his corone.
It maketh a kynge also to lerne
Howe he his body shall gouerne.
Howe he shall wake, how he shall slepe
How that he shall his hele kepe.
In mete, in drynke, in clothyng eke
There is no wysedome for to seke
As for the reule of his persone
The whiche that this science all one
Ne techeth, as by wey of kynde
That there is nothynge lefte behynde.
That other thynge whiche to practyke
Belongeth is Economyke
whiche techeth thylke honestee
Through whiche a kynge in his degree
His wyfe and childe shal reule and gye
So forth withall the companye
whiche in his housholde shall abyde
And his estate on euery syde
In suche manere for to lede
That he his housholde ne myslede.
Practike hath yet the thirde apprise
whiche techeth howe and in what wise
Through his purueide ordinance
A kinge shall set in gouernance
His realme: and that is Policie
whiche longeth vnto regalie
In tyme of werre, in time of pees
To worship and to good encrees
Of clerke, of knight, and of marchant
And so forth all the remenant
Of all the comon people aboute
within borgh and eke without
Of hem that ben artificers
whiche vsen craftes and mysters
[...]hose
[...]rte is cleped Mechanyke
And though they be not all lyke
yet netheles how so it fall
O lawe mote gouerne hem all
Or that they lese, or that they wynne
After the state that they ben inne.
¶Lo thus this worthy yonge kynge
was fully taught of euery thynge
whiche myght yeue entendement.
Of good rule, and good regiment.
To suche a worthy prynce as he.
But of very necessite
The philosopher hym hath betake
Fyue pointes, which he hath vndertake
To kepe and holde in obseruaunce
As for the worthy gouernaunce
whiche longeth to his regaly
After the rule of policye.
Moribus ornatus regit hic, qui regna moderna
Certius expectat sceptra futura poli.
Et quia ueredica uirtus supereminet omnes,
Regis ab ore boni fabula nulla sona
[...].
❧ Hic secundum policiam tractare intendi [...] precipue super quin (que) regularū articulis, que ad principis regimen obseruande specialius existūt / quarum prima veritas nuncupatur, per quam veredicus sit ser [...]o regie ad omnes.
¶To euery man belongeth lore
But to no man belongeth more
Than to a kynge, whiche hath to lede
The people, for his kyngheed
He may hem both saue and spylle
And for it stont vpon his wylle
It syt hym well to be auysed
And the vertues, whiche are assised
Vnto a kynges regiment
To take in his entendement.
wherof to tellen as they stonde
Hereafterwarde now woll I fonde.
Amonge the vertues one is chiefe
And that is trouth, whiche is lyefe
To god, and eke to man also
And for it hath ben euer so
Taught Aristotle as he well couth
To Alysaunder howe in his youth
He shulde of trouth thilke grace
with all his holle herte enbrace
So that his worde be trewe and pleyne
Towarde the worlde: and so certeyne
That in hym be no double speche.
For if men shulde trouthe
[...]eche
And fynde it not within a kynge
It were an vnsyttende thynge.
The worde is token of that within.
There shall a worthy kynge begyn
To kepe his tonge and to be trewe
So shall his price ben euer newe.
Auyse hym euery man to fore
And be well ware, er he be swore.
For afterwarde it is to late
If that he wolde his worde debate.
For as a kynge in speciall
Aboue all other is principall:
Of his power, so shulde he be
Moste vertuous in his degre.
And that may well be signifyed
By his corone and specifyed.
¶The golde betoketh excellence
That men shulde done hym reuerence
As to her liege souerayne.
The stones, as the bokes sayne
Commended bene in treble wyse.
Fyrste they ben harde, and thylke assise
Betokeneth in a kynge constance.
So that there shall no varyance
Be founde in his condition.
And also by description
The vertue, whiche is in the stones
A very signe is for the nones
Of that a kynge shall be honest
And holde trewely his behest
Of thyng, whiche longeth to kingheed.
The bryght coloure, as I rede
whiche is in the stones shynynge
Is in figure betokenynge
The cronyke of this worldes fame
whiche stante vpon his good name.
The circle, whiche is rounde aboute
Is token of all the londe aboute
whiche stant vnder his hierarchye
That he it shall well kepe and guye.
And for that trouthe howe so it falle
Is the vertue souerayne of alle
That longeth vnto regyment
A tale, whiche is euident
Of trouthe in commendacion
Towarde thyn enformacion
My sonne herafter thou shalt here
Of a cronycke in this mater.
¶Hic narrat qualiter Darius filius Itapsis soldanus Persie a tribus suis cubicularibus, quorū nomina Harpages / Monachas / et Zorobabel, dicta sunt nomina questionis sigillatim interrogatie, vtrum rex aut mulier, aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim optineret / Ipsis vero varia opinione respondentibus, Zorobabel vltimus asserit quod mulier sui amoris complacentia tam regis quam vini potenciam excellit, Addidit insuper finali conclusioni dicens, quod veritas super ōnia vincit. Cunis responsio ceteris landabilior acceptabatur.
☞ As the cronycke it doth reherce
A soldan whilome was of Perse
whiche Dares hight, and Itapsis
His fader was: and sothe it is
Of his lygnage as by discente
The regne of thilke empyre he bent.
And as he was him selfe wise
The wyse men be held in prise:
And sought hem oute on euery syde
That towarde him they shulde abyde.
Amonge the whiche thre there were
That must seruyce vnto him here
As they whiche in his chamber lighen
And all his counceylle herd and syghen.
Her names ben of straunge note
Harpages was the first hote
And Monachas was the seconde
Zorobabel, as it is founde
In the cronycke was the thrydde.
This Soldan what so him betyde
To hem be tryst most of all
wherof the case is so befalle.
This lorde, whiche hath conceytes depe
Vpon a night whan he hath slepe
As he whiche hath his wit disposed
Touchend a poynt hem hath opposed.
The kinges question was this
Of thinges thre whiche strongest is
The wine, the woman, or the kinge
And that they shulde vpon this thinge
Of her answere auised be
He yeue hem fully dayes thre
And hath bihote hem by his feyth
That who the best reason seyth,
He shalle receiue a worthy mede.
Vpon this thinge they token hede
And stoden in disputesion:
That by dyuers opinion
Of argumentes, that they haue holde
Harpages fyrst his tale tolde
And sayde, howe that the strength of kinges
Is mightiest of all thinges.
For kinge hath power ouer man.
And man is he / whiche reason can
As he whiche is of his nature
The most noble creature
Of all tho that god hath wrought
And by that skille it semeth nought
He saith, that any erthly thinge
May be so myghty as a kinge.
A kynge may spille, a kynge may saue
A kynge may make a lorde a knaue
And of a knaue a lorde also,
The power of a kynge stont so
That he the lawes ouerpasseth.
what he wyll make lesse, he lasseth.
what he wyll make more, he moreth.
And as a gentyll faucone soreth
He fleeth, that no man hym reclameth.
But be alone all other tameth.
And stante hym selfe of lawe fre.
Lo thus a kynges myght, sayth he,
(So as his reason can argue)
Is strengest, and of most value.
¶But Manachas sayth other wyse
That wyne is of the more mpryse
And that he sheweth by this waye.
The wyne full ofte taketh away
The reason fro the mans herte.
The wyne can make a creple sterte
And a delyuer man vnwelde.
It maketh a blynde man to behelde
And a bryght eyed seme derke.
It maketh a leude man a clerke
And fro the clerke the clergy
It taketh awey, and cowardy
It tourneth in to hardynesse
Of auarice it maketh largesse
The wyne maketh eke the good blood
In whiche the soule, whiche is good
Hath chosen her a restinge place
whyle that the lyfe her wolle enbrace.
And by this skylle Monathas
Answerd hath vpon this cas
And seith, that wyne by wey of kind
Is thinge, whiche may the hertes binde
wele more than the regalye.
Zorobabell for his partye
Seid as him thought for the best
That women ben the mightyest.
The kynge and the vynour also
Of women comen both two.
And eke he sayd: howe that manhede
Through strengthe vnto the womanhed
Of loue where he wylle or none
Obeye shall, and therupon
To shewe of women the maistry
A tale whiche he sigh with eye
As for ensample he tolde this.
¶Nota hic de vigore amorie, qui inter Cirum regem Persarū et Apemen Besazis filiam ipsius regis cōcubinā spectāte tota curia experiebatur.
¶Howe Apemen, of Besasis
whiche doughter was, in the paleis
Sittende vpon his high deis
whan he was hotest in his yre
Towarde the great of his empyre
Cyrus the kinge tiraunt she toke
And only with her goodly loke
She made him debonaire and meke
And by the chyn, and by the cheke
She loggeth him right as her lyst
That now she iapeth, and nowe she kist,
And doth with him what euer her liketh
whan that she loureth, than he syketh
And whan she gladeth, he is glad,
And thus this kinge was ouerlad
with her, whiche his lemman was.
Amonge the men is no solas
If that there be no woman there
For but if that the woman were
This worldes ioye were awey.
This is trouthe, that I you seye.
To knyghthode and to worldes fame
They make a man to drede shame
And honour for to be desyred.
Through the beaute of hem is fyred
The darte, of whiche Cupyde throweth
wherof the iolyfe peyne groweth
whiche al the worlde hath vnderfote.
A woman is the mans bote
His lyfe, his
[...]eth, his wo, his wele.
And this thynge may be shewed wele
Howe that women ben good and kynde
For in ensample thus I fynde.
¶Nota de fidelitate coniugis, qualiter Alcesta vxor Adineti / vt maritum suum viuificaret seipsā morti spontance subegit.
¶whan that the duke Admetus lay
Sycke in his bedde that euery day
Men wayten, whan he shulde dey
Alcest his wyfe goth for to prey
As she whiche wold thonke deserue
with sacrifice vnto Minerue
To wyte answere of the goddesse
Howe that her lorde of his syckenesse,
wherof he was so wo beseyne
Recouer myght his hele ayene.
Lo thus she cryde, and thus she praide
Tyll at last a voyce her sayde,
That if she wolde for his sake
The malady suffre and take
And dye her selfe, he shulde lyue.
Of this answere Aleest hath yeue
Vnto Mynerue great thonkynge
So that her dethe, and his lyuynge
She chese with all her hole entent
And thus accorded home she went.
In to the chambre whan she came
Her housbande anone she name
In bothe her armes, and hym kyst.
And spake vnto hym, what her lyst.
And thervpon within a throwe
The good wyfe was ouerthrowe
And dyed, and he was holle in hast.
So may a man by reason taste
Howe nexte after the god aboue
The trouth of women and the loue,
In whome that all grace is founde
Is myghtyest vpon this grounde
And moste behouely manyfolde.
Lo thus Zorobabell hath tolde
The tale of his opinion
But for fynall conclusion
what strengest is of erthly thynges
The wyne, the women, or the kynges
He sayth, that trouthe aboue hem all
Is myghtyest, howe euer it fall.
The trouthe howe so it euer come
May for nothynge ben ouercome.
It may well suffre for a throwe
But at last it shall be knowe.
The prouerbe is, who that is trewe
Hym shall his whyle neuer rewe.
For howe so that the cause wende
The trouthe is shameles at ende.
But what thynge that is troutheles
It may not well be shameles.
And shame hyndereth euery wyght.
So proueth it, there is no myght
without trouthe in no degre.
And thus for trouthe of his decre
[...]robabel was moste commended.
wherof the question was ended
[...]nd be receyued hath his mede.
For trouthe, whiche to mannes nede
Is moste behouelyche ouer all.
For thy was trouthe in speciall
The fyrste poynt in obseruance
Be take vnto the gouernance
Of Alysandre, as it is sayde:
For therupon the grounde is leyde
Of euery kynges regyment
[...] thynge, whiche moste conuenient
I
[...] for to set a kynge in euen
Bothe in this worlde, and eke in heuen.
[...] ne tangat regis corda:
[...] enim spoliis excoriatur humus.
[...] colit largum nolutans per saecula regem,
Dona tamen licius sunt moderanda modis.
¶Hic iractat de regie magestatis secūda policia: [...] Aristoteles largitatem vocat, cuius virtute [...] [...]lum propulsata anaricia, regis nomen ma [...] [...]cum extollatur, sed et sui subdicionum diui [...]m [...]undantia [...]ocundiores efficiuntur.
¶ Nexte after trouthe the seconde
In polycye as it is founde
whiche serueth to the worldes fame
In worshyp of a kynges name
Largesse it is, whose priuilege
There may no auarice abrege.
The worldes good was fyrst comune
But afterwarde vpon fortune
was thilke comyn profyt cessed
For whan the people stode encressed
And the lygnages woxen great
Anone for synguler beyete
Drough euery man to his partie
wherof come in the fyrst enuy
with great debate and werres stronge
And last amonge the men so longe
Tyll no man wyst, who was who,
Ne whiche was frende, ne whiche so
Tyll at laste in euery londe
within hem selfe the people fonde
That it was good to make a kynge,
whiche myght appesen all this thynge
And yeue right to the lignages
In partynge of her heritages.
And eke of all her other good.
And thus aboue hem all stode
The kynge vpon his regalye,
As he whiche hath to iustifye
The worldes good fro couetyse.
So syt it well in all wyse
A kynge betwene the more and lesse
To sette his herte vpon largesse
Towarde hym selfe, and eke also
Towarde his people: and if not so:
That is to sayne: if that he be
Towarde hym selfe large and fre,
And of his people take and pylle:
Largesse by no wey of skylle
It may be sayde, but auarice
whiche in a kynge is a great vice.
¶ Nota super hoc quod Aristot ad Alexandrum exemplificauit de exactionibus regis Chaldeorū.
¶ A kynge behoueth eke to fle
The vice of prodigalite
That he measure in his expence
So kepe, that of indigence
He may be saufe: for who that nedeth
In all his werke the wers he spedeth.
As Aristotle vpon Caldee
Ensample of great auctorite
Vnto kynge Alysaunder taught
Of thilke folke, that were vnsaught
Towarde her kynge for his pyllage,
wherof he badde in his courage
That he vnto thre poyntes entende
where that he wolde his good dispende.
Fyrst shulde be loke how that it stood
That all were of his owne good
The yeues, whiche he wolde yeue
So myght he wel the better lyue.
And eke he must taken bede
If there be cause of any nede
whiche ought for to be defended
Er that his goodes ben dispended.
He mote eke as it is befall
Amonges other thynges all
Se the decertes of his men
And after that they bene of ken,
And of astate, and of meryte
He shall hem largelych acquyte,
Or for the warre, or for the pease
That none honour fall in discrease
whiche myght torne in to diffame,
But that he kepe his good name
So that he be not holde vnkynde.
For in cronike a tale I fynde
whiche speaketh somdele of this matere
Herafterwarde as thou shalte here.
Hic secundū gesta Iulii exemplū ponit, qualiter rex suorum militum, quos ꝓbos agnouerit, indigētiam largitatis sue beneficiis releuare tenetur.
¶ In Rome to pursue his ryght
There was a worthy poure knyght
whiche came alone for to seyne
His cause, whan the courte was pleyne,
wher Iulius was in presence
And for hym lacketh of dispense
There was with hym none aduocate
To make plee for his astate.
But though hym lacke for to plede
Hym lacketh nothynge of manheed.
He wyst well his purse was pouer
But yet be thought his ryght recouer,
And openly pouerte aleyed
To the emperour, and thus he sayed.
O Iulius lorde of the lawe
Beholde my counseyll is withdrawe
For lacke of golde, to thyne office
After the lawe of Iustice
Helpe, that I had counseyll here
Vpon the trouthe of my matere.
And Iulius with that anone
Assigned hym a worthy one.
But he hymselfe no worde ne spake.
This knyght was wroth, & fonde a lake
In the emperour: and sayde thus.
O thou vnkynde Iulius
whan thou in thy batayle were
Vp in Aufrike, and I was there
My myght for thy rescous I dyd
And put no man in my stede.
Thou wost what woundes there I had
But here I fynde the so bad
That the ne lyst to speake o worde
Thyne owne mouthe, or of thyn borde
To yeue a floreyn me to helpe
Howe shulde I than me be yelpe
Fro this day forth of thy largesse
whan suche a great vnkyndenesse
Is founde in suche a lorde, as thou?
This Iulius knewe well mowe
That all was soth, whiche he hym tolde
And for he wolde not ben holde
Vnkynde, he toke his cause on honde,
And as it were of goddes sonde
He yaue hym good inough to spende
For euer vnto his lyues ende.
And thus shulde euery worthye kynge
Take of his knyghtes knowlegynge
when that he sygh they hadden nede.
For euery seruice axeth mede.
But other, whiche haue not deserued
Through vertue, but of iapes serued
A kynge shall not deserue grace
Though he be large in suche a place.
¶Hic ponit exemplum de rege Antigono / qualiter dona regia secundum maius et miuu [...] / equa discrecione moderanda sunt.
¶ It sytte well euery kynge to haue
Discretion, whan men hym craue
So that be may his gyfte wyte
wherof I fynde a tale write
Howe Cinichus a powre knyght
A somme, whiche was ouer might
Prayed of his kinge Antigonus.
The kinge answerd to him thus
And sayde, howe suche a yefte passeth
His powre estate: and than he lasseth
And asketh but a litell peny
yf that the kinge wolde yeuehym ony
The kinge answerd, it was to smalle
For him, whiche was a lord ryalle
To yeue a man so lytell thinge.
It were vnworship in a kynge.
By this ensample a kinge may lere
That for to yeue is in manere.
For if a kinge his treasour lasseth
with out honour and thākelesse passeth.
whan he him selfe wil so begile,
I not who shall compleyne his while
Ne who by right him shall releue.
But netheles this I beleue
Tho helpe with his owne londe
Belongeth euery man his honde
To set vpon necessite.
And eke his kinges rialte
Mote euery lyege man comforte
with good and body to supporte
whan they se cause resonable.
For who that is not entendable
To holde vp ryght his kinges name
Him ought for to be to blame.
¶Nota hic secundum Aristotelem qualiter princi [...]um prodigalitas paupertatem inducit cōmunē.
❧Of policie and ouer more
To speke in this mater more
So as the philosophre tolde
A kinge after the reule is holde
To modifie, and to adresse
His yeftes vpon suche largesse
That he mesure nought excede.
☞Sal. Sic aliis benefacito, vt tibi non nocias.
¶ For if a kinge falle in to nede
It causeth ofte sondry thinges
whiche are vngoodly to the kinges.
what man wille not him selfe mesure
Men seen fulofte, that mesure
Him hath forsake: and so doth he
That vseth prodigalite
whiche is the mother of pouerte
wherof the londes ben deserte
And namely whan thilke vice
Aboue a kinge stant in office
And hath with holde of his partye
The couetous flaterye
whiche many a worthy kynge deceyueth
Er he the fallace perceyueth
Of hem, that seruen to the glose.
For they that conne please and glose
Ben as men tellen the notices
Vnto the fostrynge of the vices
wherof full ofte netheles
A kynge is blamed gylteles.
¶Qualiter in principum curiis adulatores triplici grauitate offendunt.
¶A philosopher as thou shalt here
Spake to a kynge of this matere
And seyd hym well how that flatours
Coulpable were of thre errours.
One was towarde the goddes bye
That weren wroth of that they sye
The mischiefe whiche befall shulde
Of that the fals flatour tolde
Towarde the kynge. An other was.
whan they by sleyght and by fallas
Of feyned wordes, make hym wene
That blacke is whyte, and blew is grene
Touchende of his condicion.
For whan he doth extorcion
with many an other vice mo
Men shall not fynde one of tho
To grutche or speke there ageyne,
But holden vp his oyle, and seyne:
That all is well, what euer he doth.
And thus of fals they maken soth
So that her kynges eye is blent
And wote not howe the worlde is went.
The thirde errour is harme cōmune
with whiche the people mote cōmune
Of wronges, that they bryngen inne.
And thus they werchen treble synne
That ben flatours about a kynge.
There myght be no werse thynge
About a kynges regalye
Than is the vice of flaterye.
And netheles it hath ben vsed
That it was neuer yet refused
As for to speke in court ryall.
For there it is most speciall
And may not longe be forbore.
But when this vice of hem is bore
That shulde the vertues forth brynge
And trouthe is torned to lesynge.
It is, as who seith agaynst kynde
wherof an olde ensample I fynde.
¶ Hic loquitur super eodē, et narrat, ꝙ est Di [...] genes et Aristippus philosophi a scholis Athen̄, ad Cartaginem, vnde orti fuerunt, renertissent, Aristippus Curie principis sui familiaris adhef [...]: Diogenes vero in quodam mansuinculo suo studio vocane permansit: et contigit, ꝙ cum ipse quodā die ad finem orti sui super ripam herbas quas ele gerat, ad ofera lauasset, Superuenit ex casu Aristippus, dixit (que) ei: O Diogenes, certe si principi tuo placere scires, tu ad olera tua lauanda non indigeres. Cui ille respondit: O Aristippe, Certe si tu olera tua lauare scires, te in vlandiciis et adulationibus principi tuo seruire non oporteret.
¶Amonge these other tales wyse
Of philosophers in this wyse
I rede howe whylome two there were
And to the schole for to lere
Vnto Athenes fro Cartage
Her frendes whan they were of age
Hem sende: and there they studē longe
Tyll they suche lore haue vnderfonge,
That in her tyme they surmounte
All other men: that to accounte
Of hem was tho the great fame.
The firste of hem his ryght name
was Diogenes than hote
In whom was founde no ryote.
His felawe Aristippus hyght
whiche mochel couthe, & mochel might.
But at last sothe to seyne
They bothe turnen home ayene
Vnto Cartage, and schole lete.
This Diogenes no beyete
Of worldes good, or lasse or more
Ne sought for his longe lore
But toke hym only for to dwelle
At home: and as the bokes telle
His house was nygh to a ryuere
Besyde a brygge as thou shalte here.
There dwelleth he, and takth his rest
So as it thought hym for the best
To study in his philosophie
As he, whiche wolde so defye
The worldes pompe on euery syde.
But Aristippe his boke a syde
Hath leyde: and to the courte he wente
where many a wyle, and many a wente
with flatery and wordes softe
He caste and hath compassed ofte
Howe he his prince myght please.
And in this wyfe be gate hym ease.
Of veyne honour and worldes good.
The londes rule vpon hym stode.
The kynge of hym was wondre glad.
And all was do, what thynge he had
Gothe in the courte, and eke without
with flatery be brought about
His purpos of the worldes werke,
whiche was ayene the state of clerke.
So that philosophy he lefte
And to ryches hym selfe vp lefte.
Lo thus had Aristyppe his wyll.
But Diogenes dwelte styll
At home, and loked on his boke
He sought not the worldes croke
For veyne honour, ne for rychesse,
But all his hertes besynesse
He sette to be vertuous.
And thus within his owne hous
He lyuch to the suffysaunce
Of his hauynge, and fell perchaunce
This Diogene vpon a day
And that was in the month of May
whan that these herbes ben holsome
He walketh for to gether some
In his gardyn, of whiche his ioutes
He thought to haue, and thus aboutes
whan he hath gadred what him lyketh
He set him than downe and piketh
And wisshe his herbes in the flode
Vpon the whiche his garden stode
Nigh to the bregge as Itolde ere
And hapneth whyle he sytteth there
Cam Aristippus by the strete
with many bors and routes great
And straught vnto the bregge he rode
where that he boued and abode
For as he cast his eye nygh
His felawe Diogene he sigh
And what he dede he sigh also
wherof he sayde to him tho.
O Deogene god the spede
It were certes litel nede
To sitte here and wortes pyke
If thouthy prince coudest lyke
So as I can in my degre.
O
[...]ristippe (ageyne quod he)
If that thou coudest so as I
Thy wortes pycke truely,
It were as lytell nede or lasse
That thou so worldly woll compasse
with flatery for to serue
wherof thou thynkest for to deserue
Thy prynces thonke, and to purchace
How thou myght stonde in his grace
For gettynge of a lyttell good.
If thou wolt take in to thy mode
Reason: thou myght by reason deme
That so thy prynce for to queme
Is not to reason accordaunt
But it is greatly discordaunt
Vnto the scholes of Athene.
Lo thus answerde Diogene
Ageyne the clerkes flateye
But yet men seyne thessamplerye
Of Aristyppe is well receyued
And thilke of Diogene is weyued.
Office in courte, and golde in coffer
Is now, men seyn, the philosopher
whiche hath the worshyp in the hall.
But flatery passeth all
In chambre whom the court auaunceth.
For vpon chylke lotte it chuanceth
To be beloued nowe a day.
❧ Nota exemplum cuiusdam poete de Italia ou [...] Dantes vocabatur.
¶ I not if it be ye or nay.
Howe Dante the poete answerde
To a flattrour, the tale I herde
Vpon a stryfe betwene hem two
He sayd hym, there ben many mo.
Of thy seruauntes than of myn.
For the poete of his couyne
Hath none, that wyl hym cloth and fede
But a flatour may rule and lede
A kynge with all his londe about.
So stant the wyse man in dout
Of hem, that to foly drewe.
For suche is nowe the comen lawe
And as the commune voyce it telleth
where nowe that flaterie dwelleth
In euery londe vnder the lonne
There is full many a thinge begonne
whiche were better to be lefte
That hath be shewed nowe and efte.
But if a prince him wolde rule
Of the Romayns after the reule
In thilke tyme as it was vsed
This vice shulde be refused
wherof the princis ben assoted.
But where the playn trouth is noted
There may a prince wel conceyue
That he shall nought himselfe deceyue
Of that he hereth wordes pleyne.
For him ther nought by reason pleyne.
That warned is, er hem he wo
And that was fully proued so.
whan Rome was the worldes chiefe
The sooth sayer tho was leefe
whiche wold not the trouth spare
But with his worde, playne and bare
To themperour his sothes tolde
As in cronicke it is withholde
Here afterwarde as thou shalt here
Acordend vnto this matere.
☞ Hic eciam contra vicium adulationis ponit exemplum: et narrat, ꝙ cum nuper Romanorum imperator contra suos hostes victoriā optmuisset, et cum palma triumphi in vrbem redire debuisset, ne ipsum inanis glorie altitudo superextolleret, licitum suit pro illo die quod vnus quis (que) priora, que sue condicionie agnosceret, in aures suas ap [...] cius exclamaret: vt sic gaudium cum dolore com pesceret, et adulantum voces, si que fuerant, pro minimo computaret.
❧ To se this olde ensamplarye
That whilom was no flaterye
Towarde the he princis, wel I finde
wherof so as it comthe to mynde
My sonne a tale vnto thin ere
(while that the worthy princes were
At Rome) I thinke for to telle.
For whan the chaunces so byfelle
That any emperour as tho
Victorye had vpon his foo
And so fort came to Rome ageyne
Of treble honour he was certayne
wherof that he was magnified.
The firste, as it is specyfied,
was, whan he came thylke tyde
The chart, in whiche he shuld ryde
Foure whyte stedes shulde it drawe.
Of Iupiter by thylke lawe
The cote he shulde were also.
His prisoners eke shulden go
Endlonge the chare on eyther honde.
And all the noblesse of the londe
Tofore and after with him come
Rydend, and broughten him to Rome
In token of his chyualrye.
And for none other flaterye.
And that was shewed forth with all.
where he satte in his chare ryalle
Besyde him was a rybaud set
whiche had his worde so beset
To themperour in all his glorye
He sayde: take in to memorye
For all this pompe, and all this pryde
Let no iustice gon a syde
But knowe thy selfe, what so befalle
For men seen often tyme falle
Thinge, which men wende syker stonde.
Though thou victory haue on honde
Fortune may not stonde alwey:
The whele perchaunce anothere day
May turne, and thou ouer throwe
There lasteth no thinge but a throwe.
with these wordes and with mo
This ryhaulde, which sat with him tho
To themperour his tale tolde.
And ouermore what euer he wolde
Or were it euyl, or were it good
So playnly as the trouth stood
He spareth not, but speketh it oute.
And so myght euery man aboute
The day of that solempnyte
His tale tel as wele as he
To themperour all openly.
And all was this the cause why
That while he stode in his noblesse
He shulde his vanite represse
with suche wordes as he herde.
☞ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM super codem / et narrat / ꝙ eodem die quo imperator intonisatus in palacio suo regio ad conniniū in maiori leticia fedisset / ministri sui sculptores procederant alta voce dicentes: O imperator dic nobis, cuius forme, et vbi tumbam sculpture tue faciemus: vt sic morte remorsus huius vite blandicias obtemperaret.
¶Lo nowe howe thylke tyme ferde
Towarde so high a worthy lorde.
For this I finde eke of recorde
whiche the cronyke hath auctorized
what emperour was intronized
The fyrst day of his corone
where he was in his royal throne
And helde his fest in the paleis
Sittende vpon his hie deis
withall the luste that may be gete
whan he was gladest at his mete
And euery mynstrell had pleide
And euery dissour had saide
what moste was pleasant to his ere:
Than at last came in there
His masons, for they shulde craue
where that he wolde he begraue
And of what stone his sepulture
They shulden make, & what sculpture
He wolde ordeigne therupon.
Tho was there flaterye none
The worthy prynce to beiape
The kynge was otherwyse shape
with good counsayle: and otherwyse.
They were hem selfe than wyse
And vnderstoden well and knewen
when suche softe wyndes blewen
Of flaterye in to her eare
They setten nought her hertes there
But when they herde wordes feyned
The pleyne trouth it hath disdeyned
Of hem that weren so discrete
Tho toke the flaterer no heyete
Of hym, that was his prince tho
And for to prouen it is so
A tale, whiche befell in dede
In a cronyke of Rome I rede.
Hic inter alia gesta Cesaris narrat vnū exēplum precipue cōtra illos, qui cum in aspectu principis aliis sapienciores apparere vellent, quandoque tamē similate sapiencie talia committunt, per que ceteris stulciores in fine comprobantur,
¶Cesar vpon his royall trone
where that he sat in his persone
And was hyest in all his pris.
A man, whiche wolde make hym wyse
Fell downe knelende in his presence
And dyd hym suche a reuerence
As though the high god it were.
Men hadden great meruayle there
Of the worshyp, whiche he dede.
This man aros fro thylke stede
And forth with all the same tyde
He goth hym vp, and by his syde
He set hym downe, as peer and pere
And saide: If thou that fyttest here
Arte god, whiche all thynges myght
Than haue I worshypped a ryght
As to the god: and other wyse
If thou be not of thylke assise
But arte a man, suche as am I
Than may I syt the fast by,
For we be bothe of o kynde.
Cesar answerde, and sayde: O blynde
Thou arte a fole, it is well sene
Vpon thy selfe. For if thou wene
I be a god, thou doste amys
[...]o syt, where thou seest god is.
And if I be a man also
Thou hast a great foly do
whan thou to suche one, as shall deye
The worshyp of thy god alweye
Hast yeuen so vnworthily.
Thus may I proue redely
Thou art not wise. And they that herde
Howe wysely that the kynge answerde
It was to hem a newe lore
wherof they dreden hym the more.
And brought nothynge to his ere
But if it trouthe and reason were.
So ben there many in suche a wyse
That
[...]aynen wordes to be wyse
And all is veray flaterye
To hym, whiche can it well aspye.
¶ Nota qualiter isti circa principem adulatores [...]nus a curia expelli quam ad regie magestatis mune [...]a acceptari policia suadente, deberent.
¶The kynde flaterour can not loue
But for to brynge hym selfe aboue.
For howe that euer his mayster fare
So that hym selfe stonde out of care
Him retcheth nought. And thus ful ofte
Deceyued bene with wordes softe
The kynges, that ben innocent.
wherof as for chastement
The wyse philosophre sayde:
what kynge that so his treasure layde
Vpon suche folke, he hath the lesse
And yet ne doth he no largesse
But harmeth with his owne honde
Hym selfe, and eke his owne londe.
And that many a sondry weye.
wherof if that a man shall seye
As for to speake in generall
where suche thynge falleth ouer all
That any kinge him selfe misreule
The philosophre vpon his reule
In speciall a cause set
whiche is and euer hath be lette
In gouernance aboute a kinge
Vpon the meschiefe of the thinge
And that, he seith, is flaterye:
wherof tofore as in partye
what vice it is, I haue declared.
For who that hath his wit bewared
Vpon a flatour to bileue
whan that he weneth best achieue
His good worlde, it is moste fro.
And for to prouen it is so
Ensamples there be many one
Of whiche if thou wolte knowe one
It is behouely for to here
what whylom fell in this matere.
¶Hic loquitur vlterius de consilio adulantū quo rum fabulis principis aures organizate veritatis auditū capere nequeunt, Et narrat exemplū de rege Achab, (que) pro eo / quod ipse propheci [...] fidelis Michee recusauit / blandicus / que adulantis Zedechie adhesit, rex Syrie Benedab in campo bellator ipsū diuino iudicio denictum interfecit.
¶Amonge the kynges in the byble
I fynde a tale, and is credible,
Of hym that whylom Achab hyght
whiche had all Israell to ryght.
But who that coude glose softe
And flater, suche he sette alofte
In great estate, and made hem ryche
But they that speken wordes liche
To trouthe, and wolde it not forbere
For hem was none estate to bere
The courte of suche toke none hede,
Tyll at last vpon a nede
That Benedab kynge of Surry
Of Israell a great partie
whiche Ramoth Galaad was hote
Hath sesed: and of that ryote
He toke counseyle in sondry wyse
But not of hem, that weren wyse.
And netheles vpon this cas
To strenghthen him, for Iosephas
whiche than was kynge of Iudee
He sende for to come, as he
whiche through frendshyp and alyance
was nexte to hym of acqueyntaunce.
For Ioram sonne of Iosaphath
Achabs doughter wedded hath
whiche hyght fayre Goodelye.
And thus cam into Samary
Kynge Iosaphat, and he founde there
The kynge Achab: and when they were
To gether spekende of this thyng,
This Iosaphat saith to the kynge
Howe that he wolde gladly here
Some true prophet in this matere
That he his counsayle might yeue
To what poynt it shall be dreue.
And in that tyme so befelle
There was suche one in Israel
whiche sette hym all to flaterye
And he was cleped Sedechy:
And after hym Achab hath sent.
And he at his commaundement
Tofore hym cam: and by a sleyght
He hath vpon his heed on heyght
Two large hornes set of bras.
As he whiche all a flattrour was,
And goth rampende as a lyon
And cast his horne vp and downe:
And bad men ben of good espcire
For as the hornes persen the eyre
He saith, withouten resistence
So wyst be well of his science
That Benedab is dyscomfyte.
when S
[...]dechy vpon this plyte
Hath tolde this tale vnto his lorde
Anone they were of his acorde
Prophetes false many mo
To bere vp oyle, and al tho
Affermen that, whiche he hath tolde:
wherof the kynge Achab was bolde
And yaue hem yeftes all aboute.
But Iosaphat was in great doubte
And beine fantosme all that he herde.
Prayende Achab howe so ferde
If there were ony other man
The whiche of prophecie can
To here hym speke er that they gone.
Quod Achab than, there is one
A brothel, whiche Myche as hyght.
But he ne comth nought in my syght
For he hath longe in prisone leyen
Hym lyked neuer yet to seyen
A goodly worde to my pleasance.
And netheles at thyne instance
He shall come out: and than he may
Say, as he sayde many a day.
For yet he sayde neuer wele.
Tho Iosaphat began some dele
To gladen hym in hope of trouthe.
And bade withouten any slouthe
That men hym shulde fette anone.
And they that were for hym gone
whan that they comen where he was
They tolden vnto Mycheas
The manere howe that Sedechye
Declared hath his prophecye.
And therupon they prayen hym fayre
That he wyll say no contrarye
wherof the kynge may be displeased.
For so shall euery man be eased.
And he may helpe hym selfe also.
Mycheas vpon trouthe tho
His herte set, and to hem saythe:
All that belonged to his faythe
(And of none other feyned thynge)
That woll he tell vnto the kynge
As ferre as god hath yeue hym grace.
Thus came this prophete in to place
where he the kynges wyll herde.
And he therto anone answerde,
And sayde vnto hym in this wyse:
My liege lorde for my seruice
whiche trewe hath stonde euer yet
Thou haste with prisone me acquite.
But for all that I shall nat glose
Of trouthe as far as I suppose.
And as touchende of thy batayle
Thou shalte not of the sothe fayle.
For if it lyke the to here
As I am taught in that matere
Thou myght it vnderstonde sone.
But what is afterwarde to done
Auise the, for this I sye
I was tofore the trone on hye
where all the worlde me thought stode,
And there I herde and vnderstode
The voyce of god with wordes clere
Axende, and sayde in this manere:
In what thynge may I best begyle
The kynge Achab, and for a whyle
Vpon this poynt they speken fast.
Tho sayd a spirite at last
I vndertake this emprise.
And god hym axeth in what wyse.
I shall (qd he) deceyue and lye
w
[...]h flaterende prophecie
In suche mouthes, as he leueth.
And be, whiche all thynge acheueth
[...]ad hym go forth, and do ryght so.
And ouer this I sygh also
The noble people of Israel
Dispers, as shepe vpon an hylle
without a keper vnarayed
And as they wenten about astrayed
I herde a voyce vnto hem seyne:
Goth home in to your hous ayene
Til I for you haue better ordeyned.
[...]uod Sedechi thou hast feined
This tale, in angringe of the kynge
And in a wrathe vpon this thinge
He smote Miche vpon the cheke.
The kinge him hath rebuked eke
And euery man vpon him cried.
Thus was he shente on euery syde
A yene and in to prisone ladde
For so the kinge him selfe hadde.
The trouth might nought ben herde
But afterward as it hath ferde
The dede proueth his entent
Achab to the batayle went
where Benedab for all his shelde
Him slough, so that vpon the felde
His people goth aboute a straye.
But god, whiche all thinges may
So doth, that they no mischiefe haue.
Her kinge was deed / and they be saue
And home ageyn in goddes pees
They wente, and all was founde ses
That Sedechye hath saide tofore.
So sit it wel a kinge therfore
To loue them, that trouth mene
For at last it will be sene
That flaterye is no thinge worth.
But nowe to my mater forth
As for to speken ouer more
After the philosophers lore
The thirde poynte of policye
I thinke for to specifye.
Propter transgressos leges statuuntur in orbe,
Vt viuant iusti regis honore viri.
Lex sine iusticie, populum sub principis vmbra
Deuiat, vt rectum nemo videbit iter.
☞ Hic tractat de tercia principum legis policia, que iusticia nominata est cuius condicio legibus in corupta vnicuique quod suum est equo pondere distribuit.
❧what is a londe, where men be none?
what ben the men, whiche are allone
withoute a kinges gouernaunce?
what is a kinge in his ligeaunce
where that there is no lawe in londe?
what is to take lawe on honde
But if the Iuges ben trewe?
These olde worldes with the newe
who that wil take in euydence
There may he se experience
what thinge it is to kepe lawe
Through which wronges be withdrawe
And rightwisnes stante commended
wherof the regnes ben amended.
For where the lawe may commune
The lordes forth with the comune
Eche hath his propre deute.
And eke the kinges rialte
Of bothe his worshyp vnderfongeth
To his estate as it belongeth:
whiche of his high worthinesse
Hath to gouerne rightwisnesse,
As he which shall the lawe guyde.
And netheles vpon some syde
His power stant aboue the lawe
To yeue both and to withdrawe
The forset of a mannes lyfe.
But thinges, which are excessise
Ayen the lawe, he shal not do
For loue, ne for hate also.
¶ Imperatoriam magestatem non solum armie sed etiam legibus oportet esse armatam.
¶The mightes of a kinge be gret.
But yet a worthy kinge shall let
Of wronge to done, all that he might.
For he whiche shal the people right
It syt wel to his regalye
That he him selfe first Iustifye
Towardes god in his degree.
For his astate is elles fre
Towarde all other in his persone
Saue onely to the god alone
whiche wyl hym selfe a kynge chastise
where that none other may suffise.
So were it good to taken hede
That fyrste a kynge his owne dede
Betwene the vertue and the vice
Redresse, and than of his iustice
To set in euen the balance
Towardes other in gouernance
That to the powre, and to the ryche
His lawes myghten stondē lyche.
He shall excepte no persone.
But for he may not all hym one
In sondry places do iustyce
He shall of his ryall office
with wyse consideration
Ordeyne his deputation
Of sube iuges, as ben lerned
So that his people be gouerned
By hem, that true ben and wyfe.
For if the lawe of couetyse
Be set vpon a iuges honde:
wo is the people of thylke londe.
For wronge may not hym selfen hyde.
But els on that other syde
If lawe stonde with the right
The people is glad, & stont vpright.
where as the lawe is reasonable
The comyn people stant menable.
And if the lawe torne amys
The people also mystorned is.
❧Nota hic de iusticia Maximmi imperatoria / qui cum alicuius prouincie custodem sibi constituere volebat / primo de sui nonumis fama proclamacione facta ipsius condicionem diligencius inuestigabat.
❧And in ensample of this matere
Of Maxymyn a man may here
Of Rome which was emperour.
That whan he made a gouernour
By weye of substitucion
Of prouynce or of region,
He wolde fyrst enquire his name
And lete it openly proclame
what man he were, or euyl or good.
And vpon that his name stode
Enclyned to vertue or to vyce
So wolde he set him in office:
Or elles put hym all aweye.
Thus helde the lawe his ryght weye
which fonde no let of couetyse
The worlde stode than vpon the wyse
As by ensample thou might rede
And holde it in the minde I rede.
¶Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis: et narrat qualiter Caius Fabri [...]nis nuper Rome consul autum a Sampnitibus sibi oblatum renuit dicene / quod nobilus est aurum possiden [...]es dominio subiugare / (quam) ex auri cupiditate dominu libertatem amittere.
¶In a cronycke I fynde thus.
Howe that Cayus Fabrycius
whiche whilome was consull of Rome
By whome the lawes yede and come.
whan the Samuytes to hym brought
A somme of golde, and him besought
To don hem fauour in the lawe.
Towarde the golde he gan him drawe
wherof in all mennes loke
Parte vp in his honde he toke
whiche to his mouth in all haste
He put it for to smelle and iuste
And to his eye and to his ere.
But he ne founde no comforte there.
And than be gan it to despise
And tolde vnto hem in this wyse:
I not what is with golde to thriue
whan none of all my wittes fyue
Fynde sauour ne delyte therin.
So is it but a nyce sinne
Of golde to ben to couetouse.
But he is ryche and gloriouse
whiche hath in his subiection
Tho men, whiche in possession
Ben ryche of golde, and by this skyll
For he may all day whan he wyll
Or be hem lese or be hem lothe
Iustice done vpon hem both.
Lo thus he sayd, and with that worde
He threwe tofore hem on the borde
The golde oute of his honde anone.
And sayd hem, that he wolde none.
So that he kepte his lyberte
To do Iustyce and equyte.
withoute lucre of suche rychesse.
There ben nowe fewe of suche I gesse
For it was thylke tymes vsed
That euery Iuge was refused
whiche was not frende to comyn ryght,
But they that wolden stonde vp right
For trouthe onely to do Iustyce
Preferred were in thylke offyce
Lo deme and Iuge comyn lawe
which nowe men sayn is all withdrawe.
[...] To sette a lawe and kepe it nought
There is no comune profite sought.
But aboue al netheles
The lawe whiche is made for pees
Is good to kepe for the beste.
For that setteth all men in reste.
¶ Hic narrat de iusticia nuper Conradi imperato [...] cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone [...] se [...] precum internencione quacun (que) vel au [...] [...]empcione legum statuta commutari seu redi [...]tenus potuerunt.
¶ The ryghtful emperour Conrade
To kepe pees suche lawe made
That none within the cyte
In dysturbaunce of vnyte
Durst ones meuen a matere.
For in his tyme as thou myght here
what poynte that was for lawe sette
It shulde for no good be lette
To what persone that it were
And this brought in the comyn fere
why euery man the lawe dradde
For there was none, which fauour bad.
¶ Nota exemplum de constantia iudicis, vbi narrat de Carmidotiro Rome nuper consule, qui cum sui statuti legem nescius offendisset / Romani (que) super hoc penam sibi remittere voluissent, ipse pro pria manu / vbi nullus alius in ipsum vindex fuit / sui criminis vindictam executus est.
❧ So as these olde bokes sayne
I fynde wryte, howe a romayne
whiche consull was of the pretoyre
whose name was Carmidotoire
He sette a lawe for the pees
That none but he be wepenles
Shall came into the counseyle hous.
And elles as malicious
He shal ben of the lawe dede.
To that statute, and to that rede
Accorden all, it shall be so
For certeyne cause, whiche was tho.
Nowe lyst what fyll therafter lone.
This Consul had for to done
And was in to the feldes ryde.
And they hym hadde longe abyde
That lordes of the counseyle were,
And for hym sende, and he cam there
with swerde begyrde, and hath foryete
Tyll he was in the counseyle sete.
was none of hem that made speche
Tyll he hym selfe it wolde seche.
And fonde out the defaut hym selfe.
And than he sayde vnto the twelfe
whiche of the senate weren wyse.
I haue deserued the iuyse
In haste that it were do.
And they hym sayden all no
For well they wyst it was no vyce:
whan he ne thought no malyce
But onelyche of a lytell slouth
And thus they leften as for routh
To do iustyce vpon his gylte
For that he shulde not be spylte.
And whan he sygh the maners howe
They wolde hym saue, he made anowe
with manful herte, and thus he sayde.
That Rome shulde neuer abrayde
His heyres, whan he were of dawe
That her auncestre brake the lawe.
For thy er that they weren ware
Forthwith the same swerde he bare
The statute of his lawe kepte.
So that all Rome his dethe bewepte.
☞ Nota quod falsi iudices mortis pena puuienbi sunt. Narrat enim qualiter Cambices rex Per sarum quendam indicem coruptum excoriari vinū fecit, eius (que) pelle cathedram iudicialem operiri cō stituit. Ita quod filius suus super patris pellem postea pro tribunali seffurus, iudicii equitatem eui dencius memoraretur.
❧ In other place also I rede
where that a Iuge his owne dede
Ne wol nought venge of lawe broke
The kynge hath him selfe wroke.
The great kinge, it whiche Cambises
was hote, a Iuge lawles
He fonde, and in to remembraunce
He dyd vpon him suche vengeaunce.
Oute of his skin he was beflayne
All quycke: and in that wise slayne
So that his skyn was shape all mete
And nayled on the same sete
where that his sonne shulde sytte
Auise him if he wolde flytte
The lawe for the couetyse
There sawe be redy his Iuise.
Thus in defalte of other Iuge
The kinge mote otherwhile iuge
To holden vp the ryght lawe.
And for to speke of the olde dawe
To take ensample of that was tho
I fynde a tale wryten also,
Howe that a worthy prince is holde
The lawes of his londe to holde.
Fyrst for the hygh goddes sake
And eke for that him is betake
The people for to guyde and lede
whiche is the charge of his kinge hede.
¶Hic ponit exemplum de principibus illis / non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant / sed vt commune bonum adangeant, propriam facultatē diminuūt. Et narrat, quod cum Atheū principe subditos suos in omni prospiritatis habundantia diuites et vnanimes congruis legibus stare fecisse volens, ad vtilitatem reipublice leges if las firmnis obserniari peregre profecissise finxit, sed priue iuramentuus solempne a legiis suis sub hac forma exegit, quod ipsi vs (que) in reditum suum seges suas nullatenus infringerent, quibus iuratis peregrinationem suam in exilium abs (que) reditu perpetuo delegaust,
¶ In a cronyke I rede thus
Of the ryghtfull Lycurgus
whiche of Athenes prynce was
Howe be the lawe in euery cas,
wherof he shulde his people rule
Hath set vpon so good a rule
In all this worlde that cite none
Of lawe was so well begone,
Forthwith the trouthe of gouernaunce
There was amonge hem no distaunce
But euery man hath his encrees.
There was without werre pees,
without enuye loue stode
Rychesse vpon the cōmune good
And not vpon the synguler
Ordeyned was, and the power
Of hem, that weren in estate
was saufe, wherof vpon debate
There stode nothynge, so that in reste
Myght euery man his herte reste.
And whan this noble ryghtfull kynge
Sigh how it ferde of all this thynge
wherof the people stode in ease
He whiche for euer wolde please
The hygh god, whose thonke be sought
A wonder thynge than he bethought
And shope, if that it myght be
Howe that his lawe in the cite
Myght afterwarde for euer laste.
And thervpon his wytte he caste
what thynge hym were best to seyne
That he his purpose myght atteyne.
A parlement and thus he sette
His wysdome where that he be set
In audience of great and smale
And in this wyse he tolde his tale:
¶ God wote, and so ye woten all
Here afterwarde howe so it fall
yet in to nowe my wyll hath be
To do iustyce and equyte
In fordrynge of commune proffyte
Suche hath ben euer my delyte,
But of one thinge I am be knowe
The whiles my wylle is that ye knowe.
The lawe / whiche I toke on honde
was all togeder of goddes sonde
And no thinge of myn owne wit,
So mote it nede endure yet
And shall do lenger, if ye wyl.
For I wol telle you the skyl.
The god Mercurius, and no man
He hath me taught, all that I can
Of suche lawes as I made,
wherof that ye ben all gladde
It was the god, and nothinge I
whiche dyd all this: And nowe for thy
He hath commaunded of his grace
That I shall come in to a place
whiche is foren oute in an yle
where I mote tarye for a whyle
with him to speke and he hath bede.
For as he sayth, in thilke stede
He shall me suche thinges telle,
That euer whyle the worlde shal dwell
Athenes shall the better fare.
B
[...]t first er that I thyder fare
For that I wolde that my lawe
Amonges you ne be withdrawe
There whiles that I shall be oute
For thy to setten oute of doubte
B
[...]h you and me, thus wol I praye
That ye me wolde assure and saye
with suche an othe, as ye wyl take,
That eche of you shall vndertake
My lawes for to kepe and holde.
They sayden all, that they wolde.
And there vpon they swore there othe
That fro that tyme, that he gothe
[...] he to hem be come ageyne
They shuld his lawes wel and pleyne
In euery poynt kepe and fulfyl.
Thus hath Lycurgus his wille:
And toke his leue, and forth he went.
But list nowe wel to what entent
Of rightwisnes be did so.
For after that he was ago
He shope him neuer to be founde
So that Athenis, wyiche was bounde
Neuer after shuld be releced
Ne thilke good lawe seced
whiche was for commune profit sette.
And in this wyse he hath it knette.
He whiche the commune profyte sought
The kynge his owne estate ne rought
To do profyte to the commune
He toke of exyle the fortune
And lefte of prynce thylke office
Onely for loue and for iustyce
Through whiche he thought, if that he might
For euer after his deth, to right
The cite, whiche was hym betake
wherof men ought ensample take
The good lawes to auaunce
with hem whiche vnder gouernaunce
The lawes haue for to kepe
For who that wolde take kepe
Of hem that fyrst lawes founde
Als ferre as lasteth any bounde
Of londe, her names yet ben knowe.
And if it lyke the to knowe
Some of her names, howe they stonde
Nowe herken, & thou shalt vnderstōde.
☞ Hic ad eorum laudem, qui iustitie causa leges statuerunt aliquorum nomina specialius cō memorat.
¶Of euery benfite the merite
The god hym selfe it wol acquyte.
And eke full ofte it falleth so
The worlde it woll acquyte also
But that may not ben euen lyche
The god he yeueth the heuen ryche,
The worlde yefth onely but a name
whiche stont vpon the good fame
Of hem that done the good dede.
And in this wyse double mede
Receyuen they, that done well here
wherof if that the lyst to here
After the fame as it is blowe
There myght thou well the soth knowe
Howe thilke honest besynesse
Of hem, that first for ryghtwysenesse
Amonge the men the lawes made
May neuer vpon this erthe fade
For euer while there is a tonge
Her name shal be redde and songe
And holde in the cronyke write
So that the men it shullen wyte
To speaken good, as they well oughten
Of hem, that fyrste the lawes soughten
In fo
[...]drynge of the worldes pees
Vnto the Hebrewes was Moyses
The fyrste: and to the Egypciens
Mercurius: and to Troiens
Fyrst was Numa Pompilius
To Athenes Licurgus
yaue fyrst the lawe vnto gregoys.
Foroneus hath thylke voyce
And Romulus of romayns:
For suche men that ben vilayns
The lawe in suche a wyse ordeineth
That what man to the lawe pleyneth
Be so the iuge stande vpryght
He shall be serued of his ryght.
And so ferforth it is befall
That lawe is come amonge vs all.
God leue it mote well bene holde
As euery kynge therto is holde.
For thynge, whiche is of kynges sette
with kynges ought it not be lette.
what kynge of lawe taketh no kepe
By lawe he may no royalme kepe.
Do lawe away, what is a kynge?
where is the ryght of any thynge
If that there be no lawe in londe?
This ought a kynge well vnderstonde
As he whiche is to lawe swore
That if the lawe be forlore
withouten execucion,
It makth a londe turne vp so doun
whiche is vnto the kynge a sclaundre.
For thy vnto kynge Alisaundre
The wyse philosophre badde
That he hym selfe fyrste be ladde
Of lawe, and forth than ouer all
To do iustice in generall.
That all the wyde londe aboute
The iustice of his lawe doubte:
And than shall be stonde in rest.
For therto lawe is one the best
Aboue all other erthly thynge
To make a liege drede his kynge.
But howe a kynge shall gete hym loue
Towarde the hygh god aboue
And eke amonge the men in erthe
This nexte poynt, whiche is the ferthe
Of Aristotles lore, it techeth
wherof who that the schole secheth
what policie that it is
The boke reherseth after this.
Nil rationis habens, ubi uelle tyrannica regna
Stringit amor populi, transiet exul ibi:
Sed pietas, regnum quae conseruabit in aeuum
Non tantum populo, sed placet illa deo.
¶Hic tractat de quarta principum regiminis policia, que pietas dicta est, per quam principes erga populum misericordes effecti, misericordiam altissimi gratius consequuntur.
¶It nedeth not, that I delate
The price, whiche preysed is algate
And hath bene euer, and euer shall,
wherof to speake in speciall
It is the vertue of Pite
Through whiche the hye maieste
was stered, whan his sonne alyght
And in pyte the worlde to ryght
Toke of the mayde flesshe & blood:
Pite was cause of thylke good
wherof that we ben all saue.
well ought a man pite to haue
And the vertue to sette in price
whan he hym selfe, whiche is all wyse
Hath shewed, why it shall be preysed.
Pite may not be counterpeysed
Of tyranny with no peyse,
For pyte makth a kynge curteyse
Both in his worde, and in his dede.
It syt well euery lyege drede
His kinge, and to his best obeye.
And right so by the same weye
It sit a kinge to be pitous
Towarde his people and gracious
Vpon the reule of gouernaunce,
So that he worche no vengeaunce
whiche may be cleped cruelte.
Iustice, whiche doth equite
Is dredful, for he no man spareth.
But in the lond where pite fareth
The kinge may neuer fayle of loue
For pyte through the grace aboue
So as the holy boke affermed.
His reigne in good estate confermed
Thapostel Iames in this wise
Seyth, what man shulde do Iuise
And hath not pyte forth with all
The dome of him, whiche demeth all
He may him selfe ful sore drede
That him shall lacke vpon the nede
To fynde pyte, whan he wolde.
For who that pyte woll beholde
It is a poynte of Christes lore.
And for to loken ouermore
It is behouely, as we fynde
To reason and to lawe of kinde.
Cassodore in his aprise telleth
The reigne is saufe, where pite dwelleth.
And Tullyus his tale auoweth
And sayth, what kinge to pite boweth
And with pite stont ouercome /
He hath that shelde of grace nome
whiche the kinges yeueth victorye.
¶ Of Alysaunder in his histoyre
[...] rede, howe he a worthy knyght
Of
[...]odeyn wrath and not of right
For iuged hath: and he appelleth.
And with that word the king quareleth
And saith, None is aboue me.
That wote I wel my lorde (quod he)
Fro thy lorship appele I nought
But fro thy wrath in all my thought
To thy pyte stant myn appele.
The kinge, which vnderstode him wele
Of pure pyte yaue him grace.
And eke I rede in other place
Thus saide whilome Constantyne.
what emperour that is enclyne
To pyte for to be seruaunt
Of all the worldes remenaunt
He is worthy to ben a lord.
¶ In olde bokes of recorde
Thus finde I wryte of ensamplaire
[...]a
[...]an the worthy debonaire
By whome that Rome stode gouerned.
Vpon a tyme, as he was lerned
Of that he was to familyer
He sayde vnto that counceller,
That for to be an emperour
His wil was not for vayne honoure,
Ne yet for reddour of iustice
But if he myght in his office
His lordes and his people plese
Him thought it were a greatter ease
with loue her hartes to him drawe
Than with the drede of any lawe.
For whan a thinge is done for doubte
Ful ofte it comth the wers aboute.
But where a kinge is pyetous
He is the more gracious
That mochel thrifte him shall be tyde
whiche ellis shulde torne a syde.
Qualiter Iudeus pedester cum paganos equi tante itenerauit prr desertum, et ipsum de fide sua interrogauit.
☞To do pyte, supporte, and grace
The philosophre vpon a place
In his writenge of dayes olde
A tale of great ensample tolde
Vnto the kynge of Macedoyne,
Howe betwene Cayr and Babyloyne
whan comen is the somer hete
It hapneth two men for to mete
As they shulde entre in a paas
where that the wyldernesse was,
And as they wente forthe spekende
Vnder the large wodes ende,
That o man asketh of that other,
what man arte thou my liefe brother?
whiche is thy creance and thy feyth?
I am paynym, that other sayth.
And by the lawe, whiche I vse
I shall not in my feyth refuse
To louen all men ylyche
The poure bothe and eke the ryche.
whan they be glad I shall be glad,
And sory whan they ben bestad.
So shall I lyue in vnite
with euery man in his degre.
For ryght as to my selfe I wolde
Ryght so towarde al other shulde
Be gracious and debonaire.
Thus haue I tolde the softe & faire
My faith, my lawe, and my creaunce.
And if the lyst for acqueyntaunce
Nowe telle, what maner man thou art.
And he answerde vpon his parte
I am a iewe, and by my lawe
I shall to no man be felawe
To kepe hym trouth in worde ne dede
But if he be without drede
A very iewe right as am I.
For elles I may trewly
Bereue hym both life and good.
The paynim herde, and vnderstode
And thought it was a wonder lawe.
And thus vpon their sondry sawe
Talkende both forth they went.
The day was hote, the sonne brent,
The paynim rode vpon an asse
And of his catell more and lasse
with hym a ryche trusse he lad.
The iewe which all vntrouth had
And went vpon his fete besyde
Bethought hym howe he myght ryde,
And with his wordes slye and wise
Vnto the paynym in this wyse
He sayde: O nowe it shall be sene
what thynge it is, thou woldest mene.
For if thy lawe be certeyne
As thou hast tolde, I dare well seyne
Thou wolt beholde my distres
whiche am so full of werynesse
That I ne may vneth go,
And let me ryde a myle or two.
So that I may my body ease.
The paynim wold hym not displease
Of that he spake, but in pite
It list him for to knowe and se
The pleynt, whiche that other made
And for he wolde his hert glade
He light, and made him nothing straūge
Thus was there made a newe chaunge.
The paynim goth, the iewe alofte
was sette, vpon his asse softe.
So gone they forth carpende fast
On this, on that, tyll at laste
The paynym myght go no more
And prayed vnto the iewe therfore
To suffre hym ryde a lytell whyle.
The iewe, which thought him to begyle
Anone rode forth the great pase
And to the paynym in this case
He sayde: Thou hast do thy ryght
Of that thou haddest me behyght
To do succour vpon my nede
And that accordeth to the dede
As thou art to the lawe holde.
And in suche wyse, as I the tolde
I thynke also for my partie
Vpon the lawe of Iewerie
To worche and do my duete.
Thin asse shall go forth with me
with all thy good, whiche I haue sesed
And that I wote thou arte disesed
I am right glad, and not my spayde.
And whan he hath these wordes sayde
In all haste he rode away.
This paynim wote none other way
But on the grounde he kneleth euen
His handes vp to the heuen,
And saide: O hibe sothfastnes
That louest all rightwysnesse
Vnto thy dome lorde I appele
Beholde and deme my quarele
with vmble herte I the beseche
The mercy bothe and eke the wreche
I set all in thy iugement.
And thus vpon his marrement
This paynym hath made his preiere.
And than he rose with drery chere
And goth hym forth, and in his gate
He cast his eye aboute algate
The iewe if that he myght se.
But for a tyme it might not be,
Tyll at last ayene the nyght
So as god wolde he went a ryght
As he, whiche helde the highe weye.
And than he syghe in a valeye
where that the iewe lyggende was
All bloody deed vpon the gras
whiche strangled was of a lyon.
And as he loked vp and down
He fonde his asse fast by
Forthe with his harneis redily
All hole and sounde as he it lefte
whan that the iewe it hym berefte.
wherof he thanked god knelende.
Lo thus a man may knowe at ende
Howe the pitous, pitie deserueth.
For what man that to pitie serueth
As Aristotle it bereth witnesse
God shall his fomen so redresse
That they shall aye stonde vnder fote.
Pitie men seyne is thylke rote
wherof the vertues sprengen all.
what infortune that befall
In any londe, lacke of pyte
Is cause of thilke aduersite.
And that alday may shewe at eye
who that the worlde discretely sye.
Good is that euery man therfore
Take hede of that is sayde tofore.
For of this tale, and other inowe
These noble princes whylom drowe
Her euidence and her apprise,
As men may fynde in many wyfe
who that these olde bokes rede.
And though they ben in erthe deed
Her good name may nought deye
For pite, whiche they wold obeye
To do the dedes of mercy.
And who this tale redily
Remembreth, as Aristotle it tolde
He may the wylle of god beholde
Vpon the poynt as it was ended
wherof that pyte stode commended
whiche is to charite felawe,
As they that kepen bothe o lawe.
¶ [...]ta hic de principis pietate erga populum / [...] quod cum Codrus tex Athenis contra [...]rences bellum gerere deberet, consulto [...] Apo [...]ine responsum accepit, quod vnum de [...] vide [...]cet aut seipsum in prelio interfici, [...] populum suum sasuare, aut seipsum saluū fieri [...] [...]um interfici eligere oporteret / Super [...] [...]etote motus plebis (que) sue magis quam [...] salutem affectans / mortem sibi [...] / Et sic bellum aggrediens pro vita [...] solus interut.
¶ Of pite for to speke pleyne
whiche is with mercy well beseyne
Full ofte he woll hym selue peyne
To kepe an other fro the peyne.
For char
[...] the mother is
Of pite, whiche nothynge amys
Can suffre, if he it may amende.
It syt to euery man lyuende
To be pytous, but none so wele
As to a kynge whiche on the whele
Fortune hath, set abouen all.
For in a kynge, if so befalle
That his pitche ferme and stable
To all the londe it is vaillable
Onely through grace of his persone.
For the pite of hym alone
May all the large royalme saue,
So sit it wel a kinge to haue
Pyte. For this Valery tolde
And sayd: howe that by dayes olde
Codrus, whiche was in his degre
Kynge of Athenes the cyte
A werre he had ayeinst Dorrence
And for to take his euydence
what shall befalle of the batayle
He thought he wolde him first counsaile
with Apollo, in whom he tryste
Through whose answere thus he wyste
Of two poyntes, that he might chese
Or that he wolde his body lese
And in batayle him selfe deye:
Or els the seconde weye
To seen his people discomfite.
But he / whiche pite hath perfyte
Vpon the poynte of his byleue
The people thought to releue,
And chese him selfe to be deed.
where is nowe suche another heed
whiche wolde for the lymmes dye?
And netheles in somme partye
It ought a kinges hert stere
That he his lyege men forbere.
And eke towarde his enemyes
Full ofte he may deserue pryse
To take of pyte remembraunce
where that he might do vengeaunce.
For whan a kinge hath the victoire
And than he drawe in to memoire
To do pyte in stede of wreche,
He may not fayle of thilke speche
wherof ariste the worldes fame
To yeue a prince a worthy name.
☞ HIC PONIT EXEMPLVM de victoriosi principis pietate erga aduersarios suos, Et narrat / quod cum Pompeius Romanorum Imperator regem Armenie aduersarium suum in bello victum cepisset / captum (que) vinculis alligatum Rome tenuisset tyrannidis iracundie stimulo postponens, pietatis mansuetudinem operatus est: dixit enim, quod nobilius est regem facere (quam) deponere. super quo dictum regem abs (que) ulla redemptione non solum a vinculis absoluit / (sed) ad sui regni culmen gratuita uoluntate coronatum restituit.
¶I rede howe whylome that Pompey
To whom that Rome muste obey
A warre had in Iupartye
Ayenst the kynge of Armenye
whiche of longe tyme had hym greued
But at last it was acheued
That he this kynge discomfyte hadde
And forthe with hym to Rome ladde
As prisoner, where many a day
In sory plyte and poure he lay.
The corone on his heed deposed
within walles fast enclosed.
And with full great humylite
He suffreth his aduersite.
Pompeye sigh his pacience
And toke pite with conscience
So that vpon his high deys
To fore all Rome in his paleys,
As he that wolde vpon hym rewe
Lete yeue hym his corone newe
And his estate all full and playne
Restoreth of his reigne agayne.
And saide: it was more goodly thyng
To make than vndone a kyng
To hym, whiche power had of bothe.
Thus they that weren bothe wrothe
Accorden hem to fynall pees.
And yet iustice nethelees
was kepte, and in nothynge offended.
wherof Pompeye is yet commended.
There may no kynge hym selfe excuse
But if iustice he kepe and vse,
whiche for to eschewe cruelte
He mote attempre with pite.
Of crueltie the felonye
Engendred is of tyrannye
Ayene the whose condition
God is hym selfe the champion.
whose strenthe no man may withstonde.
For euer yet it hath so stonde
That god a tyraunt ouer ladde.
But where pite the raigne ladde
There myght no fortune last
whiche was greuous, but at last
The god hym selfe it hath redressed.
Pyte is thylke vertue blessed
whiche neuer let his maister falle.
But crueltie though it so falle
That it may reigne for a throwe
God woll it shall be ouer throwe
wherof ensamples ben ynowe
Of hem, that thylke merell drowe.
☞ Hic loquitur contra illos, qui tirannica potestate principatum optinentes, iniqiutatis sue malicia gloriantur, Et narrat in exemplum, qualiter Leontius tirannus pium Iustintanum non solum & solio imperatorie magestatis fraudulenter expulsit, sed vt ipse inhabilis ad regnit in aspectu plebis efficiretur naso et labris abscisis, ipsum tirannice mutilauit: deus tamen, qui super omnia pius est, Tyberio superueniente vna cum adiutorio Therbellis Bulgarie regis Iustinianum interfecto Le ontio, ad imperiū restitui misericorditer ꝓcurauit.
¶Of cruelte I rede thus
whan the tyrant Leoncyus
was to thempyre of Rome arryued
Fro whiche he hath with strenth priued
The pietous Iustinian
As he whiche was a cruel man
His nose of and his lippes both
He cutte, for he wolde him lothe
Vnto the people, and make vnable.
But he whiche all is merciable
The high god ordeineth so
That he within a tyme also
whan he was strengest in his yre
was shouen oute of his empyre.
Tiberius the power hadde
And Rome after his will he ladde.
And for Leonce in suche a wyse
Ordeineth that he toke Iuise
Of nose and lyppes both two
For that he dyd another so
which more worthy was than he.
Lo whiche a falle hath cruelte
And pite was sette vp ageyne.
For after that the bokes seyne
Therbellis kynge of Bulgarie
with helpe of his chiualrie
Iustinyan hath vnprisonned
And to thempire ageyne coroned.
❧ Hic loquitur vlterius de crudelitate Siculi tyranni, necnon et de Berillo eiusdem consiliario / qui ad tormentum populi quendam taurit eneum tirannica coniectura fabricari constituit / in quo tū ipse prior proprio crimine illud exigente [Page] vs (que) ad sui interitus expirationem iudicialiter for quebatur.
¶ In a cronyke I fynde also
Of Siculus, whiche was eke so
A cruell kynge lyke the tempest
The whom no pite myght arest.
He was the fyrste, as bokes seye
Vpon the see, whiche fonde galeye
And let hem make for the werre
As he, whiche all was out of herre
Fro pite and misericorde.
For therto couthe be not accorde,
But whom he myght sleyne, he slough
And therof was he glad ynough.
He had of councell many one
Amonge the whiche there was one
By name, whiche Berillus hyght
And he bethought hym, how he myght
Vnto this tyrant do lykyng.
And of his owne imagynyng
Lete forge and make a bulle of bras,
And on the syde cast there was
A dore where a man may in
whan he his payne shall begyn
Through fire, which that mē put vnder.
And all this dyd be for a wonder.
That whan a man for payne cryde
The bulle of bras, whiche gapeth wyde
It shulde seme, as though it were
A belowynge in a mannes ere
And not the cryenge of a man.
But he, whiche all sleyghtes can
The deuyll, that lyeth in helle fast
Hym that it cast hath ouercast
That for a trespas, whiche he dede
He was put in the same stede.
And was hym selfe the fyrst of all
whiche was in to that peyne fall
That he for other men ordeineth.
There was no man that hym compleineth.
Of tyrannye and cruelte
By this ensample a kyng may se
Hym selfe, and eke his councell bothe
Howe they ben to mankynde lothe
And to the god abomynable.
Ensamples that ben concordable
I fynde of other princes mo
As thou shalte here of tyme ago.
¶Nota hic de Diony sio tyranno, qui mire crudiū tatis seueritate etiam hospites suos ad deuorandum equis fuis tribuit, cui Hercules tandem super veniens victum impium impietate sua pari morte conclusit.
¶ The great tyrant Dionyse
whiche mans lyfe set of no prise
Vnto his horse full ofte be yafe
The men, in stede of corne and chafe,
So that the hors of thylke stode
Deuoureden the mannes bloode
Tyll fortune at laste came
That Hercules hym ouercame.
And he ryght in the same wyse
Of this tyrant toke the Iuise
As he tyll other men hath do
The same deth he dyed also
That no pite hym hath socourde
Tyll he was of his hors deuourde.
¶ Nota hic de consimili Lichaontis tirannia, qui tarnes hoim̄ hominibus in suo hospicio ad vescendum dedit, cuius formam condicioni simlem coequans ipm̄ inlupum transformauit.
¶ Of Lychaon also I fynde
Howe be ayen the lawe of kynge
His hoste slough, and in to mete
He made her bodies to ben ete
with other men within his hows.
But Iupiter the glorious
whiche was commened of this thinge
Vengeaunce vpon this cruelkinge
So toke, that he fro mannes forme
In to a wolfe he let transforme.
And thus the cruelte was kyd
whiche of longe tyme he had hyd.
¶ A wolfe he was than openly
The whose nature priuely
He had in his condicion.
And vnto this conclusion
That tyranny is to despyse
I fynde ensample in sondry wyse
And namelyche of hem full ofte
The whome fortune hath set alofte
Vpon the werres for to wynne
But howe so that the wronge begynne
Of tiranny it may nought laste
But suche as they done at laste
To other men, suche on hem falleth.
For ayene suche pite calleth
Vengeaunce to the god aboue.
For who that hath no tender loue
In sauynge of a mannes lyfe
He shall be founde so gyltyfe
That whan he wolde mercy craue
In tyme of nede be shall none haue.
¶Nota qualiter leo hominibus stratis percit.
¶Of the nature this I fynde
The fiers lyon in his kynde
whiche goth rampende after his pray
If he a man fynde in his way
He wyll hym sleyen, if he withstonde.
But if the man couthe vnderstonde
To fall anone tofore his face
In signe of mercy and of grace
The lyon shall of his nature
Restreigne his Ire in such mesure
As though it were a beste tamed
And torne aweye halfyng ashamed
That he the man shall nothyng greue.
Howe shold than a prynce acheue
The worldes grace, yf that he wolde
Destroye a man, whan he is yolde,
And stante vpon his mercy alle?
But for to speake in specialle
There haue be suche, and suche there be
Tyrantes, whose hertes no pyte
May to no poynt of mercy plye
That they vpon her tyrannye
Ne gladen hem the men to slee.
And as the rages of the see
Ben vnpitous in the tempeste:
Ryght so may no pite areste
Of cruelte the great vltrage
whiche the tyrant in his corage
Engendred hath, wherof I fynde
A tale, whiche comth nowe to mynde.
¶ Hic loquitur precipu [...] contra tyrannos illos, qui cum in bello vincere possūt, humani sanguini [...] effusionem saturari nequeunt: et narrat in exemplum de quodam Persarum rege, cuius nomen Spartachus erat, qui pre ceteris tunc in oriente bellicosus et victoriosus, quoscū (que) gladio vincer [...] poterat / abs (que) psetate interfici constituit. Seb tandem sub manu Thomiris Marsegittarum regine in bello captus, ꝙ a diu quesiuit, seueritatem pro seueritate finaliter inuenit. Nam et ipsa quoddam vas de sanguine Persarum plenum ante se afferre decreuit, in quo caput tyrām vs (que) ad mor tem mergen [...] dixit: O tyrannorum crudelissime semper esn [...]iens sanguinem sitisti, ecce iam ad saturitatem sanguinem bibe.
¶ I rede in olde bokes thus
There was a duc, whiche Spartachus
Men clepe, and was a warriour,
A cruel man a conquerour
with stronge power, the whiche he lad.
For this condition he had
That where hym hapneth the victoire
His lust and all his most gloire
was for to slee, and not to saue.
Of raunsome wolde he no good haue
For sauynge of a mans lyfe,
But all gothe to the swerde and knyfe
So leefe hym was the mans bloode.
And netheles yet thus it stode
So as fortune aboute went
He fell ryght heire, as by discent
To Pers, and was coroned kynge.
And whan the worshyp of this thynge
was falle: and he was kynge of Pers
If that they weren fyrste diuers
The tyrannies, whiche he wrought
A thousant folde wel more he sought
Than afterwarde to do malyce
Tylle god vengeaunce ayene the vice
Hath shape: For vpon a tyde
whan he was hieste in his pryde
In his rancour, and in his hete
Ayene the quene of Mersagete
whiche Thomiris that tyme hyght
He made werre all that he myght.
And she which wolde her londe defende
Her owne sonne ayene him sende
whiche the defence hath vndertake
But he discomfite was and take.
And whan this kinge hym had in honde
He wol no mercy vnderstonde
But dyd hym slee in his presence.
The tydynge of this violence
whan it cam to the mothers eare,
She sende anone ay wyde where
To suche frendes as she had
A great power tyll that she lad.
In sondry wyse, & tho she cast
Howe she this kynge may ouercast.
And at last accorded was
That in the daunger of a pas
Through whiche this tyrant shuld pas
She shope his power to compas
with strength of men, by suche a wey
That he shall not escape awey.
And when she had thus ordeined
She hath hir owne body feyned
For fere as though she wolde flee
Out of hir londe. And whan that he
Hath herde, howe that this lady fledde
So fast after the chase he spedde
That he was founde out of araye.
For it betyd vpon a daye
In to the paas whan he was fall
The cubusshementes to breaken all
And hym beclipte on euery syde
That flee ne myght be not asyde.
So that there weren deed and take
Two hundred thousande for his sake
That weren with hym of his hooste.
And thus was leyed the great booste
Of hym, and of his tyranny.
It halpe no mercy for to cry
To hym, whiche whylome dyd none.
For he vnto the quene anone
was broughte: & whan that she him sye
This worde she spake, and sayd on hye:
O man, whiche out of mannes kynde
Reason of man hast lefte behynde
And lyued worse than a beste
whom pyte myght none areste
The mannes blode to shede and spylle:
Thou haddest neuer yet thy fylle.
But nowe the laste tyme is come
That thy malyce is ouercome
As thou tyll other men hast do
Nowe shall be do to the ryght so.
Tho bad this lady that men shulde
A vessell brynge, in whiche she wolde
Se the vengeance of his Iuise,
whiche she began anone deuyse
And toke the princis, whiche he ladde
By whom his chiefe councell he hadde,
And whyle hem lasteth any breth
She made hem blede to the deth
Into the vessell where it stode.
And whan it was fulfylde of bloud
She cast this tyraunt therin
And sayde hym: Lo thus myght thou wynne
The lustes of thyne appetyte.
In bloud was whylom thy delyte
Nowe shalte thou drynken all thy fylle.
And thus onelyche of goddes wylle
He whiche that wolde hym selfe straūge
To pite, fonde mercy so straunge,
That he without grace is lore.
So may it well shewe the more
That cruelte hath no good ende,
But pite howe so that it wende
Makth that god is merciable
If there be cause reasonable
why that a kynge shall be pytous
But els if he be doubtous
To sleen in cause of ryghtwysenesse
It may be sayde no pytousnesse.
But it is pusyllanimyte
whiche euery prynce shulde flee.
For if pite mesure excede
Knyghthode may not alwey procede
To do iustyse vpon the ryght.
For it belongeth to a knyght
As gladly for to fyght as reste
To sette his lyege people in reste
whan that the warre vpon hem falleth.
For hem be mote, as it befalleth
Of his knyghthode, as a lyon
Be to the people a champion
without any pite feyned.
For if manhode be restreyned
Or be it pees, or be it warre
Iustyce goth all out of herre
So that knyghthode is set behynde.
¶Of Aristotles lore I fynde
A kynge shall make good vysage
That no man knowe of his courage
But all honour and worthynesse.
For if a kynge shall vpon gesse
without ver
[...]y cause drede
He may be lyche to that I rede.
And though that be lyke a fable
Then saumple is good and reasonable
❧ Hic loquitur secundum philosophum diceus, quod sicut non decet principes tyrannica impetuositate esse crudeles, it a nec decet timorosa pufillanimitate esse vecordes.
❧ As it by olde dayes fylle
I rede whylom that an hylle
Vp in the londes of Archade
And wonder dredfull noyse it made.
For so it fyl that ylke day
This hylle on his chyldynge lay.
And whan the throwes on him come
His noyse liche the day of dome
was ferefull in a mannes thought
Of thinges, which that they se nought
But wel they herden all aboute
The noise, of which they were in doubte
As they that wenden to be lore
Of thinge, whiche than was vnbore.
The nere this hyl was vpon chaunce
To take his deliueraunce
The more vnbuxomly he cryde.
And euery man was fledde a syde
For drede, and lefte his owne hows.
And at last it was a mows
The whiche was bore, and to noryce
By take: and tho they helde hem nyce
For they withouten cause dradde.
Thus if a kinge his herte ladde
with euery thinge that he shall here
Ful ofte he shulde chaunge his chere
And vpon fantasye drede
whan that there is no cause of drede.
¶ Nota hic secundum Horacium de magnanimo Iacide et pusillanimo Thersite.
¶ Horace to his prince tolde
That him were leuer, that he wolde
Vpon knyghthode Achylles sewe
In tyme of warre, than eschewe
So as Thersites did at Troye.
Achilles al his hole ioye
Set vpon armes for to fyght.
Thersites sought all that he might
Vnarmed for to stonde in reste.
But of the two it was the beste
That Achilles vpon the nede
Hath do, wherof his knyghtlyhede
Is yet commended oueralle.
Kynge Salomon in speciall
Saith: As there is a tyme of pees
So is a tyme netheles
Of werre: in whiche a prynce algate
Shall for the comon right debate
And for his owne worship eke.
But it behoueth not to seke
Onely the werre for worship
But to the right of his lordship,
whiche he is holde to defende
Mote euery worthy prince entende
Betwene the symplesse of pyte
And the fole hast of cruelte.
where stonte the very hardinesse
There mote a kinge his herte adresse.
whan it is tyme, to forsake
And whan tyme is, also to take
The deedly werres vpon honde
That he shall for no drede wonde
If ryghtwisenes be withall.
For god is mighty ouer all
To forther euery mans trouthe
But it be through his owne slouthe,
And namely the kinges nede
It may not fayle for to spede.
For he stante one for hem all
So mote it well the better falle.
And wel the more god fauoureth
whan he the comune righte socoureth.
And for to se the soth in dede
Beholde the bible, and thou might rede
Of great ensamples many one
wherof that I wil tellen one.
¶ Hic dicit / quod princeps iusticie causa bellum nullo modo timere debet. Et narrat qualiter dux Gedeon cum solis trecentis viris quinque reges scilicet Madianitarum, Amalechitarum / Amoitanorum, Amoreorum et Iebuseorum, cum eorit excercitu, qui ad nonaginta milia numeraius eft / gracia cooperante diuina, victoriose in fugam conuertit.
☞ Vpon a tyme as it byfelle
Ayenst Iude and Israelle
whan sondry kynges come were
In purpos to destroye there
The people / whiche god kepte tho,
And stode in thylke dayes so
That Gedeon, whiche shulde lede
The goddes folke / toke him to rede
And sende in all the londe aboute
Tyl he assembled hath a route
with .xxx. thousand of defence
To fyght and make resistence
Ageyne the whiche hem wolde assayle.
And netheles that one batayle
Of thre / that weren enemys
was double more than was all his
wherof that Gedeon him drad
That he so lytel people had.
But he whiche all thinge may helpe
where that there locketh mannes helpe
To Gedeon his aungel sente
And bad / er that he forther wente,
All openly that he do crye
That euery man in his partye
whiche wolde after his owne wylle
In his delyte abyde stylle
At home in any maner wyse
For purchace, or for couetyse,
For lust of loue, or lacke of herte
He shuld nought aboute sterte
But holde him stylle at home in pees.
wherof vpon the morow he lees
wel .xx. thousande men and mo
The whiche after the cry ben go.
Thus was with him but onely lefte
The thryde parte, and yet god efte
His aungel send, and sayd this
To Gedeon: If it so is
That I thyn helpe shall vndertake
Thou shalt yet lesse people take
By whome my wyl is that thou spede.
For thy to morowe take good hede
Vnto the flood whan ye be come
what man that hath the water nome
Vp in his hande, and lappeth so
To thy parte chese oute all tho
And him whiche wery is to swinke,
Vpon his wombe and lyeth to drynke,
Forsake and put hem al aweye
For I am myghty all weye
where as me lyst my helpe to shewe
In good men, though they be fewe.
This Gedeon a wayteth wele
Vpon the morowe, and euery dele
As god him bad, right so he dede.
And thus ther lefte in that stede
with him thre hondred, and no mo
The remenaunte was all ago.
wherof that Gedeon merueyleth
And theron with god counceyleth
Pleynynge, as ferforth as he dare.
And god, whiche wolde he were ware
That he shuld spede vpon his right
Hath bede him go the same nyght
And take a man with hym to here
what shall be spoke in this matere
Amonge the hethen enemyes,
So may he be the more wyse,
what afterwarde him shall befalle.
This Gedeon amonges alle
Phara, to whome he tryst moste
By nyght toke towarde thylke hoste
whiche lodged was in a valeye
To here what they wolden seye.
Vpon his fote and as he ferde
Two sarazyns spekende he herde
Quod one, arede my sweuen aryght
whiche I met in my slepe to night.
Me thought I sygh a barly cake
whiche fro the hylle his wey hath take
And com rollende doune at ones,
And as it were for the nones
Forth in his cours, so as it ran
The kynges tente of Madyan,
Of Amaleche, of Amorie
Of A mon, and of Iebuseye
And many another tente mo,
with great ioye as me thought tho
It threwe to grounde and ouer cast
And all his host so sore agaste
That I awoke for pure drede.
This sweuen can I well arede
Quod the other sarazen anone,
The barly cake is Gedeon
whiche fro the hylle donne sodenlye
Shall come, and set suche a skrye
Vpon the kinges, and vs both
That it shall to vs all lothe.
For in suche drede he shall vs brynge
That if we haden flight of wynge,
The weye one fote in dispayre
we shull loue, and flee in the ayre.
For there shal nothing him withstonde
whan Gedeon hath vnderstonde
This tale, he thonketh god of all,
And priuelyche ageyne he stalle
So that no lyfe hym hath perceyued.
And than he hath fully conceyued
That he shall spede: & therupon
The nyght sewend he shope to gone
This multitude to assayle.
Now shalt thou here a great meruaile
with what wysdome that he wrought.
The lytell people, whiche he brought
was none of hem that he ne hath
A potte of erthe, in whiche he tath
A lyght brennynge in a cresset,
And eche of hem eke a trompet
Bare in his other honde besyde.
And thus vpon the nyghtes tyde
Duc Gedeon whan it was derke
Ordeyneth hym vnto his werke,
And parted than his folke in thre
And chargeth hem, that they ne flee.
And taught hem how they shuld askry
All in o voyce par company.
And what worde they shulde eke speke,
And howe they shulde her pottes breke
Echeone with other whan they herde
That he hym selfe fyrst so ferde.
For whan they cam into the stede
He bad hem do ryght as he dede.
And thus stalkende forth a paas
This noble duc whan tyme was
His potte to brake, & loude ascryde
And tho they breke on euery syde.
The trompe was nought for to seke,
He blewe, and so they blewen eke
with suche a noyse amonge hem all
As though the heuen shulde fall.
The hylle vnto her voyce answerde.
This hoste in the valey it herde
And sigh how that the bylle a lyght
So what of herynge and of syght
They caught suche a sodeyne fere
That none of hem be lefte there.
The tentes holly they forsoke
That they none other good ne toke
But onely with her body bare
They fledde, as doth the wylde hare.
And euer vpon the hylle they blewe
Tyll that they sygh tyme and knewe
That they be fled vpon the rage.
And whan they wyste their auauntage
They fyll anone vpon the chace.
Thus myght thou se how goddes grace
Vnto the good men auayleth
But els ofte tyme it fayleth
To suche as be not well disposed.
This tale nedeth not to be glosed
For it is openly shewed
That god to him that ben well thewed
Hath yeue & graunted the victoire
So that thensaumple of this histoire
Is good for euery kynge to holde.
First in hym selfe that he beholde
yf he be good of his lyuynge
And that the folke, which he shal bring
Be good also, for than he may
Be glad of many a mery day
In what that euer he hath to done.
For he whiche sytte aboue the mone
And all thynge may spylle and spede
In euery cas, and euery nede
His good kynge so well adresseth
That all his foo men he represseth.
So that there may no man hym dere.
And also well he can forbere
And suffre a wycked kynge to falle
In handes of his fomen all.
¶ Hic dicit, quod vbi et quando causa et tempus requirunt, princeps illos sub potestate sua / quos iusticie aduersarios agnouerit, occidere de iure te netur. Et narrat in exemplum, qualiter pro eo, quod Saul regem Agag in bello deuicium iuxta Samuelis consilium occidere noluit / ipse diuino iudicio non solum a regno Israel prinatus / sed et heredes sui pro perpetuo exheredati sunt.
❧Nowe ferthermore if I shall seyn
Of my matere, and tourn ageyn
To speke of Iustyce and Pite
After the rule of ryalte.
This may a kynge well vnderstonde
Knyghthode mote be take on honde
whan that it stont vpon the nede
He shall no rightfull cause drede
No more of werre than of pees
If he wyll stonde blameles.
For suche a cause a kynge may haue
Better it is to slee than saue.
wherof thou myght ensample fynde
The hygh maker of mankynde
By Samuel to Saul badde
That he shall nothynge ben adrad
Agayne kynge Agag for to fyght.
For this the godhede hym behyght
That Agag shall be ouercome.
And whan it is so ferforth come
That Saul hath hym discomfyte
The god had make no respyte
That he ne shulde hym slee anone.
But Saul let it ouergone
And dyd not the goddes beste.
For Agag made a great beheste
Of raunsome, whiche he wold gyue
Kynge Saul suffreth hym to lyue
And feyneth pite forth withall.
But he whiche seeth & knoweth al
The bye god, of that he feyneth
To Samuel vpon hym pleyneth
And sende hym worde: for that he lefte
Of Agag that he ne berefte
The lyfe, he shall not onely dye
Hym selfe, but fro his regalye
He shall be put for euermo
Nought he, but eke his heyre also
That it shall neuer come ageyn.
¶ [...] [...]at vlteriꝰ super eodē, qualiter Dauid [...] extrem [...]s iusticie causa vt Ioab occideretur, ab [...] [...]lla remissione filio suo Salomoni iniunxit.
¶Thus myght thou se the soth pleyne
That of to moche, and of to lyte
Vpon the prynces stant the wyte.
But euer it was a kynges ryght
To do the dedes of a knyght.
For in the hondes of a kynge
The dethe and lyfe is all othynge
After the lawes of iustyce.
To sleen it is a deedly vice,
But if a man the deth deserue.
And if a kynge the lyfe preserue
Of hym, whiche ought for to dye
He seweth not the ensamplarie
whiche in the byble is euydent
Howe Dauyd in his testament,
whan he no lenger myght leue
Vnto his sonne in charge hath geue
That he Ioab shall slee algate.
And whan Dauyd was gone his gate
The yonge wyse Salomone
His fathers heste dyd anone,
And slewe Ioab in suche a wyse
That they that herden the iuyse
Euer after dredden hym the more
And god was eke well payd therfore
That be so wolde his herte plye
The lawes for to iustifye.
And yet he kepte forth withall
Pyte, so as a prynce shall
That he no tyranny wrought.
He fonde the wysdom, which he sought
And was so rightfull netheles
That all his lyfe he stode in pees
That he no deadly werres had.
For euery man his wysdom drad.
And as he was hym selfe wyse
Ryght so the worthy men of pryse
He hath of his counseyle with holde
For that is euery prynce holde
To make of suche his retenue
whiche wyse ben: and remue
The fooles. For there is nothynge,
whiche may be better about a kynge
Than counseyle, which is the substaunce
Of all a kynges gouernaunce.
¶ Hic dicit, quod populum sibi commissum bene regere super omnia principi laudabilius est. Et narrat in exemplum, qualiter pro eo quod Salomon, vt populum bene regeret, ab altissimo sapientiā specialius postulauit, omnia bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduenerunt.
¶In Salomon a man may se
what thynge of most necessite
Vnto a worthy kynge belongeth.
whan he his kyngdome vnderfongeth
God had hym chese what he wolde,
And sayde hym, that he haue sholde
what he wolde aske, as of o thynge.
And he whiche was a newe kynge
Forth thervpon his boone prayde
To god, and in this wyse sayde:
O kynge by whom that I shall reigne
Yeue me wysdome, that I my reygne
Forth with the people, whiche I haue
To thyn honour may kepe and saue.
whan Salomon his boone hath taxed,
The god of that whiche he hath axed
was ryght well payde, & granteth soone
Not all onely that he his boone
Shall haue of that, but of rychesse
Of hele, of pees, of hye noblesse
For with wysdome at his askynges
whiche stant aboue all other thynges.
¶ Hic dicit secundum Salomonem, quod regie magestatis imperium ante omnia sano cōsilio dirigendum eft.
¶But what kyng wyll his reygne saue
Fyrst hym behoueth for to haue
After the god and his beleue
Suche counseyle, whiche is to beleue
Full fylde of trouth, and ryghtwysenes
But aboue all in his noblesse
Betwene the reddour and Pyte
A kynge shall do suche equite
And set the balaunce in euen
So that the hygh god of heuen
And all the people of his nobleye
Lowenge vnto his name seye.
For moost aboue all erthly good
where that a kynge hym selfe is good
It helpeth: for in other weye
If so be that a kynge forsweye
¶ Quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achiui.
Full ofte er this it hath be seyne
The comen people is ouerleyne
And hath the kynges synne abought
All though the people agylte nought.
Of that the kynge his god mysserueth
The people takth, that he deserueth
Here in this worlde, but elles where
I not howe it shall stonde there
For thy good is a kynge to triste
Fyrst to hym selfe, as he ne wyst
None other helpe but god allone,
So shall the rule of his persone
within hym selfe through prouidence
Ben of the better conscience.
And for to fynde ensample of this
A tale I rede, and soth it is.
¶Hic de Lucio imperatore exemplum ponit, qualiter princepa sui nominis famam a secretis consilariis sapienter inuestigare debet, et si quid in ea sinistrum inuenerit, prouisa discretione ad dexterā conuertat.
❧In a cronyke it telleth thus
The kynge of Rome Lucyus
within his chambre vpon a nyght
The stewarde of his hous a knyght
Forth with his chamberleyne also
To counseyle had both two
And stoden by the chymne
To gether spekende all thre.
And happeth that the kynges fole
Sat by the fyre vpon a stole
As he that with his bable playde
But yet he herde all that they sayde
And therof toke they no hede.
The kynge hem axeth what to rede
Of suche matere as cam to mouth.
And they hym tolde, as they couth.
whan all was spoke, of that they ment
The kynge with all his holle entent
Then at last hem axeth this
what kynge men tellen that he is:
Emonge the folke touchyng his name
Or it be prys or it be blame
Ryght after that they herden seyne
He had hem for to telle it pleyne,
That they no poynt of soth forbere
By thylke feyth, that they hym bere.
The stewarde first vpon this thynge
Gafe his answere vnto the kynge
And thought glose in this matere
And said, als ferre as he can here
His name is good, and honourable.
Thus was the stewarde fauourable
That he the trouth pleyne ne tolde.
The kynge than axeth, as he sholde,
The chamberleyne of his auyse.
And he that was subtyle and wyse
And somdele thought vpon his feyth
Hym tolde, howe all the people seyth
That if his counseyle were trewe
They wyst than well and knewe
That of hym selfe he shulde be
A worthy kynge in his degre.
And thus the counseyle he accuseth
In party and the kynge excuseth.
The fole, whiche herde of all this cas
what tyme as goddes wylle was
Sigh, that they sayden not ynough
And hem to scorne both lough.
And to the kynge he sayd tho
Syr kynge if that it were so
Of wysdome in thyn owne mode
That thou thy selfe were good
Thy counceyl shuld not be bad.
The kynge therof merueyle had
whan that a fole so wysely spake
And of hym selfe fonde oute the lacke
within his owne conscience.
And thus the folis euidence
whiche was of goddes grace enspyred
Makth that good counceil was desired.
He put awey the vicious
And toke to him the vertuous.
The wrongfull lawes ben amended
The londes good is well dispended
The people was nomore opressed
And thus stode euery thinge redressed.
For where a kynge is propre wyse
And hath suche as him selfe is
Of his counceyl / it may not fayle
That euery thinge ne shal auayle.
The vyces than gone awey
And euery vertu bolte his wey
wherof the hye god is plesed
And all the londes folke esed.
For if the comyn people crye
And than a kynge lyst not to plye
To here, what the clamore wolde.
And other wyse than he shulde
Disdayneth for to done hem grace,
It hath be seen in many place
There hath be falle great contraire
And that I fynde of ensamplaire.
❧ Hic dicit quod seniores magis experti ad [...]ne [...]e consilium admittendi pocius existunt / Et narrat / qualiter pro eo quod Roboas Salomonis filius et heres senium sermonibus renuncians, dicta inuenum preelegit / de duodecim tribus Israel a domino suo decem penitus amisit / et sic cū duabus tātūmodo illusus postea regnauit
❧After the deth of Salomone
whan thilke wyse kynge was gone
And Roboas in his persone
Receyue shuld the corone,
The people vpon a parlement
Auysed were of one assent
And all vnto the kynge they preyde
with comune voys and thus they sayde:
Our liege lorde we the byseche
That thou receyue our humble speche
And graunt vs, whiche that reason wyl
Or of thy grace / or of thy skyl,
Thy fader whyle he was alyue
And might both graunte and priue
Vpon the werkes whiche he had
The comon people streite lad
whan he the temple made newe.
Thinge whiche men neuer afore knewe
He brought vp than of his tallage
And all was vnder the visage
Of werkes, whiche he made tho.
But nowe it is befalle so
That all is made right, as he sayde
And he was riche whan he deyd.
So that it is no maner nede
If thou therof wilt taken hede
To pillen of the people more
whiche longe tyme hath be greued sore.
And in this wyse as we the seye
with tender herte we the preye,
That thou relesse thilke dette
whiche vpon vs thy fader sette.
And if the lyke to done so
we ben thy men for euermo
To gone and comen at thyn heste.
The kinge, whiche herde this requeste
Saith, that he wyl ben aduysed,
And hath therof a tyme assised
And in the whyle as he him thought
Vpon this thinge counceyl he sought.
And firste the wise knightes olde
To whome that he his tale tolde
Counceyllen him in this manere,
That he with loue, and with glad chere
Foryeue and graunte all that is asked
Of that his fader had tasked.
For so he may his regne acheue
with thing which shall hem litell greue.
The kinge hem herd, and ouer passeth
And with this other his wit compasseth
That yonge were, and nothinge wyse
And they these olde men despise
And sayden: Sir it shall be shame
For euer vnto thy worthy name
If thou ne kepe not thy ryght
(while thou arte in thy yonge myght)
whiche that thyn olde father gate
But say vnto the people plate
That whyle thou lyuest in thy londe
The leest fynger of thyn honde
It shall be strenger ouer all
Than was thy fathers body all.
And thus also shall be thy tale
If he hem smote with roddes smale
with scorpions thou shalt hem smyte.
And where thy father toke a lyte
Thou thynkest take mychell more
Thus shalt thou make hem drede sore
The great hert of thy corage,
So for to holde hem in seruage.
This yonge kyng hym hath conformed
To done as he was last enformed
whiche was to him his vndoynge.
For whan it came to the spekynge
He hath the yonge counseyle holde
That he the same wordes tolde
Of all the people in audience.
And whan they herden the sentence
Of his malyce, and the manace
Anone tofore his owne face
They haue hym vtterly refused
And with full great reproue accused
So they began for to raue
That he hym selfe was fayne to saue.
For as the wylde wode rage
Of wyndes maketh the see sauage
And that was calme bryngeth to wawe,
So for defaut and grace of lawe
The people is stered all at ones
And forth they gone out of his wones
So that of the lygnages twelfe
Two tribus onely by hem selfe
with hym abyden, and no mo.
So were they for euermo
Of no retourne without espeire
Departed fro the rightfull heire
Of Israell, with comen voyce
A kynge vpon her owne choyce
Amonge hem selfe a anone they make
And haue her yonge lorde forsake.
A powre knyght Ieroboas
They toke, and lefte Roboas
whiche ryghtfull beyre was by dissent,
Lo thus the yonge cause went
For that the counseyle was not good
The reygne fro the ryghtfull blood
Euer afterwarde deuyded was.
So may it prouen by this cas
That yong counseyl, which is to warme
Or men beware doth ofte harme.
Olde age for the counseyle serueth
And lusty yongth his thonke deserueth
Vpon the traueyle whiche he doth.
And both for to sey a fothe
By sondry cause for to haue
If that he wyll his reigne saue
A kynge behoueth euery day
That one can, and that other may
Be so the kynge hem both rule
Or elles all goth out of rule.
¶Nota questionem cuiusdam philosophi / vtrum regno conuenientius foret principem cum malo consilio optare sapientem, quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem.
¶And vpon this matere also
A question betwene the two
Thus wryten in boke I fonde.
where it be better for the londe
A kynge hym selfe to be wyse
And so to bere his owne pryse
And that his counseyle be not good.
Or otherwyse if it so stode
A kynge if he be vicious
And his counseyle be vertuous
It is answerde in suche a wyse
That better it is that they be wyse
By whom that the counseyle shall gone
For they ben many, and he is one
And rather shall an one man
with fals counseyle, for ought he can
From his wysedome be made to fall
Than he alone shulde hem all
Fro vices vnto vertue chaunge
For that is well the more straunge.
For thy the londe may well be glad
whose kynge with good counseyle is lad
whiche sette hym vnto ryghtwysnes
So that his high worthynes
Betwene the reddour and pyte,
Doth mercy forth with equyte.
A kinge is holden ouer all
To pyte, but in speciall
To hem, where he is moste beholde
They shulde his pite most beholde
That ben the lieges of the londe
For they ben euer vnder his honde
After the goddes ordenaunce
To stonde vpon his gouernaunce.
¶ [...]a ad huc precipne de principum erga suos [...] deb [...]ta [...]ietate, legitur enim qualiter An [...] Sci [...]ne exēp [...]ificatus, dixit, quod mal [...]er v [...]m de populo sibi commisso virum saluare, c [...]en [...] ex hostibꝰ alienigenis in bello perdere.
☞ Of themperour Anthonius
I fynd, bowe that he sayde thus:
How him were leuer for to saue
One of his liges, than to haue
Of enemyes an hundred dede.
And thus he lerned as I rede
Of Scipio, whiche had be
Consul of Rome, and thus to se
Dyuers ensamples howe they stonde
A kinge which hath the charge on hōde
The comyn people to gouerne
If that he wyl, he may wel lerne.
Is none so good to the plesaunce
Of god, as is good gouernaunce.
And euery gouernaunce is due
To pyte thus I may argue
That pyte is the foundemente
Of euery kynges regimente.
If it be medlyd with iustice
They two remeuen all vyce
And ben of vertu most vaylable
To make a kinges royame stable.
Lo thus the foure poyntes tofore
In gouernaunce as they be bore
Of trouth fyrst and of largesse
Of pyte, forth with rightwisnesse
I haue hem tolde, and ouer this
The fyrst poynte, so as it is
Set of the rule of policye
wherof a kynge shall modefye
The flesshly lustes of nature,
Nowe thinke I telle of suche mesure
That both kinde shall be serued
And eke the lawe of god obserued.
Corporis et mentis regē decet omnis honestas,
Nominis vt famam nulla libido ruat.
Omne quod est liominis effeminat illa voluptas
Sit nisi magnanimi cordis vt obstat ei.
¶ Hic tractat secundum Aristotelem de quinta principum policia, que castitatem concernit, cuius honestas impudicicie molus obtemperans tam corporis quam anime mundiciciam specialius preseruat.
❧The male is made for the femele
But where as one desyreth fele
That nedeth nought by weye of kynde.
For whan a man may redy fynde
His owne wyfe, what shuld he seche
In straunge places to beseche
To borowe another mans plough
whan he hath geare at home ynough
Affayted at his owne heste
And is to hym wel more honeste
Than other thinge, which is vnknowe.
For thy shulde euery good man knowe
And thynke, howe that in maryage
His trouth plyte / lyeth in morgage
whiche if he breke, it is falsehode
And that discordeth to manhode
And namely towarde the great
wherof the bokes all trete
So as the phylosophre techeth
To Alysaunder, and him by techeth
The lore howe that he shall mesure
His body: so that no mesure
Of flesshly lust he shulde excede.
And thus forth if I shall procede
The fyfte poynte / as I sayd ere
Is Chastyte, whiche selde where
Comth nowe a dayes in to place.
And nethelesse but it be grace
Aboue all other in specialle
Is none that chaste may ben alle.
But yet a kynges hygh estate
whiche of his order as a prelate
Shall be anoynte and sanctifyed.
He mote be more magnyfied
For dignite of his corone
Than shulde another lowe persone
whiche is not of hygh emprise.
Therfore a prince hym shuld aduise
Er that he fell in suche ryote
And namely that he ne asso
[...]e
To chaunge for the womenhed
The worthinesse of his manhed.
¶Nota de doctrina Aristotelis, qualiter priceps vt animi sui locunditatem prouocet, mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet: caueat tamen ne mēs voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur.
¶Of Aristotle I haue well radde
Howe he to Alysaunder badde,
That for to gladden his corage
He shulde beholden the visage
Of women, whan that they ben fayre,
But yet he set an examplayre
His body so to guye and rule
That he ne passe mot the rule
wherof that he him selfe begyle.
For in the woman is no gyle
Of that a man him selfe by wapeth
whan he is owne wytte beiapeth
I can the woman wel excuse.
But what man wyl vpon hem muse
After the folysshe Impression
Of his ymaginacion,
within him selfe the fyre he bloweth
wherof the woman nothinge knoweth
So may she nothinge be to wyte.
For if a man him selfe excite
To drenche, and wil nought forbere.
The water shall no blame bere.
what may the golde though mē coueit?
If that a man wyll loue streyt
The woman hath him nothinge bounde
If he his owne hert wounde
She may not let the folye,
And though so fyl of company
That he might any thinge purchace
Yet maketh a man the fyrst chace.
The woman fleeth, and he purseweth
So that by wey of skyl it sueth
The man is cause bowe so befalle
That he full ofte syth is falle,
where that he may not wel aryse.
And netheles ful many wyse
Befooled haue hem selfe er this,
As nowe a dayes yet it is
Amonge the men and euer was
The stronge is febleste in this caas.
It syt a man by wey of kynde
To loue, but it is not kinde
A man for loue his wyt to lese.
For if the month of Iule shall frese
And that December shall be hote,
The yere mistorneth wel I wote.
To seen a man frome his estate
Through his soty effemynate
And leue that a man shall do
It is as hose aboue the shoo
To man, whiche oughte not to be vsed.
But yet the worlde hath ofte accused
Full great princes of this dede
Howe they for loue hem selfe mislede
wherof manhode stode behinde
Of olde ensamples as men fynde.
¶Hic ponit exēplum, qualiter pro eo quod Sardanapallus Assiriorum princeps muliebri oblectamento effeminatus sue cōcupiscentie torporem quasi ex cōsuetudine adhibebat, ab Arbacto rege medorum super hoc infidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate subitis mutationibus extinctus eft.
❧These olde gestes tellen thus
That whylome Sardanapallus,
whiche helde all hole in his empyre
The great kingdome of Assyre
was through the slouth of his corage
Falle in to the ylke fyry rage
Of loue / whiche the men assoteth
wherof hym selfe he so ryoteth,
And wexeth so ferforth womannysshe
That ageyn kynde, as if a fysshe
Abyde wolde vpon the londe
In women suche a luste he fonde
That he dwelte euer in chambre stylle
And onely wrought after the wylle
Of women, so as he was bede,
That seldome whan in other stede
If that he wolde wenden oute,
To seen howe that it stode aboute.
But there he kiste / and there he played,
They taughten hym a lace to brayed
And weue a purs, and to enfyle
A perle: And fell thylke whyle
One Arbactus the prince of Mede
Seeth the kynge in womanhede
was falle fro chiualrie
And gate hym helpe, and companye
And wrought so, that at last
This kynge out of his reigne he cast,
whiche was vndone for euer mo.
And yet men speaken of hym so
That it is shame for to bere
For thy to loue is in manere.
☞ Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem armorum non minus excercint.
¶Kynge Dauid had many a loue.
But netheles alway aboue
Knyghthode he kepte in suche a wyse
That for no flesshely couetyse
Of lust to lygge in ladys armes
He l
[...]te not the luste of armes.
For where a prince his lustes sueth
That he the warre not pursueth
whan it is tyme to bene armed,
His countrie stant full ofte harmed
whan the enemyes be waxe bolde
That they defente none beholde
Full many a londe hath so be lore
As men may rede ofte tyme afore
Of hem that so her cases soughten
whiche after they full dere aboughten.
¶ [...] [...]uitur qualiter regnum lasciuie volupta [...] de facili vincitur: Et ponit exemplū [...] rege Persarum, qui cum Lidos mira pro [...] fiteninssimos, sibi (que) in bello aduersantes [...] [...]do vincere potuit / cum ipsis tandem pa [...] [...]tatum dissimilans concordiā finalē stabi [...] [...], super quo Lydi postea per aliquod tem [...] armis insoluti sub pacis tempore voluptatibus [...]ntendebant. Quod Cyrus percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit, ipsos (que) inde sensibiles vin [...]ns suo imperio tributarios subiugauit.
¶ To mochel ease is nothynge worthe
For that setteth euery vice forthe
And euery vertue put a backe
wherof price turneth in to lacke.
As in cronylie I may reherse
whiche telleth, how the kynge of Perse
That Lyrus hyght, a warre hadde
Ageynst the people, whiche he dradde.
Of a countre, whiche Lydos hyght.
But yet for ought that he do myght
As in batayle vpon the warre
He had of hem alway the warre.
And whan he sigh, and wyst it wele
That he by strength wanne no dele.
Than at laste he caste a wyle
This worthy people to begyle
And toke with hem a feyned pees
whiche shulde lasten endelees
So as he sayde in wordes wyse,
But he thought all in other wyse.
For it betyd vpon the caas
whan that this people in rest was
They token eses many folde,
And worldes ese as it is tolde
By way of kynde is the noryce
Of euery luste, whiche toucheth vyce.
Thus whan they were in lustes fall
The warres bene forgeten all.
was none, whiche wolde the worshyp
Of armes, but in ydelshyp
They putten businesse away
And toke hem to daunce and play.
But most aboue all other thynges
They token hem to the lykynges
Of flesshely lustes, that chastite
Receyued was in no degree,
But euery man doth what hym lyste.
And whan the kynge of Pers it wyste
That they vnto folye entenden
with his power, whan they leest wenden
More sodeinly than doth the thonder
He came, for euer and put hem vnder.
And thus hath lechery lore
The londe, whiche had be tofore
The beste of hem, that were tho.
¶Nota qualiter facta bellica luxus infortunat. Et narrat / quod cum rex Amolech hebrtis sibi insultantibus resistere nequit / consilio Balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherrimas in castro hebreorum misit / qui ab ipsis contaminati sunt.
¶And in the bible I fynde also
A tale lyke vnto this thynge
Howe Ameleche the paynym kynge
whan that he myght by no weye
Defende his londe, and put awey
The worthy people of Israell.
This sarasyn,
[...] it befelle
Through the counseyle of Balaam
A rout of fayre women nam
That lusty were, and of yonge age
And bad hem go to the lynage
Of these hebrewes: & forth they went
with eyen grey, and browes bent
And well arayed euerychone.
And whan they comen were anone
Emonge thebrews was none in syght
But catche who that catche myght
And eche of hem his lustes sought
whiche after they full dere abought.
For grace anone began to fayle
That whan they comen to batayle
Than afterwarde in sory plyte
They were take and discomfyte.
So that within a lytell throwe
The myght of hem was ouerthrowe
That whylom were wont to stonde,
Tyll Phynees the cause on honde
Hath take, this vengeaunce last:
But than it cesed at laste.
For god was payed, of that he dede
For where he fonde vpon a stede
A couple, whiche mysferred so
Throughout he smote hem both two
And let hem lygge in mennes eye
wherof oll other, whiche hem sye
Ensampled hem vpon the dede
And prayden vnto the godhede
Her olde synnes to amende
And he whiche wolde his mercy sende
Restored hem to newe grace.
Thus may it shewe in sondry place
Of chastite howe the clennesse
Accordeth to the worthynesse
Of men of armes ouer all.
But most of all in speciall
This vertue to a kynge belongeth.
For vpon his fortune it hongeth
Of that his londe shall spede or spylle
For thy but if a kynge his wyll
Fro lustes of his flesshe restreyne
Ageyne hym selfe he maketh a treyne.
Into the whiche if that he slyde
Hym were better go besyde.
For euery man may vnderstonde
Howe for a tyme that it stonde
It is a sory lust to lyke
whose ende maketh a man to syke
And tourneth ioyes in to sorowe.
The bryght sonne by the morowe
Beshyneth not the derke nyght
The lusty yongth of mans myght
In age but it stonde wele
Mystorneth all the last whele.
¶ Hic loquitur qualiter principum irregulata voluptas eos a semita recta multotiens deniare cō pellit, Et narrat exemplum de Salomone, qui ex sue carnis concupiscentia victus, mulierum blandimētis in sui scandalum deos alienos colere presumebat.
¶That euery worthy prynce is holde
within hym selfe to beholde
To se the state of his persone
And thynke, howe there be ioyes none
Vpon this erthe made to laste:
And how the flesshe shall at last
The lustes of his lyfe forsake:
Hym ought a great ensample take
Of Salomon, whose appetite
was holly sette vpon delyte
To take of women the plesaunce,
So that vpon his ignoraunce
The wyde worlde meruayleth yet
That he, whiche all mens wyt
In thilke tyme hath ouerpassed
with flesshly lustes was so tassed
That he whiche ledde vnder the lawe
The people of god, him selfe withdrawe
He hath fro god in suche a wyse
That he worshyp and sacrifice
For sondry loue in sondry stede
Vnto the false goddes dede.
This was the wyse Ecclesiaste
The fame of whom shall euer laste
That he the myghty god forsoke
Ageyn the lawe whan he toke
His wyues, and his concubynes
Of hem that were sarazyns,
For whiche he dyd idolatrie.
For this I rede of his soty
She of Sydoyne so hym ladde
That he knelende his armes spradde
To astratchen with great humblesse
whiche of her londe was the goddesse.
And she that was of Moabyte
So ferforth made hym to delyte
Through lust, which al his wit deuoreth
That he Thamos hir god honoreth.
An other Amonyte also
with loue him hath assoted so
Hir god Moloche that with encence
He sacreth, and doth reuerence
In suche a wyse as she hym bad.
Thus was the wysest ouerlad
with blynde lustes, whiche he sought.
But he it afterwarde abought.
¶Nota hic qualiter Achias propheta in signum, [...] regnum post mortem Salomonie ob eius [...]catū a suo herede dimineretur, pallium suum in due decim partes scidit, vnde decem partes Ie [...] [...] filio Nabal, qui regnaturꝰ postea successit, [...] to de [...]tribuit.
❧ For Achias solenites
whiche was prophet, er his deces,
while he was in his lustes all
Betokeneth what shall after falle.
For on a day, whan that he mette
Ieroboam the knyght he grette
And had hym, that he shulde abyde
To here what hym shall betyde.
And forth withall Achyas cast
His mantell of, and also fast
He cut it in to peces twelfe
wherof two parties vnto hym selfe
He kepte, and all the remenaunt
As god hath set his couenaunt
He toke vnto Ieroboas
Of Nabal whiche the sonne was,
And of the kynges courte a knyght
And saide hym, suche is goddes myght.
As thou haste sene departed here
My mantell, right in suche manere
After the dethe of Salomon
God hath ordeyned thervpon
This reygne than he shall deuyde
whiche tyme eke thou shalt abyde,
And vpon that diuision
The reygne as in proporcion
As thou hast of my mantell take,
Thou shalt receyue I vndertake.
And thus the sonne shall abye
The lustes and the lechery
Of hym, whiche nowe his father is,
So for to taken hede of this
It syt a kynge well to be chast,
For els he may lyghtly wast
Hym selfe, and eke his reygne bothe
And that ought euery kynge to lothe.
O whiche a synne violent
wherof so wise a kynge was shent
That he vengeance of his persone
was not inough to take alone,
But afterwarde, whan he was passed
It hath his heritage lassed,
As I more openly to fore
The tale tolde: And thus therfore
The philosopher vpon this thynge
write, and counseyled to a kynge,
That he the forfete of luxure
Shall tempre and rule of suche mesure,
whiche he to kynde suffisaunt
And eke to reason accordaunt.
So that the lustes ignoraunce
Bycause of no mysgouernaunce
Through which that he be ouerthrowe
As he that wyll no reason knowe.
For but a mans wyt he swerued
whan kynde is dulyche serued
It ought of reason to suffyse.
For if it fall hym otherwyse
He may the lustes sore drede.
¶For of Anthony thus I rede
whiche of Seuerus was the sonne
That he his lyfe of cōmune wonne
Yaue holly vnto thilke vice,
And ofte tyme he was so nyce
wherof nature hir hath compleyned
Vnto the god, whiche hath disceyned
The warkes whiche Anthony wrought
Of luste, whiche he fulle sore abought.
For god his forfete hath so wroke
That in cronyke it is yet spoke.
But for to take rememembraunce
Of speciall mysgouernaunce
Through couetyse and iniustyce
Forth with the remenaunt of vice,
And namelyche of lechery
I fynde write a great partie
within a tale, as thou shalt here
whiche is thensample of this matere.
¶Hic loquit he Tarquinio Rome nuꝑ impatore / necnō et de eiusdē filio noie Arrous / qui oim vic [...] orū varietate: repleti tā in hoies (quam) in mulieres in numer scelera perpetrarunt.
¶So as these olde gestes seyne
The proude tyrannysshe Romeyne
Tarquinius, whiche was than kynge
And wrought many a wrongful thynge.
Of sonnes he had many one,
Amonge the whiche Arrous was one
Lyche to his father in maneres,
So that within a fewe yeres
with treason and with tyranny
They wonne of londe a great party
And token hede of no iustyce,
whiche dewe was to her offyce
Vpon the rule of gouernaunce,
But al that euer was pleasaunce
Vnto the flesshes lust, they toke.
And fyll so, that they vndertoke
A werre, whiche was nought acheued
But often tyme it had hem greued
Ageyne a folke, which than hyght
The Gabyens, and all by nyght
Thus Arrous whan he was at home
In Rome a preuy place he nome
within a chaumber, and hete hym selfe
And made hym woundes .x. or twelfe
Vpon the backe, as it was sene.
And so forth with his hurtes grene
In all the haste that he may
He rode, and cam that other day
Vnto Gabye the cite
And in he went: and whan that he
was knowe, anone the yates were she
[...],
The lordes all vpon hym set
with drawe swerdes vpon bonde.
And Arrous wolde hem not withstōde,
And saide I am here at your wylle
As lefe it is that ye me spylle
As if myn owne father dede.
And forth within that same stede
He prayde hem that they wolde se
And tolde hem in what degre
His father, and his bretherne bothe
whiche as he sayd weren wrothe,
Hym had beten and reuyled
And out of Rome for euer exyled,
And thus he made hem to beleue
And saide: if that he myght acheue
His purpos, it shall well be yolde
By so that they hym helpe wolde.
whan that the lordes had sene
Howe wofully he was besene
They toke pite of his greue.
But yet it was hem wonder leue
That Rome hym had exyled so.
The Gabyens by counseyle tho
Vpon the goddes made hym swere
That he to hem shall trouth here
And strength hem with all his myght.
And they also hym hath behyght
To helpen hym in his quarele.
They shope than for his hele
That he was bathed and anoynt
Tyll that he was in lusty poynt,
And what he wolde than he had
That he all holle the cite lad
Ryght as he wolde hym selfe deuyse
And thā he thought hym in what wyse
He myght his tyranny shewe,
And toke to his counseyle a shrewe
whom to his father forth he sent.
And in his message he tho went
And prayed his father for to say
By his auyse and fynde a wey
Howe they the cite myght wynne
whyle he stode so well therin.
And whan the messanger was come
To Rome, and hath in counseyle nome
The kynge: it felle perchaunce so
That they were in a gardeyne tho
This messager forth with the kynge.
And whan he had tolde the thynge
In what maner that it stode:
And that Tarquinus vnderstode
By the message, how that it ferde,
Anone he toke in honde a yerde
And in the gardeyne as they gone
The lylly croppes one and one,
where that they weren sprongen out
He smote of, as they stode about:
And sayde vnto the messengere,
Lo this thyng, whiche I do nowe here
Shall be in stede of thyn answere.
And in this wyse as I me bere
Thou shalte vnto my sonne telle.
And he no lenger wolde dwelle
But toke his leue, & goth withall
Vnto his lorde, and tolde hym all,
Howe that his father hadde do.
whan Arrous herde hym telle so
Anone be wyst what it ment,
And therto sette all his entent
Tyll he through fraude & trechery
The prynces heedes of Gaby
Hath smyten of, & all was wonne,
His father cam tofore the sonne
In to the towne with the Romeyns
And toke and slewe the citezeyns
without reason or pite,
That he ne spareth no degre.
And for the spede of his conquest
He lette do make a ryche feste
with a solempne sacrifice
In Phebus temple, And in this wyse
whan the Romeynes assembled were
In presence of hem all there
Vpon the auter when all was dyght
And that the fyres were a lyght
From vnder the auter sodeynly
An hydous serpent openly
Cam out, and hath deuoured all
The sacrifice, and eke withall
The fyres queynt: and forth anone
So as be came, so is he gone
In to the depe grounde ayeyne,
And euery man began to seyne:
A lorde, what may this signifye?
And thervpon they pray and crye
To Phebus, that they mighten knowe
The cause: & he the same throwe
with gastly voice, that all it herde
The Romayns in this wyse answerde
And sayd, how for the wyckednes
Of pryde, & of vnryghtwysenes
That Tarquyne and his sonne hath do
The sacrifice is wasted so
whiche myght not ben acceptable
Vpon suche synne abhomynable.
And ouer that yet he hem wysseth
And saith, whiche of hem fyrst kysseth
His mother, he shall take wreche
Vpon the wronge: & of that speche
They ben within her hertes glade
Though they outward no sēblāce made
Ther was a knight, which Brutꝰ hight
And he with all the haste he might
To grounde fyll, and there he kyste
But none of hem the cause wyste
But wende that he had spourned
Perchaunce, and so was ouertourned.
But Brutus all an other ment
For he knewe well in his entent
Howe therthe of euery mannes kynde
Is mother: but they weren blynde
And syghe not so ferre as he.
But when they leften the cite
And comen home to Rome ageyn
Than euery man, whiche was Romeyne
And moder hath, to hir he bende
And kyst / and eche of hem thus wende
To be the fyrste vpon the chaunce
Of Terquyne for to do vengeaunce
So as they herden Phebus seyne.
But euery tyme hath his certeyne,
So must it nedes than abyde
Tyll afterwarde vpon a tyde
¶Hic narrat, quod cum Tarquinius in obsidione ciuitatis Ardee, vt eam destrueret intentus fuit, Arrous filius eius Romam secreto adiens in domo collatini hospitatus est, vbi de nocte illam castissimam dommam Lucreciam imaginata fraude vi oppressit, vnde illa pre dolore mortuo, ipse cū Tarquinio patre suo, tota clamanie Roma / imꝑm̄ exilium delegati sunt.
❧ Tarquinus made vnskilfully
A werre, whiche was fast by
Ageyn a towne with walles stronge
whiche Ardea was cleped longe
And cast a sege there aboute
That there may no man passen oute.
So it befelle vpon a night
Arrous, whiche had his souper dight
Aparte of the chyualrye
with hym to suppe in company
Hath bede: and whan they comen were
And sette at supper there
Amonge her other wordes glade
Arrous a great spekynge made,
who had tho the best wyse
Of Rome, and thus began a stryfe,
For Arrous saith, he hath the best.
So ianglen they withouten reste
Tyll at last one Collaryne
A worthy knyght, and was cosyne
To Arrous, sayd hym in this wyse,
It is, qd he, of none emprise
To speke a worde, but of the dede
wherof it is to taken hede.
Anone for thy this same tyde
Lepe on thy hors, and let vs ryde,
So may we knowe both two
Vnwarely what our wyues do,
And that shall be a trewe assay.
This Arrous saith not ones nay,
On horsebacke anone they lepte
In suche manere and nothynge slepte
Rydende forth tyll that they come
All pryuely within Rome
In strange place & downe they lyght,
And take a chambre out of syght.
They be disguysed for a throwe
So that no lyfe shulde hem knowe.
And to the paleys fyrst they sought
To se what thyng these ladies wrought
Of whiche Arrous made a vaunt
And they bir sygh of glad semblaunt
All full of myrthes and of bordes.
But amonge all other wordes
She spake not of hir husbonde.
And whan they had all vnderstonde
Of thilke place what hem lyste,
They gone hem forth that none it wyst.
Besyde thilke yate of bras
Collaces whiche cleped was,
where Collatyn hath his dwellynge
There founden they at home syttynge
Lucrece his wyfe all enuyronned
with women, whiche were abandoned
To werche, & she wrought eke withall
And bad hem haste, and said it shall
Be for myn husbondes were
whiche with his sheld & with his spere
Lyeth at syege in great disese,
And if it shulde hym not displese
Nowe wolde god, I had hym here.
For certes tyll that I may here
Some good tydynge of his estate
My herte is euer vpon debate.
For so as all men wytnesse
He is of suche an hardynesse
That he can not hym selfe spare,
And that is all my moste care,
whan they the walles shulde assayle.
But if my wysshes myght auayle
I wolde it were a groundeles pyt
By so the siege were vnknyt,
And I my husbonde sye.
with that the water in her eye
Arose, that she ne myght it stoppe,
And as men sene the dew bedroppe
The leues, and the floures eke:
Ryght so vpon her whyte cheke
The wofull salte teres felle.
whan Collatyne hath herde hir telle
The meanynge of hir trewe herte,
Anone with that to hir he sterte
And sayd: Lo my good dere
Nowe is he come to you here
That ye moost louen as ye seyne.
And she with goodly chere ageyne
Beclypt him in her armes smale.
And the colour, whiche erste was pale
To beaute than was restored,
So that it myght not be mored.
The kynges sonne, which was nygh
And of this lady herde and sygh
The thynges, as they ben befalle,
The reason of his wyttes all
Hath loste: for loue vpon his parte
Cam than, & of his fyry darte
with such a wounde him hath through smyte
That he must nedes fele & wyte
Of thilke blynde malady
To whiche no cure of surgery
Can helpe, but yet netheles
At thylke tyme he helde his pees
That he no countenaunce made
But openly with wordes glade,
So as he coude in his manere
He spake, and made frendely chere
Tyl it was tyme for to go.
And Collatyne with him also
His leue toke, so that by night,
with all the baste that they might,
They ryden to the syege ageyn.
But Arous was so wo bysein
with thoughtes, which vpon him ronne
That he all by the brode sonne
To bedde goth, not for to reste
But for to thynke vpon the beste,
And the fayrest forth with alle
That euer be sigh, or euer shalle
So as him thought in his corage
where he portreyed her ymage.
Fyrst the fetures of hir face
In whiche nature had all grace
Of womanlye beaute besette,
So that it might not be bette.
And howe hir yelowe here was tressed
And hir atyre so wel adressed.
And how she wepte, al this he thought.
And how she spake, & how she wrought
That he foryeten hath no dele
But all it lyketh him so wele
[...]at in the worde nor in dede
H
[...] lacked nought of womanhede.
And thus this tyrannyss be knight
w
[...]s soupled, but not halfe aryght
For he none other hede toke
But that he might by somme croke
All though it were ageyne hir wille,
The lustes of his flessh fulfylle,
whiche loue was not reasonable.
For wher honour is remeuable
It ought well to ben aduysed.
But he whiche hath his lust assysed
[...]ith medlid loue and tyrannye
Hath founde vpon his trecherye
A weye, whiche he thinketh to holde,
And sayth: fortune vnto the bolde
Is fauorable for to helpe.
And thus within him selfe to yelpe
As he whiche was a wylde man
Vpon his treason he began.
And vp he sterte, and forth he wente
On horsbacke, but his entente
There knewe no wyght, and he name
The nexte way, tyll he came
Vnto Collocea the gate
Of Rome, and it was somdele late
Ryght euen vpon the sonne sette.
And he whiche had shape his nette
Hir innocence to betrappe,
And as it shulde tho myshappe
As priuely as euer he myght
He rode, and of his hors alyght
Tofore Collatynes Inne
And all frendelyche goth hym in,
As he that was cosyn of house.
And she, whiche is the good spouse
Lucrece, whan that she hym syghe
with goodly chere drewe hym nyghe
As she, whiche all honour supposeth
And hym, so as she dare, opposeth
Howe it stode of hir husbonde.
And he tho dyd hir vnderstonde
with tales feyned in this wyse
Right as he wolde him selfe deuyse.
wherof he might hir herte gladde
That she the better chere made.
whan she the gladde wordes herde
Howe that hir husbonde ferde.
And thus the trouthe was deceyued
with slye treson, whiche was receyued
To hir, whiche mente all good.
For as the festes than stode
His souper was right wel arrayed
But yet he hath no worde assayed
To speke of loue in no degre.
But with couert subtylite
His frendely speches he affayteth
And as the tygre his tyme a wayteth
In hope for to catche his praye.
whan that the bordes were aweye
And they haue souped in the halle
He sayth, that slepe is on him falle
And prayth, he mote go to bedde.
And she with all haste spedde
So as hir thought it was to done
That euery thinge was redy sone.
She brought him to his chamber tho
And toke hir leue, and forth is go
In to hir owne chamber by,
And she that wende certeynly
Haue had a frend, and had a fo
wherof fyll after mochel wo.
This tyraunt though he lye softe
Oute of his bedde aroos full ofte
And goeth aboute, and leyed his ere
To herken, tyl that all were
To bedde gone, and slepten faste.
And than vpon hym selfe he caste
A mantel, and his swerde all naked
He toke in honde, and she vnwaked
A bedde laye: but what she mette
God wote, for he the dore vnshette
So priuely, that none it herde,
The softe paas and forth he ferde
Into the bedde, where that she slepte,
All sodeynlye and in he crepte.
And hir in bothe his armes toke,
with that this worthy wyfe awoke
whiche through tendresse of womanhed
Hir voyce hath loste for pure drede
That one worde speke she ne dare.
And eke he bade hir to beware.
For if she made noyse or crye
He sayd, his swerde laye faste bye
To slee hir, and hir folke aboute.
And thus he brought hir herte in doute
That lyke a lambe, whan it is cesed
In wolues mouth, so was disesed
Lucrece, whiche he naked fonde
wherof she swouned in his honde
And, as who sayth, laye dede oppressed.
And be whiche all him had adressed
To luste, toke than what him lyste
And goth his weye, that none it wist
In to his owne chamber ageyn,
And cleped vp his chamberleyn
And made him redy for to ryde.
And thus this lecherous pryde
To hors lepte, and forth he rode.
And she which in hir bed abode
whan that she wyst he was agone
She cleped after lyght anone
And vp aroos longe er the daye
And cast aweye hir fresshe araye,
As she whiche hath the worlde forsake
And toke vpon the clothes blacke.
And euer vpon continuinge
Right as men se a welle springe,
with eyen full of wofull teeres
Hir here hangynge aboute her eeres
She wepte, and no man wyst whye.
But yet amonge full pitouslye
She prayed, that they nolden dretche
Her husbonde for to fetche,
Forthwith hir fader eke also.
Thus be they comen bothe two
And Brutus came with Collatyne
whiche to Lucrece was cosyne,
And in they wenten all thre
To chambre / where they might se
The woofullest vpon this molde,
whiche wepte, as she to water sholde.
The chamber dore anone was stoke
Er they haue ought vnto her spoke.
They se hir clothes all disgysed
And howe she hath her selfe despysed
Hir here hangynge vnkemte aboute.
But nethelesse she gan to lowte
And knele vnto hir husbonde.
And he wolde fayne haue vnderstonde
The cause, why she fared so.
with softe wordes asked tho /
what may you be my good swete?
And she, which thought her self vnmete
And the leste worth of women alle
Hir woful chere lete doune falle
For shame, and coude vnnethes loke,
And they therof good hede toke
And prayden hir in al waye
That she ne spare for to saye
Vnto hir frendes, what hir ayleth.
why she so sore hir selfe bewayleth
And what the soth wolde mene.
And she which hath hir sorowe grene
Hir wo to tell thenne assayed /
But tender shame her worde delayed,
That sondry tymes as she mente
To speke, vpon the poynte she stente.
And they hir beden euer in one
To telle forth / and there vpon
whan that she sygh she must nede
Hir tale bitwene shame and drede
She tolde, not without peyne.
And he whiche wolde hir wo restreyne
Hir husbond, a sory man
Comforteth hir all that he can
And swore, and eke hir fader bothe
That they with hir be not wroth
Of that is do ageynst hir wylle,
And prayden hir to be stylle
For they to hir haue all foryeue.
But she whiche thought not to leue
Of hem wyll no foryeuenesse,
And said: of thilke wyckednesse
whiche was to hir body wrought
All were it so she myght it nought
Neuer afterwarde the worlde ne shall
Reprouen hir: and forthwithall,
Or any man therof be ware,
A naked swerde, the whiche she bare
within hir mantell priuely,
Betwene hir bondes sodeynly
She toke, & through her hert it thronge
And fyll to grounde, & euer amonge,
whan that she fyll, so as she myght
Her clothes with her honde she ryght
That no man downewarde fro the knee
Shuld any thynge of hir se.
Thus lay this wyfe honestly
A
[...]though she dyed wofully.
Tho was no sorowe for to seke.
H
[...]r housbande and hir father eke
A
[...]woune vpon the body felle.
There may no mans tonge telle
In whiche anguysshe that they were.
But Brutꝰ, which was with hem there
[...]warde hym selfe his hert kept
And to Lucrece anone be lepte,
The bloudy swerde and pulleth out
And swore the goddes al aboute,
That he therof shall do vengeaunce.
And
[...]he tho made a countenaunce
Hir dedly eye and at laste
I
[...] thonkynge as it were vp cast,
And so behelde hym in the wyse
whyle
[...]he to loke may suffyse.
And Brutus with a manly herte
Hir husbonde hath made vp sterte
Forth with her father eke also
In all haste and sayde hem tho
That they anone without lette
A bere for the body fette.
Lucrece & thervpon bledend
He leyde, and so forth out cryend
He goth vnto the market place
Of Rome: and in a lytell space
Through crye the cite was assembled
And euery mans hert trembled
whan they the soth herde of the c
[...]s,
And there vpon the counseyle was
Take, of the great and of the smale.
And Brutus tolde hem all the tale.
And thus cam in to remembraunce
Of synne the continuance
whiche Arrous had do tofore.
And eke longe tyme er he was bore
Of that his father hadde do
The wronge came in to place tho
So that the comen clamour tolde
The newe shame of synnes olde.
And all the towne began to crye:
Awey awey the tyranny
Of lechery and couetyse.
And at last in suche a wyse
The father in the same whyle
Forth with the sonne they exile
And taken better gouernaunce.
But yet an other remembraunce
That ryghtwysenes and lechery
Accorden not in company
with hym that hath the lawe on honde
That may a man well vnderstonde
As by a tale thou shalte wyte
Of olde ensample as it is wryte.
¶Hic ponit exemplum super eodem, qualiter Linius Virginius dux exercitus Romanorum vnicam filiam pul [...]herrimam habens cum quodam nobili viro nomine Ilicio, vt ipsam in vxorē duceret finaliter concordauit. Sed interim Appius Claudius Imperator virginis formositatem, vt eam violaret concupiscens occasiones / quibꝰ matrimonii impedire, ipsam (que) ad sui vsum apprehendere posset, subdola conspiratione fieri coniectauit, et cum propositum sui desiderii producti [...] fa [...]sis testibus in Iudicio, Imperator habere debuisset: pater tunc ibidē presens extracio gladio filie sue pectus mortali vulnere per medium trā fodit, dicens malo michi de filia mea virginē habere mortuam, (quam) in sui scandalum meretricem seruare vinentem.
❧ At Rome whan Appius
whos other name was Claudius
was gouernour of the cyte
There fyll a wonder thinge to se
Touchend a gentyl mayde, as thus:
whome Lyuius Virgnius
Begeten had vpon his wyfe
Men sayden, that so fayre a lyfe
As she, was not in al the towne
This fame whiche goth vp and doune
To Claudius came in his ere
wherof his thought anone was there
whiche all his herte hath sette a fyre
That he began the floure desyre
whiche longeth vnto maydenhede
And sende, if that he might spede
The blynde lustes of his wylle.
But that thinge he might not fulfylle
For she stode vpon maryage
A worthy knyght of great lignage
(Ilycius whiche than hight)
Accorded in her faders sight
was, that he shulde his doughter wed.
But er the cause were fully spedde
Her fader, whiche in Romanye
The ledinge of the chyualrye
In gouernaunce hath vndertake
Vpon a werre, whiche was take
Gothe out with all the strength he had
Of men of armes whiche he lad.
So was the maryage lefte
And stode vpon accorde tyl efte.
The kynge, whiche herde telle of this
Howe that this mayde ordeyned is
To maryage, thought a nother
And had thilke tyme a broder
whiche Marcus Claudius was hote,
And was a man of suche riote
Right as the kinge him selfe was,
They two togyder vpon this caas
In counceyle founden out the weye
That Marcus Claudius shall seye
Howe she by weye of couenaunte
To his seruyce apurtenaunte
was holle, and to none other man.
And there vpon he sayth he can
In euery poynte witnesse take
So that she shall it not forsake.
whan that they had shape so
After the lawe whiche was tho
whyle that her fader was absente
She was somoned and assente
To come in prsence of the kynge,
And stode in answere of this thinge.
Her frendes wysten all wele
That it was falshede euery dele
And comen to the kynge, and sayden
Vpon the comune lawe and prayden
So as this noble worthy knyght
Hir father for the comon ryght
In thylke tyme, as was befall
Lay for the profyte of them all
Vpon the wylde feldes armed
That he ne shulde not ben harmed
Ne shamed, whyle that he were oute.
And thus they preyden al aboute
For all the clamour that he herde
The kinge vpon his luste answerde
And yaue hem onely dayes two
Of respyte: for he wende tho
That in so shorte a tyme appere
Her fader might in no manere.
But as therof he was deceyued
For Lyuyus had all conceyued
The purpos of the kynge tofore,
So that to Rome ayene therfore
In all hast he came rydende
And lefte vpon the felde lyggende
His boost, tyll that he came ageyne.
And thus this worthy capiteyne
Appered redy at his daye.
where all that euer reasone may
By lawe in audyence he doth
So that his doughter vpon soth
Of that Marcus her had accused
He hath tofore the courte excused.
The kyng, which saw his purpose faile
And that no sleight myght auayle
Incombred of his lustes blynde
The lawe tourneth out of kynde,
And halfe in wrath as though it were
In presence of hem all there
Deceyued of concupiscence
yaue for his broder the sentence:
And bad hym, that he shulde cese
This mayde, and make hym well at ese.
But all within his owne entent
He wyst how that the cause went.
Of that his brother hath the wyte
He was hym selfe for to wyte.
But thus this mayden had wronge
whiche was vpon the kynge alonge
But ageyne hym was none apele
And that the father wyst wele.
wherof vpon the tyrannye
That for the lust of lecherie
His doughter shuld be disceyued
And that Ilicius was weyued
Vntruly fro the mariage:
Ryght as a lyon in his rage
whiche of no drede set account
And not what pite shulde amount,
A naked swerde he pulled out
The whiche amonges all the rout
He threst through his doughter syde,
And all aloude thus he cryde:
Lo take hir there thou wrongfull kyng
For me is leuer vpon this thynge
To be the father of a mayde
Though she be deed, than if men sayde
That in hir lyfe she were shamed
And I therof were euyll named.
Tho bad the kynge men shulde areste
His body, but of thilke heste
Lyke to the chaced wylde bore
The boundes whan he feleth sore
To throwe, and goth forth his wey:
In suche a wyse for to sey
This worthy knyght with swerd in hōd
His wey made, & they hym wonde
That none of hem his strokes kepte,
And thus vpon his hors he lepte
And with his swerde droppyng al blode
which within his doughter stode,
He cam there as the power was
Of Rome, and tolde hem all the cas:
And sayd hem: that they myght lere
Vpon the wronge of this matere
That better it were to redresse
At home the great vnrightwysenesse,
Than for to warre in straunge place
And lese at home her owne grace.
For thus stant euery mans lyfe
In ieopardye for his wyfe
And for his doughter, if they be
Passynge an other of beaute.
Of this meruayle whiche they sye
So apparaunt afore her eie
Of that the kynge hath hym mysbore
Her othes they haue all swore
That they wyll stonde by the right.
And thus of one accorde vpright
To Rome at ones home ageyne
They torne, and shortly for to sayne
This tiranny cam to mouth
And euery man saith, what he couth,
So that the preuy trechery
whiche set was vpon lechery
Cam openly to mannes ere,
And that brought in the comen fere
That euery man the peryll dradde
Of hym, that so hem ouerlad.
For they or that were worse falle
Through comen counseyle of hem all
They haue her wrongful kyng deposed.
And hem, in whom it was supposed
The counceyle stode of his le
[...]ynge
By lawe vnto the dome they brynge,
where they receyuen the penaunce
That longeth to suche gouernaunce.
And thus the vnchaste was chastised
wherof they myght ben aduysed
That shulde afterwarde gouerne
And by this euidence lerne
Howe it is good a kynge eschewe
The luste of vice, and vertue sewe.
¶Hic inter alia castitatis regimen concernentia loquitur / quomodo matrimonium / cuius status sacramentum quasi continentiam equiperans etiā honeste delectationis regimine moderari decet, Et narrat in exēptū qualiter pro eo quod illi septē viri / qui Sarre Raguelis filie magis propter concupiscentiam (quam) propter matrimonium voluptuose nupserunt, vnus post alium omnes prima nocte a demone Asmodeo sigillatim ingulati interierunt.
¶To make an ende in this partie
which toucheth to the policie
Of chastite in speciall.
As for conclusion fynall,
That euery lust is to eschewe
By great ensample I may argewe.
Howe in rages a towne of Mede
There was a mayde, and as I rede
Sara she hight, and Raguelle
Hir father was: and so befelle
Of body bothe and of visage
was none so fayre of the lignage
To seche amonge hem all, as she,
wherof the ryche of the cyte
Of lusty folke, that couden loue
Assoted were vpon hir loue
And axen hir for to wedde.
One was whiche at last spedde
But that was more for lykynge
To haue his lust, than for weddynge,
As he within his herte caste
whiche hym repenteth at laste.
For so it felle the fyrst nyght
whan he was to the bedde
[...]yght
As he / whiche nothynge god besecheth
But all onely his lustes fecheth.
A bedde er he was fully warme
And wolde haue take hir in his arme
Asmode, whiche was a fende of helle
And serueth as the bokes telle
To tempte a man in suche a wyse
was redy there, & thilke emprise
whiche he hath set vpon delyte
He vengeth than in suche a plyte
That be his necke hath writh a two.
This yonge wyfe was sory tho
whiche wyst nothynge what it ment.
And nethelesse yet thus it went
Not onely for this fyrst man
But after right as he began
Sixe other of her husbondes
Asmode hath take in to his hondes
So that they all a bedde deyde
whan they her hande toward her leyd,
Nought for the lawe of mariage
But for that ilke fyry rage
In whiche that they the lawe excede.
For who that wolde take hede
what after fyll in this matere
There myght be well the soth here
whan she was wedded to Thoby,
And Raphael in company
Hath taught hym, howe to be honest.
Asmode wan nought at thylke feste
And yet Thoby his wylle had,
For he his lust so goddely ladde
That both lawe & kynde is serued
wherof he hath hym selfe preserued
That he fyll not in the sentence,
Of whiche an open euidence
Of this ensample a man may se
That whan lykynge in the degre
Of mariage may forsweye,
well ought hym than in other weye
Of lust to be the better aduysed.
For god the lawe hath assysed
As well to reason as to kynde,
But he the beastes wolde bynde
Onely to lawes of nature,
But to the mannes creature
God gaue hym rason forth withall
wherof that he nature shall
Vpon the causes modifye
That he shall do no lechery.
And yet he shall his lustes haue
So ben the lawes both saue
And euery thinge put out of sclaunder,
As whylom to kynge Alysaunder
The wyse philosopher taught
whan he his fyrst lore caught,
Not only vpon chastite
But vpon all honeste.
wherof a kynge hym selfe may taste
How trewe, how large, how iuste, howe chaste
Hym ought of reason for to be
Forth with the vertue of pite.
Through which he may great thōke deserue
Toward his god, that he p̄serue
Hym, and his people in all welthe
Of pees, richesse, honour, and helth
Here in this worlde, and elles eke.
My sonne as we tofore speke,
In shryfte, so as thou me seydest
And for thyn ese as thou me preydest
Thy loue throwes for to lysse
That I the wolde telle and wysse
The forme of Aristotles lore
I haue it seyde, and somdele more
Of other ensamples, to assaye
If I thy paynes myght alay
Through any thynge, whiche I can say.
¶Do weye my father, I you pray
Of that ye haue vnto me tolde
I thanke you a thousand folde.
The tales sounden in min ere
But yet my herte is ellys where,
I may my selfe not restreyne
That I name euer in loues peyne.
Suche lore coude I neuer gete
whiche might make me foryete
O poynte, but if so were I slepte
That I my tydes ay ne kepte
To thinke on loue, and on his lawe
That hert can I not withdrawe.
For thy my good fader dere
Leue, and speke of my matere
Louehend of loue as we begonne
If that there be ought ouer ronne
Or ought foryete, or lefte behynde
whiche falleth vnto loues kynde
wherof it nedeth to be shryne
Now asketh, so that whyle I lyue
I might amende, that is amys.
¶My good dere sonne yis
Thy
[...]hryfte for to make playne
The
[...]e is yet more for to layne
Of loue, whiche is vnaduysed.
But for thou shalt ben well aduysed
Vnto thy shryfte as it bylongeth
A pointe, whiche vpon loue bongeth
And is the laste of all tho,
I wyl the telle, and than ho.
¶ Explicit liber septimus.
❧ [...]ff quam ad instantiam amantie confessi [...]essor Genius super hic que Aristoteles regem Ale [...]drum edocuit, vna cum aliarum cronicarū exēples seriose tractauit: iam vltimo in isto octa [...]o [...]lumine ad confessionem in amoris causa reg [...]diens tractare proponit, super hoc quod non nullo primordia nature ad libitum voluptuose cō sequentes, nullo humano rationis arbitrio seu [...]cclesie legum impositione a suis excessibꝰ debite refrenantur, vnde quatenus amorem concernit, amantis conscientiam pro finali sue confessioni [...] materia Gemne rimari conatur.
❧ INCIPIT LIBER OCTAVVS.
Q
[...] fauet ad uiciū uetꝰ haec modo regula cōfert:
[...]e
[...]noue contra qui doce
[...]ordo placet.
[...]us amor dudum non dum sua lumina caepit
Quo Venus impositum deuia fallititer.
THe myghty god, whiche vnbegonne
Stoute of hym selfe, & hath begonne
Al other thinges at his will:
The heuen him lyste to fulfylle
Of all ioye, where as he
Sit entronysed in his see,
And hath his angels hym to serue,
(Suche as him lyketh to preserue:)
So that they mowe nought forsweye,
But Lucyfer he put aweye
with al the route apostasyed
Of hem that ben to him alyed,
whiche oute of heuen in to helle
Frome aungels in to fendes felle:
where that there nys no ioye of lyght,
But more derke than any nyght;
The payne shall ben endelesse:
And yet of fyres netheles
There is plente; but they ben blake,
wherof no syght may be take.
Thus whan the thinges ben byfalle,
That Lucyfers courte was falle
where deedly pryde hem hath conueied:
Anone forthwith it was purneyed
Through him whiche all thinges may.
He made Adam the syxte daye,
In paradyse and to his make
Him lyketh Eue also to make;
And had hem crece and multiplye,
For of the mannes progenye
whiche of the woman shall be bore,
The nombre of aungels, which was lore
whan they oute of the blysse felle,
He thought to restore and fille
In heuen thylke holy place
which stode the voyde vpon his grace,
But (as it is wel wyst and knowe)
Adam and Eue but a throwe
(So as it shuld of hem betyde)
In Paradyse at thylke tyde
Ne dwelten, and the cause whye
wryte in the boke of Genesye
(As who sayth) all men ha
[...]e herde,
Howe Raphael the fyry swerde
In bonde
[...]oke, and droue hem out
To gete
[...]er lyues fode aboute
Vpon this wofull erthe here.
Me
[...]odre saith to this matere
(As he by reuelacion
It had vpon a vision;
Howe that Adam and Eue also
Virgines comen bothe two
In to the worlde, and were ashamed:
Tyll that nature hath hem reclaimed
To loue, and taught hem thylke lore
That fyrst they kyste, and ouer more
They done, that is to kynde due:
wherof they hadden fayre issue.
A sonne was the fyrste of all,
And Caym by name they hym call:
Abel was after the seconde.
And (in the geste as it is founde)
Nature so the cause ladde,
Two doughters eke dame Eue hadde:
The fyrste cleped Calmana
was, and that other Delbora.
Thus was mankynde to begynne.
For thy that tyme it was no synne
The suster to take the brother
whan that ther was of chois non other.
To Caym was Calmana betake,
And Delbora hath Abel take:
In whom was gete natheles
Of worldes folke the fyrste encres.
Men sein that nede hath no lawe.
And so it was by thylke dawe:
And laste vnto the seconde age,
Tyll that the great water rage
Of Noe (whiche was sayde the flood)
The worlde, whiche than in synne stood,
Hath dreinte, out take lyues eyght.
Tho was mankynde of lytell weyght.
Sem, Cam, Iaphet, of these thre
That ben the sonnes of Noe,
The worlde of mans nacion
In to multiplication
was restored newe ageyne
So ferforth (as these bokes seyne)
That of hem thre, and her issue
There was so large a retinue
Of nacyons seuenty and two:
In sondry place eche one of tho
The wyde worlde haue enhabyted.
But (as nature hem hath excyted)
They toke than lytel hede
The brother of the suster hede
To wedde wyues, tyl it came
In to the tyme of Abraham
whan the thirde age was bygonne;
The nede tho was oueronne /
For there was people ynough in londe.
Than at fyrste it came to bonde
That systerhode of mariage
was torned in to cosynage:
So that after the ryght lyne
The cosyn weddeth the cosyne.
For Abraham er that be deyed
This charge vpon his seruaunt leyed,
To him and in this wyse spake
That he his sonne Isaac
Do wedde for no worldes good
But onely to his owne blood.
wherof the seruaunt (as he hadde)
whan he was dede, his sonne hath ladde
To Bathuel, where he Rebecke
Hath wedded with the whyte necke:
For she (he wist wel and sygh)
was to the chylde cosyne nyghe.
And thus (as Abraham hath taught)
whan Isaac was god bytaught
His sonne Iacob did also.
And of Laban the doughters two,
whiche was his eme, he toke to wyse;
And gate vpon hem in his lyfe,
Of hir fyrst which hight Lye
Syx sonnes of his progenye:
And of Rachel two sonnes eke.
The remenaunt was for to seke,
That is to seyn of four mo▪
wherof he gate on Bala two,
And of Zelpha he had eke twey.
And these twelue (as I the seye)
Through prouydence of god hym selfe,
Ben sayde the Patriarkes twelfe:
Of whom as afterwarde befel
The tribus twelfe of Israel
Engendred were and ben the same
That of hebrwes tho hadden name.
which of Libred in alyaunce
For euer kepten thylke vsaunce
Most comonly tyll Christe was bore,
But afterwarde it was forlore
Amonge vs that ben baptyzed:
For of the lawe canonyzed
The pope hath bode to the men
That none shall wedden of his kyn
Ne the seconde ne the thryd.
But though that holy churche byd
So to restreyne maryage,
There ben yet vpon loues rage
Ful many of suche nowe a daye
That taken where they take may.
"For loue, whiche is vnbeseyn
"Of all reason (as men sayn)
Through sotye, and through nycete
Of his voluptuosite,
He spareth no condycion
Of kynne / ne yet relegion;
But as a cocke amonge the hennes,
Or as a stalon in the fennes
whiche goth amonge all the stode;
Rig
[...]t so can he no more good /
But taketh what thynge comth nexte to hōde.
My son thou shalt vnderstōde
That suche delyte is for to blame.
For thy if thou hast ben the same
[...]o loue in any suche manere,
Tell forth therof, and shryue the here?
¶ My fader nay (god wot the sothe)
My feyre is not in suche a bothe:
So wylde a man yet was I neuer
That of my kynne or leue or leuer
[...]e lust loue in suche a wyse.
And eke I not for what empryse
I shulde assote vpon a nonne;
For though I had hir loue wonne,
It myght into no pryce amounte;
So therof set I none acounte.
ye may wel aske of this and that;
But sothely (for to tell plat)
In all this worlde there is but one
The whiche my herte hath ouer gone:
I am toward all other fre.
¶ Full wel my sonne nowe I se
Thy worde stonte euer vpon o place.
But yet therof thou hast a grace
That thou the might so wel excuse
Of loue, suche as somme men vse,
So as I spake of nowe tofore.
For all suche tyme of loue is lore,
And lyke vnto the bytter swete,
For though it thynke a man fyrst swete,
He shall wel felen at laste
That it is soure, and may not laste.
For as a morcel enuenomed:
So hath suche loue his lust mistymed.
And great ensamples many one
A man may fynde therupon.
¶ Hic loquitur contra illos / quos Venus ful de siderii feruore inflammāe, ita incestuosos efferit, vt ne (que) propriis sororibus parcunt. Et narrat ex emplum qualiter pro eo quod Gaine Caligula tres sorores suas virgines coitu illicito opressit; deus tanti sceleris peccatū non ferens, ipsum non solum ab impio, sed a vita iusticia vindicem priuauit / Narrat eciam aliud exemplum super eodē qualiter Amon filius Dauid fatui amoris concupiscencia preuentus / sororem suam Thamar a sue virginitatis pudicicia inuitā deflorauit / propter quod et ipse a fraire suo Absolon postea inte [...] fectus, peccatū fue mortis precio inuitꝰ redemit.
❧ At Rome fyrste if we begyn,
There shal I fynde howe of this syn
An emperour was for to blame
Gaius Caligula by name,
whiche of his owne susters thre
Byreste the virgynyte.
And whan he had hem so forleyn,
(As he whiche was all vyleyn)
He dyd hem oute of londe exyle.
But afterwarde within a whyle
God hath by refte him in his y
[...]e
His lyfe, and eke his large empyre.
And thus for lykinge of a throwe
For euer his lust was ouerthrowe.
¶ Of this soty also I fynde,
Amon his suster ageyn kynde
(whiche hight Thamar) he forleye,
But he that lust another day
Abought, whan that Absolon
His owne broder (there vpon)
Of that be had his suster shente,
Toke of that synne vengemente,
And slough him with his owne honde.
And thus vnkynde, vnkynd fond.
¶Hic narrat qualiter Lot [...] duas filias fu [...] ip [...] cōs [...]encientibus carnali copula cognouit, duas ꝙ ex eis filios sci [...]z Moab & Amō progeniut: quorum postea generatio prana et exusperans contra populū dei in terra saltim promissionis vario granamine (quam) s [...]piu [...] insultabat.
¶And for to se more of this thynge,
The byble makth a knowlegynge
(wherof thou myght take euidence)
Vpon the sothe experyence
whan Lothes wyfe was ouergone
And shape vnto the salte stone,
(As it is spoke vnto this day)
By both his doughters than he lay:
with childe he made hem both great,
Tyl that nature hem wolde lette
And so the cause about ladde
That eche of hem a sonne had.
Moab the fyrst, and the seconde
Amon; of whiche (as it is fonde)
Cam afterwarde to great encres
Two nacions: and netheles
"For that the stockes were not good
"The braunches myghten not ben good.
For of the false Moabytes
Forth with the strength of Amonytes,
Of that they were fyrst mysget,
The people of god was ofte vpset
In Israell and in Iudee:
(As in the bible a man may se.)
¶Lo thus my sonne (as I the say)
Thou myght thy selfe be besay
Of that thou hast of other herde.
For euer yet it hath so ferde
Of loues lust, if so befall
That it in other place falle
Than it is of the lawe sette.
He whiche his loue hath so besette
Mote afterwarde repent hym sore.
"And euery man is others lore.
"Of that befyll in tyme er this
"The present tyme (whiche nowe is)
"May ben enformed, how it stode;
"And take that hym thynkth good,
"And leue that, whiche is nought so.
But for to loke of tyme ago
Howe lust of loue excedeth lawe,
It ought for to be withdrawe:
For euery man it shulde brede,
And namelyche in his syhrede,
whiche tourneth ofte to vengeaunce,
wherof a tale in remembraunce
(whiche is a longe processe to here)
I thynke for to tellen here.
Omnibus est cōmunis amor
[...] sed immoderatos
Quae facit excessus, non reputatur amans.
Sors tamen vnde Venus attractat corda videre
Quae rationis erunt, non ratione sinit.
¶Hic loquitur adhur contra incestuosos aniantū coitus / Et narrat mirabile exemplum de magno rege Antiocho, qui vxore mortua propriam filiā violauit; et quia filie matrimonium penes alios impedire voluit, tale ab eo exiit edictum, quod si quis eam in vxorem peterit, nisi quoddam problema questionis, quam ipse rex proposuerat / veraciter solueret, capitali sentencia puniretur, super quo veniens tandem discretus inuenis princepe Tyri Appolius questionem soluit / Nec tamen filiam habere potuit / sed rex indignatus ipsum propter hoc in mortis odium recoliegit. Vnde Appolinus a facie regis fugiens quam plura, prout inferius intitulātur, propter amorē pericula possus est.
¶Of a cronyke in dayes gone
The whiche is cleped Panteone,
In loues cause I rede thus.
Howe that the great Antiochus,
Of whom that Antioche toke
His firste name (as saith the boke):
was coupled to a noble quene,
And had a doughter hem betwene.
But such fortune cam to honde,
"That deth (which no king may withstōd,
"But euery lyfe it mote obey)
This worthy quene toke awey.
The kynge whiche made mochel mone,
Tho stode (as who saith) all hym one
without wyfe: but netheles
His doughter, whche was pereles
Of bewte, dwelt about hym stylle.
"But whan a man hath welth at wylle
"The flesshe is freel, & falleth ofte,
And that this mayde tendre & softe
whiche in her fathers chamber dwelte,
within a tyme wyst and felte.
For lykynge of concupiscence
without insyght of conscyence
The fader so with lustes blente,
That he cast all his holle entente
His owne doughter for to spylle.
The kinge hath leyser at his wylle,
with strengthe and whan he tyme seye
The yonge mayden he forleye.
And she was tender, and ful of drede,
She couth not hir maydenhede
Defende; and thus she hath forlore
The floure, whiche she hath longe bore.
It helpeth not all though she wepe;
For they that shulde hir body kepe
Of women, were absent as than.
And thus this mayden goeth to man:
The wylde fader thus deuoureth
His owne flessh, whiche none socoureth.
And that was cause of mochel care.
But after this vnkynde fare
Out of the chamber goeth the kinge.
And she lay styll, and of this thinge
within hir selfe suche sorowe made:
There was no wyght, that myght hir glad
For fere of thylke horrible vice.
with that came in the noryce
whiche fro chyldhode hir had kepte,
And asketh, if she had slepte,
And why hir chere was vnglad.
But she, whiche hath ben ouerlad
Of that she might not be wreke,
For shame couth vnnethis speke:
[...] nethelesse mercy she prayed
with wepynge eye, and thus she sayed.
Alas my suster wel awaye
That euer I sygh this ylke daye.
Thinge whiche my body fyrste begate
In to this worlde, onelych that
My worldes worshyp hath berefte.
with that she swouneth nowe and efte,
And euer wissheth after deth,
So that welny hir lacketh breth.
That other (whiche hir wordes herde)
In comfortynge of hir answerde,
To lete hir faders foule desyre
She wyst no recoueryre.
"whan thinge is do, there is no bote:
"So suffren they that suffren mote.
There was none other, whiche it wyst.
Thus hath this kynge all that him lyste
Of his lykinge and his plesaunce:
And last in suche a contynuance,
And suche delyte he toke there in
Him thought that it was no syn:
And she durst him no thinge withseye.
"But faine, whiche goeth euery weye
"To sondry reignes all aboute:
The great beute telleth oute
Of suche a mayde of bye parage:
So that for loue of maryage
The worthy princes come and fende;
As they, whiche all honour wende,
And knewe no thing, howe that it stode.
The fader whan he vnderstode
That they his doughter thus besought;
with all his wit he cast and sought
Howe that he mighte fynde a lette;
And suche a statute then he sette,
And in this wise his lawe taxeth:
That what man his doughter axeth,
But if he couth his questyon
Assoyle vpon suggestyon
Of certeyn thinges, that befelle,
The which he wolde vnto him telle,
He shulde in certeyn lese his hede.
And thus there were many dede /
Her heedes stondinge on the gate,
Tyl at last longe and late
For lacke of answere in this wyse,
The remenaunte, that weren wyse,
Eschewden to make assay.
¶De aduentu Appolini in Antiochiam / vbi ipse filiam regis Antiochi in vxorem postulauit.
❧Tyl it befyl vpon a daye
Appollynus the prince of Tyre
whiche hath to loue a great desyre:
(As he whiche in his high mode
was lykinge of his hote blode,
A yonge, a fresshe, a lusty knyght:)
As he laye musynge on a nyght
Of the tydinges, whiche he herde,
He thought assaye howe that it ferde.
He was with worthy companye
Arayed, and with good nauye
To ship he goeth; the winde him driueth,
And sayleth, tyll that he aryueth
Saufe in the porte of Antyoche.
He londeth, and goeth to approche
The kinges courte, and his presence.
Of euery natural science
whiche any clerke him couth teche,
Him couthe ynough: and in his speche
Of wordes he was eloquente.
And whan he sygh the kinge present,
He praieth, he mote his doughter haue.
The kinge ageyne began to craue;
And tolde him the condycyon,
Howe fyrst vnto his questyon
He mote answere, and fayle nought:
Or with his beed it shall be bought.
And he him asketh, what it was.
¶Questio regis Antiochi: scelere vehor, materna carne vescor, quero patrem meum matris mee virum, vxoris mee filium.
¶The kinge declareth him the caas
with sterne worde and stordy chere,
To him and sayde in this manere.
with felony I am vp bore:
I ete, and haue it not forlore,
My moders flessh; whose husbond
My fader for to seche I fonde,
whiche is the sonne eke of my wyfe:
Herof I am inquisytyfe.
And who that can my tale saue
Al quyte he shall my doughter haue:
Of his answere and if he fayle
He shall be deed withouten fayle.
For thy my sonne (quod the kinge)
Be wel aduysed of this thinge
whiche hath thy lyfe in ieopartye.
Appollynus for his partye
whan he that questyon had herde;
Vnto the kinge he hath answerde,
And hath reherced one and one
The poyntes, and sayde therupon.
The question, whiche thou hast spoke
(If thou wylte, that it be vnloke)
It toucheth all the pryuyte
Betwene thyn owne chylde and the,
And stonte all holle vpon you two.
The kinge was wondre sory tho;
And thought, if that he sayd it oute
Then were he shamed all aboute.
with sly wordes and with felle,
He sayth: My sonne I shall the telle.
Though that thou be of lytell wytte
It is no great meruayle as yet:
Thyn age may it not suffyse.
But loke wel thou nought despyse
Thyn owne lyfe. for of my grace
Of thrytty dayes full a space
I graunte the, to ben aduysed.
And thus with leue and tyme assysed
This yonge prynce forth he wente;
And vnderstode wel what it mente
within his herte (as he was lered)
That for to make him afered
The kinge his tyme hath so delayed.
wherof he drad and was amayed
Of treson that he deye shulde,
For he the kinge his southe tolde.
And sodeynly the nyghtes tyde
(That more wolde he nought abyde)
Al pryuely his barge he hente,
And home ageyne to Tyre he wente.
And in his owne witte he sayed;
For drede if he the kynge bewrayed,
He knewe so wel the kinges herte,
That deth ne shulde he nought asterte,
The kynge him wolde so purse we.
But he that wolde his deth eschewe,
And knewe all this tofore the honde:
Forsake he thought his owne londe,
That there wolde he not abyde.
For wel he knewe that on som syde
This tyraunt of his felonye
By some manere of trecherye
To greue his body wyl not leue.
¶De fuga Appollini per mare a regno suo.
¶For thy withouten takinge leue
As priuelyche as they might
He goeth him to the see by night:
Her shippes that ben with whete laden
Her takyl redy tho they maden,
And haleth sayle, and forth they fare.
But for to tellen of the care
That they of Tyre began tho
whan that they wist he was ago,
It is a pyte for to here.
They losten lust, they losten chere;
They toke vpon hem suche penaunce:
Ther was no songe, there was no daūce:
But euery myrthe and melody,
To hem was then a malady:
For vnlust of that auenture
There was no man which toke tonsure:
In deedly clothes they hem clothe:
The bathes and the stewes bothe
They shyt in by euery wey:
There was no lyfe whiche lust pley,
Ne take of any ioye kepe.
But for her lyege lorde to wepe:
And euery wyght saith (as he couth;)
Alas the lusty floure of youth
Our prynce, our heed, our gouernour
Through whom we stonden in honour,
without the commune assent
That sodeynly is fro vs went.
Suche was the clamour of hem all.
¶ Qualiter Thaliartus miles vt Appolinum [...] [...]caret, ab Antiocho in Tirum missꝰ, [...] n [...]n inuento Antiochiam rediit.
¶ But se we nowe what is befalle
Vpon the fyrst tale playne,
And tourne we therto agayne.
¶ Antiochus the great syre
which full of rancour and of yre
His herte hereth (so as ye herde)
Of that this prynce of Tyre answerde:
He had a felowe bacheler
whiche was his preuy counseyler,
And Thaliart by name he hyght;
The kynge a stronge poyson hym dight
within a boxe, and golde therto;
In all haste and bad hym go
Streyght vnto Tyre, and for no coste
Ne spare, tyll he had lost
The prynce, whiche he wolde spylle.
And whan the kynge hath said his wyll,
This Taliart in a galeye
with all the haste he toke his wey.
The wynde is good, they seyleth blyue
Tyll he toke londe vpon the ryue
Of Tyre; and forth with all anone
Into the borough be gan to gone,
And toke his inne and bode a throwe.
But for he wold nought be knowe,
Disguysed than he goth hym out.
He sygh the wepynge all about:
And axeth, what the cause was.
And they hym tolde all the cas,
Howe sodeynly the prynce is go.
And whan he sygh, that it was so,
And that his labour was in veyne,
Anone he tourneth home ageyne.
And to the kynge whan he cam nygh
He tolde of that he herde and sygh,
Howe that the prynce of Tyre is fled:
So was be come ageyne vnsped.
The kynge was sory for a whyle:
But whan he sygh, that with no wyle
He myght acheue his cruelte;
He stynt his wrath, and let hym be.
¶Qualiter Appolinus in portu Tharsis applicuit; vbi in hospicio cuiusdam magni viri nomine Strangulionis hospitatus est.
¶But ouer this nowe for to telle
Of aduentures that befelle
Vnto this prince, of whiche I tolde.
He hath his right cours forth holde
By stone and nedell, tyll he cam
To Tharse; and ther his londe be nam.
A bourgeys ryche of golde and fee
was thylke tyme in that cite
whiche cleped was Stranguillio,
His wyfe was Dionisie also.
This yonge prynce (as saith the boke)
with hym his herbergage toke.
And it befyll that cite so
Before tyme, and than also,
Through stronge famyn, whiche bē lad,
was none, that any whete had.
Appolynus, whan that he herde
The mischefe howe the cite ferde;
All frelyche of his owne gyfte
His whete amonge hem for to shyfte
(The whiche by shyp he had brought)
He yaue, and toke of hem right nought.
But sithen fyrst this worlde began
was neuer yet to suche a man
More ioye made, than they hym made.
For they were all of hym so glade;
That they for euer in remembraunce
Made a fygure in resemblaunce
Of hym, and in a comon place
They set it vp: so that his face
Myght euery maner man beholde,:
So as the citie was beholde,
It was of
[...]aton ouer gylte.
Thus hath he nought his yefte spylte.
☞ Qualiter Hellicanus ciuis Tyri Tharsim [...]entens Appollinum de insidiis Anthiochi prenunciauit.
¶Vpon a tyme with a route
This lorde to pley goeth hym oute,
And in his way of Tyre he mette
A man, whiche on his knees hym grette,
And Hellican by name he hyght:
whiche prayde his lorde to haue insight
Vpon hym selfe: and sayde hym thus,
Howe that the great Antiochus
Awayteth, if that he myght hym spylle.
That other thought / & helde hym stylle,
And thanked hym of his warnynge:
And bad hym tell no tydynge
whan he to Tyre cam home ageyne,
That he in Tharse hym had seyne.
¶ Qualiter Appollinus portum Tharsis relinquens, cum ipse per mare nauigio securiorem quesiuit, superueniente tempestate nauis cum omnibpreter ipsum solum in eadem contentis iuxta Pen tapolim periclitabatur.
"¶Fortune hath euer be muable,
"And may no whyle stonde stable:
"For nowe it hyeth, nowe it loweth;
"Nowe stant vpright, now ouerthroweth;
"Nowe full of blysse, and nowe of bale.
As in the tellyng of my tale
Here afterwarde a man may lere:
whiche is great routh for to here.
¶This lorde, which wold done his best,
within hym selfe hath lytell rest;
And thought he wolde his place chaūge
And seke a countre more straunge.
Of Tharsyens his leue anone
He toke, and is to shyppe ygone.
His cours he name with sayle vp drawe:
where as fortune doth the lawe,
And sheweth (as I shall reherse)
Howe she was to this lorde diuerse,
The whiche vpon the see she ferketh.
The wynde aroos, the wether derketh,
It blewe, and made suche tempeste,
None anker may the ship arest,
whiche hath to broken al his gere.
The shipmen stode in suche a fere,
was none that might him selfe bestere,
But euer awayte vpon the lere
whan that they shuldē drenche at ones,
There was ynough within the wones
Of wepinge / and of sorowe tho.
The yonge kyng maketh mochel wo
So for to se the ship trauayle:
But all that might him nought auayle.
The mast to brake, the sayle to roofe,
The ship vpon the wawes droofe,
Tyl that they se the londes coste.
Tho made a vowe the leste and moste,
Be so they mighten come a loude.
But (he whiche hath the se on honde)
Neptunus wolde nought accorde:
But all to brake cable and corde
Er they to londe myght approche;
The ship to claue vpon a roche,
And all goth doune in to the depe.
But he that all thinge may kepe
Vnto this lorde was mercyable,
And brought him saue vpon a table
whiche to the londe him hath vpbore:
The remenaunt was all forlore.
Therof he made mochel mone.
¶Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iaciabatur / vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.
¶Thus was this yonge lorde alone
All naked in a poure plyte.
His colour, which was whylom whyte,
was than of water fade and pale:
And eke he was so sore a cale,
That he wist of him selfe no bote:
It helpe him no thynge for to mote
To gete a geyn that he hath lore,
But she which hath his deth forlore,
Fortune (though she wyll not yelpe)
All sodeynly hath sent him helpe
whan him thought all grace aweye.
There came a fyssher in the weye,
And sigh a man there naked stonde:
And whan that he hath vnderstonde
The cause, he hath of hym great routh,
And onely of his pouer trouth:
Of suche clothes as he hadde
with great pite this lorde he cladde.
And he hym thonketh as he sholde;
And saith hym, that it shall be yolde
If euer he gete his state ageyne:
And prayth, that he wolde hym seyne
If nygh were any towne for hym.
He sayde ye, Pentopolym,
where both kynge and quene dwellen▪
whan he this tale herde tellen
He gladdeth hym; and gan beseche
That be the wey hym wolde teche.
And he hym taught: and forth he went,
And prayde god with good entent
To sende hym ioye after his sorowe.
It was nought passed yet mydmorowe.
¶ Qualiter Appollino Pentapolim adueniente [...] [...]gnas [...] per vrbem publice ꝓclamatus est.
¶Than afterwarde his wey he nam,
where soone vpon the none he cam.
He
[...]te suche as he myght gete.
And forth anone whan he had ete
He goth to se the towne about;
And cam there as he fonde a rout
Of yonge lusty men withall.
And (as it shulde tho befalle)
That day was set of suche assyse
That they shulde in the londes gyse
(As was herde of the people seye)
Her commune game than pleye.
And cryed was, that they shulde come
Vnto the game all and some
Of hem that ben delyuer and wyght,
To do suche maistry as they myght.
They made hem naked (as they sholde)
For so that ilke game wolde;
And it was the custome, and vse
Amonges hem, was no refuse.
The floure of all the towne was there,
And of the courte also there were;
And that was in a large place
Ryght euen before the kynges face
whiche Arthescates than hyght:
The pley was pleyed rig
[...] in his syght.
And who moste worthy was of dede
Receyue he shulde a certayne mede,
And in the cite ber
[...] a price.
Appolynus, whiche ware and wyse
Of euery game couth an ende,
He thought assay, howe so it wende:
¶ Qualiter Appollinus ludum gignasil vint [...], in aula regis ad cenam honorifice ceptus est.
¶And fyll amonge hem into game.
And there he wanne hym suche a name,
So as the kynge hym selfe accounteth
That he all other men surmounteth,
And bare the pryce aboue hem all.
The kynge bad, that in to his halle
At souper tyme he shulde be brought.
And he cam than (and lefte it nought)
without company alone.
was none so semely of persone,
Of visage, and of lymmes bothe,
If that he had what to clothe.
At souper tyme netheles
The kynge amyddes all the pres
Let clepe hym vp amonge hem all,
And bad his marshall of his hall
To setten hym in suche degre
That he vpon hym myght se.
The kynge was sone sette and serued.
And he whiche had his prise deserued,
After the kynges owne worde,
was made begyn a myddel borde,
That both kynge and quene hym sye.
He sette, and cast about his eye,
And sawe the lordes in estate;
And with hym selfe wexe in debate
Thynkende what he had lore:
And suche a sorowe he toke therfore,
That he sat euer stylle, and thought,
As he whiche of no mete rought.
¶Qualiter Appollinꝰ in cena recumbens, nihil comedit, sed doloroso vultu, submisso capite, maxime ingemescebat, qui tandem a filia regis confortatus Citheram plectens cunctis audiētibus / citherando vltra modum complacuit.
¶The kynge behelde his heuynesse:
And of his great gentylnesse
His doughter, which was fayre & good,
And at the borde bifore him stode,
(As it was thylke tyme vsage):
He bad to go on his message,
And fonde for to make him glade.
And she did as hir fader bade:
And goth to him the softe paas;
And asketh whens, and what he was;
And praith he shulde his thought I leue.
He sayth, madame by your leue
My name is hote Appolynus;
And of my ryches it is thus,
Vpon the see I haue it lore;
The contre, where as I was bore,
where that my londe is, and my rente,
I lefte at Tyre; whan that I wente
The worshyp there, of whiche I ought,
Vnto the god I there betought.
And thus togider as they two speke
The teeris ranne downe by his cheke.
The king (which therof toke good kepe)
Had great pite to se him wepe;
And for his doughter send ageyn,
And prayd hir fayre, and gan to sayn
That she no lenger wolde dretche,
But that she wolde anone forth fetche
Hir harpe, and done al that she can
To glad with that sory man.
And she (to done hir faders hest)
Hir harpe fet, and in the feste
Vpon a chair (whiche they fette)
Hir selfe next to this man she sette.
with harpe both and eke with mouth
To him she did, all that she couth
To make him chere; and euer he sigheth:
And she him asketh, howe him lyketh.
Madame certes wel, he sayed.
But if ye the mesure played,
whiche (if you lyst) I shall you lere,
It were a gladde thinge for to here.
A leue syr, tho quod she,
Nowe take the harpe, and lete me se
Of what mesure that ye mene.
Tho prayth the kinge, tho prayth the quene
Forth with the lordes all arewe
That he somme myrthe wolde shewe.
He takth the harpe, and in his wise
He tempreth, and of suche assyse
Synginge he harpeth forth with all,
That as a voyce celestiall
Hem thought it sowned in her ere
As though that it an aungell were:
They gladen of his melodye.
But moste of all the companye
The kinges doughter (whiche it herde;
And thought eke of that he answerde,
whan that it was of hir apposed)
within hir herte hath wel supposed
That he is of great gentylnesse.
His dedes ben therof wytnesse
Forthwith the wisdome of his lore:
It nedeth not to seche more:
He might not haue suche manere
Of gentyl blood but if he were.
whan he hath harped all his fylle
(The kinges hest to fulfylle;)
A weye goth disshe, a way goth cup,
Doun goth the borde, the cloth was vp,
They rysen, and gone oute of halle.
¶ Qualitur Appollinus cum rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.
¶The kynge his chamberleyn let calle,
And bad, that he by all weye
A chamber for this man purueye
whiche nighe his owne chambre be.
It shall be do my lorde quod he.
Appollynus (of whom I mene)
Tho toke his leue of kynge and quene,
And of the worthy mayde also.
whiche prayed vnto hir fader tho,
That she myght of the yonge man
Of tho sciences, whiche he can,
His lore haue. And in this wyse
The kynge hir graunteth hir apprise
So that hym selfe therto assent.
Thus was accorded er they wente
That he with all that euer he may
This yonge fayre fresse he may
Of that he couth shulde enforme.
And ful assented in this forme
They token leue as for that night.
¶Qualiter filia regis Appollinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit. Et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in (quam) pluribus familiariter intendebat, vnde placata puella in [...]orem Appollini exardescens / infirmabatur.
¶And whan it was on morowe right
Vnto this yonge man of Tyre,
Of clothes, and of good attyre,
with golde and syluer to dispende
This worthy yonge lady sende:
And thus she made hym well at ease.
And be with all that he can plese
Hir serueth well and faire ageyne:
He taught her, tyll she was certeyne
Of harpe, cytole, and of ryote
with many a tewne, and many a note
Vpon musyke, vpon measure;
And of hir harpe the temprure
He taught hir eke, (as he well couth.)
"But (as men seyne, that frele is youth)
with leyser and contynuaunce
This mayde fyll vpon a chaunce
That loue hath made hym a quarele
Ageyne her yongth fresshe and frele:
That (inaugre wher she wold or nought)
She mote with all her hertes thought
Lo loue and to his lawe obey.
And that she shall full sore obeye:
For she wote neuer what it is.
But euer amonge she feleth this,
Touchynge vpon this man of Tyre
Her herte is hote as any fyre,
And otherwhyle it is a cale;
Nowe is she reed, nowe is she pale
Ryght after the condicion
Of hir imagination.
But euer (amonge hir thoughtes all)
She thought (what so may befall,
Or that she laugh or that she wepe)
She wolde her good name kepe
For fere of womannysshe shame.
But (what in ernest what in game)
She stant for loue in suche a plyte
That she hath lost all appetyte
Of mete and drynke, of nyghtes rest,
As she that note what is the best;
But for to thynke all hir fylle
She helde hir ofte tymes stylle
within hir chambre, & goth not out.
The kynge was of hir lyfe in doute
whiche wyst nothynge what it ment.
¶Qualiter tres filu principū filiā regis sigillat [...]m in vxorem suis supplicationibus postularent.
¶But fyll a tyme, as he out went
To walke, of prynces sonnes thre
There came, and fyll to his knee;
And eche of hem in sondry wyse
Besought, and profereth his seruyce,
So that he myght his doughter haue.
The kyng (which wold hir honour saue)
Saith, she is sycke; and of that speche
Tho was no tyme to beseche:
But eche of hem to make a bylle
He had, and wryte his owne wylle,
His name, his father, and his good:
And whan she wyst howe that it stode,
And had her bylles ouerseyne,
They shulden haue aunswere ageyne.
Of this counseyle they weren glad:
And writen (as the kynge hem had)
And euery man his owne boke
Into the kynges honde betoke.
And he it to his doughter sende;
And pray de hir for to make an ende,
And write ageyne hir owne honde
Ryght as she in hir hert fonde.
☞ Qualiter filia regis omnibus aliis relictis Appollinum in maritum preelegit.
¶The bylles weren well receyued.
But she hath all her loues weyued:
And thought tho was tyme and space
To put hir in hir faders grace:
And wrote ageyne, and thus she sayde.
"The shame, which is in a mayde,
"with speche dare not be vnloke,
"But in writynge it may be spoke.
So wryte I to you fader thus;
But if I haue Appollynus,
Of all this worlde (what so betyde)
I wyl non other man abyde.
And certes if I of him fayle,
I wot right welle withoute fayle
ye shall for me be doughterles.
This letter came, and there was prese
Tofore the kinge / there as he stode.
And whan that he it vnderstode
He yaue hem answere by and by:
But that was done so priuely
That none of others counseyle wiste.
They toke her leue, and where hem lyst
They wente forth vpon their wey.
¶ Qualiter rex et regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.
¶The kyng ne wolde nought bewrey
The counceyl for no maner hye;
But suffreth tyl be tyme sye.
And whan that he to chamber is com
He hath vnto counceyl nome
This man of Tyre, and lete him se
The letter, and all the priuyte
The whiche his doughter to him sente.
And he his kne to grounde bente,
And thonketh him and hir also.
And er they wente then a two
with good herte, and with good corage
Of full loue and full maryage
The kinge and he be hole accorded.
And after, whan it was recorded
Vnto the doughter, howe it stode,
The yefte of all this worldes good
Ne shuld haue made hir halfe so blithe.
And forth with all the kinge als swith
(For he woll haue hir good assent)
Hath for the quene hir moder sente.
The quene is come: & whan she herde
Of this mater howe that it ferde,
She sigh debate, she sigh disese
But if she wolde hir doughter plese:
And is therto assented ful.
(whiche is a dede wonderful.)
For no man knewe the soth cas
(But he him selfe) what man he was;
And nethelesse (so as hem thought)
His dedes to the soth wrought,
That he was come of gentyl blood;
Him lacketh nought but worldes good.
And as therof is no dispeyre:
For she shall be hir faders heyre;
And he was able to gouerne.
Thus wyl they not the loue werne
Of him and hir in no wyse;
But all accorded they deuyse
The day and tyme of mariage.
"where loue is lorde of the corage
"Him thinketh longe, er that he spede.
But at laste vnto the dede
¶Qualiter Appolinus filie regis nupsit / et prima noci [...] cum ea concubiens ipsam inpregnauit.
¶The tyme is come; and (in her wyse)
with great offrynge and sacryfyce
They wedde, and make a great feste;
And euery thinge was right honeste
within hous, and eke withoute:
It was so done, that all aboute
Of greate worshyp, and great noblesse,
There cryed many a man largesse
Vnto the lordes hygh and loude.
The knyghtes, that be yonge & prowde,
They Iuste fyrste, and after daunce:
The day is go, the nightes chaunce
Hath derked all the bright sonne,
This lord (which hath his loue wonne)
Is go to bed with his wyfe:
where as they lede a lusty lyfe,
And that was after somdele sene.
For (as they pleyden hem betwene)
They gete a chylde betwene hem two,
To whom fyl after mochel wo.
¶ Qualiter ambassiatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem regis Antiochi Appolino nunciauerunt.
¶Now haue I tolde of the spousayles▪
But for to speke of the meruayles
whiche afterwarde to hem befelle,
It is a wonder for to telle,
¶It fel a day they ryden oute
The kinge, and quene, and all the route
To pleyen hem vpon the stronde:
where as they seen towarde the londe
A ship saylynge of great arraye.
To knowe what it mene may
Til it be come they abyde.
Than se they stonde on euery syde
Endlonge the shippes borde to shewe
Of penounceals a ryche rewe.
They asken, whens the ship is come:
Fro Tyre anone answerde some.
And ouer this they sayden more:
The cause why they comen fore
was for to seche, and for to fynde
Appollynus, whiche is of kynde
Her lyege lorde▪ and he appereth.
And of the tale (whiche he hereth)
He was righte glad: for they hym tolde
That for vengeaunce (as god it wolde)
Antiochus (as men may wyte)
with thonder and lyghtning is forsmite:
His doughter hath the same chaunce.
So ben they both in o balaunce.
For thy our lyege lorde we seye
In name of all the londe, and preye,
That lefte all other thynge to done,
It lyke you to come sone
And se your owne lyege men
with other that ben of your ken,
That lyuen in longynge and desyre
Tyll ye be com ageyne to Tyre.
This tale after the kynge it had,
Pentapolyn all ouersprad:
There was no ioye for to seche.
For euery man it had in speche,
And sayden all of one accorde:
A worthy kynge shall ben our lorde:
That thought vs fyrst an beuynes
Is shape vs nowe to great gladnes.
Thus goth the tydynge ouer all.
¶ Qualiter Appolino cū vxore sua imprlgnata [...] ve [...]sus Tirum nauigantibus, contigit [...] mortis articulo angustiatam, in naui filiā [...] [...]ta Tha [...]sis vocabatur, parere.
¶But nede he mote, that nede shall.
Appolynus his leue toke,
[...]o god and all the londe betoke
with all the people longe and brode:
That he no lenger there abode▪
¶ The kynge and quene sorowe made:
But yet somdele they were glade
O
[...] suche thynge, as they herde tho.
And thus betwene the wele and wo
To shyp he goth, his wyfe with chylde
The whiche was euer meke and mylde,
And wolde not departe hym fro:
(Suche loue was betwene hem two.)
Lichorida for hir offyce
was take, whiche was a norice,
To wende with this yonge wyfe:
To whom was shape a wofull lyfe.
within a tyme (as it betyd,)
whan they were in the see amyd,
Out of the north they se a cloude,
The storme arose, the wyndes loude
They blewen many a dredefull blaste,
The welken was all ouercaste,
The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder,
There was a great tempest of thonder,
The mone, and eke the sterres both
In blacke cloudes they hem clothe,
wherof theyr bryght loke they hyde,
This yonge lady wepte and cryde,
To whom no comforte myght auayle,
Of chylde she began trauayle
where she lay in a caban close.
Her wofull lorde fro hir arose,
And that was longe or any morowe,
So that in anguysshe and in sorowe
She was delyuered all by nyght,
And deyde in euery mannes syght.
¶But nethelesse for all this wo
A mayde chylde was bore tho.
Qualiter Appolinus mortem vxoris sue planxit
¶Appolynus when he this knewe,
For sorowe a swoune he ouerthrewe
That no man wyst in hym no lyfe.
And whan he woke, be said: a wyfe,
My ioye, my lust, and my desyre,
My welth, and my recouerire,
why shall I lyue, and thou shalt dye?
Ha thou fortune I the defye,
Now hast thou do to me thy werst.
A berte / why ne wylt thou berst
That forth with hir I myght passe?
My paynes were well the lasse.
In suche wepynge, and suche crye
His deed wyfe, whiche lay hym bye,
A thousande sithes he hir kyste.
was neuer man that sawe ne wyst
A sorow, to his sorowe lyche.
was euer amonge vpon the lyche.
He fyll swounynge, as he that thought
His owne deth, whiche he sought
Vnto the goddes all aboue
with many a pitous worde of loue.
But suche wordes as tho were,
Herde neuer no mannes eare,
But onely thilke, whiche he sayde.
The maister shypman came and prayde
with other suche, as ben therin,
And sayne; that he may nothyng wyn
Ageyne the deth; but they hym rede
He be well ware, and take hede.
"The see by wey of his nature
"Receyue may no creature,
"within hym selfe (as for to holde)
"The whiche is deed. For thy they wolde
(As they counseylen all about)
The deed body casten out.
For better it is (they sayden all)
That it of her so befalle,
Than if they shulden all spylle.
¶Qualiter suadentibus nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa / que circumligata Appolinus cum magno thesauro vna cum quadam littera sub eius capite scripta recludi, in mar [...]proici fecit.
¶The kyng (which vnderstode her wyll,
And knew her counsaile that was trewe)
Began ageyne his sorowe newe
with pytous herte, and thus to seye;
It is all reason that ye preye.
I am (qd be) but one alone:
So wolde I not for my persone,
There fell suche aduersite.
But whan it may no better be,
Doth than thus vpon my worde.
Let make a coffre stronge of borde
That it be fyrme with leed and pytche.
Anone was made a coffer suche
All redy brought vnto his honde.
And whan he sawe, and redy fonde
This coffre made, and well englued:
The deed body was besewed
In cloth of golde, and leyde therin.
And for he wolde vnto her wyn
Vpon some coste a sepulture:
Vnder her heed (in aduenture)
Of golde he leyde sommes great,
And of iewels stronge beyete
Forth with a letter, and sayd thus.
¶Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite.
¶I kynge of Tyre Appolynus
Doth all men for to wyte
That here & se this letter wryte:
That helpeles without rede
Here lyeth a kynges doughter deede,
And who that happeth hir to fynde
For charite take in his mynde,
And do so, that she be begraue
with this treasour, whiche he shal haue.
Thus whan the letter was full spoke,
They haue anone the coffre stoke,
And bounden it with yron faste,
That it may with the wawes last,
And stoppen it by suche a weye
That it shall be within dreye,
So that no water myght it greue.
And thus in hope, and good beleue
Of that the corps shall well aryue,
They cast it ouer borde as blyue.
¶Qualiter Appolinus, vxoris sue corpore in mare proiecto, Tyrum relinquens cursum suum versus Tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit.
¶The shyp forthe on the wawes went.
The prynce hath chaunged his entent,
And saith; he wyll not come at Tyre
As than, but all his desyre
Is fyrst to saylen vnto Tharse.
The wyndy storme began to scarse,
The sonne aryst, the weder clereth,
The shypman, which behynde stereth,
whan that he saw the wyndes saught,
Towards Tharse his cours he straught.
¶Qualiter corpus predicte defuncte super litus apud Ephesim quidam medicus nomine Cerimon cum aliquibus suis discipulis inuenit, quod in hospicium portans, et extra cistam ponens, spiraculo vite in ea adhuc inuento, ipsā plene sanitati restituit.
¶But nowe to my matere ageyn,
(To telle as olde bokes seyne,)
This deed corps (of whiche ye knowe)
with wynde and was forth throwe
Nowe here, now there; tyll at last
At Ephesym the see vpcast
The coffre, and all that was therin.
Of great meruayle nowe begyn
May here, who that sytteth styll.
"That god wyll saue may not spyll.
Ryght as the corps was throwe a londe,
There cam walkynge vpon the stronde
A worthy clerke, and surgyen,
And eke a great physicien,
Of all the londe the wysest one,
whiche hight mayster Cerimone.
There were of his dysciples some.
This mayster is to the coffer come,
He peyseth there was somwhat in:
And had hem here it to his ynne,
And goeth him selfe forth with alle.
"All that shall falle, falle shall.
They comen home, and tary nought:
This coffer in to his chamber is brought.
whiche that they fynde faste stoke:
But they with crafte it haue vnloke.
They loken in: where as they founde
A body dede, whiche was y wounde
In cloth of golde (as I sayde ere:)
The
[...]resour eke they founden there
Forthwith the letter, whiche they rede.
And tho they token better hede.
Vnsowed was the body soune.
As he that knewe, what was to done,
This noble clerke with all haste
Began the veynes for to taste;
And sawe hir age was of youthe:
And with the craftes, whiche he couthe,
He sought and fonde a sygne of lyfe.
with that this worthy kinges wyfe
Honestlye they token oute,
And maden fyres all aboute,
They leyed hir on a couche softe;
And with a shete warmed ofte
Hir colde breste began to bete /
Hir derte also to flacke and bete;
This maysten hath hir euery ioynte
with certeyn oyle and balsam anoynte;
And put a lycour in her mouthe,
whiche is to fewe clerkes couthe:
So that she couereth at laste.
And fyrst hir eyen vp she caste;
And whan she more of strength caught,
Hir armes both forth she straught,
Helde vp hir honde, and pytouslye
She spake, and sayde, where am I?
where is my lorde, what worlde is this?
As she that wote not howe it is.
But Cerymon the worthy leche
Answerde anone vpon hir speche,
And sayde: madame ye ben here
where ye be saue, as ye shall here
Here afterwarde; for thy as nowe
My counceyl is comforteth you.
For trysteth wel (withoute fayle)
There is no thinge, which shal you fayle
That ought of reason to be do.
Thus passen they a day or two.
¶Qualiter vxor Appolini sanata / domum religionis peciit / vbi sacro velamine munita castam omni tempore vouit.
❧They speke of nought (as for an ende)
Tyl she began somdele amende,
And wyst hir selfe, what she mente.
Tho (for to knowe hir hole entente)
This mayster asketh all the caas,
Howe she cam there, and what she was.
Howe I came here, wote I nought
Quod she: but wel I am bethought
Of other thinges all aboute
Fro poynte to poynte, & tolde him oute
As ferforthly as she it wyste.
And he hir tolde howe in a chyste
The see hir threwe vpon the londe,
And what tresour with hir he fonde,
whiche was all redy at hir wylle,
As he that shope him to fulfylle
with al his might, what thing he shuld.
She thonketh him, that he so wolde;
And all hir herte she discloseth,
And saith him wel that she supposeth
Hir lorde be dreynt, hir chylde also.
So sawe she nought but all wo.
wherof as to the worlde nomore
Ne wyl she torne, and prayeth therfore
That in some temple of the cyte
To kepe and holde hir chastyte
She might amonge the women dwell.
whan he this tale herde tell
He was right glad; & made hir knowen
That he a doughter of his owen
Hath, whiche he wil vnto hir yeue
To serue, whyle they both lyue
In stede of that, whiche she hath loste:
Al onely at his owne coste,
She shall be rendred forth with hir.
She sayth, graunte mercy leue syr,
God quyte it you, there I ne may.
And thus they dryue forth the day
Tyll tyme cam, that she was hole.
And tho they toke her counseyle hole
To shape vpon good gouernance,
And made a worthy purueance
Ageyne day, whan they be veiled.
And thus whē that they were counseiled,
In blacke clothes they them cloth
The doughter and the lady both,
And yolde hem to religion.
The feste, and the profession,
After the rule of that degre
was made with great solempnite
where as Diane is sanctifyed.
Thus stant this lady iustifyed
In ordre where she thynketh to dwelle.
¶Qualiter Appolinus Tharsim nauigans, filiā suā Thaisim Strangulioni et Dionisie vxori sue educandum commendauit [...]et deinde Tyrum adiit, vbi cum inestimabili gandio a suis receptus est.
¶But nowe ageynwarde for to telle
In what plyte that her lorde stode in.
He sayleth, tyll that he may wynne
The hauen of Tharse (as I sayde ere.)
And whan he was arryued there
Tho was it through the cite knowe;
Men myght se within a throwe
(As who saith) all the towne at ones
They come ageyne hym for the nones
To yeuen hym the reuerence,
So glad they were of his presence.
And though he were in his corage
Disesed, yet with glad vysage
He made hem chere; and to his inne
where he whylom soiourned in,
He goth hym straught, & was receyued.
And whā the prees of people is weyued
He taketh his boost vnto hym tho,
And saith: My frende Strangulio
Lo thus, and thus it is befalle.
And thou thy selfe arte one of all
Forthwith thy wyfe, which I most tryst.
For thy (if it you both lyst)
My doughter Thayse by your leue
I thynke shall with you bileue
As for a tyme: and thus I pray
That she be kepte by al way:
And whan she hath of age more,
That she be set to bokes lore.
And this auowe to god I make,
That I shall neuer for hir sake
My berde for no lykynge shaue
Tyll it befalle, that I haue
In couenable tyme of age
Besette her vnto mariage
Thus they accorde, and all is welle.
And for to resten hym somdele,
As for a whyle he ther soiourneth;
And than he taketh his leue, & tourneth
To shyp, and goth hym home to Tyre:
where euery man with great desyre
Awayteth vpon his comynge.
But whan the shyp cam in saylynge,
And perceyuen that it is he;
was neuer yet in no cite
Suche ioye made, as they tho made:
His herte also began to glade
Of that he seeth his people gladde.
Lo thus fortune his happe hath ladde,
In sondry wyse he was trauayled.
But howe so euer he be assayled
His latter ende shall be good.
¶Qualiter Thaisis vna cum Philotenna Strangulionis et Dionysie filia, omnis scientie et honestatis doctrina imbuta est: sed et Thaisis Philotennam precellens in odium mortale per inuidiam a Dionysia recollecta est.
¶And for to speke howe that it stode
Of Thaise his doughter, wher she dwelleth.
In Tharse (as the cronyke telleth)
She was well kepte, she was well loked,
She was wel taught, she was wel boked;
So well she sped hir in hir youth
That she of eury wysedome couth
[...]
That for to seche in euery londe
So wyse an other no man fonde,
Ne so well taught at mannes eye.
"But wo worth euer false enuy.
For it befyll that tyme so
A doughter hath Strangulio
whiche was cleped Philotenne.
"But fame (whiche wyll euer renne)
Came all day to her mothers care,
And saith; wher euer hir doughter were
with Thaise set in any place,
The common voyce, the common grace
was all vpon that other mayde,
And of hir doughter no man sayde.
who was wroth but Dionyse than?
Hir thought a thousande yere tyl whan
She myght be of Thayse wreke
Of that she herde folke so speke.
And fyll that ilke same tyde
That deed was trewe Lichoryde
whiche had be seruaunt to Thaise,
So that she was the wors at ease.
For she hath than no seruyse
But onely through this Dionyse
whiche was her deedly ennemy.
Through pure treason and enuy
She that of all sorowe can
Tho spake vnto hir bondeman
whiche cleped was Theophilus,
And made hym swere in counseyl thus;
That he suche tyme as she hym set
Shall come Thayse for to fette,
And lede her out of all syght
where that no man hir helpe myght,
Vpon the stronde nygh the see,
And there he shall this mayden slee.
This chorles hert is in a traunce
As he whiche drad hym of vengeaunce
whan tyme cometh an other day:
But yet durst he not say nay;
But swore, and sayd he shulde fulfyll
Hir bestes at hir owne wyll.
Qual [...]ter Dionys [...]a Thaisim vt occideret, Theo [...]ise [...] suo tradidit, qui cū noctanter longius [...] [...]sam ꝓpe litus maris interficere ꝓpo [...] [...]rate ibidem latitantee Thaisim de manu [...] eri [...]puerunt / ipsam (que) vs (que) ciuitatem [...]te [...]enam ducentes, cuidem Leonino scortorum [...]tē magistro vendiderunt.
¶The treason andeke tyme is shape,
So fell that this cherlysshe knape
Hath lad this mayden where he wold
Vpon the stronde, and what she sholde
She was adrad; and he out brayde
A rusty swerde, and to hir sayde,
Thou shalt be deed: alas qd she
why shall I so? Lo thus quod he
My lady Dionyse hath bede
Thou shalt be murdred in this stede.
This mayden tho for fere shryght;
And for the loue of god all myght
She preyth, that for a lytell stounde
She myght knele vpon the grounde
Towarde the heuen for to craue
Hir wofull soule that she may saue.
And with this noyse and with this cry,
Out of a barge faste by
whiche hyd was there on scomer fare,
Men sterten out, and weren ware
Of this felon: and he to go.
And she began to crye tho,
A mercy helpe for goddes sake.
In to the barge they hir take
As theues shulde, and forth they wente.
Vpon the see the wynde hem hent,
And (maulgre where they wolde or none)
Tofore the weder forth they gone,
There helpe no sayl, there helpe none ore:
Forstormed, and forblowen sore
In great peryl so forth they dryue,
Tyll at laste they arryue
At Mytelene the cite.
In hauen saufe and whan they be
The mayster shypman made him boune,
And goth hym out in to the towne,
And profereth Thayse for to selle.
One Leonyn it herde telle
whiche mayster of the bordel was;
And had hym go a redy pas
To fetchen hir: and forth he went,
And Thayse out of his barge he bent,
And to the bordeler hir he solde.
And that he by her body wolde
Take auauntage, let do crye
That what man wolde his lechery
Attempte vpon hir maydenhede
Lay downe the golde, & he shulde spede.
And thus whan he hath cryed it out
In syght of all the people about:
¶Qualiter Leoninus Thaisi ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gratia preuenta, ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.
¶He ladde her to the bordell tho.
No wonder though she were wo.
Clos in a chamber by her selfe
Eche after other ten or twelfe
Of yonge men in to hir went.
But suche a grace god her sent;
That for the sorowe, whiche she made,
was none of hem, whiche power hade
To done hir any vilany.
This Leonyn let euer aspye,
And wayteth after great beyete:
But all for nought: she was forlete,
That no man wolde there come.
whan he therof hath hede nome,
And knewe, that she was yet a mayde;
Vnto his owne man he sayde,
That he with strength ageyne her leue,
Tho shulde her maydenhode bereue.
This man goth in but so it ferde
whan be hir wofull pleyntes herde,
And he therof hath take kepe;
Hym lyst better for to wepe
Than do ought elles to the game.
And thus she kepte her selfe fro shame.
And kneled downe to the erthe & prayde
Vnto this man, and thus she sayde:
If so be, that thy mayster wolde
That I his good encrees sholde,
It may not falle by this wey,
But suffre me to go my weye
Out of this hous, where I am in,
And I shall make hym for to wyn
In some place els of the towne,
Be so it be of religiowne
where that honest women dwele.
And thus thou myght thy mayster telle
That whan I haue a chambre there;
Let hym do crye ay wyde where
what lorde, that hath his doughter dere,
And is in wyll that she shall lere
Of suche a schole that is trewe:
I shall hir teche of thynges newe
whiche that none other woman can
In all this londe, and the this man
Hir tale hath herde, he goth ageyn,
And tolde vnto his mayster pleyn,
That she hath seyde, and thervpon
whan that he sawe beyete none
At the bordell bycause of hir;
He had his man go and spir
A place, where she myght abyde:
That he may wynne vpon some syde
By that she can: but at leest
Thus was she saufe of this tempest.
¶Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciētias, quibus edocta fuit, nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.
¶He hath hir fro the bordell take:
But that was not for goddes sake;
But for the lucre, as she hym tolde.
Nowe comen (tho, that comen wolde)
Of women in her lusty youth
To here and se, what thynge she couth.
She can the wysedome of a clerke,
She can of any lusty werke,
whiche to a gentyll woman longeth:
And some of hem she vnderfongeth
To the cytole, and to the harpe:
And whome it lyketh for to carpe
Prouerbes and demaundes slye,
An other suche they neuer sye
whiche that science so well taught,
wherof she great gyftes caught
That she to Lyonyn hath wonne.
And thus hir name is so begonne
Of sondry thynges, that she techeth;
That all the londe to hir secheth
Of yonge women, for to lere.
¶Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse super quo Dionisia vn [...] cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes, exequias et sepulturam honorifice, quantum ad extra subdola coniectatione fieri constituerunt.
¶Nowe lette we this mayden here:
And speke of Dionyse ageyne,
And of Theophyle the vyleyne,
(Of whiche I spake of nowe tofore
whan Thayse shulde haue be forlore)
This false chorle to his lady
whan he cam home, all priuely
He saith: Madame sleyne I haue
This mayde Thayse, and is begraue
In preuy place, as ye me hede:
For thy madame taketh hede
And kepe counseyle, howe so it stonde.
This fende (whiche hath this vnderstōd)
was glad, and weneth it be soth.
Now se hereafter how she doth.
She wepeth, she crieth, she cōpleyneth:
And of syckenes (whiche she feyneth)
She saith, that Thaise sodeynly
By nyght is deed, as she and I
To gether lyen nygh my lorde.
She was a woman of recorde,
And all is leued, that she seyth.
And for to yeue a more feith,
Hir husbonde, and eke she both
In blacke clothes they hem cloth,
And make a great enterement.
And for the people shall be blent,
Of Thayse as for the remembraunce
[...]ter the ryall olde vsaunce
A tombe of laton noble and ryche
with an ymage vnto her lyche
[...]gg
[...]nge aboue thervpon
They made, and set it vp anon.
Her
[...]itaphe of good assyse
was wryte about: and in this wyse
It spake, O ye that this beholde,
L
[...] here lyeth she, the which was holde
The fayrest, and the floure of all,
whose name Thaysis men call.
The kynge of Tyre Appolynus
Hir father was, nowe lyeth she thus.
[...]ourtene yere she was of age
[...]handeth hir toke to his viage.
¶ Qu [...]liter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrā [...] parliamentum fieri constituit.
¶Thus was this false treason hyd,
whiche afterward was wyde kyd,
As by the tale a man shall here,)
But (to declare my matere)
To Tyre I thynke tourne ageyne,
And telle, (as the cronykes seyne,)
whan that the kynge was comen home,
And hath lefte in the salte fome
His wyfe (whiche he may not foryete;)
For he some comforte wolde gete
He lette sommone a parlement,
To whiche the lordes weren assent,
And of the tyme he hath ben out,
He seeth the thynges all about:
And tolde hem eke howe he hath fare
whyle he was out of londe fare;
And prayde hem all to abyde,
For he wolde at same tyde
Do shape for his wyues mynde,
As he that wolde not be vnkynde.
Solempne was that ilke offyce,
And ryche was the sacrifice,
The feest ryally was holde:
And therto was he well beholde.
For suche a wyfe as he had one
In thylke dayes was there none.
¶Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentū Thasim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidē non inuenta abinde nauigio recessit.
whā this was done, thē he him thought
Vpon his doughter; and besought
Suche of his lordes, as he wolde,
That they with hym to Tharse sholde
To sette his doughter Thaise there;
And they anone all redy were.
To shyp they gone; and forth they went
Tyll they the hauen of Tharse bent,
They londe; and fayle of that they seche
By couerture and sleyght of speche.
This false man Strangulio
And Dionyse his wyfe also,
(That he the better trowe myght)
They ladde hym to haue a syght,
where that hir tombe was arrayed:
The lasse yet he was myspayde.
And netheles (so as he durst)
He curseth, and seyth all the worst
Vnto fortune, as to the blynde,
whiche can no syker wey fynde;
For hym she neweth euer amonge
And medleth sorowe with his songe.
But sythe it may no better be
He thonketh god, and forth goth he
Saylynge towarde Tyre ageyne.
But sodeynly the wynde and reyne
Began vpon the see debate,
So that he suffre mote algate
¶Qualiter nauis Appollini ventis agitata potum urbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrari consifeuerūt / applicuit. (sed) ipse pro dolore Thaisis filie sue quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens sumen videre noluit.
❧The law, which Neptune ordeineth.
wherof full oft tyme he pleyneth,
And held him wel the more esmayed
Of that he hath tofore assayed.
So that for pure sorowe and care
Of that he seeth this worlde so fare,
The reste he leueth of his caban;
That (for the counceyl of no man)
Ageyne therin he nolde come:
But hath beneth his place nome,
where he wepinge allone lay,
There as be sawe no lyght of day.
And thus tofore the wynd they dryue,
Tyl longe and lat they arryue
with great distresse (as it was sene)
Vpon this towne of Mytelene,
whiche was a noble cite tho.
And happeneth thylke tyme so
The lordes both, and the commune
The high festes of Neptune
Vpon the stronde at ryuage.
(As it was custome and vsage
Solempnelych they be sight.
whan they this straunge vessel sygh
Com in / and hath his sayle aualed,
The towne therof hath spoke and taled.
¶Qualiter Atenagoras vrbis Mitelene princeps nauim Appolini inuestigans, ipsū sic cōtristatū nihil (que) respondentē consolari satagebat.
¶The lorde, whiche of that cyte was,
whose name is Atenagoras,
was there; and sayde, he wolde se
what ship it is, and who they be
That ben therin: and after soune,
(whan that he sigh it was to done)
His barge was for him arayed,
And he goeth forth, and hath assayed.
He fonde the shyp of great araye:
But what thinge it a mownte may,
He sygh they maden heuy chere,
But wel him thynketh by the manere
That they ben worthy men of blood;
And asketh of hem, howe it stode.
And they him tellen all the caas,
Howe that her lorde fordryue was,
And whiche a sorowe that he made,
Of whiche there may no man him glad.
He prayeth that he her lorde may se.
But they him tolde it may not be;
For he lyeth in so derke a place
That there may no wyght se his face.
But for all that (though hem be lothe)
He fond the ladder, and doune he goeth
And to him spake, but none answer
Ageyne of him ne might he bere
For ought that he can do er seyne,
And thus he goeth him vp ageyn.
¶ Qualiter precepto principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithera sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi iacebat, producta est.
¶Tho was there spoke in many wyse
Amongest hem, that weren wyse,
Nowe this, nowe that; but at last
The wysdome of the towne thus cast
That yonge Thayse was assent.
For if there be amendement
To glad with this wofull kinge,
She can so moche of euery thinge
That she shall glad him anone.
A messager for hir is gone,
And she came with hir harpe in honde
And saide hem, that she wolde fonde
By all the weyes, that she can,
To glad with this sory man.
But what he was, she wyst nought.
But all the shyp hir hath besought
That she hir wytte on him dispende
In aunter if he might amende:
And sayn; it shall be wel aquyte.
whan she hath vnderstonden it
She goeth hir doune, there as he laye;
where that she harpeth many a laye,
And lyke an aungel songe with alle.
But he no more than the walle
Toke hede of any thinge he herde.
And whan she sawe that he so ferde,
She falleth with him vnto wordes,
And telleth him of sondry bordes,
And asketh him demaundes straunge.
whereof she made his herte chaunge:
And to hir speche his ere he leyde,
And hath meruayle, of that she sayde.
For in prouerbe, and in probleme
She spake; and had he shulde deme
In many a subtyle question.
But he for no suggestion
whiche towarde hym she coude stere,
He wolde not one worde answere.
But (as a mad man) at laste
His heed wepynge awey he caste,
And halfe in wrath he had hir go.
But yet she wolde not do so,
And in the derke forth she gothe
Tyll she hym toucheth and he wroth,
And after hir with his honde
He smote, and thus whā she him fonde
Disesed, courteisly she sayde;
E
[...]oy my lorde, I am a mayde:
And if ye wyst, what I am,
And out of what lynage I cam,
Ye wolde not be so saluage.
with that he sobreth his courage,
¶ [...] sicut deus destinauit paterfiliā inuen [...].
¶And put awey his heuy chere.
[...] of hem two a man may lere
what is to be so sybbe of bloud.
[...] wyst of other howe it stode,
And yet the father at last
His herte vpon this mayde cast,
A hathe her loueth kyndely:
And yet he wyst neuer why;
[...] all was knowe or that they went.
yor god wote her hole entent
Her hertes both anone discloseth.
This kynge vnto this mayde opposeth,
And asketh first, what is her name,
And where she lerned all this game,
And of what kyn she was come.
And she that hath his wordes nome,
Answereth, & saith: my name is Thayse
That was sometyme well at ayse.
In Charse I was forthdrawe & fedde:
There I lerned, tyll I was spedde
Of that I can my father eke
I not where that I shulde hym seke:
He was a kynge men tolde me.
My mother dreynt in the see.
Fro poynt to poynt all she hym tolde
That she hath longe in herte holde,
And neuer durst make hir mone
But onely to this lorde allone;
To whom hir herte can not hele
Tourne it to wo, tourne it to wele,
Tourne it to good, tourne it to harme.
And he tho toke hir in his arme:
But suche a ioye as he tho made
was neuer sene thus ben they glade
That sory hadden be toforne.
Fro this day fortune hath sworne
To set hym vpwarde on the whele.
"So goth the worlde, now wo, now wele.
¶ Qualiter Athenagoras Appolinum de naui in hospicium honorifice recollegit, et Thaisim / patre consensciente, in vxorem duxit.
¶This kynge hath founde newe grace,
So that out of his derke place,
He goth hym vp in to the lyght;
And with hym cam that swete wyght
His doughter Thayse and forth anone
They bothe into the caban gone,
whiche was ordeyned for the kynge;
And there he dyd of all his thynge,
And was arayed ryally:
And out he cam all openly,
where Athenagoras be fonde
whiche was lorde of all the londe.
He prayeth the kynge to come and se
His castell bothe, and his cite.
And thus they gone forthall in fere
This kyng, this lorde, this mayden dere.
This lorde tho made hem ryche feste
with euery thynge, whiche was honeste,
To plese with this worthy kynge:
Ther lacketh hem no maner thynge.
But yet for al his noble araye
wyueles he was vnto that day,
As he that yet was of yonge age.
So fyl ther in to his corage
"The lusty woo, the glad payne
"Of loue, whiche no man restrayne
"Yet neuer myght as now tofore.
This lorde thynketh al this world lore
But if the kynge wyll done hym grace.
He wayteth tyme, he wayteth place,
Hym thought his herte wold to breke
Tyl he may to this mayde speke,
And to hir fader eke also
For maryage, and it fyl so,
That all was done, right as he thought,
His purpos to an ende he brought;
She wedded him as for hir lorde,
Thus ben they all of one accorde.
¶Qualter Appolinus vna cum filia et eius marito nauim ingrediētes a Mitilena vs (que) Tharsim cursum proposuerunt: (sed) Appolinus in sompnis admottus versus Ephesim, vt ibidēin templo Dia ne sacrificaret, vela per mare diuertit.
¶ whā al was done right as they wold,
The kinge vnto his sonne tolde
Of Tharse thylke trayterye;
And sayd, howe in his companye
His doughter and him seluen eke
Shall go vengeaunce for to seke.
The shippes were redy soune.
And whan they sawe it was to done,
withoute let of any went
with sayle vp drawe forth they wente
Towarde Tharse vpon the tyde.
But he that wote, what shall betyde,
The hye god, whiche wolde him kepe;
whan that this kinge was fast a slepe
By nyghtes tyme he hath him bede
To sayle vnto another stede,
To Ephesym he bad him drawe
And (as it was that tyme lawe)
He shall do there his sacryfyce:
And eke he bad in all wyse
That in the temple amongest all
His fortune, as it is befalle
Touchinge his doughter, and his wyfe,
He shall be knowe vpon his lyfe.
The kinge of this auision
Hath great ymaginacion
what thinge it signifye may.
And nethelesse whan it was day
He bad cast anker, and abode.
And whyle that he on anker rode,
The wynde, that was tofore straunge,
Vpon the poynte began to chaunge,
And torneth thyder, as it shulde.
Tho knewe he wel, that god it wolde:
And bad the mayster make him yare,
Tofore the wynde for he wolde fare
To Ephesym; and so he dede.
And whan he came in to the stede
where as he shulde londe, he londeth;
with all the haste he may and fondeth
To shapen him in suche a wyse,
That he may by the morowe aryse
And done after the maundement
Of him, whiche hath him thider sent.
And in the wise that he thought
Vpon the morowe so he wrought.
His doughter, and his sonne he nome,
And forth to the temple he come
with a great route in companye,
His yeftes for to sacryfye.
The cytezeins tho herden seye
Of suche a kinge, that came to praye
Vnto Dyane the goddesse:
And lefte all other besynesse,
They comen thyder for to se
The kinge and the solempnyte.
¶Qualiter Appolinus Ephesim in templo Dia ne sacrificans / vxorem suam ibidem velatam in uenit, qua secum assumpta nauim, versus Tyril regressus est.
¶ with worthy knyghtes enuyroned
The kinge him selfe hath abandoned
To the temple in good entente.
The dore is vp, and in he wente,
where as with great deuocion
Of holy contemplacion
within his herte he made his shryfte.
And after that a ryche yefte
He offreth with great reuerence.
And there in open audyence
Of hem that stoden all aboute,
He tolde hem, and declareth oute
His happe, suche as him is befalle
There was no thinge foryete of alle.
His wyfe (as it was goddes grace)
whiche was professed in the place
As she that was abbesse there;
Vnto his tale hath leyed hir ere,
She knewe the voys, and the vysage:
For pure ioy as in a rage
She straught to him all at ones,
And fyl a swoune vpon the stones /
wherof the temple flore was paued.
She was anone with water laued
Tyl she came to hir selfe ageyne;
And than she began to seyne:
A blessed be the hygh sonde
That I may se my husbonde
whiche whylom he, and I were one.
The kynge with that knewe hir anone,
And toke hir in his arme, and kyst:
And all the towne this sone it wyst.
Tho was there ioye manyfolde:
For euery man this tale hath tolde
As for myracle, & weren glade.
But neuer man suche ioye made
As doth the king which hath his wyfe.
And whan men herde how that her lyfe
was saued, and by whom it was,
They wondred all of suche a cas:
Through all the londe arose the speche
Of mayster Cerimon the leche,
And of the cure whiche he dede.
The kynge hym selfe tho hath hede
[...] seke the quene forth with hym
[...]
[...]he the towne of Ephesym
[...] leue, and go where as they be:
[...] neuer man of his degre
Hath do to hem so mychell good.
And he his profyte vnderstode,
And graunteth with hem for to wende.
And thus they maden there an ende:
And token leue, and gone to shyp
[...] had the hole felaushyp.
¶ Qualiter Arcelinus vna cum vxore et filia [...] [...]l [...]e [...]t.
¶ This king (which now hath his desire)
Saith he woll holde his cours to Tyre.
They hadden wynde at wyll tho,
with topsayle coole, and forth they go:
And stryken neuer tyll they come
To Lyre wher as they haue nome,
And
[...]nden hem with mochell blysse;
There was many a mouth to kysse,
Eche one welcometh other home.
But whan the quene to londe come
And Thayse her doughter by her syde,
The whiche ioy was thylke tyde
There may no mans tunge telle:
They seyden all, here cometh the welle
Of all womannysshe grace.
The kynge hath take his royall place,
The quene is in to chambre go.
There was great fest arayed tho:
whan tyme was they gone to mete.
All olde sorowes ben foryete,
And gladen hem with ioyes newe,
The discoloured pale hewe
Is nowe become a ruddy cheke,
There was no myrth for to seke:
¶Qualiter Appolinus Athenagord cū Thase vxore sua super Tyrum coronari fecit.
¶But euery man hath what he wolde.
The kynge (as he well coude and shulde)
Makth to his people right good chere.
And after sone (as thou shalt here)
A parlement he had sommoned,
where he his doughter hath coroned
Forth with the lorde of Mitelene,
That one is kynge, that other quene.
And thus the fathers ordynaunce
This londe hath set in gouernaunce:
And sayde, that he wolde wende
To Tharse, for to make an ende
Of that his doughter was betrayed.
wherof were all men well payed,
And said, howe it was for to done.
The shyppes weren redy sone.
¶Qualiter Appolinus a Tyro per mare versus Tharsim iter arripiens, vindictam cōtra Strāgulionem et Dionisiam vxorem suam ꝓ inuiria, quā ipsi ta [...]si filie sue italerūt, iudicialiter affecutus est.
¶A strong power with hym he toke.
Vpon the skye he cast his loke
And sygh the wynde was couenable:
They hale vp ancre with the cable,
They seyle on hye, the stere on honde,
They seylen, tyll they come a londe
At Tharse nygh to the cite.
And whan they wysten it was he,
The towne hath done hym reuerence.
He telleth hem the violence
which the traytour Strangulio
And Dionise hym had do
Touchynge his doughter, (as ye herde.)
And whan they wyst, how it ferde,
As he whiche pees and loue sought,
Vnto the towne this he besought
To done him right in iugement.
Anone they weren both assente,
with strengthe of men and comen sone.
And (as hem thought it was to done)
Atteyne they weren by the lawe,
And demed so honged and drawe
And brent, and with wynde to blowe,
That all the worlde it might knowe.
And vpon this condicion
The dome in execucion
was put anone withoute fayle.
And euery man hath great meruayle
whiche herde tellen of this chaunce;
And thonked goddes purueaunce
whiche doth mercy forth with iustice.
Slain is the mordrer, and the mordrice
Through very trouth of rightwysnesse:
And through mercy saue is simplesse
Of hir, whom mercy preserueth.
"Thus hath he wel, that wel deserueth.
¶ Qualiter Artestrate Pētapolim rege mortuo, ipsi de regno epistolas super hoc Appolino direx erunt. Vnde Appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibidē aduenientes ad decus imperii cum magno gaudio coronati sunt.
☞ whan al this thinge is done & ended,
This kinge (whiche loued was & frended)
A letter hath, whiche came to hym
By ship fro Pentapolym;
In whiche the londe hath to him wrytte
That he wolde vnderstonde and wyte
Howe in good mynde and in good pees
Deed is the kinge Artestrates:
wherof they all of one accorde
Him prayden (as her lyege lorde)
That be the letter wol receyue
And come, his reygne to receyue
whiche god hath yeue him, and fortune:
And thus besought the commune
Forthwith the great lordes all.
This kinge sighe howe it is befalle:
Fro Tharse and in prosperite
He toke his leue of that cyte
And goeth him in to ship ayene.
The wynde was good, these was pleyne,
Hem nedeth not a ryffe to slake
Tyl they Pentapolym haue take.
The loude which herde of that tydinge,
was wonder glad of his cominge,
He resteth him a day or two;
And toke his counceyl to him tho
And set a tyme of parlement;
where al the londe of one assente
Forthwith his wyfe haue him croned,
where all good him was forsoned.
Lo what it is to be wel grounded.
For he hath fyrst his loue founded
Honestly as for to wedde,
Honestly his loue he spedde,
And had chyldren with his wyfe,
And as him lyst he led his lyfe.
And in ensaumple his lyfe was wryte
That all louers mighten wyt
Howe at laste it shal be sene
Of loue what they wolden mene.
For se nowe on that other syde
Antiochus with all his pryde
whiche set his loue vnkyndely,
His ende had sodeynly
Set ageyn kynde vpon vengeaunce,
And for his lust hath his penaunce.
¶ Lo thus my sonne might thou ler
[...]
what is to loue in good manere,
And what to loue in other wyse.
"The mede aryseth of the seruyce,
Fortune though she be not stable,
yet at somtyme is fauourable
To hem, that ben of loue trewe.
But certes it is for to rewe
To se loue ageyn kynde falle:
For that makth sore a man to falle,
(As thou might of tofore rede.)
For thy my sonne I wolde the rede
To let all other loue a weye,
But if it be through suche aweye
As loue and reason wold accorde.
For elles if that thou discorde
And take luste as doeth a beste,
Thy loue may nought ben honeste.
For (by no skyl that I fynde)
Suche luste is nought of loues kynde.
¶ Confessio amantis / vnde pro finali conclusione consilium confessoris impetrat.
¶My fader howe so that it stonde
Your tale is herde, and vnderstonde.
As thinge, whiche worthy is to here
Of great ensaumple and great matere
wherof my fader god you quyte.
But in this poynte my selfe acquyte
I may right wel, that neuer yet
I was assoted in my wyt
But onely in that worthy place,
where all lust and all grace
Is set, if that Daunger ne were
But that is all my moste fere.
I not what ye fortune acoumpte.
But what thinge Daunger may amoūte
I wot wel: for I haue assayed.
For whan myn hert is beste arayed
And I haue all my wyt through sought
Of loue to beseche hir ought
For all that euer I syke may
I am concluded with a nay.
That o sillable hath ouer throwe
A thousand wordes on a rowe
Of suche as I best speke can
Thus am I but a leude man.
But fader, for ye ben a clerke
Of loue, and this matere is derke
And I can euer lenger the lasse,
(But yet I may not lete it passe)
Your hole counceyl I beseche
That ye me by some weye teche,
what is my best, as for an ende.
¶ My sonne vnto the trouth wende
Nowe woll I for the loue of the
And lete all other tryfles be.
❧ Hic super amoris causa finita confessione, [...] Genius ea / que sibi salubrius expedi [...] consilio finaliter iniungit.
¶The more that the nede is bye
The more it nedeth to be slye
To him whiche hath the nede on honde
I haue well herde and vnderstonde
My sonne, all that thou hast me seyed:
And eke of that thou hast me prayed
Nowe at this tyme that I shall
As for conclusion final
Counceyl vpon thy nede set,
So thinke I fynally to knette
Thy cause, there it is to broke
And make an ende of that is spoke.
For I behight the that gyfte:
Fyrst whan thou come vnder my shryft
That though I towarde Venus were
Yet spake I suche wordes there
That for the presthode, whiche I haue
Myn order, and myn estate to saue
I sayde, I wolde of myn offyce
To vertu more than to vyce
Enclyne, and teche the my lore.
For thy to speken ouermore
Of loue, whiche the may auayle.
Take loue, where it may auayle.
For as of this, whiche thou arte in
By that thou seest it is a synne,
And synne may no pryce deserue,
whithoute pryce and who shall serue
I note what proffyt might auayle.
This foloweth it, if thou trauayle
where thou no proffyt hast ne pryce,
Thou arte towarde thy selfe vnwyse
And syth thou mightest lust atteyne,
Of euery lust the ende is peyne.
And euery peyne is good to flee,
So is it wonder thinge to se,
why suche a thynge shall be desyred
The more that a stocke is fyred
The rather in to asshe it torneth.
The fote, which in the weye sporneth
Full ofte his hede hath ouerthrowe
Thus loue is blynde, and can not knowe
where that he goeth, tyl he be falle.
For thy but if it so befalle
with good counceyle that he be ladde
Hym ought for to ben a drad.
For counceyl passeth all thinge
To him, whiche thinketh to ben a kinge
And euery man for his partye
A kyngdome hath to iustifye.
That is to seyn his owne dome.
If he misrule that kyngdome
He leseth him selfe, that is more
Than if he lost shyp and ore
And all the worldes good with alle.
For what man that in speciall
Hath not him selfe he hath not els.
No more the perles than the shels
Al is to him of o value
Though he had all his retynewe
The wyde worlde ryght as he wolde
whan he his herte hath not with holde
Towarde him selfe, al is in vayne
And thus my sonne I wolde seyne
As I sayd er, that thou aryse
Er that thou falle in suche awyse
That thou ne might thy selfe recouer
For loue which that blynde was euer
Makth all his seruauntes blynde also,
My sonne and if thou haue ben so
Yet is it tyme to withdrawe
And set thyn herte vnder that lawe
The whiche of reason is gouerned
And not of wylle: and to be lerned
Ensaumple thou hast many one
Of nowe and eke of tyme a gone,
That euery lust is but a whyle
And who that wyl him selfe begyle
He may the rather be disceyued.
My sonne nowe thou hast conceyued
Somwhat of that I wolde mene
Here afterwarde it shall be sene
If that thou leue vpon my lore.
For I can do to the no more
But teche the, the ryght weye
Nowe chese, if thou wylt lyue or deye.
¶ Hic loquitur de controuersia, que in ter confessorem et amantem in fine confessionis versabatur
¶ My fader so as I haue herde
Your tale, but it were answerde
I were mochel for to blame.
My wo to you is but a game,
That feleth not of that I fele.
The felynge of a mans hele
May not be lykened to the herte,
I nought though I wolde a sterte
And ye be fre frome all the peyne
Of loue, wherof I me pleyne,
It is right easy to commaunde.
The herte / which fre goeth on the laūde
Not of an oxe what him eyleth,
It falleth ofte a man merueyleth
Of that he seeth another fare.
But if he knewe him selfe the fare
And felte it, as it is in soth,
He shulde do right as he doth
Or elles wors in his degre.
For wel I wote and so do ye
That loue hath euer yet ben vsed,
So mote I nede ben excused.
But fader if ye wolde thus
Vnto Cupyde and to Venus
Be frendly toward my quarele
So that my herte were in hele
Of loue, whiche is in my breste
I wote wel than a better preste
was neuer made to my behoue,
But all the whyle that I houe
In none certeyn betwene the two,
I not where I to wel or wo
Shall torne: that is all my drede,
So that I not what is to rede.
But for fynall conclusion
I thynke a supplicacion
with playne wordes and expresse
wryte vnto Venus the goddesse,
The whiche I praye you to bere
And brynge ageyne a good answere.
Tho was betwene my preste and me
Debate, and great perplexite.
My reason vnderstode him wele
And knewe it was soth euery dele
That he hath sayd, but not for thy
My wylle hath no thynge set there by
For towchinge of so wyse a porte
It is vnto loue no disporte.
Yet might neuer man beholde
Reason, where loue was withholde.
They be not of o gouernaunce.
And thus we fellen in distaunce
My preste and I, but I spake fayre
And through my wordes debonayre
Than at last we accorden
So that he sayth, he wyl accorden
To speke, and stonde on my syde
To Venus both and to Cupyde,
And bad me wryte, what I wolde.
And sayd me truly that he shulde
My letter here vn to the quene.
And I sat downe vpon the grene
Fulfylled of loues fantasy
And with the teres of myn eye
In stede of ynke, I gan to wryte
The wordes, whiche I wol endite.
Vnto Cupyde and to Venus
And in my letter I sayde thus.
☞ Hic tractat formam cuiusdam supplicatio nis, quam ex parte amantis per manus Genii sa cerdotis sui, Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat.
❧ The wofull payne of loues maladye
Ageine the which may no phisike auaile
My herte hath so be wapped with sotye
That where so that I reste or trauayle
I fynde it euer redy to assayle
My reson, whiche can not him defende
Th
[...] seche I help wherof I might amēde
Fyrst to nature if that I me compleyne
There finde I bowe that euery creature
Sōtime a yere hath loue in his demayne
So that the lytel wrenne in his mesure
Haue of kynde loue vnder his cure
And I but one desyre, whiche I mys
So but I, hath euery kynde his blys
The reson of my wytte it ouerpasseth
Of that nature techeth me the weye
To loue, & yet no certeyn she compasseth
How shal I spede & thꝰ betwen the twey
I stonde, and not if I shall lyue or deye
For though reason ageyn my wil debate
[...]
[...]ay not flee, that I ne loue algate.
Vpon my selfe this ilke tale come
How whilom Pan, whiche is the god of kinde
[...]th loue wrestled, & is ouercom
For euer I wrastle, & euer I am behynde
That I no strengthe in al my herte finde
wherof that I may stonden any throwe
So for my wyt with loue is ouerthrowe
whō nedeth help, he mot his help craue
Or helples he shal his nede spylle
Pleinly throughout my wittes al I haue
But none of hem can helpe after my wyl
And also wel I myght syt stylle
As pray vnto my lady of any helpe
Thus wote I not wherof my self to yelp
Vnto the great Ioue and if I byd
To do me grace of thilke swete tonne
whiche vnder key, in his seller
[...]
[...]
Lieth couched, that fortune is ouercome
But of the bitter cuppe I haue bego
[...]
I not howe ofte, & thus I finde no game
For euer I aske, & euer it is the same.
I se the worlde stonde euer vpon chaūge
Now wīdes lowd, now the weder softe
I may seeke the great mone chaune
And thing which now is low is eft alofte
The dredful werres in to pes ful ofte
They torne, & euer is Daūger in o place
which wil chaūge his wil to do me grace
But vpon this the great clerke Ouyde
Of loue whā he makth his remēbraūce
He sayth: ther is the blynd god Cupide
The which hath loue vnder gouernaūce
And in honde with many a firy launce
He wondeth ofte, where he wol not hele
And that somdele is cause of my quarele
Ouyd eke sayth, that loue to parforme
Stāt in the bōd of Venus the goddesse,
But whā she takth coūceil with Saturn
Ther is no grace, & in that tyme I gesse
Began my loue, of which myn heuinesse
Is now & euer shall, but if I spede
So wot I not my selfe what is to rede.
For thy to you Cupyde & Venus both
with all my hertes obeysaunce I praye
If ye were at fyrst tyme wrothe
whan I began to loue, I you saye
Nowe stynte, and do this fortune awaye
So that Daūger which stont of retynew
with my lady, his place may remewe
O thou Cupyde god of loues lawe
That with thi dart brēning hast set a fire
My herte, do that wounde bewithdraw
Or yeue me salue, suche as I desyre
For seruice in thy courte withouten hire
To me, which euer hath kept thin beste
May neuer be to loues lawe honeste,
O thou gentel Venus loues quen
[...]
without gilte thou dost on me thi wrech
Thou wot
[...]t my pein is ouer alich grene
For loue, & yet I may i
[...] not
[...]reche
Thus wolde I for my last worde beseche
That thou
[...]y loue acquite, as I deserue
Or elles do me playnly for to sterue.
¶ Hic loquitur, qualiter Venus accepta amantis supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.
¶ whan I this supplycacion
with good delyberacion
In suche a wyse as ye nowe wyte
Had after myn entente wryte
Vnto Cupyde and to Venus
This preest, whiche hight Ge
[...]yus
It toke on bonde to presente,
On my message and forth he wente
To Venus, for to wit hir wylle
And I bod in the place stylle
And was there but a lytell whyle
Not full the mountaunce of a myle
whan I behelde, and sodeynly
I sigh where Venus stode me by.
So as I might, vnder a tree
To grounde I felle vpon knee
And preyed hir for to do me grace,
She cast hir chere vpon my face
And as it were baluynge a game
She asketh me, what was my name.
Madame I saide, Iohan Gower.
Now Iohan, quod she, in my power
Thou must as of thy loue stonde
For I thy bylle haue vnderstonde
In whiche to Cupyde and to me
Somdele thou hast compleyned the
And somdele to nature also,
But that shall stonde amonge you two,
For therof haue I not to done,
For nature is vnder the mone
Maystresse of euery lyues kynde.
But if so be that she may fynde
Some holy man, that wyl withdrawe
Hir kyndely lust ageyne hir lawe,
But selde whan it falleth so
For fewe men there ben of tho.
But of these other ynough there be
whiche of her owne nycite
Ageyn nature and hir offyce
Delyten hem in sondry vice
wherof that she full ofte hath pleyned
And eke my courte it hath disdeyned
And euer shall: for it receyueth
None suche, that kynde so disceyueth.
For all onelyche of gentyll loue
My courte stont, all courtes aboue
And taketh nought into retynewe
But thynge, whiche is to kynde dewe
For els it shall be refused
wherof I holde the excused.
For it is many dayes gone
That thou amonge hem were one
whiche of my courte hast be withholde
So that the more I am beholde
Of thy disease to commune
And to remewe that fortune
whiche many dayes hath the greued.
But if my counsayle may be leued
Thou shalt be eased or thou go
Of thilke vnsely ioly wo,
wherof thou sayst thyn hert is fyred.
But as of that thou hast desyred
After the sentence of thy bylle,
Thou must therof done at my wyll
And I therof me woll aduyse:
For be thou hole, it shall suffyse
My medicine is not to seke
The whiche is holsome to the seke
Not all perchaunce as ye it wolde
But so as ye by reason sholde,
Accordaunt vnto loues kynde.
For in the plyte, whiche I the fynde
So as my courte it hath awarded
Thou shalt be duely rewarded.
And if thou woldest more craue
It is no right that thou it haue.
Qui cupit id,
(que) habere nequit, sua tempora ꝑdit,
Est vbi non posse velle, salute carer.
Non aestatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillos
Cum calor abcessit aequiparabit hyems.
Sicut habet maius non dat naturae decembri
Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum.
Sic ne
(que) decrepita senum iuuenile voluptas
Floret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit.
Conueniens ignur foret, vt qd cana senectus
Attigit, vlterius corpora casta colant.
Hic cōtra quoscū (que) viros inueteratos amoris cō cupiscentiā affectantes loquitur Venus, huius (que) amantis confessi supplicationem quasi deridens, ipsum pro eo ꝙ senescit, debilis est, multis exhortationibus insufficientem redarguit.
¶Venus whiche stant without lawe
In none certeyne, but as men drawe
Of Ragman vpon the chaunce
She leyth no peyse in the balance,
But as her lyketh for to weye
The trewe man full ofte awey
She put, whiche hath her grace bede
And sette an vntrue in his stede.
Lo thus blyndly the world she demeth
In loues cause as to me semeth,
I not what other men wolde seyn,
But I algate am so beseyne
[...]nd stonde as one amongest all
w
[...]che am out of hir grace fall,
[...]edeth take no wytnesse
[...] she, whiche sayde is the goddesse
[...] whether parte of loue it wende
Hath sette me for a fynall ende
The poynt wherto that I shal holde.
F
[...] whan she hath me well beholde
[...]aluynge of scorne she sayd thus:
Thou wost well that I am Venus
whiche all onely my lustes seche.
[...] well I wote though thou beseche
My loue, lustes ben there none
whiche I may take in thy persone.
For loues luste and lockes hore
I
[...] chambre accorden neuermore.
And though thou feyne a yonge corage
I
[...] sheweth well by thy vysage
That olde grysell is no sole
There ben full many yeres stole,
[...]to the, and suche other mo
That outwarde feynen youth so
And ben within of poore assay.
My herte wolde, and I ne may
Is nought beloued nowe a dayes,
E
[...] thou make any suche assayes
To loue, and faylle vpon thy fete
Better is to make a beau retrete.
For though thou myghtest loue atteyne
Yet were it but an ydell peyne
whan thou arte not suffisaunte,
To holde loue his couenaunte,
For thy take home thy herte ageyn
That thou traueyle not in veyn
wherof my courte may be dysceyued.
I wote, and haue it wel conceyued
Howe that thy wylle is good ynough.
But more behoueth to the plough
wherof the lacketh as I trowe
So syt it wel, that thou beknowe
Thy feble estate er thou begyn
Thing, wher thou might none ende win.
what bargeyn shulde a man assaye
whan that him lacketh for to paye?
My sonne if that thou wel bethought
This toucheth the, foryete it nought,
The thinge is torned in to was
The whiche was whylome grene gras
Is wethered hey, as tyme nowe
For thy my counceyl is that thou
Remembre wel, howe thou arte olde.
☞ Qualiter super derisoriam Veneris exhortacionem contristatus amans quasi mortuus in te [...] ram coruit, vbi vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper amantum varus turmis assistenciam conspiciebat.
¶whan Venus hath hir tale tolde
That I bethought was all aboute
And wyst wel withouten doubte
That there was no recouerire
And as a man the blase of fyre
with water quencheth, so ferde I,
A colde me caught sodeynly
For sorowe that my herte made
My dedely face pale and fade
Becam, and swoune I fyl to grounde.
And as I lay the same stounde
Ne fully quycke, ne fully dede
Me thought I sawe tofore myn heed
Cupyde with his bowe bente
And lyke vnto a parlement
whiche were ordeyned for the nones
with him cam all the worlde attones
Of gentyl folke, that whylome were
Louers, I sawe hem all there
Forth with Cupyde in sondry rowtes.
Myn eye I caste all aboutes
To knowe amonge hem who was who
I sygh where lusty yongth tho
As he whiche was a capteyn,
Before all other vpon the pleyne
Stode with his rout well begon.
Her deedes kempt, and thervpon
Garlondes, not of one colour,
Some of the lefe, some of the floure.
And some of great perles were.
The newe guyse of Beme was there
with sondry thynges well deuysed
I se, wherof they be queyntysed
It was all lust, that they with ferde.
There was no songe that I ne herde
whiche vnto loue was touchynge.
Of Pan, and all that was lykynge
As in pypynge of melody
was herde in thilke company
So loude, that on euery syde
It thought that all the heuen cryde
In suche accorde, and suche a sowne
Of humbarde, and of clariowne,
with cornemuse, and shalmele,
That it was halfe a mannes hele
So glad a noyse for to here.
And as me thought in this manere
All fresshe I sigh hem sprynge & daunce
And do to loue her entendaunce
After the lust of yongthes beste
There was inough of ioy and fest.
For euer amonge they laugh and pley
And put Care out of the weye
That he with hem ne sat ne stode.
And ouer this I vnderstode
So as myn ere myght areche
The moste matere of her speche
¶De nominibus illorum nuper amantū qui tune amanti spasmato aliqui inuenes, aliqui senes apparnerunt. Senes autem precipue tam erga deū (quam) deam amoris pro sanitate amantis recuparāda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer inflabant.
It was of knyghtode & of armes.
And what it is to lygge in armes
with loue, whan it is acheued
Ther was Tristram, which was beloued
with hele I solde: and Lancelot
Stode with Gonnor: and Galahot
with his lady: & as me thought
I sawe where Iason with hym brought
His loue, whiche Creusa hyght.
And Hercules, whiche mochell myght,
was there, bearynge his great mace.
And moste of all in thilke place
He payneth hym to make chere
with Iolen, whiche was hym dere.
Theseus though he were vntrewe
To loue, as all women knewe,
Yet was he there netheles
with Phedra, whiche to loue he ches,
Of grece eke there was Thelamon
whiche fro the kyng Laomedon
At Troye his doughter reste away.
Eseonen, as for his preye
whiche take was, whan Iason cam
Fro Colchos, and the cite nam
In vengeaunce of the fyrst hate
That made hem after to debate
whan Pryamus the newe towne
Hath made, and in a vysiowne
Me thought that I sygh also
Hector forth with his bretherne two
Hym selfe stode with Penthasilee
And nexte to hym I myght se
where Parys stode with fayre Helayne
whiche was his ioye souerayne.
And Troylus stode with Creseyde
But euer amonge though he playde
By semblant he was heuy chered.
For Dyomede, as hym was lered
Claymeth to be his partynere.
And thus full many a bachelere
A thousande mo than I can seyne
with yongth I sigh there well beseyne
Forth with her loues glad & blyth.
And some I sygh, whiche ofte sythe
Compleynen hem in otherwyse.
Amonge the whiche I sawe Narcyse,
And Pyrramus, that sory were.
The worthy greke also was there
Achilles, whiche for loue deyed.
Agamemnon eke as men seyed
And Menelay the kynge also
I sygh, with many an other mo
whiche hadden be fortuned sore
In loues cause: And ouermore
Of women in the same caas
with hem I sigh where Dido was
Forsake whiche was with Aene.
And Philis eke I might se
whom Demephon desceyued had.
And Ariadne hir sorowe lad
For Theseus hir syster toke
And hir vnkindly forsoke.
I sigh there eke amonge the prees
Compleyninge vpon Hercules
His fyrst loue Deianyre
whiche set him afterward a fyre.
Medea was there eke, and pleyneth
Vpon Iason, for that he feyneth
[...]hout cause and toke a newe
The sayde, fye on all vntrewe.
I sygh there Deidamie
whiche had loste the companye
Of
[...]hilles, whan Dyomede
[...]
[...]roye him set vpon the nede.
Amo
[...]ge thyse other vpon the grene
[...] also the wofull quene
[...]patras, whiche in a graue
[...]
[...]rpentes hath hir selfe bygraue
A
[...]q
[...]cke, and so she was to tore
[...]or sorowe of that she had lore
A
[...]tony, whiche hir loue hath be.
A
[...]d forth with hir I sygh Thy she
[...] be on thes harpe swerdes poynte
[...] loue deyed in sory poynte.
[...] as my nere it might knowe
[...]
[...]ayde, wo worth all slowe.
The pleint of Proigne and Philomene
[...] herde I what it wolde mene,
[...] Thereus of his vntrouthe
[...]ndyd hem both, & that was routhe.
And next to hem I sawe Canace
[...]hiche for Machayr hir faders grace
[...]th lost, and deyed in woful plyte.
And as I sigh in my spyrite
The thought amonge other thus
The doughter of kinge Priamus
Pol
[...]ena, whom Pyrrus slough
was there, and made sorowe ynough:
As she whiche deyed gyltles
For loue, and yet was loueles.
And for to take the disporte
I sawe there some of other porte,
And that was Circes, and Calypse
That couthen do the mone clypse,
Of men and chaunge the lyknesse,
Of artmagik sorceresse
They helde in honde many one
To loue, whether they wolde or none.
But aboue all that there were
Of women I sawe foure there
whose name I herde moste cōmended.
By hem the courte stode all amended.
For where they comen in presence
Men deden hem the reuerence
As though they had ben goddesses
Of all the worlde, or empresses.
And as me thought, an ere I leyde
And herde, howe that these other seyd,
Lo these ben the foure wyues
whose feyth was proued in her lyues
For in ensaumple of all good
with maryage so they stode
That fame, which no great thing hideth
Yet in cronycke of hem abydeth.
Penolope that one was hote
whome many a knyght hath loued hote
whyle that hir lorde Vlyxes lay
Ful many a yere and many a day
Vpon the great syege of Troye:
But she, whiche hath no worldes ioye
But onely of hir husbonde
whyle that her lorde was oute of londe
So wel she kept her womanhede
That all the worlde therof toke hede
And namlyche of hem in Grece.
That other woman was Lucrece
wyfe to the Romayn Collatyne.
And she constreyned of Tarquyne
To thinge, whiche was ayenst hir wyll
She wolde not hir seluen styll
But deyed onely for drede of shame
In kepinge of hir good name
As she whiche was one of the beste.
The thyrde wife was hote Alceste
whiche whan Admetus shuld dye
Vpon his great maladye
She prayed vnto the goddes so
That she resceyueth all the wo
And deyed hir selfe, to gyue him lyfe
Se where this were a noble wyfe.
The fourth wyfe, which I there sigh
I herde of hem that were nyghe
Howe she was cleped Alceone
whiche Ceix hir lorde allone
And to no mo hir body kepte
And whā she sygh him drēche, she lepte
Into the wawes, where he swam
And there a se foule she becam
And with hir winges she him besprad
For loue that she to him had.
Lo these foure weren tho
whiche I sigh as me thought tho
Amonge the great companye
whiche loue had for to gye.
But yongthe, whiche in special
Of loues courte was marchal,
So besy was vpon his laye
That he none hede, where he laye
Hath take, And than as I behelde
We thoughc I sigh vpon the felde
where Elde came a softte paas
Toward Venus, there as she was
with him great company he ladde
But not so fele as yougth had.
The moste parte were of great age
And that was sene in her vysage
And not for thy so as they might
They made hem yongely to the syght
But yet I herde no pypes there
To make mirth in mannes ere
But the musyke I might knowe
For olde men, which sowned lowe
with harpe, and lute, and with cytole
The houe daunce, and the carole
In suche a wyse as loue hath bede
A softe paas they daunce and trede,
And with the women otherwhyle
with sobre chere amonge they smyle.
For laughter was there non on hye.
And netheles ful well I fye
That they the more queynte it made
For loue, in whom they weren gladde
And there me thought I might se
The kinge Dauyd with Bersabe
And Salomon was not withoute
Passynge an hundreth in a route
Of wyues and of concubynes,
[...]ewes eke and sarazyns
To him I syght all intendaunt,
I not where he were suffy saunte.
But netheles for all his witte
He was attached with that wrytte
whiche loue with his honde enseleth
From whom non erthly man appeleth
And ouer this, as for no wonder
with his lyon, whiche he put vnder
with Dalida Sampson I knewe
whos loue his strength all ouerthrewe.
I sawe there Arystotle also
whome that the quene of Grece also
Hath brydeled, that in thilke tyme
She made him suche a sylogesyme
That he foryate all his logyke
Ther was none arte of his practyke
Through whiche it might ben excluded
That he ne was fully concluded
To loue, and did his obeysance.
And eke Virgile of acqueyntaunce
I sygh, where he the mayden prayd
whiche was the doughter, as men sayd
Of themperour whylom of Rome.
Sortes and Plato with him come
So did O uyde the poete,
I thought than howe loue is swete
whiche hath so wyse men reclamed
And was my selfe the lasse ashamed
Or for to lese or for to wynne
In the meschyef that I was in.
And thus I laye in hope of grace.
And whan they comen to the place
where Venus stode, and I was falle
This olde men with one voyce alle
To Venus prayden for my sake.
And she that mighte not forsake
So great a clamour, as was there
Lete pyte come in to hir ere
And forth with all vnto Cupyde
She prayeth, that he vpon his syde
Me wolde through his grace sende
Some comforte, that I might amende
Vpon the caas, which is befall.
And thus for me they prayden all
Of hem that weren olde aboute
And eke some of the yonge route
And of gentylles and pure trouth
I herde hem tel, it was great routhe
That I withouten helpe so ferde
And thus me thought I laye and herde
¶ Hic tractat, qualiter Cupido amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue cōcupiscētie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quē Venꝰ postea abs (que) calore percipiens / vacuum reliquit, Et sic tandē prouisa senectus rationē inuocans, hominē interiorem perprins amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.
¶ Cupyde whiche may hurte and hele
In loues cause, as for my hele
Vpon the poynte which him was preyd
Cam with Venus, where I was leyde
Swounend vpon the grene gras
And as me thought anone there was
On euery syde so great prees
That euery lyfe began to prees
I wot not wel howe many score
Suche as I spake of nowe tofore
Louers, that comen to beholde
But most of hem that were olde
They stoden there at thylke tyde
To se what ende shall be tyde
Vpon the cure of my soty.
Tho might I here greate partye
Spekende, and eche his owne aduys
Hath tolde, one that, another this.
But amonge all this I herde
They weren wo, that I so ferde
And sayden that for no ryote
An olde man shulde not assote.
For as they tolden redyly
There is in him no cause why,
But if he wolde him selfe be nyce,
So were he wel the more nyce.
And thus desputen some of tho
And some sayden no thinge so
But that the wylde loues rage
In mannes lyfe forbereth none age
whyle there is oyle for to fyre
The lampe is lyghtly set a fyre
And is full herde er it be queynte
But onely if he be some seynte
whiche god preserueth of his grace.
And thus me thought in sondry place
Of hem that walken vp and doune
There was diuers opynion.
And so for a whyle it last
Tyl that Cupyde to the laste
Forthwith his moder ful aduysed
Hath determined and deuysed
Vnto what poynte he wol descende
And all this tyme I was lyggende
Vpon the grounde tofore his eyen,
And they that my disese syen
Supposen nought I shulde lyue
But he, whiche wolde than yeue
His grace, so as it may be
This blynde god, whiche may not se
Hath groped, tyl that he me fonde.
And as he put forth his honde
Vpon my body, where I laye
Me thought a fyry launcegaye
which whilom through my hert he cast
He pulleth oute, and also fast
As this was do, Cupyde nam
His wey, I not where he becam
And so dyd all the remenaunt
whiche vnto him was entendaunt
Of hem that in a vysyon
I had a reuelacion
So as I tolde nowe tofore.
But Venus went nought therfore
Ne Genius / whiche thylke tyme
Aboden both fast bime,
And she whiche may the hertes bynde
In loues cause, & eke vnbynde,
Er I out of my traunce aroos,
Venus whiche helde a boxe cloos,
And wold not I shold deye,
Toke out, more colde thenne ony keye,
An oyntement: and in suche poynte
She hath my wounded herte anoynte,
My temples, and my reynes also.
And forth with al she toke me tho
A wonder myrrour for to holde,
In whiche she had me to beholde
And take hede, of that I seye.
wherin anone my hertes eye
I cast, and sawe my colour fade,
Myn eyen dym, and all vnglade,
My chekes thynne, and all my face
with elde I might se deface,
So ryueled, and so wo beseyn
That there was no thingeful ne pleyn.
I sawe also myn hearts hore,
My wyll was tho to se no more
On whiche for there was no pleasaunce.
And then into my remembraunce
I drewe myn olde dayes passed
And as reason it hath compassed.
¶Quod status hominis mensibus anni equiperatur.
¶I made a lykenes of my selue
Vnto the sondry monthes twelue
wherof the yere in his estate
Is made, and stant vpon debate,
That lyke to other none accordeth
For who the tymes wel recordeth,
And than at Marche if he begyn
whan that the lusty yere comth in
Tyll that Auguste be passed & Septēbre
The myghty yongth he may remembre
In whiche the yere hath his deduite
Of grasse, of lefe, of floure, of fruite
Of corne, and eke the wyny grape
And afterwarde the tyme is shape
To frost, to snowe, to wynde, to reyne
Tyll efte that Marche be come ageyne.
The wynter woll no sommer knowe
The grene lefe is ouerthrowe,
The clothed erth is than bare
Dispoyled is the sommer fare,
That erst was hete, is than chele,
And thus thynkende thoughtes fele
I was out of my swowne affraide,
wherof I sygh my wyttes strayde
And gan to clepe hem home ageyne.
And whan reason it herde seyne,
That loues rage was aweye,
He cam to me the ryght weye:
And hath remeued the sotye
Of thilke vnwyse fantasye,
wherof that I was wont to playn,
So that of thylke fyry payne
I was made sobre, and hole inough.
Venus behelde me than, and lough
And axeth, as it were in game,
what loue was? & I for shame,
Ne wyst, what I shulde answere
And netheles I gan to swere.
That by my trouth, I knew him nought
So ferre it was out of my thought,
Ryght as it had neuer be.
¶ My good sonne, tho qd she,
Nowe at this tyme I leue it wele
So goth the fortune of my whele.
For thy my counseyle is thou leue.
¶Madame, I said, by your leue
Ye wyten well, and so wote I
That I am vnbehouely
Your courte, fro this day, for to serue.
And for I may no thonke deserue.
And also for I am refused
I pray you to ben excused.
And n
[...]theles as for to last
whyle that my wyttes with me laste
Touchende my confession
I axe an absolucion
Of Genius, er that I go.
¶ The preest anone was redy tho
And sayde: Sonne as of thy shryfte
Thou hast full pardon, and foryefte,
Foryete it thou, and so wyll I.
¶ My holy father graunt mercy
Quod I to hym, and to the quene
I fyll on knees vpon the grene,
And toke my leue for to wende.
But she that wolde make an ende
As therto, whiche I was most able
A paire of bedes blacke as sable
She toke, and hynge my necke about.
Vpon the gaudees all without
was wryte of golde, pur reposer
Lo thus she sayd, Iohn̄ Gower
Now thou art at last cast
Thus haue I for thyn ease caste
That thou of loue no more seche.
But my wyll is, that thou beseche
And pray hereafter for the pees,
And that thou make a pleyne relees
To loue, whiche taketh lytel hede
Of olde men vpon the nede,
whan that the lustes ben awey,
For thy to the nys but o wey
In whiche let reason be thy guyde.
For he may sone hym selfe mysgyde,
That seeth not the peryll tofore.
My sonne be well ware therfore,
And kepe the sentence of my lore,
And tary thou my courte no more:
But go there vertue morall dwelleth.
There ben thy bokes, as men telleth
whiche of longe tyme thou haste wryte.
For this I do the well to wyte
If thou thyn hele wyll purchace,
Thou myght not make sute and chace
where that the game is not prouable,
It were a thynge vnreasonable
A man to be so ouersaye.
For thy take hede of that I saye.
For in the lawe of my commune
we be nought shape to commune
Thy selfe and I neuer after this.
Nowe haue I seyde all that there is
Of loue, as for thy fynall ende
[...]dewe, for I mote fro the wende.
And grete well Chaucer, whan ye mete
As my discyple and my poete.
[...]or in the floures of his youth
In sondry wyse, as he well couth
[...]
[...]ces, and of songes glade,
The whiche he for my sake made,
[...]
[...]onde fulfylled is ouer all
wherof to hym in specyall
Aboue all other I am most holde.
For thy nowe in his dayes olde
[...]hou shalt hym tell this message,
That
[...]e vpon his latter age
To
[...]ette an ende of all his werke,
As he whiche is myn owne clerke
To make his testament of loue,
As thou hast done thy shryfte aboue
So that my courte it may recorde.
¶
[...]radame I can me well accorde
[...] I, to telle as ye me bydde.
[...] with that worde it so betydde
[...] of syght all sodeynly
Enclosed in a sterred skye,
Venus, whiche is the quene of loue,
was take in to hir place aboue,
More wyst I not where she becam.
And thus my leue of hir I nam.
And forth with al that same tyde
Hir preest, whiche wolde not abyde
C
[...]me be lefe or me be lothe
Out of my syght forth be goth.
And I was lefte withouten helpe,
So wyst I not wherof to yelpe
But that onely I had lore
My tyme, and was sory therfore.
And thus bewhaped in my thought
whan all was tourned in to nought
I stode amased for a whyle,
And in my selfe I gan to smyle,
Thynkende vpon the bedes blake
And howe they were me betake
For that I shulde byd and pray.
And whan I sawe none other way
But onely that I was refused,
Vnto the lyfe, whiche I had vsed
I thought neuer torne ageyne.
And in this wyse soth to seyne
Homwarde a softe pas I went
where that with all myn hole entent
Vpon the poynt, that I am shryue
I thynke bydde, whyle I lyue.
Parce precor Christe, populus quo gaudeat iste
Anglia ne triste subeat rex summe refiste
Corrige quos
(que) status fragiles absolue reatus:
Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.
¶He whiche within dayes seuen
This large worlde, forth with the heuen
Of his eternall prouydence
Hath made, and thilke intelligence
In mannes soule reasonable
Hath shape to be perdurable:
wherof the man of his feture
Aboue all erthly creature
After the soule is immortall,
To thilke lorde in speciall,
As he whiche is of all thynges,
The creatour, and of the kynges
Hath the fortunes vpon honde,
His grace and mercy for to fonde
Vpon my bare knees I praye
That he this londe in syker way
wyll sette vpon good gouernance.
For if men take in remembraunce
what is to lyue in vnite,
There is no state in his degre
That ne ought to desyre pes
without whiche it is no les
To seche and loke in to the laste
There may no worldes ioye last.
¶Fyrst for to loke the clergy,
Hem ought well to iustifye
Thyng, whiche belongeth to their cure,
As for to pray, and to procure
Our pees, towarde the heuen aboue,
And eke to sette rest and loue
Amonge vs on this erthe here.
For if they wrought in this manere
After the rule of charite,
I hope that men shulden se
This londe amende: and ouer this
To seche and loke howe that is
Touchende of the chiualrye
whiche for to loke in some partie
Is worthy for to be commended
And in some parte to be amended,
That of her large retenue
The londe is full of mayntenue,
whiche causeth that the cōmune right.
In fewe countreys stont vpright.
Extorcion, contecke, rauyne
with holde ben of that couyne.
All day men here great compleynt
Of the disease, of the constreynt,
wherof the people is sore oppressed
God graunt it mote be redressed.
For of knyghthode thordre wolde
That they defende and kepe shulde
The common right, and the fraunchise
Of holy churche in all wyse:
So that no wycked man it dere,
And therof serueth shelde and spere.
But for it goth nowe other way
Our grace goth the more aweye.
And for to loken ouermore
wherof the people pleynen sore
Towarde the lawes of our londe
Mē sein, that trouth hath broke his bōd
And with brocage is gone aweye,
So that no man se the weye
where, for to fynde ryghtwysenesse.
And if men seke sykernesse
Vpon the lucre of marchandye
Compassement and trecherye
Of synguler profyte to wynne
Men sayne is cause of mochel synne,
And namely of diuysion,
whiche many a noble worthy towne
Fro welth, and fro prosperite
Hath brought to great aduersite.
So were it good to be all one
For mochell grace thervpon
Vnto the citees shulde falle,
whiche myght auayle to vs alle.
If these estates amended were
So that the vertues stoden there,
And that the vyces were aweye
Me thynketh I durst than seye
This londes grace shulde aryse.
But yet to loke in otherwyse
There is astate, as ye shall here,
Aboue all other on erthe here,
whiche hath the londe in his balaunce,
To hym belongeth the lygeaunce
Of clerke, of knyght, of man of lawe
Vnder his honde is all forth drawe
The marchaunt and the laborer,
So stant it all in his power
Or for to spylle, or for to saue,
But though that he suche power haue
And that his myghtes ben so large,
He hath hem nought withoutē charge,
To whiche that euery kynge is swore.
So were it good, that he therfore
Fyrst vnto ryghtwysenes entende,
wherof that he hym selfe amende
Towarde his god, and leue vice,
whiche is the chiefe of his offyce.
And after all the remenaunt
He shall vpon his couenaunt
Gouerne, and lede in suche a wyse,
So that there be no tyrannyse,
wherof that he his people greue:
Or elles may he nought acheue
That longeth to his regalye.
For if a kynge wyll iustifye
His londe, and hem that ben within,
Fyrst at hym selfe he mote begyn
To kepe and rule his owne estate,
That in hym selfe be no debate
Towarde his god: for otherwyse
Ther may none erthly kynge suffyse
Of his kyngedome the folke to lede,
But he the kynge of heuen drede.
For what kynge sette hym vpon pryde,
And takth his lust on euery syde,
And wyl not go the right weyt,
Though god his grace cast aweye
No wonder is, for at last
He shall wel wytte, it may not last
The pompe whiche he secheth here.
But what kinge that with humble chere
After the lawe of god escheweth
The vyces, and the vertues seweth:
His grace shall be suffysaunt
To gouerne all the remenaunt
whiche longeth to his duete.
So that in his prosperyte
The people shal not be oppressed
wherof his name shall be blessed
For euer: and be memoryalle.
❧ Hic in fine recapitulat super hoc, quod in [...] libri promisit se in amoris causa speciali [...] [...]taturum, concludit enim, quod omnis amo [...] extra charitatem nichil est, qui ma [...] [...] [...]aritate, in deo manet.
¶ And nowe to speke as in fynalle
To
[...]chende that I vndertoke
In englysshe for to make a boke
whiche stant betwene ernest and game,
I haue it made, as thylke same
whiche aske for to be excused,
An
[...] that my boke be not refused
Of
[...]red men, whan they it se
For lacke of curyosyte.
For thylke scole of eloquence
Belongeth not to my scyence
Vpon the forme of Rhetorike
My wordes for to peynte and pyke
As Tullius somtyme wrote,
[...]ut this I knowe, and this I wote,
That I haue done my trewe peyne
[...]to rude wordes, and with pleyne
In all that euer I couthe and might,
This boke to wryte, as I behyght.
So as sikenes it suffer wolde,
And also for my dayes olde
That I am feble and impotente
I wote not howe the worlde is wente.
So pray I to my lordes all
Nowe in min age / howe so befalle
That I mot stonden in theyr grace.
For though me lacke to purchace
Her worthy thonke, as by deserte▪
Yet the symplesse of my pouerte
Desyreth for to do plesaunce
To hem, vnder whose gouernaunce
I hope syker to abyde.
But nowe vpon my last tyde
That I this boke haue made and wrytte
My muse dothe me for to wyte
And sayth, it shall be for my beste
Fro this day forth to take reste,
That I nomore of loue make,
whiche many a herte hath ouertake
And ouertorned as the blynde
Fro reason in to lawe of kynde.
where as the wysdome goeth aweye
And can not se the ryght weye,
Howe to gouerne his owne estate:
But euery daye stante in debate
within him selfe, and can not leue.
And thus for thy my fynal leue
I take nowe for euermore
without makinge any more
Of loue, and of his dedely bele,
whiche no physicien can hele.
For his nature is so diuers
That it hath euer some trauers
Or of to moche / or of to lyte,
That playnly may no man delyte,
But if him fayle or that or this,
But thylke loue whiche that is
within a mannes herte affirmed
And stante of charyte confirmed:
Suche loue is goodly for to haue,
Suche loue may the body saue,
Suche loue may the sowle amende,
The hyghe god suche loue vs sende
Forthwith the remenaunt of grace,
So that aboue in thilke place
where resteth loue / and all pees
Our ioye may be endelees.
AMEN. ☞ Thus endeth De confessione Amantis.